Post Pill TTC - Still Partying

[MintGreenLife]

No idea how we managed to smash through 1,000 messages (40% of them are probably me anyway, ha!) in such a short space of time, but a new thread is needed for the post pill TTC party, so here it is...

Tag anyone I've forgotten please, and new party-goers always welcome :)

@juno231
@kay00
@flowerkm
@pumpkineverything
@ams19
@sarahp2308
@cams50
@sperr
@moocher90
@lisalx

@Tatty1987 haha, it makes you feel so crazy doesn’t it! Are you getting tempted to check yet? I was fine up until yesterday and then I’m slowly getting more and more tempted to check 🙈 I think a lot of people use first response early result? Seems to be the most common one I see mentioned

@Tatty1987 yes, the FRER (First Response Early Result) are highly rated, the have the pink dye (which is apparently better then the blue dye) and they are very sensitive so more likely to show positive early on. Be care not to mix it with a FRRR (First Response Rapid Result) like I did

@ChinChilly I just wish my dog wasn't so big so I could pick her up for cuddles on demand, ha!

My AFs all seem to be a bit different/weird post pill. If things don't work out this cycle we will be on to cycle 5, but trying for 6 months - I've had a few long cycles since I stopped the pill x

@Tatty1987 I take ubiquinol, which is a purer form of COQ10 I believe, or higher quality form. Also would suggest testing with a FRER x

@MintGreenLife tell me about, I wish mine was smaller for that reason, he is such a cuddler though to be honest!

I came off the pill 2 years ago then went back oj 6 months later, I wish I had just stayed off it, it messes with you body so much

@Kay00 I see how that happened! When I’ve been looking them up on amazon it keeps coming up as an option 🤦‍♀️

Hey guys, thank you for the well wishes. So she eventually called back haha. Basically, all my hormones and everything are completely normal. Absolutely no worries there, great levels on everything. However, my iron levels are low (she didn't sound too worried but she said a normal amount is 10-291 and I'm 11!? Haha!) so she's prescribed me iron tablets and to get more iron in my diet. Then she said my liver levels are slightly raised and asked how much I drink! I was honestly so surprised at this and I feel quite upset, not sure why, I know I'm massively overreacting. I said I have a few gins/and or Proseccos most Fridays and Saturdays and the odd glass of wine in the week. I used to drink more when I was younger and going out lots etc but I always thought it was like a normal amount...all my friends would do the same! I guess it's just been picked up because I specifically had the blood test! I'm just surprised really. I've actually started cutting down over the past couple of months because of TTC, not really consciously I just found I didn't fancy it. The Dr was lovely but I just feel I've been a bit told off I guess! I'm going to have another blood test in Dec so I guess she's not too worried about it...

I need to stop over thinking it really! At least it's taken my mind off TTC haha!! I'll be more careful of what I'm drinking now I guess and just be aware of the amount and only drink when I really want to. The good news is all my hormones and everything are normal, prolactin, LH, HCG, the whole gang! So that's so so good and I need to focus on that. DH has just given me a talking to haha as I'm freaking out, saying what if she'd said all your hormones are a mess but your liver is fine haha!! He's the best and really helps to calm me down (which as you can see is clearly needed!!)

Feel better after venting, thanks ladies. Hope everyone's okay

@thehotelcalifornia that's good news then 😊 your hormones are good, your iron deficiency is easily addressed and although you might need to cut back on a few drinks at least thats good for TTC and your liver is a good excuse for any awkward diner parties where you need an excuse not to pop the plonk!

@TheHotelCalifornia that’s all really. Low iron levels are extremely common, I’ve been deficient in the past and needed an infusion. I’ve also recently had raised liver levels but that’s likely due to my gallstones which ironically could’ve been caused by the pill ...but I’ll never know for definite. Something else they don’t tell you. Apparently levels can be slightly raised when you’ve had a drink and have a blood test within 24-48 hours before so maybe it was just timing.

Thanks everyone for the recommendations on the tests!

@TheHotelCalifornia *all really good

@TheHotelCalifornia I think overall sounds positive! I think liver levels are always slightly raised in most people our age. The fact all your fertility levels are good is fab news. Being pregnant will naturally help with the liver given you are about to go through a 9 month detox. I dont think ive ever gone 9 weeks without a drink never mind 9 months.

The FRER are really cheap off amazon. I stocked up on 6 - anything more seemed excessive!

Great news - found a plastic cup at work so no peeing on my hands! Win!

@ams19 Hehe well done. Anh progress on your OPKs?

Cramps went away again and 12dpo now so tested this morning... bfn of course. I bet my body tricked me and the cramps will return in a few hours.

Re tests: I only have cheap ones from Amazon because it seems like such a waste of money otherwise? Eventually you either are or aren't right, is my thinking, and at some stage even if they're not v good they'll have to show something. Prob not great for 12dpo though haha, but I am not going to let that make me hopeful.

