ttc #1 support during the waiting game and friends needed on same boat

banana - ha..boob poking...i do that too!Let us know how you get on xx

Bugista - thanks for your response, I really appreciate it :) it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one who gets the faint lines. I decided today that I'm going to give up the OPKs. They just add to the stress for me. Ah yes the pill would explain it...Is this your first cycle off the pill? FX for you xx

My update: since yesterday eve I have felt a bit crampy mainly in my lower back (kinda feel like when AF is going to come but it isn't) and am realllllly tired today so not sure what's going on there.

Soooo how is everyone today? Any updates?

Thanks pallas that's reassuring!! :)

Bugitsa yep if you're only recently off the pill then 49 days is nothing to worry about - it does indeed take a while to settle down, which is annoying but shouldn't have an impact on fertility. FX for you!

I also get faint lines most of the time, baby - I have found using OPKs useful but they take some getting used to! They're not nearly as user friendly as they could be! It took me a couple of gos to figure out what a +ve test looks like - if you're not sure then try googling images of +ve ones, that helped me.

I don't think I have PCOS, I've just got quite a long cycle...it's being a bit ridiculous at the mo (am now on CD49 which is 9 DPO). I came off the pill quite recently so hope they'll settle down!

Good luck with OPKs, hope you get your +ve soon!

Baby - This was my first month using OPKs. I started testing at CD9 but stopped because OH was quite ill so we put off ttc. We have talked about trying for Aug but will see how things go. x

So glad Babycakes

Well I'm 10 DPO and don't have any sore boobs (apart from when I've been poking them to see if they're sore), and I don't feel any different from usual - apart from a heavy, crampy feeling like when AF is due - so I think I'm almost certainly out this month.

Ahhh thank you all so much for your advice and support - you have made me feel loads better xxx

Pallascat - Thank you for the lovely comments x FX for a BFP soon for you too...and for everyone! Ahh do you have much planned for the hols? It will be good for you to get some well-deserved rest and relaxation - will hopefully help loads with TTC

Banana - Yes that's definitely really helpful and reassuring, thank you!! :) How are you getting on?

Thanks LL2015 - because I don't know my cycle lengths, I have been testing since CD10. It's turning into an expensive habit! I just hope my cycle length isn't like 100 days or something. And it's not over til AF comes. FX crossed for you.

Hi everyone

babycakes sorry you're feeling so down. How many days in a row have you tested with clear blue? I think I remember reading somewhere that it said to check with the doc if after a certain length of time...but I could be wrong. What the others said about time of day isn't a bad shout either.

I'm cd20 and have plenty of PMS symptoms - acne on chin, slight cramping, slightly emosh. It's only cycle one so I imagine I'll be ttc for A fair time that but try telling my brain that

Hi Babycakes

Massive hugs, hang in there! Re: the faint lines, we all have some level of LH circulating in our blood at various points throughout our cycle, so it’s entirely possible for an OPK to show a faint line at any point. The OPK picks up the LH surge that precedes ovulation, at which point the line should go as dark or even darker than the control. I definitely had faint lines earlier in my cycle this month (although I have PCOS and our levels of LH are generally higher anyway).

Oh and I know it's really confusing how the ClearBlue says to use first morning urine when other ones specifically say NOT to. It's weird, isn't it?! It is way more convenient to be able to test first thing at home before going in to work...

I don’t know if any of this was any help at all? Big hug xxx

How's everyone today?
CD21 here and nothing to report. Well, feeling exhausted but I'm a teacher reaching end of term, so don't think I can fool myself into symptom-spotting that!

Banana hilarious! We're all doing it, hey?!

Welcome Lemon and Beanz! Nice to have you on board.

FlatWhite yep he's much better now, thank you!

Babycakes so sorry to hear how down you sound! I don't know anything about OPKs so can't offer anything on that... just comfort and love and the fact we're all in this together. We're here for the whining stress and anxiety, so don't apologise. Lots of love and FX for you sweetie.

Also...sorry for the constant questions...but do you guys get faint lines throughout your cycle?

Thanks for your responses [:)

Bugista - Ahhh that's really promising - thanks for sharing and for the advice. Glad (well not glad but reassured) to know that I'm not alone with the ovulation. Are you just generally irregular or do you have pcos or anything? What CD are you on now?

Sizzle - my clearblue says to test first thing in morning which contradicts everything everywhere/everyone else says so I'm going to start testing after work I think (limiting my fluid intake in the afternoon). I don't think it would be practical for me to test at work hehe. How are you getting on?

That or I might ditch OPKs altogether ha! who knows

What time have you been testing Babycakes. I thought you could test late morning/early arvo. My cheapo tests say not to use first morning urine but CB might say different.

Hi babycakes really sorry to hear you're having a down day. I know exactly how you feel re waiting for a +ve opk...my cycles are completely all over the place and this cycle I got my +ve on CD40! It did happen though and I def ovulated (was also temping and had the temp jump to confirm). I know it's so stressful but keep checking, FX you have it soon.

