Home The Official TTC Thread!

[Dreamer_D]

DrK That''s interesting about a different definition of EW... so it doen''t matter if it is jello-ey...

Fisher how''s the temp this morning, I am eagerly awaiting!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

DrK,

Thanks for that information. I guess that if nothing happens in the next few cycles, I'll see a Dr. and ask if I'm able to get preggo without medical interventions. At this point, I'm going to just take what is happening like it's what is supposed to happen, and see what happens. Haha. That was an eloquent sentence.

Today's temp was high as well (97.93), so we'll just see what happens. Today is 9 days past ovulation, if FF is correct. I like to say I won't get the erge to pee on a stick too soon, but if my temps stay high, it may be more than I can bear not to test. I'm still trying to hold out until at least day 12 or so, though. That would give me three more days of temps to go off of.

DrK, I'm hoping positive thoughts for you. And Peony, you too!

And all of us.

I'm going to try to post a picture of what I've been working on during the infamous 2ww when I get home tonight. Something to help pass the time, and I've been needing to get it done.

 

[fisherofmengirly]

DD, we were posting at the same time.

I think I remember you saying you were in Canada, no? What time zone are you in, girl?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Fisher I am in Ontario, so the Eastern Time zone... That's a nice high temp today for you! Your chart is looking more and more clearly ovulatory... I did some looking on FF and your chart definitely looks more like ovulatory charts, and it doesn't really look like the anovulatory charts at all! It seems to be fairly uncommon to have such a pronounced mid LP dip, not many charts have two temps below the cover line, although I did find a few. But just because it is less common doesn't mean squat. One or two more high temps will make the biphasic pattern totally obvious and so it will be beyond question that you ovulated when FF said you did! If that's the case, then you really timed the BD well!

 

[lovelylulu]

morning all!

Fisher - hurray for another high temp this morning! hopefully that is signaling that you are a ovulating gal and like DD said your BD occured just when it needed to!

Drk - i apologize for not reading the posts a little carefully, so if this is repetitive

- but based on previous charts how does this month''s compare (with the temp drops) do you plan on waiting to test until you are late?

****

I''m trying to figure out what to do in terms of visiting the dr. to recap:

for a while now (even before TTC) i''ve had some prolonged spotting for about 5-6 days before AFF actually arrives. Before TTC I didn''t think too much of it, but from doing research related to this process i''ve discovered that it may likely be caused by a lower level of progesterone. After I got another spotty AFF last cycle, I called my dr. (who works out of a major hospital in my city) to express my concerns - but was able to leave a message with a nurse and wait for a callback. after a week without a response i followed up and was again only able to leave a message. finally, i got a rather cursory call from a random nurse? telling me my option was to call central appointments and make an appointment. however, the soonest appointment was oct. 2 - after another cycle. i made an appt. with another physician for September 16 - next tuesday. but, at this point I was extremely frustrated with the responsiveness of care and decided that to research other options in the area. i found an ob/gyn practice that was highly recommended. It''s only about 6 drs. and i''ve been told nothing but positive things. However, their soonest appointment was September 25th.

Here is my question:

I will be at CD21 (DPO 10) on the date of my old dr. Should I go in despite the fact that I fully intend on switching doctors because of the possibility that they might test my progesterone levels OR should I just wait another week when I know that there''s no possibility of testing the hormones and start fresh at this new practice . . .

in retrospect, I wish I had been more concerned about the spotting much earlier - but i''m one of those people that unless there''s some kind of serious emergency, i avoid going to the doctor.

 

[mela lu]

Great looking charts Peony and Fisher!
Good luck to everyone BD''ing, waiting, peeing etc!

Lovely, FWIW, I would just wait and stick with one (good) Dr. I''m impatient too, so I ''get'' the whole *maximize this cycle info* thing, but in this case I would wait and do one full cycle with the newer improved Doc. My 2c. Hang in there. So sorry about the spotting

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 9/11/2008 9:35:20 AM
Author: mela lu
Lovely, FWIW, I would just wait and stick with one (good) Dr. I'm impatient too, so I 'get' the whole *maximize this cycle info* thing, but in this case I would wait and do one full cycle with the newer improved Doc. My 2c. Hang in there. So sorry about the spotting

Ditto. If you start with the new doc near the start of a cycle you can get tests done throughout the cycle, which will probably be required anyways, and all the results etc. will be with the same doctor. Plus, this cycle may work out, and if you wait until the end then you will know whether or not you got preggo and so whether or not tests are necessary! And finally, you will have another month with a chart showing when ovulation occurred and when the spotting started... wait, are you charting? I can't recall... that will probably be useful since your temps can also reveal information about progesteron issues, if any exist.

