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

pq your entitled to a freakout every now and then, think we all are, you have so much on your mind to stress about .good news about scan
sue how are you feeling , i have my meeting with mcc in a couple of weeks and im also hoping they tweak my meds , will have to wait and see, have you got an appt booked ?
choccy hope your dad will be on the road to recovery soon

merc I had my nuchal scan on the wednesday and my results came in on the Monday . The screening midwife rang me though x

Anyone know anything about chickenpox? My son's nursery has just phoned to say he has it - I'm off to collect him now. I remember having it in secondary school, does that mean I'm safe?

Morning ladies

Good luck for your amnio today battery, hope it all goes well.

choccy So sorry to hear about your dad. It's hard when you're a distance away, trying not to worry (but of course you do) and be of support long-distance. Hope he gets well on the hospital's plan really fast.

Well Louise just called me, she spoke to Mr Shehata about me going on the Superov plan as she promised, and apparently he's very happy for me to do so. Typically for me, I'm now umming and ahhing as to whether I actually want to do this (the thought of injections scares me silly, injections/needles always but always hurt the bejesus out of me), but anyway, they now want me to go for LH/FSH testing (the day 1 to 3 test only). Louise asked me when they last did this test on me, to which I replied in some surprise that they never have. I did think it would have been done, given my age, but it never was. Anyway, positive OPK last night and definite OV pains today, so I wait a couple of weeks and then go for the blood tests. Louise says I can ask my GP to do this - mind you, the speed at which the NHS blood test results come through around here it's likely they won't be through in time for ovulation next month anyway, so I've probably got a couple of months left before I have to decide whether to do this. Am hoping and praying that before I have the day 1-3 bloods done I get that elusive BFP anyway, then it may be a moot point! Well, I can hope, can't I? :)

/waves to all, hope you're all having a good day.

Not meaning me obviously, but me+baby.

igggi you should be immune, but if it were me, I'd be ringing my GP right now to ask about it. They might want to test your immunity, just to be on the safe side?

Thanks Ari, I will phone triage I think as easier to get hold of a midwife. If he has the spots today he's obviously been contagious for a while.

Hello all, this is an update. I am going to leave this thread. Things are not progressing as expected. have had scan today as had some bleeding.No heart beat, scanner thinks its non-viable. I am still clinging into the growth that was seen last week but preparing for the worst. I want to thank you all for your support.

Wishing everyone all the best with TTC, ongoing pregnancies and shortly - births. I will lurk and if things change here, I will re-appear.
take care

Oh holldoll, I'm so sorry it isn't turning out well. Totally understand your need to leave for a while but be sure to know we are all here for you and whatever the future brings.
Big love x x x

I have been doing a bit of research on killer cells and have read that marijuana reduces the amount of them! I have never smoked in my life but maybe I should start!

Have also found research that says cardiovascular exercise and selenium also increases the levels. That explains why so many unhealthy people have hoards of kids!

I have been taking selenium supplements but think I will stop for a while. I was taking it to increase my womb lining but that was fine on my last follicle scan.

Also does anyone know if Dr S tests for Cytokines/TNFa/CD57+ with the killer cells? I have been reading that most of the other clinics test for it and apparently if you have high number of them it can prevent getting a BFP and/or implantation. I have been looking at my test results from Dr S but cant see anything on there regarding Cytokines.

Apparently treatment is using Humira injections. Alternatives include omega 3 intralipids with steroids, resveratrol, omega 3 fish oil, turmeric/curcumin, nettle, green tea, losing weight (if you are overweight), changing your diet (e.g., if wheat or dairy makes you feel bloated and uncomfortable and avoiding it makes you feel better, then that may tie in with reducing your TNFa
making sure you aren't carrying a long term infection (e.g., see Chlamydia)
some ladies have also been successful with mycology/chinese herbal medicine under specialist docs like Dr Trevor Wing.

