Hey guys! So, sorry for the delayed response but I wanted to share an overview of what I did this cycle and my day-by-day symptoms to give you an idea of what it’s been like 😊 and hopefully help reassure some of you that TTC post-pill is possible! Obviously it’s still incredibly early days for us, I’m 4 weeks tomorrow according to FF, so just trying to stay positive and not stress about it all. Which is very hard, haha, but I’m trying!
So a bit of a background refresher. I came off the pill (Microgynon then Rigevidon) after being on it for about 16 years (I just turned 33) on 24th May. I had a breakthrough bleeding on the 28th May for 5 days and then…nothing. Absolutely nothing. I started taking my BBT and doing OPKs at the beginning of August. Never had a temp rise or a peak OPK. By September I was getting worried and frustrated so I called my Dr. Had a call back from a lovely Dr who was really reassuring and booked me in for a blood test. The blood test was booked in for the 1st October. By the time it arrived I’d actually had a period, albeit a very light one, on the 13th September. I was soooo relieved to get this I can’t even tell you!! I’m not sure if I ovulated though as I didn’t get any peak OPKs or a temp rise. Nonetheless, I was so relieved that my body seemed to be ‘working’ – 108 days (!) after stopping the pill.
I decided to still go for my blood test and my results came back fine, good levels of mostly everything. My iron levels were extremely low so I was prescribed iron tablets, and she also said my liver levels were slightly raised so to cut down drinking. I was quite surprised at this as I really didn’t think I drunk a lot but I’d already cut down significantly since we started TTC so this was fine. For the next few weeks I had max 2 glasses of wine and 1 gin and tonic a week. I was happy my bloods had come back good and felt quite reassured.
So, September/October cycle was 38 days long. I really felt like I was pregnant this cycle so when AF came suddenly on the morning of 8DPO I was absolutely devastated. I wasn’t expecting it at all despite having quite painful cramps the two evenings prior as I just thought there was no way my LP would only be 8 days. But it was! AF was very heavy for 2 days but was completely gone in 4 days. No spotting or anything. One minute she was here, the next she was gone! Quite different to the periods I had on the pill. I also felt ovulation pain this cycle.
I felt really quite low at the beginning of the October/November cycle. I was upset about my short LP and wondering if it would even be possible to get pregnant. After chatting to some of you lovely ladies (mainly @mintgreenlife!) I bought some Agnus Castus to start taking on CD1 as I figured it couldn’t hurt. I took 2 x 400 mg capsules a day, along with my iron tablets and my folic acid. I also stepped up the OPK game, determined to catch my peak, and started doing them from about CD10. I also started doing my BBT at 5am every morning and then going back to sleep until my normal wake up of 7, and this really helped me to get more accurate readings. We also DTD a LOT this month! Every few days to begin with, and then every day of my fertile window.
I got EWCM on CD23 so we BD every day for 5 days to try and cover ourselves. I also laid with my hips sort of in the air on a pillow a few times after we BD, and I tried not to go to the loo immediately afterwards and tried to wait 15 mins or so. My temp rose on the 16th November so ovulation was confirmed on the 15th, CD26. I had been hoping for an early ovulation because of the Agnus Castus but it was still earlier than the previous cycle, where I ovulated on CD31. I didn’t get ovulation pain this cycle. I also ate pineapple from CD1-5 ish. Just one pineapple cut into chunks, including the core.
1-3DPO I had no symptoms. I even wrote down on FF that I felt pretty good.
4DPO I felt a sharp pain in my lower abdomen, really low, on the left-hand side. This happened a few times but I didn’t think much of it as was trying not to get my hopes up.
5DPO – My temp dropped down to just on the cover line today so I was really worried that that was it ☹
6DPO – Temp went back up again. I had slightly brown CM in the morning that turned light pink when I wiped at about 4pm, and again at 10.30. Nothing in between and no cramps. Recorded spotting on FF.
7DPO – Temp went slightly higher. I had some pink when wiping but absolutely nothing on a panty liner. I literally had no idea what was going on but assumed AF would come the next day. I felt a bit nauseous when cooking dinner.
8DPO – Temp dropped again! Higher than cover line but only just. I went to the loo at 8am and when I wiped there was unmistakable dark pink blood. I burst into tears, told DH it was all over, messaged you guys, and changed all my apps to CD1. I put a panty liner on and though I had the occasional pink wipe, nothing appeared on the panty liner which I realized in the evening. I had on and off mild cramps all day, the same needle sharp pain on the left, and I also felt nauseous all day, on and off. At bedtime I decided if my temp rose in the morning I’d take a pregnancy test just so I’d have the chance to do one!
9DPO – Temp rose a teeny tiny bit so I took an IC and there was the faintest shadow of a line on it!! Literally couldn’t believe it, ran in and woke DH up who clearly thought I’d lost it as it was so faint but I was like trust me I’ve looked at a LOT of these and there is something there!! He told me to take a FRER so I did and it came back with an unmistakable pink line!! Couldn’t believe it. No spotting or blood today. On and off sharp pinching on the left, weirdly achy lower legs, achy lower back. I also felt REALLY nauseous around 11am and thought I might actually be sick!
10DPO – Temp rose. Slightly darker line on an IC. More sharp twinges. Hungry. Boobs feel bigger but not sore.
11DPO – Temp rose again. Darker line on FRER. Sore lower back, odd sharp twinge but not many. Bloated. Hungry!
12DPO – Temp rose again. Feel pretty good, odd sharp twinges.
13DPO – Today! Temp has gone down slightly so trying not to freak out haha but it’s still very high. Even darker line on FRER. Sore lower back still.
Well done if you’ve made it this far! Sorry that was so detailed but I hope it’s reassuring if any of you are experiencing any of the things I have. I’m attaching my FF chart and my line progression, plus this morning's 13DPO FRER. I honestly can’t believe how lucky we are and we’re keeping everything super duper crossed that all goes well. Got my BFP exactly 6 months to the day I came off the pill. Sending lots of love and baby dust to you all! Let me know if you have any questions! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx