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

Ari I only take the preds for 10 days and that seemed to have helped. Are you on 14 days? Maybe a reduction will help? I also took selenium when my lining was a bit then and that might have helped.

Hey sue ... actually I was only on it for 9 days the past two cycles, and I already take selenium. I have several months of being on the hydroxy now, and interestingly apparently DHEA is a natural steroid, so that will help although I don't know if Mr S will approve of me taking it. I thought my psoriasis had lessened a bit since taking the DHEA so out of curiosity I went to Dr Google and asked, and apparently it is a "natural, intermediate steroid hormone that is produced in our body by the adrenal glands". Maybe because it's a natural one rather than the chemical prednisolone it won't have the same effect on my uterine lining? Or maybe the l-arginine/Vit E will build the lining back up, as it's supposed to do. Who knows, a whole combination of possibilities out there!

Also sue there are quite a few ladies who swear the hysteroscopy makes them more fertile, since I've read quite a few reports of ladies getting pregnant almost immediately after having one (and in fact I know of one girl IRL to whom this has just happened).

choccy wishing you lots of luck for tomorrow, hang in there girl!

Hello,
Free I've had two trips to the maternity hospital so far regarding changes in movements. The first time they did a scan (around 24wks I think) and the more recent time they did a heart trace. Both times the midwives made it clear I was right to come in and they'd rather I did and all was well then didn't if there was a chance something was wrong. The first time, the baby had def changed position to transverse (and now it's breech!). Although you've had scans done privately you must have a local maternity triage you'd be entitled to see? After 24 wks you'll find they're very keen to see you as they know a delivery could be possible.

Re steroids at bfp - de Beer's book made me think it was imp to have them right away as so much happens in the first week. Also as I mc a pg when taking them from bfp I tend not to think that's a good choice. BUT if it is interfering with conception that is a strong argument on the other side!
In my last two weeks of work now. Dead on my feet much of the time, and so much I need/want to do. Poor ds would like a more active mum for a change.

Hi duggs. Yes I'm om clexane still. What was your query?

I wonder does anyone have an opinion on this? I have a consultant appt tomorrow, following on from my 2nd growth scan last week. She has already given me a c section date, but due to my due date not having been updated from the dating scan, it turns out the date is when I would be 39+4. I am really scared of going into labour before this date, I don't want to have a vbac and am convinced something will go wrong at the last minute. Should I persuade her to change the date so it's 39 wks, which is what it was meant to be? Or is that a paranoid step too far?

Hello all, just checking in - I have been lurking but not had much to report!!

igggi I would speak to her if you are worried, she might be able to reassure you. I'm sure she would understand you being concerned.

Nice news duggs

Hope all is ok at scan tomorrow choccy

Well Ive had this month off the steroids as advised by Mr S.
Not had a smiley face on the ovulation sticks anyway Ive only had 1 smiley face in the last 4 months!!!? Nice to have a month off the steroids though, frustrating I'm getting nowhere though! Does or did anyone feel a bit emotional on the steroids? Last month I was a bit of an emotional wreck, grumpy too!! Didnt know whether it might be the steroids, not normally like that!
Got my meds ready to start SO, should get AF at the weekend. Those on SO programme, do you inject otrivelle in abdomen? Will have to ring Louise once I get AF to arrange a scan. Hoping May might be our month!

xxx

Hey buster Well looks like I will be joining you on SO. However Mr S is now not at all hopeful of my chances, full stop, due to my high FSH and low oestrogen results. He said his first recommendation was IVF, which we just can't afford, then SO. So we'll try SO for 6 months and see what happens, but from his face you could see he's not at all hopeful.

Bugger. Hope the DHEA works miracles as by the sound of it that's what it's going to take.

Ari really sorry to hear the news wasn't very positive. Hopefully you will prove him wrong with the SO programme. I'm not sure how expensive IVF is, but worth getting a loan for if he felt positive about it...? I know I couldn't afford it either though so fully emphathise.

Buster great that you are starting SO too. I hope we start getting some good news back from the Super Ov'ers soon. Does not having a smiley face make you think you haven't ovulated those times or are the smiley face devices a bit hit and miss. I have to say I never had a clear line on an ovulation stick when I used them, just a tiny faint one.

