thread: Anyone had success when diagnosed with NK Cells?

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Sep 2009
    314

    Anyone had success when diagnosed with NK Cells?

    Hi girls just wondering if anyone has had success with implantation and pregnancy after being diagnosed with NK Cells.
    I have just had another transfer and BFN
    I was diagnosed at beginning of feb with NK Cells i think in the 75th percentile which i think is quite high i actually have to call Dr Sacks to chat about results again next week.
    I am hoping to hear some positive stories as right now i am starting to feel like i am fighting a uphill battle.
    I was put on 30mg prednisone, 40mg clexane and 1 x cardiprin for treatment.
    I am wondering how long it takes for the treatment to actually work and should i be on the prednisone all the time now untill we try again in 6 weeks?
    Anyone used IVIG for treatment?
    Would love to hear feedback.

  2. #2
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Nov 2005
    Langwarrin. Victoria
    1,654

    I had ridiculously high levels of NK cells and now have aone year old playing in the next room.......so yes it can happen. I was on the same protocol as you prescribed by Dr Sacks but implemented by my FS here in Melbourne. I actually stayed on the prednisone between cycles at the level of 10mg after reading some research by Alan Beers and it was our second cycle that I fell and stayed pregnant. The book "Is my body baby friendly" by Dr. Alan Beers might be worth a read for you.
    As for IVIG treatment I very much doubt you will be able to get approval to use it in this country as IVIG is a very very scarce and expensive treatment and you have togo before a panel to get approval for use...IVF is not an IVIG approved criteria in this country.

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Jan 2010
    61

    Blossom

    Yes, yes, yes. After years of infertility, failed IVF attempts, failed surrogacy attempts we found Dr Sacks. My uterine levels were fine but blood NK cells were elevated. I think 17% from memory. I asked Dr Sacks to be brutally honest about how many attempts it may take and he said 3. He was spot on. I was increased to 30mg pred and 40mg clexane and on our third go with him we got pregnant. I am typing this with my little girl Matilda on my shoulder. She was only born a few days ago and we are eternally grateful to Dr Sacks. Go for it and believe it will happen - he knows his stuff.

    Good luck can't wait to hear some good news from you soon.

    Trea (floating on cloud 9)

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Aug 2011
    5

    Hello everyone,

    I am new at this website, so hopefully this is the right way to post and comunicate ! Although I have a healthy daughter and had no problem at all at her pregnancy, when trying to a second child I have experienced several miscarriages I have had 6 pregnancy losses in the past year and a half and it have been really painful. Over that time, I have tried clexane 40 mg, aspirin ( cartia ), progesterone and even steroids and nothing worked. I was also diagnosed with high NK cells by Dr Sacks, but I am really concerned because talking to a friend from Brazil who have had 10 miscarriages, she could only carry to term after taking ivig ( immunoglobulin ) and the vaccines that Dt Alan Beer also applies. I did took these vaccines in Brazil, but kept loosing after that and they already expired ( they only last for 6 months ). So does any of you knows if it is possible to be treated with the ivig here in Sydney ? How about the immune therapy with the husband's leucocits ? Dr Sack's advise was to take the steroids ( 20 mg ) but because we are trying naturally, I can only take after I have a positive result, and by than it is already too late, since my bhcg levels are already coming down. Does any of you had success with the steroids ? When did you start taking it ? I am so desperate since I can't see a way out for my case right now... Thanks a lot !!!

  5. #5
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Nov 2005
    Langwarrin. Victoria
    1,654

    My advice is to speak to Gavin about staying on a small dose of prednisone between cycles say 5 mg and then upping it on a positive pregnancy test...this is what we did.....you don't want to do it long term but for a few months should be okay...this is what we did to conceive our little one. there is a doc in Melbourne who uses not IVIG but intralipids therapy that may interest you as well...his name is Nick Lolatgis.

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Aug 2011
    5

    Thank you so much for answering me Melbel. So did you finally carried to term only after taking prednisone ? What dosage were you at ? Do you remember what result you got for NK cells test ? Just wondering how bad mine is ( 16,9% ). I just can't understand why isn't the ivig used here in australia, since it is successfully used in so many other countries... Do you know about the lymphocyte immune therapy ? Is that available here ? Thanks a lot to all !

  7. #7
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Nov 2005
    Langwarrin. Victoria
    1,654

    NK cells was normal in the bloods but 6 times normal in the uterus lining (36% i think was the reading). I just took prednisone low dose between cycles (my choice) and upped to 25mg after insemination (we did IUI) also was on 40 mg of clexane till 20 weeks. The equivalet to you would be 25 mg from day of ovulation till day of pregnanacy test. If we got a negative we weaned back over a week or so to the 5mg till the next insemination...took us two IUI cycles to get success. IVIG isn't used here ocs it is a rare commodity...unlike other countries we don't pay blood donors so don't get the same level of blood donation and a lot of donated blood is needed to extract the IVIG component so it is very regulated so those most in need get it first, i.e. those who are seriously ill with immune compromised illnesses.

