TTC/ pregnancy on Prednisolone or similar

[freelancegirl]

I am not sure there are enough people here to start a thread but have been chatting on one on the pregnancy boards and was wondering if I could find any fellow ttc'ers on Prednisolone or similar?

I have just received a diagnosis of very high NK cells. It was a bit of a shock actually as it turns out I have some of the highest levels - 3.79 when anything over 1.8 is considered 'very high'.

Am trawling through Dr Beer's book and Dr Google and trying to found out more. I have been recommended 25mg prednisoline steroids for two weeks starting with ovulation, increasing to 40mg if/when BFP and then Intralipids Cyclogest too. I still have 13 days until I pop my first Pred.

There now just seem like so many hurdles - actually getting pregnant being the first one. I was prepared for high NK cells as I have high thyroid antibodies but it was shocking to be in the top 5% of people treated at the clinic. I am not sure if that gives me much less of a chance of being successful.

It would be great to hear from anyone else who is undergoing treatment and of course also if you've had successful treatment.

Hi all .. Does anyone know anything about antral follicles? I've just got the copy letter that Mr S sent to my GP following my first appt 2 weeks ago and although he said at the time of doing my scan that he was pleased with what he saw, having just read my antral follicle count (4 one side, 5 the other) I did a bit of googling and found that's considered very low! Understandable at my age I guess, but given that Mr S said he was pleased with what he saw I'm confused .. I wouldn't have said that was anything to be pleased about!

Does anyone know, does it make a difference what day of your cycle the scan is done? Mine was done CD18, I had OVd 4 days earlier. I've seen reports that the scan (for IVF purposes, which isn't my case) is generally done day 2 or 3 of your cycle but that may be irrelevant, I don't know.

I'm now thinking my ovarian reserve is rubbish and I'm just hoping for something that frankly may not happen. I'm seeing Mr S tomorrow but thought I'd maybe I'd get a more frank answer from you ladies.

Thanks ...

Sorry Arian, don't know anything about that. Glad you have an appointment, so not too long to wait and worry!
Got an email from S's midwf (having emailed her my hcg results) saying S would "interpret them at my appt" which is in 2 weeks. Now worried there is some other (negative) spin to put on hcg levels doubling!
Can I ask, have ANY of you who've been pg on steroids experience nausea? - I didn't in my last pg, just wondering if the steroids completely or partially mask that one

I have no idea Ari! I just consulted Dr Google and found this not very helpful website trying to flog women some fertility aid or something but it did have a handy little chart to tell us how we are all running out of eggs... It does seem to suggest however that after 25 anything around the 3-6 mark is normal:

www.infertile.com/brochures/biological_clock05.htm

I am sure there is nothing to worry about. Well nothing more than we are worrying about already anyway!

Iggi I would say the same to you. HCG levels are meant to double aren't they and I am sure Louise just meant wait until the appointment. I know it is hard not to worry.

ari sorry don't know about antral follicles. Hope Mr S can clear it up for you tomorrow.

iggi I haven't had much nausea at all. If I do get it (rarely) it's usually after a couple of days of overdoing it and rushing around. Good luck on Monday. We had to take ds to my 9 week scan and he wasn't at all interested in the u/s machine or to see what was happening.

Have a small dilemma. I have only 4 days of cyclogest left but Mr S said to take them till I'm 16 weeks so he's given me a private prescription. I can get them free from my gp but he's away this week and I can't get an appointment till Monday so would miss two days dose. Do I get the private prescription for the sake of two days, or wait till I can get them for free?

Digi can you check whether you can see another GP at the practice who can just give you a repeat prescription...? If not, then go for the private one. I am pretty sure that two days is not going to make a difference and I am pretty hopeful this time it is all going well for you. BUT if by some chance something did go wrong you would always wonder if skipping any were to blame IYSWIM?

