Low BBT, low progesterone and ?gluten?

SoonToBeMommaHowe · July 2016

Hey everyone! So basically my body has been a flippin mess for the past 14 months since my miscarriage and I would really really like to get it functioning properly so i can get a BFP without meds if at all possible. I'm turning 32 on Friday and definitely feel the crunch a little bit but figure I can probably take the next 6-8 months to get things going on my own. My OB is useless, so I did some of my own research and am steering towards I have an issue with gluten. Wondering if anyone has experience with anything similar??

Heres my situation in brief:
*TW - loss mentioned*

Stopped BC/started NTNP Oct '13 (DH lived in different state til Oct '14 so very slim chances)
Started OPKs/TI trying Oct '14
BFP Feb '15
Twin Miscarriage May '15
Started TTC August '15
Dx anovulatory Dec '15, progesterone levels
< 0.2
Letrozole in Jan & Feb - BFN, but ovulatory
Cycles after meds; 50 days anovulatory & 45 days anovulatory (progesterone 0.5)

Currently at cd30 of my third cycle after meds, which is looking like it will also be anovulatory. I started temping and discovered my BBT is very low, 30 day average right around 96.7 with my highest temp being 97.1. I had all the symptoms for O on cd20 but no temp rise and I noticed that each morning after I cheated on my diet (had gluten and/or excessive sugar) my bbt dropped to low 96s.

After researching my symptoms (low bbt temps, very low progesterone, anovulatory cycles, depression, memory fog and bloat/weight gain mostly in my midsection) a lot of Dr. googles info points to hypothyroidism, celiac or gluten sensitivity. Anyone out there heard of this? experienced it? Going through something similar?

Heres my chart just in case and I cheated on days 19 (had lasagna my mom cooked) and 28 (chips and pasta salad at a cookout)

echo+november · July 2016

I'm sorry for your losses and sorry you're experiencing these frustrating symptoms. I'm not sure about the gluten aspect of anovulatory cycles but I have a sluggish thyroid and PCOS with similar symptoms: low BBT, rocky temps, and long anovulatory cycles.

You would have low progesterone if you aren't ovulating on your own so I think that is to be expected. You should take your concerns to your doctor and ask for some bloodwork. It's much better to know what's going on and get a little help. Especially if it's thyroid-related; my synthroid makes me feel so much better. Did your doctor do ultrasounds to monitor your progress on Letrozole?

ChristinaV2015 · July 2016

Ugh I typed a whole thing and it deleted.

I have PCOS, anovulatory cycles and a gluten sensitivity but not celiacs. I know when I eat gluten I feel terrible - anxious, tired, depressed, digestive issues. I don't track BBT bc they were all over the place for me.

Have you been tested for PCOS?

ChristinaV2015 · July 2016

@echo+november do you know what your throid number was when you started the synthroid?

echo+november · July 2016

ChristinaV2015 said:

@echo+november do you know what your throid number was when you started the synthroid?

It was 4.86

Ducks&Cats · July 2016

I have PCOS. I have given up gluten and sugar. Has it helped my fertility? Well, I'm not pregnant yet, but I definitely feel less bloated and icky without gluten and sugar. I do "cheat" a couple times a week. For example I went out to lunch today. There was probably sugar in my salad dressing and gluten/sugar in the BBQ sauce i had with my sweet potato fried. Two hours later I feel really bloated. Try giving it up for 30 days and see how you feel, it definitely wont hurt your fertility.

ChristinaV2015 · July 2016

echo+november said:

ChristinaV2015 said:

@echo+november do you know what your throid number was when you started the synthroid?

It was 4.86

Thanks @echo+november mine was 2.1 and my PCP said that was just a point over the normal so I opted not to start the synthroid. I didn't want to mess with extra meds if it wasn't necessary.

SoonToBeMommaHowe · July 2016

Thanks for the responses ladies

@echo+november I knew I'd have low progesterone if I didn't ovulate but other people that are anovulatory are telling me their levels are anywhere between 3-5ish, mine are btwn 0.2-0.5...that sounds really low right? I did have cd3 draws taken and everything came back "normal" except my progesterone/estrogen levels which they said were in line with anovulation. My OB didn't monitor my cycles while on Letrozole, she just did a progesterone draw to confirm ovulation. I'm so frustrated with her bc her mentality is just "well we know you can get pregnant bc you have before"...ugh

@ChristinaV2015 my OB said with the cd3 draws, an ultrasound of my ovaries and lack of other symptoms besides irregular periods (no acne, hair growth, weight issues) she ruled out PCOS. So she said she would chalked up my anovulation to "stress induced amenorrhea"

@Ducks&Cats I'm 3 days away from finishing up my first 30 days gluten free. I do feel less bloated then i did when I started but I didn't have migraines or lethargy or stomach pains or anything before so it's just tough to monitor actual changes. I was hoping that 30 days without gluten would result in an ovulatory cycle but then I read it could take up to six months to see real changes.

