TTC/ pregnancy on Prednisolone or similar part 3

[freelancegirl]

For those who are TTC/pregnant undergoing immunotherapy treatment. Current list as it stands, do feel free to come and join us, it's moving quickly round here!:

Tuesday 22nd November

TTC
Waiting to test
Snoopygirl - V High NKC TTC, will be Ist try with Pred, Intralipids on bfp Testing from 21/11
Havingkittens - Upgraded from High to V High NKC TTC #1 after 2 month break/testing 29 Nov -2 Dec depending on my resolve.
Waiting to ovulate
coleyoz - V High NKC. TTC #2 - ov 3 Dec (Pred and Intralipids at BFP)
duggs1976 - High/V High NKC - TTC #1 - Superovulation cycle1
batteryhen - High activation NKC, factor v leiden. TTC#1
Suemays - V High NKC TTC/ov 30th Oct. TTC#2.
Cherrycheeks - V high NKC, TTC#2/ ov 25th-26th Nov/ 4th cycle of pred
pureequeen - High NKC TTC #2 again from November (BFP cycle one but mc)
eurochick - TTC#1 awaiting first appointment (in Nov)/ov expected 28-30 Nov.
BFPSeeker

BFP
2nd Trimester
Stogan - V high NKC - BFP 9/7/11 cycle#2- 24+3 Due 10/03/12 next scan 30/12
Digitalgirl - High NKC - BFP cycle#2 -19+1 Due 16/04/12 anomaly scan 23/11
Coconutfeet - V High NKC, Factor II gene mutation, underactive thyroid - BFP pre-pred, started at 6 weeks ? 16+1 next scan 14/12
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2 - 13+3 due 26/5/12 next scan 12/12
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2 - 12+6 anomaly scan Jan

1st Trimester
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Intolerant. BFP on cycle 3 of Clomid - 11+4 next scan 28/11
Scooterchaser - V High NKC - BFP cycle1 - 8+1 Due 01/07/12. Scan 25/11
Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 Hydroxchloroquine, Pred, Intralipids. Thyroid/hashimotos. MC 1st cycle. LMP18/10 - 4+6 - Scan 3/12
Arianhod - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, hypothyroid, TTC#2 BFP 2nd pred cycle LMP19/10. 4+5 Scan 7/12
Cheerfulcharlie - V High NKC, MTHFR/TTC 1/ (metformin, intralipids, no pred). LMP17/10(Ov'd 3rd Nov) 4+5 Scan 6/12.
ChoccyPud - V High NKC / TTC #1 BFP 4th Pred cycle LMP20/10 4+4. Scan 3/12.

After my disappearance for half of last week, at work I've gone with indicating that its a repeat of some digestive problems I had earlier this year and I've been banned from caffeine, booze, and have to be careful what I eat. It fits with my having told work it was digestive issues when I was off for mmc and ERPC in April. I have not said anything conclusive that I can't say later (if I get to the point where I can announce I'm pg!) wasn't true. It's just a bit of misdirection. Any friends whose opinions I care about know the sop with us anyway and I've been open about Mr S and where we've got to with this one so no worries there :)
Otherwise I guess I'll just always be driving. The anti biotics thing won't wash any more it's too obvious.

I was reading this thread at the bus stop and had to make a dash for my bus which I didn't see!
So, how come everyone lives in/near London then? Is that a high nkc factor too, as well as liking peanut butter?
(Ari why is it rebellious to eat peanut b on pitta bread?)
Drinkwise, if people know you're ttc but not that you're pg, why not tell them you doc told you to give up drink for the duration? (I heard Lesley Reagan does say this)
I don't drink tea or coffee anymore, drink redbush tea instead, as I keep my caffeine allowance to spend on chocolate!

Loving people's various avoidance of alcohol tactics - we're an ingenuous lot when we have to be, aren't we? :)

Aha, another roiibos drinker iggi? My ex-hub is South African and got me on to it years ago, it's mostly all I drink (I'm a bit of a teapot). And the rebellion over the peanut butter is because I understood those of us with eczema/psioriasis/asthma etc still aren't supposed to eat it? I have the first two and the third runs in my family. So I sort of presumed peanuts are supposed to still be off the menu for me? Dunno, but I'm not worrying too much about it until and unless this turns out to be a viable pregnancy, and the jury's still out on that one!

