Immune/NK issues - aka Pred Thread no. 22!

@Belarita welcome. I know how you feel. This thread literally saved me at the lowest point in my journey. Couldn't have got through things without these ladies.

Sounds like you're in a pretty good place right now. Good luck with everything and ask whatever you need to know; someone will always know the answer!

Hello Pred Thread Heroes of 2019!
This is EXACTLY the thread I needed to find and I hope you don't mind me joining you all. I have found it such a relief and comfort to read all these messages of sharing, support and information. A little background: Last year I had 2 MCs, one at six and a half weeks and one MMC at ten and a half weeks (discovered at nine weeks). For various life reasons DH and I had to wait until very late to TTC and I am now 41. We didn't feel we had time on our side so we are with Mr S since early this year. DH had the comet test straight away and came back with a not-great score. He's been on Condesyl and off the booze for four months. I tested for high NKs and will be on the "complex" protocol. We're at the point where we're about to start trying again and I'm about to start the pred on my next cycle.

It has been so helpful to read about all your experiences, the ups and downs . The prospect of starting this TTC journey again is daunting and I like the idea of somewhere we can all come to vent, celebrate, cry, compare acne, discuss the front/backdoor Cylogest dilemma etc. I'm nervous of what the coming months hold but see so much understanding and many emotions I recognise here. Wishing everyone much love and luck x

Defo @ginandtonicformeplease although maybe not your ‘norm’ cycle but it sounds totally normal to me x

Thanks everyone - of course AF arrived last night after I'd posted! It's just strange that I got the usual signs that it was on its way the day it was due, then no signs at all when it actually arrives. I'll see what the doc says when I see him on Monday. It's only my second cycle since my last MMC, so my body might still just be getting back to normal I guess.

Hi @ginandtonicformeplease I’m the same as Chickjen. Am on Levo and my cycles went from 31-35 days to 27 days in 3 months in the lead up to TTC x

Hi @ginandtonicformeplease I am taking it as well but can't really help with your question as I did it just before down regging so I don't think I've even had a real period since taking it.

Hope all is well and good luck with the FET x

Hi @ginandtonicformeplease good to hear from you 😀 I am taking levothyroxine for under active thyroid ( outside the normal range not only the TTC range) Before I started taking it i noticed my cycles were gradually dropping each month from 28/30 days right down to 23. Since taking it they stabled at 26 (until the last 2 cycles when they have dropped to 24 😟) 10 days does seem a big jump, sorry if this is a ridiculous question but have you already ruled out pregnancy?

I haven't checked in for a while and so nice to see so many BFPs!

Quick question - has anyone taken levythyroxine for a low thyroid? I was expecting AF ten days ago now but no sign, and on the side effect list it includes menstrual changes so I'm wondering if this could include late AF.

I'm back to the IVF clinic on Monday to see the dr about doing the next FET, so this is buggering up my carefully decided timetable!

@Sunshineblonde1 @Hopeful07 @KittyKatSmile Thank you for the welcome and the tips!

@Chickjen Sorry about your chemical. :(

@DaniMERL I think I am ok, thanks for asking ❤️ I think I knew in my heart right from the beginning this one wasn't to be. My temp chart wasn't right this month, some spikes at the beginning and no noticeable leap for O. AF seems to have been and gone in less than a day so something new to worry about! 😠 But I have some CBT lessons starting soon to hopefully deal with the worrying and seeing my GP this week just to talk the last 2 chemicals through and get it off my chest but I doubt she has anything left to offer. And sperm comet next week probably right in the middle of O! 😕 Work is super busy too so no time to dwell 😀
I hope all is good with you and the anxiety has gone ❤️

Welcome @TinyPaws I have just come off pred after around 2 weeks on it as I had a chemical, and I didn't notice any side effects. Good luck! 🍀

Hi @TinyPaws I'm on clexane at the moment and I've actually got a thread on how to minimise any discomfort. There are some really good tips in there. Good luck to you. Fingers crossed.

Hi @Cream123 - Thanks and good luck to you too for the lining scan..i find taking pomogranate juice and avocados help in improve the lining. Hav u tried?

Hi @Tinypaws - welcome, so sorry to hear about ur losses. i ve just started having heparin injections, having an ice cube jus before injecting helps a lot and less bruises too. For prednisolone, i think Sunshineblonde1 has covered all aspects. I ve jus started taking 25 mg from today so going to have fun with all the side effects.. Good luck with ur treatment..

@anatrina exciting news about your wedding, when are you getting married!? 😃

Hi @Tinypaws (cute name btw 💓🐾) and welcome!! So sorry to hear of your losses, all the best for your next try 🤞🤞 Pred wise, the earlier you can take it in the morning the better and make sure you take it on a full tummy. Limit caffeine and salty food, eat bananas 🍌 and drink lots of water, reduce carbs, this should all help with the side effects. I had sleep disturbance for a few days and then was fine, ravenous hunger, energy of superwoman and enhanced hair growth shall we say 😅 But everyone reacts differently Ofcourse but I really had no real issues with the Pred.

Re: the injections there’s a knack to it which comes with practice. Get the needle in fast, but press the clexane in slowly, this should minimise bruising. And I found softening the skin by having a warm shower before the injection helped any soreness from the needle going in though so people use Ice cubes no numb the area instead.

Keep us posted on your journey x

Hi everyone, I hope you don't mind if I join?

I'm 33, TTC with donor sperm as I'm in a same sex relationship. I've had 3 IUIs and 1 IVF which resulted in a BFN then a missed miscarriage passed with medical management at 10 weeks followed by a chemical pregnancy at 4 weeks and another chemical pregnancy at 5 weeks.

