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

@Luckyducky2 keeping well thank you. Thursday will be 37 weeks and full term! I honestly can't believe it. I've got my last (I think) appointment with the consultant on Monday, where I'm hoping an elective c section will be booked - funnily enough I don't trust my body to do as it should so hoping to leave it in the hands of a surgeon! How are you?

Also thinking of you all in the shitty TTC loop ❤️ xxx

@Daffodil21 how exciting for you (and I know its scarey too) but whatever way you choose to have your baby, just soak up all those precious moments, it all goes by so fast! I remember having my wee boy and I was just an emotional wreck the first few days, it was exhausting! 🤣 and so many visitors, oof if I ever do get lucky enough to do it again, I will be keeping the door firmly closed for a good few weeks (see this is me fantasising again and I get scared I'm going to jinx myself! 🙈 Got to stop my imagination running away with itself!).

Did you get to have appointments with a consultant the whole way through your pregnancy? If so, that must have helped ease your mind a little knowing you were getting the best care? xxx

@Luckyducky2 thanks. Still very much in the 'if he's ok' zone but I guess we'll find out soon.

I didn't in the early days. Then at my 20 week appointment they realised we should have been consultant led all this time 🙄 we got through the early months by booking lots of private scans, and then we had NHS growth scans every 4 weeks from week 20. I saw my consultant once and then she had to go on leave so there's been a stand in ever since. No idea who I'll be seeing tomorrow but as long as they book a CS as early as poss I don't really care..! But yes, I definitely felt better after we switched to consultant care.

You won't jinx yourself by thinking ahead! That day will come ❤️ xxx

@Luckyducky2 I have everything crossed for you. 💙

@Daffodil21so excited for you, you're so nearly there! I hope you'll stick around here occasionally even once your baby arrives, you've been a great support and we will all want to know how you're getting on!

If I didn't have a 3 year old to look after I honestly think I would book the week off work and sleep until Friday . I am so so sure this pregnancy has failed already and I feel devastated! I just want the scan to be over! X

@treesall I often think twice about posting because I'm not with dr s and I don't have an actual diagnosis - but surely there has to be a reason for 3 early mcs?! I just hope it gives some hope to you ladies in the thick of it. But of course we're not all the way there yet.

How far along are you now? Isn't this the furthest you've got so far? Hang on in there! X

@Daffodil21 noooo, I'm only 5+4. Zero symptoms apart from tiredness and I just "know" it's gone wrong, it feels the same as the mcs and not like my successful pregnancy. This is further than 2 of my losses which were early chemicals before 6 weeks. But those that went past that point have both been missed miscarriages. In the last one it would have been 9 weeks except the development was slow so it was much smaller but just took a while for the hb to stop and then I needed an MVA. I desperately hope my body miscarries naturally if this isn't going to be a success, but I just have a feeling history is going to repeat itself.

@treesall urgh time goes so slow when you find out early doesn't it!! What a long and gruelling wait for you. Really hoping everything is ok in your scan this Friday, that's one hurdle done at least ❤️

This pregnancy is different to all the others because you have a diagnosis and are receiving treatment x

All you ladies expressing anxiety and fears at the moment, I’m thinking about all of you and crossing my fingers Xxx

@Daffodil21 Such good news you are nearly at the end, so inspiring to hear ! Can I ask what dose of pred you were on? And did you have any intralipids at all?

@HollyLucky I didn't have any intralipids. I had some pred left over from the pregnancy just before, which I got prescribed from a clinic in Manchester who do online appointments. I started taking it too late in the previous pregnancy and ended up miscarrying. I then got pregnant again straight away and followed the dosage mentioned in 'is your body baby friendly', which was 5mg with breakfast and 5mg with dinner from 2dpo, then upping to 10mg with breakfast and 10mg with dinner until about 13 weeks, then I started tapering off 5mg per week until just after 16 weeks. My prescription wasn't for this long, but because I had some left from a previous pregnancy and then my GP prescribed it for the duration (after consultants approval), I ended up with more than enough to see me through. So basically I didn't quite stick to what it said on my prescription 🙈

I do think the pred is what did it for me, although I have no evidence to support this. I was also on progesterone, which again I took longer than prescribed and came off it at about 23 weeks.

