TTC/Pregnancy on Prednisolone or similar part 4

Am rather excited about the kitten Duggs. I love cats. Never had one though, I can't even keep a house plant alive for long .

Cheerful I too would be tempted to hot foot it for a hotel for a couple of days to avoid those foreign chemicals! Just to be on the safe side. Treat it as a little holiday. Although I guess it is quite an expensive time to be booking hotels. Sorry you were away from family for Christmas. Are you planning a trip over once you get to a safer stage? What about seeing Mr S again? Gosh I really hope I can stay pregnant and be given the go ahead to travel to the Carribean on the 31st Jan.

Thanks for the info about coming off the Pred everyone. Those of you on 25mg does your protocol actually say start tapering at 12 weeks? Mine on 40mg says start tapering at 9! As I didn't see him until 9.2 (LMP)/ 9.4 by measurements I started then but it still means that at 12 weeks LMP I will be down to 15mg. That worries me that you ladies with lower levels will have been on a higher rate than me at that crucial time. I might email the clinic and ask whether it is worth me stringing out the 25mg for a few more days when I get down to it. I am on 30 today and due to taper to 25mg on Saturday. Did anyone else taper from 40mg? Digi, Battery and others did you actually START your 20mg taper at 12 weeks or end? Presuming I make it that long tapering as I am I would be fully off the Pred at 13.3.

Good luck with the scan tomorrow! And for Coley today. Hope it all goes well. Waves to all. Sorry about all the drug mentalling...

Afternoon all and welcome to the newbies. Sorry for the circumstances that find you here but you're very welcome.

Hellishly busy here with inlaws staying over for Christmas and more of OH's family visiting today so not had a chance to get on till now, and this only a flying visit. Just wanted to say hi to everyone, and kittens hope things are going as well as possible with your mum.

/waves to everyone

Hi to all the newbies from me too! I'm sure you will get all the info u need from here. I go up to surrey from devon to see the great Mr s and I'm sure at least 2 ladies fly to see him!
Kittens, thinking of u and your mum.
And a couple of Xmas scans then ladies? Good luck! Will be lurking to hear from you all.
Also cheerful, I would also take myself off to a hotel for a while.
No news from me. I'm now officially waiting to ovulate. Should be over the weekend. I need to get the paperwork out and re-read it all to het the meds straight in my head.
Waves. X x x

Morning everyone :)

Firstly welcome to the newbie people - we are always glad to have new people join us :) - I know that CARE fertilty in Nottingham also test for NK cells, and I don't live too far from there but I see Mr S in London as from what I researched he is the best in his field - and tends to go all out on treatment.
charlie I don't think you are worrying without cause. I used to live overseas and you can never be too careful with chemicals - some that they spread are carcogenic - so off you go to your hotel :) - Good luck today xx
duggs I am still holding out for your bfp. I have got a new puppy, who my cat despises. The pup is very submissive terrified of her but she can't stand the sight of him, so I know how you feel!
kittens I hope you are ok, my thoughts are with you a lot, I wish we could could make things better for you xx
free No idea about the tapering, except to say that you have trusted Mr S so far - try to do so now xx can I ask how come you are tapering now? I am on 25 but it says on my plan not to start till week 12? Is it because you are on a higher dose than me?
coley good luck with your scan today! Let us know how you get on xxxx
digi you are such a weatlh of info on here - and help us all out so much xx

Well as digi says it is my scan tomorrow where I should be 6+5. I am not hopeful, besdies the thing with the low hcg, I don't feel pregnant at all. I have a big moon face and feel like a whale but that is it. I will let you know how it goes xx

Hey ladies. . How do I show you a photo? I will investigate. He's v cute. I realise i have approached this months testing all wrong. I got it wrong with trigger injection and ovulation day counting from date as is different on super ov - so the random test last week was a text book how to get it wrong case. I'm 12dpo today still a bfn. Fellow super ovs don't follow my testing technique.

Lots of scans starting up again next week and lots of wttc kicking off.

2012. HAS to be our year x

Meeting pq for lunch see u later !

Hi everyone! Glad that Christmas is over for those who found it difficult. For me it wasn't so bad, but just sad to be away from my family again. Just a quiet day with DH and spent a good few hours snoozing in the garden after cooking the Christmas dinner.

