TTC: Pregnancy on Prednisolone or similar part 7

[ChoccyPud]

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!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/1419032-TTC-Pregnancy-on-Prednisolone-or-similar-part-6

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

Ahh lemon of course you are not on pred but intrallipids on bfp? My iPhone doesn't let me scroll. No mc on treatment though? Coming home today.

No duggs I am meant to take pred (to be fair decided to give it a skip this cycle). Then during the second trimester I am meant to have intralipids. I have also decided that I may take pred from BFP. I have not had an BFP on treatment though. I can not help thinking that I have something else wrong though. My NK cells were higher than free yet were taken when I had just finished an incomplete miscarriage, so had had a month of my body trying to remove it, not sure if that would cause them to be increased. I feel that I have something wrong with my clotting. Does that make any kind of sense?

Just quickly as running late as usual... Hydroxychloroquine is full name. Really cheap, like £10 or so for 90 days worth on private prescription. Well, cheap compared to Pred.

There I am look, in my super special place on top of Duggs's special list, 2 mc's on treatment incl one on Hydroxy too. [sarcastic big woohoo for me] :( :(

I'm seeing Mr S on the 10th by which point I'll have put together my thoughts and have a list of things to talk to him about I'm sure!

Had a proper meltdown when I got home yesterday. Must get up the courage to call a counsellor and book and appt. Will speak to my boss today as I'm having so many physical and emotional symptoms and am struggling to concentrate, and just physically to get through the day. I think he anticipated better than I did just how hard I'd find it being back at work.

Scooter great to see you back, look forward to hearing your update.

Waves to all. I'll second what Duggs said, dunno what state I'd be in without you all...

Duggs I too have mc on the treatment, though I took pred from bfp rather than ov, as I'd only just started seeing mr s.
I will join with everyone in wishing Snoopy a speedy test and a very good result. Not fair to have more worries.
Selenium I got from Holland and Barrett - just watch what else is mixed with it eg vit A which you wouldn't want too much of. It was part of my vast wonder cocktail of drugs, no idea if it helped!
Well for me it's last day at work and I have reached end of my endurance. Was sick loads this morning, 36 weeks today, surely not meant to still be happening?! I am still struggling with baby-talk, I tie myself in knots saying "if" instead of "when".

Oh yes iggi you did tell us that. What did u do differently 2nd time to get to where u r now? Just selenium?

choccy poor you. Be gentle with yourself. You are fragile.

Thanks for info on hydroxy - am looking forward to appetite suppressant bit

As for blood clotting issues - they just prescribe clexane so perhaps when u get next bfp u can add clexane to treatment as is what I had and is pretty standard across ivf immunology treatment programmes lemon? In fact every treatment seems to be pred, intrallipids, clexane(herapin), cyclogest and asprin. Had em all!!

Well probably luck or some other random factor - it's possible that having had the pred build up in my system a bit more (on it till mc, then 2 months off, then 2 mnths ttc and bfp) helps with the killer cells? Also had only been on the vits for a month (high strength folic acid, selenium, vit D, co-enzyme q10, pregnacare and omega 3 - think that was all!). Tried to get dh on vitamin regime too but he always forgot

Snoopy - So sorry you've got this worry. I really hope your appointment comes quickly and it turns out to be "just" a cyst.

Re the vegetarianisam: I'm sure there is an element of volunteer bias but I just did a very quick google of "vegetarian killer cells" and found quite a few references to veggies having higher levels of NKCs (as a good thing, i.e preventing illness etc), so maybe you should all start heading for MacDonalds! It would be interesting to know whether it's just an odd coincidence, like so many of us working with children, or whether there's something in it. i doubt that necking loads of steaks would suddenly do the trick though.

Lemon - Did Mr S check for blood clotting issues for you? It was him that diagnosed me with a gene mutation which meant I was on clexane (and will go back on it after delivery)

Choccy - Sorry you're having such a difficult time. Could you get the doc to sign you off for another week or so while you try and get your head together?

Igggi - Enjoy your last day at work! I can completely relate to your feelings of "if" rather than "when", and I find myself thinking similar thoughts. It's such a shame that our experience of pregnancy is blighted like this isn't it. But, to give you some good news. I know someone in RL who has just had a baby on the Mr S treatment following a loss at 30 weeks and several earlier ones due to NKC. She had literally nothing in for this baby because she felt so anxious about it. But it all went absolutely fine and she's loving being a mum!

