Nk cells test -Coventry and Warwickshire

[chasingtherainbow1]

Hi has anyone been for the nk cells tests at university Hospital of Coventry and Warwickshire?

I have had 2 miscarriages and self referred myself for tests a couple of weeks ago. I was told the waiting list would be a lot longer but I have been offered a video appointment with Dr Brosens already. Any advice or feedback from anyone who has been here for the biopsy procedure?

I'm just debating whether I want to try and conceive again before attending this or recurrent miscarriage clinics.

Thanks 💕

I did the biopsy in February 2020.my first one came back normal. My second was cancelled due to lockdown. I had a zoom call with Professor Brosens in the summer last year and he said that he thought my second would be normal, so prescribed me cyclogest from 7dpo. I concieved quickly but had another missed miscarriage (my 4th loss). They still weren't open at the time (October 2020) so I decided to go private and had my peripheral nk cells tested with Mr Shehata and have been diagnosed with overactive nk cells (normal count).

I'd already had recurrent miscarriage tests through Tommy's after my second loss which were all fine.

I did go back for my second biopsy in April this year just before I did an ivf round and my nk cells were very low and Professor Brosens said I might need sitagliptin but he wouldn't prescribe until I had a third biopsy as it could be a fluke. I'm still undecided whether to yet, we're doing a frozen embryo transfer first.

I'd say if you've had no other testing it might be worth doing. Hopefully you can get in quickly - you just call when you get a positive ovulation test and go for the biopsy the next week. I found it interesting to talk to professor Brosens, he was certain that my babies were genetically normal and my 4th was. But I've had both this and the chronic endometritis biopsies and they're fine, so I am more inclined to trust the peripheral nk cells / immune tests I've since done. But the nk cells biopsy is a lot cheaper and I know a few people who went, found high nk cells and now have their babies. It just wasn't an answer for me.

Sorry that's long!

I did this in February 2021. If you get yourself on the list then you can ask what number you are in the queue. I asked for this and was given an approximate month based on where I was in the queue. I then decided to try to conceive in the meantime until nearer that month.

I found I had high nk cells and was given progesterone and prednisolone and aspirin for the next time I got pregnant naturally.

I haven’t got pregnant again naturally so never tried the prednisolone. But I’ve since done ivf and they don’t prescribe prednisolone. However I have the prednisolone from Brosnens and I’ve been told I can use this after embryo transfer. I would never have got access to prednisolone if it wasn’t for prof brosnens.

Thank you both for your responses. It's great to get other peoples perspective on this.

I have had an email this morning saying my video consultation on 15 October and after that I should stop TTC until the biopsy so I imagine they are pretty much ready for me now.

I think after hearing what you have both said, I'm going to go for it and at least rule it out. I feel like I should be doing something whilst waiting for the next pregnancy and a referral to rmc (although can't be referred u til I've had another mc).

It's weird because part of me hopes we get an answer to the mc's from this but at the same time I hope I don't have high nk cells. So weird the way it makes you feel isn't it!

I hope you do get some answers @chasingtherainbow1 I knew there was something happening with my body. It's hard either way. You want answers but don't want there to be anything wrong.

How are you getting on with ivf @XjustagirlX? I'm just preparing for a FET, will start my prednisolone soon got intralipids this week. Its a lot when they do find the immune issues but I'm hopeful with the treatment

Best wishes both. X

@VenusStarr yeah I don't know what it is, I just feel like high nk cells is something that would happen to me. Sounds silly I know.

Bit of a spanner in the works now though. I tracked my ovulation last month with opk's and got a peak on CD20. On CD12 this month I had some ewcm so decided to do opk's earlier and got a peak on CD13/14. My boobs have started hurting now which they usually do right after ovulation. However, I deceived I will use the remainder of my opk's to see if they peaked again around CD20 like last month and today (CD17) they seem to be getting darker again. If I have two peaks, how am I meant to inform the implantation clinic so they can do the biopsy 🙈

@chasingtherainbow1
Sorry for your losses.
I did have my the biopsies done recently.
Results from 1st biopsy came back normal.
Professor Brosens thinks that 2nd might be normal too. (Awaiting for the results). The type of miscarriages I am having are always the same ones following the same pattern.

He has already told me the treatment that he thinks would suit me the best which includes progesterone and prednisolone. Even though I might have normal NK cells, he thinks it will be beneficial to help on the next pregnancy.

Before going to this clinic I did all the recurrent miscarriage tests under an NHS clinic and then they refer me to Coventry. NK cells was for me the next step after doing for the most ‘obvious’ reasons.