On the instructions i read, it says the best time to do it is around lunchtime and that you should try not to pee for a couple of hours beforehand (and don't drink too much water so your pee isn't diluted) - haha sorry TMI. Let us know how you get on!!

Forgot to add - how is everyone else??

Mermaid - I hope AF stays away for you :)

Hi ladies,

Thanks for all the tips/info.

I'm having a really down day today and was hoping I could turn to you lovely ladies for some support/info/advice/anything :(

CD26 and still no positive OPK :( I don't feel like I'll get it soon either. Every day I get a faint line on my OPKs. It's not dark but it's not a squinter either. It's kind of made me panic that something is wrong with me - do others get faint lines throughout their whole cycle? I was researching stuff today and apparently first thing in the morning isn't best to do OPKs either (cheers Clearblue). So my morning tests could a) be wrong anyway b) make me even more stressed cus apparently you're not meant to have LH in the morning so why am I getting faint lines??

I just feel like I'll never get my positive OPK let alone BFP. I feel like my body hates me :(

So sorry for the whining. I know that we are all frustrated and all have to wait, just having one of those days. If anyone could shed any light on the above issues, I'd really appreciate it. It's got so bad that I was convinced the Clearblue OPK test was broken so made DH test his urine today...and of course he got no line. Oh dear what is wrong with me.

Cinder truth be told, i have no idea! I haven't had a visit from AF for over 8 years....i've been off the pill for 4 weeks now....no AF, no PG, but horrendous sypmtoms of something (boobs too sore to touch/put in a bra; cramps; lethargy, hormones everywhere; over half a stone on in weight)

I want my nice controlled hormones back!!

Sorry to hear that Mermaid. How late are you?

No AF today, negative PG test also....

It's hardly likely that I'd be PG on my first cycle, but you can always hope! Just got to wait for AF to turn up now....

Evening!

banana that jus made me laugh out loud. all day today I've had minor cramps convinced it's some sort of implantation but indeed it's probably gas

Welcome funnybeanz I know what you mean - so many friends have babies often within first two months but I also have friends who took a good three years(!) and quite frankly I applaud their determination.

cinder sounds like we have similar patterns as I'm around 3DPO today, AF due next Thurs/Fri

flat white felt quite productive and calm today which is nice but it's so changeable. Often people get stressed which rubs off on me. I'm very much trying to stay calm at the mo, because it's really not worth ever getting worked up about. Easier said than done though of course!

cinder same here! Logic tells me that there is no way I'm PG and that AF will turn up any minute, but you just can't help hoping! Every time I go to the loo I'm checking my knickers to make sure AF hasn't turned up!

Thanks for the lovely welcome everyone!! I'm so pleased that people are understanding about being somewhat envious about pthers who are getting pregnant easily, I'm really not usually a green eyed monster but I have to say ttc isn't bringing out the best in me.

I haven't got a thermometer, maybe I should get one. I've been clinging on to the 'seeing what happens' kind of trying for a while but I think that's pretty much gone and I'm entering full blown obsessing! This is the first month i've tried the ovulation sticks (just got the cheapo ones because obviously I'm so relaxed about all this)!!! Anyway been testing since Friday which was day 10 and still no surge detected. This isn't helping me avoid obsessing. Off to Google basal thermometers

I think it has to be now banana - this is the beginning of the TWW of cycle ONE - at this rate I am going to be a complete and utter basket case by the time a BFP appears!

Logically I know that I am supremely unlikely to get pregnant on the first try (although I do have a super fertile friend who did!). But the not logical part of my brain is convinced I will. It's kind of like when you buy a lottery ticket, and spend ages daydreaming about what you will do with the money when you win, and then are surprised when you don't.

My basal thermometer arrived today, so I guess I'll start doing that tomorrow.

CinderToffee that made me literally laugh out loud. It’s like you’re in my head.

1. Ooh, I feel X

1. I wonder if that cramping is implantation cramping

1. If I get spotting then maybe it’s definitely implantation cramping.

1. Unless it’s AF turning up really early. I’m only 10 DPO could that really be it?

1. If spotting turns up, it’s definitely AF, I’m definitely out

1. I wonder if I’ve got sore boobs. I’ve never had sore boobs before. I wonder if I’ll know?

1. Hmm, I wonder if those cramps are actually just gas. Maybe gas is a sign of early pregnancy?

1. I’m not going to POAS early. I’m not. I will be strong and wait for AF to be late

1. I wonder how early I can test.

Cinder - shall I book us both into the loony bin now, or later?!

Despite my promise that I supposed to be relaxed, I am already starting to symptom spot. It's insane - because I'm not testing I don't know exactly when I ovulated but I can't be more than 3dpo!

"Ooh my breasts hurt!" - they do every month!

"ooh my sense of smell seems really good!" - it is always excellent anyway.

This is ridiculous. Genuinely ridiculous. I need to get a grip.