It might explain why some of us such as Duggs and Euro have had problems getting a BFP.

Interesting info sue, thanks!

I knew there was a reason I looked into Selenium a while back and rejected it, it was the link with raised NK cells. I'm thinking I'll take it a while longer tho, since hopefully the hydroxy is balancing those out.

The treatment you mention is also interesting - we're all taking Omega 3, right? I'm also taking resveratrol, since reading that several leading RMC consultants in the US recommend taking it; also pycnogenol is recommended, but that's horribly expensive (not that resveratrol isn't, but pycnogenol is worse!).

Love the idea that marijuana decreases NK cells ... what a great prescription that would be. Would reduce stress levels too, which is supposed to be beneficial when TTC, right?

holldoll So very sorry for your scan results, fully understand why you want to drop off for a while. Big hugs and take care of you.

Holldoll so sorry to hear your news. There are quite a few of us on here who have had miscarriages whilst on the thread and are still here but I understand if you want to leave. I felt like leaving after my first chemical so lurked for a bit but found the support helped me through the dark times.

Iggi my DD has chicken pox too and I have got the flu symptoms of it. I am going to the docs next week for a blood test to see if I am immune. I think its more a problem in early pregnancy so I am wondering if thats why I have just had the chemical as my flu started the same time the preg symptoms subsided. You are not on the steroids now so your immunity should be fine. As I was on the high dose steroids it explains why I might have caught part of the infection even though I have had it before. If you look at the NHS website there is info on there for preg women.

Ari you get used to the injection - it didnt hurt me at all. I found the needle was easier than the pen type so try and get that one. Come over to the superov thread too. I will be back on superov next month. LH tests come back within a week of most GPs. Make sure if you do it when on superov that you take the letrozole in the evening (day 2 of cycle) after you have had bloods taken as it effects the results. The LH/FSH tests won't effect the timing of the superov plan as Dr S will put you on the lowest amount first to see how you go.

Does anyone take extra Omega 3 fish oils? Its supposed to really help bring down NKC. The one in pregnacare is only a small amount so I am thinking of also taking Nutrasea with 1500mg omega 3.

Ari maybe we should ask Dr S to prescribe some spliffs! Think my local pharmacist is already raising her eyebrows at all the drugs I am having!
Where do you get the resveratrol from?

Thanks sue - Louise has said that Mr S wants to wait until he sees the results of my LH/FSH tests before starting me on superov so that he can decide what drugs to put me on. That's what she said, anyway. And I am on the superov thread, mostly lurking but I just asked a couple of questions :)

Omega 3 - oh my yes, I take a daily Omega 3 capsule, 1000mg (giving DHA 276mg and EPA 220mg). It's the same one I took during my pregnancy with DD. Mr S told me to take Omega 3 when I first saw him - doesn't he say this to everyone then? sue watch the levels of DHA & EPA; even in the "high strength" ones, these levels aren't always what they should be. Nutrasea should be ok though.

Resveratrol I get from Amazon, the "Now Foods, Natural Resveratrol, Mega Potency, 200 mg, 120 Vcaps" one.

And I love the idea of Mr S prescribing some spliffs ... even if it does nothing for the NK cells, we just wouldn't care as much!

Ari he didnt tell me to take extra Omega 3 - just the one in pregnacare. Amazon also sell the nutrasea omega 3 tablets so I will look on there for the resveratrol. Whats it supposed to help with.
I just answered your qs on the other thread!