 

[E B]

Lu,

I''m so sorry the spotting''s got you concerned. FWIW, the last two times I''ve had my progesterone tested, it''s been at 7 DPO. They might do it differently elsewhere.

I agree with mela and DD- I''d wait until the next cycle when you find a great doctor who won''t make you wait and wait and wait. Good luck, hon!

 

[lovelylulu]

thanks ladies!

I *think* that I knew that I should just start from the beginning with a new doctor that would be far more personal and responsive - but there was this part of me that just wants to take a d@mn test and find out if my levels are low...

DD - i''m charting to the extent that i''m recording my CF and i use a CBE monitor - however, i''m not temping. i found it really difficult, but that may change. how is it helpful as it relates to hormone levels?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 9/11/2008 10:11:54 AM
Author: lovelylulu
thanks ladies!

I *think* that I knew that I should just start from the beginning with a new doctor that would be far more personal and responsive - but there was this part of me that just wants to take a d@mn test and find out if my levels are low...

DD - i''m charting to the extent that i''m recording my CF and i use a CBE monitor - however, i''m not temping. i found it really difficult, but that may change. how is it helpful as it relates to hormone levels?

Lulu, low temps in the post-ovulatory period, say that hover close to the cover line, *can* indicate low progesterone. But if you get it tested at 7 DPO then temping probably won''t add anything.

 

[blushingbride]

Good morning all and welcome to the newbies!

I''m on CD12 and got another high reading on my CBFM. Last night, I came home to find out that DH had taken a bath just before BDing!

Does anyone know the true affects of warm water and male fertility? Granted he rarely ever takes a bath and I told him about it after the fact so he''s aware, but still the whole night I was thinking of what the bath may have done to his swimmers! Hopefully, once in a blue moon has no real affects.

 

[robbie3982]

Mela, I''ve always heard that progesterone needs to be tested at 7dpo as well. I agree that you should wait for the good doctor.

Fisher, your chart is looking great!

Drk, how long is your LP normally?

I just got my bloodwork results from my doctor (had it done in March) and it''s good to actually be able to see what my levels were and not just hear, "everything came back ''fine''" especially since I wasn''t TTC at that point. My appointment just happened to fall on 7dpo AND I had spotting that day and the next as well as a day before AFF showed up. My progesterone came back at 11.8 and it says that mid-luteal phase it should be 4.5-25.2. So, I feel like I can relax now because it seems like my spotting isn''t caused by low progesterone and my level is right in the middle of where it should be.

 

[blushingbride]

Date: 9/11/2008 9:43:37 AM
Author: EBree
Lu,

I''m so sorry the spotting''s got you concerned. FWIW, the last two times I''ve had my progesterone tested, it''s been at 7 DPO. They might do it differently elsewhere.

I agree with mela and DD- I''d wait until the next cycle when you find a great doctor who won''t make you wait and wait and wait. Good luck, hon!

Lovely - I agree with the others that you should wait until the next cycle, but if it''s really bothering you maybe you can just run in for a blood test without an appointment at 7 DPO. Like Ebree, I''ve also had my progesterone levels checked and it really needs to be at 7 DPO for the best results - my doctor allows her patients to pop in just for blood tests w/ no appt. We may have a wait a bit longer, but it''s nice to be able to drop in whenever since it''s hard to plan out exactly when you ovulate and then coordinate an appt. around that. I know it was on my mind a lot and I wanted to get things checked out right away for my own sanity (plus I was going away on vacation). Do what''s best for you - if you can wait, wait, but if not see if you can drop in for a simple blood test.

 

[Independent Gal]

Date: 9/11/2008 10:46:20 AM
Author: blushingbride
Good morning all and welcome to the newbies!

I''m on CD12 and got another high reading on my CBFM. Last night, I came home to find out that DH had taken a bath just before BDing!

Does anyone know the true affects of warm water and male fertility? Granted he rarely ever takes a bath and I told him about it after the fact so he''s aware, but still the whole night I was thinking of what the bath may have done to his swimmers! Hopefully, once in a blue moon has no real affects.

No worries kiddo! I read all about this because DH is a big bath lover. Spm production happens months in advance, so while this could hypothetically affect a few of his swimmies months from now, the timing right now is unimportant. And you shouldn''t worry about a few months from now anyway, because a) he''d have to be bathing regularly in HOT water for it to make a difference and b) it''s really only an issue if his counts were marginal to begin with. If he''s got plenty of healthy ones, it really won''t make much difference!

