Charting-to-Avoid? Come on in!

[ABirney]

Well ladies.. it's been fun but it's time to move on... DH FINALLY gave the go-ahead for us to start TTC!!!!!!! :D I'll check back in occassionally though.

[lawgirl4]

congrats abirney!! please come back and update us! :)

[chinadoll]

ABirney -- congrats on TTC!

This has been a weird cycle for me. I have had almost no CM at all. Yesterday was the first day I marked anything -- and even then I wasn't sure if it was CM. I think I may have O'ed, or else will soon because I had my first temp above the coverline.

Anyone else had cycles with very little CM? I don't normally get tons (and rarely get EWCM) but usually there is something. On an unrelated note, DH and I have hardly DTD at all in the last month or two. :( It's not that we aren't interested, we have just been so busy with work and school that we are either too tired or interested in it when the other is not around. I'm not sure if that would affect my CM at all. Maybe.

[lege]

abirney - congrats on TTC!!!

AF arrived overnight - and with a vengeance :(

Spent Saturday with friends who have a 4 month old and a 2 year old - boy do I have BABY FEVER!!! :) Just a few more months...

Have a great week, ladies!
L

[Harmony96]

Ok I'm still on my first post-pill cycle, and I think I might have FINALLY ovulated yesterday on CD34. Woohoo. lol

Here's what was going on. On Saturday morning, I went #2, and when I wiped it just slipped across really fast. So I wiped again and looked and I had about a pea-sized amount of REAL EWCM. And when I checked my CP that morning, I almost couldn't find it! It didn't feel any higher than the previous several days, but the texture had changed significantly. Instead of sticking out like it usually does, it felt exactly like the rest of my vaginal walls. I was in disbelief so I checked again a few minutes later. LOL

Then yesterday morning, my CP was still high and soft, and during morning church services we stood up and sat down a couple of times, and I was having some achy, almost gas-like pains. But they were down really low in my abdomen, and only on one side, and when I sat down too fast the pain would momentarily get sharper and then subside a bit. And by noon it was gone, without me "passing" anything. LOL Sunday night I had another tiny bit of late EWCM.

This morning, my temp rose significantly enough for me to have a coverline. It's only one rise so far but I feel more confident about this rise than the one back on CD26. Plus when I checked my CP this morning it was noticably lower and back to its firmness. (Side note - when I have FF set to "Advanced", it says that ovulation happened way back on CD26. lol)

So I am excited. Now all I need is a period in 9-16 days so I can use my Diva Cup for the first time. :p

Andrea

[ADSigMel]

Congrats to ABirney

Chinadoll, I'm still not sure if I'm reading my CM right, but if I am, I've got either creamy or dry almost all the time with randoms spots of watery and sometimes clumps of EWCM. Definitely not clear at all. I'm hoping it gets better with time.

Andrea, I'm crossing my fingers for an O for you, but I think it's still to early to tell. Let's see what tomorrow's temp holds in store.

*****
Why is FF so hot to make me ovulate? My body obviously doesn't feel like it! However, FF is calling O, and, while I don't see it (neither the temps nor the CM look promising), I wanted to get an opinion from the experts. Did I O? I certainly hope not, because in reliance on my ovaries' failure to cooperate with biological laws, we UDD a couple of days ago. Hope I haven't become an antigrad!

My Chart (http://www2.fertilityfriend.com/home/9fd5e)

[abear]

OK, so I feel like I'm having the longest cycle ever! I'm on CD 50, no O in sight.

But, that's not my question. This morning I had to get up to shoo away the cat who was scratching a chair, about 3 minutes before I was supposed to temp. I didn't even realize it until I got back in bed. My temp was on the slightly higher side (97.92) and I'm wondering, how much do you think my getting up affected it? Should I try to alter it to be correct?

Thanks!

[Clattercote]

ABirney - Congratulations!

abear - I wouldn't try to change the temp - I'd note it and the circumstances and then if it becomes obviously out of place when you're interpreting the chart, use the rule of thumb or the shaving rules.

Chinadoll - I have definitely Od without seeing any CM - fertile or non-fertile. Sometimes I wonder if, in those cycles, I've had just really watery CM that I never notice.

[lawgirl4]

This was the "Featured FAQ" on FF just now, and I thought alot of us would find this info interesting, useful, and fear-allaying!

Fertility After Oral Contraceptives

Birth control pills are a popular choice of contraception for women wishing to delay pregnancy. As such, many women who are now trying to conceive have recently discontinued oral contraceptives. After discontinuing the pill, concerns often arise about the effects of previous oral contraceptive use on one's current ability to conceive.

Some of the questions that are frequently asked about oral contraceptives include:

How long will it take my cycle to regulate after discontinuing the pill?
Will previous pill use impact my future fertility?
How long will it take me to get pregnant after discontinuing the pill?
Can I start charting right after discontinuing the pill?
Surprisingly, there are few recent scientific studies responding to these questions. One relevant comprehensive recent study, however, is that by Dr. C. Gnoth and his colleagues at the University of Dusseldorf in Germany. In an article titled "Cycle characteristics after discontinuation of oral contraceptives," published in the journal Gynecological Endocrinology in 2002, Gnoth and his colleagues compared the cycle characteristics of women who had recently stopped taking the pill with those who had never used oral contraceptives. The cycle characteristics were determined using basal body temperature (BBT) charts.

Relevant Findings

57.9% of all first cycles after discontinuing oral contraceptives were ovulatory (identified with BBT shift) with sufficient luteal phases (greater than 10 days).


10.24% of all first cycles after discontinuing oral contraceptives were not ovulatory (compared with 3.44% of control group). Significant differences also appeared in the second and third cycles after discontinuing oral contraceptives.


Cycles were longer in the post-pill group up to cycle number 12.
Cycle disturbances (defined as a luteal phase length of less than 10 days or a cycle length greater than 35 days) were more frequent in the post-pill group until the seventh cycle.


Cycle disturbances after discontinuing oral contraceptives were reversible but regulation took up to nine months or longer.
Other Factors: Age and Previous Births

Other factors that may play a role in the time it takes for fertility to return after discontinuing oral contraceptives are age and parity (number of previous births). In a 1986 study published in The British Journal of Family Planning, Vessey, Smith and Yeates measured the influence of age and parity on the time it takes for fertility to return after discontinuing oral contraceptives. They compared women aged 25-29 with women aged 30-35 and those who had previously given birth versus those who had never given birth.

Some of their relevant findings included the following:

For women who had already had children, impairment of fertility after discontinuing the pill was very slight and of very short duration for women in both age groups.
Women aged 25-29 who had never had children had some impairment of fertility after discontinuing oral contraceptives but the effect was relatively short-lived.
Women aged 30-35 who had never had children had the longest delay in conceiving after discontinuing oral contraceptives but there was no evidence that the pill caused permanent sterility.
Charting After The Pill

The findings from these studies should be fairly reassuring to women hoping to conceive who have recently discontinued birth control pills- even if the first or second cycle after stopping the pill does not seem completely "normal." Indeed, one study (Farrow et al, 2002) is particularly reassuring, associating prolonged use of oral contraceptives with a decreased risk of delayed conception.

Charting your cycles right away after discontinuing the pill can help you to see when your own fertility returns and can help you see your own post-pill cycle characteristics. Talk to your healthcare provider if you find that it is taking longer than you expect to conceive after discontinuing the pill or if your chart is showing other cause for concern after a few cycles.

Sources:

Farrow, A., M. G. Hull, et al. (2002). "Prolonged use of oral contraception before a planned pregnancy is associated with a decreased risk of delayed conception." Hum Reprod 17(10): 2754-61.

Gnoth, C., P. Frank-Herrmann, et al. (2002). "Cycle characteristics after discontinuation of oral contraceptives." Gynecol Endocrinol 16(4): 307-17.

Vessey, M., Smith, MA., Yeates, D. (1986). "Return of Fertility after discontinuation of oral contraceptives: influence of age and parity." The British Journal of Family Planning 11: 120-124.

[lleemills]

Do you like your themometer? If so, what kind is it? I have the Vick's Ovitrack and I hate it! It says it has memory, but I can't figure out how to make it work. DH and I have tried everything and there's no instructions on how to do it. Also, sometimes it takes like 5 mins for the stupid thing to finish taking my temp!

Ideally - here's what I'd like. One that lights up when it's time to read the temp (since i get up before DH and try not to wake him up), that reads temp a little quicker, and one that remembers the last temp when it's turned off and back on.

Suggestions?

[lawgirl4]

hi, illeemills,
it sounds like the thermometer I use, the BD Basal, is exactly what you need. it does light up, and it has a memory function, comes with good instructions, and doesn't take forever to take your temp!
it's at amazon.com - BD Basal Thermometer (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000533AY/103-9944168-4187056?v=glance)

[lleemills]

Thank you lawgirl!! That is exactly what I'm looking for!!! I'm going to order it now.

[doublej]

Ladies,
Where do I find batteries for my BD thermometer? My battery is acting up on mine. Thanks!

[chinadoll]

lleemills -- If you're ordering a new one, this won't really matter. But on mine to see the previous temp, when you turn it on you hold down the on button for a few seconds and then the temp shows up. It took me awhile to figure that out.

doublej -- I'd check a place that sells watch batteries or hearing aid batteries, they are probably similar in size to the thermometer batteries.

[honeygirl]

I've been lurking for awhile and I think I'm ready to join :)


User Name: Honeygirl
Real name: Anne (late 20's)
DH: Honeyboy (jk, I don't post his name) (also late 20's)
Occupation:Social Worker
Married: Dec 03
Started charting: August 05
TTC:May 2006

I went off the BCP in August and have been charting since. Quite a learning curve to figure all this out. TCOYF and this thread have been very helpful. I'm on day 37 of my cycle right now and think that I might be getting closer to AF (hopefully). My temps have been rising the last 4 days or so and my CM is finally creamy.

[Quartercentury]

I have been off-and-on in touch with a [female] friend of FH's, who's thinking about trying to get pregnant over the next year. We've been swapping info on anti-malarials and pregnancy (as she and her husband just got back from a trip to Africa and FH and I are hoping ot get pregnant while travelling in Asia), but I just got an email asking if I knew anything about quitting BCP before TTC...

So now the question presents itself: Do I out myself as a total charting/fertility nerd to this woman I hardly know?

I think I probably will refer her to TCOYF - but any other ideas as to what kind of info might be good to share with her?

And an update on me: charting when you're not having any sex is boring boring boring. (FH is away doing fieldwork for his PhD.)

