TTC/Pregnancy on Prednisolone or similar part 8

[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 7 www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/1452035-TTC-Pregnancy-on-Prednisolone-or-similar-part-7

Part 6 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've been wire free since about 8 weeks - but that's largely because I have gone from a B cup to an E cup and old nursing bras were the only things that would fit! I bought a new maternity bra last week and I can actually wear it as a hat

Oh, and in case anyone is still desperate for a bit of support there is a German brand called Anita which you can get online from pretty pregnant (but best to be fitted properly in person) they are "underwire" but the wire is some kind of malleable plastic and apparently milk duct friendly while you are pregnant and breast feeding.

Don't panic Battery, I've heard that as long as they are well fitted underwiring isn't seen as a problem these days. I was wearing them until my trusty last one snapped the other day (the strap not the underwire). There are of course different trains of thought on it but I am pretty sure it's not going to have caused you too many problems.

Symptoms definitely come and go bertha so do try not to worry about that. Also I don't think there is anything wrong with going to EPU if you get really worried - ie don't worry about taking up someone's space! You have had recurrent miscarriages and are pregnant again - you are perfectly entitled to have a worry or two. I know that feeling of being on the brink of rushing to hospital! In this pregnancy I managed to hold off until a whopping 36 weeks, but I was poised ready to run many a time.

Sounds like a crap health check Sarah! What a shame, as things like that through work should be a great extra thing to have. Only if they are good though! I know cramps can definitely be a pregnancy side effect and also Pred too. But no harm in eating more bananas and apricots :)

Re the flying - was it Sue who asked first of all? Go! Enjoy and have a lovely holiday. I got full permission to go ahead with a holiday from Mr S directly (he's a man who appreciates a holiday himself!) when I was about 15 weeks. We went to St Lucia and it was the most relaxing thing I could have hoped for. Like Sarah says it is only the added worry of potentially miscarrying abroad that is the issue. But we are miscarriage pros unfortunately and you know there would be nothing you could do at this stage to save anything either way. Chances are however this pregnancy is going to work anyway! So every reason to be positive and sod off and have a lovely holiday.

Sue I have the angel sounds doppler which was around £25 from Amazon. It's been brilliant and has really helped with the mentalling. Every time I have used it I have found a heartbeat. I know however that some people have found doppler's temperamental and have caused more stress when they haven't been able to find a hb (happened several times with Iggi). However you can have mine, which by Tuesday I will be ok to relinquish. Then you can pass it on to someone when you're done. I don't feel brave enough to send it before Tuesday am afraid so you will have to remind me after that.

Still thinking of LJ and hoping she has a good holiday.

Euro have you found out what the next step is for you?

Actually, whilst we are on the 'thinking of' subject Snoopy if you're lurking let us know how you are with an update. And also would love to hear how Coconut and Comedy are getting on! Haven't heard from them in ages.

Pebbles have sent you an email but it was after 5pm so you might not get it until tomorrow.

All ok here except I am fecking huge! And I was reporting from a conference today so it's been quite busy. It's going to be a busy few days really - two articles to write, two reports to write, a house to finish packing (for storage sadly, not moving), things being delivered, viewings on this flat (probably for no reason if we are going to have to stay here longer), errands to run (like chemist for meds, buy maternity bra, get bikini line done etc etc), removal men to prepare for (coming first thing Monday morning - followed by the cleaner, mum and dad arriving from Spain on Monday afternoon and then DH and I leaving for the night in Surrey at his brother's so we are near Epsom for a potential 7am arrival at the hospital. Agggh! Am - what's the technical term - absolutely bricking it!!

Oh, just in case it all goes to plan and I come home with a baby - does anyone have any advice on how you look after the little thing...?

Hello all, just bobbing in to see how everyone is. Welcome to all the new people, but LJ so sorry to read your news. Everyone here is lovely and supportive but I hope you also have lots of RL support to help you though this difficult time.

sarah - I had terrible leg cramps while I was pg (my ds2 is 8 weeks now). So much so that I would leap out of bed shouting. I also had it while pg with ds1. I never figured out what caused it and, in fact, it seemed to tail off later in the pregnancy. It does seem to be very common though.

Freelance - I can't believe Tuesday is D-Day (or C-day). How very very exciting!! It's a bugger about the house though. When will you know whether you have to pull out of the purchase?

Big waves to everyone else. I'm still unpacking boxes, but have made a decision to slow down and take a bit of time to really enjoy with both dses. It's going so fast. I can't believe that Arthur is 8 weeks old already.

