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

Hi @Sunshineblonde1 congratulations! This is the one!
@HappyApple05 fingers crossed for your test, it sounds very promising!
@Megan234 I have a friend who tried for 4-5 years and 2 failed IVF attempts (they couldn't harvest viable eggs) she tried acupuncture and Chinese medicine and conceived naturally and now has a son. She loved acupuncture and is certain it helped her. I did try it too but still miscarried so I was less convinced.

However, today was results day which has proven why acupuncture didn't help. I have a high count of NK cells, plus they are aggressive, plus some other kind of immune response/cell which makes implantation difficult and super early miscarriages more likely.
He has prescribed treatment in 2 steps. First a course of humira, followed by a repeat blood test to check it has worked, and repeat the course if not. Then the complex plan with pred plus intras every 4 weeks, and possibly super ovulation to speed things up before the effect of the humira wears off.
I went there hoping they would find something to fix and yet I have come away feeling totally overwhelmed and hopeless. It means a baby this year is now out of the question and the mountain feels like it just moved further away when I thought I was already half way up. Stupidly I was expecting to walk away with a course of pred and start trying right away.
I think it's the house move, everything is half packed and in a mess, I am not thinking properly.
Also DrS is really pushing for the sperm comet test, did you all do it? DH is not keen at all!

Good luck with your results appointment with Mr S today @chickjen and the house move! Let us know how you get on x

@DaniMERL @Megan234 thank you lovelies x

@Sunshineblonde1 so happy for you x

@sunshineblonde1 that’s great news!

Awww @happyapple05 your valentines sounds so cute! Love the perfume idea as your treat. Wish I had thought of that. I’m cooking a Galentines meal for my besties this evening, and tomorrow my partner and I have a meal at home and a Mr and Mrs Quiz 😛 We celebrate valentines officially at the weekend. It’s a surprise, a meal in London but I don’t know where. I bought a new dress so will be nice to dress up 😄

Hey lovelies! Well some good news. We have a heartbeat 💗 and the little bean is measuring as it should. What a nerve wracking experience when you’re scanning the nurses face trying to read her expression. I was about to have an aneurism 🤪 This means I’m off to see Mr S wave his magic wand tomorrow, and unload my purse 👛 nervous, excited, terrified.

@happyapple05 the nurse kept asking me if I was constipated today. I haven’t had any on the Pred yet. But I do eat a ton of fruit, drink water all day long and exercise. Maybe I’m just lucky and it’s to come as I’ve only been on it a few weeks? Constipation will defo cause some fissures back there so don’t fret about the blood on the tissue 😘 Fibre will help and tons of water!

@Nixwix same Hunni, I was expecting the Pred to mask the nausea but I’ve still got it, plus the extreme tiredness and insatiable hunger. The bump is blooming and the bean is only half a centimetre lol!

@Megan234 keeping positive is a daily battle, I totally feel the same. Really have to dig deep and be brave and just keep going. Stare whatever happens in the face knowing that you have everything within you to deal with it and leaning on the love and support of others. When we go through hell, we have to keep going 🛶🛶🛶. I would totally look into IVF as an option xx

@HappyApple05 I'm quite constipated too. Have a fibre rich food, lots of water. My dr mentioned lactulose to me, which is available from the pharmacy apparently. I am trying to eat more fruits and veggies but they are so boring hehe.

@Megan234 my ivf clinic is crgh. But I read great reviews of argc and lister too. If you do go for ivf, I would say prepare your body for the month or two before you start, through exercise and by eating healthy and loading your body with the right vitamins and supplements.

@Nixwix thank you lovely, we are trying again but it’s hard to stay positive after so many disappointments. What’s the name of the IVF clinic you are using? I really hope everything goes well with your pregnancy x

@Sunshineblonde1 great, hopefully your scan goes well!! Let us know. Are your symptoms in full swing? I have nausea and a bit of morning sickness but I am surprised because I thought pred was supposed to mask the symptoms so I wasn't expecting this. Xxx

@nixwix hello darling, lovely to hear from you. I am in the same boat. Working on maintaining positivity but Ofcourse still do have random anxious thoughts creeping in now and again. I’m week 7 with my EPU scan today and pregnancy symptoms now in full swing. Everything crossed for us 🤞 so pleased you were able to rule out the ectopic. It’s such a scare. But thankfully you can rest on that one now at least x

@Sunshineblonde1 did you have your scan yet? I hope all's well with you.

@HappyApple05 I agree with sunshine, extra CM is usually a good sign! :)

As for me, week 5 (last week) was a bit of a scare as my ivf clinic suspected a slim chance of cornual ectopic pregnancy. I went to two EPU who confirmed it wasn't. Temporary relief. My next scan is on 18th. Fingers crossed. I am calm usually, keeping myself busy but also anxious randomly.

Hope everyone's well!

@Megan234 hi love, I read your news, I am so sorry. But a chemical pregnancy, which is very common is telling you that you can get pregnant. Please keep up the positive spirit, so long you are determined, you have all the chances at a healthy pregnancy, like all of us here. After my ectopic we waited 3 months and tried naturally but it wasn't working. So I went for IVF and I would recommend going with the clinic I am with or even one of their competitors who will monitor you closely. You can keep Dr S to monitor your immune issues.
As for acupuncture - I don't know if it works, I did it throughout my ivf (twice a week), before and after on day of embryo transfer and I am still doing it once a week. Initially it didn't put me to sleep but now it does.
It seems like you know what to do and you are clear about it, I say stick to it, and keep a diary to keep track of everything. Good luck!!

I agree @DaniMERL Infertility is so ambiguous, no one knows what to expect from it, you just gotta keep doing trial and error and see what works, since everyone is different... and if you manage to tackle infertility, pregnancy is no easier either. It comes with that initial joy but there's constant paranoia too.

Good luck @Teakind that is a positive story and also thank you for your advice. Did you do any tests prior to your second pregnancy to check your bloods?

@Sunshineblonde1

Hey @HappyApple05, firstly can I check what CM is? I’m going to make myself look silly here but is is cervical discharge /mucus. If so I didn’t notice it with the pessaries per se but I do with pregnancy 😋😉 could be a good sign! X

Thank you @DaniMERL x

@megan23 no solid evidence but I was having regular treatments when I conceived my daughter and some of the other pregnancies and also the most recent one too. I’m sure it has a positive impact

It’s worth a try @megan234 - I’ve heard very good things about Kinesiology too, that was going to be my next thing to sample xx

Thanks @Sunshineblond1 I might try acupuncture xx

Hi @megan234 I’ve had very positive results so far. I’ve had it weekly for past 12 weeks - it balanced my hormones, regulated my cycle, cleared my skin, gave me bundles of energy and a deep sense of relaxation. I also got pregnant on the first cycle of ttc. I cannot tell you that it was down to the Accupuncture alone of course but I believe it played a supportive role. Psychologically it has also provided me with a sense of well-being as it is an hour of uninterrupted ‘me time’. Hope that helps xx

@DaniMERL @Sunshineblond1 Hi Girls, I just want to ask your opinion on acupuncture, have you had any good results from it? Xx

@Teakind thanks for that. It’s so interesting.
The more I learn, the more frustrated I become that so much of miscarriage and infertility is fobbed off as bad luck and just one of those things. It’s madness!! We are so advanced in so many areas of science and medicine.

@Sunshineblonde1

I was on 10mcg pred for first 4 months of pregnancy and then I dropped to 5mcg for 5th month and then stopped taking pred after 5th month.