TTC/ pregnancy on Prednisolone or similar part 2

Looks like I will be getting a BFN this month too as my temp has dropped. I was hoping I would be getting my BFP but I am 12DPO today so it doesn't look likely.

Battery - I also feel sad about it today but I guess we have to focus on next month now. Just want the AF to arrive to get it out of the way! It's strange as I have previously conceived straight away with all my other pregnancies so now worried I will find it hard to get pregnant.

Scooter - well done on your scan. I have not been ill since having my daughter 3 years ago too either but since starting the preds I am trying to fight off a cold. I have a constant cough and feel a bit rough.
I also wondered if it was better to build up a few months on the preds before getting pregnant seeing as they have a cumulative effect. I have def had more side effects this month on them.

Duggs - your 12 week scan must have been awful to have had the jubilation of seeing the baby moving and then the awful news it had died. I have never heard of that before either, its terrible. I thought my one last Xmas was bad enough when we saw the heartbeat at 8 weeks and then the baby died a few days later. I think its worse if you are given a glimpse of hope and then it is all dashed.

Digi - it will be lovely to tell all your NCT friends. I can't wait to get to that stage!

Free - I bet you get a BFP seeing as you are having 2nd thoughts!!!

Amazing news scooter- you are flying the flag for us ladies. I don't really get either. Interestingly enough my first mc last march 10 was 9 weeks mmc only sac seen. Second pregnancy wasn't until last dec and rarely for me i was ill for xmas with thr cold everyone had ( I had been boozing my merry way through the festivities and night nursing like smarties) was late AF and for a bfp after boxing day. I had ok 8 wk scan and got to 12 wk scan had photos all lovely baby moving arms and legs etc sonographer couldn't get last measurement as baby moved but wrong way. Told me to go for a tea and a custard cream and come back in 30 mins. We called DH folks who were in Sydney all merry happy times. Went back 30 min later and she couldn't find heartbeat. She freaked as she had never seen that in her 30 yr experience as was strong heartbeat. Was just rubbish timing but I couldnt believe it. I had to wait 5 days for d and c. Anyway testing showed trisomy 13 on her so better it ended but dr s says maybe because I was ill when I conceived the cells didn't kick in ?? And it was bad luck?
I got of again in June from one random shag (with DH) and 7 wk scan showed only sac and 2mm pole no heartbeat. So probably nk cells. Thought it was interesting about the illness thing. Louise at NLC said cancer research r v interested in people like us.

Anyway I find it fascinating. Wish it made a bit more sense. My auntie - not blood related- told me (now 70) she had 4 mc, 2 still birth and 3 children - not in that order. I didn't like to ask how old she started trying but judging by 9 pregnancies and 3 of them live births she mustve been pretty young to fit it all in. Back then they said to wait 6 mths in between after a mc.

Had nice spa tonight with my mum.
Good night ladies. Hopefully one BFP for the chart? X

Scan was tentatively good news, they managed to do an external scan thank goodness and little bean is measuring okay for dates with a little heartbeat. So allowing myself a very small and whispery hooray for today.

kittens I have found the 40mg not too different from the 25mg so if they do raise your dose don't worry, it could just feel the same and no worse. Make sure they do give you the omeprazole prescription though, the doc I saw was pretty convinced I should take it twice a day. I carry it round with me just in case I am suddenly paralysed with side effects but so far (touchwood) haven't used it.

Sorry for the BFN's this month. If it's a consolation, I wonder whether the monthly pred has a cumulative effect and it's better for the NK's to be hit for a few months before a pregnancy. I am one of those strange people whose NK's went up in my first two weeks on the pred and then got a BFP, sometimes it occurs to me that it was all a bit too soon, this pregnancy certainly didn't have the best start.

free understand your wobbles about going through it all again, it's a horrible stage when you are waiting and testing but still not sure and can't rule it out. I definitely went backwards and forwards wanting a BFP and then absolutely not wanting one! Agonising sort of limboland... only a few days to go hang in there.

battery and cherry I had no sign of a positive til 14dpo so may still be early yet.

Symptom spotters I should add that mine were really on/off and even now pred is definitely masking what I'd usually be feeling.

digi hope all your announcing goes well with NCt and you can enjoy people getting excited for you now. Centre parcs sounds lovely, hope you have a great break.

snoopy I had an intralipids timing question I emailed to Annabella and although she wasn't the right person she has forwarded it on for me. I get seen by Healthcare at Home and not at NLC though.

Hmm, the housework theory. I did LOADs of housework this morning in preparation for a pampered chef evening tonight... interesting that a good scan should follow! Also the 'roids have been making me crave protein, am reaching for roast beef straight out of the packet like a crazy woman, so maybe there's something in that theory too, who knows!

The colds thing I am confused by. I never suffered with them (even as a teacher) before my son, afterwards for a while still no illness then between miscarriages I lost my voice, had a few horrendous colds, viral conjunctivitis lasting three weeks then tonsilitis three times in August. After which my NK cells rocketed again (I only called up to check because I was convinced they would be low!!) Not really fitting the mould here, anomaly alert!!! Sorry :-(

That's interesting about the colds. I used to get every cold going (12 in 11 weeks was my record at university....) but over the last couple of years from time to time I feel like I am fighting something off (you know when you get the feeling like you are "coming down with something") but it rarely comes out. Hmmm.

