Chart Stalkers March 2008

[rach]

right people all eyes on my chart pleeeeeaaasssseeee

might sound silly but i keep looking at it and something seems not quite right i look at my other charts from when i was charting before also have a few upstairs that were done on a fertility diary before i found FF have also looked at lots of charts in the chart gallery and something about this months is not quite right but i cant make out what it is the only thing i can see different is my cm pattern whereas ive always ovd while still getting ewcm or at least watery cm this time i havent grrrrrr so wish id done opks this month anyone think it possible i might have ovd slightly earlier and had a very slow rise post ov????
cmon kitty where are you today ? need your expert eyes hun xxxxxxx

 

[Loola]

Hi everyone

Its weird that you have been talking about turkey basting as we have decided that we may use this technique too. Ive never really mentioned this before but my OH sometimes has trouble ejaculating inside me, probably cos hes a dirty bugger and would rather cum anywhere else in a porn stylee So we are going to try a cup and syringe thing. Im going to Pets at Home today to buy a oral syringe for large dogs , as advised by libs (thank you libs! ). Im sure this will be hilarious. We shall start this next month if no BFP this time, we will still have sex, but there are times when neither of us are really in the mood and then its alot harder for him than me of course. However it will be alot easier to DIY so to speak. Ill let you know how it goes!

My temp went up again this morning thank god, but ovulation wont show yet. However I played around with FF a bit and if i have higher temps over the next 2 days then it will show ovulation on day 17 (Weds) as I expected. So hopefully that will happen. Also if I discard Fridays low temp it also shows ovulation on day 17. Im not going to discard it as it was taken at the right time etc, but its still interesting. If it wasnt for that one off temp I would be having a normal cycle. Well except for the fact that my temps are staying alot lower so far this cycle. I guess we shall have to wait and see what happens over the next few days!

 

[rach]

loola its got to be worth a try hun oohhh this might be a bit off the cuff but do you orgasm during intercourse ? reason i asked is when i do o/h finds it difficult afterwards to ejaculate as he says my bits go into spasm and it feels strange and puts him off if you know what i mean it then takes a lot longer for him to do his bit as he has to wait till my bits calm down so if we are having baby making intercourse its easier if i dont have one and we get it over quickly lol dont believe i just told all this to someone ive never even met
anyway good luck with the baster good you got another rise this morning hopefully FF will give you your lines in next day or 2 xxxx

 

[sookie]

Morning guys,

Rach I think your chart looks fine. Every month is different and this month's looks perfectly normal. I think FF looks pretty on the mark with CD17. I suppose an earlier Ov date is possible with a slow rise but I think given that you had EWCM after that, that there is more likelihood of Ov happening later.

Loola - It looks too early for Ov to show on your chart yet. It might have only just happened on CD21, so hopefully you'll see the rise tomorrow and over the next few days. Good luck with your new technique! I had an ex boyfriend who was the same. Lucky my DH has no problems in that department

to everyone else.

 

[rach]

thanks sookie hun its probably me im so paranoid that my cycles wont have returned to normal after coming off the pill that im looking for problems that are probably not even there think im panicking about the cm and that it might not have been fertile enough at the time to have a hope of getting a bfp this month grrrrrrr getting off here for a few hours before i drive myself mad
xxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[Kittykins]

Bloody hell! From talk of roses and chocolates and 'getting in the mood' last month, to everyone deciding to turkey-baste this month!

Funnily enough, we were talking about it last night - the only difference being that we were joking! I said to DH that if he was going to be out of action for a couple of months, I might just have to help myself He winced - and he might well, there's no way it's an option. Everything below his waist is currently swollen, and purpley-black - plus the scar (only it's not a scar yet) is 8" long. For the first time ever, he doesn't want me going anywhere near his bits!

Loola: I think I said before, you could try doing a manual override and place the coverline at around 97.5? It does look like you've probably ov'ed but it's not as clear a rise as usual. Also, your coverline for the past couple of months has been around 97.7. I think this may just be 'one of those cycles'

Rach: That looks like a fallback/staircase rise to me. http://www.fertilityfriend.com/HelpCent ... ns.html#52 I wouldn't worry too much about the CM - it's pretty difficult to interpret, and the difference between C and EW is not obvious. It's even harder when you have BD'ed... Yes, it is possible that you ov'ed on CD16, but the temps do clearly point to CD17... so I'd go with that day. AT least you know you ov'ed!

