? for those who chart/have charted

Mrs.G_09

Yesterday I had my appt. with my new doctor and I mentioned that I have been charting. She told me it's not a good way to detect ovulation and seemed to frown upon it. Did any of you ladies talk to your doctors about charting and if so what were their reactions?

I'm not sure if I like this new doctor...for more reasons than this.

dani_girl08

Whaaaaaaaat???  How is that not a good way to detect ovulatiion?!  Did she suggest another way??  I'm blown away by this!   

natalee215

I did not discuss it with my doctor and find your OB's reaction a bit strange.  Maybe s/he doesn't want you to be relying on it as BC?

katers1279

A lot of doctors HATE charting.  I think they see it as too much "pressure".  My doctor could take it or leave it.  She likes that I know so much about my body, but never asked to see my charts or anything.  I know a lot of people that never told their doctors, or, then told their doctors they'd stopped charting, but really didn't stop.

I don't know why your doctor would think it's not a good way to detect ovulation.  Unless maybe you were someone who wasn't diligent about charting.  For example, not taking your temp under the right parameters and then saying, "I'm not ovulating", or something like that. 

ETA:  In my observation of others, it seems OBs don't like charting....REs do.  I think OBs live in a dream world that everyone gets pregnant 1, 2, 3 and charting isn't necessary. 

ash.flea

That seems crazy.  I've always been under the impression that it is the BEST way to detect ovulation.

lauralizabee

My doctor LOVES that I do. He had tried lots of different kinds of BCP with me, and all of them came with their own problems for me, so he was really happy when I decided to try charting. I also was able to bring it in when I had the m/c and he was really happy to be able to look at it and talk to me about it. (but then again I super heart my dr.)

Mrs.N.H.

That's crazy! My doctor hasn't ask to see my charts, but I know she likes that I understand my body, what's going on with my cycles, know when I ovulate, etc.

dani_girl08

I think it's unanimous.  We don't like your new doctor either.  Seriously though, don't let her discourage you from charting.  I'm not sure how long you have been doing it for, but you will feel like you know your body so well after a few cycles.  

 And, on a side note, how have you been feeling lately?  Are you still doing the strict diet?  Is it helping? 

jebuell

My OB kind of had the same reaction but my one visit with an RE she really encouraged it and asked to look at my charts (to confirm the LPD).  Honestly, I hate to say it but I really don't think OBs spend a lot of time caring about HOW you get pregnant.  They only focus on what to do with you once you are.  So if you do your ground work, learn about your body and ovulation patterns, I think some OBs don't really know what you're talking about and therefor aren't comfortable discussing it.  That's been my experience, anyway.

sarlah

I talked to my doctor about charting and she had a less then enthusiastic reaction also. The vibe I got from her though was that she isn't into charting because you have to be so on top of it. From what she said it sounds like she's heard people say they are CTA quite often and end up KU anyways because they aren't really 150% committed.

Mrs.G_09

I was a little surprised at her reaction too, but then again I have had a doctor frown on it in the past too, a GP, buy saying "You know there's nothing natural about that, don't you?". I left that doctor's office in tears...but that's a whole different story.

I brought up that I chart because we were discussing my slightly irregular cycles and TTC next Spring and her response was something along the lines of people read so much information on the internet and that she doesn't think it's a good way to detect ovulation. She said most people ovulate 14 days before their next period so if I had a 30 day cycle I probably ovulated on day 16. Then I said well how am I supposed to guess when my cycles are never the same and she said since they are between 25-35 days I should figure I would ovulate anywhere from day 9 to 19 and BD every other day days 7-21. Afterwards I found it odd that she never suggested OPK's.

I didn't question her answers during the appt. because I picked her partly because she specializes in fertility so I thought well she must know what she's talking about. Ugh...the more I think about the appt. the more I think I don't like her, but I figure I should at least give her a second chance.

I'm sorry I don't remember who mentioned her looking down on it as BC, but it's funny you mentioned that. I explained to the nurse and the doc my problems with several bcp's and how I'd stopped taking them and mentioned that DH and I were going to TTC in Spring and she asked me if I wanted any bc for the time being. What is it with doctors and shoving bc down people's throats?!

natalee215

jebuell:

Honestly, I hate to say it but I really don't think OBs spend a lot of time caring about HOW you get pregnant.  They only focus on what to do with you once you are.  So if you do your ground work, learn about your body and ovulation patterns, I think some OBs don't really know what you're talking about and therefor aren't comfortable discussing it.  That's been my experience, anyway.

My OB is the director L&D for the hospital so he obviously has experience and experitise, but I agree, sometimes they only care about actually delivering babies, not so much about how it happens.  I think much less attention is given to women prior to pregnancy and even in early pregnancy (if it isn't a high risk pregnancy) than very pregnant women.  My OB even suggeested keeping the pregnancy quitet until the 2nd tri.  I don't think he really took it seriously until then.

katers1279

Mrs.G_09:

I was a little surprised at her reaction too, but then again I have had a doctor frown on it in the past too, a GP, buy saying "You know there's nothing natural about that, don't you?". I left that doctor's office in tears...but that's a whole different story.

I brought up that I chart because we were discussing my slightly irregular cycles and TTC next Spring and her response was something along the lines of people read so much information on the internet and that she doesn't think it's a good way to detect ovulation. She said most people ovulate 14 days before their next period so if I had a 30 day cycle I probably ovulated on day 16. Then I said well how am I supposed to guess when my cycles are never the same and she said since they are between 25-35 days I should figure I would ovulate anywhere from day 9 to 19 and BD every other day days 7-21. Afterwards I found it odd that she never suggested OPK's.

I didn't question her answers during the appt. because I picked her partly because she specializes in fertility so I thought well she must know what she's talking about. Ugh...the more I think about the appt. the more I think I don't like her, but I figure I should at least give her a second chance.