Welcome honeygirl!

doublej, I have gotten a new battery at the watch counter in a local department store. Shouldn't be a problem!

[Clattercote]

Welcome, Honeygirl! - It is something of a learning curve - but it'll start getting easier! It took me 8 months to REALLY get comfortable identifying my CM (I've been charting for 13 months now) - but I think I take a lot longer than most folks, AND its great to be able to get advice from this board.

Quartercentury - If I were in your situation, I'd be all about outing myself. :D I love talking about this stuff anyway, and I do, even with people I don't know super well - but it seems to me that if the two of you are having conversations about pg, it's not such a stretch to go that distance with charting. But I imagine a simple referral to TCOYF and a "This has helped me...." will suffice. ETA: From my experience with such conversations, her questions will guide the conversation anyway, so you don't have to worry too much about what else to share with her.

[ADSigMel]

I'm a bit lost, ladies. Can anyone help me out with this? I can kinda-sorta see a general increase in temps since the day that FF called my tentative O. But what about the CM? I'm pretty sure I'm reading CM correctly. I always use my internal CM sign instead of external (because I'm always externally dry), and I think I'm recording it accurately. Has anyone ever seen a pattern where there was still (even small) quantities of fertile CM this long after O?

My chart (http://www2.fertilityfriend.com/home/9fd5e)

[Clattercote]

AdSigMel - I can see why you might be a bit lost in this chart.... The temps are all over the place and those in the last 8 days especially do seem to rise a bit. It's possible that you have a stairstep rise here (this type is mentioned in both TAONFP and TCOYF), but I'm inclined, on the basis of CM, to go conservative and say that there's not yet an O. There's not really a 3 above 6 situation, either.
On the whole, I'd say this is a wait-n-see situation, unfortunately. If I'm remembering, you're coming off BCP? It looks like your body (based on the past couple cycles) is having difficulty remembering to O, since that didn't happen last time either, by the looks of it.

[ADSigMel]

Thanks for the advice. I agree with you. No, I'm not coming off BCP (I stopped taking it a year and a half ago). I'm not sure what the problem is. Before I run to the doctor again, though, I'm going to get that one book about the effect of proper nutrition on your fertility cycles...I can't think of the name of it right now, but I think it's on Page 1 of this thread. I'm getting married in 9 weeks, and I would REAAAALLLY hate to have to wait this long to get out of Phase 2 once we're married (and I don't think he'd be particularly pleased either :eek: )! Hopefully the book will help me sort out whatever the problem is. *shrug*

[Clattercote]

Yup - Fertility Cycles and Nutrition - I looked at it and it has a lot of information - though the only advice I took was to try Optivite, which didn't really help in increasing my temps and lengthening my LPs - but a lot of people have gotten good info. Hope it helps.

I'd probably be inclined toward medical attention, though, since you've been off BCP for a while and because if you consider that your last cycle was not really a cycle, but breakthrough bleeding, and that this cycle should be added to it - that's one heck of a long cycle. Having said that, periods of extreme stress (e.g. weddings :D ) can affect it - I mean, when I was an on-call chaplain at a hospital, I had a 180 day cycle length and I never went to the doctor because I knew it was due to the stress in my daily life - always dealing with emergencies, etc. I guess another thing to consider is that some women don't see temp rises, even after O - but that's really, really rare, and it sounds like you have seen rises before.

And the third thing I'd say is that rather than going with typical Phase II rules, I'd probably opt for CM only rules, given your current situation - so that dryness for four days indicates a "safe" time. Since you can't currently see the temp rises in your cycle, that would give you more of a break and it's still pretty effective....

GL with wedding planning as it all draws nearer!

[abear]

As you can see from my chart, I'm having an exceptionally long cycle, and boy am I frustrated! It's actually my first cycle post BCP, so I expected it to be long, but at this point I just want it to be annovulatory so I can start again.

Anyway, I'm wondering, who else had really long cycles coming off BCP? If you don't mind saying, how long was it? And did you O?

Just trying to get some idea, so I know I'm not so abnormal. Thanks!

[lawgirl4]

abear, I like to consider myself the "super long first cycle off of BCP guru" ;)

My first cycle, as you can see from my first chart, was very long - 85 days total. I had actually stopped temping after CD76 as I was so frustrated - I needed a break. the next time I temped, on CD82, it was much higher, and then I got AF on what would have been the 86th day. I most likely ovulated sometime between 76 and 81.

Around CD 74 I started taking Fertility Blend (http://www.fertilityblend.com) (I think I took 2 a day rather than 3) and I am sure that helped get me to O. I also took it for about a week in my 2nd cycle, which was substantially shorter (ovulated on CD36, AF on the 50th day, but a week of spotting before AF).

This cycle, my 3rd, things have been MUCH more "normal." No Fertility Blend at all, and I ovulated on CD18 or 20 (FF says 18, but I am not so sure). so far no AF (I am 11DPO) but as you can see, we had some unprotected sex at a potentially very fertile time, so there is a small possibility I am PG, but I doubt it... I am sure I will get AF in a couple of days as I have been having telltale AF sympotoms (which again could be early PG sympotoms, but again I doubt it!).

How long were you on BCP? I have a theory about it... that the longer you had been on BCP the longer it takes to normalize, or the more likely you are to have a couple of long, long cycles. I was on it for about 9 years. No breaks, ever.

[abear]

lawgirl4, Thanks!

I was on BCP for 5+ years. I went on it at 19 and off about a week before I turned 25. I always had long cycles beforehand though too though, (probably around 40-45 days).

I'm also thinking that I may be having a slightly more difficult time ovulating because I'm at the very bottom of what is considered a "healthy" weight for my height. (I'm little and thin and could possibly be considered underweight.)

I may try fertility blend though.Thanks!

[AHammer]

Hello!! I'm new to CC today and new to this thread as well!


AHammer
Real name: amy (23)
DH's/FH's/BF's name: michael (22)
Occupation: teacher
Married (date of or date planned): july 30, 2005
Started charting (date, if known): not yet started
TTC: summer of 2008


Basically, I've been on the Pill since January, I hate what it does to my drive, and I hate paying $30 every month. My SIL recommended TCOYF and gave me her old copy, and I'm so so so interested in charting as a means of TTA.

[Angelfish]

Mine have been getting progressively longer since going off the pill.
Cycle #1: 36 days
Cycle #2: 54 days
Cycle #3: 73 days
Cycle #4: 67 days and still no O (last time I O'd on 63)

[tlew12778]

abear - My cycles went straight to normal after BCP. You can see my notes here (http://www2.fertilityfriend.com/home/7381b). They started getting a couple days longers towards my 8th month and then suddenly I was annov and dx'ed with PCOS. I was on BCP for 8 years prior to charting.

In other news, I am definitely back to charting next week once AF shows. The 2 months of BCP (2 different brands) have SUCKED like you wouldn't believe. The first month I was nauseated every.single.day, I had migraines every.single.day, and I had such bad heartburn that I couldn't even bother eating. On top of that the burning sensation that I had with UDD came back. So my dr. switched me to another brand but I've still had bad headaches, still have heartburn, and sex still hurts (granted, I don't want to have any anyway so I guess that's a moot issue). So even though I haven't asked my dr. about ditching the BCP, it's literally taking over my life and I can't deal. So buh-bye BCP. I'll have to deal with the PCOS another way.

[chinadoll]

tlew12778 -- Tiffany, that sucks about BCP! I guess it confirms the negative opinion most of us have of it anyway. ;) Sometimes I wish I could be on it just because my periods were so much lighter then (I have mega-heavy ones again now). But that was the ONLY thing I liked about it. I'd never go back to it.

ETA -- how do you know when/if you have a yeast infection? I have been really itchy "down there" the last few days. No burning though, and no discharge in my underwear. I got a little bit of creamy/sticky CM on my fingers when I checked internally. I've never had a yeast infection before and I'm not even sure what to look for.

[tlew12778]

Smell your CM. I know it sounds gross, but a YI typically smells fishy. Literally. Also, check yourself out with a mirror. When I have a YI I can see the discharge right at the opening... it kind of looks like sour milk/cottage cheese. A first YI should always be dx'ed by a dr. That way you know what too look for in the future. If you think it could be something else (which it can... itching can be a symptom of various conditions) go get checked out.

[kemaji]

Updated to here.

I've been MIA for the past week because I was on yet another business trip. Hopefully this will be the last one for a while because I'm tired of being away from home. AF arrived somewhat unexpectedly because I wasn't temping and a couple days early, so I got to deal with all of that fun. I don't have any other trips scheduled, so I'm hoping that charting (and life) gets back to normal.

Welcome to the newbies and congratulations to ABirney!!!

[Clattercote]

tlew - Sorry to hear about the BCP - I hear there are lots of non-BCP ways to deal with PCOS so I hope you find something that is a good alternative! Best wishes!

My news - I'm going to see an NFP/FAM friendly doc later this week. It was one of the things I promised myself I'd do once we moved and were on new insurance. I'm excited about this, because my cycles have been quite wacky the past few months, and my temps have always been low. I'm hoping she'll take that more seriously than other docs have.

[lleemills]

tlew -
Have you talked to your doctor about going on metformin? Most girls with PCOS reduce most (if not all) of their symptoms with around 1500mg daily, and return to having somewhat regular/ovulatory cycles. I'm just learning about all this myself and got some good info from www.soulcysters.net message boards.

[eagleswings]

Well, I'm back after a long hiatus. DH and I finally arrived at school and have been settling in while I've also started classes and he has started a new job. SO, things have been a little crazy around here. My cycle is also whacky, which may be due to the stress, but I'm just really confused. My first cycle after getting married we were moving all around, hardly sleeping in the same place two nights in a row, traveling, changing time zones, and I had the most perfect cycle I've ever had. This cycle we've also been traveling and I'm now at CD 51, my temps have gone crazy (after a short stable period right in the middle), we have been using condoms for almost six weeks and are sick of it! And AF is nowhere in sight (of course, now that I write that she'll show up... :rolleyes: ). Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I don't want to give up on charting but am getting very frustrated with my body. I'm wondering if school stress is the issue, as my most regular cycles have always been during the summer. The thing is, I don't feel stressed, but my body has different ideas I guess...

