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!

Hi trying, we never had my dh's sperm tested. All the doctors we saw said that it wasn't necessary. My acupuncturist doesn't agree though. She thinks miscarriages can be linked to sperm problems. Will maybe think about it again depending on what happens with this pregnancy. 0nly a day and a half to go until day 14...

Tentativesly joins this thread, not sure if its the right one...i did a search but so many threads came up that were old and not relevant.

I have a serious dilemma, I just came back from GPs as had an asthma attack over night and today after a virus for a month, and have a prescription for Prednisolone and antibiotics, i did ask if it mattered i was TTc, and he was not helpful, he said he would rather have me breathing and not in hospital and to run the risk i damage the development of a foetus. It was only if the baby was a 1 week in.. which could be true... i just don't know as my cycle is so messed up post coming off the pill in August, i am CD36. I came home and poas and bfn.. would expect a positive for a week anyhow as he would not test me.

I said i think i ovulated last week and he just said i had the prescription and for me to work out if it is worth the risk! I found him so dismissive i kind of got up and left. The pharmacy was so busy i could not ask quietly .. so now.. well.. am asking.. what do i do?!DH thinks i don't take them.. but Dr scared me so much about my appalling asthma becoming dangerous that i am getting wheezy just panicking.

sorry, whining, but i cannot decide. Does anyone have any experience or better advice? Tell me to bugger off if this is the wrong thread

Hello! It's technically the wrong thread as we have all been taking Prednisolone to help prevent recurrent miscarriage due to immune issues (high level of natural killer cells attacking the pregnancy) but we can help as we have all taken Prednisolone during pregnancy and know, from what our specialists say and also in our own experience, that it doesn't negatively affect a pregnancy. Apparently there is a tiny chance that it might lead to a cleft palate in the baby however my doctor, who a lot of people on this thread have also seen, says he has never seen this in all the 1000s of women he has treated. Some of us, myself included for two successful pregnancies now, have taken up to 40mg with no repercussions apart from the usual side effects. We do however start to wean at the end of the first trimester so are usually off steroids completely by 14 weeks. Not sure what dose you would need to be on but definitely don't avoid taking it and potentially make your asthma worse!

For most people it also doesn't affect ttc but in some cases there has been anecdotal tales of it delaying ovulation. It's often after people have been on it without falling pregnant for a few months though so I wouldn't worry about that just yet.

Hope that helps.

Thank you, you are right, i should take it but your reassurance has made my decision clear. Thank you so much!

Hi toots-I second what freelance says! If ur asthma needs pred it's more imp to take it than not and us lot on here are on it during preg and for a number of weeks, as opposed to the odd week u may need it.
Hope-good thinking. Take each day as it comes. I was asking re sperm due to my worry as to what I'm
Still not preg. Also weirdly this
Month had pink spotting for 2 days but af not here yet. Was expected today/tmrw as have 27/28 day cycles. I give up analysing my body!

Evening all,

It's been a manic week in the nicest of ways as lots of birthday things so happy days.

Trying my DP had his sperm checked 3 times (they clearly couldn't understand why we fall pregnant) as its lazy and not many of them however we don't have an issue getting pregnant (usually takes me about 6 months to fall between each MC) just holding the pregnancy so they said not to treat as men are quite hard to treat? dr s thoroughly agreed with the NhS on this one. We always laugh and say like man like sperm lazy lazy lazy.

How is everyone doing? I haven't synced with you all yet now on day 7 and awaiting that first ovulation since a) no trying for now 4 months in total and b) first round of pred.
I have a slightly small dopey moment to confess to also we were given the vitamin D3 and I thought they said 1 per day so have been taking this until we got the treatment plan and it says 2 per day so only been taking half the dose , Dr s said go ahead and start TTC again however at this point I hadn't realised I had not been taking the full dose of D3, do you think best to wait? Call him? Feel like such a dope xx

Nah just start taking the higher dose now. When was on the treatment with what turned out to be DS the dosage was only one extra tablet anyway. He's increased it since but I don't think it's anything to worry about at all.

No don't worry at all about the vit d at all. It's just a little suplement as most people are deficient and some
Evidence it's linked to Miscarriage. But it's not vital for sucess so def dont worry.
Do you DTD every other day or every day or target to ovulation? I'm wondering if my DH does lazy/low ones too as each time we preg it's been very targeted! But this month doing a EOD so not holding any
Hope!
Happy bday too!!! Hope u had a good one!

