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.

Glad everyone seems to be find us after I rather prematurely made us a new home! Hopeful good luck with the appointment today - let us know how it goes! Euro is it your appointment today too?! We need to add Hopeful and Seeker to the list too, if you are up for it. I think there are a total of 22 of us now including you two! So yes it is moving fast. Iggi glad you have found us!

Oh Ari it is so miserable to be up early and in another waiting room waiting for a test. I do hope you get some better news today.

Same for you Choccy and I think you are doing the right thing re work. Fortunately I work for myself but the process of actively seeking new work and putting myself out there has take a real back seat at the moment for me too. The brain just doesn't want to engage. Last night I had to sit down and say to myself don't do too much. I have never said that before but it really does make sense for us all to take it as easy as possible.

I do hope this week goes ok for you Scooter and that the intralipids and then scan are all successful. Must be so hard with DH away. Glad you are with me with the pregnancy brain! I actually even meant to write Brian rather than brain but even messed that one up.

Hello Duggs glad you are getting some answers. Scooter is right, it's not much fun adding more things to the list but you are in the right place to get things sorted. Thanks for bringing the spreadsheet over. Will make a quick update!

I was in bed before 10pm and awake for a couple of hours between 2am and 4am, which isn't too bad when adjusting to the first night back. In the middle of the night i got up for a bowl of cereal. Actually I think I am getting much more symptoms with this pregnancy than the last one (the one that never grew beyond 5.3) but I realise these are still very early days. 5.1 today I think.

free so good it sounds things are going the right way for you, I have so many fingers crossed for all the early pregnancy ladies (and the later ones, of course, but I think you need less finger-crossing than the early-days ones :) ) that I'm struggling to type!

choccy hang in there girl - I know work is important, and I so know what you mean about feeling terribly unprofessional right now. I have a major huge project deadline hanging over my shoulders at work, and I just can't get my head into gear to knuckle down and get it done. I risk getting into huge trouble, but I just can't get myself motivated, it's terrible. But you are so very right choccy, you need to focus on you and your baby. Rest up as much as you need, take it really easy, and I really hope everything settles for you asap.

Good luck hopeful with the follow-up today, do let us know what the outcome is?

And scooter, definitely hope this week goes well for you, I can imagine the tenterhooks you're on but fingers crossed (again! - going to move on to toes next) that everything goes well.

Am I the only one that's (yet again) questioning their sanity, putting myself through this again? This particular pregnancy has next-to-no-hope at all going for it, so I'm facing yet again another MC, another wait for my body to sort itself out, another wait for the dreaded OV, etc, and going through it all over again. I have my OV and CBFM sticks at the ready but you know, I'm so, so tired of going through this. I think I wouldn't feel quite so bad if I didn't have the huge time pressure hanging on me. I'm 44 in 6.5 weeks, and the chances of chromosomal issues with each egg that even manages to get fertilised are rising hugely all the time. It's very possible that even after this one, the next could be the same, and the next, and the next - Mr S's plan may never get a chance. I don't want to sound overly pessimistic but as I said before, the facts are what they are. A very big part of me wishes I could accept my DD will be an only child, but I just can't - but at the same time, I'm putting myself through the wringer, again and again. Where does it end? I know you ladies understand, I just wish there was an answer.

There is no answer as you know Ari. I guess we just keep trying until we are successful or decide not to try anymore. But yes, it does seem like an awful lot to put ourselves through. I guess when the pain and mentalling overtakes the want to have a baby/have another baby that's when we may or may not call it a day.

I am not sure if it is going well for me at all - just that I haven't done any more testing or had any investigations to tell me otherwise! Very early days. I do remember getting symptoms until the last one stopped growing too so I know that can happen again. There's nothing for any of us to do except know we are doing all we can.

