Clearblue Fertility Monitor Support Group Buddies Vol 4!!

Hello, this is my first month using CBFM and I?ve been keeping an eye on this thread to try and understand what?s going on. Most of the abbreviations make sense but (and I?m sorry if this is really stupid and frequently asked) what is CD? I get UCL (usual cycle length) but I don?t understand what the other number means or why some people have a really high number and some low?

I?m on day 15 and have been at 2 bars since day 7 ? is that normal?

Hullo ladies,

I've been away and only just back and see lots seems to have happened on the thread. I'll have to catch up slowly. No fantastically exciting news from me, but I do have the first of my appointments with regards getting IVF started on Tuesday - just tests I think. But received a whole lot of information about the process along with the appointment. I had no idea that it was a requirement that DH and I would have to be 'assessed' to see if we were OK to be parents ! I'm not sure what I think of that.... And it honestly makes me want things to happen naturally even more now (not that we have any worries but it feels like yet another invasion of our privacy, which I'd prefer to avoid).

Anyway, hope you are all well.... will try catch up on all news slowly over the next week.

Izzy did you make it to your docs app? Would be interested to hear what he/she had to say about short LP, hope it went ok x

Hi

Sorry I've not been posting up recently. It's been a busy time for me. In short I've found a new job that will give me a better work life balance. In turn it will allow me to banish a whole load of stress from my life. In the short to medium term it'll mean putting my baby plans on hold but I hope the new job will give me a much better chance in the long run.

So I'll be bowing out of this thread for the next 4 - 6 months whilst I settle in but will be back!

Good Luck to you all!

TangoTime

Just sticking my head around the door. Will read back when i get a bit more time :)
How is everyone doing? OK i hope.
Am still a bit fed up about the chemical pg so am halfheartedly going for it this month. Am on CD12 and my monitor is still showing lows for the last two months that i have been using it it always goes to high after day 8 mind so i dont know what is going on this month - is probably all screwed because of the cp. Hope i get a high and a peak this month but i would not be surprised it it turned out to be annovulatory (sp?) Hope not though.
Well ill keep an eye out for you all, i am lurking but am a bit of a misery guts atm so not posting anywhere much - ill be much more prolific next month i promise :)

Hey there!

Ok so I'm planning to use a CBFM next month if no success this month.

But I feel different this month:

Some nausea (only with certain things)
A lot of cramp (esp my lower back) (Ive been lucky never ever to suffer from period cramp)
Spotting in the middle of the cycle (3 days then disappeared).

My cycle is a bit random 25/27/29 days. Ive already bypassed the first two waiting on the last marker.

I think what Im asking is should I just go get the monitor cos you need it day 1 of period. Or should I hold off?

???

Morning ladies

I'm waiting for AF as I know there is no chance for me this month.

I started my new job on Tuesday and am loving it so far. Lots to learn but that'll keep me out of mischief for a bit.

I'm almost impatient for AF as I want to get cracking this cycle! At least I'm not in that stage of convincing myself then being disappointed.

This is just a quick check in for me as I've not been on here for 2 weeks. Hope everyone is OK.

Right off to do some washing - BORING!!!!!

Morning All!