Hello, sorry haven't kept up very well. Sorry to hear LJ's news, hope you are getting some rest and some support at least.
I hadn't been told the underwired bra stuff in my first pg, and breastfed ds till he was 2 so try not to worry too much about that - obviously if something is uncomfortable, don't wear it.
Things are getting so close Freelance, I am very excited for you! It can be hard switching focus from pregnancy to bringing-up-baby, but you just need time - first weeks are about making the adjustment and getting over culture-shock!

good luck freelance! your nearly there!

Sue, re. flying (apologies if you've already read this; I posted it earlier but it didn't seem to work): we went to Cyprus when I was 26 weeks. I had a bleed two days after we arrived, ended up in a really flash private hospital attended by the best gynae bod in the country. It was all fine though; I stayed in overnight with some Cyclogest to keep me company (quite funny really; a giant Bernard Breslaw-like nurse handed me the progesterone pessary on a tray, but couldn't speak any English. Good job I knew what it was and where it was to go or I might have eaten it!)
Anyway, all was well, my cervix returned to the required length overnight, but it was not the relaxing start to my holiday I was expecting. I had a great 3D scan the next morning, and the doctor said it might have been the pressure on the flight that caused it, but it was old blood and therefore not a worry.

free my friend who was due the same day as you had her baby yesterday. She developed pre-eclampsia so they induced her. Everything seems to be ok judging by the long and rambling voicemail I got from a new sleep deprived dad! You are nearly there!

The next step for me is to see the gynae consultant again. When I saw him this week he said to make an appointment in three weeks time for treatment (3 weeks because by then the IVF drugs will be out of my system and my cervix shouldn't look menopausal like it did when he did the colposcopy). However, me and the hubby have so many questions that we asked for a telephone call to talk them through. He doesn't do those apparently, so we will be having another appointment with him next week to discuss things. As I only have CIN1 (which in most cases corrects itself) I don't quite understand why he wants to treat. I asked in the appointment this week whether the abnormality shouldn't self-correct as my immune system recovers after the Pred and he said no, but I didn't ask the follow up question as to why (I was a bit shellshocked in the appointment about the HPV16 diagnosis so didn't ask a lot of what I should have). I've read loads of academic papers online and they seem to suggest that self-correction is possible. So I need to talk things over with him further.

LOL at the pessary on a tray with no instructions, brownstag.

Hope I got this right! Let me know, or go ahead and change if you need/have anything to add.

Friday 13th July 2012

The babies are arriving!

Stogan - V high NKC - cycle#2, DC#1, Baby girl Ellyson (DC1) born Sunday (EMCS) 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 7lbs.
Igggi - High NKC & Hypothyroidism - BFP cycle#2, DC#2- Baby boy Thomas born (CS) at 38+6 16/5/12
BrownieGecko - High NKC, Hypothyroidism, & Glucose Intolerant. BFP Clomid cycle#3, DC#1 40+0 - baby girl Amelia born 7/06/12 (CS) 7lbs

BFP 3rd Trimester

Freelance - TTC#1 V High NKC Thyroid/hashimotos - 4mcs (4th on 1st Pred cycle), Hydroxy, Pred, Intralipids, Cyclogest, . DC#1 38+3 wks CS 17/07/12
Cheerfulcharlie - TTC#1 V High NKC, MTHFR, DC#2/ (metformin, intralipids, no pred). 38+3 wks EDD 24/07/12
batteryhen - High NKC, factor v leiden. DC#1 BFP cycle 3. 35+1
coleyoz - V High NKC. DC#2, BFP cycle2, 34+0
FrozenNorthPole - RMC, NKC status unknown, Cyclogest, aspirin, 30+0
Mercator - V High NKC, DC#2 29+6 (Pred, Intralipids, Cyclogest) 4mcs (1 pre dd, 3 post - all at 6-8 wks) Next scan 27/07 ELCS 14/09/12
Hopefulfor2nd - High NKC - TTC#2. ? 28+5
dunnit - V High NKC - , IVIG, Cyclogest and Clexane. 28+5

2nd Trimester

PQ77 - TTC #2, 2 mcs, then DS, followed by 4 mcs - 6-8 weeks. V High NKC (BFP cycle one but mc) 24.1
HelterSkelter (IVF and immune therapy) 14+3

