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

@Sunshineblonde1 So on Monday they will check my pregnancy hormone again. And monitor me. And I think they will set me up for intra Lipids too. However Dr S wants me to do it at his clinic. He says it's different to others. On that note, where are you having it done day after? Epsom is a bit far for me. Do you know what's next for you?

How's everyone's Sunday going/been? I ended up eating a lot again. And so bloated.

Xx

Hey @nixwix everything super crossed for you tomorrow!! Sending positive thoughts and lots of baby dust! Dr S is very belts and braces. He likes to have control of the intras when on his protocol as there have been issues in the past where people have gone off and had it done elsewhere in an environment perhaps that isn’t as controlled, safe and sterile as he would like. I’m sure your IVF clinic is absolutely fine though being so well renowned, but just explaining his logic. I believe the only place you can have his intras is Epsom unfortunately.

Next step for me after intras on Tues will be the first scan. At around 6-7 weeks I believe. Big fat eek!! My last MC was a MMC Dated around 9 weeks so I won’t feel out the woods for a good while yet 😬

The bloating could be the Pred Hunni. It encourages water retention. Eat bananas and gulp back lots of water and/or herbal teas to help with that, try and avoid salt, eat more plant based to help too.

It’s been busy today. This year we are planning a wedding, are moving house and hopefully having a baby 🤞🤞🤞🤪(one way or t’other!!). So it’s venue/location shopping day for us plus a Sunday carvery 🐷🐷
Hope you’ve had a nice Sunday? Xx

Hi everyone, I would like to join if I may? I am being a little premature as I haven't actually started any treatment with Dr S yet.
My history is 'delayed fertility' meaning I couldn't conceive until I was diagnosed with an under active thyroid and started taking levothyroxine. Then able to conceive relatively easily although all have resulted in miscarriage. 3 early/chemicals and 3 mmc, baby stopped growing at 8, 6 and 6 weeks but miscarried around 12 weeks, 2 heartbeats seen.
I have been to the miscarriage clinic at the local hospital which didn't reveal anything, and have tried 6 months of Chinese tea and acupuncture which didn't help either as the last mmc was during their treatment. I am now trying Dr S and have had the initial appt and bloods taken, follow up appt mid Feb.
I have received a few blood tests results through the post but none of the immunity/NK ones, I was wondering if this is normal and he likes to give these results himself?
I found an old version of this thread at Xmas during the last mmc and I found it really inspirational, it really helped me get through reading so many positive and strong stories, I am so glad to find it is still active.

@Sunshineblonde1 wow babe, congratulations on the wedding! And new house, so exciting. And hopefully, a little on the way too. Venue choosing must be difficult? Have you got a dress!

Thank you for the very useful tips. Yes I realise I should do the intra Lipids with Dr S, I will e-mail him about booking it. He is after all the first one to bring it to the UK.. Good luck on yours tomorrow. I also had my first MMC at 8-9 weeks so I'm going to stay on the edge for a while. A little update on my bloods, they are going up but Dr would like to do the bloods again one last time day after tomo. Have you got your 6th week scan booked?

Welcome @Chickjen ! Sorry about your previous losses but the way I see it, you have not had problems conceiving. Hopefully Dr S can help you out with the right blood tests that need to be done and the protocol to be on. The others can tell you better how he works as I have not done any bloods with him but taken my blood test reports to him for a second opinion. All the best!

xxx

Welcome @Chickjen and thank you so much for sharing your story. I’m so pleased you have joined this thread of super woman Pred heads 😃 We will get there together 😀
So sorry to see you’ve had a rough ride of it so far, big hugs, but it’s great you’ve been so proactive in getting to the bottom of what may be triggering the issues. You are in very safe hands with DR S 👋👋
With regards to the bloods, I received all the results at the follow up meeting where he went through them. I too was found to have a thyroid issue which requires Levothyroxine. Fingers crossed for your results - please do keep us posted and ask any questions about the protocol!

@Nixwix hey Hunni, that’s great about the bloods. Long may it continue 😀 I’m just hooked up having the intras - it’s absolutely fine - nothing to worry about and the nurses are brilliant. In fact I’ve got my feet up, with a latte reading a wedding mag! @megan234 hope all went well yest lovely x
I have no real preggo symptoms yet but defo am wired at night on the Pred. I’m lirerally bouncing out of bed like a jack in the box in the morn after 5 hours sleep....🐎

Hope everyone else is ok xx

@nixwix no dress yet darling, super focused on choosing venue at the moment, but it’s all exciting and a positive to focus on. It got a bit pushed to the side last year with the MMC but no matter what happens this year I am moving forward with it! Xx

@Sunshineblonde1 you are so positive, I love it! Enjoy the intras, the latte and the wedding magazine!

