TTC/Pregnancy on Prednisolone or similar part 4

Hey battery ... well, not sure about fate/god/signs BUT by the law of averages, you are facing pretty much what I did (and thinking the same, by the sound of it) ... and since mine didn't work out, then by the law of averages yours will. And I'm sticking to that! :) Having said all that, I am a firm believer in intuition so ... if you had a little intuit (not the Eskimo variety, you understand) that All Will Be Well ... then I'm all for it. Listen to it!

Hello everyone!

It's my last day at wrok today until 9th Jan so I am quite happy :)

digi It's weird isn't it that we are never ill? DP is an instructor for young people in his job so picks up every germ going. I never get anything. Wierdly enough - the cycle I fell pg I did get a sniff for about 24 hours but that was it.
choccy new year - new start - lovely new baby :) ??xx
coley glad you are feeling crap IYSWIM!!
ARI Wave back :)

Well I feel ....well. Thats it. A bit of breast tenderness and some waves of nausea but that is it. I have not thought about this pg at all. We have hardly discussed it, as we made that mistake the last 3 times - the more plans you make the more there are to crumble. I am not morbid, but I have it in my mind that this pregnancy is not going to work out so don't think about it. I feel calm about it all , and have no real reason to think like that except for the HCg numbers. I will not be surprised if I go for a scan next week and there is nothing there. I am not sad - just thinking in realistic terms.

I will make a deal - does anyone believe in fate/god/signs?

If so - I promise that if my scan goes ok - I will share a little story that happened to me over the weekend that did make me think 'actually this pregnancy is going to be ok'. So if it is - I will tell you all my little tale next week.- I don't want to say now in case in does go wrong and I look like a tit fool.

I hope everyone is ok :) xxx

Free I didnt move the dates on as forgot to do it!! Doh, not sure if Digi did it above!

Battery - glad to hear your levels are increasing! That's a great sign.

picolina - I agree with Digi that you should start taking the pred a few days after ovulation to prevent delays. I took it too soon the my first cycle with pred which delayed ovulation and I didn't conceive then I started about 3/4 days this cycle, which worked for me!

Choccy - Maybe your cold is a good sign that the pred has reduced your NKs. I never get sick and have had a terrible cold the last few weeks - I'm actually relieved as hopefully my NKs are focussing on the cold and not the pregnancy. We will soon see...

free - Good luck for your scan on 23rd. Everything has been positive so far so I hope that all continues for this scan:) It will be good to finally wean off the pred. I was wondering why we only wean 5mg every 4 days? I was going to ask Dr S if I can do quicker (if I get to that point).

All seems well here but I won't know for another week when I have my first scan. Sore breasts yesterday and very nauseous this morning. Couldn't stomach anything until about 10.30am when I had some toast. All I have to do is get through Xmas now!

Morning all. Digi I've been enjoying the irony all week that now I'm tapering off the Pred I've been suffering from the worst cold I've had in years. I have fought off three pregnancies this year but can't fight this off. I suppose at least it means perhaps the NKC's have reduced in number/riot style violent tendancies as a result of the Pred. Sigh. I'll be so glad when this year is over just for the symbolic fresh start.

Bah humbug to Christmas and a big fat hurrah for gallows humour :)

Waves to all

Welcome picolina to our merry thread! CD stands for Cycle Day, with the count starting at 1 on your first AF ("Aunt Flo") day.

Morning everyone, hope you're all doing good this morning? /waves to all

hi everyone, thanks for replying . i usually ovulate on day 10/11, i read that "taking charge of your fertility" then started recording my temp, fluid and symptoms, was clueless before, they should really teach this stuff in school! last couple of times i fell preg i was using that and the monitor as well, so it said med 3 days in a row (today being third). regarding side effects i already pretty much have a moon face ! but thats pretty nautral and nothing to do with side effects my my stomach pains were much better yesterday , freelance what does CD mean, not with all the lingo

Thanks duggs. As I generally ovulate between days 14 and 16 I am not even being scanned until day 12, so I won't be taking m booster shot until then at least.

I abandoned the smiley faces long ago once I realised I ov on day 14 on one side and day 16 on the other! They seemed a waste of money once I had spotted that pattern and confirmed that the pain I feel mid-cycle does coincide with ov.

It's good to know you don't need to start right at ov. Although the implantation bleeding I had in what I think was the nearest to pregnancy I have ever got came v soon after ov.

It might be useful to share dr s super ov ( here I go again YAWN I bore myself) timings thing on when to start pred.

CD11 was trigger HCG injection. It takes between 36 and 48 hrs for egg to actually release after injection. ( is reason why IUI and IVF tiger injections need to be to nearest 2 hours apparently). So CD13. That is when he said to start pred for me CD13. I guess the injection is a false surge and the fertility monitors are looking for a surge so I would say CD12 would be equivalent to smiley face or strong line? So

based on this start one day after smiley face. ?!
Only 1 week into 2 WW. Excruciatingly slow. Feeeeeeek so slow.

I know where free is. I'm intrigued as to where PQ is now. I guess somewhere between me and free...

