Has anyone seen Dr Thum at the Lister Hospital?

[murakami]

Hi, I'm new to the forum. My husband and I have unexplained infertility, we've been trying for 8 years [4 natural miscarriages and 3 failed IVF].

We're seeing Dr Thum next week to talk to him about NK cell testing. Have any of you ever seen Dr Thum?

[baby2016]

Hi murakami, i can't answer your question however please look through my previous posts as I too suffered from recurrent miscarraige, diagnosed with high nk cells and sticky blood. Became aware of 'hidden c' test at a clinic in athens, of which i positive and prescribed antibiotics, then advised to fly out o them and have hystocopy and deep implantation cuts, flew out in nov, had the procedure of which showed my womb severly covered in scar tissue from miscarraiges and infection. All cleared out. Transfer of DE in December back in the UK (had a MMC earlier last year with donor, and 6 other losses with my own eggs) and i'm now currently 16wks pregnant and I know its down to my treatment in Athens, as have been treated for NK cells in most of my cycles. As Athens said if there is infection in the womb the NK cells will naturally be higher to try and fight the infection. They also said with the amount of scar tissue I had and embryo would not survive and I saw the footage of proecdure and have it on DVD, def worth looking into xx

[murakami in reply to baby2016]

Thank you for your reply. Who did you do the NK test with? I've never heard of a hidden c test so will look into that too. Congrats on the pregnancy x

[baby2016 in reply to murakami]

I had it done at the tommys centre in coventry as the money you pay there goes back into miscarriage research x

[Mamaofstevie]

I had my first treatment with him! Great man and so caring! He even prayed with me when he did the transfer! You don’t get to see him much though only at the end. You deal with everyone else first then him last so don’t be disappointed if you don’t get to see him first! Good luck

[murakami in reply to Mamaofstevie]

Thanks so much!

[murakami]

Saw Dr Thum today for an initial consultation, he seemed more genuine than the doctors I saw at Nuffield Health, he actually asked me about my journey so far in detail and didn't rush me. We then did blood tests straightaway at the clinic which I was really pleased about;

Both husband and I did Chromosome karyotype, I then did Thyroid antibodies, Natural killer cells assay [CD69 & cytotoxicity] plus TH1-TH2

Results ready in 4-5 weeks.

I felt a little upset when he said 30 to 40% of his patients have unexplained fertility and there isn't always a reason because they can't test everything.

We'll just have to wait and see, que sera

[Ropa19]

Hi murakami, I know this was an old post I just wanted to see how you got on with your results? Me and my husband are considering going to see Dr Thum for tests as we have had 3 failed transfers with top quality embryos and I am hoping to look into tests for repeated implantation failures and my acupuncturist highly recommends him. We still have one more nhs round so was hoping to do the tests privately before we go again x

[murakami in reply to Ropa19]

Hi Ropa, we went to see him last week and chromosome karyotype and thyroid antibodies tests were normal. However, I have a high number of NK cells and they're very active. He suggested steroids [prednisolone] to take along side IVF. I asked him if I could try a couple of cycles naturally with steroids [as I have fallen pregnant naturally 4 times] and he said it would be more difficult but to give it a go. So one day after ovulation I am taking prednisolone in the morning.

If that doesn't work I will do a transfer with him. Overall, I was happy they found something wrong with me after years of doctors telling me its 'unexplained' ! and if my infertility is due to nk cells, then hopefully these steroids will work. Only time will tell.

The initial appt. with him and the tests on the same day costs £1,745. There's no waiting time to see him and the tests take up to 5 weeks.

Best of luck! Keep me posted

[Ropa19 in reply to murakami]

Oh that’s great to hopefully have something for you to “fix” it’s the unknown that drives me mad. Really hope it works naturally for you!

I think we might give the clinic a ring and arrange an appointment for the tests, as like you say it could just happen naturally without having another round of ivf.

I will let you know once I’ve got something arranged but let me know how you get on too! X

[murakami in reply to Ropa19]

How you getting on? Did you manage to book an appt?

Update, af arrived today. This was my first cylce with steroids. A couple of days after my last post I ovulated, so started taking the steroids the next day.

It was a crazy couple of weeks. I was HIGH then very Low, couldn't concentrate at work, had hot flushes, constantly hungry, sweats, palpitations, anxiety, the works! Along side this I am also on anti depressants, low dose, which they said was fine to take together.

I didn't touch alcohol but needed it at my low points. I think my face got a bit puffy which is one of the most common side effects. So it was a roller coaster to say the least.

Period was late but I'm ready to take on one more natural cycle next month so we'll see. After that we'reg going on our 2 week beach holiday so something to look forward to.

The things we do for a rainbow x

[Ropa19 in reply to murakami]

Hi Sounds like that beach holiday will be just what you need!

I called our clinic to get an appointment with our consultant to discuss us going to the lister for private tests etc and got one booked but not till the 25th June, but it’s such a long wait so I think we’re going to just contact Dr Thum and go ahead with the test without seeing him.

So do you have frozen embryos already and you would just go and see him for a transfer or will you do a full IVF round with him?

X

[murakami in reply to Ropa19]

There's no waiting time to see him but they ask for you to have an up to date pelvic scan and sperm results.

Yes i have frozen embyros at my last clinic, so will transfer them to Lister. Dr Thum said they do this all the time.

[Ropa19 in reply to murakami]

Ah ok that’s good to know, do they do the pelvic scan and sperm test there or do they want you to have them done before you go?

Hope you get some good news this month! 🤞

I’ll let you know once we have got an appointment arranged etc

[murakami in reply to Ropa19]

They want them before you go but double check with them just in case

x

[murakami in reply to Ropa19]

Hi, how you getting on?

Just thought I'd post an update, the 2 cycles of trying naturally with steroids didn't work, so I'm seeing Dr Thum at the end of the month to start IVF. The steroids were awful, got me feeling really down so I'll ask him about that.

I was reading about the drug humira and want to ask him about it. I know Dr Shehata prescribes it. miscarriageclinic.co.uk/suc...

Has anyone else taken/ heard about humira?

[Ropa19 in reply to murakami]

Hey ah that’s a shame it hasn’t worked naturally! But fingers crossed you get some good luck with Dr Thum. Well we went to see our consultant and he advised us to have some tests a Warwick university rather than Dr Thum first as he feels it’s just the NK cells we need testing for! So we went last month for the first test, which is basically the same as the scratch then we repeated down there again today so see what happens from that but if we have no luck I thought least we have Dr Thum to fall back on at it was a cheaper option to begin with. We’re looking to start our next cycle of IVF once we get the results x

[murakami in reply to Ropa19]

Ah great, at least there's a cheaper option. Good luck! Let me know how you get on xxx

[Ropa19 in reply to murakami]

Will do! You too, let me know when you start your ivf and how it is going! X

[HeavenLannes]

How are you getting in with Dr Thum

[murakami in reply to HeavenLannes]

Hi. I got pregnant and my baby is now nearly 5 months. Thanks to Dr T and his team. I wrote a post about it.How are you getting on? X

[Maui2020]

Congrats Murakami. I wanted to jump on and say Dr Thum got us our baby boy too. He’s great and reigned me in when I wanted to do every test possible after a failed attempt and is always honest and professional.

[murakami in reply to Maui2020]

Congrats to you too:). Yes he's straight to the point and very professional. Xx