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.

Following my text from Mr S's secretary yesterday saying my letter was sent electronically that morning to my GP, I have just phoned my GP and they've not yet received it. Aaaaarrrrgh! Talk about banging my head agains a brick wall! I don't want to waste a month taking the wrong dose of steroids. Damn.

By the almighty "Law of Sod" I should be pregnant this or next month, as I am spending Christmas in France with my Mum and Stepdad. Apparently they are traditionally eat a lot of seafood at Christmas in their region. Including Oysters, which I love. Then there's the cheese, and wine ....... and yet, I'm still hoping I cannot partake in any of those things.

How can something sent electronically not arrive yet? Unless they got the wrong email address for your GP .. or else, your GP's secretary/receptionist doesn't understand their computer! Could Mr S's secretary fax a copy over? That's instantaneous, and hard-copy right there in their hand!!

Ahh, Mr Sod and his Law. I'd like to shoot him, personally, but I'd probably miss :) Crossing fingers that you do have good reason to forgo your favourite foods, if that makes sense :)

Beats me ari! Very annoying though! I have left a phone message and email for Mr S's secretary.

Talking about the peeing containers - we've all done that with the lids, (er, haven't we)? The only thing i could find when I went away for a few days was a shaving foam lid, that also had a little hole in it. I got the hang of getting the test stick ready first while covering the hole in the style of the Little Dutch Boy and the dyke. Like snoopy, I also have a tea light holder in my bathroom, although every week after the cleaner has visited, it is full of my make up brushes... I have now taken to hiding it before she comes.

Ari - you definitely can't compare a test that wasn't even done in the morning. I hope you manage to find a place to test your HCG and it puts your mind at rest.

My DH brought me home a present last night which I excitedly unwrapped - a bag of 20% intralipids! Actually not as mad as it seems as it's difficult to get hold of over here and with a 4 week order period, it was a bit touch and go whether I would be able to get hold of any the other day, so at least I'm sorted for the next session. By the way it was only the equivalent of about £45 and that was for 500ml (only need 100ml) and everything is more expensive here, so I bet much cheaper in the UK!

Really wish i could go to your 6th Dec meet up. I have booked in for my first scan that day so it is my next milestone. When's everyone else having the first scan? I know Dr S says 6 weeks but that seemed like a few days too early as you wouldn't get a heart beat by then.

Morning all! Just woken up at 7am here, a huge relief as it has been 4am every morning so far and I finally feel refreshed.

Ari I am going to queue in line with my large wet fish in hand (am picturing a scene from Airplane I think) to give you a good wet-fishing. Back away from the sticks. Choccy and the others are right, maybe an HCG test would help? I had one yesterday and it is the level it should be at a 4 week pregnancy, obviously the only real market with it is whether it goes up and I would need to get that tested again. Maybe I too should have one at NLC when I get back.

I have also had some mild cramping and back ache. I didn?t get this with my other two pregnancies of the year. I am hoping that means good things, but who knows. Digi, it is really good to hear things that have happened when you had DS as it makes it all a bit reassuring. This morning I am feeling no symptoms whatsoever so that starts a mini-mental too. Can?t win, you are right Brownie!

Cheerful, great that your intralipids have arrived for next time, will you see if you can get someone to come to the house to administer? Gosh I do hope we all need one again at 8 weeks, that would be a very, very good sign.

As for the first scan I am not so sure. Six weeks for me would be the 29th November but yes that does feel way too early. Unfortunately I just envisage it going the same way as the last time ? nothing to see and then going back for another one the following week Sadly there was never anything to see. I might see if I can leave it until 7 weeks to be more sure that there SHOULD be something. When is everyone else having a scan?

Kittens, my electronic ref to Mr S the first time and also St Mary?s never got sent. I had to get it faxed directly as I was calling up every day. Re France, yes it would be great to be pregnant. I have a feeling that this time I am actually going to continue to have the odd glass of wine if I want it. Sometimes it seems so futile to give things up when I might not stay pregnant anyway. So far I have been good though.

Battery, did you find out anything about lining thickening? What makes you feel yours is thin? Just one of those hunches that we have? Not sure whether you should mention the treatment to St Marys. Digi might be able to advise as she had had both.

Talking of St Mary?s I have that appointment on the 29th and obviously won?t be able to take it now if I am still pregnant at that point.

Duggs! Happy Birthday!! 35 is indeed very young. I turned 37 in July if that makes you feel any better. I love it that you are celebrating with a bit of tabling

Yes Sue, a new dress is always a good idea! I bought one the other day here actually, a black lacy number. I think I will wear it on the weekend. Before I become too Progesterone bloated?

Comedy, I think Vitamins etc are stopped at 12 weeks are they? Seems quite early as I am sure there are some who take folic acid later? Not sure. I have the protocol here on my laptop, just haven?t yet needed to look that far ahead!

So, snoopy to test soon?

