Immune/ NK cells - Pred threat 27

[LaurenAB94]

@Bambii @Daffodil21 @Eeviee @Everhopeful35 @farfromperfect82 @Eeviee @Everhopeful35 @Hazlet2 @farfromperfect82 @HoldingOn2Hope @Jellystar23 @KtAgs @Lalaifa @LookingforAnswers86 @Marabouchoc @LRL12 @MrsMargot @Naticle @NessyT91 @NessyT91 @NICK7nick7 @rainwillmaketheflowersgrow @Rebecca9876 @Sophfr17 @Tinpo @VenusStarr @Wheresmyrainbow @Whyisthistakingsolong

Hi @NImama I had ivf on the nhs. We do struggle to concieve, so we'd already started investigations when I first got pregnant and we were lucky that we were allowed to continue with those. My ccg has a criteria that if you have no living children and have been ttc for 2 years, you're eligible for ivf. We were allowed one fresh round, but each area is different, so it's worth checking your local criteria - it's based on where your GP is, not your postcode.
We didn't do testing on the embryos (and I'm unsure if that is something we should / need to do) it's on my list to ask at my review. But the embryologist did say that our embryos look good and we know that we can create 5 day blastocysts (just not many as I have low amh). The embryologist did comment about my eggs and how they looked - I think poor quality eggs tend to be grainy.
It was important that my clinic allowed us to do the immune protocol alongside the ivf as generally standard ivf is just extra progesterone, although I think some clinics are more clued up and might also give clexane / aspirin. It's definitely worth looking into, I actually found the process and letting the clinic tell us what we needed to do far less stressful than ttc naturally.
Hope that helps ❤️

Thank you @Luckyducky2 I think it's hitting me today 💔 I had a really vivid dream that we had a positive scan and saw a heartbeat (we've never seen one) and for a few moments when I woke up, I thought it was real. It just feels like it's so far away, if it will even happen 😔
I'm glad you've got your FET plans in place and I'm glad you had a nice break. Just living life sounds lovely ☺️ we've booked a break for the end of June and I'm really looking forward to it.

@Badlydrawngirly I'm sorry things are tough right now ❤️ I can feel myself slipping and it's so hard when that feeling comes over you. You're not alone xx

I'm sorry @Rainbowdreams1983 ❤️ I'm doubting whether I did ovulate now, I checked my temp this morning and it's not as high as my usual post-ov temps but it is higher than my baseline 🤷🏻‍♀️ when I had a chemical last year, it threw everything off, whereas my MMCs my cycle regulated straight away, each time with a 28 day cycle. I want my period to come, just so I know everything is OK. I feel scared of getting pregnant again but I don't feel ready to stop.

I'm off work, the GP signed me off for 2 weeks and I initially thought I'd go back tomorrow but I don't think I will. I feel like I'm taking the piss as it was 'only' a chemical but I just can't face anyone but I can feel myself getting teary just thinking about it. I've not cried properly since I first started bleeding, but it feels like I'm on the edge and I'm worried I won't stop if I let it come 😢😢

Ugh, sorry. I hope every one is doing OK xx

@NImama I'm in Scotland so it may be different. I was initially under the fertility clinic and had 2 losses when we went with them. They told me it had to be 2 years of TTC or 2 years since a mc to qualify for IVF (don't even get me started on how angry the '2 years since a mc' got me!). But he also said if I mc again then we would be referred to the RMC and be put on the ivf waiting list and wouldn't have to wait another 2 years. I did mc again then got pregnant straight away so got lost in the system and didn't end up being under anyone's 'care'. But anyway in answer to your question, yes I think we would have been offered ivf after recurrent mcs.

@VenusStarr do not feel bad about taking time off work!! To have this happen time and time again is so tough! Plus adding in the extra pressure of IVF. It certainly isn't 'only' a chemical. Please make sure you take the time you need (I know there isn't really enough 'time' but you know what I mean). I hope your employers are being supportive ❤️

Thank you @Daffodil21 ❤️ xx

@VenusStarr I know that feeling all too well 😔 i had a really vivid dream when I started bleeding that I was going to have a little girl and everything was going to be fine, I woke up sobbing because I knew in my heart that one was gone. But I still have this really strong feeling its not over?? Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me....we shall see. Keep your chin up, and remember its quite rare for the first embryo transfer to work (that made me feel a wee bit better when I read that), give yourself time to recover, I think your break away will make you feel like a new woman and ready to start again!

