Cycle Buddies 🥰

[Pinkllama12]

Hello, did anyone on here ovulate around the 16th-18th November and want to be cycle buddies, and ride out this wait together? 🥰

I used the Premom ones xxx

@LoopyLeela its easy@home they are on Amazon and I’ve found them quite reliable.

Sorry to hear there hasn’t been any positive news

Still early for testing. I’ve never had a positive before 12 dpo even with sensitive ones and yet I still burn money every month just in case! I’ve decided to switch back to easy@home pregnancy tests. I hate that the clear blue ones change after a while.

Hi lovelies, I have taken a test. And looking back at it, I don't know if it's an indent or if there is any colour to it yet 😂😅 xxx

@Pinkllama12 do you want to post a pic? 😁 I am good at sussing them out!

Looking back, this is definitely an indent! Also the quality is absolutely terrible so I don’t think you will be able to see it xx

And then a dye run 😭

Omg why are the photos so zoomed in haha!! Sorry

@Pinkllama12 I'm definitely seeing what you're seeing! I would definitely take another tomorrow morning and see if it is similar as the chances of evaps twice are unlikely! If you can take a photo once you've waited a few mins as easier to tell if there was something there, as I'm terrible for assuming BFN then coming back later and wondering if the shadow was always there or if I was quick to dismiss!

Absolutely haha, I'm the same about the shadows! I will do. I'm not thinking it's positive though, I might test tomorrow but might just wait for Sunday as I'm feeling a bit mentally drained xxx
Are you feeling OK? X

@Pinkllama12 remember it is still quite early for you to test. Definitely test again if your period doesn't arrive.

I've had the most dreadful cramps this evening. My bleeding has only been light but my cramps are way worse than usual. Typical to have a bad period on a month where I really wanted a BFP. I went out to a gig too so couldn't even relax, just home now and feeling like death. Off to bed I go to dream of another cycle 😅

@LoopyLeela sorry to hear! Is it full AF yet or just spotting so far?

I woke up at 5am with the worst cramps and a lot of brown cm so I think AF will be here within the next few hours 2 days early. Think hormones must just have been very extra this month, but nearly a full week of spotting was probably a guess that something wasn't quite right! Just waiting for full flow to then have some painkillers and a self care day!

@Pinkllama12 @Chocolatecustardcreamsrule how are you both getting on?

Sorry to hear you've had bad cramps too, hope they ease off today. Mine don't feel as bad after a sleep. I would say it's not quite spotting but also not quite full flow, something in between, and it's started earlier than I expected too.
Have you ever experienced long spotting before your period starts before? It could be all sorts of things including hormones going a bit haywire.
I have experienced spotting before around ovulation but I haven't had it for a while now. I have a fibroid which was seen on a scan to check everything was OK a few years ago but it could be the fibroid, it could not be, hard to say with these things.

@LoopyLeela Hmm okay, that sounds a bit odd! How are you feeling today?

The brown cm turned out to just be that one wipe this morning and I think the cramps were actually from and impending bad stomach, so I am back to square one! I've been tracking my cycles in the Flo app since 2017 (yikes thinking how long I've been on/off ttc, c'est la vie!) and have never tracked spotting like this in all those years. I have actually had such a laid back stress-free month so no clue at all what has changed!

I'll get a test from the shops tomorrow if still unsure as would be 13dpo so should give a definite answer, for now I guess I am in hormone limbo haha.

DH and I only need to do his sperm analysis before we get referred to a fertility clinic as I have finally had enough of hoping it will happen naturally, but with the christmas period and work I assume we won't even hear from the GP until January or February at this point, so this month was my last grasp before the long wait of having to jump through the hoops. I've been warned to not go private as it can mean not getting NHS funding in the future, and we could probably only afford 1 round before having to squeeze our belts too much which would just add more pressure to the situation.

If it's unusual for you you should definitely mention it to your GP. It's good that you're already in the process of getting referred for investigation with your fertility. I'm sorry that it's been such a long time for.you, that must be really hard. From the little I know about it, they can sometimes just help a lot with a small adjustment like progesterone or other medicines and that can make all the difference. But none of us ever know what could help until they do a thorough investigation etc.
For me it's only been a few months of trying, and for the first couple of months I mistimed my ovulation by a few days (not exactly great at tracking but my cycles also went a bit squiffy in that time so it wasn't just me). Who knows how long it will take for me but even now at this early stage I can feel a bit of anxiety building.

Hello girls, I've spent the day out at the Christmas markets today and doing some Christmas shopping to keep my mind busy. Came straight home and took a test ofcourse 😅
Hope you are all feeling alright. @LoopyLeela are you still spotting? Xx

@LoopyLeela I'll definitely mention it to them, thanks! :) I know it's a lot of factors that aren't always looked at together.

