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

Hiya. Wow busy busy here this morning.

stogan sorry to hear little E has been poorly, terrifying isn't it. Hope she's on the mend and you can de-stress.

digi hope all well with you and your gorgeous boys are getting on famously.

duggs sounds like we need another appointment with your little book. The bull you are taking by the horns needs to be on his guard, am in awe.

For me, I've had six side-effect free weeks on hydroxy followed by a hideous two weeks on pred. Coping with it all by doing four dance classes and swimming twice a week, helps with the sleep and "buzzyness".AF this morning at CD29 so that's me out but didn't try conscientiously this month (bit nervous to) so can't be too disappointed.

Duggs you recommended I give it one cycle without trying anyway to build up the pred in my system and I have never known what pred is like without being pregnant so that's been interesting, its made me more nauseous and dizzy than I expected. I also feel like its been more effective this time because I've had my first sniffles in years. Hopefully this will set me up for next month when I'll have an NK check at ovulation and after two weeks on pred. Fingers crossed they get into normal range.

My Dr S agreed treatment plan is 40mg pred from BFP, 150mg aspirin (in case of TEG undiscovered clotting issue), hydroxy, vitamins, cyclogest but no intralipids this time, I'm relieved because of the expense and it definitely didn't make a difference for me last time... perhaps it just prolonged my failing pregnancy to past 9 weeks which I don't want to happen again. I know that decision will be a bit controversial on the thread but the response I got said "he is not recommending them at the moment as he does not believe that they improve successful outcomes."

On the veggie debate, I'm anomolous. I was a pescatarian til the age of 25 but added more and more meat over ten years and ended up growing an 8lb4 DS on fairly meaty school dinners and for my size that's a big baby. Perhaps I should go back to school. Sounds like I am being a bit dangerous on the exercise front atm, but I firmly believe endorphins can only be chemically good. And I have had four unsuccessful pregnancies exercise-free so just seeing if it can be a positive in my case.

iggi hooray for last day at work, hope you get spoilt today,

battery good attitude to the battle scars, little signs of success!

choccy big hugs to you, sorry for the physical side lingering, mine go on just forever so I know how that feels, echo all the advice to take life very very gently x

scooter I'm glad you have a plan you're comfortable with. That's half the battle, feeling comfortable with what's going to happen. I am very puzzled why Mr S thinks the intralipids aren't effective enough to carry on using them, since lots of ladies have been successful with them (not just Mr S's clients). But if you're happy with it, that's good :)

Iggi enjoy your maternity leave.

choccy a colleague of mine took a short sabbatical after her mc's, so may be worth considering if you feel you need it.

duggs I admire your resilience and hope you had a safe trip home.

I have been following the thread with interest and note the various comments about Selenium.

I became obsessed last year with vitamin content in vitamins after mc 2 last yr and decided to forgo the pregnacare etc and went for Natural Health Practise Vitamins as these had high doses of the vitamins I felt were needed in theory to reduce miscarriage. (mainly based on those listed in Zita Wests book) I took these with Vit C and Omega tabs. I was convinced my 3rd pregnancy last year was going to hang in but I ended up needing an erpc for that one but I did continue with the Vitamins on the treatment.

A locum dr also mentioned she'd had 4 mc's to me and that she had also added selenium and carried her next to term.

I have no idea if they worked or not but I know with my daughter I put myself on a cocktail of vitamins after my first miscarriage and managed to carry to term but perhaps this was before the onset of NK's and I religiously took them this time.

I'm afraid I'm a carnivore but was a veggie a number of years ago.

Sorry for long post, it's the only other thing I know I did differently, but I am sure you've probably all explored this avenue already.

Hi Mercator I have been reading your post with interest as I am tempted to go and buy Selenium at Holland and Barratt tomorrow but there are all different types i.e. including zinc, vit c, etc and also different sizes. I am not sure if I should ask DR S for his opinion first. I guess it depends if it has any warnings re pregnancy not that I am but both Selenium and Hydroxy keep coming up in the topic of conversation. I hope you do not mind me asking.