I have waited a couple of months to be seen. Then it is quite quick, you need to make sure to check on your ovulation to not waste one cycle but otherwise it is quite quick. Also since my 1st came back normal and as mentioned Professor Brosens thought form day 1 that results would Cole back ‘normal’ I can already try getting pregnant and not wait for the 2nd. In that way I don’t feel messing up too long…

Hope it helps :)

@Kaliou that's really great advice. Thank you. It's good that he suggests other treatments too and doesn't just send you on your way after seeing that the nk cells results are normal. From what I've heard it seems like they care about helping women rather than just using them for research.

If you get prescribed something, would it just go to your gp?

I'm hoping after my video appointment next Friday they will tell me to start tracking ovulation straight away so I can get it over with. We haven't been using any protection this month though as we didn't expect it to all start so soon. We only self-referred 2 weeks ago. So as long as I haven't fallen pregnant then hopefully we will be good to go!

@chasingtherainbow1 yes prescription will go to GP.
You don’t need to go back to Coventry for it.

I did feel indeed that they care. The biopsy is not the most enjoyable part I would say but him and his nurse are really nice which helps a lot on the day. I have been really pleased with the level of care and sympathy.
Also when asking if I could crack on trying to get prenant this cycle and not wait for the result of the 2nd biopsy he was really open minded and supportive.

Good luck :)

@Kaliou that's really great to hear. It seems like a massive difference to the busy EPU where you're just in and out. Looking forward to just getting it done now!

@Kaliou @XjustagirlX @chasingtherainbow1

Hey ladies I know this is an old post. But how did you all get on?
I'm in the same boat. 3 recurent missacariages all in the 4-5 week range.

All tests normal bar mthfr. (On clexane this this) but when I asked about pred it was very much a grey area in my hospital. (South wales) my consultant doesn't seem to be forward thinking just very much try progestrone and clexane. Seems to be his answer for evething. Any info would be hugely appreciated xxxx

@letshope i got the prednosoline from the Coventry tests prof brosnens. I then had three failed high quality embryo transfers with ivf. All failed implantation.

on my fourth go I asked if I could use my prednisoline from transfer. I’m now pregnant. 27 weeks. I honestly think it was the prednosoline!!!

if you haven’t had the Coventry test, please go and get it done.

@XjustagirlX thanks so much on getting back to me. Xx

Massive congratulations on your pregnancy 👏 🙌 😍 xxx

From what you've said it's deffo going to be a must! Can I ask how was the time frame with Coventry? I've seen some people say the waiting list was months and months....xxxx

@letshope thank you.

i applied in September 2020 as I had my third miscarriage. And I was seen for the biopsy in February 2021. So it was a 6 month wait but that was through covid. I phoned a lot to ask where I was up to on the list and they told me where I was in the queue. It cost £500.

@XjustagirlX aww that's not too bad is it. My nhs consultant takes 6months to call me back let alone anything else!!!xx

Right fab thanks so much. Xxxx

Hope you have a glowing pregnancy and all is healthy and well for you and your family xxxxxx

@letshope good luck with everything. You will get there in the end.

Hi so I went for the nk cells tests, one showed very high and the other very low. So Professor Brosens said I wouldn't be suitable for their treatment. He did tell me to take progesterone on next pregnancy but unfortunately I didn't get it in time and suffered a third loss.

I am currently 25 weeks pregnant now after trying numerous new things. I followed all of the vitamins from It Starts with an Egg, I went gluten free as I have always suspected an intolerance (I feel so much better for this whether it contributes or not). I also took progesterone from 3dpo until 16 weeks. Not sure if it was improving egg quality with vitamins or progesterone that has helped. I know I'm not out of the woods yet but hoping for the best seen as my other losses were all really early!

Also congratulations @XjustagirlX ❤️

@chasingtherainbow1 congratulations to you too.

@letshope Just to add I also took all the recommended vitamins in ‘it starts with the egg’ and I went gluten free too.

@chasingtherainbow1 awww congrats xxx
@XjustagirlX
Just to ask ladies with supplements from it starts with the egg. Dis you take it until the bfp or continued into pregnancy?

@letshope from memory the book explains when to stop various vitamins. My case was a bit different as I did ivf so once the eggs were out I stopped taking lots of them.

@letshope I took them until BFP. The only vitamins I took after BFP were folate, high strength vitamin D and Pregnacare. After my 12 week scan, I was also told to take 150g aspirin a day. Professor Brosens said we shouldn't take aspirin before at least 7 weeks because it can cause issues with implantation. But then I've read it was successful for others. That's the only thing I'm unclear on.

Hi , I know this is old post but can I ask if your nk cells are high at Coventry , do they give you predionsole to take home ? Or how much supply do they give ? Do you go back every month to get more ? Thanks so much !

For me they gave me a prescription for steroids and then I think I would call up my gp to get new ones