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

You ladies are really the best. Your messages lifted me so thankyou so much for being there.
@zoe16 thanks for the info on IUI, I suppose I just thought it might be good to have a plan to move onto. I hope you are feeling well?
@KittyKatSmile thankyou, I think having a plan is a good idea. I’m probably due to go back to see the Dr so maybe I’ll ask about super ovulation. Aww bless you that’s so sweet of you, are you sure? I’ll pm you .
@Chickjen I did try temping without a huge amount of success, I would happily just dtd every couple of days during fertile time but to be honest my OH doesn’t seem to be so I need to pick my optimal days.
@williteverhappen you’re right distraction is good, and unfortunately I’m currently living in the country working from home and not close to my friends and family which definitely has made this more challenging! I have an amazing acupuncturist that I’ve been seeing as often as I can and definitely think it helps. I also went for reflexology yesterday which is also lovely.
@Belarita I hope you are doing ok and that the spotting has subsided, I can only imagine how worrying it is but hang in there and I hope Monday’s scan goes well.

Xxx

@Wishing5tar oh I’m sorry about you BFN 😞 I know how you feel, it can feel extra hard this time of the year, although I was pregnant last December and started to miscarry Christmas Eve so I’ll be glad not to relive that. I hope you have some fun things planned for the festive period.
We do just have to stick with it and hopefully will get there, there have been so many BFP for the ladies on here so that really lifts my spirits and gives us hope ❤️

I've had some light spotting this morning and some pain and I'm terrified. I called the nurses who said that it's completely normal, nothing to worry about - which I'm sure is true but I'm absolutely terrified. I'm booked in for another scan on 24th (which should be 9 weeks) but I'm wondering whether to go for one next week as well. I've never had spotting before: 1st MMC was found when heavy bleeding started, 2nd MMC at a routine scan.

@ginandtonicformeplease we were told to stop taking aspirin and take extra progesterone when we had spotting, not sure if they are part of your protocol?
The 24th does seem a long time to wait while you are worrying, and I'm sure you are particularly anxious right now because of the dates, can you put your feet up this weekend and see how it goes, then book something on Monday if you are still worried? Or just bite the bullet and go if it will help? It is so likely to be nothing but an extra scan will do no harm and might give you some peace ❤️

@ginandtonicformeplease I have nothing to add other than to echo @Chickjen's wise words. Try switching your drugs up and then review it on Monday? Sending best wishes xx

Thanks @Chickjen and @KittyKatSmile I'm not on aspirin, so I can't stop that. The nurse seemed to think that it's nothing to worry about, and didn't suggest any medication changes. Apparently it's really common but that doesn't make me feel better! If it doesn't stop I'll be on the phone first thing tomorrow.

This morning I felt sicker than I've ever felt, so I can only hope that's a good sign.

@ginandtonicformeplease well hooray for the nausea. It's a strange old thing isn't it?! Lots of love x

Thanks so much for the advice @Chickjen and @williteverhappen. That's really so useful and consoling to know. The bleeding did just seem to be the spotting yesterday morning so far but I took both yesterday and today to relax. I also have the weekend and will take a look ay my scan on Monday. It's hard to take that step back as I really love my job and find it a bit of a refuge from all of this. But just pressing pause felt like the right thing to do, even if just for peace of mind. Thanks so much for your message @Eeviee. That's so kind of you. I'm so sorry about your and @Wishing5tar 's BFN s. Its a territory that is so incredibly familiar. I also found that having a plan of some kind helped. Also just accepting that this is an incredibly hard time to go through and you really are doing all the right things to make this happen. xx

Hello ladies,

I need some advice 😭
So I'm on day 10 of my cycle and went for a scan with Dr S to check follicle growth as I'm on the SO plan.
My follicles - 2 on right and 1 on left only 11mm - I didn't see Dr S but Dr Jan who didn't look very hopeful and didn't give me much info even when I asked questions.
He just said I haven't seem to respond well to letrezole so he's up'ing the dose to 10mg next cycle. Also said my lining with a bit thin. I asked if I should still ttc this cycle and he said I could naturally if I wanted but obvs wouldn't be given the trigger shot.
I came out a little confused and asked the nurse to explain a little more. She said my follicles should be about 14-15mm and that it's likely I won't produce an egg this cycle but can still try - will need to track ovu and still take pred if I choose to ttc.
I just wanted to cry.
She did say it may just be a longer cycle. My cycle is anything from 26-31 days.
A 4 hour drive and £500 later just to hear things haven't worked.
What do I do? Ttc or accept this is another most lost?
:(

@HoldingOn2Hope oh you poor thing. I would probably TTC anyway and also let your hair down and try to enjoy the Christmas season...