I chucked Selenium into the mix around September after I miscarried on the treatment. I told Mr S about it and he was totally fine with it, but did not seem to mind either way. It was just my own research that made me want to take it. The research I found online seemed to indicate that a 200ug a day tablet was a good dosage. It is in a green pot from Holland and Barrett.

Very, very interesting about the intralipids thing. Did Mr S say that directly? It's funny because when I was in LA in November, frantically trying to find somewhere that did intralipids after getting a BFP when away, I called the Dr Beer clinic only to find out they they didn't do them anymore for more or less the same reason Scooter said.

Welcome back by the way Scooter! Good that you have enjoyed your break and that you are here with us again for the next step. Am pretty sure the exercise is good for you all round so don't worry too much about that.

I asked DH earlier Choccy - he is a counsellor - whether it was good to get counselled for something traumatic early on. It is a different sort of counselling he says, as opposed to needing ongoing counselling, so try to find someone who is experienced at dealing with loss and bereavement counselling. He says that Cruse is a good place to look for a recommendation. Also the BACP have referral system on which counsellors have to list their expertise - so you could contact them too. He adds to check them out first to make sure they are well qualified as some people are trained specifically around bereavement and loss. He also says don't be worried about calling counsellors and asking for their qualifications and experience. He also suggested that NLC might have a list of appropriate people and if all else fails give him a shout (via me if you like) and he can find someone to recommend.

Great to here from you Stogan but sorry DD isn't feeling so well. Must be such a learning curve doing all the baby care things for the first time!

Great to hear from battery too. Battle scars are fine indeed! I didn't catch that THis Morning thing but sounds interesting.

Waves to everyone else, sorry not to do more direct replying, I've been stressed myself - something that I remember a few of you including Iggi going through. With our thread and my other thread (folk who are now good friends after we all miscarried at the same time last March) I know of 6 baby losses this week. I've become rather paranoid if I don't feel movements a lot. Half of me is trying to calm myself down saying it is still moving so all is good and hb is still there and strong on the Doppler and the other part of me wants to go straight to A&E just to check. It's such a long road without getting a glimpse in there to see how it's going.

free thank you and your dh, that's really thougthful of you both. NLC have a couple of counsellors they recommend for "fertility counselling" but on the assumption that includes rmc, they should be ok. But I'll definitely ask about their experience before committing. There are a couple of other options I have found too, so I'll be speaking to at least two possibles.

Sending dh to H&B for selenium and more vitD3 (I've doubled up on vitD3 btw following speaking to Louise). Interesting about intralipids not being used. Maybe I can save yet another £350 next time round... Dr S said to me in ?January that he thought Hydroxy would be used on its own in a year or so. I have to say, like scooter it's only since I've been on Hydroxy that I've had any noticeable effects from an immune pov, in terms of actually having colds. Didn't help the pg stick, but it's done something!

Ive been mulling over the work thing... I don't think it'll help me to take more solid time off work. I've already had three weeks and felt very detached from it all. Take more time off and I'd worry I'd end up hiding away at home, plus there's always a first day back to face. Spoke to my boss earlier, who continues to amaze me with his support and understanding, but I'm not going to set out everything he said here... I'm basically going to work until lunchtime or so, depending on how I'm feeling that day, then go home and have a break, maybe pick up again if I feel up to it. I'm being given a lot of flexiblility and allowed to take whatever time I need to get back to full working order. I am very lucky.

