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

Oh and choccy - all maternity hospitals have fetal medicine clinics or centres but what most on here are talking about is The Fetal Medicine Centre on Harley st which is a private clinic (run as a charity - the fees are very expensive though!) The Prof who set it up is a world expert in fetal medicine and when you are scanned you're usually seen by a neonatal doctor c.f. a sonographer.

BFN on 14dpo for me too after round 1 sup ov, despite all the usual pregnancy symptoms!!! So moving myself to correct place.
sue so sorry replied on other board. x

Saturday 10th March
BFP
3rd Trimester
Stogan - V high NKC - BFP 9/7/11 cycle#2, DC#1 40+0 IN LABOUR!
Digitalgirl - High NKC - BFP cycle#2, DC#2 34+5 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 31+5
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2, DC#2 ? 29+1 C-section booked: 14/5/12
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2, DC#2- 28+4 Next scan March 15th.
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Intolerant. BFP Clomid cycle#3, DC#1 28+1

2nd Trimester
Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 Hydroxychloroquine, Pred, Intralipids, 400 Cyclogest, Thyroid/hashimotos. MC 1st Pred cycle. DC#1 20+4 Next scan ??
Cheerfulcharlie - V High NKC, MTHFR, DC#2/ (metformin, intralipids, no pred). 20+3
batteryhen - High NKC, factor v leiden. DC#1 BFP cycle 3. 17+2 Amnio 14/3/12.
coleyoz - V High NKC. DC#2, BFP cycle2, 16+6

1st Trimester
FrozenNorthPole - RMC, NKC status unknown, Cyclogest, aspirin, 11+6, NT scan 12/03
Mercator - V High NKC, TTC#2. 11+6, Next scan ??
Hopefulfor2nd - High NKC - TTC#2. Next scan TBC - 11+2
dunnit - V High NKC - TTC#1, on Pred, IVIG, prog and Clexane. 11+2. Nuchal/12wk Scan 16th March
PQ77 - V High NKC TTC #2 (BFP cycle one but mc) 6+5
Holldoll - High NKC - Pred, Cyclogest & aspirin - 5+5

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)

So excited for you stogan!

Really sorry about your news Sue - that's just crap.

Sorry as well PQ - I had a sickness bug quite early on and couldn't keep medication down but did manage to persuade hospital I needed a steroid drip and all was ok in the end. Obviously I hope it doesn't get that far though.

Hi Digi - I dint have the strep test as routine - i was worried about a few symptoms so had a swab which said it was that and thrush. Dr Google seems to show that my other bloods doesn't necessarily mean it has to be RA so just need to wait for a rheumatology appt.
How are you doing? I still have nine weeks until c section but struggling with working full time a bit and hard to cut down at moment. Never mind though Easter soon!!

free I meant to say in my earlier post, it's great that your 20 week scan was all good.

PQ sorry to hear you are bleeding and that DS is vomming! I hope you can get to your weekend away.

Re: IVF, basically everything about it freaks me out. The drugs, the process, the little embies sitting in a lab, the fact that no one can tell me why it might help because I am "unexplained", the fact that it is all so artificial. Ultimately, I just don't want to do it. Of course, I don't have to. The question is whether my not wanting to do IVF outweighs my desire for a baby. I've spent large chunks of this week in tears. I think I am grieving for the natural baby I don't think I will ever have. This is cycle 17 for me now, without a hint of a BFP. And yet on paper (save for the NK cells with have been treated for the past 3 cycles) we are both perfectly fertile.

Go stogan! So exciting

holdall great news. What a relief.

Sue I'm really sorry about your news. What do you need to do next, do you need to see doctor or anything?

Euro it must be so frustrating when, as you say, on paper there's nothing to stop you conceiving naturally. Do you think though when you had your ivf baby home with you you'd give a toss about the conception being "artificial"? I am guessing not!