Silly question I'm sure but other than the occasional hunger attack (which I haven't had at all today) and the vague nausea (which could be the Pred), shouldn't I be feeling something pregnancy-related, or does the Pred really mask it that well? I only ask because apart from the lack of sleep I feel absolutely fine. I just did an hour and a half going round the shops in town with DD (which neither of us enjoys much) and that usually tires me out at the best of times, but not today? I thought early pregnancy made you more prone to tiredness?

Dunno, it just feels weird not feeling pregnant, IYSWIM?

Evening...(sorry for the long post )
Charlotte Street Hotel good with me too, can you add me to the list pretty please Duggs I can be there for 6.

Thank you all by the way for helping put my mind at ease after the Rotweiler experience. It really helped. [Flowers]. I had twinges and back ache but think I was just reading into everything too much. Asked a friend who is a midwife and she said as long as I didn't fall on my belly I should have plenty of padding in there.

Charlie - I don't know why people feel the need to ask questions like that. I had someone shout across the office when was I going to get my act together as I was getting on a bit! The guys on my team all wanted the ground to swallow them up as they knew about the mc's and just looked at me in horror. I wanted to say..."When I stop miscarrying then I might just get my act together', instead I laughed nervously like a muppet and said "one day" !?!?

Free - We aren't telling anyone till 14 weeks and even then I don't think we want to tell anyone for fear of jinxing anything. I can completely understand you not wanting to do the dinner party thing. DH and I happy to live in our own little bubble for as long as possible. We are even having xmas on our own as we don't know how things will turn out.

Puree - So sorry your counsellor doesn't understand why you would feel like that after what you have been through!? We have been seeing a counsellor for 3 years now and we both go and get so much out of it. We wouldn't of had the strength to keep trying without her. She is based in KX and specialises in counselling for couples with fertility/miscarriage issues. PM me if you want her details. We both talked about your post last night and were upset that you should be questioned on something so bloody obvious. We desperately want to be excited about ours but can't seem to shake the feeling of doom.

Battery Love your excuse for not drinking, will definitely use that one :)

Ari completely with you on the FF button, someone said not so long ago, if someone could put them to sleep for 9 months that would be brill.

Still doesn't seem real. I have to keep stopping myself from booking scan to double check everything is ok. Next one is on the 13th...sigh. Am constantly symptom checking. My nausea seems to be going, and actually have a taste for food now, but not sure if that is normal for 13 weeks or not? Please tell me it is :(

Waves to Sue, Cherry, Euro, Coley, Snoopy, Kittens, Hopeful, Stogan, Digi, Coconut, Comedy, Iggi, & Choccy

I don't feel particularly pg either. Tiredness is kicking in in the evenings now, and I crash about 9.30, and hunger oh yes, only one occasion of nausea which I put down to empty stomach. But no boobs still, well, not like I've had before just a little tender when I first get out of bed.

The tiredness could be because I wake up (and doze, but it's not quality sleep) from about 4/5am so have run out of steam come 9pm. The hunger could be the Pred. There's nothing that says pg only. V annoying and confusing.

Wait wait wait... Only until Sat morning now. Omg am I going to be a wreck this time tomorrow. [bricking it emoticon]

Oh and am rather "moist" again as I think free has had too. Is that a potential symptom? Don't recall having it before, certainly not to this, umm, extent...?!

Ok so Dr Google say yes to discharge :)

I think it is a symptom Choccy as well as the Progesterone. On that icky subject is anyone else getting queasy when they get the odd, er, whiff of the stuff. I mean, I am trying to stay on top of it but every now and then when I get changed or go to the loo I get a whiff and it really adds to the nausea I keep getting (but telling myself it can't possibly be a pregnancy symptom).

I am really sick and tired feeling this evening. Had to go round to the corner shop for a tin of condensed milk and DH arrived home to find me spooning it out of the tin

Brownie, am aghast too at the person saying that at work! It's really one of those times you wish you had just retorted what sprung to mind. I am fully with you about living in a little bubble. DH is popping out to the pub tonight with a friend and it's the sort of night - towards the end of a stressful week - that the two of us would typically pop out for a drink or some food. I felt really low about it earlier thinking a) I could really do with the edge-taking-off effect of a drink b) I am so flippin bored with living like a pregnant person this year and not actually staying pregnant.

