5 weeks and Progesterone dropped. . What do I Do?

[Lilibean]

So this is my 3rd pregnancy in 5 months. . .We lost the first two early. My HCG looks normal and high for the first time and my protesterone was 16, but now it's 12. My Dr wants me to wait and check it tomorrow, but I feel like every minute I sit here, it can be dropping and taking my pregnancy away again.

My dr is at a party for her father or something so I will not hear from her until who knows when. I"m frantic and the more I sit here the more upset I become. My poor husband is at work and I know he feels helpless as I sit here scared to death.

Suggestions? Any experience w/ Progesertone dropping and still having a healthy baby?

 

[threemakefive]

My levels. Have gone as low as 6 and only as high as 14 then bk down to ten...I started peogesrerone suppositories at the level 6 and they've gone up and down...Dr has increased my dosage but did say peogesterone can fluctuate quite a bit...after big meals it can drop, different times of days etc. Wait til tomorrow then see if Dr will supplement I've heard a lot of successes and am each day writing my own Success story! 4 weeks of suppositories and going strong!

 

[Lilibean]

Thank you so much for the response you made me feel a lot better. My Dr called back last night and was so insensitive! She said if for some reasons the level drops again today then this pregnancy was not meant to be either. She said if it goes to 8 its a miscarriage. . . I hate her! I went to a fertility dr b/c this dr was so awful and I lost two pregnancies w/ her. I dont have any problem getting pregnant, but I wanted a specialist. So i called his office too and they said b/c they didnt draw my blood they could not see me!

So annoying not having anyone to help out. . . I feel like when my level dropped from 16 to 12 she should have called me immediately and started the progesterone. Instread she left me a message at 5:30pm saying everything lookd really great! Then called me the following morning to say it dropped!

This has been a horrible experience and I'm getting to the point where I feel she has been negligent and this is malpractice. I'm an attorney, you would think she would do her best not to risk a law suit!!!

Please send support for this poppyseed!

 

[Babykiser]

I am soo sorry ur dr is treating you this way! If I were u I'd find a new dr ASAP!! I know it may not be the right time, but it seems like she doesnt care that your are worried! I'm currently going through the same thing...I can get pregnant just can't stay that way! My dr told me next time I get pregnant she is putting me on progesterone right away!! Just to be on the safe side!
Maybe you need to consider finding a dr who will treat you with respect! It's too bad the fertility dr won't see you, but I would try somewhere else! Sending you and your little bean lots of hugs!! Hope everything works out xxxxx

 

[kittylady]

Find another dr hun she sounds like a right cow

 

[petitpas]

If you can, go find yourself a nicer doctor.

As for the malpractice bit, I think you will find that most research points to giving progesterone from just after ovulation. Later there seems to be little point as the damage is done
It's not an exact science though so who knows.

I really hope your little one makes it!
In the case that it doesn't you will need a doctor who works with you to find the cause of your losses and by the sound of it this is not the right doctor for that.
Big hugs and some for your little bean. Grow, baby, grow!

 

[Yoga_Baby]

The thing with progesterone is, like petipas said, it's not an exact science. I was told if it drops below 5, it's no longer a viable pregnancy. My progesterone was dropping very early in my pregnancy as well...I am pregnant with twins, and I started at 53, and it dropped to 32 in 2 weeks, which is a large drop. I was told I probably had a vanishing twin. I was immediately started on progesterone injections twice a week, which absorb better than the supositories (the injections are also a newer technique that not every doctor's office has, but you can call around to see who does it).

I am now 12 weeks and both babies are still hanging strong and doing great...I probably have to continue with the injections throughout my pregnancy, which is no fun, but it's worth it to me to keep them both safe and sound. I get my levels checked every two weeks now.

It's worth it to ask for Prometrium, or to find an office that does the injections...there is no harm in taking it you don't really need it, as progesterone is only dangerous if it's low, not high. If you've already lost two, you might have a luteal phase defect or something like that, that can be easily corrected with some supplementation. Good luck to you, I hope your baby is sticky!!!!

 

[ms.hope]

I think you should be put on progesterone supositories 200mg ASAP. Some women will contest that it has saved their pregnancy even with recurrent MC in the past. My Dr. puts all her pregnant clients on the above dosage of progesterone as a safety precaution.

Research is now being conducted at one of the hospitals in my home town with women who MC alot-they are making them use progesterone through to the third trimester. I think the report on this will be informative.

You need a new Dr. I could never stay with a Dr. that did not give damn or know what they are doing. Please take the necessary steps to get a new Dr. Some Dr. dont believe progesterone does anything and some do but in your case I think it is at least worth a try. It is optioonal and rests on the Dr.'s views on it.

 

[babybrums]

I can't believe your doctor! My progesterone levels were steady but low - 10.3 at 5w1d and 5w3d - but my hcg was doubling. My midwife immediately put me on 100mg supplements two times a day. I haven't been tested since but I'm 9w4d now so it must be working! Are your hcg levels doubling every 48 hours? If so, I can't see any reason for your doctor not to put you on supplements. Sometimes our body just needs a little help.