@Sunshineblonde1 @Nixwix
Unfortunately my pregnancy tests were not getting any darker and a blood test confirmed that my hCG is low. Tomorrow I’m having another blood test, but I’m not holding much hope. Another chemical pregnancy maybe next time I need to follow Mr S protocol and take the steroids from ovulation. Best of luck to you xx

Hi ladies,

Couldn't catch up, had a busy weekend.

@LKM1 - So sorry to hear this dear. Not the end of the world. Let's stay positive (easier said), I wouldn't give up on the meds, may be it's too early to see a sac hun. Let's know how you get on. Try to keep yourself busy until next scan, visit frns or invite them if this helps ( though you do not need to open up about this) Hope your next scan goes well.

@Megan234 - And a warm welcome to you... Congrats on the BFP.

@Sunshineblonde1 - Awww..... awesome... you must be very excited.. wedding and the new home.. many congrats.. My son is 8 now. Hope everything went well at the docs today. We are doing an extension and been working the docs and procedures.. soon to start the construction work... So trying to keep myself engaged and not thinking about the past (trying to)

I'm waiting on my static smiley to start Pred (can't wait ) Good luck and lots of positive vibes and sticky bean to all of us.

XOXOXO
Lots of love
Happy Apple

Hey @Megan234 oh so sorry to hear that hunni, it's not over until the fat lady sings but I can understand you may be feeling a little less hopeful. I think we get that feeling inside don't we, womans instinct. I have everything crossed for the blood test tomorrow. It's frustrating that there are so many constant hurdles. Conception itself is a flipping miracle but it's just literally base camp isn't it. I have no idea what's happening on my insides, but I will do a test next weekend just to see if all is still there!! I have my 7 weeks scan booked in on 14th Feb as it is the ONLY appointment he had left - that could go one of two ways....ah well! Everything crossed, that's all we can do, its out of my hands. I didn't take the Pred until BFP so i may have done myself a mischief. But it's what I felt comfortable with at the time. So far I just feel wired and super energy, which means I am being very productive.

@HappyApple05 that's the spirit!! Life has to move on otherwise everything is static and revolving around one thing and that is no good for mental well being. Your construction plans sound like a great distraction! As well as your gorgeous DS! I have two puddy cats who are my surrogate babies with paws. I got them at my last MMC and I at least get to mother something whilst I wait for the human baby to materialise tee hee! Enjoy your impending boink fest !!

@LKM1 do we have any news?

xx

Welcome @Chickjen... We are here and let's hold hands and face it together.. All is well..

@Sunshineblonde1.. You'll be fine with the bloods tomorrow, it will come back with flying colors.. Let's keep positive... All is well... Awww... Cute idea re the cats.. You are practising... Well done hunni..

@Nixwix @Sunshineblonde1 Thank you for the warm welcome, hopefully I will soon be following in your Dr S footsteps.

@Megan234 I am so sorry to hear that, it must be doubly hard having bad news when you have put your faith in the treatment. Is it too early to scan? I am not sure if it is any comfort to think that if it does fail very early on there is a strong chance it was chromosomal and there was nothing you could have done to prevent it, treatment or no treatment. Please be kind to yourself and don't give up hope.

Thanks @HappyApple05 we must have been typing at the same time

Hi Ladies, I’m afraid it looks like I’m out too, 6th mc but at least it’s super early and like @Chickjen said it was probably genetically doomed. I’ve had heavy bleeding with clots today so I think this is a chemical and I’m stopping the pred and cyclogest. @Megan234 I’m sorry it’s not sounding good for you too, but I hope the tests show otherwise so good luck tomorrow. Good luck for all you lovely ladies with upcoming scans and intralipids etc etc, fingers crossed it goes smoothly. I shall ttc again straight away as my only other very early loss I caught again straight after and that was one where I got to 12 weeks with hb at 7 weeks so maybe I can do it again and catch a better egg/sperm combo and support with the pred and preg. So I shall still lurk in and out on the thread and cheer you on from the sidelines, and hopeful rejoin you with a moon face soon. Good luck girls xx

Hi @Megan234 hunni, completely understand how you feel now but i have read from old thread that Dr.S is not concerned about HCG levels. Hold on, may be it will turn out to be okay tomorrow...let's know how you get on. Take care hun.

