Immune/NK issues - aka Pred Thread no. 21!

[Tee4me]

Roll call for all moony faces!! 🌝🌝🌝

Waiting for our rainbows 🌈❤️💛💚💙💜

Tee4me
Age: 34
TTC DC#2 since December 2015
x2 MCs (second was 'missed')
DS turns 5 this month 😱
Seeing Dr Shehata - diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and aggressive NK cells
Currently on cycle 2 of Pred and week 6 of Thyroxine
CD10, expecting to ovulate at the end of the week 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Hmmm Luna sounds a bit odd. Other than last month, is this a normal occurrence? Or are we thinking it's pred weirdness happening? How many dpo are you? I think it took me two cycles after starting pred to get back to normal -but this was with switching to starting pred after I was certain I ovulated. I did get a BFP on the third cycle but it ended up being a horrible long winded chemical (miscarried at 6 wks 2 days after being hospitalized and prepped for tube removal surgery!).

Haven't announced to anyone yet! Waiting until we can see DH's parents next week and then hoping to tell the SIL's in person afterward. Then tell everyone else. After being brought forward a week that'll make us almost 15 weeks then! I'm so tempted to tell my family but they are such blabbermouths (ha!) they'd end up putting it on Facebook and that's just not how we want other people to find out. So ready to spill the beans!

Blimey @Drttc it's really happening!!!!

I'm sorry you had a shit time on the Pred... I fear that's it's messed me up too, as I O'd 4-days late, and have had cramps since Monday (I'm 9DPO).

Can't seem to get pregnant now I have all the drugs in me to keep me pregnant! Typical.... ffs!

Yay drttc so exciting! We are telling all the inlaws this weekend - I can't wait as they will be so happy. It's the first grandchild on both sides (my mum already knows) and MIL in particular is just desperate for a grandchild. She loves knitting baby clothes so we've bought a few balls of really soft cashmere wool and going to give them to her with a card saying she needs to get knitting!

I emailed the prof about the low hcg btw and he said it means nothing whatsoever and nothing to worry about! Apparently low Papp-a can indicate potential placental issues, though it's fine for most people. Phew!

luna it's so annoying you don't know yet, but almost there!

Welcome schnitzel! So great that you've had 3 babies! Apparently NK cells can fluctuate over time - maybe that's why you didn't need pred for your DS? I though heparin was for blood issues? I've "only" got aggressive NK cells and hypothyroidism, blood is fine, and I'm on pred and intralipids. Haven't even taken aspirin since week 4 as I was spotting. Oh and cyclogest too.

Luna it really sucks I know! But I promise you that everyone I've heard say they've had this happen on our thread (and there have been many) ended up getting their cycle right back to normal :-) And it's also super common for hyper fertiles to start the protocol and suddenly no BFP for ages! Of my 4 miscarriages: 1 was an unplanned BFP, 2 were conceived first month of ttc, and the last was 3 months ttc (the first pred attempt). Then DS took 6 months! I properly thought my womb had suddenly broken. But of course it was well worth the wait for a healthy BFP.

Harriet that's so exciting! Your MIL will be in bits! Telling my DH's parents was one of the best nights of our lives. Our DS ended up being the first grandchild on both sides too which I admit it was such a honor making them grandparents. He's just under 14 months and now his little bro/sis will be the 4th grandchild! Proper baby boom! I'm glad you've been reassured about the hcg too.

THANKS Drttc! That’s certainly makes me feel a lot better! I’m being impatient!!

But I have made a gorgeous boozy brunch date with my BFF for next Sat in case it’s a BFN - it’s time to start living and enjoying 2017; I’m going to end the year on a high regardless of outcome!

Drttc, so pleased it's all going so well for you. Lovely to hear. October will be exciting!

Welcome Schitzel, sorry for your bad experiences but so nice that you had 3 glowing successes!
If you want another child, totally go for it!
Your most recent loss could have easily been a chromosomal issue but next time I would go whole hog with the meds to avoid it happening again, it's too consuming and traumatic xx
Why do you need the Heparin?

Luna, even with X-ray, you probably wouldn't see a thing, frustrating! Only a couple of days til testing day for you, wooooooooot 🙌🏼

Harriet, it's so lovely to get the news out there! No more hiding and keeping secrets, very liberating!

Xxx

GOOD news team!

I ovulated 4 days late... I’m 10dpo today, no symptoms other than this period cramping for the last 8 days... but...

I’m pregnant! 🌈🤞🙏

YAY luna this is making me so happy!!! Another pred baby for us - feel like we are such a lucky group!

I'm having such a nice weekend -
told the inlaws last night and they were over the moon. FIL cried! it's so nice to share some good news and feel so loved, after all the shit we've been through.

Was the best news to wake up to Luna! 💗💗💗💗
Harriet, that's fab! So glad it went well for ya 😊
Xx

Omg Luna CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Absolutely wonderful news!!! Yay!

Harriet- that's so lovely. You deserve these beautiful moments!

THANKS ladies! I’m happy - can’t wait to get to a safe date and relax!!

Awwww Harriet.... I’m delighted for you - how sweet and special for you and the family! Baby Spy is going to be a mega spoiled bundle of deliciousness ❤️❤️🌈

That's fantastic news Luna, congratulations! Looking forward to more updates.

Thanks @ferntwist - I’m a happy one at the moment!

Wow lunaB congratulation and hearty wishes.
Harriet happy for u and delightful moment.hope u start enjoying pregnancy.
Poppy i think pred prepare body as long we take,dont worry these months make body baby friendly start ttc again.

Iam worried waiting for scan next week.my only concern bfp was little late and started pred by 5 week.its so pancking for me,since i didnt had pred for my 4 th week.anyone ,have taken like this and gone succesful pregnancy.its quite nerve recking and pray for good.

Drttc and seekingmiracle thanks very much for support.just hoping for normal and happy pregnancy.
Drttc congratulation on scan finally start enjoying pregnancy.seeking how its going?

Justla how its going .hope u are more relaxed in second trimester.
Welcome all new members and you will get all best support here.

Sorry for posting then disappearing, will write proper personals tonight. Turns out I have a uterine infection after the D&C so been in a lot of pain but now taking shedloads of antibiotics and hopefully on the mend

Huge, huge congratulations @LunaB!!!

@Bala03, I have spoken to a couple of women that started the pred later than you and were fine 😊 Your HGC was looking strong at 5+3 so fingers crossed your scan will show a strong HB this week!
I'm feeling much more relaxed now, can feel baby kicking and moving often, it's crazy!! But wonderful at the same time.

Schnitzel, sorry about your horrible infection, it must be very uncomfortable, you poor thing xx I hope you make a speedy recovery!

Hi Bala, thanks for the encouragement. I do feel the Pred is working gradually to make my body right. JustLa is correct; plenty of women have been fine despite starting the Pred later than expected. Have you had any worrying symptoms? Which day is your scan?

Justla thanks for positive words.i googled all day couldnt find much things about late medication.thanks words are comforting.
Poppy thanks for asking,not much pregnancy symptom may be pred masked,little back sciatic nerve pain come and goes.to be honest ,everything worries me no symptoms either symptoms.i got scan on wednesday.fingers crossed.
Schnitzel sorry for pain going through .i had vaginal infection after first mc.antibiotics were horrible.my naturopathy told me to take lot of fruit juice with wheat grass powder and tender coconut water,vitamin c.i felt much better later.hope you get well soon.

OH no Schnitzel you poor thing! I know how that feels used to I have them recurrently! 😷 feel better hun!!

Thank you Bala! As the girls say, It’s not the end of the world to start a week late - don’t worry (easy to say I know) - can’t wait to hear about your scan!! 🙏🌈❤️

I’ve either got a tummy bug or reacted to Cyclogest badly as was up from 3am being sick today!

I emailed Nadia and she thinks it’s unlikely to be the Cyclogest tho (but Google says a surge in progesterone can cause nausea so....🤔)

I’m also spotting a bit 😱 so Nadia told me to stop the aspirin and double the Cyclogest lol! So let’s see what happens this week re my nausea!

Booked in for my 1st intralipids on Thursday!! I’m really trying to be calm and happy 😃

So glad your nuchal went well Drttc!! So exciting! Have you told family now?

