The Elderberry Pavlovas who occasionally sausage wang – a fabulous thread for 30+ ladies TTC #1 (Thread 8)

I've tried most things but not temping as work shifts, so no regular waking pattern. I think most of the berries are teachers so I guess don't have this issue - but any suggestions on how to get round it? Give up shift work is my preferred option! :-)

I've decided to start popping more pills. If I get sent for more blood tests and have to wait another 3 months to follow up when I have my fc appointment next week I'm going straight on the Vitamin B6. I need to feel like I'm doing something, not just kicking time.

Merk, having a month off yourself doesn't eradicate all your knowledge! You helped me loads with the PIMPing and you're always very helpful when berries are confused by their charts. I really appreciated your help .

Merk fingers crossed your spotting might be implantation bleeding. However, if you are sure that it is not, I know I had mid cycle bleeding when I had my anovulatory cycle - have you ovulated this month?

I think the temping requires you to temp the second you wake up without doing anything else first. Assuming you do this the actual time doesn't really matter. The science is that your temp will normally gradually start to rise as your body naturally moves towards waking (assuming you normally naturally wake at the same time) and then will rise rapidly once you wake. Setting an alarm pre you going into that natural waking stage ensures you get a temp that isn't altered by your temp rising because you are about to wake iyswim. I think first few cycles be as accurate as you can (follow the rules where possible) then once you have a view of the pattern you can forget the rules on the whole!
Prof merk has only taken the temp of some caramel this month and have had no chance to pee on my hand in a pot! Therefore not sure I deserve my title

Can't see that Merk, think it's only visible to paid up members.

On the temping time thing, without wanting to contradict Prof Merk who is the unrivalled expert on all things PIMPing and TEMPing, I have never set my alarm deliberately early, but my alarm is always set for 7am including weekends and I temp as soon as it goes off. On the occasions where I can't face the alarm and have temped whenever I have woken it hasn't made any discernible difference to the overall pattern.

Barking look here

In case the link doesn't work this is a FF search of chat type = pregnancy with LP less than 10.

Bajas. I started tracking with My Days and still use it as a back up but I wanted the mythical 'crosshairs' I heard everyone talking about!! I do find the chart on FF an bit easier to read, plus as Merks said it predicts OV so gives you that extra bit of reassurance.

No idea merk, sorry. Don't actually know much about spotting and why it happens at all. Dr Google no help?!

Puppy I say pointlessly dtd as I've given up believing it's possible to get upduffed with such a short LP. Even if I drop an egg ok and it's fertilised, it surely doesn't have time to plant itself on the wall of my womb and settle in before the womb is already shedding its lining for AF. So basically unless anyone has some miracle stories to hand to persuade me upduffment is possible with an 8 day LP, I've lost hope until I get help. Which I was hoping might happen next week but realistically I know now will be at least another 3 months if not more.

Evening all

I haven't logged on since Sunday and realised you ladies talk a lot

Sorry to hear Boodle that your appointment was a bit disappointing today. It is making me realise more and more that there are sadly no quick answers with this whole TTC process.

Update from me, I got a Peak on my CBFM yesterday and so DTD last night and hoping to be busy tonight Was worried that I was going to have another anovulatory cycle because OV was delayed by three days so was quite pleased when I started experiencing my normal signs. However, I am now really hoping that this doesn't mean that my already short LP of 9/10 days has been reduced by 3 days as well!

Thanks for all the temping tips - think I am going to give it a try next month too! Not sure about the early wake up calls though

My days is good for symptom tracking and periods etc but won't predict O like FF...

Thanks happylass I can see the pattern now. Will need to download fertility friend. Have an app called my days but don't know if it's as good.

Having withdrawal symptoms from OBEM tonight :(
Spotting has got worse today, almost like the lightest of light light light periods but its not bright red blood. If this isn't my BFP yes I know I'm stupid thinking that what else would cause mid cycle spotting?

I get my OPKs from Amazon here, Bunny

When I first started temping, I found it quite useful playing around on Fertility Friend a bit and having a go at some of their 'chart analysis' games. Helped me understand my own a bit more quickly, I think.

Barking, I have had blood tests that confirm ovulation, but I told the consultant today that for the two '21 day' tests I've had so far, AF has always arrived within 3-4 days. She didn't like that much and said I've got to have one more set but this time 7 days before AF rather than 7 days after ovulation. Not quite sure what she expects that to reveal, but I'll go along with it. I'll only be 2 DPO so I'm guessing it will show low progesterone levels. We shall see. It's going to be a bugger trying to get bloods taken based on an event in the future though!

Bunny, I don't know how you're feeling relaxed by NOT DTD! When DH was away a couple of months back, I hated knowing there was no chance! I guess my brain hasn't quite got the message yet that this ain't happening without help.

By the way, something else that FC mentioned today was the possibility that my uterus might be an 'inhospitable environment' and that's something that will get checked if tubes come back all clear. Suddenly, the Friends theme tune was playing in my head!

Bajas OV is predicted by FF as day 12 (the vertical red line). I always get a dip the day before and then a gradual rise over several days. I usually get OV pain to back this up but didn't notice any this month. Have to say the rise on cd12 isn't as noticeable as usual (probably because I was ignoring Professor Merkin and being inconsistent with my timings!) but I always OV around the same time so for me FF is just confirming what I already know.

Wow thanks everyone for all the detailed help. I feel like I'll know exactly what I'm doing right from the start :)

Happylass is the peak on your chart ovulation?

Ignore my stupid double post... using laptop and phone all at the same time!
Boodle sorry for the extra waiting for more tests. I guess you wouldn't mind if the tests were next week, its the time between them, then for results before you can move on to the next stage that must be frustrating

I agree with all that has been said about temping so far. I did it for about 6 months. It helped me to understand my cycle.

I now only use about 2 opks a month because I can tell when OV is coming.

For all the bloody good it's done me.

To add to earlier posts for new temping people;
Take temp the same time each day

Evening berries. Glad to hear all the appointments went well but must be soooo frustrating that everything takes so bloody long! Am definitely going back to the GPs to demand my referral if I haven't got upduffed by the end of next cycle.
With regards to charting I thought I'd share mine [[http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/3fe8ca
here]] for those temping virgins as this month's is pretty textbook and I will take any opportunity to show it off now that I know how to This month I slept in 5 different beds in the space of a week as we were on our travels plus I never set the alarm when not in work, I just temp as soon as I wake up. This inconsistency doesn't seem to affect me, but others may say differently. Happy temping!!