Clearblue Fertility Monitor Support Group Buddies Vol 5!!

Keziah You sound so positive and that's really good to hear. I really hope your doctors see some sense. Please keep us updated as to how things are going. That said, I so want you to get a natural BFP and then you can ram that stick somewhere where the sun don't shine up your GP's ...... metaphorically speaking, of course. Don't worry about crying, that's nothing to be ashamed of.

suffering sorry we x posted. I do agree with Keziah, a little early yet, but likewise I really hope that you won't need to.

Lychees I agree with Keziah and Boba too

Welcome suffering - yes, agree dr would probably laugh at you, but you have every right to go after 12mths of ttc- but lets hope you don't need to.

Thanks KC, Boba and Lychees -natural miracle is our desire right now, and pressure wise is ok as I refuse to ttc every day or so! Max of every 2 days here, and love CBFM so I know when that is!! So my monitor reduces stress for me. Can't appeal until we get a letter from clinic telling us refused - guess there is a slight miracle in hoping they will accept the paragraphs from consultant as a yes. The clinic are happy with me, but want the box ticked! Keep crying, but work (with children of course!!) was good distraction today, so aiming to keep busy.

Lychees - a peak is a peak!! So act

Keziah, so sorry about your news. Cannot add any more to what the other ladies have said but just to let you know I am wishing for a natural miracle BFP for you soon.

Welcome ClockSpotter, UCL = Usual Cycle Length and CD = Cycle Day.

Just a bit of a selfish post [still at work so will catch up with everyone else's posts later but can someone confirm something .....

Yesterday when I poas in the morning, I saw a second faint line on the testing stick before putting it in my CBFM. However, my CBFM gave me a low. The night before that, I had woken up and was desperate for a wee so I went to the loo but I had no idea of the time so come morning, there was not much FMU.

Today I got a peak. However, I am assuming that this should actually be my second peak day as my first should have been yesterday.

What do you reckon, ladies?

Hi there!

I'm sorry I haven't had time to read through all the pages but can I add myself to the list?

Just purchased CBFM and sticks on Amazon and waiting their arrival..

TTC#2, Cycle #5, CBFM Cycle 1, age 38, what is UCL AND CD tho'?

Am hoping for great things after trying for 5 months but worried it might take sponteneity out of things a bit! Gonna keep it schtum from DP otherwise he'll roll his eyes!

Hi Zebedee

I don't chart or temp so can't answer your specific questions, but some years ago I did sell clinical thermometers to hospitals.

As with all temperatures, you are looking for a trend, not an actual reading. Our individual bodies all run at slightly different temperatures, and this does vary depending on time of day. My normal temp is 36.2

So it's probably best to record your temps on a graph so that you can see the trend.

Are you using a mouth thermometer? I assume you are. If so, then you should not drink anything immediately before taking your temp as it will affect the result. You should also take your temperature at the same time every day. If I remember rightly, temperature is higher in the evening than the morning (I think that's the right way round).

If you've used a tympanic (ear) thermometer, then having a swig of water before taking your temp won't affect it.

Hi Knackered

Yeah add my stats to the list.

TTC#1, Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle 1, age 27, UCL average 28 , CD24

I've not been to the dr about any issues about TTC as we've only been trying 4 months and Im 27. I can imagine they'd laugh me out the surgery at this point! :)

Knackered - thanks for the tips on sticks and I might try Amazon for ordering them too. I often thought it was a waste of sticks when it had already shown a peak day.

When I bought the last lot of sticks I got a really cheap temperature thermometre too which works really well, so I thought I'd try charting the basal body temp. I've used it for a few days now, but can someone tell me what I'm looking for? Is it worth the bother? This morning I had a big swig of water just before using it, then thought that was a bit stupid - does it matter if you drink something just before?

