Trying to find some answers

[Kathryn1984]

I know this may be part of my grieving process but I’m trying to find answers to my miscarriage. I know no one will give me answers, the nurses, midwives doctors all day the same thing; that no one can give me any answers.

I can’t believe how under researched fertility and miscarriage is. I hope in 100 years time, there will be more knowledge and less women going through this devestation.

I begged my GP today to check my blood for APS, Hughes Syndrome and sticky blood syndrome. He agreed as I’m so anxious about it. I believe there’s a link between my hypothyroidism and other auto immune diseases, hopefully I’ll get some answers.

I feel like I have to research and push myself, as the NHS just seems to not bother.

[Saya85]

Hi Kathryn!

Good on you for being so proactive- I’ve commented on your thyroid post but definitely there is much to investigate- it is difficult not to overthink or let it overwhelm you.

Sometimes it can even be something as simple as low folate (which were always told to have folic acid for) BUT it works with vitamin b12!

B12 deficiencies are very common in hypothyroid patients (and some cross between autoimmune pernicious anaemia).

There is growing evidence to suggest this is one very overlooked cause of miscarriage and infertility.

Hopefully you have had all the basic vitamin checks and answers rules out but definitely optimise what u can first whilst being investigated.

Good luck- it is an uphill battle to manage our health but it is worth it in the end xx

[Kathryn1984 in reply to Saya85]

I’ve never had my vitamins checked. Where can I go to get this done? I just want to be as healthy as possible, so if we conceive again, I know I’m in peak condition

[Saya85 in reply to Kathryn1984]

Never checked at all? Even whilst going through fertility treatment- Did they not check iron ferritin etc at beginning at least?

Oh I hope you have had checks done (without you realising !) ask Gp for your blood test results over last year or two (they can charge maximum £10 for copies but most will do so for free)- or ask about previous results over phone.

Basic checks are;

Iron, ferritin, folate(vit b6), vitamin D and active vit b12.

These are needed for good thyroid health but also fertility.

Many other vitamin checks are difficult to monitor via blood and can be variable,

But for added thyroid health, 200mcg of selenium, magnesium and vit b1- thiamine are also strongly advised to start supplementing.

In terms of thyroid/fertility crossover information I would suggest the ‘hypothroid mom’ blog as a very useful starting point.

I can personally attest to how much difference vitamin optimisation has affected my general health- and thyroid issues.

Doctor should easily check the normal vitamins - but if you want to check yourself also and check free t3 levels too- medichecks is an online blood testing company that many on thyroid forum use- very quick turnaround and you can do most with a fingerprick test at home. They have 20% off tests at the moment.

Good luck on your journey but definitely you’re on the right step x

[Kathryn1984 in reply to Saya85]

I’ve never had fertility treatment. We were TTC for 13 months before we conceived. I had the basic blood tests to see if I was ovulating, a full blood count, and that’s when they found my TSH was high. I’ve taken thyroxine for about 6 months, got my levels in normal range. My fiancé was about to get sperm tested when we found out I was pregnant. I did another blood test and my thyroxine was increased from 75 too 100. But the testing has stopped there. My GP said TTC for 6 months more then go back to him if nothings happened. So should I go to him and ask for all the other tests you said?

[Saya85 in reply to Kathryn1984]

Ah I see@fertility treatment.

If you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism they should still check your vitamins etc but often don’t unless you’re symptomatic etc or ask for it.

It is definitely worth asking doctor for it- especially if you have general health symptoms (see if you match any of the deficiency symptoms which I’m sure you will) and ask to be tested so you can optimise your health. GP should be willing to rule these basic things out and often do.

With Regards to supplementing make sure where possible you find the natural forms of the vitamins and minerals. Check thyroid uk forum and seaside susie’s posts in particular x

[Orla9298 in reply to Kathryn1984]

You can test your vitamins on medichecks website, I always use them to track things privately myself xx

[Orla9298 in reply to Orla9298]

Ahhh just saw two of us posted the same thing at once!

I just wanted to reach out and say I’m thinking of you. I also have an under active thyroid with some thyroid antibodies, and having had 2 natural miscarriages (both 5 weeks) and a number of chemicals I was referred for the testing and all the bloods came back normal! (Antiphospholipid syndrome, lupus etc - all of the initial miscarriage tests).

Im considering the nk cell test privately xx

[Saya85 in reply to Orla9298]

Hi orla- I’m just about to order my own first test with medichecks- vit worries I won’t bleed enough for the finger prick test! Is it easy enough?

[Orla9298 in reply to Saya85]

Try it straight out of a hot shower. I’ve always been fine, sometimes I’ve had to use a second lancet and move to the next finger but you get 4 included! I really massage the pad of the finger just below where you have done the prick, so it keeps pushing the blood out. It sounds awful but isn’t really x

[Kathryn1984]

Ok, I’ll go to my GP with this. There’s a good health foods store I’ll go to, about the supplements you mentioned.

I’m trying to take a holistic approach to my miscarriage. I’m leaving my stressful job, I’m over hauling my diet and exercise. Me and my fiancé are going on holiday, and we’re going to do some hobbies together. This tragedy has brought us, our families, and our true friends together. It’s in hard times you find out who really cares about you.