Thanks ladies! I know my cycle pretty well by this point. I get ov pains and temp. I used the CB smiley face sticks for a few cycles before temping took over. My pains, temps and the smileys all tallied up, so I guess I should have confidence in knowing when I ovulate.

How important is it that you take the pred straight away after ov? I suppose that was my (poorly framed) query really. Because from the pains I will have a good idea straight away. But it will only be confirmed by temps a few days later.

If it makes u feel any better Free I am feeling good too. I'm even concerned that I'm not anxious and sobbing enough. Crazy, hey? Those round ligament pains sound familiar especially when you move quickly.
9 wks already, wow!

Bon voyage to all those flying away for xmas!

PS Help! Am feeling really well! I don't know what's happened. DH said I should maybe go to hospital and say: 'Help, am feeling really well!' but I am not sure it's going to get me anywhere...

Thanks for doing list Sue. Did you move everyone a day forward to? I think I am actually 9.0 today but I don't want to move everyone forward in case you've done it and I just wrongly add a day to all!

Ooh you had neighbourhood carol singers PQ. Ah, it's so much posher down that side of town to where I am :) I just sat next to someone on the bus (it ends up at Belmarsh high security prison) who was talking about her Dad's burglary trial and his girlfriend's shop-lifting charge. It was quite fascinating. Kept me distracted from pregnancy mentalling for at least 5 minutes.

Dead or alive, fertile and deadly... am always up for some gallows humour. Although I might start picturing Pete Burns when at my scan and that would definitely be off putting.

I emailed Louise yesterday to ask whether I should start tapering today (9.0 on LMP, tomorrow 9.0 on Mr S' last measurements) or wait until I see Mr S on Friday and she said wait until I see Mr S as a few days really won't make much difference. Face it, dead or alive I will definitely be tapering the Pred this week one way or the other. Can't bloody wait, I really look like I've been locked up with no air for weeks in some sort of Victorian work house.

I had a really sharp pain, low and slightly to the side, earlier when out and about. Took my breath away and then was gone within seconds. Googled it and I am hoping it is round ligament pain, either way plenty of people seem to get it. Oh the joys of over-analysing every bloody feeling.

Updating list as according to fertility friend I Ovd on Saturday
Tues 20th December
BFP
3rd Trimester
Stogan - V high NKC - BFP 9/7/11 cycle#2- 28+2 Due 10/03/12 next scan 30/12

2nd Trimester
Digitalgirl - High NKC - BFP cycle#2 23+0 Due 16/04/12 MW appt 25/01
Coconutfeet - V High NKC, Factor II gene mutation, underactive thyroid - BFP pre-pred, started at 6 weeks 20+1
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2 ? 17+2 due 26/5/12 next scan ?
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2 - 16+4 anomaly scan Jan
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Intolerant. BFP on cycle 3 of Clomid - 15+2 next scan?

1st Trimester
Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 Hydroxchloroquine, Pred, Intralipids. Thyroid/hashimotos. MC 1st cycle. BFP#1 8+6 Scan 23/12
Cheerfulcharlie - V High NKC, MTHFR/TTC 1/ (metformin, intralipids, no pred). LMP17/10(Ov'd 3rd Nov) 8+4 Scan 12 weeks
batteryhen - High NKC, factor v leiden. TTC#1 BFP cycle 3. 5+2 Scan 29/12/11
coleyoz - V High NKC. TTC #2, BFP cycle2, 5+0, Scan 28/12/11

TTC
Waiting to test
Cherrycheeks - V high NKC, TTC#2/ ov 25th-26th Nov 4th cycle of pred
Snoopygirl - V High NKC TTC, #2, testing 17th Dec
Havingkittens - Upgraded from High to V High NKC TTC #1, testing 26/12
duggs1976 - High/V High NKC - TTC #1 - Superovulation cycle2
Suemays - OV on 17/12 testing on 31/12

Waiting to ovulate
buster76 - V High NKC, Factor V Leiden.
eurochick - High NKC, superovuation cycle 1, pred cycle 1

WTTC
Hopefulfor2nd - High NKC TTC in New Year
PQ77 - V High NKC TTC #2 again from January (BFP cycle one but mc)
ScooterChaser - V High NKC - TTC#2
ChoccyPud - V High NKC - (chem pg cycle 2 of pred (only found afterwards), mc @c.5 wks cycle 4 of Pred, confirmed @6wk scan) TTC#1, review w/Dr S 14 Jan.
Arianhod - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, hypothyroid, TTC#2
Lemonsherbet - awaiting results
Breezyweezy - V High NKC - TTC#1 from January
AandRmum - High NKC

Euro I have been temping as I have a Clear Blue fertility monitor and also the CB sticks with the smiley face but they very rarely work for me. Out of the last 4 pregnancies I have never had a peak on the monitor or a smiley face yet have got pregnant every time! I dont think they pick up the LH surge with everyone especially if it surges quickly as you can then miss it. My CBFM is saying high but not peak so it is picking up some of the hormones. I am still not 100% sure that the temping is accurate either although I did have EWCM around the time my temp rose so who knows! I am going to take the preds tomorrow which is around 4DPO according to fertility friend. We have been SWIing every other day from CD8 too just in case! I am not a good judge of OVing though as the preds have mucked up my cycle.

