Immune/natural killer cell treatment when TTC or pregnant (aka the 14th pred thread)

Snoopy sorry missed ur reply!
Good luck with ur appt with mr s
X

Hi snoopy. Sorry to hear of your loss...I hope ur doing as ok as u can...

Freelance sounds like an expert in the field so ur def in the right place!

I don't know much about thyroid issues but with regards to miscarriage

chances are your next preg will be fine (no increased risk with one or 2 miscarriages)

you may end up paying money (a few grand) (not that it matters if u get a baby at the end! But just when weighing up WHEN to chase things.

ending up on treatment you may not need (minor side effects) as the evidence isnt great out there for pred for NK cells..(even though I'm going with it, though its controversial and not much evidence for its use) ..most consultants in uk totally rubbish it anyway.

but then you may prevent further problems looking into it now and you may regret not chasing it all sooner...

.It's a hard one. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I chased nhs tests after 2 miscarriages and then Got told nothing wrong . and chased nk cells after the 3rd.

hopefully things will work out next time for u good luck whatever u decide.
X

Hi freelancegirl, thanks for such a quick reply!
I'm glad to see you speak so highly about Dr shehata as that is who my husband has booked an appointment with.
My tsh level was about 1.27 when we got pregnant and my gp does actually seem to be one of the better ones in that she is aware of the impact tsh going over 2 can have. But she isn't a fertility expert and is confined by nhs standards. She was very good about monitoring my meds and it was the hospital who dropped the ball on that one by taking so long with the results.
I think my plan is to ask my gp if the nhs will test me for antibodies and if she says no then we will still have the private appointment. As nice as the majority of doctors and midwives I met were I was so frustrated by the blank look on their faces when I asked any sort of question.
We were incredibly lucky and got pregnant as soon as I came off of the pill, would have been a honeymoon baby. We are hoping to get pregnant again as soon as possible (I know they say that this can make dating the pregnancy difficult but if it does happen then I won't believe that things are ok until we have a baby in our arms anyway)
Do you mind if I ask you, did you have difficulties getting pregnant and what were your tsh levels like?

Mel. Sorry to hear about your mum too. It must be so stressful and worrying.

Hello Snoopy and welcome to the thread. Yes you are definitely in the right place to ask. I have had a thyroid problem (hashimotos - raised antibodies and under active but on thyroxine) since I was 21 and also had several miscarriages before being treated successfully (I have a 2.4yr old DS and am 35 weeks pregnant) by Mr Shehata at the Miscarriage Clinic. The relief I felt when I eventually found a doctor who understood thyroid issues (as no GP I have ever seen really has) was tremendous. He also diagnosed me with a high level of natural killer cells - something that for some reason is still disputed by other medical practitioners despite it being used by a select group of doctors (most of us on here are seeing one of these) across the UK for a good decade.

The NK theory is that it highly linked to people who have autoimmune conditions such as thyroid and all the ones you mentioned in your family.

In your position you could do one of two things - wait to see you have another miscarriage or get treatment now. Although your miscarriage was obviously awful, it might well have been a one off. I know it's horrible putting yourself at risk of another one but it really could have been one of those normal every day miscarraiges. But then again your history does point to potential problems (note: I am not a doctor!). First thing would be to make sure your thyroid levels are normal now you are on meds. Do not accept 'it's normal' from your doctor as he/she might be working on a narrower set of normal levels. Have a test and then come back and tell us the results! Also read Mary Shomon at about.com for her take on thyroid blood test levels. I would fully recommend my miscarriage specialist if you want to go down the private investigations route straight away too. But see how you feel.

I had technically 'only' had two miscarriages in a row when I sought out the Miscarriage Clinic. I had had two earlier pregnancies though when I was around 19/20 that had also ended in miscarriage so to me alarm bells were ringing. That and the fact that I did a bit of research like you and felt that thyroid issues might have led to high natural killer cells. So instead of waiting for a third in a row I contacted the clinic and got tested. I didn't feel I had time to lose however as I was 36/37 at that point. You are a lot younger. But of course I understand the fear of not wanting to put yourself through another miscarriage!

