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

I'm glad you are feeling better whatever it was, Battery.

Good luck to those retesting tomorrow.

I've just had a look at dugg's spreadsheet to double check what my levels were and they are 2.77 activation which seems pretty high the count seems higher than a lot of the others on the chart/thread too. sue and ari, I think yours were both just under 2. Wonder if it would be more risky or not for me to take the same approach you both did. Maybe the hysteroscopy will help though. Who knows.

ari, stabbing pains sound like my experience of implantation pains to me. Remember those little pick axes I referred to last time?

battery, sorry you've been feeling so dreadful. I have IBS too, as does my OH so I know the hell of spasms. The only time I actually throw up with it is when I'm very constipated actually. But extreme stress also has been known to make me sick. I never really connected that to my bowel complaint as such. But nervous tummy, I suppose. Funny though how men are such drama queens. My OH came home the other day and dramatically exclaimed, whilst clutching his solar plexus area, "Something's not right!", when I asked him what was up he told me that he had this sharp pain just below the middle of his rib cage. I had to explain to him that he had trapped wind whilst I went off and made him a cup of ginger tea. Bless. Good job it's not him on the Pred!

How is everyone else?

choccy, you're off on your well needed holiday tomorrow aren't you?

lemon how are you doing?

Havingkittens where is Duggs spreadsheet? I can never work that sort of thing out on MN. Thx.

Did another test today and a lovely dark line appeared. I don't want to read too much into it yet as I know this could still fail but my two cps never had a strong a line as this one. Plus I am still only 13dpo today. Going in for intrallipids as planned so I will prob be on this thread a lot today!

ari have you tested today? I have been getting pickaxe sensations too.

kittens I didnt purposely stop taking the preds before this bfp as was on my enforced break. I still believe we need the steroids even if they do mess with our cycles. I am sure the hysteroscopy helped as did the break as I felt more relaxed going into this cycle.

My dh is a drama queen too and was convinced he was having a heart attack a few weeks ago. He has got inflammation of the ribs which is common in teen girls! Says it all!

Well done sue. Enjoy intralipids (?).

Ari that does sound like potential implantation pains to me... Although I understand your doubts. Fingers crossed for you both.

Yep, I'm off on my holidays early tomorrow morning. Just got this morning at work to get through... Had a total packing failure yesterday. Not many of my usual holiday clothes fit, the Pred belly has seen off anything not jersey or otherwise forgiving. Good job I spent a small fortune on new things last week. I had a major confidence failure too while trying things on last night. Dh is still away so I didn't have my cheer leading squad to hand, and it was massively demoralising to have it proven how much weight and bulk I've put on in since I started Pred last August. With fuck all constructive to show for it. god I need this break!!

I shall be trying not to sit on MN too much, so in case I don't get a chance later, best of luck to everyone for whatever you've got going on this week. I'll catch up on all the news when I'm back xx

carebear, you'd have never found it in a million years! It was a separate document which was linked to, I don't even know on which thread! I just remembered last night that I'd bookmarked it.....

docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtEN_z1FdjUMdHd6c0xCd2JRd3hXVmtTZXROYVE1OGc#gid=0

Congratulations on your dark line sue, that's great news! Finally the first trimester section can see some action!

choccy, have a brilliant holiday. I have the same issue as you, with none of my summer dresses fitting and nothing to show for it. Mind you, I can't just blame the pred. It's also been comfort eating and complete failure to get myself to the gym.

Morning ladies ... sue I'm so pleased to hear of your lovely dark line! Yay your body, now relax and enjoy (?!) the intralipids.

Wish I had similar good news but unfortunately my test this morning was the complete opposite. There's a line there, but it's so very faint that you can barely see it. I'm going to have to assume that this is indeed yet another chemical pregnancy. The irony is, my bbs are much more sore this morning than yesterday, and I have no spotting or any sign of AF arriving (I always spot 2 days before AF arrives). I thought perhaps the progesterone was delaying it, but last month I took 800mg cyclogest right throughout my luteal phase and that didn't stop AF arriving bang on time, spotting and all, so it can't be down to the progesterone delaying things, I only took 400mg through the luteal phase this time and started on 800mg Saturday.

shrug Guess this isn't my month again, good thing I didn't book the intralipids I guess. Now where the heck is my AF?

/waves to everyone, going off to kick something really bl**dy hard.

