Immune/NK cells pred thread #33

[Jecca88]

Hey Guys, starting a new thread as we have run out of space - hope i have included everyone and sending lots of love x

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Thanks lovely @Deerdancer34 I agree - we will appreciate it so so much and never take it for granted! Transfer is approx 15-18 august - the date will be cemented closed to the time depending on scans. It seems like such a long way away but I know it’s not really.

how are you doing?

Hi all, just trying to respond to everyone at the same time.
Firstly, I have to say I pretty much hate social media in any form. People rarely post their negative news and so there is no balance. Whether it’s a fertility or miscarriage issue or any of life’s many downers people don’t often announce grim news but I do think people should try and wake up their sensible heads when deciding what to write on these groups. It’s just complete ignorance really.
My scan is on Sunday so I will update after. I refer to it as the “much dreaded 12 weaker”!!.

@Gizmo1983 was also thinking about you.. Hoping all is still well our friend. x

Completely agree!! Re social media.

Thinking of you for Sunday and wishing you so many good vibes xxx

Hi guys so sorry I haven’t been on I’ve just caught up on everyone I do apologise for being awol. I had my stitch on Tuesday and touch wood as far as I know it’s all gone ok I was in a lot of pain for about 22 hours after but then it started to settle. Yesterday was 15 weeks which is the gestation we had our loss so I’ve just kind of been in denial. We’ve also had 2 really untimely deaths in close friends and my best friend yesterday told me she has cancer ( caught early so very optimistic) so it’s been a tough week.
ive read everyone’s updates ive really missed you all and rather than stay away i wish id stayed on here as we are all here for each other but just want to say a huge hi and so so much love to everyone xxx

Lovely to hear from you @Gizmo1983 I’m so so glad the stitch was okay (albeit painful) and that you’re still doing well and approaching another milestone. So sorry to hear of all the grief you’ve recently experienced :( sometimes life just seems relentless doesn’t it. Thinking of you and your friend - wishing her a strong and speedy recovery xxxx

@Hopeandfaith1990 I'm good thank you, trying to keep track of all the vitamins and meds, its hard work isn't it😅 Hoping to start Superovulation September maybe, just not looking forward to all the interference that comes with TTC - scans, triggers, drips etc etc. The things we do!
Oh, now that isn't far away! You must tell us when you know 💗

@Objectiontime We will be waiting to hear 🥰

@Gizmo1983 I'm so sorry about your friends that's really tough on top of it being a stressful time... when it rains, it pours. Keep going strong, you are through another huge milestone 💖 Keep us updated 💖

Oh it is so hard!! I actually made myself a chart which I tick off and have on the fridge 🤣 like a child’s reward chart haha. I also have an entire IVF journal / diary as it’s so much to keep track of.

good luck with Superovulation - I do wonder if I should have considered that before charging head first into IVF but here we are!! Fingers crossed you won’t need it and you’ll conceive before Sept!! ✨ manifesting ✨ xx

@Gizmo1983, lovely to hear from you and glad your stitch is safely in, albeit not the most pleasant thing for you. So sorry to hear your news about your friends who had died and really praying for a swift and safe recovery for them. Amazing that you are 15 weeks, thinking you are tapering the pred now and glad you have got through the 15 week barrier,

How has it all been going for you?

I had a consultation this week with a Greek IVF clinic. They suggested some investigations they could try before IVF. DNA sperm fragmentation, aqua scan and implantation scratch.

She thinks the protocol might be too strong for me. she said she wouldn’t recommend hydroxychloroquine for me as I’m young and have had a successful pregnancy before. Since being on it I have had mid cycle bleeding and haven’t got positive ovulation tests whereas I used to before. Seems a coincidence.

Has anyone come off their protocol? I’m thinking I’ll still keep taking the prednisone and cyclogest at ovulation.

@Hopeandfaith1990 That's such a good idea! I hope you give yourself a good reward! I think mine would be chocolate.... 🤔 😄 Thank you! A plan is a plan and that's all that matters 💕

@SWMum9 That's interesting re Hydroxy. Sorry I can't actually give you any personal experience. Are you going to go ahead with investigations with them?

Hi guys @Hopeandfaith1990 lol I was the same with the tick lists lol my problem was if I got distracted thinking did I take that or not then I’d be so cross with myself I still have a tick list now lol.
@Objectiontime when is your scan it must be very soon I feel you on those nerves. Yes I’m reducing steroids down to 2 it’s scary but has to be done xxx
@SWMum9 interesting with the hydroxy it’s interesting to get a fresh view and Greece had some of the best success rates in the world so they must know their stuff xxx

Yes I think so.. going to give it one more month and book to go to Greece the following month. It’s expensive but I feel we have got stagnant with getting pregnant and have nothing to lose. My last miscarriage was October 2024 and nothing since.

@SWMum9 i did the same after a year of not falling pregnant we started the ivf. I was 41 though so didn’t have too much time to mess with. Our 1st go of ivf worked but we did sadly loose it at 10 weeks no known reason but I had no regrets making that decision to do the ivf. Super ovulation wasn’t an option as we lived too far away but think id have still gone ivf anyway I was ready for the big guns xxx

Hi @SWMum9 IVF has actually been nowhere near as bad as I thought.. Its definitely a lot of waiting/injecting/stop and starting but I think I was SO scared before doing it and it wasn't as scary as I'd anticipated. It takes over your life but in my opinion about as much as natural TTC-ing does lol. For me as I was obsessed.