Trying we are SMEP all the way
Unsure if you know of this it's the sperm meets egg plan, every other day from day 8 then every day whilst on a peak then leave a day and one last try ! Did try every other day but seem to work when followed the SMEP plan. X

Thank you both for your input on d3 I feel relieved you think it will be ok. I was unsure how important it may be xxx

I had a lovely birthday my best gift was a diagnosis would you believe I feel so much better just knowing what the problem has been and feel positive about moving forward xxx

Thanks! Yep I did smep a few times last time but didn't work?! I suppose it's just luck/chance though
Glad u feeling positive. :)

Mind you trying thinking we have the same success rate as you? 3 times in 18 months approx we have been celibate for past 4 months as so fearful of having another before we managed our appointment so anything is going to be better! His old boys are probably swimming backwards now x

I was just wondering if anyone had any advice on the intralipid infusion? I am due to have a scan at 7 weeks with Dr Shehata and if everything is ok then I will have the intralipid infusion afterwards. As I'm in Scotland it will be a major trek for me to come down. I'm just wondering if anybody had ever had their intralipid infusion, and even their first scan, closer to home?
I am in two minds about whether I need to come down as flights,on top of the intralipid infusion, scan and appointments, are really adding up. I obviously don't want to cut any corners though! And of course, this all depends on this pregnancy working out. The test was stronger this morning again but still only 13dpo. Hope all well with you all.

Hi hope. Good news! I know healthcare at home and give the intralipds but when I asked Louise she said dr s would be reluctant to give the prescription without seeing me (when I get preg!) however maybe freelance or the other ladies who have been through it could shed some experience? If not ask Louise about healthcare at home-when I rang them they said they would be happy to do it as long as someone writes the prescription

Hopender congratulations. So excited for you.. I really hope all goes well and can only imagine all the emotions you're going through. I've already had one intralipid infusion as wanted to try before hydroxy kicked in. Healthcare at home came round. Was totally fine. Any Qs let me know. I'm off hydroxy for 2 weeks as had swollen hands in night and early morning. Hoping something else can try or it's not that.

I've been away and forgotten to track so not sure when will ov this month.. Losing hope it's meant to be.. Maybe I will have a boost of confidence over Christmas .. Hope so! Hi everyone

Hi rosa. Just reg DTD are you may catch ur egg! Don't loose hope....it's hard not too though. So many postive stories on here and of women similar age to u too....we just have to be VERY patient....how long have u been trying for this time round?

Hi three, I had my biopsy taken yesterday (ouch!). I'm a bit confused though - I've come away with a progesterone prescription, presumably the heparin and steroids are only prescribed if it turns out I've got high nk cells?

Hi daisy just checking in to at everyone but think I can answer your question.
Pretty much everyone who has been to Coventry goes on the 'implantation' protocol which is progesterone from cd21 and heparin from the point an intrauterine pregnancy is confirmed with an early scan at 5 ish weeks. If you have high NK levels you'll also be prescribed pred. The progesterone is prescribed now so you can go forth and TTC straight away, you get the benefit of the 'scratch' for the first few cycles. You should have your results back by the time you potentially get a BFP in your next cycle, in cases where there's a delay and they were not back they prescribed steroids from BFP as a precaution (this happened to tanny on the RMC thread)
When you get your results and phone consult they give you a written protocol to take to GP or RMC, so you can get the heparin and steroids in your next pregnancy. Hope it works for you, we now have several successful Coventry pregnancies on the RMC thread, both with high and with normal NK levels. There will be a lot of little Jans and Siobhans running around in a few years!

Thank you, that's helpful. Is the scratch thing related to resetting things, if that makes sense. Because I'm on the waiting list for a hysteroscopy at St Marys but Prof Jan thought the biopsy might have the same effect. ..

It's supposed to stimulate a healing response that improves lining quality for several cycles. I guess any 'interference' in the uterus might have the same effect?

Ah I see, that makes sense. Oh crap for trying again though

Thanks Trying - I know.. It's really only 3 months - this 4th. Last MMC was June-D&C July. Saw Mr S end Aug. I've had a bad run with allergies to Humira and Hydroxy might be causing swelling in my hands but not sure. Hopefully my luck will turn .. Feel like put life in hold for last 20 months .. Really need a break but too old to let more time pass. I know I just need to take each day, week as it comes ...
I am inspired by so many people on this thread.. Everyone has had to be so strong to go through this .. And seems like everyone pretty much gets a happy ending in some way.. Even if not when and how they first hoped.

Hi rosa.
We are similar time frame. 20 months for me too. And 4 months of trying this time. D and c was in June and had 2 month break.
My life too is completly been taken over. Planning holidays/inviting people over/drinking etc. ive even gone part time which was a massive deal at work. it's so hard. I am going to be a a "little" more relaxed this month. I figure other people get preg and stay preg while bring busy stressed drinking etc...putting so much pressure on ttc is prob just driving me and DH mad! So going to try things in moderation this month! I'm sure the month after I'll be back to my neurotic self.
Hope - hope ur
Managing to stay calm!
X