Btw ... I'm 14dpo, AF should have arrived today - and there's no way it could have been implantation pains last night, since my hCG is so obviously much less than it was 2 days ago. Bugger.

Hello
Sorry popped on last week & this thread has been massively busy since... Congrats to all and interesting about NK kicking in at 8 weeks or so.

I had all my immunes tested at Hammersmith & was deemed to be borderline, but given my history (1x chromosome abnormal preg 2x mmc then nothing so 2xivf cycles) it was deemed that a dose of pred might be the thing that made the difference. I think whatever they normally treat over 12 mine was 11.5 or something can't remember now as it was before our disaster of a canx ivf & I was then so focussed on getting to egg collection I couldn't think about it actually working. Now of course I have time to worry about the killer cells bit! We saw a heartbeat last week at 6+3 but given my history that means nothing really.

Am now desperately trying to get a consult with someone as the IVF clinic has discharged me and the GP doesn't get my drug regime & wasn't sure where I should be referred to....
Might pop in a bit more now... although am so anxious about everything am not sure talking about it is good!!

I?ve missed a great deal over the weekend, just been lurking on mobile with no time to post properly. Sorry about the BFN CareBear. Is that you out for the month or are you still going to test in a couple of days?

Abney, like Duggs I had the TEG test when already pregnant at St Mary?s. I don?t think Mr S does it. But yes I think it would be good for us all to have it after a BFP as that seems to be the only clotting issue that can kick in after that time and appear negative before.

Ari sorry about the fainter line ? you mention cramps too, are you still getting them? I certainly had a lot of cramping with this pregnancy, including a lot of ovary type pain like the stabbing you and Sue mention. Are you just going to keep on testing to see what happens? It?s such a rollercoaster this whole thing, I wish it could be in the upward direction for all of us all the time!

Sue good news on your darker line. I hope it continues to go in that upward direction. Enjoy the intralipids! I always find it such a weird thing to be doing, wired up to a drip in a private clinic in Surrey when you are not, technically, ill.

Battery glad the IBS pain has gone a bit. It?s such an awful pain, but on top of being pregnant it really is a worry.

I have started to get what I can only describe as something like mild period pains. Not consistent in a cramping/rhythmic way so am assuming they are not contractions. Mild Braxton Hicks? I was hoping some of the other pregnant people/people who have had babies might be able to advise. Dr Google tells me that a lot of people seem to have it. Digi, Stogan, Iggi, Comedy, Coconut etc ? did you get any of this?

I have just realised we haven?t heard any more from Iggi! I hope everything is ok and she is just enjoying the new baby/very busy with the new baby.

Thanks for your input about the CS v VB Charlie. I think I am veering towards the having to try VB too. Half of me has faith that it can go realy well, I have started to read up on lots of positive stories about it, but the other part of me has felt contractions (very hideous, went all the way down my thighs, couldn?t even breathe) and cannot believe that any Hypnobirthing can make those feel bearable! My biggest worry is the aftermath though. Not the recovering after birth (as I know CS has a longer recovery) but the ?will your bits every be the same? worry. After what I went through with the thyroid thing (huge weight gain, depression, lack of libido and just not being myself for a few years) I just can?t face the thought of my sex life/confidence taking a battering again. Ha ? see there?s me talking myself out of it all again! But I don?t think I will have a choice anyway, so I might as well start reading up all the nice bits about calm, vaginal births. Oh and of course my other main worry is that the birth process can be so long, I just couldn't face anything going wrong with the baby. I will shut up now, I know millions of people are giving birth successful every day.

Wow HelterSkelter, well done on the BFP! You are in the right place to come and mental about it. We have all been there, one way or the other. A heartbeat is a fabulous step. Yes Mr S seems to think that 9 weeks is a great milestone to meet in terms on NKC. I know that doesn?t help you at 6 weeks but there is not long to go. Although I do know how that time drags. Please do stick around! May we add you to the first trimester list now you have hit six weeks?

Choccy and Olives I hope you both manage to have good holidays in the circumstances. I can relate to the weight thing Choccy and Kittens. I spent all of last year a stone heavier than I had been the year before. I had been such a gym bunny and so proud of my fit figure (after all the thyroid problems). I know I have the compensation of being pregnant now but there was a whole load of time when I felt exactly the same ? really it my confidence. For the holiday girls, to just go away and enjoy life and forget about this nonsense for a bit if you can.

