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

always lovely to see you :)

All ok here, quite a bit of morning sickness today which I hope is a good sign!

Ahhh pv! How lovely to hear from you. So good to hear all I'd well with mini pv and yes brilliant as a boost for all of us further down the line.

Glad you feeling sick battery :) how is everyone else? Am still queasy today, was hoping it would ease off. Will be 13 weeks on tues by LMP. Charlie and u might both dare to venture up the list this week coming.

Thanks for all the replys re the skin thing. Yes am just hoping it's one of those things. Quickie from me as on the phone xx

Oh and gone down to just 10mg of Pred today. Agh!

Hi all - always good to hear positive stories PV. They keep us going:)

I'm OK - I'm sick most of the time now (I think 9 weeks is when the Hcg is at its highest). Could hardly move yesterday was so sick and needing to have a sleep in the middle of the day. Dr S said you shouldn't feel this sick on 40mg of pred but I guess you can! He even checked that there weren't 2 little ones making me so sick:) Apparently not!

You must be excited to be down to 10mg free! I'm starting weaning on Tuesday. Just to make sure (pregnancy brain) - if I go down to 35mg on Tuesday, does that mean I go down to 30mg on Saturday? In other words I do 4 full days on the lower does rather than going down again on the 4th day which would be Friday???

Battery - I'm glad there is no more brown cm and you are feeling sick. Great signs. Good luck for Thursday scan. My next scan is Monday week.

Hi to everyone else.

Can I ask a question? I am on 25mg of pred, and on my info sheet it says I don't need to start weaning unitl 12 weeks? Is that right - as I can see the 40mg girls are weaning earlier than that? I think digi was 25mg so might be able to help me out?

My sickenss is not overwhelming, but catches me unaware. Usually made bettter by food. So of course the home made choc chip cookie I have just inhaled was purely for medicinal reasons!

Hi, Battery I was on 25mg, I took 25 at 12 weeks and then 20 (for 3 days) at 12+1 etc.
One hour till dh comes home from a weekend away, and then I hand ds over and take myself off to bed..

Thanks for updating everyone PV! Really helps keep us all focused on what this treatment is all about....a baybee!

battery hope the spotting has eased off. Yes, I tapered down to 20mg from 12+1.

free does that mean you only have 6 days to go before you're completely pred-free? V exciting.

I hit third trimester tomorrow - and feeling it, so tired today. Had a family night out yesterday - Bowling then Nando's for my little brothers' birthdays, 8 and 12yo. Quite possibly the most hardcore night I've had (and will have) in ages. Nando's on a Saturday night is not for the weak.

Have been explaining to DS that when the baby gets too big for my tummy I will go to hospital and it will come out. And it will probably cry a lot because it won't know how to talk. Am quietly freaking out as there may only be 9 weekends left to sort stuff out if baby comes same time as DS did.

Hi all,

Great story from PV kind of you to post to give us all some hope.

I don't know what 's wrong with me.......... my Sunday has been ruined by another argument with DH. I told him at beginning of week that just wanted a quiet day on Sun as was out all day yesterday. Our friends with 4 kids (the bohemien one) mentioned coming over, I said to DH I don't want them here till at least 4.30 so we can do something with our day. her DH calls and says they'll be here at 2.30pm! it ruined my day DH said nothing to him- I just wanted a day plodding about doing silly stuff, not entertaining. It's always at their convenience for some reason, I know they have a big brood but we have a pretty busy life too!!

I feel like I have PMT bad and don't normally get that at all... no bfp for me this morning at 10dpo or last strong ov line, so against what I was saying I have stopped pred. Trouble is don't really know when I ov'd. I had a faint line from 29th Dec to 2nd and then two days of strong lines on cheap sticks. So it could be 17 DPO (if counting from 29th) if you are following me. I have no spots or brown spotting which for last few months I have had at least 4 days in run up to period),which has become regular occurance each month.
My cycle last month was 26 days so I am due to come on on Tuesday next week?? Don't know what's going on. Thought I may have been pregnant again as in last couple of days I have had small located pain on right hand side which I was convincing myself was implantation....aaarrrrgggg!

Just feel really tearey so spose the inevitible is on it's way. anyway just coudn't face anyone today and DH taken son to see them instead for hr or so.

How are PQ and Kittens getting on with sticks/results etc?

Snoopy, don't give up hope yet. Small localised pain could well be implantation and very overwhelming PMT type feelings are very typical of BFP too. Don't forget about free, and others who I can't remember at the moment who didn't have BFP until 14-16 dpo. Also, you don't necessarily OV immediately after +ve OPK, it can take up to 48 hours, no?

