Chart Stalkers January 2008
- Thread starter Kittykins
- Start date
woohoo, happy birthday Bagpuss!
(and FX that Af stays away!)
babydust, of course you and mildly are still welcome here. Let's face it, even if I manage to get a BFP, I'm not leaving!
Chrissy - still looking good!
loola -
Can your DH speak to his doctor?
ROM - not sure that progesterone test told you anything, tbh. Progesterone in pregnancy is produced by the luteus corpus as a direct response to the presence of HCG. As you know, in an ectopic pg, the HCG levels tend not to be very high... and as a result, the signal to the CL to continue producing progesterone is much weaker than in a normal pg. As it is the progesterone that effectively stops the endometrium from disintegrating, you would expect some of the lining to be shed sporadically in an ectopic pg, causing the intermittent bleeding that is one of the symptoms. So yes, you're right in one sense - your early bleeding/spotting was due to a lack of progesterone, and that was also indicated by the relatively low numbers in the progesterone test. However, the low progesterone was not the cause of a failing pregnancy, but was in fact caused by the pregnancy being ectopic. Given your medical situation at the moment, and the fact that you are now under supervision, I wouldn't meddle! Give your body a chance to recover. If your next full cycle shows a luteal phase deficiency, raise it with the consultant. Otherwise, trust her judgement - and don't start self-treating with hormones, when your body's already awash with them...
sorry to anyone I've missed, got to get back to work - am really behind!
(and FX that Af stays away!)
babydust, of course you and mildly are still welcome here. Let's face it, even if I manage to get a BFP, I'm not leaving!
Chrissy - still looking good!
loola -
Can your DH speak to his doctor?ROM - not sure that progesterone test told you anything, tbh. Progesterone in pregnancy is produced by the luteus corpus as a direct response to the presence of HCG. As you know, in an ectopic pg, the HCG levels tend not to be very high... and as a result, the signal to the CL to continue producing progesterone is much weaker than in a normal pg. As it is the progesterone that effectively stops the endometrium from disintegrating, you would expect some of the lining to be shed sporadically in an ectopic pg, causing the intermittent bleeding that is one of the symptoms. So yes, you're right in one sense - your early bleeding/spotting was due to a lack of progesterone, and that was also indicated by the relatively low numbers in the progesterone test. However, the low progesterone was not the cause of a failing pregnancy, but was in fact caused by the pregnancy being ectopic. Given your medical situation at the moment, and the fact that you are now under supervision, I wouldn't meddle! Give your body a chance to recover. If your next full cycle shows a luteal phase deficiency, raise it with the consultant. Otherwise, trust her judgement - and don't start self-treating with hormones, when your body's already awash with them...
sorry to anyone I've missed, got to get back to work - am really behind!
Hi Guys,
Happy Birthday Bagpus! A BFP would be a nice pressie. FXed that AF doesn't arrive after all
Nice temp Chrissy. FXed you're gonna get your BFP soon.
Claire - of course you're not going anywhere! We need these positive reminders that there are women out there that really do get pregnant (I have been wondering lately if it is all some ginormous psuedo-conspiracy theory that the parenting world knows about but no one will let me in on because it requires some bizarre kind of initiation... hmmm I may have been away from work too long
)
Kitty - I can't believe that you might have Oed this early. Will be watching those temps... Strange stuff
ROM - Kitty is right. Just wait a bit
Who else is there? Loola - I'm sure you will start to feel a bit better soon. Even if your DH's meds have been a problem (which they may not have been) at least you will know now. I know how frustrating it is to feel like you are doing it all wrong! Every month I somehow miscalculate my Ov date and it pisses me off. Then I wonder if DH's spermies are even there anyway and I can get really down about it all.
I am also clinically depressed and on medication. I have tried to come off it but I am a completely different person on it than off. It really works for me and unfortunately I cannot be without my medication - sertraline. So just try to go easy on your DH and wait to see how it is coming off them because it could be difficult. Obviously I would rather not be on it, especially with ttc, but if I wasn't I couldn't ttc. So it's catch 22 in my situation. They are said to be safe in pregnancy. Even with the meds I have bad days but it's not like it was before I had them. They really have changed my life. I realized that I wasn't an awful person before, but that I actually had a medical condition, a chemical imbalance in my brain.
Funnily I was doing some research on the weekend about irregular ovulation the hormonal imbalances that may cause certain types of it (missing and crossed signals to the brain prevent ov from occuring) cause less oestrogen to be produced and in turn higher incidences of osteoporosis in young women. Another recent study into depression in women found they are 30% more likely to develop osteoporosis. Got me wondering if there could be a connection there.
