TTC/Pregnancy on Prednisolone or similar part 5

[suemays]

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 www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/1348773-TTC-pregnancy-on-Prednisolone-or-similar-part-3

Part 2 here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/1323594-TTC-pregnancy-on-Prednisolone-or-similar-part-2

Part 1 here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/1236324-TTC-pregnancy-on-Prednisolone-or-similar

Yay Stag, that is all really interesting about DS. Also even though you have very high levels that he only kept you on 25mg Pred rather than moving you up to 40mg. Are you going to be on 40 and intralipids this time? He is also just experimenting with another drug called Hydroxycholoroquine, which I am also taking.

Your story just goes to show that a bit of treatment is, a lot of the times, all we need. The gluten thing is interesting - gosh I bet that was hard work. I have thought about cutting it out too - having read advice about that in Dr Beer's book, but so far haven't and so far am ok. I have given it up before along with dairy at the same time though and as a non-meat-eater (I do eat a bit of fish but tend to go off it in pregnancy) I have found that has been hard. I was working in France though! So no bread and cheese, no meat and no fish was never going to be easy!

As for how long it took for the treatment to work, I had my 3rd miscarriage in March 2011. I am really counting it as my first 'that counted' as the previous two pregnancies had been when I was 19/20 (young, drunk, careless) and were not wanted and one was not even known about until I had immense pain one day. But medically of course that history is important.

Anyway, a miscarriage at 12 weeks in March 2011 (foetus measured 7.4 weeks) made me go headlong into research mode (thanks to mn boards really) and I found out about NK cells. Because of my history of thyroid problems I just knew that would be my issue. Started seeing Mr S, started on Pred and fell pregnant first cycle. Foetus never seen, so had an ERPC in Aug/Sept 2011. Waited two months to try again, got pregnant first time and here I am at 18 weeks. I have been very lucky so far to get pregnant quickly I know. But of course getting pregnant and having a baby are not the same things!

List for today, have added Stag to WTTC as I am not sure what stage she is at at the mo! We can change of course. Feel free, everyone, to have a go at updating it yourselves. If it is a new day, add the number of days since last update to everyone on the BFP list.

Friday 24th Feb

BFP
3rd Trimester
Stogan - V high NKC - BFP 9/7/11 cycle#2- 37+6 Due 10/03/12
Digitalgirl - High NKC - BFP cycle#2 32+4 Due 16/04/12 AN appt 6/03/12
Coconutfeet - V High NKC, Factor II gene mutation, underactive thyroid - BFP pre-pred, started at 6 weeks 29+4
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2 ? 27.0 C-section booked: 14/5/12

2nd Trimester
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2 - 26+2 Next scan March
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Intolerant. BFP Clomid cycle#3
Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 Hydroxchloroquine, Pred, Intralipids. Thyroid/hashimotos. MC 1st cycle. BFP#1 18+3 Next scan TBC (20 weeks at Epsom General)
Cheerfulcharlie - V High NKC, MTHFR/TTC#1/ (metformin, intralipids, no pred). 18+2 Next Scan 6/03/12
batteryhen - High NKC, factor v leiden. TTC#1 BFP cycle 3. 15+1 next scan at 16 weeks.
coleyoz - V High NKC. TTC #2, BFP cycle2, 14+5, Nuchal scan TBC

1st Trimester
Mercator - V High NKC, TTC#2. 10+0, next scan 23/2/12
Hopefulfor2nd - High NKC - TTC#2. Next scan TBC - 9+1
dunnit - V High NKC, on Pred, IVIG, prog and Clexane. 9+1
PQ77 - V High NKC TTC #2 (BFP cycle one but mc) 4+4

TTC
Waiting to test
Arianrhod - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, hypothyroid, TTC#2
BellyD - V High NKC - TTC#?
Suemays - V High NKC, TTC #2. Superov cycle 2. Testing on 1st March

