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

Just to add to my fantastic day, I've been having a little bit of spotting on wiping. Nothing "solid" so far, just pink or pinky brown when I wipe. Like tinted wee in the paper. Sorry TMI! Nothing on the huuuuuge pad I whacked on straight away at 11.30. No pains or cramps. I obviously hope it's maybe cyclogest irritating my cervix as it is same sort if thing as I've had after smear tests. Or quite late implantation bleeding, or settling in made to look worse because of aspirin and cyclogest. Oh and it seems to be mostly appearing in greatest amount (which isn't much tbh) when I go to the loo "properly" as my gran used to say.

So, am now tucked up on sofa at home with dh running around after me, keeping fingers, toes, etc crossed it stays like this at worst.

Someone said about going for a scan. That is not an option until after Dad's final next Friday. I couldn't bear to have to deal with bad news/ERPC even, before the funeral. I've got a scan on 17th, so not too long to wait after the funeral. Unless there's an urgent medical need, like it starts to look like an ectopic, I can't bring myself to go. And this is before I even begin to think about whether I want to go anywhere near the EPU again after last years experience of being left in a corridor after my mmc was found. I need to close off Dad's funeral before potentially looking ahead on the pg, or dealing with bad news.

abney Don't worry about the lack of negative test, then positive (crazy!!) Lets just look on the positive side. You are PUPO!! Dr S has given me the perscription for Hydroxy but haven't started taking it yet as sleep wasn't so bad this month. The idea was that if I have to stop pred then I could at my own risk take Hydroxy on own, and as free said (Louise also) - there is a lady with NLC who is nearly due whose been on that only all along.

choccy Just rest up and lets hope it's just the Cyclogest irratating you.

Been driving round countryside looking at wrecks to renovate today and pile on the stress found couple of nice villages with old barns which look good...well crumbly.

Still no spotting for me or any sign of AF?

Freelance thanks for all of the advice. If the BFP is still a BFP in the coming days then I will ask Dr S about the Hydroxychloroquine and Selenium and see what he says. Can you take pred and Hydroxychloroquine at the same time? If this stays a BFP and I lose it then I think it will have to be IVF for me as I think the last chance I have and I have a feeling that all my issues are down to egg quality.

Choccypud I haven't spoken to you yet but have seen the sad news about your father and I can understand how you can only deal with one issue at a time. The last time I was pg I decided not to look every 5 mins. Perhaps once first thing in the morning only, otherwise, you are going to end up examining everything. I even took to wearing black knickers. FYI I had browny gunk for about 3 days when I was pg with DS. Plenty of people bleed and go on to have a DD or DS. My only advice is try not to look.

choccy I had a tiny bit of pink one morning. I was sure it was down to the cyclogest, so from then on I used the back way :) I just didn't want anything irritating my cervix x I think you are doing incredibly well, one step at a time xx

Hi everyone. Digi says BFN this morning so I guess yesterdays must have been drugs. I did think it was early to test as I normally don't get a BFP until 1 day before AF which would be next Thurs, Fri. I guess it is not over until the fat lady sings. . I won't test again now till Monday/Tues as there is no point. Has anyone had a BFP, then a BFN and then a BFP again?

Choccy Fingers crossed it is just the Cyclogest, maybe use the rear entrance like Battery suggests? Remember PUPO!

Abney The digitals are not very sensitive so maybe it was just more dilute wee this morning? I would use a FRER when you test again next week, it certainly isn't over until the fat lady sings! [busmile]

I got a on the OPK yesterday so I don't think being ill delayed ovulation. Therefore I valiantly SWI despite still feeling a bit delicate! Will try again tonight as well and then I don't think I'll start the Pred until Monday, that's not too late is it?

Hello, i've posted before and i'm back hoping you can help me again...

I'm having donor egg IVF. Without any immunes testing, i was put on 20mg prednisolone and 75mg aspirin per day - plus the usual IVF Progynova, Evorel and Cylcogest. My first round last year got a BFP, then mc at 6 weeks. I'm about to try another round, down reg jab is booked for 16 April so FET likely mid May.

I am seeing my consultant this afternoon to discuss my next round and primarliy 'what else could/should we do'. In my mind i think i have two options - stick with pred/aspirin (which i'd be happy with) or go for the full on immunes testing which may result on IVIG/TNF blockers (which i'm not that keen on but will do IF it would make the difference). My clinic will do whatever i want them to do (afterall i am paying for it!) but i'm just so confused.

In theory apart from one mc, very mild asthma and mild hayfever (neither of which cause me much trouble) i am fit as a fiddle, so I would like to think the FET with pred/aspirin would go smoothly but we all know its not that easy. Btw i am 45, but feel 25

In your experience what would you do next?

Thank you in advance - i'll pop back later and let you know how the appointment goes.

