DId anybody get BFP and need progesterone suppositories?

[ashort]

Soooooo I got my BFP!!!  I'm so excited but nervous!  My HCG is 76 but my progesterone is low 8.26.  They are giving me suppositories to take Endometium.  Has anybody taken this...did anybody have a viable pregancy having to take progesterone?  I think I'm 4 weeks like 2 or 3 days??  I o'ed on either the 25th or 26th of Jan....so I'm 16 or 17 DPO..and 14 days to that and I guess I'm 4 weeks 2 or 3 days...is that right?

[shishka]

Congratulations on your BFP. I did use progesterone supp. Prometrium. I started before my embryo transfer and continued untill I was 11 weeks. My progesterone level was 31, I was also on progesterone shot untill 8 weeks. Everything looks good so far. I am now 17 weeks 1 day. Good luck

[ashort]

Wow, congrats!  It makes me feel good to hear such a great success story.  I'm really nervous.  I had a m/c in June and I feel so lucky to even be pregnant again!  They put me on endometrium...starting to think I heard her wrong she probably said prometrium...LOL...I had some spotting on Sat,Sun. and just a tiny bit today.  It's brown so I know I'm in the clear so far just a little mixed in with cm.  I hope this sticks!  CONGRATS to you!  I think I will feel better once we have a sono and I see a heartbeat...

[lhughes]

I also did the progesterone suppositories for both my pregnancies, my progesterone was around 9, I think.  The docs want it up around the 20s.  I'm glad to see someone else had to do the shots, too.  I did the shots for 40 nights during both my pregnancies up to the 12th week.  All went well with both pregnancies, except for some very sore hips!

Congrats!!!!

[ashort]

lhughes-  Thank you for sharing your story.  I had a m/c in June and I'm so worried that this baby won't stick.  Sore hips???  Is that a side effect?  Does progesterone make you feel sick?  What are the side effects.  I'm not sure how long I will have to take it.  I'm sure at least the first 8 weeks if not 12.  The nurse said I shouldn't worry that a lot of people have to take it.  They said my HCG was good at 76.  I just hope it doubles!  Thanks again!

[kazwel]

Hi,   I'm on the suppositories also, i started them on Saturday.  
I would buy stock in pantyliners,  because there is leakage.  My progesterone level was 10.5 the last time they checked, and i'm on 100mg 3X a day. I got the information listed below from web md's drugs and treatment heading.  
I hope it is helpful

Good luck :)
Kazwel

Bloating, stomach/abdominal pain, nausea, breast tenderness, headache, drowsiness, mood swings, irritability, or vaginal discomfort may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: unusual vaginal bleeding, severe mental/mood changes (e.g., depression), swelling ankles/feet, yellowing eyes/skin, breast lumps.

This medication may rarely cause very serious problems from blood clots (e.g., heart attack, stroke, blood clots in the lungs/legs, blindness). Seek immediate medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms: chest/jaw/left arm pain, weakness on one side of the body, slurred speech, difficulty walking, sudden vision/eye changes (e.g., blurred/double vision, loss of vision, bulging eyes), confusion, sudden severe headache, severe dizziness, fainting, trouble breathing, coughing up blood, pain/redness/swelling/weakness of the arms/legs, calf pain/swelling that is warm to the touch.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the tongue/lips/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

[kellym]

Congrats!! I m/c in July and got pregnant again in Sept. This pregnancy we started on progesterone suppositories just in case even though it was at 21. Keep us posted, congrats again!!

[ashort]

Oh my gosh!  Wow lots of side effects!  Does anybody know why they put you on suppositories instead of pills or shots?  

So I guess the suppositories are pretty common, huh?  

This is making me feel  better, thanks girls!

[melimeli]

the suppositories go in vaginally and they are better absorbed than the pills... really the only side effect that I had was a little constipated... other than that it is fine... there is some leakage just make sure to get them way up there... and lay down for a while if you can...  I have a 5 year old girl that I used ´progesterone with and now am 24w 3d pg and used progesterone until 12w... you will be fine just take them as soon as they arrive and relax and think positive...

[guinness413]

Progesterone is usually given for most pregnancies and is good to keep the pregnancy viable

[ashort]

Thank you girls you make me feel sooooo much better.  So far no leakage...LOL and no side effects!

[melimeli]

good luck what is the next step.. do you have another hcg test soon?  U/S?  After your level reaches between 1000 and 2000 you can see something and with it doubling every 2 days it doesn't take long to reach that point....

[lhughes]

I guess most everyone has answered your questions!!!!  Leakage will occur in time, it gets gooier (is that a word) as the white stuff accumulates and then comes back.  And I think the side effects will start occuring later on, possibly.  You may not have any, if so, I'll call you lucky!

Congrats on the baby!!!  Jealous from here.

Oh, and to the poster of the question of why suppositories versus pills versus shots.... I think the answer is "it's dependent on your doc" although I've heard the suppositories get the progesterone where it's needed better.  My progesterone wouldn't stay up even after  3x times a day (yes that's a lot of goo), so I started shots at the 7 week mark, I think.  I had my mastectomy on the 8th week, and was already taking the shots, so around 8 weeks.  I just didn't have anything to make progesterone (bad corpus luteums!).  They hurt like ......  fill in your own pain in the rear.  But worth EVERY SHOT to have my little girls.  

If anyone is going to take shots and wants hints on how to make them easier to take, holler, I'll be glad to share all I know!