Anyway, it's nearly Friday... Waves to all

Oh god i am addicted. 5 hours on a hideous Thomas cook flight from sharm el chav ( sorry but Crikey some of the people on the plane ). 5 hours with no food or entertainment isn't much fun and I couldn't get on here to be distracted. Waiting for bags and DH commented on how I'd lasted 5 hours without Mumsnet pred thread! scooter interesting I paid £700 for 2 lots of intralipids (pre ivf transfer) did F all for me so am glad they r out of the picture. Also that u can do pred on BFP and take hydroxy. I am getting me some selenium and DHEA and hydroxy

Waiting for bags I have attention span of a flea.

Welcome home duggs my love. Remind me about DHEA?? Wondering if I should add to dh's shopping list...! :)

Welcome back Duggs. I always think it is great to be away, but always lovely to come home too. A bit like you with work Choccy, it's great to be able to escape real life but sometimes it helps us to get back into the routine as well. I know what you mean about loitering here and researching online. When I had the miscarriage on treatment I developed RSI I was doing so much Dr Goolging! Had to really calm down for a few weeks to address the pain in my hands.

yes agree free pls don't feel alarmed. You are a normal pregnant person now and you are only reading about later losses because no one writes about the boring later pregnancy stages (unless they are like us and have had previous issues) but still.. understandable.

Ok

DHEA...
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100701145535.htm

SELENIUM
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selenium_deficiency

I can't take any credit for these 2 discoveries.. I am just quite excited as I shall be buying both and hopefully the hydroxy too..

what is this about vit D3 chocy ?

scooter 40mg pred from BFP is that including 25mg pred from ovulation for 10 days as well ?

Snoopy its weird but I had a lump in my armpit in the 2nd month of taking the letrozole. It was a few cm but went once my AF arrived. I went to the docs and they said it was a hormonal cyst. I didnt even think it could have been the letrozole but looking back now it probably was. I am sure you will be fine but best to get it checked out.

I have a theory as to why there is a big gap in the 1st trimester. I know I posted saying it must be all the Xmas excesses but now I think it is due to the lack of Vit D. Bearing in mind that we dont get a lot of sun in the winter it makes sense that our Vit D levels will be depleted. Mr S has advised some of us to double up on Vit D3 so I wonder if this is one of the causes for lack of BFPs?

I was taking selenium after my first round of super ovulation as its supposed to help a thin womb lining but I stopped taking it after googling that it was not good for conceiving and then got my BFP on the next cycle! I wish I had kept the link but I cant remember where I read it. I am thinking of taking it again from BFP seeing as I had a CP last time and wasnt taking it then.

I think that the intrallipids and hydroxy are given depending on your NK level so maybe thats why Mr S is differing on the treatment he is using for some. He told me that as I am in the V high NK category I would still need preds from OV or I would miscarry unless I had the hydroxy to back it up.

I def believe that preds affect the LH/FSH level as my FSH went up from 4.2 to 11.1 after taking them. Of course it could be due to my age but over the last 2 months of not taking preds, my periods are back to normal. I started the preds in September and straight away my periods varied from 20 days to 35 days with some months having bleeding for only half a day. Before preds, I was 24-26 with 3 days of bleed. I have repeated the FSH test today so will let you all know if my theory is right and it has gone down!

Right so now I am taking extra Omega 3 and Vit D3, hydroxy, 75mg aspirin and Pregnacare. From OV, low dose preds and then from BFP will also take selenium and 150mg aspirin as well as the high dose preds and progesterone plus intrallipids. Is anyone taking Progesterone from OV as they are also supposed to help womb lining? I feel like I am a walking medicine cabinet!

Regarding the veggie debate, I know selenium is found in chicken and lean red meat and that miscarriage sufferers have been found to have lower levels of selenium so maybe that is the link? I still believe that we prob have high killer cells because we have all been too healthy and built them up so much. It seems from all the posts that we all seem to eat healthily and exercise to different degrees which is known to increase immunity. I only eat red meat once or twice a week and hate nuts (which have high levels of selenium) so am probably deficient in it.
I found these links on selenium and miscarriage:
sites.google.com/site/miscarriageresearch/vitamins-and-miscarriage/selenium.