Sorry to waffle on. This must be really long...
I am wondering if given the ferning yesterday I a=could be approaching AF. They say you can fern at AF too. This would mean that I ovulated sometime around CD22. What do you think ladies? I know there are no temps from earlier in the cycle so I really can't know (should have temped on holiday!!!!
)
The temps are all just so low. It is strange. Feel like I could be getting AF though. Was very grumpy over the weekend and now have lower back pain. I could have missed the ferning back then as I was using the micro wrong and didn't do an OPK till CD20. But I still feel as though it's unlikely. Very confused. Could be anovulatory, or like Kitty says maybe still waiting to O. But there was no more ferning today.
Any ideas?
Happy Birthday Bagpus! A BFP would be a nice pressie. FXed that AF doesn't arrive after all
Nice temp Chrissy. FXed you're gonna get your BFP soon.
Claire - of course you're not going anywhere! We need these positive reminders that there are women out there that really do get pregnant (I have been wondering lately if it is all some ginormous psuedo-conspiracy theory that the parenting world knows about but no one will let me in on because it requires some bizarre kind of initiation... hmmm I may have been away from work too long
)Kitty - I can't believe that you might have Oed this early. Will be watching those temps... Strange stuff
ROM - Kitty is right. Just wait a bit
Who else is there? Loola - I'm sure you will start to feel a bit better soon. Even if your DH's meds have been a problem (which they may not have been) at least you will know now. I know how frustrating it is to feel like you are doing it all wrong! Every month I somehow miscalculate my Ov date and it pisses me off. Then I wonder if DH's spermies are even there anyway and I can get really down about it all.
I am also clinically depressed and on medication. I have tried to come off it but I am a completely different person on it than off. It really works for me and unfortunately I cannot be without my medication - sertraline. So just try to go easy on your DH and wait to see how it is coming off them because it could be difficult. Obviously I would rather not be on it, especially with ttc, but if I wasn't I couldn't ttc. So it's catch 22 in my situation. They are said to be safe in pregnancy. Even with the meds I have bad days but it's not like it was before I had them. They really have changed my life. I realized that I wasn't an awful person before, but that I actually had a medical condition, a chemical imbalance in my brain.
Funnily I was doing some research on the weekend about irregular ovulation the hormonal imbalances that may cause certain types of it (missing and crossed signals to the brain prevent ov from occuring) cause less oestrogen to be produced and in turn higher incidences of osteoporosis in young women. Another recent study into depression in women found they are 30% more likely to develop osteoporosis. Got me wondering if there could be a connection there.
Sorry to waffle on. This must be really long...
I am wondering if given the ferning yesterday I a=could be approaching AF. They say you can fern at AF too. This would mean that I ovulated sometime around CD22. What do you think ladies? I know there are no temps from earlier in the cycle so I really can't know (should have temped on holiday!!!!
)The temps are all just so low. It is strange. Feel like I could be getting AF though. Was very grumpy over the weekend and now have lower back pain. I could have missed the ferning back then as I was using the micro wrong and didn't do an OPK till CD20. But I still feel as though it's unlikely. Very confused. Could be anovulatory, or like Kitty says maybe still waiting to O. But there was no more ferning today.
Any ideas?
Happy Birthday Bagpuss! 
Kitty - Oh doesnt want to go to the Docs yet as he thinks he will definitely have a low sperm count. He wants to go in a few months time once he is healthier. Id like him to go now just so I know for sure, but I cant force him. I have to admit if I had to go to the doc and produce a sample Id dread it too. Id love to know for sure though, if there isnt a problem even with all the reasons that there might be, Id be a really happy chilled out lady!
I dont want you to go either Babydust! I know Ill always keep my eye on chart stalkers if I ever get a BFP.
Kitty - Oh doesnt want to go to the Docs yet as he thinks he will definitely have a low sperm count. He wants to go in a few months time once he is healthier. Id like him to go now just so I know for sure, but I cant force him. I have to admit if I had to go to the doc and produce a sample Id dread it too. Id love to know for sure though, if there isnt a problem even with all the reasons that there might be, Id be a really happy chilled out lady!
I dont want you to go either Babydust!
I know Ill always keep my eye on chart stalkers if I ever get a BFP.Happy birthday Bagpuss!
Thanks to everyone for making me feel welcome and adding my chart. AF arrived today bang on time so I am ready to get on with this month. I am sure I will be bombarding you all with questions soon!
Thanks to everyone for making me feel welcome and adding my chart. AF arrived today bang on time so I am ready to get on with this month. I am sure I will be bombarding you all with questions soon!
