TTC/Pregnancy on Prednisolone or similar part 4

[digitalgirl]

A positive thread for all those diagnosed with High or Very High NK Cells and looking to start TTC or already pregnant on Prednisolone and/or Intralipid treatment.

Newcomers very much welcome!

Part 3 here

Part 2 here

Part 1 here

[suemays]

Updating list as according to fertility friend I Ovd on Saturday
Tues 20th December
BFP
3rd Trimester
Stogan - V high NKC - BFP 9/7/11 cycle#2- 28+2 Due 10/03/12 next scan 30/12

2nd Trimester
Digitalgirl - High NKC - BFP cycle#2 23+0 Due 16/04/12 MW appt 25/01
Coconutfeet - V High NKC, Factor II gene mutation, underactive thyroid - BFP pre-pred, started at 6 weeks 20+1
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2 ? 17+2 due 26/5/12 next scan ?
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2 - 16+4 anomaly scan Jan
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Intolerant. BFP on cycle 3 of Clomid - 15+2 next scan?

1st Trimester
Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 Hydroxchloroquine, Pred, Intralipids. Thyroid/hashimotos. MC 1st cycle. BFP#1 8+6 Scan 23/12
Cheerfulcharlie - V High NKC, MTHFR/TTC 1/ (metformin, intralipids, no pred). LMP17/10(Ov'd 3rd Nov) 8+4 Scan 12 weeks
batteryhen - High NKC, factor v leiden. TTC#1 BFP cycle 3. 5+2 Scan 29/12/11
coleyoz - V High NKC. TTC #2, BFP cycle2, 5+0, Scan 28/12/11

TTC
Waiting to test
Cherrycheeks - V high NKC, TTC#2/ ov 25th-26th Nov 4th cycle of pred
Snoopygirl - V High NKC TTC, #2, testing 17th Dec
Havingkittens - Upgraded from High to V High NKC TTC #1, testing 26/12
duggs1976 - High/V High NKC - TTC #1 - Superovulation cycle2
Suemays - OV on 17/12 testing on 31/12

Waiting to ovulate
buster76 - V High NKC, Factor V Leiden.
eurochick - High NKC, superovuation cycle 1, pred cycle 1

WTTC
Hopefulfor2nd - High NKC TTC in New Year
PQ77 - V High NKC TTC #2 again from January (BFP cycle one but mc)
ScooterChaser - V High NKC - TTC#2
ChoccyPud - V High NKC - (chem pg cycle 2 of pred (only found afterwards), mc @c.5 wks cycle 4 of Pred, confirmed @6wk scan) TTC#1, review w/Dr S 14 Jan.
Arianhod - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, hypothyroid, TTC#2
Lemonsherbet - awaiting results
Breezyweezy - V High NKC - TTC#1 from January
AandRmum - High NKC

[freelancegirl]

Thanks for doing list Sue. Did you move everyone a day forward to? I think I am actually 9.0 today but I don't want to move everyone forward in case you've done it and I just wrongly add a day to all!

Ooh you had neighbourhood carol singers PQ. Ah, it's so much posher down that side of town to where I am :) I just sat next to someone on the bus (it ends up at Belmarsh high security prison) who was talking about her Dad's burglary trial and his girlfriend's shop-lifting charge. It was quite fascinating. Kept me distracted from pregnancy mentalling for at least 5 minutes.

Dead or alive, fertile and deadly... am always up for some gallows humour. Although I might start picturing Pete Burns when at my scan and that would definitely be off putting.

I emailed Louise yesterday to ask whether I should start tapering today (9.0 on LMP, tomorrow 9.0 on Mr S' last measurements) or wait until I see Mr S on Friday and she said wait until I see Mr S as a few days really won't make much difference. Face it, dead or alive I will definitely be tapering the Pred this week one way or the other. Can't bloody wait, I really look like I've been locked up with no air for weeks in some sort of Victorian work house.

I had a really sharp pain, low and slightly to the side, earlier when out and about. Took my breath away and then was gone within seconds. Googled it and I am hoping it is round ligament pain, either way plenty of people seem to get it. Oh the joys of over-analysing every bloody feeling.

[freelancegirl]

PS Help! Am feeling really well! I don't know what's happened. DH said I should maybe go to hospital and say: 'Help, am feeling really well!' but I am not sure it's going to get me anywhere...

[Cheerfulcharlie]

If it makes u feel any better Free I am feeling good too. I'm even concerned that I'm not anxious and sobbing enough. Crazy, hey? Those round ligament pains sound familiar especially when you move quickly.
9 wks already, wow!

Bon voyage to all those flying away for xmas!

[eurochick]

Thanks ladies! I know my cycle pretty well by this point. I get ov pains and temp. I used the CB smiley face sticks for a few cycles before temping took over. My pains, temps and the smileys all tallied up, so I guess I should have confidence in knowing when I ovulate.