Had a massive dip in my BBT 36.04 today which is very unusual as it’s never dipped that low. My RHR has been 63 the last few days and now it’s shot up to 65. I had spotting really late fri night into sat and sun then it stopped. Cervix is still relatively low and hard. Not really sure what my body is doing at the mo. Hopefully I’m on my Follicular phase and just got to await to see if I ovulate!

Morning ladies. Well, I'm hoping I'm not jinxing it by writing this as I dare not believe it...(don't worry NOT pregnant!!!)
Sorry if this is TMI!
I did my OPK as usual and no progress unfortunately @Kay00. We had sex last night and after sex I went to the loo and there was a small but decent amount of blood. I assumed maybe the sex had just been a bit rough (though didnt feel painful or anything which is unusual for me as it actually usually does!). Anyway...this morning there is more blood. I wouldnt say full on period, but definitely enough to use a pad.
Based off my withdrawal bleed I am CD27 today. I think it would be a miracle if this was my period and I had a "normal" cycle straight away but praying it is 🙏
What that would mean is I started using OPKs probably after any potential ovulation and now wondering if maybe I could have ovulated on 2nd October (based on chart attached)?! I had just assumed I would have a 30-40 day at least cycle, but maybe my body is better than I thought it was 😂
Let's hope it turns it a proper AF and I can start my first proper TTC cycle 🤞🤞🤞

@AMS19 Morning! Ah, yes possibly. You have certainly had a shift upwards in temperature from 2nd onward, I think the reason you haven't been given the cross hairs is because the temperatures before the date are a bit all over the place.

Is it possible you were not taking your temperature at exactly the same time every morning, or that you were getting a lot of broken sleep?

Fingers crossed this if AF, and that would give you a nice cycle length and a decent LP too!

@Moocher90 what cycle day are you? I get a dip in temperature before I ovulate but my cervix usually starts getting higher and softer.

@Kay00 I took it within a 30-45mins window. I think it was all over the place because of coming off the combined pill. I took my last pill 13th Sept so I am pretty sure I would still have had hormones in my body. Hopefully this is proper AF and I can start a clean cycle with no horrid hormones still floating around 🤞🤞🤞 i might try and be more strict on the temp taking too and set an alarm ⏰

@AMS19 yes, I find I get odd temperatures if I take my temp +/1 30 mins from 6am. Some women are different though, so you might need to work out your tolerance.

Morning all,

So I took my temp at 4.30am as usual praying it would have gone back up, but had gone down even further. Then went for a pee to realise that AF has properly arrived, so that's me officially out, and with a 8/9 day luteal phase! Still feeling pretty gutted about that. Feeling really low this morning, and I totally spent quite a lot of time on Google yesterday searching 'implantation bleeding.' Think it'll take me a few days to feel better.

Going to do some research today and come up with an action plan of what I should be taking, how much and when etc to try and extend my luteal phase! Hope you're all well today xx

@AMS19 I would argue there's no temp shift on that chart and it was anovulatory. At least it's over quickly at CD27 and hopefully next cycle is an improvement!

@Tatty1987 basically avoid blue dye tests like the plague and take reviews with a pinch of salt as most women don't know about CPs and a lot of the reviews sound like they probably had a positive followed by AF and assumed the test was faulty...

@MintGreenLife I'm sorry it showed up! At least you've got a fresh start and it didn't drag on for ages. Onwards and upwards!

CD13 here, hoping to start getting some colour on my OPKs today!

@MintGreenLife sorry to hear that 😞 but onwards now to a fresh new cycle. I guess that makes us CD twins now, both of CD1. I really would try and see this as a fresh start knowing that your body does ovulate and hopefully is now in a great position for this cycle. Sounds like you are all over doing everything you can which is great!

@MintGreenLife sorry to hear that :( I have been taking b6 and some b12 during my luteal phase for 3 cycles now, and also seed cycling this cycle just because I like it haha, and my cycles have been 26-28 days, extending luteal phase from 8 to aaaalmost normal 14. Not sure if that is what did it, but it feels like at least psychologically I did something to help there. (Currently cd26 so heading for a good cycle/luteal phase again woohoo. Although also would prefer to be pregnant ofc lol.)

@Juno231 thanks, just hope my LP extends for this next cycle, just a couple of extra days would be fine as then in the 'ok' zone of ten days!

@AMS19 well it's nice to have a cycle buddy :) although I expect I'll ovulate much later than you given my track record! x

Interestingly I've found that low progesterone (causing a short luteal phase) is linked to low thyroid hormone:

'Low thyroid – if your thyroid is not producing adequate thyroid hormone, you will not make enough progesterone. The reason for this is that you need a certain amount of thyroid hormone to make pregnenolone (the mother hormone to progesterone) which then makes progesterone. Without proper thyroid hormone, progesterone production can suffer. This is why low thyroid (hypothyroid) is linked to heavier and more painful periods.'

So I guess I've found the cause of my luteal phase defect! No idea if B6 and Agnus Castus can help in that case, but will give them a go, and hopefully my dietary changes will help increase my thyroid. Think I've decided I'm going to do a three day blood test next cycle (privately) to get a better picture of things and see if my thyroid has come down at all x