Immune / natural killer cell treatment when ttc or pregnant (aka the 15th pred thread)

[sunnyday01]

This is a thread for those diagnosed with high or very high natural killer cells and trying to concieve or are pregnant and taking steroids/intralipids etc

Newcomers very welcome

Sorry as ever for so many mistakes - no idea what 'skid' was meant to mean! Sure you'll work the rest out

Hi rosa sorry u feeling pants. U could ask Mr s if u could reduce it more gradually to give ur body less of a shock? But sadly the preg naseau and exhaustion will porb start kicking in. I can't bel ur here already so exciting! When do u think u will tell family. I'm sure they will be extatic for u!
Snoopy great u have had supportive friendlies. I've told one my whole journey and one about my muscarriages but not that I'm having ivf she still thinks im ttc although it's been a year since last miscarriage she must wonder wots going on.
I'm having the occasional freak out that I won't even get preg let alone think about miscarry but I'm trying hard to suppress those thoughts and think happy. I don't feel any diff on the drugs so I hope they r working?! Will know on Friday at the scan I suppose

Hi Everyone - just thought I'd quickly pop in and see whats happening!

DRTTC -STEP AWAY FROM THE TESTS!! I know its really hard but I think they make you panic more, as others have said you have to just concentrate on the fact that you are pregnant! I only did one test this time around and it has made me so much more calm as I made the decision I wouldn't keep doing them - I would just deal with each day as it comes. It is hard as you don't want to get your hopes up.

Trying - its all coming round so quickly now - glad you are getting on ok with the drugs and that they are not having too many side effects. keep us posted.

Rosa - can't believe you are nearly as 12 weeks - to me if feels like it has flown by! Can I just ask how many scans you had with dr s? On my treatment notes he says he wants to see me a 6,8,10, 12, 14 and 16 weeks which seems a bit excessive, but also expensive!!

Hope everyone else is ok - hope, hula, seeking, snoopy...sorry if I've missed anyone

As for me, I'm just trying to keep my head down and solider on until my scan which is next weds - 10th June. I have made a big milestone this weekend reaching 6 weeks and so gone beyond the time of my previous 2 mc but my first mc started at 6.5 weeks so still worried. I am just hoping the scan will give me some reassurance! It feels so long away though! Not sure when to book my next intralipids either - as meant to have them at 8 weeks, but I go on holiday on my 8 weeks (if I reach that point) so guessing I will need them the day before I go - but cant wait for scan to book them as will need to turn around the prescription, get things delivered etc as I will need it on the Friday, and scan is only on wednesday afternoon so not long enough! its all so complicated as I don't want to book too many things in advance in case it all goes wrong. DH and I haven't even really spoke about it - I think we are both just holding out for the scan to see whats going on.

I've had a complete break down of faith and am on my way to get my hcg levels tested. I just need to know wth is going on in there! Sorry I'm so preoccupied with this :( These RMC scars run deeper than I like to admit.

Trying it's really great that the drugs are going well! Of course I can relate to your freak out- was crying this morning thinking I'll never have a child (while staring at a Clearblue that read 'pregnant 1-2 weeks). It's really freaking hard to keep the faith... Luckily we've also got science & statistics on our side though :) I KNOW it's going to work for us. I just don't know when. And I'm a Dr, so trust me ;)

Rosa- feeling rubbish is no fun!! But my god it's a testament to all the wonderful things your body is doing. What a beautiful miracle :) Can you post a pic of your scan? Can't wait!

Sunny- I missed your post before!

Haha it's too late for me... I gave in to the fear!

Milestones are so scary & exciting all at once. You're going to feel so much better after that scan! For the intralipids I decided I'd aim to do them exactly 4 weeks apart. I think it's a good idea to do them before your hol so it'll give you peace of mind while you're away. I can understand why you don't talk about it... If I wasn't so damn obsessive I'd be tempted to put it to the back of my mind as well. Life eh!