Waiting to ovulate
Cherrycheeks - V high NKC, TTC#2
Snoopygirl - V High NKC TTC, cycle 4, Super Ov Cycle 1 testing approx 9/3
Havingkittens - Upgraded from High to V High NKC TTC #1 1st cycle Super Ov
Pebbles - High NKC, PCOS - TTC#1 super ov cycle 1 (post IVF - 1 chemical, 1 mc) follice scan 15/02/12
eurochick - High NKC, superovulation cycle 3, pred cycle 3,
Willitbe - RMC, NKC not tested, TTC #4 cycle 1 (after miscarriage number 12.) Fertility consultant prescribed pred.
buster76 -V High NKC, Factor V Leiden.

WTTC
ScooterChaser - V High NKC - TTC#2 -awaiting follow up appointment
ChoccyPud - V High NKC - TTC#1 from March
Lemonsherbet - awaiting results
Breezyweezy - V High NKC - TTC#1
AandRmum - High NKC
Cornflakes30 - V High NKC, underactive thyroid
picolina - V High NKC
duggs1976 - High/V High NKC - TTC #1 - due to start IVF
Brownstag - V High NKC, 3 yo DS is a Pred Baby! TTC #2

Hi all just a quick post, welcome to Brownstag I am a fellow super ovulater. Come and join us on the super ov thread.
Well scan was all good and Mr S really pleased with response. Two follies at 15 & 14mm and two smaller at 13mm. Trigger on Sunday morning and swi Monday & Tuesday. Never thought would be on a chat board talking about when I intend to have a shag!!

Morning,

ari how are you feeling?
stogan Good luck today !
Scooter nice to see you and hope appointment goes well

Just updating the list and moving me to waiting to test. I am yet again naively excited on the new treatment and mustn't be as i know this could take a few rounds to get a bfp if at all.

Friday 24th Feb

BFP -3rd Trimester
Stogan - V high NKC - BFP 9/7/11 cycle#2- 37+6 Due 10/03/12
Digitalgirl - High NKC - BFP cycle#2 32+4 Due 16/04/12 AN appt 6/03/12
Coconutfeet - V High NKC, Factor II gene mutation, underactive thyroid - BFP pre-pred, started at 6 weeks 29+4
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2 ? 27.0 C-section booked: 14/5/12

2nd Trimester
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2 - 26+2 Next scan March
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Intolerant. BFP Clomid cycle#3
Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 Hydroxchloroquine, Pred, Intralipids. Thyroid/hashimotos. MC 1st cycle. BFP#1 18+3 Next scan TBC (20 weeks at Epsom General)
Cheerfulcharlie - V High NKC, MTHFR/TTC#1/ (metformin, intralipids, no pred). 18+2 Next Scan 6/03/12
batteryhen - High NKC, factor v leiden. TTC#1 BFP cycle 3. 15+1 next scan at 16 weeks.
coleyoz - V High NKC. TTC #2, BFP cycle2, 14+5, Nuchal scan TBC

1st Trimester
Mercator - V High NKC, TTC#2. 10+0, next scan 23/2/12
Hopefulfor2nd - High NKC - TTC#2. Next scan TBC - 9+1
dunnit - V High NKC, on Pred, IVIG, prog and Clexane. 9+1
PQ77 - V High NKC TTC #2 (BFP cycle one but mc) 4+4

TTC -Waiting to test
Arianrhod - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, hypothyroid, TTC#2
BellyD - V High NKC - TTC#?
Suemays - V High NKC, TTC #2. Superov cycle 2. Testing on 1st March
Snoopygirl - V High NKC TTC, pred cycle 5, Super Ov Cycle 1 testing approx 7/3rd

Waiting to ovulate
Cherrycheeks - V high NKC, TTC#2
Havingkittens - Upgraded from High to V High NKC TTC #1 1st cycle Super Ov
Pebbles - High NKC, PCOS - TTC#1 super ov cycle 1 (post IVF - 1 chemical, 1 mc) follice scan 15/02/12
eurochick - High NKC, superovulation cycle 3, pred cycle 3,
Willitbe - RMC, NKC not tested, TTC #4 cycle 1 (after miscarriage number 12.) Fertility consultant prescribed pred.
buster76 -V High NKC, Factor V Leiden.

