TTC/ pregnancy on Prednisolone or similar part 2

[Arianrhod]

Starting up part 2 of this thread since the old one closed at 1000 posts!

iggi lots of luck for today, hope it's nothing - I know it doesn't help but I know lots of women have spotting and/or bleeding in pregnancy and it still goes ok. Definitely call the EPU, get scanned - it's worth it, honestly, at least you will know one way or another. Virtual hugs coming your way.

free I also started AF properly this morning, so looks like we may be both importuning a friendly witch for a good fertility spell on Hallowe'en? I know exactly what you mean about the scary stuff ... a small part of me was actually sort of relieved when I didn't get a BFP purely because it means I don't have to go through the whole worrying about miscarrying all over again. Bizarre, but there it is.

Hello, haven't caught up with thread yet but welcome wave to newbies.
After a night of pain I got in touch with midwife, (who got to call triage, who put me back to EPU). Anyway they absolutely refused to scan me unless I was bleeding, they have a rosy view of all pain being a normal part of pg and my own experiences to the contrary are irrelevant. She thought waiting till my 12 week scan (2 weeks from now) would be fine. Psychologically, not fine for me! Anyway I have found somewhere locally where I can get a scan tomorrow. And tonight all the hope will start to seep back in I suppose... I am desperate to be proved wrong Ari, I do hope you are right!

Cherrycheeks is indeed a cute name, although it might be strangely prophetic if you get anything like the Moonface I had when I went up to 40mg of Pred :) anyone hasnt seen Moonface / post-Moonface video and wants a laugh do pm me for the link!

Yes Snoops, I have exchanged posts with the BC girl who has higher levels than myself and Cherry. It's certainly good to see her pregnancy going well. Someone here also said something mr s had said that I found very reassuring on here a few posts ago but will have to find it later as on the phone. I am truly living the freelance dream today, on my second coffee shop loitering of the day, sandwiching each side of a trip to the gym :) am putting off going home and writing an article.

I posted my friend the dr beer book earlier and am compiling master list of recommended tests for her. I've done it before but I will post it here later to see if you can all add anything I've missed. Flippin hell we are all such experts we should open our own clinic!

Cherry, loving the romance with the swi/egging (Shagging With Intent btw :) ) I was exhausted last night but went at it with such enthusiasm dh said 'wow you really want this baby dont you!' as I rolled over and tries to er, hold on to the merchandise.

I make the egg laying comment too. And occasionally make chicken noises (well, you've got to laugh or cry and I prefer the former!).

Sorry Kittens and Iggi, crossed posts. Iggi sorry thus us all so stressful, here for hand holding tomorrow.

Talking of egg laying yesterday evening I did feel some weird goings on. It wasn't as 'twingey' as I usually have but felt rather pre-af like abd also a but like someone was squeezing both Fallopian tubes. Don't ask me what the he'll that was. Hmm, wonder if I am 1dpo? I best carry on SWI just in case.

Oh and Euro too. Busy thread today!

Ha ha - eggulating and chicken noises- love it!
Free- you're right I'm outside the Uk (middle east) so I'm 4 hours ahead of you lot.
Iggi- good luck with the scan tomorrow.
Kittens- yes any brown etc before af would be spotting. My gynae here is pretty keen for me to start progesterone at ov because of this to get as healthy an implantation as possible.I get a bit more spotting than a bit of watery brown though, sometimes quite red.
I have to admit I am dreading getting preggers again. I've only had 2 mcs but found the second one so much harder to deal with than the first which make me worry if they all get progressively more difficult (emotionally)?

Ooh Cheerful all that lovely sunshine. I haven't actually been to the middle east, which is a bit crap considering I travel for a living, must get around to it.

I am dreading getting pregnant again too, thinking of the worry, the weight gain, the avoiding certain lifestyle choices, avoiding certain people as it becomes obvious I am pregnant pretty quickly these days, the knicker checking, the constant Fear and of course a) the potentially scary thought of another miscarriage and b) (as I haven't had a successful pregnancy yet) the actually rather scary thought it is all GOING RIGHT!! How the f*ck will I cope with the bit that happens after that seemingly illusive 12 weeks!

But for me the second miscarriage this year (my first two I am not counting - years ago, didn't want a baby) was easier than the first. The first was 12 weeks and a shock, the second I had warning with that round of unsuccessful scans over 3 long weeks. I was worried that it was getting easier each time and I was actually getting immune (no pun intended) to it. I guess it depends on the circumstances of each one really. Getting further along, seeing a heart beat, seeing a foetus etc makes you more attached.