What are your ladies average pre-O BBTs? I looked at a ton of charts in FF and not many people drop below 97...I rarely get above it. Blah

echo+november · July 2016

SoonToBeMommaHowe said:

Thanks for the responses ladies

@echo+november I knew I'd have low progesterone if I didn't ovulate but other people that are anovulatory are telling me their levels are anywhere between 3-5ish, mine are btwn 0.2-0.5...that sounds really low right? I did have cd3 draws taken and everything came back "normal" except my progesterone/estrogen levels which they said were in line with anovulation. My OB didn't monitor my cycles while on Letrozole, she just did a progesterone draw to confirm ovulation. I'm so frustrated with her bc her mentality is just "well we know you can get pregnant bc you have before"...ugh

@ChristinaV2015 my OB said with the cd3 draws, an ultrasound of my ovaries and lack of other symptoms besides irregular periods (no acne, hair growth, weight issues) she ruled out PCOS. So she said she would chalked up my anovulation to "stress induced amenorrhea"

@Ducks&Cats I'm 3 days away from finishing up my first 30 days gluten free. I do feel less bloated then i did when I started but I didn't have migraines or lethargy or stomach pains or anything before so it's just tough to monitor actual changes. I was hoping that 30 days without gluten would result in an ovulatory cycle but then I read it could take up to six months to see real changes.

What are your ladies average pre-O BBTs? I looked at a ton of charts in FF and not many people drop below 97...I rarely get above it. Blah

My progesterone after failed Clomid cycles was 0.5-0.7 each time. Also, my BBT ranges from 96.4 to 97.5. Get that thyroid checked, girl! It sounds like you aren't pleased with your current doctor--maybe start seeing someone new?

I have heard anecdotally about women that cut out gluten/went paleo and magically got pregnant but I don't know anything about their health issues/fertility.

houseofsetters · July 2016

SoonToBeMommaHowe said:

Thanks for the responses ladies

@echo+november I knew I'd have low progesterone if I didn't ovulate but other people that are anovulatory are telling me their levels are anywhere between 3-5ish, mine are btwn 0.2-0.5...that sounds really low right? I did have cd3 draws taken and everything came back "normal" except my progesterone/estrogen levels which they said were in line with anovulation. My OB didn't monitor my cycles while on Letrozole, she just did a progesterone draw to confirm ovulation. I'm so frustrated with her bc her mentality is just "well we know you can get pregnant bc you have before"...ugh

@ChristinaV2015 my OB said with the cd3 draws, an ultrasound of my ovaries and lack of other symptoms besides irregular periods (no acne, hair growth, weight issues) she ruled out PCOS. So she said she would chalked up my anovulation to "stress induced amenorrhea"

@Ducks&Cats I'm 3 days away from finishing up my first 30 days gluten free. I do feel less bloated then i did when I started but I didn't have migraines or lethargy or stomach pains or anything before so it's just tough to monitor actual changes. I was hoping that 30 days without gluten would result in an ovulatory cycle but then I read it could take up to six months to see real changes.

What are your ladies average pre-O BBTs? I looked at a ton of charts in FF and not many people drop below 97...I rarely get above it. Blah

I have had biphasic ovulatory charts since I started charting (for the last 5 cycles) and my pre-O temps are always 96.5-97.1 orally. My luteal temps are 97.3-97.9. Yours don't sound too crazy low, and keep in mind some charts you see may be vaginal temps!

SoonToBeMommaHowe · July 2016

@echo+november I don't plan on going back to my OB, I moved 50 miles away from her office in March, so I just need to find someone new that's closer. It's a little nerve wracking to go to someone who isn't familiar with our past, our loss, etc. But thank you for the tip and I'll make sure to ask for a thyroid check!

@houseofsetters this morning I took my temp (96.8) and then took it vaginally (97.1), quite a difference!

SoonToBeMommaHowe · July 2016

@houseofsetters...just to clarify, I have two different thermometers. Lol

Mumpay · September 2016

I have low progesterone. Months before suppositories, 97.4-98.2 oral. After suppositories, exactly the same except they don't start falling near the end of the luteal, when i used to start spotting. They stay high till i stop taking them.

This might be silly but have you tried putting it under the tongue near the back with the metal tip touching as much tongue surface as possible? Sometimes i fall back asleep in the 30 seconds it takes and my mouth relaxes and i don't keep it firmly in place, and it registers much lower than normal, air from room maybe gets in to mouth. i just redo and stay awake and hold it better, and it reads back to expected range.

Edit adding: omg sorry, i didn't realize page 3 would be so far back in date, should have checked before posting on old threads. New here, my bad!

SoonToBeMommaHowe · September 2016

@Mumpay no worries about reopening an old post. I appreciate the tip! And welcome

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