Recurrent miscarriage - list of tests

[chookie]

Hi all

Am currently going through my second miscarriage and would like to get some tests done before I embark on a third ivf cycle.

Please can you all share what tests you have had done? I should be able to get the tests done on the nhs but may go and see a consultant from my ivf clinic before and after as she's got special miscarriage expertise.

Thanks in advance everyone xx

[gemstone83]

Cookie I have tried to PM you but not sure if you got it as it seems stuck in my outbox

How are you doing today?

We had chromosome karyotyping tests, thombophilia and hormone tests on me. This consisted of about 2 viles of blood for my OH and about 17 for me I thought she would never stop but it's only 1tsp in each one and nothing to worry about I only mention it as I was really surprised. Obviously they found something for me and I think there are further tests if they don''t find something.

It took about 6-8 weeks to come back and so I kept myself busy by really concentrating on my diet and exercise and preparing my body for pregnancy. I also went to professional counselling too but I am not sure if that worked. I think I found hypnotherapy more useful.

Big hugs xxxxx

[Blossom]

hi chookie, very sorry to hear about your losses and hope you are taking some time out to heal. it does take a long time. i thought i would reply as i have just had my 3rd mc in a row and thought i would share. After my second i was desperate for tests and to know what went wrong and why. its seems so unfair. i spent hours on the internet researching possible causes and reading forums etc! literally hours but it did help me to feel less alone to know otheres had suffered too.

Under nhs you cant get any tests done for mc until after you have had 3. So for us our only option was to pay privetly as didnt want to wait to see if i mc the 3rd time and also the waiting list. so we went to see dr shehata at his miscarriage clinic in epsom (he also has a clinic in harley street), we live in bournemouth dorset so was a distantance but felt it was worth it. we have test for APS, natural Killer cells, thrombophilia and thyroid antibodies, basically all of the blood tests they can do except the chromosomes test (now thinking on embarking on the chromosome test now after 3rd as that would be another thing to either cross of the list or know thats where the problem lies. Apart from a few minor issues like thyroid surprisingly my tests were all normal, however, it was still worth the money and time and effort to see him as it helped at least to rule a few things out. i will be going back if i cant hang on to the 4th! Not sure if this helps or not but if you want anymore infor on what i had done or help then let me know. i didnt have ivf but i do know how devestating mc is.

take care of yourself
debs x

[Jaffa1]

I am sorry to hear both your experiences. I would love to know blossom if you would still recommend that dr in Epsom? I am thinking of doing some tests. I am going to gp whenever I can after bank hol to tell him about my latest mc/chemical and see what he can do but I know it's not a lot. My mother has thyroid probs so want to rule that out at least on nhs if poss X

[Blossom]

Hi there Jaffa, sorry you are back on this side of the board again, I really did have everything crossed for you and its very sad to hear your news. I hope you are feeling ok.
In answer to your question yes I would still recommend dr s, like I said I am still not pg or carried a baby full term since seeing him and 3 miscarriages but it is worth getting the tests done if you can.(it is quite alot of money in total) I was a slightly different case as my tests were pretty much normal and at that time couldn't give me a reason just possibles and that was after 2mc. I am actually thinking of going back to see him again after 3mc to see if there is anything else he can offer or suggest. But in the meantime I am waiting chromosome blood test results which I managed to get done on the nhs after my 3rd loss, have waited 10wks for the results and only few days to go! Anyway back to the q, I would recommend you go to your gp like you said, my gp still sent me for a scan at epu to check everything gone or they may suggest a hcg blood test, definately depends on area as to what gp will do after mc but best to get checked out.
I still feel like I am on my quest to find out why this keeps happening to me so unfortunately I can't give you a magical happy ending yet following tests and I am on my 6th round of clomid with still no baby etc but i hope to be able to soon and give others hope it can happen. But having the tests can help to rule things out which can be treated. If you want info on any of the tests I have had done then let me know or pm me. I am here if you would like to chat.
Thinking of you debs x

[Blossom]

Oh and good luck if you do decide to go and see him, I would be really interested to hear how you get on haven seen him myself.
Re the thyroid that is a good starting point as my mum had thyroid issues too. The gp ranges of what are normal though so for me gp would have said my thryoid was fine but dr s said TSH was too high for fertility and wanted it below a certain figure for conceiving. Def worth getting it checked. I also had Thyroid antibody test but mine was normal. (Gp wont do tjis7 one) x

