TTC only to have AF not behave?

happymonkey123

Hi Ladies,

I'm sure you see a ton of these posts, but like a lot of you, I just need to get this off my chest around people who know what it's like. I'm sorry for the length of this post, and for anything that is TMI. 

DH and I wanted to TTC a few years ago, but we went through a lot in our personal lives (not related to health or to our marriage) that put this on hold over and over again. Although it was hard, I think it strengthened our marriage even further, which is so great! We decided to TTC again this past month. I was on the pill for years until about seven or eight months ago, and except for the first cycle (AF skipped), I've been like clockwork ever since -- 28-29-day cycles every month.

This time, after TTC for the first time, I felt a lot of weird symptoms for about 1.5 weeks after when I think ovulation was based on my OPK -- nausea, extreme bloating, tiredness, moodiness, all at a level uncharacteristic of me. I also had headaches daily. Then, the symptoms stopped. AF didn't show, either. 

I took 3 pregnancy tests, all BFN, with the last one being a few days after AF was supposed to arrive. Nothing.

Then, about a week after AF was supposed to arrive, I got brown CM for a few days. Then yesterday, a really heavy AF (I think), except it's now gone.

I feel no symptoms except for AF-level cramping every now and then.

Anyone been there before? How did you deal? I'm trying not to stress, but I think stress might have caused this, so maybe I'm not doing a good job of relaxing. 

thanks, ladies!

KingLED

happymonkey123 said:

Hi Ladies,

I'm sure you see a ton of these posts, but like a lot of you, I just need to get this off my chest around people who know what it's like. I'm sorry for the length of this post, and for anything that is TMI. 

DH and I wanted to TTC a few years ago, but we went through a lot in our personal lives (not related to health or to our marriage) that put this on hold over and over again. Although it was hard, I think it strengthened our marriage even further, which is so great! We decided to TTC again this past month. I was on the pill for years until about seven or eight months ago, and except for the first cycle (AF skipped), I've been like clockwork ever since -- 28-29-day cycles every month.

This time, after TTC for the first time, I felt a lot of weird symptoms for about 1.5 weeks after when I think ovulation was based on my OPK -- nausea, extreme bloating, tiredness, moodiness, all at a level uncharacteristic of me. I also had headaches daily. Then, the symptoms stopped. AF didn't show, either. 

I took 3 pregnancy tests, all BFN, with the last one being a few days after AF was supposed to arrive. Nothing.

Then, about a week after AF was supposed to arrive, I got brown CM for a few days. Then yesterday, a really heavy AF (I think), except it's now gone.

I feel no symptoms except for AF-level cramping every now and then.

Anyone been there before? How did you deal? I'm trying not to stress, but I think stress might have caused this, so maybe I'm not doing a good job of relaxing. 

thanks, ladies!

I've been there. I've ovulated later than what I was hoping/expecting and I've had short periods. Also, I really doubt stress caused anything.

icaughtfire

It's normal for your cycle to be a little crazy after going off hormonal birth control. Consider temping (check out Fertility Friend for information & great tutorials) and learn how your body & cycle work. It can save you a great deal of stress in the future.

catahoulatte

cramcakes said:

You should put your period in time out for misbehaving.

I wish this was possible.

catahoulatte

OP, periods and cycles are weird, even if they seem "like clockwork". If you're charting and using OPKs, it takes a lot of the guesswork out of what's happening.

happymonkey123

Thanks, ladies. I really appreciate your help. I do wish I could put AF in time out, haha!

I should have mentioned: I did start temping last month before TTC. That was weird, too. I temped with a BBT thermometer every morning at the same time before getting out of bed, but my temps were kind of all over the place. There was no consistent temperature or pattern. It was very weird--up and down randomly throughout the cycle, with no sustained peaks or valleys. Just in case, I'm thinking about buying a new thermometer. I've had this one a few years (from when I originally planned to TTC).

The OPK was interesting, too. I started testing on CD 8 and got negative results for two days. Then a flashing smiley on CD10, then a solid smiley on CD11, which seemed so early to me. 

Go figure. The cycle when I decide to TTC is the weirdest one I've had in my life. Fun!

Thank you again for all of your input and help. I feel so silly being new to all of this and feeling like I don't know what I'm doing or what's wrong. 

happymonkey123

I'm going to step back and read the Newbie resources right away. Plus, I have heard great things about Taking Charge of your Fertility. I will read that, too. thanks again!

lindsayloo1212

AF is misbehaving over here as well. No period since going off pill. No idea when or even if I ovulated. CD 40. I just keep on temping and watching CM although it makes me a little more anxious because nothing is adding up but hoping with time it will help. So hang in there!

lindsayloo1212

Also I just downloaded the Fertility Friend guidebook and it is really informative and helpful! Can't change my cycle but it helps to learn more about it.

gscoville

Things can be wonky with your cycles at any time, especially when you're looking for meaning behind every cramp, twinge, and 'symptom'.  Our bodies are not machines or clocks, every so often (or more often for some of us) they do weird things like have shorter periods, longer cycles, weird symptoms we've never had before, etc.  I just had a barely two-day period when my periods are usually 5+ days long.  It happens.  After two years of TTC, I've learned the hard way to completely ignore 'symptoms' and rely solely on my FF charts and HPTs to tell me what my body is up to.  It's been a sanity saver, really, thinking every headache, fart, or bout of nausea is a possibly pregnancy sign can send you right around the bend.

catlover790

I would also recommend using fertility friend site for charting. It is helpful to keep track if everything and it takes into account all factors when determining your O day. I also understand your frustrations about weird cycles; I haven't had a "normal" cycle since stopping the pill. Charting really helps to keep me from wondering what every "symptom" means. good luck!