Immune/NK cells - pred thread 28

[myrainbowjourney]

Hi Ladies

New thread 🥰

If you comment to hold your place. I'll try and tag as many as I can xxx

@BelleB84 I am having the same treatment. Just finished cycle 3 and sadly no positive test again. I feel really deflated but hoping that it's just a matter of time.
I haven't had any side effects of the drugs, but that doesn't mean to say that's not what's causing your headaches.

@StillTrying10000 do you mind me asking how many super ov cycles you tried? I didn't realise the clinic did IVF.

I felt so positive for this last cycle, starting to think it's just not going to happen 😢

@myrainbowjourney I'm sorry to hear it hasn't worked for you so far. How many follicles did you have on your scan? I tried 3 cycles in the end I think. No I didn't realise about IVF either until I'd had the 3 failed attempts and they suggested it. They do it in partnership with Kings Fertility so you have all the scans at CRP but go to Kings for egg collection and implantation procedures. It works really well and the IVF team at CRP and Kings are all so lovely which makes it all easier. Have you had your AMH measured to find out how good your ovarian reserve is?

@StillTrying10000 yeah I had that done with my initial tests and it was actually really good, which I was massively surprised at. It was 27.3.

Dr S has suggested 6 cycles of super ovulation so I shouldn't be too disheartened. It just feels like every failed cycle is a cycle closer to it never working. I should be thinking it's a cycle closer to it working but this experience has drilled negativity into my core.

The first cycle I had one dominant follicle, second I had one on each ovary, last one I had 2 on my left and 1 on my right, along with a smaller one on my right. They were really pleased with the response but to add another factor, I had an ectopic in may and lost my right tube, so I guess I had max 2 follicles depending what side my tube took from. I need to understand more how this works with one tube but I assume it means I will only ever benefit from one ovaries follicles.

I'm interested to see what they say at my next follicle tracking, but they have definitely said 6 cycles....

Can't even bring myself to calculate how much we have spent, not sure I can add ivf to the total 😬😬

@StillTrying10000 at least I was told that was good by Dr S

@myrainbowjourney ahh that's a good AMH. Mine was 6 so I guess makes sense to move to IVF sooner to collect any last eggs I have. I've had 3 IVF failed cycles now, it's a stupid amount of debt to be in but a baby is all I've ever wanted in life so I won't give up as long as there are things to try. I guess you know you can get pregnant too as you have before? so don't loose hope xxx

Oh @StillTrying10000 I'm so sorry you've had to go through all that.

I know what you mean about the money but wanting a baby. It's hard to know when to draw the line.

Yes I've been pregnant a few times, all ending in early miscarriages. Then the ectopic. Then the tests showed I had high NK cells and very high activity so I'm on the complex plan. I wanted to do super ovulation because my cycles were long, and with the one tube I wanted to maximise chances.
It never felt like I had to wait too long to fall pregnant, just wouldn't stick. For some reason this feels like ages even though it's 3 cycles. Think maybe it's because I know I'm on a bit of a deadline. My first miscarriage was March 2020 so I so hoped I wouldn't make a second Christmas without being pregnant, but here we are.

When is your next transfer? Keeping everything crossed 🤞🏼🤞🏼

@BelleB84
I'm not doing IVF (yet!) but I'm on the same 3 meds you mentioned and I've had bad headaches, nothing seems to cure it till it fades!
Wishing everyone better luck for next year,sta all keep fingers and toes crossed xx

@89Hope thanks for that..sorry to hear you’ve got them too but I think it’s defo a symptom of the meds (not a cold/ Covid) as I had the same awful headaches the days o the Letrozole..then I was fine for a few days then got these. As you say, just have to wait for them to fade - took a couple of paracetomol but trying to avoid too many. Fingers crossed for us all next year. I had no idea so many amazing women were going through what I have been this year so a bit about me in case anything is useful..
I froze some eggs at 40 as I was single. All the clinics advise trying naturally though as they have more data I think. I met my partner at 41 and we started TTC at 42. We both had lots of tests last year when we started TtC and told everything was very good for ages. I had 2 miscarriages this year at 6/7 weeks, one silent and one bleed. I got over the first v quickly - the second seemed to take months. Then I had a suspected chemical pg in Sept - I was hugely bloated then got a late/ short period and horrific pain. I’d seen another specialist after the 2 mcs who’d said it was a blood clotting issue and gave me thyroid drugs/ didn’t believe in NKCs then the chemical happened and my gut told me not to rely on his advice so waited to see Dr S. He found high level active NKC so I’m just hoping that’s the reason the others happened.
I am very grateful for you all sharing your stories. When I googled for days oj end after the mcs I cried days on end but was so grateful for the info on here..more than the NHS give and their treatment when I went to A and E was awful and I know I’m not alone in that sadly.
Thank you and you are all amazing x

@BelleB84 it's absolutely shit, no other way to describe the pain and sadness every time things go wrong. I've had terrible depression, which probably doesn't help trying to conceive but it's a vicious cycle. Sending love and hugs xz

Hi ladies - so, first cycle trying on Dr S's protocol for me, only 3dpo and already freaking out just a little as we've never struggled to conceive before (just for it to stick) and I know lots of people can take longer on the meds so I'm trying my best to keep expectations steady. My main concern is that I'm on progesterone from ovulation, and I've read so many conflicting things about the best time to start this - lots from 3dpo, others from 7 and some from BFP but very few from ovulation like me and I've heard it can make implantation harder if taken too early. My question is, has anyone else started from ovulation and has it made it harder to fall pregnant at all or no difference?

