My name is Veronica, I am 39 years old. I have had a stillbirth (24 weeks due to abruption) followed by two healthy pregnancies, followed by 16 miscarriages(between December 2011- present)
 
Both my public and private consultant believe it is an immune issue that is causing the miscarriages. Despite this – I have had very  limited testing in the public system – with no ongoing analysis of my Immune function – when pregnant or non pregnant.   Three  of the medications prescribed by my consultant have not been covered under the drug payments scheme although they are covered for other autoimmune conditions.  These are expensive drugs – ranging in cost from €200-€2000 per month.
 
Please sign the petition below if you believe a medication prescribed by a doctor should be included in the drug payments scheme for immunology treatment of recurrent miscarriage. 
Thank you,
Veronica
 
In a little more detail……..

All standard recurrent miscarriage testing under the public system that had been carried out in the public system has returned  normal. This has included a thrombephelia screen, Karyotyping , three cytogenetic testing on products of conception and standard blood tests.

On advice of a private consultant in a public hospital we underwent IVF with pregenetic screening. This resulted in more miscarriages of gentically normal embryos  and  involved further testing- a hysteroscopy, a laparoscopy and  more advanced blood tests.  This led to a diagnoses of PCOS, C4M2 positive, High Nk cells, high cytokines in the Chicago  bloods and weak positive in LAD testing. Doctors in both the public and private sector believe it is an immune response that is causing the miscarriages.  Despite this I have not received any immune investigations either when I  am pregnant or non pregnant, other than standard blood tests, under the public system and have never been evaluated by a reproductive immunologist.  Despite being a tax payer and a private health insurance customer we have spent well over €20,000 on testing, IVF and medications.

Limited drug treatment options are currently available on the drug payments scheme.  However my private doctor has recommended and prescribed  other medications to tackle the immune issues such as Humira, Neupogen and IVIG ( which is provided in other countries after 5 miscarriages) - that although approved on The Drug Payments  scheme for other autoimmune  conditions it is not for the treatment of miscarriages caused by immune issues. Despite representations,  being made on my behalf,  to the Drug Payments Scheme,  applying for the medications to be covered, with supporting letters from my treating  public consultant and the master of the hospital, It was refused.

I have never been contacted to take part in any type of research addressing the treatment of the causes of recurrent miscarriage - despite my willingness to take part and me contacting hospitals.

Throughout my journey of recurrent pregnancy loss I have been astounded by the lack of funding and research  and treatment options into women’s health in Ireland. I have never been offered any test or monitoring of my immune response during pregnancy or after pregnancy in our public system. In the current maternity hospital that I am attending - The treatment has been very supportive -  the doctor and her team have shown a huge wealth of kindness towards me, for which I am very grateful, and is far better than the majority of my experiences in the public system.  Unfortunately reassurance scans and kindness are not going to get to solve my medical condition of an autoimmune response causing miscarriage.

Does my unborn children have a right to life under the Irish constitution? and medical treatment?   Women’s health has been significantly neglected over the years in this country - is it ok that this continues ?

Is  the medical condition I am experiencing
- not worthy of research funding?
- not worth medicating under the drug payments scheme ?
- not warrant of  further investigation and analysis (other then scans when pregnant) ?
-worth interdisciplinary medical expertise?
This  is a rare medical condition and NOT NORMAL ( unfortunately miscarriage occurs in approximately 1 in 5 pregnancies, but it is extremely rare to see a patient with 16 consecutive miscarriages, especially after two healthy pregnancies - which statistically makes  me the most unluckiest person in the world - or I have an underlying issue , that needs to be addressed )

Is myself and my husbands children’s lives not worth trying to save ?

I have one last tested genetically normal embryo left and would like to give it the best chance of life possible and the medical care it deserves.

I am one person alone , with a rare medical condition- I feel there is no advocate for me and all the children I have lost. I would like to highlight the lack of funding, treatment and research in this area of health,  and I would be very grateful if this is an area  of women’s health you could help support and hopefully bring about change for the better.