Hi Niki,
I've only got around to answering you now (haven't really been on lately).
I see you have some really good advice already, but I didn't want to ignore your question. So, looking at your previous charts for a start you have some ambiguous ovulation dates (ie. blue lines and broken dotted red ones), but generally speaking your ovulation falls between CD16 and CD22. The most common ovulation date out of those cycles is CD16 so that should give you a good indication of what to look out for when trying to predict what your monitor will tell you. I would guess is should show a PEAK reading on average between CD15 and CD18.
I wondered why you have filled in LOW for the whole line on your FF charts (is that just something you choose to do because I know you aren't using test sticks for each of these days)? I personally wouldn't recommend doing this because it may confuse you in the future because you won't be able to see which CD day the monitor starts asking for sticks. When I first started using mine it asked for the first stick on CD6. When it got used to my cycles, it altered this day and started asking for the first stick on CD7 which saved me a stick each cycle (less £££). I can also look back and see from my previous charts when it changed.
Each cycle is different and there is no telling how many LOW and HIGH readings and what pattern will develop before a PEAK so don't worry if they differ ... that's normal. You've already learned that it can go straight from LOW to PEAK too, so that's one to watch out for.
Now that I have been using my monitor for over 6 months, I have to admit that I cheat even more than others and use an 'old' test stick on CD7 and 8 as I know I won't show a PEAK that early. It's a bit of a gamble, but I've got used to my body signs and so far it has worked for me. I check my CM, temp and chart with FF too, so all these together help me confirm when ovulation
has taken place.
Once I get my first PEAK I revert to using 'old' sticks until the monitor stops asking for them. The monitor asked for 20 sticks for my first cycle and thereafter it has only ever asked for 10 (except once when I had delayed ovulation and it cost me the full 20 sticks with no PEAK). The last cycle I used my monitor for, I only used 3 NEW sticks in total due to clever planning, but that's after months and months of use. In your case, you would want to use it for a while longer before playing these games and only if you feel confident.
Hope this helps answer your question a little. It's good too that you keep charting with FF as you have a record to look back on and could potentially show it to your GP if you choose to have blood tests or ask him questions about TTC.
Best of luck to you and sending you some
for your journey. Let's hope it's a short one.
makes us all sound like drug addicts!!! Sorry!)
xx
, Omi xxx
