Chart Stalkers January 2008

[Loola]

Thanks Sookie! Im feeling alot more relaxed now thanks to everyone else's sensibility! Really glad you got your ovulation day Hope you have caught that egg!

Do you think you will be visiting Wales at all on your travels? We have some lovely castles!

Does stress cause your temp to rise then? Cos at the same time as my OH being ill and feverish, I was going through my week of panic about his sperm count being non-existant due to his anti-depressants, so that could be the reason for my high temps leading up to ovulation?

 

[sookie]

Kmac - I don't know what to say to help you feel better. But I can't emphasise enough that there really is nothing to worry about yet. You have a history of irregular cycles. This does not mean that you can't get pregnant. But it might mean that you are still waiting to ov, which of course in turn means that there is no thermal shift yet.

The OPKs are more trouble than they are worth sometimes if you ask me. I have also had trouble with them. I get surges all throughout my cycle. I think that if you can you should stop using them for now. If you BD every second day, then it won't matter what the OPK says. You can still catch the egg. If you have some preseed use that too and that will help the spermies to get to their destination and stay alive. There's no need to BD every 12 hours! Plus it's best if the spermies are already there when you O. So just go for every second day and try to forget about predicting Ov. I know that it's easier said than done.

Temping on the other hand will confirm for you when it has happened and that way you will still get peace of mind. Just try to hold tight and remember that if you BD every 2nd day it doesn't matter what day Ov is.

Loola - glad that you are feeling better. I really think that it is still too early today to see the thermal shift. I bet tomorrow you will get a rise.

In regard to Wales.. maybe. I have been to the north of Wales before (Llandudno) (sp! sorry) and it was gorgeous. This trip I really want to see all the regency sights, like Bath and Cheltenam Spa, and some of the big manor houses. Plus back to Stratford as DH hasn't been there. I'm mostly keen to just go to villages and ye-olde pubs. Oh I can't wait!!!! We should have about 2 weeks, so not sure how much we can fit in. We have to get to Harwich to catch the car ferry to Denmark. So any suggestions on places to see heading down that way?

 

[Kittykins]

ok, there have been so many posts that I'm going to have to post my reply in sections - my brother and his fiancee are on the way over to collect my table football table - the first piece of furniture I bought for the house 8 years ago I finally decided to let it go cos all our friends have babies now and don't want to come round for beers and table footie, but make us go to theirs for fish pie and baby-watching... and because DH said he'd know I was serious about TTC when I finally decided to let the table football go, and reclaim the larger spare bedroom! It hurts, though. It's like admitting I'm old... But my brothers are mid-late twenties, live 5 mins apart 15 mins away and are SOOOOO excited about getting the table football, you wouldn't believe! Apparently they and their friends have a tournament scheduled for tonight and have bought the beers and tortillas - gosh, that takes me back...


anyway, enough waffling and nostalgia. Loola, my feeling is the same as Sookie's - I'd go with a CD17 ov date for now, so you'd be unlikely to get crosshairs for another couple of days. Keep BDing just in case, but I reckon you'll see them by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Kmac - don't worry! Have a look at my charts, they're all over the place. That may not make you feel much better, but it should make you realise you're not alone. It's possible I ov'ed CD24 last cycle, which would be the latest ov date ever - in which case, I ov'ed CD7 this cycle (otherwise the dates are CD21 and CD10 - still a big variation). I found the first couple of cycles charting really stressful, and was getting upset and angry on a daily basis. It's so much easier now. Try to keep BDing every second day, but remember - keep it fun. The OPK sticks are a bit of a pain - this is the first cycle I've had a positive. It might be worth considering getting a CBEFM, though you'll see I had problems with that last month too (to be fair, the doc told me I should expect 'weird hormone levels/changes' for up to 3 months after the chem pg). Personally, I think it helps to think of the first couple of months of temping as a trial run. I think there'll be a few of us writing off January for various reasons (I'm thinking of it as the last cycle of hormone disruption), and hoping for a Valentine's conception... If you think of it that way, then a BFP this month will be a nice surprise, and you'll have more data for next month. But remember, if you're in for a 42-day cycle, it's easily possible you won't ov till CD30. Look at Sookie's cycle this month - that egg took its time, but it turned up in the end! The more you stress now, the more likely it is you'll delay it...

Gypsy - your temps are looking good. I'm not even going to comment on the perils of testing at 11dpo, just refer you to my sticky thread! For every Babydust who gets a BFN at 9dpo, there has to be someone who doesn't get their BFP until 19dpo - that's how averages work. And 14dpo is average... Just do a search on FF for charts with negative HPT before positive HPT...