1st Trimester

Suemays - TTC#2. DD, followed by 6mcs all 6-8 weeks. V High NKC. Superov but this BFP a natural one. (Pred & Hydroxychloroquine) 11+2
Bertha337 - High NKC, 1 ectopic, 2 mcs, est 8+0
GreenOlives - TTC#2 DS followed by 2mcs, 1 ec, 1 chem. High NKC, Pred from BFP. Est 7+5 Next scan 16th July
Delta10 - High VNKC, 5 mcs followed by DS Pred baby, 1 further mc. Est 7+5

BFPs awaiting first scans

BellyD - V High NKC, MTHFR homo, TTC#1 cycle 2, hydroxychloroquine. Scan 18th July when will be est 7+3
sarahs999 - DC1 followed by 5 mcs, high NKC (Pred), plus clexane twice daily for Factor V Leiden and Prothrombin, aspirin and cyclogest. Est 5+3 Scan 19th July

TTC ? ASSISTANCE - SO/IUI/IVF

EchoJuliet, awaiting diagnosis, Preg 1 -MC 10 weeks (heartbeat stopped at 6w), mc 20w, mc at 8 weeks (heartbeat stopped at 6.5w).
Pinkdragon - High NKC. Pred Daughter (after 4 mcs) TTC #2, super ov.
duggs1976 - TTC#1 4 mcs all 7-12 weeks. High/V High NKC - TTC #1 - IVF cycle #1 ?pred, intrallipids, metformin, clexane, cylogest
Havingkittens - TTC#1 4mcs between 6-8 weeks, 2 Downs. Upgraded from High to V High NKC -12 pred replaced with Hydroxy 10/7/12 ? 5th cycle SO
Abney (44), TTC#2, 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 No BFP in 20+ cycles of trying
Pebbles - TTC#1 High NKC, PCOS, super ov cycle 1 (post IVF - 1 chemical, 1 mc, 2nd chemical on treatment/IVF
Arianrhod - TTC#2 DD then 5 mcs 5-9 wks (2 on treatment), V High NKC, MTHFR homo, hypothyroid, TTC#2 (Pred & Hydroxychloroquine)
Brownstag - V High NKC, 3 yo DS is a Pred Baby! TTC #2 on Hydroxy, SO

TTC

LJ71 - mc on treatment
London - High NKC, April - mc on treatment.
ChoccyPud - V High NKC - TTC#1 (Pred & Hydroxychloroquine). April - mc on treatment.
Willitbe - TTC#4 DS, DD, 1 mc, DS2, followed by 11mcs, (5-11 weeks). NKC not tested, TTC #4 (after m/c 12) Fertility cons prescribed pred.
picolina - TTC#1 4 mcs, all around 6 weeks. V High NKC MC on treatment
Holldoll - TTC #2 High NKC - Pred, Cyclogest & aspirin. DS followed by 4 mcs, heart stopped around 5-6wk. Mc in 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.
ScooterChaser - V High NKC - TTC#2 (Pred & Hydroxychloroquine)
Carebear1 - V high NKC
Gransol - Seven mcs - all losses between 6 & 7 weeks
Mollieboo - 5 early mcs between 4 & 10 weeks, 1 premature birth (lost my little angel), high NKC - pred, intralipids, aspirin, clexane, cyclogest

Current status?

Cherrycheeks - V high NKC, TTC#2
Breezyweezy - V High NKC - TTC#1
AandRmum - High NKC
Cornflakes30 - V High NKC, underactive thyroid, 2 mcs on treatment?
Zoeella V.high NKC, Factor V Leiden. abandoned IVF, pos PCOS