@Wishing5star, I would say similar to what the other ladies have said. TTC can be so frustrating but try not to forget about yourself and enjoy the Christmas break. Then maybe start afresh in the new year. I know its easy for me to say. I remember setting myself little goals in order not to feel too overwhelmed in the realms of TTC so maybe a break, enjoy Christmas, start in the new year but also not putting that pressure on that it should happen as soon as you start again. Then maybe treat yourself to something if it doesn't happen and so on and so forth. I started a journal last January in which I am still writing in and it helped me so much. Just something that could maybe help. I hope it happens for you soon xxx

@Eeviee, I'm glad you are starting to feel a bit better xxx

@HoldingOn2Hope, I would TTC because as you said it could be that you are on a longer cycle but then, as KittyKatSmile says, enjoy the Christmas break. I'm sorry it is so frustrating for you. Sending you lots of positive vibes xxx

@ginandtonicformeplease spotting is so terrifying but also a normal part of the early stages. Fingers and toes crossed for you and I hope it all goes well 🍀xxx

@KittyKatSmile @williteverhappen
I think I will ttc anyway as mentally I don't feel as if I'm wasting a cycle. Whereas if I don't I get more down about life. I've just looked at my ovulation charts and I usually ovu on day 14-16 so maybe having a scan at day 10 was early?

This time last year I'd had a bfp but was spotting and had the worst Xmas and NY ever as I knew it was all going wrong. I hate being anxious but feel it's coming on again.
I was in such a blurrrr when I came out of the appt that I can't remember what the nurse said about taking pred if I did ttc.
Is it 2 days after a positive ovu test?

@HoldingOn2Hope sorry for what you are going through but I think you're doing the right thing by ttc this month. Regarding your thin lining - I've read studies that show that Vit E and L-Argenine are very good at helping your lining thicken. I've been on it for 4 months now and the scan I had with Dr S showed good thick lining. Im not sure if I had thin lining before this to be honest but my periods are short so worried about this. Just a suggestion and may help future cycles. All the best and try stay positive. Things will get better.

Hi ladies,

Is anyone able to help me please.

I am 4-5dpo I'm actually not 100% sure, as I've tried to be more relaxed this month)!

I've started all my meds etc but now I've got some bleeding ( this is all I have had though) tiny bit of spotting?

Is this implantation bleeding or just from the medication?

Hi there @chlo04, this is really frustrating answer but I'd say that, as with TTC when not on the meds, at this point its not possible to say. Do you have a usual pattern of spotting between ovulation and your period? My pattern is that I always start spotting 7 dpo, except two of the four times I've been pregnant where there was nothing. But last month I had spotting right on cue at 7dpo and nearly didn't bother to take a pregnancy test. Decided I should just do it to keep to the protocol and had a shock BFP. It's a mystery!

@Belarita I have absolutely no pattern! I took a test tonight just to see ( even though I totally new it would be negative) WHY AM I LIKE THIS?! 😂

But nothing, I'm thinking now to hold out till at least Tuesday when I should be around 8DPO which I know will still be too early to tell but hey! Least it's not me tearing everyday!

Congrats on your BFP! Did you have any symptoms or was it a complete shock? How many DPO was you when you had a positive test! Thank you for your reply! Xx

@chlo04 I tested at 10 DPO as that’s what my clinic advised. I didn’t really have any sign apart from the bleeding which totally seemed like my usual spotting. I even had spotting the day I tested so it was a complete shock! How many cycles have you been TTC with the meds for? It seems to help some people to take a lot of tests and others to try to hold back on them. It’s really personal. Doing what you need to do to through the mental game of all this is a big one. Really hope this is a good sign for you.

Hi everyone,

@Belarita how are you today?
@HoldingOn2Hope I would absolutely TTC this month. I was in a similar conundrum before my results with Dr S. You never know.

@ginandtonicformeplease gosh I saw your message now. Do not worry. It really is common. Again, I am saying this and I know full well that I would freak out myself. Is it getting any better? You will be fine ❤️

@Belarita this is my third month with meds, I'm worried I'm just not going to fall now 😓

How many months did it take you on meds if you don't mind me asking? I'll wait now till 10dpo. Was your positive very strong at 10dpo? And what test did you use? Sorry a million and one questions! Xx

@MrsMargot it stopped almost as soon as it started, but I had some strange pains as well on Saturday that have left me completely freaked out. I've managed to find an ultrasound place near my work and have one booked on Tuesday evening so I'm just hoping all will be ok. DH can't come so if anything is wrong I'll have to cope with it on my own. I'm wondering whether to ask a friend who lives near my work to come, but then I'm not really sure it's fair on her if there's a problem.

@ginandtonicformeplease good luck tomorrow with your scan. Did you just call up and book a scan? They didn't need a doctor's order? I had some strange pains over the weekend as well which has me worried plus the few symptoms that I had have seemed to ease. I know the pred mask symptoms and can cause them to fluctuate but I can't help but feel worried that something has happened. My next scan is Saturday but I wish I could do one sooner although dh has said to just wait for Saturday....it will be a rough few days ;(

@MairMum18 @Belarita thinking of you and hoping all goes well with your scans

Hi friends, sad news here. Had scan today and only a small pregnancy sack could be seen measuring five weeks. No embryo. There’s no chance we got our dates wrong so this is another MC for us. We feel completely crushed. Mr S says that at this point and with the meds I’m on it’s almost certainly down to chromosomal problem that meds wouldn’t have been able to help. So will slowly wean off pred, wait to miscarry naturally and start rolling he dice again in the new year. Will find a way to be positive again but it’s been a terrible day. Wish I had better news. Xx

@Belarita I'm so sorry to hear that. Take care of yourself 

@zoe16 No doctor's order required for a private scan - if you can pay they'll scan you! It's £70 so not too bad - and I just want to know whether everything's ok or not.

@Belarita I'm so sorry to hear your sad news. Take care and be kind to yourself. Much love x