@Daffodil21 how are you getting on? You must be quite far along now? Hope you are keeping well Xxx

@Luckyducky2 I'm ok thank you. Somehow 31 weeks. Mostly just waiting to see how things go really! Had a bit of a panic today (nothing caused it, just panicking about a loss at this stage) but mostly just trying to go with it. Definitely feeling a bit too detached which is not ideal but only natural I suppose! I've got another growth scan next week do hopefully all will be well. How are you doing? X

@Daffodil21 wow you are almost there!! Its such a shame after all these losses we really don't get to relax and enjoy pregnancy when everyone else just takes it for granted. I think its totally normal to feel detached, I've been feeling like that with the ivf, definitely our brains protecting us from any more disappointment. Hope these last few weeks fly by, we are all rooting for you!! 😘❤xxx

Thank you @Luckyducky2 the early days really did drag, but the weeks are going pretty fast now! I'm rooting for all of you too x

@VenusStarr take all the time you need if you’ve been signed off you’ve been signed off. People may think it’s only an embryo but that is your potential child and you are already attached. I needed a couple of weeks to grieve after our first transfer failed & I will always be sad for that little embryo. I made a little memory envelope with the picture from transfer and the embryo details from clinic & bought a birthstone necklace for the month they would have been due. This has helped me by feeling that life has been recognised & remembered and brings me comfort.

Its not really anyone’s business as to why you are off work if you are not ready that is ok. Plenty of people need time off after stressful or traumatic events and lots of people get signed off for stress or mental health etc… and it’s never questioned (rightly so) so I wouldn’t worry about it too much. I don’t think going back will be as bad as you think though, I’d like to think most people aren’t rude enough to ask as to why you’ve had time off so hopefully the subject can be avoided - if they do just say it was for personal reasons and immediately change the subject.

@Badlydrawngirly I hope you are feeling a bit better and things are getting sorted at work

Hi ladies,

I have my first intralipids tomorrow. Is it just like a drip? Will I be in an out within an hour? I'm not sure what to expect!

Thank you.

@treesall yup its just a drip with white coloured fluid, I find it quite relaxing, get your feet up with a magazine and you'll be sorted! 😄👍Good luck! xx

Thank you @Luckyducky2. Eeek! I soooo want this to work. X

@treesall you and me both honey!! 😄 Best of luck to you and keep us all posted xxx

Hi everyone

Thanks for checking how I’m doing. It’s got worse at work to be honest. My boss sent me a letter on Monday saying that I said a return to full health is not on the cards. I never said this at all. I asked her to clarify and she said it’s because my conditions are long term. They are but people can work with a disability! She also said the work I’ve been doing during my phases return is that if a junior lawyer or paralegal. It’s massively insulting given the work I have done and can do. She clearly has it in for me and is trying to show that I can’t do the job which is simply not true. We’ve moved to without prejudice conversations now but I want to expose her really because this all stemmed from the miscarriage. My lawyer thinks it’s disability as well as pregnancy related discrimination. I am signed off with a lupus flare caused by work related stress.

@VenusStarr don’t feel guilty for taking time off. This is such a stressful process and you absolutely have to put your health first.

I hope everyone else is doing ok!

Thanks @Luckyducky2.

@Badlydrawngirly that sounds awful, you poor thing. Ok glad you are off for a while. Your boss sounds very unsupportive and unreasonable!

@Badlydrawngirly it makes me so angry the attitude of people towards being disabled they probably think it’s just easier for them to try and get rid of you instead of making reasonable allowances because they are lazy and ignorant. The attitude to the miscarriage is also totally weird your boss sounds like a very unpleasant person.

There is no requirement to be at full health that in itself is discrimination. Keep a record of all the work you have done. I really hope it all blows up in your boss’s face!

Hey everyone, struggling quite a bit today as it's another negative this month 😭🤷🏻‍♀️ I try not to build myself up to the possibility that it's a positive but it's so hard not to!! I'm not sleeping with it all and currently only having circa 2 hours per night which doesn't help but I think I've got into a bit of a pattern. Seeing Dr S on 28th to see if he can do anything to speed it up but not sure what that would be short of IVF...unless anyone has any ideas?

@VenusStarr hope you're doing ok & resting during your time off. I get you on the feeling guilty point but you never should feel like you have to justify it. At whichever point, a loss is still a loss. Will be thinking of you on the 21st re your appointment with Dr S xx

@Badlydrawngirly that sounds like such a toxic environment, I'm so sorry. I understand what you mean re wanting to expose them but sometimes without prejudice discussions can be the least stress option. I wanted to drag my ex employer through the coals after they sacked me on the spot after my miscarriage & took all my kit off me like I was a criminal, but ended up settling & it just brought closure. Sending hugs, I can really empathise with you. Just try to remember that it isn't forever - you'll find somewhere that knows your worth xx

@NImama re the IVF question, it may depend on commissioning groups, but I'm in Bristol & they said under no uncertain terms that I definitely wouldn't get IVF on the NHS for recurrent miscarriage as it's seen only as a treatment if you struggle to conceive. I actually tried to hide my last pregnancy from my NHS doctor as I pretty much knew I would miscarry & the clock restarts, so I would have had to wait for another 2 years. Probably a dangerous route to go down though. I'm similar in that I have got pregnant very quickly, but they have never stuck around beyond around 8 weeks. We're considering IVF privately if the we don't conceive in the next month or so as I really don't want to be on these meds for too long, but it's just so crazy expensive! On top of Dr S treatment. It's a rubbish system!! Xx