Hi Ladies Updating today's stats:

In School
EmmaC29 TTC#1, Cycle #11, CBFM Cycle 1, age 29, UCL 26-29, CD60
Starlet22 TTC#1, Cycle #15, CBFM cycle 9, age 34, ucl 25, CD52
wantbaby TTC#1, Cycle #11, CBFM cycle 6, age 38, UCL 30, CD50
Littlefan TTC#1, Cycle 9, CBFM cycle 2 , age 31, UCL 32-38, CD45
AnytimeNOW TTC#3, Cycle #6, CBFM Cycle 5, age 38, UCL 28, CD43
Michelle2222 TTC#2, CBFM Cycle 1, age 27, UCL?, CD40
Birdietimesthree TTC#1, Cycle #3, CBFM Cycle 2, age 36, UCL 24-25, CD33
IzzyWizzyletsgetbusy TTC#3 Cycle #4, CBFM Cycle 4, age 34, UCL 26-30 CD33
Ses TTC#2, cycle #5, CBFM cycle #7, age 37, UCL 28-30, CD30
Missyraines TTC#1, Cycle #13, CBFM Cycle 8, age 33, UCL 32, CD25
CrazyAlien TTCno.1 cycle 5 CBFM Cycle 2 age 28 UCL 31-35??! CD18
Lychees TTC#2, Cycle #14, CBFM cycle 10, Aged 36, UCL 30-35, CD16
Twowoulddo TTC#2, Cycle #6, CBFM cycle 1?, Aged 31, UCL 31, CD15
Keziah TTC#1, Cycle #28, CBFM Cycle 16, age 35, ucl 28-31, CD13
ZebedeetheZebra TTC#2, age 43, UCL TMI!, CD11
PinkCustard TTC#2, Cycle #12, CBFM Cycle 7, age 34, UCL 30-32, CD10
KnackeredCow TTC#1, Cycle #15, CBFM Cycle 4, age 31, UCL 28, CD9
IloveKittyElise TTC#1, Cycle 2, CBFM Cycle 2, age 34, UCL 28, CD7
Fr00tbat TTC #1, Cycle 6, CBFM Cycle 2, age 32, UCL 30-38 (av 34), CD6
Boba82 TTC#1 Cycle 19, CBFM cycle 6, age 28, UCL 30 (FX), CD

The Dog Ate My Homework
Headbanger TTC#1, Cycle #9, CBFM Cycle 2, age 30, UCL ?, CD?

Playing Truant
FlyingCat TTC#1, Cycle #26, CBFM cycle 2, age 30, UCL 28-29, CD156
Rach879 TTC#1 Cycle #7, CBFM cycle 1, age 30, UCL 30-34, CD123
Jenni4 TTC#2, Cycle #5, CBFM Cycle 2, age 36, UCL 26, CD103

Graduates
Emmylou30 BFP 22/10/10
MissLolita BFP 30/10/20
Notnearly BFP 6/11/10
StormBird BFP 10/11/10

Boba So sorry to read that AF got you because you weren't pg , but happy for you that a normal cycle has resumed. Must be such a relief to know that things are working properly

Suffering I was on depo years ago and it took a year for my periods to return to normal. Perhaps that's what's caused the irregular cycles? I think it can take up to 18 months. Temping and charting is better for determining whether you are ovulating than OPKs. The problem with temping and charting is that you don't see the rise in temp until after you've ov'd, by which point it's generally too late to conceive. How old are you? I know where I live if you are over 34 they will begin to run tests when you've been TTC for 6 months without success rather than the normal 12. Might be worth having a chat with your GP if you are worried. Would you like us to add your stats to the list?

Kitty Like you, I like the CBFM for the control that it gives me over knowing when I am likely to conceive. I think the monitor does measure at the start of the cycle when it begins to request sticks, it stops as soon as it detects the first peak day. Although, it probably does asks for sticks a little early IMO.

ArabellaDon't worry. Ov can be delayed some months. I normally have my peak days on 14/15, but last month I didn't peak until 18/19 and I had ov pain on day 18. Predictably, AF was 3 days late. Sounds like you may just have late ovulation this month.

