Immune /natural killer cell treatment when ttc or pregnant (aka the 18th pred thread!)

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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

Thanks drttc **
Yes, I did take it in the end. Actually had acupuncture last night - def helped calm me!! Not looking forward to starting my fragmin injections again tonight... But needs must! And I will do anything!

Yuck I hated the fragmin :( But it's so worth it! Definitely keep an eye on how things look around the pregnancy sac with all those blood thinners (remember what happened to me!). However, on my latest ultrasound the technician said that they think the real reason I bleed weeks 6-7 was because the tiny edge of my placenta formed above my cervix, had nowhere to attach, and so those loose blood vessels just bled. Odd but kind of reassuring! Yayyyy yayyy yayyy Seeking so happy for you :)

Have u booked ur intralipids? And ur first scan! I know ur a head in sand girl so I figure it's not till 6/7 weeks?

seeking that's great news! One day at a time but you're going to make it!

tumtimes sorry the sonographer has scared you. If they there is a possibility your uterus could be bicornuate have they referred you to anyone?

trying how are things going?

Unfortunately I think I'll have to have the fragmin until 36 weeks because of my stupid prothrombin mutation. Eurgh!!
Will call the clinic later but try to book between 6-7 weeks.
That's weird about your bleeding but I does make sense. And at least you have a valid reason for it.

Hi snoopy' how r u??? Hope ur ok and feeling more kicks now?

I'm fine thanks, I'm sniffing my meds 3 times a day and very paranoid I'm doing it wrong! I think I'm just a worrier! No side effects which is good (didn't do this part last time) I just need to wait patiently for my period and then have a scan before I get the go to have my injections and daily dildo cam! But I'm hoping my period comes by Tuesday have Acu booked in Tuesday incase it goes awol which can happy with this spray!

OMG Seeking that is FANTASTIC NEWS! YAY.

What are your medication plans? I take 25mg of prednisolone but I didn't start it till I got BFP, 40mg of clexane for the whole pregnancy as I have MTHFR gene and aspariin and progesterone. You?

I went to the docs today and it looks like they will be signing me off for the 1st trimester as my migraines are starting to kick in. I feel relieved if I'm honest.
In terms of the uterus thing, she also thinks like me that it would defo have been noted by now with all the investigations I have had and she has told me to speak to my consultant on Friday which I shall!

I'm on the same plan as you tumtimes. Here's hoping it works! Fingers and toes crossed!!
Sorry your migraines are coming back but being signed off will get rid of any unnecessary stress.
I def think the uterus thing would def have been picked up by now!!

Fab news seeking, keeping my fingers crossed for you!

I keep checking in here every few days too see what's going on but do t always comment! My c section wound has sn I fe tion so now on antibiotics and having to go to the drs everyday to have it dressed - hopefully it clears up soon. Motherhood is so hard! I've been struggling a bit which I feel so guilty about as I e waited so long to have a baby and now I have one I don't feel like I'm enjoying it like I should. Hopefully it's just a case of needing to adjust and emotions being all over the place.

sunny I was the same when I had my daughter - I expected to be always grateful daily oh and overly happy - but I hadn't even considered how hard it is and the sleep deprivation. And then I felt guilty for feeling sad and not grateful and then I felt crap about my guilt and the cycle continued.

Bottom line, having a new born is hard. It doesn't take from how much you wanted to be where you are, or how hard it was to get there. It is what it is and you are completely NORMAL to feel how you do. Just remember that xxx Oh, and you're doing a great job lady I promise you x

tumtimes thanks for your message, makes me feel so much better. I think I have been concentrating on wanting a bsby for so long, my mind hadn't had time to consider what it would actually be like to have a baby. I totally get the guilt cycle and have def been feeling like that. Im also worried that I may not have another and therefore I should be enjoying this bit as much as possible as I may not experience it again.

Awww Sunny! Don't feel guilty! You needed to focus on having that baby- of course it was difficult to think about what came after in great detail. Newborns/children are no joke and all parents agree on that. Do the best you can each day knowing that some days will be better than others. No judgement here! You were so strong to get where you, don't turn around and be your own worst critic. Sending you a big hug!

Sunny don't feel guilty. You're doing a fabulous job! You'e been through a whirlwind of emotions! And like the others have said - we spend so long thinking about being pregnant and getting baby here safely - the thought of what happens when the baby arrives often escapes our thoughts. Babies are hard work, emotions are high, things aren't always going to be easy but they will be worth it. Keep doing g the fabulous job you're doing, don't be too hard on your self. Big hugs xx

Sunny good to hear from u

Wot ur feeling is totally natural I've never heard a new mum say anything diff! It seems so hard! And I think we forget that as we struggle so much to get there.

ur hormones r all over and ur sleep deprived.

