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

A special commemorative list update for Digitalgirl, Mr Digi, and Digi DS' 1 and 2 to welcome into the world the second Pred Thread Baby and give suitable gravitas to the occasion: the successful production of a gorgeous little baby after all the horrors Digi has lived through to get to this stage. We feel privileged to have found her on these boards, sharing the ups and downs of mc, post-mc, diagnosis, TTC and now this - a new DS for the family!

Thanks Mr Digi for coming on here to let us know! We await with baited breath and the odd bit of wincing to hear the birth story and find out about this rather challenging 3rd stage and the subsequent transfusion! But well done Digi, so so pleased it all went well, and here you are with that much longed for new baby at last.

Coconut and Comedy you're next!

Monday 9th 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!
Digitalgirl - High NKC - BFP cycle#2, Baby boy (DS2) born at 39+0 on Easter Monday, 9/04/12, 8 lbs 12 Our Second Pred Thread Baby!

BFP
3rd Trimester
Coconutfeet - V High NKC, Factor II gene mutation, underactive thyroid - BFP pre-pred, started at 6 weeks 36+0 Due date: 07/05/12
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2, DC#2 ? 35+1 C-section booked: 14/5/12
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2, DC#2- 32+6 c-section booked for 21/5/12
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Intolerant. BFP Clomid cycle#3, DC#1 32+3

2nd Trimester
Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 Hydroxychloroquine, Pred, Intralipids, 400 Cyclogest, Thyroid/hashimotos. MC 1st Pred cycle. DC#1 24+6 Next appt with Mr S, 19th May
Cheerfulcharlie - V High NKC, MTHFR, DC#2/ (metformin, intralipids, no pred). 24+5
batteryhen - High NKC, factor v leiden. DC#1 BFP cycle 3. 21+3
coleyoz - V High NKC. DC#2, BFP cycle2, 20+6
FrozenNorthPole - RMC, NKC status unknown, Cyclogest, aspirin, 16+4
Mercator - V High NKC, TTC#2. 16+4
Hopefulfor2nd - High NKC - TTC#2. - 15+4
dunnit - V High NKC - , IVIG, Cyclogest and Clexane. 15+4

1st Trimester
PQ77 - V High NKC TTC #2 (BFP cycle one but mc) 11+0
ChoccyPud - V High NKC - TTC#1 from March (Pred & Hydroxychloroquine) 6+4
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

kittens. Well yes there are 2 camps and I think it can be a little misleading for the no pg camp to think it is just the pred they (we) need help with. Just think of the pred as something u will add to treatment of whatever assisted fertility route u have gone down. Have u or euro looked into Ivm? Google it at Oxford reprogenics. Is interesting there are steps between super ov and ivf . . Just a thought. Also a frank discussion with dr s as a year is enough on pred. I'm 8 mths in and kiltering on the edge !!

congratulations digi family!

Yay! Big congrats to the digis brilliant news. Hope you are recovering well digi.

choccy sorry you are having such a tough time, sending you loads of positive vibes.

Waves to everyone else, sorry for lack of personals.

Massive congratulations to Digi and all the family (of 4 now!) Hope you're feeling ok this morning and managed to get a little bit of rest last night

Choccy Hope you are doing ok and the bleeding is less. I echo the others and say it's worth getting in touch with Mr S/Louise for some advice.

Lemons Sorry about BFN

Kittens Sorry about BFN, but it is still early. I complete understand your frustrations about trying for so long with no BFPs, particularly with all the side effects of Pred to deal with too. It took me 13 cycles to conceive again after my first miscarriage and it was sooo frustrating (particularly when I miscarried again! ) I'm just hoping and praying it doesn't take so long now I'm on the Pred too, started taking it again yesterday (cycle 2) and have spent half the bloody night awake!

Woohoo and huge congratulations to the digis ... ok so I'm late, but better late than never! Hope digi you're recovering well, and hope you're alright! I have to say the size of baby digi made me wince a bit in sympathy!

kittens I so sympathise with you and the frustrations you're having with struggling with that elusive BFP after being on the pred for so long. Have you had thoughts (as I have) that the pred is somehow stopping you getting pregnant, esp since you say prior to the pred you had little difficulty with getting pg? (as with me) That's why I'm now only taking pred from BFP, if I ever get one again - but of course in my case it could be down to age. I just wonder why pre-pred I had no difficulty at all in getting pg, but with pred it just isn't happening.

choccy how are you doing this morning, better I hope?

duggs I'd not heard of IVM, I shall go and have a look myself! How are you doing with the 2ww, and when do you test, I forget?

/waves to everyone, hope you're all enjoying the sunshine (while it lasts!).

"IVM is a suitable alternative to standard IVF for women up to 38 years of age who have polycystic ovaries"

Ah well, that's me out then :(

many many congratulations to the extended digi family. Looking forward to hearing more.