Thanks PQ, useful to know these things exist for if when I get to that stage. I expect I'll want every possible comfort available. Sorry to hear about DS and you feeling crap and more bleeding. At least you're seeing Dr S on Monday and I'm sure he'll give you advice re continuing the aspirin or not. I've had slight nosebleeds the last couple of mornings which was fun though not too dramatic...

sue that's truly shit, I'm so sorry. Try not to regard having paid up for intralipids as a waste, looking back I'm sure you wouldn't have done anything different. It's that horrible balance between having to test early to up the Pred and get intralipids against the fact that it's too early for any guarantees that it'll even implant never mind go to term.

stogan hope things are moving along... Lurking for news!

euro sorry you're feeling like this, it's so much to get your head round and totally out of your control. There must be ladies on MN who have been there and can offer some insight and help? Sorry you're feeling so frustrated and down,

pico good news your body is well on the way to rebooting itself :)

ah comedy you've jogged my memory - I thought there was someone who had steroids in a drip. I reckon there is no chance of my local hospital agreeing to that as they are so anti the treatment but it's good to know there is a theoretical back up plan. Now that i think about it there's a private hospital with a private a&e up the road from me and I wonder if they'd be money grabbing enough to take my cash and put me on a drip...But getting ahead of myself, have just eaten 4 choc biscuits and nausea has abated

You've also reminded me that I wanted to commiserate with you about your bundle of test results. Am guessing you know that RA, as an autoimmune disease, often goes hand in hand with high nk cells? Though you mention it might not definitely be RA. I have high rheumatoid factors in my blood but no RA at present.

euro sorry you've been so sad. I know you've mentioned you have friends with ivf babies so i'm sure me babbling on about how they're just the same in the end isnt what you need. Given the amount of drugs and testing and poking and prodding you've already been through though, isn't ivf just a little step forward - particularly when using your own eggs and sperm? I'm very open to it but when I make myself think about why, i think it's just been since I have had DS I've just been more focussed on the end result. Maybe someone who has actually had ivf can be more helpful than I am...

Sorry about the bfn snoopy. glad you have the all clear pico

Better go - DS trying to eat cyclogest pessary...(he just asked "where does this go")

That's so funny pQ my son said the same the other day. Not surprised it looks appealing -like some bullet that goes in his nerf gun!

Sorry there are a few of you feeling miserable today - sue, PQ, euro. It'd bound to happen, it really is all such a tough undertaking. PQ poor DS, I can just see his cute little face moping because he's poorly. Hope it passes soon.

Sue am so sorry about the chemical too, just seems cruel to get hopes up with a bfp only for it to disappear.

And euro I can imagine the prospect of ivf is scary. I know I have been so impressed with the way Pebbles has stoically gone through it - all the drugs, self injecting, hopes raised and waiting etc. But hopefully with both that and the nk cell treatment this will prove to be the magic bullet.

Talking of bullets dh and I bit one this morning and had our first ever look in a baby shop. He has just realised he might (all going well) have the opportunity to buy something shiny with wheels on. So from wanting to be a but rebellious and not get into what we previously perceived as a bit of a conspicuous consumption nonsense in the world of prams ('we'll be happier with a perfectly good second hand one thank you') he's come over all Richard Hammond and wants the shiniest, newest 4wd, best suspension one out there. Anyway it means, again all going well, I have a spare pram going - that was kindly donated by PQ's friend - if anyone wants one.

Digi, do you think i should be brave enough to join the grads thread at done point - to try further encourage my postive thinking? How are the Braxton's going and what do they feel like? Wasn't DS early...?

I would love to write more as am having a couple of hours of paper reading in bed as a treat (oh, ive spent most if the week in bed) but the selfish neighbour who we're piggybacking off since selling the flat doesn't have her wifi on :)

Hope everyone else is ok. All gone suspiciously quiet from stogan!

Ps ewww to Cyclogest pessaries chewing! You know I still get phantom whiffs of it, like a recently amputated gangreneous limb. I once saw a little boy riding his bike around my childhood neighbourhood using a (clean and wrapped) tampon as a pretend walkie talkie! Must have found it in his mum's belongings. I told dh this once and we've had, ooh, minutes of regular mirth when he picks one up and says 'hello? Oh I think it's for you' :)

Hello ladies. Just catching up. Hope stogan is doing ok. euro sorry u feel so stuck with IVF. I am due to start next week so if it helps I can share each step? Not sure if this thread is that interested but if pred IVF so maybe interesting to some? Hello to all others. Hug to sue and PQ amazing milestone free

Sue: really sorry to hear about your chemical i have had soooo many it sucks! Was you taking steroids & intralipids? So what next? What will Dr S do for you now?. Well it has been confirmed that I don't fit the criteria for PCOS so can some one take that of list? I just have v. Sensitive ovaries which is not good when trying 2 stimulate for IVF! Tues I am 14 day post ov on 1st medicated natural cycle, been taking 60mg clexane, 40mg pred and x2 cyclogest since day 7! My belly is covered in bruises from injections & I'm just getting over a cold which I assume is the suppressive effect of drugs? as I am v rarely poorly! Not been sleeping to great on pred either waking early etc which reading here is common. Don't feel pre-menstrual or any thing else for that matter. Hope every one else is ok? and enjoying there weekend :) x

Still here !!!!! Only had 2 prostin so far, pains are regular and pretty bad an they were going to attempt to break my waters at 3pm but doc is tied up so I'm back on ctg waiting for her. MW just said can't wait to find out if it's a boy or girl tomorrow !!! I want to no NOW !!!!

