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

[Buster76]

That is a head fook duggs - this whole baby making thang is a total head fook. God knows how we all havent gone insane!!?
Mr S said to go at have it checked every 2 weeks whilst on the pred. He said it would be fine to have it at my GPs as dont live in London. I thought he said to have something else checked too.
Couldnt sleep last night ? side effects of pred kicking in? Only been taking it for 3 days!
xx

[hopefulfor2nd]

Just dropping in to wish all a merry Christmas!
Im just finishing AF so as of 10 days or so I will be commencing ttc under Mr S - u know what I mean!- and so will be upgrading from lurker to thread part taker!
Waves to all x x x

[Havingkittens]

sue I'm wondering if we are having a parallel experience on the pred. Wasn't it you who said you were having very short and light periods too? Mr S said that my last Day 21 test showed I had not ovulated. I am going to start having those tests again when it is possible, just to confirm. Like you I would like to stop the Pred. I am thinking I may ask about taking a break whilst I wait for the test results rather than wait until after the next 6 months where you are required to have a 2 month break anyway as by the time I've had all my tests I will only have a couple of months of pred cycles left before I have to have that break again. What a palarva!

AF has shown up today. A fine line between disappointment and relief. It was an extra thing I could do without thinking about just at this present moment. But it is still frustrating and upsetting to think that I am now struggling with my fertility. My OH is coming over to join me on Boxing Day, which I am so looking forward to as I really need him to look after me now. There is a vague possibility that if I don't hit full flow until tomorrow I could get to the clinic locally to have my Day 3 test done here but my OH can't find the blood form as I left in a bit of a cloud of chaos last weekend. Can someone remind me what the tests are for. Is is FSH and LH? Is it possible to go into a clinic abroad without a blood form and just ask for these tests?

duggs sorry to hear about your headfuck. You must be climbing the walls! I guess, like others have said, the only thing you can do is to test every other day. Failing that, whenever I've been in doubt I've always just gone and got a digital one that says 'pregnant' or 'not pregnant' to save myself the squinting and mentalling.

Things are pretty grim here. Christmas is nothing but a hinderance as we can't get any private nurses to come over the weekend to help us through the night, so we are having to stay up all night as this is the most critical time. Right now there should be 6 of us family sitting around my auntie and uncle's fireplace in Sussex eating prawns and smoked salmon, drinking lovely wine and having a laugh.

I hope you are all having a peaceful and pleasant Christmas and that those of you who's families have not been as supportive as they could have been at this time are being well looked after. xx

[Arianrhod]

Just popped on to say a very Merry Christmas to everyone. Sorry to hear about the headfeck duggs, and kittens so very sorry for what you're having to cope with. Virtual hugs your way and hope things go as well as they can.

Pos OPK for me just now which means OV exactly 17 days after I started actual bleeding. Only checked of course for avoidance purposes. Nice of my body to kick back in to something almost approaching its normal cycle but it does mean AF starting on my birthday probably. Nice.

/waves to all, hope Santa brings us all a much, much better 2012!

[freelancegirl]

Sorry, I've been awol on my way up north. Lurking on the phone though and so sorry to hear what you are going through Kittens. It must be unspeakably awful. Are they hopeful that she will come out of hospital this time or is there really no hope?

Duggs have you worked out what on earth is going on yet? Could it still yet be an actual real BFP? Like Coley and CHoccy say I have never had a VFP before 14DPO either.

Coley good luck with the scan on the 28th if you don't drop in before! Hopefully at that stage you will see something but don't worry if it is a bit early. It's so hard going for that first scan. And the subsequent ones for that matter too.

Buster I always found that the waking up early started about three days in on the Pred but then got a bit more bearable. In the last couple of weeks I have found I am starting to wake up around 4/5am and stay up for a couple of hours though. Very irritating but I am lucky that I don't have to set an alarm so can try to go back to sleep.

Hopeful hurrah for soon to be TTC! Let the mentalling begin.

For all of those on the superov programmes good luck with all the egg warming. Mr S truly is a bit of a genius I think. He was so supportive and so informative when I saw him the other day. My head was all over the place but he answered so many questions without me even asking them.

It was Snoopy in Florida! I knew it was someone! Hope you're having a fab time, the weather sounds gorgeous. Just what you need. I daren't hope to dream but in my most positive positive day dreams and everything goes well, my ultimate paradise would be to be having successful scans from now on and be able to take this holiday to St Lucia on the 31st Jan, DH and I lying on a beach with a growing bump to look out and soaking up some serious relaxation. It's been such a physically and emotionally trying and exhausting year. My body has been through the mill, as I know a lot of yours have too.