Well not only was I until 2am on Friday night Digi but we didn?t get to bed until 2am on Saturday night either! I have managed to take it easy surrounding these activities though so I think I am ok. I have a lot of writing work to do today so am just going to sit on my arse in PJs and get it all done. Lovely to hear that F is settling in the evenings and you and DH can enjoy the time together. Is that quite normal for babies?! I am going to have a lot to ask you I can see!

Right, I can?t go back any further than that as I have a ton of work to do and it?s work I really don?t fancy doing. SO just got to tackle it!!

Although we haven't heard from Coley for ages I have bumped her up to the third trimester and added 4 days (since the last update on Thurs) to the BFPs. Haven't yet changed Sue or Ari, we will wait and see what happens over the next few days! Have taken the liberty of adding HelterSkelter having already reached the 6 week mark and seen a hb. I know that isn't out of the woods yet - but are any of us ever until we actually have a baby?! Skelter I have taken the fact that you were 6.3 last week and added you up to 7.0. Please let me know to adjust though.

If I have made any mistakes or you have anything else to add/edit please everyone feel free to do so.

Mon 21st May

The babies are arriving!

Stogan - V high NKC - cycle#2, DC#1, Baby girl Ellyson (DC1) born Sunday (CS) 11/03/12 7lb13.5.
Digitalgirl - High NKC - BFP cycle#2, Baby boy Franco (DS2) born at 39+0 on Easter Monday, 9/04/12, 8 lbs 12
Coconutfeet - V High NKC, Factor II gene mutation, underactive thyroid - BFP pre-pred, started at 6 weeks, Baby boy Arthur born at 40+6 13/05/12 3.66kg
Comedy - V High NKC - BFP cycle#2, baby girl Matilda born DC#2 ? 39 weeks (CS) 14/5/12 7 lbs.
Iggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2, DC#2- Baby boy born at 38+6 16/5/12

BFP 3rd Trimester

Freelance - V High NKC TTC#1 Hydroxychloroquine, Pred, Intralipids, 400 Cyclogest, Thyroid/hashimotos. MC 1st Pred cycle. DC#1 30+6 Next appt/scan, 25th May EDD 24/07/12 by LMP, 22/07 by Nuchal
Cheerfulcharlie - V High NKC, MTHFR, DC#2/ (metformin, intralipids, no pred). 30+6 EDD 24/07/12
batteryhen - High NKC, factor v leiden. DC#1 BFP cycle 3. 27+3
coleyoz - V High NKC. DC#2, BFP cycle2, 27+0

2nd Trimester

FrozenNorthPole - RMC, NKC status unknown, Cyclogest, aspirin, 22+5
Mercator - V High NKC, TTC#2. 22+4
Hopefulfor2nd - High NKC - TTC#2. - 21+4
dunnit - V High NKC - , IVIG, Cyclogest and Clexane. 21+4
PQ77 - V High NKC TTC #2 (BFP cycle one but mc) 17+1

1st Trimester
HelterSkelter (IVF and immune therapy) 7+0

To be added to shortly

TTC ? ASSISTANCE - SO/IUI/IVF
Pinkdragon - High NKC. Pred Daughter (after 4 mcs) TTC #2, super ov.
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
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 6, had 3 cycles of Super Ov, now on 2nd cycle of 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, have decided to only take Pred from BFP
picolina - V High NKC MC on treatment (taking a break on holiday)
Holldoll - High NKC - Pred, Cyclogest & aspirin. MC March 2012 on treatment. Pred started at BFP.
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)
Carebear1 - V high NKC

Current status?

BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Intolerant. BFP Clomid cycle#3, DC#1 37+3 MIA for a while! Must be due around 1st June

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

Thinking of Snoopy and hoping for a full recovery to health soon.

free Thanks, there doesn't seem to be much point in testing again since I have never heard that hCG can increase again after dropping. No I'm not getting any cramps, no sign whatsoever that AF is on the way, in fact I actually now feel a lot like I did when I was previously pregnant - nausea has kicked in and bbs are really sore. Irony is a marvellous thing. My body just doesn't seem to have realised that it isn't after all pregnant, I think.

