Many Questions...

[zportiss]

So many questions...

I found that I was forgetting to take my temperature, and since the first thing I do in the morning is brush my teeth, I put the thermometer right next to my toothbrush which has been working like a charm. Is this messing up my temping though because I get out of bed and then test? Its literally less than 60 seconds that I am up before I temp.
Also, I have been testing later on the weekend (like 4 hours later) because I am sleep deprived during the week, and on the weekend I sleep in. I read somewhere there is a formula that for every increment of time, your body temp increases, and I was hoping I could just use that formula. Is 4 hours too big of a time difference?
I am really worried that I do not ovulate so on top of the OPK - 2 times per day (5:00 am & 2:00 pm), I was hoping to catch my ovulation through the BBT.
My doc is starting me on chlomid next cycle because I have low LH, ovarian cysts, and tried for 2 years, hubby tested and is normal, and I have never had consistent OPK results showing I ovulate every month, partly due to my own error in testing (forgetting to test) and many times my line never got as dark as the control line which, from what I have read if its not as dark or darker than the control, than it is not a positive LH surge (strong enough to ovulate). What are your thoughts on the OPK's - my line compared to control line? I started using clear blue with the smiley's this month hoping to eliminate any question about whether its a positive, still haven't seen a smiley on day 18 of my cycle, started testing on day 11. Is that too late to start testing and do you think its possible I missed it by starting the testing too late?
Another question, how do you feel about the clear blue fertility monitor that tests your estrogen and LH, supposedly giving you your 6 most fertile days? Sorry for the many questions. S.O.S. Forever grateful for any help, advice and tips.

[zportiss]

After re-reading my post, I just want to say, again, sorry for so many questions. I really hope you don't mind helping me keep my sanity...feeling a bit obsessed, and I just need get some sort of control over the situation (ha) hence - absorbing as much info as possible. I have been reading all the posts, (many,many,many posts) and everyone's situations are so unique. Please help...I am very worried about the emotional part of the side effects of Chlomid, recently went of anti-depressant, and I just want to GET PREGNANT Don't we all? I don't know if I can handle another lengthy "trying" for 2 years. Hubby is not supportive of IUI or beyond (pride factor). Does anyone else have a husband who opposes more extensive efforts like IUI? Chlomid or bust? s.o.s.

[Mom2BSomeday]

A couple of things jump out to me. First off the adjustment formula is unreliable after 90 minutes I believe. We all love to sleep in on the weekends so what I do is set an alarm on my phone for 5am. When it goes off, I roll over and temp. Then I go right back to sleep. The next thing to address is the getting up before you temp. It is always best to test before you do anything. Again, set a special alarm on your phone (if possible) and train your brain to temp as soon as you hear that tone.

As for the OPK's, you generally want to start testing on day 5 or 6 of your cycle. This is even more important in your case because of the inconsistent BBTing. I think if you can make these changes next month you might feel more in control.

Just my 2 cents.

[Ktaylor08]

Do you have regular cycles? Because if they're roughly the same length, give or take a few days, each month, then that should give you a good idea on when to start testing. The instructions in the OPK box should tell you when to start testing based on your average cycle length. Now, if you're like me, it's much more difficult because I never cycle on my own. And many women have irregular cycles, which complicates it as well.
I agree- getting up before temping isn't ideal. I had difficulty remembering to temp too, so I put my thermometer on top of my phone, which I used as my alarm, so I would have to pick it up in order to turn off the alarm. That worked like a charm for me.
And just as you mentioned, I too like to sleep in on the weekends. In fact, I don't even wake up at the same time during the week, so I was worried about temping. I just tried to be as consistent as possible and noted what time I took my temps in the morning, and I'm glad I stuck it out because I was able to confirm O.
Good luck to you, and please keep us informed on what goes on with your journey!!!

[zportiss]

Thank you for your responses BC-Ktaylor08 and Mom2BSomeday You have no idea how much of a life preserver you both are! It has been a long, bumpy, and confusing road.
Just an update, I am on CD 10, took my last chlomid pill today, and starting BBT and OPK today. I hope I didn't start testing too late and miss it. I just got back in town from vacation and lost track of my cycle. (forgetfulness with all the tests etc. was part of my problem last time we tried for almost 2 yrs - about 3 1/2 years ago). Has anyone found a good way to stay on top of everything? I am recording in a calendar every test, and cycle info, etc. daily. Maybe next month I will mark ahead of time when to start using OPK's and BBT's, and set reminders on my phone to go off.

Mom2BSomeday: Is it really possible to ovulate that early in your cycle? Day 5? I will start testing on day 5 next cycle. Last TTC (3 1/2 yrs ago) my norm for O was never before CD12 and was never later than CD18. Don't know whether my cycle has changed because last month was the first of using OPK's. Of course this is all based on inconsistent testing due to my forgetfulness. Every few months I would miss a day or two, and then that month I wouldn't get a pos OPK. Sometimes I would test consistently and still not get a positive OPK. To top it off, sometimes I remember "thinking" the test was positive because it was almost as dark as the control line, but now my understanding is that my line must be as dark or darker than the control for a true pos and not just "close" to the control. It makes my heart ache to think of all those months trying my heart out and every month holding out hope, and to have possibly not been ovulating all along...sigh.