Today's stats:
FlyingCat TTC#1, Cycle #26, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 28-29, CD111
Rach879 TTC#1 Cycle #7, CBFM cycle 1, age 30, UCL 30-34, CD78
Jenni4 TTC#2, Cycle #5, CBFM Cycle 2, age 36, UCL 26, CD58
Hairytriangle TTC#1, Cycle #10, CBFM cycle 1, age 42, UCL 28/29, CD44
Missyraines TTC#1, Cycle #11, CBFM cycle 6, age 33, UCL 32, CD42
TangoTime TTC #1, Cycle #6, CBFM Cycle 2, age 32, UCL 28, CD35
Boba82 TTC#1 Cycle #16, CBFM cycle 3, age 28, UCL ?, CD35
Ses TTC#2, Cycle #3, CBFM cycle 5, age 37, UCL 30, CD27
Emmylou30 TTC#1, Cycle #3, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 35, CD26
chocciechip TTC#1, Cycle #8, CBFM cycle 8, age 39, UCL29, CD23
Lychees TTC#2, Cycle #12, CBFM cycle 8, Aged 36, UCL 30-35, CD22
Starlet22 TTC#1, Cycle #14, CBFM cycle 8, age 34, ucl 25, CD21
ljg TTC#3, Cycle #5, CBFM cycle 4 age 38 UCL 28-30 CD18
wantbaby TTC#1, Cycle #9, CBFM cycle 4, age 38, UCL 30, CD15
Keziah TTC#1, Cycle #26, CBFM cycle 14, age 35, ucl 28-31, CD12
KnackeredCow TTC#1, Cycle #13, CBFM cycle 2, age 31, UCL 28, CD12
PinkCustard TTC#2, Cycle #10, CBFM Cycle 5, age 33, UCL 30-35, CD12
Rosieposey TTC#5, Cycle #10, CBFM cycle 3 aged38, UCL30, CD12
IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy TTC #3 Cycle #3, CBFM cycle 3, age 34, UCL 26-28, CD5
Stormbird TTC#1, Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle 4, age 28, UCL 28-32 CD4
EmmaC29 TTC#1, Cycle #11, CBFM 0 (starting on 8th Dec!), aged 29
Headbanger TTC#1, Cycle #9, CBFM cycle 2, Aged 30

Graduates
Paula123gym BFP 5/10/10

How's everyone's weekends been so far? We have been doing more DIY stuff ... v. boring. And managed to have lie ins yesterday and today ... bliss. Now, still in my PJs and feeling lazy.

Good morning!

Today's stats:
FlyingCat TTC#1, Cycle #26, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 28-29, CD109
Rach879 TTC#1 Cycle #7, CBFM cycle 1, age 30, UCL 30-34, CD76
Jenni4 TTC#2, Cycle #5, CBFM Cycle 2, age 36, UCL 26, CD56
Hairytriangle TTC#1, Cycle #10, CBFM cycle 1, age 42, UCL 28/29, CD42
Missyraines TTC#1, Cycle #11, CBFM cycle 6, age 33, UCL 32, CD40
TangoTime TTC #1, Cycle #6, CBFM Cycle 2, age 32, UCL 28, CD33
Boba82 TTC#1 Cycle #16, CBFM cycle 3, age 28, UCL ?, CD33
Ses TTC#2, Cycle #3, CBFM cycle 5, age 37, UCL 30, CD25
Emmylou30 TTC#1, Cycle #3, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 35, CD24
chocciechip TTC#1, Cycle #8, CBFM cycle 8, age 39, UCL29, CD21
Lychees TTC#2, Cycle #12, CBFM cycle 8, Aged 36, UCL 30-35, CD20
Starlet22 TTC#1, Cycle #14, CBFM cycle 8, age 34, ucl 25, CD19
ljg TTC#3, Cycle #5, CBFM cycle 4 age 38 UCL 28-30 CD16
wantbaby TTC#1, Cycle #9, CBFM cycle 4, age 38, UCL 30, CD13
Keziah TTC#1, Cycle #26, CBFM cycle 14, age 35, ucl 28-31, CD10
KnackeredCow TTC#1, Cycle #13, CBFM cycle 2, age 31, UCL 28, CD10
PinkCustard TTC#2, Cycle #10, CBFM Cycle 5, age 33, UCL 30-35, CD10
Rosieposey TTC#5, Cycle #10, CBFM cycle 3 aged38, UCL30, CD10
IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy TTC #3 Cycle #3, CBFM cycle 3, age 34, UCL 26-28, CD3
Stormbird TTC#1, Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle 4, age 28, UCL 28-32 CD2
EmmaC29 TTC#1, Cycle #11, CBFM 0 (starting on 8th Dec!), aged 29
Headbanger TTC#1, Cycle #9, CBFM cycle 2, Aged 30

Graduates
Paula123gym BFP 5/10/10

Hope alll is well?

Izzy Good luck for the doctor's. I really think you should ask. You may be worrying unnecessarily and at least the doctor might be able to put your mind at ease?

KC sorry to hear about your friend

Just popping in to say KnackeredCow and Storm I'm sorry you're going through a difficult time and I hope you both start to feel better about things soon. ((((hugs))))

I have to admit I'm struggling to be as upbeat about AF arriving this month as I was last month. I think last month it was a case of "phew, everythings back to normal after the mc" whereas this month my cycle's too short and my lp appears to be screwed. And I also think deep down I had started to hope the spotting was implantation (stupid, I know, but in fairness I had similar implantation bleeds in my previous pgs) so it was more of a disappointment.

I'm actually dreading going to the gp tomorrow, feeling silly about it and tempted to cancel. I'm sure - as keziah says they'll probably just send me straight back out the door. But given that I have identified a potential problem with the luteal phase I might regret not at least asking?

On a more positive note, I have contacted a local acupuncturist specialising in fertility and she is going to call me back later to discuss. I think I will feel better when I'm doing something positive about things.

Oops, sorry for long post and me me me! Hope you're all ok x

Storm I am so sad to hear that you would have been going on mat leave tomorrow. That must be unbelievably difficult for you.

Another thing the psychotherapist said to me, and this may also help a little bit (not sure) is that people generally don't fall pg as easily as they make it seem, but in RL most normally don't disclose how difficult they've found it to conceive. I think that is probably right. How many of us here are dead honest with our friends about TTC? I've only told two of mine. I doubt very much when we finally become pg we'll turn round and add "and you know it took me x years" when it's time to announce a pregnancy. You just don't. I suppose it's all to do with expectations and perceptions.

Well I got some sad news at lunchtime, over which I am feeling unbelievably guilty. My RL friend of whom I felt (she insinuated that the planned pregnancy was an accident - think I mentioned it two or three weeks back) has had a MC at 12 weeks. I feel awfully sad for her, but also dreadful that I felt so angry towards her initially.

Storm hope you have a lovely night out with the girls and you can relax a little.

Not got any plans as yet for the weekend, but if the weather holds up DH and I might even attempt one last BBQ of the year! It's about 20 C here today and beautiful weather. More like July than October.

Sorry AF got you Izzy & Storm.

Keziah, hope the 2 weeks fly by. Sorry, I can't remember but what is the next step for you?

KC, hope you get your CBT sorted soon.

Storm, the way you're feeling is completely understandable. Look after yourself .. emotionally, too. Did you have any luck finding another counsellor?

Boba, how are you doing?

Hi All!

Oh KC it sounds like you've had a bit of a tough time of late. I'm glad your Psychotherapy session has made you feel a bit better and I hope that your doc can continue to help you through.

Thanks for the bit about the jealousy issue - I feel very sad at the mo for all kinds of reasons but one of them is people round me in RL are falling preg at the drop of a hat. I find it really tough to deal with some days but most of the time I manage to get through. When I do feel sad about it though I also feel terrible that I feel that way - I hope I can remember what you said about not always feeling that way cos maybe this will help me to ride the announcements out.

Not only has the fact that AF arrived made me feel very sad this time (which for me I feel is unusual cos I can normally see the bright side) but I should have been going on maternity leave tomorrow. To be honest I thought I'd cope better than I am doing,it seems that every now and then my grief and disbelief at what happened rears its ugly head and slaps me in the face. I expect that as my expected due date approaches and as much as I desperately want to cope, I'll find it harder - much harder than I thought I would.

Well anyway, I'll snap out of it eventually

I haven't a clue what I was thinking this morning reposting the stats cos my cycle number was wrong - I haven't been trying for 5 months at all, its been just 4. So they must have been wrong in the first place. I'll post them again otherwise it will bug me (a bit OCD like that I'm afraid)

Well I'm off out with the girls tomorrow night - I think I definately NEED it.

Has anyone got any plans for the weekend.

xxx

Today's stats:
FlyingCat TTC#1, cycle #26, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 28-29, CD108
Rach879 TTC#1 cycle #7, CBFM cycle 1, age 30, UCL 30-34, CD75
Jenni4 TTC#2, cycle #5, CBFM Cycle 2, age 36, UCL 26, CD55
Hairytriangle TTC#1, cycle #10, CBFM cycle 1, age 42, UCL 28/29, CD41
Missyraines TTC#1, Cycle #11, CBFM cycle 6, age 33, UCL 32, CD39
TangoTime TTC #1, Cycle #6, CBFM Cycle 2, age 32, UCL 28, CD32
Boba82 TTC#1 cycle #16, CBFM cycle 3, age 28, UCL ?, CD32
Ses TTC#2, cycle #3, CBFM cycle 5, age 37, UCL 30, CD24
Emmylou30 TTC#1, Cycle #3, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 35, CD23
chocciechip TTC#1, cycle #8, CBFM cycle 8, age 39, UCL29, CD20
Lychees TTC#2, Cycle #12, CBFM cycle 8, Aged 36, UCL 30-35, CD19
Starlet22 TTC#1, cycle #14, CBFM cycle 8, age 34, ucl 25, CD18
ljg TTC#3, Cycle 5, CBFM cycle 4 age 38 UCL 28-30 CD15
wantbaby TTC#1, cycle 9, CBFM cycle 4, age 38, UCL 30, CD12
Keziah TTC#1, cycle26, CBFM cycle 14, age 35, ucl 28-31, CD9
KnackeredCow TTC#1, Cycle 13, CBFM cycle 2, age 31, UCL 28, CD9
PinkCustard TTC#2, Cycle #10, CBFM Cycle 5, age 33, UCL 30-35, CD9
Rosieposey TTC#5, Cycle #10, CBFM cycle 3 aged38, UCL30, CD9
IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy TTC #3 Cycle #3, CBFM cycle 3, age 34, UCL 26-28, CD2
Stormbird TTC#1, Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle 4, age 28, UCL 28-32 CD1
EmmaC29 TTC#1, Cycle #11, CBFM 0 (starting on 8th Dec!), aged 29
Headbanger TTC#1, Cycle #9, CBFM cycle 2, Aged 30

Graduates
Paula123gym BFP 5/10/10

Morning Laies. How is everyone today?

Lychees it's good to know that your DH's SA was normal. Maybe it's just been a run of bad luck that means you haven't managed to conceive. Perhaps this month is your month?

Sufferingbabyfever I agree with what all the lovely ladies on here say about a CBFM - definitely a worthwhile purchase.

Izzy and Storm really really sorry that AF got you both

Starlet re your hyperthyroidism, like Keziah says it sounds like something that your GP or an endincrinologist might be able to sort FX'd.

Boba how are you feeling, hun? Any brighter?

Well, DH and I saw a psychotherapist on Monday who our GP had referred us to when we went to see her for some underlying issues. I didn't mention it before as I don't really want to go into all the details about why, IYSWIM but GP felt we needed a bit of counselling and wanted to ensure the FC can't through back any psychological issues when they finally receive the referral (still waiting to have my appt to get swabs re-done).

I had been feeling very low after leaving work, not being able to find alternative employment and then not being able to get pg, which has had quite a dramatic negative effect on our sex life. I've been finding it really difficult to be interested in BD'ing except when I'm in my fertile window and DH simply feels he's a babymaking machine. Sorry that's really hard to admit when you desperately want a baby an you know you should be BD'ing every other day throughout your cycle. Anyway, her assessment was really helpful. She suspects I may be suffering from depression, so she has asked me to return to GP to discuss (I've got an appointment tomorrow). I have suffered from depression twice in the past so she thinks I need CBT. I've never been receptive to pharmacological treatment and have only ever gone down that route as the wait for CBT is so long (2 years where I live). However, she's suggested that I may be able to "queue jump" as AD's aren't really suitable for somebody TTC. She's told me to ask my GP about IAPT (immediate access psychotherapy) apparently it's a sort of condensed CBT and the aim is to provide some sort of therapy whilst waiting for full CBT.

Interestingly, we also talked about my jealousy and upset when RL friends announce their pregnancies. I was really relieved when she said "It's OK to feel sad. What you are feeling is displaced anger. You won't always feel this way towards them. When you have your baby, you will feel completely different." Anyway, that made me feel a lot better so I wanted to share it with you incase, like me, any of you ever get tearful or feel when your RL friends tell you they are pg.

Anyway sorry for mega long post. Phew.. It's good to get it all out.

x

Today's stats:
FlyingCat TTC#1, cycle #26, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 28-29, CD108
Rach879 TTC#1 cycle #7, CBFM cycle 1, age 30, UCL 30-34, CD75
Jenni4 TTC#2, cycle #5, CBFM Cycle 2, age 36, UCL 26, CD55
Hairytriangle TTC#1, cycle #10, CBFM cycle 1, age 42, UCL 28/29, CD41
Missyraines TTC#1, Cycle #11, CBFM cycle 6, age 33, UCL 32, CD39
TangoTime TTC #1, Cycle #6, CBFM Cycle 2, age 32, UCL 28, CD32
Boba82 TTC#1 cycle #16, CBFM cycle 3, age 28, UCL ?, CD32
Ses TTC#2, cycle #3, CBFM cycle 5, age 37, UCL 30, CD24
Emmylou30 TTC#1, Cycle #3, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 35, CD23
chocciechip TTC#1, cycle #8, CBFM cycle 8, age 39, UCL29, CD20
Lychees TTC#2, Cycle #12, CBFM cycle 8, Aged 36, UCL 30-35, CD19
Starlet22 TTC#1, cycle #14, CBFM cycle 8, age 34, ucl 25, CD18
ljg TTC#3, Cycle 5, CBFM cycle 4 age 38 UCL 28-30 CD15
wantbaby TTC#1, cycle 9, CBFM cycle 4, age 38, UCL 30, CD12
Keziah TTC#1, cycle26, CBFM cycle 14, age 35, ucl 28-31, CD9
KnackeredCow TTC#1, Cycle 13, CBFM cycle 2, age 31, UCL 28, CD9
PinkCustard TTC#2, Cycle #10, CBFM Cycle 5, age 33, UCL 30-35, CD9
Rosieposey TTC#5, Cycle #10, CBFM cycle 3 aged38, UCL30, CD9
IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy TTC #3 Cycle #3, CBFM cycle 3, age 34, UCL 26-28, CD2
Stormbird TTC#1, Cycle #5, CBFM Cycle 5, age 28, UCL 28-32 CD1
EmmaC29 TTC#1, Cycle #11, CBFM 0 (starting on 8th Dec!), aged 29
Headbanger TTC#1, Cycle #9, CBFM cycle 2, Aged 30

Bit too hasty with the update there and didn't update my Cycle....woops

Today's stats:
FlyingCat TTC#1, cycle #26, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 28-29, CD108
Rach879 TTC#1 cycle #7, CBFM cycle 1, age 30, UCL 30-34, CD75
Jenni4 TTC#2, cycle #5, CBFM Cycle 2, age 36, UCL 26, CD55
Hairytriangle TTC#1, cycle #10, CBFM cycle 1, age 42, UCL 28/29, CD41
Missyraines TTC#1, Cycle #11, CBFM cycle 6, age 33, UCL 32, CD39
TangoTime TTC #1, Cycle #6, CBFM Cycle 2, age 32, UCL 28, CD32
Boba82 TTC#1 cycle #16, CBFM cycle 3, age 28, UCL ?, CD32
Ses TTC#2, cycle #3, CBFM cycle 5, age 37, UCL 30, CD24
Emmylou30 TTC#1, Cycle #3, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 35, CD23
chocciechip TTC#1, cycle #8, CBFM cycle 8, age 39, UCL29, CD20
Lychees TTC#2, Cycle #12, CBFM cycle 8, Aged 36, UCL 30-35, CD19
Starlet22 TTC#1, cycle #14, CBFM cycle 8, age 34, ucl 25, CD18
ljg TTC#3, Cycle 5, CBFM cycle 4 age 38 UCL 28-30 CD15
wantbaby TTC#1, cycle 9, CBFM cycle 4, age 38, UCL 30, CD12
Keziah TTC#1, cycle26, CBFM cycle 14, age 35, ucl 28-31, CD9
KnackeredCow TTC#1, Cycle 13, CBFM cycle 2, age 31, UCL 28, CD9
PinkCustard TTC#2, Cycle #10, CBFM Cycle 5, age 33, UCL 30-35, CD9
Rosieposey TTC#5, Cycle #10, CBFM cycle 3 aged38, UCL30, CD9
IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy TTC #3 Cycle #3, CBFM cycle 3, age 34, UCL 26-28, CD2
Stormbird TTC#1, Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle 4, age 28, UCL 28-32 CD1
EmmaC29 TTC#1, Cycle #11, CBFM 0 (starting on 8th Dec!), aged 29
Headbanger TTC#1, Cycle #9, CBFM cycle 2, Aged 30

Graduates
Paula123gym BFP 5/10/10

Well AF finally got me. Never mind....

Have a good day everyone

xxx

Hey stormbird, thanks for the advice. Much appreciated!

#Starlet* - was it the gp tests that found this out? If so, although not nice to have it may mean this is the issue not a fertility one per se and once under control you should be able to conceive in the usual timeframe!

Izzy - my cycles vary from 26-31 days, something I never knew until I used the CBFM. So on a later ovulation day I knew that was the one to focus on - so you could see how long your cycles were and hope more longer than others? Accupuncture sounds good idea, as doubt gp will help as ttc for just 3 months means they don't have to do anything at that stage (some are more helpful I know, just not mine!!)

13 days to go before any actual treatment now!!

Sorry Lychees we must have x posted

Thanks Izzy

Suffering You Set the CBFM to start counting your cycle days on day 1 of your cycle by pressing the 'm' button (this I presume stands for menstral??) I set the M button at around 6.30am on the first proper day of my cycle. This is easier for me as I prefer to test first thing in the morning and when you set the M button you are basically choosing your testing window. The CBFM will probably not ask you to start testing until day 6 of your first cycle using it and it may even ask you to use all 20 sticks so don't be alarmed. It simply needs to get used you and your cycle. If you are not lucky enough to get your BFP after the 1st cycle of using the CBFM you will find that the amount of tests it asks you to use will decrease. Its pretty straight forward once you get the hang of it.

I got mine from an online Chemist called MasterDirect.com brand new for £58.00 - I get the tests off amazon as these are the cheapest I have found.

I hope you get your BFP this month hun, but if you do end up purchasing a CBFM come and join in the fun here - the support is second to none.

Good Luck xx

suffering, you need to set the cycle day from day 1 - 5 of your cycle and you start to poas from CD6 during your first cycle. In subsequent cycles it may get you to start poas from a later day than CD6. Generally speaking, you'll use 20 sticks in your first cycle but only ten sticks per subsequent cycle but it won't be the same for everybody.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you StormBird !!

suffering yes I meant to say I've learnt some interesting things about my cycle by using the CBFM so it's been worth doing from that point of view. They are quite expensive but you can pick them up a bit cheaper on eBay x