Okay, sorry for the vent, this has just been weighing down on me and I'm not sure what to do about it. DH has been sweet about the whole thing but I know he's sick of using condoms for this long too and it is turning into an instant mood killer for me when he has to reach for the condom... :(

[Angelfish]

Chinadoll, I agree that you should see a doctor for the first diagnosis of a yeast infection. Your symptoms sound a lot like mine. Unfortunately the slides usually come back negative for yeast, but the treatment (Diflucan) always works. Ask to have your yeast cultured (instead of just looked at under a microscope) if you can, so that you know which strain you are dealing with. One more thing: Yeast does not smell like fish--that's bacterial vaginosis. Yeast smells like--well, yeast... like bread or beer. Since going of the pill to prevent yeast infections, I have not had a cycle yet in which I have not come down with at least one yeast infection. I hope that you have better luck than I do with treatment.

[tlew12778]

tlew -
Have you talked to your doctor about going on metformin? Most girls with PCOS reduce most (if not all) of their symptoms with around 1500mg daily, and return to having somewhat regular/ovulatory cycles. I'm just learning about all this myself and got some good info from www.soulcysters.net message boards.
I am actually going to have my dr test me for insulin resistance first. They will not put you on metformin here in Italy to treat PCOS. I think they consider it too drastic. Ironically they will put you immediately on clomid if you want to TTC.

Angelfish - Oops you're right. I just always assumed that's what the drs were smelling for when they sniffed the speculum (God I feel so bad for them). I have to say, I actually always go to the dr for mine since they don't sell YI meds OTC here in Italy. Regardless I have tried them in the US and they never work for me. It's all about teh Diflucan now.

[Harmony96]

Hi everyone.

Well, turns out that the temp shift back a week or so ago WAS an O. I only had a 7-day LP and am now on CD1 (with my new Diva Cup. yayness.)

Hugs to everyone who is having a very. long. cycle. Tiffany, I hope the PCOS is treatable for you very soon.

I had my wedding scrapbook caught up earlier this month, then I was showing it to some friends, and towards the end I SKIPPED a couple of pages. So I had to rip off a bunch of pictures and re-paste them on the missing page, then re-align the rest of the pages so they'd be in order. Then with the page that has some writing on it and the spots where the pictures used to be... it is the very next one that I'll use whenever we have a picture of a pregnancy test or something to put there. I have a big package of pastel papers so I'll do something creative with that to cover up the "spots" left from the other stuff. :P

Andrea

[Lil_Mrs_0702]

Hey Ladies,

I have been TTA for a couple of months and still getting the hang of it. I'm pretty sure that I did everything right... I did not do anything during wet days and my temps seem to confirm O day yet it's been 5 weeks!! Please hope for me that my pd is just late!! I just had a long conversation w/ my dh about why it is important that we wait another year!

[honeygirl]

Question: I'm now on CD: 41 and if you look at my chart it looks just like the anovulary one (example) in the TCOYF book. Anyway, I've had a little bleeding yesterday and this morning. Could this be the anovulary "period". How many days should it be? My temps were going up and then went down and now are going up again. Ahhh. So annoying. I don't have an on-line chart or I'd share it.

Thanks!

[lleemills]

Harmony96- I'd love a full "diva cup" report when you're done with AF! I've been investigating and am curious what actual users think before I invest.
Thanks!!!

[JubileeDawning]

Hey girls, I have been lurking for a while, getting more info, and my interest in FAM is growing. I've been doing some research on FAM/NFP and I am genuinely interested in learning more. I was checking out "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" and I found two different editions- the one from 1995 and then the updated one. Is there much difference between the two, and what is it? I don't want to pass anything important if I go with the older version, but I know a lot of times, 2nd editions aren't much different at all. TIA!

Melissa

[AHammer]

Hello! This is my first post here in this thread, other than my introduction! Here's a little more about me.

I went on the Pill in January and really really REALLY hate it!! :mad: I want to try charting as a means of TTA, but I'm scared to go off the Pill (it's the only method we've used, in our whole two months of having sex!!).

I want to "practice" charting for a few months before going off of it and relying on charting, but I don't know how well that will go.

I'm on Yasmin, which i believe does two things. it stops me from ovulating, and it stops production of much cervical fluid. So -- I feel like I won't get MUCH practice since my temp won't be fluctuating and I won't be able to detect fertile CM. Are these assumptions correct?? Just checking cause I'm a total newbie!! I read most of TCOYF, but still have these questions.

Thanks for any help, and if anyone else "practiced" while on the Pill I'd love to hear your stories!!

Amy

[abear]

eagleswings I just wanted to tell you that I feel your pain as far as the condoms go!

I'm having a ridiculously long and wacky cycle, so I'm never sure what's going on and we've been doing the condom thing for about 8 weeks. It sucks for both of us and has definitely been a mood killer. Sometimes we give up entirely! :( :(

Hoping AF shows up soon, for both of us!

[lawgirl4]

welcome amyhammer!

you can't chart while you are on BCP since you are indeed right in pointing out that BCP prevents you from ovulating. your own body's hormones do not function normally while you are on BCP, so there's really nothing to "chart" (temps, CM, etc...). Basically, being on the pill puts your body in an artificial state.

Since you've only been on BCP for 9-10 months, I am sure your cycle would get back to normal pretty quickly. I would recommend going off BCP and using a backup birth control method (condoms, diaphragm, spermicide) for a few months until you get comfortable charting.

[Angelfish]

Thanks for any help, and if anyone else "practiced" while on the Pill I'd love to hear your stories!!

Hi Amy,

I did "practice" on the pill in the sense that I started taking my temperature every morning for the last month that I was on it, just to get into the habit. The actual temperature didn't matter because while on the pill, you do not ovulate, so you can't really follow any patterns in temperature or cervical fluid (I think this stays mostly sticky). However, it can be difficult to get into the habit of taking your temperature every morning at the same time, and you might want to try it to see what time works for you.

Just out of curiosity, why do you hate the pill?

[SWEETPEA301]

http://www2.fertilityfriend.com/home/e014d

Please see link above to my BBT chart. I'm so confused. All three FF friend detectors indicate a different O day! Can anyone tell if I O'd on cd11, 13, or 17? My BBTs were very erratic pre-O.

Thanks!

[Angelfish]

I'd say 17.

[SWEETPEA301]

Thanks! That means I timed BDing all wrong! Oh well, better luck next time.

[AHammer]

Thanks for your response, Angelfish and Lawgirl. I figured that it'd pretty much just be practicing taking my temp, since nothing else would be changing over the cycle. Luckily I take the pill at 6:30 AM when I wake up (it's the only time of day that seems to work for me. I forget in the evening), so it should be an easy transition to remembering.




Just out of curiosity, why do you hate the pill?

99% of the reason I hate the pill is that it KILLED my desire. Not cool :(

[tlew12778]

http://www2.fertilityfriend.com/home/e014d

Please see link above to my BBT chart. I'm so confused. All three FF friend detectors indicate a different O day! Can anyone tell if I O'd on cd11, 13, or 17? My BBTs were very erratic pre-O.

Thanks!
CD17. It's a very clear temp shift. CM is not 100% reliable. There are certain things that will dry you up like antihistamines. If you are temping correctly and not drinking, rely on your temps and CP (or even just texture once you get used to checking it).

[chinadoll]

I don't think I really have a yeast infection, since the itching has subsided. I smelled my CM and it didn't smell like yeast or fish--just normal. But thanks for the input, now I know what to look for in the future.

[Clattercote]

LilMrs - Do you have a chart we can look at? I can't find it in the links...


DivaCup - I use something similar - the Keeper, which was the only thing available back when I first bought it. LOVE it! If I were buying now, I'd get the Diva Cup, but it's just so nice to use only that, to not have to bring other things to the bathroom with me, and to not throw things away.

[Lil_Mrs_0702]

Oh... No worries guys. Putting my fears in writing must have worked b/c I started my pd late last night. Thank you to whomever was hoping for me :)

[kanga1622]

Just checking in here quickly. I've been sick this entire cycle so far so I'm not expecting anything pretty in my chart. My temps are all over the map. I'm not around here too much as work has been getting busier.

[gantry_g]

Hi-

I'm a former lurker from WC, and just joined here. I got married last year, and we will TTC next summer. I was on the pill for 6 years (went off 7/04), have read TCOYF, and am now charting to avoid.
I appreciate all the knowledge the women of this thread are willing to share, so I'd like to join!

Me: gantry_g (36)
DH: mr. g (37)
Married: 10/04
Occupation: Librarian
Started Charting : 7/05
TTC: summer 2006

[motray36]

Hi everyone, I used to post on WC's thread, and am hoping that someone will kick my butt back into keeping up with my charting! Thanks everyone :p

Screen name: motray36
Real name: Tracy (25)
Married: June, 2004
Started charting: Oct, 2004
TTC: 2006-2007

[chinadoll]

this is one of those weird questions. For those of you who use the Keeper or the Diva Cup, how heavy are your periods? I like the idea of those things, but my period is SO HEAVY that I am not sure I'd be able to use it without some major leakage. On the heaviest days I can go through the ultra/super plus plus tampons in an hour or so. I used to use two tampons at once just to make the bathroom stretches a little farther apart.

Do you use a pad as a backup? When you empty it, do you always do that at home? Do you just empty in the toilet and then put it back in? Or do you wash it out each time? Just curious.

[kemaji]

So....I can't find my thermometer anywhere. I didn't bring it with my on my business trip last week and I really have no idea where it could be. I ordered another one this morning, so we are being extra careful until I can get back into the swing of things.

[kemaji]

Updated to here

Welcome motray36 and gantry_g! There are a great group of women here and we all love answering questions. If either of you want to post your charts, please do so and I can add them to your stats.

[AHammer]

chinadoll,

i was reading about the divacup yesterday cause I was bored and I'm considering it. It seems like it would hold a lot, even on a heavy flow day. The description they gave was that a typical period is about 4 ounces of fluid, and the diva cup holds a whole ounce, so even on heavy days it probably wouldn't fill up before you'd have a chance to empty it out.

their website answered ALL my questions, the most important was that the divacup isn't related to TSS, which is my main fear with using tampons...

i think it was www.divacup.com?? you can find it on google :)

amy

[Clattercote]

Chinadoll - I have 2 days of very heavy flow - I do use a cloth pad as a back up on those days, but only because I sometimes wait too long to empty the cup. When it's first put in, it shouldn't really leak if put in right, because of the way the suction action of the cup works. When it reaches a certain point of fullness (which would vary from woman to woman) the suction works less well and so leaks can occur. So it depends on your body shape and actual flow to say how often you would have to empty the cup. Sometimes I'm rushing around too much to empty exactly at that point, so I wear the cloth as backup - it works great and often I didn't even need the pad. (Though I should also say that the Keeper, Diva Cup and Moon Cup all have slightly different shapes, and I've heard that for some one works better with their body shape than another....)

[tlew12778]

So....I can't find my thermometer anywhere. I didn't bring it with my on my business trip last week and I really have no idea where it could be. I ordered another one this morning, so we are being extra careful until I can get back into the swing of things.
Do you have pets? Where do you normally keep it? I keep mine on my nightstand and sometimes my cats will knock it down and use it as a hockey puck. I now have 3 thermometers.

[MrsKinnison]

Anyone care to take a guess at what is going on with my chart this month? We bought a new house and moved, but also had to paint, new floors, etc... So I really haven't been the best at charting this month, and I have been around much here either. I made sure to temp, but I wasn't good about recording anything else. I didn't really have much for cm, I never have much, but this month was even less. I did have O pains on cd14, but milder than usually. FF changed my O date from 15 to 16 this morning, which should be about right because I do have a good thermal shift, but it looks like AF would come today??? That would be waaaay short of an LP for me. Usually my charts are very predictable, but I have no idea whats going on here???

[Clattercote]

Mrs Kinnison I'd say that CD 17 is indeed the beginning of a thermal shift. I wouldn't be alarmed by the dip that you saw today - sometimes there is a dip after an established shift and the temp rises again, which would mean that your LP is not actually shortened, but the temp was low for some reason. I do sometimes see a dip below my coverline or my LTL but the temp goes right back up the next day.

If today or tomorrow does mark the start of AF, one cycle's short LP also wouldn't necessarily be cause for concern; I sometimes have temp shifts that are quite ambiguous and my LPs look short - but my doctor suggests that these are actually cycles when I've not ovulated, and the temp rises due to progesterone from other sources. It is also possible for a dip to signify possible pg, but of course, it's way too early to know that at this point. For right now, I'd assume it's a potential temp anomaly until we have some more days of temp or AF to know what's going on. Hope this helps -

[lleemills]

Hey Girls.
I have a problem. This is my first cycle off BC Pills and I'm anxiously awaiting AF (should be any day now), but I am having the WORST moods swings EVER. I am crying at the drop of the hat and I actually feel depressed. My poor DH... I actually feel sorry for him having to live with me like this!!!

I was wondering if anyone had any severe moodiness and PMS symptoms after coming off BCP, and if it gets better in subsequent cycles. I've never felt like this before. I'm also on metformin - so I don't know if that could have some role in this craziness too.

If it continues to be this bad, I will probably want to go back on the pill. I'm seriously in the dumps right now...

Any advice?

[Quartercentury]

MrsKinnison, I would agree with FF on its interpretation. Your thermal shift is pretty clear. And if your LP does turn out to be really short, I suspect it has something to do with the stress of moving. I have had two really short LPs - one when I had the flu and was on strike and one when I had surgery to fix a hernia. Both times I think my body just decided that it wasn't a good time to be pregnant because I was under so much stress and so negated the possibility.

lleemills, I would give it a few cycles before you give up hope. I used to feel really moody and pick a lot of stupid fights with FH while I was still on the hormones, I feel like I mellowed out a lot in the months afterwards.

[tlew12778]

lleemills - The first cycle post-BCP is often the worst for most charters. I have never had such bad PMS then period like my first cycle off BCP. I felt like I got hit by a truck (more than once!). Give it a couple months and your periods should get better.

[kemaji]

Do you have pets? Where do you normally keep it? I keep mine on my nightstand and sometimes my cats will knock it down and use it as a hockey puck. I now have 3 thermometers.

We have a dog but he has never shown an interest for anything that I keep on my nightstand (which is where I keep the thermometer). As long as we are around, he is remarkably well behaved.

[Harmony96]

lleemills, I am on CD 6 of my second cycle, and my first was very weepy. In May I moved further away from my family than I already was (my other sisters still live in the same town that my parents do), and then in July my sister had a baby boy who I still haven't seen in person. I would call my mom every so often and I would get my hopes up that she could come down and see me on a particular weekend, but then when I called she would have other plans, and it would be like the END of the WORLD and I would be SO sad and start crying while I was on the phone. And then on other conversations I get to feeling like I'll never see them in person again because gas will be too expensive and someone wont' be able to get off work, etc etc. And I'd cry about that.

But those feelings did pass and I can see a little more rationally now. LOL. Good luck with your first cycle. Oh and I sent you a PM about the Diva cup :).

Andrea

[Tonysweetie]

Joining!!!

Name: Leslie (20)
DH name: Tony(22)
Married on: March 26, 2005
Charting since: September 2005
TTC: 2006-2007

I am also joined with Ladies in Waiting. I just started AF today so I am at CD1 and this is my very first cycle of charting so I have a couple questions. I woke up this morning to some red spotting now do I assume today is CD1 or is CD1 when heavy flow begins or is CD1 when AF is over? I have TCOYF and I'm still currently reading through it. When do I begin tempting? I have my BBT and my chart set up but still have a few unanswered questions. Thanks ladies, I'm so excited! :)

[tlew12778]

I consider spotting just when you need a liner but you might also be able to go without. That's not CD1. BUT, if you are seeing red blood, you might want to count it as CD1 bc chances are it will pick up. You can always adjust your chart later on if you have to. You can start temping now -- it's better to get into the habit as soon as possible IMO.

[abear]

I've brought this up before, but I'm just so frustrated!! And i have more questions.

i'm having a ridiculously long cycle. 9 weeks at this point. Lawgirl gave me some feedback on her long cycles awhile back and suggested I try fertilityblend, (thanks lawgirl), which I may do. But, I wanted to see if anyone else had any other resources for treatment of very long cycles.

I'm starting to get worried and frustrated, because I'm afraid something is wrong, and I keep having obvious EWCM, but my temp never goes up.

PLEASE HELP ME, with your experiences or advice! I'm so frustrated! :mad:

(And thanks for letting me vent!) :)

[lleemills]

Harmony96 - thanks for the feedback. I feel SO much better now - I'm on CD4. I guess it was just PMS. I'm going to stick with it and just hope it gets better each month. I talked to my mom and she reminded me how bad her PMS was (which brought back some memories for me - ha!). Let's hope that's not hereditary!

abear- Have you talked to your doctor? If you're have annovulatory cycles, it might be worth getting to the root cause of it with your doctor. Many women with PCOS often have annovulatory cycles and are given drugs like metformin and clomid to help them ovulate. Obviously though, if you're not trying to get pregnant, they might not put you on the drugs if you aren't having any other symptoms. I'm sure there may be other reasons for annovulatory cycles, but I'm not aware of those. Again, I'd suggest talking to your Dr. if it's been over 6 mos since you got off BCP and you still aren't seeing a clear thermal shift.
Good luck!

[tlew12778]

abear - Most sources say that you should have a min of at least 3-4 periods per year. To induce a period, drs will give you progesterone suppositories. In the US, I think they generally do not test for PCOS until your long cycles become a recurring problem. Here in Italy I was tested immediately (I'm talking starting at CD25 bc I hadn't ovulated yet and I had acne). If you go more than 3 months without a period, I would ask your dr about it, but the only thing he/she is likely to do it put you on progesterone to induce a period with the hope that that will regulate your cycles.

[Angelfish]

Abear, I am in the same boat. My previous cycles off the pill were long, but ovulatory. This one is the longest yet though (74 days) and I still haven't ovulated. I have had EWCF since day 25. I will be making an appointment with my doctor if I do not ovulate by day 80. However, as I said, my previous cycles have been clearly ovulatory. My last O was on day 63.

[tlew12778]

Clatter - Are you still taking the Optivite? I am thinking about starting it. I was wondering how you determined what dosage to start with. I read the directions onthe website and it says take 2-6 per day. That seems like a big dosage differential to me. Is there some kind of scale included in the box that helps you determine the dosage to start with? Thanks.

[Sabriel]

Hey girls! I was a member of this thread and wanted to let you all know that I am pregnant! I have to say that I love charting. We charted to avoid for 13 months, then got pregnant on our second cycle of TTC (first cycle was annovulatory :rolleyes: ). I am due June 6, 2006. I will definitely be back after this baby, as we want our children to be about 4 years apart.

Have a great day everybody!

[kemaji]

Sabriel ~ Congrats!!! Have a H&H pregancy!

Tonysweetie ~ Welcome!

Updated to here.

[Clattercote]

tlew - I am not still taking the Optivite; I'm taking a break to see what happens. But it did seem to lengthen my LP and raise my temps. There is a chart included that tells you what dosage to use - basically they say to start with 2 for a couple weeks, then go up to 4, and then go up to 6. When your symptoms stabilize, then decrease until symptoms start returning - basically you find your own happy medium. :) I ended up needing 3/day. Hope this helps!

[tlew12778]

Thanks! I'm actually not taking it for PMS as I don't really have any... I just want a multivitamin specifically designed for women and I am kind of hoping it will have some effect on the PCOS. Granted, I have a feeling that the BCP will kick start me back into ovulating for a couple months then the PCOS might rear its ugly head again... so I don't think I will really be able to see how well it works until I see some kind of consistent O results... should be interesting.

[Tonysweetie]

Congrats Sabrial!!! Thats wondeful news! H&H 9 months to you :)


A couple questions for you well educated ladies...Today is CD3 for (3rd day of offical charting) I took my temp. yesterday for the first time and it read 96.9 and today it was 97.4 is this normal? I'm not quite sure I understand the tempting process. What do I need to be looking for? TIA! :)

[honeygirl]

Question: I'm on the 10th day of my "period". Is this normal? This is my first cycle post BCP and I was on CD40 when I started. I'm pretty sure I didn't ovulate so I'm very confused as to why this period is soooooo long. Prior to the pill I never had a period over 5-6 days.

Thoughts?

[tlew12778]

ToniSweetie - You're not looking for anything in 3 days, but more of an overall pattern in your chart for a month. Basically just make sure you take your temp at the same time everyday after at least 3-4 hours of straight sleep. Also not if you've had any alcohol or added covers to your bed... basically anything that could affect how hot or cold you are. You'll get a better idea of what your pre-O temps average once you have completed 2-3 cycles.

Honey - I don't know... I guess I would just let it play out... if it's longer than 14 days maybe call your gyn? I read this medline article (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003263.htm) about prolonged periods but it didn't really say much.