Hello everyone.
LJ I was so sorry to hear your news, hope you feel lots better after a few days away and are able to remain positive, so difficult I know.
euro sorry to hear you're having such a rough time too, I hope you get to a better place soon, its all so complicated for you at the moment.
bertha I hope you're feeling a bit better at the moment, the worry is awful isn't it, being pregnant is psychological warfare for us lot on here. Personally I would go to epu if I was that worried, as free says you are perfectly entitled to an appointment after going through previous miscarriages, please don't worry about that. Did you do a CB digi test or anything?
sue, so glad your pregnancy is going well. Are you going to go away? Its a difficult one - a holiday is probably the best thing for relaxing, and like the other girls have said, you can't stop anything happening if its going to. I've booked a holiday to Crete at end of July, and will be worried if I find out I'm pregnant before I go as it'll be absolutely boiling hot and I'm nervous of flying so don't want to overheat or stress myself out, and I'll only be 4 weeks pregnant, but that's a big if as I've only just started trying. So tough not being normal isn't it?! brownstag what an eventful time you had when you went on hols and ended up in hospital. You did make me laugh re the pessary situation, could all have gone so wrong haha.
sue I bought a doppler on ebay when I was pregnant and could never find a heartbeat so it stressed me out. Mine is the summer brand though which I don't think is as good as the angel sounds one free has got.
sarah your cramp sounded awful, I've been eating apricots for iron so I added apricots and banana to my muesli this morning after reading your post! Hope you haven't had any more cramp episodes like that but I have heard of cramp just from being pregnant as the other girls have said rather than from the pred.
free I feel exhausted just reading your post and you're just about to give birth! I hope you manage to get everything done and are not stressed out at such an important time. I can imagine you must be nervous but also so excited to meet your baby. Good luck with everything, I'm sure looking after the little one will come naturally, and the midwives will help with anything you need to know like bathing and nappy changing!
Glad its ok to wear underwired bras these days in pregnancy, I don't like the thought of no underwiring, the puppies need a bit of support these days!
I started taking the prednisolone yesterday for the first time and had the most bizarre night's sleep, not too much fun! I messed it all up too as was convinced I'd ovulated early so started the pred yesterday, but did an digital opk today which was positive so I'll ovulate tomorrow apparently, so I stopped the pred today and will start tomorrow and hope that taking it yesterday hasn't delayed ovulation. I'm not used to having to know the exact date of ovulation, I think it causes more stress having to do it all scientifically but there we go, needs must.

euro I do think it's strange that he wants to treat for CIN 1, however, he is a specialist and I am not! It's only recently that we have started screening for the HPV on routine smears (in our area anyway). Have you looked on the NHS website and NICE guidelines? The 2 main HPV strains that cause abnormal cells are 16 and 18, but don't let it panic you. Write down your questions, epecially about TTC, then you won't forget to ask anything.
free I can not believe that this time next week you will be a mummy!!!!! I however still have my head in the sand, and have decided I am going to be pregnant for another year as I am not ready to talk about labour etc yet. However, I still think baby is breech, but I have a MW appt on Tuesday so will find out more then.

I am packing my hospital bag, washing last bits for baby etc. I am really in denial about the whole birth thing. What happens if my body can't do it? I have not given birth before so what happens if my body doesn't know what to do?

I have also ordered some nonwired bra's from mother care. :)

battery - all completely normal thoughts. Your body will know, I promise you! They're amazing like that.

Free so close!!!!! Hope you're banking some sleep. I know it doesn't work like that but people always say stupid things like that when you're about to give birth

Mollie it's difficult with predicitng ov - I always used to know because I have been charting so long, but when I started the pred my ov went all over the place, by several days. Ultimately it doesn't really matter a couple of days either way, I think, as long as you're in the right ballpark.

So I had more cramps last night. That's three days in a row. I'm very sure it's a pred side effect because this is my seventh pregnancy and I've never had any cramps at all before.

Can anyone tell me the best way to contact Shehata's office when you actually need a fairly quick reply? I've emailed Louise but of course she's not always there. is there a better email address or should I just call? I much prefer email as I work in an open office nad it's very hard to get any privacy

I've always found texting Louise quite helpful - not sure if she is on holiday though. And also speaking to the secretaries at the office - is it Cheryl? Re sleep, am hoping that the year or so I did on nights shift (good job, but awful experience in terms of sleep quality!) might have prepared me somehow for lack of sleep, but I was reading things like 'how to change a nappy' last night and realising I am going to have to be standing there with a manual for a good couple of weeks until I remember what I need to be doing with everything!

I am having a few light period cramps and think am finally starting to get Braxton Hicks - feels like a slight tightening of the stomach muscles (if they are still there!) but quite high up. Nothing like real contractions (which have had before with 2 mcs).

Sarah I definitely had cramps with the Pred and Mollie welcome to the world of hard core drug taking! It's not much fun but it could be a whole lot worse and you will hopefully not be on them very long. Do you rise to 40mg upon BFP or stay at 25mg?

Head still rather firmly in sand here too Battery so chances are you won't change much over the next few weeks either. Are you secretly hoping (like I was) that the baby would stay breech so as to take any decision making away from you? I know that is anathema to a lot of people but Mr S says it happens to a lot of his patients as we feel the urge to reduce any variables towards the end. Yes it is certainly very weird though, knowing the day it will arrive. The nerves about the op occasionally clear enough for me to think - oh I will be looking after a baby immediately after. Agggh!

