Questions about CM

bananers

As if the subject didn't imply, possibly TMI (though arguably there is no such thing on this board!)

I know what EW is and I know what creamy is, but I don't really understand the concept of "dry" as I'm never totally dry. Sometimes my underwear is dry, but if I check my cervix, it's definitely not ever.

I'm on CD 20 now, and when I entered in this morning's temperature, FF predicted I O'd 3 days ago. I had originally entered "dry" as my CM this morning, but when I went to the bathroom in the afternoon and checked, the stuff I found way up by my cervix was stretchy, so I changed it to EW, since FF said to record the most fertile kind of CM even if you have multiple kinds during the day. Well, changing my CM to EW turned my solid O crosshairs into a dotted line. Which really bummed me out! Honestly, when I checked back later in the afternoon, it wasn't stretchy anymore and was more creamy. Still dry underwear, so should I mark this as a "dry" day?

My temperatures are kind of all over the place, so I don't have a really clear biphasic pattern, which could be another reason FF decided to change my solid line to a dotted line. I have had three days above my coverline now, but these still aren't my highest temperatures, and aren't really that much higher than my average temps.

Thoughts?

PhotoFan

bananers:

As if the subject didn't imply, possibly TMI (though arguably there is no such thing on this board!)

I know what EW is and I know what creamy is, but I don't really understand the concept of "dry" as I'm never totally dry. Sometimes my underwear is dry, but if I check my cervix, it's definitely not ever.

I'm on CD 20 now, and when I entered in this morning's temperature, FF predicted I O'd 3 days ago. I had originally entered "dry" as my CM this morning, but when I went to the bathroom in the afternoon and checked, the stuff I found way up by my cervix was stretchy, so I changed it to EW, since FF said to record the most fertile kind of CM even if you have multiple kinds during the day. Well, changing my CM to EW turned my solid O crosshairs into a dotted line. Which really bummed me out! Honestly, when I checked back later in the afternoon, it wasn't stretchy anymore and was more creamy. Still dry underwear, so should I mark this as a "dry" day?

My temperatures are kind of all over the place, so I don't have a really clear biphasic pattern, which could be another reason FF decided to change my solid line to a dotted line. I have had three days above my coverline now, but these still aren't my highest temperatures, and aren't really that much higher than my average temps.

Thoughts?

I don't stick my finger way up in there I only check on the outside of my labia and my undies.  To each their own though.  I've had days where it was creamy then turned EW and I went with the EW. 

 

Edit: I just looked at your chart and noticed you have a lot of open circles.  Do you temp at different times?

bananers

I set my alarm for 6 every day and sometimes I hit snooze a couple times before temping. Or in the case of this morning I woke at 5:30 because a stupid bird outside my window woke me up, so I went ahead and temped then before getting up to shut the window. I'd say it's always within the half hour, though. I'm still learning FF. Does it give open circles for other circumstances besides time? Like the instances where I noted I was drinking or had poor sleep the night before?

PhotoFan

bananers:

I set my alarm for 6 every day and sometimes I hit snooze a couple times before temping. Or in the case of this morning I woke at 5:30 because a stupid bird outside my window woke me up, so I went ahead and temped then before getting up to shut the window. I'd say it's always within the half hour, though. I'm still learning FF. Does it give open circles for other circumstances besides time? Like the instances where I noted I was drinking or had poor sleep the night before?

I think it gives you an open circle if you check sleep deprived...not too sure on the drinking because I stopped when I started TTC  If you're doing it within half an hour of your original time I think it'll be ok.

Myrtis06

I've gotten open circles for the last few days because I've been waking up 2-3 time in the 3 hours before I temp (and I'm awake for at least 10-20 min each time).

When I think of "dry" I think "nothing comes out on my fingers", not necessarily that my cervix is literally dry. I'm still learning how to identify my CM but that's my interpretation.

LilyPotter218

I am not great about checking CM. I mark n/a or dry on days that even internally its kind of a struggle to get enough to check. If there is enough there to see then I mark it. They do say to record your most fertile cm, but if I did that I think I would have watery every day, so I record the most abundant. If I check a few times, the one I get the most often or for most of the day.

As far as waking up to temp. I have my alarm set at 5. I don't get up in the middle of the night but sometimes I have a bad night or just wake up at like 4... Temp before you get up if you are not going to get back to sleep for the 3 hours. If you mark sleep deprived or temp outside the half hour window you will get an open circle. Drinking will not give you open circles but will help explain a random high temp spike, like possibly mine this morning

Just keep good noes in FF so you can look back and see why the temp was off or why you have the open circle. Some nights Ill temp twice and make note of the one I did not chart so if things are looking off, I will be reminded that I took a temp at 3am thinking I may not fall back asleep but do. The 5am is still only 2 hours but I have them both to compare...

Sorry that was kind of long and wordy...