Keziah I'm so sorry to hear that you didn't get the letter you needed. That makes me feel very sad . Are you appealing? I really hope you conceive naturally. That would show them. Remember it does only take one sperm to make it. WRT your DH's antibodies, are they on all of his sperm, or just some of them?

Well my DH got his SA back. He hasn't stopped crowing, which made me cry. I am relieved it was really good, but also feel a bit strange as it seems like that our problems lie with me. That makes me sound a bit selfish

Hi, we need a natural miracle, as didn't get the letter we needed to pay for fertility treatment.

Back to the monitor, except this time knowing it will only be a miracle due to never having conceived and now knowing the physical reasons why that we can't do anything about. So , well more than ... just don't know how to find the energy to ttc when know it isn't going to work.

Hey everyone

Just catching up on the day's news. Welcome to ladies who havent been here before.

zebedee - glad to hear that the monitor is working again...i got asked for my first stick today which was day 6 and it was low, which is a good sign too!

kanckered - like your style on the sticks, i definitely agree that at that end of the cycle it uses an un-necessary two. i wonder about the other end too: last month was my first and i peaked day 13 and 14. obviously had i not had a teeny pregnancy i would have come on around 27 or 28. i think in the end it recorded a 33 day cycle of something before i reset - i wonder whether a)even if the cycle had been a normal length from ov it would have requested a aday 6 test this time or b)the monitor picked up an unusual luteal phase due to the 20 day gap between ov and menstruation and is somehow pre-programmed to see that as an irregularity and hence be prepared for anything? who knows...

i like the monitor. on a day like today it makes me kind of feel a little in control of whats going on rather than being victim to all the chaos! know what i mean?!

Hi knackered,

This is my 4th month TTC and first with the monitor. My cycle length varies from the shortest being 25 up to a 33 being the longest so far!

I've seen a GP about TTC in general at the start to discuss the rubella vaccine and folic acid etc But not for any issues.

I struggled to find a surge using OPK's as well. But last month I attempted the temperature charting and I did see a good rise on that (prob ovulating then?)

Im a bit worried that Im not ovulating. But then it could be the after effects of contraception. Been off the depo injection for 1 year 3 months and been off the pill for 8 months.

Hello everyone, I have posted on here before but mostly just follow your stories without posting. Sorry for your losses kitty and zebedee. And good luck for this month.

I'm on my third month of using the monitor. Last 2 cycles I had peak days on days 14 and 15 with a number of high days leading up to that. But this month I'm still on low on day 12. Am wondering if this is a bad sign fertility-wise, does anyone know? My cycles vary between 28 and 30 days. Would love to know what you think.

Hi All

IloveKitty you are very welcome on here. Please don't go anywhere. We're all on a difficult journey.

Zebedee I buy my sticks from Amazon. they cost £14.37, and if you plan and make sure you order about a week before you need them, there's the option to go for FREE second class snail mail.

If you also want to save money, this is the trick that I use. Once the monitor has read your first peak, it is pre-programmed to show a second peak day, a high day and then lows until you press the "m" button when AF arrives. There is no reason to keep testing, it doesn't read anything. I assume the business model they use is calculated so that a certain number of sticks are used on average until pregnancy is achieved - 2 to 6 cycles or 20 to 60 sticks. Profitability is no doubt based on that so they will always want you to use a minimum of 10 sticks per cycle.

So, once I get my first peak day, I keep the last stick I've peed on and reuse it in the monitor until it asks me not to test anymore. . I tend to use 6 - 8 tests a cycle depending on how late I ovulate into the cycle.

Sufferingbabyfever Welcome! How long is your usual cycle length? Most women ovulate 10 - 16 days before the start of AF. If you have a 35 day cycle then ovulation would normally occur on day 19 to 25 so the LH surge may not have happened yet.

Alternatively, you could have a very short LH surge occuring in the afternoon, which the monitor may be missing. How long have you been TTC? Have you seen your GP at all?

