Stomach pains from progesterone? (IVF success mentioned)

eveangel100

Hi all, I'm new to the boards and I'm here because I can't find answers anywhere.
I'm 6.5 weeks pregnant thanks to IVF and my dr has me taking estrogen and progesterone every day until 12 weeks.
Unfortunately (and it's taken some time to narrow this down), the progesterone is wreaking havoc on my stomach.
I went to my dr when it first started because I was worried, he did an US and said everything is fine, it's normal to have some uterine cramping because it's stretching, and that I'm worrying too much.
But I've had To miss the last 3 days of work (I'm a teacher, so it's difficult to be off that much) because I'm so uncomfortable. It's not so much my uterus anymore as it is my GI tract. My stomach hurts and the pain has lasted on and off the past 5 days. I can't sleep because it wakes me up all night.
My stomach lining feels very inflamed and sore, sometimes I feel like I'm constipated or have painful trapped gas bubbles, but then I've had diarrhea a few times. 
Has anyone else had this problem with progesterone? My dr had me on 800mg of vaginal pills (200mg 4 times a day), so I switched back to the injections instead hoping there will be less stomach pain with it.
for now all I can do is lay in bed most of the day with a heating pad on low heat on my stomach (not over my uterus). I tried Tylenol a few times but that didn't do anything. I called the advice nurse and she didn't know anything. I've not been eating a lot, but I'm sticking to bland foods like bread, crackers, bananas.
 Any advice? I'm just worried because I need to return to work but I'm not sure how I can function when I feel so uncomfortable.
Thanks for any advice!
Nicole

Elyse1384

I recommend raising this to the pregnant after infertility boards as they probably have an answer. Many of the women here are currently struggling with infertility and have not yet had a BFP.  

That said (TW pregnancy mentioned), early pregnancy was very rough for me.  Not sure if it was the meds or just my body's response to HCG.  Best of luck ahead.  As long as the doctor doesn't see an issue, you should be OK and this too shall pass.

eveangel100

Thanks, I didn't know about that board!

LSatturo126

 (TW pregnancy mentioned)

I'm actually having that problem right now. One second I feel like horrible gas pains on both sides of my stomach and then about 20 minutes later I go #2 really really badly as if I didn't go to the bathroom for days. After I'm done I feel better but it happened again today which is the second time in 3 days.... I'm now 4.5 weeks pregnant. 

Mrs.BigCountry

TW past pregnancy


I had this same thing with my successful fresh cycle.  I ended up in the ER.  I had mild OHSS, but my RE was initially concerned that it might be a tubal pregnancy.  Have either of you tried upping your sodium intake?

LSatturo126

Mrs.BigCountry said:

TW past pregnancy


I had this same thing with my successful fresh cycle.  I ended up in the ER.  I had mild OHSS, but my RE was initially concerned that it might be a tubal pregnancy.  Have either of you tried upping your sodium intake?

No should that help? Tubal pregnancy with IVF? I thought that only happens naturally when the egg gets released from the ovary...hmmm

Monica54321

@LSatturo126 - I've read that the odds of an ectopic pregnancy actually go up with IVF, from about 1% normally to 1-3% for IVF (depending on which research you look at). Exact cause is unknown, but yes I agree... seems to go against what you'd think at first glance.