Immune/NK issues - aka Pred Thread no. 23!

[Chickjen]

A quick introduction to this thread.. it has been running for many years and is a group of women who have experienced recurrent miscarriage and are now exploring immune issues as a cause. We have members at all stages, from waiting for first appointments, mid treatment, to take home babies. Please join us if you are experiencing this too, loads of friendly advice here and somewhere to share your hopes and fears.
@KittyKatSmile @DaniMERL @Megan234 @Wishing5tar @ginandtonicformeplease @Pop1234 @Belarita @Naticle @EmsIMO @MrsMargot @kdd1980 @MairMum18 @Wewin @zoe16 @fnej01 @Hopeful07 @Cream123 @Anatrina @summertimehere @Lau2019 @PoppyJ1 @WeeGi @RedPandaFluff @Chilliandlime @Thumbellini @AcornHill @Maranello4 @Sunshineblonde1 @Nixwix @HappyApple05 @Widdendream77 @Zest11 @mezgaski

Congrats @MairMum18 @Belarita such exciting news!

@ginandtonicformeplease I didn’t have much of an appetite either, some days I just had a power smoothie to get my nutrients in. However over the last few days my appetite has increased, I’m hungry within two hours of eating, and if I don’t eat immediately I feel like I haven’t eaten in weeks! Once I start eating I have to consciously slow down so as to not choke!

I’m starting to feel really tired too. Can hardly wake up for work in the mornings and by 4pm I’m ready for bed. However once in bed I find myself thinking about the scan and then the anxiety sets in and keeps me up! Not much longer to go now though 🤞🏼

Has anyone been scared about the increased cm? It gushes out at times and I find myself running to the loo to check if it’s af. I thought pred would have affected cm?

@zoe16 I've still got the cm stuff going on now. I know what you mean about feeling like it's AF. Stay strong all of you waiting for scans. Def the worst wait of the whole thing...

Yes, "today I am pregnant" (@KittyKatSmile 🙂), my scan went well yesterday. I'm measuring 10 weeks now. I am trying to remain positive but the anxiety doesn't go away, the waiting is definately the worst! I had worked myself up so much that when I got home I fell straight asleep (must have needed it!) only to be woken for dinner. @ginandtonicformeplease my symptoms seem to fluctuate, at the momemt I'm hungry all the time but when i sit to eat my appetite isn't allowing (I'm liking the idea of power smoothies). Bless him, DH cooked me a nice meal of bangers and mash at my request last night but I couldn't eat it all. @zoe16 my cm has also increased since bfp, totally get you about kicker checking! I probably get it every other day and a LOT of it!! All the best of luck for those waiting for scans too, I wish us all the best 🍀 xxx

Has anyone had any excess bleeding from the site of your heparin injection? I've just got out of bed and noticed a lot of blood on my sheets, totally panicked! But realised its come from my thigh where I injected last night - a bit worried??

Congratulations on all the BFPs! Such positive news!

Did anyone get a BFN at 9dpo then a positive at 10? Just tested this morning at 9dpo and get a negative. I was convinced it had worked this month. Had cramps from 7dpo but now I've read that was probably the cyclogest. I guess I am out.

We really gave it our best shot this month too. It's all so very sad.

@FrannyAnny82 I did a test at 10dpo and got a BFN, i retested when AF didn't show and got a BFP. I wouldn't say you're out yet!

Thanks @MairMum18 half of me wants to hope, the other half is tortured by the hope...if that makes sense! Ugh, test days are the worst 🤯

@williteverhappen happy to hear scan went well! I can see myself being anxious the whole way too, but frequent scans should help ease it a bit. Do you have another in two weeks?

@FrannyAnny82 keep testing. In the past i've tested bfn up to 10dpo and got bfp at 11.

Hunger pangs woke me up at 3:30am and I could not go back to sleep! It's gonna be a long day ;(

@zoe16, thank you! Yes I have a 12 week scan in 2weeks 🤞yeah I suppose I'd rather have frequent scans, makes it easier as the weeks progress. Hope you managed to make it through today with the early wake up. Good luck for your scan. Is it tomorrow? 🍀

@FrannyAnny82 definatly test again. Its happened to me before, negative one day then the next day a positive so don't give up just yet xx

@williteverhappen thank you, yes it is tomorrow 😥

Firstly congrats to all the BFPs this month, wishing you all the very best in the coming weeks and months. Secondly, can I ask for some advice, the weirdest thing has happened this month and not sure what to make of it (or even blame the pred). I usually get my LH surge CD13/14/15 and temp rise 2 days later. This month however, I got a definite second line yesterday morning and afternoon (CD13) but today (CD14) it has disappeared. This is really strange for me and now worrying that a) we will miss ovulation or b) ovulation won't happen. Has this happened to anyone on the pred treatment? Oh and I'm using amazon cheapies not the clear blue ones. Help!

Hi @Ultra26 My surge normally only lasts one day anyway but I did notice that the positive OPK line didn't get as dark as it usually does this month. I just continued to test and made poor husband DTD for longer than usual to try and cover all bases. Perhaps I didn't ovulate although I did have the usual symptoms. I'm seeing Dr S on Friday so I'll ask him. Second month on the plan and no joy. Think I'll take December off and have a riotous old time!