Not much to report here. I'm not due to test until the end of the week. I'm going to book my HyFoSy scan for around 24th (provided I don't get a BFP, of course) and will have my Day 3 bloods somewhere around the end of the week or Monday week I guess.

PV thanks for popping in to let us know how you and your little pred miracle are getting on. Lovely to hear stories of hope!

Glad to hear things have settled down and you're feeling queasy Battery.

Hi kittens, all crossed for your BFP this week. I hope you are bearing up ok - what's a HyFosy scan?

This just gets more confusing as the months go by what with altering cycles etc.I suppose I have to take into account feeling bad from not taking pred today as well.
You are right about what DPO it is but it could be 17 DPO, oh i don't know. Wait and see will soon know either way. x

digi is your DS looking forward to new baby? My son would be asking every 5 mIns is it coming yet! How exciting!

Hello ladies. AF just arrived for me so that's the end of my first superovulation cycle. On to the next.... If anyone updates the list, could they please move me to waiting to ovulate?

I actually feel fine about it. I've known in my heart for a while that I was out this cycle so I am just glad that my cycle wasn't too messed up by the Letrozole and the Pred in the end (35 days against an average of 28 days ish usually). As the next round of monitoring will not be messed up by Xmas hopefully this one will go better.

It's great to hear the success story from PV and that so many of you are advancing in your pregnancies.

HyFoSy is a scan where they inject a special foam into your uterus to show up whether there is any scarring or blockages from past MCs or ERPCs. I am a little nervous about the possibility of Asherman's or blockages, especially if I need to have some sort of surgery before TTC again but hopefully there won't be a problem after all and it will be something easy to overcome by doing the Superovulation or something. We'll see.

Evening all !!

Just wanted to say a massive thanks to PV for checking in, really proved this can work for all of us, thank you xxx

kittens I really hope there are no problems for you but sometimes like with Nkcells testing it kind of gives you something to treat if there was. I cannot find the google link for everyones history but you have ben ttc for a long while I think? I have had a couple of ERPC's and have always wondered if recurrent surgery could cause issues. I hope not.

Hi all

Yes Coley, it means 4 full days on each new dosage. Battery the protocol for us 40mg lot seems to be a bit different to the 25mg gang. ? to start weaning at 9 weeks rather than 12.

I am trying to work it out? it takes 16 days to reduce from 25mg to nothing and it takes 28 days to reduce from 40mg. It probably means we all actually finish around the same time. Someone who is better at maths (Duggs?) might be able to clarify!

On that subject, it is 7 days now until I am totally Pred Free ? 4 days on 10 (today was first) and 4 days on 5. I am still feeling very tired and a bit nauseous in the evenings particularly. Hope to hear from Louise tomorrow about when I should book my next scan but thinking it will probably be around the 27th.

Agggh! Third trimester here you come Digi! Can't wait to see the list moving upwards. I love your explanation to DS. The baby gets too big, it comes out, it cries a lot

Snoopy, sorry you are feeling a bit hormonal. It might be the Pred too you know. Also could be PMT and also could be pregnancy! I am not helping here am I? but whatever one it is it will pass and you will soon feel better. I remember having a few crazed ups and downs when on the Pred and in the 2ww both times I was on it.

Hi Kittens, hope things are not too bad with you. The HyFosy scan sounds really interesting. But yes you might of course scupper it with a BFP.

Good that you are feeling fine about the AF Euro. I always find it?s good to know where you stand so you can go again very soon. Will the next step be to scan and see what the eggs are like closer to the time?

I am at my Nan?s at the moment, not sure I mentioned it but she had a mini-stroke last week and is quite frail. Mum and I are in her house (she is still over from Spain for Xmas and has stayed to look after Nan) and Nan is in a respite home for a couple of weeks until we know what sort of going care she will need.

I showed my mum the DVD of my scan, quite amazing to watch it all again. It seems like such a funny little person in there now. I just hope he or she stays with us!

Lovely message PV. Thanks for popping in and updating us and of course congratulations on your new arrival!

Snoopy - My first thought on reading your post was that everything you described could easily be pg symptoms. Don't give up hope yet.

Sorry you're out for this month Euro.

Kittens, Hopefully you won't have to do it at all, but will they do that scan under anaesthetic or while you're awake?

Battery - I was a bit surprised when Mr S told me I could start tapering the pred earlier than 12 weeks, but I was on the higher dose so I think they do suggest you start that a little earlier. Glad you're feeling sick, in the nicest possible way.

Digi - Remind me, how old is your ds? Mine is 3 and he keeps listening to my tummy and saying he can hear the baby laughing. He also keeps an eye out in case the baby pops its head out of my belly button. But he really can't get his head around the idea that there will be a new baby living with us. For ever.

I know they're adaptable but I'm a bit worried that that plus moving house and going into his own room (he's currently in with us as we've only got one bedroom) is going to be a massive shock to the system.

