TTC 35+ Thread 4 Cougar and Silver Fox Club

[Sleeeeeepy]

Yes it's Thread FOUR! Baby dust all round!

I'm not having any luck with readings on CB digital ovulation. Last month it was all over the place and then this month I've gone from low circle results to a static smiley by CD11. Do you think this is wrong? I started testing on CD7.

Is it normal to go from low to peak and miss out the flashing bit in the middle by CD11. I'm normally 28 day cycle.

I've lost faith in CB digital Opks. I got a static on day 8 once, and just knew it was wrong!

I think it's best to track your own body, know when ewcm finishes etc, find your own pattern

@CurlyNo2 I think the flashing is rising oestrogen and the static is when oestrogen and LH are both high, vs your 'base' level that cycle. My cycle this month is really messed up, LH zero looking at cheapies but still getting flashing smiley because my oestrogen was going up. Never went static because of the LH which peaked earlier on. I really need to stop overanalysing all this but I can't stop 😂

Thanks ladies, I've decided to give up on CB OPKs and just go with the flow for this month. Its weird because I don't feel like I'm ready to ovulate!

I think all kinds of OPKs are prone to error, I’ve decided not to be too wedded to them. My symptoms and signs (pain, CM, temps) were more clear and accurate this month (and all in agreement!) whereas I never got an LH peak this month or maybe didn’t catch it.

12dpo and can’t decide if I’m projecting symptoms or actually feeling things.
Negative IC at 10 dpo but I’m not testing again till at least 14dpo if no bleeding by then. The wait is killing me!

@mouldygrapes Fingers crossed! I'm excited for you!x

Thanks @Sleeeeeepy. Sorry your cycle is all over the place this month, I hope it regulates soon so you know where you are x

@mouldygrapes sounds promising. Good luck testing tomorrow.

My period is still not here. Given up any hope I’m pregnant as despite being 5 days late I’ve had countless BFNs and it’s now 14 days since I even had sex. I’ve never missed a period before. So odd.

My eldest daughter found one of my negative tests the other day. She thought it meant o was pregnant and was so excited. Now three of us are disappointed.

Sounds promising @mouldygrapes!

Morning all, not been on for a while. I’m another one having an ‘unusual’ time with CB OPKs this month... I start testing on Cday 6 as I’ve had a short cycle in the last three months. Every other month... flashing smiley by CD8 and static by CD10.

CD8 today and still the empty circle ⭕️ and looking at the test stick, not a hint of the blue markings that would suggest a flashing smiley is on the way... hmmm

Not too worried yet, hoping this means my cycle might be lengthening slightly from 25 days which would be good and it’s been a stressful week so I know that can delay things...Odd though when I’ve been like clockwork straight off the pill...

Now I’m wondering if I follow SMEP this month and start DTD today as recommended, we’re both knackered usually by the 4th time after ovulation (🙃) so I don’t want to ‘waste one’ if still blank tomorrow ...

Thanks girls. I’m just not sure if I’m being mad or not! I know the TWW can play tricks on us all. Also relatively new to premenstrual symptoms so can’t tell if it’s just that. Let’s see! I’m also not sleeping well so that’s a good reason to be tired. Temp dropped a bit today but still well above the cover line so who knows!

@ShouldEyeShouldntEye I’m sorry, that’s extra hard if your daughter is also feeling sad about things. Hugs

@FridaKFangirl oh god the dreaded confusing OPKs! I’m not familiar with the CBs but it could be that your cycle is getting a bit longer as you say. Maybe hold off a little...it is exhausting and maybe save the best swimmers for when you know the egg is on its way 😜

I'm never sure whether tests help or not! I've been using OPKs for a while, but they make me hyper-conscious about timings. And watching out for symptoms can be difficult too. For my first pregnancy, we did literally nothing except DTD every other day (except during AF!) - and I can't help wondering if the 'less stressed' approach had a positive impact. But I like to know that I'm ovulating.

On that note... I had my second FSH result from the GP today - 17.2, so in the same 'range' as the previous 15.9. They describe it as being in the 'marginally elevated' range.

Apparently below 10 is ideal, 10-15 is okay and 15-23 is a bit rubbish, but not terrible. The GP said that over 23 is where it becomes worrying.

But they're referred me to the fertility specialist. We definitely won't get IVF for free, as we already have a child - but there may be other treatments they can offer.

In the meantime we're still awaiting the private appointment on 22 Sep, to see what the clinic recommends for us. My husband has submitted his sample, so it's literally just a case of waiting. Then we have to decide whether or not to do treatment, and how soon

Well we haven't been able to try this month (as I've got hycosy test tomorrow, and annoyingly I reckon I ovulated today) so I've just been watching ovulation signs instead (without the confusing left over sperm being present) to try and gauge if what I think happens every month is actually happening.

