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 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

I’m a bearded moon face!! So glad to find a chat!

Ttc for 5 years.
2mmc 2017
2mc 2017
1 ep 2018
Just found out I’m pregnant (6th) but high risk with the ectopic hurdle being the first one. Heading to a Shehata for Intralipids #1 tomorrow... was bearded before the steroids... now getting reaaaal pretty.

@LKM1 hey and welcome to the thread! Thanks for sharing your story [big hugs] and huge congratulations on your BFP, hope the intralipids went well this week? And everything crossed that this is the sticky one 😍 how long have you been on the PP (Pred Protocol)?

I am not even sure how to post to this thread, hope this works!
@Sunshineblonde1 first intralipid was today, not as bad as I thought it would be. Feeling overly anxious with the whole process, but then what do you expect! Been on PP a few months, I am not sleeping and am really thirsty, but apart from that it's been ok ish.x

@LKM1 it worked {smile}. Aww I know what you mean, it's so hard not to be wracked with anxiety and on high alert. Make sure you are super kind to yourself and taking time to relax your body and mind. Your in the right place here, lots of lovely ladies to support you. Please keep us posted on your journey. I hope I will join you soon. This is my first month back in the saddle of ttc since MMC in August. x

It’s so hard coming back to it, same to you, be kind to yourself, this journey sucks!! I haven’t read back in the group, give me a brief of your story if you don’t mind saying it again? Will keep the group updated. Night x

@LKM1 you're right, this really does freaking suck, feels like a bit of a nightmare sometimes, one day that I hope I can put behind me!!! Just so glad that there are so many in the same boat as I felt quite isolated with it before I found these Pred threads. It's really helped me feel less alone with the scary thoughts and fears and I really have learnt a lot on here.

So I've had 2 x MC, latest was in August - a MMC and opted for D&C. Opted to go private route and went to see Dr S. He diagnosed High NK cells and Very High activator cells (or whatever they are called). Plus borderline hypothyrodism and my AMH is fairly low (3.2). DH had slightly abnormal Sperm Comet Result so is on anti-oxidants. I am on the Complex Protocol but I have decided that for now I am not going to take the Pred until BFP (as you can tell I am really fighting the steoids lol!). This is first month of TTC since MC. Using Cyclogest and other prenatals he recommends, plus accupuncture and yoga . What diagnosis did you get from Dr S? x

Same as yours, high levels of NK. My AMH is high - but they also said I probably have polycystic ovaries, at 33, and years of trying and repeated AMH tests showing similar results, only when I got referred did they say that it was polycystic! I wasn't happy!! My husbands sperm comet wasn't great either, checked for varicocele but there wasn't one - so just damaged sperm.. sigh. We actually waited a long time and 3 losses to get referred to St Mary's, but they weren't a lot of help, so we paid for Shehata, and ever hopeful.

My first pregnancy was mmc, growth stopped at 6wk, lost it at 12,4. 2nd was natural and early, so was 3rd. 4th mmc, I paid for an early scan the NHS wouldn't scan me, again lost it at 6 weeks, d and c at 10 weeks. Then ectopic in March last year - fun fun haha.

I was having acupuncture which I loved, but my lady is on maternity now...... I have since been having Kinesiology, with a guy who won't get pregnant, they both help me I think, trying to get my head straight after so much heart ache. I am having counselling now through Pregnancy Crisis Care, they've been a huge help too, and I have started volunteering as a youth worker, all helps. :). Hope I get to hear your story have a happy ending x

Hi all,
Just an update as I saw Mr S again yesterday for the first time since our recent miscarriage on the programme. I am now on the Complex programme rather than high. There's not a lot of evidence to know this is what I need as we don't know what the cause of the last mc was but it's worth a try. So I have to take the Hydroxy for 6-8 weeks before we can try again so not a lot is going to be happening with me for the next couple of months.
We have also opted for the SuperOvulation programme as I really want to try and speed things up now. Can't bear the thought of a due date going on to 2020!! I really feel like 2019 is our last year with all of this stuff.

Happy to answer any questions as would love to keep this thread alive.

Hi @DaniMERL I know how you feel, another year seems an impossible option. I want this thread alive too, I have only just joined and am not on any others. Just want one with people going through a similar journey. What happens with Hydroxy? When are you 'allowed' to try again, 3 months?X

@LKM1 Welcome to the thread, congratulations and wishing you a healthy and happy pregnancy.
@DaniMERL don’t worry 6 weeks will go fast. The first week when I started taking HCQ I felt a bit sick but then my body adjusted to the medication and I had no side effect at all. You need to have your bloods and eye tests done regularly but your GP can organise that for you.
What’s the cost for super O? The steroids definitely messed up my cycle and I can’t even get pregnant now which is strange as I managed to get pregnant every time we tried last years X

@LKM1 I missed that you are pregnant! Congrats! I had the intralipids in Dec and all was fine. I felt a little sad walking through that shopping centre in Epsom yesterday thinking that last time I was there I was happily pregnant and feeling so positive. I really look forward to hearing your progress.