WTTC
ScooterChaser - V High NKC - TTC#2 -awaiting follow up appointment
ChoccyPud - V High NKC - TTC#1 from March
Lemonsherbet - awaiting results
Breezyweezy - V High NKC - TTC#1
AandRmum - High NKC
Cornflakes30 - V High NKC, underactive thyroid
picolina - V High NKC
duggs1976 - High/V High NKC - TTC #1 - due to start IVF
Brownstag - V High NKC, 3 yo DS is a Pred Baby! TTC #2

Ahh pebbles brilliant news and lots of follicles! Was you lining good? Happy Shagging!!
We are swi tonight and it's my sons first sleepover, not great timing. they think they are having a midnight feast, i'm gettin the little blighters in bed for 7!

Am excited about Pebbles follies! We have already been texting each other speculating that the last time she pre-warned me about when she was going to have sex was probably well over 20 years ago. I will have to stop myself from texting you on Monday and Tuesday and saying good luck with the sex today. Damn - there isn't a 'preparing to shag' section on the list. :) :)

Ha snoopy .. you may be getting the little darlings in bed by 7pm, but do you suppose they'll be sleeping shortly after? You may have to turn a deaf ear to goings-on in their bedroom!

Great news about the follies pebbles ... oh I wouldn't worry about discussing SWI, I think we've all given up worrying about "sensitive" topics on this particular thread! :)

Welcome stag, really great to see you already had one pred baby - although we obviously know the treatment works since we have wonderfully pregnant ladies right here on this thread - it's always fabulous to hear of success stories!

Thanks for the comments on implantation pain experiences. Still no cramps of any kind for me here, and given that I've had definite cramps with all the pregnancies I've had since starting this particular TTC journey (can't remember with DD but I'm thinking my body's a different beast altogether these days to what it was 6 years ago anyway :( ), it's most likely I'm out for this month too. Bugger. I'll still test on Tuesday (12 DPO) but I'm doing that mostly so that I can stop taking the pred rather than expecting any surprises. Onwards and upwards, I guess.

Rooting for all you waiting to test and waiting to ovulate ladies, we need some more good news!!

/waves to everyone

Feeling a bit windswept, had my appointment this morning and it was so much to take in and very very rushed at the end. Head is spinning.

Upshot is he agreed it was unusual to miscarry after seeing a good heartbeat at 8/9 weeks but because they can't rule out chromosomal abnormalities my only choices are to add hydroxy to the mix or just try again on 40mg pred. There are no further tests to do.

He didn't think that it could have been caused by being too late in moving to the 40mg and getting intralipids at 5wks instead of at BFP.

I was worried about having additional clotting issue that hasn't been picked up (as Factor V in my family and have migraines) but he said the tests won't have missed anything. I asked if it would be ok for me to take 150mg aspirin (that's the treatment for a positive TEG test anyway) so could be worth doing just in case.

I have to take the omeprazole with the pred apparently, despite the fact I have never suffered with heartburn on the steroids. Just a note to others who are wondering!!

I now need to wait two cycles/take hydroxy for six weeks before trying again, I think the same plan as ari and choccy and of course trailblazer free!! So at the very least, I have a timescale now.

A number of us duggs, sue have talked about letting build up in the system before ttc. So I asked if he thought I got pregnant too quickly and didn't give the pred a chance to take effect (I noticed I only started getting side effects after several weeks on it). He said that is not a factor at all because the effect of pred is immediate. Bang goes that theory.

Reeling a bit because I had to ask my questions as I went along and there was no time at the end to make sure I felt reassured or positive about the next try. In fact there was no positivity at all because it went so fast and I was scrabbling to get my questions in. I actually get the feeling they expect to see me again in the same circumstances :( So I am rather deflated about my chances now.