Duggs welcome home and I would love to meet up with everyone else. Feels like ages since we had a meet up.

Scooter good to see you back on here again.

BTW I would check with Mrs S about taking DHEA if you are on the Super Ov plan:
Letrozole (Femara)
"Some types of cancer are affected by hormones in the body. Estrogen-sensitive cancers are cancers that are affected by estrogen levels in the body. Letrozole (Femara) is used for this type of cancer. DHEA might increase estrogen in the body and decrease the effectiveness of letrozole (Femara) for treating cancer. Do not take DHEA if you are taking letrozole (Femara)." www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/331.html

Cant remember who asked about Hysteroscopy but is basically a camera that is used to look around the womb for any scarring, fibroids or old pregnancy tissue etc that could stop implantation or cause recurrent miscarriages. They can remove minor fibroids etc there and then plus there is evidence that you are more likely to conceive after having a hysteroscopy. You could still have polyps or scarring but not know even if you have 'normal' periods. Its just another thing to check off the list! I am having mine done on the NHS so not having to pay for it.

DHEA is also not recommended for ladies with PCOS as it increases testosterone which is already high in PCOS sufferers! I would always check with Mr S about taking anything he hasnt prescribed as what is good for one may not be OK for others.

Great info sue!

I know its 01.20 but can't sleep as last day of frigging pred in the system!

duggs sorry I wasn't clear yes I took 25mg pred from ovulation and took it til today because I was so nauseous I was scared about stopping then getting a late BFP, mine never show early positives. I took it for 14 days in the end. Hope that's not wrong!

Selenium is intriguing. I ate loads of nuts in pregnancy first time then have totally avoided them since DS had peanut anaphylaxis at 18months. I started trying for DC2 in a newly nut-free regime. Interesting! Will be waiting at the doors for H&B to open at 8.30am. Will we all?

free absolutely understand your worries. The mentalling is a nine month commitment isn't if. Can you get checked out at your local hospital or do you have to trek to Epsom? Seems that the triage people wherever you go are very encouraging of turning up for reassurance from time to time. Personally I was in twice a week from 35 weeks for a little go on the machines :)

Hey sue that's weird about the letrozole and your lump. God i bloody hope that's the case anyway. It was my second month on Letrozole too. I've got my appointment through for next tues but I doubt i'll find anything out then.

Fascinating talk re Intralipids, we could all do without any extra expense! although my activation is 3.16 (or was) so in v high range. Like Sue said treatment must vary according to levels/history etc. And his comment to choccy re using only Hydroxy by next yr. think everyone is sick of pred apart from occasional buzz!

As i have been really cutting down on carbs and stuffing almonds as a snack, we'll see if it has any effect on me this month...

That's a really interesting theory about the Vitamin D and summer connection Sue. I mean I know there's more and more research to say people in Australia (after the whole slip, slap, slop campaign) are now more likely to be Vit D deficient and so are people in places like Scotland. Any of us with darker skin are prone to deficiencies too (my dad is Indian blooded, mum English) and also any of us with thyroid problems. In fact a few years ago a doctor I requested to see at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead (fed up of standard endocrinologists being behind on research) tested me as low for both Vit D and Selenium. I took supplements for a while but then tailed off. Silly me.

Also along the winter/Vit D theory as someone who travels rather a lot maybe that's been good for me too. I do have a good dose of sunshine!

Gosh we are a bunch of crazed Dr Googlers keen researchers aren't we :)

I am not sure about hospitals Scooter and thanks for thinking about that. It is something I have thought about too. I feel a bit out on the limb having chosen Epsom General. I have only been there once and the appointments with Mr S there keep changing. At the moment I have a new one for 25th May when I will (hopefully) be almost 32 weeks. Haven't seen him since week 16! I like to think, as you said, if I get pushed one iota over the stress level (at the moment it's constantly there but I manage to override it) and feel the need to go to A&E I will hopefully be ok at my local one.