I guess there is a bit of excitement too Mollie but there is so much going on and it is such a huge thing to contemplate (yet so commonplace, I realise too) that I am more anticipatory, nervous, disbelieving than excited.

Liking the pessary on a tray story Brownstag! Eww - the thought of chewing on a progesterone pessary makes me want to vom. Those who were around at the time might remember that for some reason I HATED the smell.

Weird pregnancy confession on those lines - for some reason in early pregnancy this time, whenever I saw a bird in the street I would have a vision of myself biting into it raw - bones and feathers and all and then immediately have to banish the thought from my brain to not feel sick. Not in a hungry way - I don't even eat meat and the thought of chicken or poultry is awful to me anyway - but in a weird destructive way like I would also be biting into the tiny fragile baby. It doesn't take much amateur psychology to connect this with lingering fear from previous miscarriages etc. But I can't quite join the dots and haven't mentioned this to anyone before now!! It's like the weird urge to throw yourself off a high bridge when you're not depressed or anything. Ok, so you all think I'm mad now...

sarah sorry to hear about more cramps, what a pain (literally) and def from the pred then. Are you on 25mg or 40mg?
free I'm staying on 25mg of pred when I get pregnant, just going hardcore on the intralipids!
I'll never have a natural birth now for various reasons, but would love one but battery I completely understand how nervous you must be getting. Good luck with everything, must be so exciting as well as nervewracking!
free those pregnancy hormones are running riot now by the sound of it haha! Oh bless you, our previous pregnancy woes leave a lasting mark don't they, the fear we all go through when pregnant, no normal pregnant woman could possibly understand it...

LJ sorry to hear your news. Hope it all goes well next week for the ERPC.

Re the bras- I was horrified about the idea of wearing non underwired bras but since just before 20 wks I discovered a brand called hotmilk (check out Debenhams or Figleaves) which are pretty and quite supportive. I went straight for the nursing rather than just 'maternity' bras so I didn't have to buy more after birth.

I also started havin period cramping yesterday but it was continuous and dull achy rather than coming in waves like I also experienced with previous 2m/c. I woke up in the night and they'd all gone away though. It made me and DH realise it really is close now and DH even avoided a beer last night. Pretty relieved it didn't turn into anything as my doc is on hols and not back until Sunday. Over here the labours
are more Doc led than midwife led so I would really rather baby waits
til she's around.

free if you went into labour before Tues would you go with it or would Dr S still do a C section? I cannot believe you are so close. Are you going to film the birth for the documentary??! I wouldn't worry about freaky bird thoughts. Isn't the fact you realise they are weird means that you're not mad? I think if you thought it would be totally normal to bite the heads off little birdies then could could start to get concerned!

I have to say - maternity leave rocks! I've had 4 days of it now and it's fabulous doing whatever the hell you like all day long. I've spent my days wandering round a few malls (very slowly), meeting with friends for coffee and cake and generally slobbing and pottering. Shame it's too bloody hot to sit in the garden. Would be quite nice to
have another week or so of this ...

free can't believe your nearly there after following your journey. Try to take some time for you and your DH as this will be the last weekend of you being 2 dinkies! I remember being quite sad, but also excited and nervous. Hope your going for a lovely meal somewhere!

battery and Cheerful your next so hope you are both doing the same!

battery I've alway worn under wired and I think even my feeding bras were to. I think perception has changed a bit and it's personal choice.

Re the holiday thing, sailed whilst pregnant with my first child at 23 weeks and this time went to Crete at 26 and France at 20 so you should be fine.

For what it's worse I am getting restless legs and Occasional night time cramps but Thats just pregnancy as I had this last time so I don't think it's anything to worry about. Often just weight of pregnancy putting pressure on your legs.

Anyway hope everyone has a lovely weekend but could someone please order some sun - This weather is b...dy depressing although possibly better for pregnancy.

Bookmarking

Thanks battery. I think it's odd that he wants to treat too, particularly without having done a successful colposcopy (on the one he did when I was on the downregging drugs, the drugs had altered the appearance of my cervix so he couldn't see the transformation zone). I've done so much research on this now, I think I could write an academic paper of my own... He is going to hate me at the next appointment. I was running though some of the questions I was planning to ask with Mr euro, and he said "you're not going to question him, you are going to cross-examine him". And he's pretty much right. If he wants me to have treatment outside the guidelines, he needs to justify pretty strongly why he is making that recommendation. I found a paper last night that shows that CIN1 with HPV16 regresses in about 33% of cases and progresses in about 12% of cases. So if there is three times the chance of it regressing, I am really not sure why I should consent to treatment now.