How important is it that you take the pred straight away after ov? I suppose that was my (poorly framed) query really. Because from the pains I will have a good idea straight away. But it will only be confirmed by temps a few days later.

[eurochick]

I know where free is. I'm intrigued as to where PQ is now. I guess somewhere between me and free...

[duggs1976]

It might be useful to share dr s super ov ( here I go again YAWN I bore myself) timings thing on when to start pred.

CD11 was trigger HCG injection. It takes between 36 and 48 hrs for egg to actually release after injection. ( is reason why IUI and IVF tiger injections need to be to nearest 2 hours apparently). So CD13. That is when he said to start pred for me CD13. I guess the injection is a false surge and the fertility monitors are looking for a surge so I would say CD12 would be equivalent to smiley face or strong line? So
based on this start one day after smiley face. ?!
Only 1 week into 2 WW. Excruciatingly slow. Feeeeeeek so slow.

[digitalgirl]

free apart from lack of symptoms you have nothing that indicates you're not still pg. Is St Marys epc open tomorrow? You could turn up there if they are - or you could just wait two more days till Friday. Am sure I had lots of non-pregnant days around your stage. But was so distracted with work that didn't have time to dwell on lack of symptoms.

euro others may have different opinion from me but I personally don't think you need to take pred from the day of ov and that even if you wait a few days later you'll still be fine. coconut is testament to that.

Mum called today - asked what my menu was for Christmas Day in a chipper voice as though nothing had happened. So it looks like she'll be joining us in between her night shifts. Family, eh? I sent her a message telling her DS has been unwell since Thursday and is now on AB's, so maybe that softened her.

I'm out a day on the list too so will amend in a sec.

[eurochick]

Thanks duggs. As I generally ovulate between days 14 and 16 I am not even being scanned until day 12, so I won't be taking m booster shot until then at least.

I abandoned the smiley faces long ago once I realised I ov on day 14 on one side and day 16 on the other! They seemed a waste of money once I had spotted that pattern and confirmed that the pain I feel mid-cycle does coincide with ov.

It's good to know you don't need to start right at ov. Although the implantation bleeding I had in what I think was the nearest to pregnancy I have ever got came v soon after ov.

[digitalgirl]

coconut forgot to say on Sunday congratulations on getting to the halfway mark!!! The big two-oh!

comedy , iggi and brownie do you have dates for your anomaly scans yet? We should put those in.

free I know how nervous you must be but it really is amazing that you've got to 9 weeks today with no incident. What time is your scan on Friday? Maybe you mentioned it already.

Updating...
Tues 20th December
BFP
3rd Trimester
Stogan - V high NKC - BFP 9/7/11 cycle#2- 28+3 Due 10/03/12 next scan 30/12

2nd Trimester
Digitalgirl - High NKC - BFP cycle#2 23+1 Due 16/04/12 MW appt 25/01
Coconutfeet - V High NKC, Factor II gene mutation, underactive thyroid - BFP pre-pred, started at 6 weeks 20+2
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2 ? 17+3 due 26/5/12 next scan ?
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2 - 16+5 anomaly scan Jan
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Intolerant. BFP on cycle 3 of Clomid - 15+3 next scan?

1st Trimester
Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 Hydroxchloroquine, Pred, Intralipids. Thyroid/hashimotos. MC 1st cycle. BFP#1 9+0 Scan 23/12
Cheerfulcharlie - V High NKC, MTHFR/TTC 1/ (metformin, intralipids, no pred). LMP17/10(Ov'd 3rd Nov) 8+5 Scan 12 weeks
batteryhen - High NKC, factor v leiden. TTC#1 BFP cycle 3. 5+3 Scan 29/12/11
coleyoz - V High NKC. TTC #2, BFP cycle2, 5+2, Scan 28/12/11

TTC
Waiting to test
Cherrycheeks - V high NKC, TTC#2/ ov 25th-26th Nov 4th cycle of pred
Snoopygirl - V High NKC TTC, #2, testing 17th Dec
Havingkittens - Upgraded from High to V High NKC TTC #1, testing 26/12
duggs1976 - High/V High NKC - TTC #1 - Superovulation cycle2
Suemays - OV on 17/12 testing on 31/12

Waiting to ovulate
buster76 - V High NKC, Factor V Leiden.
eurochick - High NKC, superovuation cycle 1, pred cycle 1

