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[foxyloxy28]

Hi Fish&Chips

Yep, cycle #5, although been NTNP for 16 months! I take my temps at 7am every morning. I'm worried that the soy isoflavones I have taken this month have pushed my ov back?! I didn't get them until cd and couldn't wait for the next cycle so did cds 5-9. In October I had cd21 bloods done and they came back as 'fine' according to the dr's receptionist!

I've not been on the pill since early 2008 - no protection since then.

Fingers crossed my temp goes up tomorrow. I chart my cm - but I'm not very good at it. I've definitely not had EWCM in the 2 cycles I've been charting. CM is very watery today, so hopefully ov today!!

Thanks for you help, I appreciate it.

 

[Fish&Chips]

I don't know much about soy isoflavones but I know herbal remedies such as EPO can effect cycle length so I reckon that could be what's causing it. I'll have my FX that your temps rise tomorrow. I hope mine do too, although they could do it any time this week. x

 

[bernina]

Foxy,

Looking at your chart it seems like you should ovulate today or tomorrow, how exciting!! I don't know much about soy isoflavones, so not sure the impact they can have on your cycle.

Fish & Chips,

It also looks like you could ovulate in the next few days, when will you be taking your opk for today?

 

[bernina]

Hi! Here are my updates for today (cd 21, 3 DPO).

According to Fertility Friend I ovulated on Sunday which was cd 18. Even though I only received my first High reading with my Clear Blue Fertility Monitor on that day and didn't receive my 2 Peak readings until Monday and Tuesday it still listed Sunday as O day. I'm not sure I completely agree with FF's choice, but I posted a question to the board and a few responding saying that it looked like it made the right choice. So that means I'm 3 DPO today and that much further into my 2ww which is at least good news. That also means that my luteal phase may not be as short as I thought, so possibly didn't need the b vitamins to help extend it (although I am continuing to take them in the slim chance they can help my body boost progesterone in my luteal phase). Guess we'll see what my temps look like over the next several days.

The last few days I've definitely felt a change in my body. Breasts are tender, slight backache, bloated, sensations in my abdomen and also noticed a swollen gland on the right side directly above my private parts. I read in the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility that the swollen gland is a secondary sign of ovulation and can tell you what side you ovulated on. So it was cool to see all the signs the book talks about appear on my own body and chart. I know all of this could just be heightened awareness since I'm tracking things so closely, but I don't think I can argue too much with the huge puffy stomach I've had the last 2 days. Hopefully it's an ovulation sign for me!

Feel free to take a look at my chart in my signature.

Oh I also forgot to add that starting yesterday (cd 20, 2 DPO) I've been eating about a cup of fresh pineapple (including the core). I read that it can help with implantation and it's recommended to women after IVF. I figured it couldn't hurt, the only real risk is that you eat too much and make your cm too acidic which is hostile to sperm. But since it's after ovulation I don't think that's a concern. I plan to eat the rest over the next 2 or so days. EDITED TO ADD: See Magicvw's comment below about the possible risk of eating pineapple.

I'm also drinking at least a cup (sometimes two) of red raspberry leaf tea each day. I mainly wanted it to help regulate my cycles and perhaps lessen spotting before AF, but I recently read that it too may help balance progesterone so I figured I'd keep that up as well! Are there any supplements or foods that you all eat during the 2ww?

 

[Fish&Chips]

Hi bernina. That's great news that you ov-ed! Thanks also for your advice about when I should. I did another opk today and still absolutely nothing. Having said that my cm does appear to be watery and I may have had a slight ov pain.. although I'm not too sure. Would you mind having a look at my chart and seeing what you think? I'm wondering if today's temp is a pre-o dip and that hopefully my temps will be much higher tomorrow. x

 

[magicvw]

Go easy on the pineapple ladies:

Reported to be abortifacient (induces the expulsion of an embryo or foetus)

AND

emmenagogue (promotes the menstrual discharge)

from

https://www.e2121.com/food_db/viewherb.php3?viewid=192&setlang=1

 

[foxyloxy28]

Hi Ladies

Bernina - Thanks for looking at my chart. I got my 1st ever +ve opk tomorrow (only 1st month of using them!) so I'm pretty excited.

I am worried though - probably cos I don't really understand an awful lot about lp etc - but if I ovulate today/tomorrow, that would give me a 9 or 10 day lp (29 day cycle).

Is that too short?

Also, my last cycle says I ov'd on cd17 (according to FF) giving me a 12 day lp - I read that lp's very rarely change. So would that mean my cycle may be a day or two longer this time??

Any ideas?

I have some B vits lying around - might take them for the rest of the cycle. I don't seem to get any obvious symptoms for ovulation. It's great that you've got all those symptoms to look out for in future cycles (if you don't get your BFP this time of course)

Exciting stuff for you being 3dpo - keep us updated.

Good luck all

 

[bernina]

Hi bernina. That's great news that you ov-ed! Thanks also for your advice about when I should. I did another opk today and still absolutely nothing. Having said that my cm does appear to be watery and I may have had a slight ov pain.. although I'm not too sure. Would you mind having a look at my chart and seeing what you think? I'm wondering if today's temp is a pre-o dip and that hopefully my temps will be much higher tomorrow. x

I overlayed our charts and highlighted the O date it detected for me along with my coverline (mine is purple, yours green). Our charts look really similar so I would say you're definitely getting close to O, in fact it might even happen today for you as I had a very slight temp dip on O day. Definitely do the BD tonight!!!

