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

[tulipsandtea]

I meant dismissed aspirin not slur on, oops

[SunDance21]

I’ve never read that yoga is a hinderance. I’d have thought anything that makes you feel relaxed and helps you mentally can only be a good thing. Sorry that you’ve found yourself here too ❤️

[StillTrying10000]

@tulipsandtea sorry to hear what you are going through. I wouldn't worry too much about the yoga, maybe take it easy the two days around ovulation but apart from that exercise is good. Personally I haven't gone down the herbal route, my belief is as long as I'm getting lots of fresh fruit and veg, a varied healthy diet and taking all the vitamins Dr S recommends I'm doing the best I can. The only other thing I do is avoid hot baths/bath bubbles, bath oils etc.
It is all so painful, I'm now 2 years down the line now, I've been with Dr S for a year. Looking back I wish I had viewed this as a long term journey rather than feeling the crushing pain ever month. I'm now trying to think more 'I want to be 3 months pregnant within the year' rather than 'I want a baby in my arms within a year' it's just so sad and hard though. Stay strong! Keep fighting xxx

[taffeta21]

Thanks both. I had issues logging in with the tulips username so had to delete and start again. Even choosing a username was a challenge so chose something random..!!
I have been so good with my diet, no booze, minimum caffeine, acupuncture, supplements for a year and a half. This week I threw it out of the window for a few days - choc, chips, calorie laden food. I figure we all need a blow out some time x Back on it tomorrow.
Thanks for your well wishes. I’m 43 and constantly feel I’m up against the clock. I didn’t meet my OH til I was 41 and we started trying a year later. Seems like a lifetime ago :( :( I froze my ages at 40 but 2 clinics have says it’s much better to try naturally as the odds are better. I’d thought that was a good safety net but now panicking that won’t work either. It’s such a hard journey x

[StillTrying10000]

@taffeta21 Oww and I want to clarify when I say eat healthy varied diet that totally includes chocolate and cake for me! It's not low cal, I just try to make sure the good outweighs the bad. Having high endorphins are really important so chocolate is defo one of my go to's on low days :-)
Have you discussed IVF with Dr S yet? I was desperate to move fast so after 3 failed super ovulation cycles I'm now on IVF and his IVF consultant is such a nice person. Pricey but may reassure you to bank some embryo's to take the pressure off. I hadn't realised before frozen embryo's are so much better than frozen eggs. The success rate of a frozen embryo transfer can be just as good, if not better than a fresh transfer. xxx

[myrainbowjourney]

@taffeta21 hello, and welcome to the group.

I'm doing super ov too. I don't notice in particularly tired, but then I always feel pretty tired! I'm the same as @StillTrying10000, I've cleaned up my diet in places and take my supplements. I struggle with whether I should do more, and eat better, but I do think this journey is tough enough. I'd be downright miserable if I didn't allow myself chocolate and cake from time to time. Maybe a little too much at the moment, but it's such a fine balance. It already consumes me, if every decision was around TTC I think it'd make it harder.
I also agree, I struggle to see that yoga could cause any issues. I exercise as usual - I think it can only be a good thing?

Has Dr S said how long he wants you to try naturally?

@SunDance21 how are you getting on?

@StillTrying10000 I think at my next appointment ivf might be mentioned to me. How long did the process take once you decided to go for it? Does he make you have all the nk cell tests again or is it all quite easy to move over?

@VenusStarr how are you? And @Onwardsandupwards1206 @TheHopefulEgg?

@89Hope thinking of you on test day. Let us know how you get on xx

[StillTrying10000]

@myrainbowjourney I know a lot of women try many more super O cycles before IVF but I had a low AMH and was desperate to find a solution quickly. How's your AMH? You may find at this point you'll need to push for IVF if you want to go down that route. Personally I haven't minded it at all and have got on well with all the drugs. It can all happen quite quickly, you need a couple of weeks for a few tests and forms but you can start stims on day 1 of your next cycle and I was harvesting eggs 11 days later! Implantation then 5 days after that. I'll DM you the costs I have paid though to give you an idea- it's the IVF costs plus miscarriage treatments. Any questions let me know x

[myrainbowjourney]

@StillTrying10000 my AMH was 27.3, which I think he thought was good?
He said to try 6 rounds of super ov - the next is my last. I just wonder what he will suggest next.
That does sound quick. Where are you in your cycle now? When does OH have to do his bit? Typically he is starting a new job tomorrow and can't take time off for a few months so I'm hoping there's something for in between so it's just not a case of not trying.
Thank you for the info over DM. I'll have a look now xx

[taffeta21]

@StillTrying10000 we’ve not discussed ivf stupidly with Mr S as he was so against it when we first spoke, advocating this as a much better success rate. I’m worried about my age though so going to raise it at my next appt.
@myrainbowjourney did you do ivf linked to Mr S’s treatment? I’ve previously been seen by the Lister and liked them so they’d be my first choice I think. I have their price list. I don’t think Mr S’s clinic does it but does he recommend certain places? Thank you

[taffeta21]

discussed seriously, not stupidly!!

