Progesterone Supplements-is it too much to ask?

Today is a big day for me. I have my 2 week post-op appointment with my OB/GYN. My doctor and I have a fundamental difference about the use of progesterone in getting and sustaining pregnancy. I think it works and she thinks it doesn't.

Granted, she has an MD and I get squeamish at the sight of blood, but I have access to babycenter.com and have learned from other TTCers that progesterone helps.

Here is my case for why I want this magical elixir.

Fact:
1) Your body needs progesterone to have a normal leutal phase (14 days but at least 11)
2) Your body needs progesterone to support the pregnancy
3) When I would have progesterone draws 7 days after a positive ovulation test, they were always so low it shouldn't be able to support pregnancy
4) With both failed pregnancies I had bleeding immediately which later subsided, pointing to the fact that I didn't have enough progesterone
5)I haven't had a normal leutal phase since 11/08
6) My friend just had spotting at 6 weeks and got on progesterone, she is now 8 weeks and her HCG is going up appropriately, meaning the progesterone saved her pregnancy
7) Some friends from babycenter.com lost 2-3 pregnancies, took progesterone and now have babies

My Doctor's Beliefs
1) Studies show progesterone doesn't do anything
2) If you have a strong ovulation, you will produce enough progesterone
3) Progesterone just prolongs an unviable pregnancy
4) Progesterone has proven effective for people that have fertility treatments because there hormones have been manipulated so much but not others
5) Clomid (i.e. twin maker) can give you a stronger ovulation and then you shouldn't need progesterone

So before I left the hospital, the Fertility Dr came by to check on me and I asked her about this. She said in most cases my doc is right, but there are people with luteal issues that need progesterone to sustain pregnancy. LIKE ME!

I have been pumping myself up to be my own advocate with the doctor today and say I don't want to lose a third baby which could have been prevented by taking progesterone. Hopefully she will agree to either test me repeatedly for levels and if it looks borderline, give me the supplements. I don't want to say in an annoying way that the fertility doctor said I might need it but I want to make it known.

In other news, it has been two weeks and two days since my abdominal myomectomy (fibroid removal surgery) and I am feeling great. Not 100%, but have very limited pain. I am still not allowed to do much for 4 more weeks, but I feel strong.

T minus 3 Days to Fibroid Surgery

Monday is the big day- the day the mutant fibroid is stripped from my loins and I for one, cannot wait. I could of course wait on the pain and discomfort, but the doc didn't give me that option.

I spoke to my doctor yesterday and she confirmed that the reason she asked the Fertility Doctor to assist was because the fibroid is pushing down on my fallopian tube and she said she wanted to make sure she could save it.

This horrified me. But then I spoke to my best friend and she made a good point, that my tube hasn't been functional anyway because of the fibroid and I managed to get pregnant twice.

The doctor did say that there was a very very slim chance of needing a hysterectomy. She said that only in the event that I was hemorrhaging (and the only way to save my life was a hysterectomy) would she need to do it.

While it is scary, I don't have an option, because the fertility doctor said I wouldn't be able to carry a full term baby with my fibroid.

In terms of recovery, she didn't have much to offer at this point. I had heard that people get horrible gas because they inflate you abdomen for surgery. It hurts not only your stomach but your shoulder. I heard taking Gas-X helps. She said it only affects about 20% of the people so she would monitor me. I of course, already bought the Gas-X. Which BTW, is $12, doesn't that seem high? I thought it would be $4. But I digress.

She also said I shouldn't be taking certain supplements. She said my pre-natal and the B6 vitamin I take are okay to continue but not my Fish Oil (omega 3,6,9).

I haven't been told yet how long till I can drive or exercise. It is a shame about the exercise. I go through exercise phases and when I am into one, I am really in it. I have been consistently working out 5+ days a week for 4 months and now that will stop. It kind of freaks me out because it will be so hard to start, plus I will be weak.

My mom is coming up to stay with us for 12 days and take care of me.

And that is my story. I will post when I come home from the hospital before I forget details. I should be home on Thursday, although I am going to will my body to heal quicker so I can be released Wednesday.