Ari the whole symptoms/non symptoms thing is a nightmare. I have heard so many people say that on Pred they have felt fantastic. For myself I have actually been getting symptoms this time and still not believing them. Especially as so many people have had really strong symptoms and STILL things haven't gone right. I guess we can sit here mentalling about how we are feeling all we like but the only thing that can tell us what's going on is if something bad happens at home or we get a bad scan.

Oh gosh, Iggi, maybe you have stumbled across some weird thing that people in proximity to London (like living under a phone mast...?) have a high level of NK cells :) Actually my theory is it is first who is on mumsnet and then who has investigated the theory. I am not from London (oop north originally) but a lot of us of similar ilk will migrate here or the South East for work. We might not originally have been middle class stock but through work, education etc we are now firmly of a type all of us I guess :) I wonder if there are plenty of women who have the same problems as us with rmc and don't investigate it like we have done, well because no-one mentions it to them. Face it, who found out about this sort of thing from their GP? For me it was mumsnet I think! I forget now. I just had a feeling it might be the issue once I started researching it obsessively. That was theoretically only after my first mc (as the previous two had been years and years ago) in March this year.

I've used the 'hangover' excuse before Battery and it is a good one. I have also genuinely been on Metronoizadole Kittens for wisdom teeth probs several times. I just don't think I can face the lying about it at the moment and people are used to me enjoying my wine and living in areas where I don't need a car and we definitely never ever drive for social occasions. My plan is to tell the close friends for the meal on Saturday (presuming am not back on the gin by any of these dates of course), do the pretending thing at the friends party in a pub next Saturday and cancel the DH's friend's boozy meal in London in a couple of weeks.

Evening all - thanks for putting me on the Tuesday list - a bit worried about when I can get there but hopefully won't be too late, live outside London so will take an hour / hour and a half to get in.

I took my last steroid today! On the downside, since I've been on a low dose of steroids the nausea is definitely getting worse - feeling like I stumble through the day just to make it to the sofa for a 7pm lie down and I'm done for the day. Hopefully my moon face might start to decrease a little now ... a waning moon would be good.

Have you had moonface Comedy? I haven't had it yet. On my first Pred pregnancy I had no nausea and I ate a hell of a lot. The moonface really kicked in around week 8 which coincidentally was the week I had the EPRC. You can really see it on that moonface v non moonface video I did! If you haven't seen the link let me know and I will send it. Quite something. But yes, it does go a few weeks after stopping the Pred and you have reached a huge milestone. Well done!!

BTW everyone, my nan has just got home from hospital. She's a lot weaker than she was before she went in but hopefully being back at home and not confined to bed, getting the odd bit of fresh air etc will do her the world of good. My mum has arrived from the US/Spain and is taking control. It's a weight off my mind.

Hope everyone is well. Am just here avoiding work at the moment as I have had another distracted day of dossing and need to catch up! My brain really isn't working properly.

Fab news about your nan, free!

Well I hate to be the bearer of bad timings but since my last post I've been getting definite AF-style cramps and on popping to the loo discovered (sorry TMI) definite brown gunk staining. This is exactly how my first MC started this time last year. It isn't even spotting,it's more than that, there's no doubt about it. And the cramps are getting stronger. Feck. :(

Bl**dy phone .. that should have been "bad tidings" of course, not bad timings .. although I suppose it is that too. Feck again.

Oh feck indeed Ari. Shit. I mean, we know that plenty of people get this and are absolutely fine but of course you, we, are going to freak out.

Not sure what to suggest. What are you thinking of doing? EPU tomorrow? I notice your scan isn't until the 7th. It really, really, really, really might be all fine you know. SO many people do get this. My mum had two proper periods when she was pregnant with both myself and my older brother.

But why the fuck does this have to happen????!!!!!! It's not fair. EPU tomorrow maybe? So sorry this is happening :(

Hi to all you lovely ladies!
I have been a bit of a lurker on here for the past few weeks since being diagnosed with V high NKC by Mr S. It has been fantastic to find other ladies in a similar position to myself and following the daily goings on, this board has had me both in stitches and tears and i am so glad that i have found you all.