My bits are definitely still feeling weird BTW - still feels like pre-af ache rather than ovulation!

PS Euro I was lurking because it was the top of the pile and I thought I would try to work out what the hell BESH stands for - saw you post there and wondering if you could fill me in!

Thank you purequeen good to hear your experience, it really helps.
Anyone interested in the whole embryo screening thing I have spent most of my life researching this area since I had a Trisomy 13 mc in march.
CHG- or array CGH is relatively new area.. supposed to be better than traditional PDG. Google Dr Geofrey Sher - the Sher institute - even better youtube it.. you'll see a cheesy American video clip but says it all really.
Hopefully won't be necessary information for most people here, but I think this video says a lot as is a few minutes long.

Welcome cherrycheeks I've added you into the list. (think this is still accurate)

Any requests for the cocoon house ?

Hope your scan went ok brownie

have emailed TMC to get opinion on this possible septum thing- but not heard back is it ok to call Louise on the mobile number (I guess so or it wouldn't be on the website?)

Wed 2nd Nov List

TTC
duggs1976 - High/V High NKCOv 28 Oct. Pred.TTC #1 Testing 11th Nov?
batteryhen - High activation NKC, factor v leiden. TTC#1 Testing 12th Nov?
Suemays - V High NKC TTC/ov 31st Oct.
Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 /ov 1st Nov. Hydroxchloroquine, Pred, Intralipids. Thyroid/hashimotos.
Arianrhod - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, hypothyroid, TTC/ov 1st Nov
eurochick - awaiting first appointment (in Nov)/cd9/ov 31 Oct-2 Nov
Cherrycheeks - V high NKC, 3rd round /ov 2nd Nov
ChoccyPud - V High NKC / TTC #1/ 4th Pred cycle/ov 3rd Nov
Cheerfulcharlie V High NKC (intralipids on BFP, no Pred) TTC/ov 5th Nov.
Snoopygirl - V High NKC TTC/ov 16 Nov ish/will be Ist try with Pred Itralipids
Havingkittens - High NKC TTC again from November
pureequeen - High NKC TTC #2 again from November (BFP cycle one but mc)

BFP
Stogan - V high NKC - BFP 9/7/11 cycle#2- 21+3 Due 10/03/12
Digitalgirl - High NKC - BFP cycle#2 -16+1 Due 16/04/12 next scan 7/11
Coconutfeet - V High NKC, Factor II gene mutation, underactive thyroid - BFP pre-pred, started at 6 weeks - 13+0 next scan 15/11
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2 - 10+0 next scan 7/11
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2 - 9+4 due 1/16/12 scan 2/11
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Introlerant. BFP on cycle 3 of Clomid - 8+5 next scan on 2/11
Scooterchaser - V High NKC - BFP cycle1 - 5+2. Due 01/07/12. Scan 10/11

iggi so sorry to hear you've been in pain, really hope it eases and wishing you a hopeful scan tomorrow. I have also had my sinister backache today and funny cramps so really with you on the Fear front. Know it feels anything but, but let's hope these are positive stretching pains for both of us this time.

Welcome to cherry sorry to find yourself here but there are worse places to hang out, check out the virtual cocoon house over last few posts. By the way I am putting in a bid for moon face facial while I feeling nice and puffy :-)

free just to say I got exactly those type of pains, confusing because could definitely not be AF that early but felt like it... must have been implantation....has the SWI aid off I wonder...

paid off I meant ( butter fingers)

Gosh I am not sure Scooter but maybe it is too early for that?

I think there's money to be made out of Mooonface Facials. Mr S should be offering them along with intralipids. It would take a couple of hours to go over my face, considering the size it went to last time :)

Hi,

I hope you don't mind me asking. I am experiencing my third miscarriage. First one was 8 weeks, second one was 20 weeks and now 6 weeks. My GP says the tests that were done on the 20 week loss are the same as at a recurrent miscarriage clinic. Since they all came back normal there is not much point on attending recurrent miscarriage clinic. I got put on aspirin in this pregnancy as it can not do any harm and it may help measure. Obviously it has not worked. So since the NHS will just duplicate the tests I have had done I thought about seeing Mr Shehata.

I just wondered if he is worth it and how much will it cost us? Sorry if that is too personal.

Thanks very much for reading this.

