Got my bloodwork back...

[WeJustWantOne]

Hello ladies, I know I'm still new and have not met any "friends" but I need someone to talk to about this as DH is getting pretty annoyed with me bringing it up every five seconds. Any way just got the results of my blood tests back and my progesterone levels are low, I'm vitamin d deficient, and insulin resistant. So my gyno put me on 500 mg of metformin two times a day and told me to take a whole bunch of vitamins. (Specifically vit. B-12, D-3, Folic Acid, Selenium, B-6, L-arginine, Vitamin C, and vitamin E) He also recommended Black Cohosh but only on days 1-12 of my cycle. Has anyone else tried this method of ttc? My husband and I are on year five and I finally found out this information, can't believe it didn't come out in other blood tests, but hey at least I know now. Am I crazy for getting my hopes up again or has this worked for others? I just want a baby so bad, and for once I feel like it's possible...I just hope I'm not wrong. If anyone has insight on this or personal storied I would love to hear about your experiences. Thanks =)

 

[Brittbri]

Sorry for the bad news but like you said, at least you know now. I'm unsure about that method of ttc but I do know that I take a ton of vitamins. I'm taking fertibella, an extra dose of frolic acid and b12. Idk if its helping or not but surely it can't be hurting anything. Starting tomorrow I will be taking 100 mgs if clomid. I'm praying for the best for you. Hope you get everything straightened out quickly so you can get your BFP really soon!! Good luck to you!!

 

[Cowgirl07]

Don't want to read and run but I wish you the best of luck! We just started ttc, and all I take is the prenatals.

 

[WeJustWantOne]

Thanks, so we're both taking folic acid and b-12 then...I hope we get our BFP's soon I don't know how much more of this I can take! I'm already overwhelmed just knowing I have to take 11 different pills and some of them twice a day! I wish they would just give me clomid already but I don't think my insurance covers it, plus my gyno wants to try lowering my blood sugar and raising my progesterone first. Let me know how it works out for you, I'd love to have other ttc friends who understand the difficulties of going through the things that we are.

 

[popchick75]

Are you ovulating at all on your own?

 

[WeJustWantOne]

I'm not entirely sure if I'm ovulating on my own or not. I do get my AF so I must be but it's never consistent and all over the place. Sometimes I'll get it three times a month where other times I'll go three months without having an AF. So I'm hoping by increasing the progesterone levels that that will make me ovulate. I'm just nervous about taking so many different things. Granted their vitamins so it can't hurt but still it's a lot of them. I'm taking 11 pills two times a day.

 

[popchick75]

I've never been on metformin before, but from what I understand, many women use it in conjunction with the clomid. The clomid will regulate your periods (periods don't guarantee that you are actually ovulating) while the met helps with the blood sugar. Progesterone pills or suppositories can be given during the tww to help the progesterone levels.

It's interesting that your doctor had you take all of those pills. Usually women sort of self-meticate with the vitamins and supplements after reading about them online. I've never heard of a doctor doing that other than for the B and Folic Acid.

After 5 years, (in my opinion) they should be a little more pro-active instead of depending on vitamins. Has your doc done any other tests? HSG?

 

[KelliGal]

I have the insulin resistance and Vit D deficiency (Iron as well). I am only taking herbal or just vitamins.
I do:
Chromium (500)mg in the AM BEFORE I eat (about 30 minutes)
Breakfast I have a spinach, almond and coconut milk, strawberries, banana, raw organic protein and Maca root shake (yum!)
Vit D 1600 IU with breakfast (eat something fatty like turkey bacon cooked in Coconut oil)
Iron 1 pill w. a B Complex with Lunch
Magnesium, calium, fish oil, garlic with Dinner

Morning and night I put 2 pumps each of all natural progesterone cream on (alternating bewteen stomach, thighs, armpits, neck and hands)

I (for the most part) am gluten free, which will help the insulin resistance! (spaghetti squash will help you huge!)

I stick to products that lower estrogen (don't have any type of paraben in them) So deodorant, shampoo/conditioner, body wash, face scrub, lotions, laundry detergent etc.

I got a chemical back in march, which was more progress than Ive ever had, so keep your chin up hunny!