Sookie, cool to hear you're coming over! If you want to stay a night in London, with the luxuries of a house rather than a campervan, let me know... We have various weddings/hen weekends/stag weekends in June/July, so we'd have to sort out dates via PM/email in advance. We're over Cheltenham way quite a bit - my parents live about 20 mins away in the Cotswolds. Just don't plan to park your campervan in a field near Cheltenham or Tewkesbury...

ROM - shopping therapy is always good! And glad you're sounding happier!

ok. gotta go, can hear my brother's car pulling up, don't want to be caught on this site!!!

 

[Kittykins]

false alarm, it was the neighbour

But this will be quick anyway - ROM, thanks for commenting on my chart. Yeah, today's temp dipped slightly (36.51) cos I woke up at 5.00 instead of the usual 6.00. I did a temp correction to see what it would come up with, and it gave me 36.62 - a fair bit higher. I decided to go with the actual temp, hence the open circle, but I may change my mind tomorrow, depending on when I wake (if it's a one-off abnormal waking, I try to use actual temps, but if I wake at different times on 3 consecutive days, I sometimes adjust them otherwise the pattern is undetectable).

 

[CB23]

Morning all

Feeling too tired to chart stalk but will apply myself to it properly later, gonna go read the sunday paper/have a snooze.

 

[kmac]

Thanks Kitty and Sookie.
I have calmed down a bit now.
I will just keep BDing for now, if AF isn't showing up.
I think I may stop using the OPK sticks, but will keep going with them just until the end of this cycle to see if I ever get a positive.
Have had a good chat with DH, he says to temp for 2 cycles before worrying (easy for him to say).

I'm still spotting a bit so more likely AF coming in the next few days, maybe I'm having a short cycle this time. Will just have to wait and see I guess!

Thanks again for your reassurances ladies. I had no idea I would get so worked up so early into this
Heaven help us if I do get pregnant - a whole new set of things to worry about!

 

[kmac]

It's been very quiet on here today!
ROM - I was looking back at your previous post when you asked your doc about spotting.
I think I am now having a "show" - dark brown stringy stuff ~(sorry) when I wipe. I often get this before AF, for at least a few days so I guess she is def on the way. Must have been an early ov that I missed because I assumed my temps were due to illness at the start of my cycle. Oh well, just hope AF hurries up then I can get on with next month!

 

[Kittykins]

Kmac - hope AF stays away. It is difficult to tell with your chart, especially because of your illness - who knows whether the temps were artificially high or low? It is possible it was an annov cycle - it's perfectly normal to get one or two a year (and they can be caused by illness - your body tries to ov, then gives it up as a bad job for the month), though if you had more than a couple of annov cycles you should see your doc. It would be bad luck to get one at the beginning of charting though.

I'm off to the library shortly so not around today. I ended up adjusting my temps for yesterday and today - woke up 5:25 today, which screwed the chart. I've put spotting for yesterday - not really sure though. It was horrible brownish CM late yesterday evening. Looks like what I've been getting before AF the last couple of cycles, so I'm going for spotting. It's not looking too good for me this month - looks like after a very short follicular phase, I'm in for a short luteal phase too. I'm going for the 20-day cycle this month! Actual temp today was 36.43 (adjusted 36.49), so those temps are sliding down...

have a great Monday everyone!

 

[gypsy]

Good morning all,

I think I am out of the running this month. I think AF is on her way.
I had a really bad night last night. Dog woke me up and 1am-ish cus she wanted a crap then George woke up at 2am-ish as he is poorly and he has a temp of 39.72!!!!!!

So all in all I am knackered and like a bear with a sore head, so AF will just top me off...............

 

[choklatemunky]

Morning peeps.
Sorry Ive not been able to get on over the weekend and have just read about 10 million posts that I had missed out on. Have updated my chart with a couple of temps (for what its worth at this stage).

AF has been really weird this month. Its been really short, as it seems that shes been and gone already....Im just getting light brown spotting now....also every night it has stopped completely overnight, so Im not sure what to make of that. Its been lighter than usual too....guess I'll just have to see what happens now and maybe it will come back again later on today just to be a right pain in the arse?!

Im hoping thats it anyway as I got really down this month - Up until now Ive not been too bad but it really hit me this month. I think its cos a friend announced her pregnancy the day I got my pre-Af spotting, so although I was happy for her I think it just made me feel worse in myself....anyway Im trying to pick myself back up for another round...

Hope everyone else is ok x

 

[Chrissy1]

Morning ladies.... hope you are all well.