Thankfully the baby starting to do a few gymnastics last night which will keep me going for another 24 hours before I start contemplating A&E again. My next stop gap is the GTT test on Tuesday morning at Epsom General so at least I will be having some sort of check up.

And my bump consistently measuring to the right size is a good sign right...? I haven't yet googled 'bump size normal yet pregnancy went wrong'.

Nice to see you again Scooter. Does it feel good to at least have a plan?

Welcome home Duggs.

Stogan ? I hope dd is on the mend now. It?s so horrible when they?re poorly, especially when they?re this tiny and vulnerable.

The mentalling is awful isn?t it Free. Would something like this Count the kicks wristband or something similar reassure you? I think you?re meant to move the plastic thing along each time you feel movement. When you?re busy, it?s easy to forget to check the movements and then panic when things go quiet for a while.

Choccy - It must be a huge relief that your boss is so understanding. I hope you find a counsellor that you're happy with.

Interesting conversation about the vitamins. As you know, I didn?t start pred until I was 6 weeks preg and that was the lower dose, which was upped at about 7 weeks or so. I do sometimes wonder whether the success of this pregnancy was down to one of the new vitamins I was taking this time (vit d?? I have had skin cancer and avoid the sun so it?s quite possible that I was deficient.) Who knows? I?ve taken so many different supplements over the last few years it?s difficult to tell.

My mum?s coming down to visit today and, as the weekend?s coming up, it seems like a perfect time to go into labour and know that ds is also covered by other family being off work. I?m definitely having lots of twinges but and back ache but who knows?

OOh blimey coconut your nearly there! would be nice and convenient

Can someone help me?
does anyone know where to find your Inbox within MN? I can't find it anywhere?

It should be at the very very top of the page Snoopy.

Gosh Coconut you are indeed really close! I will update the list in your honour. What happened with your skin cancer experience? Must have been very scary.

I've put PQ up to the second trimester whilst she is on holiday, so huge congratulations for PQ for reaching this milestone. Also put Scooter back in the TTC section from the MIA bit. Sorry for the gap in 1st trimesters but hope it will be filling up with lots of sticky BFPs soon. By my calculations (ignoring the ones we don't know about for a second) we still have 18 TTC and 15 pregnant or having already had a baby, so that is pretty good going despite all the recent sadness on here.

Friday 27th 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 38+4 Due date: 07/05/12
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2, DC#2 ? 36+4 C-section booked: 14/5/12
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2, DC#2- 35+3 c-section booked for 16/5/12
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Intolerant. BFP Clomid cycle#3, DC#1 34+5
Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 Hydroxychloroquine, Pred, Intralipids, 400 Cyclogest, Thyroid/hashimotos. MC 1st Pred cycle. DC#1 27+3 Next appt with Mr S, 25th May EDD 24/07/12
Cheerfulcharlie - V High NKC, MTHFR, DC#2/ (metformin, intralipids, no pred). 27+2 EDD 24/07/12

2nd Trimester
batteryhen - High NKC, factor v leiden. DC#1 BFP cycle 3. 24+0
coleyoz - V High NKC. DC#2, BFP cycle2, 23+3
FrozenNorthPole - RMC, NKC status unknown, Cyclogest, aspirin, 19+2
Mercator - V High NKC, TTC#2. 19+1
Hopefulfor2nd - High NKC - TTC#2. - 18+1
dunnit - V High NKC - , IVIG, Cyclogest and Clexane. 18+1
PQ77 - V High NKC TTC #2 (BFP cycle one but mc) 13+4

1st Trimester
To be filling up very shortly!

