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

@chickjen enjoy feeling normal, we moan that we don’t feel pregnant at first but that will soon change in two weeks 🤪😝😉 Get that Pred down your neck you’ll be fine 😃

@NixWix I can't believe you DH has kept this to himself so well, do you have any inklings at all?

I didn't test this morning as I'll drive myself nuts, however the clinic called and wanted me to go in for intras today, but i was already at work so we have agreed for Monday and getting the pred sent out today. But it has set the panic in. Completely convinced I am not pg anymore as I feel completely normal (apart from the panic) 😜

Hey @nixwix that’s awesome advice. I put a little heat pad on my tummy too and ate a sack of avo’s! Accupuncture really helped too I agree. Awww that’s so sweet of your DH, you and your little bump deserve to be celebrated!! I think it’s safe to let that excitement creep out now. We must balance the hard slog with some normality it’s great for the soul 😀 xxx

- did not mean to post that! Slippery fingers at 3 am

@Sunshineblonde1 omg I didn't understand the 'she deserves it' (How daft of me) and thanks to @Chickjen I do now! A baby girl!!!! 💖 Congratulations!!!!! Just feeling so so happy for you and your DP. And what a beautiful way to celebrate the gender reveal. I know what you mean by feeling relaxed when you have been keeping it on the down low for a while- it's so liberating right? I hope you can enjoy this pregnancy and not feel the need to suppress any more. My DH also wants to do a little gender reveal for me but I am nervous abt getting too excited prematurely (I tend to do that). Yes, I am also trying to sleep on my left and sleep has been better, although very broken. 5 more days of pred, so glad these meds are coming to a halt one by one.

@Chickjen The FRER is responding fast which is great! I hope you can get in touch with Dr S soon (I email him and he has emailed me directly many times so you could try that?). I think you are being very practical, positive and patient about this, which is great! Keep going love!

@RedPandaFluff i agree with @Chickjen just after my embryo transfer I got a bad cold and I had immediately locked myself up in the house for 48 hours, slept and loaded up on the vit C and hot drinks. I did have the advantage of no work though. Also, according to my acupuncturist's advice (don't know if this works but I followed it diligently) I kept my body and feet warm, ate lots of protein and warm foods, put a hot water bag on my tummy and ate lots of Brazil nuts and avocados - apparently good for implantation? And ofc I did acupuncture regularly leading upto ET day esp an hour before and an hour after transfer. I don't know if any of this helps but thought I'd share.. good luck!

Completely understand your anxiety @RedPandaFluff! But please don’t fret 10mg won’t be suppressing to the point that you won’t be able to shake it. 100mg + maybe but not 10 or even 25mg :-) and babies are made in feast or famine so try not to worry, put your feet up and get some well deserved TLC ahead of your big week next week. Much love! Xx

Thank you for your replies! Yes, I'm only on 10mg daily of prednisone, which I learned from this thread is lower than the dosage prescribed by Dr Shehata.

I think embryo transfer is likely to be Monday or Tuesday, but we won't know for sure until after the eggs are collected and we see how they develop. I will take it easy until then if I can, but, typically, work is a pain at the moment.

@Sunshineblonde1 I think that's the first time I've ever been delighted to hear that someone was ill (in the context that you still got pregnant 😄)!

I think I need to just give up and go with whatever happens - it's all so far beyond my control.

Hey @RedPandaFluff aww sorry to hear your poorly there is so much flying around at the moment. Your in a very low dose of Pred aren’t you? How many mg again? I cold will not affect your chances I was poorly when I fell preggo - all is well. Xx

Hi @RedPandaFluff sorry to hear you are feeling crappy, on the plus side if your immune system is suppressed enough to get sick maybe it is suppressed enough to accept the embryo. How many days till transfer day? Do you have time to go on a health purge, stay home, whack the heating up and take loads of vitaminC? Or maybe call the clinic for advice?
Try not to stress and make yourself feel worse, far easier said than done though 😟

Thanks for the welcome, everyone - I've really enjoyed reading everyone's stories. So many highs and lows . . .

I have a question that I wondered if someone could help me with - today is day 12 of my 4th fresh donor egg cycle and I feel awful. I had a bad cold over the weekend and now it has settled in my chest, I feel achey and I have a cough etc. Under normal circumstances this would be no drama at all but I'm wondering if the Prednisolone is suppressing my immune system to the point where I won't be able to shake this illness before embryo transfer? And will being sick affect the chances of success?

Panicking slightly . . . :-(

More likely maybe but that doesn’t mean a chemical is a given every time just remember that 😘 move forward positively Hun there are no signs not too and just know that you will deal with whatever this pregnancy brings most likely hunger and Pred head hehe 🥰 get cracking on the Pred and when your ready the intras. Plenty of ladies who have been on his protocol without the access to the intras so I’d say the Pred is the main thing. Xx

@Sunshineblonde1 Oh how sweet 😍 It brings tears to my eyes, so made up for you ❤️

AF is due tomorrow, but the worry has set in already. MrS diagnosed some factor that makes chemicals more likely and I can't clear that from my mind, but also a little surprised to have got this far 😵

Don’t worry about the one step @chickjen. Go with the FRER. I honestly had the same thing happen to me and it really worried me at the time so just stick with FRER for your sanity!

