TTC/ pregnancy on Prednisolone or similar part 3

Free how is your Nan? Am sure she is really happy to have you there with her for support.

Ari What can I say...I am too regularly left speechless by people's lack of empathy for women who have been through what we have been through. You must be strong for your sake and somehow try and make it till tomorrow when I hope that someone with a heart can see why this is so important...pffft. Big cocoon hug to you.

Iggi I too am weaning off the roids and feel like poo. Feel very feverish and sick at the moment :(

Choccy - I think you taking it easy and living in your bubble is exactly what I would do. I did have a lot of cramping and general achiness. I was told to expect spotting as I have a haematoma but all is good. Stay strong please x Re the cyclogest I use one in the morning and the other in the evening before I go to bed.

Duggs I know it must seem daunting to get a diagnosis, but it is good they have something to work with. I have been on Metformin on and off for 5 years now. What dose have they given you? You may feel a bit sick at first until your body gets used to it as Cheerful says, but it definitely did the trick for me. I was diagnosed 6 years ago. It is also the reason I am insulin intolerant (common for women with PCO) so follow low GI diet which has really helped me feel a lot better. It brought my cycles from 3-4 a year to anywhere between 30 - 40 days. I ended up needing help from Clomid as didn't always ovulate. If you have any questions about low GI stuff etc happy to help.

Coley - I second Comedy, we can only put our lives on hold for so long. Sounds like a fab trip, go for it.

Welcome to Seeker & Hopeful, sorry you have had to come here.

Waves to anyone I have missed. Am going to plonk myself infront of TV and watch mindless TV and have an early night me thinks. x

Oh Ari I really feel for you. When are people going to realise how awful this is for us? I wouldnt wish miscarriages on anyone but you kind of think that the receptionist would understand more if she knew what you were going through.
At least you have us to talk to. I also think I would go mad if I hadn't have found you all! Hugs to everyone!

Duggs looks like I will need to talk to you about the IVF route too you mentioned. I haven't told DH but that will be my last resort too. I would happily sell my car to fund it and buy a cheap run around We don't have that kind of money either but I would find it if I had to. We are using a credit card as it is to pay for Dr S!

Free you are right babies are everywhere you go. It's worse when you have a young child too as you come into contact with more pregnant women and ladies who are having more children at toddler groups and pre school etc. I had a really rude woman ask me if I had any other children at my daughters preschool and I said she was an only child. She looked at me like I told her I was a mass murderer as she just said "Oh" and then walked off!! I wasn't going to get into the whole miscarriage thing with her.
How is your Nan by the way?

Choccy I thought that about aspirin too. I also know some foods can make you bleed more and thin your blood such as brocolli and onions so maybe limit those too? It probably won't make any difference but you never know!
www.livestrong.com/article/335059-foods-high-in-salicylic-acid/

Ari big grr from me to that useless receptionist on your behalf. Not what you need. Call again tomorrow and hopefully you'll at least get through to a different person, which would be a good start. Thinking of you.

free I know what you mean, babies are fecking everywhere aren't they?! But then I tend to find that whatever I'm thinking about or want I see a lot of, eg a nice winter coat, that Merc I'm never going to be able to afford...

Been thinking about and discounting getting hcg tests done. Still feel a bit crampy and achy, but the spotting is lighter today, whether that's because I've basically sat doing nothing or because it's easing off, I don't really care. And can't know for sure anyway. If I go get tested, I'll be mentalling for the 48 hours waiting for results, whereas as it stands, aside from doubling up the cyclogest, all I can do is sit and wait it out. So, as I can't do anything on a physical level, I can only look after my psychological health and get my head straight. I'm doing what I can on that count by hiding away in my little bubble at home. Nothing else I can do, aside from avoiding dreadful daytime telly - that'd probably send me over the edge in normal circumstances!

I'm thinking I am best off seeing how things are say Sunday/Monday, and consider getting hcg done then if I'm still spotting. As for scanning, it's too early to scan now anyway. I'll need a scan to check if there's anything there, or if I have bled lots to check its all gone. I've got a scan on Saturday week with Dr S, so may as well wait for that.

If I stop spotting in the meantime, great. If not, well we can have a look on the 3rd. Thinking aloud here, sorry for train of thought. It's just so comforting and helpful to know so many of you guys have come through bleeding ok. I know that doesn't guarantee me anything but it's really helping me not lose it right now. I have to keep that little bit of niggling confidence going! :)

Ari that receptionist has a bad attitude. I bet she did not call. I had a similar experience last time and after a stressy phonecall with the ultra pathetic reception woman, got my husband to call them and calmly explain the history and the stress the wait was causing and I got the results witthin an hour after being told I couldn't possible have them before the weekend. Do you think getting your OH to plead with them might help? The wait stress is really the last thing you want.

Choccy - how are things with you today?

choccy just wondered how you're doing now??

Sorry Ari, another wait is not what you needed (and having to fight an unhelpful system as usual)
Free it's as well the people around you can't read your mind! Think positively, they might all be ex-Shehata patients too.

