Immune/Natural Killer Cell treatment for those ttc or pregnant. (AKA the 19th pred thread!)

[Seekingmiracles]

The new thread for anyone ttc or pregnant with immune issues or natural killer issues. Welcome ladies!

@jaffacakes16 @pickledsausage and anyone else on steroids. So I'm massively jumping the gun here but if you were prescribed prednisolone, when did you start taking it? Was it before ovulation/before bfp or after?

I'm asking because my fertile window will probably end the day before I have my appointment with dr S where he goes through my results, and I'm wondering whether I should ttc that cycle or wait until the one after I've had my results? Issue is that DH has to go somewhere with zika risk in august, and you're advised not to ttc for 6 months after that, so I'm desperate to conceive before if I can and don't want to miss a month unnecessarily.

I was meant to start on bfp but I felt preggers from a few days before that so had already started just in case.

Morning @harriet! I was advised to begin to take them your expected ovulation day but I think the first month I took them slightly late too - same situation with you with the appointment timing, he will be able to advise. You take for 10 days and take a first response test, if negative stop taking them, positive, carry on.

Re zika, if your husband isn't bitten you are fine to carry on TTC. Just make sure he goes armed with all the right advice/sprays etc. I think (someone correct me if I'm wrong) you can get tested when you return home anyway to see if you've been infected.

I hope you are doing well xx

@pickledsausage is that true re zika? Everything I've read online (foreign office advice etc) is that men have to wait 6 months from last possible exposure to zika, even if not bitten. It's so frustrating! But I will look into the testing and maybe mention to dr s.

I'm hoping I'm wrong about FW anyway and it's a bit delayed- no idea really what will happen as it's first one post mc.

Oh gosh @harriet I'm sorry if that's wrong, I was looking a few months ago when we were planning a holiday but perhaps it's changed. I read www.cdc.gov/zika/pregnancy/women-and-their-partners.html as that but it's definitely worth discussing properly with your doctor to get the most up to date advice.

Ahh yeah first one could be a little delayed. Good luck xx

Yes @pickledsausage your link does say 6 months for men - rubbish isn't it! A deadline is all I need!

Oh well. We should have a couple of cycles to try before then and it's been first time "lucky" so far.

How is everyone else doing?

harriet I was told to take pred from ovulation but I waited until three days after a positive opk to start as I think the first cycle I tried I took it the day of the positive test and ended up delaying ovulation by ten days. The second cycle it worked a charm and because it was only one day before af was due the positive test wasn't a squinter.

@harriet, it's so frustrating, and seemingly over zealous! Hopefully a test when he gets back will be able to rule it out. I can't remember if I mentioned on this thread or another but it took us a year to conceive this time and it was the first month using preseed, so it may be a coincidence but maybe worth a try to speed things up. You can also ask Mr S about the super ovulation plan, it's taking a drug similar to clomid and self administered hormone injections to release more than one egg. We decided to give it another month or two but would have gone down that route (and will if this doesn't work out).

I am doing ok thanks, on holiday at the moment and wishing it away as I have my first scan on Monday! I just can't wait to find out if it's all ok. I've been trying to balance being positive and not getting my hopes up too much but they are definitely up! I just hope with all of the drugs it will make a difference. I've had a few pains on my right side so have niggles in the back of my mind that it could be ectopic but then I also had surgery on my right ovary in December so I'm hoping that the area just isn't fully healed and where my uterus is stretching it's affecting it a little.

Argh i just don't know how we'll handle it if it's not good news.

Thanks for the replies. pickled wishing you all the best for your scan - how many weeks will you be?

I've just seen Dr S and waiting for my blood tests. He didn't really say much other than early miscarriages like mine are the hardest to treat, and definitely not to ttc before getting the results, so that answers my last question. Feeling quite sad really, even though I'm glad to get the ball rolling and I know need the results of these tests before can move forward. I just wish I wasn't in this position in the first place, but don't we all.

7+3 for the scan, you're supposed to have it at 6+3 ish but I'm on hols this week so have had to wait. Hopefully will be able to see more though.

It is a horrible position to be in but you're not alone and there is hope. I hope he comes up with some answers for you. Is it 2 weeks for the results? Treat yourself kindly and maybe book some things in to look forward to, to help the time go quicker (even though I understand days feeling like weeks when you're waiting for something like this!!) xx

Hello all, I m new to this thread..watching this space for about a month now..Glad to hear few positive stories after taking prednisolone.
I hav had 6 miscarriages so far (4 natural and 2 IVF), all the NHS tests came out normal including the uNK test in Coventry so not been prescribed any steroids, only Clexane and progesterone..
So visited Dr.Shehata last month and did all the immunes test, my NK cells came as high so been prescribed prednisolone and intralipids along with aspirin. Hoping it brings some success this time..Have anyone had any side effects when on prednisolone?
Good luck to all..