Safe journey home Duggs.

Duggs I haven't miscarried on treatment, I am after that elusive BFP to see if the treatment works! You're right though - we WILL all get there in the end! Safe journey home.

Oh apologies for those I am mis listing. My lack of laptop facilities. Thanks for news of RL mr s success - what did she do differently ? Did u say she took nothing.
You can see I need to get back to work and off this thread.

Duggs - Do you mean the RL person I mentioned? I don't think I was very clear. She had losses before seeing Mr S, and was lucky enough to be someone for whom pred did the trick. She had previously been with St Mary's and found them rubbish and had several early losses whilst with them apparently. Not sure what their treatment was though.

Ladies - esp TTC and super ovukation bunch. Am sure youve read this as about a year old but check out Baby centre - 'problems conceiving now on dr Shehata'. Thread. One lady on his programme - a nurse says that too much pred over a sustained period suppresses LH and FSH production so eggs are not maturing correctly and therefore no BFPs. May explain why we have the very quick 2 or 3 cycle ladies and then the rest of us ! ? I am def leaning towards pred on BFP as it has hardly been a wonder drug for me over past 7 mths. I will be asking him but I see his response won't be supportive but there are a few coconut, dunnit and co who prove it isn't necessarily essential before. snoopy kittens what do u think as long timers too?

Interesting free. Although I had about 12 or 13 cycles before seeing Mr S when I didn't get a BFP either! This is all just so frustrating. I will try to find the babycentre thread. I have never looked at that site before.

Duggs you seem to be doing really well. Have a good trip home and make the most of those last hours of sunshine. It is horribly grey and rainy here.

The veggie chat is interesting. It seems there are quite a few on the 10 months+ thread too (someone started a conversation about it this morning, coincidentally).

igggi enjoy the start of your mat leave!

Snoopy I hope you get the all clear v soon.

Choccy, I would really recommend counselling. I feel it has helped me to cope better this miscarriage. Also I have got my doctor to sign me off and my boss is fine with that. Went back too early last time and came down with shingles so she agreed it is better to come back when ready. Takes the pressure off a bit. There is no way I could cope with work at the moment. What you are feeling is totally normal at this stage. Xxx

With the veggie debate, it hadn't actually occurred to me that it could affect NK cells. I am just concerned about my blood count and b12 level and not nourishing the baby. It may be a crack pot theory, but it is just something I want to try. You know how desperate you get immediately after a mc. Willing to try anything. X

choccy as duggs said, be gentle with yourself. You've had two bereavements in a very short space of time, hugely emotionally and physically draining on you. If you can, curl up with a good book, a fresh hot cuppa and ignore the world for as long as it takes you to feel a little more like your usual self. That's what sick leave is for my dear :) Seriously, do try to take it easy, and try to forget about things like losing weight until you are back in some kind of mental equilibrium. hugs to you.

duggs Now that's very interesting .. and backs up what I felt myself. Completely contrary to what Mr S says, as he specifically said to me that there is no cumulative effect with prednisolone (although I don't believe that). There's just too much 'they' don't know about the full effects of steroids on the endocrine system (and several medical bods have admitted this across the world), for someone to flatly state xxx "cannot happen", I feel.

free so sorry to hear about your friend, it's so sad to hear of someone else going through this kind of trauma.

igggi you don't have long to wait, then you can truly believe in your baby :)

lemon that's interesting that there's metafolin in the prenatal supplement, thanks for letting me know, I shall go have a nosy!

I hadn't considered the veggie/high NK cells angle before, but it's interesting. Am wondering how it might relate with me though, given that I've been veggie for ... hmm ... about 13 years now I think, and had DD with no problems 5.5 years ago, so that would have been 7 years or so after turning veggie that I got pregnant. Mind you, Mr S thinks my NK cells were triggered into life by that pregnancy, and my psoriasis seems to bear this out as it got worse after she was born. However, I did have it (albeit lesser) before I was pregnant, so almost certainly I did have NK cells doing their insidious thang before, but the pregnancy seems to have ramped them up. I've always had mild psoriasis, eczema, etc, and these didn't get worse after I turned veggie. Interesting angle though.