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Sep 2009
    314

    Hi i also have NK cells and went to see Dr Sacks and was on prednisone, clexane, etc but havent had a positive result yet. I am now seeing Dr Matthias over at Miranda he was trained by Dr Alan Beer so uses the same therapy treatment. I like him because it is a more personal approach as we are all different and need different doses i believe of different things to help us. Good luck

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Aug 2011
    5

    Again, thank you so much for your answers and clarifications !!! This is really helpfull when I am feeling so depressed after 6 miscarriages !!!

    Thank you for the explanation about the ivig in australia. It was hard for me to understand, since comming from Brazil, where this treatment is really common in recurrent miscarriage, I couldn't believe there wasn't such a thing here. Is the one offered by Dr Nick Lolatgis similar to ivig ? Have anyone tried it here ?

    Thank you for your comments alos, blossom 73. Is Dr Mathias an ivf doctor ? Are you making ivf with him, or trying naturally ? Is the treatment he offers similar to the vaccines by Dr Alan Beer ? If only I knew it... I went all the way to Brazil just to have these vaccines and had to stay there for two months for that... Did you try this treatment ? Is is too expensive as it is in Brazil ? To me, what really puzzles me is that we already have a daughter easily concieved, no problems at pregnancy etc.... How can that be ???

    Blossom 73, would you mind giving me Dr Matthias contact number ? Thanks so much

  10. #10
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Nov 2005
    Langwarrin. Victoria
    1,654

    Mayaus...you don't have enough posts yet to receive private messages but you can google DR Matthias and get his details really easily. Itralipids is similar to IVIG just a more easily obtained components and there are synthetic versions so more easy to obtain.

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Sep 2009
    314

    hi love i have another FS for IVF i only see him for my NK cell issue so he looks after my immune therapy...
    I am not sure what treatment he offers as im doing my first cycle with him next time but i am positive he mentioned ivig??? If you believe in Dr Beers treatment then i highly recommend him!
    His no is 9524 3696

  12. #12
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Nov 2005
    Langwarrin. Victoria
    1,654

    To get IVIG in this country you have to apply to an approval board and meet certain criteria.....unless he is talking of importing synthetic IVIG which is very expensive? Intralipids are used here not a problem but IVIG is closely regulated.

  13. #13
    Registered User

    Aug 2011
    5

    Thanks again for the comments !

    Melbel, I understand your point about the ivig being regulated here, but the fact is that I wrote an e mail to dr Nick Lolatis asking if he did ivig, and I recieved an answer by someone at his clinic also stating that Dr Matthias uses ivig. I also find amazing that he would be using it, since other doctors apparently can't. Anyway, I feel like going to see him since this is the treatment I think I need. It is just complicated having it when you are trying to fall pregnant naturally, cause from what I know you have to start just before you fall pregnant, and you never know exactly when that is when you are trying naturally. And since I am almost 41, who know how long it can take ? ( although I feel pregnant 6 times over the last 15 months ).

    Another quick question: how did you feel taking prednisone ? I am considering taking that again even before having a positive, but I just felt horrible when I took it in my last pregnancy. I couldn't sleep, have had herpes for the first time in my life, felt acelerated, moody etc... I thought the symptoms were really bad, but whatever it takes to keep my pregnancy going forward...

    Thanks Blossom 73 for the contact for Dr Matthias. I am glad to hear you like him so much !!!

  14. #14
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Nov 2005
    Langwarrin. Victoria
    1,654

    He could be using IVIG.......it is probably the imported stuff you have to pay for. I have a memory of someone else on here a while back doing that but it was costing a fair whack of money....If you feel it is the best option for you then definitely persue it. As for the prednisone...I felt great on it, had heaps of energy etc, I am one of those rare people who love it!

  15. #15
    Registered User

    Aug 2011
    5

    Sorry to be asking so many questions, but one more thing: how is that test for nk cells in the uterus lining that doctor Sacks perfomed on you ? I have my nk cells tested only on my bloods but not in the uterus lining. Is that a test that you need anesthesy to do it ? How do they collect material to be tested ?

    Just to answer you, melbel, I read in another group that Dr Matthias used ivig made out of animal blood, so that might answer our questions about how is he using that in this country. I just found scary an ivig made out of animal blood, but he must know what he is doing...

  16. #16
    Registered User

    Sep 2009
    314

    hi it is done like a pap smear.
    Good luck with it all x

  17. #17
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber

    Nov 2005
    Langwarrin. Victoria
    1,654

    Yeah what Blossom said..they can do it in the chair but it has to be done at a certain time in the cycle...days 23-27 or something like that.

  18. #18
    Registered User

    Jul 2011
    1

    I live in Brissie, and am considering asking to be treated for NKC, although I have not had the test - I understand you can only have it done in Melb or Syd? I'm able to conceive naturally, but have had four miscarriages (12.5, 9, 8 and 7 weeks), with no living children. I've had all the other tests, and my only known problem is a uterine abnormality.

    When does the treatment have to start to be effective? I'd be interested if anyone could tell me what meds they are taking, and what dosage.

    Also, are there doctors here in Oz that prescribe intralipids?