Hello to Carebear, Saratoga and Cornflake! Welcome! Cornflake- good luck for your scan, do let us know how you get on.

duggs- aww a new kitten! Would love to see a piccie, am very soft with kitties. 11dpo still early, so you're still in with a chance.

kittens hope your OH has provided you with lots of hugs and you're doing ok.

free I'm not surprised you are worrying about coming off the pred, I think it's only natural. Interesting he's giving you another intralipid at 16weeks. I'm sure I read somewhere else another doc also does one at 16 wks and I was wondering if I should investigate that too, although it's difficult to vidukaise getting beyond the 12wk scan successfully.

Well it sounds like lots of scans this week. I too have one tomorrow where I should be 10 wks exactly, not had one since 7.5wks so rather nervous. Then again if I had had one the day before I would still be nervous! Good luck everyone.

The management of the group of houses where I live has decided tomorrow to do the pesticide spraying. It's not actually inside the house but it worries me so much I think we are going to spend a couple of nights in a hotel. I'm slightly dubious of the chemicals they use here, wouldn't be surprised if they are ones banned in the UK. Am I being over the top about this do you think? Of course if I get bad news at the scan tomorrow, no need for a hotel.

Welcome to cornflakes, sarlat and carebear.

Cornflakes - Sorry things are quite up in the air for you. A heartbeat is a great sign and I?ve always been told that measurements are notoriously tricky to get accurately at this early stage. I had an early scan with Mr Shehata and another one very shortly afterwards on the NHS and there was about a week?s difference in the measurements. It all evened up at later scans as the pregnancy has gone on. Also, is the second ?sac? a haemotoma? I had one of those at my early scan and was told that I might bleed, but in fact I didn?t and it shrank gradually until it completely disappeared. Hopefully that is the same for you. I really hope things are clearer on Wednesday and you get some positive news. Do let us know how you get on.

Sarlat ? I agree with Digitalgirl that there?s a lot to be said for trusting your instincts. I was told that everything was OK after some (it turns out, rather limited) tests at my NHS recurrent miscarriage clinic, but I knew something was wrong. I had a raft of tests with Mr Shehata and he came up with a variety of things that needed treatment, including the killer cells. I can completely understand that you don?t want to embark on something as major as IVF without ruling out implantation problems.

Carebear ? I see the others have already answered your question! Good luck with it all.

Kittens ? Thinking about you at the moment. Really glad your OH is with you now.

Free ? yes, I was really anxious about coming off the pred. Although I hated all the symptoms it felt like a bit of a comfort blanket. The same with the clexane injections, actually. I?ve got a scan coming up in Jan that will help the docs decide whether I need to keep taking them, but I feel really nervy about the possibility of stopping in case anything happens to the baby.

It sounds like an awful Christmas day Choccy. Bet you?re glad it?s all behind you now.

Hurrah for 24 weeks Digi! What a milestone.

Sorry I?ve not name checked everyone else, but I hope everyone is OK. We had a lovely time at my parents but it was pretty full on and I?m so glad to be home again.

Sorry I forgot to name u sarlet welcome x

Happy post Christmas everyone and welcome to Cornflakes, Sarlat and Carebear!

Sarlat I tend to mc very early. I have v high NKCs but also wonder if I have implantation issues. Hopefully Mr S will have some thoughts when I see him next month. Although the Pred and intralipids had lowered the NKCs count as at last week, I'm still very high so I guess this most recent mc could well have been the NKCs again not "normal" bad luck. I can foresee me being put on the hydro-thingy, free but clearly mustn't assume.

Well Christmas was survived at least. Horribly difficult stressful day but not because of my shitty time as it turned out... Due to a poorly stepgrandparent being taken to A&E, being sent home, then having another "turn" and the ambulance being called. Cue stepmum and her sis having an absolutely hideous day dealing with his every whim (not being unsympathetic to his needs here btw - he has a chronic and worsening condition, has been putting too much on my s-mum, is incredibly demanding, and refuses to acknowledge that she cannot be there all the time or that he cannot cope at home on his own anymore...must have a look for a thread on dealing with this situation), me and Dh running round sorting out lunch detritus, and a very late night for all, coz we were determined to watch Downton!!

