TTC/Pregnancy on Prednisolone or similar part 6

[Arianrhod]

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 5 www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/1391787-TTC-Pregnancy-on-Prednisolone-or-similar-part-5

Part 4 www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/1366323-TTC-Pregnancy-on-Prednisolone-or-similar-part-4

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

Sue: I think your right it is probably unlikely you have Hidden C but the greek menstrual tests for bacterial infections such as mycoplasma ureaplasma etc also. When are you seeing Dr S again for a review? I went back to see Dr S on NHS as was interested in trying hydroxy if the steroids etc fail. I guess it's all just trial and error at tho mo! I had chromosome testing (karotyoing) at St Mary's and it came back normal so not sure how array CGH could help? Can you shed any light?

Updating the list with the fabulous news that our first Pred Thread baby has arrived! Huge congratulations to the Stogans!!

Here we go! Digi is next!!

I think another couple of people asked to be updated but I can't remember - everyone please do feel free to do the list yourself too. All welcome! And great to keep tabs on us all for a record, for medical research, to help us know the treatment is working, to keep us going when we are doing, to help tick off the days we are waiting for scans/on drugs etc etc and just for general posterity! If you update it on a new day add the number of days since the last update onto the pregnant folk. IE today I have added two days to each of these (hopefully correctly!) as it was last updated on Saturday.

Monday 12th March

The babies are arriving!
Stogan - V high NKC - cycle#2, DC#1, Baby girl born Sunday 11/03/12 7lb13.5. Our First Pred Thread Baby!

BFP
3rd Trimester
Digitalgirl - High NKC - BFP cycle#2, DC#2 35+1 Due 16/04/12 Consultant appt 13/3/12
Coconutfeet - V High NKC, Factor II gene mutation, underactive thyroid - BFP pre-pred, started at 6 weeks 32+0
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2, DC#2 ? 29+3 C-section booked: 14/5/12
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2, DC#2- 28+6 Next scan March 15th.
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Intolerant. BFP Clomid cycle#3, DC#1 28+3

2nd Trimester
Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 Hydroxychloroquine, Pred, Intralipids, 400 Cyclogest, Thyroid/hashimotos. MC 1st Pred cycle. DC#1 20+6 Next scan TBC.
Cheerfulcharlie - V High NKC, MTHFR, DC#2/ (metformin, intralipids, no pred). 20+5
batteryhen - High NKC, factor v leiden. DC#1 BFP cycle 3. 17+4 Amnio 14/3/12.
coleyoz - V High NKC. DC#2, BFP cycle2, 17+1

1st Trimester
FrozenNorthPole - RMC, NKC status unknown, Cyclogest, aspirin, 12+1, NT scan 12/03
Mercator - V High NKC, TTC#2. 12+1, Next scan ??
Hopefulfor2nd - High NKC - TTC#2. - 11+4 12 week scan this week.
dunnit - V High NKC - TTC#1, on Pred, IVIG, prog and Clexane. 11+4 Nuchal/12wk Scan 16th March
PQ77 - V High NKC TTC #2 (BFP cycle one but mc) 7+0
Holldoll - High NKC - Pred, Cyclogest & aspirin - 6+0

TTC
Waiting to test
Pebbles - TTC#1 High NKC, PCOS, super ov cycle 1 (post IVF - 1 chemical, 1 mc)
Willitbe - RMC, NKC not tested, TTC #4 cycle 1 (after m/c 12) Fertility consultant prescribed pred.
ChoccyPud - V High NKC - TTC#1 from March (Pred & Hydroxychloroquine)

Waiting to ovulate
Cherrycheeks - V high NKC, TTC#2
Havingkittens - Upgraded from High to V High NKC TTC #1 1st cycle Super Ov
buster76 -V High NKC, Factor V Leiden.
Lemonsherbet - TTC#1 v high/high NK, Mthfr, thyroid issues, pred 1st trim & Intralipids 2nd on bfp
Arianrhod - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, hypothyroid, TTC#2 (Pred & Hydroxychloroquine)
BellyD - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, TTC#1 cycle 2
eurochick - TTC#1 High NKC, pred cycle 4,
Snoopygirl - V High NKC TTC, pred cycle 5, Super Ov Cycle 2

WTTC
ScooterChaser - V High NKC - TTC#2 (Pred & Hydroxychloroquine)
Breezyweezy - V High NKC - TTC#1
AandRmum - High NKC
Cornflakes30 - V High NKC, underactive thyroid
picolina - V High NKC MC on treatment
duggs1976 - High/V High NKC - TTC #1 - due to start IVF
Brownstag - V High NKC, 3 yo DS is a Pred Baby! TTC #2
Zoeella V.high NKC, Factor V Leiden. abandoned IVF, pos PCOS
Suemays - V High NKC, TTC #2. Superov. (Pred & Hydroxychloroquine)

NT scan this pm

Just popping in to say HUGE congratulations to Mr, Mrs and Baby Stogan.