@FrannyAnny82 Thanks for your reply. I realised I left out the crucial bit to this saga - the second line was just very faint and it never really progressed to strong positive which I very unusual for me (over a year or OPKing) Even today - I'm just getting faints. Our plan is also to just keep at it until I detect a temp rise then hit the steroids again. I was also thinking to speak to the GP to get bloods drawn on cd21 and check that way. We are also on month 2 and dreading starting these meds again. Good luck with your appointment and whatever you decide to do in December. We'll get there

Ah! Yes, that's what happened to me. I'm going to get my day 2 and day 21 tests done again next month if I take a break from the cyclogest. My acupuncturist also said I might not have ovulated because my last miscarriage was only in September. Hopefully it'll be business as usual soon. The steroids are a real treat aren't they! Good luck with everything

Ah so I'm not alone - still sucks though if we haven't ovulated. I'm thinking to go back to acupuncture in the new year as that really sorted out my cycles and an hour of forced rest was always welcomed. Please do let me know what Mr S says about this all. Cheers x

I know, all those drugs and sleepless nights for nothing 😫 I'll keep you posted though and hopefully you'll get your temp rise soon x

Hi All,

So yesterday was my follow up with Dr S.
All went well, tests all came back normal and ovarian reserve was very good he said.
The only one that was a worry was NK cells however I suspected that anyway. He said it falls into high catergory and when the cells are put into a pregnancy state during the testing that also came back as high.
So I'm on his super ovu plan. He's suggested Asprin, Pred, Letrezole, cyclogest and intralipids! Plus all the other Vits and supplements to be taken during conception and pregnancy.
I was a bit overwhelmed by it all but felt as if there was a plan to work forwards now. Just need AF to arrive, I'm a day late and defo not pregnant as I was away during my fertile window and have stayed safe as per Dr S instructions!

Hi @Ultra26 I spoke to Dr S today. He said pred can stop ovulation but shouldn't interfere after just 10 days. He advised me to get hormones checked and let him know and if there's an issue we can look at his super ovulation plan.

I'm a bit worried because my FSH is 10. He said it's fine but I just looked online and it does seem quite high. I'm 37. Does anyone else have levels that high? Will get my AMH done at St Mary's later this month.

On top of that, my husband has 34% DNA damage 😢

I hope everyone is doing well and staying sane on this horrible journey x

Hey @FrannyAnny82 Thanks so much for letting me know. In the end I think I may be ovulating today or tomorrow as the strip finally turned positive yesterday. I'm glad to hear that there's a plan B though and if any of us need it, it's there. Sorry to hear about your FSH - it does sound high but not massively out and if he's not worried that I don t think you should be.

Has he prescribed anything for your husband? I'm sure it's reversible so please don't stress about that either.

Good luck all xx

He's on Impryl but had previously been taking all kinds of supplements from It Starts With The Egg which apparently made it worse. Oops! You think you've got one problem and suddenly you've got loads! Am trying to stay calm though. We'd planned to let our hair down over Christmas after months of not drinking but that's out the window now I guess. Decaf tea all round! ☕️ Xx

The lack of symptoms is making me really anxious. Bar the odd twinge and boob pain I feel fairly normal. God this wait is agonising. @KittyKatSmile I think I need you to beam me some of your positivity and zen. How is everyone else early days coping with the wait and doing symptom-wise? x

@Belarita I can't remember but assume you're on the dreaded pred. It will mask most symptoms. I know it's comforting to have some so that you know stuff is still going on in there but in the spirit of positivity, thank your lucky stars you don't have lots of them (at least for now). I woke up with a mouthful of hot sick last night

Love to you all ladies x

@Belarita I'm lacking symptoms too, I have slightly tender boobs, but to the point where I have to give them a nudge every now and then to check they still hurt and then the odd cramp here and there.

I'm finding this wait until my first scan very hard. I had a breakdown the other day, thinking I've set myself up for more heartbreak, which I don't think I can take if it does end up that way.

Last night I had a horrible dream that I miscarried and now my anxiety is through the roof.

@Belarita I can now say that the lack of symptoms means nothing. I had my first scan and we saw a yolk sac. It was too early to see anything else but it was definitely progress from my previous pregnancies where we only saw a small odd shaped sac. I go back on Monday to hopefully see baby.

@MairMum18 I feel the same sometimes, like I shouldn’t have ttc and put myself through this again, but how else are we to get our babies? I just hope we’ll all have good outcomes as I too don’t know how I will cope if this doesn’t go well.

Can’t say that this week was easy though, I’ve been super anxious and I’m on holiday!. If all goes well with the scan I can see myself being a complete nervous fool in between scans ☹️

Hang in there ladies💜

Aw thanks for your messages @KittyKatSmile (that’s a truly great image to hold on to ), @zoe16 and @MairMum18. It really does help to know I’m not alone going slightly nuts. I also have been going around nudging my boobs like a pantomime dame. I am on the dreaded pred, so good to be reminded this is normal. Thinking of you all. Xx