Cyclogest is a nightmare!

[Claryfri]

apologies everyone but I am struggling with cyclogest!

I had my egg retrieval 3 days ago and I was advised to start cyclogest right away. I am still bloated, my stomach is tense, and I am experiencing all possible side effects: breast tenderness, dizzy, gas, constipation. I am not sure if this is cyclogest on its own or a mix of surgery recovery (maybe some mild ohss), or whatever. This is the first time during ivf that I feel awful.

I should be having embryo transfer on Monday, and I am planning to talk to dr about other possible drugs to take because I am not doing well on this one. Also, I am getting married in a month and I am terrified I won’t fit in my wedding dress! Has anyone experienced this? Is the bloating going to decrease eventually? I am panicked!

[Greenleaves1]

I'm sorry to hear your having issues with cyclogest. I fear that any progesterone they give you may have the same side effects until they settle down. I found the settled maybe after day 5.

The bloat from the retrieval should subside but the progesterone is likely to cause some fluffiness.

Hope everything goes well for you xx

[Claryfri in reply to Greenleaves1]

Thank you 🙏 I read everywhere that progesterone causes massive bloating. I have also had 17 eggs retrieved so I am not sure my ovaries have shrunk back yet. It’s just one thing after the other 🙄. Because of the enlarged ovaries the dr said to avoid the gym for a while (they fear one of them may twist) so from being super active I am now doing walkies (which are still good!).

Honestly, everything else has been a breeze up until now. Let’s see what the dr says tomorrow. I noticed the bloating is not that bad in the morning! IF everything goes well I should be taking cyclogest until august 28th.

[Wellington22]

Hi Claryfri,

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but Cyclogest - and progesterone in general - has always caused me terrible bloating. After egg retrievals, I always found I was very bloated and uncomfortable on top of the Cyclogest symptoms as well... but it did go down considerably a few days after embryo transfer so hopefully will for you too.

Hope you start to feel a bit better soon xx

[Claryfri in reply to Wellington22]

Unfortunately, that’s what I feared I read everywhere that the bloating is a nightmare but hopefully it goes away the moment you stop taking it.

I fear I may have mild ohss as the dr recovered 17 eggs (8 fertilised). I am in the smaller side (52kg) so the bloating on me it’s obvious! I am yet again tweaking my diet and introducing more cauliflower and broccoli and legumes to tackle this thank you so much for your support! ♥️😢

[Twiglet2]

water water water! That should help whether it’s the progesterone or the egg collection and possibly also have some drinks with electrolytes! It’s does get a bit easier as your body gets used to the hormone but it is mimicking pregnancy hormones so if the transfer works and HCG hormone added too it could defo last a bit longer for that wedding dress xx 🤞🏽

[Claryfri in reply to Twiglet2]

Yeah I am drinking so much water and also coconut water! Thank you so much. My wedding is the 30th august but if everything goes well I should stop the progesterone on the 28th so maybe I can feel some relief 🥲. Honestly didn’t expect this… I am not kidding the stimms were the east bit!

[Doodlebug23 in reply to Claryfri]

I was on progesterone after my BFP until 12 weeks so if everything goes well for you I think you’ll need a plan B! 🙈

[Twiglet2 in reply to Doodlebug23]

Fresh transfer you come off then earlier sometimes test day for frozen we are stuck on then until week 12 🤪 unless any previous history etc xx

[Doodlebug23 in reply to Twiglet2]

My friend was on them till 12 weeks with a fresh transfer do I guess everyone is different….

[Claryfri in reply to Doodlebug23]

Yeah if I go with fresh transfer I’ll have to take it until august 28th (so 7 weeks). Not sure why it changes maybe it’s the clinic or each of us has their own protocol. I’ll see how it goes tomorrow. Also… this is my first time at ever doing ivf so : IF any eggs made it to blastocyst, IF the embryo sticks, IF I am successful… I feel part of me is jumping the guns already 😂

[Doodlebug23 in reply to Claryfri]

Yes all clinics seem to vary with literally everything! Any you are so right! So many IFs all along the way! It’s a bumpy ride. Welcome to the journey! Your jumping the gun is positivity and that’s what you need! Good luck 🍀

[Blahblahblahxxx]

Ah I'm sorry to hear this, it's not fun!! The cyclogest definitely does cause bloating but with 17 eggs it may well be OHSS. I got moderate OHSS when I had 17 eggs collected and the bloating got so much worse after my fresh transfer which thankfully worked. The HCG makes it worse 🫠. Are you doing a fresh transfer? As said previously drink lots and lots of water!!

[Claryfri in reply to Blahblahblahxxx]

I should be doing fresh transfer on Monday but the dr wants to do a check up because she fears mild ohss is at play. Honestly I don’t feel any cramps anymore so it’s good but progesterone is kicking my butt.

[Blahblahblahxxx in reply to Claryfri]

The whole process is grueling. Hats off to you throwing a wedding into the mix! 💞 Have you tried accupuncture? That can help with progesterone symptoms!

[MarshmellowMountain]

the bloat after egg retrieval is the worst. I too was at risk of OHSS after having 21 eggs retrieved. I was given some tablets to take for 5 days to soak up any fluid. The pain of my ovaries being so big though was the worst. Could a ‘freeze all’ be an option for you? Just thinking of your wedding being so close. Allow your body to recover? I wish I had done that following my fresh transfer.

[Claryfri in reply to MarshmellowMountain]

Wow 21 eggs?? That’s crazy! And good that everything worked out for you! Yeah I should be doing fresh transfer but we still don’t know how many eggs made it. 8 were fertilised and last I heard was Friday when the embryologist said that he was confident at least two would make it. So I am happy with that.

Yeah the dr said that Monday we can chat about freezing options and I may take up on that… i didn’t expect this! 😭

[MarshmellowMountain]

I have my fingers crossed for you! Do whatever feels right for you 😊 I know I didn’t want to leave without having the transfer!

I do have to say a frozen cycle has been a better experience overall. Not just because it’s worked out this time, but my body was in no pain on transfer day, and it felt so different! Xx

[Woolooblue]

Oh, I really feel for you with your wedding dress worries, I am a bridal alterations specialist, if you have any questions about your dress then feel free to pm me x

[Claryfri in reply to Woolooblue]

Omg! I definitely will. What makes me feel hopeful is that I see the bloating improving every single day. Yesterday I even went to the bathroom. So I hope that this bloating is a mix of post-op and cyclogest.