I actually never got a positive OPK last cycle when I started testing on day 11 and went all the way through to CD21. BTW, switched to digital smiley face OPKS from here on out - no need for interpretation For most of those days I tested first thing in the morning and then again around 2 or 3 just to be sure I didn't miss my peak. I read on someone's post that they "caught" their peak when they thought they weren't ovulating during a twice a day method so I thought it was worth a shot. Do you recommend twice a day OPK's?

BC-Ktaylor08: BBT bedside is a little tricky!...I feel like a bull in a china shop - I almost knocked everything off my dresser this morning I am not going to let the dark stop me though! I think I need a tap light for my dresser. My husband is gonna kill me if I turn on the nightstand light in the morning - he is already sleep deprived from his job. I am sure it just takes some practice - its amazing how easily I can find the off switch to my alarm clock in the dark and hopefully finding my thermometer will be just as easy soon.
My last 2 cycles were 25 days exactly - very strange because I always thought they were longer, but the calendar doesn't lie I will check on the OPK directions to see what they recommend based on that.

Thanks again for all your help ladies

[Mom2BSomeday]

It is possible, although very rare, to ovulate within 2 days of menses ending. I start testing that early because that's what the box says to do on my opk's. When I was BBTing I usually temped everyday for consistency because I'm one of those people that if I miss a day I'm liable to start missing a lot of days. I'll be starting my temping again with my next cycle and I already have my spot on my nightstand cleared off to avoid the bull in a china shop problem. The only thing the lays on that corner is my thermometer and it's ready to go each morning. To be honest, I wished I had been temping this month. My OPK's haven't detected a surge but I have the CM signs. Although today the CM signs seemingly have vanished so I'm not sure exactly what's going on. I'll just be glad for next month when we do our IUI and I don't have to worry about timing BD just right.

[Mom2BSomeday]

Oh forgot to answer your OPK question. I haven't been testing twice a day until yesterday. Then I read a post about a woman who nearly missed her's but caught it in a second test. Now I am temping at FMU and around 4pm. Want to make sure I have my bases covered.

[SC-Impatient_in_VA]

zportiss #1 Let me apologize as a BC for missing this post originally -- I was not the BC of this board then and was not monitoring it for new posts.

The best way to keep track of your BBT is to get a chart at a place like FertilityFriend.com and chart every single morning. FF does an email "learn to chart" quiz thing too to teach you what you're doing and why you're doing it a certain way. It's helpful! While it is possible to ovulate super early in your cycle, what that generally means is that something is not right (just like if you find yourself not ovulating at all, something is not right) and so it's best to try and pinpoint the day in case you need to discuss this with your RE. Generally speaking, no, you aren't likely to be ovulating that early.

Are you seeing an RE? If you tested between cd11 and cd21 and didn't get a +, but got a period at cd25, then you probably didn't in fact ovulate. Although sometimes those "double lines" sticks tried to confuse me too with the control line business.

[zportiss]

Mom2BSomeday: That is very exciting about your IUI coming up! I wish you the best of luck. How long have you been TTC? Are you on any medications or have you been ovulating naturally?

BTW, I've added a flashlight to my nightstand after today's amusing little "dark disaster" Fun times in the dark...this morning I actually tried to use my cell phone to see the thermometer reading...yeah that didn't work, but the vision of me fumbling in the dark is quite amusing anyway

BC-Impatient_in_VA: Thanks for the advice on fertility friend. I set up my information and it is exciting that this site has built in calculators. After entering the information, on my charts next to CM it says "Most Fertile" and when I clicked on the help it explained that this is based on a calculator and my cycle. Does that mean the day of my CD is what is telling them I am most fertile, or is it the CM (watery). I thought it was EWCM that was the sign O was very close. Any insight? Tomorrow is CD 11 and I am getting antsy because I don't want to miss it. Thank you

[Mom2BSomeday]

We are very excited for AF to arrive so we can get this party started. We've been trying to conceive naturally for 7 years but have taken time off here and there. We've done natural cycles with Clomid in the past. This is our first, and hopefully last, IUI. When we started out I was the perfect ovulator. Then I had 2 different surgeries on my pituitary gland for non-IF related reasons. Unfortunately, those two surgeries screwed up my ovulation so now I have a LPD because I ovulate 6 days before my next period. The IUI will be good because it will kickstart my O with meds, length my cycle with progestrone, and get those little swimmers right where they need to be. Hopefully one of the 95million can figure out what to do from there.

Completely off topic for a sec and I realize that this may be completely innappropriate so I apologize in advance:



Is it normal to already be thinking of things like nursery furniture, placement, diapers, childbirth, etc. with actually being pregnant? I feel like I'm putting the cart before the horse but at the same time, I'm trying to plan out how much money we'll need to get all the necessary stuff. I dunno, maybe I am just way overthinking this.