TTC/ pregnancy on Prednisolone or similar part 2

Happy birthday duggs x???

cheerful I had my first scan at exactly 6 weeks and almost fell off the hospital bed when they said there is the heartbeat as had never seen one before so I can confirm it is very definitely possible in some cases but some can't be seen until 8 weeks, guess we were just lucky, although judging by the size of me now my baby seems to be a fast developer ha ha

Xxx

Wow so many messages! I can't keep up.
Ari my local epu and my gp have each done hcg tests for me in the past. Can't remember if I had to cite spotting, I think once I said a clearblue digi test wasn't rising. Anyway they were happy to do that.

Vitamins - I asked S about giving up the vitamins and he said I didn't have to. (For instance, there's folic acid in pregnacare, and I know I took that all the way through with ds). I might ask again as I want to be sure none of the vast amount I'm taking could cause harm. They are kind of a security blanket for me! What did anyway else do if they reached that stage?
I am thinking will have to face up to telling (new) boss soon about the pg - dreading it, though obviously would much rather be doing this than the alternative.

Ari - The others are right. Testing in the middle of the day is bound to give you a faint line. Impossible not to freak out though, I know I'd be exactly the same. Testing in the morning and comparing to yesterday's test will give you a better idea if you really can't wait. Have you got a sympathetic gp who would arrange an HCG test for you?

Free - I'm not surprised that you were crying at the thought of not getting the intralipids. I burst into tears at the GP waiting room this morning when trying to sort out my repeat prescription for clexane. I've only got enough to last me till the weekend and thought that going today allowed enought time for them to process the repeat prescription but they were saying they couldn't get it till Monday. All sorted now, thankfully and now that I've calmed down I feel really stupid but at the time I really felt like I could have thrown myself on the floor and sobbed and sobbed.

Kittens - I had to smile at the vision of your ever decreasing urine pot.

Hope everyone else is OK. Any scan news?

Off out tonight. Cannot wait to get my hands on a glass of wine. The thought of it has been keeping me going since Monday!

Morning all! Just woken up at 7am here, a huge relief as it has been 4am every morning so far and I finally feel refreshed.

Ari I am going to queue in line with my large wet fish in hand (am picturing a scene from Airplane I think) to give you a good wet-fishing. Back away from the sticks. Choccy and the others are right, maybe an HCG test would help? I had one yesterday and it is the level it should be at a 4 week pregnancy, obviously the only real market with it is whether it goes up and I would need to get that tested again. Maybe I too should have one at NLC when I get back.

I have also had some mild cramping and back ache. I didn?t get this with my other two pregnancies of the year. I am hoping that means good things, but who knows. Digi, it is really good to hear things that have happened when you had DS as it makes it all a bit reassuring. This morning I am feeling no symptoms whatsoever so that starts a mini-mental too. Can?t win, you are right Brownie!

Cheerful, great that your intralipids have arrived for next time, will you see if you can get someone to come to the house to administer? Gosh I do hope we all need one again at 8 weeks, that would be a very, very good sign.

As for the first scan I am not so sure. Six weeks for me would be the 29th November but yes that does feel way too early. Unfortunately I just envisage it going the same way as the last time ? nothing to see and then going back for another one the following week Sadly there was never anything to see. I might see if I can leave it until 7 weeks to be more sure that there SHOULD be something. When is everyone else having a scan?

Kittens, my electronic ref to Mr S the first time and also St Mary?s never got sent. I had to get it faxed directly as I was calling up every day. Re France, yes it would be great to be pregnant. I have a feeling that this time I am actually going to continue to have the odd glass of wine if I want it. Sometimes it seems so futile to give things up when I might not stay pregnant anyway. So far I have been good though.

Battery, did you find out anything about lining thickening? What makes you feel yours is thin? Just one of those hunches that we have? Not sure whether you should mention the treatment to St Marys. Digi might be able to advise as she had had both.

Talking of St Mary?s I have that appointment on the 29th and obviously won?t be able to take it now if I am still pregnant at that point.