Also when is Euro?s appointment?

Am happy to help decide venues for London if help needed, but equally happy to go anywhere. Yes I guess PMs might be better for location details.

Ah, a rather thorough post there! Amazing what a good night?s sleep can do.

Waves to Cherry, Coconut, Stogan, Scooter, Puree, Coley, Iggi and all those I haven?t mentioned. Thanks being pleased I sorted out the intralipids. Yes it was a bit of a nightmare at first, I was in tears when it looked like I might not get them done. But thankfully I found that wonderful clinic.

Ari - The others are right. Testing in the middle of the day is bound to give you a faint line. Impossible not to freak out though, I know I'd be exactly the same. Testing in the morning and comparing to yesterday's test will give you a better idea if you really can't wait. Have you got a sympathetic gp who would arrange an HCG test for you?

Free - I'm not surprised that you were crying at the thought of not getting the intralipids. I burst into tears at the GP waiting room this morning when trying to sort out my repeat prescription for clexane. I've only got enough to last me till the weekend and thought that going today allowed enought time for them to process the repeat prescription but they were saying they couldn't get it till Monday. All sorted now, thankfully and now that I've calmed down I feel really stupid but at the time I really felt like I could have thrown myself on the floor and sobbed and sobbed.

Kittens - I had to smile at the vision of your ever decreasing urine pot.

Hope everyone else is OK. Any scan news?

Off out tonight. Cannot wait to get my hands on a glass of wine. The thought of it has been keeping me going since Monday!

Wow so many messages! I can't keep up.
Ari my local epu and my gp have each done hcg tests for me in the past. Can't remember if I had to cite spotting, I think once I said a clearblue digi test wasn't rising. Anyway they were happy to do that.

Vitamins - I asked S about giving up the vitamins and he said I didn't have to. (For instance, there's folic acid in pregnacare, and I know I took that all the way through with ds). I might ask again as I want to be sure none of the vast amount I'm taking could cause harm. They are kind of a security blanket for me! What did anyway else do if they reached that stage?
I am thinking will have to face up to telling (new) boss soon about the pg - dreading it, though obviously would much rather be doing this than the alternative.

Happy birthday duggs x???

cheerful I had my first scan at exactly 6 weeks and almost fell off the hospital bed when they said there is the heartbeat as had never seen one before so I can confirm it is very definitely possible in some cases but some can't be seen until 8 weeks, guess we were just lucky, although judging by the size of me now my baby seems to be a fast developer ha ha

Xxx

Gahh! I've left a message for Annabella, sent her an email and just popped into GP surgery on my way home from the gym and still no luck. Now my GP's receptionist has left a message for Annabella. I'm going down to Sussex on Monday to see my granny on my way to Gatwick on Tuesday morning and will be in France until Monday week. By the time I am in a position to get to the surgery and pick up my new prescription it will be Tuesday week which is about 2 days before I will be due to test. FFS! I need that prescription tomorrow

Ari - Please step away from the tests :). I promise, mine were so faint that I had to hold them up to light and say "see, it is there..honest" to my DH. For peace of mind for sure get the hcg tests if you can. The cramping and the like were there for me until about 7-8 wks, and felt like period like pains, sometimes sharp shooting pains. Your body is adjusting to the bean and you will also be sensitive to any changes so saying stay calm is easier said than done, I know. Sending you lots of unmumsnetty hugs anyway

Happy Birthday Duggs!

Puree, Duggs, Digi and co, I am definitely still up for meeting on the 6th of December..how exciting :)

Kittens - ROFL! the things we have to do.

Question for you ladies injecting Clexane. Do you alternate sides on the belly? I have massive bruising on the right side but not the left and it is becoming really painful to inject. Is it ok just to inject on the left?

Waves to Sue, Snoopy. Choccy, Coley, Cheerful, Scooter, Iggi, Coconut, Battery, Cherry, Stogan,Comedy & Free

Ladies, thank you for the virtual slaps (and hugs), I am still mentally convinced it's going to be a chemical pregnancy, but you've all brought smiles to my face and I need that right now! Brownie it's really interesting that your tests were faint, but were they faint for previous pregnancies at the same stage? Truthfully I wasn't concerned over the faint line at 11dpo, but I am concerned at the exact same faintness at 12dpo where my other pregnancies (that actually did progress, I mean, rather than the chemical that failed within a few days) had very strong lines at that same stage. I know every pregnancy is different, but couple that with the cramps that I've been getting all day - and still am - honestly just convinces me this isn't going to stick.

Having said that, no-one would be happier than me if you can all blow raspberries at me in a couple of weeks because it's still there and progressing :)

I do have to go for thyroid blood tests tomorrow to my surgery (although I won't see the GP) so I might ask about hCG testing. They haven't been very sympathetic to such things in the past, though, their usual response is "well time will tell, you'll find out in a few days anyway" :(

kittens what do you need? Can the Pred Thread Pharmacy help out? If it's something I've got I'm happy to Special-D some to you tomorrow, you'd get it Saturday?

