TTC or pregnancy on prednisolone or similar part 9

[sarahs999]

Oh dear - we reached 1000 posts on thread 8 without noticing! I hope you can all find this. THis is 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!

Links to earlier threads:

Part 8: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/a1492407-TTC-Pregnancy-on-Prednisolone-or-similar-part-8#33842381

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

Thank you ari and sue. I will be hitting the wine tonight. I am so f*cked off with life today. My 6th mc, my 3rd since losing my baby boy in jan.

Sue, I hope the funeral for baby scarlet goes ok for you, as ok as it can do. It feels as though no-one should have to arrange their baby's funeral, but we do and it is so heartbreaking. Im so glad you're feeling a bit stronger now. Its very frightening trying again isn't it, but we have to go through all of the fear to get to the good bit.

kittens I have a summer prenatal listening system, I bought it off ebay, it was pretty cheap and I could never find a heartbeat, but my baby was tiny so that may be why. You are more than welcome to it but I wouldn't want it to cause any more worry that's all. If you want me to post it to you then pm me your address. A midwife said not to use it too much in case its dangerous to the baby, I really don't know if there's any truth in that.

Hi everyone, thanks for the welcome

So sorry to hear your news mollie and Ari. I second the wine theory. After my 5th I think I drank solidly for a fortnight. Pretty unhealthy but whatever it takes to get through in my opinion. Sue I've been reading back through the thread and was in tears reading your posts, I am so sorry for your loss. I'll be thinking of you on the 16th.

Duggs thanks, I will pm you. I agree with what you said about Mr. S. I was quite disappointed with his approach and thought he was full of bluster and didn't really know what to do next. Seemed to be grasping at straws which doesn't fill me with confidence in the treatment. However, because I'm about to ovulate and my clock is ticking loudly I think I'll defo try the steroids for the next 2 months and hopefully get one in the oven before xmas (famous last words). In the meantime I'll have a look at Dr Gorgy info....

Hi kittens and anyone else I've missed!

Mollie, that's really sweet of you, thank you. I do worry that not being able to hear anything simply due to not knowing how to find it properly will cause more anxiety than reassurance which is why I've not looked into dopplers before. Well, that and the fact that I seem to have been having scans every 10 days or so up to now! I'd love to know what others think of using them, although I suspect that those who have used them are too busy looking after their little ones now to come on the thread anymore!

kittens Although heaven knows it seems I'll never get that far now, I had planned to get a doppler myself to monitor the heartbeat, but only after I think 20 weeks, I understand it's too difficult to hear before then. I know it's something of a knack to use them, but for me personally I think the peace of mind using one (once you've got the knack) outweighs anything else. Just my tuppence worth.

Yes, I've read that about them being tricky before 20 weeks. I also had a look on Amazon at the one you've got mollie and it seems the general consensus is that that one is not very reliable for hearing a heartbeat and can cause a lot of stress and worry.

I just emailed Louise asking her about my concerns and got an out of office reply to say she's not there 'til Tuesday. So much for me trying to reassure myself before the weekend! I shall just have to be positive and assume that all is fine. I just thought these round ligament pains were supposed to be fleeting rather than happening every day throughout the day and night. Maybe I should post on the pregnancy board.

Ok thanks kittens I think I'll throw mine out in that case as its only going to cause distress to me or someone else.

I was a paranoid wreck when pregnant and inbetween scans would ring the community midwives. One of them would always pop round to the house and find the baby's heartbeat, I saw them every week. So could you do that if worried or ring them about the pains to ask advice? Im pretty sure louise at the clinic doesn't work fridays.

I don't have a midwife yet as I've had to reschedule my booking in appt twice and it's now next Friday (at 14+3!). Mind you, as I've had my Nuchal privately and am having a 16 weeks scan with Mr S that shouldn't be a problem. My GP did say I could make an appointment with him to use the doppler although it always seems to be at least a 2 week wait to get an appointment with him which is a bit pointless in this case. I might pop by there on my way to the supermarket and see if they can get me in on Monday or something. I can't imagine a midwife coming to my house. I live in Central London, I'd imagine they were a bit overstretched round here.

Yes its probably a lot different there to the little welsh village I was living in! Sorry didn't think about that. Hope you get somewhere with the docs. Its awful being worried over a weekend, as sue said could you go to your epu? Im sure with your history and if you explain that you're having some pains they could scan you for some reassurance? Just a thought...

I'm away over the weekend but I'm going to try and chill out. Someone answered my post on the pregnancy board saying she'd had the same, lasting all day on and off through pregnancy. I guess I'll just have to get used to it. They are shooting twinges either side of my uterus which sounds pretty consistent with ligament pain rather than the type of cramps I've had with miscarriage. I'm just being a bit of a worrier I think.