TTC ? ASSISTANCE - SO/IUI/IVF
duggs1976 - High/V High NKC - TTC #1 - IVF cycle #1 ?pred, intrallipids, metformin, clexane, cylogest
Havingkittens - Upgraded from High to V High NKC TTC #1 -10 pred ? 3rd cycle SO
Snoopygirl - V High NKC TTC, pred cycle 5, Super Ov Cycle 3
Abney (44), SO 2, 6 MC No pred (2 chromosone, 4 unexplained), 1 DS Pred Cycle 1 & fragmin, 4 MC on Pred (1 fragmin),
eurochick - TTC#1 High NKC, pred cycle 4, Super Ov & IUI
Pebbles - TTC#1 High NKC, PCOS, super ov cycle 1 (post IVF - 1 chemical, 1 mc, combining IVF with Immunotherapy
Arianrhod - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, hypothyroid, TTC#2 (Pred & Hydroxychloroquine)
Suemays - V High NKC, TTC #2. Superov. (Pred & Hydroxychloroquine)

TTC
London - High NKC, April - mc on treatment.
ChoccyPud - V High NKC - TTC#1 (Pred & Hydroxychloroquine). April - mc on treatment.
Willitbe - RMC, NKC not tested, TTC #4 cycle 2 (after m/c 12) Fertility consultant
prescribed pred.
GreenOlives - High NKC, TTC#2, Pred Cycle 2
picolina - V High NKC MC on treatment (taking a break on holiday)
Holldoll - High NKC - Pred, Cyclogest & aspirin
Lemonsherbet - TTC#1 v high/high NK, Mthfr, thyroid issues, pred 1st trim & Intralipids 2nd on bfp
buster76 -V High NKC, Factor V Leiden.
BellyD - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, TTC#1 cycle 2, hydroxychloroquine
ScooterChaser - V High NKC - TTC#2 (Pred & Hydroxychloroquine)

Current status?
Cherrycheeks - V high NKC, TTC#2
Breezyweezy - V High NKC - TTC#1
AandRmum - High NKC
Cornflakes30 - V High NKC, underactive thyroid
Brownstag - V High NKC, 3 yo DS is a Pred Baby! TTC #2
Zoeella V.high NKC, Factor V Leiden. abandoned IVF, pos PCOS

Morning ladies. I tested this morning (at 11dpo) to see if I could stop the Pred. It was BFN, as expected. So we move on to cycle 19 overall, cycle 6 of Pred and our second attempt at IUI. My god this process is soul destroying.

Sorry for the downer.

Sorry for the bfn euro it must be so frustrating.

Can't believe we've got no one in first trimester at all. Bit demoralising for those of us at the bottom of the pile tbh... But I'm just having a moment.

Morning ladies -

euro So sorry for the BFN, you're right, it IS soul destroying. Pants, I say.

sue I will be so interested to see what your repeated FSH test level is, if you don't mind sharing it when you know? I'm really very interested to hear that your periods have returned to normal after 2 months of being off the pred. That's more or less what I was hoping would happen with me, still one month to go to find out!

DHEA - it's me who is taking this, since 7th March. I have several links to info on this as I have done a LOT of research, so if anyone is interested, ping me and I'll send them to you. With regard to taking it at the same as Letrozole, I read the same as you sue but I know of a lot of ladies who have done exactly this, taken it will taking Letrozole/Femara, and not only did it not have the 'cancelling out' effect that's suggested in that article may happen, they did in fact all get increased numbers of follicles and quite a few of them went on to get pregnant. So since I only saw that one article that mentioned it may decrease the effectiveness of Letrozole for treating cancer, and several real-life reports that the same dose DHEA I'm taking didn't seem to cancel out the effect on their follicles/fertility, I decided (just for me, you understand) to carry on. If I'm as out-of-date age-wise that Mr S seems to now think I am, Letrozole isn't likely to do much for me anyway, and I haven't seen anything anywhere that talks about DHEA affecting gonal-f, which is what I may end up on! :) I thought it was worth the (minor) risk compared with the very positive benefits that DHEA will hopefully give me.

