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 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Harriet such wonderful news! So happy for you :)

Choo - I followed Mr S's advice and didn't get pregnant through July while I waited for my results. When I got my results (High NK Cells + potential stick bloods) I got a bit scared of the drugs mainly for the side effects and decided to try a cycle again naturally.

Halfway through August however, I chickened out and decided to ask for the meds afterall, but Mr S was on holiday. Then to my surprise, by the time my next appointment with Mr S rolled around at the end of Aug, I was pregnant.

His advice to me (which some of us on here thought was quite surprising) was to avoid the steroids and the intralipids etc. because I hadn't been taking them since conception. I am taking daily Fragmin injections however for sticky bloods, which apparently has a mild immune calming effect.

Others on this thread have taken the drugs only from a positive pregnancy test, so it could go either way if you're preg when you see him!

Woop Woop Harriet am utterly delighted for you, wonderful news!

Tee4me my cycle doesn't seem to have changed this month, however, it is always slightly different annoyingly. Last month was earlier than this month which is why i always use the pee sticks......good luck!

Justla brilliant picture and so apt, made me smile.

Glad we're all finding the new thread and carrying on with the updates, good to hear all your news and stories.

Big virtual hugs. x

Harriet I'm so thrilled for you! And 1 day ahead too, that may be a result of you feeding him/her well- well done! 9 weeks is a big one so your odds are looking great now 🙌🏼 I hope you are able to feel a little more confidence creeping in soon.

We all need one of those little 'worth the wait' rompers! Should hopefully all be using it in the next year 😊❤️🌈

Oh Harriet amazing news! So delighted for you!
Great pic Just! Our little rainbow babies will totally be worth the wait.
Off to get my Thyroid retested in a min, hope my TSH has come down, NHS so not sure how long before I get the results.
Faintest of faint lines on opk this morning, so wild guess is I'll ov Saturday perhaps, 2 days later than usual. I have that wedding on 22nd, so later ov is actually perfect, means I won't see AF til I'm back home after (was due day of the Wedding, which would have been so awkward!!) x

What OPKs do you use Tee? When you flying out to wedding? How you feeling about the flight? 🌝

I'm actually flying out the morning of the wedding, so it'll be quite a stressful day, may even have to get ready in the airport when we land if we're short for time. I come back the next day (23rd). I'm trying not to get anxious about it. I'm also doing a reading, oh gosh have to stay calm, especially on the off chance there is a baby on board! Wishful thinking!
I use cheap opks from Amazon, they generally work well for me. Actually had more of a visible line this evening, so tentatively watching this space. Going to do 3 or 4 tomorrow so I really nail the peak on its way up and down. I think the castor oil can strengthen the immune system too, so hoping I haven't over done it. I love doing this treatment though, it's soooo relaxing 😴

PS. Had a light bulb moment that it might not be the Pred delaying ov. I ovulated early last month and I remember in the past when that's happened, the following month is late.

Oh yes tee I remember you mentioning that wedding - in Ireland right? Glad that your cycle might actually help out for once - my AF could always be relied on to come at worst possible time! Obviously yours won't come at all this month fx!!

And poppy your holiday and boink fest must be soon now too! How exciting!

Hello choo - wow you are lucky to see Mr S on NHS! Will be interesting to see how his treatment compares. Poor you sounds like you've had a terrible year. Hopefully Mr S will sort it all out.

And thanks everyone for being so lovely and supportive. Really means a lot, especially as I've told hardly anyone in real life about my mcs. This thread massively reduces the burden on my poor DH!

Deffo - calm lovely articulate Tee is going to Ireland... she's a professional speaker and pilot 👩‍✈️ and she's pregnant ☺️

That's good re the Pred - I'm shitting myself about ovulation this month; really hope it's normal! The Pred has affected me so badly in other areas, I'm worried about the ovulation!

You're super close to those dungarees now Harriet 🤣😍

JoJo Maman Bebe do the cutest little onesie with embroidered rainbows on.... we used it for our 'reveal' with Tallulah.
IAnd it was her first outfit when she was born ☺️

Hope your TSH has come down tee, hopefully the results won't take too long to come through.

Choo, I've had two pregnancies that have come as a little surprise under MrS. The first, I got pregnant whilst waiting for my initial results. Sadly that one ended in mc - but not down to treatment. MrS was confident in that. We had the products of conception tested and it showed a chromosome abnormality.
This current pregnancy also came as a bit of a surprise and so far, so good. Currently 12+1 and have my NHS nuchal on Friday

Seeking, almost 2nd trimester for you too! Any ideas for your approach to the reveal?

Harriet, DP is back on the 13th and we are going back to the restaurant we had our first proper date in! Bought a new pack of OPKs and roll on late September!

That's an awesome reveal Seeking 😍
Poppy how exciting and romantic! x

Big feather/confetti filled balloon with 'Big Sister' on, for Tallulah to hold I think poppy.

Just have you done a reveal? Will you? Have you started to tell people yet??

Morning all :)

Tee, how was the thyroid test?
During the first few days of this pg I did a 17k mountain/George hike in slippy trainers, flew from western Crete to London then woke up and couldn't move with bad back for 3 days! When I found out I was pg I was beyond stressed and it didn't affect the pg so try not worry too much about it 😊😊

Poppy, I'm excited for you about this month. What's your approach this time? No temping, etc just lots of boinking and fun? How many months have you been ttc on the plan so far? Sorry for all the questions, I'm just excited haha x

Seeking, I haven't had a big reveal- don't know if I will! If I do, I may paint a rainbow on my big ole belly and have hubby hold scan pic. But I'm at risk all the way through so don't know if I can handle everyone getting excited then having to manage their expectations. I told some of the in laws and one went nuts with excitement, it freaked me out! Want all my Aussie friends to know though, so a FB reveal would be easiest way. Maybe at 16 weeks 🌈
Your reveal sounds divine! Your little Tallulah is gorgeous
Good luck with your nuchal tomorrow. Are you at the clinic for that?

xx

You should definitely do a reveal of some kind just! The rainbow on your belly sounds perfect!! You've been through the mill, you need to enjoy and revel in the joy as much as possible!
I know it's scary when you're still classed as high risk but you also deserve this and should enjoy it. I included a bit of history with my reveal and people were so sweet. It was so nice to hear such lovely comments, especially when most of us go through the heartache alone.