That sounds really encouraging. It shows everything is growing too I guess. Positive vibes to you, have a great weekend.

Just very quickly to say mollie I'm so sorry to hear your news. I did same as you a year or so ago - had a chem pg without realising I'd conceived. Don't feel silly. It taught me to do tests from about 12dpo and keep testing until ~15 dpo or so when you'll probably have at least a faint bfp if you're pg but if you haven't done more than 14 days on Pred you can stop without weaning. It's juggling the testing and Pred basically! And keeping FRER et al in business. Btw clearblue digi are notoriously unreliable IMO.

Hope that makes sense.

Thanks Ari :)

kittens I'm sure all is well though I'm afraid I cant help with the pains... Speak to someone at your local epu? Or NHS direct? Or pm free, or one of the others who've had babies and may not look on here much any more. I'm sure they'll be able to help.

sue I'll be thinking of you on Tuesday. And agree re the red wine drinking! Xx

X posts. Kittens I hope that's offered some comfort x

Thanks everyone. Yes, I do feel a bit better having had that response. I think it didn't help that I woke up so early as my OH was leaving for the airport at 4.20 this morning so was lying in bed wide awake with these twinges. Prime time for worrying, when you're just lying in bed with nothing to distract you! Strangely, I've had no insomnia problems at all with pred since I started taking it in April last year but whilst I've been weaning off it I am having the waking in the early hours and not being able to get back to sleep issue. The nocturnal toilet visits probably don't help!

Thank you choccy, good to know im not the only one. I will be stocking up on superdrug tests, they're not too expensive and are meant to be good. Any opinions gratefully received. I'll just have to test right through the month I think as I've been caught out twice now.

Im seeing mr s soon, but does anyone reckon my mc is because I stopped pred around time of implantation for two weeks? I guess it would be the crucial time to take it. Also what is a chem preg compared to an mc please? I was 6 weeks pregnant today. Thanks for any advice...

Im too scared to go back onto the superov programe now as I took letrozole this month without realising I was pregnant which also can't have helped at all, which is a shame but I still got pregnant on pred which is of some comfort. Sorry for me me me post, there is a lot going on in my head today.

ari you sound like a woman on the case, hope you're doing ok and feeling a bit more positive after doing some research.

kittens yes 4am is definitely prime worrying time!

mollie, as far as I understand chemical pregnancy is a very early miscarriage, possibly where you get a BFP before your period is due and then your period comes later than you expected it because the embryo has failed to implant, whereas a miscarriage is where the embryo implants but fails to develop so miscarries some time after your period was due.

The general advice is to test at 10dpo so you can either come off the pred if you're taking it from ovulation or start/continue taking it if you get a BFP. I was using the internet cheapie tests which I always find to be pretty reliable, even though the lines can be very feint on them before 14dpo. I think this time I got my extremely feint, but definitely there, line at about 11dpo and they work out at about 10p a pop which is definitely favorable to forking out for FRERs! This is where I get mine from www.homehealth-uk.com/medical/pregnancy-tests.htm - just the strips in a little foil pouch. They come in 10mIU/ml too which is the highest sensitivity. They also do OPKs which are nice and cheap if you're going to try without superov and you can buy them in a combo pack with the pregnancy tests, choosing your own combination.

I think you should be fine on the superov if you test early from now on. I actually used to cut it pretty fine with ordering my meds as I didn't want to spend the money on them if they weren't needed so I'd test early and only order them if I got a -ve the day before AF was due! Also, if you're really concerned speak to Louise. I used to sometimes start the meds a day or two later than others I'd seen on here and she said that wasn't a big problem so if you're worried about taking letrozole when you may already be pregnant that might be an option, just to make sure.

I'm sorry this one didn't work out for you. It's been a right old week for a few of you on this thread. I hope you all have very self indulgent weekends and enjoy some lovely wine.

Evening all,
Just had a catch up read of the latest posts. I'm terrified by the hurdles everyone is going through and trying to stay positive that Dr S has nailed my treatment first time so I can get that BPF on Wednesday (5 days to go). I'm trying not to google LIT or Dqa as knowing me I will convince myself that's what I've got too and lose that all important hope that this time it might work.
Just thought I'd mention, there is an early pregnancy clinic at st George's, Tooting (lanesborough block?). They scan from 6 weeks and you can just rock up and self refer without seeing your GP first. They scan from 8am but it can be busy so get there really early and wait your turn. My accupuncturist used it a few times herself when pregnant and it really put her mind at rest between scans.
Logging off for today so I can concentrate on my mantra chanting positive thinking (!!). Thinking of you all.
Emma / coopde
X

Hello ladies, sorry to read all the bad news over the last few days, indulgent weekends definitely sound like a good plan to drown sorrows and treat yourselves
Kittens sounds like round ligaments pain to me so please try not to worry. I bought an Angel sounds doppler from ebay (was about 20 quid) I have been using it successfully since 13 weeks. Took me about 20 mins to find it the first time but since then (and knowing roughly where to try) I've always found it almost immediately. Its been very reassuring. And I discovered today I have an anterior placenta which means doppler is usually more difficult.
Had my 20 week scan earlier - all looks perfect. To say Im relieved is an understatement
I hope that this thread sees another run of good luck soon - its overdue. Xx

Fantastic news about your 20 week scan GreenOlives. I have half breathed out since my Nuchal but the rest of my breath is waiting for the 20 week scan too!

