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

[Hula2]

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

correction: the girl tori had a mix of different kinds of losses not only chemicals*

So glad to help Trying! Yeah I've always been terrible at giving up sugar... Sometimes it feels like it's my only joy in this cruel world haha. I hope your tnf goes down but if they're willing to go ahead as is it must mean they've seen success with that protocol :)

Yep I've spoken to a girl who had stubborn tnf and started with a high level. She had 4mc and 2 negatives from ivf and she's now 15 weeks. So I must keep the faith!

Hope Friday comes soon for u

Sorry you're feeling down Trying, but don't ever apologise for coming here to moan. That's what we're all here for. We all know the hideous pain and hurt that this horrible journey brings.
I'm really sure that you will get your miracle one way or the other, you just have to keep going. Don't give up. You have the best team of doctors on your side, you will find a way. I have everything crossed that this coming cycle works for you.
Are you don long or short protocol?

Technically test day was today but I didn't bother. I absolutely HATE preg tests. I hate seeing that blank space, that seems to be so familiar to me now. I'd rather just see af. I normally get a bit of spotting anyway so I know I'm out by 11/12 dpo. I'm going to hold off.

I don't normally like these kind of images but saw this today and thought of you Trying! I hope you're ok. Everything you're feeling is totally understandable but there is hope.

Hi ladies, thank you for your warm welcome.

billy15, thank you for your message and I'm sorry to hear what you are going through and hope all will work out soon. It seems like you are on a similar path to me, as on top of dr Shehata's treatment I'm also seeing an accupnucturist. For what it's worth, it calms me down a great deal, as I'm the biggest stress head. for anyone suffering with migraine after coming off steroids every month, I recommend acupuncture, one session does the trick for me and I feel really calm and relaxed afterwards.
Also, similar to your billy15, recently I went to a Chinese fertility clinic and dr there told me that so many things wrong with me and if I want healthy pregnancy and healthy eggs I needed some herbal treatment. So in the moment of weakness I paid for 3 weeks worth of treatment, which I'm about to finish now. I'll ask dr shehata next week if taking Chinese herbs along with his treatment is ok. Will report back. I'm not sure if it's down to the herbs or just having a break over Christmas but I feel a lot calmer.

tryingno1 sorry to hear what you are going through, acupuncture and mediatation really helps to calm me down. One of the best medications I found is this 21 day meditation (energy of attraction). They start with some words of wisdom, which is interesting and then you just lie for around 10min repeating mantra, which supposed to stop your brain going into thinking overload (mine does) and relaxes you. I know it might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I really believe it helps me relax and I have the best sleep after that. Also incidentally I got pregnant last time after doing this 21 meditations, so hope it will work this time round.
Re sperm count, we had my hubby tested, he is fine, but I recently read that it's good to get our guys into vitamin C and lots of Brazil nuts for a few days before trying, it helps sperm production.

sunnyday01 congratulations, you've come far, goos luck, not long till you have your long waiting little bundle of joy.

Thanks again guys :) u really lifted me :) (not just saying that). I've pulled myself together and trying to think more positive thought. I've got Acu today after months and month so she will sort me too!

Seeking I was the same eventually. I just stopped testing and actually even taking pred as I hated it never working. I'm Sorry I feel ur out again. Super ovulation might be ur answer when r u seeing mr s? End of Jan? So hopefully u can get going in Feb? U might be lucky first time like drttc :)
I'm going to be in long protcol - so sniffing 3 times a day to put me into a sort of menopause! And then once they are happy I'm "switched off" enough I start injections for about 2 weeks and then egg collection! I did short last time so missed out the sniffing. The long is going to seem so much longer.

Billy loved that pic :) hope u use it for urself positive thoughts too! Not sure wot to advise u about so though...u know it helped get u preg so that's part of the hurdle! Hope ur cycle sorts out. I know Chinese herbs r pretty strong and at Ivf appts we are told 100 percent not to use them as they interfere quite strongly with fertilisation etc. maybe ur cycle is settling/changing after stopping them?

Thanks Ladies!

I used to take Chinese herbs - before seeing Dr S. But he said to stop taking them when I started the treatment with him as they can interfere with the medication. I think its partly that they can thin the blood, in which case there's no way of knowing if its too thin.
I LOVED them tho and was so upset that I had to stop. I felt like they really strengthened me in lots of ways! Took them before I had my first preg and then in-between first and second preg, then after second mc. They made me feel great and I really miss them! Acupuncture is great too!

Glad you're feeling more positive Trying. It's so hard to keep the momentum sometimes so we have to focus on our end goal. I too think acupuncture and meditation can help - I m pretty rubbish at remembering to meditate tho! I used Circle and Bloom before - is quite expensive tho but they have an ivf programme I think.

So Louise said I could start SO next cycle but my acupuncturist said best to wait a cycle. So I think I'll wait. SO makes me feel pretty shit too and Im feeling quite run down atm!

xx

billy how exciting! I bet you can't wait to start. Sod's law you'll probably get a bfp before you start.

seeking has af arrived yet? If not I demand you test! I seem to remember drttc didn't experience any symptoms before she tested, there's always hope!

trying I don't know how you manage without gluten and sugar. I have only had one piddly little alcoholic drink this year and that was a bloody shandy the night before this bfp.

So glad you're feeling better Trying :)

Glad you've come to a decision Billy. Good luck :)

I had no symptoms whateversoever. At the time I remembered Snoopy saying she felt something along the lines of 'distinctly unpregnant' lol. One thing I've learned while ttc is that symptom spotting pre-BFP is useless. There were months I had symptoms and got BFP, had the strongest symptoms ever and BFN, and no symptoms and BFP.