Yep, as suspected I am also too old for IVM. I think that if I go for IVF it will probably be the same route as you duggs.

I'm out of the game again this month. AF arrived this morning Feeling despondent and pessimistic again.

I've turned up for my St Helier appt an hour early. Deep joy! Good job I brought a book.

Yay. Congrats to Digi & Mr Digi. I hope all is ok.

Duggs I have read about IVM before. I think Create does it in London. It doesn't really appeal to me though as it is an even more artificial process than IVF. Yes, you take fewer drugs but the eggs are matured outside the body as well as being fertilised outside the body. I think if IUI fails for us, I will just go ahead with conventional IVF. I will at least be able to convince myself at that point that we have tried pretty much everything else out there and it is time to try IVF as a last resort.

Hi ladies,
So here he is! Baby digi finally arrived at 39 weeks exactly and thankfully under 9lbs.
Not quite the straightforward labour I was expecting. Got to 6cm with contractions I could manage with breathing. Then no progress for 4 hours - so we opted to break the waters. Instant full on transitional contractions which I couldn't handle so had an epidural. Didn't make much difference but by then I was fully dilated so pushed him out. Third stage, had to have the injection as they were worried his size carried some risk - didn't work. Had to push placenta as well, it was massive and as it came out I started haemmoraging. Lost 2 litres and they called a code red where about 15 people filled the room and performed emergency procedures to stem the blood loss. Thankfully all was well, didn't even need stitches, and am hoping to go home tomorrow. Baby Franco is perfect, a chubby chubster version of his big brother. Very happy to have got through to the other side! Looking forward to more of you joining us!

Fabulous news digi, scary about the blood loss but so thankful you and baby Franco are doing well. So very pleased you have your miracle baby!! :)

Congratulations digi I have been keeping my eye out for you and am so happy to hear about the birth of your son. It has been a long time coming and I know you will cherish every minute with your darling newborn son. Xx

Hey Congratulations to the Digi's .

Fabulous news, sounds like you were coping well. Scary ending but so glad baby Franco and you are well.
I know we despair of NHS sometimes (like not dishing out simple steroids to help us but look at your situation, this is where the NHS really come into there own and we thank God we've got this system unlike other countries xxx

AF turned up for me a couple of days ago and only lasted 2 days!! Back home now and have the most horrendous cold and shivering/hot etc. Spent yesterday afternoon in bed. Have had to drag myself up today as DS needs amusing.

Lemons sorry for af turning up.
kittens & ari it's so frustrating and weird as you both got preg easily before! What's going on? ari is this your first month of trying pred from bfp (hopefully)? kittens sorry missed post but what are you down hospital for?

LAF77 are you new? I haven't seen your name before, if not sorry I missed it. If you are - feel free to tell us your history. x

snoopy sorry to hear you're not well, and that AF arrived. Weird that you're seeing the same thing happening with your AF as I am (v v short), don't you think? And yes this will be my first month of not taking pred unless until I get a BFP, not expecting much just yet as I have no idea how long it actually takes the effects of steroids to clear out of your system but I'm certainly not expecting it to happen in just one month. I will be watching subsequent AFs with interest, to see what happens. I have an appt with Mr S next Monday to go through my test results and discuss the possibility of superov, so we'll see what he says. I have to take DD with me, up to Harley St, so that won't be funny, wretched school holidays!

yes it's all v strange ari. I'm not saying Dr S's plan is flawed I think it needs to be tailored to each individual. It clearly works for some. i have often wondered what Dr Q's results as she does pred from bfp... I have googled but can't find any results on this. It just doesn't make sense particularly with you kittens & euro. I can't say I haven't had success with still getting pregnant but that's not much use it I can't keep it for longer than a couple of days. I think I've got serious implantation probs. the 2 cycles jan/feb that i got a bfp I wasnt' taking cyclogest early and wasnt' doing SO!! I don't bloody know it's such a PITA.

Jeez remember to take something to amuse her when you are having consultation. My DS would think it was all very exciting and I would find that all v stressful and leave there with everything going in one ear and out the other, I'm bad enough with my memory, without a child interupting my every thought!

On that front does anyone else have serious memory probs on pred, sometimes I have looked at my DH and just for a couple of seconds not been able to say his name!!!
Also still got the slight stabbing pain in left breast. Do you still get it after AF ari?

snoopy I'm in a bit of a catch 22 I think. I'm taking Pred because I think I have an implantation problem so there would be no point to just taking it from BFP. But perhaps it is making conceiving more difficult. Gah!

I haven't noticed memory problems on Pred, but my memory isn't the best anyway!

No snoopy once AF has arrived (not that it really does, since Dec!) all boob pains vanish. If you're still getting it after AF has been and gone, you need to get it checked by your GP, I would think?

