Progesterone Gel? Side effects/getting enough???

[IndieBlue]

I just finished up a study cycle (on progesterone) and I was given the Gel, Crinone 8%. When I started it, I also got a slight sore throat and thought I was getting a fever so I took my temp every few hours during the 2ww (while I was awake) and documented it if I took a Tylenol...etc for the study. My nurse said that the progesterone could raise body temp, so again...might have just been that.

My question is, at 6dpt-7dpt and 8dpt I got a BFP on a HPT strip. All of these days I had the higher body temperature. After that I got a negative until Beta (Beta was less than 5, so NEG.). I started cramping after day 7, and my body temp was back to normal....even though I was still on progesterone. So were those side effects telling me I wasn't getting enough progesterone? I started AF before BETA....and although I've heard that Progesteone will not keep you from having AF show up, I thought that maybe that was yet another sign that I was not getting enough?

Anyone have any of these symptoms and have progesterone checked to see? They did not check out progesterone levels at all during the 2ww, so I really have no idea if it was too low or not but felt maybe it was.

Thanks!!

[kimmysq]

Indie:
What was your dose? Did you use it once or twice daily?
Kim

[Dakota]

Indie, do you know if they checked the progestrone when they did your Beta? If so, do you know what it was? I know that your progestrone is suppose to be a certain # to hold a pregnancy. I read and was told that you can have high beta's all day long, but its the progestrone # that counts the most.
Call your nurse and ask her if they took your progestrone. There s a chart somewhere that shows what your progestrone should be and we can look that up and see whaty you think.

[IndieBlue]

Thanks, I'll ask her my progesterone when I go back in for my RE's visit to discuss what went wrong. I was only on 1 dose of 8% a day, one applicator of Crinone.

Thanks

[ELH073]

Hi Indie,

I'm sorry about the BFN. I was a sometimes poster on the group here and monitored everyone's progress closely. I too am in the Duramed study and was also randomized to the gel. I have had only bloating and breast tenderness as progesterone side effects.

A few mornings I noticed that all the gel did not make it out of the applicator and asked my nurse about this. She assured me that a small amount of gel left in the applicator is ok and that they account for that based on concentration and by having slightly more than necessary in the tube. It absorbs quickly and some discharge is normal - I have some every day. It's unlikely that you were under dosed.

After my transfer I was also very warm for a few days causing me to take my temperature. I assumed the heat was from the prednisone (steroids make your temp rise as well as progesterone) and when I asked the nurse she confirmed this. After I stopped the prednisone the hot flashes and flushed face stopped.

When you had your beta they also tested progesterone (it's part of the study protocol to do so). Low HCG and low progesterone usually go hand in hand. This was what happened to me when I had a miscarriage last year. If your HCG was that low at your beta (as mine was), insufficient progesterone probably wasn't the problem. Betas can be within normal ranges and progesterone can be low, causing the doc to supplement progesterone if need be to help things along.

Again, I'm so sorry for your loss. I truly know how you feel.

Lisa

[beachbaby]

Hi Indie, i am sorry for your BFN. Just wanted to point out that if this was a fresh cycle, progesterone is only given as an extra precaution, as when the egg is released from the follicle there is progesterone present in the corpus luteim (spelling), so with the stimming we have plenty of progesterone in our bodies to hold a pregnancy. Please take a positive that something happened, you did get a reading, good luck to you in the future.
Beachbaby