Still, I also suggested to DH (who loves baths) to lay off while we were TTC. Juuuuust in case! It''s something you may want to be overcautious about if it makes you feel better (as it did for me) BUT, it is definitely not something to be concerned about, if you see what I mean!

 

[blushingbride]

Date: 9/11/2008 10:58:19 AM
Author: Independent Gal

Date: 9/11/2008 10:46:20 AM
Author: blushingbride
Good morning all and welcome to the newbies!

I''m on CD12 and got another high reading on my CBFM. Last night, I came home to find out that DH had taken a bath just before BDing!

Does anyone know the true affects of warm water and male fertility? Granted he rarely ever takes a bath and I told him about it after the fact so he''s aware, but still the whole night I was thinking of what the bath may have done to his swimmers! Hopefully, once in a blue moon has no real affects.

No worries kiddo! I read all about this because DH is a big bath lover. Spm production happens months in advance, so while this could hypothetically affect a few of his swimmies months from now, the timing right now is unimportant. And you shouldn''t worry about a few months from now anyway, because a) he''d have to be bathing regularly in HOT water for it to make a difference and b) it''s really only an issue if his counts were marginal to begin with. If he''s got plenty of healthy ones, it really won''t make much difference!

Still, I also suggested to DH (who loves baths) to lay off while we were TTC. Juuuuust in case! It''s something you may want to be overcautious about if it makes you feel better (as it did for me) BUT, it is definitely not something to be concerned about, if you see what I mean!

Great, thank you so much Indy for putting my mind at ease withthis issue. Poor guy, he''s constantly being told what to and what not to do while TTC.

 

[drk]

Well, I caved in and tested this am - BFN at 12dpo. Hope it changes when I get my nerve up to test again in a couple days...

I''m debating using up some of my leftover clomid next cycle. My CM wasn''t so dried up after the first couple cycles, it was just after a few months in a row of it... Since I have a feeling one of the docs I''m with will be away during the week that would be crucial if I were on injects again next cycle.

Oh well, maybe this will all become moot anyhow?
Kate

 

[am04]

Morning ladies!

I finally got the egg on my monitor this morning, yay!

So it looks like I''ll be o''ing on cd 17. After six nights in a row of bding we just couldn''t seal the deal last night. I woke up early this morning to test and, in turn, woke hubby up when I saw the egg. We were able to get a good session in this morning before work and will bd tonight and tomorrow night as well. Hopefully this makes up for missing last night!

Off to a meeting, I''ll catch up properly later.

 

[robbie3982]

Yay, am! Good luck! I hope you catch the egg!

 

[blushingbride]

Date: 9/11/2008 12:23:23 PM
Author: am04

Morning ladies!

I finally got the egg on my monitor this morning, yay!

So it looks like I''ll be o''ing on cd 17. After six nights in a row of bding we just couldn''t seal the deal last night. I woke up early this morning to test and, in turn, woke hubby up when I saw the egg. We were able to get a good session in this morning before work and will bd tonight and tomorrow night as well. Hopefully this makes up for missing last night!

Off to a meeting, I''ll catch up properly later.

Am04 - I''m also using the monitor, but this is my first month. Just curious - how many high days did you have? How do you know what day you''re going to O - when you get the egg symbol does that mean you O one day or two days later?

 

[am04]

Thanks, Robbie! Glad to hear your levels are good; I''m sure that brings lots of peace of mind.

 

[am04]

Blushing- I had three days of highs before getting the egg. You usually ovulate (I believe, will have to check the manual to confirm) 24-48 hours after getting the egg on your monitor. I also track my cycles using opks. Last night I used an opk and it was negative, but much darker than the night before, close to being positive. I''ll test again (using my opk) when I get home to confirm. I do this every cycle and, for me, the first egg is just before the positive opk which usually happens later in the day. So, based on that I assume that I''m ovulating 24-48 hours after getting the egg on the monitor. Sorry this is so drawn out, I hope it makes sense!

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Since the 2ww is called "knitting" around here, I thought I''d work on a baby blanket for a friend who recently had a baby. It''s not knitting, but crochet is close enough.

 

[Pandora II]

Aww Fisher, that is so cute!

 

[peonygirl]

Well, my temp dropped another .2 this morning and I got my period.

I guess that I was kinda expecting it, but I was really sad nonetheless. My cycle this month and last month were very similar as far as temps (I Oed on day 21 both times).