Barely had time to notice it was Christmas never mind think about how I'd expected it to be full of what if's - ie out of this years mc's, I'd have been with a 2 month old/been 9.4 or 18.3 etc... Dealing with the pg SIL and their 2 year old on Boxing Day was a breeze. And it turns out SIL has a friend who's just found she's got v high NKCs. Talk about worrying for nothing.

Another box ticked to have got through those two big family days. And AF arrived on Boxing Day too. 12dpo (estimated ov) so a bit earlier than normal but WTF eh?! All (ha! "All") I've got left now is stopping Pred on NYE which I've been looking at as my watershed moment really - New year new start.

Hope everyone is ok, and have a good relaxing last few days of 2011, then we can all outhit behind us and look forward to lots of good things for 2012! :)

Wow conflake, scrooge, carebear welcome. I think a few if u have briefly posted before.

Seems to be 2 main camps. Friendly wombs with really efficient killer cells that get to work pretty quickly- free ,scooter and PQ seem to be in this camp they get pg easily but need the treatment to keep their babies.

Then there is the camp of not getting BFPs easily that would be kittens, Snoopy, myself.

Probably some others and then I'm simplifying hugely.

Some ladies have found pred messes up their cycles so knowing when u ovulate and starting pred the day after is important.

At least once u can rule in or out nk cells you can then concentrate on getting that bfp. Once you've got that dr s or whoever u have will look after getting u through the first trimester.

I have dexter my new kitten on my shoulder. I'm 11dpo today still no bfp but no AF either. Just taking it easy as can't do much about anything at this stage.

Will meet PQ at lunchtime tomorrow.

Hope everyone else is doing ok. Looking forward to the symbolism of a new year.

I think there is someone doing testing in Nottingham (the name is something like Ndweke [sp???]). I'm not sure about anyone else in the North as I am in London. I thought your name looked familiar. It must be that thread I know you from. I meant to say, I also had a gut feeling that the problem was implantation related and have had months of acupuncture to try to help that. My cycles became "textbook" but I never got that elusive BFP so now I am bringing on the big guns - I will be starting my first lot of steroids this week, after I have ovulated.

Hi free - we crossed posts as my internet went down for 15 mins while I was typing my reply! I am glad Xmas is over too. I was so sad not to have a baby or be pregnant this year.

Ooh yes I was going to mention euro as well as your experience sounds quite similar. With her and the friend I mentioned too.

I think Professor Quenby now does testing for NK cells as well as other things. I know she is based in the Midlands in Coventry but I think I remember her also working out of Liverpool at some point? There is also a Dr George someone who works out of Nottingham, I think. A lot of people also travel down to see Mr S, including iggi on our thread who travels down from Scotland! Some of the others might be able to help further.

Also, thanks Digitalgirl for spotting my post. Will look forward to any thoughts you have.

Thank you so much for the replies Freelance and Euro.

It helps me to know that I'm not going mad with what I'm thinking. Euro, I think I have seen some of your posts on the TTC 8 months + thread. You are right, our stories are similar. I have also had ? implantation spotting some months which is not normal for me on a regaular cycle.

Freelance - congratulations on your pregnancy - it seems like you have been through the mill. I have everything crossed for you this time.

So where could I get tested? I am in the North of England. What is involved?

Thank you for the lovely welcomes. x

carebear I think all of the ladies on this thread see the same dr - Mr Shehata. He practises out of St Helier hospital near Epsom, the New Life Clinic in Epsom and the Miscarriage Clinic on Harley St. There are other drs out there doing immunology testing though - in London I know they do it at ARGC and a couple of other clinics. There is a lot of info over on the immunology boards on fertility friends.

Welcome cornflakes and sarlat. Sarlat your post rang very true with me. I think I had implantation bleeding and a few days of pregnancy back in March 2010 back when we were not actively trying but being casual about contraception (although by the time I peed on a stick I was bleeding and didn't get a BFP, however, I am as sure as I can be that I was briefly pregnant then). For the last 14 cycles we have made sure we have timed it right and hit the fertile days each cycle and still not got my BFP, although several months early on I had a lot of pregnancy symptoms but these now seem to have stopped. I had blood tests in April/May and they were fine. Hubby has had 2 SAs which were fine (although not stunning). I've had my HSG and ultrasound and everything was normal there. I got my diagnosis of "unexplained infertility" from the NHS a couple of months ago and got put on the waiting list for IVF. In November I saw Mr S and had my NK cell tests, and they have come back very high.

