experience of prednisone? I’m nervous

[Catlady12345]

hi ladies,

I’m just about to start my 6th and final embryo transfer cycle. As it’s my last hope, the doctor agreed to put me on steroids and I’m petrified!

I just wondered what your experience was and what side effects you had?

I’m worried about the moon face thing, whether I’ll get ill whilst taking them! It also sounds morbid, but if for example I had some sort of undiagnosed illness would taking them enable the illness to get worse?!

Just wanted some reassurance really xx

[Boo718]

Hiya I honestly wouldn’t worry about them at all.I’ve been on them a few times quite high dose and all that happened was that I was pretty hungry and a bit bloated xxx

[Millbanks]

Hi lovely,I had no issues at all. My appetite definitely increased but then it does in pregnancy anyway…

I didn’t get moon face 🤷🏼‍♀️

I wouldn’t worry about them exacerbating other undiagnosed issues, it’s a balanced risk xx

[Meako]

Same as the others - I’ve been starving and quite bloated (but when aren’t you in an IVF cycle…) but otherwise had no issues

[Seren0119]

I was on 25mg and I didn’t feel anything. The progesterone was the worst really. Please don’t worry! X

[TexasRose210]

I’ve taken them and didn’t have side effects. I just finished tapering off of them at 9 weeks pregnant

[Zebedee1971]

I didn't have side effects but did get 'moon face' - I hated my appearance for ages, but am OK now. It was worth it as we had a positive outcome, but I'm dreading going back on them again when we go for baby number 2. Try not to worry, x

[Catlady12345 in reply to Zebedee1971]

Congrats ☺️ Can I ask how long it took for your face to change, and then how long to go back to normal? Xx

[Snoopydraws23]

I have taken steroids on all 5 of my transfers due to raised NK cells and the only symptoms I had was insomnia which soon resolved after I stopped taking them at 12weeks. x

[Chasing123]

Same symptoms as all the others - I’ve done it the last 5 times

[Hidden]

Hi just wanted to say good luck for the transfer. Number 6 was our lucky one so will keep everything crossed for you.x I’m afraid I wasn’t on steroids but my friend was and she said it wasn’t as bad as she expected.x

[Koala365]

I am taking prednisilone for the first time at the moment due to high NK Cells. I was really worried about taking them too as I am asthmatic and was put on steroid tablets at university for a while when my asthma was bad and they made me very sick but I haven't experienced being or feeling sick at all. I have made sure to take the tablets directly after meals though. During this cycle I took 10mg of prednisolone from part way through stims (day 6 I think) then upped it to 20mg from date of ovulation (my cycle got cancelled before egg collection due to poor performance so we tried naturally from when the two eggs would have ovulated and we have been taking all the meds to support implantation as advised by the clinic in the circumstances so only difference is we didn't have an egg collection and embryo transfer as hopefully all that was happening inside me) I have put on some weight but I can't tell you if that is the lack of HIIT classes, increased protein and fruit and veg intake as advised by nutritionist or the tablets or all of these together. Thankfully I haven't got moonface (at least yet). I have had the increased sweating which in the current heatwave we appear to be having is not very pleasant as I am not someone who sweats much at all usually. I am also having vivid dreams, waking up in the night and finding it hard to get to sleep and am extremely tired a lot of the time. Whether those things come from the prednisolone, lubion, clexane or cyclogest though I am not sure. I am pretty sure the getting up in the night is from the cyclogest. My OTD is 10 August to and I stepped up to 20mg from 27 July. I have resigned myself to the fact that I am putting on weight and I will target this big time if I am not pregnant. I keep telling myself I managed to drop at least a dress size in 4 months for my wedding and there are lots of lovely walks I can do and new dance fit exercise class I am planning to try - all of this will hopefully keep me going. If I am pregnant I won't care that I am fat at all as I will have achieved my dream and will just have to deal with slimming down at a later stage! Good luck and I hope you end up with minimal side effects like me. All of these have proved totally manageable. Xx

[happilyevershahs]

Hello, I suffered with insomnia but it has subsided. Prednisolone does affect your immune system and I ended up catching covid for the first time so just be careful. Other than that, no other side effects.