12 weeks and coming off progesterone- will I feel better?

[JGal8]

I am 11+4 weeks pregnant following a FET (following 4 ICIS & 2 FET BFN)

I am on Cyclogest, Lubion, inhixia and estradiol and have been told to cold turkey at 12 weeks… I have started slowly weaning off as of today.

I have felt awful for the last few weeks + and really struggling to eat and drink and I’m really gassy but struggling to burp (sorry, not attractive) I feel my food isn’t digesting which I’ve read is because the progesterone makes your digestive muscles relax.

I am really hoping stopping the drugs will make me feel better.

Has anyone experienced this?

Should I expect to feel better?

When will I feel better?

Thanks

[Fudge1980]

So sorry your feeling a bit crappy ☹️ Following your post because I feel the same at the moment and only nearly 5weeks. Almost positive it’s the progesterone mostly! Hoping it gets better with time xx

[JGal8 in reply to Fudge1980]

It’s rubbish isn’t it? I’ve read loads of stuff about the progesterone being the biggest culprit to cause “side effects/ pregnancy symptoms ” so I’m praying that the reduction in the extra hit I’m taking will mean I don’t feel as rough all the time.

[MrsOrangejuice]

I had blinding headaches, severe bloating and a bad stomach on oestrogen and progesterone. The headaches and bad stomach went after stopping them but the bloating never did really - and now it's just merged with the bump. I also had bad nausea from 5/6 weeks and I think the digestive issues are common in pregnancy. It may be that the meds are exacerbating the symptoms and hopefully you'll feel a bit better but it may also just be normal pregnancy symptoms for you. Sorry if that's a bit depressing - I was waiting for the magical 12 weeks when all the symptoms are supposed to get better and added to that the effects of no more meds, but it didn't happen for me at least.

[JGal8 in reply to MrsOrangejuice]

I think I could deal with the bloating.. unfortunately I’m really susceptible to bloating at the best of times and now it feels like a given in life 😂I have also just been hanging on for the 12 weeks and this new lease of life.. maybe overly hopeful.

[MrsOrangejuice in reply to JGal8]

I was being 'told' by helpful friends and family that I had got my dates wrong or I was having twins as I looked 6 months at 9/10 weeks I was so big. I got very conscious of it and didn't know bump shaming was a thing until then. My SIL is a couple of months ahead and has very little bump and she's upset the other way around, so everyone's different. I asked at my scans to check it was ok and no fluid - it's all fine and was told it's down to genetics, build, hormones, how you're carrying, position of the placenta... I haven't really changed much since then (now 5 months) so at least I got a lot longer use of my elasticated waistbands! The nausea started to ease and become more random/less frequent around 16 weeks and now I don't have it much at all x

[JoyfulStar]

Hey there, I did not have the exact same symptoms but had really bad morning (all day!) sickness in my first trimester. Like you could not wait to come off the progesterone hoping it would ease my symptoms. Alas no! It did not. My symptoms eased though around week 16. I did have some spotting which eventually stopped after I stopped using the pessaries.

Let’s hope you are luckier than me! Some of your symptoms sound more progesterone related than HCG related. All the best 🌹

[JGal8 in reply to JoyfulStar]

Haha same! Morning sickness certainly hasn’t just been a morning thing for me either… as though ivf wasn’t enough strain I feel like I deserve to sail through pregnancy. 😂😅

[Pupster83]

I am 8w4d so another 4 weeks of progesterone to go for me but I’m having very similar issues, although I’m only taking cyclogest. I was at my clinic yesterday for a scan and I was telling them that I was getting really bad bloating which was causing sore a stomach, particularly overnight. They just advised that this was quite common with progesterone and said I should try and eat plenty fibre and drink lots. I’m working on the basis that if it helps the baby continue to develop healthily then I’ll cope and just get on with it but I am also really hoping that things improve, even slightly, once I come off it at 12 weeks. I’ve read a couple of posts previously that said people have reduced the amount they are taking to wean off it gently and then have stopped taking it completely and have felt much better so I’m working on the basis that I just need to take it till the new year then hopefully I will feel less bloated. In saying that I suspect other pregnancy symptoms will then take over but I guess that’s how it goes and I’m so delighted to finally be pregnant I’ll take whatever comes with it. Hope you feel better soon!