Ur doing a wonderful Job, don't put too much pressure on urself. Ur doing the hardest job in the world and I'm sure ur doin it great :) xx

Seeking sleep well hope bean is comfy in there X

Drttc - did you continue taking CoQ10 after your bfp?

Hey Seeking- I stopped at BFP. I've read people being instructed to do stop and I think a few who were told it's fine to stay on. But I figured as I took it for egg quality, and if there's any chance I should stop, that I'd rather be on on less med.

One less med*

Thanks Drttc, I haven't taken it since but just wondered if it had any benefit after? Obviously I was using it for egg quality too.... That is yet to be confirmed...

Hi everyone- I have been silently following the thread for a few months as I have been contemplating what my next step should be (following my 3 miscarriages since last year)
It almost feels like I am crashing a party here but would very much like to join your group as I have an appointment with Dr Shehata on the 22nd of Feb- and of course I am both petrified and excited. Just hoping he can help us out....
Your success stories are all testament that he may be able to do it!

Hi Anna,
Sorry for your losses, it's utterly shit.
I really hope that DrS gives you some answers as to what may be wrong & gets you in a plan to help.He really is a genius - you're in good hands. Have you had any investigations on the NHS yet?
Welcome to our little motley crew - we're a good bunch and between us have probably had every test/issue/nightmare possible so are fairly wise when it comes to all thing reproductive immunology and rmc!

Thank you Seekingmiracles! :)
I have actually posted separately (before being sent the latest thread on your conversation) here- in all its gory details
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/miscarriage/2568978-Recurrent-miscarriages-Is-Shehata-the-right-choice-Desperate?watched=1

I have basically done every imaginable test offered under the NHS in two London hospitals, one of which being St Mary's which specializes in the field (however nobody even wants to entertain the idea of NKCs and steroid use)

Hence why Shehata is my last report! Can't say that I am 100% sure that we will proceed with a treatment though- I need to convince my DH to give it another go first.
Is everyone in the group under Shehata's care or are people being seen by Dr Quenby etc?

I think most of us are under Dr Shehata, but I think panda is under Prof Quneby and Trying is at ARGC but same basic protocol (but more intense monitoring).
What is your dh's concern with going ahead with the protocol? Is just more intervention or is the steroid use?

Ok so I've just read your post.
I think it's definitely worth seeing DrS. The Nk cells is a very real issue that he has years of experience in. He's very to the point and will give you honest advice based on your results. Quite often it seems that people have no issues with baby number one, it's then with subsequent pregnancies the Nk cells can flare. It's very likely that with your previous losses your immune system has gone into overdrive.
It's so hard and tiring when you've had such a devastating run of things to ever see any kind of light at the end of the tunnel, but this thread has seen numerous success - all at the hands of the treatment protocol give by DrS.
Go into the appointment with an open mind and then consider your options when you have the results. Good luck!

Hi Annaif- I'm so so sorry to hear what you've been through. You're an incredibly resilient woman, and your little boy is very lucky to have you as his mummy. I really hope you find answers, whether it be through Shehata or elsewhere. I would think the mechanism behind your first late loss is different from the two more recent 9 week losses. The later two could be NK cells (which Dr S should be able to detect & treat) or perhaps egg related (there are great vitamins and other options to address this). You are absolutely welcome to join us and we look forward to getting to know you!

Seeking- I think it's possible it may generally be a good health supplement, but not sure how much it adds to pregnancy after RMC issues. Really hoping you've got yourself a healthy/happy eggy growing in there! How are you feeling?

Hi Seekingmiracles
Well, his concern is that another attempt may also fail and we were both so stressed out during the last pregnancy and broken after it, that he can't see me surviving another loss (emotionally or psychologically)
Every missed miscarriage I've had has resulted either in labour (first one), a D+C (second one) or a series of EPRCs (third one) so it's all the physical complications following the losses that worry him- and me of course.

Don't know about you but I haven't been able to sleep for over two years now, the pressure and anxiety of it all sometimes feels unmanageable- I tried some bereavement counselling but that didn't help much. And given that we both have full time demanding jobs (his involves lots of travelling abroad) and we have no family in the UK to help us with daycare with our little one, makes it all a bit more daunting and difficult.
I do think Shehata will shed a different light on our case and I hope that being there to listen to him during the consultation may change his mind about trying again.
Sorry for the long post again