[myrainbowjourney]

@taffeta21 I'm not doing IVF yet. I think it might be the next conversation if my next and last super ovulation cycle doesn't work. My next follicle tracking I am going to raise the question about what happens next. It seems unbelievable that it would work on the last go, but I'll keep my fingers crossed.

I think he links up with another clinic, but @StillTrying10000 will be able to tell you more.

I'm worried about my age too, and the fact I have one tube so it's a sluggish old journey. I'd love it to happen naturally but I can't keep going through the motions forever xxx

[StillTrying10000]

@taffeta21 they do IVF in partnership with Kings Fertiltiy. You have most of your appointment, scans and get meds from the CRP clinic with Dr Jan (who's fab), then you go to Kings for egg collection and implantation. Works really well as a process. x

[taffeta21]

Thanks both. I’ll ask him about that

[StillTrying10000]

@myrainbowjourney I'm answer to your other questions: yes that AMH isn't bad. Mine is only 6 (age 33) so it took 3 cycles to get a handful of good genetically tested eggs. I'm actually going for my 4th transfer tomorrow. Very romantic experience for Valentine's Day ha!
My OH had to provide a sample for mobility testing (it was different from the fragmentation testing) prior to starting IVF, this can be done at any time though either at a london lab or he did it at New Life Epsom (need somewhere with an on-site lab). Maybe ask if he can do this soon if he has a chance before starting his new job.
Then when you have your egg harvesting your OH has to be there to provide a live sample but all the other appointments I did myself. You can even do the implantation by yourself. Could he pull a sicky one day to go to Kings with you for the egg collection? It is likely to be mid morning and you can end up being there for about 4 hours. The trickiest bit is you don't know what day any of this will happen until a couple of days before so totally impossible to plan. Then for you, you need to be at the Epsom clinic every 2 days for scans prior to egg collection but they are good at doing these early morning, 7-8am so I was still able to get to work x

[Onwardsandupwards1206]

@taffeta21 welcome! As the other ladies have said I am sure yoga is fine if it helps with anxiety, some gentle poses and meditation can only be a good thing in my mind :)

@myrainbowjourney I’m doing ok thanks! Trying to manage my anxiety as best I can. Had a few distractions this weekend which have helped. I’ve still got 10 days to go til scan day which feels like a lifetime!! Sending positivity for your last super ov cycle - I always think everything that has happened to us ladies is unbelievably horrible so once in a while something unbelievably amazing has to happen, it can’t all be bad all the time. Hopefully for you, it’s last round lucky!

@SunDance21 how are you doing? X

[SunDance21]

Hello, just a little update from me and thanks for asking how I am it’s nice to know people are thinking about me ❤️

I went to EPU today and they confirmed what I was suspecting, that I had a chemical and that the progesterone was suppressing red bleeding. Just in case anyone reads this an panics that they could have a MMC she said this is fairly uncommon and usually people will have red bleeding, I must be fairly susceptible to the progesterone (which I kind of take as a good thing? 🤷🏻‍♀️).

I’m strangely relieved as everyone I’ve ever spoken to says chemical pregnancies are usually due to chromosome, far more so then later on so I’ve restored a little faith that it doesn’t mean this treatment hasn’t worked on me.

They have also given me a blood test for HCG level just to double check it’s not ectopic, but they said it isn’t suspected ectopic this was just for reassurance for me.

I have to say EPU where I am was amazing. I rang them on Saturday morning, was offered an appointment on Monday but could have done Saturday if I really wanted. I was seen by a consultant due to my history not just a nurse.

She’s sent a letter to my GP saying that next I should be prescribed progesterone via NHS so now I can get it through them. She’s also suggested to my Dr that they do a further blood test which I haven’t had but she said I need to wait 6 weeks.

I wasn’t given an appointment at the clinic until Friday and so I’m going to cancel that now and just see Dr S whenever they next have one available. I think I’m going to also refer to Dr Quinnby (sp?) just because it’s very similar treatment but through the NHS so a bit cheaper and I’ll be honest my experience of trying to get an appointment with EPU ‘v’ the clinic was that EPU was so much easier and now I know I’ll be seen by a consultant anyway I feel that’s more reassuring for me personally.

