Newbies: Got a question you're scared to ask?

MSC03

I'm in a good mood today. In 20 minutes, my boss is taking us out to lunch (actually, she's forcing us to go because as she said, "It's going to be 80 degrees today and there's no f*ing way we're sitting at our desks...) so let's kill those 20 minutes with newbie questions!

And by calling for newbie questions, I don't mean for regulars to make fun of newbie questions. Let's just get 'em out of the way so that when I return from lunch we can play for the rest of the afternoon.

Temp86398625009737

Why i have gotten + OPK's 3 or 4 days in a row and am on CD 26..but only got close to + during O week

MSC03

mich2004bride:

Why i have gotten + OPK's 3 or 4 days in a row and am on CD 26..but only got close to + during O week

Are you charting BBT too? I'm not sure I understand the timeline you're describing.

ams8099

MrsSummitCounty:

mich2004bride:

Why i have gotten + OPK's 3 or 4 days in a row and am on CD 26..but only got close to + during O week

Are you charting BBT too? I'm not sure I understand the timeline you're describing.

 

OPK detect an LH surge. The tells you your body is gearing up to ovulate. It's very possible to gear up ovulate, but then never actually ovulate. 

ams8099

Alliekate:

I have been wanting to ask this question.... Who on this board is charting? And if you are not charting, what are you doing instead? Loaded question. Thanks

I chart. See my siggy. However I have pretty much thrown in the towel on this cycle.  

mystic_J

MrsSummitCounty:

I'm in a good mood today. In 20 minutes, my boss is taking us out to lunch (actually, she's forcing us to go because as she said, "It's going to be 80 degrees today and there's no f*ing way we're sitting at our desks...) so let's kill those 20 minutes with newbie questions!

And by calling for newbie questions, I don't mean for regulars to make fun of newbie questions. Let's just get 'em out of the way so that when I return from lunch we can play for the rest of the afternoon.

I give to this idea

Temp86398625009737

not charting yet, usually have 30ish day cycles.  Had EWCM around the 15th of the month, so  cd 17 and it was slightly blood tinged a few times.  So, I could be 8 dpo and had more EWCM and took OPK's this week and they were all positive. 

Temp86398625009737

so if Iw as geraing up to O now, why would it be + for 4 days??

MSC03

Alliekate:

I have been wanting to ask this question.... Who on this board is charting? And if you are not charting, what are you doing instead? Loaded question. Thanks

I'd venture to guess that 80-90% of us are charting BBT's. The other options are (from bunk to more accurate): guessing, ovulation calendars, OPK's and charting CM.

I think BBT charting is the most popular choice because it's the cheapest and most accurate. It also can answer a lot of questions (did I just have a surge or did I really O?) and it can help to identify conditions like thyroid issues and luteal phase disorders.

MSC03

mich2004bride:

so if Iw as geraing up to O now, why would it be + for 4 days??

It's possible to have an LH surge last several days and never O. Or maybe you O late and have a short luteal phase (keeping you under the 30 day mark). Or maybe you just O'd late and this cycle would be longer than usual.

Only charting BBT will give you a definite answer.

 

MSC03

Alliekate:

Thanks... I just got AF and starting cycle two. I am not planning on charting this month and I will use OPK. But I am getting that book everyone recommends and will hopefully start charting cycle 3. 

The other disadvantage of OPK's is that you can actually miss your surge. I forgot to mention that in my other post.

I know charting seems kinda difficult at first, but seriously--after about a week it's such a routine. It's feels great to *know* exactly what's going on.  I wish I had started charting before we were TTC.

mandy4678

Good morning MSC!!! Why am I getting EWCM after possibly O'ing on CD16.

 How are you doing????

hjk5000

jme515:

MrsSummitCounty:

I'm in a good mood today. In 20 minutes, my boss is taking us out to lunch (actually, she's forcing us to go because as she said, "It's going to be 80 degrees today and there's no f*ing way we're sitting at our desks...) so let's kill those 20 minutes with newbie questions!

