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

kittens I am sure you are having normal pregnancy symptoms. I was really tired at 6 weeks and then sickness kicked in around 8 to 9 weeks. Still feeling a bit sick now on some days. It's a good sign if you feel rough!

Forgot to say I also felt really dizzy at around 6-8 weeks!

That's reassuring, thanks sue.

How are you doing? Have you told many people yet? How is your bump coming along? It's amazing how other people's pregnancies seem to fly by when your own seem to enter an alternative time zone. It seems like only a few weeks ago you got your BFP!

LJ sorry to hear about your appointment, I know the feeling. I had to wait between November and February for my follow up after my 4th mc, it was agonising to have so many questions burning that long. Thanks for the weaning info, I am doing every 4 days. A few headaches but not nearly as bad as when I weaned every 2-3 days so looks like I'll be putting up with the awful puffy cheeks a bit longer this time.

bertha and olives great to hear about those important milestones!

bertha definitely don't feel worried about asking for heartrate checks. My son had SVT (very high HR) picked up at a routine midwife appointment, he was fine but if it gets very fast it needs monitoring and sometimes treatment so it's best to be on the safe side. I am absolutely sure they will be happy to do that for you.

mercator sorry to hear about the house, that's rotten. Hope you find an even more perfect one very soon.

sue 16 weeks is amazing from where I'm standing, loved your butterfly moment. It's so important to have those little positive signs to keep you going. Thanks for the acupuncture info, yes he is a bit out of the way for me. I went into NLC recently and asked about their acupuncturist called Ivka, think she is a fertility network one, a specialist anyway, have you heard anything about her?

kittens I know that EPU at Epsom are very aware of Mr S's patients and I have never been treated 'rountinely' there. I get a midwife consultation before and after each scan and wait separately from the antenatal clinic. It is bound to be the same at St Helier because he sees NHS patients at both. Be thinking of you a week today! Btw, the dizzy brain fog you describe is definitely a pregnant thing. I left for work once in early pregnancy and left my front door wide open all day... so just watch yourself!

Hi Amy sorry to hear about your losses but glad you found the thread. You can see from the 'babies arriving' list that there are lots of success stories to give us inspiration and you will find great support here. If it helps I always get BFN at 10dpo even when I'm pregnant (for my successful one too), so still in with a chance.

Pq been thinking of you, what is the latest? Did you get another test yet this week?

Oh to be off the steroids and not still wide awake at 2am!

Have been thinking of PQ too and wondering how you got on with the test results?! Hope all is well.

Amy! Welcome to the thread. Sorry to hear of your losses but hopefully you are on the right track now. My fifth pregnancy (second on the treatment, no children previously) resulted in a baby boy born a month ago today (hence a reduction in time spent on MN!) all thanks to the treatment. I?ve had an underactive thyroid since I was 21 so fire away if you have any questions about that.

Kittens it was around 6 weeks to 7 weeks that I started to feel really crappy with this pregnancy too ? not sure whether it was pregnancy, steroids or what but sounds pretty normal. Plus, with the amount of work you have been doing.

Sue that is a really interesting thing about the butterfly! I would take that as a good sign too. How are you getting on with the Doppler. Wow ? 16 weeks is fabulous. I had a last intralipids then too. He had me on the hydroxy until 36 weeks.

I can?t hang around as I have been trying to post this for ages, there?s a baby crying and I am going out for an early dinner with a friend in town this afternoon! Love to everyone and hope all are doing well.

BTW just so you know - I forgot to publicly say congratulations to Battery ? but rest assured I have emailed her directly and we have chatted about the newborn experience! Coley is next but we haven't heard from her for ages - hope all is well. merc after that it is you! Sorry to hear about the house - can completely relate! We might be putting an offer in on another one today but still thinking about it.

Ps kittens, heard you might book in to FMC for the nuchal. They were fabulous, so in depth. Professor nicholaides invented the test! Fully recommend them.

Btw, am off out in town on my own for an early dinner with a friend! Have left DH with bottles if expressed milk and fingers crossed for not too much cluster feeding :)

Just a quick one to say hi. Have fun tonight free!

Glad to hear things are going well sue, Bertha and olives. Sorry things have been so rough lj. And welcome to Amy.

Scooter hope you get a better night's sleep tonight. You poor thing.

Kittens I second the fmc on Harley st for 12 week testing. And I know with your history this is a really huge deal. I just had one chromosome issue and when I asked if that meant I should do cvs they said leave it alone...I know the nt + bloods is only predictive but I have a v high confidence in the neonatologists there (I think that's what the drs are). On the other hand I also reckon it would be the best/safest place in the uk to do a cvs.

Hi to everyone else I've missed.