I can't accurately advise iggi as I haven't yet really researched these things and obviously haven't given birth before but personally I would be tempted to go down the 39 weeks option. But I am veering towards asking for a C section myself at the moment for no other reason except fear of a) something going wrong to hurt the baby at the last minute and b) fear of lasting physical damage to myself. I know this is probably irrational as so many people do have problem-free births, but I seem to be focusing on all the 3rd degree tear/lasting incontinence ones at the moment. I need to start reading up on the good ones!

Thanks for the advice about movement too everyone. Baby has been doing a bit more thumping this afternoon which is reassuring. Was going to get the Doppler out when it didn't go mad after some orange juice but it did get a bit lively after some tea and a lie down on the sofa when I was chatting on the phone. I still might consider a scan though, it seems a long time to wait for another one at 32 weeks considering am only 26 tomorrow.

iggi I know I will be booked in at 38 weeks and was with my first and thought this was std practice to deliver 2 weeks early with c section so I would query it with your obstetrician to tomorrow.

ari sorry today wasn't as positive as you'd wish for. Here's hoping the SO does the trick!!

dunnit I was just wondering if it was ivf protocol as I have no idea why I would be on clexane injections until 16 weeks I think? If I get that far. Do u have a clotting issue? I don't think I do. Am
99% certain I haven't missed that.

Ari not good news with Mr S but dont give up all hope. I thought you normally dont have a prob with getting pregnant until you started the steroids? Are you still staying on the preds from HCG shot or just relying on the hydroxy?

Buster yes you do the injection about an inch from the belly button. Pinch the area and put the needle in slowly. Its easier if like me you have spare flab around that area! Come over to the SO thread as there is extra info/support on there.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/1385998-TTC-Super-Ovulation

Iggi I would always rather go in early than later so I would speak to her. You will be constantly worrying otherwise.

Buster forgot to say, I was emotional/irrational/crazy bitch on the steroids too! Its been nice to feel like myself again over the last 6 weeks.
Go to Asda or superdrug to buy the SO drugs as its cheaper than Boots etc.

Thank you for the advice guys. Mercator that's really interesting, as my midwife had said to be I'd have the section at 38 weeks, before obs saying 39 (and then adding a few days on by mistake!)

Ari try not to be disheartened, there's no way for any doctor to know what will work for you 100%, you may well be the one to prove Mr S wrong! It is such a bugger about the price of IVF. If only you could know that one IVF attempt would be enough, it could be worth it.

Hi All
Iggi - I think 39 weeks is routine for a c-section but I asked for mine closer to 38 based on previous history and will be having it at 38+2. Hope you can speak to them and get your mind put at rest. I have also only got two weeks of work left!
Free - I have spent a large part of today at maternity triage as had no movements for hours this morning. They were really good and monitored me for nearly an hour and then scanned me. Only problem now is that the scan is showing a movement in size from 50th centile to 95th so have to have the gestational diabetes test again ths weekend - will have to cut back on Easter eggs for the rest of the week!! So if you are worried ever do get checked but sure all will be well x

Comedy glad it was all ok. I honestly think they sit inside us having a laugh sometimes, before starting to jump about and shouting surprise!
I have been reading about breech presentation and increased risks in labour so my desire to risk going into labour prior to the section is now even less. Hope I can explain this tomorrow with the usual blubbing

free OH won't countenance borrowing to finance IVF and Mr S said my chances were less than 5% with my own eggs anyway, he suggested donor eggs as that would then give me a 60% chance. Donor eggs just wouldn't be for me, I'm afraid, I would feel like the child wasn't mine (although I do understand why women go this route).

sue You're right, I didn't used to have any problems getting pregnant until I went on the pred, was getting pregnant every second cycle. But Mr S won't hear that the steroids could be the cause of either my suddenly diminished AF or that I'm not getting pregnant any more, despite this all happening from when I started taking the higher dose pred in Nov/Dec. He says all that is coincidence, that it's all down to my age - I questioned the suddenness of it; the fact that until that chem. pg and higher dose steroids my AFs were absolutely text-book and predicatable to a fault, but he stated again that no, he's never heard of steroids causing problems with AF (as in, much lighter bleeding) and that it was complete coincidence. I think he's wrong, but he's the expert and I'm not going to argue when I can't prove it. I still feel if I hadn't taken the steroids my AFs would be exactly as they always are, but obviously I can't prove a thing. shrug

Due to him not being willing to even entertain the notion that it's the steroids responsible I didn't bother to raise the question of only taking the pred from BFP, but it's what I'll do anyway. Although if he's right, I'm very unlikely to ever get any proper BFP again anyway.

