Immune/NK cells pred thread #34

[Hopeandfaith1990]

Hi all, started a new thread as the old one was full. Not sure if this is the way to do it but I've c&p'd the list of people on the previous one as much as poss:

Old thread here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/conception/5228367-immunenk-cells-pred-thread-33?page=40

@Jecca88
@Gizmo1983
@Deerdancer34
@Objectiontime
@SWMum9
@TammyinCork
@Newbeginnings22023
@Fletchasketch
@Morgan236
@CarpeDiem75
@ALittleLight
@MC8
@venusStarr
@Gizmo1983
@Carportforme
@Meg310532
@Newbeginnings22023
@recurrentmis
@hopefulH
@v60
@lozzmax
@fleur89
@motherofshihtzus
@sunflower360
@kea1990
@sprinkleofbabydust
@star2022
@rumandspinach
@ems123456789
@rainbowsunshine81
@mamaw05
@thornters
@elarcoiris

Thank you all for your congratulations, it means such a lot to have people on side.
Big congratulations to those who have had babies, wonderful news :)

@Lozzmax Congraulations on your little one. Hooe you dont mind me asking but I was just wondering why you were on hydroxy for your whole pregnancy? X

This is great, thanks so much for sharing. Definitely going to be copying your 45 minutes of exercise and eating an egg a day too.

Thankfully my body now seems to be getting used to the Pred and my RHR has come down a few points. I was thinking this morning 'only five days to go' but of course, if it's worked then it'll be considerably more than that!

I hope everyone is doing well today.

@Objectiontime with my first daughter she was quite small and my placenta was very calcified when she was born - Dr. S said it could have been that my immune system was beginning to attack placenta. Who knows what happened but it didn't have an adverse affect on my second baby (well obviously not second, but you know what I mean!)

We are all with you. You will, get there xx

Ahh that's interesting, thank you xx

Hi all, just getting more and more worried about the steroid weaning. Just thinking, if I wean off the steroids will the high NK cells and cytokine activity be likely to reactivate and attack the placenta?
I will obviously ask my doctor when I get my recent bloods back, just very wary! Xx

@Objectiontime I don't know what to say to reassure you because I don't know enough scientifically... But just think of all the women that have gone through this treatment and weaned off the steroids and its absolutely fine. They would not tell us to wean off them at this time if there was a worry. Plus I don't think NK Cells attack the placenta. I don't know if that's very reassuring, I just so want you to enjoy your pregnancy 💖🥰

Aah bless you and thank you for your encouragement. You are right of course. 🥰🥰.

Totally understandable to be wary... Really hope you get your answers when your bloods come back from the doctor.

My husband's sperm DNA fragmentation result came back and it is 18%, which is 3% over the healthy range. Did anyone else have something similar, and was Impryl enough to get it back to normal?

We are still waiting for my own results.

@Objectiontime this made me feel better

Medication is reduced gradually after 12-16 weeks. "By 10 weeks, the foetus starts producing its own steroids,’ says Dr Shehata. ‘I advocate weaning off the treatment from around 12 weeks, then the baby and the placenta produce natural components of these immune substances themselves."

@TammyinCork Thank you and I'm sure I will. I am reminded that others have gone before me and weaned successfully at about the same time, ending with happy outcomes,

Regarding the sperm fragmentation I guess the first thing to say is that 3% over is more than you want but it could be worse so not disastrous. I recommend looking into some antioxidents for your husband in the first instance and I make sure he has some good quality Male fertility vitimins. I should also add that apparently sometimes if an egg is fertilised by a sperm with DNA damage the egg is able to repair it .

@Gizmo1983 thank you. I'm just a bit edgy but I think everyone who has had our experiences would be the same. That is a very positive message and I will heed the words if the expert I think :).
Hope you are continuing to do well. I didnt mention but weirdly my 12 week scan listed all the body parts they could see. My friend said she only had that at her 20 week scan so that was interesting to me.

@Objectiontime that is interesting they did look at the stomach and kidneys I think it was she listed them as she went through them. As soon as I see the heart beat I just kind of zone out lol xxx

Yep they listed hands, feet, arms, legs, stomach, bladder, etc including pallet.