Well a very quick update from me to say ... absolutely nothing. The doc surgery wasn't anywhere near as helpful today, woman I spoke to to ask if she'd call the lab for my results of this morning's tests very clearly didn't want to, told me it was too soon and there was no point calling, even though I told her the same test on Monday had come back the same afternoon. She wasn't interested, eventually agreed to call but went to put the phone down without taking my phone number to call me back, I just managed to stop her.

Well she didn't call, surprise surprise, so I just called again, got the same woman, who said "oh yes I've spoken to them, it's far too soon, they don't have the result and won't have until tomorrow". She hadn't bothered to call me with this news, and to be honest, from her attitude I'm wondering if she did actually call the lab anyway. I suspect not, I think I've been fobbed off.

Anyway, yet another wait, and yet another attempt tomorrow to persuade the doctor's surgery to call the lab, as the result won't have actually got to the surgery by then. I hate this hit-and-miss service you get on the NHS these days, it all depends on the mood of the person you talk to as to whether or not you get a sympathetic - and therefore helpful - attitude.

Ok a trivial problem looking for an answer - why have I woken up this morning with my face covered in red blotches? Is there any coming-off-steroids reason for this?

Just re read that and sometimes forget we don't know each other in RL. . Certainly don't have any £ kicking about let alone £ks! What a rollercoaster x

Totally understand ari and feel sick at thought of pressure when £7k is riding on every possible pregnancy - ( not such an issue if you have lots of £7ks kicking about). Hideous. Hope u ok - have you had any tests or scans yet this morning - prob not x

I should have said, honestly I would have gone nuts without you ladies to talk to - it is such a comfort to know there are people who understand, who won't think you're just being unnecessarily negative, and who actually get what you're going through without judging. I am sure I may come across as being overly pessimistic, while I'm not meaning to, but it's just hard to have your hopes raised just a little to get them all dashed again - and again. DP is fabulous, and I have no doubt he is suffering in his own way, but he seems far more level-headed and practical about the whole thing; he's very much a "what will be, will be" sort of person, whereas I am going through mental hell even while knowing full well that that can't help anything, and I'm doing all I can.

So big group cocoon hugs to each and every one of you ladies going through this hellish journey, and yay to us!

Thanks free and duggs. duggs that form of IVF certainly sounds best to avoid chromosomal issues, but unfortunately DP and I decided right at the start that we wouldn't go the IVF route - apart from anything else, we just plain can't afford it :( If I had lots of money then it definitely might be something I'd look at, but I just don't, unfortunately - the treatment under Mr S will wipe out my savings as it is.

Hug to both - meant choccy too!

ari you may be surprised, however we've all been sat there and those words offer little comfort. Reading what you have said I am not sure if now is the time as there is still half a chance there is a live emby there. If HOWEVER things don't work out this time - I have said to myself the last thing i will throw at this is ivf with array CGH. I had it lined up at the London womens clinic. They don't damage the embryos as they take the polar body (which is a carbon replica of the emby) that is expelled. They then freeze ( but better freezing not the old freezing) the embies that get to day 5 blasto stage. They then send the polar bodies to check for 23 full pairs of chromosomes. It is this bit that is most useful for older or us ladies who have had chromosonal losses. They miss a month so stim drugs leave system and then replace perfect emby back- with steroids etc. This gives the most logical chance of success as it could v v well be chromosonal issues you r facing at over 40. ( I can say as I lost little girl to trisomy 13 and I'm 35 ). I've done a lot of research and array or micro array CGH is little known in uk. Dr g sher in LA is pioneer. Anyway u still have 50% chance this is irrelevant info for u and we all sincerely hope so. Any others thinking of ivf for accuracy reasons I'm happy to share any info I've found. I wouldn't do it without the CGH bit. It is difficult not to think all mc r caused by nk cells but we know all other causes. probably not giving u the strength u need to get through the next few hours/ days but hopefully we on here can give u a little?
Big cocoon hug to you both x

free so good it sounds things are going the right way for you, I have so many fingers crossed for all the early pregnancy ladies (and the later ones, of course, but I think you need less finger-crossing than the early-days ones :) ) that I'm struggling to type!

choccy hang in there girl - I know work is important, and I so know what you mean about feeling terribly unprofessional right now. I have a major huge project deadline hanging over my shoulders at work, and I just can't get my head into gear to knuckle down and get it done. I risk getting into huge trouble, but I just can't get myself motivated, it's terrible. But you are so very right choccy, you need to focus on you and your baby. Rest up as much as you need, take it really easy, and I really hope everything settles for you asap.

Good luck hopeful with the follow-up today, do let us know what the outcome is?

And scooter, definitely hope this week goes well for you, I can imagine the tenterhooks you're on but fingers crossed (again! - going to move on to toes next) that everything goes well.

