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

Hey @DaniMERL So pleased things have worked out for you, lovely news :) Thanks for your input re taking the medication and so interesting re the tests, I just didn't know that before now! I hate testing with a passion and never do, always wait for my period (slow torture) but obviously with Mr S we have to test. I was buying the digital ones but just haven't been convinced of their reliability so early on.

Thanks again for the input today Ladies, super helpful and has put my mind at ease loads. I have a bit more confidence re what we are doing! X

I just don’t think any but the FRERs are as sensitive (i mean scientifically, not just gut feeling) and the faintest line would just be a complete negative on other tests. Even the clearblue early detection tests don’t seem any way near as sensitive and those blue lines are so unreliable.
I got 2 positives at 9dpo which is incredibly early but I know some other women who didn’t get them until more like 12dpo - all FRERs.

Good luck x

Hi All
@DaniMERL is absolutely right, also cyclogest can delay your period, make sure you stop it 10dpo. Good luck xx

Hopeful any news?

Hi Cream123 - its a bfn for me, so frustrating!! neither the hcQ nor the gcsf seemed to have worked for me!! jus dont know what else to try..
how r u getting on? hav u tested?

Hope it all goes well today @KittyKatSmile

@DaniMERL great news that you’ve been discharged from Mr S and you’re now a normal pregnant person!

@Hopeful07 keep going. They can only help you once you conceive.
How long have you been trying? Sending you positive thoughts xx

I have everything crossed for you today @KittyKatSmile you have done extremely well to stay calm this far! 🍀

@DaniMERL a boy! That's perfect - one of each 😍 Congratulations on graduating, but I am glad you are still here with us 😀

I can test tomorrow but I don't have any hope. DH's sperm test was at the same time as O so we could only DTD a few days before. I have been taking the pred just in case but mainly in the hope it will build up in my system for next month. We should also get his results tomorrow or Monday 😱

Thanks @Chickjen @Anatrina

Just been for the scan. I was terrified after the news (and the bedside manner) I'd received the last time so I asked them to be very quick.

They were and said almost immediately 'there is definitely a heartbeat here' at which point huge sobs just shook my body and I cried my eyes out.

A long way to go but a milestone I haven't reached before.

Keep going ladies. You'll get there.

@KittyKatSmile awwww congratulations! You have literally made my day 😍 I’m soo happy for you! Enjoy this moment, I know it’s easy to worry but this is such a big step forward xxxx

@KittyKatSmile That's fantastic, so happy for you!

I've just been on my yoga and detox retreat - it was really good to get away and clear my head for a few days. Just weighed myself this morning, and since I started my diet and doing more exercise I've lost almost 1.5 stones! I'm feeling so much better in myself as well.

I'm going forward with another FET. We decided not to do the PGS testing on the embryos, especially as we got the results from some tests we'd had done and both of us are chromosomally (is that a word?) normal. I've had one intralipids and need to schedule another for next week. Then pay a fortune for another NK cells test.

Because 2 out of 3 transfers have worked, I'm a bit worried that DH is taking it for granted that this next one will as well - by nature he's a cup half full person (I'm a cup half empty!). He also seems to think that as the embryos were frozen when I'd just turned 36 and he was 33 then it doesn't make a difference that I'm getting older - does anyone know if that's right?

Amazing news!!! 🙌🏼 @KittyKatSmile

So pleased for you, you must be on cloud 9 xx

Thank you @Wishing5tar and @ginandtonicformeplease, so lovely of you. The support on here is just crazy. I honestly wouldn't have got through it without you all...

@ginandtonicformeplease what your DP is saying is broadly correct, yes, as it's only really your egg and sperm quality that change over time, rather than your lining specifically. So the risks etc with older mothers are around what they're putting in rather than where they're putting it (eloquently expressed?!)

Amazing to hear about your health progress. You feel so much better when your body is working with you don't you?!

@KittyKatSmile I might join you with a cry, what wonderful news! ❤️

@ginandtonicformeplease I think he could be right too and that age is only really detrimental on the egg quality. My sister-in-laws sister-in-law (if that makes sense) recently had a baby when she was 50 using a donor egg.
And well done on the weight loss! 😀

Oh @Chickjen you are so lovely.