We’re going to take a few months off now just to get our heads together and just remember what it’s likely to live not by my hormonal timetable! I’m glad as we’ve decided to go away and we’ve got some exciting things we’ve planned for the next few months.

———

@myrainbowjourney I definitely vote for the occasional chocolate cake slice. This journey is miserable enough without denying everything else in life too. That said I need to lose weight and that’s going to be my main focus over the next few months I’m taking off.

@StillTrying10000 good luck for your transfer ❤️

@Onwardsandupwards1206 good luck for your scan ❤️ I’m sure it will go super smoothly for you.

@VenusStarr I really hope you’re doing okay ❤️

[89Hope]

So so sorry to hear this @SunDance21 such a blow. Thinking of you and sending hugs. A break sounds like a good plan, booking a holiday is something to look forward to.

It was another negative at the weekend. Was expecting it but doesn't stop it stinging all the same. Fingers crossed for next month

[SunDance21]

Thank you @89Hope . Like I said I’m strangely relieved. I’ve spent the last week worried I’m just able to go through a month of going back and forth being told it’s 50:50 again, and I’m just so glad it was so definite and I’m not in limbo so I can move on. And I’m also glad it hasn’t taken away all hope from me, because my 4am google holes last week definitely consisted of multiple ways of trying to deal with not being able to have children at all…

I’m so sorry it was negative ❤️ It’s such a blow and it always hurts. I’m thinking of you ❤️

[StillTrying10000]

@SunDance21 I'm sorry it was sad news. Well done for getting through the day. I hope you have the most amazing holiday to look forward to now. Sending hugs xxx

[myrainbowjourney]

@SunDance21 oh lovely, I am so so sorry. This isn't the update I was hoping for from you.

I think it's amazing how you are looking at the situation, it's so good to remain positive and keep the hope. It's the downfall of early testing and like you said, with the addition of progesterone. You might never have known any different without those two things.

You are such a strong and amazing woman, and you will absolutely have your baby, hopefully very soon.

A break sounds perfect, definitely take the opportunity. Where are you off to on holiday?

Sending you all the love. Not sure if you plan to hang around, but if you ever need to talk, please remember where we are xxx

@89Hope so sorry your test was negative. I know what you mean, no matter how we prepare ourselves it always hits you hard in the gut.
Everything crossed for next time 🤞🏼🤞🏼 xxx

[SunDance21]

@StillTrying10000 thank you lovely 🥰

@myrainbowjourney that’s such a lovely thing to say, thank you. I definitely wasn’t feeling positive… I spent the weekend opening up to people about what were going through - especially my husband. I feel so much closer to him and like we’re a team again which has made me feel stronger. Sometimes I feel like this journey is so all consuming you forget about everything else as well.

We’re going to go to NYC I think as I have some family there and we’ve never done a city break.

I’ll be around :) I find this page so helpful, it really helps to remove the feeling of isolation I have. None of my friends have been through anything like this so they find it hard to relate.

Plus I’m looking forward to hearing all the positive stories in the next few months from you all 😊❤️

[89Hope]

@SunDance21 I know exactly what you mean about the 4am desperate googling. I researched all the various adoption processes a few weeks ago in complete dispair. Total overreaction at the time but sometimes that's where you end up!
NYC is amaaazing. That will be the perfect break as its non stop when you're there plus generally a lot of planning to do beforehand which will be good for thinking about something exciting.

[myrainbowjourney]

@SunDance21 I'm so glad you've found closeness with your husband again. Like you say this journey is so isolating, from everyone. It's a fine art keeping relationships strong and maintaining any sort of normal life and existence. And you definitely need the strength as a team ❤️❤️

Ooh NYC m is one of my favourite places in the world. I'm very jealous. We had a trip booked but it was cancelled for covid and I was so sad.

I'm so pleased you're sticking around. I look forward to everyone's positive stories too. I really hope I can provide one soon. OH bought me a bottle of pink bubbles for valentines. Might treat myself to a little one xxx

[taffeta21]

@SunDance21 so sorry to hear your update. You’re being so positive and I hope you both enjoy your well deserved break. I can’t even face organising a holiday at the moment so well done you!! Let’s hope we all have some good news to share this year. Have an amazing trip and stay safe.
I spent 3 hours last night in the google hole on supplements, completely forgetting the notes I’d made a year ago..my head gets frazzled by it sometimes.
Hope everyone else has a good week.
I can feel my monthly cramps starting so will be speaking to the clinic re next steps. Take care