“Missed” miscarriage - due to being undermedicated imo

[Mk141209]

Hi

Long story short, i went to my 12 week NHS scan expecting to see a wriggly little baby but was told there was no heartbeat. They confirmed the baby stopped growing at 10w 6days.

I went to my GP extremely anxious as soon as I found out I was pregnant around 5 weeks to ask for a dose increase (as their guidelines confirm) i was told no. I phoned them again asking for it, was refused. Went back for another appointment and was told I’m on the maximum dose.

They said wait til your midwife appointment at 8 weeks. She said it would be a consultant who looks at me after the 12 week scan. I asked them yesterday at reception, before the scan - am i on the list to see someone today? They said no your name is there but no appointment is allocated. I’m sorry but WTF! I am so frustrated and now in 45 mins I either have to decide to have my dead foetus sucked out of me in an op or to bleed it out. I am sorry for the graphic details and I know I am a woman who is hurting. I am no medical expert.. but my TSH was on either 8/10 my brain is a mess right now, but I did post about this a few months back.. but i feel like atleast if my tsh was in range, I wouldn’t be blaming my thyroid levels or the doctors.. they didn’t even test my levels again since before the pregnancy! And i asked them to send me to an endo but they wouldn’t.. I don’t want to have to keep going through this.. i told the nurse yesterday i think my thyroid is to blame as fertility clinics often give a low dose of levo and women are able to finally get pregnant and have successful pregnancies.. I actually don’t want anyone feeling sorry for me. Sorry for the major rant i just want to go the gp and not have them manage my illness anymore, just an endo.

[NWA6]

😔 what a terrible terrible heartache for you. I’m so sorry you have to go through this. I know you don’t want sympathy but it’s human nature, your story is heartbreaking 😢

I hope you get the answers you need. And other forum members can guide you. Can you go private? Can you at least do home blood tests to get a picture of where your thyriod health is? And also your vitamins and mineral levels?

[Mk141209 in reply to NWA6]

Thank you for your comment, it will always just be in the back of my head that maybe my tsh levels were to blame.

I just wish we had the money to go private, i mean the odd test here or there maybe but even then it would be a struggle and my GP would not acknowledge them.

My vit d is very low and the pills made me more nauseous so i took the advice of a very helpful person on here and got a spray which even tastes nice lol and is a high dose. I have low iron in general but otherwise usually ok x

[Aurealis]

I am so sorry Mk141209. What an awful thing to happen.

I wonder if, once you get past these first awful few weeks you could have an appointment with an endo so you can make sure you get careful treatment prior to any future plans to try for another baby. It shouldn’t be necessary but it seems that in your area it is.

Hugs to you, so sorry xx

[Mk141209 in reply to Aurealis]

Thank you x

I was so upset last night i just felt like I wanted to go to the hospital and get bloods done and demand an explanation but I want to be calm when i face them and i will definitely complain. I’m not going to allow them to just fob me off. I’m actually someone who doesn’t take crap off people but try to behave nicely when i do it lol but the thought of other women, couples, families who have/could go through this just breaks my heart and makes me feel furious if it is preventable. On the nhs site, it says a miscarriage is likely in the 2nd trimester due to thyroid levels being out of range. But it just isn’t good enough. We trust these people, so called experts (i know gps are jack of all trades) but i mean they have medical knowledge and should have empathy. Ughhh just disgusted by it

[MiniMum97]

I am so sorry this has happened to you. I had a MMC and it was awful. Baby never grew beyond 6 weeks and I found out when I started bleeding at almost 12 weeks. The whole process was awful and upsetting. So sorry this is happening to you too. I suspect my thyroid was at fault too as it was not long after this that I getting hypo symptoms.

In your situation I would make a complaint. NHS guidelines were not followed and this has potentially led to the loss of your baby. I am shocked to hear nothing was done and your TSH was over range. In early pregnancy it is recommended that it is kept under 2.5. Please complain. I know it won’t help you but it may stop it happening to someone else. I will find links and post to relevant info below.

[Mk141209 in reply to MiniMum97]

Ohh no, i’m so sorry it’s just absolutely awful to go through x

I really hope you are feeling better, are you on medication now? I just don’t understand because i made their job so easy for them. When they were googling, as soon as i confirmed which guidelines etc i was pointing on the screen as the Dr couldn’t locate it and i said ‘look it’s in these paragraphs, i pointed at the bloody sentences, the exact words..!!’ But no, nothing.. i have to complain for everyone not just myself, you are right. X

[MiniMum97 in reply to Mk141209]

Yes I am in on levo now but I think too low a dose for my health (I am not TTC now. Have missed the boat on that one sadly). It’s all such a bloody battle isn’t it?