And oh yes, that's where the iPad comes in handy. Lots of games/books she likes, I'm hoping I can leave her in a corner of the room while Mr S is talking to me, otherwise like you say it will be impossible to discuss anything with anyone!

Memory probs while on pred - could that not be down to tiredness when you're on pred? IIRC you have the same disrupted sleeping I get on pred, yes? Well major tiredness knocks my memory out of the window, along with coherent thought and rational typing!! Could that be your issue, perhaps?

As for implantation ... my own theory (purely for my own particular case) is, I don't have enough of a lining to implant, hence why AF has shrunk from 4-5 days of full-on proper bleeding to barely 2 days of bugger all bleeding. Sorry if TMI, but my theory is that the lack of blood is due to there being very little lining, and eggs can't implant properly into thin lining, no? Of course that may not be the case for other people - snoopy since you're on SO, isn't your lining checked every month along with your follicles? Did you have decent lining but still get only v light/short AFs?

digi OMG. Thats all i can say

Digi Congratulations!!! Fantastic news on the safe arrival of baby Franco. Sorry to hear you had a pretty awful time though during delivery of the placenta. Hope you are fully recovered from that!

And I agree with Snoopy we do moan about the NHS me in particular but when it comes to emergency/critical situations they are amazing.
Enjoy that precious bundle.

Choccy so sorry to hear what you're going through on top of everything else.

Snoopy sorry to hear your unwell. I think I may also be finally coming down with a flu/cold as I now have tonsilitis - amazing after missing all the flu bugs earlier in the year. - Strange though that AF was only 2 days?! will you get it checked out.

QUESTION for those who are trying treatment with IVF or assisted fertility. I have a friend who has had a number of miscarriages and also had 3 rounds of IVF and 1 live baby. She had pretty much given up age 42, and I suggested reading the book by Dr Beer and seeing Mr S. Would he still provide advice on the assisted portion or would he refer to his colleagues at New Life?

Would appreciate the help as don't want to lead her down the garden path.

Hope everyone has had a lovely Easter.

Great to hear from you digi. Sorry you had a rather stressful time of it but very glad to hear all is well and Franco is safely in your arms.

snoopy, sorry you're feeling so shit. That doesn't sound much fun at all .

In answer to your questions - I have serious memory problems anyway, but I suspect the Pred doesn't help much. It does mess with my concentration quite badly and find it a problem to think straight on it. I was trying to describe how it made me feel to the lady at the hospital today. The best thing I could think of was that my head felt like a big empty school gymnasium with a rubber ball bounding hard and repeatedly off the walls. Does that sound familiar? Today I have the shakes and my legs feel like jelly. What fun!

My appt was a follow up appointment with Mr S's NHS clinic. Just to have a chat and see how I'm getting on and to get some prescriptions. They were very nice and helpful and told me that I should just call them if I need a new prescription and they will do one for me. Frustratingly it means I have to drive all the way to St Helier from North London to pick it up, but it's still a lot cheaper than paying for the pred, cyclogest and omeprazole all on private prescriptions and, at the moment, anything I can save helps us afford the SO more easily. Mr S turned up at the end of the appointment. He must see so many of us, as he doesn't seem to have any idea of where we are at each time we see him. He asked me how I was and I told him I was ok, although disappointed that my AF had turned up this morning and he asked me why that was disappointing. Well....... I was telling the lady there that I was on the SO treatment and that I was thinking about IVF in the future because of my age. She said "Well, you're only just 42 so don't panic too much yet. Bear in mind that even someone in their early 30s would be unlikely to fall pregnant after 2 SO cycles." So that was fairly encouraging.

I do wonder though, like the rest of you, whether the pred has made a difference in my ability to conceive. I don't know if it would be a good idea to not take it until BFP as my levels have gone up from high to very high.

Hello LAF77, how are you and your little one doing? I read your news on the recurrent buns thread. Congratulations!

choccy how are you doing lovely?

kittens just a quickie - couldn't Mr S post your prescription to you? He's done that for me a couple of times, save you driving down to pick it up?

Ah, just realised, you have NHS prescriptions, yes? Still, does that mean they can't post prescriptions to you anyway?

Yep, NHS prescriptions so no luxury of having them posted. I think I'm prepared to drive down to Carshalton to save myself a few hundred quid though! I do have the SO prescriptions posted to me though.

merc I'm not sure if this quite answers your question, but I am following Mr S's protocol whilst having self-funded IUI and then potentially IVF on the NHS. I'm supposed to be having the IUI at my NHS IVF clinic but they don't open at weekends, so I am considering switching to New Life for it. I sent a query in last week and they said another dr would do it (not Mr S) and were supposed to follow up today with some answers for me but I haven't head from them yet. Must chase.