Progesterone Support

panda993322

Hello! Is anyone else on progesterone pills/cream? I suffered a chemical last month and I do have low progesterone, so i'm taking it as a back up. Getting my HCG + progesterone tested tomorrow - I hope the levels are ok!

I've definitely experienced extreme fatigue on it and when I first started taking it, a little dizzy too!

knottie3dce9b40dced2f20

I've been using progesterone cream since day 2 after ovulation. I haven't noticed any negative side effects. I can tell it has definitely raised my progesterone levels based on my BBT being consistently high instead of all over the place, so that's encouraging. I'll get blood work next week and see if my Dr wants to add any pills instead or just keep doing what I'm doing

annemarie96

I’ve had 3 chemical pregnancies, 2 early miscarriages, and 2 healthy boys. Progesterone cream is something I’m using this time around any time I think I might be pregnant. I will say, my last miscarriage was at 7 weeks and I had been using it every day. I went out of town for a couple days and forgot it, but thought that it’s probably fine I’ll use it more when I get back, and I miscarried. Soooo at least for me, I’m going to try to be pretty religious about it in the first trimester. I felt like that was a pretty obvious sign for how it was working.

panda993322

Wow. I’m so sorry that happened. FC it’s a sticky one this time and yes to using it religiously !!!

katerdh1024

I was on PIO shots last time but miscarried. This time my OB (we moved so a new one) put me on oral progesterone. They warned me to take it at night because it will make me feel tired and dizzy. That first night I literally felt drunk but not the good kind! 

panda993322

Felt the exact same way! I take it before bed now 

knottie141c30db8bb122cc

My last two pregnancies I’ve had to take protesterone the entire pregnancy. My daughter was born at 28 weeks and my son almost came early a few times too. So I’m just waiting for them to prescribe it to me for this one.

nwshay

Just saw this this thread, I'm on progesterone inserts two times daily. They're disgusting, but I'm willing to do just about anything!

kuklaboys

On the oil. Would never do anything different for me most accuracy but I hate the shots. My a$$ is a pin cushion and always sore! Progesterone checked every 2 weeks thru the entire pregnancy as progesterone can drop even in 3rd trimester. On 4th kid first time using oil. 2nd kid used the cream never again!

TInman87

I'm on progesterone suppositories. I have had low progesterone with every one of my pregnancies so I just expect the prescription now. I feel like it's a vital part of a successful pregnancy for me too so I don't have any complaints about it I guess

nwshay

My doctor refilled my progesterone, but instead of suppositories he did oral pills. I prefer pills because they aren't as gross, but hopefully they work as well. They are also covered by insurance. My suppositories were not, and they were expensiiiiiive

ttc3y

Anyone else here on progesterone shots? I’ve been getting daily injections for a month and there is not a single non tender spot on my back side to receive injections. And when I do receive injections in the last few days, the whole gluteus muscle spasms. My ability to walk, climb stairs, and change positions have been compromised.  

The good news is my doctor changed the requirement for me to do the shots every other day and replacing the non shot days with another vaginal suppository in the evening. But I still have to do the shots until the end of July. Honestly, tolerating the pregnancy symptoms is nothing in comparison to the pain and loss of function in my daily life because of these injections. I’m doing everything I can think of to help resolve the soreness: heating pads, massage, walking, magnesium (topical and oral doses), warming up the progesterone prior to injection, changing needles between drawing medications and administration, and alternating injection sites. 

For those of you going through progesterone shots, how are you all coping?

jennykatedvm

@ttc3y Sorry your shots are causing so much pain! I've been giving them daily for the last four weeks and will probably be continuing through the first week of August this time. This is our 5th FET, so I've given them to myself A LOT. Have you tried the Synera patches? They make such a difference. A bit expensive but I figured out how to get my insurance to cover them. If I leave them on for at least 30min it numbs deep enough that it really only hurts if I get unlucky and hit a nerve. I also poke around a lot ahead of time to find the least painful spot, warm the oil, focus on completely relaxing and then rub the crap out of the site afterwards for a few minutes followed by heating pad. What size needles do they have you using? 
It doesn't make it hurt less really, but I eat a piece of super yummy chocolate while I'm giving it too as a reward  
Maybe I'm just used to them now, but at this point they hurt waaay less than the darn lovenox injections that sting like a $@#&?.

ttc3y

@jennykatedvm Yes, I started using the synera patches recently which helps with receiving the actual injection when you can’t find a non tender spot and going for the least tender spot. However, for me, It’s the soreness and muscle spasms that happens several hours afterward that is so debilitating and the Synera patches don’t seem to help much with that. 🫤

I have to say it is Baller of you to give your own IM injections. 👏👏👏 I’m in awe. I can do my own sub-Q injections but I have not worked up the courage and chutzpah to do my own IM. We are using a 22 gauge needle 1 1/2 inches long. I can’t believe lovenox hurts more than progesterone shots!   Prior to the injection, I definitely relax my body with 4:7:8 breathing and visualizations (I imagine holding a soft furry bunny or a dog licking my face) to help me with receiving the injections as well. 

The one thing you mentioned that I haven’t been doing was going on the heating pad right away after receiving the injection and massaging it. I usually do it a few hours afterwards (typically it’s dinner time where we eat and I go for a walk to help with the absorption). Do you think using a heating pad right after receiving the shot would make a difference? 

jennykatedvm

@ttc3y After the first couple by myself it wasn't bad at all. Easier in the schedule for DH to be bathing or otherwise distracting DS while I get the job done I feel like anyone who goes through all the injections of fertility treatments is amazing no matter who is wielding the needle, so give yourself a pat on the back too!
Have you tried using 25g 1.5inch needles? It takes a bit longer to inject with the thin needles, and warming the oil slightly before is a must, but maybe that would traumatize your muscles less? Definitely keep using the 22g or higher to keep drawing it up from the bottle though and then change to a new small needle. 
The heat and massage help to disperse the oil into the muscle more quickly so it doesn't stay in one spot, so maybe doing it right away would also help with the knots and pain you are getting? I'm certainly not an expert on human injections though, so take that with a grain of salt. 
Definitely leave the Synera patches on for at least 30 min (sometimes I'll get distracted with something else and it will be on for 40min and I haven't had any kind of adverse reaction to it staying on a little too long yet). When I rush it and try to go for it at 20 min I can feel it in the deeper subcutaneous layers more. 
Hope you can find some relief!