What do I do? I'm going nuts.

Cliffsbackyard

I've had a 28 day perfect cycle for the last decade or so.  'Worked for a midwife, so I know when I am ovulating, how to check fluid, etc.  DH and I tried in May with confirmed ovulation.  Headaches, dry heaves, slight cramping ensued.  Also, around AF time, light, bizare bleeding unlike ever before.  Despite all of this BFN on tests taken 10dpo and 24dpo.  Later nipple bumps, darker areolas, blue veins (I'm black, btw, so this was alarming), more random cramping.  Took a blood test that said progesterone was 1.98.  I've never had high progesterone anytime that I have checked. Now I am due for AF again and nothing but  light cramping.  Nausea is voracious.  Dr. is checking thyroid not doing u/s.  Here's my deal, if I am pregnant and for some reason not showing (possible in some women) and I need progesterone, I want to hurry and find out.  How do I demand an u/s? What else could this be?

Sweets11

1.98 is very low for progesterone.  I believe it should be higher than 16 to indicate ovulation.  You probably haven't ovulated yet (hence the missing period).  It is normal to ovulate late occasionally.

An US isn't going to tell you anything this early.  If you are pregnant it will show up on a pregnancy test (or if your doctor does blood work for a beta level).  Also, your doctor may be testing your TSH levels because they can effect ovulation (I was treated by an endocrinologist last year.).

The only way to predict/confirm ovulation is with an ovulation predictor kit and charting your temperatures (if you click on the link in my siggy you can get free tutorials on charting your temperatures on Fertility Friend).  CM/position is not a reliable way to tell when you're ovulating (I get several patches of fertile CM throughout my cycles).

Good luck and welcome to the Bump.

Edited for clarity and grammar.

Sweets11

I found this link.  It lists the normal ranges for progesterone (mid-cycle and post-ovulation) at the bottom of the page:

https://www.progesteronetherapy.com/progesterone-levels.html

 

Cliffsbackyard

Thanks for your reply.  The pregnancy symptoms just don't add up, and I would be 8 weeks today so an u/s would indeed show something.  I am struggling with the phenomena that the one month that we actually try in the correct window, my hormones go nuts and simulate pregnancy.  Also, I work now for a OBGY that says that Progesterone is largely irrelevant.  Grrr...the frustration continues.

Sweets11

Cliffsbackyard:

Thanks for your reply.  The pregnancy symptoms just don't add up, and I would be 8 weeks today so an u/s would indeed show something.  I am struggling with the phenomena that the one month that we actually try in the correct window, my hormones go nuts and simulate pregnancy.  Also, I work now for a OBGY that says that Progesterone is largely irrelevant.  Grrr...the frustration continues.

Have you considered a second opinion? It's pretty rare to be 8 weeks pregnant and have P4 levels that low as well as Hcg levels that don't show up on a pregnancy test or beta.

Phantom symptoms are pretty common (I have been pregnant before and had no symptoms and I've also thought I've had symptoms and they've turned out to be in my head.)

Either way, good luck and I hope it works out for you.

 

Dr.Loretta

If you're pregnant, starting progesterone at 8 weeks isn't going to change anything.

Progesterone levels are not largely irrelevant.

It's highly doubtful you're pregant, but more likely your thyroid is out of whack (hence the thyroid testing).

If you really, really want a u/s, ask for one.

Cliffsbackyard

Got a BFP today.  I knew it all along. dg