TTC or pregnancy on prednisolone or similar part 13

[VillageMum]

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!

How is everyone- any news? Hoping for good news ... But hope everyone ok..

free we found out we are having a boy so we will have one of each. I would be pleased whatever the sex so long as its healthy. We have only told our family (and the ladies on here) the sex as want to keep it a surprise for everyone else. It was for practical reasons we wanted to know!

Had a scan yesterday and all was ok. The placenta has now moved up so hopefully I won't need a csection.
free why do you need one?

Sorry everyone - thought nobody had written since my post a few days ago- clearly technology isn't a strength! So much news.. Lovely positive news from Suemays and Free and it's soo good to hear that as well as all the other news I can relate to about anxiety about taking the drugs, if to follow plans exactly, what do 'signs' mean, should we keeping hoping this month or not etc. if only we could switch off the worrying and analysing until we get clear answers. Having said that educating each other is so helpful for our sanity I'm sure!
Hopender- really sorry to hear about the story about your last loss, so awful and you must be made of really strong stuff. And it's the strongest that persevere and have success as this thread shows.
I'm only on day 7 but not feeling hopeful as no symptoms whatsoever. I had one bad night of sleep waking at 3 but overall so far I've been more sleepy if anything which is odd! I'm def feeling a big more manic when talking- it's almost like I can't stop myself. I'm also 38 and all mg friends have 2+ kids, some well into high school now so thank god my DH is my best friend- as you say it gets harder to sustain friendships for lots of reasons as others' lives change.
I'm considering accu and or reflexology next time if no luck this time. While also had recurrent miscarriages I do think in the past it may have helped me conceive.
Sorry also for a long one. Stay positive if you've not been lucky this month - I've a good feeling many of us might be happy soon. Look after yourself if your already lucky

Yes still plenty of chatting going on here Rosa! Good luck, glad we can hopefully inspire you.

Ahh Sue that's lovely! One of each is fab but yes I too would be just as happy with two boys (in my case). I can see wonderful things in having either. I don't think I will be having any more though! Couldn't face the whole thing again could you?

I had a cs with DS because he was breech but tbh that was my preferred option anyway after all the miscarriages before. I hear it's quite common for people who've had previous losses to just want it done as quickly as possible. I feel the same about this one too.

rosa i felt more sleepy on the pred too which I found odd as its meant to give you a boost - i didn't feel a boost at all, maybe that would kick in with me once I am on it longer!

My AF arrived today so i'm back on the SO drugs from tomorrow for 5 days. Got my scan booked in already for next friday, so hopefully there will be something good in there to work with. The only downside is that the appt is at 8.20am in Epsom which is a 2 1/2 hour journey from home so its going to be an early start!

Hey ladies, just popping back on to catch up and a welcome to the new ladies I've been TTC first child for 5 yrs and am 37 wks pregnant with a boy. This is my 7th pregnancy - 3 without immune treatment - the last 3 with.. So who knows ! The steroids also mucked up my ability to successfully conceive and I even tried 7 or 8 rounds of super ovulation, IUI and 2 IVF rounds. This was a natural conception after "giving up" - getting a dog, changing jobs and ignoring things. I wish you all the luck.. Pls just be aware of the bigger picture as is so easy to cling onto the hope that some solution will fix all and sometimes it doesn't, but it doesn't necessarily mean nothing will work. Waves to free and Sue of course fellow old timers too

Thanks Duggs for your story- mixed emotions reading it of course. Always worried my job has had a role in my health as work long hours and often stressful - but don't feel have an option right now. I do think I might at least quickly consider waiting to take steroids from BFP- especially as on my first cycle, day 8, and feeling tight in my chest and few sharp pains. I'm not sure yet of course but not got any symptoms at all right now - so not feeling lucky.
You're right to remind us of keeping perspective and not focusing on this at the expense of all else. So hard though as I'm sure you know. Such great news you have a baby on the way now! Are you back on immune therapy?
Sunny day sorry you got AF but hoping you're staying positive and looking forward.
I do still worry I might need SO at 38 but will see.
Someone at work brought there 8 week baby in today and he was so adorable. Was worried I would be emotional as my 2nd last loss would have been exactly the same age- but it was just so lovely to see a happy wee baby I was ok. I am pining more for a baby tonight than usual. Sorry to be overly emotional. Hope you're all good.