DH is on call tonight, so I'm alone here at home. It was hard getting through work today. I'm a really proactive person, so all I can think about is what we can do differently next time in order to have a better chance. This cycle I:

1) temped every morning at the same time
2) used OPKs
3) checked CM but didn't log it because I never saw the true EWCM that people talked about here; I didn't want it to confuse FF
4) DH tried to wear boxers as much as possible (he's generally a briefs guy)
5) every time we BDed I laid down for at least 2 hrs before getting up with my pelvis elevated on a pillow
6) made sure to O directly after we had sex

This time I'm thinking about:
1) using preseed
2) having DH do the Fertell sperm screen, which he's talked about
3) trying harder to discern CM status, even though I'm not sure it would change intercourse timing

Can you gals think of anything else? Should we have BDed every other day instead of every day until I got my OPK+? My chart is below. I'll also post last month's in case anyone is interested. I didn't want to mention this earlier, but since med school interviews are next Sept-April, I realistically only have 2 more cycles to try until we have to take a 6 month break. I don't want to think about that right now. It's too sad.

 

[peonygirl]

And this was my chart last month (we weren''t trying yet then).

 

[fisherofmengirly]

Poenygirl,

I think it''s common for us to think about what we should do differently, and to wonder if we did something to prevent pregnancy, but the more I read about it, the more I see that it really isn''t something we can *make* happen.

From what you''ve said you''ve done, I see nothing that has been "wrong" or anything that you could do to increase the possibility of pregnancy. Lying down for 2 hours each time you BD is a lot more than most of us do, that''s for sure! My mom is always telling me that when my body is stressing and obsessing about it, it makes it harder for the natural process to happen. I don''t know how true that is, but it sure makes sense.

The good thing is that your charts look so nice; you have a good idea of when you ovulate, so you just need to keep up that pattern of BDing at the right times.

I hate how things don''t always happen when we want them to. We can help nature, but we can''t make nature do anything on our timeline.

If it''s any help, I have had those same thoughts about what else can I do?, why isn''t this working?, does this mean I''m not meant to be a parent?, and on and on. And really it''s about the fact that these things take time and are beyond our control.

I hope tomorrow is easier for you, Peony. And I wish you lots of luck in your new cycle!!

 

[E B]

I echo Fisher completely, Peony. It looks like you did everything right, but you have to keep in mind that even when done right, we have a smaller chance of getting pregnant than NOT. This is your first cycle trying, correct? Keep doing what you''re doing and it''ll happen.

Easier said than done, as the first cycle is the HARDEST to get through, but you''ll start to relax more as time goes on. I''m still a bit nutty now, but I was WAY nuttier back then.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 9/11/2008 8:30:23 PM
Author: fisherofmengirly

If it's any help, I have had those same thoughts about what else can I do?, why isn't this working?, does this mean I'm not meant to be a parent?, and on and on. And really it's about the fact that these things take time and are beyond our control.

Peony honey, you are doing everything right. The first month is the hardest when you are one of the 80% of healthy women who do not get preggo the first shot! As Fisher said, everyone TTCing feels that way at some point... at all points!!... you just have to add the magic ingredient-- time.

 

[robbie3982]

Awe, Peony, I''m sorry AFF showed up. I agree with Fisher that it looks like you did everything right. This was your first cycle trying, right? I''d stick with BDing every day (as long as you can keep up with that pace) unless your DH''s SA comes back showing low sperm count.

::hugs:: This is definitely a very emotional time for all of us, but I think that it''s great that we''re all going through it together and that we have each other to lean on.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 9/11/2008 7:46:51 PM
Author: peonygirl
I didn''t want to mention this earlier, but since med school interviews are next Sept-April, I realistically only have 2 more cycles to try until we have to take a 6 month break. I don''t want to think about that right now. It''s too sad.

Just wanted to add that your life can work around a baby. If you think they are going to discriminate against you because you are preggo, they will be just as bad if you have a child! Have a child when you really really want and work your life around it, that''s the only way to be a woman and not go crazy and hate your career because it is stealing your family. I was in your shoes to a degree this past year thinking I couldn''t have a baby and be on the academic job market, but then I started resenting my career for making me sacrifice such an important goal! So I decided that I would do what women have always done: have a kid and make it work! I''ll be preggo on the job market, but I love my career again since it isn''t getting in my way anymore. Giving yourself a three month window is stressful, and if it were to take 4 months--still shorter than average girl, you gotta wrap your head around that reality--then will you really be able to drop it and happily return to work? Just something to think about, and thought I''d throw that out there since I had to go through a similar decision-making process in the last year. If you want to talk or vent, let me know. If you want to ignore me, too, go right ahead