Crazy The CBFM won't ask for another test until your next cycle now.

Hi,

I've been lurking on this board for a while. This is my first cycle of using the monitor. Bit concerned I have some sort of issue as I have had a high reading for ten days now! (CD 22).

I think I saw somewhere that this could happen due to the monitor getting to know you. Is this right? Bit worried that I never got a peak. boo

Kitty I think the CBFM is working fine.

I set it to day 5 when I thought the bleeding was about to stop. Also I'd done another pregnancy test (a reeeeeallly sensitive one) which was practically negative, so I know my HCG levels must be dropping.

It started asking me for tests on day 6. I'm now on CD10 and have 2 bars today. Hopefully the monitor just thinks I've had a late period. Set it as late as you can (I think day 5 may be the latest) and see how it goes. Worse case scenario, you waste a pack of wee sticks.

Has anyone found a cheap supplier of wee sticks?? I have been using SME Fertility and ordering online where they work out a bit cheaper than Boots but not much (£18.99 plus postage). They always post them out very quickly so the service is good but I was wondering if there was anywhere cheaper.

zebedee hoping you are out there...obviously we were both unlucky enough to MC around 5 weeks and did a similar thing with the monitor...just wondering what has happened with yours..you must be on CD9 - just wondering whether it has asked you to test and if so whether you have had a false peak (which is what it will show if hcg still present)...interested to know. im day 6 tomorrow so im not sure whether it will ask me to test - last month i think it started asking on day 6 but seeing as my peak was day 13 i dont know if it will wait longer.

ladies esp lychees and boba thanks for your kindness and support xxx

Crazy, it probably won't ask again this cycle. After your firs peak, it just assumes a second peak and a high then lows from then on in. Good luck.

Kitty, we don't exclude on this thread. It's all about sharing and caring regardless of circumstances. So please don't feel that you're not welcome on here.

Boba, I'm okay. Off to see my consultant next week for a chat about the way forward.

CD14 and no peak or highs for me yet which is a little bit unusual but not unheard of. I have a headache which I've noticed that I get just before my peak ... or perhaps its the stress of shopping at weekends in the run-up to Xmas .

hey everyone,

had my first peak on monitor yday :0) So what's the deal now so to speak?! didnt ask for stick this morning... will it just ask in a few days?

thanks in advance!
x

boba you didnt make me feel bad at all! totally know what you mean about the whole RL thing...seems really hard to not get more and more bitter and twisted. popped out to the shops this morning and saw a woman shouting at her child threatening him with violence, another couple both light cigarettes next to their young child and it just seems so unfair...

Hey boba i feel really bad for you, im sorry.

all i dont know how to say this. i have joined this thread and you are all so lovely and supportive. but i dont know if its right for me to be here. i read all your stories of your long journies trying to conceive and it makes me feel kind of bad and guilty. the reason being i conceive easily its just afterward the bad luck comes. so i feel like a) its really unhelpful to some of you to have in your midst someone that seems to conceive the minute her husband looks at her (but is yet to get a sticker!) b) when i found out i was pregnant last weekend i actually wanted it to be boba and felt bad that it wasnt that i could wait a bit longer and c) when i subsequently mis-carried its a negativity thats not needed around here...

I suppose really i just feel like im one of those friends that you want to feel happy for and being here I see how lucky i am that i can conceive (albeit a poor quality product thus far!) and it just tugs on my heartstrings and wish i could sacrifice conceiving for x number of months if it could help somebody else who has been waiting so long to be carrying a baby.

Hello All.

Boba good news that you had a more "normal" cycle this month. Fingers crossed for a BFP next month.

Welcome Fr00tbat and Kat. Kat let us know your stats if you would like to be added to our list.

Storm positive news about bean. Hope everything continues to go well. Wishing you all the best.

KC and Kitty, hope you're feeling a bit better about things.

Sorry AF got you Birdie but good that your cycle is getting a bit longer.

Have a good weekend All.

Speak soon.