Cocoon house....how about a fit butler to serve us cocktails and he could throw in a few pamper treats while he's at it!! We could provide him with a pinny so he looks official...

lemonsherbert totally worth it.. there are around 16 or 17 of us on this thread.. 6 or so have already conceived and the rest of us are working on it..He is well worth the £300 plus £300 for the NK cells tests.. around that anyway..just have a read and you will make up your mind..!

Hello lemonsherbet so sorry you are having your third miscarriage. We can all relate to what you're going through. It's all awful, but it must have been especially bad with the 20 weeks one. I don't want to diagnose everyone but I really really think it is worth you seeing Mr S or similar. You can probably get a referral on the NHS too but it might be a few months to wait and you still have to pay for certain tests. I have a master list of tests that you might be able to get on the NHS before seeing him, so only have to have the NK cells one. The first appointment plus test is around £300 as Duggs said. After that it is £150 per follow up appointment and WHEN you get pregnant again £300 for the first scan and £250 (I think thereafter).

Medication wise I have asked my GP to convert his prescriptions into NHS ones and they have fortunately done so. If you can scrape together the cash (and I think it's safe to say that most of us here are not exactly rich) I would definitely make an appintment. Even just to rule it out. But he does have an 85% ish success rate so if you are diagnosed with something it could be well worth doing. Sorry for what you'e going through. Do feel free to linger and ask questions xx

Thanks duggs for adding me to the list, I already feel part of the gang. I shall dream about the cocoon house tonight... after swi of course ( not sure if I'm still egging)

Hello ladies, just a quick one from me as shattered both emotionally and physically after what feels like a very long day!

We had our scan and the little bean is still there!!! They have me at 8+4 weeks due to size from last scan and we heard the heart beat. Needless to say my DH and I blubbed like big girls :). I was crying before I got in there actually as I had prepared myself for the worse after so many bad scans. Sonographer thought I had lost the plot.

Can't really believe it, we have never had 2 positive scans in a row. They are going to scan me again in 10 days. Still on all the same meds, just need to have intralipids tomorrow morning.

Sorry it is a me me me post, am off to bed as early start tomorrow to get into London. Will post properly tomorrow night when I get back. Hope you are all well and hope you are ok Comedy?

Welcome too to all the new ladies. I have gained a lot of strength and hope from others on this thread. Hope you can too. x

lemonsherbert welcome! Sorry to hear about your experience, this is a lovely place to talk things through with others going through the same sort of thing.

Having two mc at or before 8 weeks might indeed mean NKC zapping it before placenta takes over. With my minimal understanding of later mc, never having got that far, I think by 20 weeks NKCs have had their chance though you don't say what if any reason was given for your mc at 20 weeks. I'd echo the others and say get the test done if you can afford the cost. It's so simple to deal with. Aside from the side effects, emotional rollercoaster and all that obv...!

Hi Lemonsherbert
Apologies for my flippant post it came in between yours.
Sorry for your losses. I think if you read through these posts and do a bit of googling on Dr S you will find that there are plenty of sucess stories with regards to women who have been under his care, had multiple m/c's and gone on to have sucessful pregnacies. I can't say personally that it's worked for me yet as I am just about to go on my first treatment cycle with him but I am really hopeful even after 5 m/c's myself. I just felt that after that many and all other tests negative that the standard NHS role out of "it's just one of those things or your age" just didn't seem right. I was found to have V High NK cells like lots of others on here.
Good luck with your research.
x

Hi lemonsherbet ... so sory to hear about your losses, it's heartbreaking. We understand on here what you're going through. I echo free, I really think it's worth you doing the more intensive testing that the NHS doesn't do. There could well be one or more recurring things that are causing (or contributing to) your repeated miscarriages, it's definitely got to be worth knowing what, if anything.

free well I've been getting what I think are grumbling ovary pains today, and I've also had what I would have thought as pre-AF cramps, today and yesterday. OV stick still says no smilie face but the FSH line was much much stronger than the last couple of days so I'm hopeful OV is imminent. Plus one almost surefire indicator (and you may well laugh at this ladies, apologies for TMI) .. I always get really extra "interested" in the horizontal tango, as it were, right before/around OV ... and that's definitely kicking in. SWI, here we come (no pun intended )

Woohoo brownie, fab to hear about your great scan! You must be so relieved. comedy, hope yours went well too and you're feeling better?

