About progesterone level

[in-need-of-answers]

Hi!
I have a question about progesterone.  I am 13 weeks pregnant and about a week and a half ago I started taking pills (I think it's prometrium, 2 100 mg a day) because my doctor said my progesterone level was low.  Since then I've been really down, itchy all over, I get headaches and am nauseous.  Is this normal? It sounds like it might be.  How long do you think I'll have to stay on this? And like a previous person had posted, I felt fine and the ultrasound showed that the baby was doing great.

Just today I've started to feel like my hands, legs and face are swollen.  On my cheeks I have little red dots, but I don't know if it's because I was out in the sun on Sunday.  (But I was wearing sun block and I've never gotten these red dots before.)

This is my first pregnancy and I just don't know what to expect.  Whenever I want to call my doctor's office to just ask if what I'm experiencing is normal or not, I need to schedule an appointment.  I know they need to be safe because they don't want to get sued but I just have simple questions and can't go to the doctor every time I am experiencing something different.

A response will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

[Niki73]

I don't know what prometrium is. My progesterone levels were usually low before 13weeks and I would stop taking progesterone injections at that time and yes once the shots started I got sick a lot, headaches and acne break out which again are good signs that your pregnancy is going good....your hormones are changing and that is why you are experiencing this. But again I'm sorry I don't know what prometrium is but maybe they just started you on it to get you through the 12-13 weeks?I was told by my doctor that after 12 weeks our placenta produces the progesterone so I wouldn't need the injections anymore.Do you think maybe you are having a reaction to the medication you are taking?? When your skin stretches it makes you itch but are you itching all over and the swollen cheeks and the red dots sound like a rash like you are allergic to something???? Ask your doctor if you are having a reaction to the medication??? Sorry I wasn't much help but that's all I know......sounds like your baby is doing good...they just uped your progesterone to support your pregnancy....

[mani75]

i take prometrium for different reasons , my periods never come w/out them, but all the side effects that u have written are there but i guess only the degree differs. especially the face thing, i never ever get any pimples but whenever i use them i have these small red irritating acne on my face not alot but enuff and nausea and headache as well..so dont worry, also i did read here once , some one really cudnot stand the side effects of progesterone..

[Niki73]

Quick question my doctor says he gives me progesterone injections to help my pregnancy but is the actual medication called prometrium? Thanks...

[mani75]

well i take prometrium orally like in form of pills.and i believe it also is a progesterone, but i think progesterone does come in different forms,and if i m not wrong i reqad about women using it inform of creams as well
hope it helps
good luck !!
mani

[Niki73]

Thanks yes that does help...I get my progesterone twice a week 500mg and they give me a shot in my butt. That makes sense there could be all types of medication that helps your progestereone level so I could be taking prometrium in the form of a shot or any other medication.I will have to ask at my next appointment what exactly is in the shot the helps my progesterone level I was calling it progesterone thinking that is what the shot is!Thanks for your help....

[in-need-of-answers]

Well I'm kinda relieved that the side effects are pretty common but they are sooo irritating.  I just feel like crying because I want to feel like before I was pregnant.  Now, I hate not having energies and feeling so down.  

But thank you all for answering my question.

[Niki73]

I know what you mean about no energy and tired all the time but just think of what you are going to get out of it- A Beutiful Baby!!!!! With my last pregnancy by the Fourth -Fifth month I was feeling great again and had lots energy!!!! You'll be there soon! Good Luck!

[Venus8]

I was just put on Prometrium (200mg, 2x's a day) b/c my prog. level was a low 7.5. Last time I got it checked it was at 45. I started feeling really tired and a little depressed after I started it. I also got some dizziness. After the 1st trimester you don't have to take it anymore, like one of the previous comments, the placanta takes over producing prog. It takes some getting used to. Hope everything goes well w/ your pregnancy. By the way, what was your prog. level before you started taking it?

[in-need-of-answers]

I don't know what my progesterone level was.  So what should it be at? I'm going to the doctor today.  Hopefully he'll say I'm good now and I won't have to take the pills anymore.  He had also wanted me to go see another doctor to see why my level was so low.  So I'm hoping that when he checks me today I'll have my level fine and I won't have to go in for more testing.
But I'm definitely going to ask a lot more questions.  What's my level? What should it be? How much longer will I have to keep taking the pills?
I know he told me but since I didn't know anything about what he was talking about it all went over my head.  Now I know what progesterone is and have an idea of what he'll be talking about.
:)
Thanks!