Steroids - what are they for again?

Alison · Post by **Alison** » Sat Jul 12, 2003 9:31 am

I'm sure I've seen stuff on here about steroids before, but can you remind me what they do again. I'm having FET next week and as well as heparin to thin the blood I was prescribed pills. I was a bit surprised when I opened the box to find they were steroids, and DH is concerned that I might grow big muscles and a hairy chest!! Any reassurance I can give him about their real purpose would be appreciated! (Dr didn't tell me and I was too dozy to ask!) Thanks Alison

alison p · Post by **alison p** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 10:31 am

HI Alison, I have been on steroids (prednisolone 25 mg / a day) since EC as the clinic (Lister) tested my natural killer cells and they were found to be active. I am now 13 week pregnant and am due to come off them slowly next week. The theory is that the active NK cells see the embryo as a foriegn body and attack it, therefore preventing implantation. I'm not sure what you've been given them for, but they seemed to help me!! (although it could have been the acupunture) The side-effect I seem to suffer the worst from is the increase in appetite! I haven't stopped eating since I started on them, but this may also be due to the pregnancy. An increased need to go to the loo is also a side-effect, although again in early pregnancy this is also a symptom, so it's really difficult to know what is due to the pregnancy and what is due to the steroids. However, steroids do make you feel great and give you a buzz and I haven't had any morning sickness to speak of. Whether this is due to the steroids I don't know, but I don't think they've been a bad thing. Don't worry about the big muscles - that's anabolic steroids (the ones that body builders use) and aren't the same as these. Not sure about the hair - anyway, you can get excessive hair growth from pregnancy!! Hope everything goes well with the FET. I'll keep my fingers crossed that it works. Are you having any acupuncture or anything? I tried everything and look what happened. Good luck, Alison P xx

Natalie100 · Post by **Natalie100** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 11:52 am

Alison P 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 is the only person that I have found who tests for them and its costing around £500 for some bloods and £300 consultation fee!! 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. I was interested to read that you only had Prednisolene and Heparin. Could you tell me if you have had any previous IVF cycles that failed and did the clinic check your NK Cells after you had been on the drugs for a while??. Sorry but just trying to see if there is a cheaper route!! Natx

Alison · Post by **Alison** » Mon Jul 14, 2003 7:43 pm

Many thanks Alison - seeing all that again I remember the discussion about killer cells etc. - I think it must have been some of the material that was lost to he hackers. I'm not sure about side effects - I feel a bit sick but that may just be the heat - fortunately no hairy chest just yet! I'm doing the acupuncture again (session this evening) and trying to keep relaxed and positive. I was so pleased to see on the other side that everything went well at your 12 week scan. Hopefully you can now relax a bit more. Hoping to be following you very soon! Alison x

alison p · Post by **alison p** » Tue Jul 15, 2003 9:09 am

Dear Alison, I do hope that it works this time - it'll be fun to have you on the other side. Sending you lots of positive vibes!!! Alison xx