Why must my body be so IRREGULAR and UNPREDICTABLE?!?!?!??!

jilligan14 · August 2015

I don't know why I have such high hopes that my body will do something normal when my cycles are always soooooo CRAZY!!! Blah!!

I got a "high fertility" (flashy smiley face) on the ClearBlue OPK the same day as my temp started to rise. The next day I got an error on the ClearBlue (but the Wondfo was negative) and my temp continued to rise. Today was another "high" with a HUGE spike in my temperature. FF is thinking I might have O'd on CD11, but I'm pretty sure that isn't true. When I do O, it's always late in my cycle (anywhere from CD18-29). And WTH is up with the OPK's if I did magically O early this cycle?!?!?

My tests from the RE are coming in and the only thing abnormal (besides the high AMH and testosterone from my Dec. 2013 test) is the prolactin level. It's high and the RE wants to retest on CD3 of my next cycle to see if it continues to stay high. This could be one reason I'm not ovulating. I'm wondering, is it possible for this to be throwing my temps out of whack? Or is there another reason?

On a side note, if I somehow did O this early, we were lucky to get one BD in 2 days before. We haven't been good at it since because of traveling, H getting sick, and some fighting as well :-(

Please feel free to look at my chart and tell me your opinions, thoughts, intuition, etc.

[url=https://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/59a9ac/]My Ovulation Chart[/url]

thistle8677 · August 2015

@jilligan14 I mean, it honestly looks like a normal cycle...I know it's not typical, but it really does look good!
How awesome if something shifted for you and you started o'ING earlier!

I'm curious about your prolactin levels..
I mention this because last cycle (when I was like 99.9% sure I was pg...but I wasn't), I was leaking colostrum out of one nipple.
I mentioned it to my dr and of course, she said nothing.
Is this connected to pcos?
My dr. won't diagnose me despite my symptoms, because I still have a period.
(I don't always ovulate)

jennOK · August 2015

I don't know what's going on with me. I'm usually really predictable with my cycle. AF should have been here Saturday, and still hasn't showed up today. I got a BFN when I tested Sunday. Something wonky is going on of course when I just want things to move along so we can try again.

jennOK · August 2015

I must add I haven 't been temping but need to start. I feel for you though. This is such a frustrating process when your body won't cooperate.

emsmama15 · August 2015

Maybe it's your diet @jilligan14. The meat/veggie diet may have made you ovulate early? I don't know. Your chart looks awfully nice and CLEARLY looks like you o'd on CD 11.

happyktmom · August 2015

I blame it all on PCOS. I always had the same problem with OPK's and finally got rid of them all. PCOS causes LH surges. So not fair!

jilligan14 · August 2015

Hi ladies,

Thanks for the input! It's exciting to think that all my diet changes could have brought on a really early O, but I'm also having a hard time believing it, especially since I ALWAYS get a +OPK on the cycles that I do O (as well as lots of EWCM). So it just seems strange that I had NONE of the usual O symptoms. But I don't really know how to explain the recent high temps, unless it's because of traveling and not-so-good sleeping? Also, temp dropped today (but still above coverline) and I've been having some cramping and a bit of pink-tinged cm. What??!?! It's starting to feel like AF is coming way too early... Ugh.

@thistle8677 - yes, high prolactin levels are connected to PCOS. I would definitely go get your levels tested if you were leaking stuff during your last cycle. My RE asked if that was happening to me but it's not. Also, plenty of PCOS women still get their periods (I do) and some even have regular periods (I don't). If you definitely know you aren't ovulating every cycle, I would go and get checked out. Even if you don't go the traditional route with PCOS treatments/drugs, you can take that information to a natural doctor or acupuncturist, etc. Basically, it'd be good to rule it out as a possibility but that's just my opinion :-)

@happyktmom - the OPK's only give me one LH surge (or none) per cycle. I don't seem to have the problem of having an LH surge all cycle long...

