I'm new and have some questions?..

[MrsRwantsBaby]

Hi everyone, I'm new here. I've been reading the forums for a bit now, and absolutely am so grateful for the information I picked up from everyone's post and sharing of information. So I thought I'd give it a go myself. I've got lots of questions, but, i'll keep to a min. if possible.

first, I'm 30, my hubby is 29. never been on b/c (well about 6 years ago I was for a short time) and have fairly regular cycles - no one else in my immediate fam ever had trouble conceiving, etc. Anyways, we've been TTC seriously for the past 4 months. Before that, since last July, we're TTC but just if it happened, great, if not okay. This month, April, I used an OPK - a 7 day one. April 5 was my AF - only lasted 3 days which is abnormal for me - it's always 5. Anyways, I followed the kit's advice on the average days I might be ovulating to test...and that was from April 15-21. I did not have one positive whatsoever. Also, I only tested once a day at 11:30AM about. One day - I did not test because I forgot and that was April 16th. My hubby and I BD'd all week from April 10-16th - with maybe taking a day or so off during that time. I read about the CM - so while I was not getting my positives the following week of April 18-I did notice a change, but we only bd'd probably the 18th, and then the 22 and 23.

This is what excited me - on the 23rd - Saturday, I was using the washroom (TMI Warning) and I noticed a dark brownish red discharge on my panties, and then a small amount when I wiped. And then that was it. I HAVE never EVER spotted between cycles, and never had this discharge before. So I thought oh My Goodness It might be IB!!! Yay! So of course, I went and bought some HPT and got all BFN. I took one Tuesday this week, another Thursday and nothing since then. I have some symptoms that to me aren't normal for me ...sore and swollen feeling/heavy BBS (I get tender though b4 AF), the discharge/spotting (NEVER), heat flashes lately(i'm usually always cold!), dizziness (ok - i thought this could be allergies or something?), nighttime insomnia these last 3 days, and headaches - waking up at 3 am with headaches and then random headaches thru day. Oh and exhaustion. But again, I could always say I'm exhausted because of the not sleeping well, and so on. You get me? And with all the BFN's...and then my monthly cycle switching lengths, and I can't figure out when I actually o'd...I have no IDEA when to take another HPT and if I get AF, how do I actually know when I ovulate again?

 

[MrsRwantsBaby]

Sorry, Also wanted to add - I also am experiencing constipation, which I never ever had before - especially not before AF - i'd have the opposite. Oh shoot - I forgot the cramping and wet feeling - I really thought I had gotten AF since Thursday since I've had really bad cramping and then thought I had AF since I felt so wet (sorry TMI) and then I'd run to the bathroom prepared for that and nothing would be there - well a MAJOR increase in clear CM..but that's it. Generally, I get cramps but I get them right at the same time AF comes - it's like my signal - I'm cramping, going to get AF in a few mins or at maximum an hour...and never get them for 2 - 3 days before AF arrives. and the spotting is just crazy to me...I've never had..but we can all make ourselves see something that isn't there...so i'm worried...but since I can't even tell what DPO I am (i'm guessing today is 14DPO - and I have a luteal phase of 14 days...)


if I get AF - can you ladies help me pick out a great and reliable OPK and Basal thermometer so I can start charting? Also, can you give me some info as to when to start taking temps, etc. and what I'm looking for.

I'll be sad if AF comes today - but I'll get it through it. Yet another visit - it's normal now. I pray for my BFP - and yours too if you're reading this.

thank you for your time!!

 

[MrsPTTC]

Hi MrsR, welcome! What country are you in? I can recommend this website which will give you guidance on charting and you can record your temps on it, most ladies on here seem to use it, www.fertilityfriend.com . If your last test was thursday they do say to wait 2 days to re-test so you could do another one today. If still a BFN I would just wait for your AF to show, though hopefully she won't! If you are 14DPO today then a BFP should show if you are pregnant. As for the implantation bleeding, I've had this a couple of cycles only to be disappointed when AF showed, but there are some ladies who get spotting and it is genuine IB! Good luck x

 

[schoolteacher]

Hi there!
What opks did you use? It's annoying but sometimes it does take longer than 7 days of testing to get a positive. I use clearblue digital which are expensive but you can get them in packs of 20 which are good for if you are not sure when you are gonna ovulate!xxxx

 

[daydreamers]

MrsR, Could it be that the wetness you are experiencing now is ovulation by the way you discribed the clear CM?? Also my Dr has said that we often have times where we dont ovulate at all sadly for what ever reasons. I am in a similar boat experiencing lots of symptoms which I have never had before e.g spotting but its my body playing horrid games with me x

 

[littlebird28]

I know how you feel! We're hitting the 5 month mark too, and i've used OPK's the last 4 months and NOTHING. The doctor recently told me to switch to clearblue digital and I bought them on Amazon. It was relatively inexpensive, only $20 for the whole box of 20. I would recommend getting the big box and starting early until you get a positive, that's what I have to do. I never ovulate at the same time. I've also noticed that I am TOTALLY hypersensitive to what's going on with my body....i've had spotting (never had that before- EVER!), feeling random twinges and cramps, even felt nauseas in the morning but got my period every month anyway, but every month I was POSITIVE they were signs. I think stuff like this was happening before but I didn't pay any attention to it because we weren't trying. Anyway, good luck, keep us posted!!

