Immune/NK issues - aka Pred Thread no.20!

[harrietm87]

Hi all, thought I'd get the ball rolling on the new thread.

Welcome all with immune/natural killer cell issues.

It's been a while since a new thread so thought it might be helpful if we all added our stats:

I'm harriet, age 30, TTC#1.
3 mcs (2 at 5 weeks, 1 mmc at 9 weeks).
Hypothyroid and high NK cells.
Cycle 2 on pred!

On my way to hospital pessary inserted at 5:50 am tired I did not sleep very well at all, I am feeling relieved that it is almost over. I am not doing so good without coffee

Good luck sheepy

Thinking of you Sheepy x

sheepy hope it all goes well today. Take care of yourself.

seeking I completely understand the self preservation instinct - think we all do! - but i haven't given up hope for you yet. Differences in scanners can be extreme when things are so small. With my mmc I had an early NHS scan which showed a gestational sac and yolk sac (I was 7 weeks so knew it was bad). My repeat scan was 2 weeks later so I booked a private scan in between. The private scan could not see the yolk sac, even though she spent ages looking for it. Said it was definitely not there and must have been reabsorbed. When I went for my repeat NHS scan a week later the yolk sac was very much still there and had grown! (Sadly the baby hadn't). Just proves how much variation there can be and how tricky to see stuff in there. Not long to wait now - it's tues isn't it?

drttc almost there for you. Hope you're doing ok.

tee hope you've been enjoying FW!!!

Seeking, I understand why you're concerned- there is so much to worry about in these early stages but so many 'worrying' stories turn out perfectly well. The trust in your own body is something I, and I'm guessing many of us have concerns with. There's a definite logic to your thinking but it doesn't for a second mean things are doomed. Only 6 (long) days til your scan I think? Then hopefully you'll have a solid positive result and can feel less limbo-ish. You've had one little miracle so you know you can do it ⭐️

How are you getting along Harriet? Managing to stay sane? And are you feeling any new symptoms or side effects?

Xx

Am done, back on ward just had 2 cups of coffee and I am feeling pretty good. Would today be CD #1 or cd #17? I have also been given some amazing follow up treatment as well. The surgeon who did the erpc is very much pro treatment for RMC and I will be leaving with an appointment for the Willow Centre and a letter giving me direct access to Heparin from the Moment I find out I am pregnant. I now want my own bed and a cuddle from DD

Sheepy, good for you for feeling better despite everything. I don't think you can count on it being a particular cycle day given the circumstances; presumably you may have to wait a few weeks to ovulate? Its hard to say but I think the body thinks it is pregnant when materials are retained beyond the MC. Have you had a negative pregnancy test yet? I ovulated about 4 weeks after the last products passed, which was 3 weeks after I got my negative test result.

Look after yourself and eat well. I guess you know the drill xx

Well done Hun, be safe and cosy and feel better, finally ❤️❤️

Pregnancy tests have all been negative, since 26th, they did think it would be passed with AF as it was sat at the top of cervix.
I am off home to curl up in my bed. I am just relieved that it is all over, time to start getting a few answers.

Ok, so you could be well advanced from cycle day 1. Hard to say. Do you use OPKs?

Sheepy I'm so glad you've been given the go ahead for heparin. It's crazy they hadn't put you on it before. You should at least be on heparin, low dose aspirin, progesterone and prednisolone by the sounds of things, when you are ready to go again (and it seems you have that on your mind at the mo) Some people find just the aspirin makes the difference.
Cuddle up and get some good recovery time in. The hospital should be able to give you a note for work if you need time off
Xxx 💐

Yep it's hard to say sheepy - id start using the opks if I were you. It's def possible to conceive after a mc before AF arrives - happened to me earlier this year.

But the main thing I think is to take care of yourself as your body has been through so much. Lots of rest and eating well. I started taking coq10 after my last mc and I think seeking would recommend DHEA too? (Though not if you have certain conditions inc thyroid problems so check it out if you haven't already). Hope you can have a relaxing weekend.

I'm fine justla thanks for asking. Heading off to a weekend long 30th party so will be a struggle to hide lack of drinking for next 3 days. Luckily DH (for me not poor him!) has had a bug so we've both said we're a bit under the weather so hopefully can just use that excuse.

Glad all went well sheepy, get some rest. Not sure where it would put you cycle wise but I think it would be wise to wait until af at least.

While I don't want to say that DHEA is the answer, I felt like it was worth a shot. Not sure if it did make a difference or not but I wanted to put as much effort in as possible. Definitely do your research though, it's quite strong.