Scans - well when I rang Mr Shehata's office to ask about booking the intralipids Mr S's secretary said I should book in to see Mr S then too, she said he likes to see you around 7 weeks (and I thought it was 6?) so booked me in for the 7th Dec. So, assuming this does continue, then I'm due a 7 week scan on the 7th.

free good to hear you got a solid night's sleep! Is the pred not messing you up, or has the time difference done such a solid job of that your body hs just given up and is now taking sleep whenever it can get it? :) I seem to be waking up at almost exactly 4am every night now, and can't get back to sleep after that. Lovely, lovely pred :)

/waves to all, duggs hope you're still celebrating in fine style :)

PS ... we're up to 812 messages, we'll be needing to start another thread soon at this rate!!

I think it is a combination of the Pred, the jetlag etc for me and sleeping but I feel brilliant having had the longer sleep last night. I too am getting really mild cramping Ari- never had in last two pregnancies of the year but maybe that is a good sign! 7 weeks would be around the same time for me too Ari so perhaps I should email for an appointment, if it hasn't obviously gone tits up by then already of course...

Brownie it's good to hear about your positives being faint too! Any more info on cramps, feelings, symptoms, lack of symptoms from you gang ahead of us is great.

Yours isn't allowed to go tits up free ... only room for one of those in this, and I'm afraid I've already tentatively earmarked that spot Definitely do email for an appointment; at least that way you know it's in place, right?

Let's just try to say there is no room for any damn tits up activities here for any of us. And see how we get on...

Thanks ari, I actually have 2 weeks worth of 25mg Pred left over from the end of 6 different cycles of stopping them a day or so early and I have a new prescription for them too. The issue is that I had my NK Cell levels re tested a few weeks ago and Mr S's secretary couldn't give me the results over the phone but did say that my treatment was going to be changed slightly and that all the info was in the letter they would be sending to my GP. So..... I actually don't know what I need, or when. ie. I may be fine with the 25mg until BFP for all I know and then an increase at BFP, or I may need a higher dose from OV. So I need the information, and then the relevant prescription. I think I will start on my 25mg preds tomorrow whilst I'm waiting anyway.

Love the colour coded chart duggs!

ari - sorry if someone has already suggested this or if there is no hospital handy to you but I have in the past just walked into the local early pregnancy unit or ememergency gynae clinic and had a blood test on the spot (well after waiting for a bit but you get my gist). The nurses I have seen have always been very happy to do a hcg once I have blurted out my history (I have a folder now with it all written down as I lose track and carry it around the hospital with me - v good for intimidating the clinic receptionist)

Ok, I can go for that.

whoops, that was supposed to say "Ok, I can go for that free" :) Finger fatigue!

puree oh I wish, my EPU unfortunately is incredibly unhelpful. These are the people who, even when my GP rang them up and expressly requested an early scan for my last pregnancy, refused point blank. They are not helpful, not in the least :(

Ah kittens ... well reading Mr S's protocols, I think I'm right in thinking that the highest he does is 25mg pred from OV until you get a BFP, that's what I believe those of us with v high NKC results are all doing, and then up it to 40mg on getting a BFP. So even if your NKC results are super-duper high, I think you'd still be on the 25mg from OV anyway?

Oh and free - positive story for you - my diary from my first trimester when pregnant with DS is full of notes about back aches and cramps and no pregnancy symptoms.

ari you could turn up in person and try the line I used on the epu receptionist last time "as you will of course know it is important for women who suffer from recurrent miscarriages to feel supported and well looked after - and studies have shown that very early medical care improves the likelihood of a positive outcome [true - can find citation if needed] and as I have had [then] 5 miscarriages I would appreciate being seen today"

I found it was a case of getting past the "gatekeeper" on the desk and getting on the radar of the specialist nurse practitioner & young registrar who at least gives the impression of being genuinely interested in mc, esp rmc

Ahh, thanks Ari, I feel a bit better now. I should be back just in time to get the different prescription in the miraculous event of a BFP.

So, Battery and anyone else who may have watched the Fertility Webinar, what did we think? Sort of helpful, but mostly a glorified sales pitch to sign up to her 12 week programme (which I really can't afford right now). She didn't answer many questions that were asked and most of them were answered with the fact that the particular matter being questioned would be covered in her 12 week programme.

Hi all - long day at work so sorry haven't caught up on all the posts but just wanted to say that 12 week scan today went well. Even showing bigger than dates at 12 + 5 not sure how that happened - perhaps the steroids are bloating little bean as much as me! X

kittens I know what you mean. I saw you ask some questions, I asked some too, but only got round about answers. There is no way I am signing up. I can't afford it either. Basically I think as long as we are eating sensibly and taking our pregnacare plus then we will be ok :) xx