@Widdendream77- omg. Exactly, it's good that it at least happened pretty early... Did you take pred from ovulation? You sound very positive and inspiring. Awesome strength! Big hugs. Take care hun. Everything will be alright soon.

Hi Ladies,
Thank you for your support and kind words, my hCG has gone up by 80% it’s still low but at least is going up. I thought it was all over yesterday, I even had a little cry 😢 I’m going for intralipids tomorrow and having another blood test on Friday. I even had a cake 🍰 to celebrate. I’ve been feelings some nausea today but I don’t mind at least I know things are progressing.
@WEiddendream77 I’m so sorry it hasn’t worked out for you. The good news is you can try again in a couple of weeks, best of luck lovely
Xx

Wow @Megan234.. Lovely news.. We told you sounds like magic... Very happy for you hun.

All is well... Put your feet up and enjoy

XOXO
Happy Apple

@HappyApple05 thank you, lets hope it will be a good news on Friday. Good luck to you this month🤞
X

Wow that’s super to hear @Megan234, so glad for you, hope the intralipids go smoothly. Also that’s a really positive thought that we’ll be trying again in just 2/3 weeks.
@HappyApple05 thank you too for your kind words. I don’t think I’m strong really just relieved I can still get a bfp at my age 😆, super glad it’s early and not late and I kind of think it’s a numbers game now itkwim. But I shall be joining you in dtd like mad as soon as the opks and Ava say go! No I didnt take it from ov, but did try the cyclogest from ov for a couple of cycles which is what the Coventry protocol suggested, Good luck with baby dancing when you get the smiley 😉 xx

Hi @Megan234, it will be good news on Friday.. Looking forward to hear it from you hun. Sending hugs and prayers your way.

Hi @Widdendream77, hmmm... every RMC has their own way and style... Keep up the inspiration... And thank you, good luck with the DTD. Looking forward to hear about a sticky BFP and a take home baby from you pretty soon dear.

Good night ladies....

Hi ladies,
Am still following your ups and downs (thinking of you @Megan234) and will join in again soon. Will be back to the plan in March as currently waiting for Hydroxy to get in the system and then also starting the SuperO too.
xxxx

@DaniMERL thank you lovely, I know exactly how you feel and sometimes you need to take a break from all of this. Another month and then you will be back ttc again and I really hope it will happen quickly for you. I still don’t know what’s around the corner for me I can only hope for the best and pray for a healthy pregnancy. Xx

Hi everyone. I have missed a lot of updates. So sorry. I hope everyone is doing “okay”.

I had a bit of a scare last week and ended up at the epu. We were told they couldn’t see anything on the scan and to come back this week. We went back today and much to our absolute surprise, we saw a teeny tiny heartbeat. We have to go back in three weeks if no bleeding or pain.

Very early days (5+6ish) and we saw a heartbeat with my last loss, so still not able to feel anything but pure terror, but trying to remain hopeful and pray that things move in the right direction.

I was trying to follow a low salt, no processed carb diet with the pred which worked well until a couple of days ago, but nausea is really taking hold and the only thing that seems to fix it is carbs. I’m taking it as a positive for now x

Hello lovelies @Widdendream77, @DaniMERL, @HappyApple05 @NixWix just checking in to send positive vibes, baby dust, strength and inner peace to all. So sorry to hear about the chemicals - for every loss it just brings us closer and closer to the successfull sticky healthy bean. Unfortunately as we well know the early chemicals just aren't viable and the best thing is to put that aside, now you can get back in the saddle ASAP. It is all about the sperm-egg combo, we have to remember that cold, hard scientific fact when it comes to the early losses. I KNOW it will happen one way or another for us all. I have tremendous faith.

@Megan234 I am currently eating cake too . All the best for your blood test tomozy.

Sending love to all you superwomen x

@Smrahc48 we must have been typing at the same time as I have only just seen your message!! Huge congrats Hunni, everything crossed for you 🤞 keep positive, it all sounds like it’s going in the right direction. These early tests and scans can cause such worry and anguish as often it’s to soon to see anything. It’s good to see that despite that your little bean was growing and now there’s a heart beat, that’s such good news ❣️ X