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

@HappyApple05 thank you for your kind words and support x
@DaniMERL Thank you I’m absolutely devastated but looking at the positive side at least it ended early. I emailed the nurses but Mr S hasn’t got any appointments until March. I want to ttc now under the same treatment plant but they told me to wait until I see him. I’m not going to wait and wast another month for him to tell me to carry on on the same plan. I feel like the medication kept this pregnancy going for a lot longer but I know it wasn’t right from the start x

@Megan234 can you see if there are any cancellations by calling them regularly? I was a bit the same. I waited until the miscarriage was resolved before calling to make the next appointment and now that has delayed things for me as I have to take the Hydroxy for 6-8 wks. If I’d called sooner I could have still got the medication and started when I was ready. It was the only appointment they had for a while as well.

I can’t remember, are you already on the Hydroxy now?
Thinking of you. Take it very easy.

In some ways after the initial shock and disappointment, I’ve found this loss easier because there was literally nothing at all to see on the scan, so I guess it was a chemical pregnancy. I know this is still hard but for me not so bad.

Thinking of you xx

@DaniMERL I’ve been on HCQ since July and now on steroids as well I don’t think he can give anything else. I know he won’t be happy because I didn’t take steroids from ovulation.
I also found this miscarriage easier because it ended early and I had my hCG check every 48 hrs and I knew the pregnancy wasn’t progressing how it should be. Thank you for thinking of me, we will get our babies soon Xx

Well I guess there could be a number of possibilities:
Chromosomal issues
Or the steroids not being taken from ovulation

I thought there were some other medications he could try?

Will you tell him about the steroids?
In your situation I would be really tempted to just try again if you have enough drugs because of the possibilities above. But I’m no doctor!

Hey @Megan234 and @DaniMERL, your GP can prescribe you pred, not sure about pessaries though. Since the Epsom nurse was on hols when I ran out my meds, I got it prescribed by my GP.

@DaniMERL I will be ttc again this month NHS consultant told me that I can try this cycle and have enough medication. It was probably chromosomal issues but who knows x

@HappyApple05 My GP has been prescribing me all my medication. I’m also with the RMC at the Epsom hospital and they are happy to give whatever medication I need. The only reason I went privately is because you can’t get intralipids on NHS and I’m seeing Mr Shehata instead of someone else from his team x

Hey @Megan234 just wondered did you do the Sperm Comet already? Could IVF be an option? Have been thinking of you today and created an energy ball earlier at yoga which I sent to you might sound cheesy but I hope it helps to know we are all thinking of you x

@Sunshineblond1 Thank you means a lot that you are thinking of me x
After my miscarriage in September the pregnancy was tested and everything came back normal, we haven’t done Sperm Comet, but my DH is on Condensyl now. Also I’ve done the AMH test through medichecks and the results came back at 11.2 not sure if that’s good or bad I’m 38 ? X

@megan234 I think that’s good. I’m nearly 38 and mine was 7.something and he said it was fine but on low side.
A friend just did the Sperm comet and has found unexpected problems and Mr S has recommended ICSI IVF for them.

@DaniMERL I must be very unlucky 😔 but if the miscarriage in September was normal does this mean that my DH sperm is ok? X

Hi @megan234
I really don’t know. She’s had numerous miscarriages with no known cause but more recently (in the last year) has struggled to conceive at all.

to be honest the whole thing feels like a lottery!
I still read of people have 7 or more losses with no reason explained and then they suddenly have a healthy baby with no new treatment or medication.

@Megan234 your AMH sounds good? I think once it goes past a certain number it suggests PCOS but I dont know what that number is. I’m 37 and 3.2 so much much lower. The reserves of a 40 yo according to Dr S. My partner is on Condensyl too. I agree it being a lottery and people go on to have healthy babies both on and off the treatment. Sometimes there’s not even a known reason which seems so unfair. Resilience to keep going seems to be the key x

Hi all, I’m a former patient of Dr S and just wanted to say I really recommend the sperm comet test. My DH’s usual sperm tests were all fine and after being told I had high NK cells I was on the super ovulation plan for about 6 months. When I didn’t fall pregnant during this time I went for IVF and they suggested we did the sperm comet test. We went to a brilliant urologist and he explained that he believes sperm DNA fragmentation is a leading cause of infertility and miscarriage. He thinks it would save the NHS lots of money in failed IVF cycles if they tested for it. My husbands level came back extremely high but was luckily easily treated with antibiotics. I followed Dr S’s plan during my IVF and was incredibly lucky that it worked and I have my DD.

However, I’ve since fallen pregnant naturally and have not followed Dr S’s plan. It was a really hard decision and I felt really vulnerable but I’m now in my third trimester and fingers crossed it all looks ok so far. I’m not saying that I don’t believe in Dr S’s plan but I think it’s really important to look at the man in more depth too.

@Sunshineblonde1

I was on 10mcg pred for first 4 months of pregnancy and then I dropped to 5mcg for 5th month and then stopped taking pred after 5th month.

@Teakind thanks for that. It’s so interesting.
The more I learn, the more frustrated I become that so much of miscarriage and infertility is fobbed off as bad luck and just one of those things. It’s madness!! We are so advanced in so many areas of science and medicine.

@DaniMERL @Sunshineblond1 Hi Girls, I just want to ask your opinion on acupuncture, have you had any good results from it? Xx

Hi @megan234 I’ve had very positive results so far. I’ve had it weekly for past 12 weeks - it balanced my hormones, regulated my cycle, cleared my skin, gave me bundles of energy and a deep sense of relaxation. I also got pregnant on the first cycle of ttc. I cannot tell you that it was down to the Accupuncture alone of course but I believe it played a supportive role. Psychologically it has also provided me with a sense of well-being as it is an hour of uninterrupted ‘me time’. Hope that helps xx

Thanks @Sunshineblond1 I might try acupuncture xx

It’s worth a try @megan234 - I’ve heard very good things about Kinesiology too, that was going to be my next thing to sample xx

@megan23 no solid evidence but I was having regular treatments when I conceived my daughter and some of the other pregnancies and also the most recent one too. I’m sure it has a positive impact

Thank you @DaniMERL x

Hey ladies, a quick question on a dry day at work - wondered if progesterone pessaries Cyclogest (though I used back door - not sure if it matters) would increase CM? Any experience.. I'm a newbie. I notice slightly increased CM. Advise please..

Lots of love, hugs and sticky vibes,
HappyApple

Hey @HappyApple05, firstly can I check what CM is? I’m going to make myself look silly here but is is cervical discharge /mucus. If so I didn’t notice it with the pessaries per se but I do with pregnancy 😋😉 could be a good sign! X