Sorry for indulgent post thanks for listening.

ari you have loads of time for testing/cramps/no cramps/comparing previous pregs you are only 8dpo so try to chill if every that is possible.

And no I expect they'll be up half the bloody night and I'll be having to swi at 2am or something. DS friend said to his mum we are having a midnight feast! She said do you know what that is and he said no! bless them.

Hi scooter, good to hear the results of your appointment, sorry you're feeling a bit deflated but hopefully the hydroxy will give your system the boost it needs, and as you say, you can't rule out chromosomal issues even if you saw a good heartbeat earlier. I read some medical explanation of how chromosomal issues affect pregnancies at different stages somewhere while I was researching why on earth I kept losing my babies, and it said depending on what the issue was, it could affect a pregnancy at different stages. They likened it to reading a book. You start at page one, page two, page three and the story develops as it should. You get to page 12, turn over and there's no page 13 - and you lose the story. Apparently it's similar with chromosomes. The fertilised egg has the right things it needs for the first x stages of development, then when it gets to stage y something's missing and it ends in miscarriage. Stage y can be different from one chromosomal miscarriage to the next.

I hope that makes sense - I don't think I've explained it very well, and I can't find the link to the original medical article I read, I'm afraid.

What was the response to your question about taking 150mg aspirin? I've often wondered given that we don't get the TEG test under Mr S whether for those of us he prescribes 75mg aspirin to, we couldn't just take 150mg anyway to make sure? (I'm not saying I do, mind you!)

Virtual hugs and sending you loads of PMA. You're getting pregnant, that's a good start, hopefully next time the treatment will work!

Oh I'm relatively chilled snoopy (it may not sound like it, but I am, honest :) ), I just like to see things logically ... and there ain't no flippin' logic to be found in this situation sometimes! :) My acupuncturist has commented several times that she thinks I'm more in tune with my body than anyone else she treats; she may be right, or it may be Mother Nature playing me for a arrogant fool this time, thinking I know what the score is already. We'll see :)

And to the midnight feast ... DD and I are reading the Faraway Tree right now, and I wince every time I read out about the three children disappearing off out of the cottage in the middle of the night to see their friends in the Faraway Tree, in case my highly imaginative DD decides she can therefore do the same!! :) She's also extremely keen on the idea of a midnight feast, she knows about children sneaking down to raid the larder/fridge for a feast, so I'm waiting for that one one day soon :)

Crossed posts with youscooter
Sorry you feel deflated about the whole thing. Hydoxy is getting quite popular with Dr S and I think he said to Sue he is trying her on that now. sorry there isn't any more answers for you at moment but you have a new plan which is always good, best of luck for when you start again. x

Feeling a bit windswept, had my appointment this morning and it was so much to take in and very very rushed at the end. Head is spinning.

Upshot is he agreed it was unusual to miscarry after seeing a good heartbeat at 8/9 weeks but because they can't rule out chromosomal abnormalities my only choices are to add hydroxy to the mix or just try again on 40mg pred. There are no further tests to do.

He didn't think that it could have been caused by being too late in moving to the 40mg and getting intralipids at 5wks instead of at BFP.

I was worried about having additional clotting issue that hasn't been picked up (as Factor V in my family and have migraines) but he said the tests won't have missed anything. I asked if it would be ok for me to take 150mg aspirin (that's the treatment for a positive TEG test anyway) so could be worth doing just in case.

I have to take the omeprazole with the pred apparently, despite the fact I have never suffered with heartburn on the steroids. Just a note to others who are wondering!!

I now need to wait two cycles/take hydroxy for six weeks before trying again, I think the same plan as ari and choccy?? So at the very least, I have a timescale now.

A number of us duggs, sue have talked about letting build up in the system before ttc. So I asked if he thought I got pregnant too quickly and didn't give the pred a chance to take effect (I noticed I only started getting side effects after several weeks on it). He said that is not a factor at all because the effect of pred is immediate. Bang goes that theory.

Reeling a bit because I had to ask my questions as I went along and there was no time at the end to make sure I felt reassured or positive about the next try. In fact there was no positivity at all because it went so fast and I was scrabbling to get my questions in. I actually get the feeling they expect to see me again in the same circumstances :( So I am rather deflated about my chances now.

Sorry for indulgent post thanks for listening.

Oops posted twice!!

Hydroxy is definitely getting more popular. I replied to someone on the Baby Centre board earlier who was asking about it having just been prescribed it by Mr S.

Sorry you feel a bit deflated Scooter. It is bound to affect you though. It is a positive step really if you think about it, hopefully the mc was just one of those unexplained chromosomal things. Am pretty sure they aren't expecting for it to happen to you again. And now you have a date in mind to start again!

It's funny how I was the only person he didn't tell to wait a few weeks of taking Hydroxy first. I had to wait 2 cycles after my EPRC before trying but I only went on Hydroxy about two weeks before ovulation. But hey, so far something seems to be working! SO FAR of course.

I think the explanation you gave Ari about the turning pages made a lot of sense to me.

Aw I love the Faraway Tree! I was speaking to my friends children about it the other day - silky, moonface, the saucepan man, the lands at the top of the tree... And midnight feasts! What was so exciting about getting up at midnight and eating things I don't know - but it certainly was exciting. I think Snoppy you could probably change the clocks and wake them up at 10pm and they will never know the difference :)

Welcome Brownstag

free as far as I know most of us aren't having trouble ovulating. I think Pred has mesed up cycles a bit for some people but not to the extent of making them anovulatory. In my case superov is just to make me push out more than one egg at a time to increase the odds of a sperm finding one.

I've had a couple of small nosebleeds which I put down to the aspirin as that is not normal for me. I'm glad you are generally starting to feel better.

Stogan I can't believe you might be induced already! Woo hoo!

Beware free if your friend wants to buy the Faraway Tree for her children - they've "politically corrected" it, it's not quite the same as it was when I read it as a child! Jo has been renamed to Joe, Fanny to Frannie, Bessie to Beth and Dick to Rick. And more:

Frannie and Rick, formerly known as Fanny and Dick, were given their new names because their old ones are now more commonly used as slang words for genitalia (and buttocks, if you're American). "Bessie" was replaced by "Beth" because "Bessie" (or "Bess") is believed by some to be a stereotypical name for black women (usually impoverished, overweight prostitutes from Harlem, New York) and therefore carries racist overtones. "Dame Slap" is now "Dame Snap", and punishes misbehaviour by yelling at the culprits rather than slapping them, because we can't allow corporal punishment in children's books any more - it would be much too traumatic for the little dears, or maybe it will lead impressionable adult readers to believe that child abuse is acceptable. I'm not sure why Jo's name had to be changed to Joe, but my best guess is that it's more common these days for "Jo" to be a nickname for girls' names such as "Joanna" and "Josephine", and we don't want any readers getting ideas that Jo(e) is a transvestite.

Nuts, absolutely crazy. I hunted around and bought the original 1972 editions of all three books for DD, I don't buy into PC I'm afraid!!

Sorry, completely off-topic, I'll get off my soap-box now :) Don't like the current trend for tampering with children's stories for the sake of nonsense notions.

I missed a whole page of posts somehow! Caught up now.

I was another Faraway Tree fan. I hope one day I will have a little one to read it to.

I'm updating the list as I am post-ov now. I took the trigger Wednesday night, which should have made me ovulate this morning (36 hrs later) but I am pretty sure I ovulated naturally on Wednesday anyway. All my fertility signs (pains, OPKs, etc) indicate that.