[Jaffa1]

Thanks blossom. I know it seems crazy to get myself tested after 2 but I don't want to wait for this to happen again. I'm going to research it a bit more. I am prepared for it to be a lot. I may pm you about the cost if you don't mind? Of course you don't need to divulge if you don't want to xx

[Blossom]

Hi jaffa, no worries just contact me when you are ready to start thinking about it again. I actually dont think its mad to think about getting tests after 2 mc, i felt the same as you exaclty said that i didnt want to wait for it to happen again (for me unfortunately it did) but by having the tests least i knew it wasnt anything glaringly obvious. i always accepted my first mc as "unlucky" and "one of those things" but when it happened for the 2nd and the 3rd then i struggled to believe it was just bad luck. The nhs only dont start tests after 2 due to cost so its not unreasonable to want to get some tests done if you wanted and can afford too, lots of people dont for whatever reason as things might be fine the next time you conceive so dont feel like its something you have to do or there must be something wrong becasue there might not be but its how you feel about it. x

[Jaffa1]

Thank you blossom. I looked at their website and found the fee list so I think I can figure out how much it would be. Just one question, did they insist on doing everything or do you pick and choose? Also I see you obviously have initial consultation, then follow up ones. Can they do blood tests etc at the first one or is it just a chat? X

[gemstone83]

Jaffa - after my initial diagnosis I went to London to see the top guy in the country (who was only £50 more than my local person) and had a specialist TEG test for my thrombophilia and he did the initial consultation, blood test and wrote to me with the results all as part of the initial consultation. I think you gp would do the initial thyroid test and may even add the basic thombophilia test. My consultant did the very basics after 2 miscarriages so it may be worth ringing yours to see if they would be willing to do them or if you can top up your nhs treatment? Then see someone private with the more in depth tests. Wishing you all the very best and sending big hugs xxxx

[Blossom]

Jaffa- its recommended you have all the blood test although he told us to wait for the chromosome one as he thought unlikely that would be the issue for us (now having that one on nhs) as we had conceived before. But generally speaking the main list of tests, thrompophillia, natural killer cells and auto immune stuff. But yes you go for consultation first then have blood tests after on same day and then you go back 2-3 weeks later for results and then go from there. Hope that helps.

Gem I am interested in who you saw if you didnt mind divulging? I don't think I had the teg test?!

[gemstone83]

No problem at all I saw Mr Raj Rai at St Mary's. The TEG test is a thrombophilia test that can only be performed at four places in the UK. You book time on it as your blood is put on it as soon as it is drawn and they time how long it takes to clot. It is more sensitive than the standard ones and showed that on 75mg aspirin it was still clotting too quickly which was invaluable information for me. If it had proved 75mg was enough then it still would have been worth it as it would have given me reassurance. Mr Rai and Dr Lesley Regan are the top recurrent miscarriage specialists in the UK with Mr Rai being top for Hughes Syndrome (which I have).

[Jaffa1]

Thank you girls this is very useful. I am going to the GP on Thursday so will see what he says. I'm convinced in all the blood tests I had in January with the first mc there must already be some info on my files that is relevant! I'm pretty sure I heard one guy in A&E saying something about testing for clotting but I was in a state so never thought to ask about it. Will let you know how it goes. X

[Jaffa1]

The GP was a complete cow and refused to note down my mc without me going to EPU for a scan (which I decided to not do as I know the test will be neg so they prob won't even scan me). She looked at me like i was a poo on the floor when i started crying. I had to beg for a thyroid test and for antibiotics for my week long gum infection but she gave in. So anyway I had the thyroid blood test done today and print outs of all the blood tests I had back in January in A&E and my ERPC and I got about 15 pages of stuff! no idea what most of it means but at least i'll have something to show the specialist if/when I go. Tried ringing to book today but no answer x

[Blossom]

Hi jaffa- sorry your gp was a cow, its so insensitive to treat patients like that. Glad you got the thyroid blood test agreed and done though and hope result back soon, if you let me know the result i know the ranges of what they say is normal so that might help whilst you waiting for the next step. Did you have any luck getting an appointment at the miscarriage clinic yet? Let me know how you get on when you go. x