Lady next door is having difficulties so having emergency c sec so they won't break my waters yet incase I have any problems. I can understand that as they want everyone to have the best of care but now my contractions are slowing aaarrrgghhh so bloody frustrating, must stay calm !!!
I would want them to do the same for me so I just have to sit back and wait, DH is going to get us a Chinese takeaway so that should keep me occupied for a while !

Stogan so sorry to hear you're still waiting, must be so frustrating. No birth seems to ever go exactly according to plan but you're in the best place now and I am sure it won't be long to wait now, just try to go with the flow - easier said than done, thinking of you and eagerly awaiting some exciting news!

PQ and Sue so sorry you're both having a pretty awful time of it.

Euro/Duggs when I had my last appt I met the IVF specialist who did the cannula for my I trackpad and he mentioned how much more successful IVF is with the NK treatment and how costs could be saved by the NHS if they adopted this route. Good luck Duggs for your treatment nxt week. Doesn't answer your dilemma Euro but hope you can reach a conclusion. I can't imagine what you're going through.

Snoopy so sorry about the BFN.

Free can't believe you're 20 weeks, hope you're enjoying the 2nd trimester.

Zoe you have some good news to make up for the lack of sleep and bruises.

For info I had my 12 week nuchal and all good, now nervously awaiting results.

Hope everyone else is ok!

Thanks merc good to know and good news on your scan!

Does anyone know if I need to taper down the preds? I was on 40mg a day for ten days so around 20 days altogether.
zoella what did dr s say about all your cps? I am sure my nkc count has gone higher as I know they can with each pregnancy. I am on the maximum drugs with dr s anyway so not sure what else he can do for me. I am thinking of going to the ARGC instead as have heard they are more aggressive with their treatments. Don't think ivf will help me as my killer cells will kill everything off. Really don't know where to go from here.

Hi Girls mr Stogan here

Just to let you all know baby girl stogan has arrived today at 3.44am, 7lb13.5.

Gorgeous just like her mammy. X

Sue: I am kind of in same boat as u as tryin maximum dose of pred 40mg and we are having monthly drips at home on day 10-12 as have nurse in family. I havnt tried hydroxy yet, recently had NKs retested after having taken drips & steroids, so will b interesting to see if they have come down, appointment is in 4 weeks if they r still high I'm going 2 ask about hydroxy. I think u are right about them fluctuating! Dr S thinks chemicals are due to NKs but we won't know if they r working until we get preg. We are planning to do this until June as weve booked a holiday in south of France, if we have no joy we r going to try IVf again, we are currently waiting a decision from Kent PCT about having our NHS funding transferred to Dr Gorgy. If we go back to Dr G we will probably try LIT, and Humira again, but it is v.expensive!!

I don't think ARGC will treat you for immunes if you are not cycling with them, Dr Gorgy will the more aggressive treatments are IVIG, LIT & Humira and again very costly! Have you had the hidden chlamydia tests etc as some docs beleive that old dormant infections can cause raised NKs. I do wander what reason Dr S gives for high NKs? Is it genetic factors I'm not sure?

Oh and forgot 2 mention I don't intend on weaning off if we get BFN I am just going to stop pred can't wait to be off them! I would have been on them 3 weeks x

Stogan: Congratulations :)

Stogan CONGRATULATIONS!!! A little baby girl - fabulous news!! So chuffed for you - enjoy these special first few weeks! And thank your lovely husband for posting the good news! Nice to hear such happy news.

Stogan and Mr Stogan many many congratulations!! Great news and thank you Mr Stogan for coming to tell us. I'm so glad the Pred woke me up nice and early this morning to find out!

Hope you get to take your daughter home soon and enjoy this special time together xx

Stogan and Mr Stogan - congratulations on the birth of your beautiful daughter. May she be a true blessing to you both, and may the sleepless nights be always worth it. Enjoy these special first days with her.

Huge huge congratulations to Stogan and MrStogan!

Wow, the end of a journey and beginning of a new one. So so happy for you! Welcome to the world babyStogan can't wait to hear more about you! My eyes are a bit leaky (a lot actually).