Chart Overlay:
https://www.smugmug.com/photos/736494964_x9Yc6-M.png

 

[magicvw]

Hiya Foxyloxy!

Yes you're right that your LP is normally the same, so if you ovulate late one month you will probably get AF later. It usually only varies by 1 day (LP). Having said that, a 10 day LP is fine. Less than 10 days is considered problematic (but still doesn't mean you can't get preggers!)

 

[Fish&Chips]

You are a star!! Thank you so much. Am looking forward to seeing your pic x

 

[magicvw]

HI Fish&Chips

I also think you are probably getting close to o. OPK's are notoriously crap and don't work for everyone. What time of day are you testing?
It's quite common for temps to dip the day before ov, and since your previous cycle was 27 days I would hazard a guess that you will ov any day now. xxx

 

[foxyloxy28]

Thanks Magic - that's re-assured me.

I'll be sleeping in a ski suit with the heating on max tonight to make sure my temp goes up tomorrow!!!

 

[bernina]

Go easy on the pineapple ladies:

Reported to be abortifacient (induces the expulsion of an embryo or foetus)

AND

emmenagogue (promotes the menstrual discharge)

from

https://www.e2121.com/food_db/viewherb.php3?viewid=192&setlang=1

Thank you for the information Magic! I'm reading up now and doing some more research. Might have to let DH eat the rest of the pineapple after all, he was trying to steal some yesterday and I wouldn't let him eat very much!!

 

[bernina]

Thanks Magic - that's re-assured me.

I'll be sleeping in a ski suit with the heating on max tonight to make sure my temp goes up tomorrow!!!

Hahaha, I LOVE IT!! This morning I felt like I should move around before I took my temp just to make it rise! I of course didn't do that, but man I really wanted to!

 

[Fish&Chips]

Thanks guys!

magicvw.. I'm testing at around 7pm each evening. I've invested in some clearblue opks which I'll hopefully have more luck with.

FX for a rise in my temps tomorrow!!!! x

 

[magicvw]

Good luck with them! I find OPKs hard. If I do them, I do tonnes, and then count the darkest one as a positive even if it's not technically darker than the control. I do 2 or 3 a day and once caught the surge full on, but most of the time it's more miss than hit!

Re the pineapple - it just struck me as a bit strange reading that, as when I was in 3rd tri it was all the rage to eat pineapple because it causes contractions > gets the baby out quicker! I just read a load of posts by IVF ladies who swore by it for implantation, but I just think it's wise to exercise caution.

 

[vermeil]

Hello!

I also found that FF was useful in that it gave me something to focus on, and keep me busy. Though when I showed my chart to my fertility specialist, he barely glanced at them, shrugged and said temping simply didn't work for some women so not to bother I disagree though. Even though my charts were all over the place in terms of temp it still felt productive ha.

fish n chips, are you sure taking your temp in the evening is ok? I've always read it has to be JUST as you wake up in the morning, before you talk, drink liquids or (the worst) get up. Because (and I've noticed this) as soon as you do one of these things your temp changes by as much as 0.2, skewing the results.

I checked wiki and it says your basal body temp is at rest, typically when sleeping. Hence why it's important to take it after at least 4 hours of sleep; 7 or more is better.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basal_body_temperature

good luck ladies!!

 

[bernina]

Hi vermeil!

I agree, charting totally gives me something to focus (or is it obsess) over during my cycle!

So frustrating about the doctor, but I'm not surprised. If it's not something they learned about in medical school then they simply don't understand how it could possibly provide any useful information. When we met with the fertility specialist and he did the ultrasound he said my eggs looked small and my lining thin for being on day 12. I told him I don't ovulate on day 14, it's more like day 20 (found out it's really more like day 18 but still) and he just blew me off and didn't take that into account at all. My eggs and lining still had several more days to grow which probably would have put them in the normal size range. I swear I'm tempted to just fudge my cycles when I see doctors just so that tests and ultrasounds are using the correct dates (I won't do that, but I'm tempted!)

I believe the 7pm testing that Fish & Chips was referring to was when she does her ovulation tests, I'm pretty sure she bbt's when she first wakes up. But you are correct, it is supposed to be right when you wake up before you do anything.

Good luck to you as well!!! Sending lots of baby dust your way!

 

[Fish&Chips]

Yep that's right bernina, but thanks so much for your comment vermeil.. it's always nice to know you ladies are looking out for me!

magicvw.. I didn't know you could miss the surge just by testing at the wrong time of day.. that's crazy. Maybe they're just not for me then. Either way I'm now not worrying too much about constantly getting negative lines. x

 

[bernina]

Fish & Chips,

I never got a true positive using opk's either. I made a few mistakes when using them though. First I was always using first morning urine and have since learned late afternoon is the best. Second I was cheap and not testing long enough throughout my cycle. Now I'm using the Clear Blue Fertility Monitor and am getting positive results (or Peak in this case). I've even gotten to the point where I can read the sticks without using the monitor. I've been playing a game with myself this cycle, I look at the test stick before I read the monitor display and got them all right this cycle.

So yeah, don't put too much stock in the opk. I am much too lazy to check several times a day and if it wasn't for the monitor being on sale and covered by my health care account (made it tax free) then I probably wouldn't have purchased it. Now it's just another of my crazy rituals all in the hopes of ttc! My husband truly thinks I'm going crazy, but he does get excited when the meter gives us an olive (the Peak display is a little eyeball shaped thing, I guess supposed to be an egg, but looks much more like an olive to us both!)