I've got raised TPO and TG antibodies as well as being positive for rheumatoid factor despite not having rheumatoid arthritis. I've also got family history of autoimmune disease. I've taken opinions from several consultants and the consensus seems to be that my pregnancy losses likely have an immune cause.

I'm currently gearing up for a FET with our only frozen embryo, this time I'll be taking prednisolone and clexane (and progesterone, although I was on that during the last loss). I'm a bit worried about the side effects of the pred, has anyone got any tips? I also hear clexane can be quite sore to inject.

Hi @RedPandaFluff, I'm very glad to hear your pregnancy is progressing well!

Hi hopeful
No first lining scan wed and usually drama with my lining so let’s see. Not long for u till transfer - good luck!

@Chickjen I lost track with all the messages above - sorry the hear about the chemical.
How are you doing?
How is everyone else?

Congratulations @KittyKatSmile Amazing news! 😊

@Wishing5tar I’m good thank you. Still waiting for ovulation after not trying for two months while waiting to see Mr S. I’m going to stick with the plan and take from ovulation or just a day after. My results appointment was just after ovulation last month so this one has taken a loooong time to come around!

Glad your appointment with Mr S went well and you’ve had some questions answered. Fingers crossed you’ll get your bfp soon! Like @Sunshineblonde1 says you’re attitude is great 😊 Exciting news about the puppy! I have a dog and a cat to keep me busy and a wedding to plan!

Lovely to hear you’re doing so well! @Sunshineblonde1

Fab to hear everyone’s updates xx

@KittyKatSmile that is such great news! 😍 I don't know how you resisted this long 😂 I was tempted to ask yesterday how you got on but I wasn't sure if you would want to share yet. I have EVERYTHING crossed 🍀
Sperm comet is booked! I'm really worried how he'll take it if they find something, I almost hope they don't, but the sadistic in me thinks it's time he shared some of the blame 😄

@Cream123 - Had my lining scan and it was bit not to the mark so had to had another scan yesterday and all seems ok now.. so ll be having my transfer on friday the 5th jul. Mr.S has asked me to take G-CSF from 5 days before embryo transfer, so starting g-csf from this sunday. Had my intralipids on monday the 24th as its 10 days before ET as per Mr.S protocol. I couldnt tolerate aspirin so he took me out of it. So i m on clexane, pred, hcq and gcsf..
Yes Mr.S doesnt use ivig often, guess u should be fine without it..
So do u know when ur transfer s going to be?

@KittyKatSmile - congratulations..keeping my fingers crossed for u

@Chickjen - so sorry to hear..hope u get to find something from ur DH's test results and u can take it forward from ther..

@Megan234 - how was ur nhs scan?

Hope everyonelse is doing ok..

Hi @wishing5star! You’ve got an excellent mindset this positivity will get you far 😍 and super exciting about the puppy! That’ll keep you pre-occupied whilst you are on this journey. We got two kittens last year after my last miscarriage, I now call them my pregnancy cats 😋 They really helped to have a focus and animals are so intuitive! Your puppy will soon sniff out when your pregnant.

I just wanted to say best of luck for your journey, your doing everything right to support your mind and body by the sounds. I too loved Accupuncture and will be returning back for the last few weeks of pregnancy. I had in up until 12 weeks and it really helped my psychologically and physiologically

Happy Friday All xx

@KittyKatSmile wow amazing, congratulations! Keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you that this is it 😍

@Anatrina how you getting on? Have you started the pred now? Did you decide to take from ovulation in the end or from BFP?

I had my follow up appointment with Mr S yesterday and got another 4 months of Pred etc. It was super straight forward, he just wanted to know if I’d had any headaches from the meds (headaches, stomach pains etc.) which I’m lucky that I haven’t. They took my blood pressure and then that was it ☺️ I remembered to mention that I was worried about testing at 11dpo given that I’ve never had a positive that early before and always only after a period like bleed and he said the bleeding was probably the first sign that the pregnancy would end in miscarriage (even though I didn’t know I was pregnant yet) as the levels were so low to be even picked up on a FRER. He said I could take pred for 11 days rather than 10 and test on 12dpo. If I don’t get a positive but my period still doesn’t arrive, test again and then he’s happy for me to start the steroids up again if it’s a positive. It was nice to have a potential reason for my weird bleeding in my 3 pregnancies so far and hopefully next time it’ll be so much more straight forward 🤞🏽 So I’m still feeling positive/optimistic for now, although I suspect if in another 4 months I’m back only getting a repeat prescription without a BFP that’ll probably change haha 🙈

In other news I had my first fertility acupuncture session this week & really enjoyed it. I found the ladies details through the Zita West website as they’ve got a ‘near me’ function for the people they affiliate themselves with ☺️ Booked in again for next Tuesday too. If nothing else I just feel like it gives me some time to relax and get out my head! Oh and we’re also getting a puppy 🐶 We pick him up on Thursday so I’ve no doubt our whole lives are probably going to change.

I hope everyone’s enjoying the sunshine/warmer weather? Driving 6 hours home yesterday from Epsom wasn’t fun in the heat but hoping we will get to enjoy it this weekend ☀️

Fantastic xx

Huge congrats @KittyKatSmile!! This is it! Xx

So ladies. I've just got my IVF BFP. Excited but obviously utterly terrified and of course feel slightly weird it's not with my boyfriend as planned. Slightly different protocol with my clinic than previously so I'd already had 2 lots of intralipids pre embryo transfer. 5th time lucky as they say...