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

Big to the lovely digi whose parcel of spare preg tests and vitamin goodies arrived yesterday. I'll bring them to lunch tomorrow and dish them out (1pm south bank - pm me if you want the venue. I've not posted all the details in case a daily mail reader comes to meet us and tell us our failure to conceive/carry is nature's intention (for those of a sensitive disposition, do not read the comments on dm online about Amanda Holden's recent arrival. Lots of "women over 40 shouldn't have babies" and "miscarriages are brought on by women working outside the home"- you get the picture).

Hey euro - I haven't used those ones but the FR and cb ones definitely get as dark then darker than the line. But that's not very helpful sorry. Can really appreciate what a pain it is getting the timing right.

willitbe so sorry you've had such a horrific experience. Hope you are feeling stronger every day.

Fantastic scan news free - and I am sure someone else who I have forgotten.

mercator I would feel (and have felt) exactly the same about a scan at that stage. I guess you have to remind yourself that you're on a treatment plan so you are doing everything you can. thinking of you.

And I am sorry but I can't scroll back at the moment to remind myself of names - who was it approaching a 12 week scan? it is so stressful isn't it. And so hard when the rest of the pregnant population look forward to scans.

ari I have a friend with similarish losses - 10 weeks and 20 weeks - I really think she has something seriously wrong (nk cells??) but she has no idea what she's been tested for by her local hospital (iron levels??!!) and is going to start trying again soon with no medical support or plan. I've sent her Mr s's website and given her my miscarriage association brochures but there's only so many times I can bring it up. So terrible that your friend possibly lost the baby from the cvs. There is a maternal blood test for downs being developed but it is a few years away. It can't come soon enough.

Ari I am mentalling as much as you - I am 8DPO today and for the last couple of days i have had stretching feelings and stabbing pains. Also been feeling very slightly queasy today and boobs feel bigger plus feel tired today. I did have that on the 2nd round of pred though so it is prob the drugs messing with my mind! I am not expecting a positive when I test on Sunday as only taking the preds for 10 days this time.

Euro I only use the smiley faces ones as otherwise its hard to tell whats going on! Have you got any EWCM or is it dry? If its eggy I would move the scan Monday if you can! Dont forget you dont have to go with Dr S if he cant fit you in - some of the other private ones work on a Sunday. I dont know where you live but I have got the details for a sonographer in Amersham who did mine which I can give you??? They charge £60 and then fax the results to Dr S who charges £100 to review and write a prescription.

Willitbe sorry with what you are going through - at least we all understand here as have been through the same thing (time and time again).

Free so pleased for you! When are you going to start thinking about names and buying some stuff for the baby? So exciting!

Snoopy I would get on with it too. If you have a feeling its right then who knows! If you hadn't have been so aware of the pregnancy at an early stage you might have thought it was just a late period and carried on regardless anyway.

Stogan I agree with the others - you cant leave!!!! You have given us so much inspiration and the fight to carry on!

God ari, your poor friend. That story has given me the fear. I always thought I'd have a CVS without question if I got to 12 weeks again, as the only times I have ever got that far were with 2 Downs Syndrome pregnancies so I'm pretty petrified it will happen again, but after 4 miscarriages too it's so hard to know what to do. I suppose I'd better wait and see if I ever get pregnant, let alone as far as 12 weeks, again before worrying.

willitbe so sorry for what you've been going through this last week. I hope you are being spoilt and well looked after this weekend.

free, wow, you're a "proper" pregnant person now!

Willitbe I am so sorry too that you're going through all this again. How awful for you. I do hope we can be of some help. I do remember speaking to you before and I remember I really wanted to include your story if I could get to where you live!

Thanks Stogan, Ari, Mercator, Euro and others who have said they might be up for being a case study. I think Duggs said so too when we met up. I will be making a list when I get back and then might arrange both a group meet up, where we could film us all talking about it together (obviously might be difficult for Stogan) or individual sessions. Or indeed both. It is great to have a combination of people who are pregnant, aren't pregnant, have had successful pregnancies, haven't etc etc.

Ari I am with you on the not getting anything back despite having asked for testing on the 'products' and definitely also on knowing the sex. It's real enough anyway without knowing that it would have been a baby boy or a girl. I really felt for Pebbles finding that out today, and I know a few of you have been through the same before too.

Sue although I have never been someone to crave babies as much as some people I have been writing down baby names since I was about 11 :) They have changed over the years though... I've always been interested in reading up on names and their meanings. Can't quite get my head around having to use them yet. PQ has actually done a bit of baby-stuff-accumlating for me - via a friend - so I will have to get these bits off her when i get back. Inadvertently I seem to now actually have some baby gear arriving. Can't think of myself as a 'proper pregnant person' yet kittens but am getting there. Still waiting for something to bite me in the ass.

Loving the symptom spotting Sue and Ari. Are you both writing a list? I remember both times I have actively TTC I wrote down every tiny twinge in my diary. It was really handy to refer to.

Euro no idea about the colour of the lines as the only times I have tried POAS for ovulation I just got a very very faint line, barely visible. Got pregnant both times though, so I don;t have much faith in them.

Mercator sorry you are worrying. It's going to happen unfortunately as we all know. But there's nothing you can do to change the outcome so try not to worry about worrying. I know those weeks for me this time were the longest weeks of my life. I felt like I was living life in treacle.

Oh, I just got my Day 3 tests back. I think they look ok, if anyone has any opinions....

FSH 6.8
LH 4.1
Estradiol 139

hi everyone ,
just a question, my gp texted me today, i didnt even know they did this ! to say the blood test i had on tue to check my calcium / vit d levels said i had a vit d deficency and i need to take 12.5mcg daily vitamin d . does anyone else take it? i thought there was enough in pregnacare? im dont want to add anything unless the miscarriage clinic ok it, will try and call them again next week, also does anyone take extra calcium.

ive not been sleeping again , so exhausted . ive also been getting heartburn, trying to sleep sitting up, took some gavescon before i went to bed , trying not to eat too late and all the other stuff i found onthe net, prob going to fall off the bed one of these days, even ordered a v pillow . woke up at 3 am last night in tears coz i just wanted to sleep, i was very why me , feeling sorry for myself when i have so much to be thankful for , i just needed a bit of a self pity moment , i have a feeling im going to be having a few of those.

digi my next scan is on the 19th feb.

I keep telling myself that although I should write down symptoms I must try not to stress out and over analyse. Ha! Come March I shall be back on the mentalling I bet.

So sorry willitbe for what you're going through. Others here have had similar and I doubt any of us have a low "TMI" threshold at this stage, iykwim...

stogan just to echo the others, please stay! For those of us yet to get off th mark (again) its so encouraging to know there are those who've made it to second and third trimester. It shows the treatment works.

free I'm up for getting involved. There isn't enough talk of mc/rmc etc. DH "came out" to some of his mates a while ago, only for all 3 of them to say, yeah we had 1/2/3 mc's before they had their kids. It only takes one person to bring it up. I'm not sure I'd be up for it until I'm at least fairly safely pg, like into second trimester, tbh, just because ttc and early weeks are so stressful and gruelling. I certainly wouldn't want a video diary of myself!

Right, I'm off to order pizza, pour myself a G&T and read the dm website... :)

picolina we are all told by the miscarriage clinic to take 25mcg of Vitamin D3 (make sure it's D3, not the other kind). And you are fully entitled to self pity moments. We all have them, trust me! Are you taking the pred as early in the morning as possible? You need to eat before taking them but the earlier you take them, I think the less impact they will have on your nights.

free am more than happy to contribute to the cause but echo Choccyno personal appearances!

Sue my diary from last earlier this month was 9dpo to 10dpo =pain/ache constantly right hand side. 11dpo slight stabbing pain left hand side. So deduce from that what you will. Preg for few days so def implanted.

euro dont know about boots sticks but cheapie internet ones for Ov are never particularly stong but got pregnant following them in Dec as ddin't have any fr sticks in america with me.

pico lack of sleep is torture hope tonight is better for you. yes pred early as possible.

Can't find the DM article?

PQ I thought from those comments it was tottering from building to car in high heels that was to blame. Who knew, eh?

Well my mentalling is over. I waited a couple of hours and went and bought a digi to retest. It was positive. However, by that time, I think everyone had gone home for the day. I have left a voicemail and an email for the office and just have to hope that they can fit me in at some point tomorrow. Does Mr S work on a Saturday?

He does some Saturdays Euro. I'm down there tomorrow morning for acupuncture so I know the clinic is open even if he's not there. Try the clinic no in the morning I would. Good luck!

Don't need any more video diaries but I am looking for on camera interviews, so all about personal appearances am afraid. But it's not scary! It's just talking to me and I will be on camera too. And I am nice :) In in terms of background research I think I have it covered so probably don't need help.

But you never know what I might need further down the line. Kittens I could definitely do with some professional make up to get rid of this 'face' I have...I have had to hold off doing my opening piece to camera because of this. Actually, you know something, four days since I have been off the Pred and I can actually see a glimmer of cheek bone returning. I imagine it won;t be for long as the pregnancy weight starts to muster. I never imagined I would be one of those lucky pregnant people who just get a bump sticking out of nice skinny arms and legs.

Pico I second the Vitamin D thing - it is really important for pregnancy so good that you have been taking it with Pregnacare but Mr S definitely recommends taking another 25mg (standard dosage in the yellow bottle from Holland and Barratt) on top of this. Start taking it now and you will be fine. I had a deficiency too, recognised a few years ago and stupidly I never bothered to take the tablets until after the first mc of 2011 and seeing Mr S - often goes hand in hand with thyroid issues which I already have.

Euro good luck with sorting out the ovulation situation! Sorry I can't help with the figures kittens, it's beyond my tiny brain at the moment. My tiny brain which let me overflow the bath earlier and flood the kitchen and also burn my finger when making tea. Could be worse I guess, in Brighton I have set fire to the kitchen three times just boiling the kettle. I blame the drugs and the hormones.

free I think I would be willing to do it but only once I am pg. I cannot afford to have my bosses know I am trying. I would never be considered for any of the good incoming cases!

Great, I will count you in soon then Euro :)

Pic - vitamin d deficiency is linked with miscarriage, so definitely go get the suppliment as free suggests.

euro - hope you manage to get the clinic sorted tomorrow.

free - I will be more local to you in the first week in April if you can/want to interview then? PM me if so.

havingkittens- found this website answer if it helps?

FSH Normal values are 3-20 FSH is often used as a gauge of ovarian reserve. In general, under 6 is excellent, 6-9 is good, 9-10 fair, 10-13 diminished reserve, 13+ very hard to stimulate. In PCOS testing, the LH:FSH ratio may be used in the diagnosis. The ratio is usually close to 1:1, but if the LH is higher, it is one possible indication of PCOS

LH Normal values are < 7. A normal LH level is similar to FSH. An LH that is higher than FSH is one indication of PCOS.

Estradoil Normal values 25-75 Levels on the lower end tend to be better for stimulating. Abnormally high levels on day 3 may indicate existence of a functional cyst or diminished ovarian reserve

Also...you cannot just go by day 3 FSH....you should have Clomid Challenge Test....this will better gauge your true FSH level. A higher estradoil can mask FSH and make it lower. You get a more accurate results with the 2nd FSH drawn after the Clomid Challenge Test. This may not in fact be your true FSH level. (stolen from this website)

Morning ladies,
So many posts yesterday - I did read them all but didn't have a chance to post a reply. So busy yesterday, I volunteered to help out at DS's pre-school (we're supposed to volunteer once every half-term) in the morning, then had lunch at a friends. Then spent the afternoon trying to contain the ever increasing amount of builder's dust rolling into the house.
Haven't got much time this morning as my trying to sort out my mum's car breakdown. She has no breakdown cover and can't afford to get it towed to a garage so having to call in a favour from my mechanic dad. Means driving to Beaconsfield and what with me being the 'go between' I'll probably have to be a bloody chapperone.

Just wanted to quickly say a big YAY to free for another great scan!

And so sorry to see willitbe is having yet another mc, but very very pleased you've finally been offered prednisolone for you next pg. I'm sure with our pooled knowledge we can help advise you next steps based on our own experiences. I know for one that Mr S advises not to TTC for a couple of months after a miscarriage. We've all been on a daily regime of 75mg aspirin, pregnacare plus (the one with extra omega 3 supplements), 25mcg of VitD3 (not just vitd has to be vitd3). The advice is to take that for at least 8 weeks before ttc.
I know it's difficult for you to travel to see Mr S, but I do wonder if there is any way you could get a remote consultation - maybe via email/phone or even Skype? And then find a private clinic that will do the blood tests he usually orders. It would certainly help cutdown on the overall cost. My worry for you is that after so many MCs you may have very high nk cells and 5mg isn't going to be enough to see you through the next pg...he prescribes 25mg from ovulation moving up to 40mg if you have an nk cell count over 1.8 (as a lot of the women on here do).

pebbles just wanted to pass on a big squishy virtual hug on the results of your last pregnancy's chromosome analysis. I had my last baby tested and found out it was a girl and she had triploidy so would never have gone to term. It was a very mixed feeling - being pleased that my body hadn't rejected a 'perfect' baby, but also finding out that she was a girl made her much more real than just a 'bad luck' experience.

stogan I'm not leaving so you can't either!

Have fun at today's meet up ladies, sorry I can't join you...but seems all today's plans have gone out the window anyway. Can't complain too much as we broke down on Thursday and got my mum to fetch us so I didn't have to wait in the cold for the recovery (were only 5 minutes round the corner though).

Oh well, I think it might be a bit late for a scan even if they can fit me in today. My temp is up this morning and I feel like I am ovulating so I think the window to scan me before ov has passed. At least I am ovulating and at my normal time rather than late like last month. It fricking hurts (more than usual) so I guess I a managing more than one egg.

Hi everyone again,

euro is it not a good thing that you are ovulating? I may be being thick. I know you are on the super ovulation plan, but if I am honest do not really understand it. I thought it was because the prednisolone had stopped you ovulating or have I got that wrong?

pebbles just wanted to say I know how hard it is when you know if it is a boy or a girl.

willitbe just wanted to say sorry you are having another miscarriage.

free congrats on another good scan. Good that you are doing a programme to raise the profile of recurrent miscarriage. Would also like to help but am not really an on camera sort of girl.

kittens sorry to hear about your scan. Hopefully now they know about it they can fix it.

Hello to everyone else I have missed do read through the posts but this thread moves so fast by the time I get to write I have forgotten half of it. I would love to attend one of the meets but do not live near Epsom. May be next time I am attending the clinic I will mention it and see if anyone else is in the area and we could meet then. Often when I am sat in the waiting room I am wondering who else is in there from this board. Feel that we should introduce a not so secret wave to identify our group in the waiting room.

Thanks for your kind words Lemon and Digi I was initially quite freaked out because as you say it makes it all so much more real. It might sound strange but it also made me feel more positive as have spent so long trying to get pregnant at least hopefully I can get pregnant again.
Free already text you but just wanted to say again fab news and am so happy for you. Look forward to meeting up when you are back from hols.
So much to read on here can't remember all the news but hi to all am keeping my fingers crossed for the ladies who are waiting to test. Also so sorry to willitbe you poor thing founds horrendous!
Snoopy I hear you have decided to go for it so good luck. :)
Euro this super ov thing is sounding quite complicated!!

Hi lemon. I am happy that I am not ovulating late, but I've always been ovulating both on and off the drugs. The pred hasn't stopped it for me, at least not yet. I do recall someone was in that position (sue?), but it was not me. I am on superov because we have been trying for 15 cycles without a BFP. My ovaries are borderline polycycstic so I would really like to know what is going on in there. I am concerned about overstimulation as a result of the drugs as I am effectively unmonitored having not had a well-timed scan for the two cycles I have been on the drugs. I have no desire to become the next Octomum!

A secret sign is a great idea Lemon! I was sitting there yesterday in the waiting room wondering if anyone else 'knew' each other from here. I guess I am a bit of a give away as I always have a camera and tripod with me. Most of us live in London Lemon not Surrey but I know there was a Surrey meet up a while back.

Euro what are you going to do with these eggs...? Are you allowed to SWI without having had a scan?

euro thanks for that it now makes sense. I have to say I would be tempted to SWI anyway, but can completely understand about you not wanting to be an Octomum. Any chance that someone else could privately scan you other than Mr S.

free am not in London but can maybe travel down for one of the meets one of these days. Figure if I was driving the 3 hours to see Mr S may be nice to actual meet some of you IRL. At least if I see a camera and tripod in the waiting room I will know who it is. I have to say I imagine you being one of those glamorous TV presenters with the perfect hair, make up and teeth.

I have just ordered a baybliss big hair. Think I have been brainwashed by the mumsnet cult that rave about them. Got a feeling I could be cutting it out of my hair in a week. Since I have the same level of coordination as a duck trying to ice skate (none).

Am as I am missing a meet - hope you are having a good time/not chucked out of annywhere yet.
I was feeling pretty good last night (mostly as GP signed me off work for generally over-doing it) then had a wipe of blood in the evening and have been kind of frozen ever since. Spoke to a GP who thought it might be connected to having thrush. Who knows. Feel like, once pg, we live in a house of cards, about to be flattened at any minute

Lemon maybe we should all get the bighair thingy, then we wouldn't need a secret wave, we could be known by our big hair!

igggi sorry that you have a bit of blood. Was it just the once? Remember lots of people have a bit of bleeding. It is just because we have been there so many times that we wait for things to go wrong. Is your GP doing anything else for you? I am also at not going to the meet.

I will be around for a little while if you want someone to rant at/ hold your hand