Right, am off up north to see Nan. Will be at her house on my own so plenty of time for chat (oh and work...).

ari you may be surprised, however we've all been sat there and those words offer little comfort. Reading what you have said I am not sure if now is the time as there is still half a chance there is a live emby there. If HOWEVER things don't work out this time - I have said to myself the last thing i will throw at this is ivf with array CGH. I had it lined up at the London womens clinic. They don't damage the embryos as they take the polar body (which is a carbon replica of the emby) that is expelled. They then freeze ( but better freezing not the old freezing) the embies that get to day 5 blasto stage. They then send the polar bodies to check for 23 full pairs of chromosomes. It is this bit that is most useful for older or us ladies who have had chromosonal losses. They miss a month so stim drugs leave system and then replace perfect emby back- with steroids etc. This gives the most logical chance of success as it could v v well be chromosonal issues you r facing at over 40. ( I can say as I lost little girl to trisomy 13 and I'm 35 ). I've done a lot of research and array or micro array CGH is little known in uk. Dr g sher in LA is pioneer. Anyway u still have 50% chance this is irrelevant info for u and we all sincerely hope so. Any others thinking of ivf for accuracy reasons I'm happy to share any info I've found. I wouldn't do it without the CGH bit. It is difficult not to think all mc r caused by nk cells but we know all other causes. probably not giving u the strength u need to get through the next few hours/ days but hopefully we on here can give u a little?
Big cocoon hug to you both x

Hug to both - meant choccy too!

Thanks free and duggs. duggs that form of IVF certainly sounds best to avoid chromosomal issues, but unfortunately DP and I decided right at the start that we wouldn't go the IVF route - apart from anything else, we just plain can't afford it :( If I had lots of money then it definitely might be something I'd look at, but I just don't, unfortunately - the treatment under Mr S will wipe out my savings as it is.

I should have said, honestly I would have gone nuts without you ladies to talk to - it is such a comfort to know there are people who understand, who won't think you're just being unnecessarily negative, and who actually get what you're going through without judging. I am sure I may come across as being overly pessimistic, while I'm not meaning to, but it's just hard to have your hopes raised just a little to get them all dashed again - and again. DP is fabulous, and I have no doubt he is suffering in his own way, but he seems far more level-headed and practical about the whole thing; he's very much a "what will be, will be" sort of person, whereas I am going through mental hell even while knowing full well that that can't help anything, and I'm doing all I can.

So big group cocoon hugs to each and every one of you ladies going through this hellish journey, and yay to us!

Totally understand ari and feel sick at thought of pressure when £7k is riding on every possible pregnancy - ( not such an issue if you have lots of £7ks kicking about). Hideous. Hope u ok - have you had any tests or scans yet this morning - prob not x

Just re read that and sometimes forget we don't know each other in RL. . Certainly don't have any £ kicking about let alone £ks! What a rollercoaster x

Ok a trivial problem looking for an answer - why have I woken up this morning with my face covered in red blotches? Is there any coming-off-steroids reason for this?

Hmm. No idea Iggi but Pred does some funny things, even more so when coming off it I found last time.

Just lurking from the train to Chester. So many people flaunting their fertile and clearly undeadly wombs in front of me today. Babies everywhere!

Well a very quick update from me to say ... absolutely nothing. The doc surgery wasn't anywhere near as helpful today, woman I spoke to to ask if she'd call the lab for my results of this morning's tests very clearly didn't want to, told me it was too soon and there was no point calling, even though I told her the same test on Monday had come back the same afternoon. She wasn't interested, eventually agreed to call but went to put the phone down without taking my phone number to call me back, I just managed to stop her.

Well she didn't call, surprise surprise, so I just called again, got the same woman, who said "oh yes I've spoken to them, it's far too soon, they don't have the result and won't have until tomorrow". She hadn't bothered to call me with this news, and to be honest, from her attitude I'm wondering if she did actually call the lab anyway. I suspect not, I think I've been fobbed off.

Anyway, yet another wait, and yet another attempt tomorrow to persuade the doctor's surgery to call the lab, as the result won't have actually got to the surgery by then. I hate this hit-and-miss service you get on the NHS these days, it all depends on the mood of the person you talk to as to whether or not you get a sympathetic - and therefore helpful - attitude.

Sorry Ari, another wait is not what you needed (and having to fight an unhelpful system as usual)
Free it's as well the people around you can't read your mind! Think positively, they might all be ex-Shehata patients too.

choccy just wondered how you're doing now??

Ari that receptionist has a bad attitude. I bet she did not call. I had a similar experience last time and after a stressy phonecall with the ultra pathetic reception woman, got my husband to call them and calmly explain the history and the stress the wait was causing and I got the results witthin an hour after being told I couldn't possible have them before the weekend. Do you think getting your OH to plead with them might help? The wait stress is really the last thing you want.