Does sound like Braxton Hicks to me free - I had those on and off for a few weeks before DD made an appearance. They're quite unnerving, I found, but it's just your body preparing for The Big Push. :) And just to hark back to your previous concerns, my "bits" recovered just fine after DD's birth, despite having an episiotomy. Despite the complications of DD's birth, which I won't scare you with, should I ever be lucky enough again to be in that position I would choose a VB again.

Hoping snoopy is doing ok, if you're reading snoopy let us know how you are?

choccy and olives yes do have a fantastic holiday - you both deserve it. Bugger the weight, remember no matter how much weight you have put on through all this cr@ppy process, there will still be many many blobbier people than you quite happy to be bikini-ed and baring all ... ! :) Sod what anyone else thinks, you've earned your holiday a hundred times over choccy, just relax and cut loose, enjoy yourself if you can! :)

ari I am so sorry it looks like another chemical. I would still do another test tomorrow just in case there is a chance the test is faulty as its strange you are feeling more symptoms. I don't feel anything apart from tiredness and the pickaxe things so I am sceptical about mine too.

Thanks sue ... the two tests, Saturday's and today's, were out of the same pack so it would be very very unusual if one of them were to be faulty. Especially with 48 hours between them, and FMU both times. I don't actually have any more tests anyway, think some might arrive tomorrow since I ordered more on Saturday. I might test again on Wednesday but tbh I cannot see any way it will have changed. Only reason for testing again Wed would be because I'm seeing my acupuncturist Wed evening and if AF hasn't shown any signs of arriving, she can do what she did last time to get AF going. My body seems to want to hang on to even chemical pregnancies.

Ah, but I'm very hopeful for yours, and your lovely dark line .. remember the pred masks pregnancy symptoms, and you've been taking yours since ovulation this time, haven't you? Whereas I only started taking some on Saturday. And also remember that things like sore bbs often only kick in later on - and even then, not always.

Hi all, hope you don't mind me dropping back in after being awol for a while. I have been lurking here and there trying to catch up on all the news.

Firstly coongrats to digi, cocunut, comedy and iggi I am so excited for you all with your gorgeous new babies. (smile)

Hope you both have lovely holidays choccy and olives*, enjoy the sunshine and vino.

As the ladies on the pred thread will already know and obviously Free I have recently undergone another round of ivf with frozen embryos and tested early on saturday evening and got a faint bfp!! My offical test date is Wednesday so am hoping that the line has got a lot darker. I hope you don't mind me coming on for some the mentalling that is about to take hold.

Hi to helterskelter and well done for getting this far. Is this your fist ivf with pred? This was my first pred one and also having clexane injections and praying that all these drugs do the trick this time........
I had my ivf at Oxford but am seeing Mr S privately for the immune treatment, is it worth getting an appointment with him?

Pebbles and I have been texting each other a lot since her BFP yesterday but 'publicly' a tentative congratulations to you! It's a great first step. Considering that IVF has not worked a couple of times for you before (and ok there has been one chemical and one mc where it HAS worked at least regarding implantation) I really feel (and have everything crossed) that the combination of IVF (ie knowing they are good embryos) and knowing you are on the immune treatment should really do the trick this time. Of course there are still the potential pitfalls that every 'normal' person can have too - chemicals etc - so we will take it one day at a time as I know you are doing. But congratulations on the first stage anyway!! I think all your signs look good too - tiredness etc - especially when on the Pred.

Am also interested in the IVF/immune combination that Skelter is doing.

Ari thanks for the info on your bits :) No, really. It is good to hear. It is also good to hear that despite complications you would definitely go through VB again. And very good to hear too that I am not alone in starting to get these mild period style aches.

Re your tests, I am really unsure about the test thing accurately showing levels of HCG. Do you really think this is the case? I guess I have seen it enough on here with people's tests getting weaker/staying strong but I have also seen other evidence of depth of lines not meaning much at all (battery and myself) as examples.

Hope it is looking good for you Sue. I had a whole raft of weird feelings, rather like ovulation pains, for quite a few weeks at the start of this pregnancy. I put it down to the Corpus Luteum. Also as Ari says, the Pred does mask symptoms. Mine really kicked in around 6 weeks anyway, again not really horribly but that's when the nausea kicked in.

free I should say ... I'd go through VB again with an epidural!