Thank you for my birthday wishes 
Good luck for this month Lynsey. Indulge yourself in a glass of wine and some choccie and get planning on your strategy for this months BFP!
I have a close family member whose suffered with depression for many years. It's a terrible illness. They won't take medication for it which is so frustrating as it really does help get things under control.
Loola - would your DH be prepared to do the fertility test at home or not? Like the ones you can get from access diagnostics?
Good luck for this month Lynsey. Indulge yourself in a glass of wine and some choccie and get planning on your strategy for this months BFP!
I have a close family member whose suffered with depression for many years. It's a terrible illness. They won't take medication for it which is so frustrating as it really does help get things under control.
Loola - would your DH be prepared to do the fertility test at home or not? Like the ones you can get from access diagnostics?
He might do, I was thinking of getting some of them in for us when I get paid. I might even be able to do it secretly! Please dont think too hard about me secretly catching his sperm in a container under the sheets 
Seriously though, I think he would be more up for that, at least we could make it a comedy moment, which it is unlikely to be at the Doctor.
Please dont think too hard about me secretly catching his sperm in a container under the sheets Seriously though, I think he would be more up for that, at least we could make it a comedy moment, which it is unlikely to be at the Doctor.Afternoon ladies - happy birthday bagpuss, hope you have a fab day and get lots of nice pressies
On the subject of those tests.... I did my 2nd FSH test over the weekend and it was again negative so it looks like I'm fine... DH feels even more stress now. We did out BDing last night (sorry if TMI) but that's it now for a while...
because he's going to do his test. He's got to wait for 3 days before he can do his first sample then it's another week to 10 days wait (with no action 
) before he can do the 2nd one
AF is due at the weekend so I'm wondering if we should wait and see if she arrives first to save wasting the test if we don't need to. I'm just thinking of having to miss on BDing for a week after I've come off!!!!
On the subject of those tests.... I did my 2nd FSH test over the weekend and it was again negative so it looks like I'm fine... DH feels even more stress now. We did out BDing last night (sorry if TMI) but that's it now for a while...
because he's going to do his test. He's got to wait for 3 days before he can do his first sample then it's another week to 10 days wait (with no action ) before he can do the 2nd oneAF is due at the weekend so I'm wondering if we should wait and see if she arrives first to save wasting the test if we don't need to. I'm just thinking of having to miss on BDing for a week after I've come off!!!!
Afternoon all!
Happy Birthday Bagpuss!
I am in a complete panic now (it doesn't take much to set me off when it comes to ttc!). I have just done an OPK test and the line was really faint. It had been getting stronger, although still negative, over the weekend. Does this mean I am not going to ovulate? It is just cheap ones I have got. Is it possible for your line to vary like that and then get stronger again?
I tried not to drink too much in the afternoon so as not to dilute it.
Is there anything else that could affect it or are they just a bit unpredictable? AAAARGH!!!
Sorry. Hope everyone is fine!
Happy Birthday Bagpuss!
I am in a complete panic now (it doesn't take much to set me off when it comes to ttc!). I have just done an OPK test and the line was really faint. It had been getting stronger, although still negative, over the weekend. Does this mean I am not going to ovulate?
It is just cheap ones I have got. Is it possible for your line to vary like that and then get stronger again? I tried not to drink too much in the afternoon so as not to dilute it.
Is there anything else that could affect it or are they just a bit unpredictable? AAAARGH!!!
Sorry. Hope everyone is fine!
Kmac - I never got a + last month either, but my chart showed that I did ovulate.
I haven't had a + this month either, but I don't know if I have ovulated or not.
I find I get various LH surges throughout my cycle. But I'm not normal
I haven't had a + this month either, but I don't know if I have ovulated or not.
I find I get various LH surges throughout my cycle. But I'm not normal
Ive just done an opk test too, it is getting stronger all the time, Im on day 14 now so i guess I must be at my most fertile ????
kmac, maybe you missed the surge by a couple of hours and tonight is the night for serious bedding!!!!
kmac, maybe you missed the surge by a couple of hours and tonight is the night for serious bedding!!!!
Can I ask you to stalk my chart to see if any of you can maybe answer my questions about it from earlier today?
I am on CD33 and am not sure if I have Oed. Was wondering if any of you think that I could have oved around CD22? I know it is super hard with missing temps...
I had ferning yesterday but no more today. I am now in bed with aches all over my body but especially my lower back, and a runny nose. I don't know what to think! Or even if I should be symptom spotting at all
Help!
I am on CD33 and am not sure if I have Oed. Was wondering if any of you think that I could have oved around CD22? I know it is super hard with missing temps...