Choccy - how are things with you today?

Ari big grr from me to that useless receptionist on your behalf. Not what you need. Call again tomorrow and hopefully you'll at least get through to a different person, which would be a good start. Thinking of you.

free I know what you mean, babies are fecking everywhere aren't they?! But then I tend to find that whatever I'm thinking about or want I see a lot of, eg a nice winter coat, that Merc I'm never going to be able to afford...

Been thinking about and discounting getting hcg tests done. Still feel a bit crampy and achy, but the spotting is lighter today, whether that's because I've basically sat doing nothing or because it's easing off, I don't really care. And can't know for sure anyway. If I go get tested, I'll be mentalling for the 48 hours waiting for results, whereas as it stands, aside from doubling up the cyclogest, all I can do is sit and wait it out. So, as I can't do anything on a physical level, I can only look after my psychological health and get my head straight. I'm doing what I can on that count by hiding away in my little bubble at home. Nothing else I can do, aside from avoiding dreadful daytime telly - that'd probably send me over the edge in normal circumstances!

I'm thinking I am best off seeing how things are say Sunday/Monday, and consider getting hcg done then if I'm still spotting. As for scanning, it's too early to scan now anyway. I'll need a scan to check if there's anything there, or if I have bled lots to check its all gone. I've got a scan on Saturday week with Dr S, so may as well wait for that.

If I stop spotting in the meantime, great. If not, well we can have a look on the 3rd. Thinking aloud here, sorry for train of thought. It's just so comforting and helpful to know so many of you guys have come through bleeding ok. I know that doesn't guarantee me anything but it's really helping me not lose it right now. I have to keep that little bit of niggling confidence going! :)

Oh Ari I really feel for you. When are people going to realise how awful this is for us? I wouldnt wish miscarriages on anyone but you kind of think that the receptionist would understand more if she knew what you were going through.
At least you have us to talk to. I also think I would go mad if I hadn't have found you all! Hugs to everyone!

Duggs looks like I will need to talk to you about the IVF route too you mentioned. I haven't told DH but that will be my last resort too. I would happily sell my car to fund it and buy a cheap run around We don't have that kind of money either but I would find it if I had to. We are using a credit card as it is to pay for Dr S!

Free you are right babies are everywhere you go. It's worse when you have a young child too as you come into contact with more pregnant women and ladies who are having more children at toddler groups and pre school etc. I had a really rude woman ask me if I had any other children at my daughters preschool and I said she was an only child. She looked at me like I told her I was a mass murderer as she just said "Oh" and then walked off!! I wasn't going to get into the whole miscarriage thing with her.
How is your Nan by the way?

Choccy I thought that about aspirin too. I also know some foods can make you bleed more and thin your blood such as brocolli and onions so maybe limit those too? It probably won't make any difference but you never know!
www.livestrong.com/article/335059-foods-high-in-salicylic-acid/

Free how is your Nan? Am sure she is really happy to have you there with her for support.

Ari What can I say...I am too regularly left speechless by people's lack of empathy for women who have been through what we have been through. You must be strong for your sake and somehow try and make it till tomorrow when I hope that someone with a heart can see why this is so important...pffft. Big cocoon hug to you.

Iggi I too am weaning off the roids and feel like poo. Feel very feverish and sick at the moment :(

Choccy - I think you taking it easy and living in your bubble is exactly what I would do. I did have a lot of cramping and general achiness. I was told to expect spotting as I have a haematoma but all is good. Stay strong please x Re the cyclogest I use one in the morning and the other in the evening before I go to bed.

Duggs I know it must seem daunting to get a diagnosis, but it is good they have something to work with. I have been on Metformin on and off for 5 years now. What dose have they given you? You may feel a bit sick at first until your body gets used to it as Cheerful says, but it definitely did the trick for me. I was diagnosed 6 years ago. It is also the reason I am insulin intolerant (common for women with PCO) so follow low GI diet which has really helped me feel a lot better. It brought my cycles from 3-4 a year to anywhere between 30 - 40 days. I ended up needing help from Clomid as didn't always ovulate. If you have any questions about low GI stuff etc happy to help.