Unfortunately I had another +ve fetal fibronectin test on weds (and a shorter cervix) so things more likely than not to kick off soon. I'm 30 weeks on Sunday.

Every morning Dh wakes up and says "great you made it through another night!" so we're being quite philosophical about it. There's absolutely nothing I can do - no more drugs will stop me going into labour- I just have to rest and not walk more than a block at a time.

Have had a bit of a trying day today at home with 3 yo ds by myself. Two DVDs then he had my iPad for three hours while I lay on the couch! Have got a babysitter here now to play with him - he was pretty pleased to see her! House is a tip as I can't bend over too much etc. oh well, hopefully I can hang on for another 6 weeks - prem consultant says there is a chance I can, so I've not given up hope. Might pack a toothbrush and nightie in a bag though...

Thanks free, you beat me, I was going to PM you about that! I'm still quite scared of the idea of just having the scan and not a CVS, under the circumstances.

If, of course, I even get that far. Suddenly feeling rather crampy in the last half hour and trying to stay calm about it. Easier said than done, as you all know too well!

I've also been feeling really shocking today. A feeling which I am all too familiar with, which is the steroid shakes and dizziness. They've always seemed to affect me quite badly in this respect, which is why I'd come off them and gone onto the Hydroxy before I got my BPF. I had this quite badly on the 25mg and now I'm on 40mg it's even worse. Can those of you who've been on the V High NKC treatment tell me if this stabilizes at all or whether I can expect to just feel like hell until I wean myself off them?

That's very brave of you free, to go and leave DH in charge! Good for you though. I hope you have a lovely evening.

Sorry about the me post. I'm slightly trapped in my own head/womb at the moment. I hope you understand! Although, like everyone else, really hoping all is well with PQ.

X post kittens...fwiw I felt ok on 40 mg, bit dizzy and spacey but it settled down - then morning sickness kicked in at 7 weeks, prior to that v few pregnancy symptoms. Please take it easy - shall we take it one day at a time together?!

Yep, one day at a time.... BTW I was a 6 week premie and I turned out ok (sort of!) . In the meantime, take it easy and keep your legs crossed! x

Kittens I had the shakes quite badly but it did wear off I can't quite recall whether It was when weaning off them. Do recall feeling v embarrassed by it. Looked like I had he dt's. Try to stick with it.

PQ hope lo stays put! I know how tough it is with a 3.5 year old to look after which doesn't help.

free good on you getting out and pleased to hear your milk has come in. I struggled the last time but we had a loss in the family a week after our lo was brn so hoping this time I may be more successful. We cheekily put in another mad offer on this house and now waiting the verdict next week. I keep going from positive to darned terrified if we get it as there is just so much work, plus resettling family and daughter. Life's never simple is it. How's your hunting goinG? Sounds like you may have found another house?

amy welcome!

Scooter hope your holding up ok. You must be desperate to get off the drugs I imagine. Hipe the weaklings going ok.

Just to add to the comments of others re early pg I had very little if no symptoms w this pregnancy and had mild feelings of nausea v occasionally from around 13 weeks. I had the same w my daughter but the drugs obviously suppress a lot so try not to read to much into a lack of symptoms.

I don't feel embarrassed but it's not exactly conducive to my work! Tomorrow I have a client who will be wanting perfect black liquid eyeliner with flicks . Aside from that, it just makes me feel really crappy and wobbly.

Good luck with the off merc

PQ thinking of you and hoping the 'day at a time' turns into weeks. Still, 30 weeks is very good!
Kittens I know it doesn't mean much when you're worrying but my early pg on the treatment was very different to my first (successful) pg. I was sick as a dog with ds1 - with ds2 I only started being sick when I was weaned off the pred!
Sorry my head only retains little chunks at a time these days, not good at remembering what's happening to everyone - sorry!

Hi all,
Sorry I havn't posted for a while have been mentalling like a loon and decided to step away from mumsnet and the like for a little bit.
Brilliant news about normal nuchal scans for bertha and olives. kittens I hope you are doing ok and not driving yourself too mad with symptoms/lack off. I didn't get much symptom wise until 6.5 weeks and even then it came and went and I am still to get sore boobs which I have always had in the past.
pq I hope your little one stays tight for a bit longer, thinking of you as I can imagine its a worrying time. free I hope you had a lovely night out.

I had our 9.5 week scan on Friday and so far so good, I think me and DH were in shock whilst we were at the hospital and then just broke down after we left. The little bean actually wriggled for us. I know we aren't out of the woods yet but feeling more optimistic than I have done with any of the other pregnancies.
I tried to update the stats but I am on iPad and not sure how to cut and paste. If anyone is updating could they change mine to:
Jemimapuddleduk (33), 9weeks 4 days. Had 3 prev mc's over last 2.5 years between 7-11. Not been tested for NK but been prescribed 20mg pred, fragmin, asprin and cyclogest on NHS.

