High Natural Killer Cells #9

[Phia]

@Sunshine14 firstly - I'm so so sorry about your failed DE transfers. It must be incredibly heartbreaking when you feel like you've gone the extra mile to find young eggs only to have them not stick!

I have no advice, I'm afraid as I'm
starting my DE journey in May, after three failed cycles but only to say welcome to the thread- it's very supportive and I hope that You find answers soon. Dr M is apparently amazing - I just had my first appt with him in December.

Fingers crossed for 2017

[Velvet16]

Hey sunshine14

I saw doctor m for implantation issues... no one was able to diagnose and doctor m did quickly and I went on to conceive (after lots of ivf and 8 years)

Baby is now 10 weeks old.

Doctor m diagnosed me with a t cell imbalance... so nothing could implant into my uterus.

He gave me meds and vitmains to improve my eggs

Vitmain e for uterus lining

Vitamin change for mthfr

For implantation pred, clexane and progesterone.

I somehow managed to fall naturally and hold baby till 5 weeks before meds started... no one really knows how.

If you have any questions happy to answer

Good luck and im so sorry

[ES02]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here but unfortunately not new to the IVF roller coaster. I've just had my fourth failed overseas donor egg cycle with not even a chemical pregnancy - just a resounding negative.
I've had four transfers; one blighted ovum, one chemical and two nothings.
I've always had clexane, aspirin, intralipids, prednisone and this cycle I saw Dr M and he prescribed dexamethasone (instead of pred) thyroxine and folinic acid (due to my MTHFR, thrombophilia, NK cells, hashimotos)

I'm just writing to see whether anyone of you on here are seeing Dr M for implantation issues or if it is for miscarriage? I cant seem to make these perfect embryos stick! I've read about alloimmune issues and the DQ alpha match which apparently can affect donor egg cycles (although previously I was told it doesn't) I know that there is IVIG therapy and LIT - just don't know if these can help me get past the 2ww to help the embryos and for me to not destroy them

I feel so helpless.

Hi Sunshine

Im sorry your having such a tough time, especially with donor eggs. I have the same as you basically - hashimotos, MTHFR, factor 5 leiden and nk cells. After my last failed fet with Dr M with a pgs tested blast he has requested HLA matches and im still chasing up the results but our next steps he said will be IVIG with possible LIT and neupogen. I have had 2 x IVF pregnancies lost and 3 bfn cycles all with immune meds but only last one with Dr M.

Do you have another consult with Dr M and your specialist coming up?

[Sunshine14]

Thanks so much for your replies Velvet, Phia and ES02. It's certainly nice to hear that there may be a light in this tunnel. It's nice to know that dealing with Dr M is also the correct person. Thank you all

I am thinking of changing my fertility specialist as she hasn't really taken my concerns very seriously in the past. Our cycle before this last one my TSH was 16(!!) two days after the transfer which is a problem that I think should have been addressed and monitored. I want to be properly treated and monitored so I think it's best to try to go through Dr M only if I can.

I'm going to book in to see him at the next available appointment. I'm not sure when he opens again in the new year but I'll keep calling to try to get an appointment for as soon as we can get in.

I've also been reading about an endometrial receptivity array which can pinpoint the exact time your endometrium is receptive for implantation. Has anyone read about this or done this? From research, some women have a window where they need more days of progesterone or less days of progesterone for the embryo/s to implant and if you're outside of this window then the likelihood of implantation is severally impacted. Just something else to test for before our next cycle. At this stage I want to know what we are dealing with and treat everything before going through this again

I hope you are all having a lovely start to 2017 xx

[ES02]

Thanks so much for your replies Velvet, Phia and ES02. It's certainly nice to hear that there may be a light in this tunnel. It's nice to know that dealing with Dr M is also the correct person. Thank you all

I am thinking of changing my fertility specialist as she hasn't really taken my concerns very seriously in the past. Our cycle before this last one my TSH was 16(!!) two days after the transfer which is a problem that I think should have been addressed and monitored. I want to be properly treated and monitored so I think it's best to try to go through Dr M only if I can.

I'm going to book in to see him at the next available appointment. I'm not sure when he opens again in the new year but I'll keep calling to try to get an appointment for as soon as we can get in.

I've also been reading about an endometrial receptivity array which can pinpoint the exact time your endometrium is receptive for implantation. Has anyone read about this or done this? From research, some women have a window where they need more days of progesterone or less days of progesterone for the embryo/s to implant and if you're outside of this window then the likelihood of implantation is severally impacted. Just something else to test for before our next cycle. At this stage I want to know what we are dealing with and treat everything before going through this again

I hope you are all having a lovely start to 2017 xx

A new specialist another opinion is always helpful. Being that hypo post transfer cannot be a good thing, in saying that my endocrinologist will never test thyroid function in the middle of a cycle as stims/estrogen can temporarily elevate your TSH so she doesnt feel its useful information. Ive just tested every 6 weeks for the past 2 years during ivf bit never in the middle of a cycle and that helps us keep track of things. Do you have an endo?

Ive heard of an ERA and it might be worth considering if your showing no signs of implantation, its a simple procedure. Perhaps Dr M might weigh in his thoughts when you speak to him.

Im going to call again this week to try follow up our last bloods. I know there in and I rang several times and reminded them late last year so we can plan our treatment for this year but I still am chasing them 😥

[KittyCat]

Hi all, just been discharged from Primary IVF after my dating scan showed I'm 7 weeks and 3 days pregnant and all is looking good. Upon discharge my FS said to stop the Clexane, Progesterone pessaries and to half my 25mg Prednisolone for a week and then stop. I'm a bit concerned this might lead to miscarriage as I read that you're supposed to continue the Bondi Protocol until 12 weeks. I went to see my GP who agreed to stop everything. I don't know what to do. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. (We have a full DQ match, I have high natural killer cells and will be 40 next May. Been TTC for 2 years.) Thank you!

[munchkin14]

@KittyCat congratulations!!! You must be thrilled!!

my clinic suggests stoping clexane after the7 week scan. Prednisolone they say to decrease by 5mg every 5 days i.e.: tomorrow drop to 20mg for 5 days then 15mg etc that way you're weaning off slowly and would take approx 3 wks so you'd be approaching 12wks. As for progesterone I would stay on it until 12wks definitely, wait until the placenta kicks in & takes over for you!

[KittyCat]

Hi munchkin14, thank you for the response. Yes, we are thrilled because every doctor we saw said we had no chance and to look into sperm donor or surrogacy! Okay I'm more comfortable with that (weaning off the Pred slower than what the FS at Primary suggested). I'm worried about stopping the Clexane though as it forms part of the Bondi Protocol. When your clinic gave you this advice, this was for NKC right?

[Velvet16]

Congrats kittykat

Doctor m had me on pred and clexane to 16 weeks from memory theb added asprin

Progesterone was closer to 18 weeks.
So no i wouldnt be stopping

[munchkin14]

Hi munchkin14, thank you for the response. Yes, we are thrilled because every doctor we saw said we had no chance and to look into sperm donor or surrogacy! Okay I'm more comfortable with that (weaning off the Pred slower than what the FS at Primary suggested). I'm worried about stopping the Clexane though as it forms part of the Bondi Protocol. When your clinic gave you this advice, this was for NKC right?

That's amazing. You proved them wrong!!! I'm still on the pill waiting to start my cycle so I haven't questioned the clexane yet. What exactly is the bondi protocol?