I had ferning yesterday but no more today. I am now in bed with aches all over my body but especially my lower back, and a runny nose. I don't know what to think! Or even if I should be symptom spotting at all
Help!
Kmac, when are you testing? If your surge is really short, you could easily miss it if you're testing once every 24 hours. I'd get BDing fast... and for some people, an almost positive is the closest they come...
Sookie, maybe you're following my example, and having a weird cycle with low temps and no clear ov! And then maybe you'll ov on CD7 or whatever next cycle... Yes, I'm with you on the not believing - but there was no doubting the OPK, I've never had a +OPK before but the test line came up before the control line! Also, the temps are definitely what I'd expect to see from post-O temps... but yes, I will be keeping a close eye on my temps over the next few days, and DH knows he's not off the hook yet! Did you try agnus castus in the end or not? If so, how are you finding it?
Scones - hope you're BDing! As for most fertile, well, it sounds like you're coming up to ov, but how long are your cycles usually? If they're normally around 28 days, then yes, but if they're normally 35 days, you may have another few days to wait.
Chrissy - your poor DH. Remind him that he makes new sperm every 3 months, so at least if there is a problem now, it could well be temporary and fixable by Easter...
Loola - as for your DH, I think the way to approach it is that if he's so sure there's a problem now, do the home tests, because then you can do them again in 3 months and see just how much of an improvement the lifestyle changes have made.
I wouldn't underestimate the effect of anti-depressants. When the neurologist was trying to find a solution to my vestibulodynia, I was prescribed anti-depressants, the idea being that they'd block the nerve receptors in the brain (the problem is that the nerve endings are way too sensitive - so the G-spot, which for you ladies is supposedly the pleasure-spot, is for me absolute agony if it gets touched in any way - the concentration of super-sensitised nerve endings in one place is horrendously painful). I tried the pills for 3 weeks and my goodness, they made me feel ill. I felt constantly sick, anxious, lethargic, totally utterly miserable... I decided I'd rather have the pain. But it made me realise just how powerful those chemicals are, and the effect they have on the brain. Scary... definitely a good idea to lower the dose gradually rather than go cold turkey - perhaps the doctor can help with the dosage and weaning off?
(edited cos I karnt speel no more)
Sookie, maybe you're following my example, and having a weird cycle with low temps and no clear ov! And then maybe you'll ov on CD7 or whatever next cycle... Yes, I'm with you on the not believing - but there was no doubting the OPK, I've never had a +OPK before but the test line came up before the control line! Also, the temps are definitely what I'd expect to see from post-O temps... but yes, I will be keeping a close eye on my temps over the next few days, and DH knows he's not off the hook yet! Did you try agnus castus in the end or not? If so, how are you finding it?
Scones - hope you're BDing! As for most fertile, well, it sounds like you're coming up to ov, but how long are your cycles usually? If they're normally around 28 days, then yes, but if they're normally 35 days, you may have another few days to wait.
Chrissy - your poor DH. Remind him that he makes new sperm every 3 months, so at least if there is a problem now, it could well be temporary and fixable by Easter...
Loola - as for your DH, I think the way to approach it is that if he's so sure there's a problem now, do the home tests, because then you can do them again in 3 months and see just how much of an improvement the lifestyle changes have made.
I wouldn't underestimate the effect of anti-depressants. When the neurologist was trying to find a solution to my vestibulodynia, I was prescribed anti-depressants, the idea being that they'd block the nerve receptors in the brain (the problem is that the nerve endings are way too sensitive - so the G-spot, which for you ladies is supposedly the pleasure-spot, is for me absolute agony if it gets touched in any way - the concentration of super-sensitised nerve endings in one place is horrendously painful). I tried the pills for 3 weeks and my goodness, they made me feel ill. I felt constantly sick, anxious, lethargic, totally utterly miserable... I decided I'd rather have the pain. But it made me realise just how powerful those chemicals are, and the effect they have on the brain. Scary... definitely a good idea to lower the dose gradually rather than go cold turkey - perhaps the doctor can help with the dosage and weaning off?
(edited cos I karnt speel no more)
Kitty - do you think my temps are too low to have oved at CD22?
No - haven't tried agnus castus yet. Pills arrived in the middle of this cycle and I need to start from CD1, so if no BFP this time then I will try it next month. They took 12 weeks to arrive from the states!!!! Arggh.