Maybe I should add that I am 29. I had the symptoms of hypothyroidism for a decade but was always told 'you must be anaemic you're so pale, oh no your iron is fine, try not to stress so much'. It was only when I collapsed at work and my mum was scared I had leukaemia which her sister died from that I demanded proper blood tests and was diagnosed.

Hello everyone.
I'm not sure if this is the right place to post but you seem like the only ladies around here who might know the answer to my question.
18 months ago I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and have been taking medication but it wasn't until this week when I had a mmc that I discovered it could be caused by thyroid antibodies. No one has ever mentioned this to me and I was always just told take these tablets and it will be fine. All my maternal female relatives have auto immune diseases including sarcoidosis, addisons disease and scoriatic arthritis.
From my own research it seems that a lot of private doctors would prescribe prendinisolone if you have these antibodies but every nhs doctor and midwife I've asked in the last week just stares at me blankly and says they have never heard of antibodies or anthing I'm talking about (despite the miscarriage association running a new thyroid study and posters being up all over epu etc). They classed me as a high risk but then took more than three weeks to run my bloods which only ended up being sent to my gp the day I knew it was over.
Am I being over cautious? As one doctor said 'asking questions is of no clinical benefit'. But if I'm lucky enough to get pregnant again and have a second miscarriage I will always think what if.
My husband thinks we should just go private, what would you suggest and do you have any experience?
Sorry again if this is the wrong place

Dildoos ur message re the chandelier made me laugh!! The things we do!

Mel sorry to hear about ur mum :(. I hope that she remains well for some time as many people with Parkinson's do...
I hope I get some good news soon ! You had a postive hpt not too long ago if I'm right? Hopefully another will come soon

I'm so sorry to hear that Mel. I hope they find out what is going on before too long. My friend's mum was diagnosed with Parkinsons a few years ago and she is still very well, but I can't even imagine what it must be like for you. You have been through such a time recently. Hopefully things will be brighter soon and you will have some good news this month, xx

Hopender that's lovely news.
I had one follicle at 21 and one at 15 day 10 Sunday so triggered last night, hubby away tonight grr! Last months result seemed better so wonder if mr s will up the gonal f again.
Having awful time at mo as mum has been diagnosed with either early Parkinson's or dementia they are not sure which.
I try Dtd every other day from day 7 then maybe 2/ 3 days in a row but my amh and hubby's sperm quality is against us.
Waves to all x

Oooooooo maybe the break will be a shock to system and Tada! Here's hoping every month We need to find another theory , another drug, another sequence and that way we always have something to try!
This month I shall mainly be swinging upside down from the chandelier x

No- I'm just mad! Haha.
I'm not taking any of the drugs this time as felt like a break and the advice no pred after 6 months ttc and I'm month 5 so figured why not! I am a little less mad this
Month though so maybe?!

Trying that sounds like a good plan, change the routine of bd and see if it's the magic month! Fx.
I do believe it's very hard not to be neurotic about it. I wondered if it felt more so as taking drugs ( not my thing as a rule to take medication other than the obvious vitamins!)? Do you feel the same? X

Hope glad to read ur good news :). Hopefully u will see a flicker of a heartbeat next week :)
Thanks for ur BD info! For the others I've gotten preg when had 3 days off and gone for it day 13,14,15,16 (ovulate 15). But I've done this for 4
Months and it hasn't worked again! So I'm doing 10,12,14,15 this time with the though the break between 12-14 will do some good?? Sorry I'm getting a little neurotic again.
Should go!
Fingers crossed for u dildoos!

