Have you ever used bioidentical progesterone cream? & if so care to share your experience? - Page 3

[OSTC]

Originally Posted by ~~Sarah~~ 

I just started day 11 post ovulatory (which is a new record for me since DD!)

I don't know if I'm pregnant yet (is it too early to test?), anyhow - I'm weaning off of it slowly.

Have you tested yet Sarah? How is the weaning off going? If you don't mind me asking how high of a dose were you taking? Hope it's going well for you.

[~~Sarah~~]

Originally Posted by OSTC 

Have you tested yet Sarah? How is the weaning off going? If you don't mind me asking how high of a dose were you taking? Hope it's going well for you.

Yeah, well it turns out that I *am* pregnant. yippee! So, I've been taking much less than before, and I feel much better. It's really hard to quantify just how much because it's just some cream I bought from the HFS, and then I pulled the label off. Before I was taking a "large" finger-full, three times a day, then down to two, now I'm at a minuscule fingertip of cream three times per day. So, hopefully it's enough to do the trick but not enough to make me feel ill. I think that given my history of early miscarriages, I will just continue with my tiny fingertips of cream until I (hopefully) get to 12 weeks.
 

[OSTC]

Yeah, well it turns out that I *am* pregnant. yippee! So, I've been taking much less than before, and I feel much better. It's really hard to quantify just how much because it's just some cream I bought from the HFS, and then I pulled the label off. Before I was taking a "large" finger-full, three times a day, then down to two, now I'm at a minuscule fingertip of cream three times per day. So, hopefully it's enough to do the trick but not enough to make me feel ill. I think that given my history of early miscarriages, I will just continue with my tiny fingertips of cream until I (hopefully) get to 12 weeks.
 

Wow! Congrats! That's great! :) How long were you on the cream before you got your bfp? That's great that your feeling better. Have you thought about asking your Dr what a safe dose for pregnancy would be or getting them to prescribe some bioidentical cream so that you know what dose your getting? All the best w/ your pregnancy!  Hope it works as well for me to get a bfp as it seems to work for you ladies!

[~~Sarah~~]

I started the cream right at the very end of my last cycle, and I was super ecstatic that I managed a 7 day luteal phase that cycle right away (as opposed to my previous 4 day ones). I wasn't on the cream more than a month before my BFP! My decision to use the cream was entirely fear-based, with my history of early miscarriages and 4 day luteal phases, frankly I just panicked. If I was going to do it again - I'd go through the more standardized process of going to my doctor. For now, I'm fairly confident that the dose I'm on is quite small, and I'd be afraid that she'd think I'm crazy (which wouldn't change her thoughts of me already...)

Good luck to ya OTSC, and maybe consider starting slow....

[HRJ]

Congratulations!  You definitely need to stay on it until 12 weeks if you have progesterone issues.  I took 50 mg 2x a day w/ my first pregnancy and 20 mg 2x a day w/ my second pregnancy.  There are some over the counter pumps that are 20-30 mg per pump.  That might be a better option for you to figure out how much you are getting.  Whole Foods carries a few (Progest) and there is one by LifeFlo.  Just be aware that some have evening primrose oil in them which you can't take while PG.  You may notice more morning sickness, etc when PG with progesterone (there's a big debate about that).  But it's worth it if you keep your pregnancy. 
 

Originally Posted by ~~Sarah~~ 

Originally Posted by OSTC 

Have you tested yet Sarah? How is the weaning off going? If you don't mind me asking how high of a dose were you taking? Hope it's going well for you.

Yeah, well it turns out that I *am* pregnant. yippee! So, I've been taking much less than before, and I feel much better. It's really hard to quantify just how much because it's just some cream I bought from the HFS, and then I pulled the label off. Before I was taking a "large" finger-full, three times a day, then down to two, now I'm at a minuscule fingertip of cream three times per day. So, hopefully it's enough to do the trick but not enough to make me feel ill. I think that given my history of early miscarriages, I will just continue with my tiny fingertips of cream until I (hopefully) get to 12 weeks.
 

[~~Sarah~~]

My update is that I'm losing this pregnancy. I've never had an issue getting pregnant, it's always been the miscarriages that are my problem. So, no the progesterone cream hasn't helped me. Maybe I weaned off too much. Frankly I don't care. I can't take that stuff anymore, it makes me crazy. I'm just happy to be off of it finally.