[honeygirl]

tlew12778 - Thanks. If it doesn't stop in a couple days I'll call the gyno.

[Clattercote]

tlew - Yeah, I didn't take Optivite for PMS either - it seems to have a variety of effects, so it'll be interesting to see whether and how it affects you - I've been taking it to raise temps and lengthen LPs, as I mentioned earlier - but I've heard others using it for hypothyroid-type symptoms. I have heard of it in use with PCOS symptoms but I don't know anything beyond that... so I will really be interested in seeing what you discover.

[lawgirl4]

abear - I've been out of town for a few days and just saw you posted again...

Personally, I would try the fertility blend - I did a lot of research on chasteberry/vitex, which is the FB active ingredient, and a lot of doctors prescribe it for cycle regulation. I would try the FB, wait a week or 2, and if no O, then make a dr's appointment. I don't think this long cycle is any indication of a problem - I just think your body is taking longer for whatever reason to regulate.

*hugs*

[Quartercentury]

Congratualtions, Sabriel!!! That's wonderful news! :D

Tonysweetie, I always find that I have more fluctuation at the beginning of my cycles (0.5 degree wouldn't be unusual - I think I had some of that this month. my chart is linked in my sig.) and then as I move towards ovulation, things *usually* level out a bit (although not so much this month! ha!). Like Tiffany said, it being only CD3 of your first cycle charting is very early to see a pattern.

[Tonysweetie]

thanks everyone for the reponses. Today was the 3rd day I temp. It was 96.5 today. I need to get ona better scedule about taking it. I forget about and don't wound up taking until after I moved around for a a bit. But it's okay it's the first month so I'll cut myself some slack, lol. So far though I really like it. I want to sign up on FF but it keeps saying they can't take my request at this time try again in a few days. I signed up on another charting place but I do not like it because it doesn't predict your O for you like FF. Hopefully I"ll beable to sign up soon. Well hope everyone has a blessed day I'm off to go clean my house and get some homework under my belt. God Bless!!!

[tippy]

welcome tonysweetie!

congrats sabriel!! have a happy and healthy 9 months!

just checking in...today is cd2 of my 20 cycle. i had a really short cycle this past time. i o'd on cd15, and my entire cycle was 26 days long. here is my question, i remember reading something about dtd being ok up until cd10 if you haven't o'd any earlier than cd15 (i might be wrong about that). is that an average? or now do i have to stick to bding up to cd5? i hope that question made sense ;) if not, let me know and i can try to rephrase it so it does. tia!

[tlew12778]

Tippy - I think the rule is earliest O minus 7. I know a lot of people don't feel comfortable with UDD beyond CD7 though... it's really a judgement call.

[chinadoll]

tonysweetie -- you can also download a free trial of Ovusoft. I did that for awhile and eventually purchased it ($40, I think) because I liked it better than FertilityFriend. I still use FF just to compare, but Ovusoft is more user-friendly for visual people like me, and it tends to be more accurate regarding ovulation (at least for me). Not perfect, but I like it.

Also, it is very common for me to have temperature fluctuations of 0.5 or more, especially at the beginning of a cycle (you can see it in my charts). As you chart longer, you will get to know your body more and what is normal for it.

[Clattercote]

tippy - It depends on the rule you want to use, since there are more conservative and less conservative ones. Art of NFP has the Doering rule (earliest first day of temp rise minus 7 days, which would put your Phase I ending at CD 9); 21 day rule, for which you must have 6 cycles of experience - shortest cycle minus 21 days, which would be CD 5, and the 20 day rule, for which you must have 12 cycles experience - shortest cycle minus 20 days, which would be CD 6. You can also go with the last dry day rule, the least conservative and most open to error -which for you might have been CD 10.

In addition, if you know that this one cycle was shorter for a very good reason, you could potentially discard it (e.g. m/c, moving, other high stress factor). I don't like to discard mine because I don't want to bank on it not happening again (even though I have a pesky 19 day cycle in there, which makes my phase I end on CD 3 :mad: ) .

Like tlew said, it is a judgement call - you decide which one you're most comfortable with....


Sabriel - Happy and healthy nine months! I missed your announcement earlier!

[abear]

lawgirl4

Thanks! I've been meaning to order it online the past couple of days, but I haven't gotten to it. But, in the meantime, look at my chart, because if my temp stays up, I may have actually O'd!! Yea! Never thought I could be so excited about that! I want to get it for next cycle anyway though.

Thanks again!

Congrats Sabriel, best of luck!

[Clattercote]

abear - Looks cautiously promising! Here's hoping the temp stays up!

[Graffy]

Hmmm, I haven't been around cc much lately, but I thought I should let the threadmistress know that it would appear I've become an "antigrad". Whoops. :o

It happened because we udd'd on cd11 thanks to a little brain fart on my part, and lo and behold, I o'd on cd14. It was the most perfect looking chart in the world...until my period never came. ;)

We're really quite happy (if not a little shell-shocked) with the turn of events though. And I still love charting to avoid, and I'll return to it after our little surprise arrives. Best wishes ladies.

[Tonysweetie]

Wow congrats Graffy!!! I'm with you if it happened on accident I wouldn't be uspet at all totalyl happy! Best wishes and H&H 9 months to you!!! God Bless!!!

[tippy]

Thanks for the help ladies!! :)

Congrats, Graffy!! Have a happy and healthy 9mo!!! :)

[Clattercote]

Congrats, Graffy! - Best wishes for your pg! :)

[nonewnames]

Hi girls!!

I used to post on the weddingchannel charting thread, but quit doing FAM for a while. Now I'm back at it and am happy to be able to join your group!

Here's my info:
nonewnames (chart link in my bio)
Real name: Becca (26)
DH's/FH's/BF's name: Sean (25)
Occupation: lowly grad student
Married (date of or date planned): 7/24/04
Started charting (date, if known): 12/2004, with a 5 month hiatus 4/05-9/05
TTC: 7/2005

Thanks for adding me to the list! I look forward to getting to know you all! :p

[MrsKinnison]

Congratulations Sabriel & Graffy!!!!

[lawgirl4]

congrats sabriel and graffy!

Ugh, I have been sick for the past 4-5 days... which means that my sleep schedule and temps have been all screwy. I had a slight fever in the middle of the week, and then slept late yesterday and today, so I've kind of slacked off on temping. but if my last cycle was any indicator, I won't ovulate for another 5-6 days, so hopefully my non-temping for the past few days won't screw me up!

[tlew12778]

QC - Do you remember what your thermometer did when its battery was low? Mine is making this sound like a chainsaw/drill when it beeps...

[Quartercentury]

QC - Do you remember what your thermometer did when its battery was low? Mine is making this sound like a chainsaw/drill when it beeps...
It just made noises like it was sick, if that makes sense. When it was beeping, the beeps were sort of muted and off tone and drawn-out.

[kemaji]

Updated to here.

Graffy, Congrats! Have a very healthy pregnancy!

nonewnames, welcome! You put down that you were going to TTC 7/2005... I'm assuming that isn't the case since that date has already passed. Can you update that?

[Smittenk]

And I am a little nervous:o

Smittenk (Smittnkitten on WC)
Real name:Alison 28
DH's/FH's/BF's name:Mike 36
Occupation: not working at the moment
Married: April 03 2004
Start charting: 14 October 2005
TTC: Don't know

I have read the book and summarized different paragraphs over and over but I still don't quite get the whole coverline thing. I was going to rely on the TCOYF software but I read at the beginning of this thread that it is sometimes incorrect with that info. Sooo I guess I am going to have to read up on it again and if I have any questions just start posting to you experienced ladies.

I am excited but nervous about this new way of TTA especially since I have been on the pill for 12 years!!

Will post my questions soon!

[Clattercote]

Smittenk -

Welcome! Feel free to post your charts here and we can all help you come up with the coverline if need be. People have been really helpful to me in the past! It IS confusing - and it took me awhile, but it really does start making sense, especially after a few charts. After 1 chart, it feels cool to have made it through one, but it still makes little sense (at least it didn't to me). After two charts, it starts making more sense, and after awhile it will be second nature to you except for the odd weird month where your temps show no discernable pattern. I will say that being on this board is also helpful because you can look at others' charts and try to make sense of them - thus beginning to make sense of your own.

One way to think of the coverline is to think in terms of seeing the forest for the trees. Look at the sample charts in TCOYF; do you see a general pattern of rising, where several temps for several days look like they're above several days of lower temps? If you don't see it, don't worry - it will come to you, but perhaps not for a while. If you do see it, then look at the set of lower temps ONLY - note the highest temp in that low temp group. Then draw a line that is 1/10 a degree above it. Clear as mud?

Best wishes for the first month!- Jana

[motray36]

Hi everyone!
Just testing to see if my chart linked to my signature. I've been a bad charter, mainly just doing temp-only because we use backup almost all of the time. This chart is the first in a year since going off BCP that I've had an over-10 day LP...Im actually at 14. Not sure whether to be happy that I may have a normal chart or a little worried.....

[boilermaker]

Hi ladies. I'd like to join this thread if you don't mind. DH and I have been TTC for a few months with no luck. However, last week I decided to take a new position that is going to delay things until next summer. Since I had been planning to start charting anyway, we are going to try this out (with other protection for awhile of course).


screen name/chart link : boilermaker (will post a chart link when I get signed up tonight)
Real name: Carrie (29)
DH's/FH's/BF's name: John (30)
Occupation: Marketing
Married (date of or date planned): 03.02.02
Started charting (date, if known): 10.02.05
TTC: next summer

[kemaji]

Updated to here.

Welcome Smittenk and boilermaker! The women here have been very helpful, I'm sure you will find them so as well.

[Tonysweetie]

Hey Ladies!!! I hope all is gonig well with you....I've got a few questions...This is CD10 today and I'm having unusal cramps in my lower tummy and in my vaginal area. DH and I DTD on CD7 and 8 and we used no protection. My temps are still all over the place ranging from 96.6-97.9 Every morning it's totally different. These cramps I keep having hurt different from AF type cramps and been happeneing the past couple days. Am I O'ing already? Yesterday I had some stretchy CM. Isn't it too early? This is my 3rd cycle off BCP could that be it? My past two cycles have been 33 days and 46 days in length so I would think it's too early for O right? This is my first cycle charting but I've never had these cramps before! I usually do not cramp until 2 days before AF arrives. M aybe I'm looking too far into this? DH is not comfterable with charting quite yet so our unprotected deed doing the other day has his a little freaked I keep reassuring him it was way too early for O considering AF ended the day before we DTD. It started on Sept. 25th and ended on Sept. 30th. We DTD on CD7 and 8 and he keeps saying well it coul dbe implation cramps blah blha blah. What can I tell him to reassure him? He doesn't like me charting that much he doesn't thin k it's a safe way to go about avoiding pregnancy So I told him that we can always use condoms but he doesn't like that idea. Ugh! I'll be glad when I've been doing this a lot longer! TIA!