Its so wonderful to see so many BFPs - i hope there are more coming v soon.

abney & greenolives whispered congrats , hope everything says golden.
pq my chest just tightens when i think of all the mentally we go through from bfp and from bfn, your screwed either way!
free its mth now since i have stopped pred completley, ive started doing some stretch exercises and have noticed its less painful these last couple of days when ive been home doing fa.
for some reason my temp went to 98.4 which is normal for me after ovulation, i think its accurate as i slept enough last night which i havnt been doing , i am spotting so its still all messed up, im hoping for better results next mth.6 more sleeps before i leave for oz, really going to miss my hubby and wish he was going with me , we have not spent 4 weeks apart in 8 years .

Abney sorry it is confusing, yes maybe test again in another couple of days.
*CHoccy has there been any more spotting yet? I did get some pink stuff in the early days after having sex and avoided it for weeks after that! I think the cervix can be very easily irritated at this stage. And I know people who have had full on bleeding for weeks and weeks and also been fine. Let us know how it is going.

pico I think that is rather a long time to be still having the Pred aches to be honest. Exercise and keeping fit definitely helps though.

Hello Pocket and welcome to the thread! I don't know much about IVF (although I am slowly starting to learn as a couple of people on here - and the Super Ovulation Thread - are now going down that route) but I do know about immune issues through my own experience.

Asthma and hayfever, mine are mild too and only really started in adult hood, are good signs that your immune system might be over active. We are all still trying to work out whether we are a particularly healthy bunch on here (ie whether our killer cells seems to fight off other illnesses) and we do certainly all seem to be quite well, apart from the recurrent miscarriages and the odd autoimmune condition (thyroid etc).

Pred and aspirin certainly seem to do a lot of good work in cases of diagnosed high NK cells and also as a precautionary measure (so Dr Google tells me) with IVF candidates. For those of us with very high levels under Mr S we have had some additional treatment. Chances are that you will pay a lot of money with your clinic and might only need the Pred and aspirin that you are taking! But if you went to see Mr S you might find you have higher levels and also be prescribed intralipids (a lot cheaper and better, in the way that they are not human blood products, than IVIG) as well as other things that some of us here are being experimented on with taking like hydroxychloroquinine. But then, like I said, just Pred and aspirin might well be good enough and might well be all you needed anyway! I am not sure if I have helped in any way there, apart from sharing the indecision...

freelance thank you that is really helpful. It is just so confusing and so much is unknown. An everything is really expensive! Also being 45 time with 3 frozen donor embies is putting additional pressure for quick success!

Thanks all. Green Olives what is a FRER?

FRER is first response pregnancy test. Sorry you are having all this confusion over BFP then BFN.

Hi there ladies, mind if I ask a question? I've got an appointment with Mr S in a couple of weeks but am just wondering today whether any of you have had success on his programme after repeat implantation failure, rather than repeat mc's? I've never got to official bfp status (2 failed IVF cycles after having good blastocyst embryos) and am just wondering about the success rate of all the immune type treatment for those like me. I did start to read through all your back threads to look, and got about halfway through your 1st one and gave up!

thanks. x

Update from me... Bit more pinky red last night on wiping, then a smallish brown patch on the pad after I'd got up for breakfast and wandered around a bit this morning, but I suspect that was gravity rather than "flow" as I've had nothing more on my pant liner since (see, pant liner, not pad - being optimistic :) ). Still getting a tiny bit of pinky red or brown on wiping but not every time I go. No cramps, still tired at usual times, godawful indigestion after my first lunch earlier, boobs more "there" first thing....

So whilst I could really do without this right now, I'm not wasting energy panicking and keeping fingers crossed it's just irritation.

Of course, I'm now running low on cyclogest assuming two per day from now til scan. Hopefully I can sort out a prescription to collect on Weds which is the only day I could get it next week, being away for Dad's funeral. Gah! so much to juggle!

Sorry about your confusing tests Abney. As someone said to me the other week, CBD are the work of the devil. I'd suggest you get some First Response early result tests, we generally find they're reliable and will give you an early BFP. I don't really understand how SO works in terms of the BFP followed by bfn then "real" BFP so I can't help there I'm afraid, save to sympathise that it's all so confusing and unsettling.

carebear I'm also afraid I can't help with the IVF/ implantation query but I'm sure someone will be along soon. You might like to try to find duggs and pebbles thread on IVF and Pred - I'm sure they started one after the Pred and SO thread started up. I do seem to recall reading on here that there is definitely movement towards adding Pred etc to help with NKCs after IVF, because I guess that IVF might get you a good embryo but that's no use if you've got NKCs that will make you mc... I'm probably being very simplistic though and there are others far more knowledgeable than me on this.

IVF Pred thread is here

Check me out putting a proper link in! That's exhausted me so will have to drag myself away from Annie for a nap... :)

Choccy I'm sure I've a fair amount of cycogest left over, if you'd like it. Might be easier than rushing to get prescription filled.