Your body will no exactly what to do. It is built for this! You will be fine.

We are heading for another flurry of babies on this thread. How excitig!

Completely off topic, sorry, but a while ago there was a discussion of why some of you had been charged for prescriptions. Louise just emailed me back (today Saturday, so she is answering emails at the moment) after I emailed her to ask for a prescription for Cyclogest. Mr S has never suggested I use it (except after a BFP) but I feel safer using it after ovulation. She said fine, to ask the office for a script, but that I would be charged £10 for it, as although the ovulation/immune-regulating drug prescriptions are free, anything else is charged for.
Good luck to all, TTC or about to give birth! My only advice to anyone about to do the latter is: if a nurse/doctor tells you to go home and get some sleep, even though your waters have broken, take their advice, even if it seems the last thing you want to do at that time. Hopefully it won't be relevant to most of you as most are having Caesarians, but I was told this after my waters broke, at midnight, but didn't do anything of the sort, and since I ended up having a labour that spanned 3 days, it was the most knackering feat of my life. And with a baby you have to hit the ground running; quite difficult, after no sleep. In retrospect I would have had a Caesarian too, but at the time I did want the old birthing-pool-at-home scenario ... So if someone says sleep, take the opportunity!

Hello I was after some advice about taking prednisolone in early pregnancy. I am 4weeks 4days pregnant. This is my 4th pregnancy after 3 mc's in the last 15 months. Each mc has been between 7-9 weeks, 2 were missed dealt with by Erpc. This pregnancy, like my last was the result of stimulated iui (menopur and ovritelle). I was put on fragmin and 10mg pred from day 7 upping to 20mg pred at bfp. I am currently mentalling at the lack of symptoms combined with faint preg tests (I am sure they came up strong at 14dpo prev).
So my questions are can pred mask preg symptoms (tiredness, boob ache and queasiness?). Has anyone experienced an early mc/chem whilst on pred. I am also on progesterone suppositories so worrying that this is delaying the inevitable. Thank you in advance for your help and sorry for me, me, me, panicky first post.

Welcome Jemima and good to hear you have a bfp. Just to answer your questions quickly - yes, the pred can mask pg symptoms - I didn't feel any sickness, for example, till after 12 weeks when I'd stopped the steroids. I have had an early mc while on pred, unfortunately at the start there's really no way of knowing whether no symptoms is good news or bad.

Jemima, welcome; yes, pred masked my pregnancy symptoms completely and virtually immediately with my DS; the sickness briefly returned when I tapered and then disappeared about 14 weeks. I was really worried about it when it first happened but Mr S said that was normal on pred, and quite a bonus, really, if you suffer from bad morning sickness.
How many dpo are you now?

Thank you iggi and brownstag, you have reassured me a bit. I am 18dpo. My usual pg symptom is larger, heavier, slightly tingly boobs but I am missing that this time. Does the pred also mask this? Pg after mc is a minefield isn't it! I wish I could get a positive and leave it alone and be happy. As it is I have done 11 tests since Tuesday, averaging around 3 a day! The clinic where I am having treatment have said I can do a series of blood hcg next week if I am still anxious, otherwise it's waiting to 6 weeks scan. We are being seen on the nhs so feel a bit guilty for badgering for extra tests and things (we did start off privately last november but the consultant kindly referred us to his nhs practice as he said we were eligible for fertility treatment).

I wouldn't feel guilty about what you can get done on the NHS; I'm also going to get referred back again for a bit as I've exhausted the coffers for the time being! Although I know all they'll offer me is Clomid, which Mr S doesn't recommend for the over 35s and I'm 41.
Are the pregnancy tests getting darker?, that's the question. It's early days though; if you didn't implant until, say, 12dpo, at 14dpo the tests would be faint, if showing at all. Maybe in your earlier pregnancy you implanted earlier.

The blood tests are a source of sure information, I've always asked for them. And if it's going wrong I'd rather not wait till the scan.
Anyway, yes, boobs were not sore when I took pred - well not for weeks anyway. Only symptom I had was getting a lot tireder.