[OSTC]

Originally Posted by ~~Sarah~~ 

My update is that I'm losing this pregnancy. I've never had an issue getting pregnant, it's always been the miscarriages that are my problem. So, no the progesterone cream hasn't helped me. Maybe I weaned off too much. Frankly I don't care. I can't take that stuff anymore, it makes me crazy. I'm just happy to be off of it finally.

Soo sorry to hear about your lose and that the progesterone didn't work for you... :( I hope you feel better soon and can figure out what it is that your body needs.

[OSTC]

How are you feeling Lady Jennifer?

Sourire are you going to take progesterone after O again this cycle?

I'm starting to get the itch to start testing...:P I'm not sure what I want though as I'd love love love! to get a bfp! But at the same time I'm having some bad candida issues crop back up and it would be good to have at least a month to do some hardcore cleansing first as I really don't want to do all the thrush etc again like I did w/ ds1... I had just finished a yeast cleanse when I got pg w/ ds2 and I felt amazing and had way less m/s w/ him... So I'm really torn and would just really like to know where I stand either way...

[Sourire]

Yes I will be trying the progesterone cream again this cycle. I will put it on twice a day instead of once to see if I get better results... if things go the same way as last cycle though, this will be my last time taking it.

[HRJ]

The alternative (which my dr was going to try w/ me) is small, daily hcg shots.  My acupuncturist loves them and says there aren't many side effects if you use a small amt.  It gets the corpus luteum to kick up and do what it is supposed to do - which tells your body to make the right amount of hormones instead of having to try it.  Also, it might be the brand of progesterone.  Before you give up, I would find a dr on ZRTs website, have them saliva test you and prescribe bioidentical that are compounded at a pharmarcy versus taking something over the counter.  I am not a big fan of self medicating for hormones. 

 

Originally Posted by ~~Sarah~~ 

My update is that I'm losing this pregnancy. I've never had an issue getting pregnant, it's always been the miscarriages that are my problem. So, no the progesterone cream hasn't helped me. Maybe I weaned off too much. Frankly I don't care. I can't take that stuff anymore, it makes me crazy. I'm just happy to be off of it finally.

[OSTC]

Originally Posted by HRJ 

The alternative (which my dr was going to try w/ me) is small, daily hcg shots.  My acupuncturist loves them and says there aren't many side effects if you use a small amt.  It gets the corpus luteum to kick up and do what it is supposed to do - which tells your body to make the right amount of hormones instead of having to try it.  Also, it might be the brand of progesterone.  Before you give up, I would find a dr on ZRTs website, have them saliva test you and prescribe bioidentical that are compounded at a pharmarcy versus taking something over the counter.  I am not a big fan of self medicating for hormones. 

 

Originally Posted by ~~Sarah~~ 

My update is that I'm losing this pregnancy. I've never had an issue getting pregnant, it's always been the miscarriages that are my problem. So, no the progesterone cream hasn't helped me. Maybe I weaned off too much. Frankly I don't care. I can't take that stuff anymore, it makes me crazy. I'm just happy to be off of it finally.

 

I agree that getting a Dr. on board is a good idea...

[OSTC]

Am I the only one who gets major fatigue on the progesterone instead of it getting rid of it? fatigue was one of the reasons I was put on it... only instead of getting rid of it I feel like a walking zombie and can hardly get up in the morning... It's pretty much making me feel like I'm pg which I guess I could be but I'd honestly be shocked...

[OSTC]

Originally Posted by Sourire 

Yes I will be trying the progesterone cream again this cycle. I will put it on twice a day instead of once to see if I get better results... if things go the same way as last cycle though, this will be my last time taking it.

I'm thinking of only giving it one more chance as well... If it's not going to help w/ the health issues then I'd rather get pg off it so that I don't have to worry about taking it while pg... Best of luck! I hope it works for you this month.

[HRJ]

Progesterone simulated pregnancy symptoms for me when I was taking too much (the first time we got pregnant) - hot flashes, nausea, depression.  But when I was taking a lower dose (with a dr that had more experience prescribing bioidentical) the second time around, I felt great.  My aches and pains and interstitial cystisis/endometriosis were MUCH better.  I loved it.  I am not a fan of self medicating for hormones.  And that's the reason why.  I've never been able to maintain a pregnancy without it.  It could have possibly made my first trimester symptoms worse (all day nausea), but I didn't have a choice if I wanted a baby.  I've had two successful pregnancies with progesterone (I'm 32 weeks now w/ #2) and I've had two miscarriages without it.  My dr was able to show me my labwork though.  He tested my hormones every other day during my luteal phase b/c he felt that a CD21 or a 7DPO level wasn't sufficient - sometimes that level is okay and they drop off after that.  My estrogen was 11 and my progesterone was 7.  You need an estrogen level of 13 and a progesterone level of 12 during your luteal phase for implanation to occur.  My protocol with him was 3 mos of progesterone, and if I wasn't pregnant, he was going to add a little estrogen (you have to have good estrogen levels for quality, good ovulation) OR take me off the hormones and do very small amounts of hcg shots through a bioidentical compounding pharmacy.  But I got pregnant right away with the progesterone.  He had me come in multiple times during the first trimester to test my progesterone levels and make sure he didn't need to adjust my amount.  He would not let me stop taking it until the placenta took over, or I would surely miscarry. 