A raft of BFN's it seems. Although it is too early for most of us still!

I had a bit of a wobble earlier. I've been unexpectedly teary this evening, which is odd as there is nothing really wrong (well, nothing except having a killer womb and having lost 2 babies this year and the potential of a third ) so I am guessing it must be the hormones and the Pred. My wobble was suddenly: I really don't want to be pregnant! Gulp. Must be lack of sleep, the Fear, the drugs, the hormones, The Fear again. I relating to the starting to wonder what I have got myself into notion Snoopy.

Louise is totally ignoring me btw battery so good to hear she has got back to you and others, I first sent an email on Sunday asking for an intralipids prescription just in case I needed one when I was away and re-sent it yesterday and still no response.

Interesting that everyone seems to be backing up our getting no colds theory.

So that's myself, iggi and Puree who have had mcs on the first Pred cycle? Get that one down Duggs!

Kittens - cloak and dagger? Intriguing!

Hello everyone,

BFN for me too. Am 12 dpo so it would have shown up by now :( I felt really sad this morning but I feel better now. I have had acupucnture tonight and feel more positive.

free I did email louise today to ask about being seen and she emailed back saying Mr S would see me this cycle and discuss super ovulation. So I am going to book tomorrow xx

Hope everyone is ok - there must be one bfp surely???

BFN for me today, although I'm still not sure about how many DPO I am. I got my smiley face on 1st and 2nd Nov(also got peak on CBFM on 2nd), so could be about 8 or 9 DPO?
free thanks for the threading advice, I'm planning to get fully threaded ASAP. Interesting that you mentioned about not getting colds\flu.. I always thought that my immune system was poor as I seemed to catch every germ that was available and always had at least 3 bouts every winter. This carried on after the birth of my DD last year.. in fact, when she started nursery early this year I was constantly off sick from work suffering from all the bugs she brought home... this has changed since the 2 failed pregnancies 5\6 months ago, I've had nothing- not even a sniffly nose or sore throat- even though DD has been poorly with something or other a few times. She's suffering from a really bad cold at the moment so I'm wondering whether I'll be next because of the pred, I'm kinda hoping I'll catch it just to prove that those NK's are being zapped!
I'm interested to know what my levels are now, but would hate to hear that they are even higher than the sooper-dooper results last time!

Good luck to everyone testing in the next few days, surely at least one of us should get a BFP

She said that the letter should go to my GP electronically on Monday so he will have it by midweek, which is in just enough time as I ovulate around the 18th.

ari sittin here laughing, breastfeeding/expressing with DS also brings to mind similarities..oh the joys of being a woman.. yes will email cheryl ta.

kittens she is back on 14th. I am dreading the pred 25mg for first time in couple of days at ov then 40mg on a bfp. Starting to wonder what I've got myself into. Are you going to be taking the drugs this cycle again? If so they need to get your doses sorted out quick don't they as you are next to me on list for oving shortly?

Oh bugger, that's annoying! Can she give you an idea of when Louise will be back?

I've just spoken to Mr S's NHS PA to chase up my last NK Cell test results. She isn't allowed to give me the results herself but they have been put in the letter to my GP which he will get next week. She apologised for being "cloak & dagger" about it but couldn't tell me but said that there was nothing to worry about but there would be a slight change to my treatment. Hmmmm. I wonder what that's all about! I hope I don't have to take 40mg. The 25mg make me feel bad enough!

Thanks kittens but spoke with her last week and she said call Louise! Never mind spose I'll just have to take a chance.

snoopy you could try speaking to Cheryl at Epsom NLC. She is the one who just emailed me back and on the details it says she is his PA

hi all. In answer to free's questions, yes I have also had a mc while on the treatment (first cycle). Saw Mr S on Monday (minus toddler, managed to trick him into an extra afternoon at nursery) and he got me to have another NK test in case I am one of the small % of people whose cells go up even higher in pregnancy. I think that also may be because i have had 4 mc in 14 months and 6 mc in total. And have not had a cold since I have had my son come to think of it....

so depending on the results of that test I may go up to a higher level of steroids when we try again in Jan.

On that topic, I think someone else asked, I had my flu jab a week after this last mc. I didn't want to have it while I was in the first trimester and rattling with drugs - no scientific basis for this of course.

i have also been inhaling sushi had having very hot baths. think I need to add magharitas to the mix!

Help please....does anyone know if there is anyone down at NLC that you can talk to re advice when Louise is away? On the subject above re travelling and Itralipids ...I emailed her last week and left voicemail and no reply. Just tried her and she is now away training. It's just on the being away and Intralipids being nearly a week late before I get back to UK (IF i get a bfp this month) Ov is imminent (Moo)! and still not sure to TTC if it's going to be a problem. May have to get them while away like free if needed. Can the nurses advise?