Just lurking for baby news from Digi and say happy Easter to all my lovely ladies. Haven't had chance to catch up on the thread but hope everyone is well
Xxx

Choccy ? Sorry to hear about the spotting. Not what you need at the moment, but you?re sounding very level-headed about it. I suppose you need to be at the moment as you need to focus on one thing at a time. I know you?ll be up and down for ages but it sounds like you?re doing brilliantly given everything on your plate.

Abney ? Very confusing for you. I don?t know much about the whole SO thing, but it sounds like testing in a couple of days would be a good idea. Choccy?s right though, those CBD tests are notoriously unreliable.

I can?t help with direct experience, Carebear but, as I understand it, if the NKC are preventing implantation, then sustained treatment early on will help. Will this be your first appointment with Mr S? I have a friend who has repeatedly failed to get pregnant and has been advised to have IVF as a next step (she has one dc and has had one previous mc) and she is going to see him to discuss a similar concern as she wants to rule out NKC as an issue before going down the IVF route.

Gosh, Pocket, it?s tricky one. I don?t know anything really about IVF. I would definitely ask some of the posters on the IVF with pred thread that Choccy linked to. Duggs is a very thorough researcher and is a mine of information (I?ve learnt loads from her on here!). Really good luck though, and do keep us posted.

Well, ds spent his first night away from us last night and I?m feeling at a bit of lose end without him. He slept over at my sister?s, as we wanted to prepare him in case he needs to do the same when I go into labour. I?ve only ever had one night away from him when I was in hospital after my ERPC and, because we?re in a one-bed place, he even sleeps in our room, I was a bit lost! He?s had a ball though apparently and dp and I managed to go out for a lovely meal together, which I suppose will be our last chance for a while.

Anything happening, Digi??

Happy Easter everyone!

choccy hope spotting has eased up and you're tucking into some choccyeggs today.

coconut ds has spent about two nights away from us too (I've been away on hen weekends but he's been with dh so I don't count those), and always feel like my right arm is missing. It's great that he's taken to it so well. And good for you on going out on a date.

Waves back at stogan - no baby news here. BH's are getting stronger in the evenings but tail off over night. Hopefully all good signs though. Body has done this before so I'm fairly confident it can do it again, although might need a bit of a helping hand.

Lindt bunnies I have just scoffed 3 over past 3 days bought on Ocado for guests oops! abney yes ovritrelle trigger is pure hcg so u need to test to get a negative before u can get a positive. Naughty that dr s or NLC do advise that. care yes nk cells can and will affect implantation if v strong so the ivf protocols are pretty simple. Steroids 3 days prior to egg transfer and until pg test then if positive until 12 wks and clexane injections from just before egg collection (herapin). I also had intralipids 10 days before egg collection as an extra precaution. I've spent almost £8k on this one cycle all in all. There are 2 chromosonally normal embryos inside me. If I get a bfn next week not sure what I will do. It is not easy ivf as u know but the nk cells bit is just an add on to be dealt with.

Sorry meant NLC don't advise that? Don't know why seems pretty important to me.

Thanks Duggs, Coconut and Choccy. x

Hi all,

Choccy how is it going today ? hope the spotting has been to a minimum. Have you had any pain or cramping at all? We are all keeping everything crossed for you and no, you don?t need any added stress with everything going on at the moment. Hope the funeral preparations are going as well as they can do in the circumstances.

I have a week or so worth of Cyclogest at home if you need anything posting, but am not back until Thursday. If you or anyone else needs it though do let me know. I have about a month?s worth of Pred too that I am going to give to Pebbles as soon as I get back. I thought I would also be giving my Doppler away in later pregnancy (at times when I have dared to envisage getting there) but I do like to have it there as a back up still for reassurance.

Hi Carebear, it?s great that you are on the brink of seeing Mr S as hopefully he can really help you. I know the theory is that high NK cells can indeed attack early and prevent implantation and there are a few people here (as well as on the super ov thread) who have spent a long time not getting BFPs. The super ov treatment is still in its infancy and as far I am aware there isn?t yet anyone on here who is pregnant after repeat BFNs rather than repeat mcs but they are still working on it and no-one has yet been trying for the magic 6 months that Mr S says to give it. Do come and tell us how your appointment goes!

Ahh Coconut it?s lovely to hear that DS had a great time staying over at your sister?s and bodes well for future baby sitting! And nice that you had a meal out with DH. Yes it could be some time until you are doing similar again!

Digi no signs as yet I see ? well signs that it IS impending at least. Are you nervous at all or just taking it all in your stride?

Bloody hell Duggs that is a lot of money to have to spend. Yes it would be wonderful if it happens this month for you! I really have everything crossed for you. I have just eaten an easter egg too and am feeling rather sick.