@treesall hope your intralipids went ok xx

@Rainbowdreams1983 how're you feeling? Xx

@Tumby I'm sorry you're feeling down. How long have you been under Dr S? I hope they can help you with an action plan on the 28th. The midwife at CRP said today they can do some additional treatment to stimulate more follicles at ovulation and scan to see exactly what's happening but I didn't really absorb what she said so I might have for that wrong. 2 hours a night sleep must be absolutely breaking you :-(

Xx

Hi everyone @Luckyducky2 @treesall @Tumby @Rainbowdreams1983 @Badlydrawngirly

I had my ivf review appointment today and feeling worse than ever 💔😢

He said that it seems like there was a slow implantation, I shouldn't have bled so heavily on progesterone and the fact I did bleed indicates it was struggling to implant. Because I'm on so much immune medication, we can rule that out. There is a chance the embryo wasn't genetically normal, so we could test our remaining embryos, but they're not strongly pushing that and he didn't seem convinced that was the issue (nor am I as my last baby was normal)

They believe it's an issue with my lining, so they want me to have a hysteroscopy. I do have lots of fibroids and they're concerned there is something going on, so have a look, take out anything that shouldn't be there and take it from there. So they're sending me the details for a couple of private surgeons to book in with.

He also mentioned surrogacy 😢 which is definitely not on the cards for us. But made me feel totally shit. He said our embryos are good quality, so best to check before we do a transfer. They'll also add metformin into my protocol, just emperically, as I don't have pcos but can help with the lining, apparently.

I still haven't bled and I forgot to mention it because I was so overwhelmed with what he was saying. Its been 12 days since I stopped the utrogestan.

So, I guess we have a plan, but I'm feeling pretty hopeless about our chances. All the stuff I've seen about the lining is building up the thickness, which didn't seem to be my issue, but I need it to be receptive to an embryo 😢

@Tumby I did superovulation with letrozole and a trigger injection. I got 3 follicles and you do timed intercourse. I didn't ovulate one of the follicles though. I think they say 4-6 cycles for it to work, although some catch earlier. It cost about £1100, but I had to have 2 scans as I didn't really respond at first.

@Badlydrawngirly I'm sorry work is not improving ❤️ I hope you're OK.

Sorry I'm not replying properly to everyone, thinking of you all xx

@VenusStarr gosh I wasn't expecting that from your review appointment....would have thought surrogacy would be a last resort? I guess he is just going through all the options women have? 🤷‍♀️ Hopefully with some more tests re the fibroids etc that will give you some clearer answers? I'm so sorry its more tests for you, it feels never ending doesnt it. Hopefully it'll be something simple, removing the fibroids might make all the difference? Sending you a big hug, you are in my thoughts and I truly hope you get some answers soon xxx

Thank you @Luckyducky2. Honestly, I've asked about the fibroids every single time I've had an appointment, right from the very beginning of our fertility testing, back in 2018. Even Dr S said he didn't think they were an issue. None are in the cavity, they're all in the lining / muscle.

I think a hysteroscopy is sensible as I've had 3 losses since I had it done and I had retained tissue in my last pregnancy and then this poor implantation. So it's possible something else is going on in there.

The surrogacy felt like a massive curveball and both me and dh were like wtf?! Almost like they're giving up on us already. Xx

@VenusStarr yeah there's got to be something going on in there, fingers crossed this hysteroscopy sheds some light on whats happening. I can imagine how shocked you would have been with surrogacy being suggested, massive respect to anyone who goes through it but I think its only natural you would want to explore every avenue before going down that route? Keep us posted how you get on xxx

Hi ladies. I was wondering if any of you who have been on pred got ill during the first trimester? I'm 9 weeks and scans show all is going well but I have a really bad cold that isn't shifting and being on pred is making me worry that it will just get worse until I come off. I wondered if anyone had experience and what Dr Sheata advises in this situation. I'm worrying the virus is going to send my immune system in to overdrive and affect the baby! Thanks in advance x

Hi @Sarahdaydreamer1234 every time I take pred I end up with a nasty cold bug which takes me weeks to shift. I haven't had success yet (only been on the pred once for an embryo transfer but took it several times whilst trying to conceive naturally) but I assumed it was just because it dampens down the immune system leaving you vulnerable to every passing bug (which my little boy brings home from nursery!). I havent spoke to Dr S about it but the nurses had said to shield and keep my little boy home from nursery but i just want to try keep life normal for him. Hope you are feeling better soon, let us know if they say anything different! Xxx

@treesall I've only been seeing Dr S since end of March but it feels like forever! This is only our second month of trying but just feels like so much pressure! How were your intralipids? Xx

@VenusStarr I really hope you get some answers from your hysteroscopy. It can feel like a never ending process but hang on in there, as hard as it is! Sometimes you can find answers that can just explain everything. ❤️ I would feel the same about the surrogacy thing. My partner mentioned it a few months ago & just made me feel sick. I think perhaps they are just trying to identify all options. Xx

@Daffodil21 how're you doing? Did you say you were on the complex plan too? Wishing you all the best for your last few weeks! Xx

@Rainbowdreams1983 how you doing? Xx