Fantastic news Brownie bet you and hubby are over the moon. Well done.x

lemonsherbert hello, so sorry you're going through your third mc . I hope it's not too drawn out and painful for you. In answer to your question: Personally, I have spent approx £1,500 with Mr S. I am currently 16 weeks pregnant after 4 mcs. I had all the standard rmc tests done on the NHS and nothing abnormal was found. I was also referred to St Mary's and had an extra clotting test which most hospitals don't do - called a TEG. Again nothing was found. But I was diagnosed with high nk cells under Mr S and have been on his treatment plan in the first trimester. Just the process of booking a private appointment and having the tests done made me feel better, as though I was finally taking back control...I did this immediately after my 4th mc. I would recommend it to anyone who's had three mc's and had all nhs tests come back clear - if only to rule out the nk cell theory. Then at least you know you've covered everything. As free mentioned, you can get referred to him on the NHS - he works at St Helier in Epsom, it's a longer waiting list but a cheaper way to go and perhaps if you need a break from the madness that is ttc it might not be such a bad thing.

comedy you poor thing with the D&V and UTI. Really hope all went well at your appointment with Mr S this afternoon.

brownie lurking for news from you too.

cherrycheeks welcome to the thread - I see your settling into the cocoon house already. free you have a twin!

and free am so sorry your friend had her mc confirmed - hopefully she'll do as we do and plunge herself into research and take positive steps forward with a Mr S appointment. I found my 3rd MC so difficult while at the mercy of the nhs and their long results turnaround.

Loving the eggulating, hatching, clucking and enthusiastic swi-ing that seems to be going on at the moment.

iggi once again, am rather at the rules up your way as to how the scans are rationed out. Have you contemplated getting a home doppler? My MW didn't advise it, but then she did say if I was at all worried I could just call up anytime. But you've done that. Obviously, everything IS actually fine but some scientific reassurance would help ease your stress levels. Good luck with the scan tomorrow.

scooterchaser hope your niggly aches and pains have eased. It's hard pretending you're not pg when that keeps happening.

All's well here. Thought I might have felt a couple of flicks...but just generally feeling a little tender in lower bump region. Hope its all the stretching.

Just updating the pg progress dates for today
TTC
duggs1976 - High/V High NKCOv 28 Oct. Pred.TTC #1 Testing 11th Nov?
batteryhen - High activation NKC, factor v leiden. TTC#1 Testing 12th Nov?
Suemays - V High NKC TTC/ov 31st Oct.
Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 /ov 1st Nov. Hydroxchloroquine, Pred, Intralipids. Thyroid/hashimotos.
Arianrhod - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, hypothyroid, TTC/ov 1st Nov
eurochick - awaiting first appointment (in Nov)/cd9/ov 31 Oct-2 Nov
Cherrycheeks - V high NKC, 3rd round /ov 2nd Nov
ChoccyPud - V High NKC / TTC #1/ 4th Pred cycle/ov 3rd Nov
Cheerfulcharlie V High NKC (intralipids on BFP, no Pred) TTC/ov 5th Nov.
Snoopygirl - V High NKC TTC/ov 16 Nov ish/will be Ist try with Pred Itralipids
Havingkittens - High NKC TTC again from November
pureequeen - High NKC TTC #2 again from November (BFP cycle one but mc)

BFP
Stogan - V high NKC - BFP 9/7/11 cycle#2- 21+4 Due 10/03/12
Digitalgirl - High NKC - BFP cycle#2 -16+2 Due 16/04/12 next scan 7/11
Coconutfeet - V High NKC, Factor II gene mutation, underactive thyroid - BFP pre-pred, started at 6 weeks - 13+1 next scan 15/11
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2 - 10+1 next scan 7/11
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2 - 9+5 due 1/16/12 scan 2/11
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Introlerant. BFP on cycle 3 of Clomid - 8+6 next scan on 2/11
Scooterchaser - V High NKC - BFP cycle1 - 5+3. Due 01/07/12. Scan 10/11

cross posts with brownie Yaaaaaay! What a relief!!!

Thanks very much for the info. My GP wants me to wait a week to think about it before she will write a referral. But, I want to do something need to feel I am taking back control. My loss at 20 weeks they found no cause. They decided because it was my second missed miscarriage that adding aspirin in my 3rd pregnancy would do no harm and may help. Think they felt they had to try something. But with that loss obviously they did a post mortem, tested me for infections and took bloods for diabetes, thyroid, clotting, autoimmune screen and thrombiphilia screen. They looked at the placenta and did genetic tests on him all of which were normal. Got told it is one of those things just bad luck. So my GP telling me today that this my third miscarriage is just bad luck did not fill me with much hope that people are taking me serious. Does this make sense?