[JGal8 in reply to Pupster83]

Thanks for the advice! I know it’s all going to be worth it and at the end of the day what’s 9 months in the grand scheme? 😅Congratulations on your pregnancy! I’ll keep my fingers crossed that things pick up for us both once weaning. Good luck.

[Positivechangeplease]

Yeah best to wean off. Well I’ve been on no drugs since week 7 and I was as sick as a dog with morning sickness lol. So it could just be that anyway. The good news is that coming off the drugs and getting to week 13 should bring some relief from those symptoms whether it’s the drugs or morning sickness.

[JGal8 in reply to Positivechangeplease]

Oh I really hope so!! 13 weeks next week so I’m crossing everything. Thank you x

[Positivechangeplease in reply to JGal8]

Well I’m 14 weeks now and i feel way more myself but the bloating and the acid reflux and trouble on the loo unfortunately remains. But my appetite and ability to eat normal food is mostly back. My bf complained about my snoring last night and I pointed him to the 2nd trimester symptoms on the pregnancy app 🤣

[JGal8 in reply to Positivechangeplease]

Hahaha! I’ve been told I have also started snoring!. 😬🤭 Finally! Pay back! 😂

[Positivechangeplease in reply to JGal8]

🤣🤣🤣

[Ellie1005]

Sorry to hear you’re not feeling great, it’s rubbish is t it?! I was on pretty much the same as you and stopped just after 12 weeks hoping I’d miraculously feel better…I’m now 14 weeks i definitely have a little more energy and the bloating is a bit less too I must say but still feeling nauseous most of the day but have stopped being sick as much. So I do think stopping the extra has helped but not as much as I’d hoped! I bought Deflatine which is safe in pregnancy when I was really bloated and have lots of mini meals rather than eating too much in one go which helps too. Good luck and hope it settles for you! Xx

[JGal8 in reply to Ellie1005]

😮 ooh I have just looked at deflatine which I haven’t heard of before, I’ve been chomping on regular rennies but this looks way more appropriate. It’s the energy I’m dying to have back too, I’m normally really active so being “lazy” has been tough, especially with Xmas just around the corner. Even just a smidge of an improvement would be bloody grand. X

[Ellie1005 in reply to JGal8]

Oh well fingers crossed you at least get that bit back!! Yes that and Gaviscon ha ha xx

[Twiglet2]

It did ease a bit when I came off the meds (all day sickness and nausea could only eat ice lollies for weeks!) but I also started the anti sickness tablets about then too. I’m reality I don’t actually feel any real level of better until about 17-18 weeks, had a few nice weeks and the burning heartburn started 😂 oh the joys! You forget it all though once they’re here🤗 thinking of you xx

[JGal8 in reply to Twiglet2]

I’d be happy with even a little rest from the sickness at the minute. 🙏🏼🤞🏼 Anything will do. Thank you xx

[JoyfulStar in reply to Twiglet2]

Congratulations! I remember the ice lolly days well. 😂 Still have some left over in the freezer.

I am now in back ache territory but cant wait to meet my little one ❤️

[Twiglet2 in reply to JoyfulStar]

Oh the backache is hard! My wee guy managed to misalign my pelvis in the last few weeks and wreck it on the way out too so that’s lasted post birth as well 🤣 absolutely 💯 worth it all though. Hope the wait for your little one isn’t too long now xxx

[JoyfulStar in reply to Twiglet2]

Ouch that sounds painful! Hope you are fully recovered now.

I have less than 2 months to go! So can’t wait! Due on 2nd of Feb.

[Twiglet2 in reply to JoyfulStar]

Aww lovely time of the year for little one to arrive 🥰 you are on the home stretch! Enjoy your last couple of months and make sure everyone runs after you this Christmas 🙊 xx