I don't know for sure what worked, but I plan on doing exactly the same if this goes ok and we try for number two x

Thanks @Daffodil21 for sharing, you clearly did something right with your treatment 👏🏼

@HollyLucky I meant to say that I upped the pred dose age to 10mg twice per day following BFP X

@Daffodil21 that is fantastic they gave you scans every 4 weeks, you would have felt like you could breathe again once you know little one is doing okay (I still have the fear about scans, not sure I'll ever get over that!!). Its really nice to hear the success stories on here and know that the treatment does work for a lot of women? Hope you get your CS date ASAP!! Xxx

Oh @treesall I am really feeling for you, the worry and anxiety is just the worst isn't it 😔 I'm sorry I'm so behind with where everyone is at but are you on prednisolone? I've heard others saying (and Dr S also said it to me!) that pred dampens down all the pregnancy symptoms.....could it possibly be that? You are in my thoughts and I will cross everything this weeks scan goes well xxx

Finding it so hard to relax this evening, I had a couple spots of blood this afternoon when I wiped and I've got strange cramping feelings coming and going. I know this can all be positive signs but I also know its gone wrong for me 6 times before.....I'm terrified! My husband is being super positive this time around and I just don't want to let him down. Think I'll be joining the 2am sleepless club tonight!! 😦 xxx

Thanks @Luckyducky2 - I don't think the fear ever goes. It is much easier when you feel movement but before then I would absolutely dread every single one. I think I've said on here before that I had one every 1-2 weeks because I just needed to see everything was ok in that moment.

Reading your second post made me so sad - YOU ARE NOT LETTING HIM DOWN. None of this is any of our faults. We haven't done anything to deserve this, or anything wrong to cause any of it. Unfortunately it's just the way things have turned out for us x

@Luckyducky2 I'm not on pred so it can't be that, sadly!

You mustn't feel you've let your husband down. I really do understand why you feel like that but it's NOT your fault and you're not letting anyone down. Xx

Thanks girls, I know I shouldn't blame myself, its just one of those things isn't it and we are doing all we can! I think because my husband is 7 years younger (toyboy 🤣) I just automatically blame myself being the old bird! 🐦 Need to stop that!

@treesall I am still crossing everything for you, they say every pregnancy is different and I would be clinging onto that with everything I had! 🤞🤞

Xxx ps I am now going to drown out my anxieties by watching a bit of rubbish tv (love island anyone?🤷‍♀️) xxx

Hi lovely ladies,

Hope you're all hanging in there ❤️.

@Daffodil21, it's so lovely to hear that you are doing well and almost there 😊. Thank you for all your supportive and encouraging comments, it really helps!

@Luckyducky2, really hope you are getting on okay, and I'm echoing everyone else when I say you are not to blame yourself for anything. ❤️ I was chuckling when you confessed to Love Island, as at the moment I was on a Hollyoaks catch up. I must be the only person over 18 that still watches it... 🙈.

@treesall , how are you doing? Ticking off the days? Really hope you are okay. The build up to the appointment is tough and it's just a case of getting there, isn't it. I hope you have been able to feel a bit more positive ❤️.

I'm having ups and downs - I just find it so hard to allow myself to hope that things will work out. I do have some positive signs... my boobs definitely look different (definitely moving towards bin lid nipples now 🙈), and the general 'hangover' feeling, especially in the evening. But symptoms or no symptoms, I just can't let myself believe/can't seem to believe anything is actually happening inside of me. I feel foolish if I let myself think it might work out... how do I trust my body?! I know it is different this time with having the drugs... but 🤷🏼‍♀️. Sorry - that's definitely not very coherent.

I have a scan again next week. For self preservation I can't let myself think any further ahead.... but just hope hope hope it goes okay.

Hope everyone else is okay and thank you to all who offer support here! It really is so helpful to have a place to share thoughts and feel supported. Im not going to tell anyone anything in 'real life' yet. Really, really hope I can share some good news in a few weeks.

Have a good day ladies - another hot one! X

I am also a love island fan! It's definitely helping to just have some trash to watch.