Like you, I used to get every bug going but haven't been ill in ages. I have no major autoimmune stuff but I do have Raynaud's and IBS, which both feature in the Beer book.

I feel sad about our lack of pregnancy and also rather scared of IVF so I think we are in the "same place" on our ttc journey. Welcome to the thread.

Hello all! And greetings from the other side of Christmas. Yes Iggi I am with you, I am glad it is all over. Will be happier too once NYE is done with (I think I will be having my quietest NYE ever!) and we can all go back to normal. It's nice but, this is more to do with my lifestyle rather than any pregnancy things, I love my freedom and time off but also love it when everyone else is in their offices and interesting work can come in. But of course I am still the one in control of my own hours

Firstly, a raft of new posts to address!

Hi Cornflakes and welcome. Didn't you also pop in not so long ago? Sorry to hear about what you're going through. It's not a good news story on my behalf but with my first pregnancy on the Pred I never saw a heartbeat or foetus and had a round of weekly unsuccessful scans before an ERPC at 8 weeks, so I can relate to what you're going through. I have no idea what the other sac could be but seeing a heartbeat there is a very good sign and hopefully you will get some more positive news on Wednesday. Do let us know how it goes. I know the waiting is awful, unfortunately that's often all we can do.

Sarlat don't be shy, it's lovely to have you here! Although sorry of course for what you have been through. I am not a doctor of course but it does certainly sound a bit suspiciously like implantation issues from what you say. My personal opinion would there would be no harm (apart from the cost of course, but worth it if you could get the money together) for being tested. A friend of mine (not on this thread) went through years of unsuccessful IVF only to get pregnant and have a mc at 7 weeks and I just knew deep down she needed to get tested for NK cells. She has indeed been recognised as having them with Mr S and he has now put her on the superovulation programme rather than going down the IVF route. When I was in the same position earlier this year, no problems conceiving and only one recent mc (I had two in my early 20s) I too suspected there might be a problem and just wanted to 'rule it out' anyway. I am glad I did as I went on to have another mc and am now 10 weeks pregnant (hopefully - haven't had a scan for a week) on the treatment. So for me personally it is worth testing for even just to rule it out if you turn out to be ok. It sounds like you and DH are making a huge effort to make this work though so good on you both, and sorry it has been so traumatic. We can all relate.

Hello too to CareBear! Most of us here are under the care of the Miscarriage Clinic which is based out of Surrey and Harley St (you can find it easily online). There are a couple of others across the country but this clinic has excellent success rates and seems to be very good. You can also get a referral to Mr Shehata (the man who has pioneered a lot of this treatment) on the NHS via Epsom Hospital or St Helier but it can take quite a time to get an appointment and you might need to have had 3 consecutive miscarriages before your GP agrees to refer you. If you have any more questions do ask as we have acquired quite a bit of knowledge here as a group! And of course we spend far too much time on Dr Google and probably have that 'a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing' issue going on, but hey :)

So how is everyone else? Kittens we are all thinking about you still. Stogan it is very understandable to have negative thoughts. If I ever get beyond a first trimester I imagine my Dr Googling will progress to things about later losses. But all seems to be going well with you and you just have to try to believe it will continue and be positive.

Duggs did anything else develop with the testing?! Am now in Brighton now for a week Duggs, so not in town, but really looking forward to spending a few days by the sea, seeing friends and hanging round in coffee shops.

Brownie I was thinking about you and your quiet Christmas you were telling me about when we met. I hope you are feeling a bit more relaxed now as time goes on. Well done Digi now being over viable! It's a wonderful thing. When do you go into the 3rd trimester slot? I am an expert in early pregnancy but sadly not yet anything beyond the first trimester!

As for me, well I am feeling sick and tired on and off and then still mentalling when I feel better. Can't win. It seems so long to wait until the next scan. But wait I must. Today would be 10 weeks, if all is still alive and well in there.