My husband already had the DNA fragmentation test and was negative so we were good for that and it helped us decide NOT to do ICSI (as we were originally going to). I might have had higher fertilisation rate with ICSI but I'm happy with our decision.

I'm on the hydroxy but then I've never had a successful pregnancy so we're in different boats I guess. I think that the hydroxy is the next step up after Pred, so if you're on Pred and you've had a successful pregnancy then it might work? Have you had any losses on the Pred? Like you my last pregnancy was a year ago and I just didn't want to waste any more time. xxx

@Hopeandfaith1990 @Gizmo1983 thank you for sharing xx

They think by doing some of the investigations and scratch that we could go away and try naturally for 4 months and if not then IVF.

I haven’t been pregnant on the protocol yet but I definitely think it was too strong for me / potentially effecting my ovulation. I stopped having EWCM and positive ovulation tests x

That is reassuring @Hopeandfaith1990 did they let you know you would be starting stims on cycle day 3 or were they waiitng for that scan to tell you this would be the month? I am just so consciously waiting in limbo. Do you think it would be ok if i had some wine on my birthday too? which will be likely 4 days before starting the stims? Also thank you for the reassurance on the age.
With the prep for transfer - how is it feeling? are you going for intralipids too? I love the idea of charts and a journal. I made a spreadsheet - it is so much to think about. I need a seperate calendar for it.

Totally know what you mean @Deerdancer34 - the unhelpful comments are infuraiting, the worst one is - does stress effect it? and maybe if you were less stressed. Nothing makes me more stressed than those comments ironically lols.

@Gizmo1983 great to hear from you and glad all went well with the stitch and wow what a milesteone with 15 weeks. How is your mental health? Are you still having migraines? I am so sorry to hear about your friends, how f*cking awful, life just doesn't give you a break does it.

hey @SWMum9 - interesting about Greece - is it through Fertilysis? Totally get why you want to move forward with IVF if you have been TTC from Oct with no result.

@Objectiontime i am keeping everything crossed for Sunday xxx

@Jecca88 yes they wanted to scan me before confirming I could start that cycle - not entirely sure why but they scanned and then I started a day or so later I think? Yes definitely have some wine, the nurse just told me to not drink whilst actually on stims so before is fine. She also said the reason for not drinking is the dehydration and that can be bad when stimming. I've been having a few wines between collection and transfer, I'm sure I'm not supposed to but tbh I just got sick of all the restricting. I feel the limbo a bit too although I've an appointment tomorrow which I'm hoping will give some more clarification!

Prep for transfer is fine so far - no side effects from the down regs, I will start estrogen tablets soon which I think I'll feel more. I've never done intralipids so no not doing them this time -- hoping the Pred and Hydroxy will be ok. Have you decided whether you're going to do intralipids too? The nurse I spoke to at my clinic was quite critical of them, but I guess she's not a recurrent MC specialist x

My ivf clinic recoiled at the idea at intralipids on the basis he believed he were dangerous i believe due to people having allergic reactions.
i am honestly on the fence with intralipids the fact mr shehata doesn’t use them in his nhs clinic i think is quite telling i wonder what his success results are of lipids vs non lipids. I personally believe CRP should let intralipids be optional I personally could not do that journey every month and I owed to get very stressed I do wonder how much profit is made per intralipid infusion it would be interesting. My hubby did the sperm fragmentation we also did genetic testing which I thought was a waste of money but they were quite adamant about a lot of cash to be told we have all our chromosomes 🤪🤪🤪

@Jecca88 have the wine honestly we’ve put so much of our lives on hold. Enjoy it. I had some I decided I’d be better relaxed lol
my migraines are slightly better thank you still awful, I’d say my mental health is a little better thank you but wow I still live in fear everyday I hope so much it improves but I doubt it . What I’ve realised is every stage of this journey has its own stages of fear and worry the nurses always freak out as my pulse rate before my scans goes stupid but it’s the anxiety

Hi Gizmo1983 scan is Sunday. I am scared but hopeful. The closer it gets though, the more agitated I get! I look like a puff ball at the moment. The steroids have realky got to my face in the last few weeks so I will be glad to get off them in a few weeks. I get what you mean about it being scary though!!

Thank you Jecca88 I will report back afterwards xx

Will be thinking of you @Objectiontime - super good luck and sending you all the good vibes xxxx

Thank you @Hopeandfaith1990 xxx

thank you ladies @Hopeandfaith1990 and @Gizmo1983 i needed that. I will have the wine :) Thats also super reassuring @Hopeandfaith1990 How was the appointment today? I think i have to do intrlaipids if i want the other meds, unless i change and go to a online consultant that can provide the meds. My Husband thinks we should give it one more go with hopefully a frozen transfer and with the crp.

@Gizmo1983 sorry to hear about migraines still - what a nightmare. Yes my pulse always goes to like 120-140 which is insane as i am sitting still/lying down.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend :)

Hello all, I saw Dr Shehata two days ago and both myself and my husband had 4K worth of tests (including my husband's sperm DNA fragmentation). Dr Shehata said that with six losses (all at 6-7 weeks gestation, although four were discovered later than that, as MMCs) and one successful pregnancy, the issue was unlikely to be "bad luck" / chromosomal (which I agree with).

We thought everyone at the clinic was really good and attentive, and we are eagerly anticipating the results in two weeks' time (although I am dreading taking some of the drugs if I end up needing them, especially after reading some of your / others' experiences).