Schnitzel- welcome to the mad house! So sorry you've experienced such shit, but 3 successful pregnancies is amazing. Really hope that a little tweak with the drugs will do the trick and get you another beautiful bubba to add to the team. Sorry you e had a rotten infection, hope that clears up soon.

Bala remind me, when is your next scan??

I'm 16 weeks today! Done the big reveal! Everyone super chuffed, if not a little surprised.
Will hopefully find out the sex of the baby tomorrow at my last appointment with DrS. Still get scanxiety, even at this stage. Can't wait to start feeling movement! And get a bump rather than just a fat gut!

Wow, so much great news on this thread. Congratulations Seekingmiracles.

Thanks Seeking! Wonderful- can't believe you're already 16 weeks. Please tell us the gender when you hear. Any guesses?? So glad the news was well received!

We're both kind of 'over' it being a secret now and finding it so hard not to tell! By dating scan I'm 14 weeks today so it's like 'Argh I'm allowed to say already!!' Telling DH's parents on Friday, then sending out messages/telling the rest of friends and fam on Saturday. Getting super nervous! Think we're going to need to have a thick skin for some of the surprised reactions.

Such good news on this thread, it really is brilliant to read

Seeking - thank you for the welcome! It's still hard to believe that I've had 3 successful pregnancies (but then I see the full-to-the-top washing basket and I believe again!). I really hope I don't have to go through the RPL stuff all over again, it's such crap to go through isn't it? Congrats on reaching 16 weeks and I hope the scan goes swimmingly xx

Drttc - Hope the pregnancy reveal elicits some really lovely reactions, even if surprised ...

Bala03 - Thank you for the ideas to counteract the nastier antibiotic effects and fingers and toes tightly crossed for your scan tomorrow. Your hcg numbers look really promising xxx

Luna - fingers crossed that the spotting stays away now the aspirin's been stopped and cyclogest's been doubled. Poor you having uterine infections recurrently - yikes, it sounds really unpleasant. Hope the tummy bug has gone away now ...

Re: your question to me from page 3, it went like this (and writing it down, makes me realise that I've been either TTC, or TTA, with charting for the last decade:

MCs 1, 2 and 3: April, Sept and Dec 2007 (all conceived in first 1 or 2 cycles of trying - I was aged 24 and doing my MA then PhD)
DD1: conceived Jan & born Sept 2008
DD2: conceived first try June 2009; born early Feb 2010
DS: conceived (accidentally) Jan & born early Aug 2012
We decided that 3 was quite enough for us. Until I got a brilliant, permanent job that would actually allow us to try for a 4th ...
Leading to MC #4 conceived first try Aug '17.

Writing it all down, I feel like I'm a one-woman proof of the hyperfertility hypothesis and of course I also realise how bloody lucky I am to have what I have. It's probably greedy to try for just one more.

Just - thanks for the good wishes. Feeling loads better already (apart from the raging thrush ... sorry if TMI!). The heparin definitely isn't a need, more of a preference: Prof Quenby recommends it to support the placentation process even if clotting disorders haven't been detected (I know that Mr S doesn't though). Fingers crossed it was a chromosomal loss - really wish the gynae had agreed to chromosomal testing (they flat out refused).

Harriet - I've been following stalking your progress and it has been brilliant to see you get a sticky bfp ... I hadn't thought about it but believe you're absolutely right re: NK cells fluctuating between pregnancies so we may not need pred every time - annoying that mine may have flared up again :(

• good to hear that your experiences of Coventry were so positive. My current thinking is that I will have another shot at pregnancy with pred etc. and if the next one fails too, I'm absolutely taking time for testing and to regroup.

As for me, it's been really weird walking this path of pregnancy loss again when I thought for a long time it was just part of my past (because our TTC days were done). Definitely easier when you've got small people to cuddle, but also worrying with increased age. A different decision process about whether it's worth pushing through further potential losses and the impact it could have on one's existing family. I realise that a lot of my anxiety and sadness is just a hangover from my previous experiences, but it's really galling to be treated as if my past doesn't exist by medical professionals - it does, and it's reasonable to find the current loss a bit harder because of the really difficult experiences of loss in my past. I think I'm expecting too much from the NHS sadly.

Apologies if I missed anyone from the personals