Friday 24th Feb

BFP -3rd Trimester
Stogan - V high NKC - BFP 9/7/11 cycle#2- 37+6 Due 10/03/12
Digitalgirl - High NKC - BFP cycle#2 32+4 Due 16/04/12 AN appt 6/03/12
Coconutfeet - V High NKC, Factor II gene mutation, underactive thyroid - BFP pre-pred, started at 6 weeks 29+4
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2 ? 27.0 C-section booked: 14/5/12

2nd Trimester
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2 - 26+2 Next scan March
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Intolerant. BFP Clomid cycle#3
Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 Hydroxchloroquine, Pred, Intralipids. Thyroid/hashimotos. MC 1st cycle. BFP#1 18+3 Next scan TBC (20 weeks at Epsom General)
Cheerfulcharlie - V High NKC, MTHFR/TTC#1/ (metformin, intralipids, no pred). 18+2 Next Scan 6/03/12
batteryhen - High NKC, factor v leiden. TTC#1 BFP cycle 3. 15+1 next scan at 16 weeks.
coleyoz - V High NKC. TTC #2, BFP cycle2, 14+5, Nuchal scan TBC

1st Trimester
Mercator - V High NKC, TTC#2. 10+0, next scan 23/2/12
Hopefulfor2nd - High NKC - TTC#2. Next scan TBC - 9+1
dunnit - V High NKC, on Pred, IVIG, prog and Clexane. 9+1
PQ77 - V High NKC TTC #2 (BFP cycle one but mc) 4+4

TTC -Waiting to test
Arianrhod - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, hypothyroid, TTC#2
BellyD - V High NKC - TTC#?
Suemays - V High NKC, TTC #2. Superov cycle 2. Testing on 1st March
Snoopygirl - V High NKC TTC, pred cycle 5, Super Ov Cycle 1 testing approx 7/3rd
eurochick - High NKC, superovulation cycle 3, pred cycle 3,

Waiting to ovulate
Cherrycheeks - V high NKC, TTC#2
Havingkittens - Upgraded from High to V High NKC TTC #1 1st cycle Super Ov
Pebbles - High NKC, PCOS - TTC#1 super ov cycle 1 (post IVF - 1 chemical, 1 mc) follice scan 15/02/12
Willitbe - RMC, NKC not tested, TTC #4 cycle 1 (after miscarriage number 12.) Fertility consultant prescribed pred.
buster76 -V High NKC, Factor V Leiden.

WTTC
ScooterChaser - V High NKC - TTC#2 -awaiting follow up appointment
ChoccyPud - V High NKC - TTC#1 from March
Lemonsherbet - awaiting results
Breezyweezy - V High NKC - TTC#1
AandRmum - High NKC
Cornflakes30 - V High NKC, underactive thyroid
picolina - V High NKC
duggs1976 - High/V High NKC - TTC #1 - due to start IVF
Brownstag - V High NKC, 3 yo DS is a Pred Baby! TTC #2

Well ladies this is it I have been given a date for induction !!! My consultant wants me in to break my waters on 9th march (am due 10th) he said he sees no point in me going over and wants to be there for me which I thought was fantastic plus it is a relief knowing this time in 2 weeks I will be going in and hopefully not coming out without my baby. They also did a speculum as I've had a few tiny bits of blood this week and after it he said there was alot of discharge (sorry if TMI) which apparently is good and could mean I may go before the 9th (I do hope so !!!)
Only thing now is I am sooooo emotional, like I actually am typing this through tears, can not stop crying??? Don't know if it's relief or what???
Sorry to be so me me me but I'm just in a bit of shock I think. This next 2 weeks is going to be the longest of my life, must keep busy !!!