Anti-depressants are very powerful. I have a friend who had to ween himself off them so gradually. He would get dizzy spells, nausea, and hot flushes. He had to go down so slowly, even to the point of only taking a quarter of a 50mg tablet every 4 days or so. Crazy. I on the other hand have no adverse reactions physically either on or off them. But off them I am very depressed without any cause. I won't leave the house or talk to anyone. So for me they are wonderful. They really have worked to 'fix' me. After my first month on them I felt like someone had rewired me. Finally I worked properly. A very strange sensation that other people have also described from what I have read online.
No - haven't tried agnus castus yet. Pills arrived in the middle of this cycle and I need to start from CD1, so if no BFP this time then I will try it next month. They took 12 weeks to arrive from the states!!!! Arggh.
Anti-depressants are very powerful. I have a friend who had to ween himself off them so gradually. He would get dizzy spells, nausea, and hot flushes. He had to go down so slowly, even to the point of only taking a quarter of a 50mg tablet every 4 days or so. Crazy. I on the other hand have no adverse reactions physically either on or off them. But off them I am very depressed without any cause. I won't leave the house or talk to anyone. So for me they are wonderful. They really have worked to 'fix' me. After my first month on them I felt like someone had rewired me. Finally I worked properly. A very strange sensation that other people have also described from what I have read online.
Kmac - I dont think Ive ever done an OPK that is 100% positive. The test line has never been as strong as the control line for me on the ones I usually use (cheap ebay ones). Last month I bought some from ebay but from a different seller and they were positive almost every day. I had some left from my old batch so used one from both brands and the strongest line from the new batch matched the strongest line from the old batch so I presume I ovulated then. Hope that makes sense. I certainly got my POAS fix last month anyway!! I used 14 in 5 days!
Sookie - It is hard to tell from your chart, the temps certainly look promising, but the most fertile CM you had was on day 25. If you did OV then, then your chart looks really promising so Im
ing that this is your month.
Kitty - very good plan. Think I will buy some tests from Access Diagnostics, £22.99 isnt bad at all for both our tests. OH is feeling alot better today. He has already started weaning himself off the Seroxat. He is now taking half a tablet every day. In a week or so he will start taking half every other day. He had some proper sleep for the first time in about a week last night. I think the not drinking alcohol has affected him more than he would like to admit, certainly his sleeping patterns. All is can do is support him and try to be patient with him I guess. His brother is here tonight instead of his usual Tuesday, so hopefully Ill get some BDing done tomorrow. Did an OPK earlier which was negative, but Im definitely getting wetter so I should ovulate in the next couple of days. I dont think we are going to try too hard this month some how, I dont want to put him under too much pressure and sex isnt going to be very sexy.
Hope that makes sense. I certainly got my POAS fix last month anyway!! I used 14 in 5 days! Sookie - It is hard to tell from your chart, the temps certainly look promising, but the most fertile CM you had was on day 25. If you did OV then, then your chart looks really promising so Im
ing that this is your month. Kitty - very good plan. Think I will buy some tests from Access Diagnostics, £22.99 isnt bad at all for both our tests. OH is feeling alot better today. He has already started weaning himself off the Seroxat. He is now taking half a tablet every day. In a week or so he will start taking half every other day. He had some proper sleep for the first time in about a week last night. I think the not drinking alcohol has affected him more than he would like to admit, certainly his sleeping patterns. All is can do is support him and try to be patient with him I guess. His brother is here tonight instead of his usual Tuesday, so hopefully Ill get some BDing done tomorrow. Did an OPK earlier which was negative, but Im definitely getting wetter
so I should ovulate in the next couple of days. I dont think we are going to try too hard this month some how, I dont want to put him under too much pressure and sex isnt going to be very sexy.Thanks Kitty, scones & sookie! & loola!
I did another test just now and there isn't even a faint line any more.
I have been testing just once every 24 hrs - in the late afternoon / early evening, so I guess it's possible I have just missed it.
We BD'd yesterday afternoon anyway and I'm sure I can persuade DH tonight!
I have been having some twinges down below today, and I have been feeling quite warm. I don't think I'm imaging it as I have a really sweaty armpit!
Maybe all is not lost! I hope my temp goes up in the morning!
Sorry sookie I don't know how to interpret your chart!
I just look and see if I can work out what everyone is talking about!
I did another test just now and there isn't even a faint line any more.
I have been testing just once every 24 hrs - in the late afternoon / early evening, so I guess it's possible I have just missed it.
We BD'd yesterday afternoon anyway and I'm sure I can persuade DH tonight!
I have been having some twinges down below today, and I have been feeling quite warm. I don't think I'm imaging it as I have a really sweaty armpit!
Maybe all is not lost! I hope my temp goes up in the morning!
Sorry sookie I don't know how to interpret your chart!
I just look and see if I can work out what everyone is talking about!
