OP, nine days is a killer. Call your nurse, if you don't feel comfortable taking meds without their OK. But yeah, estrogen gives me diarrhea, and progesterone gives me constipation LOL

Are you taking a pre-natal with a lot of iron? that could be the culprit too. Rainbow Light brand is supposedly better in this respect because it contains iron from a vegetarian source, not sure why that's better but my RE suggested it when I had issues. So many factors in the IVF process could be the cause. Definitely agree with early posters, take a softener ASAP.

Anonymous wrote:Are you using oral, vaginal, or injectable progesterone? I have never had this, and I have been on progesterone 4 separate times (vaginal suppositories each time).

Vaginal.

Are you using oral, vaginal, or injectable progesterone? I have never had this, and I have been on progesterone 4 separate times (vaginal suppositories each time).

I have chronic constipation thanks to thyroid / Hashimotos. Add in progesterone and ... ew. What helps me most is taking Miralax for a few days, full dose. Once things start moving again, I stop the Miralax and use 1 Tbs (sometimes 2) ground flax seed in 16oz water each morning and Nature's Calm Magnesium (3 - 4 tsp) each evening.

Suppository. That will let loose the "cork," so to speak, and follow it up by a dose of Miralax.

Anonymous wrote:OP here- can I take exlax or miralax? We're set to leave for Thanksgiving tomorrow and I'm worried about this. I wish I'd known it would cause constipation or I would have taken preventative measures. Instead I let it get too bad...

I am the pp who suggested Exlax. Read all label instructions very carefully, esp. time of the day to take it and how long it will take to work. You MUST be near an easily accessible bathroom all the time when it starts working. Due to the back up it is very likely to be VERY VERY painful too, that's why I suggested it as the last resort after all other option.

Oh yes, they should warn you more about this. My first egg retrieval, it was pretty bad.
I'm someone who has a BM regularly every morning, and sometimes twice. It took two days for me the first retrieval, and the bloating was bad, too. I think it's the effects of the anesthesia as well.

Second one was a little easier, and third e.g. retrieval was even easier. This most recent one was the best. The clinic I'm at now had a light touch with the anesthesia, and I was back to normal the next morning. I walked at least a mile or more the day of each retrieval, and then even more the next day, which I think really helps. Plus drinking as much fluid (coconut water and water and salty soup were my go-tos, not gatorade, which I wouldn't drink anyway.)

your RE/nurse might have some more effective medical means to help out.

OP here- can I take exlax or miralax? We're set to leave for Thanksgiving tomorrow and I'm worried about this. I wish I'd known it would cause constipation or I would have taken preventative measures. Instead I let it get too bad...

Perhaps try a magnesium supplement.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TMI but here goes. I have been taking Progesterone for 8 days now and it's been 9 days since I've had a BM. I have drank lots of coffee and have eaten about 10 prunes a day (normally 2 did the trick). I'm at a loss for what to do. Call the RE? I've always had mild IBS and only had BMs about every 3 days, but this is excessive and it's not comfortable.

Is this a side effect of progesterone or something else?

I am having a similar issue except I never had any trouble with digestion and normally have BMs daily. First I thought it's the anesthesia from egg retrieval but it's been more than a week. I don't know how an RE can help here though. Eat a ton of fiber (figs, pears, beets), yoghurt and take a stool softening supplement until normalized. Exlax if all else fails...

Were you on progestrone? Maybe it's something else that I'm missing?

Anonymous wrote:TMI but here goes. I have been taking Progesterone for 8 days now and it's been 9 days since I've had a BM. I have drank lots of coffee and have eaten about 10 prunes a day (normally 2 did the trick). I'm at a loss for what to do. Call the RE? I've always had mild IBS and only had BMs about every 3 days, but this is excessive and it's not comfortable.

Is this a side effect of progesterone or something else?

Yes, definitely a side effect. I'm sorry.
WALK, a lot. That will help.

Anonymous wrote:TMI but here goes. I have been taking Progesterone for 8 days now and it's been 9 days since I've had a BM. I have drank lots of coffee and have eaten about 10 prunes a day (normally 2 did the trick). I'm at a loss for what to do. Call the RE? I've always had mild IBS and only had BMs about every 3 days, but this is excessive and it's not comfortable.

Is this a side effect of progesterone or something else?

I am having a similar issue except I never had any trouble with digestion and normally have BMs daily. First I thought it's the anesthesia from egg retrieval but it's been more than a week. I don't know how an RE can help here though. Eat a ton of fiber (figs, pears, beets), yoghurt and take a stool softening supplement until normalized. Exlax if all else fails...

TMI but here goes. I have been taking Progesterone for 8 days now and it's been 9 days since I've had a BM. I have drank lots of coffee and have eaten about 10 prunes a day (normally 2 did the trick). I'm at a loss for what to do. Call the RE? I've always had mild IBS and only had BMs about every 3 days, but this is excessive and it's not comfortable.

Is this a side effect of progesterone or something else?