Are any clinics offering steroids?

Hi ladies,

I have high NK cells and I have been offered intralipids but not steroids because of COVID.

Is that the same for all clinics? Any experiences with high NK cells and no steroids?

Thank you xx

[Millbanks]

Hi lovely, I don’t have high NKC (I think) but my clinic isn’t prescribing any steroids during the pandemic xx

[Hidden in reply to Millbanks]

Thanks for letting me know xx

[N-A-58]

Hi, can you let me know what clinic please? Mine aren’t offering either! Xx

[Hidden in reply to N-A-58]

Will message you! Hopefully @Jn020 has a clinic that does x

[JnO20]

Hi

I have high NK cells and am on steroids and intralipids with Dr Shehata in Epsom.

[Hidden in reply to JnO20]

Thanks so much - so your clinic are giving steroids? Can I ask what the clinic name is? I am trying to figure out options, thanks so much xx

[Zebedee1971 in reply to Hidden]

I'm also with Shehata. It's not an ivf clinic, it's a recurrent miscarriage clinic and you'd have to be a patient of his to get the steroids. However, I don't know if he's still prescribing them, I only got them (I think) because it was on my plan from February last year. I was on steroids up until 16 weeks pregnant, and stopped just a few days ago. His advice was to shield when on them. He initially reduced the dose when the pandemic started, but I was on 25mg a day from September until recently. The steroids worked for me and, like I said, I'm now 16 weeks in, but I also took hydroxychloroquine (can be used instead of steroids, so I believe), intralipids, and I also took humira back in February...

[JnO20 in reply to Hidden]

Hi,It’s CRP clinic in Epsom (miscarriage clinic).

[C_C_H in reply to JnO20]

I’m also getting mine here too without any problem!

[leigh1985]

Do you mind me asking where you had your NK cells test as I've emailed Professor Quenbys secretary about some information in the hope of having the test in the coming months buy it'll be good to know before starting it all if I they are not prescribing steroids. 🙂

[Hidden in reply to leigh1985]

All the tests are assessed in a special lab in Chicago (in the States). You can get the test done at most clinics (blood and biopsy) and then they send them to the States x

[Hidden in reply to leigh1985]

Ps. The biopsy is more accurate than the blood test x

[leo1980 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Starfish12345, what biopsy did you do for NK cells. I only did blood tests. Let me know and I will request it. Thank you

[Hidden in reply to leo1980]

It is like a smear test but they just grab a bit of your lining and send it off for testing xx

[FluffyPink in reply to leo1980]

Hello, I recently had this biopsy done on recommendation of my doctor in London. It’s an “endometrial immune profile” and is sent to Chicago for analysis, as Starfish mentioned above. xx

[Pcck in reply to leigh1985]

I've had both my biopsies done, at Professor Quenby's clinic, over the last couple of months. They analyse everything internally, in their own labs. They mention at the start about the ethics of prescribing steroids ATM but in theory, you'd be 10+ weeks (at the earliest) away from starting them anyway and the landscape could be very different by then.

😁

[hifer]

My clinic hasn’t been offering steroids for a while now. I had them in my second egg collection cycle (much more successful than my first) but wasn’t allowed them in my third. They say it’s just too risky if you get Covid. No experience in your particular case though I’m afraid (ie High NK cells - I have the opposite! Under active uterine NK cells!!) xx

[Leea1984]

Hi I’m at Manchester fertility and my doctor has prescribed me steroids on the condition I self isolate

[leo1980]

No steroids at my clinic. It was in the plan for my cycle last year but removed due to the pandemic

[Westielover16]

So sorry to hear this is impacting your treatment! I’ve had a fair amount of experience with this and it’s been really frustrating over the last year as the advice keeps changing. For my last cycle in the summer I just had to sign a waiver stating I understood the risks and was still taking the steroids and interlipid of my own accord. Previously they advised that they couldn’t prescribe the steroids but I had also spoken with my GP and they agreed to prescribe them but in the end didn’t need this as my clinic brought in the waiver form.We are getting ready to do a FET next week and this time round my clinic was saying again that they couldn’t offer any NK interventions. I actually had COVID in November and so spoke with my consultant and she only agreed to allow me to go ahead if I had an antibody test first. Luckily this came back showing I had the antibodies so the have let me go ahead again.

I’d speak to your clinic and see if they can do something similar to the waiver form.

Wishing you all the best! Xx

[smeh]

Lister Fertility are conducting treatments with steroids and Dr Thum is believed to be the worldwide leading IVF consultant in NK cell research and treatment.

[Hidden in reply to smeh]

Thanks so much

[leo1980 in reply to smeh]

Wow. Haven’t heard of him. I know Dr Khalil I was a patient there - same topic immunity issues. I am so intrigued by this biopsy thing. What is the actual procedure called? Does anyone know if the NK last for ever or do they change from month to month?

[FluffyPink]

Hi Starfish,My fertility doctor in London has prescribed hydroxychloroquine (and intralipids) as he is not prescribing steroids at the moment. He said it is safe in pregnancy. I’ll PM you with the name of doctor.

xx

[Hidden in reply to FluffyPink]

Thank you x