Just as an aside, someone - snoopy, was it you? - mentioned about needing blood tests on the hydroxy. Well Mr S has asked me to get my GP to do a full blood count, as I've been on the hydroxy since December - so yes, it is after all something that needs monitoring, although I don't know what it is they're looking out for, he didn't say (and I wasn't in any mood to ask!).

Duggs the IVF protocol I was given by Mr S does include Clexane. I am not sure whether I want to take it though, as tests did not show any blood clotting issues. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it!

Buster I asked how to take it when I collected the injection from Boots. The woman said I was fairly slim (note the was - this is before I started on the blasted steroids), I should pinch a bit of my abdomen and inject into that. I did that and it was absolutely fine. I cleansed the area with some antibac handgel first as I didn't have any alcohol wipes.

Comedy I'm glad it was fine.

Ari sorry to hear what Mr S said. A 5% chance is still a chance though. I'm doing IUI, which only gives me about a 10% chance, but I still think it's worth a try. It does seem that a few ladies on here have had AF problems since being on the Pred. It hasn't effected me at all, but it would be good if those who have had problems could feed that back to Mr S as it could be something for him to consider.

Sorry, Ari I don't know what to suggest (I know you're not looking for answers but I feel bad not to be able to provide them). How are you feeling about it all? A friend's sister has had a little girl using donor eggs and she is over the moon, but yes I understand it isn't for everyone.

Gosh this difficulty with conception for those of you who have never had it before (and of course for those of you like Euro and Pebbles for which it is ongoing) is very frustrating. If Mr S is adamant the Pred isn't causing it then I wonder if there are other factors at play.

Ari and Snoopy that's interesting about the hydroxy, I wonder what the blood test is looking for? I think I had a full blood count not so long ago and the only thing that was found was the low iron (now on tablets). But I have now been on the hydroxy over 6 months.

Comedy glad it was all fine, but what a worry. It is good that they are understanding and tell you it is better to come in and be checked out. With GD would it just be a case of monitoring it with diet? Also, when you say maternity triage is that just at your local hospital? One of my difficulties is that since choosing to be treated at Epsom I have kind of been let go my my local place. But if maternity triage is just accessed via usual triage - ie through A&E maybe that would be an option for me. As it happens I have had quite a bit more movement today. My appointment with Mr S isn't until the 19th May however and that seems so long to wait! I do have the GA test at Epsom on the 1st May but I am not sure whether I need to consider whether I have made the right decision in going to Epsom.

Just a fleeting post from me as I've had a mega long day at work and having read through and caught up I've forgotten who said what! It's been a busy day on here. How is it that when I'm not working and at home I can practically see the tumbleweed blowing through here and as soon as I turn my back there's pages to catch up on!?

Wanted to wish best of luck to choccy tomorrow.

Also to say sorry you had such a negative appointment today ari. I, like you, am baffled as to the sudden change in AF and success in getting pregnant since taking Pred. Exactly the same happened to me. He would possibly say the same thing about my age as he did to you. Strange though, isn't it? I think I feel the same as you about donor eggs. This was suggested to me by the consultant after my last m/c before I had NK Cell testing. I really hope the SO works for you.

I have had a few very friendly and helpful PMs from Lisa on here actually, so I think she may be lurking.

With regards to cheaper SO drugs, I found that Boots were cheaper than Superdrug for the Letrozole. Asda was a bit cheaper but the price difference was less than the amount of money I needed to spend on petrol to get to the nearest Asda pharmacy! The Ovitrelle is cheapest if you buy it at NLC, but it's a good idea to check they have a stock of it before you need it. It's £20 there, or the next cheapest is from Healthcare at Home, where it's also £20 but then they charge £14 delivery, but at £34 it's still slightly cheaper than buying it anywhere else.