Duggs! Happy Birthday!! 35 is indeed very young. I turned 37 in July if that makes you feel any better. I love it that you are celebrating with a bit of tabling

Yes Sue, a new dress is always a good idea! I bought one the other day here actually, a black lacy number. I think I will wear it on the weekend. Before I become too Progesterone bloated?

Comedy, I think Vitamins etc are stopped at 12 weeks are they? Seems quite early as I am sure there are some who take folic acid later? Not sure. I have the protocol here on my laptop, just haven?t yet needed to look that far ahead!

So, snoopy to test soon?

Also when is Euro?s appointment?

Am happy to help decide venues for London if help needed, but equally happy to go anywhere. Yes I guess PMs might be better for location details.

Ah, a rather thorough post there! Amazing what a good night?s sleep can do.

Waves to Cherry, Coconut, Stogan, Scooter, Puree, Coley, Iggi and all those I haven?t mentioned. Thanks being pleased I sorted out the intralipids. Yes it was a bit of a nightmare at first, I was in tears when it looked like I might not get them done. But thankfully I found that wonderful clinic.

Talking about the peeing containers - we've all done that with the lids, (er, haven't we)? The only thing i could find when I went away for a few days was a shaving foam lid, that also had a little hole in it. I got the hang of getting the test stick ready first while covering the hole in the style of the Little Dutch Boy and the dyke. Like snoopy, I also have a tea light holder in my bathroom, although every week after the cleaner has visited, it is full of my make up brushes... I have now taken to hiding it before she comes.

Ari - you definitely can't compare a test that wasn't even done in the morning. I hope you manage to find a place to test your HCG and it puts your mind at rest.

My DH brought me home a present last night which I excitedly unwrapped - a bag of 20% intralipids! Actually not as mad as it seems as it's difficult to get hold of over here and with a 4 week order period, it was a bit touch and go whether I would be able to get hold of any the other day, so at least I'm sorted for the next session. By the way it was only the equivalent of about £45 and that was for 500ml (only need 100ml) and everything is more expensive here, so I bet much cheaper in the UK!

Really wish i could go to your 6th Dec meet up. I have booked in for my first scan that day so it is my next milestone. When's everyone else having the first scan? I know Dr S says 6 weeks but that seemed like a few days too early as you wouldn't get a heart beat by then.

Beats me ari! Very annoying though! I have left a phone message and email for Mr S's secretary.

Following my text from Mr S's secretary yesterday saying my letter was sent electronically that morning to my GP, I have just phoned my GP and they've not yet received it. Aaaaarrrrgh! Talk about banging my head agains a brick wall! I don't want to waste a month taking the wrong dose of steroids. Damn.

By the almighty "Law of Sod" I should be pregnant this or next month, as I am spending Christmas in France with my Mum and Stepdad. Apparently they are traditionally eat a lot of seafood at Christmas in their region. Including Oysters, which I love. Then there's the cheese, and wine ....... and yet, I'm still hoping I cannot partake in any of those things.

Ari stop it. Now. You know there's nothing you can do by poas-ing any more. What will be will be. You are taking all the drugs. All you can do is wait and see. Mentalling is only going to make time go even slower and stressing yourself out going round in circles is not going to help.

Ok, we talked about how we both hate the lack of control. That's fine. Let's look at getting some control over your confusion. One thing I would suggest is go get hcg tests. NLC will do for £60. Go tmrw and Monday or else 48 hours apart. You can then find out if your levels are (a) within range for 4wks and (b) going upwards which will indicate all is as ok as can be at this stage. You'll have to deal with the needles but in the grand scheme it's got to be worthwhile.

Big hug :)

I'm up for the 6th. Suggest Duggs pm's those attending... Not sure how public people want venue to be made? I'm not exactly public about my situation...

Happy birthday Duggs!!

Little drops? Hmmm, I wish! It was more like a very narrow, but very steady stream. lol. I need to pee quite badly when I did it so was quite generous with my sample. Luckily I was just out of the shower so there were no clothing casualties. Very elegant I will revert to my usual receptical which I had taken to work yesterday to test as I left for work at 6am (eek!) yesterday which was too early to do and OPK.