I'm sorry I don't remember who mentioned her looking down on it as BC, but it's funny you mentioned that. I explained to the nurse and the doc my problems with several bcp's and how I'd stopped taking them and mentioned that DH and I were going to TTC in Spring and she asked me if I wanted any bc for the time being. What is it with doctors and shoving bc down people's throats?!

In theory, this is true.  Just like in theory every woman has a 28 day cycle and ovulates on CD 14.  Yes, most luteal phases (the time from ovulation until AF) are 14 days long.  But, some are 10, some are 16....it just depends on a woman's body.  I think THIS is part of what OBs don't really want to embrace.  They want to lump every woman into one group.  Typically, I had 32 day cycles.  O on CD 18 and then a 14 day LP.  So, her theory is halfway correct for me. 

Essentially, do what YOU feel comfortable with.  Personally, to get pregnant, for MONTHS we had sex every other day from CD 11 until after confirmed O.  It never worked.  The cycle I got pregnant with?  Sex three days in a row...once before O, once on O and then the day after.  I was disappointed with that because it wasn't what we were "supposed to do".  Little did I know....

Anyway, long story short.  If YOU like charting, continue to do it.  It's YOUR body and you seem pretty on top of the way it's supposed to work.  If you're confident in how it's working for you, go for it.  I never had a problem with it and will likely chart again in the future.

Mrs.G_09

dani_girl08:

I think it's unanimous.  We don't like your new doctor either.  Seriously though, don't let her discourage you from charting.  I'm not sure how long you have been doing it for, but you will feel like you know your body so well after a few cycles.  

 And, on a side note, how have you been feeling lately?  Are you still doing the strict diet?  Is it helping? 

I'm doing ok. I've noticed the symptoms slowly coming back, but I've been taking vitamins and supplements and they seem to really help. I have not been very good about sticking to the diet. I love carbs so much and it's really difficult to try and limit those, but I'm making baby steps. I've noticed a difference even with the small changes I have made. Thanks for asking!

I don't plan to stop charting either. I charted for about 8 months before my old doctor put me on bc to try and help and I started up again as soon as I stopped taking bc.

Mrs.G_09

Thank you ladies for your responses. They really made me feel a whole lot better and sure of myself.

The more and more I think about it maybe I won't go back to her. I think the biggest problem I had with her was that she questioned my whole diagnosis to begin with without even looking at the pictures my old doc took or reading her surgery notes (the two clinics don't share computer systems). Throughout the appt. she treated me like I was stupid, but in the nicest voice. I think I may invest in becomming a member of the Endo Assoc. so I can get their list of doctors. Maybe then I'll find another one who cares as much as my old doctor.

Mrs.S_0909

I was shocked when I told my new OB about my charting she got all excited and asked how long my cycles were, what day I normally O on, and how long my LP is. I was super surprised to find a Dr. who likes it when their patients chart.

katers1279

As with any doctor, it's so important to find someone you trust.  This doctor doesn't seem to care like you'd want her to, so I say, find someone else.  It's one thing to have differing opinions, but, it essentially sounds like she's saying you're "wrong" about your diagnosis, about charting.....that's just not right.

Good luck in finding someone else who you can trust!

jebuell

My cycles before I started charting were 28 days, so very normal.  So I couldn't understand why I wasn't getting pregnant.  My first cycle charting gave ME all of the answers- I wasn't Oing until CD19 or CD20.  So my LPs were less than 10 days.  This is a BIG problem that I never would have caught if I hadn't been charting.  Luckily it was an easily fixed problem (in my case anyway).  But had I not charted I probably would have gone another 6 months without realizing there was a problem. 

So, chart away!  Don't let your doctor discourage you.  If YOU feel it's creating too much pressure then stop, but don't let a doctor tell you that.

jcombs

And this is why we always say when people can't get pregnant after a year, go to a RE, not OB/GYN.  OBs specialize in dealing with you after you get pregnant, even those that say they specialize in fertility or infertility.  If they really did, they would have the RE designation. 

And I agree in theory we all ovulate 14 days before your period.  But what if you have an annovulatory cycle?  And what if stress at work screws up your cycle?  Do you want to go through wondering for days if you are pregnant and keep testing to just find out you ovulated late?  

She may be a fine OB once you are pregnant, but I agree with everyone else, she's wrong on this.

Ashleysred

I think I would switch docs, if you don't like her, then you don't like her.  You should def find someone you like, especially since you see your OB every month while pregnant.  I wasn't super fond of my OB and now I wish I would have switched.

With that said, I can't believe that charting is so looked down upon.  This is crazy.  It seems like it would be refreshing to have a patient know so much about their body, instead of going to the doc and answering with "I don't know" to all their questions.

chickymel

I agree with pp that it seems like you may want to find a new Dr..  It can never hurt to know what's going on with your body!  Charting really helped me, since my cycles were out of whack too, and my LF was pretty short.  I say keep going with it, and good luck finding a new dr!

dani_girl08

Mrs.G_09:

She said most people ovulate 14 days before their next period so if I had a 30 day cycle I probably ovulated on day 16. Then I said well how am I supposed to guess when my cycles are never the same and she said since they are between 25-35 days I should figure I would ovulate anywhere from day 9 to 19 and BD every other day days 7-21. 

It will be so helpful for you to know when you ovulated in the cycle that you do get pregnant.  Many offices don't do an early u/s to date the pregnancy, and if they don't, they just guess based on your average cycle.  10 days can be a big difference at the end of pregnancy when they are determining when it's time to induce!

Sorry that you're noticing your symptoms returning.  I'm sure the diet is extremely hard to follow strictly.  I'm a carb whore myself, so I totally understand!