jilligan14 · August 2015

Also, I'm a bit stumped as to what to do with my progesterone supplement.s My acupuncturist has requested that I go one cycle without it so that she can see what my body is doing naturally. The new RE doesn't believe in prog supplements - he thinks he needs to fix ovulation from the beginning so that I have a *strong* ovulation and thus produce good levels of progesterone on my own. I've also heard of some women waiting until they get a BFP to start taking it. It's just so overwhelming sometimes figuring out what to do...

emsmama15 · August 2015

Just anecdotally, I start progesterone the day after IUI - so the day after ovulation. With my first, I had just started with my RE, so I didn't have the prescription and I started with my BFP. I side-eye REs who "don't believe in progesterone supps." It seems like such a weird thing to not believe in. They don't hurt. Just my two cents.

jilligan14 · August 2015

@emsmama15 - thanks for sharing your experience. It does seem strange that there are those who are so opposed to it. I just find it hard to know what to do sometimes when everyone is recommending something and all the things contradict.

emsmama15 · August 2015

However, the above aside, you should decide if you trust your RE. If so, do what you're comfortable with.

jilligan14 · August 2015

@emsmama15 - well, it's not that the RE told me not to take it, just that it's "useless" and won't really make a difference. He wants to focus on improving the quality of my ovulation from the beginning, not trying to remedy low levels at the end of the cycle. This is basically the same thing my acupuncturist has said (about improving things at the beg. vs. the end of the cycle) and she has requested that I don't take the progesterone for one cycle so she can get a clear picture of what my body is doing. But then there are so many who claim it helped with recurrent miscarriages and I keep wondering, what if this is the cycle I get pregnant and I mess it up by not taking the progesterone right away? I'm talking it over with H and we're trying to figure out what feels right for us. It doesn't help that I'm still in denial that I O'd early - I keep thinking I'm yet to O and I don't want to mess it up with the progesterone. I'm just stressing over it all too much because I feel like every step could be the wrong step and I hate that feeling...Sorry for the vent and the obsessions and thanks for listening (as always!).

dolphin012 · August 2015

@jilligan14 - so sorry for your wonky cycles. Just looked at your chart and your temps look good (i don't have experience with opk's so can't comment on those). That said i would probably be a little suspicious if my cycle suddenly changed so much, so would probably agree with your hesitation, too. It seems so stressful trying to figure out when to take the progesterone. Anyway just thinking of you as you and H figure out your next best step for you.

jilligan14 · August 2015

@emsmama15 - oh, and I forgot to add that although my new RE isn't into progesterone supplements, he does seem WAY more thorough and explains things in greater detail than the RE I saw in 2013 (that first RE took some tests, didn't tell me what they meant and just prescribed Clomid without any monitoring). So I do have some hope with this new RE. But more importantly, I really value and trust my acupuncturist a lot! She has a ton of experience with PCOS (she's written quite a few papers on it) and has helped many women get pregnant. She says she can usually get positive results/changes within 2-4 months (with diet change, acupuncture, and herbs). So based on her track record, I feel willing to try what she suggests (otherwise I don't think I would've had the dedication to do the no carbs/high protein diet for 6 weeks!).

@dolphin012 - thanks for the comment. It IS hard to accept that my cycle would change so suddenly! I keep trying to justify the change with other reasons - such as we've been traveling and sleep has been a bit rocky. But my temp jumped up to 98.03 today, after a good sleep, so I guess this might be for real??? So do you not use OPK's at all? Just curious as to why not. I'm starting to think that they just aren't accurate and that maybe I should just stick to temping (which would be the more cheaper option)...

emsmama15 · August 2015

@jilligan14 - have you seen your acupuncturist since your possible ovulation? I'd be curious to see what she thinks about this early O and if your dietary changes, herbs, acupuncture could have worked so quickly. Good luck!!!

thistle8677 · August 2015

@jilligan14 I was wondering the same thing!

jilligan14 · August 2015

I'm currently in Maine with H and won't be home until the 30th, but I'm going to email her to update her on everything!

dolphin012 · August 2015

@jilligan14 -- I am trying to remember back to when we started (a while ago - uhg - lol) and why i didn't go with opk's. I started with temping as it was straigtforward and easy to incorporate into my routine. I remember considering adding opk's and looked into them at a drug store and the brand they had was really expensive for what i think was only one month. I didn't do any further research after that as the temping seemed to be providing enough information for us. My cycles are fairly predictable and my temps usually very reliable so I am not sure it would have added a whole lot for me.

jilligan14 · August 2015

@dolphin012 - that makes sense. If my cycles were regular, temping would definitely be all that I needed. The OPK's work okay for me and they always catch my LH surge (when I do in fact have one), except for this time....