A little about me... I have had 3mc (between 7 & 11 wks) over the past 3 years. All St Marys testing came back normal, apart from a slight septate uterus they told me was most probably the cause of my mc. After a 16 week wait I had the septate resected in September, and 6 weeks later was told to crack on with TTC. Never fully had faith in St Marys (clinic always seemed so disorganised) so I decided to see Mr S as well and at the beginning of November he dropped the bombshell that i had V high NKC, which i was definitely not expecting!

I am on my first pred cycle and thoroughly confused. I am on day 31 of usual 28 day cycle, with very faint positives, at least i think they are (perhaps i am willing them to be positive and seeing lines that aren't really there!!). I have had a very small bit of spotting, more brown that anything else (sorry tmi!) over the past few days, that i think must be AF coming and then nothing materalises. Spoke to Louise and she said test again the next day and if still faint positive then up the pred and start the cyclogest. I tested again and it was still faintly positive, so have done as she said, but i am just wondering if i am prolonging the inevitable and i am not really pregnant and it is the pred messing with me! I just hate all this uncertainty, but then i don't need to tell you ladies that!

Of course Brownie..

Brownie
Free
Digi
Choccy
Pure
Euro
Kittens
Duggs

I'll send a PM to you guys now x

Love all this afternoon's posts... totally hear you all.

I am a little obsessed with chromosonally abnormal eggs too so will "happily" discuss discoveries on that topic when we meet or PM. High insulin/PCOS has a negative effect on the eggs being over ripe..hence my huge over ripe one seen by Dr S and his magic probe last week. Am actually hoping for a BFN now as I have just started the metformin a week ago so am terrified if I am PG it will have the chromosonal issues because of my mucked up hormones.
Would rather wait for metformin to kick in.

I went to a councillor after 2nd MC - to be honest - not sure how much it helped as there is such an obvious cause and effect.. I went on my own..about 4 times.. and I described the whole experience like a 3rd party talking about a film. Didn't hurt me, (only my wallet) but it felt good talking to someone who HAD TO listen ;0) each circumstance is different, so I suppose it helps untangle emotions and deal with them.

Good news on your Nan free !!
We will wait for any late comers..no hurry ladies.. with wine/tea/cake/food we'll be ok..x

No free, it might sound mad but I'm not going to do anything. I shall go along for my scan next Wed unless things happen properly before then, but my body doesn't seem to give up its pregnancies easily.

I honestly am not surprised. I have thought this pregnancy wasn't right right from the start, even despite the one instance of hCG doubling. I know there are ladies who have an ok outcome even with this sort of thing but I'm an old hand at it now and I know the way my body is feeling. I have AF cramps, I recognise them well and truly. I think it's just a matter of time. Feck.

Oh shit. Sorry posts crossed over. Ari that's a very strong attitude you have. We r here for any thing you feel like getting out. breezy welcome . . As u can see, belt up and be prepared for the ride. Only difference is you're not riding alone now. We r all here for each other x

Breezy, we are so, so pleased to have you with us. Please come and make yourself comfy and join the gang. We all know how very supportive it is to have people going through the same thing. I mean exactly the same thing ? not just miscarriage but the same freaky weird killer cells theories and treatment.

Pretty damn sure the Pred can do many things but it can?t give you a false positive! Ruling out a chemical if AF doesn?t get you, you are probably pregnant! I only did one test this time as I know the faintness of things can freak us all out. Are you going to be having the higher dose of Pred and Intralipids?

Shall we wait a couple of days to see where you are at and then add you to the list? But in the meantime a tentative congratulations. I realise congratulations is probably not what you want to hear, but I feel it is ok coming from us lot as we know the ups and downs that pregnancy can bring and that pregnant doesn?t always mean having a baby. But we have to hope that with the treatment we can all get there.

Duggs thanks so much for sorting out the meet up. BTW, Breezy, Tues 6th is our first ever Pred Thread meet up so if you can get into central London on Tuesday do come on board!

There?s a couple of cross posts here and I imagine people haven?t yet seen Ari say she is spotting and cramping. Oh just refreshed and see Duggs pop in. I guess you are making the right decision to sit and wait it out Ari. We are here for hand holding xx

Thanks duggs but you know, it's not really strength. I am utterly, utterly depressed, but unsurprised. I have no idea whether I'm going to put myself through this yet another time, and I am dreading the next weeks. Las year it ruined Christmas for me and DP, and it dragged on until the middle of Jan, during which time I had my DD's 4th party that I had to stand smiling through and my own birthday which I had to pretend to be interested in for my DD. And I'm utterly dreading doing it all again.