Am I the only one that's (yet again) questioning their sanity, putting myself through this again? This particular pregnancy has next-to-no-hope at all going for it, so I'm facing yet again another MC, another wait for my body to sort itself out, another wait for the dreaded OV, etc, and going through it all over again. I have my OV and CBFM sticks at the ready but you know, I'm so, so tired of going through this. I think I wouldn't feel quite so bad if I didn't have the huge time pressure hanging on me. I'm 44 in 6.5 weeks, and the chances of chromosomal issues with each egg that even manages to get fertilised are rising hugely all the time. It's very possible that even after this one, the next could be the same, and the next, and the next - Mr S's plan may never get a chance. I don't want to sound overly pessimistic but as I said before, the facts are what they are. A very big part of me wishes I could accept my DD will be an only child, but I just can't - but at the same time, I'm putting myself through the wringer, again and again. Where does it end? I know you ladies understand, I just wish there was an answer.

PS scooter yes I'd had that thought about aspirin too. Certainly it is quite thin pale red blood.

Morning Ari. Another bruise but another number for you. Fingers crossed its a good one it'll certainly be more accurate than a HPT.

Thanks for asking... Physically, am still bleeding and a bit crampy since I got up for breakfast and Pred.

Mentalling wise, my work-me head is all over the place and couldn't string a sentence together if I had it in front of me on a cue card. Appalling timing but I just couldn't cope with work. I am trying to stop myself feeling bad about letting work down at a busy time. That clashes with my professional instincts but I need to be selfish right now and most importantly I promised myself I would throw everything at this pregnancy and I don't want to look back and think "what if I hadn't dragged myself into work?". Thankfully my boss is very understanding.

In case it is just implantation then I feel I need to do all I can (or rather as little as I can!) to prevent the baby going out with the bath water as it were... The less I move around maybe it'll settle down without me knocking too much lining out. It is massively comforting to know that it may not all be over but no matter how much I repeat that "what will be wil be", I still feel like I'm floundering around in the midst of some big fuzzy vague sea of white noise. It's all so confusing.

Well here we are again, silly o'clock and sitting in the community hospital waiting for yet another bruise in my arm. Not confident at all that my levels will have gone up enough as I did another digital test this morning, apparently it changes from showing 1-2 weeks to 2-3 weeks at 200. My level on Mon was 112, so if it had doubled in the last 48 hours then I would now be over 200 and so showing 2-3 weeks this morning. It didn't, it still showed 1-2 weeks. I think I know the answer :(

choccy how are you doing this morning.

Free really hope your nan is ok, I am sure it will be a real comfort to her to have you at her side tomorrow. By the way, I also saw 954 and thought we had 6 posts left, d'oh!! Is pregnancy-brain a proper symptom, have to chalk that one up then!

ari it is so hard in the early days, such a battle with hope and fear and it's worse at the start because although we all knew what we were in for, somehow it's still a bit of a shock to be back in the game. Glad that you have sorted the HCG tests and fingers crossed you can get reassurance from the next lot of figures. Keep reminding yourself that the doubling thing can't be an exact science because the majority of pregnancies don't get monitored for HCG progress, all kinds of crazy things may be going on with people's levels and you may be right in there in the realms of normal all along.

choccy hope the normal implantation spotting stories have been reassuring for you, it is the right window for it after all but we all know it is such a horrible panic to see. Also I wonder if we are more susceptible to it as we are taking the aspirin... just a thought? I have to say I was freaked out in the same way at about 5 weeks but it was a massive surprise and relief that it didn't turn into anything more. Hope work issues have calmed down a bit and you can try and relax this eve.

duggs it's never nice to have a diagnosis but it must be a bit of a relief that you now have something to work with and are now in Mr S's hands for treatment. Ferrari analogy sounds promising :)

Hi to Seeker & hopeful so sorry you find yourselves here but you are in the best company with a pretty expert body of wisdom to draw on too. Have to say I reach for the thread before the doctors these days and always find it massively helpful.

No news here but keeping busy as DH is away even longer now and I have to keep distracting myself from the fact these two weeks are usually make or break for me. Intralipids tomorrow morning and scan on Friday so I am praying for something hopeful to report then.

Waving to everyone and congrats to the milestoners with good scans! Just so much to catch up on every time I go online, sorry to miss anyone.

Just to add to the comments for Choccy, I had bleeding with my first pg which resulted in my wee boy.

hey ladies..

Many thanks for the info on metformin and Polycystic ovaries. Digi and now cheerful. So interesting you mentioned the corrolation between FSH :LH cheerful as Raj Rai mentioned it when I was pointing it out, but he didn't say or do anything about it. Not did their scan pick it up.. St Mary's Recurrent MC centre.. largest in Europe.. doesn't fill you with confidence does it? I guess it is all about timing for the scans and I guess they would have assumed something this common would have been picked up before.

Yes sue and comedy 2.30pm on Sat in that pub. I'll message you both.

I bought the link to the spreadsheet over. It probably needs updating at some point when and if people feel ready.

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

Hope things settle down for the newly PG ladies. The curse of worry that we are forced to carry, life is not fair and we are so helpless. huge hugs and we are thinking positive thoughts x

Hey, found you all! Well done on new thread - it goes so fast on here! I'm still lurking, have my follow up with Mr S tomorrow. Feeling apprehensive!

Choccy, much love. Hope it all settles down tonight xxx
Ari, hope you have good news too

Waves to all!
xxxx