Ari just found the resveratrol cheaper than Amazon on www.bigvits.co.uk

Thanks sue :) Resveratrol - well I'll pinch this from the "Supplements" section of the fabulous Immune FAQ on Fertility Friends website:

www.fertilityfriends.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=242395.msg3904739#msg3904739

20.5.23 Resveratrol/grape/grapeseed extract
This is an antioxidant derived sometimes from red grape but more commonly from Japanese knotweed. Dr Sher at SIRM recommends taking it up until egg collection to improve egg quality in ladies whose egg quality has been shown to be poor in previous cycles. As far as I am aware, he doesn?t specify a particular dose.- although Dr Braverman (previously of SIRM) has recommended 500mg (but that makes it quite expensive, because its an expensive supplement). Personally I wouldn?t take it during 2ww or pregnancy because of a lack of safety data. Some doctors (particularly Dr Nodares in Greece) seem to be recommending it for ladies with high TNFalpha ratios but personally, I haven't found any scientific studies that prove it would have that effect. I understand Dr Nodares has been using the Nature's plus 125mg extended release product (3 times per day).

Apparently it can help the uterine lining as well: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21248286

HTH

So sorry to hear your news holldoll. Do hang around though we have all been there and the support here or even just knowing you can cry/vent at people who understand may help you as you work through it. Hugs.

Ari is our own mini Dr Google! Efficiency personified! I take the pregnacare with separate omega 3 as that's what Dr S recommended. I don't know if he gives exactly same advice to all though.

igggi you poor thing I hope you've got some advice about what to do. You weren't supposed to have any more issues in this pregnancy! Hugs to you too.

Hello everyone else and thanks for all the good wishes for my dad. Hope it's nice and sunny wherever you are it's glorious here :)

Afternoon,

battery very best of luck with your amnio today. Hope baby behaves itself and you can finally get this over and done with.

holldoll so very sorry to hear things haven't progressed well . Understand you wanting to take a break from the thread - but as others have said we're all here for you if you need to rant or cry with others who have been there.

iggi Poor DS, hope he's ok and it doesn't last too long. Definitely ring the midwife and find out what the best thing to do is. I'm pretty sure it's more of a concern in the first trimester when everything's still developing - but you're third trimester now and baby is pretty much just growing. You're not on steroids anymore so you're not suppressing your immune system in the same way as before. I was nearly e

Holldoll so very sorry to hear your news. Like the others say I understand if you feel like you want to crawl under a rock and hide. But we are here if you need support. My first pregnancy on the treatment was the same as that - no heartbeat seen and a series of awful scans. Make sure you take care with tapering off the Pred and look after yourself. If you have any questions to come back as many of us have been in that exact position.

Iggi I think Digi has some wise words about the chicken pox (albeit cut off ones by the look of it!). It is good that you have had it already definiitely and true too that the baby is now well developed. But it is a good idea to check with your GP too to put your mind at ease. I hope DS isn't too sick with it, but again they do say it is better to catch it and get it of the way.

About the Omega 3 Mr S told me to take it too - but never mentioned taking any more than the one in Pregncare and a dosage wasn't mentioned. I HAVE been taking selenium too and have not, funnily enough, been getting stoned a all when pregnant. But in my student days my NK cells must've taken quite a battering :)

Battery good luck today!

Hello to everyone else xx

oops, don't know what happened there...

as I was saying to iggi I was nearly exposed to someone who's child may have had CP and after talking to the midwife (I was still in first trimester) I decided to err on the side of caution. However, you're in a different situation here so you may not need to be as concerned.

Re: the omega 3 debate, Mr S advised me to take Pregnacare Plus which comes with extra Omega capsules. I took those up until about week 16 I think.

ari interesting that you are now being considered for super ov. I guess if you haven't had any success within the first few cycles Mr S is more open to trying new things. Are you ttcing this cycle?

merc I got my combined results by post about 2-3 weeks after my nuchal. I'm assuming if there was a problem they would have rung me within 3-4 working days. I had my NT scan at 13 weeks so once that was over I told the rest of the team at work (my boss had known since I was 7 weeks as I needed to 'prepare' him in case he needed to organise cover for me if it all went wrong).

choccy thinking of you and your dad in hospital, hope it's nothing serious.

