Irritable Bowel Syndrome Message Boards | Re: Miscarriages, hormones, anxiety

I know them all well. First, let me express how sorry I am that you lost two babies. I know sorry doesn't even begin to express the pain you feel but having lost 5 of my own babies, I do truly understand the pain.

I have always been a bit of an anxious, nervous person. My ibs started when I was 15, I'm 36 now. I was prone to panic attacks and avoided big crowds and such.

We tried to start a family a few years back. At the time, I was pretty healthy, minimal ibs issues and the anxiety was under control. We got pregnant the second month off bc pills but lost the baby at 6 weeks. Got pregnant again right away but lost the baby at 8 weeks. Chromosome study done after d&c showed healthy female baby.

Took a month off, had some preliminary tests done. My progesterone was low so started using supplements after ovulation. About 6 months later, got pregnant again, ended with hemorrhaging and emergency d&c at 8 weeks. Again, chromosomally healthy female.

Went to a RE, reproductive endocrinologist. Had the whole fertility work-up done. Biopsy's, chromosomal analysis of me and hubby, sperm check, full clotting panel, full hormone level panel, infectious diseases, the list went on and on. Nothing was ever found.

Thought may be just a little short on hormones so we started clomid and climbed the fertility drug chain up to the daily injections of high dose gonatropins, hcg injections, blood thinners and progesterone supplements. This was last summer. During that time, I started having some other issues. My hands and feet would swell and were painful-they blamed it on the hormones. I developed uveities, an inflammation of the eye that I'm still battling. More of my joints became sore and I was so darned tired and just felt sick. They said it was all the fertility drugs.

Last September we were getting ready to do an artificial insemination when I ovulated too early but we had sex one time and ended up pregnant with identical twin girls. Everything progressed great. The joint pain, swelling and tiredness continued but they blamed it on carrying twins. I didn't care, I was pregnant!

In mid December, at 12.5 weeks, a routine ultrasound showed both of my precious babies hearts had stopped beating. I was beyond devastated. Again, chromosome testing showed healthy, identical baby girls. Again, no reason was found.

After losing the twins, I was on the verge of a complete meltdown. My body started to swell all over, everything HURT, I couldn't move my fingers and could barley put shoes on my feet were so swollen. The first two docs I saw just said I was depressed. I KNEW i was depressed but I also KNEW there was something wrong.

Its now 9-10 months later and they still haven't exactly figured out whats wrong. The most probably diagnoses is RA, rheumatoid arthritis. My anti body blood test is negative but I have all the other symptoms and it would explain the miscarriages. My immune system is so revved up that it cant tell healthy tissue from bad tissue and attacks everything. My joints and my babies included.

I learned everything I could about miscarriages during these past few years. Early miscarriages, before 8 weeks are typically hormone related, mostly low progesterone. After that, auto-immune diseases, blood clotting disorders and thyroid issues are next on the list. Even though you did have one healthy baby, I would ask to start some of the fertility testing. If your not comfortable talking about this on line, my email is in my profile.

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Taking it one day at a time.....

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