Hara: I think you may well have ov'ed yesterday. That's what it looks like to me, anyway, though we won't know for sure for another couple of days. It's a shame you didn't do an OPK on Saturday - what time was yesterday's one, and was there any line at all? I wouldn't be surprised if you have a short LH surge like me, especially with a jump in temp like that. However - what time did you temp? 4am or 11am? And what time do you normally temp? Anyway - EWCM and SH cervix position, followed the next day by a temp jump of 0.45 deg C , suggest ov to me - especially with a slight dip the day before. How long are your cycles normally? I can't remember...

kmac: well, the temps look like ov... Have you ever had mid-cycle bleeding before? Have your periods always been the same (flow, duration?) Reason I'm asking is that if, e.g., you tended to have much lighter periods after your "short" cycles, I'm wondering if perhaps your two pairs of 20-ish day cycles were in fact two 40-ish day cycles with mid-cycle bleeding... NetDoctor says this about irregular periods post BCP:

"Sadly you've experienced the most common Pill-related problems - high blood pressure, weight gain and irregular, infrequent periods on stopping it.

The blood pressure and the weight problem seem to have sorted themselves out, which is great. The infrequent periods really should return to your normal pattern eventually.

On average this can take 12 to 18 months after stopping the Pill. If all hasn't returned to normal after that period of time, then you should see if anything else can be done.

Yours sincerely

Dr Bob Leckridge, GP"


This is what I was also told - and for me, I think it did take about 18 months (I can check) - you've been off the Pill for about 15 months now, I reckon? It is worth seeing your doctor to rule out cervical erosion, endometriosis, etc, but I honestly think it's likely to be the after-effects of the BCP. Which one were you taking, and for how long? If you keep charting, that will really help you to work out what's going on - whether your short 'cycles' are really full cycles or half-ones. You may discover you're one of those women who gets 3 or 4 days of ovulatory bleeding in some cycles...

 

[kmac]

Hmmmm
It had occurred to me already that my 'short' cycles might in fact be a long one with mid-cycle bleeding. I really don't remember what my periods were like though i'm sure they are usually fairly similar!

It was Femodene I used to take, was on it only for 3-4 years. And it is roughly 15 months since I stopped taking it.

I would say I definitely have more than spotting now though. We were out today and i could feel something happening downstairs, had to change towel when I got home (sorry ) so I don't know what to make of it now, or if i should start a new chart after all, or what I count as day 1!!

I will keep taking my temp. Maybe it will drop tomorrow. I don't know whether I want it to drop or stay up!! It could be illness/wine that has made it higher.
i have been doing a lot of opks lately, mostly late afternoon / evening.
Lines always very faint apart from Saturday night / Sunday morning. Faint last night. Haven't done any today.

 

[babydust]

just popping in to say
hope you all had a nice easter
i am on cd 5 the rubbish part af seems to be going
i have also spent the last day fighting with dh the good thing is i dont need to make up with him as i have plenty of time b4 ov i might even try the turkey baster

 

[kmac]

Really though, thanks for all your help and advice girls (espesh Kitty!)
I would really be going out of my mind if i couldn't come on here and get some opinions - it's not like DH knows much about the female reproductive system!

I am slightly alarmed at the high count of turkey baster mentions...

Seeing as we are all revealing interesting details today i will share the fact that my DH seems to 'get there' v quickly now we are ttc, which suits me fine (don't worry, he sorts me out afterwards!).
Tbh I prefer other ways of getting there anyway. My DH is the only guy i have had 'proper' sex with (he doesn't actually know that ) and that has mainly been since ttc.
You might be wondering why this is relevant but it means i am unlikely to have had bleeding due to cervical erosion in my earlier cycles since coming off the pill as we weren't having full penetrative sex. It just doesn't do it for me - although it does for him, so he's a happy bunny these days.

Does that make sense

So presumably it is just weird cycles, like you say Kitty, since coming off the pill.
Can't believe I have just shared this with all of you.

 

[kmac]

OMG I've just remembered something...

I think my periods have been different. I do remember thinking to myself when it's been a longer/heavier one that the next one would be lighter and shorter... I think I must have got used to it sort of alternating.
Edit - have looked back in my old diary but have mainly marked when AF started and not always how long it lasted - so inconclusive!

Maybe I do just have longer cycles then?
It doesn't entirely fit with my cycle pattern though as the las few were long, short then long again.

Hmmm

Well, all I can do is keep charting and then i will know!
I am now more interested than worried, which is progress!!

 

[angela-]

hi just popped to say Hey!

well and a question i am on full flow today so is my cycle still 37 days or longer now? i started spotting sat afternoon and all day sunday. and will it bo ok to start temping tue morning as am off to get one tomorrow. hope everyone is well xx

 

[kmac]

Angela - don't worry about how long your cycle is just now.
You just need to start temping tomorrow (if that's what you are planning) but are you getting the thermometer today? It's just you need to take your temp before you get out of bed in the morning. I'm a bit confused (sorry) as you said you were going to get it tomorrow and start temping tomorrow.

 

[Kittykins]

"cervical erosion" isn't actually erosion, and isn't caused by intercourse - though women with the condition may find that bleeding increases with intercurse (because of the increased blood flow to the area).

The cells that cover the surface inside of the womb are different from the cells that cover the cervix (the neck of the womb).

When you go for a smear, the doctor or nurse collects some of the cells from the neck of the womb onto the stick. When these cells are examined, if they are womb cells instead of cervical cells, this is called an erosion.