Hi @hopeful, sorry you find yourself here. I've found the pred absolutely fine, my heart has raced a couple of times but it passes quickly.

Hopeful I've put on a stone and had an insatiable appetite, also pretty queasy at the start but not sure if that's all due to being pregnant or the pred. Either way not horrendous side effects but will be glad to come off it anyway.

Hey everyone I am being treated by Dr Shehata at the moment, on the prednisolone steroids at the moment should be ovulating any day now but cycles been a little weird since my last miscarriage in Feb, have had 5 miscarriages and potentially starting IVF in August. Wanted to share my story with you as it can all feel quite lonely, I can get pregnant but not last 6 weeks, been trying for the last 5 years, married for 6 years no children yet! I'm keeping my fingers crossed with Dr Shehata wondered if there had been many success stories with him? Anyone could share? Happy to also meet for coffee if any ladies are on the same treatment and in the London area? Thanks

I meant haven't got past 6 weeks, seen a heartbeat at 6 weeks then it stopped :(

Hi @amra sorry you find yourself here too. Have you just started the treatment with mr s or have you had miscarriages whilst under his care too?

Not a success story yet but have just come from my first scan with mr s @ 7 weeks and all is looking good so far. I know there are lots of ladies on this thread though that have had their babies now, some even on their second. There is hope xx

Hi @pickledsausage thank you so much for the reply - I started the treatment in Jan 2017 but had my 5th miscarriage in Feb this year, had a months break then started again last month, but it's just a waiting game.

Congratulations on your 7 weeks - did you have many miscarriages before you fell pregnant? It's amazing to hear how successful dr S treatment has been, I guess I have to stay positive xx

Hi amra just wanted to say I'm about to start treatment with dr shehata (hopefully). I get my test results back next week. So sorry to hear of your losses. I've had 3 mcs in the last year, 2 natural and the last one missed. I had so much hope for that one as I thought I'd got past 6 weeks but no!

Such great news pickled! I was thinking of you today. Did you see a heartbeat?

Hi Harriet that's great news about starting treatment with dr S I wish you the best :) thank you for your kind words, it's been a tough couple of years, we really hope it works with him as we've heard amazing things.

Oh @amra that must have been even more heartbreaking & disappointing. I have everything crossed for you that you get pregnant again soon! I've been harping on about it but we'd been trying a year since last mc and pre seed worked for us the first month we used it. Maybe worth a go.

I had 2 miscarriages before going to see mr s, one blighted ovum discovered at an early scan and one missed @ 12 weeks. As it was later we decided something must be wrong and went for the tests. I know it's not fail safe but the drugs are definitely helping to keep me more positive.

@harriet87 yes lovely little heartbeat pounding away! I cried with relief! However I had a scan around now in my last pregnancy and all was fine so I know there's still a long way to go. But first hurdle is complete :)

amra has your treatment changed after your recent mc? Did dr s offer any explanation? Fingers crossed for the next time - are you testing soon?

To hopeful, amra and the other new people here, I wish you all the best of luck.

I had 12 early losses, after having had 2 sons beforehand. Went through standard RMC tests, went to Coventry, eventually saw Mr Shehata on NHS and diagnosed with high Nk's. Fell pregnant first cycle of ttc using prednisolone and I'll be 18 weeks this Saturday. Had scans so far at 5+1, 6+4, 8+4, 9+4, 11+4 and 16+3 plus the Panorama test and we are expecting a healthy little girl. I have no doubt that I would not be in this position without the prednisolone. I had a repeat scratch at Coventry 2 cycles before the one we conceived in and also took doxycycline as did my husband following testing positive for a CD138 test at Coventry, whether either of these made a difference too we will never know. Was taking coq 10 and NAC to boost egg quality in the lead up to ttc along with the stuff recommended by Shehata. I stopped drinking completely a while back and DH barely touched a drop from Oct-Jan when we conceived.

Hope you are all soon getting sticky BFP's, I was fed the line of early losses being difficult to treat, it would seem not if you try prednisolone!

@loopy, 12 :( I'm so so sorry. I'm so glad you're getting your happy ending now though! Let's hope pred works for us all xx

@harriet no the treatment is still the same, dr Shehata thought it was a just an early chemical pregnancy, my hcg levels were really low at 11, ovulating today but started taking the preds about 7 days ago cycle as hard to judge when to start taking them as was a little over the place since the last miscarriage, testing in a week or so maybe too early to test, does anyone know if it matters if you start taking the preds earlier than you actually ovulate?