Dr. Mary Stephenson for RPL, anyone?

BookishMomma · December 2014

XP on TTCAL and PAL

Has anyone seen Dr. Mary Stephenson in Chicago? She's one of the leading recurrent pregnancy loss doctors in the US and has an RPL clinic in Chicago. I've read a lot of her articles & research and finally just decided to bite the bullet and make an appointment to see her. The appointment is set for Feb 23 and apparently I'll be sent an 8-page questionnaire in the mail about my medical history. I'm already starting to compile my records.

Chicago is a 3 hour drive from where I live and my brother and his partner live there, so the travel is not a huge deal. More importantly, I've gotten DH on board to go to the appointment with me. The cost of seeing her will be out of pocket, but then again, so are my RE visits, and I feel like I've reached the end of my RE's considerable well of knowledge at this point. I realize that when all is said and done, the answer for our 4 losses might still be "no answer," but I feel like I owe it to myself to at least see what she has to say and whether there's any additional testing or treatment she recommends.

Any shared experience from other AL bumpies with Dr. S, good or bad, would be much appreciated. TIA!

welly01 · December 2014

I don't know anything about her, but I just wanted to wish you luck at your appt. I hope she can provide you with some answers.

Denise91980 · December 2014

I am in NJ, so I don't know anything about her. I too had four losses prior to this pregnancy and kept getting told they were flukes until further testing basically told me I have DOR. I hope you get some answers. Best of luck to you.

BookishMomma · December 2014

@Denise91980 What tests did you have done to find out you have DOR?

Denise91980 · December 2014

Basically my high FSH and low AMH told the doctor that. He told me I had a 5% chance of getting and staying pregnant on my own and was pushing me to do egg donor. I never saw a heartbeat before this pregnancy.

BookishMomma · December 2014

@denise91980 Thank you for the info. My AMH was tested in September and it was 1.5 (I'm 35 years old), which is normal to borderline, but not crazy low. No one has thrown DOR diagnosis at me yet, but who knows? Do you mind me asking what (if anything) you were doing for this pregnancy? Was it a natural cycle or IVF?

edit- clarity

pblge · December 2014

You could also try asking this question on the infertility and/or infertility vets boards. A lot of those women went to reproductive immunologists or similar, although this isn't a name I'm familiar with.

This was going to be my next step if this last FET hadn't worked. I think it makes a lot of sense, and I hope you get good answers. ((Hugs))

Denise91980 · December 2014

BookishMomma said:
@denise91980 Thank you for the info. My AMH was tested in September and it was 1.5 (I'm 35 years old), which is normal to borderline, but not crazy low. No one has thrown DOR diagnosis at me yet, but who knows? Do you mind me asking what (if anything) you were doing for this pregnancy? Was it a natural cycle or IVF?

edit- clarity

I was 33 at the time and had FSH of 16.8 and AMH of .28. I met with a nutritionist that worked with my RE. She recommended a gluten free and dairy free diet. Plus I was taking CoQ10 and DHEA. I started the supplements in March, the diet in April, lost 30lbs and was pregnant naturally by July. Some of the REs at that office swear by the diet. I am not sure if that did it, but I am 26w2d and never got so far as seeing a heartbeat until this pregnancy.

taberbtb · December 2014

hmr110913 said:
No advice here but just wanted to wish you luck on your appointment, @BookishMomma! {{{HUGS}}} Hope that you're able to get some answers.

Same here. Piling on more (((HUGS))) and good luck at your appointment.

Bostonchelle · December 2014

No experience with the doctor but sending you good luck wishes!

mrsjg2013 · December 2014

Just wanted to add to the positive vibes and well wishes for your upcoming appointment!!

kate6214 · December 2014

No experience but I wanted to send good wishes and positive thoughts that you can get help.

goldengirl84 · December 2014

Rooting for you, Bookish! I hope your appointment goes well.

jap618 · December 2014

I haven't heard of her but being in New England that's not surprising to me. I do want to pile on the hugs and well wishes though!

natalie115 · December 2014

Just wanted to add some more good vibes! I hope the appointment goes well!

jlworden710 · January 2015

Lots of hugs bookish. I have no advice but hoping you can get some answers and a plan in place. XOXO

jms627 · January 2015

No advice Bookish, but FX crossed that you get some answers!

chicagojackie · January 2015

@BookishMomma‌ she's legit. She's done a lot of impressive research as well. Chicago has a lot of great specialty docs. We are lucky here.

alleycat39 · January 2015

Sending you positive thoughts and wishes for some answers from this appt. I only have researched RPL specialists for the east coast, so I am no help- sorry!

Dr. Mary Stephenson for RPL, anyone?

Re: Dr. Mary Stephenson for RPL, anyone?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards