Sad and Confused

[xstitcher87]

Hi everyone! A quick background.

I have been with my DH for over 10 years, since we were 17 years old. We are both 28 now. We decided last year that it was time to add to our family of two. I had all the right checks, I ended up having a Hysteroscopy with D&C to remove endometrial polyps. I was on the pill for almost 10 years.

I stopped the pill in October of 2015 and my cycles have been:

Cycle 1 - 28 days, with possible 9 day Luteal Phase (Although, I wouldn't have considered this cycle our first TTC as we wanted to wait until AFTER I had 1 cycle off BC)

Cycle 2 - 42 days With LH surge on CD 21

Cycle 3 - ??? Currently on CD 44 with on an internet cheapie. I didn't get any positive OPKs at all this month.

I know I haven't been trying long, but I am getting concerned it is taking my body a little while to get back to normal I feel really guilty for damaging my body with all those synthetic hormones and I really really wanted to avoid getting drs involved in the TTC process.

My OBGYN who is amazing and so lovely said to come to her if we didn't get our BFP in 6 months. I am going on an overseas holiday for a month and when I get back I will have to go and see my GP (General Practitioner) for a prescription renewal anyway. Maybe I'll just mention my cycles and see what she thinks? My GP has experience in OBGYN type areas and is very thorough.

Am I crazy? Should I test again tomorrow morning with the IC or spring for an FRER? I am getting some symptoms but they could be PG or AF

Cycle 1 and 2 I used the CB Digital Dual Hormone OPK (the one with flashing and solid smileys) but Cycle 3 I used little stick (dip and read) kind of OPKs and the dye never got as dark as the control line.

This sounds like I'm a bit crazy, but most of the time I'm fine and happy, excited about our holiday etc. But I am just so confused about it all. Is there any natural way to encourage AF to show her face (provided I am not in fact pregnant)?

It is hard to know this cycle if I ovulated at all, early, late or if I did how many DPO I would be? I don't temp and am sorely regretting that right now as I think it would have given me more information to work with.

 

[2ducks]

Hello! you may be having an annovulory month. OPKs can never confirm ovulation but can be a helpful tool. Also you can ovulate and perhaps you had a short lh surge at night and missed it with an OPK. temping is the only way to confirm ovulation. At this point keep testing with your ICs, honestly an expensive pharmacy test probably isn't going to give you a different result. Typically if you have a 60 day cycle with no BFP and no period then go see your doc.

I was on BCP for 13 years. I have been off for the pill and ttc for 8.5 months. My cycles are not regular and are basically non existent. I have not ovulated since stopping BCP. Some days I feel disheartened, some days I am ok.

 

[xstitcher87]

Thanks, some days I'm perfectly fine. But today I've been weepy. In hindsight, I would never have taken the pill at all. I am also regretting not temping this cycle.

I guess I will keep testing with the ICs. It just sucks, my body keeps teasing me like it is sooo close to AF, but nothing! I will have to wait to see my Dr until I get back from my trip. If AF hasn't shown by then it will be closer to 80 days! I was just hoping to have AF over and done with before my 22 hour flight :/

I have to learn to let go of thinking I can control things, I wish I had a more "go with the flow" type mentality.

Sorry about your irregular cycles! Hope everything settles soon

 

[skycastles]

Hi xstitcher.. do you remember how your cycles were like before the pill? Have u always been irregular?
I've only taken the pill intermittedly and never for more than 6 months, but I always have had irregular periods. Of course it's due to my hormones but I do think stress affects me badly too. Once I didn't have any periods for 3months and had a pregancy scare, but the day right after I tested and got a BFN, my period came. Also, I usually ovulate around CD28-35, even up to CD42, but funnily enough, this cycle I had a really positive appraisal at work and the next day I started having EWCM and ovulated at CD19, which was one of my earliest dates.
I know our situations are quite different because I wasn't on the pill like you, but I just wanted to share because I experience irregular and annovulatory cycles too. It's good that you're trying to relax, and I'm sure it's likely that nothing's wrong with you. There's a lot of assurances from ladies on this forum that being on bcp for an extended period of time didn't affect their fertility at all.
Also I find that noting cm and temping really helped me figure out my body a bit more. I only temped for a few months (i found it stressful and i had disrupted sleep so i stopped) but it was good enough. You can start temping even now - even if you've passed your ovulation date, it gives you more information on what to expect at the end of your next cycle.
Btw i'm 28 and been with DH for over a decade too, and on my 2nd cycle looking to add to our family of two

 

[xstitcher87]

Thanks skycastles! I'm sorry you're struggling with irregular cycles. Crazy how quick a decade goes! I am technically only on Cycle 2 TTC as well Fingers crossed for both of us! No, unfortunately I don't remember what they were like. I was only 18 when I went on the pill and I never tracked or anything. I don't remember having any problems and that I was fairly regular. I think the ONLY cycle I can remember, possibly, is the one just before I got the pill. It was maybe 33ish days? And that's because I freaked (We had only just started having sex and started tracking very briefly while I waited for a drs appointment to get the pill)

I stopped taking OPKs on CD31, so if I O'd really late, I wouldn't know.

I think I might temp when I get home from our holiday. Just so, that if I don't get a BFP, at least I'll have more info for my OBGYN. I do track my CM and it has been whacky this cycle. If I was going off that alone, I probably O'd maybe mid last week...This week has been really watery and more of it than usual.

I am going to enjoy hopping on that plane for my holiday! It is like taking a break from life!

 

[Flueky88]

Hi, stitcher, I wanted to add that I've had a hard time regulating after bcp. My last cycle was anovulatory (I'm pretty sure it was stress related). My emailed my obgyn and she prescribed progesterone to after cd50 something of no O. My temps were so rocky last cycle but now they are much "calmer" I feel better and confident I will O. So maybe you should just call your dr.

 

[2ducks]

I feel the exact same way! I really did need to be on BCP in college because having a baby then would have not been good, but I wish I went off the pill like 5 years ago and just used condoms or the fertility awareness method. I had no idea that "tricking" by body into thinking it was already pregnant was messing with my natural cycles and my hormones. I am a planner and I like to be in charge of my destiny. I hate that I am in limbo and am worried that I will never get to where I need to be. I think about this every single day. I am continuing to use OPKs for the next week but may take a break for a while because it feels like just another reminded that I am not ovulating. I am continuing to temp so I have charts to bring to my OBGYN at my appointment next week.

 

[2ducks]

BTW feel free to jump on the "irregular gals" support thread!

 

[xstitcher87]

Flueky88 - Your dr prescribed via email? Weird! I've never had that happen here in Australia! Or did you have to go in? I have toyed with the idea of making an appointment for Friday which would be day 50, but as I'm leaving for a month long holiday in Europe next Monday, I'll probably just see her when I get back.

Thanks for being so encouraging ladies I needed a little boost. Hope you all get your BFPs soon

 

[Flueky88]

Yes, she knew what's been going on in past and told me to email using our patient portal if I had long cycles without AF or BFP. I hope you enjoy your holiday

 

[xstitcher87]

That's great Flueky! Still no AF, I will test again on the weekend before I fly out for my holiday. Yesterday and today I have had really thick EWCM...weird!!! I ran out of ovulation tests or I would have taken one.

Weird the things you notice when TTC. If I wasn't TTC'ing then I probably wouldn't have noticed my CM.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!