TTC #1, Cycle 1. Anyone In?

[jemimafuddleduck]

Hi all,
Longtime lurker, occasional commenter, rare poster here.
DH and I decided to start to TTC after much deliberation recently.
I've been on the pill for 16 years and haven't had a natural period in that time! Had my withdrawal bleed which started on 15th Jan and think I may have ovulated on Thursday 2nd Feb. I was doing OPKs (I know - first cycle, but if I'm going to do it, I'm going all in!) and got an almost-positive then - didn't have any more OPKs with me to test slightly later in the day.
DTD numerous times in what I'm estimating is my fertile week (working on the basis that my cycle is 28 days but don't really know at the moment).
So now the waiting begins.
Anyone in the same position or want to join?
Advice and your stories welcomed!

@Leonora94

I think so but again like you I’ve never really paid attention before. My boobs are really sensitive and I feel wiped, I also thought I felt some cramps but now I think it really was in my head.

I'm getting ready for cycle 3 this is the first time I've tried for a baby it's so hard but I hope we all get out BFP.

Good luck!

Good luck @Shootfirstaskquestionslater

@Leonora94 so hard to tell isn't it. I do think that if I'm not preg I don't know what the hell is going on with me. I've mainly had bloating, where I've had to avoid/ undo trousers it's so uncomfortable, some mild cramping/twinges and waves of feeling sick.

I've had a tonne more that I've noted down which are prob nothing to do with preg anyway but I'm analysing everything

Hey guys.. hope you’re all good..
I’ve not been active on MN for a few days.. went to visit my parents and sisters which helped me stop obsessing over TTC!

Had my ultrasound today both external and internal 😬 the woman there told me everything looks fine and there’s nothing to worry about and to just book an appt with the doc to see what to do next..

DH still needs to get his SA done but Our local clinic only has the SA clinic on a Thursday which is his busiest day at work so hoping he’ll be able to book a day off and get this done so we know where we’re at.

Hi all,

I haven't been on in a while - congrats to all those who've gotten BFPs!

I'm having a bit of a confusion with ovulation tests - I started this cycle using normal Clearblue ovulation tests then moved on to the dual ones (I think they track a rise in estrogen before ovulation as well as the LH surge the normal ones do). I got one positive on the normal ones on day 12, then all negatives until getting 7 positive 'flashing smilies' which indicate an estrogen rise from day 18-24, but no actual ovulation detected! My cycles are pretty long (36-40 days) but I'm finding this very confusing. Are the tests really unreliable? Not sure whether to give up and go back to temperature tracking.

Thank you sprinkleofsunshine good luck everyone I'm looking forward to getting my BBT kit so that I can start charting.

@Esk1 I'm the same with the ovulation tests!

I've been using the clear blue advanced (dual hormone) ones and had high fertility flashing smileys CD12-14

Then the unfortunate wet detector incident meant I had to buy a new pack so I've had negatives up till high fertility flashing smileys again CD20-23 and counting... still no static smiley peak result.

My last cycles were 35 days after stopping Cerelle in November and then 118 days and things might still be messed up so we are just trying every second day when we get those flashing smileys in case it's another long cycle - don't want to miss any opportunities if ovulation is crazy delayed.

What BBT thermometers are you all using?

I'm starting to think the one I have isn't sensitive enough and that's why my curve is maybe all over the place.

@sailorcherrie good to know this is happening to someone else! It's so confusing! Another bloody flashing smiley face today, which makes it 8 days in a row - maybe it is something to do with having long cycles then?

My temp tracking was completely mad when I tried - I think I was just using a normal cheap thermometer though, so maybe you're right and we should try more sensitive ones?

m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Basal-Thermometer-Ovulation-amp-Pregnancy-Tests-Free-Chart-/140398200285?txnId=1524819032004

This is the BBT kit that I have bought it arrives today so I will start using it tomorrow. I also have an app that has chart on it so I can track it all through an app as well.

@sailorcherrie I’m not temping since I work shifts and I don’t think I’d get any helpful results.

AF is due in 2 days if I have a 28 day cycle... I think it’s coming. Away for work for a few days but I did bring a couple of ICs and FRER but haven’t used them yet!

I have been Using the clear blue advanced fertility monitor and have got nothing but highs on all the days it's asked me to test- no peak or low though at any time- really strange.
I was thinking of buying another kit - does anyone have any recommendations or are they all a bit temperamental?!
Was hoping it would show if I was ovulating or not as the hospital want to get my periods regular for a year or so before giving me anything to ovulate (if I'm not).
We have been waiting for 16 months already for things to start sorting themselves and referral to the hospital so the thought of not knowing if we're wasting our time or not for another year or not is worrying me!

@Pinkroseuk yeah to be honest I'm starting to be really suspicious of the clearblue monitor, it doesn't seem at all helpful - and when I look at the underlying strip test the 'positive' ovulation result is really weak (I guess they are measuring different things but presumably if my ovulation was imminent the result for LH would be stronger?). I'm also a little bit worried I'm not actually ovulating :/

Also and as a complete contradiction to above worry (and despite the confusing ovulation test results) I'm doing terribly with symptom spotting this cycle - I've been really good the last few months and have entirely resisted, but the last week I've been terrible. I'm convinced I have unusually sore boobs and I could have sworn I had pink discharge this morning (although I was probably imagining it). I can't believe how hard it is to stop yourself doing this!

AF got me yesterday afternoon! Earlier than expected...hopefully this cycle will be shorter🤞🏼.
Again it's quite heavy😖! Not used to this after so long on the pill.

Just started reading 'it starts with the egg'. Fingers crossed for a better month!

Feel like my hormones have settled a bit more this past week, coming off the pill has felt like a total rollercoaster lol! Poor DH😂

@Rmad6716 Sorry to hear AF arrived.. fx for the next cycle x

Ahhh @Rmad6716 that's rubbish. I was so convinced you had a line!!

@Rmad6716 sorry AF arrived :( mine arrived this morning too. It sucks but at least now we both know for sure and can move on to the next cycle...fingers crossed!

AF sure sucks lol. Feeling well crap. Can't wait for it to be over - the one nice thing about a long cycle is not having it for so long!

I was so hopeful after 'The Line' 🤭😂.

Let's try and keep our morale high😊. I'm going hillwalking this weekend as the weather is nice 😃. Maybe I'll even have a couple of fruit ciders! Pretty much drank nothing since TTC.

I've said it so many times since I've been on this thread but I really do need to start exercising. If anything it may occupy my mind instead of constant TTC stuff.

Looks like we are all mostly on the AF bus just now!

Any plans for the weekend?

I’m 9DPO today driving me crazy! Already obsessing about testing.. it’s all I can think about! Where are you all up to in your cycles? Hopefully April’s the month for bfp xxx

Good luck all still in!

I'm 11 dpo, going to test tomorrow. I've had so many symptoms that I'm actually going to be a bit concerned if it's not a positive :-s

Sorry guys I was having brain block - tried my best to look back on the latest updates!

Hope you both get your BFP's this month!
When are you planning on testing!?

I'm praying my cycle shortens and I might be lucky enough to have a May BFP instead of June🤞🏼. Don't even want to think of it being beyond that right now 😖. August seems forever away, Damn long cycles!

@sprinkleofsunshine good luck for tomorrow