So today's panic. My friend with the 12 year old IVF twins gave me some very strict instructions on what to ask the clinic which was mainly about them monitoring my immune levels.

I emailed them asking and they responded 'no, you don't need any more tests. All you need is intralipids within a week of your positive test and then 4 weeks later.' This is very concerning as this is the first that I've heard of this (their protocol differs slightly from Mr S's in that they give intralipids before the transfer so I've already had 2 lots). This is just so frustrating. My clinic is lovely but this sort of thing happens far too frequently. I sent a pretty sniffy response back saying 'well that's fairly concerning as that's the first I've heard of this: can you please check my notes and get back to me'. No sleep tonight no doubt....

hmm @KittyKatSmile if they think you don't NEED any more tests or intras but what happens if you WANT more tests and intras? Surely they can't say no? (albeit charging extra I assume).
I hope you get a better response from them tomorrow 🍀

@Chickjen but I haven't even had the intralipids they mentioned because they had never mentioned them before. So annoying.

Hope you're ok lovely x

@KittyKatSmile oh crumbs, sorry I misread that and thought you were concerned their programme finished earlier than MrS.
I see what you mean 😠 Positives to focus on: the intralipids last for 4 weeks and I don't think on week 4 day 1 they suddenly stop, it must taper off, but you must still have some in your system. Also MrS's NHS patients don't get intras at all, the pred is the important bit.
Hopefully they will come back today with a plan

BFN as expected this morning 😕

@chickjen sorry about your bfn, keep going and it will happen 😊 xx
Congratulations @KittyKatSmile Xx
@hopefull07 I know what you are going through but don’t give up it will happen.
I always was very negative about it all and annoyed when people said “ think positive” surly if is going to happen it will and doesn’t matter if I think positive or negative. With this pregnancy I set my mind just to think positive and I’m imagining the best possible outcome and so far so good. Maybe this positive thinking really works who knows but I know it does help your mental state.

I had my 16 weeks scan and intralipids on Wednesdays and now Mr S will look after me on NHS. I still have very long way to go but hoping for the best Xx

Morning Ladies

Just catching up and hopefully I've got this right - @hopeful07 Sorry to hear about your negative test, you too @chickjen :(

@KittyKatSmile Great news re your scan, hope everything goes smoothly for you :) You too @Megan234 X

I am in about cycle 5 or 6 now with Mr S. The one just done was with a high dose of Letrozole. After four years of secondary infertility, finally seeing and finding out about Mr S and discovering I had two immune issues, really made me think we'd get somewhere but am feeling rather despondent today after yet another negative test. We literally can't get pregnant again - but I hear what you're saying @Megan234 !! Trying to stay positive does help but it is hard! X

@EmsIMO Have you done super Ovulation with Mr S? I know someone who was on super O for 6 months and on the 6th month she finally got pregnant and she is 18 weeks now xx

Hi @Megan234 Thanks for sharing that, always helps hearing success stories! I've just done two cycles of Super O, but now having a break as a holiday mid August means our dates don't work (which I'm kind of relieved about as Letrozole makes me feel awful!) X

Hello everyone! I hope I can join you!

I am currently pregnant at 6w4d and I am on prednisolone, aspirin and progesterone. I had 2 “mysterious” early losses and this time I was put on meds to see if they make any difference. I hope they do! I have a couple of questions regarding symptoms. If this is not the correct thread I apologise!

Basically, my breasts are not as tender as with previous pregnancies and I am worried that something is wrong. My OH said that since I am on steroids, my breasts should not be as swollen as before. I want to believe but I thought better to ask you as you may know better!

My other question has to do with discharge (TMI apologies again). I had a very odd dark yellow/brown mucus-y drop 2 days ago and half a drop 24 hours later. I read on Dr Google that it is normal but again. I am worried. I should also say that This is not spotting ( I had spotting with my first loss).

Thanks a million!

@MrsMargot welcome. You most certainly are in the right place. Correct about the steroids; they generally mask everything, including your previous body and hair free face in my experience :-) It's odd but I just try to go with it and be pleased I'm not puking my guts up.

Off to get me some more intralipids this afternoon and then to ask to speak to the practice manager to complain. I'm fuming.

OMG @KittyKatSmile I love you. You just gave me life. I was so worried I want to cry.