comedy happy birthday to DD for this weekend. Birthdays always prompt a bit of a 'this time last year/two years ago etc' memory trip for me too. I remember getting my first AF when starting TTC#2 just in time for DS's 1st birthday party. Then for his second I had AF again but also two mc's under my belt. Third one last year I was 7 weeks pregnant on steroids, running around like a nutter trying not to think about being pg at all. I'm also wondering if I'll remember how to hold a baby.

free hope you manage to get more iron down you! I've been loving green leafy veg lately so I think I'm craving more iron still.

pq glad to hear the bleeding has eased, hope that was the last of it.

newmummystogan what a lovely lovely post from you! Beautiful name for your DD. You sound so in love and so so happy. Such a wonderful reminder of what this is all about. Enjoy those lovely snuggles and hope the recovery from the CS goes well. If you need any newborn advice then please keep posting and I'm sure once there are a few more of us with our pred babies we could start a post-natal thread.

Had my doctor's appointment yesterday and there was no glucose in my urine but because of the large abdominal measurement on the growth scan they want me to do a GTT anyway. I'm hoping that it will just rule out GD once and for all. I have to do the GTT blood test on Friday morning and will also have another growth scan, then an appointment on Tuesday again to discuss results. Then hopefully, all being well, my birthing centre assessment on the Wednesday.

Finishing my commute tomorrow but I have been given 7 briefs to work on from home - I think it'll take about 5 days, but has to be done by EOP Tuesday so it looks like I'll be working over the weekend. At least I can work on the laptop from my bed, so it's nice and comfy. DH is pleased that it'll stop me from trying to blitz the house as my 'declutter' list continues to grow.

Also, had a little episode v early this morning - woke up with very very uncomfortable back-ache. Didn't feel like a muscle spasm, nor a contraction. Felt more like the kind of pain I had when I had a urine infection. Got up, did some yoga moves, had a drink, went to the loo and got DH to rub my back. EVentually pain subsided and I finally could go back to sleep. I think if it returns will call MW or triage and see if I should do a test for a UTI. I did wonder if it was the start of something though...too early though, I need to do this writing work and earn more money so I can spend more time with the baby!!!

Right - better get back to work!

digi yes this is my third cycle of TTCing since the early miscarriage in Dec. Not sure if I will be considered for superov now, Louise said in a subsequent email that they want to see what the results from my LH/FSH/E2 tests are before they decide whether superov might work for me or not. And considering my age, unless there's something of a biological miracle going on, I'm not expecting those results to be brilliant. We'll see.

That back pain you had .. that couldn't be little one pressing on something, could it? I remember getting terribly uncomfortable back ache in my third trimester with DD, eventually got to the point in the three or four weeks before she was born that I wasn't getting much sleep at all. But definitely worth getting tested for a UTI, after all, if it's something treatable then best to get rid of it! Great to hear you're stopping commuting tomorrow, takes some of the pressure off your body!

igggi what did the MW say about chickenpox?

Holldoll I'm really sorry to hear your news, wish it could have worked out for you this time.

Thank you for messages. Midwife said nothing to worry about if I'd had CP already, some more googling revealed lots of people who've had it more than once, so called GP - she is getting my blood (they must have a bank of it somewhere!) Tested to see if I have immunity. Not sure what difference it will make, if I've got it I think I've already got it.
Ds himself is fine and admiring his spots while he plays on the Wii.

I have found the google spreadsheet and have updated mine and Stogans info!

docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtEN_z1FdjUMdHd6c0xCd2JRd3hXVmtTZXROYVE1OGc#gid=0

It is quite out of date as there are not all of us on there so add/amend yourselves if you wish!

holldoll so sorry to hear your news and do come back and join us when you feel able to.
ari sounds like some positive news!
Sue I have updated my details as statistics were something I was interested in when researching and couldn't find anything at all.
Digi try not to work too hard! Working from bed sounds a great idea I dread going into London already for the odd meeting.
Also on Omega tabs!