[Mk141209 in reply to MiniMum97]

Every 6 weeks please get your bloods done until you are not only within range, but feeling significantly better. I don’t think their ranges should relate to the whole public. I may feel amazing at a tsh of 2, whereas my friend may need to have even lower levels. I just think there isn’t enough they are doing for us..

I am put off ttc until my health and mind are in a better place tbh. I hope you have immense happiness in your life that you never ever feel like there is a void. X

[MiniMum97]

ombudsman.org.uk/sites/defa...

[Mk141209 in reply to MiniMum97]

Thank you for all the links darlin, really appreciate it. I will read through them all now x

[MiniMum97]

citizensadvice.org.uk/healt...

[MiniMum97]

citizensadvice.org.uk/healt...

[MiniMum97]

this is guidance produced by the British Thyroid Foundation and endorsed by the British Thyroid Association. It says TSH should be under 2,5 in first trimester.

btf-thyroid.org/projects/pr...

[MiniMum97]

cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroid...

[MiniMum97]

go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470...

[MiniMum97]

cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroid...

[humanbean]

From personal experience I would say, if you can bear it, that allowing nature to take its course is probably better for you in the long run as long as you don't develop an infection. The smaller the foetus/embryo is the greater the chance it will be ejected naturally without any problems, but there are never any guarantees. A D&C (dilation and curettage), which is what they use to remove the foetus, is a rather brutal procedure (in my opinion) involving forcing open the cervix and lots of vigorous scraping that can cause permanent damage and a lot of pain. This is particularly true if you already have endometriosis and/or adenomyosis and/or fibroids and/or any other kind of gynaecological problem. (After I went through a D&C under the same circumstances I felt as if my womb had been scrubbed with a wire brush.)

americanpregnancy.org/pregn...

[Mk141209 in reply to humanbean]

Yeah honestly i was just worried about Asherman Syndrome aswell. I know they say its rare but i know a few people who have struggled to conceive especially after the treatment was performed multiple times. The pills haven’t caused any difference and I’ve been told to wait a week and then the hospital will call me but i just want to get on with my life! They gave me 4 pills yesterday and then said I’d have 4 more this am if no result but then they changed their mind overnight. I just feel so neglected by the staff..

[Mk141209 in reply to humanbean]

Sorry I’m such a heartless cow! Are you better now? I really hope it didn’t cause any damage to you x

[humanbean in reply to Mk141209]

My experience of miscarriage and D&C is ancient history now, so don't worry about saying anything that might upset me - it was all a very long time ago and I came to terms with it all years ago. I went through it three times in total, had a D&C each time. With hindsight I would have done things differently, and would have just let nature take its course.

[Mk141209 in reply to humanbean]

You must be very strong, long time ago or not, i’m sorry for everything you went through x

In all honesty, i know it’s early days but I highly doubt the pills will work, my body is doing nada. So surgery may be inevitable.

But i just want to thank you because your advice does matter and help me and others and it’ll affect my decision making. If it wasn’t for you guys, i would just lose all faith in mankind

[Mk141209]

Omg i just went back and checked my previous post on here -

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

My levels were around 5 before i found out i was pregnant and then when i realised i was pregnant i rushed to the gp (a senior one) and begged for an increase he refused but DID send me for bloods and it had increased to around 8. Yet, he still refused the increase. Thats when i called them again and then went to see an another dr who said my dose was the maximum. OMG!!! All 3 drs were different but still omg

[Hay2016 in reply to Mk141209]

I’m so sorry and here is the place to rant. I would definitely write a letter or speak to practice manager and have those guidelines highlighted. Take someone with too as the condescending attitude be they male or female def changes with a witness.

No words. Just virtual best wishes. Xx

[Mk141209 in reply to Hay2016]

Thank you x

Yes, I will definitely be taking print outs and make a list of all the points I want to raise as my memory is horrendous.

Also, I don’t think it’s good enough just to have an apology! I don’t know what to request apart from they never do this again and rethink their whole strategy on how to deal with patients! I want to see an Endo and quite frankly i want to change my surgery but these got the best review out of the rest (i moved here 2 years ago)

[Aurealis in reply to Mk141209]

If it was me I think I’d do it in writing but if you feel strong enough to do it face to face, it’s probably better. Remember, we’re all behind you xx