@ginandoreos and @treesall thinking of you and your scanxiety, you're right just to take each day at a time. All you can do is say 'I am pregnant today'. And if the worst happens, you can get through it, you have done it before.

That being said, I am feeling very anxious this week - I have a hysteroscopy on Thursday to tell me whether I am signed off to try again after the most complicated miscarriage ever which began in April and only completed at the end of June due to MVA not working and the NHS refusing to go in and get the extra tissue out. Ended up going privately a month ago and this appointment is to check for adhesions/scarring. It's hard to have hope when every time I go to hospital I get bad news. Has anyone else been through this? I'm so worried I'm going to have scarring and I won't be able to try for pregnancy again for another year.

Xx

Hi @Lozfish, I’m not sure my message will help, I just thought I would respond as everything you said sounds so close to home even if not to the same degree. I’ve also had an MVA for my first miscarriage last year, I’ve also had a miscarriage at the same time as you this April (although no MVA was needed), and I nearly needed a hysteroscopy after the second miscarriage too as NHS thought they had seen a polyp (which then magically disappeared).
I haven’t gone though the exact same issues as you so I’m not sure this will ease your anxiety, but just thought I’ld let you know you are not alone :)

Thank you so much @HollyLucky 😘😘😘 I never even knew you could have a 'complicated' miscarriage before now!

@Lozfish and @HollyLucky I'm so sorry for what you have been through, such a painful and traumatic journey. Sometimes I look back and wonder how we survive these things?? Yet somehow we do ❤️. Sending you lots of love, positivity and hope for your journeys moving forward.

Whilst I wish nobody would have to go through any of the horrendous experiences we have suffered, it really is wonderful to find a place where people can understand exactly how you feel and share the ups and downs of it all 🙂.

Xxx

@ginandoreos I completely agree, reading most people’s messages feels like someone describing what is in my own head sometimes! It’s so priceless to be able to share our similar experiences and give each other support xxx

Thanks @Luckyducky2 for your positive wishes. It's so lovely to read supportive messages and is def helping me not to totally panic / despair.

@ginandoreos I'm ok thank you! Sort of ticking off the days and sort of wanting to call and cancel my scan because I don't want to hear bad news. The down side is that each day that passes and I still have no symptoms is just further reinforcing my gut feeling that this pregnancy is failing too. The only thing o have is tiredness which has happened with every pregnancy, but still no sore boobs (despite the fact I keep poking them to check!!)

That's a really good sign that your boobs are changing and that you feel a bit ropey sometimes. Let's hope that continues for you! What day is your scan next week?

@Lozfish thank you for your kind thoughts. I'm sorry you have been through such horrible experience. That's really terrible that you have had to go privately to have retained tissue removed. I will have everything crossed for you that your appointment shows no scarring and that you are clear to try again when ready. Do let us know how you get on! x

@treesall thanks for such a lovely message Sorry to hear that you're so anxious, how far along are you? Is Friday your 6 week scan? One of my colleagues told me in her first successful pregnancy (she had one mc) that she had absolutely zero symptoms all the way through. I wonder whether you are just someone who doesn't get too affected by pregnancy hormones if this is a common theme for you, rather than it being a sign of it not taking? I 100% understand your concern though, it's so much more reassuring to feel symptoms (though my last MMC totally caught me off guard as I still had very strong symptoms so who even knows!!)

Sorry if you've already been through this with others before I joined, but is the line still dark on the test or are you trying to avoid taking tests? x

@Lozfish yes Friday I should be 6+2 and first scan. My first pregnancy was successful and I had very tender boobs from very early on for a couple of weeks and then the nausea kicked in and was quite bad for about 4 weeks. It's how I knew my second pregnancy was a miscarriage, i just never got beyond mild waves of nausea, and so I just knew. Nevermind, I can cling on to the tiny bit of hope that says each pregnancy is different but I'm fairly sure it's gonna be bad news.

I did do a cheap test this morning, and the lone is still dark. I had a 3+ on Friday and suspect if I retested it would still be 3+ but again it doesn't reassured much as my mcs after 6 weeks were both missed abs hcg didn't stop until after I'd had MVAs both times x