/waves to everyone else, hope you're all dodging the raindrops.

Hi everyone
My lord u ladies move fast, was worried I wouldn't find u !!
Haven't had chance to read all ur posts, this is first time I've been on here in a few weeks.
My little princess has been very poorly with a stomach bug and cold, projectile vomit and runny poops have been the outlook of my days this week but touch wood she is recovering now, I've been heartbroken, seeing them ill is horrendous !!
Just had second baby massage class and baby E slept thru it so I had to practice on a doll !!

Glad to hear baby franco is well and mummy Digi is recovering!

I'm actually starting back at the gym tonight aaarrgghh, have lost all my baby weight but am left with a very saggy tummy ! Took Ellyson to swimming lessons on Saturday and I was the only mummy that got in, I felt like a whale !!!

Hopefully I'll get to catch up on the thread over the weekend

Massive waves to everyone x

Hello everyone,

Sorry to be missing in action so much - I do read every day but never seem to have the time to sit down and post properly.

snoopy I am sorry you are having this worry. I had a lump investigated a few years ago. I had a mamogram and needle aspiration. All came back clear and wasn't too painful at all. I hope you get reassurance soon. xx
duggs Glad you are ok(ish) I find your posts so amazing, you will make a lovely mummy to a child weather it is through adoption or through you conceiving and having your own. Love to you xx
choccy I think you need to take it easy - your boss sounds like he is understanding, take advantage of that and just give yourself time. xx
london I am sorry for your recent loss too :( This thread seems to have spurts of good news and then bad, it's time for some good again, and hopefully you will be amongst it xx

There is a thing on 'This morning' about fertility - anyone watching?

I am ok - my first stretch mark appeared literally overnight - I am not practically bathing in bio oil, but do you know what? I don't care about how many stretch marks I get. Battle scars they are.....Small price to pay :)

This thread needs some good news and good luck...lets all keep our fingers crossed and say a littel prayer for some good news soon xx

Thanks all. I know I should get up the courage to book a counselling session. Ironically it feels a bit much at the moment. It's not like I don't admit I need it! I'll work the morning, speak to my boss about the list of physical and emotional symptoms I've just written down, go home and call counsellor and probably book a GP appt. I'm still bleeding old brown gunk it really is taking ages this one on the physical side.

I'm sure I'll have some thoughts on the things being disussed this morning but can't put it down succinctly right now.

Omg is any one watching thus morning ???

I feel like calling in and name dropping for mr s !!!

Just wrote a big post and lost it!!!

Anyway duggs think I found the post and basically 'freckles' story was interesting about ditching pred but she was miscarrying again. so it works for some but not others.
Theres is def too much stuff flying about it stopping ladies getting pregnant. Seems a bit of a coincedence to me. Worrries me as some of us are fast running out of time. maybe hydroxy on it's own maybe the answer? Certainly seems to have alot less side affects anyway.

Get well soon baby stogan that's horrible to see you liitle one suffering.

iggi enjoy last day. Can put your feet up tomorrow and relax.

Scooter How are you doing? Nice to hear from you.

Choccy Just take some proper leave so you don't have to think about anything.

free congrats on exchanging!

Thanks for all your good wishes ladies. x

I missed it what were they talking about?

I saw it! He dismissed the immunology theory but I felt like saying to that poor woman 'get yourself to Mr S'!

I know this won't necessarily be relevant to everyone on here (this is for the TTCers really) but I just read through all 7 pages of this www.fertilityfriends.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=230320.0 and there's a LOT of research information about various different problems faced by ladies having problems getting/staying pregnant. It's on the "poor responders" part of the IVF board, but there's a lot of info in there that I think may well be relevant/interesting for some of us here. Be warned - it takes a while to read it all! (Guess who had a long and boring telephone conf call this afternoon!)

ari just reading some of it..........what did Dr say about you taking DHEA? Or didn't you mention it

Bookmarking

Didn't mention it snoopy, it's not in his area of expertise so I felt he wouldn't be happy about it. Didn't want to give him anything more to be unhappy with me about :)