And by calling for newbie questions, I don't mean for regulars to make fun of newbie questions. Let's just get 'em out of the way so that when I return from lunch we can play for the rest of the afternoon.

I give to this idea

agreed, your boss sounds awesome!

MSC03

mandy4678:

Good morning MSC!!! Why am I getting EWCM after possibly O'ing on CD16.

 How are you doing????

I'm good (and I O'd! Did you see that??), how are you?

Can't EWCM hang around for a day or so after O? Are you sure it's not leftovers from all of that hot lovin'? Could you have O'd yesterday--why the open circle?

ams8099

Your LH surge might have been long. You could have caught it at the very beginning. I am also inclined to ask, are you sure it was a positive?

mandy4678

MrsSummitCounty:

mandy4678:

Good morning MSC!!! Why am I getting EWCM after possibly O'ing on CD16.

 How are you doing????

I'm good (and I O'd! Did you see that??), how are you?

Can't EWCM hang around for a day or so after O? Are you sure it's not leftovers from all of that hot lovin'? Could you have O'd yesterday--why the open circle?

Yes, I saw that you O'd!!! Woohoo. Good timing with sex too.  I am stalking your chart missy!

I can never sleep when I think I might be about to O. I wake up out of eagerness to see my temp. That is the trend with all of my charts. I had a +OPK on CD 16 w/FMU and at 2:30pm. I had a + OPK on CD 17 w/FMU only.  And no, I do not think the EWCM is leftovers...I did the water test.

mrskimm09

We are gonna actively be TTC in July. I heard you should go off your BC a few months before to get a few med free periods before TTC. Is this a smart thing to do? That means I can A. go off now (i take out ring on monday) or B. go off the after the next cycle.

stace42

Thanks for taking on some newbie questions :-)

Now that we are actively TTC I find that I can't stop thinking about it - I am constantly looking for signs of O and planning on when we should have sex next. I lurk and lurk and google and google and try to digest all of this new information and I am already thinking about how disssapointed I will be if I get  BFN (even though I know it can take months/years). I know it is bad to overthink and worry and all of that so I was just wondering what you ladies do to keep your minds off of it and to stay positive - does it get easier eventually??

justinlovesme

stace42:

Thanks for taking on some newbie questions :-)

Now that we are actively TTC I find that I can't stop thinking about it - I am constantly looking for signs of O and planning on when we should have sex next. I lurk and lurk and google and google and try to digest all of this new information and I am already thinking about how disssapointed I will be if I get  BFN (even though I know it can take months/years). I know it is bad to overthink and worry and all of that so I was just wondering what you ladies do to keep your minds off of it and to stay positive - does it get easier eventually??

:butting in:

Yes and no.  Once you learn more and more about your body, you realize "symptoms" aren't symptoms of anything, so you're not as disappointed at a bfn, or af showing up.  

The other day I saw 10 pregnant people at target, and went to the tampon/preg. test aisle where I knew I was safe, and cried.

MSC03

mrskimm09:

We are gonna actively be TTC in July. I heard you should go off your BC a few months before to get a few med free periods before TTC. Is this a smart thing to do? That means I can A. go off now (i take out ring on monday) or B. go off the after the next cycle.

It's up to you. Some people have no issues at all and get pregnant right away, some people take months to regulate. Were you regular before BC?

Either way, it'll be hard to wait until July! Good luck!

MSC03

stace42:

Thanks for taking on some newbie questions :-)

Now that we are actively TTC I find that I can't stop thinking about it - I am constantly looking for signs of O and planning on when we should have sex next. I lurk and lurk and google and google and try to digest all of this new information and I am already thinking about how disssapointed I will be if I get  BFN (even though I know it can take months/years). I know it is bad to overthink and worry and all of that so I was just wondering what you ladies do to keep your minds off of it and to stay positive - does it get easier eventually??