Sorry about your bfn dugg good luck for next month. x

Oh my god, get Duggs to add that to her chart quickly - we are all particularly bad at housework :) and there are at least three of you who don't eat meat. Gosh, imagine if mr s told us to go eat steak and start doing some bloody housework.

Re travelling he told me if i was pregnant he wouldn't want me to go too far away but I think that was just so I can make all appointments and scans. I am having a holiday booking dilemma too as I want to go away somewhere hot at new year. Going to wait until know what happening this month to book.

Hi all. Not read the article, nor sure I want to frankly, but I thought I'd add that I get rather, umm, horny coming up to ov. Not sure how that makes me fit in with farmyard animals but guess I'll have to read it later and find out. :)

Not feeling much of anything today tho do feel I'm fighting a cold or something. Great time for my immune system to be on fight alert if that's how these things work. Have had the odd af like low tummy twinges. Bit icky driving to work this morning too. I've had to go onto 5mg Pred this cycle as nearly out of 25's. They don't seem as nice to my stomach and are chalky and taste horrible. Never found that with 25s so am wondering if anyone else has found that and also if that's the simple explanation for my symptoms this month?! I do feel quite calm and "whatever happens happens" though.

Sorry Duggs about the bfn this month. Enjoy the break and crack back on next month.

Finally, fortunately my dh is a way better housewife than I am - I've never been troubled by a pred fired need to tidy and clean. Yet.

free, in answer to your question about being immune to other things - I rarely get ill and don't tend to catch bugs even when my OH has one and breaths into my face all night long! I have had more bugs since being on pred than I have in years!

I too am a non meat eater an am often frustrated by the lack of quick and easy things there are to eat for lunch without faffing about making something or eating cheese which is not the healthiest thing to eat on a daily basis.

I don't think there is a problem with traveling coley. I asked the consultant at his NHS clinic the other week because of all my traveling to France and she said it's fine. You can fly up until 36 weeks but to take any sensible precautions to avoid DVT on longer flights. The only problem with traveling would be if you have to have intralipids, as free's early testing frenzy indicates.

free "Roid Rage" is a term I have been using since my first week on the Pred. And sadly, like you, the invincible energy feeling doesn't carry through to the gym. Oh gawd, I'm not looking forward to starting them again next week!

I have just sent and email to Mr S's private clinic to find out if I can get a private appointment just to get the fertility drugs and to find out how much that would cost, just for the appointment and prescription. If I wait for my referral on the NHS it could take 2-3 months to get an appointment and then there's the waiting for test results, waiting for a follow up appointment and then finding out whether they are willing to give me the drugs empirically as I have a feeling my results will come back normal. By which time I will probably be 45! I might go belt & braces and get the referral too just to check there isn't a problem though, and hopefully cancel it due to being up the duff.

Sorry to hear AF has arrived duggs - it is really a tough time knowing when to test or if we should just wait and see if AF arrives.

Have any of your found that pred delays AF?

My nausea from yesterday seems to have disappeared and I'm fairly convinced I will have a BFN this cycle. I am temping and still high temps but who knows? Will test Sat AM and then stop pred if no positive. Luckily I have had no side effects whatsoever from the pred - maybe slightly more hungry but nothing over the top. Fingers crossed it stays the same next cycle!

free - I have the same trepidation about faint positives that you do. All my pregnancies have only started as faint positives and luckily one has been successful. I think it must take a while for the Hcg to get into my urine? I hope you have an answer either way before you go away.

Speaking of travelling - what is Dr S's stance on travelling whilst trying and having treatment? I'm hoping to book a trip away over new years with the inlaws but don't know if I can as I don't know if I will be pregnant.

Good luck to all those testers in the next few days and look forward to some BFPs!

I have had those type of thoughts when pg too digi! Weird isn't it. It can't be an evolutionary thing as we had them when already updiffed by one man - so not a survival of the fittest type thing!

Ari I am a non-meat-eater but I do eat fish. Not sure if that is actually fish in fish fingers of course.

Am trying to calm myself down and get rid of these jitters by making my physical movements nice and slow but it's not working very well. Agggh! I feel like shouting my head off and picking up a car at the same time!! I actually have a PT session in the gym later but for some reason my desire to lift traffic always seems to wane when faced with dumbells. And I have to tell him to take it reasonably easy of course just in case I am pregnant.

Does not explain sexy thoughts whilst PG (or maybe it does, couldn't read beyond first paragraph). I have had several nights of rude dreams involving DH and various other imaginary men wanting to have their wicked way with me.

LOL at the thought of me baking cakes and knitting - am incredibly domestically challenged. In fact right now I think the steroid are making me very jittery - my hands don't work properly when typing and grilling myself some fish fingers (classy!) for lunch was a particular feat. It's a jitteryness that eating doesn't seem to cure too.

I've never been to Centreparcs Digi but they sound fascinating! What a great time of year to have a break too.

Gross article ari doesn't do much for my self esteem being lumped in with cows and pigs! Although fascinating that in the human female we apparently start having sexy thougts just in time for OV. Mother Nature is amazing! .... do they think only men think about sex the rest of the month!! Perhaps we are just too busy thinking about baking cakes and knitting...not

oh god - not something to click on while eating my lunch!