Somehow the part 5 thread got reinstated and a newbie I signposted across from the preg boards posted on there, I have pm'd her so hopefully she will post here. Sounds like she has had a shocker of a time so hopefully she will find support here. It's megmum. I think cornflakes posted on there in error too.

Hello to everyone else I missed, I hope you are all ok.

Hi Jemimapuddleduck. Thanks for bringing me over to this thread. I am not used to using Mumsnet but have posted my story again below. I'm weaning more quickly off the steroid now having broken down at my GPs on friday, as am just so bloody huge and want to lose the weight if possible before piling it on again for the next try. I already know I will try again asap and have decided that this time I am not telling anybody. That way, there will be no negative opinions to deal with. I'm feeling brighter this weekend and it's in no small part to the kids I have. I look at them and know, when the mix of ingredients is right (drugs, egg, sperm etc), it'll turn out ok.

Congrats on your 9.5 week scan - you are well on your way now. 8.5 weeks is a big milestone to pass and whilst you can never count your chickens, sounds to me like the shore is in sight!!! Re symptoms, in my experience, prednisolone masks the sickness symptoms so do not worry about that and for both my successful pregnancies the symptoms came and went and this time I had symptoms like nobody's business and it did not work out, so when they are there take comfort in them, but if they are not, try (I know how hard that it!!) not to fixate as in all likliehood baby is just quietly doing its thing. So many best wishes for the next 2.5 weeks xx

Hi ladies. I'm new to this thread though not the whole Pregnancy / killer cell thing. My story in brief. 2006 4 x unexplained early m/c. All NHS tests normal but knew something not right with my body's crazy behaviour when pregnant so went thru Zita West to Yau Thum at the Lister. Elevated nk cells and prednisolone prescribed . Dd1 born Xmas Day 2008. I breathed out for first time in three years and it was a dream come true. M/c no 5 @ 6 weeks on prednisolone in jan 2010, and my Nk cell activity way higher so for pregnancy no6 also had 3 x infusions of intralipid. Dd2 born Oct 2010. Cannot thank the lister enough. Decided to push my luck and got pregnant in July 2012. Prednisolone (cyclogest & baby aspirin too) and all was going great. 2 x scans with heartbeats at 6 and 7!weeks - went for 9 week scan (alone as was so bloody cocky, idiot) last Weds and no heartbeat. Erpc last Thursday. Heartbroken. I do not feel it is my killer cells -my body was completely accepting this pregnancy so I have to hope that it's my 'unfussy womb' and chromosomal. Ill find out in a month. I am just so low as all the comfort I have clung to In my successful PGs has been ripped away now. Symptoms/ scans with heartbeats/ no bleeding/ even a bump this time - None of these will give me any comfort again. But I do Already know I'll try again as the joy of a live baby is worth every bit of the pain I've been through. So for those of you Not there yet, keep going, I've had a miracle twice in circum,stances so similar to yours and could not be more grateful for My dds and the love, joy and relief they've brought me but I've also had a shitty unexpected experience this week which has shattered my confidence again and am so so sad. But I know I can deal with an M/c ( the early morning waking in tears like just now will Pass I know) but would welcome any thoughts / Experiences similar to mine- good luck to You all. Keep going xxxxx

Hi Jemima - all sounding great! And a big welcome to megmum - your story sounds very (sadly) familiar and I am very sorry about your recent loss.

I am posting this from my phone from the antenatal ward at the hospital : as predicted by the fetal fibronectin test my waters went at 1am this morning. Mad rush to hospital (no bag packed - was going to do that today) with Ds in tow so had to act like it was a great adventure and couldn't cry. Started having contractions at 4am but they seem to have settled down now. They've confirmed theres a nicu cot available here so I think the plan is to see if I am going to deliver in the next 18 hours. Don't know what happens after that. Dr blythely said that baby has 80%'chance of surviving at 30 weeks but I am trying not to think about that now - focussed on the fact that the lady in the bed opposite me is vomiting violently and I really selfishly hope it's hyperemisis and not norovirus as we are sharing a loo...

PQ sorry to hear that your waters have broken but you are obviously in the best place now. I hope all goes well with the delivery and good to hear a cot is available in Nicu. I'll be keeping an eye on here for any news but my thoughts are with you at this time and I hope all goes well!

The lady opposite sounds like a good distraction if rather unpleasant, have you got some wipes for the loo! Grim I know but I am sure it's not the noro virus. Is your other half with you?

Take good care and let us know how things progress xx

Just popping on briefly to give you all a quick wave and say congrats to Battery. PQ, I am virtually handholding.