Damn... Won't have results in until tomorrow. Figures!

Sunny- I know it's a nightmare with intralipids but I've been in your shoes a couple of times and asked Healthcare at home to set up but not take payment until I gave them the nod after my scan- and then asked if the nurse could bring the intralipids with them (and they did). Worth asking. On scans with Mr S I've seen him less than I should .. I think he was accepting I'd have a little less as in Scotland and able to have regular scans on nhs here .. But then had a bad back and not flying while pregnant so that's been prohibitive too. I saw him a lot before but only at 8 weeks so far. I tried to book at 14 but he's full up which is a shame as would have fitted with a work trip. Need to speak to Louise about when to see him next.

Drttc- will hopefully have good news thurs from scan but also worried about Harmony test - get results this week, prob wed. If all good will see if can share a pic.
Trying- if all good will tell everyone later on Thurs. Had sad news my Grandpa died last night. Weird how these things happen at same time..
Hope you keep feeling ok and drugs are working as you say, sure they are x

Rosa so sorry to hear about your grandad. Hope ur holding up ok. Ur family will welcome some happy news from u. I'm sure ur results. We'd will be fine :)
Drtcc-I know its so hard to contain the anxiety. But just try not to buy those clear blue tests. I had a perfectly Progressing preg 2 years ago (miscarried at 9 plus 2) and the clear Blue jumped about from 1-2 to 2-3 all the time. And then it levelled off. Are u a Dr too? I am too-what type? Hope not a ob and gynae trainee?!

I am meant to do the intralipids every 4 weeks but because I got my bfp a bit later I had my first drip at 5.5 weeks - am guessing I will still them at 8, 12 and 16 weeks - if I make it that far!

Thanks for the tips rosa, think I will ask them to do that for me and see what they say. As for scans I am hoping I can get away with next week (7.5), 10/11 weeks, 12 week (nhs) and then maybe another one at 14/16 weeks, but guess it all depends on what he says next week. I seriously wish I could go to sleep and wake up next Wednesday!

Drttc - once you get your HCG levels back (and assuming they are good) you have to step away frm the tests!! Lets us know how it goes though x

Sunny - I had my first at intralipid late too and asked Louise whether I should wait 4 weeks and do all later and she said yes ... Prob doesn't make a big diff either way though x

Sorry to hear about your Grandad Rosa. Look after yourself. As has already been said, I'm sure some good news will be just what your family need.
Drttc - I hope your blood results put you at ease! The try to relax a little.you'll drive yourself mad with worry. One day at a time Hun.

Hello All,

I'm still waiting for my results appointment (Friday!) but then will be TTC again with a plan that might involve steroids/intralipids... So I've been lurking here for a while! Wishing everyone luck.

I've had two MMCs just after seeing HB at 8 weeks (& a more "normal" bad luck spontaneous MC at about 6/40 that was probably a blighted ovum) after a normal first pregnancy so my money's on an acquired autoimmune clotting/NK thing disrupting placental function but we'll see...

Sasha - Mr S NHS clinic has steroids in their nk plan booklet but not intralipids - I suspect there's not enough evidence for them to be funded on the NHS yet? Steroids are relatively cheap on private prescriptions but apparently progesterone/heparin not so much so better to get that via NHS if able. His private clinic website does say to avoid pregnancy but...

welcome morgan. Did you do your tests with Dr s? I think your right about the Intralipids, I don't think the nhs will fund them despite the success they seem to have in the private I've world. sasha they are about three hundred pounds a go.

drttc I have everything crossed for you. I'm sure you and your little one will be fine and we'll keep the faith for you here until you're strong enough to believe it yourself.

Went to see Dr s today. He was very reassuring and is very confident that we will have a baby. He told us to keep positive and keep trying and he's more than happy for us to go on holiday in September even if I am pregnant by then.

