General chatter while we wait (and commentary on the "pull out method")

[shaescott]

Gigs oh for sure, I’m supposed to be safe today anyway. Unfortunately I wasn’t in the mood this morning after seeing my temp. But I’ll see if I can get any tonight, just in case.

AF does seem to arrive at 13-14dpo (12-13 day luteal phase), but you can have an anovulatory cycle and still get your period on time. The weird part is the spotting starting at 2-3dpo and going until I get full flow at 13-14dpo.

I’ll keep tracking my temp just in case. But if for some reason I ovulate like 3 whole days after my LH surge (which sounds incredibly unlikely), I wouldn’t have O-5 anymore lol, so unless I can get some tonight and then that happens, I’ll be out. I will check my progesterone levels though around 7dpo to verify the temp accuracy (aka if the temp is accurate, progesterone will be low).

 

[gigglebox]

honestly with the spotting it does sound like it could simply be low progesterone. fairly common and an easy fix. when do you get your thyroid test results?

 

[DobbyForever]

Wait so is he saying he’s willing to yolo it and only test (ok know haha I know you’d be testing regardless) post bd?

 

[shaescott]

Dobs I wouldn’t get my hopes up lol, he always comes to his senses we’ll see, but I’m not getting super excited until he actually does it.

Gigs should be 3-5 days. If that’s normal, I’ll see what my progesterone levels are at 7dpo (or, supposed ovulation), and then talk to my gyno from there.

 

[shaescott]

Well, turns out it was faster than 3-5 days results just came back. Everything is normal with my thyroid, so I can rule that out as a source of the problem.

 

[gigglebox]

Yay!! Look at you being proactive! I hope you feel a little relief knowing there’s nothing wrong there. Maybe also look into the accuracy of the test you’ve been using to check your hormone levels…but spotting during lp definitely lines up with lower progesterone. Maybe talk to your on/gyn about the possibility of progesterone supplements during your lp. If you’re spotting i think that warrants it now, then when baby happens you’ll have it sorted already.

 

[shaescott]

This study says the Inito monitor is pretty accurate.

Validation of urinary reproductive hormone measurements using a novel smartphone connected reader - PMC

Home use tests to monitor hormone trends during the menstrual cycle have been available over-the-counter for a long time. However, these tests often depend upon manual readouts and hence may lead to false analysis. Furthermore, a lot of these tests ...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

My progesterone went up a little today on the urine test, though not enough for me to get truly hopeful that the temp is wrong. I’m testing it every other day this luteal phase to track the progesterone trend. If it ends up being insufficient, I’ll have the past 2 cycles of poor progesterone readings to bring to my gynecologist. Looking at past readings, my progesterone was rising normally until last cycle, when I was consistently under 10 (minimum for decent chance of conception).

 

[gigglebox]

I didn’t realize this was a new concern. What do you think changed?

 

[shaescott]

no clue. I’ll be retesting progesterone tonight to see where we’re at. I’ll let you guys know.

 

[shaescott]

Jk I just realized I tested yesterday and intended to do every other day. I’ve been drinking a lot of water today so unless I can get some non-diluted urine when I get home, the repeat test will wait for tomorrow.

 

[DobbyForever]

Had to censor his shirt lol. But he loved his first day at therapy. He helped scoop out the stall, brush the horse, and then had an unexpected 30m lesson. Since they’re therapy driven, they were very encouraging and positive and honestly have very little corrections on things other barns would be all over him for. Things like walking in front of the horse and ended up on the other side when leading it, not holding/using the brushes correctly, being generally distract able. Or like not harping on him when he calls ponies horses. Just explained the difference in simple terms and then said it was ok if he called them what he wanted. The biggest one is he likes to “dance” on the horse when he’s been in the saddle too long, which is just a small shoulder wiggle. They danced with him. They’re really about empowering him and letting the healing power of horses do their thing. And I got to sit down and enjoy the mountain breeze/scenery. I teared up a little ngl. It's definitely a great fit.

The three teachers we've met so far are all awesome. I'd guess in their late 20s. All very chill. One is covered in tattoos and one was Narsil, the blade that was broken from LOTR and I JUST rewatched it this week to decompress from my super shitty week. It's a sign haha.

 

[gigglebox]

That’s so amazing Dobs!!!! I am so happy for you and especially A! Look at that huge smile awwwwww I can only imagine how warming to your soul that experience was. How often do you get to go?

Omg we just watch LOTR the other week! I haven’t seen it in yeeeeaaaars. Tried to watch the hobbit series to but we barely got through about an hour or the first movie and it’s just not even comparable

 

[shaescott]

Dobs ahhhh so cute! He looks so happy!

AFM had a big temp jump this morning up to post-O levels. Very confused here. Apparently it’s not abnormal to not have your temp rise for a few days, and 5dpo is within that range, but I remain wary. I went to bed early and got good sleep, I didn’t have any alcohol or anything else that would affect the temp…

 

[shaescott]

For visual reference. I thought yesterday’s small increase was because I slept terribly and woke up through the night, but maybe not? I am very confused.

 

[gigglebox]

I don’t know a lot (at all) about charts but does this mean you are in fact in with a o-5 chance? Or is o date wrong?

 

[shaescott]

Gigs my LH would’ve risen again if I ovulated later, and it didn’t, so it looks like if my temp maintains at the higher level, I’m back in with O-5

 

[gigglebox]

eeee ok I know the odds aren't the best but I am keeping my fingers crossed!! But just remember... "all in His time". Even so...I'm hoping His time is now hahahha

 

[shaescott]

Hahaha same, I also hope His time is now. My EWCM stopped at the expected time and converted to small amount of creamy/sticky on 1dpo then to more heavy creamy yesterday, so it’s extremely unlikely I ovulated late, turns out cervical mucus can be more reliable than BBT on pinpointing ovulation? According to what Google just told me lol. If I ovulated yesterday, I should’ve had EWCM, and I didn’t. My cervix has also been low since 2dpo.

 

[shaescott]

So per the recommendation of a post I found on Google, I looked at the FF charts like mine, and discovered that a ton of people have had slow rises like mine and then got BFPs that cycle. Obviously I don’t think the temp pattern indicates pregnancy right after ovulation, but it does reassure me that a slow rise doesn’t mean you can’t/won’t get pregnant that cycle.

 

[DobbyForever]

FXed Shae, sorry this cycle has been keeping you on your toes. I agree it definitely looks like a rise overall to me

We get to go once a week. There’s two kids in the program right now, so it’s an 1.5h if the other kid is there and an hour if he’s not. But they did closer to an hour and a half since we’ll miss a weekend in Oct due to A’s walk-a-thon. The other kid starts in October. They’re slowing going to be expanding the group size as the first two boys get more independent in the chores. I mentioned A has issues with reins and I feel bad about him pulling on a bit too much/unintentionally, so they don’t use a bit just have the reins on the halter. Just sweet people, and I believe all the animals are rescues.