[Mommy2Dakota]

Hey. So I had my 7dpo results today. Low progesterone just as I expected.

However what upset me was the doctor herself. She's my fave doc I went to see but I was shocked at what she said.

Basically she said that all BBT charting AND opks are a load of nonscense so she didn't take much notice of my cycle/ovulation charts and instead thinks that if my progesterone is low it means I don't ovulate at all!

She then said that she can't give me ANYthing. The next step is referral to a fertility clinic but before she does that she wants me to go away and ttc for ANOTHER 6 MONTHS!
By this point I was almost in tears at the thought. TTC for the past 2yrs has been hell enough and I don't know how I can go on without having a breakdown or breaking my marriage with the stress of it all.
She also said that we wouldn't get IVF (if it went that far) because we have one child already - which I knew anyways but figured low progesterone was an easy to solve problem. She said that they only give progesterone to women who have had three or more miscarriages....I said well I can't even CATCH an egg let alone have a miscarriage, which I wouldn't want to have anyways!
She said that my time of breastfeeding might still be effecting my cycles so I would still have to wait 6mths before going to a fertility clinic for Clomid.

ANYhoo...I felt totally stuck and argued with her over all I've read online about progesterone and nursing mums who get pregs etc and she said I sound like I believe the internet more than her word (I guess I do!) and in the end - after a few tears - she agreed to give me the progesteone pessories! YAY!

She made it very clear that she didn't believe they would do anything for me but she was giving them to me becuase - and I quote - 'you would only go and buy them online anyways and waste your money'

So I am sad and happy and confused!

On the one hand I feel like I am not going to get any help from them and am destined to be stuck in this ttc bubble for years whilst I get older and even less fertile and perhaps have to accept I will only ever have one child (God bless for that!) but it kills me to think she may be an only child or even IF I have another will be too old to want to play with him/her when she could really do with a lil bro or sis NOW.
Then on the other hand I did get my progesterone so who knows, maybe against her opinion that will work?

Then on the confusion front I was thinking about what she said about not ovulating at all and I just think HOW can that be? She HAS to be wrong? I get ovulation pains, a temp shift AND sore boobs etc after 'ovulating' each cycle? And if she says opks and temp charting is 'unreliable at best' then how does she expect me to time when to take my progesterone as it has to be 'after ovulation' so I do still need to chart....or what about when they ask other women to come back for their '7dpo' blood tests?
AND what about the miscarriage I had? I must have been ovulating to catch that egg and that was Dec 2007! Why would I not be ovulating NOW?
Although I don't seem to get EWCM cm so maybe she IS right? But I wouldn't get a temp shift would I?
I do like her as a doctor but I think I really have to go with my research and knowledge over hers in this matter. Its my body right?

So yeah, thats it really. Guess all I can do is try the progesterone and see if it extends my cycle. If so I can go back for more and if not then I don't know - I guess I stop offically ttc....?

[MamaAnna]

I'm sorry she was so nasty. I'd really see another doctor for a second opinion. An RE will see a woman after 12 months and she wants you to have been TTC for at least 18 months. And then she wanted you to have multiple miscarriages before she even helped you the little that she did? And what if you get pregnant? Will she keep you on the progesterone that you clearly need or will she cut you off? Seriously, see somebody else.

On the charting front, I showed positive OPKs, a thermal shift, O pains, and had post-O symptoms each cycle. By all indications I was O'ing. My blood work showed low estrogen and my scan showed underdeveloped follies though so if I was really O'ing the eggs were no good. Next to blood work they're the best indicator you have though and can ultimately help in diagnosing the problem.

[Mommy2Dakota]

So does that mean I might not be ovulating in the full sense on the term (ie being fertile)? Cos in that case maybe it is time I need from stopping breastfeeding in June? Although it kills me to think nursing effects my fertility this badly and this long.....?
I mean - I am obviously infertile by the fact I have a 'wrong' cycle but as my pre-ov tests were fine I just want to know if progesterone WILL help with the post-ov? I haven't found anything online that links low progesterone with NO ovulation?

[MamaAnna]

Since your pre-O tests were fine odds are you're ovulating and your doctor is a bozo.

[Mommy2Dakota]

lol, thanks! That cheers me up!

[~InHisHands~]

I agree with Anna... your dr doesn't know what she's talking about... get a second opinion! As a matter of fact, come to the US... I'll hook you up with my dr! BTW, my first dr was a moron too so I had to go find another & my current OB is GREAT!!!

Let me tell you... I OVULATE just fine. I have a progesterone defect. My progesterone was 6.5 the first time we had it checked (he wants it above a 12). This keeps a fertilized egg from implanting but I ovulate FINE (this is also known as weak ovulation)! Anyway, once we found the proper dose of Clomid I got pg the FIRST time, no real effort or problem at all! My dr doesn't care for charts so that's not a biggie there. He never looks at mine & wouldn't care if I ever charted again a day in my life... I'm the one that wants to do it so I do. My dr is more concerned with me taking OPKs & I always have to tell him which day I got a + OPK.

I'm so sorry your dr doesn't know a thing about fertility! That really stinks!

[Kisses-4-Baby]

So it sounds like your doctor is pretty much giving up on you? How stupid! I agree with everyone, find another doctor who actually cares and has more knowledge. By the sound of your +opks and thermal shifts etc sounds like you are ovulating and just need a little progesterone boost to help you become pregnant. I would be so mad at that doc! Fancy saying 'you would only go and buy them online anyways' goodness me...
Well at least you know what the next step is and I am praying that the progesterone works for you quickly!
xo

[Mommy2Dakota]

Hey! Feeling a little more positive today (having weird dreams full of BFP test strips lol)

Amanda: I saw on the computer my result was 5. It just said '5 norm/low'. I read online yesterday that under 5 is unlikely ovulation' so I am borderline in that test - but I believe I ovulate and like I said before how could I get pregs and MC is I never ovulated whilst breastfeeding?

Main thing is I got my progesterone so I am just praying it works as I am not going to get any other help, not for at least 6mths. I did find it online actually! And only for 94p a pack (thats like 50cents) BUT it says you must have a doc prescription to order it...not sure how that works? I'm looking into it. If I have to get another prescription from the doc I don't know if I can then order like 10 packs?
Unfortuntly means I still gotta chart so as to know when to start taking it post-ov or even if it does extend my cycle! If it does that I'll be over the moon no matter what the doc said!
I was thinking......after testing it and IF it works do you think, so as NOT to chart, I could take it from CD20 each cycle as I mostly ovulate CD19 but can ovulate earlier. Therefore suppsoing I ovulate CD16 I wouldn't get the boost until 4dpo but it would still be a boost right? Thats the only way I can think of getting the progesterone boost but also relaxing whilst ttc....???

Sorry if I am asking so much! ThankGod for places like this though to ask considering I am not getting answers from the docs!
Remember the first one I saw didn't even think having a 7day luteal phase was a problem!
Here in the UK we have like a catchment area for which docs we have to use (ie local) so I can see another doc within the same surgery but not go to a different surgery....
Anyhoo...one step at a time...see if the progesterone works! *deep breathes*

Elise: Thanks for sticking with me through this! I missed you when first you then I left the ttc whilst nursing board! You've always been so supportive! I PM'd a reply to your message btw! Hope all is going well!

[MamaAnna]

I'd still try to chart so you start it on time. Then once you get your CHs and start taking it stop charting until you need to again. Hopefully a long time away.

[Mommy2Dakota]

Ok. That makes sense. Esp as you are only supposed to take it upto 14dpo if you haven't concieved.