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.
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TTC/ pregnancy on Prednisolone or similar
freelancegirl · 13/06/2011 16:21
What was the plan for you once you get a BFP? Mine is to increase Pred to 40mcg and also start daily progesterone pessaries as well as arrange for a first intralipid infusion. But I do have laughably high cells and your plan might not be the same. Do make sure you have a prescription in place though for when you need it. As Pred is in measures of 25mcg and 5mcg I will have to take one 25 and 3 x 5mgs a day after a BFP. That and the progesterone will bring my daily tablet count to a rattling 14!
Since my last post NOT EVEN AN HOUR AGO I have been suddenly onset with a whole raft of (no doubt imaginary) symptoms including nausea. Must. Get. A. Life 
I didn't see your "bouncing off the walls, obsessing" post of last week, which is unusual being that i too am bouncing off the walls and reading obsessively . You are so right about the freelance/working from home thing. I am finding it so hard to concentrate today, I am at home writing with nothing to distract me except a) the fridge) b) mumsnet c) my chart.
Louise at the clinic also casually mentioned that Pred masks symptoms anyway...
I am guessing as your plan stays the same after a BFP then you don't need a second prescription like I do. My doc told me not to get the meeds too far in advance so they stay 'fresh'. But I imagine as soon as I (hopefully, one day...) get a BFP I will literally be running down to the chemist.
Yes, it's great to get the opportunity to see big stadium type bands in small venues. I'm really hoping he can get me into Foo Fighters but I have a feeling it's going to be over subscribed, same for Adele.
It's so easy to be distracted working from home isn't it? 
Hey ladies. I saw my amazing acupuncturist today. He agrees that a 50 day cycle is really rather rubbish but wasn't surprised that St Mary's have refused me Clomid. Apparently the nhs guidelines on prescribing clomid have recently changed so that doctors can now only prescribe it to women who are not ovulating at all - not just those who have very long cycles.
I mentioned my appt with Mr S next week (who he knows well and treats many his patients), and he said that if Mr S doesn't give me anything to help trigger ovulation this cycle he will send me some Chinese herbs that will do the same trick. How brilliant is that? I'm so pleased that someone is taking my long cycles seriously.
Drug fiend? Moi?
Gecko, brilliant work on digging out that Professor Quenby article. Does anyone remember whose doctor was waiting for that info? I hope they are lurking/on here already.
Some interesting findings from there. This one I find quite worrying as it suggests we should be taking it for longer than the two weeks from ovulation:
?Although nine per cent is still higher than the normal average of five per cent, these women only took prednisolone for three weeks. In practice, they would have to take the steroid for longer before conception occurred, probably for about three months?.
And some of the other info on there is new to me too.
Talking of which ? I am going to be interviewing Mr S tomorrow. Does anyone have any burning questions about NK Cells? What would you ask Mr S if you had the chance?
And with a swift gear change ? Puppy!!! How exciting!! What flavour Puppy is it? Yes, do post a pic.
Euro, indeed the wheels of the NHS grind very slowly. I waited for my appointment for two months but in the end bit the bullet and went privately. Actually so far is has ?only? cost £500 (prelim appointment, NK cell test and one follow up appointment) but I can see it racking up. Treatment with intralipids can?t apparently be done on the NHS either and if (when??) I get pregnant I will need that at £300 a pop ? up to three times.
The acupuncturist sounds great Digi. I think I will arrange to see him after I have tested, which might be tomorrow morning. Yes it is good that he does agree that a 50 day cycle is pretty rubbish! How could anyone not ? that?s the question isn?t it. Am already excited about your appointment with Mr S next week and looking forward to see if you will then get a consignment of Chinese herbs through the post . Maybe you could pass them round and we could all come round and light them up in a big reefer, seeing that we are already popping pills like it's 1994 :)
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I will be 11DPO and CD25, due CD29ish so it is really, really early. Digi made the point a while back though that if we get a negative early we can ditch the Pred sooner. The only thing I worry about is whether I get a negative uust because it is too early that goes on to be a positive. Oh that and worrying about every other bloody thing possible there is to worry about either it being positive or negative . Sigh. Shall I do it? If it is a negative there's no reason I can't take the Pred for another couple of days just in case.
These are my questions at the mo:
How common is miscarriage?
In your opinion is miscarriage on the increase?
What are the causes of miscarriage?
Tell me about the miscarriage clinic
The NK cells theory isn?t believed by everyone, why do you think that is?
Are there any typical symptoms of women with high NK cells? (For example -miscarrying at a certain point of pregnancy? Do they miscarry in a certain way...?)
Also any symptoms in women when they are not pregnant? (generally not catching colds easily etc?).
From my own point of view ? what is the connection between thyroid disease and high NK cells?
At what stage do NK cells start to attack a foetus?
Do NK cells have the potential to disable and maim but not kill?
What makes you so sure they stop attacking once the placenta takes over after 12 weeks of pregnancy?
Can NK cells and immune problems cause late losses too?
Is the steroid treatment accumulative - ie does one cycle help suppress NK cell levels or do they rise up again after you stop if you get the period.
Are there any complimentary therapies you recommend?
(The fluffy bit - trying to get something emotional out of it, although I imagine the emotional bit will be well covered by other people in the doc too)
What is the best bit about the job for you? Tell me some of your greatest success stories.
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