I have one weekend off and you manage to post 5 pages worth of posts!!!! Haven't got time to read through them all and see if you need stalking but I promise I will try to catch up tonight when I'm at home and reply to your posts.

I had a lovely weekend in london. Saw dirty dancing on stage and it was really really good. we had the best seats, smack in the middle of the stage and four rows back so we could see everything... it was amazing. I'm shattered though from all the walking around sighseeing!!

I know AF has arrived but my temp still hasn't dropped to below what my coverline was before I started! I know that can be normal because of the progesterone but I normally drop below the coverline at least once or twice during my AF. Seems a bit odd to me.

My DH did his home sperm test on Friday and good news is that it was ok I know it only tests two out of the three things (Count, motility and morpgology) but it's a good sign. I've been charting for 3 full months now and I have had a clear OV pattern every month and if the test is a god sign and DH spermies are ok then there's no reason why we shouldn't be pregnant by now so we're going to make an appoitment to see the doc.

Does anyone know if I have to make the appointment for both of us to go or do I just need to go on my own at first????



c
xx

 

[reallyoldmum]

Morning Chrissy, glad you had a nice time - the show sounds awsome. We went to Mamamia last year, its such a great night out isnt it? London is fun too as a tourist - exhausting though....

Dave and I went together to see our GP - I think it helps them see you are serious if the both of you go - but a word of warning - unless you are an old lady like me - our GP's wont even consider any testing until you have been TTC for 12 months...... They dont have to know how long you have been trying though do they.... I know it seems like a life time to you but 3 months is really not that long (dont shout at me) - I think now you are used to temping and you have clear signs it should happen pretty much on its own very soon x x x x x

 

[Loola]

Morning everyone

How is everyone today? Hope they arent AF pains but implantation Gypsy, got my fingers crossed for you

My temps have risen again today and finally above the coverline. Ovulation still isnt showing on my chart but I presume it will if my temp rises again tomorrow. Im convinced Ive ovulated anyway. The only good thing about not knowing straight away is that I have gone through a couple of days of the 2WW without realising. Only 10 days to go til testing!

 

[Chrissy1]

ROM - thanks for the advice, we've actually been trying for 8 months now, it's just we've only been charting for three. We started with the 'it will just happen in a couple of months' attitude and when it didn't I started to chart to see if I was actually OVing. Luckily our doc doesn't know when we're started so I'm going to tell a little white lie and say we've been trying for 12....what they don't know won't hurt them Although I'm not that old I have just turned 31 and DH is 36 in a couple of weeks so we don't want to leave it too long before we go and see the doc. I think I'll make an appointment for us both to go and see them and I can take my charts with me too. I wonder if they'll want to see the evidence from DH's sperm test too???

 

[reallyoldmum]

LOL Chrissy - I am sure they will just be interested in the results..... If your DH is anything like Dave he would be mortified to take along his sample.... I agree, a little white lie wont matter at all - I am sure all will be fine but sometimes its nice to feel you are doing something proactive....

My doctors are really impressed with FF charts last time I went the consultant gave me a piece of A4 and said can you note your bleeding on this for us - with that I grabbed my file out of my handbag (thank goodness for big bags being fashionable) and showed her what I do every day - she took a note of the website and got all excited..... Still wanted me to fill in her A4 sheet though

Its great news about your DH test - I suspect he will be more relaxed about coming with you now.....

 

[CB23]

Morning all

Chrissy that is great news about your DH's test. I would just add a few months on to the length of time trying and make an appointment. I know its not quite a year but I agree with you re the charting and clear ov pattern making a difference. I'm starting to think the same way about me and OH but I do know that we can get pregnant so I am prepared to keep trying a little longer. I also can't lie about how long I have been trying as they have a record of my mc.

Hello to everyone else

 

[Chrissy1]

CB23 - I think you hit the nail on the head there.... If we knew we could get pg then we'd probably be prepared to carry on a bit longer but this is both of our first times ever trying to have babies so none of us knows that we can actually get pg.

I've been a brave girl and made and appointment for us for tomorrow night. Just got to find a way of printing the charts off while I'm at work now without anyone else grabbing them off the printer before I do....

 

[CB23]

Wait until everyone pops out for a sandwich and the office is quieter? I hope you have a sensible and sympathetic doctor, wishing you lots of luck.

 

[scones]

Hi girls, does anyone know a good place to get a basal thermometer? Ive seen them on ebay but do they do them in boots too?

 

[Bagpuss17]

www.babymad.co.uk does them at a good price and they arrive quickly from them too.

everybody. Lots of posts, too many for me to catch up on.

Good luck to those in the 2WW.

Chrissy - good luck at the docs.

Right, time to get my little man his tea