On the Hydroxy its 2 tablets a day and I don't think the side effects will be too bad. I have also felt a little sick even yesterday and today though. He has said 6 - 8 weeks for it to be in my system but as I've just had a miscarriage I guess it would be good to let things settle down a little anyway. We did 'accidentally' DTD twice last week which was a bit foolish as it would be a bit crap to fall pregnant right now when I have no idea what cycle day I'm on and haven't taken the Hydroxy for the right period of time. Oops.

@Megan234 I haven't found the steroids changed my cycle at all but it still took us 5 months to conceive when its always been more like 3 or less before. I found the wait so hard and I realise it's not a long time but as we have our 5yrold DD I am super anxious about the age gap and how our family will work together. It's sort of more important than having a second child in a way. So we have decided its time to throw everything we have at this!

The SuperO isn't too bad although obviously if we have to keep doing it each month it will quickly get more expensive. Hopefully it will work quickly. You have to pay for the Letrozole which is the medication you take from day 2 and helps to mature more than 1 follicle. Then you go for a scan at about day 12 and have a trigger shot. The boxes of letrozole aren't too pricy (similar to steroids) and I think the scan and trigger are about £300 - 400. I really hope we don't pay this for too many months!!! He mentioned needing an eye test after 1 year to me.

Thank you @DaniMERL I don’t have any children and have to keep going, lets hope we will get out BFP soon x

@Megan234 totally! No reason to give up at all. I just worry that I'm going to turn around after all of this with no second child and realise mine has grown up without me realising. That's not to say I don't focus on her and we still live a good life but I hate having this thing looming over us all of the time, yet I just cannot let it go for now. I feel like we are so close!

@DaniMERL I know how you feel, like you can’t be happy because this thing is constantly on your mind. We are very close now and Mr S is very positive that the combination of both drugs will works let’s hope he is right x

@DaniMERL @Megan234 I totally resonate with that, it feels like since Miscarriage-Gate my life has stalled, and although time has gone by, I have got no further towards that goal of conceiving and holding a healthy baby due to all the waiting around for test results, and medication to kick in (don't get me wrong, I know this is all absolutely necessary in order to improve chances of success but that doesn't make it less frustrating).. Who knew pregnancy could be this complicated huh! I am convinced however that 2019 is THE YEAR for us all. We are right at the beginning with 12 whole months ahead of us - one way or another we will progress and get there . There are so many options for us still yet ahead which is comforting. It is not the end of the road, it is the beginning.

@LKM1 that's so inspiring, you have been so proactive in your recovery journey and nurturing your wellbeing. Oooo Kinesiology tell us more? What is it? I saw it advertised where I go for accupuncture but wasn't sure what it was.

@Megan 234 did you have any side effects when taking the ubiquinol?

xx

daniMERL I was rock bottom. It was make or break, I’m still working progress! kinesiology is similar to acupuncture, no needles. But pressure points. It’s very out there, but honestly the things he knows is incredible!! He knew I’d had cystitis days after I had. Lots of vitamins and herbs and generally it’s tracks your body for whatit needs as it changes, pretty intuitive, if you’re into holistic options it’s a gooden to try! X

@Sunshinrblondr1 No side effects at all from Nature’s best ubiquinol, but I had some side effects from different brand x
@LKM1 kinesiology sounds amazing I might need to try it x

@LKM1 love the sound of Kinesiology and holistic approaches are right up my alley. I had an amazing experience with pressure point therapy on a wellbeing retreat in Koh Samui. The practitioner picked up my thyroid issue long before I met Dr S and his tests confirmed it!! And funnily enough I fell pregnant the cycle after I came home (I was super relaxed).

Thanks @Megan234!!

@DaniMERL hope you are getting on ok on the hydroxy

X

@Taxgirl1 how are you getting on? X

I’m so crap on these things! I’m really sorry I replied to DaniMERL not you Sunshineblonde1 let me know if you try it what you think... it’s a very odd experience, some things a little uncomfortable, let me know!!x

Yeah!! Have a go - it’s weird... you’ll see!x

@DaniMERL @LKM1 @Megan234

Hey lovelies, well I’m 12 days since getting my static smiler and I tested yesterday and today and getting a faint BFP (line a little darker today). I’ve not had any spotting or implantation bleeding. Not sure whether you get that every time eck. Dr S nurses suggest I start the Pred now as I’ve not started the steroids yet but taking everything else . I’m scared it’s a chemical as the line is faint ! X

That’s amazing news! My line was also faint at 10dpo. I also never had implantation bleeding in any pregnancy. But to get a line it’s definitely implanting! One day at a time x

@LKM1 thank you x That makes me feel better. I’m used to seeing a big strong, but I’ve never ever tested this early before I used to test around the day of my period so it’s a bit scary to see a ‘squinter’ Lol! Ofcourse the neuroticism is already kicking in with fears - ach! I am about to pop my first ever Pred. And will call for intralipids. Fingers crossed the lines will continue to get darker. X

Yep! It begins! I had my first intralipid last week, it wasn’t as awful as I’d imagined. And no I meverbtestedbso early and am notbused to squinters, I did test again the day my period was due just for reassurance and the line was darker.. but as I all know seeing a dark line and even having morning sickness doesn’t mean baby for me!... I hope this is it this time, for us both!! Keep me updated sending you love! X