@Trytryandtryagain11 it's very hard to remain calm when trying with the added pressure of the treatment / cost. We were very fortunate and fell pregnant first cycle despite progesterone from ovulation. (Though actually falling pregnant was never our problem!). He wouldn't prescribe it from then if he felt it would hamper your chances. Fingers and toes crossed for you x

@Trytryandtryagain11 I'm on progesterone from ovulation and on our third cycle waiting to find out if its good news. We always fell pregnant quickly before but obviously no long term success with the other pregnancies. I think stress also has a part to play, I've been so stressed out the last few months and I'm sure that's not helped. Its so easy to become obsessive, it's a tough time.
Agree with @treesall, Dr S is the expert and will be playing the best odds with everyone. If no luck after 3 cycles they change the meds so I'm trying to tell myself we will still be moving in the right direction even if unsuccessful this time. Wishing you luck x

One thing to watch out for future cycles, on this medication my cycles have gotten shorter, the last ovulation was 9 days after first day of period and previous was 8 days (we nearly missed it!) so something to make sure you start testing for ovulation early!!

@treesall @89Hope thank you both so much, you're totally right he is the expert and no amount of my internet scouring will match up to his advice. It's so hard to let go of control thought isn't it? I feel like we've had to fight so much to get to this point with the NHS and being given the wrong advice, that now we are in good hands with Dr S I still can't quite fully let go and trust if that makes sense. Sending you both so much luck, this time of year is even harder for the TWW I think :( I just want to skip a few days! xxx

@Trytryandtryagain11 I'm also on progesterone from ovulation so I'm hoping it's the best plan. I do agree that there must be a reason why he does it. I have found I've had to stop worrying about what's happening and if it's the best thing, and put my trust into Dr S.
Sometimes difficult to stop your mind wandering though

@89Hope I'm interested about the change up of meds after 3 cycles. I've just completed my third so I wonder what they'll change. Do you know what they tend to do?

I know exactly how you feel @Trytryandtryagain11 it's HORRIBLE!
I'm supposed to test on Xmas day as day 11! It would be a Xmas miracle if positive but a bit of a downer if another negative when we've done everything perfectly.
My husband keeps telling me we just have to believe we will all get there in the end and will appreciate it SO much more when it happens x

@myrainbowjourney no idea what they'll change, they just said we need to schedule an appointment for a review if no success after 3. Sounds like you might have this appointment first as I will prob have to wait till 2-3rd week in Jan as we find out if successful over the holidays when they are closed.

Sorry this might be a REALLY stupid question, what is super ovulation?

@89Hope that's interesting! Are you using the clearblue digital ovulation sticks? I'm only asking because I got so confused on them this month! I used the same monitor that I'd used for 3 months previously as apparently it's more in tune with your hormones as it 'learns' and I got solid smiley on day 7 of my cycle, which is v unusual as I'm always exactly on day 14. Thought it must be wrong so I used a new reader and it was low fertility, and then went up as usual to day 14 when it was peak. I THINK what happened in my instance was that the Metformin has had an impact (hopefully positive) in raising my hormones and it was high compared to previous months which is why the old monitor said peak, but the new said low. We won't know until AF arrives (or hopefully doesn't) though I guess which day I ovulated. xxxx

@myrainbowjourney thank you so much - it's sounding like he recommends progesterone from ovulation for most people actually, and you're totally right he knows what he's doing. Time to let go and let him do this thing I suppose but it's SO HARD isn't it - at least we all know we are not alone in this, I'm the only one in my RL group of friends and it's so isolating xxx

@89Hope hopefully you won't need the appointment anyway 🤞🏼

Super ovulation is basically taking meds to maximise number of follicles each month. I only have one tube, and usually very long cycles, so it brings my ovulation forward and should hopefully mean that I'll collect at least one egg each cycle. Otherwise I might not have any chance at all, depending which side I ovulate and which side my tube takes from. I have to have a scan day 11-13 to measure and count the follicles and then when they are happy I have to take an injection to make me ovulate.
It's an added expense I didn't need, but then the thought of spending the rest when I might not even be in with a chance was too much of a risk.

@Trytryandtryagain11 I've said it so casually but I'm terrible at letting go. I want to control everything and understand it all. Even when they recommend certain days for scans etc I question if it's too late, too early etc. Always wondering if we are doing enough, as if he'd just leave something out. It's so silly, but I think it's really hard not to. Having to put all your faith and trust into someone is hard, especially if you've had not so great experiences with the nhs which sadly I have.
I'm also so bad at asking questions when I'm there. It's like I believe and trust every word when he's there, but as soon as I leave it's like I've forgotten who I've spoken to 🙄😂

@Trytryandtryagain11 that is interesting and possibly scary for me. I've been using the standard boots non-digital sticks that show a line and have stopped testing/trying when it starts to go faint after the early lines. Hopefully I wasn't missing it later in the month with possible early false alarms! 🙈
Thanks for the explanation @myrainbowjourney
That sounds like so much work but will be worth it even if its not successful as you're still moving in the right direction. That's what I like about this process, there seems to be lots of next steps to try if things don't work.

(I'm usually very pessimistic so this is my best efforts to try to be positive!!)

@89Hope I need some of that positivity, I'm running out rapidly 😫

I go through phases, after my appointments I'm all buoyant, then I manage to stay positive thinking this is the month...then I get a positive and I fall into a big dark hole 😂