Immune/NK Issues - aka Pred Thread no 24!

[KittyKatSmile]

An introduction to this thread. It has been running for many years and has proved a saviour for so many of us who have suffered recurrent miscarriages as we go through this incredibly tough journey.

Discussions cover NK (natural killer) cells, thyroid issues, PGS and many many more.

Welcome to the group no-one wants to be in 

Tagging people from the previous thread but please tag anyone else I've missed.

@Chickjen @FrannyAnny82 @ginandtonicformeplease @HoldingOn2Hope @LockThatFridge @Luckyducky2 @MairMum18 @MrsMargot @weddinghelp1 @williteverhappen @Wishing5tar @zoe16
@Eeviee
@Ultra26

@HarrietM87 This is the best news!!! I am so, so happy for you and sorry you had to suffer a nightmare few days. Massive congratulations xx

Fantastic news xx

Thank god @HarrietM87. Such good news!! You can sleep soundly now tonight. Xx

@HarrietM87 fab news!!!!! You must be so pleased and can have a good nights sleep today! Xx

@HarrietM87 that’s amazing news. You must be so happy. X

@HarrietM87 brilliant news! Phew, you must be beyond relieved!x

That's wonderful! So pleased for you @HarrietM87. ❤

@HarrietM87 so pleased to hear your good news. I havent been getting the notifications so was unaware of your situation. So happy for u 🤗 you must be so relieved x x

@HarrietM87 brilliant news, so pleased for you xx

Needed to hear your good news today @HarrietM87! So pleased for you!!

Thank you so much. It’s been such a rollercoaster. I think I need to accept now that the worry is not going to go away.

I hope everyone else is doing ok. How are you feeling @Countrygirl220?

Wonderful news @HarrietM87. How many weeks are you now?

@HarrietM87 I think you're right when you've been through what we've all been through, but I hope you were able to have a good sleep last night and relax a bit :)

I'm ok, every hour feels like a day and every day feels like a week. It's been a week since I found out and I'm still only 4+4! I'm trying not to think about having a scan because it's never been good news for me, so here I am just plodding along trying to pass the time!

How's everyone else getting on? Have we got anyone in the 2ww?x

@peperethecat I’m around 10 weeks - 9+6 by LMP, 10+2 by the scan I had yesterday, 10+3 by the last scan I had 🤷🏼‍♀️

@CountryGirl220 nothing drags like the early days, especially when we have to find out so flipping early!

All your previous losses have been earlier, right? Do you think you will be able to relax a little once you get to 12 weeks? Obviously people in our situation are painfully aware that miscarriages can and do happen later, and I can't imagine ever being able to fully relax, but still, getting into the second trimester is still an important milestone.

How's everyone else getting on? Have we got anyone in the 2WW (Two week wait)?x

Not me, I have longish cycles so waiting to ovulate is the part that really drags for me. I'm hoping to ovulate next weekend and then I'll take my first 10 days of pred while we are still on lockdown, which makes me feel a bit better. I'm not sure what I'll do if I get pregnant this cycle and then the lockdown restrictions are lifted just as I hit 4 weeks. Cross that bridge if and when I come to it, I guess. The latest news here is that lockdown will continue until 11th May.

@HarrietM87 tell me about it! Any coping strategies for waiting, gratefully received! Will your next scan be the 12 week one? Or will you have one before then?x

Are you having an early scan, @Countrygirl220?

@peperethecat I hope I’ll feel better after 12 weeks, I guess definitely after 20 weeks. With my son I was weirdly a lot less anxious generally (id had 3 losses before him)...no idea why. I guess I know more now about what’s at stake.

My NHS scan is at 13 weeks and I’ll definitely see Mr S before that. Was meant to be in this week but will try postpone to next or the week after. I think I’m going to get the harmony test this time (didn’t last time) as well.

@Countrygirl220 I don’t have any good strategies! I just counted what felt like the minutes up until my first scan. Wishing you all the best for the next couple of weeks - the time will pass eventually.

@HoldingOn2Hope I meant to message you to say, if you need some Pred then I have some spare that I could post to you. I know it’s probably not the done thing but I know how frustrating it is to have to wait, I wish I could get some hydroxy as will have to take it for 8 weeks before trying, as it is it’s going to be months before I can even try agin.
If that helps you then let me know, I won’t be using it for a while. X

@HarrietM87 it's good that you won't have to wait too long between scans.

I read the book by Dr Lesley Regan about miscarriage and she says that in cases of truly unexplained recurrent miscarriage regular appointments and thorough antenatal treatment seem to make a difference to pregnancy outcomes. I really struggle with that idea because it does seem to suggest that stress may actually be a contributing factor. But surely women suffering from recurrent miscarriage who are being seen regularly by their doctors are also likely to be on all kinds of medication to try and help them stay pregnant? It seems to me to be quite unlikely that these women are having regular scans and check ups but not taking at least progesterone and aspirin, and yet she seems adamant that these things don't help but regular check ups might.

Does anyone have any views on this?

In any case, my doctor has suggested weekly scans from 6 weeks the next time I get pregnant, which I am not complaining about.

@Eeviee Thank you so much that's very kind of you and if I decided to ttc this cycle I will let you know. I already have some pred probably not enough if I was to get a bfp.

I'm still in limbo. Don't know what to do. To ttc or wait. I think I want to ttc but taking steroids worries me with this virus and it may be months until it's over.
I'm at home as I'm self employed so have no work for a good few months, DH is also wfh home we aren't going out not even for walks and use the garden for our daily dose of sunlight.

Xx

Thanks @HarrietM87 :)

@peperethecat well it'll be good news if the lockdown restrictions are lifted and you get pregnant, it'll make continuing to take the pred an easier decision hopefully. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

I'm trying not to think about a scan to be honest. All my losses apart from the first have been between 5-7 weeks and the last two early scans I had were at about 5.5ish weeks (although wasn't super sure of dates) and they were ultimately both inconclusive and then had bad news or bleeding a week later. But both of those entire weeks I was in bits because of the waiting. So I'm literally trying to take it a day at a time, if I get there, I get there if I don't well there's nothing I can do. And if I do get there, I definitely won't be having a scan until at least 6.5 weeks.

I have also read the Lesley Reagan book and the Dr. Beer book and I just don't know. The entire medical community seems to be divided on this subject - not helpful for all of us lot. FWWIW I've just tried a different thing every time in my medical study of one (me) !

@HoldingOn2Hope when do you have to decide? Is your hubby supportive of you taking the pred? To be honest it sounds like you're being pretty belt and braces on the social distancing so as long as he's supportive and you're not going out then you're as safe as you can be and it's only 10 days. The thing will be are you prepared to continue it after that?x

@Countrygirl220 I don't know, I thought that once lockdown restrictions are lifted it won't be so much that the virus is gone, but more that they think the healthcare system is better equipped to cope/they can't justify the damage to the economy any longer. I think I would feel pretty nervous about going back to work after a couple of weeks of the pred, knowing that the virus is still out there and that I am now at increased risk. But it's probably not worth worrying about until the first week in May when I test, and by then I'll know whether they are lifting the restrictions the following week or not and can ask my doctor for her advice. If absolutely necessary I could tell my manager and my boss that I was pregnant and on immuno-suppressing medication and ask to carry on working from home, because I had to tell them when I had my third miscarriage. But I would feel a bit uncomfortable with the rest of my colleagues knowing something was up. Probably half the team know about my miscarriages because I told a few people in strictest confidence, but I really don't want the other half knowing/speculating. If I do get pregnant this cycle I would honestly welcome another month of lockdown!