I'm 24 weeks tomorrow! (Slightly off on the list but wasn't sure whether to just adapt my dates or whether everyone else was too). Can't bloody believe it!

Hello to everyone else. Sorry not to name-check everyone.

I don't think the scan is under anesthetic so I hope it's pretty painless! And yes, hoping it gets intercepted by a BFP too even though I've not put in much effort this month.

snoopy, I've been TTC since July 2007. Been pregnant 6 times. 4MMC & 2 terminations of Downs Syndrome pregnancies, 1 of them incomplete so had to have an ERPC afterwards which means 7 surgical interventions all in all. I had a scan to check my lining when I had the standard RMC tests before my last pregnancy, which happened very easily so if there's any damage it would probably be due to the last one.

free, sorry to hear about your Nan. I hope she gets a bit stronger and is comfortable.

Off to see the MW and draw up my birth plan, nursery furniture arrived today too, still can't get my head around it all though is that too weird? I still will not admit that this is going to go well

Hope everyone is well today x

Oh Stogan, how exciting! It IS time to get excited you know! I didn't have my head round ds's arrival till he was about a year old, perfectly normal
Tell me, does anyone know where we stand regarding dental work in pg? I saw my dentist last week and he booked me in for a small filling - am now fretting about both the filling and the anaesthetic.

iggi does your dentist know you're pg? I saw mine last week and thankfully all was well. You have to be careful re: gum disease/infections in pregnancy as they're not good for the baby. Maybe call your mw if you're not too sure about the anaesthetic and to check which fillings are ok to have done.

stogan v exciting about drawing up a birth plan. Mine goes something like this:
Pain relief for first stage - will start off with breathing exercises, then graduate to G&A, then pethadine (only if pain is intolerable). Would like to try using the birthing pool.
Want to avoid epidural if possible as worried about not being able to push at second stage - however, will not rule it out.
Want to stay mobile and as upright as possible.
If baby needs monitoring I need to be able to lie in a comfortable position not on my back.
Any internal examinations must be done between contractions.
Second stage - didn't get the urge to push at all last time, would like to wait till body is ready to do this if baby is fine.
Need to keep to upright birthing positions that will not aggravate SPD.
When baby is born - DH to try cutting the cord (didn't want to last time). Want skin to skin and to try feeding ASAP, baby not to be 'washed'.
Third stage - Would like to wait to see if contractions start again for placenta and then give it a boost with the injection. Want to ask if breastfeeding will help stimulate this.

BTW stogan I thought I'd be starving for my GTT, but the sugary drink put a dampener on my appetite till after the last blood test so you might be ok.

coconut DS is also 3. Whenever he notices my tummy he likes to have a 'listen' or give it a stroke. I encourage him to talk to the baby too. He also is preoccupied with my belly button too, I think he thinks it has a direct link to the baby.
I think he's only just getting his head around the fact that it's 'coming' snoopy so I'm not being pestered for an ETA just yet. Any sign of a BFP/AF?

euro sorry to hear AF came, but hopefully this cycle will be a lot more easier to interpret with the extra monitoring.

free hope your nan recovers from her mini-stroke.

An old friend I rarely catch up with told me she was pregnant (first time, first baby) last week before she had her first scan today at 12 weeks. She texted me today and my heart was in my mouth when I saw a message from her. Thankfully it was good news, but I was surprised how nervous I felt in those few seconds...I don't think I could ever relax in that situation ever again (for others I mean, I'm hoping not to have to go through it again - although never say never!).

Will dig out the list in a mo.

Just wanted go say hi and happy Monday while I had a moment. Nice man next to me in the cafe showed me how the free wi fi works. Am such a dunce.

Iggi - oral hygiene is impt! Thats why dental work in pregnancy is free - that said, I am not a good person to ask what she avoids...I've declined dental xrays when preg and asked for white fillings rather than metal. It's a local anaesthetic so I imagine it's fine. I have to have a local next week to get some more of that mole chopped out of my arm (not cancerous but the precancerous stage so they want to go back and take a nice chunk out this time)

Kittens - you asked a few days ago about counselling. I looked at the cruse website and it made me cry! Looked like a really good set up but I am first trying my workplace counselling referral system. They too asked if I had thoughts about taking my life, I said I was too tired for that; unfortunately the person taking the phone booking found my sense of humour a little
alarming. It's a bit slow as I now have to have an hour long phone assessment with a psychologist to see if I am REALLY sad enough to warrant the expense of face to face counselling

Digi - hope you haven't had any more dizzy scares. Fwiw, I read that taking aspirin to 20 weeks is protective against pre-e later, so that's something.