[kemaji]

Tonysweetie - Do you have a chart you can post?

[Tonysweetie]

no I don't, i keep trying to sign up on FF but it keeps saying to come back in a couple days (someone told me it's overflowed or something) so I've been keeping track on a calendar online so it's really nothing to post.

[kemaji]

ok. Have you had a clear thermal shift with at least 3 high temps in a row? If not, you probably haven't ovulated yet.

Since you have just started charting, I would strongly suggest using protection for at least 3 cycles or until you can discern what kind of pattern your body usually follows. Even now, DH and I are fairly conservative when it comes to UDD. We've had contraceptive 'malfunctions' before and waiting for AF to arrive can be very stressful.

I get EWCM for up to 5 days before I O and my cycles are fairly short, so EWCM on CD10 wouldn't be too early for me. It really all depends on your body though. HTH! When you get a chart, let us know and we can evaluate it more closely.

[kemaji]

BTW Tonysweetie, I just attempted to sign up and didn't have any problems, so you would probably be able to do so as well.

[Clattercote]

Motray - I would probably get concerned that something else is going on - possible pg? I think that if you've had a year's worth of 10 day LPs, then a sudden 14 day LP is odd, unless you've made some drastic change in the last month to diet etc. Sorry I can't give a better answer with respect to TTA... :o

[motray36]

Clattercote - Thanks :) Negative test this morning...but a temp of 98.4:mad: Im going to test again in no AF by Fri (18 DPO)

I know Ive been a slacker with just doing temp only, but the only UDD was CD28. It looks like one of three things may be happening here...1) pg... 2)tri-phasic...3)I didnt actually O until CD 25.

Any suggestions would be fabulous!

Tonysweetie - The first few months were really screwy for me...DH and I dont UDD during phase I at all, just because I tend to have what is considered "less fertile" CM even during the last few days of AF..."less fertile" is not "not fertile," so better safe than sorry!

[tlew12778]

Tonysweetie It's generally not advised to UDD before 6 full cycles of charting so that you have a better idea of what your body's natural pattern is. Granted, you can't cry over spilled milk now right? Just keep that in mind for the future. Also, unless you show a pattern of later O (for instance, I have never O'ed before CD17) you should not UDD beyond CD5, which could technically still be when you have AF. I would be hesitant to UDD pre-O until you've got some more charts. Anyway... that being said, you've probably got lots of residual hormones left in your body from the BCP. They could be creating wacky cycles for you. While you probably O'ed late for your last two cycles (or did not O at all), you could very well O early now. If your DH does not like condoms, what about using a diaphragm or a sponge as a backup method to charting?

[Tonysweetie]

thank you ladies for your advice! We discussed some back up methods and DH is going to suck it up and use condoms, lol. He really hates them but he would rather be safe than sorry. :p I just don't understand why my temps are extremely different everyday.

[Tonysweetie]

Okay I signed up for a 30 day trial of FF and I made my chart. How do I share on it here? I tried posting the link but it goes to the login screen?

[nonewnames]

Kemaji--sorry! I meant 7/2006! I'm so used to typing 2005 for everything that I guess I didn't catch it...the ORIGINAL plan was 7/05 but that got pushed back a year...

Motray--I don't know, I looked at your chart and it sure looks triphasic to me. I see you DTD 4 days before you O'd...was that UDD? Without CM it's hard to say what's up...I think CM is actually easier than temps, actually in the 5 months of not charting that I had between April and now, I still kept an eye on my CM, just to have some idea when I O'd and when to expect AF. This was a bit of help to me on my last cycle which lasted 2 months!! Three HPTs and an ultrasound later I was not PG and finally AF came. I told the doctor I expected it anytime based on my CM and she didn't believe me. I was right though (and yeah, it felt kinda good!)!! Anyway, that's why I'm temping again--more concrete evidence in case that ever happens again!

Sorry for the tangent!

I'm actually trying to figure out my O date now...FF says I am 5dpo but I think I am 4dpo...I didn't get my CM dry up till Saturday morning and I think I O'd Friday, but FF says thursday because that's when my temp started to go up. But it went much higher after that....think I'm gonna have to do an override here. I guess this is why everyone advices us not to trust FF!!

have a great night girls!

[lawgirl4]

tonysweetie -
your husband knows about implantation cramping?!!? wow!!! :p

Just a note, since the other posters gave some good info: if you UDD on CD 7 or 8, and O'd on CD10 (today) it would be way too early - in fact, impossible - to have any implantation cramping at this point. Implantation generally occurs 5-8 days after conception, and if you O'd today (CD10) implantation wouldn't occur for 5 days at the earliest.

[AHammer]

Hey Ladies!

I started my AF this morning, and I discussed it with DH, and I've officially become a charter!!! I decided to stop the pill a month early, mainly just as a "why not" kinda thing.

We're going to be using condoms 100% of the time for the first few cycles, so it shouldn't be too stressful. tonysweetie -- sounds like we're in the same boat pretty much.

Y'all wish me luck, I'm sure I'll be around often with oodles of questions :)

Amy

[AHammer]

OK as a newbie, I've got a question. Hope it's not TMI...

I'm having a really hard time taking my temp in the morning before doing anything, because DH and I are really AM BD people. It's kinda hard to reach over and take my temp when things are just getting started!!!

What would y'all do? I was wondering if I should set my alarm for 5:00 or something and take my temp then, which is usually before anything usually happens. just wondering if anyone else is in this situation and how you work around it.

TIA...

amy

[motray36]

AHammer - Welcome! I temp 1/2 hour before I have to get up so that I know that Im getting a consistant reading. I dont tend to wake up in the middle of the night, and waking up at 6:30 pretty much guarantees that I get 4 hours of sleep beforehand. Plus, if Im on vacation or its the weekend, my body is used to getting up early to temp and then falling back asleep.

[Tonysweetie]

yep hubby is very educated in fertility stuff, I can thank myself for that, lol. He was all in the process when I ordered TCOYF and all this charting business, lol

[tlew12778]

Motray - I see you tested and it's BFN (woohoo!) so that's good. I mean, if you are 15DPO, you'd probably get a BFP by now if you were PG... hopefully. Without CM it's hard to tell... is this your first chart? If not, when did you O in the past? Are your cycles normally long?

TonySweetie - You have to set up a homepage on FF. I think there is a tab called "sharing" and you can set it up from there. It will give you a url to use for chartlinks. Then just come back here and post your URL. BTW, you don't want flat temps. Flat temps are generally a sign of a busted thermometer.

AHammer - I temp at 8AM everyday. I set my alarm for 8... I used to get up around then but now I get up around 8:30-8:40. I groggily reach over for my therm on my nightstand, put it in my mouth, then turn it off as soon as it starts beeping (the beeping wakes me up, which I never want to do... it bugs the cats too). When I eventually crawl out of bed, I look at the temp then enter it into FF when I get to work.

[Quartercentury]

Tonysweetie, just to weigh in on the early stretchy CM thing: I normally get upwards of 8 days of fertile CM before I ovulate, but we always used condoms from the first sign of stretchy, even though I know that in most cases, I won't ovulate for at least another week. Better safe than sorry.

motray36 - :eek: is all I have to say about your chart. You're looking very pregnant there. Although, there is a woman on MDC who had two really triphasic charts in a row, even went to 20+ DPO, and eventually got AF. Her doctor thinks she's having cysts of the corpus luteum. Not sure what that is, exactly, but it makes ya seem pregnant!

AHammer , I just take my temp first thing when I wake up. After a few weeks, it's completely ingrained. I even reach for the thermometer when I wake up at 3am and know that I'll get at least 3 more hours of sleep, so don't actually need to temp then. Silly me!

[Clattercote]

motray - Yes, I can see where it might be possible to count an O on CD 25 - it would be strange, but not unheard of, to have a temp rise like that before a true O - the best way to have known that, of course, would have been in conjunction with CM. I think I've heard that there are other things besides pg that could cause sustained elevated temps - but they are rare. Pg is the most likely cause, but a cyst could cause similar symptoms. So - best wishes! :)

UDD - Tlew, would you really go so far as saying 6 months with protection for everyone? I could see that in Tonysweetie's case - coming off BCP. But I'd always heard 3 months, if you're not coming off BCP. I've also heard less conservative angles - such as no UDD cycle 1, UDD during phase 3 cycles 2 and 3, and thereafter UDD during any non-fertile period.

We temp earlier than we actually wake up - just stick the thermometer in, it beeps, roll over and go back to sleep... ;)

Welcome, AHammer and Nonewnames!

[tlew12778]

UDD - Tlew, would you really go so far as saying 6 months with protection for everyone? I could see that in Tonysweetie's case - coming off BCP. But I'd always heard 3 months, if you're not coming off BCP. I've also heard less conservative angles - such as no UDD cycle 1, UDD during phase 3 cycles 2 and 3, and thereafter UDD during any non-fertile period.
No... well technically those are the TCOYF rules. I don't know how many of us actually followed them. I did 3 months but I o'ed regularly right off the BCP so by the fourth month I knew I had already established a pattern. I definitely would not UDD pre-O for a while. I would say minimum at least 3 full cycles which may or may not be 6 months obviously. Then again, I suppose how badly you want to avoid right?

[boilermaker]

Ladies, I need some help getting started. I started temping on Sunday, which technically is CD3 (I kept forgetting to start). I am using the BBT that is recommended by other members:

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000533AY.01._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

I temp first thing before I get up like I'm supposed to. But my temps are so low that FF won't let me enter them. They are 92.2, 91.7, 93.7 and 92.4. Is my thermometer broken? Is there a way to overwrite FF? Can I just add 4 degrees to them or something? Any advice?

[motray36]

tlew, quartercentury, clattercote - Ive been charting for a year this week, and I do normally have 40 ish day cycles...my lp's are usually only 9 days or so. I keep a general eye on CM, and am going to start being more strict about actually charting it after this (if there is an after this!). I did have 4 days of dry-up after the initial temp rise, which is why I felt ok with UDD. I dont know that that day would be the culprit anyway, though. The xx's on the chart were all protected, and no condom breakage....hmm. Sorry for my tangent! Thanks :)

[lege]

Hi all - I've been totally AWOL for the last month! September was nuts - I have no idea where it went! But cycles are moving along despite the craziness. I was suffering from some depression as a result of my surgery compounded with my mom's seizures this summer, but that seems to be under control now, so I feel SO much better.