Can I ask a question from all you 2nd trimester ladies? Were you scared about tapering the Pred. I suddenly got all freaked out last night thinking it was too early to be doing it. I am now down to 30 having started to taper from Friday 23rd as told by Mr S. Of course, he knows what he is doing but I am still worrying! If I keep tapering 5mg every 4 days (and stay pregnant of course) I will be totally off by 13+3. When I see him on the 6th Jan, again if it is still alive, I will be staying for an intralipids. That will be 11.3 so just a bit before that 12 week mark. Oh and he also said he would like me to have an extra intralipids just as an added boost around 16 weeks. But am jumping the gun a bit now, does anyone have any comforting thoughts about the taper...?!

Big waves and lots of love, luck and happiness to all for 2012. This is going to be our year everyone! 2011 was a bit of a pisser all round, we deserve a good one :)

Hi Ladies - any recommendations of where to go to get tested for this kind of thing in the london / south east area?

thanks. x

Hi Ladies, Hope you all had a great Christmas!

I'm a long-term stalker of the conception threads (and a bit shy).
Would be very greatful for any comments / advice about my situation.

Got pregant quickly and easily back in April 2010 but miscarried in May 2010 at nearly 6 weeks. I had no further BFP 's after this but thought I could feel the same 'scraping' implantation feelings with a least 3 other cycles in the following 6 months.

Fast foward to May 20111 and 1 year post miscarriage and we began fertility investigations. My bloods have come back fine including day 3 and 21 tests etc. I have regular cycles and strong ovulation signs. DH's sperm results are not good / not bad depending on what you read. Really good counts, ok motility and morphology up to 3%. So far this has been pinpointed as the cause - which I do accept could be the main issue. I will be having scans and HSG very soon to comeplete the tests. The clinic want us to do IVF - very scared about it.

However, I always have a nagging feeling that we are acheiving concepetion naturally some months but implantation isn't working. I could be grasping at straws, I know. This month, I had a strong poking feeling near my belly button at 5 - 6 dpo, and then very sore boobs. However, this is all subsiding as I get nearer to AF.

Other interesting things to add are that the month I did conceive and got a confirned BFP, i was poorly with pharyngitis and on antibiotics - I often wonder if my immune system was supressed. I have no autoimmue disease to my knowledge but do get recurrent viral mouth ulcers. I haven't had any illness this year what so ever (normally get heavy colds at least a couple of times a year). I also think it is strange how we conceived so quickly once but have never repeated this. It doesn't add up somehow.

Our ferility clinic (NHS) are good but I don't feel they want to hear my 'wacky' theories. I have read the Beer book. I also have reflexology to support fertility. DH sees an acupuncturist and takes chinese meds. We are trying so hard. It has been over 18 months and we are both so sad.

Thank you for reading if you got this far. Any ideas??

Hi Cornflakes, welcome. Obviously a very worrying time for you, and I wish I had the answers.. Only thing I can really say is that I had no symptoms on the steroids, I wouldn't worry about that.
Post-Christmas greetings to everyone else (anyone else glad it's all over, or is it just me?!)

Hi Cornflakes, welcome. Obviously a very worrying time for you, and I wish I had the answers.. Only thing I can really say is that I had no symptoms on the steroids, I wouldn't worry about that.
Post-Christmas greetings to everyone else (anyone else glad it's all over, or is it just me?!)

Hi I wondered if I can join you ladies? I'm 41 and I have had 4 mc in the last two years. I have been diagnosed with v high nk cells I think it was 3. Something. I also hve an underactive thyroid and I'm on 150mg thyroxine.
I fell pregnant on the second month of steroids under dr s at st helier.
I went for my first scan last Wednesday which was according tomine and their calculation 6 +4 . It was good and bad news at the scan I had a sack and heartbeat but measured Aton 5-6 weeks she thought . I also had another what she first thought was a sack behind but she then did an internal scan and said she thought it was old blood that would come away.
I havnt had any bleeding at all, I am booked in for another scan this Wednesday as I was so worried plus I have my second lot of intrepilids booked in on the 3rd jan, I know it seems negative but I didn't want to pay out for them if it's all gone wrong again.
I havnt had any symptoms at all but I'm hoping that's the steroids taking over?
Im finding it hard to think positive as I have yet to have a smooth ride.
Any advice would be great from you.
Thanks so much for listening to me rant xxx

Ohh meant kittens in last post. Glad ur OH has arrived for support x