Welcome to you breezy, come on in and join the merry throng. Don't mind me, I'm just having a minor crisis :)

ari Bollocks. I want to give you a big squeeze. It is all so shite. I am hoping obviously that you are wrong but also know you are in tune with your body too xx I hope nothing progress's over night xxx

breezy Welcome, pull up a seat :)

free can I ask you about your visit to St marys? Were you already a patient there, or was this week your first appointment? Did they mind that you were already pregnant? Did you tell them about the steroids? Sorry to ask so much xx

I have pred craze tonight, I am manic. Have only just sat down now. Weird.

Oh Ari, I'm sorry you're going through this. I really really hope it all turns out to be nothing serious.

Welcome Breezy!

I'm not sure whether I'll make it to the meet up on Tuesday. I really want to come (and I love the Charlotte Street Hotel) but I've got a 7000 word essay to hand in next Friday and I'm struggling to get it done what with school being a bit bonkers at the moment. We're off to Bruges tomorrow for the weekend, which will be lovely I hope, but it cuts into work/study time. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, can you put me down as a maybe?

Thinking about you this weekend Ari.
xx

Feck it indeed Ari that is shite. :( :(

Re your cramping, I was really quite crampy one day last week with the spotting but only one day and the red stopped after 2 days, dropping back to brown gunk. It could just be implantation. Yes until we go get scanned we don't know if its ok or not, but as you say in the meantime not a lot you can do except keep an eye on it and keep fingers crossed. Every pg is different; what was bad news last year may not be the same this time. As you know I can't bring myself to go back to the EPU due to previous experience so I can totally understand you just waiting for your scan with Mr S.

It's hard to be anything other than negative isn't it... Take time off work if you need to hide in your little safe bubble, and we're all here to chat/virtual hugs/vent at as you need xx

Welcome breezy lovely to have another Pred Thread newbie on board. It's great to know people are lurking and finding our chat useful in some way even if they think we're a bit mad sometimes! Anyway, a faint line is a line. Maybe go get hcg levels done, 48 hours apart, to see what's what? if you're having intralipids they should be done ASAP on a BFP so its worth checking. Good luck!

Re St Mary's Battery, this was my first appointment and on the blurb they send you (you have an appt there I think soon?) they say they can't treat you if pregnant. I was going to cancel but didn't get around to it and went along anyway. And actually they were fine about the pregnancy so I am glad I went. I did indeed tell them about the steroids (I told them about Mr S and all the medication I am on) and the doc I saw, Elizabeth someone, was fine about this. Duggs said that the doc she saw did mutter something about confusing the issue with two consultants though, and Mr S has muttered something along those lines to me too. I don't care though, I want to explore everything what I can!

As it happens there was nothing they could do for me. I had had all their tests done already apart from the TEG when pregnant (came back clear the same day) and they have just scheduled me in for an 8 week scan (if I get that far!) with their early pregnancy unit in the same place. My advice is go! Why not. Maybe there is something in their TLC theory? Whilst we were there, just after we had met for the first time in front everyone and had our lesbian furry cuddle, Duggs and I saw Lesley Regan come out of a room. We were whispering like she is some sort of celeb :) Oh the cheap thrills of a recurrent miscarrier...

BTW I had Pred Craze when I was getting pregnant both times on Pred. Not sure if I would have had it without the pregnancy as I have never had Pred without pregnancy.

Good points Choccy for Ari re the spotting and also for Breezy re the intralipids. When I got the BFP I booked the intralipids in straight away. OK it is a risk that you might pay for them and it be a chemical but I wanted to get in there as soon as pos. Give them a call tomorrow Breezy and book it in.

Ari am so sorry you are going through this :(, stay strong am keeping everything crossed for you x

Free I am very nervous about my appointment with St M on the 13th as I had 3 mc's with them on aspirin and they never found anything except my last mc at was genetically normal which surprised them. They then agreed there was something else causing them. Not sure about how they will react to drugs I have been on but also think they just want us to be successful so here's hoping.

Welcome Breezy hope we can be of some help. I agree with Free about booking in your Intralipids.