WTTC
Hopefulfor2nd - High NKC TTC in New Year
PQ77 - V High NKC TTC #2 again from January (BFP cycle one but mc)
ScooterChaser - V High NKC - TTC#2
ChoccyPud - V High NKC - (chem pg cycle 2 of pred (only found afterwards), mc @c.5 wks cycle 4 of Pred, confirmed @6wk scan) TTC#1, review w/Dr S 14 Jan.
Arianhod - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, hypothyroid, TTC#2
Lemonsherbet - awaiting results
Breezyweezy - V High NKC - TTC#1 from January
AandRmum - High NKC

[picolina123]

hi everyone, thanks for replying . i usually ovulate on day 10/11, i read that "taking charge of your fertility" then started recording my temp, fluid and symptoms, was clueless before, they should really teach this stuff in school! last couple of times i fell preg i was using that and the monitor as well, so it said med 3 days in a row (today being third). regarding side effects i already pretty much have a moon face ! but thats pretty nautral and nothing to do with side effects my my stomach pains were much better yesterday , freelance what does CD mean, not with all the lingo

[Arianrhod]

Welcome picolina to our merry thread! CD stands for Cycle Day, with the count starting at 1 on your first AF ("Aunt Flo") day.

Morning everyone, hope you're all doing good this morning? /waves to all

[digitalgirl]

picolina welcome to the thread! Just wanted to add that sometimes if you start the prednisolone before you've ovulated it can sometimes delay ovulation for a few days. So if you started it on day 7 but don't usually ovulate till day 10/11, then you might find you don't ovulate till day 14 and your period (or bfp) comes on day 28/29. Although it might be perfectly as normal - pred can affect different women in different ways.

AandR forgot to say yesterday I'm not having twins! (even though I look like I am and have had several people ask whether I'm sure it's not twins). Think free was referring to the fact that I will have two children once this baby is born.

Waves back at ari

Urgh i feel rough this morning. For the first time in 2.5 years I am actually ill. Finally those nk cells have succumbed to whatever bug ds has been coughing into my face for the past six days. Didn't get at all sick on the roids. Baby kicking away yesterday so I know they're fine. Sympathies to all those with Xmas colds.

[ChoccyPud]

Morning all. Digi I've been enjoying the irony all week that now I'm tapering off the Pred I've been suffering from the worst cold I've had in years. I have fought off three pregnancies this year but can't fight this off. I suppose at least it means perhaps the NKC's have reduced in number/riot style violent tendancies as a result of the Pred. Sigh. I'll be so glad when this year is over just for the symbolic fresh start.

Bah humbug to Christmas and a big fat hurrah for gallows humour :)

Waves to all

[ColeyOz]

Battery - glad to hear your levels are increasing! That's a great sign.

picolina - I agree with Digi that you should start taking the pred a few days after ovulation to prevent delays. I took it too soon the my first cycle with pred which delayed ovulation and I didn't conceive then I started about 3/4 days this cycle, which worked for me!

Choccy - Maybe your cold is a good sign that the pred has reduced your NKs. I never get sick and have had a terrible cold the last few weeks - I'm actually relieved as hopefully my NKs are focussing on the cold and not the pregnancy. We will soon see...

free - Good luck for your scan on 23rd. Everything has been positive so far so I hope that all continues for this scan:) It will be good to finally wean off the pred. I was wondering why we only wean 5mg every 4 days? I was going to ask Dr S if I can do quicker (if I get to that point).

All seems well here but I won't know for another week when I have my first scan. Sore breasts yesterday and very nauseous this morning. Couldn't stomach anything until about 10.30am when I had some toast. All I have to do is get through Xmas now!

[suemays]

Free I didnt move the dates on as forgot to do it!! Doh, not sure if Digi did it above!

[batteryhen]

Hello everyone!

It's my last day at wrok today until 9th Jan so I am quite happy :)

digi It's weird isn't it that we are never ill? DP is an instructor for young people in his job so picks up every germ going. I never get anything. Wierdly enough - the cycle I fell pg I did get a sniff for about 24 hours but that was it.
choccy new year - new start - lovely new baby :) ??xx
coley glad you are feeling crap IYSWIM!!
ARI Wave back :)

Well I feel ....well. Thats it. A bit of breast tenderness and some waves of nausea but that is it. I have not thought about this pg at all. We have hardly discussed it, as we made that mistake the last 3 times - the more plans you make the more there are to crumble. I am not morbid, but I have it in my mind that this pregnancy is not going to work out so don't think about it. I feel calm about it all , and have no real reason to think like that except for the HCg numbers. I will not be surprised if I go for a scan next week and there is nothing there. I am not sad - just thinking in realistic terms.

I will make a deal - does anyone believe in fate/god/signs?

If so - I promise that if my scan goes ok - I will share a little story that happened to me over the weekend that did make me think 'actually this pregnancy is going to be ok'. So if it is - I will tell you all my little tale next week.- I don't want to say now in case in does go wrong and I look like a tit fool.