Coley - I second Comedy, we can only put our lives on hold for so long. Sounds like a fab trip, go for it.

Welcome to Seeker & Hopeful, sorry you have had to come here.

Waves to anyone I have missed. Am going to plonk myself infront of TV and watch mindless TV and have an early night me thinks. x

Just quickly popping in. Scan went well today. Very relieved. Everything measured within range and all organs present and correct. Asked not to be told sex, so we're team surprise.

ari sorry you've had to deal with shitty receptionists on top of everything else. Hope you get your answers tomorrow. Thinking of you stuck in this limbo.

choccy glad to hear spottings eased. Think you've made a sensible decision re: testing, hope the next week goes quickly for you.

iggi yes, pred withdrawal can bring out all sorts of skin complaints. I had a rash on my face which is beginning to go now so I think my body is balancing out again. Have you decided what to do re: scanning before 20 weeks?

free hope your nan's ok and you can use this visit as an extended break.

I have no further scans booked now for the rest of my pregnancy. So next time I see the baby will be when it's in my arms (!). Am supposed to book a mw appt for when I'm 28 weeks (which still feels like eons away) so will hear hb then. After so much hand-holding it feels a bit odd.

Yeah digi were on team surprise too after a 20 week and a 23 week scan we managed to say no to finding out, shocked as I desperately want to know but DH doesn't so it's only fair !

Iggi I had awful skin after coming off the pred, that's how most people knew I was PG and u fortunately for me the spots are still lurking, but nothing compared to what they were, thank god ! Hope urs go down soon.

ari so sorry ur having an awful time, this whole experience has made me think about getting into the profession even just as an ear for people like us as these receptionists / nurses have no idea what we feel like and could seriously do with training on how to approach each patient.

I've ben the docs today fir more gaviscon (Christ heartburn kills) and lots of different kinds of cream for my itchy, scaly feet this however is not me complaining at all just can't wait until all of u ladies experience this too so I no I'm not the only one experiencing these things !!!

Xxx

I second/third/fourth iggi, cheerful et al, Ari and say that receptionist sounds like a right PITA. And probably didn't call. I hope you're not going too mad waiting.

Similar thing for you Choccy, the early scan I had last time just made things a lot worse. Surely by the time the 3rd comes we should both be able to see something?! If there is going to be anything. I am not even going down the HCG testing route either (as theoretically I could see whether it has changed since they did it as a matter of routine in the US clinic) and refused to pee on more than one stick. If it is going to go wrong we will find out at the scan or after. It doesn't stop the mentalling though, but at least it is abstract mentalling!

Just to add to what Sue said about other things that can lead to bleeding, I thought I would add that the nurse who I saw at the clinic in the US, pregnant for the second time after IVF, asked me if I knew Cyclogest pessaries can cause spotting. Apparently they did for her and it freaked the hell out of her. I didn't know that but it might be something else to add to the list.

Digi my goodness you've been cut free and you are free to enjoy a successful rest of the pregnancy! That is indeed a huge milestone. Was the scan an incredible experience? I know it might not seem it to you but from the outside that has gone really really quickly.

That IVF method does sound really interesting Duggs.

All good info about the metformin from Brownie and others. My friend came back from her appointment with Mr S saying that he would like to try her on a natural cycle with that too - so I am collecting as much info as possible for her on the subject. It would be amazing if that worked and IVF hadn't! She too has had PCOS that has not had much attention paid to it but Mr S really seems to be on the ball with that sort of thing.

I am getting plenty of (TMI alert) cm today. Not sure if it is the Cyclogest. Still getting mild feelings, I wouldn't say cramping but definitely a more or less constant awareness of the area. I worry there is some sort of battle of wins going on down there! This time I really hope the baby wins.

Choccy what time is your appointment on the 3rd? Mine is 9.50 and am coming with DH. Terrified of the thought of that scan already.

Have been in hospital all day with Nan. Thanks so much for all your nice words. She is not too bad at all considering and we do hope we can take her home in one piece this time.

free I've been quite, umm, moist too, well up til yesterday anyway! Appt is at 10.40 so you'll be there before me and dh. I'll be the one melting in a panic ridden heap in the corner...! Feels like a long time ahead right now. Would need to see result of scan before making any promises of sociability but I know you'll feel the same.