Not a whole lot to report - O'd last week and am now just waiting for AF. (And counting down my cycles until we TTC in January!!!)

Hope everyone's doing well - I haven't had the chance to catch up on everything I've missed!
L

[Tonysweetie]

Afternoon ladies...Had a temp drop today from 96.9 to 96.5 this morning. I'm getting better about taking my temps. I love having my chart on FF it has everything marked out for me, so much better than paper charting! I'm expecting to O in about 5 days that what FF has predicted for me. Although I haven't noticed any stretchy or creamy CM yet. We shall see. DH I DTD protected this morning, GO US! lol. I'm starting to get this stuff under control. Have a blessed day ladies!!! :D

[lleemills]

Really low temp- is this right???

I'm pretty sure I'm O'ing today, but I usually wake up and temp at 5:30, I woke up at 5:05 (for some strange reason) today and took my temp and it was 96.3!!! That's .5 less than it was yesterday (96.8).

So, i went back to sleep for 25 mins, and when the alarm went off at 5:30 (my usual time), I took my temp again and got 97.3!!! A whole degree higher.

Which one do you think I should use?
Thanks ladies!

[Tonysweetie]

Really low temp- is this right???

I'm pretty sure I'm O'ing today, but I usually wake up and temp at 5:30, I woke up at 5:05 (for some strange reason) today and took my temp and it was 96.3!!! That's .5 less than it was yesterday (96.8).

So, i went back to sleep for 25 mins, and when the alarm went off at 5:30 (my usual time), I took my temp again and got 97.3!!! A whole degree higher.

Which one do you think I should use?
Thanks ladies!

hmmm I'm no expert but I would go with the first one since it was after a long period of sleep. Am I right ladies?

[motray36]

I'd say go with the first one as well. Another option - "The Art of NFP" book says to adjust 0.5 degrees per 1/2 hour difference (someone correct me if thats off, I dont have my book in front of me!), meaning that you'd adjust the 96.3 to 96.8 since your temp would go up if you slept later.

[nonewnames]

Happy Wednesday girls!

Ok I need some opinions. Yesterday I posted that FF says I O'd last Thurs, but that I thought I O'd Friday. Well my temps just keep going up!! They haven't leveled out at all since a week ago...anyway now I see a little dip from Sat-Sun and I officially dried up Saturday (marked it as EWCM because I had some in the morning, but it was creamy by afternoon, sorry TMI). Think I O'd Sunday? Wouldn't that be too late with the dry-up Saturday?

Either way, I know we're OK for UDD as of tonight (3rd day of elevated temps since Sunday, and 4th of dry up), but I'd like to know which date is right! I haven't had to analyze a chart in a while so any help would be apprechiated!!!

Thanks!!

Oh, the link to my chart is my homepage in my bio.

[Harmony96]

nonewnames,

Your chart does look like you O'd on Friday at the latest. Do you check CP at all? I am only on my second cycle off the pill, but I was blessed with Very Clear ovulation signs, and one of them was my cervical position. The morning of the day I O'd, it was noticably high and it was VERY soft (felt like the surrounding vaginal walls). Then the very next morning it was lower than it had been for the entire first part of my cycle and the firmest I'd ever felt it.

But anyway I think you're safe for UDD tonight based on your chart.

Andrea

[Harmony96]

One more quick thing... I noticed that you use X's for protected and AM/PM for regular intercourse. I do something similar. Except I do AM for "Au-natural Mating" and PM for "Protected Mating". LOL

[Clattercote]

nonewnames - I'd actually probably say the evening on Saturday marks the end of phase I/fertile phase, since it looks like you had fertile CM still on that day. Temp rises can be ambiguous because they can vary quite a bit day-to-day (which is one thing that makes it difficult to see an overall pattern, as some of us on the board know :D), a pattern can be difficult to see, there is the rare chance of a second O within 24 hours of the first, and because it looks from some studies that progesterone can come from other sources a bit before O (though I hasten to say that temp rise is nearly always a good indication of O, there are a few cases of temp rises 1 day before a documented O - but the only way to really know if you've O'd is via ultrasound - but that's why a combo CM/temp shift works well in determining the end of the fertile phase.) The first shift in your chart looks clear if you go only by temp standards, but the CM makes it ambiguous until it is combined with a continued clear shift. You would be good to UDD by Tuesday, possibly Monday, using Art of NFP rule K, but definitely by tonight using TCOYF or The Art's Rule C! :)

[tippy]

One more quick thing... I noticed that you use X's for protected and AM/PM for regular intercourse. I do something similar. Except I do AM for "Au-natural Mating" and PM for "Protected Mating". LOL

harmony - that is hilarious!! the term 'mating' cracks me up :D

llemills - i agree with what was already posted. i would go with the first temp and then just make a note that you woke up a bit earlier than normal.

ETA:
nownewnames - i am not an expert myself, but to me it looks like you o'd on sat b/c there was still some ewcm present.

[Smittenk]

I only have 1 pill left ladies!! :eek:
I am so excited to start charting. I reread TCOYF so I think I have it down but I guess I will learn as I go along too. This week DH and I are practicing temping. He rolls over and sticks it in my mouth if I haven't already gotten to it. He is really eager to make this work.

Is it wrong that I am sad to have to go back to condoms? I really hate them and loved not having to worry about that.

[motray36]

llemills -I checked "Art of NFP" last night and it 0.1 degree per 1/2 hour, which means it wouldnt make a real difference anyway...Id agree to just mark your chart that you woke up early.

As for me....temp drop of 0.6 degrees today at freakin 17DPO...internal CM was lightly tinged with brown...this is looking better :)

[Quartercentury]

motray36, nice temp drop you got there!

[lawgirl4]

welcome back, lege! I am starting the "TTC in January" countdown too!! :) (I think my stats say Feb/Mar but we pushed it up). Yippee!

I'm having sort of a weirdish cycle so far. Well, it's probably not that weird, but I can't really tell, since Iwas sick pretty much all last week (didn't bother to enter temps since they were unreliable due to medicine, bad sleep patterns, and slight fever), and the weekend before I was out of town for 5 days for my sister's wedding, so I wasn't the most vigilant temper. When I finally got back into the swing of things earlier this week I had 2 low temps, and lately they've been higher. CM is definitely on the more "fertile" side for the past couple of days, and this timing is in line with my previous cycle... I'm just curious to see if this will be a more "regular" cycle like last month, or to see if last month was a fluke and I am still regulating!

(by the way - the "meds" line in my chart indicates that I took NyQuil, not any kind of fertility drugs! :)

[kanga1622]

I temp first thing before I get up like I'm supposed to. But my temps are so low that FF won't let me enter them. They are 92.2, 91.7, 93.7 and 92.4. Is my thermometer broken? Is there a way to overwrite FF? Can I just add 4 degrees to them or something? Any advice?
Boilermaker - I would get another thermometer and test the two against each other. Just take your temp with one and then take your temp with the other right after it to see if they are agreeing. I don't know that we've ever had anyone on here with temps that low (and I don't think your temp SHOULD be that low).

[lleemills]

llemills -I checked "Art of NFP" last night and it 0.1 degree per 1/2 hour, which means it wouldnt make a real difference anyway...Id agree to just mark your chart that you woke up early.

As for me....temp drop of 0.6 degrees today at freakin 17DPO...internal CM was lightly tinged with brown...this is looking better :)

Thanks for all the advice! i'm leaving it 96.3. Not sure if I really O'd yesterday though. My temp didn't go up enough today... so we'll see.

Motray36 - good news about the temp drop! looks like AF is on her way!

[boilermaker]

Boilermaker - I would get another thermometer and test the two against each other. Just take your temp with one and then take your temp with the other right after it to see if they are agreeing. I don't know that we've ever had anyone on here with temps that low (and I don't think your temp SHOULD be that low).

Thanks for answering me. I figured it out last night and I am just an idiot. The story is in my journal if you're curious....

smittenk, we can learn together!

I did create a chart, though it only has one point so far.
boilermaker's FF chart (http://www2.fertilityfriend.com/home/eb589)

[Clattercote]

boilermaker - I read your journal and was crackin' up! :D But I can so see how it could happen... I have a hearing loss and can't hear the little beeps, so before I was married I would spent minutes in the semidarkness of the morning craning my neck and rolling my eyes to see if I could read the thermometer and tell if it had stopped. I am quite sure that I had some "errant" readings then. I'm very glad for DH, whose hearing is not gone ;)

[kemaji]

Updated to here.

boilermaker ~ I was LMAO at your story. It sounds like something I would do.

[Clattercote]

Motray Looks like that second shift was the one that indicated ovulation - I wonder what could have been going on earlier in the chart.... but I also wonder how you should look at temp shifts in the future given that chart....

[motray36]

First of all...TGIF, and TGFAF (Thank God for Aunt Flo). Not that we wouldnt have been happy, but its just not great timing!

Clattercote - Yeah, Im a little nervous about whats going on with my body. The short LPs worried me, and I was planning on upping my vitamin intake and following some of the suggestions in Fertility, Cycles and Nutrition to try and lengthen them. Anyways, we UDD'd after I THOUGHT I ovulated, so now Im going to be nervous to UDD at all! Oh well, sorry for the tangent!

[kemaji]

motray ~ I may be in a similar situation....we had a 'malfunction' with our BC last week and I am nervously waiting for AF. While we would be thrilled, it just isn't good timing. What makes me nervous is I don't know exactly when I O'd because of business travel (I don't temp when travelling) and then I couldn't find my thermometer when I returned. So....my fingers are crossed for now.

[kemaji]

Putting my thread moderator hat on for a second:

When do you all want to start a new thread? I know at the 'other' site, we had a 1000 post cut off. Does everyone want to keep that?

Also, if you have a minute, please check your stats and make sure that they are up to date. If you have been charting for a year and want to be added to the Masters list, please post and let me know. Don't forget to post any changes in red.

Thanks!