 

[WeJustWantOne]

Popchick75, Thanks for the info. My doctor is only trying the vitamin and supplement route because 1. he believe that my problem is just balancing out my hormones, 2. I am also very vitamin deficient (Still trying to figure out why) 3. my insurance doesn't cover anything infertility related. He ordered and HSG but my insurance denied coverage, so I'm trying to find out if there's another way he can bill it so that it doesn't say for infertility so maybe I can get that done.

KelliGal, hmmm what does chromiuim do? my doctor didn't mention that to me. I had my husband taking the macca man pills from gnc, I didn't realize that they can also help out on our side...My doctor didn't say anything about my estrogen levels just that my progesterone was very low so I've only been concentrating on how to raise that level, is your estrogen level high that your trying to lower it?

 

[KelliGal]

Chromium picolinate is what I take, it is said to help with insulin resistance. Helps it process a little better, works with glucose and metabolism as well. I take it religiously!!

Estrogen dominance can be present with insulin resistance. So yeah I am trying to lower it as well.

 

[WeJustWantOne]

Oh I'm surprised my doctor didn't mention that to me, but then again he didn't say anything about my estrogen levels being out of wack either, so I'm assuming their fine, or at least I hope. Maybe I'll try adding the Chromium to my regimen, it an't hurt, right? How long have you been trying? My husband and I just hit 5 years this past March and it's so hard to watch everyone around us get pregnant! I just want to scream at them =/

 

[WeJustWantOne]

.

 

[popchick75]

You may also want to research Vitex a little bit. It is supposed to work wonders with balancing out hormones!

 

[KelliGal]

Oh I'm surprised my doctor didn't mention that to me, but then again he didn't say anything about my estrogen levels being out of wack either, so I'm assuming their fine, or at least I hope. Maybe I'll try adding the Chromium to my regimen, it an't hurt, right? How long have you been trying? My husband and I just hit 5 years this past March and it's so hard to watch everyone around us get pregnant! I just want to scream at them =/

So far the pills have been working... I haven't been super diligent with the gym though... oops.. ha but I did have a chemical back in march, and that was the closest to a bfp I've ever seen. We have been NTNP since we got married (5 years) and actively TTC for 18 months.

I know how ya feel, it is hard. I had a friend who started TTC same time we did, like a month later she was preg. I do have to say though she had her son super early and it was pretty scary, so I think everyone has their trials with this...

 

[WeJustWantOne]

Thanks I'll def. look into it. Have you personally tried it? Did it have a good effect on you hormone levels?

 

[WeJustWantOne]

So sorry to hear about the chemical. But at least it's a sign that you must be getting closer. I hear ya about the gym! I'm supposed to loose about 50 lbs to be in the healthy BMI area so I'm trying to eat right and exercise but it's just so hard! But hopefully when my college semester ends on Saturday I'll have more time and energy to stick to it.

I absolutely hate when people I know get pregnant. I'm actually no longer friends with my old best friend bc of it. Not just because she got pregnant but that was what hurt the most bc she knew dh and I have been trying for five years. But basically she met a guy while living with her daughter from a previous relationship in my house and I was taking care of my niece all day everyday plus she was living with us bc she couldn't afford to be on her own and after two months of dating him was pregnant. Not only was she pregnant but she tried to get pregnant while living in my house. Idk I was just sooooo upset. We're still not speaking to this day.

 

[popchick75]

I tried it.....i think at this point i've tried about everything After a few months, my post-O temps were higher. I didn't get pg, but it turns out I have really high NK cell count so everything i did was sort of a moot point.

There is a lot of info about it out there....some sites say it raises progesterone and estrogen, some say it lowers them. It actually can do either...it will sort of balance things out to where they are supposed to be. It's sold under Vitex or Chasteberry.

 

[WeJustWantOne]

Thank you very much for the information, I'll have to research it and see about adding it in to the mix. God I just feel like a damn pharmacy with everything I'm taking! Of course DH finds it to be hilarious since i was convinced that the problem had to be with him since I go to my gyno regularly but of course the problem is with me. I just hope this all works because trying is wearing us down very quickly!

Popchick75, I can't imagine trying for 9 years! I thought I had it bad with 5! Did it take you long to conceive your DD?

 

[popchick75]

No....she was actually a surprise

 

[WeJustWantOne]

Well that must've been a very pleasant surprise =)