 

Originally Posted by OSTC 

Am I the only one who gets major fatigue on the progesterone instead of it getting rid of it? fatigue was one of the reasons I was put on it... only instead of getting rid of it I feel like a walking zombie and can hardly get up in the morning... It's pretty much making me feel like I'm pg which I guess I could be but I'd honestly be shocked...

[HRJ]

Also, i wouldn't discount the possiblity of being pregnant at all. 

[OSTC]

Originally Posted by HRJ 

Also, i wouldn't discount the possiblity of being pregnant at all. 

Well you may be right...

I just might have got a very faint bfp! It's so faint but my husband agrees that it was without a doubt pink and it's gotten easier to see since the time limit which I know your not supposed to count, but I have never had a frer test get darker/pinker after the limit or even days later unless it was a bfp... So I'm really unsure if I should get excited or not...Here are the tests please look at them and let me know what you think! Thanks! The line didn't upload as dark as it looked on my computer but I think you can still see it...Also this is the bfp I got @ 10dpo w/ my last baby as a reference

[LadyJennifer]

I have been feeling pretty good. I'm 6 weeks now. I was taking 20mg in the AM and 20mg PM, but about a week ago I started doing half a pump (10mg) in AM, and again at PM. I've been having less nausea than I did with my son or my daughter. I'm really tired, but it's better with a full nights sleep and exercise. I did not notice any difference in the way I was feeling when I reduced my dose.

So sorry to hear about your loss, Sarah:(

Hope you got your BFP OSTC! Test again tomorrow and let us know!:)

[HRJ]

I say keep testing and see if the line gets darker.  Looks promising.  What brand is it you are using?  i always used Answer.  Don't stop taking your progesterone for sure.  If you need the progesterone and are pregnant, stopping it will cause a miscarriage. 

[OSTC]

Originally Posted by LadyJennifer 

I have been feeling pretty good. I'm 6 weeks now. I was taking 20mg in the AM and 20mg PM, but about a week ago I started doing half a pump (10mg) in AM, and again at PM. I've been having less nausea than I did with my son or my daughter. I'm really tired, but it's better with a full nights sleep and exercise. I did not notice any difference in the way I was feeling when I reduced my dose.

So sorry to hear about your loss, Sarah:(

Hope you got your BFP OSTC! Test again tomorrow and let us know!:)

That's awesome :) I hope you keep feeling good :)

Thanks! Me to lol :) Will do!
 

Originally Posted by HRJ 

I say keep testing and see if the line gets darker.  Looks promising.  What brand is it you are using?  i always used Answer.  Don't stop taking your progesterone for sure.  If you need the progesterone and are pregnant, stopping it will cause a miscarriage. 

I'm using First Response Early Result... So I went to a walk-in clinic to see if I could get a blood test & they gave me the form to get it done tomorrow when the lab opens and then also did a urine test that was neg... I was hoping it would be pos but not surprised that it wasn't as I had only taken the Frer test a few hours before and when I got a bfp on a frer @ 10dpo w/ ds2 the urine test came back inconclusive @ the clinic the same day so they sent me for a blood test... So I guess it could be a neg, but I still have hope for a bfp :) So I stopped and picked up a 2-pack of Frer and a First Response Digital and plan to test in the morning w/ the frer and if that if it's a darker line then I'll test with the digital... If it's a darker line and/or the digital is pos I'm going to take that as I am pregnant for sure and keep taking the progesterone & get a hold of my dr. asap or if it's not darker then I'll keep taking it till the blood test comes back at which point if it's neg I'll stop taking it.... I'm so not going to get any sleep tonight waiting to test... & here I was feeling at peace about this not being my month and was sure that it would be a straight up neg when I tested... Now I'm completely wired/stressed wanting to know if this is for real!

[OSTC]

I think I"m ready to say that I'm pregnant! I got 2 more pos frers and a digital! The last 2 pics here are the new ones!