As usual wise words from free - yes I should try and see another gp, it's just one of them is a bit rubbish and upset me in my first pregnancy with ds and I haven't seen her since. But maybe the other one will be ok. Darn, was hoping to spend my morning off this week browsing charity shops for old necklaces to decorate my homemade candles with.
Hope your hands are feeling better.

Digi a holiday shouldn't mean no access to your gp! If you can't see another one, I can easily send you a few cyclogest if there's time before you run out.
Have woken up with very dodgy stomach this morning, really hope it's food/indigestion related but getting that sinking feeling again. Oh well.

digi I have finished on cyclogest now and have 7 left over if u want me to send u them to keep you going?

Iggi when I was on the steroids I had no sickness at all and was so worried but don't worry as soon as I was weaned off them I have had morning, afternoon and night sickness !!! Infact have only started to feel better yesterday when I only felt sickly for about 2 hours around lunch time, only fruit can make me feel better which I suppose is a good thing! Had my first full nights sleep for 3 weeks, from 10pm til 6am, last night and feel awesome, think it was the fresh air I took in yesterday !!

Hope everyone is feeling ok today x

I actually have some too digi, damn I could have dropped them off with you yesterday. But am off to Spain this morning. I understand your reluctance with the GP. Having dealt with thyroid probs for years - another area of medical research that is considered controversial for some docs - I know what it's like to worry docs are not going to believe in your treatment and just give you the damn drugs...But as it is a repeat prescription hopefully you will be ok.

When I was pregnant this time on the Pred I didn't really get any nausea, not sure if that was the Pred or the unsuccessful pregnancy. I did get it in the last one and of course as we all know Pred can mask symptoms. I did get very bloated on the cyclogest. I also think that as it was my fourth early pregnancy my body seems to bloat out quite quickly anyway.

Anyway, am off to see mum and dad in spain for a week. am sure I will check in from time to time though!

Oh lordy, thanks for the offer of the cyclogest ladies that's very very kind. Maybe I'll take up Stogan's offer as she's not going to need hers - if it's not too much trouble. I only need two to get me through the weekend - so hopefully it shouldn't be too heavy to post but I will reimburse you the costs. Will PM you my details.

iggi dodgy stomach does sound more digestive system related. Possibly the effects of the cyclogest slowing your metabolism down.

free Enjoy your time with the folks in Spain - am very of your jet set lifestyle you always seem to be off somewhere lovely. Bet the sun will do your immune system the world of good too.

Hiya,
hope it's ok if I join here, hello to iggi, freelance and digi from the recurrent buns thread. Just been given my prescription for pred and cyclogest and on Day 4 of my cycle. Never had much success with OPKs but can usually estimate time of ovulation through natural means IYSWIM although I would probably guess slightly ahead of actual ovulation time (often it looks like ovulating anytime between Day 8 and Day 12). Does anyone know whether it is ok or not to begin the steroids just ahead of ovulation or is it really important to be accurate?

Blimey, we could open a immuno-chemist between us. I have plenty of spare Pred too if anyone runs out :)

Hello scooter and welcome to the Pred Thread! Are you a bit nervous about necking your first Pred? I know I was. It's exciting, daunting and a whole load of things when TTC after mc let alone adding these mega into the mix! I know afrw of us had the same worries about starting on the exact day but mr s says it doesn't really matter. So start when you think you are ovulating. What were your levels- ate you staying on 25 or going up to 40/intralipids?

My first symptoms on 25 were waking up early and hunger. But then I got pregant first try with them (unsuccessfully) so I don't know what was pregnancy symptoms and what Pred. After a few weeks on 40 I def had a puffy cheek situation on my hands! even now 5 weeks after the ERPC my tummy is way chunkier than pre pregnancy in Jan (is pre first mc of the year). BUT if it helps you have a baby surely if us worth it in the end. And being on 25 was really not too bad at all.

What a beautiful day btw!!