I mentioned I had been speaking to you guys and he said it was brilliant that we have somewhere we can all go for support and to talk to people who really understand how we are feeling.

It's been nearly two weeks and I haven't heard anything from the nhs despite being promised a phonecall or letter by now. I feel completely abandoned by them and I'm glad I went private.

rosa so sorry to hear about your grandad. I'm thinking of you and your family x

Snoopy - Yep, am under his NHS clinic... Feel hypocrite not to use the NHS system (I'm medical) & the wait for initial appointment was quicker than privately although results are probably slower & seems like slightly fewer tests along the NK lines as just one type of count was on the blood test form.

But am slightly hedging my bets as a later private appointment lined up too to ask especially about whether additional treatments like intralipids or metformin (suspect I'm PCOS-y...) might be helpful. Also told NHS wise if all my results are normal then just aspirin/progesterone unless I have a FOURTH miscarriage & I wonder if that would be different in a private clinic? I am having all sorts of ethical / evidence based medicine dilemmas!

Sorry to hear about your Grandad, Rosa.

Hey guys. Havinng a panic this evening. Zen out the window . Worried I'll never see a bfp ever again...And more to research read on and stress out about .
Got acu tmrw I hope she calms me down. And I went and had a huge piece of cake too

Don't worry about the cake Trying. I ate 3 Wispas today and some mint matchmakers - random I know! Hope accu gives you zen, usually does the trick. Until them close your eyes and imagine that feeling you get when you get into a lovely warm bath with candles and amazing aromatherapy... Or just have one :)
Thanks everyone for your comments about my Grandpa- tough day but I'd confided in his wife (my Gran died years ago so he remarried) and she told him before he died so he knew and I feel good about that.
Welcome Morgan. Hope it's an east decision for you .. It's overwhelming at first with all the info and options. Hope we can help at but but sounds like you already know your stuff.

morgan, God forbid it happens, but have they said what treatment they would suggest if you did suffer a fourth miscarriage?

The nhs have been good to my mum, although it took them a while to diagnose her and she has had some bad experiences over the years, but none of the doctors can even make eye contact with me and not having any sort of contact has really upset me. I know I'm not going to die from this but I am suffering.

trying you have as much cake as you need. I understand the research overload. DH woke up at three thirty this morning and found me googling 'age and fertility' because of that horrible article in the daily mail, that they repeated on the bbc news tonight. I might have my phone confiscated at night now to stop me

rosa that must have made him very happy. I was very close to my grandma but she died many years ago. I like to imagine she's looking after my lost little ones.

Oh rosa, how lovely he knew. Did he know about ur history too? I hope u took some comfort in him knowing. Hope ur doing ok

snoopy I got my dH to take my
Phone from me before! I know that stupid effing article!!! Plus my SIl truely believes that all
Women should have kids by the time they are like 20 so I'm sure it will add to her stupid views even more! She's mad about her views and now this will have just added to it!

I ended up looking up immunology and ivf and just found failure after failure story. The thoughts of never having a family keep creeping in....not sure how many more years of this I can contain this. Aghhhhh!!! Hopefully my Acu lady will calm me down...

Drtcc finger crossed for ur hcg results xxx

Trying, yes he knew as was with all my family at Christmas 2 years ago when had 2nd miscarriage. Snoopy- I also imagine spiritual guardians are looking after spiritual wee ones as well as any we may have :)
Scan changed to tomorrow as funeral thurs. Just no idea when will get Harmony results.. Hope today or tomorrow.
Drttc- any news? Thinking of you x

trying I spoke to Dr s about the article. He said he had had patients calling him in tears over it and that it was just scaremongering by a woman with dubious credentials.

It is extremely hurtful though, as if women aren't berated enough now they have another club to beat us with.

drttc any news? Thinking of you

rosa that's so exciting! You're on the final leg now! Does the scan anxiety ever go away though? I can't imagine ever not crying at a scan, hopefully one day they'll be happy tears.