I'm struggling to figure out what to make of this cycle. The spotting continues, although the cramps have finally subsided. It's definitely not enough to be considered a regular AF (only a few dots showing up on the pad) but it seems more than just a bit of random spotting (pinkish and sometimes red on toilet paper). Should I count this as a start of a new cycle? My RE wants me to do more blood work on day 3 of my next cycle and I just can't figure out if this is AF or not. Sigh.

Thanks for listening everyone! I really appreciate it!

dolphin012 · August 2015

@jilligan14 - maybe check with your RE's office. The two REs I have been to both say that you need to have full flow to count as day 1.

Very frustrating. Hang in there.

thistle8677 · August 2015

@jilligan14 :-?

emsmama15 · August 2015

@jilligan14 - I would agree with @dolphin012. I randomly had about 8 hours of spotting before AF started this cycle, so when I went in for my baseline, they asked me what CD I was. I said "it shouldn't be this hard, but here's what happened..." They didn't count the spotting as CD1 at all. I'd say you have NOT started your new cycle, but I'd call your RE just to check with them. Good lord lady!! I'm so sorry!

emsmama15 · August 2015

By the way, what are your temps doing Jill? If it was AF, your temp should have dropped significantly...

jilligan14 · August 2015

I've been messaging with my RE (he's great and actually responds to messages himself). He agrees that full flow is Day 1 and that I can do the tests up until CD 9 (but preferably on CD 3). The thing is, I'm traveling on east coast with H until Aug. 30. I don't know how to go about getting a blood test done somewhere else...

I had to use a pad yesterday (just one). It's still not my usual full flow, but definitely more than spotting. I'm thinking of changing it to "light" on FF, which puts yesterdays as my new CD 1. For now I won't change it so you can see my temps. They are slowly dropping but still above coverline...

[url=https://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/59a9ac/]My Ovulation Chart[/url

Why must my body torture me so? Before I started taking the progesterone, my luteal phase was always 12-14 days. I take a break from the progesterone and this is what happens!!!! >:P

thistle8677 · August 2015

@jilligan14 I'm so sorry for this roller coaster. Your chart temps look so much like my chart this month. I just got a major dip today at 9dpo.
I'm frustrated for you.

emsmama15 · August 2015

I'm so frustrated for you too, @jilligan14. It's just not fair.

jilligan14 · August 2015

Thanks for the support ladies! It really helps a lot. I'm traveling with H and currently staying at MIL's and it's just hard keeping it all together when I want to crawl into a ball and cry.

Full flow started this afternoon so AF is DEFINITELY here, complete with more cramps, headaches, moodiness, and food cravings. Ugh. I've been doing so well on my diet but needed to cheat with some emergency dark chocolate (88% so very low sugar content but still...). It was either that or a complete, ugly, nasty meltdown. My new motto is: Chocolate saves lives.

As bummed as I am to see AF, I'm kind of relieved. I hate being in limbo-land and not knowing what's going on. I really don't know why my body decided to have such a short luteal phase/cycle, but it's either the diet changes or my body's reaction to taking a break from the progesterone. Or it could be a cosmic conundrum!!! (Remember this @thistle8677 ???)

dolphin012 · August 2015

So sorry @jilligan14. That is so so frustrating.

thank goodness for dark chocolate.

thistle8677 · August 2015

@jilligan14 I totally used that over this weekend and thought of you! #cc

thistle8677 · August 2015

@jilligan14 I'm so sorry you're going through this.

Knottie16743552 · August 2015

@jilligan14 chocolate saves lives made me laugh 8-}

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