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

Hi Ladies, I’m afraid it looks like I’m out too, 6th mc but at least it’s super early and like @Chickjen said it was probably genetically doomed. I’ve had heavy bleeding with clots today so I think this is a chemical and I’m stopping the pred and cyclogest. @Megan234 I’m sorry it’s not sounding good for you too, but I hope the tests show otherwise so good luck tomorrow. Good luck for all you lovely ladies with upcoming scans and intralipids etc etc, fingers crossed it goes smoothly. I shall ttc again straight away as my only other very early loss I caught again straight after and that was one where I got to 12 weeks with hb at 7 weeks so maybe I can do it again and catch a better egg/sperm combo and support with the pred and preg. So I shall still lurk in and out on the thread and cheer you on from the sidelines, and hopeful rejoin you with a moon face soon. Good luck girls xx

Thanks @HappyApple05 we must have been typing at the same time

@Nixwix @Sunshineblonde1 Thank you for the warm welcome, hopefully I will soon be following in your Dr S footsteps.

@Megan234 I am so sorry to hear that, it must be doubly hard having bad news when you have put your faith in the treatment. Is it too early to scan? I am not sure if it is any comfort to think that if it does fail very early on there is a strong chance it was chromosomal and there was nothing you could have done to prevent it, treatment or no treatment. Please be kind to yourself and don't give up hope.

Hey @Megan234 oh so sorry to hear that hunni, it's not over until the fat lady sings but I can understand you may be feeling a little less hopeful. I think we get that feeling inside don't we, womans instinct. I have everything crossed for the blood test tomorrow. It's frustrating that there are so many constant hurdles. Conception itself is a flipping miracle but it's just literally base camp isn't it. I have no idea what's happening on my insides, but I will do a test next weekend just to see if all is still there!! I have my 7 weeks scan booked in on 14th Feb as it is the ONLY appointment he had left - that could go one of two ways....ah well! Everything crossed, that's all we can do, its out of my hands. I didn't take the Pred until BFP so i may have done myself a mischief. But it's what I felt comfortable with at the time. So far I just feel wired and super energy, which means I am being very productive.

@HappyApple05 that's the spirit!! Life has to move on otherwise everything is static and revolving around one thing and that is no good for mental well being. Your construction plans sound like a great distraction! As well as your gorgeous DS! I have two puddy cats who are my surrogate babies with paws. I got them at my last MMC and I at least get to mother something whilst I wait for the human baby to materialise tee hee! Enjoy your impending boink fest !!

@LKM1 do we have any news?

xx

@Sunshineblonde1 @Nixwix
Unfortunately my pregnancy tests were not getting any darker and a blood test confirmed that my hCG is low. Tomorrow I’m having another blood test, but I’m not holding much hope. Another chemical pregnancy maybe next time I need to follow Mr S protocol and take the steroids from ovulation. Best of luck to you xx

@Sunshineblonde1 you are so positive, I love it! Enjoy the intras, the latte and the wedding magazine!

@nixwix no dress yet darling, super focused on choosing venue at the moment, but it’s all exciting and a positive to focus on. It got a bit pushed to the side last year with the MMC but no matter what happens this year I am moving forward with it! Xx

Welcome @Chickjen and thank you so much for sharing your story. I’m so pleased you have joined this thread of super woman Pred heads 😃 We will get there together 😀
So sorry to see you’ve had a rough ride of it so far, big hugs, but it’s great you’ve been so proactive in getting to the bottom of what may be triggering the issues. You are in very safe hands with DR S 👋👋
With regards to the bloods, I received all the results at the follow up meeting where he went through them. I too was found to have a thyroid issue which requires Levothyroxine. Fingers crossed for your results - please do keep us posted and ask any questions about the protocol!