My best friend, who I haven't actually seen to talk to, said I was in danger of becoming 'one of those people who are boringly obsessed with pregnancy'. I wouldn't mind but I haven't actually spoken to her about it! Also, I don't expect anyone except you guys to understand. I've been in the exhausting first trimester for 10 months of 2011. In the months between I have been bleeding for up to 6 weeks and also having an ERPC. To add to that I've been sinking hardcore drugs to try to wipe out my immune system. And now I am pregnant am supposed to just relax into it and take it in my stride? Yeah right. Which is why it is great to have people who can really relate to it here.

Well it's my second day of tapering - 35mg of Pred. It's scary going off it as maybe that's what's been protecting the baby? But I trust that Mr S knows what he is doing and this is how everyone plays it. And of course hopefully the placenta will be taking over by now. My next scan is on the 6th with Mr S, and if it is still alive then I will be due another intralipids.

Happy Christmas eve my fellow Pred Threaders. Hope we all have an incredibly positive year. We certainly all deserve a run of good luck xxx

[freelancegirl]

Think I've got it - adding my scan date and moving everyone forward a day...

Thurs 24th December

BFP
3rd Trimester
Stogan - V high NKC - BFP 9/7/11 cycle#2- 29+0 Due 10/03/12 next scan 30/12

2nd Trimester
Digitalgirl - High NKC - BFP cycle#2 23+5 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+6
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2 ? 18.0 due 26/5/12 next scan ?
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2 - 17+2 anomaly scan 05/01
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Intolerant. BFP Clomid cycle#3 - 17 next scan?

1st Trimester
Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 Hydroxchloroquine, Pred, Intralipids. Thyroid/hashimotos. MC 1st cycle. BFP#1 9+4 Scan 6/01/12
Cheerfulcharlie - V High NKC, MTHFR/TTC 1/ (metformin, intralipids, no pred). 9+2 Scan 12 weeks
batteryhen - High NKC, factor v leiden. TTC#1 BFP cycle 3. 6+0 Scan 29/12/11
coleyoz - V High NKC. TTC #2, BFP cycle2, 5+5, Scan 28/12/11

TTC
Waiting to test
Havingkittens - Upgraded from High to V High NKC TTC #1, testing 26/12
duggs1976 - High/V High NKC - TTC #1 - Superovulation cycle2
buster76 - V High NKC, Factor V Leiden.

Waiting to ovulate
eurochick - High NKC, superovulation cycle 1, pred cycle 1
picolina123 - V High nkc, pred cycle 1
Snoopygirl - V High NKC TTC, #3,
Cherrycheeks - V high NKC, TTC#2
Suemays - High NKC, TTC#2

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

[Havingkittens]

free my mum is at home. She has been home for a week or so and we are caring for her here. It's hard as the last few nights have been a big struggle and we have no professional help due to Christmas. We've been taking 4 hour shifts through the night but now she has no strength to do anything and struggles to even hold herself upright so it looks like we will be up together tonight doing everything between us as it's safer that way. Mum really doesn't want to go back into hospital, which I understand completely, but it's difficult to give her the care she needs. We will have to see how it goes tonight and just play everything hour by hour.

Sorry to hear about your friend's comments free. It's so hard for people who've not been in our situation to really understand exactly what it is like. I just had to explain to a friend that spending a whole 20 minute Skype call telling me how much joy her children give her is a bit like eating a large cake in front of a starving person. But if (only) we were in the their shoes and not ours we may have a similar lack of understanding, even if we didn't mean to be insensitive.

[Comedyworks]

Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas and hoping that 2012 fulfils the dreams that we have all been pursuing for so long x

[batteryhen]

Merry Christmas everyone !
kittens extra thoughts for you today xx

[lemonsherbet]

Merry Christmas to everyone on this thread. Hoping that it is a peaceful one.

[eurochick]

Duggs, I am sorry the line is fainter.

Superov ladies, have you found you have sleeping problems on the Letrozole? I know it is supposed to be a side effect of the pred but I haven't started taking it yet but I am having awful nights! Two nights ago I woke up at 5, one night ago 4 and this morning 3! (And I promise it isn't just Xmas excitement because I couldn't care less this year.) I am knackered! And in a couple of days I start the pred and expect that to mess with my sleep too. I am also somewhat "dry", which I have heard about as being a problem with Clomid but not Letrozole. I have to say, I am not impressed at all with this whole superov thing so far! Later than usual ov, no CM and poor sleep!

[digitalgirl]

Happy Boxing Day ladies! Hope you all survived Christmas with your sanity intact.

We had a good day starting with a lie-in till 10:30 (ie ds slept in till 10:30). Brunch with sis and her DP, then a late Christmas dinner with my mum (which ds slept through anyway). All presents opened - I got a fancy camera (yay!). Bit cabin feverish today so hoping to pop out soon for a gentle stroll.

kittens hope you're ok.