Scan tomorrow is just NHS. But that's fine by me. Can't really justify another £300 when the NHS one covers the same, albeit not as thoroughly.

I agree with seeking - do that reveal just!!! Are you showing yet?

Also I need some advice from both of you. So I had my 8 week Mr S scan and intralipids yesterday, but was actually 8+6 measuring 9. My next appointment is scheduled for 2 weeks' time when I'll be 10+5/6, just for a scan.

I was wondering whether it's worth just cancelling that one and arranging the nuchal scan for the week after when I'll be 12 weeks? Since I don't need intralipids and also could do with saving £250!

Also don't know whether to get the harmony test or not. If money was unlimited I would, but it isn't and I feel like since we're both 30 we must be fairly low risk. Then again my grandma had a Down's syndrome baby (my much loved uncle) when she was 24 so maybe that's silly. Did you wait for the nuchal results or do them both at the same time?

So glad all was good harriet!

Loved seeing/hearing about people's reveal photo's/stories!

I didn't do reveal posts at 12 weeks with either pregnancy - both ties I have been too scared to, incase anything happens later on. I even avoided putting photos on that show a pregnancy bump, although I have told closest friends and people as I've seen them.

When DS1 was born I just put a picture of him on social media saying something like, after a 3 year journey our rainbow baby is finally here.....this time i'l probably put Team Baldwin now complete!

I should do a reveal but feel I may just go for the baby pic on arrival, like you Sunny 🌞 Wearing an adorable rainbow/ worth the wait romper 🌈

Seeking, any Nucal is great! You get to see little one wriggling around for way longer than usual which is exciting.

Harriet, I would totally recommend you do as you said with waiting for the nuchal and perhaps get an NHS scan in interim (if that suits you)
I wouldn't bother paying for the harmony, the professor at the clinic looks at so many physical attributes that indicate downs, I bet his actual personal accuracy rate is closer to the harmony anyway! He will look at major organs, brain etc, in detail and look at blood flow around them organs. Also blood flow to and from placenta, plus anything else you want him to look at (he roughly checked my cervix length and corpus leutem as I asked)
So I personally recommend you save on harmony and go nuchal with Mr S clinic.

Xx

Thanks justla - think I will do as you suggest. What made you go for harmony in the end though - was it because you wanted to find out the sex? Can't believe you haven't told us btw!

Well boinkfest is happening and DH and I are being like the proverbial rabbits.
I am not liking the pred at all I have put some weight on despite not eating anything different have cut out the fizzy drinks and cola.
On count down to prof Q now :)

Haha sorry, I'll tell anyone who's interested in a pm, but I'm worried about this being a public board and have told people I'm on a fab group on mumsnet- don't wanna ruin the surprise for family 😂😂
I went for harmony as was in the frame of mind that everything was going to go wrong in this pregnancy. I wouldn't have done it in hindsight, it's great but both NHS and clinic nuchals came back low risk. It did however help us rule out downs when we found the heart issue, so all is not lost. If you have any concerns after nuchal, you can always consider it again.
Will PM you 💙💗

Enjoy your B-Fest Sheepy!

Sorry seeking another question - are
you having intralipids? As I am and my next ones are scheduled for 12 weeks, and because Mr S makes you have a scan before intralipids (which costs £250), my understanding was that he would swap that scan for the nuchal one, so it's actually only £50
more than what I'd effectively have to pay anyway - is that right? I will definitely be having my NHS 12 week scan though anyway as want to be released back to the NHS at some point.

I'm done with intralipids now Harriet. I decided to stick to the high plan rather than the complex plan, I felt like it worked fine last time, so would do the exact same this time. I kind of don't get the complex plan - most people with our issues miscarry far earlier than 12+ weeks, and he has you wean off pred at 12 weeks regardless. Again I feel it's money making, over anything else.
I've not heard of anyone go on to miscarry due to their immune issues that late. Obviously he must have his reasons.
My scans were all thrown out by dates keep changing etc so I had a 6, 9 &11week scan. Skipping the 12 week one and going straight to 16 weeks. Had intralipids at 5 & 9 weeks.

Go for the nuchal at the clinic if that's the way you're verging and you're there anyway. For only £50 more it's not so bad if you're paying for a scan anyway, for me I just didnt see the point. It's a long trip and extra money and again I did just the NHS one last time. If the NHS one comes back high risk I will have the harmony.

Good luck with boinkfest sheepy! Enjoy!!

Thanks seeking that makes sense. TBH I'm not sure why I'm on the complex plan (my NK cell nos are normal, think cytotoxicity was 27% which though high I don't think is extreme) and agree with you re the intralipids at 16 weeks. After my 6 week scan Mr S said that he expected everything to progress fine as I had lost all of mine prior to that point. I will have to ask him about that next time.

But since I am getting intralipids at 12 weeks I think I will go for the nuchal then as well, and give the harmony a miss unless nuchal flags a high risk.

Thanks so much for the help and advice. Finally starting to allow myself the thought that I might actually reach that point!