Thanks so much for the reassurance and for your feedback on the Angel Sounds doppler. That was the one I was considering if I do get one. £20 sounds like a good price for my sanity! Especially in the longer gaps between scans.

olives wonderful news re your scan, congrats.

Morning ladies

kitten I have a Sonoline Doppler if you are interested. I managed to hear my dd from around 9 was or so on it and you are welcome to it. You just need some gel which you can get fm amazon! I'd like it to go to someone on here as this board gave me great strength and hope during my last mc and pregnancy.

molly and ari so sorry you are going through the heartbreak of another mc, it's so painful and I can definitely understand the wine as I think I must have drowned my sorrows each time plus painting a room in the house each time to take my mind of things.

sue will be thinking of you on the 16th!

greenolives congrats on the 20 wk scan, lovely news.

coopde. Good luck with testing fc crossed for you.

Waves to anyone I've missed.

Thanks merc. Hope you and your little one are doing well.

Thanks kittens for all of the info, I'll try the ic tests from the link. Trouble is I did test early and throughout my period this time, and got bfn's until quite late on. So I will keep testing throughout with the cheap tests. I guess getting a bfp so late is a bad sign really.

I had spotting yest and cb digi weeks reduced and now nothing is happening, no spotting, no pain. I cant stop worrying - should I take pred, do I need an erpc etc etc.

Hope everyone is doing ok.

Mollie I'd suggest you get your hcg levels tested, twice two days apart. That'll at least mean you can see where the levels are and what direction they're going in. It can take a while for things to happen. Also it'll flag up if it might be ectopic. I don't want to panic you about ep, I know how confusing it can be with intermittent bleeding, which could be implantation, could be mc, who knows, but its best to check for ectopic sooner rather than later. This is when we need CCTV in there! So sorry you're going through this. Hugs.

Thank you choccy, I was trying to avoid hospital visits but I think I had better get some blood tests done on monday at epu or docs. It always seems to happen over a weekend. You're right, I do need to rule out an ectopic, best to know before it gets worse. Yes cctv would be amazing, isn't it horrible being in limbo not knowing what's going on inside you! Thanks again for advice and virtual hugs.

Hello
So, tomorrow I will be 9dp3dt..... Is it too early to test in the morning? I'm doing my nut! I've been knicker checking all day and have stomach cramps...
DH says I should wait til Wednesday, but I'm not sure I can hold out much longer! Patience is not my middle name! I've googled so much how soon to test and get varying responses, so I thought best to ask the experts!
Emma (going slightly mad!)
Xx

Hello all!!
Sorry about your bfn ari and your results - why does everything have to be so complicated and unfair!!
Sad for mollie too

Congrats to greenolives - it must be such a relief to get to 20 weeks!!
emma - it is so very tempting!! I'm like you I could never wait, like a child at christmas!!

kittens thanks for thinking of me! It does sound like your uterus is stretching, which you can kind of understand when you think how much room that little baby is going to need. Although I know its all still such a worry, you just want someone to tell you its going to be ok.

I have had a bit of a scary week I was at work last Monday and passed some weird mucous plug Managed to get scanned at my MAU - all fine, got very emotional - the baby was moving all over the place! 11weeks!
Went in for nuchal on the Wednesday, they decided it was actually a bit early so wanted to wait till next week. Anyway went to empty my bladder after they decided this - blood!!!! Not loads but a decent amount mixed in with some pessary! Nice! I was passed myself, I told the midwife, who I think could see i was so worried. The sonographer said they would scan me quickly just to check all was ok - it was thank god!! But now I'm soooo worried that was the beginning of the end!! I have always started off with a bit of bleeding before the baby has died I was hoping it was just the pessaries that have caused some irritation so have been using the back entrance. Ive had no more bleeding but my constipation has gone!! And my nausea has eased off which I know they say they do around this time. I have my nuchal booked in for Tuesday. So very nervous. I thought getting to 11 weeks was such a milestone - I wish I knew what was going on!! The sonographer said as I have a bicornuate uterus the blood may be coming from the horn that isnt been used?

Sorry for long post!!!

D xxxx