Af hasn't arrived but I'm only 11dpo, but the usual pre-af cm changes always start around 9/10dpo. Tested this morning and as predicted BFN. Throughly despondent, wondering if it will EVER work. I just don't see why it's not happening. We've been making a concerted effort to dtd at the right time and nothing.
Beginning to think that perhaps dh's motility has got worse. He's off to do his sa next week, has to abstain for 5 days and with work it's taken some real planning! How ridiculous!

This whole process is taking over my whole life, every thought. I just can't switch it off. And I feel it's beginning to consume me.

Oh seeking so sorry you feel down. Have you tried the sperm meets egg plan? We did that the month we got this bfp. Before we were just dtd all the time and whilst enjoyable it was absolutely exhausting

Seeking I know EXACTLY how u feel. I feel like my life has been on hold for nearly 3 years now (this April). I don't plan holidays unless it's last minute, I can't accept any work projects coz I don't know when Argc will ring to say u can start. I can't commit to hens and weddings incase I'm heavily preg or early preg and don't want to take a chance. I can't plan anything and haven't for over 2 years now. I feel like I've let down friends. I have a hen party while I'm midst of treatment about 7 hours from London and Argc need u every single day for bloods. I feel terrible I can't go and she doesn't know wot I'm doing either. She's gonna think I'm a right shitty friends! I can't think of anything else and I sometimes feel a literal sadness in my heart of where my life is going to take me. It is all consuming and exhausting.

But it has to work. It just has too. Ur premenstural so that always makes things worse...u will have a plan when u see mr s and that will make u feel better. U absolutely will get preg again, it's just when which is the killer.

Get ur dh onto well man conception and 1g of vit c and 500mg of vit e and also ur coenzyme and omega 3. This was Argc and my nutritionist advice. His motility improved massively and has stayed improved with this combo (although I'm sure the tamoxifen he's on has helped with count).

Ugh I was so hoping for a bfp for u! Super ov will give u a good chance and also let u know exactly when to get busy!

Thanks for the advice Tina I've downloaded the app!

Snoopy I can't be sugar free! Just had a gluten free brownie but I did go to an excercise class and my weight is faling off!

Thanks Trying. I know that right now it feels shit because I'm due on and I k ow that in a Few days I'll be back to my normal semi positive mindset.
I've DH he has to make a more concerted effort with his vitamins. He's sooo rubbish. Yet I have to take all my shit every single day.

I'm sorry Seeking :( I think it was a real wake up call for my DH when his SA didn't come back perfect. He's already been on wellman conception for a few months but after SA we added vitamin C supplements (meant to really help) and something else (starts with a p...). I do wonder if it helped! I also think that SO might really kickstart things for you. If you remember my logic was that even when added fertility treatment doesn't work that cycle, it can sometimes 'shake things up' and women will get that 'right' pregnancy within the few months following that.

Well done for getting back on the diet wagon.... I seriously need to start running again.... Got a run planned tomorrow with a friend so hopefully that'll kick start my fitness.

Dh has been very blasé with taking his supplements- purely because the dr the said the fact that his motility wasn't perfect was out weighed by the number. But we have friends who ended up having ivf for the same reason. Not sure he knew that until recently. I'm hoping he'll make more effort now.
Must order more CoQ10 too ....

I'm hoping that SO is the answer...

tryingno1, I can so relate to what you are going through. I feel like I've been putting things on hold since 2013. I'm exactly the same, worried to plan holidays in advance, avoid social events because I don't drink, don't put my hand up for projects at work in case they make me too stressed, stopped working out properly which I loved, because apparently over endurance can affect your fertility. I'm literally googling everything I do and I eat to be sure there is no underlying effect that could impact pregnancy. It's crazy! You know what I promised to myself this year, I'm going to relax (as much as possible), booked a ski trip in Feb and it's a few days before I can do a test, but I'm just going do it. i've had enough of this waiting around, I'm going to live my life and pregnancy will need to fit into it. Let's see how long this positive attitude lasts 😉

Drttcc loads of luck today hope u managed to sleep

Seeking what is ur dh motility? I rem it only being v slightly lower in which it should be an issue.

Tina yay to holiday, good decision. Knowing how things work out u will get ur bfp while away!

tina do it, don't put your life on hold! I had given up, I thought I cannot spend anymore time chasing a dream that might not happen despite all my efforts. So I applied for a new position at work, DH booked an amazing holiday for my birthday and we got a puppy.

Update: baby looks good! Was able to do external and baby measured 9 weeks with a strong heartbeat. She said internal scans are more accurate and if she'd done that I'd likely have gotten the 9 wk +1 day I was expecting (according to last scan).

Now the confusing bit. She can't see the bleed Dr S saw... As in, she seems my older small bleed that's under the sac and we've been aware of. And the only thing visible (in the exact shape of the described bleed) is a reflection of my bladder. So basically, she thinks it was a mistake. I don't know what to think! I will say that her machine looked much fancier than Dr S' little portable one. But could that big a discrepancy exist?!

Brilliant!
Who cares re the bleed baby is safe and sound!!!! Stress though! But Whoopy!!!

Haha very well said Trying! And we saw baby move! So incredible :)!!

Wonderful news!!!

Does the medical profession agree about anything?

Tell me about it Snoopy! It's minefield which makes it so hard to certain about every move you make.