I'm sorry you're feeling anxious already, it really is a hard thing to go through each month, especially trying to juggle timing etc. I envy the women that have the libido and time to just have sex every other day so always hit the window. I've taken many breaks over the years purely for my mental health. It'll be 2 years in January since we've been trying again after a 2 year break (I needed it for my sanity and big life changes, but didn't use contraception in that time so I guess it still counts), and I think I hit a major breaking point at the 6 month mark due to almost every woman I work with getting pregnant and being very vocal about how none of them had planned it and none of them had wanted children (varying ages of between 23 to 45).

All I can say is keep booking holidays in advance (refundable or changeable if possible), keep making plans and do not put your life on hold whilst you wait. I have my fingers crossed it's a very short wait for you, but if it isn't then the community on here can be a great shoulder to lean on!

@Kayleaaa this is the best advice ever. After two chemicals in May, this is what I needed to hear ❤️❤️

I can't imagine how hard that must have been especially hearing others at work talk about their unplanned pregnancies. It is a bit surprising though, since surely if they're not using contraception then they want a baby? Of course contraception can fail but that's really quite rare so I doubt they all fell pregnant while not wanting to. People can be so thoughtless falsely claiming it was unplanned and not thinking how that could hurt someone actively trying and struggling.

You definitely do right to take 'breaks' from it. It is so tiring both physically and emotionally. Since we started trying I have found it a bit tedious at times and on the days when I'm knackered from work it is so exhausting.

Thabk.you for your kind words of encouragement, I will definitely make sure we book the holiday we were hoping to go on in March and not think too much about what ifs until it (hopefully) eventually happens..

Oh nice did you manage to get much of your shopping done? I have only just started mine! How did you test go?
I am with AF now 😫😅 but luckily the cramps aren't as bad as yesterday so I am thankful for that small mercy.

Ahhh bless you 🩷 I'm glad the cramps aren't too awful now, and I hope it stays that way. Yes managed to get a bit of shopping done, but the shops were absolutely heaving and it was just so so busy which put me in a foul mood and I had to leave because it made me so unnecessarily angry 😂😂
I wouldn't call the test a BFN, it did have a very faint little line. But again, can't trust these tests and their indents!

I get like that 😂 last night coming home from the gig it was sooo busy. The tram we took was absolutely crammed full (from Christmas markets here too) and I was struggling with the cramps so I was so grouchy!
Those indents are so annoying! I have my fingers crossed for you that it's more than just a possible indent!

@LoopyLeela Yes it's hard to hear for sure, especially as they are all intelligent women and surely not everyones contraception suddenly stopped working... Very bizarre, I just say congratulations now and try not to be the listening ear for how terrible it is!

Yes book that holiday! I even have holidays booked for in 10 months time because plans can change but I want something to look forward to for my sanity haha

@Pinkllama12 have you tested today? :)

I am now 13dpo and haven't tested since 11dpo but think I might pick up a test later today. Still spotting and looking like AF spotting but who knows, it's been a wild week of spotting! Can't say I feel any particular way. Symptoms are sore nipples, fuller boobs, cramps, bloating (no trousers fit apart from loungewear), spotting, congestion, fatigue, high temperature (baseline is always 36.6 exactly and still over 37 and usually drops day before AF), change in smell and taste and general crappiness. All could be PMS! I don't think I'd mind if AF started because I am sick of feeling so crap with these hormones and would love to have some ibuprofen for my sore knee and some decongestions!

@Pinkllama12 and @Kayleaaa I am holding out for a BFP for you both and anyone else who's still waiting to see!

I'm feeling a bit down today. It's probably partially period blues but part of me is wondering if I actually might have a problem like endo. The reason being not so much trying for a few months, but now that I think about it I'm not sure if the pain i get is 'normal' cramping. This is because I get what is.probanly quite normal cramping in my abdomen, but as well as that I get this pain in my lower back which is more like a burning. I can often feel it all around my pelvis too, and it's definitely seperate to the cramps if that makes sense. Possibly just worrying myself needlessly but can't help it 😥

@LoopyLeela @Kayleaaa hello girls, I decided not to test today or tomorrow. It's mentally draining me and I'm exhausted. Last night when I went for a wee, I had two of the tinest specks of blood when I wiped...completely gone now, no cramps either. Not sure if it's hormones being funny or what! I also spent the evening in a puddle of tears, just sad for no reason, waddling in my sorrows.

I'm sorry to hear you are feeling down today @LoopyLeela. It's awful, and I hope you start to feel okay soon. We are here for you ❤️ have you perhaps thought of speaking to someone about your thoughts about possible endometriosis? Xxx

Your symptoms sound quite promising but I totally get why you'd want a break from testing! It is draining, snd I'm.sorry you're feeling a bit down today, too, I hope you feel more like.yourself again soon.
I'm not sure if I'll go to the doctor with this worry, I feel like I might be overthinking it due to TTC. It's still very early but the process of it makes us overthink very thing doesn't it! And it's not like I'm not used to these pains, I have them every month. From what I've read, burning back pain can be a normal symptom of periods that have no known issues. But I can't help but wonder if my specific pain is normal, if that makes sense. Anyway, I will will probably just moan about it to my partner. And you ladies on here 😂