I started having ewcm on Saturday. It started thick, clear but stretchy. So I had ewcm for four days until yesterday and it's been almost text book, proper egg white until yesterday, pains in my back/side yesterday, and then today, right back to dry and tacky almost immediately.

So, I'd say it's worth watching your own body's signs rather than relying on OPKs, which are also a £££ strain! I feel I've definitely gauged this month the fact I must have ovulated some time between yesterday afternoon/evening and early this morning.

Also, I'm sat 11 today of a usual 24/25 day cycle.

@CC81 big decisions, good luck with the private clinic. It sounds like positive news with the FSH results too.

@selina37 good luck with the hycosy tomorrow. Hope it’s not too sore. And I completely agree, I’m having a break OPKs as feel they create more stress than just following your signs

Break from OPKs that should say!

I have a pulling pain in my lower abdomen now 😩 could just be start of AF but feels weird and quite intense

Hey all, just had my hycosy done.

Feel happy but a bit deflated.

Both tubes are clear. Sonographer struggles to see left tube at first but then gave all clear that the dye was running right right each tube.

He also confirmed I'd just ovulated (as I had suspected).

However, eggs are running low (kind of expected at 39) and slight thickening of womb lining.

Apparently this doesn't mean I'm not ovulating each month, even if eggs are getting low, and although implantation can be more difficult, it doesn't mean it's impossible.

He said though, the reduced egg count and lining are the 'small things' and the important thing is the tubes are clear.

Not sure I expected him to say I'm some spring chicken!

I'm pleased about the tubes being clear and I did cheekily ask them nurse on the way out whether it can have a 'flushing' effect, which she kind of agreed it can as she 'has heard the doctors say this'.

I'm off to drink raspberry tea for my womb lining!

@selina37 tubes clear is good! The rest doesn’t sound like a deal breaker. Glad you’ve had it done.

I am still behind mad and refusing to do a PT.
Found an OPK in my bag so decided to do that instead. It’s clearly positive but NO idea what that can mean - I’ve seen people have that when they’re pregnant, but also you can get LH surge before AF apparently.
Still have cramps but no bleeding or spotting. CD 15 today (14dpo)
Result attached (came up quickly, this was at less than 5 mins) - any words of wisdom?!

Hi ladies, been a bit quiet on here but I've been reading everyone's updates.
@selina37 sounds like positive news to me!! Quick get to DTD

@mouldygrapes hmm I think you should do a PT when you can!! Good luck
Still no luck here, iv resorted to cutting out coffee completely and cutting down on alcohol as much as I can without friends speculating! If we still have no luck by October I'm going to ask dp to go and get a SA

Hi everyone! Sorry I’ve been awol.. trying desperately not to obsess over ttc. But Just wondering if anyone has had a bit of spotting from 1dpo? And what causes this? I’m 3dpo today (maybe 4) and I’ve been spotting very very lightly since 1dpo- like the tiniest bit of bloody mucous each day and sometimes several times a day. Never had this before just wondering if anyone has any insight?

@mouldygrapes fingers crossed 🤞 for you! Hopefully see your bfp on here ASAP!

@mouldygrapes try an hpt! I have no idea at all why we are supposed to have lh rise before AF...

@Loll35 thank you, kind of assumed I'd feel better after today but I feel put back. Possibly because I know im out for trying this month.

@Loladoodle well, my scan before the hycosy confirmed recent ovulation - I suspect yesterday or the day before and funnily enough I had a little brown spotting this morning. I usually I get it 1/2 dpo. I think it could be where the egg has literally burst out of the ovary.

@Loladoodle, I used to have this back when I was a teenager. In fact it’s why my GP put me on the pill at 17 as it was interrupting my swimming! (I was planning ahead for uni so enjoyed the excuse to go on it!)

He called it Mittelschmerz bleeding (German for middlepain) and said it was exactly as @selina37 described... part of the egg ‘popping’ out the follicle.

@FridaKFangirl glad you've confirmed it too!

So, does anyone get the ovulation pain too? Feels almost as if your ovary is throbbing inside. Kind of an ache, usually mine's on the side back, crampy, and almost constipation pain?

This is exactly what I had on Tuesday evening, I wonder whether it was then that the egg popped or it was swelling up getting ready to pop. Cm has kinda dried up the following morning...

Yes I too notice the dull achy pain every month! Its amazing what you start to notice when ttc

Still no idea what's going on with me, now cd32, 14dpo, temps are still up a little but bfn this morning and also got a dark ish opk (not close to pos but dark all the same). No sore boobs at all this month and have had a couple of days of cramping around 9/10dpo

Thanks ladies, hopefully it means a strong ovulation then! 🤞