@Nixwix hey Hunni, that’s great about the bloods. Long may it continue 😀 I’m just hooked up having the intras - it’s absolutely fine - nothing to worry about and the nurses are brilliant. In fact I’ve got my feet up, with a latte reading a wedding mag! @megan234 hope all went well yest lovely x
I have no real preggo symptoms yet but defo am wired at night on the Pred. I’m lirerally bouncing out of bed like a jack in the box in the morn after 5 hours sleep....🐎

Hope everyone else is ok xx

@Sunshineblonde1 wow babe, congratulations on the wedding! And new house, so exciting. And hopefully, a little on the way too. Venue choosing must be difficult? Have you got a dress!

Thank you for the very useful tips. Yes I realise I should do the intra Lipids with Dr S, I will e-mail him about booking it. He is after all the first one to bring it to the UK.. Good luck on yours tomorrow. I also had my first MMC at 8-9 weeks so I'm going to stay on the edge for a while. A little update on my bloods, they are going up but Dr would like to do the bloods again one last time day after tomo. Have you got your 6th week scan booked?

Welcome @Chickjen ! Sorry about your previous losses but the way I see it, you have not had problems conceiving. Hopefully Dr S can help you out with the right blood tests that need to be done and the protocol to be on. The others can tell you better how he works as I have not done any bloods with him but taken my blood test reports to him for a second opinion. All the best!

xxx

Hi everyone, I would like to join if I may? I am being a little premature as I haven't actually started any treatment with Dr S yet.
My history is 'delayed fertility' meaning I couldn't conceive until I was diagnosed with an under active thyroid and started taking levothyroxine. Then able to conceive relatively easily although all have resulted in miscarriage. 3 early/chemicals and 3 mmc, baby stopped growing at 8, 6 and 6 weeks but miscarried around 12 weeks, 2 heartbeats seen.
I have been to the miscarriage clinic at the local hospital which didn't reveal anything, and have tried 6 months of Chinese tea and acupuncture which didn't help either as the last mmc was during their treatment. I am now trying Dr S and have had the initial appt and bloods taken, follow up appt mid Feb.
I have received a few blood tests results through the post but none of the immunity/NK ones, I was wondering if this is normal and he likes to give these results himself?
I found an old version of this thread at Xmas during the last mmc and I found it really inspirational, it really helped me get through reading so many positive and strong stories, I am so glad to find it is still active.

Hey @nixwix everything super crossed for you tomorrow!! Sending positive thoughts and lots of baby dust! Dr S is very belts and braces. He likes to have control of the intras when on his protocol as there have been issues in the past where people have gone off and had it done elsewhere in an environment perhaps that isn’t as controlled, safe and sterile as he would like. I’m sure your IVF clinic is absolutely fine though being so well renowned, but just explaining his logic. I believe the only place you can have his intras is Epsom unfortunately.

Next step for me after intras on Tues will be the first scan. At around 6-7 weeks I believe. Big fat eek!! My last MC was a MMC Dated around 9 weeks so I won’t feel out the woods for a good while yet 😬

The bloating could be the Pred Hunni. It encourages water retention. Eat bananas and gulp back lots of water and/or herbal teas to help with that, try and avoid salt, eat more plant based to help too.

It’s been busy today. This year we are planning a wedding, are moving house and hopefully having a baby 🤞🤞🤞🤪(one way or t’other!!). So it’s venue/location shopping day for us plus a Sunday carvery 🐷🐷
Hope you’ve had a nice Sunday? Xx

@Sunshineblonde1 So on Monday they will check my pregnancy hormone again. And monitor me. And I think they will set me up for intra Lipids too. However Dr S wants me to do it at his clinic. He says it's different to others. On that note, where are you having it done day after? Epsom is a bit far for me. Do you know what's next for you?

How's everyone's Sunday going/been? I ended up eating a lot again. And so bloated.

Xx

@Sunshineblond1 thank you lovely, good luck to you on Tuesday x

@Megan234 @Nixwix and all you lovelies! Well it’s safe to say I think we are all nervous! Passing the crystal ball around like a hot potato 🥔 everything crossed for us all. Like you Megan I have a cold and runny nose so am popping paracetamols on top of everything else 🤪 I’m finding it harder to get to sleep too so may try to take the Pred even earlier to see if it makes a difference?

@Nixwix yes that’s right, those under Dr S’s plan have cyclogest prescribed. I had no idea there was such a thing as a progesterone oil! I’m certainly learning so much on this thread! So after Monday’s blood tests what are the next steps for you?

@Megan234 good luck for intras tomorrow! X

@Sunshineblone1 How are you feeling? I’m full of cold and runny nose, awful and the wind is definitely from cyclogest, I’m not sure how my DH still likes me 🤣
BTW with my last pregnancy the nurses at Mr S clinic suggested the first scan at 7 weeks not 6 as it is too early to see anything.
@Nixwix I’m the same full of worries and I’m dreading the next few weeks in case it’s bad news again. X

Oh I'm not the only one either! I ate soooo much for dinner too and felt so bloated!!!! Regret it completely. Today I'm going to eat healthy 🤣 (but I'd love some cake too 🙊)

Same here @Sunshineblonde1 i'm just as worried, I have blood tests again on Monday so feeling nervous of getting some sort of negative news soon! So if you find that crystal ball, please pass it to me after!

Were you all prescribed Cyclogest by Dr? I'm on Crinone (progesterone in oil) and it's not too bad, slightl vaginal irritation.

How's everyone's weekend been? Happy Sunday!

Oh phew am so glad am not the only one eating lots!! I’ve eaten non stop today too 😳!
@Widdendreams77 are you inserting the cyclogest front or back? I’ve heard up the front can cause spotting due to irritation. I’m doing up the back but I think that’s adding to the wind problem 🤭.
I have to say any joy and positive feelings I have are peppered with anxiety and dread that it’s iust going to end up like the last two. It’s such a hard feeling to shift isn’t it - I wish I had a crystal ball and could go forward in time and skip all this hard stuff 😕 x

@Nixwix thank you for the welcome 😊 I have been eating the whole day today and I can’t stop it. No more cakes for me tomorrow otherwise I will be the size of a house soon 😜
@Widdendreams77 It might be implantation bleeding? Cyclogest should prevent bleedings
@LKM1 Sending big hugs, we all know how you feel, stay positive. There is still hope because they haven’t confirmed that it is definitely ectopic and it’s too early to see anything
X

Coffee and biscuits🤦‍♀️

Hi ladies, thanks for the super welcome. I’m already feeling hungry😆, here’s some cake to go with the cake and biscuits🧁🍰🥮. It’s good to have others who are in the same boat. @Danimerl I’m sorry it’s getting you down, I felt the same when I’d had to stop ttc for all the testing and then nothing for 6 cycles when we did get the go ahead and with the ticking of the bloody clock all the time. My dd was born in 2013 and we started ttc number two late 2015- snap! It must be so hard when you take all the meds and still mc, hope this next protocol is the one for you for take home baby. @LKM1 big hugs, I hope it is too early for seeing the sac but know that bloody feeling in the pit of the stomach when the early scan isn’t right, stay strong and everything crossed. As for me, I’m glad you’ve mentioned the wind issue- I hadn’t twigged until I read your posts🥴, I have had red spotting today on wiping mainly this am and I’m just so hoping it’s the cyclogest irritating things. Have any of you experienced this?? X

@Nixwix great words of advice hunni so glad you joined the thread and thank you for sharing your story. Sorry to hear it has been a roller coaster journey so far, you are in good company here, who knew pregnancy could be so intricately challenging!! And kudos to all for being so proactive in searching for answers. I am so glad I went straight to Dr S after my 2nd MC that's for sure. I really do feel very positive for us all though, one way or another we will get there. It sounds like you are in excellent hands at the CRGH and Dr S.

I am feeling ok, sweaty and windy but ok lol! Did another test today and all is still well so going ahead with the intralipids on Tuesday, then the next step will be the 6 week scan I guess. Everything crossed for us. Hope your next test goes well too lovely x

@LKM1 and yes please stay strong! Your health comes first now. There are success stories out there with histories like ours. So as long as you are determined, I am hopeful you will soon see results! Lots of love