Hi rosa. When are you doing a hpt? Fingers crossed for you. The monthly disappointment gets boring doesn't it! I hope you get ur bfp very soon. Sorry your feeling down at the moment - lots of girls recently given us some hope though..we just got to keep plodding along. Also Loads of people in stressful jobs concieve and get preg - I think we just try look for reasons but truth is people get preg and give birth in awful situations and somehow
Manage...
Sunny day-sorry af came. Hope ur doing ok...gosh that is an early start! Somewhere I read most women succeed on cycle 4-6 to hopefully urs is around the corner

Oh and duggs congrats! I've seen your name on loads of threads glad to hear your nearly there! Really happy for you :)

Trying - I guess I should test on day 10 which would be this Fri. But know is very likely too soon. Also would be totally gob-smacked if we're lucky as really not feeling it. Should you stop Pred at 10 even though it might be few more days for some to get a BFP? Would that mean immune system could attack between day 10 and BFP.
Thanks for good wishes :)

Hi Ladies - I've been lurking quietly since my chemical last month. Just thought would bob on here to say hello and to update you and also ask if anyone has experienced this?

My LMP was 3 September after my chemical. Took the steroids from when I believed I ovulated. Tested with frer hpt up to 2 days before my period was due (period was due Tuesday). I tested Sunday am and took the steroids that morning (just in case) even though that test was negative! My periods are usually pretty prompt on day 28 but no af showed up. I tested again Tuesday and it looked negative but on checking later there was a mega faint line (I mean a real squinter).

Did another Tuesday afternoon and it was still there but still super faint. (I am a compulsive pee on a stickaholic). Also testedthis morning and it was faint practically invisible. Rang Louise and she said to get back on the steroids and test again in a couple of days - see if line is darker. Just worried this is showing up later (or I have ovulated later than I thought and obviously worried about it being another chemical - cant even let myself get remotely excited after last month - what to do?? Aargh

Frightened to do any more tests as will be gutted but surely they should show a strong positive on day period is due and day after? Just goes to show does it not that just when I thought I had the whole ovulation and testing timed (been doing this a while now). This whole fertility lark throws me a curve ball. Was sure period was going to show as have cramps etc and had psyched myself up for that and anther failed attempt - flipping ECk!!

Read the above back and it is pretty garbled - apologies! My head is all over the place : )

Rosa, matts mamma .. With this pg didn't take steroids from bfp. Did have an intrallipids at 6 wks after seeing HB for good measure and started popping a few I had from 6 wks. Very random as was then terrified I may have missed it all. I personally think egg/ sperm quality were my key issue and Dr Gorgy found a hidden infection about 2 yrs ago? You r right.. Babies r conceived under the most stressful situations so I wouldn't get too focused on job as if it is healthy it will develop. It does seem the early birds of this thread fell quickly into 2 main camps. Those who conceived with immune therapy treatment relatively quickly and those who didnt. The didnts have either gone onto eventually gave babies with ivf or some kind of assisted fertility help or just because so much time passed it eventually happened. A few are still trying on this path and many have had to stop treatment until BFP as too long to remain on steroids indefinitely. As for early faint testing result.., try not to panic about steroid stopping .. All research shows chemicals tend to be chromosonally based, but let's hope this is just a slow starter. Unfortunately our forced early testing puts us right in "chemical country" which can be a cruel place to be where we would otherwise be oblivious. Oh and ladies who have at least one child already seem to get there in the end as obv the anatomical side works so is usually the elusive good egg hunt
And first timers - don't give up but do look at all angles including the sperm DNA fragmentation tests of time does pass !