Quick one from me as I've posted several long ones over the past few weeks only for them not to appear and log me out so I have been lurking but not posting.

On the steroids from BFP issue- my friend had 3 v early mcs / chemicals last year, saw Dr S in Jan was diagnosed high NK levels and also some thyroid issues. She was prescribed steroids from ovulation but unbeknown to herself she was already pregnant when she sawhim so only started at about 5/6 weeks. She's now 15 wks and all is looking good.

free I also have days when there is lighter and less movement. My doc says it's when he turns around and kicks towards my back but she's always very encouraging on me getting reassured (Cher- Ching!). It seems a ling time to go without check ups. Not that I think you have anything to worry about but at my 24 wk check up I had high glucose picked up which I wouldn't have known about otherwise. Now I am on a low GI diet and hopefully able to keep in check. Here I have a check up every 4 wks til 28 wks then one every 2 weeks til 36 when they go weekly.

Just popping in to say am thinking of you today choccy fingers crossed for the scan

Ari sorry to hear about your news.

Can I be moved back into the TTC active list, it was only 1 week ago I last posted so please keep me on the board!

Ohh sorry lemon I knew I would forget someone. I'm on iPhone so cant do list but if no one else does do today I'll do it tonight. Hope u r well

Ladies . . . Not sure about asking this question but I was thinking about it at 4am with pred awake syndrome.

Out of our 31 (inc lemons) how many have actually had a bfp since starting the steroids ( obviously all the pregnant ladies ) but I know free and PQ and choccy had 2. I know snoopy and due have had 2, scooter had 1 I think. I was just wondering what if anything was different with any successful BFPs as I wonder how much the unbeknown chromosonal issues come into play. As I said - my chromosones for this one are all tested fine so it is all down to the nk cells.

Hydroxy for free, PQ and not sure about choccy. Thinking about you today honey. Hope scan goes well for you we are all crossing our fingers for you

Morning all!

Ari Sorry to hear that your appointment wasn't very positive yesterday. I think that Mr S is wrong - it's too much of a coincidence that your periods changed so suddenly, I'm sure that's not an age thing! I noticed that my last period (my first on Pred) seemed lighter so I will be monitoring my AF with interest too! Hope the SO is successful for you, fingers crossed.

Choccy Thinking of you too and keeping everything crossed for a great scan result!

Free Any reduction in movement should be checked out. At my hospital maternity triage is attached to the labour ward. They like you to ring first, take a history over the phone then get you to come to them or the antenatal day unit.

Think I'm 10 dpo today but resisting testing until Thursday! No symptoms at all to report, not even sore boobs this month which is very unusual. Time will tell!

I remember those middle of the night wake ups well Duggs, although I have to say mine tended to be drink-induced when on the odd bender after miscarriages!

The mc I had on Pred could have been termed as a 'blighted ovum' as there was no baby ever seen and the sac didn't grow past 6 weeks, even though I got to 8 weeks. However Mr S seemed to imply that there is no such thing as a blighted ovum and that there would have been a baby in there somewhere - just too small to see. This has been proven, I think, by other people having the same issue and having had tested done which comes back saying embryo was chromosonally normal and either male/female karyotype.

I was quite pragmatic about that mc and put it down to 'one of those things'. Not sure why, as it seems that NK cells can cause 'blighted ovums' (ova?) as well as miscarriages over along. The only thing different was adding the hydroxy but who knows whether that one was actually abnormal or not? I did ask Mr S whether it was worth having a pre-conception intralipids but he said no and he seems to have been right so far.

I'll Move lemon back now. I did see your name there and knew you had been around recently.

Charlie great to hear from you, sorry you have lost a couple of posts as I do like hearing updates from my 'due date buddy' give or take a day or two. I have a feeling I will be high glucose too as I do like sweet things at the moment. They are 'good' sweet things like fruit and honey but still sugar nonetheless. Good that my theory about the baby changing positions seems to be on track though. I have a midwife check up with my GP on Wednesday so will ask her about more things then. And make sure I schedule another one for four weeks.

Right, I really have to get to work so am putting mn down for a while (after I have updated the list...) and trying to get on with it!

Good luck today Choccy xxx