Best of luck to you!

 

[threemakefive]

Call every doctor around til you find one who will prescribe it, if you have a good regular dr call them ask them to prescribe it until you find another dr. That's what I would do. Typically if you request it the dr's will do it, mine was hesitant at first as he thought it might be tubal but i was convinced it wasn't and asked for it and against better judgement he said he would... and now he is glad he did

 

[Lilibean]

Thanks everyone, your thoughts are so supportive and I feel like I have a family cheering on my little bean!

So I finally got the fertility people to understand I am a patient there and the Dr had given me a prescription for progesterone. I cried hysterically and the nurse finally scheduled me for Monday morning and told me to begin the progesterone immediately!

My bloodwork just came back and my HCG is now 6100!!!! It went from 708, 2300, to a beautiful 6100! My progesterone is 12.8 and was 12 on Wednesday. I started the progesterone. . . If this little bean is ready to fight, so am I and I will do whatever I need to give it the best fighting chance!

I didnt tell my Dr. I am no longer using her, but she has just been really ridiculous. She even said tonight that she would not put me on it unless I wanted it. What harm could it possibly do? Give my bean a little boost!!

I'm hoping the bean continues progressing, I am 5 weeks and approx 2 days. Thanks again everyone, it means so much having this website to vent and hear people's stories. -Lili

 

[petitpas]

Those are great hcg figures! Congratulations and all the best with your little beany and a new nicer doctor

 

[Babykiser]

That is excellent news!!!! Keep growing nice and strong little bean xxxx

 

[petitpas]

Didn't you say on another thread that you had a positive ANA test? You might want to let your new doc know ASAP in case you need to be on aspirin and heparin...

 

[Lilibean]

Hey, Yes, I did have a positive ANA test and I followed up w/ a rheumatologist. She ran a ton of tests, this was a month ago or so, and everything is normal. She said if you have a family member who has lupus it can cause you to have a positive ANA, but that does not affect pregnancy. She is mostly involved in research and focuses on pregnancy and Lupus, and she said that was not causing me to MC my first two pregnancies. She also told me to take a vacay and just try to relax . ha. I think she was right about that. . . I went to Australia and came back pregnant and it's healthy so far, so maybe she was onto something there!

On another note. . . I started my progesterone yesterday and had a horrible hot flash last night!! Today I am exhausted and just took a 2 hour nap. Not sure if that's the pregnancy or progesterone, but sheesh it wiped me out!!!

 

[peacebaby]

lilibean, glad you got the progesterone!

I've just been through the same problem, a few days ago at about 5wks 3days I felt my tiredness vanish and body temp went down, I thought it was a progesterone drop and was right. Had a scan on thurs and they wouldn't give me the progesterone even though a sac was visible. They said that there should be a fetal pole already. I finally got a dr who prescribed it to me today and have just started. Am worried though that that the 4-5 days of low progesterone has caused harm to the beanie., what do you ladies think?? Although my symptoms disappeared I haven't had any bleeding or cramps. I'm praying that its not too late.

I am furious that such a simple and inexpensive medication that may well save the pregnancy is not readily given to women!

I've read that it is the high levels progesterone that is responsible for most of pregnancy symptoms, esp the tiredness, so it's a good sign if you're feeling tired.

best wishes

 

[Lilibean]

I'm so sorry to hear about your experience. . . It's very frustrating when we are trying to do everything we can to help our beans and people do not care. I know through the research I have been doing that there are two schools of thought on Progesterone. . . One school says it def helps maintain pregnancy when levels cannot stay up on their own and the other school (the one my former Dr followed) says that there is not any conclusive evidence that progesterone is effective.

Since losing two pregnancies over the past 5 months, I decided I will do whatever I need to do to help my bean fight. If taking progesterone could possibly help out, then why not try it? The fertility specialist wants me to take it and honestly, I am choosing to follow what he thinks over an OBGYN who does not specialize in helping women get pregnant and stay pregnant. A fertility Dr. has to know how to make that little embryo grow, so I am comfortable using the progesterone.

I am def more tired today than I have been, and it doesn't help that its super cold outside ha. I just wanted to sleep all day long! I get my blood drawn again Monday so then we should see if the progesterone supplement is helping and increasing my progesterone.

On another note. . . after my two losses I decided I would not share any info w/ friends or family the next time until things were progressing. I kept the secret almost a week but then had all the issues w/ the OBGYN and decided to tell my mom. So that led to telling my sister. . . Her response to the traumatic story with my Dr and me being terrified about going through this again was "I thought you were using protection". . . I was pretty shocked that was her response when I told her my numbers looked good for the first time and I may not have to experience another MC. I was quickly reminded why I did not want to tell people. My husband and I were not trying this time and it was an accident, but regardless, it's my bean and I am excited and happy and embracing everyone moment I have w/ my bean.

Hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend, thanks as always for the support! Light and Love to all , Lili