My first cycle was full of those types of thoughts. This one was WAY easier for me, but I know a lot of people on here continue to be anxious. I guess it's just not in my manner to be like that.

ccbanana

Wordsmith226:

Hi and thanks for the offer- I have a question about charting and the "sleep guidelines."

TCOFY says to get at least 3 hours of continous sleep before taking your temp, and if you don't, to mark sleep deprived.  I am a light sleeper in that I wake up to turn over A LOT during the night.  I am awake for maybe a minute or two. I do not get out of bed.  Is that SD or not? 

Also, if I wake up early, is it better to temp when I wake up and mark a change in time or to wake up at the regular time and mark sleep deprived? 

This is my first temping/ charting cycle, and I am really excited!!! I want to have the most accurate chart I can- TIA!

These are really good questions!  For your first one (up for 1-2 mins) I would say you can't really control that so I wouldn't worry too much about it.  That's just me.

Fro the second one, I would temp right when you wake and just change the time.

MSC03

Wordsmith226:

Hi and thanks for the offer- I have a question about charting and the "sleep guidelines."

TCOFY says to get at least 3 hours of continous sleep before taking your temp, and if you don't, to mark sleep deprived.  I am a light sleeper in that I wake up to turn over A LOT during the night.  I am awake for maybe a minute or two. I do not get out of bed.  Is that SD or not? 

Also, if I wake up early, is it better to temp when I wake up and mark a change in time or to wake up at the regular time and mark sleep deprived? 

This is my first temping/ charting cycle, and I am really excited!!! I want to have the most accurate chart I can- TIA!

I temp at 6:00, but probably a few times between 3-6 I roll over, open one eye and look at the clock, and fall right back asleep. Sometimes DH steals the covers and I have to wrangle for them and fall back asleep--neither of these affects my temps.

But there are those mornings when I wake up at 3 and just can't get back to sleep, or I toss and turn and have nightmares, etc. Those mornings my temp is way up, so I mark sleep deprived. It's rare.

If I have more than 2 drinks the night before, I usually "sleep deprived" myself so that I can see it on my chart because it really affects my temps (probably 90% of the open circles in my chart are from this).

As for the early/late temping--if you wake up early, just temp then and mark it with the accurate time. Never temp twice--it only adds confusion and makes you second guess. Don't bother with temp adjusters, either--I think it takes some extra special circumstances, knowing your cycle, and experience charting to know when to do that.

mmk3742

So my question somewhat goes along with the temping question above. I am currently dealing with insomnia (most likely caused by low estrogen levels from bcp.) 

I went off bcp Sunday and am now charting.  Because of the insomnia I wake up 3-4 times per night.  Sometimes it is for five minutes, sometimes hours.  But never the same night after night.  

Should I just take my temp at the same time each morning until I start actually sleeping?  I almost never get a three hour block of sleep to temp after.

MSC03

Wow, that is a tough one. That might be a question worth putting in it's own post for the board to reply because I'm not sure my answer will be accurate.

I'd be tempted to temp every day at the same time--and I'd mark sleep deprived if you awoke for a significant amount of time. But if it was just a minute or two, I'd leave it alone.

I guess only time will tell how much insomnia affects your temps.

mmk3742

I think I will repost that one on it's own.  I have been temping at the same time each day.  But my temps are pretty varied (all four!)  I am also marking sleep deprived because I am up at least fifteen minutes each time I wake up, going to bed at 9:30-10 and getting up at 4:30-5. 

Thanks for the response.  Hopefully I will get straightened out once the fake hormones leave my system.

MSC03

mmk3742:

I think I will repost that one on it's own.  I have been temping at the same time each day.  But my temps are pretty varied (all four!)  I am also marking sleep deprived because I am up at least fifteen minutes each time I wake up, going to bed at 9:30-10 and getting up at 4:30-5. 

Thanks for the response.  Hopefully I will get straightened out once the fake hormones leave my system.

Everyone's going to ask to see your chart--can you link it in your siggy? There should be instructions in Fertility Friend.