The steroid junkies' perfectly unscientific medical trial

[DMH1988]

I'm on CD 24 and haven't had an LH increase.

 

[petitpas]

My question would be: how do you know?

 

[DMH1988]

Using opk tests

 

[filipenko32]

Ok, this is what I have scribbled on my notes:

Total NK cell absolute count (10^6/L) (second line) normally range is less than 200. Yours is 302.

Activation marker (first line in this section)
Total NK CD69 Absolute count (10^6/L):
0.8-0.99 borderline
1-1.8 high
more than 1.8 very high
Yours is 2.11

I don't know what the rest is about and I can't guarantee I got it all right

Thanks for doing that! I think you ladies are experts anyway as you have been through this test before. When the blood was taken for this I got home and took a pregnancy test 10dpo and it was positive (that's my mc now) but if they're too high when I am just pregnant maybe it can't implant properly? Interesting! x

 

[DMH1988]

CD69 help destroy foreign cells. And of course a placenta and fetus is considered foreign.

 

[petitpas]

DMH, there are three options I can think of.
1. you missed your LH surge, wrong time of day and so on. I don't suppose you temp, but if you did that would confirm whether your opks missed the surge...
2. you are experiencing a delayed ovulation - stress/illness/medication can delay ovulation. Could that be a factor? Do you normally have irregular cycles? When do you normally first get a +opk?
3. this may be one of the odd months you don't ovulate. Has this happened to you before?

I would suggest keeping an eye on things like cm, more opks, possibly temping and waiting the normal length of your cycle. I.e., if your cycles last up to 30 days, give it a little over a week and wait for something to happen. If af comes, write this cycle off and have a fresh start. If there is no change, maybe pay your doctor a visit and ask for a blood test to see what's going on.

How are you feeling about all this?

 

[petitpas]

Thanks for the info on cd69. That's where I had a high result but I wasn't sure what that meant in practical terms.

 

[DMH1988]

I wait a few days after the bleeding stopped to start using the opk. I've been on birth control pills since I was very young due to severe menstrual bleeding that occurred. And I became pregnant when I was on the pill so I've never really experienced cycles without being on hormones. This has been my second cycle since my loss at 26 weeks.

 

[petitpas]

Oh sorry about your loss

In that case it sounds like your cycle might be a bit out of whack since giving birth. It can be entirely normal, I think, but you obviously want to keep an eye on it. Have you considered charting? It's not something that helps you predict ovulation and when to get jiggy with it, but it does help you get to know your body better.

If nothing happens in a week or so, then I don't think it would harm if you go to your doctor to see if you can have a blood test. That'll confirm whether you ovulated or not and whether you might need a little help to get your cycles back on track

 

[DMH1988]

He thinks I'm pregnant already, but I'm doubtful. We started trying CD 7. I've only got 4 days until I should start if I'm on a 28 day cycle. If I were pregnant one of the early detection tests should work by now correct?

 

[Lawa]

Not nessercarialy depends on the amount of hcg in you blood stream! My friend was using an early test and did get a bfp until cd 16!

 

[petitpas]

With 'he' do you mean your doctor or your OH?
You could always get a double pack of early tests (superdrug are good), try one with FMU and then again a few days later.
Personally, I wouldn't necessarily expect a perfect 28 day cycle this month as your body could still be a bit mixed up or you're a 32 day kinda girl, you just don't know it

 

[filipenko32]

Hi ladies,

Just thought I'd post an update, it includes Predisolone. So far I am 7 weeks pregnant and sure this pregnancy was doomed because I had: non-doubling hcg levels and a small gestational sac. My doctor thought this one was ectopic and i was rushed to hospital (horrific) but then they found the yolk sac too. Doctor said in this case keep taking the progesterone and Clexane as I still have a small chance. I did. Next thing I know is a scan yesterday at 7 weeks exactly showed fetal pole and heatbeat which we heard. We were shocked as we felt sure this pregnancy was not going to get too far. The doctor said the heartbeat is on the slower side so he has prescribed me 2 x 5mg Prednisolone to take every morning and I had my first 2 this morning. He said this is for immune purposes. I am still having pregnancy symptoms although they come and go. Doctor says we still have a chance and to take a 'middle emotional road' if you see what I mean. No real side effects from tablets yet I think, just feel out of it but that is sometimes a pregnancy symptom for me. What do you all think? x x

 

[petitpas]

Hi filipenko, I think your doctor is exactly right. There is hope and you are doing all you can. At the same time you have to prepare yourself that this one might still not make it (if at all one can be prepared for that ).
We will all definitely be cheering your little fighter on! When is your next scan?

 

[filipenko32]

Hi filipenko, I think your doctor is exactly right. There is hope and you are doing all you can. At the same time you have to prepare yourself that this one might still not make it (if at all one can be prepared for that ).
We will all definitely be cheering your little fighter on! When is your next scan?

Hi I have another scan in a weeks time so I think the heartbeat should be much faster by then if I am going to have any chance. My last pregnancy ended a few days after the heartbeat was heard and that had a good heartbeat but a too large yolk sac! Can't win! I am prepared but it is nice to have a tiny tiny bit more hope and it will be interesting to see if the prednisolone makes a difference! I am only on 10mg per day, do you think that's enough? Doctor says he has seen someone in my exact situ too but with temporarily decreasing hcg levels and that worked out fine with a healthy boy. After all my research i find that very hard to believe but then he was brutally honest with my when he sent me to a and e for the ectopic investigastion and said i would surely miscarry so who knows!! How far along are you? x x

 

[petitpas]

You know what? There are many amazing and/or sad cases that never get written down. You are going to have to believe and trust your doctor and that he knows what he's doing.
It's great you have hope - I bet your little one can feel it.

 

[Lamburai1703]

Hey ladies. Sadly the steroid did not work for me this time as after a perfect scan with heart beat of 165bpm on Monday, there was no heartbeat on Friday. Measuring 8+5 so exactly the same stage as last time.

I hope you all have more luck, and that maybe the steroids will work for me next time.

 

[filipenko32]

Hey ladies. Sadly the steroid did not work for me this time as after a perfect scan with heart beat of 165bpm on Monday, there was no heartbeat on Friday. Measuring 8+5 so exactly the same stage as last time.

I hope you all have more luck, and that maybe the steroids will work for me next time.

SO sorry to read this . It might have really been random chromosome bad luck this time and the steroids will work the next. It's so unfair and I'm so sorry x x x

 

[beachlover1]

I'm so sorry to hear this lamburai!!! That really is so sad.

 

[petitpas]

Lambs, I truly hope they work for you next time round, too. I don't know anyone who deserves it more than you

If you ever need an extra bit of hope, think of Mr Shehata's most famous success story. That lady also lost her first steroid baby (18th loss) and then carried her next one to term.