Free the tiredness is a good sign so dont worry about the lack of sickness. Not everyone gets morning sickness anyway. Dead or Alive reminds me of that record that was out a good few years ago - you spin me right round! Showing my age now! Good luck with the scan!

AandRmum enjoy the break of not TTC over Xmas in your bubble - no doubt you will be on here as much as the rest of us and not just lurking in the new year!

Just saying hello to the new thread.

I was in a decidedly unfestive mood last night and turned out the lights so I didn't have to deal with the neighbourhood carol singers singing outside my house (it was just like in the movies!) and small children knocking on my door collecting for charity - do I win the Scrooge/Christmas is cancelled competition? I have also been affected by free's evening paralysing snake venom...and I'm not even pregnant.

duggs can you come and throw drinks at some people for me?

euro I usually use the digital Clear Blue predictors which give you a smiley face - no messing about, it either smiles or it doesn't. CB are expensive though so you'd want to pick them up on boots 3 for 2.

cheerful I am all for gallows humour - fertile but deadly, dead or alive scan - bring it on! I find that when I am flippant with friends it freaks them out but I think it is well received here. Otherwise we would spend all our time crying.

I am so so pleased to hear about your HCG Battery. They are ramping up good and proper now!

free, my god you make me laugh. Not sure I should laugh really, but the 'dead or alive' scan... it's great to put some sort of humour (however dark) to this. The 'fertile but deadly' thing always makes me smile too. Hope this isn't being highly inappropriate to find this humourous. Apologies if I am hugely offending.

The first time I fell pregnant on Pred I was temping with the help of Fertility Friend Euro, something I found useful to help me pinpoint feelings of ovulation as I had never actually 'tried' to get pregnant before. The second time (this time) I didn't bother with temping as I just knew I was going to ovulate around CD14 or 15. So started SWI around CD8 just to be sure and didn't stop until CD18! I just thought 'that should do it'. And indeed it did. I did have a few ovulation sticks in the house but they never really showed me a proper line both times so I just ignored them. I am glad I did as I would never had got pregnant had I waited for them to tell me anything!

Morning Pred Thread ladies! And welcome Picolina. I cannot help on side effects as I will start taking my first lot of Pred in a few days (probably on Xmas Day or thereabouts in fact).

In fact, I have a question myself. How are all of you detecting ov so you know when to start taking the pred? I temp and the temping software confirms ov after three raised temps, so that is 3 days after ov. However, I can feel ov and my estimate is always within a day of what the temping software thinks. So I guess I should go with my instinct? What do you all do?

free I'll have everything crossed for your next scan. Hopefully the time will whizz by with Xmas in the middle.

cheerful I am really not sure why some people go into the "caring professions" when they seem unsuited to them. I'm sorry you had such a rubbish experience.

Hello, just seeing if I have managed to bring a new poster, Picolina, over from the previous thread. I wanted to say don't worry too much about the Pred side effects. They are not really too bad. You have started quite early though at CD7, did Mr S tell you to do that? Only that if you are on it by CD7 and need to come off it 14 days after you might not necessarily know if you are pregnant at that stage. Although I guess 26 days is a reasonably short cycle but 14 days on Pred still only takes you to CD21.

Side effects wise I have taken Pred twice now, first time was 25mg for two weeks followed by 40mg for 5 weeks (then an ERPC after no foetus had been seen, so possible blighted ovum rather than the treatment not working) and this time I have been on 25mg for two weeks and now 40mg for 5 weeks again. I definitely got a bit of a puffy moon face both times but that was when on the higher dose. This time I have some awful dark circles under my eyes and I have started getting a slight hand tremor. If you are not going up to the higher dose I wouldn't worry too much though - yes there can be energy swings and sleep problems but we are on it for such a comparatively short period of time overall (that's if we get pregnant and stay pregnant!) that these are liveable with. I have not had to come off it after only two weeks, but when I came off the higher does after the ERPC I did have some limb aches and weird muscle vibrations. Again they all go pretty quickly.

What do the others say?

AandR a happy bubble of denial sounds wonderful right now! Can I have some of what you have got please...?

Yesterday I had a bit of a miserable day for some reason. DH is getting really stressed at the moment with lots of work and all the pregnancy stuff of course and the fact that he hasn't had a holiday for so long. He is really run down. I am not unwell of course (NKC still seem to be keeping any illnesses at bay!) but do feel exhausted a lot of the time. In the evening I feel like I have been injected with some sort of paralysing snake venom - I just sit in a catatonic-like state on the couch. I have started to feel less nauseous though which of course is worrying me. Oh well, only another 3 days until my next 'dead or alive' scan date. Tick tock.

battery fantastic news on the HCG results! Sounds like you are on track now!

Scooter sorry to hear your birthday was awful and that you felt so miserable. You have every right to feel like that after everything you have been through. At least we all understand how you feel! I PMd you earlier as I am free to meet up before my appt on Wed if you still fancy it?