 

[MrsRwantsBaby]

First, thank you ladies sooo much for your replies! I agree with everyone that I think these are just symptoms I want to be related to pregnancy, and not PMS. But of course it's easier to chock them up to something you want so badly, right? And, to daydreamers - I never thought of that, but that's also a distinct possibility. You could be absolutely right!!
Do you know if you're like me and experience a whole slew of horrid PMS symptoms - like the moodiness and BBS tenderness mostly - is that normally a signal your body might be ovulating or getting ready to? Because that could be yet another way I Can help myself track my ovulation? Just wondering on your ideas on PMS and its symptoms. If you know, please share.
I'm going to order the clear blue digital with lots of test strips today! thank you... I never knew what OPK to use so I bought a Walgreens Brand that was supposed to be comparable to another major brand name. I am from the US - and I will sign up for the fertilityfriend!

Again, thank you soo much ladies...I hope all of you get your BFP soon!
Lots of Baby Dust to you ..
M and thank you!!

 

[littlebird28]

This is not for everyone, but do you check the position of your cervix? I just started last month (I was creeped out by it before, not sure why!) and I totally noticed it getting higher and softer right before and during my positive OPK. That might help, too. Good luck!

 

[MrsRwantsBaby]

This is not for everyone, but do you check the position of your cervix? I just started last month (I was creeped out by it before, not sure why!) and I totally noticed it getting higher and softer right before and during my positive OPK. That might help, too. Good luck!

I didn't before - but checked it after reading how to..I know that sounds silly, but, I'm going to do that now as well! I was just reading into the clear blue kit. I need to make sure I get a month's supply of strips as well. How sad. Still no AF, but, still a BFN this morning. So I gave up for this cycle. I'm going to get the clear blue OPK and also a basal thermometer, and also, going to check the position of the cervix. I hope this helps. Thank you all for your great advice. I appreciate it!

 

[littlebird28]

This is not for everyone, but do you check the position of your cervix? I just started last month (I was creeped out by it before, not sure why!) and I totally noticed it getting higher and softer right before and during my positive OPK. That might help, too. Good luck!

I didn't before - but checked it after reading how to..I know that sounds silly, but, I'm going to do that now as well! I was just reading into the clear blue kit. I need to make sure I get a month's supply of strips as well. How sad. Still no AF, but, still a BFN this morning. So I gave up for this cycle. I'm going to get the clear blue OPK and also a basal thermometer, and also, going to check the position of the cervix. I hope this helps. Thank you all for your great advice. I appreciate it!

Awesome! I just got a visit from AF, too Seems like my PMS is a thousand times worse than before we were trying, probably because im so pissed that she keeps showing her ugly face! I've also had good luck with the 'Answer' brand OPK, they're only $20 for the whole box, you get a $7 rebate with each box and you can get them at the grocery store or any drug store. Sometimes I keep the digital kind handy just in case I get confused with the cheaper brand. Good luck with the cervix checking! I check every morning in the shower at the same time, I was shocked to notice how it changed- it has been really helpful! Good luck, hun!

 

[swanxxsong]

I use the BD Basal Thermometer - got it for 8 bucks off Amazon and I love it!

I also use the Clearblue Digital OPKs.

I chart using FF (referred above) and TCOYF.com (linked in my sig). My own personal preference is TCOYF but like I said, I use both. I'm a charting freak. I love to chart, I love to stalk charts, etc.

Best of luck with TTC! xo

 

[fairykate]

With most OPK's you have to test afternoon, between 2 and 6pm as the LH is not present until then - probably why you got no positive with this. It's produced as the morning progresses I think and shows up in urine afternoon time. I got my first positive at about 2/3pm on CD16 this cycle

Good luck!
xxx

 

[MrsRwantsBaby]

Good to know and thank you! I am using the CBE digital tests now on CD 14 no positive but used FMU will take this afternoon but we BD'd every other day so far. I now have my PMS symptoms of sore breasts. Prob just stop TTCing after this month. Oh well sadly it's probably just not meant to be.

 

[Laura246]

Oki Stupidest question ever.. Whats it ment to be like when checking the position of the cervix?
Iam also going to be buying a clear blue OV test tonight!! my AF should be due tomorrow was really hoping this month would be a but after doing a EPT it was a
Gonna pull out all the stops this month and start charting!
Good luckk