Alison P

[Natalie100]

Alison P<br><br>Sorry to butt in here but Dr Beer (not sure if you have heard from him) thinks I may have high NK Cells, I have to have some bloods next month to diagnose this, he told me he is the only person who tests for them and its costing around £500 for some bloods and £300 consultation fee!!<br>Anyway I have come across a few girls who have been treated by him and have high NK Cells, he suggests, Heparin, Enbrel (another steroid) and IVIg, this all costs around £1000 per month without the costs of ICSI aswell.......basically we cannot afford that and sort of resigned ourselves to the fact that we cannot continue down the ICSI route an longer.<br>I was interested to read that you only had Prednisolene and Heparin.<br>Could you tell me if you have had any previous IVF cycles that failed, if so did you find the cycle with the added drugs went better (i.e) Egg quality etc??, and did the clinic check your NK Cells after you had been on the drugs for a while??.<br><br>Sorry but just trying to see if there is a cheaper route!!<br><br>Natx<br><br>p.s can you tell me what dosage you was on and when you started them?<br>Hope im no confusing you with all the questions, but I am a little bit excited about hearing this!

[alison p]

Dear Nat,<br><br>I had 1 cycle at Barts and then 3 cycles of ICSI at the Lister. The first 3 cycles failed, but each time I had good quality embryos, so there was no obvious reason why implantation should have failed. <br><br>Before my 4th cycle, one of the doctors at the Lister (Dr Thum) suggested that he might measure my NK cell levels - but these came back as normal. However, he then tested my NK cell activity levels and they came back as active. I've not seen the results, so I don't know how 'active' they were. He suggested that I start on 25mg prednisolone / once a day on the day of EC. I've been on them ever since, but am due to come off them slowly starting next week (14 weeks pregnant). I'm not on heparin, but am on aspirin 75 mg / day (standard in IVF). <br><br>My NK cells haven't been tested since, but I have had regular blood tests, including blood glucose, since the drug can cause diabetes. <br><br>I'm not sure where you live, but I know that Dr Ndukwe at CARE at the Park Hospital, Nottingham, is a big believer in the NK cell theory. As far as I'm aware, Dr Thum is in consultation with a doctor (presumably an obstetrician) at the St Helier Hospital in Carshalton, London (can't remember his name unfortunately) about this area, but I know about Dr Beer in America. <br><br>It seems like an awful lot of money that he's asking you to spend. The prednisolone is cheap and if you do get pregnant then you're prescriptions are free anyway. Perhaps you ought to contact the Lister and talk to Dr Thum. <br><br>Hope this has been useful. Good luck with your cycle. Have you had previous cycles?<br><br>Alison

[Natalie100]

Hi Alison<br><br>Thanks for the reply.<br><br>Yes I have had 2 failed attempts at ICSI. The first one I had 1 A grade and 1 B grade transfered, the second one I had 1 A grade and 2 B grades transfered, but both resulted in negatives. What I find strange is that I have had 1 pg 18 months ago which resulted in a m/c.<br><br>I have had tests done by my gp for NK cells, but as you said just the levels and not the activity of them. <br><br>Its a real tricky situation, we know if I am diagnosed by Dr Beer then we will have to call it a day, but I am feeling that it may be worth just trying the Prednisolone and Heparin (as I would get them free anyway) and have a go, you never know it may work.<br><br>I live in Essex, not too many if any specialists around this way. Although London isnt all that far it may mean going backwards and forwards alot of times. I know that Dr Beer likes you to have blood tests every 2 weeks until 12 weeks pg is it works and they are £250 a go..........way too much money for us!!<br><br>I think i will make a few enquiries at my IVF clinic and see what they say.<br><br>Thanks for your help!!<br><br>Congrats on you scan aswell, I can only imagine how excited you and dh are!!...have a happy and healthy 9 months!<br><br>Natx