Chart Stalk?

rlajambe

I started charting mid month, so I know my information is incomplete. Also, I started charting my CM before I bought the thermometer. 

My temps say I ovulated on day 21, but the CM Analyzer says I ovulated on day 15. Without temps on earlier in the month is there any way to predict when AF might show her ugly head?

My chart (what I have of it) really doesn't look think any of the examples on FF.  Am I doing something wrong?

Again, I acknowledge that it is incomplete and probably even the best chart gurus can't tell me anythiing.  So if you don't know, no worries.

lindsayanne14

As you said yourself, it is very difficult to read an incomplete chart but I will mention one thing.  I would be cautious of using your CM or the CM analyzer to pinpoint your O, only because fertile CM can let you know your body is gearing up to O but doesn't really tell you if you have or haven't...the only thing that will tell you that is the temp shift.  It took me several months to really be able to "read" my chart well and even then I often had questions or saw things that didn't make sense. Just keep charting and it will become easier!

jle625

I don't believe FF on your O date for certain. Is the open circle because of a different time you took your temp? I set my alarm for 515 every morning and take my temp. If it is not time to get up I just go back to sleep. This has helped my charts a ton. HTH GL!

rlajambe

I think I could accept the temp data more if I had good CM around that the time of the crosshairs, but nothing.  It makes me question if I am evaluating my CM right.

It's not critical as I know that am definitely NOT pg.  We are TTA right now.  But I'm a perfectionist I suppose.

rlajambe

jle625:

I don't believe FF on your O date for certain. Is the open circle because of a different time you took your temp? I set my alarm for 515 every morning and take my temp. If it is not time to get up I just go back to sleep. This has helped my charts a ton. HTH GL!

I generally temp at the same time on weekdays, but I tend to sleep in an hour or two on weekends.  Maybe I'll try that next cycle.

GraceInCA

I think that temp on CD21 was an oddball temp. If you discard it, what happens?

Also, I would suggest including the intercourse info publicly on your chart, much easier to stalk and give feedback that way. What was your timing like this cycle? Would you be ok based on ovulation at either of those two points?

As far as the CM goes, you can have fertile-seeming CM at virtually any point in your cycle. Actually, you can have any kind of CM at any point in your cycle, so it's not the best predictor of fertility, unless you reliably get EWCM at about the same point each cycle.

Unfortunately I think you're going to have to wait and see with this cycle, and try to nail down the temping more regularly next cycle.

 

EDIT - Never mind, just saw that you're TTA. Ignore my question about timing.

CashewsMommy

It's so very hard to tell without the earlier temps or any other "typical" pre-O temps from other charts. I wish I could help you out more. 

 

vflipo

Usually you don't O until after your last day of EWCM. I would say you probably O'd anywhere between CD18-21. How long is your LP, usually? I would probably count on AF somewhere in the next 2-5ish days.

Like you said though, it's hard to really tell with an incomplete chart. 

rlajambe

GraceInCA:

I think that temp on CD21 was an oddball temp. If you discard it, what happens?

Also, I would suggest including the intercourse info publicly on your chart, much easier to stalk and give feedback that way. What was your timing like this cycle? Would you be ok based on ovulation at either of those two points?

As far as the CM goes, you can have fertile-seeming CM at virtually any point in your cycle. Actually, you can have any kind of CM at any point in your cycle, so it's not the best predictor of fertility, unless you reliably get EWCM at about the same point each cycle.

Unfortunately I think you're going to have to wait and see with this cycle, and try to nail down the temping more regularly next cycle.

EDIT - Never mind, just saw that you're TTA. Ignore my question about timing.

I was thinking that CD21 might be a bad temp too.  When I discard CD21, it tells me "you may have ovulate between CD19 and 24" which is even more wonky then it is now.

rlajambe

vflipo:

Usually you don't O until after your last day of EWCM. I would say you probably O'd anywhere between CD18-21. How long is your LP, usually? I would probably count on AF somewhere in the next 2-5ish days.

Like you said though, it's hard to really tell with an incomplete chart. 

I didn't chart pre-loss (Isabelle was conceived on BCPs), so unfortunately, I don't know my pre-loss LP length.  I had 28 day cycles pre-loss, but that's probably due to the BCPs.

anitaflora

As PPs and you mentioned without any previous data I think it's too hard to tell. But I just wanted to chime in and echo a few things from my own charting experience. 

Definitely try to stay as close as possible to the same time every morning. I have found that mine can sometimes vary if I'm off by even half an hour. So I would pick a time to set your alarm that's shortly before your regular wake up time and then go back to sleep if you can - like PP mentioned. The closer you are to that time every day the better picture you'll have of your chart over time I think.

Also, I have never found using the CM analyzer to be the best determining factor. My CM changes from cycle to cycle it seems and I just don't trust my observation of it. I have found the most reliable indicators to be temp and supported by OPKs.

HTH and good luck and keep charting!  It takes a little time but it is so worth IMHO.  

rlajambe

Well thanks ladies.

I guess I will just have to wait and see when AF shows up.  I will definitely try harder to temp at the same time every day next cycle and see if that resolves the wonky temp pattern.

I have two more cycle of TTA to practice before the info is really useful anyway I guess,