Fascinating how it all works! Also vice versa (but since I am 42 and he is 40, I think my egg quality could be worse than his sperm quality. Then again, I eat a better diet, so hard to say!).

Also, I have only been taking the prescribed vitamins (DHEA, Co Enzyme Q10, Vitamin D plus Proceive Max) for a week and a half (since my appointment with Dr Shehata) and am breaking out with crusting eczema over my top lip. Did anyone else have this? What might be causing it, and should I reduce / cut it? I have made no other changes to my diet or lifestyle.

@Objectiontime I'm so sorry if I worried you!! I should have also said that there was a knot in the umbilical cord which could also have caused the calcification I think. But crucially, my baby came out perfectly gloriously healthy at 40 weeks despite a slightly odd placenta. Also worth noting that no other doctor has raised any sort of concern about it, I think it's quite normal so they didn't even save it to examine. Totally get why you're anxious and I could never relax either, but your body has got this in hand now, it doesn't need the steroids anymore xx

@lozzmax Bless you and thank you for coming in to clarify. I confess to being slightly worried but then ladies in our situation are worried by everything aren't we 😁, All good and I think I am relaxing a bit and trying to enjoy.

Morning guys, hope you’re all doing well!
Unfortunately I’ve had a chemical pregnancy :(. I got pregnant on my first round of protocol with Dr S using letrozole. When I went for my follicle scan Dr Edge mentioned my lining was a bit thinner than she would like, so I’m guessing that may have had something to do with it. Unsure what the next steps are from here.
Has anyone had a loss under Dr S and gone on to have success? Xxx

@Morgan236 ahhhhh! So sorry to hear that. I hope you are feeling okay generally. These are always disappointing. I’m not under Dr S but I am certain others have had success after losses in their protocols. Sometimes things just need a little tweek xxx

@Objectiontimethank you ❤️ I had my breakdown yesterday and felt like giving up but today I’m okay and I’ve made it this far, would be stupid to give up now!!
I have had 3 d&c’s so I am just praying it’s not damage to my lining or something like that xxx

@Morgan236 Don't lose heart, they do say Cycle 4-6 are usually the most successful for Superovulation, so I would take that you got pregnant on the first cycle as a good sign. I had a loss on my 3rd cycle of Superovulation and then when I started again, I had my daughter on the 3rd cycle of that round. I know other ladies who have had losses as well. It's hard when all I wanted the treatment to be was a magic solution but it can take time unfortunately. Stay strong 💪 May be worth asking how to help lining, I don't know if anyone on here knows? Sending you such a big hug, it's just so hard but stay determined ♥

@Deerdancer34Thank you❤️. I needed to hear that success right now. This will be my 6th loss. 3 of them have been at 11 weeks. It’s so hard to keep going but hearing stories like yours reminds me why I keep going xxx

ohh @Morgan236 my love that is so heartbreaking. I am sorry. I have now had 4 losses with Dr S, but he will see you to see if there is anything you can tweak for next time - adding more meds. I think you can naturally add thickness to your lining with diet -Vitamin E too, so stay hopefuly for next time. @lozzmax also had chemicals with DR S if i remember and has just had her baby in March :)

@lozzmax so good to hear from you - i remember your story so well and you really helped me with getting Dr S to prescribe me the Pred - so thank you for that. I am so glad to hear of Heidi's arrival - such great news.

@Gizmo1983 and @Objectiontime such great milestones you are hitting, be kind to yourself - PAL is bloody hard.

@Hopeandfaith1990 I love your checklist - can I ask about the one egg a day and the beetroot drink? I got given the go ahead yesterday for starting IVF - so stim injections start tonight. After the appointment yesterday - i just burst into tears, after four years of recurrent loss - i am trying to remain hopeful and this is just a new chapter. I also had the news my best mate had her baby girl just before the appointment so maybe that contributed to the emotion. I was thinking jesus i haven't even started the hormone injections yet and I am a mess.

@TammyinCork i was on 20MG of Pred - but was on it for 14 weeks, and i had the biggest craving for sugar - so prob overate in my pregnancy. I think for DNA Frag - if it is above 15 - they recommend a urine test, a hormone blood test and a scan of the testicles? They also do a free of charge test in 3 - 6 months to see if its improved. You could alternatively try the Impryl?