Welcome to megmum

PQ! Goodness. I will be following closely. At 30 weeks, your baby will be strong and ready, just small. I know exactly how you are feeling - my boy was born at 26 weeks - but the premmie care today is totally amazing. Be strong, and try to keep holding your legs crossed - every day is a bonus! Will be thinking of you. Guess the fibrenectin test was right that time. Definitely thinking I might be going to that clinic too when the time comes.

Hi Jemima. Thanks for sharing your story; welcome and so sorry you have to be here. Hope you can take some comfort that we all know what you are going through on this thread. x

Incidentally, my best friend's waters broke at 31 weeks with twins. They shipped her from London to Brighton as the nearest place with two NICU beds available in the same hospital! She hung on and they ended up sending her home for bed rest and close monitoring for infections. She had the babies by ELCS at 35+something! The twins were absolutely fine. x

Thanks guys - all positive stories and virtual handholding very welcome! It is dawning on me euro that i am lucky there is a spare cot here (dor the moment). Can't imagine being transferred - or having a baby any earlier Sarah - I keep thinking of what you went through.

Ward rounds (zero privacy) have just revealed poor vomiting lady is just allergic to her meds. I have met two transverse lies,
one placenta previa and three PROMs like me. Obviously the place to be.

Morning all!!
Sorry I havent been around for a while. To cut a long story short, I was going down the IVF route as I hadnt been pregnant since my last mc last August. It felt like the steroids messed up my cycles.
Anyway started the pill last week as part of the ivf, had taken it for 5 days but I didnt feel quite right Did a pregnancy test, can you believe it BFP Worried now that Ive caused damage taking the pill???? Now on day 2 of 40mg pred, cyclogest 400mg and clexane (which have already given me 2 large bruises on my abdo!) Booked in for lipids tomoro. Let the knicker checking commence!!
A massive congratulations to free and battery
A whispered congrats to kittens and sue fantastic news, I cant believe your 16 weeks already!!! Brilliant.
pq77 hope all goes well, Im a neonatal nurse and from my experience 30 week gestation babies do really really well Good luck, let us know how you get on.
Hello to everyone else!
D xxxx

Gulp to the black liquid eyeliner with Pred Shakes Kittens! Could you not try to convince her that the smudged look is so much more suited to her face?? Yes Pred symptoms aren?t much fun, but they only last a comparatively short period of time so look forward to weaning when you get to that stage! I know it feels like time is dragging in early pregnancy for us folk but it will soon pass.

Jemima well done on getting over 9 weeks! As I am sure you know, Mr S sees that as a brilliant milestone. I will do the list and add your details ? being that everyone else is neglecting it glares pointedly at you all and your crapness with the list

Hi MegMum and a huge welcome to the Pred Thread as we loving call it! Wow, two Pred babies ? that is amazing. Well done for your perseverance and grit. It can?t have been easy. I am so sorry that you have had another miscarriage. We all know how heartbreaking that is. There?s nothing like a miscarriage to make you want to get started again too is there. I hope you get some answers with the testing ? yes it could just have been ?one of those things?. You just never know. Please do hang around and chat ? it?s so good to talk to people going through the same thing. I started this thread after my third mc, went onto have another one on the treatment and now have my own Pred Baby, born on the 17th July.

Wow Buster ? a BFP when starting proceedings for IVF! That?s amazing, a tentative congratulations for you. The pill won?t have done any harm at all ? some people are on it for months before realisign they are pregnant. Let the knicker checking commence indeed! Hope you have a nice, relaxing intralipids session.

Can?t believe what poor PQ is going through ? had a text from her earlier and she is still in hospital and they are trying to stave things off for as long as possible. Great to hear from someone in your job Buster that these things usually turn out well. And Sarah that?s amazing having your son at 26 weeks, and here he is in rude health.

Got to run as it takes me ages to try to post at the moment with DS wanting my full attention! Trying to get out for lunch at some point too.

pq I hope you are doing ok and getting lots of good care and attention. Keep us posted with how it all go's i am keeping everything crossed for you.
megmum, I am glad you found us all. Thank you for your kind message and reassurance. I hope you are doing well and the pred weaning is not too harsh. I know a couple of pages back some of the ladies were talking about the least disruptive way to wean, I think they were saying 5mg every 4 days wasn't too horrid. I think it's good that you have the focus of your 2 little ones and also good news that you have decided to try again. I have always been like that after my mc's, just desperate to be pregnant again. I hope it happens quickly for you. How long will it be until you get your Erpc test results back?
buster, hi and congratulations about your bfp! Don't worry about taking the pill in early pregnancy, I know of several people who had surprise pregs whilst on the pill and had v healthy babies.