Here's the post Christmas list. Treated myself to a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel this morning for getting to 24 weeks. Looking forward to seeing more ladies move up from wttc in a few days time.

Monday 26th December

BFP
3rd Trimester
Stogan - V high NKC - BFP 9/7/11 cycle#2- 29+2 Due 10/03/12 next scan 30/12

2nd Trimester
Digitalgirl - High NKC - BFP cycle#2 24+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 21+1
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2 ? 18+2 due 26/5/12 next scan ?
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2 - 17+4 anomaly scan 05/01
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Intolerant. BFP Clomid cycle#3 - 17+2 next scan?

1st Trimester
Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 Hydroxchloroquine, Pred, Intralipids. Thyroid/hashimotos. MC 1st cycle. BFP#1 9+6 Scan 6/01/12
Cheerfulcharlie - V High NKC, MTHFR/TTC 1/ (metformin, intralipids, no pred). 9+4 Scan 12 weeks
batteryhen - High NKC, factor v leiden. TTC#1 BFP cycle 3. 6+2 Scan 29/12/11
coleyoz - V High NKC. TTC #2, BFP cycle2, 6+0, Scan 28/12/11

TTC
Waiting to test
duggs1976 - High/V High NKC - TTC #1 - Superovulation cycle2
buster76 - V High NKC, Factor V Leiden.

Waiting to ovulate
eurochick - High NKC, superovulation cycle 1, pred cycle 1
picolina123 - V High nkc, pred cycle 1
Snoopygirl - V High NKC TTC, #3,
Cherrycheeks - V high NKC, TTC#2
Suemays - High NKC, TTC#2
Havingkittens - Upgraded from High to V High NKC TTC #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

[Stogan]

Sorry hadn't had chance to get on here in last few days and haven't read previous posts but just wanted to wish everyone a very merry Christmas hope u all had a nice time. Xxx

Have we got any results, appts. , scans this week? Good luck to everyone if so. We have a 30 week scan on Friday which I should be looking forward to so why am I still so scared??? We are so far on now and although I did calm down for a while I'm now very nervous and very concious of stillbirths. I know this is a terribly pessimistic and miserable view to have but I just can't help but think something will surely go wrong. Why can't I be positive? sorry x

[Stogan]

Congrats on the massive 24 week milestone Digi, YEY !!!

Can I just ask, do u still ever get negative thoughts? I want to be positive all the time but find it so hard, any tips? X

[Havingkittens]

Yay digi, 24 weeks! That's brilliant!

It's been a rough few days here. Up all night on Christmas Eve as mum was having terrible shivering fits, breathing problems and fever. The nurse came at 5.30am because her infusion pump got blocked. Mum was having a terrible time but refused to let us call an ambulance or doctor as she was determined not to go into hospital. The nurse came back at 8.30 and mum finally conceded to let us get her to hospital. Her nurse was amazing and managed to organise a place for her at the local hospital where her husband works in the palliative care unit. This is great because the hospital she's been in before is 70 minutes drive away and this one is 20 mins so we can visit a few times a day. Poor mum is very out of it, can't really talk but can hear us and react in a small way. Christmas Day mostly involved sleeping (as I'd had about 2 hours of fitful sleep per night most nights since I got here), going to the hospital and eating. It's been a pretty horrific Christmas!

My OH is on his way from the airport now so he will be here soon. Can't wait. Badly need a cuddle!

[PQ77]

Hi all, hope everyone has made it through the whole xmas/boxing day palaver relatively unscathed. I know that for so many of us we thought we'd have a baby by this Christmas - I've spent all day thinking about how this time last year I was in hideous mmc limbo waiting for scans to confirm things. Plus the fact that my sister made me a beautiful photo book of my dad for Xmas has meant I've been a mopey self indulgent mess - it's a lovely book but I cry if I even spot it lying around! I think I need to hide it and look at it when I'm feeling stronger.

Our dishwasher broke on Xmas eve - never realised just how much I loved that appliance (and how revolting it is to have to bail the water out of one). Aggh!

Any news duggs? I'll PM you where I am on wednesday hopefully we can meet up (and anyone else who's around)

24 weeks is a fantastic milestone "digi" well done hooe things were ok with your mum?

stogan - i think the pessimism is a protection mechanism isn't it? Can you focus on a birth plan or something practical like that?

Thrilled that your OH is on his way kittens - hopefully he'll give you a boost. You must be running on empty. Sorry I don't have a clue about those day three bloods etc.

free you can talk your about pregnancy to your heart's content with me!