Scan is Wednesday morning. So not too long now, quite busy between now and then so should go quickly.

Justla- I definitely had a few times where I freaked out thinking I had reduced movements, but I'd always end up being able to pick them up again when I took some quiet time away to check. Sometimes baby is just having a quieter time.

Sheepy I really hope you're feeling comfortable and cared for at home right now x

Seeking Now you say you ovulated later it actually makes me even more optimistic about the situation. I understand the need to guard your heart though. Thinking of you while you wait for this next scan as I know it's a big one x

Judgement day is tomorrow for me- at noon. I'm going back and forth between expecting to see nothing (meaning ectopic) and expecting a gestational sac. Sometimes I feel embarrassed to find myself thinking I'll actually have a great scan. My hormones are certainly raging going in to this which is natural regardless of the direction this pregnancy is going. I wish I could just chill!

Oh drttc, you poor thing, I feel your pain and worry my dear... I'm anxiously waiting for your news tomorrow... hope you can sleep and stay strong - the calmness will come when it comes 🙏🙏🙏

Awww thanks Luna, you're too kind. Sorry AF is being awful. Maybe enjoy a nice glass of wine tonight... It is Friyay after all ;-)

Done

Haha that looks soo good!!

Hope you manage to have a few giggles at the 30th Harriet, despite all your worries and not being able to mask them with wine!

Seeking, it really isn't long- I bet that egg of yours will be a good one ⭐️ Sorry for my ignorance but what is DHEA? I learn sooo much in here.

Drttc, I appreciate how big tomorrow is for you, 'I'm hoping for good news for you' isn't strong enough. I really will be thinking of you xxx 🤞🏻

Luna, get that in ya! There have been so many occasions when I've wanted to sink a bowl of that, but glad I can't and in the nicest possible way- I hope you can't this time next month either! 🍾

xxx

Will be thinking of you tomorrow Drttc, everything is crossed for you. Let us know as soon as you can, we're all rooting for you. I know exactly what you mean about feeling embarrassed about feeling optimistic too. That's how I feel, every time the doom feeling lessens.

Just .. don't worry. I knew nothing about it either until my 4mc (chromosome abnormality). It's a hormone which is supposed to improve egg quality. Ifv clinics in the states generally recommend it to patients as common practise. Not suitable for everyone but has fab results. I read about it in 'It starts with an Egg' - FAB book by the way!!
www.centerforhumanreprod.com/services/infertility-treatments/dhea/whatis/

Luna I'm jealous of your wine!! I'm normally a bit of a wino! Lol! A definitely miss the odd glass when preggers!!

We have a street party tomorrow, I've told one neighbour, so she could help me avoid our other neighbour who is an absolute enabler when it comes to drinking! Today my accomplice told me she's also preggers! Very early. But least we can be sober together! And have a plan in place to get us through! Lol!

I feel so hungry/sick, if you get what I mean. You know when you're so hungry you feel sick. Not sure if that is preggo related or pred related. Never had proper nausea so not sure if this is mild 'morning sickness' or not.

Thank you Just & Seeking, twas a delish 1/2 bottle of wine drunk by 18:25 after a particularly hectic commute home 👌

That hormone sounds interesting Seeking... god knows the state of my eggs 🙄 - I was v nauseous with DS, from 6-16 weeks! Put on a stone in that time as I had to eat all day to not puke, but the only thing I could stomach was cheap white bread lol... so stuff away, make yourself feel better 😆

Good luck Drttc - keep us posted 🙏

Hope everyone has a great weekend, Harriet, down some shots of water to look like tequila 😜

Hope sheepy is feeling snugly and nice

Thinking of you today DrTTC 💫 Finally some much needed answers and fingers crossed for good news.

Xx

Good luck Drttc 😘
Sheepy I hope you have a chilled weekend ahead and can hide under your duvet if you need to x

Eeekkk I don't know if I should even take Pred today now. Positive opk Thursday which suggested Friday ovulation. But then I got a stonking positive yesterday too. I'm 75% sure the egg would have popped yesterday or even overnight, but there's a chance it'll be today if my LH surge was drawn out, so wondering if I should delay steroids until tomorrow. But then that's risking a 2 day gap between ovulation and meds. Head spinning!! 🙈

I'd start it tomorrow tee, it's not going to implant until at least 7dpo, so a 2 day gap won't make much difference. Plus will mean you can stay on it until potentially 11/12 dpo so can leave it longer to test if you wish.

Good luck drttc xx