Hello, scooter I have taken mine on first day of positive opk, so probably a day before actual ovulation. It does have to be guesswork, really!
I feel hot and bloated and really queasy today. Trying to pretend it is something other than bas news but surely I know better by now. Just wish I wasn't at work. Sorry for the me-me-me.

Apologies for typos/ grammar - on train to airport :)

Iggi ... hot, bloated and queasy can equally describe pregnancy symptoms and a tummy upset, so don't worry (too much) ... remember pregnancy slows down your digestive system, I felt horribly bloated and queasy with my last pg. Chin up, and think positive! (hard, I know, but worth a shot :) )

No problem digi can I pick pm's up on my I phone??? If not I'll go online when DH is back at lunch and post u some x

Enjoy Spain freelance xxx

That's the cyclogest in the post to you digi, sorry for the massive envelope, was all they had in the PO !!! I sent u 3 just incase x

What a gorgeous day, sat out in the garden getting a dose of vitamin D

thanks stogan very much appreciated!!!!

Welcome scooter - If you can err on the side of taking it after ovulation you'll be fine. Even though Mr S says it doesn't delay ovulation, my acupuncturist says it can in some women and it doesn't hurt to start the steroids a few days after ov when you're absolutely sure.

iggi Snap! Am also hot and queasy today. Think this indian summer is not agreeing with me.

I meant

Ok. I need some advice from the experts. I've now spent a whole day with uncomfortable, middle-of-stomach pain and generally feeling crap. I have been lying down all afternoon and it feels worse instead of better. If I continue to take progesterone presumably I won't start bleeding, so I won't know I've mc. Is there anything I can do to confirm it's gone wrong- more hcg? Scan? (Am only 5+3 or 4 though). Have just had to tell dh, who has been so happy since the hcg results.

oh iggi if you're in pain maybe call the EPU and see if they can get you in for a scan tomorrow. It may be too early to see a heartbeat but at least they can check it's in the right place and maybe see if there's been any bleeding. I totally understand the fear you have. I had a similar episode at around 5 weeks, where for one day at work I kept getting waves of cramps very similar to the beginnings of mc contractions. Freaked me out no end. But it passed and the next day I felt nothing and had no symptoms whatsoever (which silently worried me, but it was easier to pretend I wasn't pg with no symptoms).
Let us know how you get on.

Thank you Digi. I'll call epu tomorrow. I am very glad the treatment has been working out for so many of you, but I must confess to wondering why on earth I have to be the exception (twice).

Iggi hope you're feeling better soon, and definitely talk to your EPU, see what they say. With any luck it'll just turn out to be a stomach upset (if it makes sense wishing a stomach upset on you!!).

Well I got my results from Mr S and while I'm relieved to find that the blood tests did find something - somethings, actually - at the same time I'm concerned at how much (and what) they did find.

I just fall into the very high range for NK cells at 1.83 (Mr S said anything over 1.8 is considered very high), I am positive/homozygous for the MTHFR C677T mutation, and while we're at it, I have hypothyroidism (subclinical underactive thyroid is how Mr S put it). My TSH levels are on the high side of normal, but my T4 count is too low. Well it certainly explains why I'm tired all the time, and cold a lot, I suppose.

On the plus side, at least my anticoagulant levels are all ok.

So now I have to do the pred route (25mg at OV, 40mg if pg), plus omeprazole and cyclogest, low dose asprin, 5mg folic acid for the MTHFR and also thyroxine for the hypothyroidism. And of course intralipids if pg.

Apparently you get free prescriptions if you have hypothyroidism - dunno if my GP will include the pred etc in that, I have to now fight to get an appointment to see her first to ask (my surgery is an utter nightmare to get appointments) - but I suppose first I have to convince her to accept the Doctor's Lab's blood test results.

I'm slightly relieved that the blood tests did find something wrong, but at the same time I'm concerned at how much it turned up. Need to get my head around it all now, I guess.

Hope everyone else is doing ok!

Ari x