It is simply that the margin where the change takes place has shifted slightly and the lining becomes a bit raw as a result.

One easy way to think about it, is to think about your mouth. The surface of you lip is different from the surface of the gum inside your lip. At a certain point the two surfaces meet and change.

Imagine what would happen if this margin moved. You'd have some lining from the gum facing the outside world, exposed to the air. It's likely this would lead to a raw patch. This is the kind of thing that is happening in an erosion.

Why does it happen? We don't really know. But it is more common in women who are taking the Pill and might relate to hormone levels.

Treatment is mostly just leaving it alone. More than likely it will get better by itself. Sometimes the surface needs to be treated with a local anaesthetic and cautery.

Not that this is necessarily what you have, but just for info! It's thought there may be a link with ovulatory/mid-cycle bleeding because of the association with hormone levels. There doesn't seem to be much info.

My doc mentioned it as a possibility when I was having the weird spotting/bleeding in November, but he then decided that it was almost certainly due to the chem pg (and it does look like that now...) - I'd said the same as you, as DH is the only guy I've had sex with and that was only 3 times in 9 years before we started TTC (I have vestibulodynitis). The doc said that wasn't relevant...

I think it's pretty difficult to work out exactly what's going on retrospectively when you don't have access to the essential information - how long/how heavy each period lasted, or whether you ovulated during any given 'cycle'. However, from the charts you have done, there's definitely a possibility that at least some of your 20+ day cycles were anov, because they were either pre-ov or post-ov halves of cycles.

Right now, I don't think any of that matters. What does matter is that it's highly likely that there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for your 'odd' cycles and that there's nothing wrong - if you want to go to the doc this week to put your mind at rest, then do so, but you may find that another three months' charts will show a pattern (and that things will have settled naturally by then anyway) - but certainly don't panic based on three months' worth of charting!

angela - sorry, I don't really understand the questions. I clicked on your chart link but as there isn't any info there then it's impossible to know anything about your cycles. Your cycle will be 37 days if the first day of your last period was 37 days ago today. You count cycle day 1 as the first day of flow. Off to get what tomorrow? a thermometer? if so, then you'd have to start temping Wed am - you can't temp on Tues AFTER buying the thermometer, because you need to temp first thing in the morning on waking, BEFORE you even sit up, have a drink or go to the loo. Obviously, it's better to start temping on day 1 because records are more complete, but if you can't start temping till day 3 or 4 of a cycle, that shouldn't matter too much. Some women don't bother temping during AF anyway - especially if like me, their temps take a while to come down at the end of a cycle. HTH.

 

[Kittykins]

cross post with kmac!

ok, I'm off the pc for the rest of the day, I have soooooo much to do and I'm spending far too long on the computer! probably not on for a couple of days!

(espec if FF stays down - I can't even put in today's temp )

 

[angela-]

Kmac-

haha its my fault your confused i keep thinking it is sunday today!!! i mean i will buy it tomorrow and then temp when i wake wed morning, lol i love bank holls but they mess up my routine lol

 

[rach]

thanks kitty hun xxx

 

[Tasha20]

Well the witchy has nearly left the building, shes been tailing off all day! Stupid cow wont leave

I have a Q though

I have been having a lot of ewcm mixed in with spotting ( noticed when I wiped and on pad.

Is that normal?

Oh Angela good luck with the temping hun


Kmac I totaly undertstand what you mean by not having much penitrating sex, I used to prefer the other stuff much more and went through a faze of hardley ever having full sex.

But with TTC its either that or a turkey baster or you could get a cup

I heard that using those cervix cups, placing it inside and then manualy having an orgasm gives you a really good chance.

Food for thought, may have to do it myself

 

[satch]

Hi All,
I've just got back from an easter weekend away, and read through about 6 pages of posts. I was most amused by the turkey baster technique and was surprised to read that sperm lives upto an hour outside of the body - thinking about it, it would probably survive longer in some preseed...?
My Af, which normally lasts around 5 days lasted only a day and half, which I thought was odd. At least its over now, and over to the next stage
Should be Oving a week today, and then overseas for a week, so fingers crossed it comes when it should.
I'll be temping again from tomorrow xxx

 

[kmac]

Hi all
Have decided his must be AF now, it's def more than spotting... so I have started a new chart.
Will just have to wait and see what this cycle has in store!
Sorry for my numerous posts, and thanks for reading them!
I am going to switch off the laptop (or at least not look at it for a while!) and try to stop obsessing about this for at least one evening!

Hope everyone is ok and will catch up tomorrow
xx

 

[Loola]

Hi ladies! Well I have bought a scary looking syringe and we are going to practise tonight! This should be a laugh. Ive had some EWCM too! So perhaps I havent ovulated, or it has been delayed and Im getting ready for it again, Ive got nothing to lose so we will see how the basting thing goes! Wish me luck!