Also just wanted to say to zoeella, last time I saw Mr S I asked him about IVF with array CGH and he didn't think it was necessary. I have actually been unfortunate to have had two Down Syndrome pregnancies but the karyotyping showed that they were both random (ie. nothing to do with mine or my partner's DNA). I think the main motives for having it are either if you have a known problem with egg quality or if you have a genetic predisposition to inherited conditions such as chromosome abnormalities or diseases like Cystic Fybrosis. I'm not sure how different it is to PGD but I was told that, with PGD, when they take the cells from the embryo to test them before putting them back in there is a risk of damage to the embryo which could cause it to miscarry. This is something I have looked into quite a few times in the last 4 years and discussed with a genetic counselor and that was the advice I was given.

Good luck with your nuchal frozen. And to anyone else with scans this week.

Sorry to read of all your traumas last week PQ, I hope everything is settling down. Great that you had a good scan to put your mind at rest though.

Sorry, only really had time to scan the thread as I've been away over the weekend and mostly just looking on the phone to check up on stogan's news.

I'm a big old mess at the moment so not posting much. The combination of Super Ovulation, HRT (for my womb lining), steroids, grief and probable PMT have well and truly done for me. I am now 11dpo, AF due any minute, -ve test this morning.

Update from me:

Monday 12th March

The babies are arriving!
Stogan - V high NKC - cycle#2, DC#1, Baby girl born Sunday 11/03/12 7lb13.5. Our First Pred Thread Baby!

BFP
3rd Trimester
Digitalgirl - High NKC - BFP cycle#2, DC#2 35+1 Due 16/04/12 Consultant appt 13/3/12
Coconutfeet - V High NKC, Factor II gene mutation, underactive thyroid - BFP pre-pred, started at 6 weeks 32+0
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2, DC#2 ? 29+3 C-section booked: 14/5/12
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2, DC#2- 28+6 Next scan March 15th.
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Intolerant. BFP Clomid cycle#3, DC#1 28+3

2nd Trimester
Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 Hydroxychloroquine, Pred, Intralipids, 400 Cyclogest, Thyroid/hashimotos. MC 1st Pred cycle. DC#1 20+6 Next scan TBC.
Cheerfulcharlie - V High NKC, MTHFR, DC#2/ (metformin, intralipids, no pred). 20+5
batteryhen - High NKC, factor v leiden. DC#1 BFP cycle 3. 17+4 Amnio 14/3/12.
coleyoz - V High NKC. DC#2, BFP cycle2, 17+1

1st Trimester
FrozenNorthPole - RMC, NKC status unknown, Cyclogest, aspirin, 12+1, NT scan 12/03
Mercator - V High NKC, TTC#2. 12+3, Next scan 14/3
Hopefulfor2nd - High NKC - TTC#2. - 11+4 12 week scan this week.
dunnit - V High NKC - TTC#1, on Pred, IVIG, prog and Clexane. 11+4 Nuchal/12wk Scan 16th March
PQ77 - V High NKC TTC #2 (BFP cycle one but mc) 7+0
Holldoll - High NKC - Pred, Cyclogest & aspirin - 6+0

TTC
Waiting to test
Pebbles - TTC#1 High NKC, PCOS, super ov cycle 1 (post IVF - 1 chemical, 1 mc)
Willitbe - RMC, NKC not tested, TTC #4 cycle 1 (after m/c 12) Fertility consultant prescribed pred.
ChoccyPud - V High NKC - TTC#1 from March (Pred & Hydroxychloroquine)

