Immune/NK issues - aka Pred Thread no. 22!

[HappyApple05]

Helllooooo dearies

Opening this new thread looking for a light in the tunnel during my journey towards conception. Would be nice to walk along with people in the same journey. To cut my story short, 3 miscarriages and referred to Mr.S, diagnosed with high NK cells and lupus positive, already on levothyroxine. After 2 weeks of staring at the med pack, I have now finally started on Aspirin, Vit D and Pregnacare plus. Awaiting Ovulation to start on Pred protocol.

Miscarriage history:

1. July 2017 - In my 12 week scan, found foetus with no hb (6 weeks foetus size), devastated! Had severe morning sickness, didn't predict anything negative. Took my son (6 years then) to the scan planning to break the surprise where he could see his sibling in scan.. We all broke down, opted d&c

1. March 2018 - started bleeding in 6 weeks and miscarried naturally.

1. July 2018 - spotted in 6 weeks, scan at EPU no pole, returned when 9 weeks along, still nothing, opted d&c

Bought the ovu predictor kit for the first time, counting days to use it. Any of you in the same position? Would be great to hear your stories and cheer each other up towards the destination. Previous threads were beautiful, so supportive but sadly the latest post was in Sep 2017. So most of them would have crossed the bridge. Decided to start on a fresh thread.. So here we are....

Looking forward to catching up... Take care you guys.... Plenty of baby dust to everyone

Thanks so much, the fear is starting to set in a bit now. Big worry is if this goes wrong again the scarring could come back and I'll be back to square one, with more costly surgery. Deep breaths!
@fnej01 only taken the pred for 11 days so far so not much experience compared to others but haven't noticed any major side effects so far. Had insomnia the last two nights but also had this in week 3 of 2nd pregnancy so not sure it's linked. I do feel like I've been burning up in the night and having faint cramps for the last few days though which I'd thought was from the cyclogest, but maybe very early pregnancy too. Interested to hear how others have found it especially further down the line xx

@fnej01 the way I see it is pregnancy is going to wreak havoc on our bodies anyway, and the med doses are small and short term, so is it worth the risk of NOT taking them ⚖❤️

Guys, sorry I am going to but in and ask a quick question. I am 18.5 weeks but since last week I have been having morning sickness - much worse than my week 6,7 ones. Any idea if this is normal? Xxxxxx

@fnej01
I have been on the pred protocol since Aug/sept?
It took 5 months to initially conceive but the baby did not develop (nothing to see at 6 wk scan but no miscarriage as such). I changed to Pred and Hydroxy and had a break in Feb whilst Hydroxy was taking effect. A v v early chemical in March and am now, fingers crossed, nearly 7 wks. So I’ve been on the pred for a long time except for the break in Feb and I really don’t think I have any side effects.
I have put on a bit of weight and slightly puffy face but I also haven’t been eating very carefully. I sleep okay but sometimes find it hard to get back to sleep when I wake in the night. In Jan I did start to notice a slight moustache developing but not noticed it as much this time. I do have anxiety but that’s probably just a situational thing.

@NixWix my friend had morning sickness all the way through, especially if she didn't eat a big breakfast, do you need to eat more now the baby is getting bigger and taking more from you? 🤔

@Chickjen I think that could be it! I have not been eating enough simply cause I have decreased appetite unlike first trimester when I could anything. Thank you! How are you? I am going to respond to other threads soon, as soon as I feel a little better... xxxx

Thanks for replies @DaniMERL @Chickjen @Chilliandlime. I know with my sensible head on side effects will likely be minimal. It's just I've always been someone who is fit and well so have avoided meds all my life and it's just another factor to worry about.
Not sure what I'd do without Mumsnet support. Hope you feel better soon @Nixwix

Hello darlings!

We've got ourselves another BFP in here; congrats!

I've just got the protocol for my IVF. So much to do/remember. It seems to have taken bloody ages to get here but at the same time it's starting so soon (it's not. First drugs are next week). I'm sacking off the expensive pre conception vitamins now that I've finished the bottle. I blame them for giving me the worst stomach ever. Whereas Pregnacare sorted my existing stomach issues out nicely :-)

Love and hugs to you all x

Quick update! Scan at EPU went well today. All looking about right for approx 7 weeks. Complete miracle for me. Love to you all x

@KittyKatSmile how exciting 🍀 and great you can crack on, waiting is the worst! But the million dollar question we are all desperate to know... do you get to keep your holiday with your mum? ❤️

@DaniMERL that's fantastic news! 😄 How are you feeling now? ❤️

@chickjen happy and quite optimistic but then have to remind myself of how far we have to go.
Feeling terribly nauseous and exhausted though which is tolerable if it’s all worth it in the end. I suffer pretty bad with it.