I’d say get on the Pred and book the intras for next week some time. I couldn’t go for a week after BFP. And that’s that. Yes they questioned it but it’s your choice and you are in control so be confident in that. Was AF due yesterday Hunni or next week? Xx

DP is over the moon. He was secretly hankering for a girl 💗 xx

@Sunshineblonde1 a girl!!! Congratulations how exciting 🎀 is DP pleased?

The saga continues this morning. One step still slow and faint and convincing me this is chemical. However FRER is strong and clear and popped up in 30seconds. So confused!! I am about to try and write an email to the clinic to see if I can start the pred, but not too sure what to do if they offer the intralipids, I don't really want to waste time and money and stress on a chemical, not to mention getting my hopes up. Still haven't told DH 🙈

Aww amazing about your sabbatical @nixwix that sure would have taken some stress away so you could focus on your special journey this year. My best friend hosted an intimate gender reveal gathering for me this weekend and to be honest it was so lovely to celebrate the little miracle. She deserves it 💗 it helped me relax once I saw the joy on my best friends faces and got to pop the balloon.. Feeling very emosh as I’ve kept it all suppressed for so long. As we all know it’s hard to relax but if feels good. My boss is losing 3 to maternity this year. I think he’ll have an aneurysm when he finds out 😂 My sleep has been ok, just not had enough of it. How about you darling? I’m trying to sleep on my left side as per advice.

@HappyApple05 oh gosh are you actually being physically sick too? I found keeping full and sleep the only real remedy for me. I really suffered with the nausea non stop for the first 10 weeks. It felt relentless. The constantly feeling wet down there is an excellent sign, that’s the oestrogen doing its thing. Expect that for a while! so pleased for you hun, I can’t tell you how much 💐 You are so lucky re: your clothes all fitting the first time round, I am not so lucky. I tend to wear very fitted clothing so I really cannot get away with it now and my ribs are expanding. My whole body shape is different. Im aiming for wrap dresses, far more forgiving.

@chickjen this is it!! 🌞 keep positive darling!! And good luck for FRER tomorrow morning. Wait until then if you can. Give your HCG time to go up even more 🌷 xx

Thanks for your words of encouragement @Sunshineblonde1 @KittyKatSmile @NixWix 💝

So I have a pack of 2 FRERs and will test tomorrow morning assuming I can wait that long 🙈 and I guess will contact the clinic first thing tomorrow if these can convince me it's real. I can't believe this is anything other than a tiny spec of HCG from a chemical at the moment.

@KittyKatSmile did you decide to try this month? It must nearly be time if you do?

@NixWix and @Sunshineblonde1 you have bumps!! 🎉 So nice to hear your 'normal' pregnancy chat 😄

@Sunshineblonde1 so I took a sabbatical this year to focus on this phase and some other things, hoping to return to work in jan next year. So thankfully I have been able to hold off from telling too many people and not draw attention to my moon face and bump haha. Have you told work yet? Bet they'll be excited! Love seeing others' reactions!! Jumper dresses and elasticated trousers are definitely winning ideas! Hoping to get the pregnancy pillow in May to help with the sleeping. How's your sleep been? Xxxxx

@nixwix, I’ve only got one pair of trousers that fit me, bye bye size 6 skinnies 😂 I’ve put on half a stone. But I love the bump, and I’ve certainly got a wee one there’s no denying it. I’ve not bought maternity per se, will wait until end of April. But I’ve had to buy more comfortable elasticated waist cropped trousers from M+S and some jumper dresses. And I need smart stuff for work too as it’s getting obvious.
Def have more energy like you say. It’s glorious to be back to my old self and the incessant hunger has diminished hurrah! So glad your feeling better too 💗😍

When will you tell work? Xxx

@Sunshineblonde1 2nd trimester is quite different, more energy, almost as though I am not preggers. Do have a tiny bump (or is it food? 🤔) are you noticing a bump? I am still adamant on wearing old clothes even though I'm struggling a bit on the waist. have you bought any maternity stuff? 😬 My 16 week appt is on 18th of April, I am just under 16 then.. xxxx

@Chickjen wow, congratulations! Are you ready to get on the pred journey? Hopefully you won't get a moonface like I did. 😋

@KittyKatSmile how are you doing? Xxxx

I had a scare with a cheap one from
Superdrug early on when testing as it came out faint whereas the FRER was always strong. That put the willies up me I tell you!

@nixwix 16 week scan is 25th April. How are you feeling? I’m much preferring the 2nd trimester!! X

Agree with @SunshineBlonde1! You're definitely pregnant. Buy the first response one. I hate the aggression of Clear Blue's 'not pregnant'; no chance of looking at a squinter on that! I've read somewhere else that the cheap ones are the most accurate. Anyway, a line's a line! What are you going to do about the pred? Come over to mine and raid my supplies if you like! Good luck lovely x

@chickjen, I think it’s safe to say your pregnant!! Cheap or not cheap the line is there. Congratulations! X

Thanks @KittyKatSmile and @NixWix ❤️
The mystery continues this morning! The line is exactly the same as yesterday but possibly developed a little quicker. I have used one step tests through all previous mc's and found them really accurate, but these have changed, the packaging and test strip look and feel a bit different - cheaper, if that is even possible for a piece of sponge on a stick 😜 So lunchtime I will go out and buy a proper test, I have boots and tesco near me, although yesterday tesco only had clear blue digital which I'm not convinced will pick up this early, it is still 2 days before AF.