And whoever was asking - approx 9-10 dpo today so wasted a preg test this morning. Held to window for good natural light, under halogen light, put glasses on and consulted dh but no double line! Have had bad cramps since thursday but because of my endo I get them before my period as well as during implantation so can't tell.

And thinking of you too free. There's great treatment for tia now (assuming that's what she has/had) - hope she is comfortable now xx

Thanks guys. My midwife already thinks I'm uber paranoid, but I guess I need to ask! It seems odd to have a local anaesthetic when I've been avoiding even paracetamol for months.
Regarding counselling, I'm pretty sure SANDS offer this (and they do support after mc as well as stillbirth despite the title). I am going to look for some - I realise even if I get my "happy ending" I will still have loads of unresolved feelings I need to talk about - or I'll let them affect me for ever I think. (Not saying everyone would be like this of course!)
I've noticed I'm the only pg with no 2 person who hasn't told her ds yet - maybe I am freakishly anxious after all!

Monday 16th Jan

BFP
3rd Trimester
Stogan - V high NKC - BFP 9/7/11 cycle#2- 32+2 Due 10/03/12 next scan 10/02/2012
Digitalgirl - High NKC - BFP cycle#2 27+0 Due 16/04/12 MW appt 25/01

2nd Trimester
Coconutfeet - V High NKC, Factor II gene mutation, underactive thyroid - BFP pre-pred, started at 6 weeks 24+0
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2 ? 21+2 due 26/5/12
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2 - 20+6 Next scan March
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Intolerant. BFP Clomid cycle#3 - 20+2 next scan?

1st Trimester
Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 Hydroxchloroquine, Pred, Intralipids. Thyroid/hashimotos. MC 1st cycle. BFP#1 12+6 Next scan?
Cheerfulcharlie - V High NKC, MTHFR/TTC#1/ (metformin, intralipids, no pred). 12+4 Next Scan ?
batteryhen - High NKC, factor v leiden. TTC#1 BFP cycle 3. 9+2 Scan 19/01/12
coleyoz - V High NKC. TTC #2, BFP cycle2, 9+0, Next scan 23/01/12
picolina123 - V High nkc, pred cycle 1

TTC
Waiting to test
Cherrycheeks - V high NKC, TTC#2
Snoopygirl - V High NKC TTC, #3
Havingkittens - Upgraded from High to V High NKC TTC #1
Hopefulfor2nd - High NKC - TTC#2
PQ77 - V High NKC TTC #2 (BFP cycle one but mc)

Waiting to ovulate
buster76 - V High NKC, Factor V Leiden
Arianrhod - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, hypothyroid, TTC#2
eurochick - High NKC, superovulation cycle 2, pred cycle 2

WTTC
duggs1976 - High/V High NKC - TTC #1 - awaiting hysteroscopy, then superovulation cycle3
ScooterChaser - V High NKC - TTC#2
ChoccyPud - V High NKC - TTC#1, review w/Dr S 14 Jan.
Lemonsherbet - awaiting results
Breezyweezy - V High NKC - TTC#1 from January
AandRmum - High NKC
Suemays - High NKC, TTC #2
Cornflakes30 - V High NKC, underactive thyroid

coconuts congrats on reaching viability!

free I keep meaning to post about you not being under any hospital care yet. Did you ever have a 'booking in' appointment with a mw? You do need to get one sorted as they do a bunch of bloods at that stage, so even if it takes a few weeks to get your referral to St Helier's through it might be worth temporarily booking in with your local hospital and getting those initial blood tests done they can then pass the results over.

PQ yes, stupidly early to test! And thanks for the reassurance re: aspirin helping ward off PE. Felt a little dizzy at times over the weekend, but a rest on the sofa helped. I think I was just overdoing it and have to learn to slow down BEFORE I get to that stage.

iggi I wasn't planning on telling DS till about 20 weeks, but had to stop him from jumping on/kicking my belly. Also, extended family kept asking him questions about whether he'd like a brother or a sister once I'd announced at 13 weeks . Bit annoyed about that, but I suppose they weren't to know that I was trying to limit the amount of information I wanted to give him.

Re: Counselling, I had about three sessions with the NHS after my third mc. Tbh I don't think I got much out of it - I was able to talk quite openly with friends and DH and also vented a lot on MN. I actually stopped the counselling sessions once I had my fourth mc because I realised there was nothing to talk about. I was intent on pursuing the NK Cells route. My acupuncturist proved to be a really good counsellour too. For me, I just wanted to talk to someone who 'knew' about what I was going through and could offer opinions based on their experiences with other people who had gone through what I'd gone through. This is purely my own personal experience of it, maybe if my counsellor had been more involved in what I had to say rather than sitting there making me feel as though I needed to come up with things to say, I might have felt differently about it.