I hope everyone is ok :) xxx

[Arianrhod]

Hey battery ... well, not sure about fate/god/signs BUT by the law of averages, you are facing pretty much what I did (and thinking the same, by the sound of it) ... and since mine didn't work out, then by the law of averages yours will. And I'm sticking to that! :) Having said all that, I am a firm believer in intuition so ... if you had a little intuit (not the Eskimo variety, you understand) that All Will Be Well ... then I'm all for it. Listen to it!

[duggs1976]

If it is spiritual/psychic/astrological then apparently may 2012 is the month for me! ages away so ignoring for now.

Looking forward to your story x

[ChoccyPud]

Battery- I will just echo exactly what Ari said. Fingers crossed we get to hear your story. :)

[digitalgirl]

battery I don't think I really talked properly about the pregnancy with DH till I was at least 12 weeks. Up till then it was a series of matter of fact exchanges about appointments...but nothing much about 'having a baby'. I really want to hear your story.

[duggs1976]

Can only ask you guys this. My lower back aches and I feel exhausted. But is it a possibly v early dpo7 sign or just the pred or metformin (those who know this? ) I know answer - could be either.

Hope all ok ladies x

[Buster76]

Hello everyone!
Thanks for all the info 'sperm meets egg plan' - I thought i knew everything until I came on here - you ladies are a fountain of knowledge!!
Well I had no luck with the smiley faces either!? I normally go on changes with my mucous (tmi!!), I emailed Louise to ask her what I should do - she said they are not 100% accurate so to go on the mucous changes and start the steroids if we were trying. Started them this morning, felt a bit anxious - was expecting a moonfaced hairy monster everytime I looked in the mirror - no changes yet Think I was expecting an a reaction straight away - bit like morphine!! So think I've started them 4 dpo, fingers crossed.

Looking forward to hearing your story battery - Im intriguied.
Hope the scan goes well free.
Good your feeling sick coley
Hello picolina - ive had to research the abbreviations too, think ive got the hang of it now.

xxx

[Buster76]

Not that Ive tried morphine!!! xx

[freelancegirl]

Am here and lurking, just nothing interesting to add. Been out for a nice day with some mn-made friends (post mc, both pregnant again) so it was good to be able to talk freely with people who understand, as I know you can all relate to.

I feel like such an old-timer with the Pred and symptoms now. Still definitely have a puffy face, eyes that look punched in the mornings, slight tremor in the hands... but bearing in mind (those newbies worried about symptoms) I have now been on 40mg for 6 weeks and was on 25mg for two week before and the more obvious symptoms definitely take a while to come through. I think for those who will stay on 25 rather than increasing to 40 the Pred won't be such an issue at all. A bit of sleep loss but that's about it.

Coley we wean the Pred quite slowly as apparently it can be dangerous to just come off it. After I had the ERPC over the summer I weaned faster than was told - every 2/3 days rather than every 4. But this time I will be following the rules more strictly I think. Just as I have been on them a longer time.

Duggs this time around (looking back at my calendar) I was definitely getting signs that things were 'going on down there' by 7DPO and before. Cramps at 7DPO. So backache and exhaustion might well be a sign.

Digi sorry about the cold but good news about lots of baby movement and also that your mum has come round! My parents have now arrived from Spain at Nan's up north so stage 1 of Operation Christmas is underway. We are leaving London tomorrow and via one night in Brighton and one 9am scan on Friday morning in Epsom are heading northwards too. Going to be an awful journey if it has been bad news.

Just checking your scan dates on the list battery - 29th? Agh! It is indeed a Christmas of just waiting for all of us who have scans scheduled. Well, I could actually have bad (or good I guess) news before Christmas too. I would love to hear the nice spiritual story that made you feel positive. I love things like that and I think we all need them to hold on to.

I had my tarot cards read at a festival in the summer and at first I was really disappointed as she said 'I see you surrounded by children' which is odd as I don't really have many children in my life. Then she said I see you having a baby, but I see the numbers 3-4 and usually she interprets that as being 3-4 years away. I was pretty miserable as 3-4 years seems like a long time to hav to live through more miscarriages. But then when I left I thought, what if she sees it working on the 3-4 th time? I have had 3 confirmed and one possible 4th miscarriage. Anyway, I guess I was looking at ways to make it work for me but it did make me feel better. I guess, in a way, this year I have been bloody surrounded by children and babies as it has been the only thing in my life! Virtual as it is might be.

Euro, Picolina I second what others have said about it not necessarily being an exact science about when you start the Pred but a couple of days after ovulation might be more beneficial than before, just in case it affects the process as it has been shown to do. I started mine on CD16, knowing I probably ovulated on 14 or 15, as I wanted to be able to take it for the full two weeks without having to stop before I got a BFP.

So, countdown until Scary Scan Day is imminent.