That's funny. My poas recepticle is a glass green tealight holder in bathroom cabinet. DS said the other day what's this mummy? and I said never you mind but never ever use it for night time drinking water!

Ari - anything is possible so try to stay positive! Maybe don't test tomorrow and test the follow morning with FMU and you should have any answer by then. Sorry - I have been there and its no fun! The next few days will be tough so big hugs and thinking of you!

Good luck to all the other newly pregnant girls too!

You can't compare lines under these circumsances ari! Nooooooo! If you have to do a test later in the day then you need to at least have not drunk anything or had a wee for about 4 hours. But still..... You're not even 14dpo yet for god's sake woman. I'm off to the fridge to find a large fish to slap you with (and a paper bag for you to breathe into).

With regards to my POAS misadventure, I was going to say PMSL but that was a little too close to the truth.

Happy Birthday duggs. If it makes you feel any better my 42nd birthday is looming in less than 2 months. You are but a spring chicken! Your post made me laugh though as myself and OP spend an inordinate amount of time discussing the antics of our cat too.

I'm still up for the meet up too btw.

Oh, just to amuse you all, here is my tip of the day for those of you still POAS whether for OPKs or HPTs - I tend to use things like hairspray lids as a wee receptical, just make sure it's not one that happens to have a little hole in it ... whoops!

thanks for the wishes guys !

Yes Tuesday 6 Dec meet up is def still on.. I've an idea where we could go in central London.. will check it out and post and see if people happy with the bar.

I've updated the spread sheet.. I know some of the early BFP ladies feel a bit nervous.. however, you've got your BFP's and that is a closer step than BFN's and you are doing all you can to move forward. Positive thoughts.

Have put the post 12 weeks ladies into another colour..you are just normal pregnant ladies now ....in amongst the millions of them out there !

docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtEN_z1FdjUMdHd6c0xCd2JRd3hXVmtTZXROYVE1OGc#gid=0

ari bean continues to bed in a bit more even after 'first contact'. In my pg with ds I had brown spotting followed by cramping and red bleeding from week 4 to 7. Was hideously stressful but only explanation doctor could give was 'implantation'.
This pg I had waves of cramping all day at exactly 5 weeks. Tried my hardest not to freak out and continue pretending I wasn't really pg.
I know neither of us know whether the cramping means anything at this point but the more you can do to distract yourself and keep your mind occupied the better.

puree am still up for meet up. Think duggs has venue details.

duggs shall we pm you our email/mobile details?

Happy Birthday duggs you spring chicken! have a glass for me!

digi yes next on the list..........must keep busy must keep busy

ari sorry you gettin cramps it is such a worry and probably nothing is really going to put your mind at rest - we will still worry but it is probably just your body adjusting.x

free great you got drip sorted and had a lovely day to relax you a bit afterwards, as all sounded stressful trying to get it sorted.

happy birthday duggs!! Have a great day. MY 35th is looming in a few months and I am making such a big deal out of it in my head - I can appreciate how you might be feeling.

By the way are we still on for a meet up in London on Tue 6 Dec? Have babysitter booked and all (DH works late every night so forward planning required for everything...). I guess we need to PM the exact details.

Duggs happy birthday - you are still young in the fertility game so don't worry about turning 35! Enjoy your lunch.

Free glad you have the intrallipids sorted and great that your levels are rising well.

Ari dont read too much into the cramps as it probably is implantation. You are bound to be panicking though as I know I will when I get a BFP. I read that you can still implant at 13DPO as that's what I thought was happening to me last month (but it wasn't). Why don't you get the blood test at the docs to confirm the pregnancy? Good luck anyway and fingers crossed its just your body adjusting.

It is amazing how diff docs will prescribe different things. I think she feels sorry for me as she knows my whole history and her friend has been through 8 miscarriages and now has a healthy baby after taking clexane.

Well done for getting it all sorted free you are amazing, deserve a massive pat on the back. Not everyone would have the confidence to organise intralipids out there.

duggs happy birthday! Enjoy your boozy lunch!!

ari if there's no bleeding then the cramps are officially implantation cramps. Are you taking the cyclogest?