Here's to a great 2012 with lots of positive news xxx

[PQ77]

Ps - could someone pls move me to waiting to ovulate next time they do the list? Thanks

[duggs1976]

Hello Christmas cocoon house! Well I got a new kitten dexter. V cute my current cat Oscar isn't pleased. Hope they get on ok eventually. I was pleasantly surprised. New year to get through now. I'm 10dpo today or 12 days past trigger injection. No bfp but to be honest not thinking much about it after false positive last week. Kind of pissed on my fire. Anyway being lazy.
Thoughts to free, comedy,PQ and anyone else who finds this time of year extra hard. PQ am working wed in soho so can meet u near there for lunch ? Free r u there too? Jx

[duggs1976]

Ohh meant kittens in last post. Glad ur OH has arrived for support x

[cornflakes30]

Hi I wondered if I can join you ladies? I'm 41 and I have had 4 mc in the last two years. I have been diagnosed with v high nk cells I think it was 3. Something. I also hve an underactive thyroid and I'm on 150mg thyroxine.
I fell pregnant on the second month of steroids under dr s at st helier.
I went for my first scan last Wednesday which was according tomine and their calculation 6 +4 . It was good and bad news at the scan I had a sack and heartbeat but measured Aton 5-6 weeks she thought . I also had another what she first thought was a sack behind but she then did an internal scan and said she thought it was old blood that would come away.
I havnt had any bleeding at all, I am booked in for another scan this Wednesday as I was so worried plus I have my second lot of intrepilids booked in on the 3rd jan, I know it seems negative but I didn't want to pay out for them if it's all gone wrong again.
I havnt had any symptoms at all but I'm hoping that's the steroids taking over?
Im finding it hard to think positive as I have yet to have a smooth ride.
Any advice would be great from you.
Thanks so much for listening to me rant xxx

[igginezerscrooge]

Hi Cornflakes, welcome. Obviously a very worrying time for you, and I wish I had the answers.. Only thing I can really say is that I had no symptoms on the steroids, I wouldn't worry about that.
Post-Christmas greetings to everyone else (anyone else glad it's all over, or is it just me?!)

[igginezerscrooge]

Hi Cornflakes, welcome. Obviously a very worrying time for you, and I wish I had the answers.. Only thing I can really say is that I had no symptoms on the steroids, I wouldn't worry about that.
Post-Christmas greetings to everyone else (anyone else glad it's all over, or is it just me?!)

[sarlat]

Hi Ladies, Hope you all had a great Christmas!

I'm a long-term stalker of the conception threads (and a bit shy).
Would be very greatful for any comments / advice about my situation.

Got pregant quickly and easily back in April 2010 but miscarried in May 2010 at nearly 6 weeks. I had no further BFP 's after this but thought I could feel the same 'scraping' implantation feelings with a least 3 other cycles in the following 6 months.

Fast foward to May 20111 and 1 year post miscarriage and we began fertility investigations. My bloods have come back fine including day 3 and 21 tests etc. I have regular cycles and strong ovulation signs. DH's sperm results are not good / not bad depending on what you read. Really good counts, ok motility and morphology up to 3%. So far this has been pinpointed as the cause - which I do accept could be the main issue. I will be having scans and HSG very soon to comeplete the tests. The clinic want us to do IVF - very scared about it.

However, I always have a nagging feeling that we are acheiving concepetion naturally some months but implantation isn't working. I could be grasping at straws, I know. This month, I had a strong poking feeling near my belly button at 5 - 6 dpo, and then very sore boobs. However, this is all subsiding as I get nearer to AF.

Other interesting things to add are that the month I did conceive and got a confirned BFP, i was poorly with pharyngitis and on antibiotics - I often wonder if my immune system was supressed. I have no autoimmue disease to my knowledge but do get recurrent viral mouth ulcers. I haven't had any illness this year what so ever (normally get heavy colds at least a couple of times a year). I also think it is strange how we conceived so quickly once but have never repeated this. It doesn't add up somehow.

Our ferility clinic (NHS) are good but I don't feel they want to hear my 'wacky' theories. I have read the Beer book. I also have reflexology to support fertility. DH sees an acupuncturist and takes chinese meds. We are trying so hard. It has been over 18 months and we are both so sad.

Thank you for reading if you got this far. Any ideas??

[digitalgirl]

sarlat and cornflake have read both your posts and will respond properly later today once I'm home, just wanted you to both know that we're all here for you and usually much quicker to respond but christmassy chores are getting in the way. But my short response is cornflake hang in there. The steroids may have caused you to ovulate later. Also v surprised they didn't just do an internal scan from the off - v difficult to measure that early on from an external.
sarlat follow your instincts. It's worth checking out your nk cells levels before embarking on ivf in order to rule it out.

[CareBear1]

Hi Ladies - any recommendations of where to go to get tested for this kind of thing in the london / south east area?

thanks. x