Wooooooohooooo stogan, how hugely exciting!! So very pleased for you ... just make sure (I'm sure you already do!) you have everything prepared (hospital bag, nappies, etc) in case Stogan Junior decides to come early. I've always found my best laid plans go right out of the window where babies are concerned! :)

Does Mr Stogan know about this thread, and how to post? Would love to hear about the birth announcement as soon as poss :)

free this is the first time im hearing about hydroxy? someone said to be its just another name for vit d3? but today i saw hydroxychloroquine, which i googled and it said it was a drug used for malaria, i was so excited to think i may not have to use pred until i read that! my elder brother went to india on a 3 mth holiday when he was in his was 30yrs old, he came back a changed man suffering from hallucination,depression, suicial throughts and paranoia, the only thing we could think of was was the malaria meds he took while he travelled . he never recovered , as much as i hate pred i would have to stay on that. anyone know anything about Hydroxy?

awesome news stogan!!!

everything crossed for you too euro that this is your month.

hello and welcome brownstag

free - i had lots of "not quite blood noses" with DS when I was on (just) aspirin to 20 weeks. And bleeding gums - but if you persevere flossing it will calm down a bit according to my dentist.

hey scooter thanks for the update. Really difficult to come away and feel rushed but worse to feel that you think they'll see you again at the same stage. Can you take some comfort that you'll be take the new wonder drug (I am not going to try and spell it)? i find it funny how I can be so confident in my day job and deal with a lot of challenging people (ie men in their 50s who think the world revolves around them) but then I sit in a consultant's office, for me or DS, and I come over all shy and overly deferential and never ever say everything i want to.

going back to your theory scooter about letting the pred take effect pre preg...having re-read Dr Beer's book I have tried to create a bit more of a "non-inflammatory" environment pre pregancy, particularly because of my endometriosis so I cut out red meat (wah) and didn't even had the odd glass of wine (pre preg, obviously zero now) and I stopped running a week before ovulation instead of the day before (really vigorous exercise can make things a bit "inflamed" - paraphrasing here, but i hope you get what i mean). One of the new life nurses said that some ladies come in for pre pregnancy intralipids to calm things down pre-conception. All the intralipids are - as far as I can see - is like a massive dose of omega 3 to calm down the body's inflammatory response. so there are things that one can do to create a nice hospitable pre ovulatory environment without the steroids (as I think they really can mess up ovulation and goodness knows what else). but i could be talking rubbish, so happy to be told so by someone more clued up than I am!

another proper old school far away tree fan here. it was very real to me - I thought they really lived in the forest at the end of our road!

ari sometimes I do and sometimes i don't get implantation cramps. I haven't really this time, just twinges. I forgot to mention on here (cos I was too busy panicking and knicker checking) but i had very noticeable brown blood on Sunday which has now completely stopped and the dr said almost certainly implantation bleeding. Was absolutely horrible because every other time I have had brown blood it very quickly turned bright red and signalled everything was over.

so still knicker checking; not many other symptoms - thought I was nauseous this morning but then realised I'd swallowed a pregnancy vitamin this morning instead of evening and the iron in them always makes me feel sick - oh well!

Mr stogan is aware of the thread ari and reads it often but not sure he knows how to post but I shall give him a quick basic lesson !!

Everything sorted for hospital, bag been packed for 3 weeks, I'm a big of a control freak like that !!

Quick one from me as I'm a bit sleepy after a lovely Japanese meal.

Aspirin- I told my doc here that Dr S recommends coming off it at 20wks and she was horrified. She wants me to stay on til 36 wks. She said if a need has been identified for it then it doesn't make sense to stop at 20 weeks as the problem (clotting I presume) could just occur then. I suppose it makes sense to me but I am aware of the easily bleeding thing too which should be considered. So difficult to know what to do. I think I will stay on it though.

I try to take all my meds and vits after main meal as you absorb it all more effectively. I thought it was quite important to take aspirin after food for long term use or you can damage the stomach lining?

Hopeful and dunnitt- very happy to read your scan news.

Hi to all the newcomers! Great to hear from new people/ lurkers too!

Oh stogan that is so exciting. Massive (((hugs))). Def tell hubby to keep in touch. Has he got change for car park? You sound very organised though.