@DaniMERL, this is great news. Try to enjoy it but of course we all know how hard that really is xx

@chickjen, bless you! I have no idea about the holiday. Not sure I'll know right until it happens as it's over the putting back the embryo window. My mum's going anyway so I'll just join her when I can

Off to eat sixteen eggs and some chicken for my dinner

@Chilliandlime Congratulations! That's fantastic news.

@KittyKatSmile A fertility nutritionist also recommended pomegranate juice to me before IVF - apparently it's been known for millennia that pomegranates have properties that help with fertility, and juice is the easiest way to get enough. She also said plenty of tomatoes, beetroots, peppers - bright food basically. I ended up buying protein powder and making shakes to get enough protein in me to help egg quality.

Yep, have got the protein powder, had beetroot for dinner with my chicken and eggs and about to have some pomegranate juice before bed . All so boring. Hopefully all so worth it.

How are you feeling now @ginandtonicformeplease?

@KittyKatSmile I'm feeling a bit better than the last couple of weeks thanks. I've got my first fertility reflexology appointment next week, which will be interesting. I've already lost a few pounds after starting a diet and getting back into yoga, so hopefully will manage to keep it up.

DH discovered that one of his colleagues has successfully been through the IVF process and he's started talking to him about it - I'm really happy he's got someone to talk to about it all, who's been through it. I think men just feel helpless in this whole process - they do their one job and then are pretty much bystanders.

Thank you @ginandtonicformeplease. I'm so nervous, the days seem to be crawling by. I hope your reflexology appointment goes well, there's a lady who comes to my work and does massage and reflexology and had a session with her a few months ago, it was nice and relaxing xx

Ladies, I've just signed up to do the Royal Parks Half marathon in October in aid of Tommy's. I very much hope I'll have a great excuse to not do a good time (I like to try and jinx the universe: "if I sign up to do this, then I'll definitely be pregnant by then!")

Who's with me??!

Hi,

I am new to this group and so glad to see people helping each other on this tough journey.

I have had 2 miscarriages (7wks and 6 wks) . I started seeing Dr Shehata and have bee diagnosed with high NK cells and under active thyroid. I have been on pred for thee last 6 months and still waiting for my bfp. It is so frustrating . The last two times i got pregnant i was not even trying and now i am using an ovulation kit and still nothing.

What i want to check is has anyone experienced this being on pred and not being able to conceive.

Congratulations @DaniMERL and @KittyKatSmile

Hi @keepingfaith1 and welcome. Sorry that you are here!
I know it’s super frustrating isn’t it? We used to conceive within 3 months and it took 5 months on the programme and I was starting to lose faith. I think it does mess with things a bit, even though my cycle didn’t change on the face of it.
Anyway that wasn’t Nov and the pregnancy failed in Jan. We then went straight for super ovulation and I conceived first time but that was the v early chemical pregnancy which I’ve never had before. It made me think maybe I was meddling with nature too much and that fertilised egg should never really have happened.
Luckily we tried again as normal without SuperO the following month and have caught again so it almost feels like it took 5 months for my body to settle and now it’s easier. Not that we have real “success” yet but let’s see how things pan out.
Had Mr S suggested SuperO?

No congratulations for me @keepingfaith1 (unless for my half marathon signing up ).

I got pregnant 3 times in 5 months last year and when I went on the pred it then took me 7 months but I actually stopped taking it every month because of the side effects and then got pregnant pretty soon afterwards. Caution however: I then miscarried and Mr S indicated it was my fault because I'd only taken the pred at BFP. I regret not having gone back to him earlier to ask him to change the protocol. So that's what I would do if I had my time again. There are other things you can try instead/as well.

Good luck and welcome to the club no-one wants to be in x

Hi @DaniMERL

So sorry to hear that you had to go through all that. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Mr S has not suggested SuperO till now. I am seeing him in a few days . Will know more then.

Hi @KittyKatSmile, so sorry about that. I must have read the messages wrong. I apologise.

I was also thinking that it can be due to treatment plan i am on and my body is not getting used to it as earlier we conceived so quickly. Will discuss this with Mr S and see what happens. Thank you for your advise.

I'm seeing Zita West for the millionth appointment today (they love this sort of care!) and have just found out 3 people at work are expecting. Eurgh.

Question however (and conscious this isn't an IVF thread but I don't want to go and meet a new group of ladies): has anyone heard of or know anything about embryo glue? Thoughts?

@KittyKatSmile I think the jury's still out on embryo glue. Are ZW offering it to you? One of the things I liked about them was that they didn't try and persuade me to have loads of 'extras', so I'd be inclined to go with what they're suggesting.

Thank you @ginandtonicformeplease. Interestingly they said there was no evidence it worked and they only really kept it on their price list in case people had superstitious reasons for wanting it (like they used it last time and got pregnant) so it's a no from me.

They are making me go to counselling as I'm using donor sperm. Goodness knows how that will go; I'm an absolutely wreck at the moment. I wouldn't sign myself off