I would say to anyone considering taking DHEA, it is intended primarily for ladies over 40 and/or with suspected or confirmed POR. If you're younger, I would do some more research as to what it could do for you; I know I have seen reports stating that it may not be as beneficial in younger ladies. The PCOS angle I don't know about, since I don't have that and didn't look specifically for that during my extensive research.

I would also make sure anyone thinking of taking is aware there are side effects. For me, nothing more drastic than increased hair loss (but I shed a lot of hair naturally anyway, and have lots to spare, and it hasn't been drastic amounts anyway) and an increase in sweating - not pleasant particularly, since I don't sweat much usually, but I found a stronger deodorant that sorted that out. Plus it has a similar (although nowhere NEAR as bad) effect on sleeping that pred has; I tend to wake up a couple of times in the night, but unlike the pred, I always go straight back to sleep. Plus I take one part of my dose at night, so that might be why. Be careful about dosages, if you think of taking it - again, a lot of research is worth doing with this. Also bear in mind that most people, although by no means all, have their DHEA and/or testostorone levels monitored while taking DHEA supplements, to ensure they're not going too high. I don't (because I know my GP wouldn't go for it!) but I'm older, and most likely to be deficient in testostorone anyway (research bears this out). And I am aware of what side effects could indicate too high a level of testostorone, so watch very carefully for those, none seen yet.

Also bear in mind that REs advise all women they put onto DHEA that it generally takes 4 months for DHEA to have a real effect on your follicles, so it's not a quick-fix. Having said that some women have seen benefits in less time than that, but 4 months+ seems to be the usual.

Another thing is watch out for what type of DHEA to take - all DHEAs are not equal, and some have much better effects than others. Some just aren't worth taking at all.

I don't want to be a DHEA-bore, but I feel it's the right thing for me personally. I wouldn't have taken it lightly, nor without one heck of a lot of research first, as it does change your hormones, and I wouldn't suggest anyone else to take it without the same level of checking-out first.

I'll shut up now :)

On Vitamin D, btw, I read the same thing that free mentioned - those with thyroid issues, especially those hypothyroid (rather than hyperthyroid) are likely to be deficient in Vitamin D3, so I've been taking 2500iu supplement daily for a few months and just increased it to 5000iu. But this was for thyroid support, rather than specifically for miscarriage reasons - great if it helps with that too!

Just for a laugh, here's my daily vitamin concoction when not pregnant, and what I take it for:

Agnus Castus - 1000mg - ovarian health, progesterone support
CoQ10 - 600mg (2 x 300mg) - anti-ageing for eggs
Micronised DHEA - 75mg (1 x 50mg, 1 x 25mg) - egg quality/quantity
Folic acid (l-methylfolate)- 4mg - MTHFR
Goji Berry Extract - 2000mg - antioxidant
Hydroxychloroquine (prescribed by Mr S) - NKCs
L-arginine- 3 x 2000mg - endometrium support
L-Tyrosine - 2 x 500mg - thyroid support
Omega3 - 1000mg - anti-ageing for eggs
(600mg Omega 3 fatty acids - DHA 276mg, EPA 220mg)
Resveratrol- 2 x 200mg - antioxidant
Royal Jelly - 2 x 1000mg - egg quality
Selenium - 200mcg - antioxidant plus increase blood flow to uterus
Starflower oil - 1000mg - hormonal support
"Super B6" 82mg - helps regulate LP
Comb. 12 Tissue Salts - acupuncturist-advised
Vitamin D3 - 5000iu (125mcg) - thyroid support
Vitamin E - 671mg - endometrium support
Zinc - 15 mg - general fertility support

Plus the most comprehensive multivit/mineral supplement I can find, Aliment Ultra, which has lots of good stuff in it.

And yes, I do rattle when I walk ..

Oh rats, I forgot, plus 2 x 400mg progesterone from ovulation. And l-arginine I only take up to ovulation, then stop.