Oops .. Meant " if time does pass"

Thanks Duggs - I think may be same age as you if 1976 is your year of birth. Def not keen to let time pass. Do you know where sperm fragmentation testing can be done and if an issue if anything can be done about it? Will look online now too if course.
Would also be interested to know if those that were helped reasonably quickly by immune therapy had a typical profile - like not as high or higher NK etc. I have high natural killer cell count and very high activity as well as cytotoxicity assay, as well as high thyroid antibodies (so on complex programme).
It's all v complicated and of course trial and error in many ways.

Rosa - Mr S will do DNA fragmentation testing if asked - but you have to really push him, and he doesn't think much of it even if it does come back with high fragmentation! And as for those who were helped reasonably quickly ... well look at our very own free, if I remember correctly she had one of the highest NK cell counts and yet Mr S's protocol worked for her.

duggs fab to see you, not long to go now??

Thanks Arianrhod- it's both comforting and frustrating there seems to be no real way of knowing.. Although already been years of pain, I know I'm new to this so will have to stay positive for at least 3 rounds before I reflect on what's right for me. Hard to imagine this is it and may never happen :(

Hey Ari yes a few weeks now
Dr gorgy did dna fragmentation as do Zita west I believe and quite a few more clinics. My DH had a rate of 33% which if you research shows a v limited possibility of live birth with anything over 30. We had v strong anti b and it came down to 15.1 percent which is normal after a while. There is def a case for DNA fragmentation esp if you look at the U.S. Threads. I'm 37 yes almost 38 so same age indeed. I think though because you have more complex immune issues then you may be onto something... I have no immune related issues and actually when re tested a year later my nk count was normal with Dr gorgy so I know they fluctuate considerably - esp after a mc. Zita west Dr Nuwuke prefers intrallipids every 3 mths as oppose to steroids and then steroids once pregnant so that is a much kinder approach to your body if time does pass! Fingers crossed it won't and you will be lucky like freelance and not have years ahead !!

Hi guys
Oh I hope I don't fall into the can't get preg thread it was never an issue for me before....I might not take the steroids this time as I hate taking them and just do an early tea and start then. I had normal nk cells but high activity (just) so I'm hoping I'm ok for it from a bfp

Ladies-my day 22 (7 days post ovulation) bloods showed a prog of 28.2-I think that's a bit suboptimal? What do u think? Don't think those levels could support a preg?im gonna have them done again next month.
Mr s didn't ask for them I had some Gp forms left over from last time as I took 5 months to get preg last month and they gave me some day 21 forms...I know 5 months isn't long but I concieve s something was up as I took 1 month and 2 months before that...

I'm off on holiday! And going to try forget all this and try relax with tuning DTD as we away while I ovulate

Rosa-test day ten and if negative stop pred. Mr a said that a few days missing didn't matter but some people had irregular periods if they took it past that...the pred will be working by then so don't worry. Fingers crossed for u

Matts mamma sorry things r so uncertain right now. Just take Louise advice and retest and let us know. It's a long and tiring journey this ttc!

And rosa think postive! It will happen u are seeing a mega specialist and you just have to keep going, keep going. Eventually it will happen (I wish I could believe that!)

Thanks Duggs and Trying. Will see if can find someone in Scotland to do DNA fragmentation testing as would be awful to keep going with something we can't change against us. And I know- lucky to have support of someone who's helped so many.. Wish knew about him before. Do just need to be positive. Think I need to test day 11. Just feeling a little PMT now but def no preg symptoms. Very hard to analyse though as we all know- especially with the drugs!
Interesting to know the Zita approach. Would consider intralipids every 3 months too. Though thought they were only effective for 4-6 weeks. And £300 a pop they do add up!
Have a fantastic holiday Trying, best of luck and to Mattsmamma. And take care Duggs.. And thanks for all the info

Zita west do intrallipids for £150 and they only last 4 wks when PG... New life clinic and Dr s charge £300 a pop (even though they are supposed to cost £11 so I was told)!!! Those and the super ovulation plan is where a huge profit is made there it seems...

Hmm prob be same cost if I travelled though, but thanks. 99.9% sure am out this month anyway. Have pmt feelings and a BFN today... Looking ahead at work calendar I seem to be away at all the worst times ??

Just to update - it's another chemical : (

Sorry for short post - just so pissed off. I'll be back soon