After spending a wonderful day going to an Easter Procession here in Spain (lots of sombre Catholicism but a parade that included a rather camp looking Jesus statue) DH and I had a lovely morning and lunch in the local beach bar and wandering around the town before we dropped him off at the airport. I am here for a further 4 nights without him. I didn?t like saying goodbye ? feeling rather attached to him at the moment! Can anyone else relate to that with the pregnancy hormones?

I think it is because the pregnancy feels like it has really moved on in the last couple of weeks. I?ve started to get a lot of movement and DH can now even feel it from the outside. Particularly when I go to bed at night it starts to really jump around in there! I can see things sticking out and everything. All very weird, but it is starting to get a bit easier to imagine that there is a baby in there. Just hoping the fact that I am letting myself think about actually having a baby doesn?t come back to bite me in the arse.

Hello to all I have missed, I do hope easter is treating you well and that we have some good egg vibes out there for the TTCers.

Big waves to Stogan! How?s babyhood treating you? Hope you?re coping well and enjoying the ride xx

Happy Easter Sunday List Update! May it bring us lots of good eggs and good luck. Good luck to those testing too. And could this be one of the last list updates that sees Digi in the 'pregnant' category before joining Stogan on the Baby Podium?! Not so long until PQ is coming up to the 2nd trimester and myself and Charlie to the third.

Sunday 8th April

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 38+6 Due 16/04/12
Coconutfeet - V High NKC, Factor II gene mutation, underactive thyroid - BFP pre-pred, started at 6 weeks 35+6 Due date: 07/05/12
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2, DC#2 ? 35+0 C-section booked: 14/5/12
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2, DC#2- 32+5 c-section booked for 21/5/12
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Intolerant. BFP Clomid cycle#3, DC#1 32+2

2nd Trimester
Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 Hydroxychloroquine, Pred, Intralipids, 400 Cyclogest, Thyroid/hashimotos. MC 1st Pred cycle. DC#1 24+5 Next appt with Mr S, 19th May
Cheerfulcharlie - V High NKC, MTHFR, DC#2/ (metformin, intralipids, no pred). 24+4
batteryhen - High NKC, factor v leiden. DC#1 BFP cycle 3. 21+2
coleyoz - V High NKC. DC#2, BFP cycle2, 20+5
FrozenNorthPole - RMC, NKC status unknown, Cyclogest, aspirin, 16+3
Mercator - V High NKC, TTC#2. 16+3
Hopefulfor2nd - High NKC - TTC#2. - 15+3
dunnit - V High NKC - , IVIG, Cyclogest and Clexane. 15+3

1st Trimester
PQ77 - V High NKC TTC #2 (BFP cycle one but mc) 10+6
ChoccyPud - V High NKC - TTC#1 from March (Pred & Hydroxychloroquine) 6+3
London - High NKC, add details!

TTC
Waiting to test
Havingkittens - Upgraded from High to V High NKC TTC #1 2nd cycle SO - testing 9th April
Snoopygirl - V High NKC TTC, pred cycle 5, Super Ov Cycle 2
Abney, V High NKC, TTC#2, super ov.
duggs1976 - High/V High NKC - TTC #1 - IVF cycle Testing 16th April

TTC
buster76 -V High NKC, Factor V Leiden.
Lemonsherbet - TTC#1 v high/high NK, Mthfr, thyroid issues, pred 1st trim & Intralipids 2nd on bfp
BellyD - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, TTC#1 cycle 2, hydroxychloroquine
eurochick - TTC#1 High NKC, pred cycle 4,
Willitbe - RMC, NKC not tested, TTC #4 cycle 2 (after m/c 12) Fertility consultant prescribed pred.
Pebbles - TTC#1 High NKC, PCOS, super ov cycle 1 (post IVF - 1 chemical, 1 mc, combining IVF with Immunotherapy
GreenOlives - High NKC, TTC#2, Pred Cycle 2
Arianrhod - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, hypothyroid, TTC#2 (Pred & Hydroxychloroquine)
Cherrycheeks - V high NKC, TTC#2
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
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)
Holldoll - High NKC - Pred, Cyclogest & aspirin

No cramping free though I've been having twinges or nerve like short twinges all through, mostly in my right hand side, (like ov pain) and at the moment, weird twinges in the top of my legs. Just for a short time, not enough to call pain, or often or even daily.

Still spotting, but it seems to have gone to very dark brown, old and drier all day today except after a walk when there was a bit more but still only on wiping and it was slightly pinky that time too (sorry tmi... Again!). No lumps or clots still either. Hopefully the colour change to brown means it's on its way out. I'm still Meh about it tbh, there are obviously no guarantees but I still don't feel that there's anything I definitely need to be concerned about, which is about all I can ask for!

Happy Easter all! [busmile]