Congrats to all you preggie people.  I'm so jealous, I miss getting to feel the little one inside me and the anticipation of a new baby.  I'll just have to borrow little ones from my friends.

[poupoune26]

I'm sooo happy for you! Congrats!  It was your turn..enjoy your 9 months..you'll see, it's a pretty exciting and fun time (it is for me anyways)!!

[guinness413]

Unfortunately, remember my motto, what goes up must come down  ha ha

[pcarsey]

Congrats on the BFP!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!! Here is to a Happy Healthy Beautiful Nine Months!!

Patty

[paranoidpatty]

Congrats on your BFP!!!!!!!!!!

[tricia448]

hi ashort...so happy for you and your BFP....when i got prregnant my progesterone was very low as well...i was prescribed prometrium suppositories 2x daily...but i just want to make you sure are aware...if you take them orally it will show up in your bloodwork...but if you insert them vaginally ...the progesterone will definately work...but wont show up in the numbers in your bloodwork...so dont get alarmed....i took the suppositories until i was 12 weeks...i think thats pretty standard! i look forward to seeing all your updates...when is your first ultra sound?

[ashort]

Wow, girls your guys are a wealth of knowledge!  Thanks so much!  

lhughes-  I didn't post that question but was wondering.  I think I would rather do the shots.  Dh's mom is a diabetic so she could give them to me.  How many did you take a day?  I guess I will ask about that.  The goooooooooeeeeeeyyyyyyyy has occurred...YUCK!!!  I feel like I need to shower every 5 mins.  By the way, can you bd while taking these things??  

tricia-  I have to take endometriun 3 times a day.  Thank you for the advice about my blood work.  That would've freaked me out!  I'm already on edge enough as it is...I think my first u/s will be next Monday.  I think I am 4 weeks 3 days today.  

Thanks again girls...this feels sooooo great!

[MelzieWelzie]

I was also put on progesterone right away (after 2 fairly recent m/c's) with this pregnancy and continued until I was 12 weeks.  I'm currently 24 weeks.  The suppositories aren't much fun, but just remember it's a brief moment in time--and all worth it in the end!  We didn't bd much while I was on them--I think I was just too nauseous and hormonal.  If you're interested in bd'ing, I would try to bd just prior to inserting them.
Congrats again on your bfp!  Have a healthy and happy pregnancy!
Melanie

[melimeli]

yea you can bd with them... good luck!!!

[ashort]

Thanks girls...not sure if I want to bd with them but I'm sure I won't be able to hold out much longer...LOL..DH will drive me crazy.  

Melzie-  I'm glad to hear things are going well with you!  I just found thong pantyliners so I feel a little better...LOL..

[lhughes]

I don't know if you are ready, but here's the info on the shots.  I had to take them, like I said because my progesterone levels just weren't up to what my RE wanted, matter of fact, they would go up a bit one week and then plummet the next.  And my progesterone suppositories did impact the progesterone levels in the blood.  I started the shots to get the numbers up closer to 30 and stable.

The progesterone is mixed in a sesame oil (I think that was it) based serum, it's very thick.  You need a 25 or 26 gauge needle 1.5" in length, which is really large (I think that's right, we had to play around with some sizes to find one that wasn't so big that it hurt too bad but still gave good flow of the serum without having to push so hard).  It goes into the fatty area at the top of your buttocks.  Hence, the sore hips.  You do one a night, rotating hips so that one hip doesn't get too sore.  If you do it right and are lucky, it won't leave a bump to find the next time.  

What we had to do is have hubby hold the syringe in his hand to warm up the serum while I cooled the spot with an ice pack.  The shot really hurts, so icing the spot tends to take the sting out.  Warming the serum made it a bit thinner and easier to inject.  Then, you have to rub around the area (this happens after about the second week because you need to find a non-bumpy area) to find a "sweet" spot.  If the person doing the injection pushes in with a finger and it doesn't hurt, that's a "sweet" spot.  The injection goes in slowly because it is so thick and you don't want to push too quickly.  After the needle is removed, it helps to massage the area for about 5 minutes to help spread the progesterone around.  The pressure also helps keep it from bruising too badly.

After about 3 weeks, your hips will definitely be sore.  By the end, you'll have a colorful hiney.  A few are guaranteed to leave bruises and the serum itself may discolor your skin in places.  That goes away after a bit.

I did a count-down thing starting on Sundays with "7 more shots to go", then 6 more, 5 more...until Friday night, then it was 1 more!!!!!  On Sunday the count started again.  That way it seemed like a lot fewer shots overall.  Just a trick of the mind.  There were 40 in all for the first baby and 41 for the second.  The difference was just luck of when I started and when they were confident that I was ok to stop the shots.

If you can avoid them, I would.  However, they do not have the lovely gooey stuff side effect that the suppositories have.  

Just remember, in all this, the gooey is just temporary.  Just as the shots to me were just for a while.  Anything to keep that baby and his/her home happy and safe as one can possibly keep it is worth while.

Congrats again!!  You'll do fine.

[ashort]

Oh wow, thought it was like the trigger shot..yeah, maybe I'll pass on them unless I have too.  Thanks for the info...OOH...painful.  I wouldn't trust my dh..he might try to hurt me LOL...

[lhughes]

DH held my hand while mom, the RN, gave the shot.  DD#2 got to watch second time around, when she was still up.  I had "evening sickness" because the thought of getting a shot usually trigger nausea!!!!!  I'd still do it again, given the chance.  But the bed is getting crowded, so perhaps it's best for us that there was only 2.


:)