That's good news hope, take each, day, test at a time and I have everything crossed for you. I may pinch your bding tip and see if works out for us too as dp has little swimmer issues
Xxx

Hi Dildoos, it made me a bit nuts too! Strangely I feel better on it now that I'm pregnant than I did before. I know I shouldn't worry about this but I don't love the idea that it makes you put on weight either!
Re the HPT ! I only got a very faint BFP on day ten after about five mins so seems like it is still too early even with the First Response tests. Fingers crossed for good news in a few days time!

Had the scan today at the EPU and while it is massively early to know how things will pan out everything seems good right now. They saw a gestational sac and a yolk sac which was all they expected to see at five weeks two days apparently. I've never had such an early scan so was a little strange! The next one will (hopefully) be in two weeks with Dr Shehata in London.
On another note, I was having a think about the BDing and (not sure if it is TMI) but the times I get pregnant tend to be when we've done it twice a week all month and then on days 13 and 14 but not 12 or 15. It is probably quite a bit less than some of you but it seems to work better that way for us. I do slightly wonder if my DH's little guys are better after a break! I'm certain that isn't the case for most people but might be worth a go in some situations. Anyway, just thought I'd put that out there!

Help I feel insane! 6 days into the pred and I had an urge to poas! So I did and guess what I got. A BFN surprise surprise! Man I have not ha that urge in months and now feel like such an idiot wasting money in it! X

Hello! Just marking place xx

Hi rosa. I'm off the pred and asprin this month too...it's month 5 and I'm worrying about my DH sperm
Too...I'm giving it to month 9 and then getting tests done. It's totally normal to feel like utter crap some days. I commonly break down and cry non stop and feel so shit...last 2 weeks I've been happier just hoping this feeling lasts as its unbearable sometimes when u feel pants...
Have u got fun things planned over Xmas and some time
Off? Hugs to u
X

Sorry this is long .. But here's my bio...
Me - 38 DH - 36
TTC since 2011/12 but didn't try properly until 2 years ago.
3 miscarriages between Aug 2013 and July this year. 11 weeks (MMC, heart beat seen at 7 weeks, D&C), 6 weeks (natural MC), 8 weeks (MMC, heat beat seen at 7).

I have a high TNF Alpha, a high natural killer cell count and very high activity as well as cytotoxicity assay. I also have high thyroid antibodies and a high TSH but that's now dropped to correct levels as taking 50mg of thyroxine.

I am on the complex treatment programme which is asprin, vits, pred, cyclogest and intralipids from BFP- but had to take Humira injections first. I had an allergy to Humira and side effects to hydroxychloroquine..so stopped both.

Currently feeling ok considering - but have mini-breakdowns from time to time usually at night when time to think.. It frustrates me as makes me feel like I'm not coping but hopefully it's normal all considered. I have a quite a stressful job with long hours so R&R can be a challenge!

On cycle 4 this time and after tracking via every route before just DTD around time I thought was ov and not taking any drugs this time other than asprin. I don't have high hopes as conceiving taking ages sometimes so v worried about age. Will take pred, cyclogest and intralipids from BFP if get lucky. Starting to worry DH should be tested too... His BMI is 25 and he's trying to bring it down.

Anyway that's me.. Long but better to do it in one go!

Thanks Trying .. Nice to have support here.
Determined - hang in there.. be good to yourself and try stay positive.
Hope- so happy to hear things still going well. I think I've most in common with you in terms of background though no children yet.. I will post my bio now..

Thankyou trying I had a lovely night out and a few prosecco's

Determined sorry your going through it

Ahhh that's fantastic news hope! I am so pleased you have a positive start and good luck for the scan
Yes I am ok this morning (without tmi it's all full on now). Will phone Louise tomorrow and ask about next steps as I did have my scan booked next week anyway. Just keeping busy today...I hope you all have a nice Sunday planned xx

Hi hope. Yep on day ten today...doing alt day DTD and not going to panic if the odd day missed?! (I tell myself). Don't think it will get me my bfp though...but there's always next year too? I starting to think this bfp is a long way away...but just got to be patient
Dildoos hope u enjoyed ur night out!