[AHammer]

AHammer
Real name: amy (23)
DH's/FH's/BF's name: michael (22)
Occupation: teacher
Married (date of or date planned): july 30, 2005
Started charting (date, if known): october 4, 2005
TTC: summer of 2008

FF chart: http://www2.fertilityfriend.com/home/e5d9d

[tlew12778]

I think 1000 posts is a good time to start a new thread. By the time we hit 1000 posts you can change my status as I will have charted more than 12 cycles by then (plus we'll be a year older each too), but I'll remind you when we get to around 900 posts as that will probably be in a couple months anyway.

[Tonysweetie]

1000 sounds great to me :)

[Tonysweetie]

Oh Ladies I'm so happy!!! My first ovulation while charting! YIPPIE!!! It's amazing how exciting this stuff is. It's cool seeing the red cross thing on FF and the DPO, I am currently 3DPO, that means I O'd on CD11 (that's early!) which is sorta making a bit nervous about me and DH UDD on CD7 last week. I think it would be a bit embarrassing to be a anti grad on first cycle charting, whoops! Anyways...just happy that I got an O date! YAY!

[nonewnames]

Hi ladies,

Just thought I'd check in! Thanks for all of the responses about my O date. I agree with you guys, I think I O'd last saturday, making me 8 dpo today. I am gonna get to override FF again (though I will wait till AF comes to prove to me when I O'd since I always have a 12 day LP).

Hope everyone had a good weekend! We went out of town and so I didn't temp Sat or today (slept weird hours, drank a LOT), but since I'm past O I didn't think it was neccessary. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

[lawgirl4]

does anyone have experience with charting and being sick?

I know my temps have been screwy (and for MANY days I didn't even bother, since I was really sick) but I just wanted some feedback on my chart...

I did the overlay function pinned to the cycle start date, and so far this month is actually looking like last month's chart (in the sense that I had a rise, then a dip, and then a rise - though I haven't had that second rise this time - maybe tomorrow?). I did have some raging hormones today ;) so I am guessing O is around the corner...

...I do remember reading in TCOYF that your body can gear up to O, but if "something" happens (stress, illness, etc) then it will actually hold off since it's not the optimal time to O...

any feedback would be great!

[Quartercentury]

lawgirl4, I have had the flu a couple of times in my pre-o phase, and ended up ovulating anyway, but not before my temps came back down for a day or two. I will dig up my sick cycles to compare.

1000 posts for a new thread sounds good to me.
A couple of updates for the new thread: FH and I are both 27 now, and I will have been charting for two years by the end of this month! :)

[tlew12778]

lawgirl4 - I was sick during cycles 3 and 5 and both cycles I O'ed on CD21 I think... normally I O on CD17. However, if I remember correctly, I was sick very early on in those cycles so I think it gave my body enough time to get over it.

[Quartercentury]

lawgirl4, I put one of my "sick" cycles up on my charting page (the cta link in my sig; it's the chart at the bottom). I was horribly sick and had a fever (over 100 degrees first thing in the morning) on CD16-18, but felt better and seem to have ovulated on CD19, which is within the normal range for me.

[karner01]

My current chart is driving me nuts…I need help!! Please see link: http://www2.fertilityfriend.com/home/cb1b8

My Sat & Sun temps were taken about 1 hour later because I don’t set my alarm. (But my Fri temp is at normal time-and I’m concerned that it’s so high) There’s no way I could have ovulated so early in my cycle! How can this be explained? Thanks for any insight!

Karner01/http://www2.fertilityfriend.com/home/cb1b8
Karen Age 27
Started charting July 05

[lawgirl4]

karner01 - I think my temps have been higher because I recently put the warm comforter on our bed instead of just sleeping with sheets since the weather has turned. Have you done anything like that?

[kemaji]

karner01 - I was going to ask the same thing that lawgirl did. I am wearing more clothing to bed now that the weather his a bit colder and I know that has made a difference in my temps.

[Tonysweetie]

My current chart is driving me nuts…I need help!! Please see link: http://www2.fertilityfriend.com/home/cb1b8

My Sat & Sun temps were taken about 1 hour later because I don’t set my alarm. (But my Fri temp is at normal time-and I’m concerned that it’s so high) There’s no way I could have ovulated so early in my cycle! How can this be explained? Thanks for any insight!

Karner01/http://www2.fertilityfriend.com/home/cb1b8
Karen Age 27
Started charting July 05

have the exact same problem! FF says I O'd on CD11 and my temps have been high ever since, it has me a tad worried and I know I haven't changed anything for my temps to be up either. CD11 just seems so early to O but I'm irregular so I guess that's norm for me. Good Luck!!!

[lleemills]

Karner - FF has changed my O date 2 times this cycle until it actually got it right when I o'd on cd14.

Keep taking your temps on time and checking CM. It should change it to when you actually O, if all goes well. I agree, that it's probably too early for you to O based on last month's chart.

[Tonysweetie]

Karner: Okay I just entered todays temp. and CM on FF and it gave a totally new O date so there ya go, it might change but my temps are still on the rise...


Okay ladies, I have some questions as well. This is my first cycle charting (which most of you knew) FF is saying I O'd on CD13 now instead of CD11 which is what I suspected. Anyway my temps keep rising. On O day I was at 97.2 and ever since it's been between that and 98.0. It's also telling me that our intercourse timing was "good" YIKES! Good means, good chance of pregnancy. Not that we wouldn't welcome the idea and be totally happy just a little earlier than expected :rolleyes: It's telling me to test on 10/26/05. I know we should have had PDD but well too late for that, lol besides like I said we would totally welcome the idea if it happened accidently. So my question is if my temps keep rising like this (it's rises every day) when should I take a test? or should I just wait and see if AF shows up on the 26th like FF is predicting me? What are some other things I should be looking for if I was PG or AF temp wise and CM wise? Ever since O I have been having mostly Dry CM but one day I did have watery. TIA!!! Sorry for being a pain :o

[tlew12778]

Tonysweetie Don't worry, you're not a pain. Most people have tons of questions at first. The thing with charting is that there is a lot of hindsight involved. Meaning - sometimes you can't be certain of your O date until after your next AF starts bc you can base it on the length of your luteal phase. Granted, that's not really the best in terms of TTA/TTC but when someone has a really hard chart to interpret, that's just how it is... That said, I would test anytime after a probable 12+ DPO. I think that by 14-15 DPO most people will get a BFP if they are pregnant. You will most definitely get a BFP if your LP is over 18 days (well unless you have a cyst or something). On your chart, you've got a lot of open circles. What caused them? The reason I ask is bc if you adjusted your temps then you may not have a strong 3 over 6, and therefore may not have O'ed yet explaining the EWCM after CD11. If you really want to avoid then I would NOT UDD after CD6.

[Tonysweetie]

Thank you! I have no idea what the open circles are. I take my temp the same time every morning and check my CM the same time also. So I have no idea? lol. Thanks for all the info, I guess it's just the waiting game. I think after this we might move over into "seeing what happens" like I said were kinda in the inbetween of TTA and TTC know what I mean? Anyways thanks again!!! :)


ps I'm w/you It hink I didn't O until CD16ish

[honeygirl]

Hi ladies. I decided to join FF b/c this whole charting thing is confusing me. I'm in CD20 (I think) and still no ovulation. I'm pretty sure I didn't ovulate last month either.

I guess I'm a little discouraged right now. I don't want to TTC right now, but I'd like to someday! :(

Any thoughts on my chart?

http://www2.fertilityfriend.com/home/ee424

[tlew12778]

honeygirl - what are the open circles for? Don't get discouraged. Picture perfect charts mean nothing really. You can do a search for threads on it. I know first hand bc I had picture perfect charts for 8 months then suddenly BAM - PCOS and no more picture perfect charts :( . What were your cycles like pre-BCP? Were they long?

[tlew12778]

Tonysweetie - Did you check off "disturbed sleep" or drink alcohol or something? Basically FF will give you an open circle for anything they consider out of the ordinary (not just time).

[motray36]

kemaji - any news from AF yet?

honeygirl - I've been off bcp for a year now, and my cycles usually run 35-45 days, with O around CD25-35. Dont get discouraged!! Going of BCP is a strange adjustment for your body, and it supposedly takes an average of 3 cycles before youre "back to normal" - whatever that means :)

ANY NEW CHARTERS - Please dont get discouraged!! I promise that with practice, all of this will get easier. Plus, you now have this fabulous group of well-informed, very helpful women to answer your questions.

:D :D :D :D :D :

[lege]

Hey ladies - no news here. Just waiting for AF to arrive - should put in her appearance tomorrow night. We UDD'd a little late this cycle - CD12, but I didn't O until CD18 (and that was early for me!) so I'm not worried...just a couple more days...

Hang in there to all newbies! It gets easier, and you totally get to know your body, which helps SO much! There is definitely a pattern, but every body is different, so it's just a matter of learning your pattern.

I'm off - g'night all!
L

[karner01]

Thanks for the insights kemaji & lawgirl...hmmm...no, I haven't added a comforter, worn different clothes, or anything else differently although it has been colder at night...

llemills & tonysweetie, thank you! that's good to know that the 'O' dates may change...I hope mine does as it may make more sense to me.

You guys are all so helpful! Thanks for helping out, as we go through this crazy charting stuff together..lol

-Karen

[kemaji]

Updated to here.

karner ~ I went back to look at your chart and I would have to disagree with FF, if that were my chart I wouldn't think I O'd. The month before you didn't O until cd17...was that your first month off BC? If so, don't worry about things being so crazy for a couple months...that is common for most of us.

motray ~ Not yet...today was the day Ovusoft forcasted that AF start but I've had super short cycles for the past few months. :( I'm going to have to completely throw out this month once AF does come...Between DH and our dog, I've had to discard the last three temps in a row because I've been woken up so many times each night. I haven't slept more than 2.5 hours straight for any of those nights. Not having the information I've gotten used to having just makes me nervous, ykim?

I agree with everyone else...don't get discouraged if you are first starting out! Just be really really conservative with UDD until you get the hang of your body's patterns.

[honeygirl]

Thanks for the encouragement ladies. I guess I was hoping things would have been more "normal" on my 2nd cycle.

tlew12778 honeygirl - what are the open circles for? Don't get discouraged. Picture perfect charts mean nothing really. You can do a search for threads on it. I know first hand bc I had picture perfect charts for 8 months then suddenly BAM - PCOS and no more picture perfect charts . What were your cycles like pre-BCP? Were they long?

I'm not sure what the open circles are for. I also don't know what picture perfect charts are. I'll do a search for it. My cycles pre-BCP were so long ago that I don't remember (about 10 years ago). I think that they may have been long, but I was REALLY slim back t