Tests - I think they're an accurate enough indicator as to whether hCG is getting stronger or weaker, yes - if you're using a test brand known to be reliable, as FRER is, and especially if you're leaving a couple of days between testing, as I did. Remember hCG is supposed to double - a much fainter line 2 days later is never a good sign. If I'd used a different test, then it wouldn't concern me as much getting a fainter line, but since I didn't - well, I do think that's a big indication. If it had started out very faint and then got just a little bit darker, maybe - but the other way around? Don't think so.

pebbles I said it on the SO thread, but huge congrats on here too, and here's to your 'official' test date confirming it! :) :)

All I can add is that my faint line at 10dpo for stronger at 12 then again at 16dpo I used the official clear blue the clinic gave me. It showed 1-2 weeks pregnant. I was intending to do it again a week later to see if it went to 2-3 but the hcg test showed me at 19 which was too low for 5 weeks pregnants. Is weird how in the US hcg testing is the norm..and here we are pi**ing on sticks with such inaccuracy!!!! Grr
Good news sue and fingers crossed pebbles. Ari sorry but u r being very strong x

Ah aren't you all lovely...thank you for the welcome xx

Date is spot on it's 7 weeks as they fertilised on Monday 5 weeks ago!

Pebbles, congrats to you. Yes am also on Clexane & 400x2 progesterone + 25mg pred.

IVF history is :
We had 1 round of natural ivf at CRGH with progesterone, clexane & asprin post embryo transfer
We had a round of Drugs induced IVF (well ICSI) with PGS at Hammersmith as everyone reckoned that the mc were down to chromosome issues even though neither of us were showing anything abnormal. What that showed was that of the 3 that went to get tested 2 were normal so that was fairly "normal" and we weren't only producing chromosomely flawed embryos. Took clexane & progesterone that time. Then asked about the immune stuff which we had tested
We then started a 2nd round post Xmas and I didn't respond so we transfered to IUI after which i did take the pred
We were then told to give up but decided that as we had paid for it we would go again.. decided against pgs as the results are mixed and it essentially doubles the cost which given I am a poor responder as well makes it very expensive per embryo. BUT if we produced loads of embryos I might have considered it again.

Am happy to talk about any of the above if anyone has any questions.

I am seeing the antenatel people on 1st June so I think I will try & hold out... I don't think anyone would prescribe anything else although I will talk to 'im indoors tonight to see what he thinks... I did email Mr Lavery our consultant & he just said stay on it for 12 weeks and then taper.

Will try and get into personals xx

Thanks ladies, it really helps having you all to talk to on here who knows what it feels like at this stage!!

Helterskelter now I have a bfp I have to up the progesterone to 400mg three times a day. Mine was frozen so also on 4 x progynova now. It's so hard doing the whole ivf thing knowing even when you get a positive doesn't mean it will ammount to anything. Here's keeping our fingers crossed.
I had my first round if ivf at Hammersmith but wasn't happy there and transferred to Oxford. It was on nhs and it took forever to get appointments and nobody ever seemed to be able to explain anything properly. My first round I had a chemical (well assume that's what it is as they didn't seem to know) and was meant to have a follow up appointment to discuss it and took so long I ended up booking a private consultation with Mr Lavery. How have you found it there?

duggs I have thought that too, how come in the US hCG testing is routine and commonplace, and anyone can just have it done whenever they want - but we have to resort to cr@ppy POAS and guesswork. Just rubbish. And I'm not strong, it may come across like that but trust me, inwardly I'm screaming. Again. :(

helter sorry I meant to say a big Welcome! to you and fingers crossed that everything works out for you. And pebbles, well you know I'm already crossing fingers for you too :)

Thank you ari for being so lovely abd thinking of others when you are dealing with crap. Sending you a big virtual hug and wish you weren't going through this. :(

Just got an email today from Cheryl saying that Mr S has looked at my FSH test and said my ovarian reserve is on the low side and that I should keep taking my meds and he will go through my results with me when I see him for my next scan. How annoying. Firstly I don't know the specific results and secondly that means I won't know for at least another month as I'm on a month off TTC whilst I have my hysteroscopy.

kittens can you ask Cheryl to send you a copy of the results? At least you can then see them.

ari sorry you are going through this disappointment again. I know how hard it is when others are at the same stage as you and theirs progress but yours doesn't. I found my two chemicals easier to deal with than the pregnancies that got further along but it still hurts

. I just hope next time is the right one for you. Have you done another test today?