Waiting to ovulate
Cherrycheeks - V high NKC, TTC#2
Havingkittens - Upgraded from High to V High NKC TTC #1 1st cycle Super Ov
buster76 -V High NKC, Factor V Leiden.
Lemonsherbet - TTC#1 v high/high NK, Mthfr, thyroid issues, pred 1st trim & Intralipids 2nd on bfp
Arianrhod - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, hypothyroid, TTC#2 (Pred & Hydroxychloroquine)
BellyD - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, TTC#1 cycle 2
eurochick - TTC#1 High NKC, pred cycle 4,
Snoopygirl - V High NKC TTC, pred cycle 5, Super Ov Cycle 2

WTTC
ScooterChaser - V High NKC - TTC#2 (Pred & Hydroxychloroquine)
Breezyweezy - V High NKC - TTC#1
AandRmum - High NKC
Cornflakes30 - V High NKC, underactive thyroid
picolina - V High NKC MC on treatment
duggs1976 - High/V High NKC - TTC #1 - due to start IVF
Brownstag - V High NKC, 3 yo DS is a Pred Baby! TTC #2
Zoeella V.high NKC, Factor V Leiden. abandoned IVF, pos PCOS
Suemays - V High NKC, TTC #2. Superov. (Pred & Hydroxychloroquine)

kittens so sorry to hear you're low at the moment and dreadfully sorry to hear that you had two ds pregnancies, that must be devistating. Thinking of you and sending you cyner hugs.

Good luck today Frozen.

Sorry things are so rough HK, I hope there'll be some light at the end of the tunnel for you soon.

Good luck today Frozen! Let us know how you get on. We are all rooting for you.

Hi Kittens and sorry you are feeling rubbish about it all. Who can blame you. Hopefully there will be positive news for you soon.

Sue asked about tapering from the Pred. Yes - if you have been on 40mg you definitely need to taper! Otherwise it can be hideous apparently. Annoying but necessary. When I had a mc on the treatment I did eventually start cutting it out a day or so earlier but you definitely have to go through it am afraid.

Sorry for the quickie from me but am rushing to get work done and also to go see a production company re the documentary. Have to get my ideas straight.

Thanks ladies. igggi, light at the end of the tunnel would be really nice! There's still a fair way to go down this dark tunnel though. My grandma's health and mental state is declining rapidly at the moment. I think her dementia really started spiraling at a much more rapid pace since my mum's death. It would be nice to have something good happen amidst all of this but I do fear that I am battling against the odds with all this stress and upset.

mercator, yes, two DS pregnancies in a row were pretty much a massive headf*! They were both completely random and the consultant was almost in as much a state of disbelief as I was. They were my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies. Back then I thought that was the only thing I had to worry about and that because they were random my next one should be ok. After all, those two pregnacies made it to 13 weeks without miscarrying so despite the fact that my first pregnancy was a miscarriage there was no reason to think the following ones would be. Then I had 3 miscarriages in a year, so that became my next worry. All of my pregnancies were conceived in 3 or less cycles so I thought eventually things could work out. Now I can't even get pregnant. It seems the odds against me are getting more and more challenging!

Morning all! Good luck frozen for the scan this afternoon, hope all goes ok.

sue So very sorry to hear of your chem. preg. I can't offer any light on anyone who's had multiple CPs and then gone on to have success on Mr S's treatment as I've just had the one so far and not got pregnant again yet. I'm sure it must have happened to others though, why not give Louise a quick ring, she's always very helpful? Tapering pred - well I did, but at a rather faster rate than is suggested, I dropped mine by 5mg every 2 days and had no side effects at all from this. I'm not suggesting you should do it that way, mind you, everyone is different, just saying what worked for me. Big hugs and hope you choose what is best for you with what to do next.

kittens I so feel for your grief, you've definitely not got a peaceful road to follow just now. Is it a possibility that your body isn't getting pregnant right now because it just couldn't cope with that on top of everything else? Wacky idea, possibly, but you're going through so much right now, grief and stress really does take it out of you. My acupuncturist is convinced I'm not pregnant yet because my body needs a break from the repeated cycles of getting pregnant every second attempted cycle then losing them. I'm not sure what to think, but I hope she's right and it's that rather than my time having run out! I'm still in two minds about SuperOv .. I've started taking DHEA after much, much research as well as starting on selenium, and I've started OH on the Wellman Conception tablets and selenium too. So maybe I'll let that take effect for 3 months before looking again at SuperOv, I don't know. I know none of us is getting any younger, but perhaps your body just needs to have a rest while you deal with your grief and worry? I don't know, I wish I had a crystal ball then I could look a few things up for all of us! But huge hugs to you too for the trials you're battling, you're a remarkably strong lady to still have your sanity intact I think!

/waves to everyone, sorry I've missed out personals no doubt but sending lots of good vibes to everyone.

Been away over the weekend so just logging on to say masssive congratulations to the expanded stogan family

hopeful did yuo have your scan this morning? Hope it went well!

Good luck with yours as well frozen

mercator can't remember if I said hooray for your good scan on Friday! Good luck again for this Weds - how come you're having another one this week, is it the Mr S one?

havingkittens sorry to hear it's all getting on top of you at the moment. You've just had so so much to deal with lately and now your poor gran . Going to keep my fingers crossed anyway for a late BFP because we've all seen on here that a BFN at 11dpo doesn't always mean it's definitely over.

pico glad to hear you've been given the all clear. Will you be waiting for AF and then back to ttc next cycle? Or is all that on hold while you go back home for a bit?

coconut re: small garden. If it's a lovely little south facing terrace then I think there's so much you can do with it to make it somewhere the kids will happily pop in and out of during the summer. Much easier to maintain as well. We have a long garden, which is great for the summer birthday parties as our house is tiny (and we've already extended), but is pretty much unused space from Oct-March. DS much prefers scooting round the park and wandering around the woods that are nearby, no matter how much I try to kick him out into the garden. Is there a park nearby to this house?

comedy that was lovely

free well done on the list and for creating that category we've all been working towards 'the babies'! It's so exciting! I still well up when I think about stogan snuggling her little girl.

As for me, I'm 35 weeks today. It's my last week at work...finishing up in the office on Thursday. Have my appointment with the consultant tomorrow to see if there's still a trace of glucose in my urine - will lay off the sweet stuff tonight and tomorrow in the hope that it makes a difference.
Baked biscuits with DS on Friday and had a little birthday celebration for my mum on Saturday, which obviously involved cake - so I haven't really stuck to no cakes and biscuits rule I set myself last week. Must try harder! It's just so difficult when I'm so bloody hungry all the time.

DH sorted out the front garden over the weekend, I went to the garden centre and chose a few nice smelling herbs to plant to hopefully mask the bins come this summer. Shelves start going in today - then DH just has to re-paint the kitchen and we're all sorted!

Our loaned bugaboo bee is nestling all compact in the new porch and we're picking up the carseat from a friend this week. Moses basket and cot mattress has been aired and all baby bedlinen washed. Just need to get hold of a TENS machine and we're ready to rumble. Bloody hell, I'm top of the list!!!

mercator so are you using james too for accupuncture? I also used him, small world

Having Kittens: thanks 4 the info, I'm 31 just and have had Recurrent Miscarriage since 24 yrs of age so I think its unlikely to be due egg quality! Just hopefully the damn NKs & blood clotting! Sorry 2 hear of yr BFN I'm going to test tomorrow will be 14 days PO. Not hopeful as have zero symptoms. Do you find that pred masks pre- menstrual symptoms? As I can always tell when I am going to come on but when on pred I feeling nothing is really strange!

Yep, had mine today. The nuchal fold measurement is within range but gotta wait for a week for blood test part for full result. By post if ok, phone if not.
Otherwise, all fab and good, lots of wiggles as previous times. Lady took extra pics for training others with, they'd just had more NT training and the baby was lying in a great position to see what they need too.
How did yours go frozen?

Digital, time will fly now! Pred bubs no 2 will soon be here!!
Xxxx

Kittens - Sorry to hear that you're feeling so low at the moment. Hardly surprising as you've just had so much on your plate over the last few years. It really has been just one thing after another by the sounds of it. I so hope your luck changes soon.

Good news on the scan Hopeful!

Pico when are you heading off on your trip? So good to hear you've been given the all clear.

at being 800k short of your ideal house. DP and I were looking at Rightmove last night, trying to figure out any way we could scrape together another 75k! (I couldn't think of a way except maybe applying to go on Deal or no Deal or something) Still I have to remember that the reason we're having this housing crisis is a good one, i.e. another baby. I just wish I hadn't been in denial for so much of the early pregnancy and we'd got our arses into gear a bit sooner to sell and find somewhere new. I finally bit the bullet and bought some newborn clothes today. Even with only 8 weeks to go it still feels a bit previous but I know I need to start thinking positive and try to get sorted.

Happy last week at work Digi. Bet you can't wait! Re the garden, you're right - we barely use ours for half the year. It's just that it's very wide and shallow (20ft by about 10ft, I think) and I wonder whether 2 boisterous boys will outgrow it quickly. I think I'll suggest a second viewing at the weekend and see what we think.

Ari Have you had any side effects from the DHEA?

A question: A friend of mine has 1 ds and has had one mc since having him. Since then she's been unable to get pregnant at all. She had an op to remove endo last year but still no successes. She's been told that the next step for her is IVF but has had a niggling suspicion about NK cells since I lent her Is Your Body Baby Friendly and wants to rule it out before paying a fortune for IVF. Do you think Mr S would be a good person for her to see for testing despite the fact that she's not had recurrent mcs, or is there anyone else out there that others are seeing who might be more suitable?

Great news for the NT scan hopeful.

coconut No I've had no side effects yet but I've only been taking it for a week now so maybe it's a bit early. From what I've read side effects, if there are any, seem to build up over time. I'll see what happens and play things by ear I think. And so exciting buying new baby clothes, I still remember the excitement of getting my first baby bundle for DD 5.5 years ago. The sad thing is, I'd already bought her pram/pushchair by the time I was 12 weeks pregnant (I was terribly organised back then) and now I can't imagine doing anything like that at all - if I can even get pregnant properly again. Sad how all this business takes away our right to be excited about being pregnant. :(

Oh sorry, I meant to say, I think your friend should definitely see Mr S for NK cell testing. Hunches can be very powerful things, and as I've said before, it would save people a fortune as well as heartache if they just built in this testing to the IVF procedure. I say she should do it, if she feels there might be something there.

Very quick AAM update as feeling ridiculously sick - NT was 1.8, which seems within range, and measuring appropriate for dates (12+3). A relief just to see that little heart still beating, but obviously have to wait for the bloods to come back to see what the adjusted risk is. Thank you very much for the lovely good luck wishes xxxxx

Glad you had a good scan Frozen, another step on the road!
Have realised today that I think about pg/baby for about 98% of my day (the rest I think about food and tv!) This can't be healthy.

kittens sorry your feeling crappy, i think sometimes so much neg is going on you dont know what to focus on and its exhausting ! try and take a few hours for yourself if you can and do something relaxing like a stree massage or just going out with a few girlfriends and a good gossip.we all need that a lot with what we keep having to go through!
digi im taking a break from everything , still on all the vits but physically and mentally i just need a step back, mum was bugging me to go get tested when i get to oz but i told her this is a babyfree holiday, there will be plenty of time when i come back to be stressed feel crap and start with the mentalling , they dont get it, she was also bugging me to just try for a baby without any steriods , i was really annoyed , dont they listen !
coconut i leave on the 14th april, cant wait ! its so stressful at work while the squeeze us for every last drop of blood before they make us redundant but then so long !

re tapering pred, i did the 5mg every 4 days so it took me a mth, my main side effects were headachs which im still getting , there are weird sinus ones, did anyone else get that? otherwise im mostly good, still v tired and asleep by 9 most nights with is embrassing, its like im 80!

still looking huge and the bloody face is still moonish!, i know free said it would take a few weeks but im impatient, drinking tons of water and trying to watch what i eat, any tips anyone ?

igggi dont worry, i think thats all of us, mine changes depending on what im stressing about, be positive , i keep telling my self ! then its like ..whatever

frozen glad all was well.

picolina a break sounds like a really good idea. Especially after a mc, you need to regather your emotional strength to deal with the next pregnancy.

iggi perfectly entitled to spend 100% thinking about it!

coconut I agree with ari that following hunches is a good thing. If only to rule it out and have more confidence with the next pregnancy.

And hooray hopeful!!!

Digi thanks for your msg and yes the next scan is with mr S. You must be so relieved to be finishing work on Thurs! Not long now - hope you can enjoy the time before the little one arrives!
Hopeful/Frozen glad the scans went well and looks like we are all in the wait for the results for the nuchals, fingers crossed we all get good results. Are you two as tired as I am, all of a sudden I feel shattered and I'm down to 5mg pred now so not sure if that is the issue and that I had more energy from the pred. Still waking very early though.
Kitttens so sorry to hear what you've been through and your current worries re; your grandmother. I think you've definately had more than you fair share and let's hope things improve as the year progresses!
Coconut we can but dream

Pico I also had headaches when coming off the pred.

Hi to everyone I've missed!