Interesting about cyclogest causing spotting. Ironic given that it's supposed to help build up lining isn't it?! Apparently lots of us mc-ers tend to spot early on. No reason known why. I'm pretty crampy (squeezing, stretching feeling really, not sharp pain) this evening and there's been a bit of a push of pale red thin spotting, presumably the result of said cramping. Oh well. Maybe it's the 11am cyclogest wearing off?? At least it's nearly bedtime. Then it'll soon be 4am and wake up time... Hope this is all worth it sometime, if not this time...

Brownie how come you do 2 cyclogest a day? Sorry if I've missed something in your stats. I'm going to carry on with 2 til my scan when Mr S will no doubt advise further (if there's anything there).

Moist is a good word for it! I was also thinking 'juicy'... I walk down the road and think oh gosh please let that be white rather than red. But like we said red doesn't necessarily mean bad and white doesn't necessarily mean all is fine! Oh what fun...

Re the spotting and Cyclogest, my guess was that the act of using pessaries can lead to some cervical erosion. But it's a random guess.

Yes the scan thing probably won't be a great social occasion (although a stiff drink would be nice) and we have to get back because DH is going to the football after (priorities...). Lets hope that we are both booking intralipids together for two weeks after that date, hey. Although I guess we would need an 8 week scan before intralipids anyway. If we get that far of course. Ugh the thought of the scans makes me want to vomit

I've been incredibly moist too and it's only got worse as the pregnancy has progressed. Several times I've had to rush to the loo in a panic thinking I was bleeding. I'm still obsessively knicker checking even at this stage. I think it's just habit now!

Ari - I really hope things are clearer for you today. It must feel like torture. I know what you mean about wondering why we put ourselves through this. I often think that and if this pregnancy doesn't work out I won't be doing this again. I'm too worn down by the whole process, and too old now.

Choccy - You're sounding very level headed (even if you're not feeling it). A friend of mine had bleeding on cyclogest too. I think it irritates the vaginal walls. Or something. Just one other thing - when I had my early scan with Mr S, he spotted a haemotoma and said that I could well bleed from that (as it turned out I didn't and it went by itself). He wanted to keep an eye on it but he told me to stop the aspirin as that makes them grow apparently, and then they can cause problems. I wonder whether you should try and get an early scan at your EPU in case it's the same with you. (I'm assuming you're also on aspirin). My EPU (who incidentally have been great the last few times I've needed to use them - I've been a regular over the last year or so and the nurse actually gave me a big hug last time I went in!) said they wanted to scan me early because of the aspirin as well, as it can make an ectopic worse apparently, so I wonder if you can use the aspirin as a reason to get them to see you if they are difficult about it?

Scooter - It must be difficult with your dh being away. I hope this is a good week for you.

Free - I hope things are going well with your Nan.

Hello to everyone else!!

Well, Operation Declutter continues today. I've got two estate agents coming tomorrow and need to make this place look like a desirable lifestyle choice rather than, oh my god can they get any more stuff in here. I've got rid of so much junk already but it's scary how much you can accumulate after 13 years.

Hi Ladies,

Hope you are all ok and hanging on in there, especially ari,choccythinking of you and hope your bearing up x

I am 12dpo past smiley face on stick and no BFP for me yet. I am going to give it till i have taken 14th Pred and then stop tabs. I am not giving up hope yet as in theory the CB instructions say you get the OV smiley 24-48hrs before actual ovulation so if I didn't actually ov till 48hrs later then today would be 10dpo if you know what i mean. Hope is fading though. Tue this week I was feeling really nauseous from midday to bedtime and couldn't sleep and had to get up to eat something in middle of night. Also been having excess saliva which is a pregnancy symton! But no line and I spose the pred could be causing those symtoms.
I tell you what the pred certainly causes confusion, I can't even count to 7 at moment. Was trying to work out my sons birthday party trip in jan and getting 7 people in car. The times I re-counted kids and adults to seat ratio. It's embarrassing. I have also just corrected the dpo written above from 13 to 12, (which is def 12 today) and I have this all on calendar written down and still getting it all wrong....feel like I'm going mad.