[Saya85 in reply to Kathryn1984]

👏🏻 That sounds great and I hope you find the time and space to grieve properly but also move forward and manage your health. We took a break after failed ivf but I’m so glad we did as I have been on a healing journey since and have never felt better in recent years. Gearing up for our second round now.

I’m glad to hear you have a supportive network around u as it can be very lonely.

Good luck with it all (you can PM me if you wish for anything )

I’ll be looking out for your news in future ☺️

[Lilli79]

Hi Kathryn do you mind me asking if this was your first pregnancy? I was very surprised when I spoke to people after our first miscarriage how common it really is. My sister lost her baby at 9 weeks, my mum lost 2 babies (but went on to have 5!), one SIL lost a baby at 15 weeks and another SIL lost a baby at 10 weeks. And that's only my immediate family. In some ways because of my family history I fully expected to lose my first baby, which in no way made it any easier. I spoke to my gp and fertility consultant about reasons, could it possibly have been hereditary but they said no (I still don't believe them). I think the truth of it is that most pregnancies (particularly 1st one's) are down to chromosome issue, or potentially our bodies inability to support a first pregnancy. I know this doesn't help much in your search for answers, but be aware that many women who have a first miscarriage go on to have a second healthy pregnancy. I'm glad to hear you are changing your job (I also did this, best decision ever!). I'd also recommend reflexology if you haven't tried already - it helped me massively to get over my heartbreak last year. I think many ladies on here have spoken to Tommy's - they seem to be the most helpful for info. Hope you feel better soon xxxx

[Kathryn1984 in reply to Lilli79]

It was my first pregnancy, very much wanted. I’ve been desperate for a baby since my early 20s, but only found my fiancé when we were 30. We saved up to buy our house and moved in Jan 2017, and began trying then. There will be a reason I miscarried, but the research isn’t there. This area of medicine is so far behind everything else. Fertility, conception and pregnancy are in a big part a mystery. It’s so sad

[Lilli79 in reply to Kathryn1984]

Yes, I felt the same - I can't understand with all the medical progression we've made that it just seems a mystery and mostly shrugged off by GPs as just one of those things. It's sad, they would save a lot of couples so much heartache if they could do a bit more research. Your story sounds like mine, I was so excited to get married and have babies but didn't meet my husband till 2007. We got married in 2011, bought a house in 2013 and then started trying - never thought we'd struggle for so long. It's taken us till now to get anywhere. We've had ivf twice, never had a natural pregnancy. As I say I hope you get the answers you need, it's good to do a bit of research for comfort and coping with grief, it helped me a lot xx

[Hidden]

I received no help from the NHS at all. My first miscarriage (mmc) was at 8 weeks following a long haul flight I found out 3 yrs and 6 losses later that I have Factor v Leiden so there was no way my baby would have survived the flight unassisted. I’m glad you’re pushing for tests to get some answers. 2 of my losses (hate the word miscarriage) were down to abnormalities - pregnancy 2 was another mmc and the d&c was analysed privately and severely abnormal which explains why the heart stopped beating at 7 weeks and measuring smaller at 6 weeks. My 3 chemical again were put down to undiagnosed thyroid and blood clotting but i saw my Consultant for a 6 week scan yesterday and said it was so worth persevering relentlessly and my goodness have we. I know you’re worried about your thyroid but as long as it’s in check with medication it’s fine. Thinking of you and sending lots of love xxx

[Tugsgirl]

It sounds like you have a very good gp there.. I had to have three miscarriages before I was tested for anything and that was after I requested my gp to do me a referral. Turns out I have an aps condition. It explains a lot. Before that I’d always been told it was just down to extremely bad luck. Although they did say that most miscarriages are down to chromosome problems.. When your gp does the tests make sure they are repeated at least 12 weeks later. That’s the only way of a reliable result. Good luck, I hope you get the answers you’re looking for xx

[Kathryn1984 in reply to Tugsgirl]

He is a good GP. Their hands are tied by NHS guidelines. I’ve been thinking about alternative options as well.

[Hidden]

I know it’s devastating to accept a loss without a “ reason” I was told by my fertility specialist it was “ bad luck” and “we were just very unlucky. “ Ours was a very early loss at 4 and a half weeks I guess it is quite a common time to miscarry not that makes it easier to accept. I like you also tried to push for further investigations; my fertility specialist has agreed to refer me to a miscarriage clinic if I was to suffer another loss; I feel assured by this. He’s a lovely man and I know he would do his very best for us , so I trust his judgment without a doubt. He has authorised me to take prednisone ( a low dose steroids for higher nk cells; private test I had) and progesterone pessaries for the first 12 weeks of my pregnancy as a safety precaution 😊 perhaps ask about those two; tho you would need to have a NK test done privately as NHS will not fund the test but will fund the treatment. I do have bad endometriosis I don’t if that’s why my fertility specialist agreed to the progesterone pessaries.

I do wish you luck and hope you can get some answers or reassurance and move forwards. Please do remember just because you lost this pregnancy there is nothing to suggest you’d lose another one. xozox