Charter's Anonymous

[LittleSilver]

I thought I'd start a thread for all of us who worship at the shrine of Toni Weschler, spend whole seconds analysing cervical mucus, slip over in the shower checking cervical position and spend two minutes every morning flicking their heads from side to side in a valiant attempt to stop a baby pulling the thermometer out of their mouths. Ladies, this thread is for all of us, may it see many many BFPs!

Ooh decaf interesting stats. I take it it was these ones you were looking at?

"The percentages of those who get their BFPs on set dpo are as follows:
10dpo=35%
11dpo=51%
12dpo=62%
13dpo=68%
14dpo=74%
15dpo=80%
16dpo=88%
17dpo=92%
an d there are some who have not got their BFP until 21dpo "

So there is lots of hope still, but my goodness what a trying time for you!

Yes! And then, further down the OP got her BFP after all - I think it was about 19dpo...

Hi guys,

Umm, I tested last night (12dpo, afternoon wee) and got a real squinter, is there/isn't there. then I did what i said I'd never do and took the test apart (in the garden as well, the neighbours must have thought I was mad. Hmmm. So my question is, is FR on sale anywhere at the mo?

decaf how are you today?

Oh silver how confusing!

Not sure if FR is on sale atm, but there's a good chance that if you just re-test tomorrow you will get your BFP if you are pg. Fingers crossed for you. Good luck!

Those statistics are quite shocking, really. The impression given by the HPT companies is that almost everyone will get a +ve BEFORE AF is due - and that is obviously good news for you decaf! silver, isn't a positive a positive, no matter how faint?

My temp is still high this morning at 15DPO, but last cycle it came down on 16DPO, and AF arrived on 18DPO - but still, no news is good news...

silver give me your wrist - SLAP. what are you doing testing with afternoon wee - don't you know it just leads to madness!!!

I hope that the next test you do is FMU and that you get your BFP. Did you get a really faint line with the one you took apart then?

There are about 3 of you on here who are keeping me on tenderhooks.

It's madening - (but i love it!!)

decaf sit on a radiator - don't let those temps drop.

babyV thinking of you too.

Thanks to all for your support through this knicker checking time.

Good luck.

Boooooooooo!! Temps dropped this morning ladies and AF started about 10 mins ago.

I'm not too surprised but still a bit gutted

Going to make a docs appointment to see if there's anything they can do about my cycles.

Any questions you think I should ask?

Good luck silver

Thank you all for your support in the last few days xxx

Oh no, decaf

How variable are your cycles? Since DD, my cycles have been between 27-42 days. I have been charting since the beginning of the year - my first cycle was a 17-day anovulatory, [mmm] then I ovulated on CD10 (14 day LP), then CD20 (15 day LP), then CD15 (17 day LP) and this month ovulation was CD15 again, and I am currently 15DPO.

When I spoke to the GP in March she did say that irregular cycles for more than a year was 'a cause for concern'. I had Day 3 tests for LH, FSH, prolactin and thyroid function which all turned out to be normal, and then a 7DPO test for progesterone 3which 'confirmed ovulation' as the secretary told me. I haven't spoken to the doctor since then, but I am assuming that I don't suffer from any of the usual suspects: PCOS, hypthyroidism, hyperthyroidism, prolactinoma...

Once I get AF this month, I am planning on making another appointment to see if I need any more tests (and I am going to drag DH with me and see if they will do a SA).

Did you take anything extra this month? I only ask, as my two recent CD15 ovulations have been EPO months.

decaf so sorry. It's always such a blow, isn't it.

hippy Curious to know if are you still temping? I only started temping because I wanted something to supplement my knicker-checking if I ever got a BFP again. It's nerve-wracking, isn't it. Hang in there.x

silver Good luck. I have to say I'd be advising you to step away from the tests if at all possible. But know full well that if I got even the faintest faintest line that I'd now be testing maddly. What colour was the line? Same as the test dye or grey?

bv Good luck to you too! Hold your nerve girl

decaf those stats are an eye opener aren't they? When you think about the amount of most likely pointless testing that goes on on MN, the companies have good reason to make all sorts of success claims about their tests: they must be making a fortune. FWIW, I didn't get a BFP until after 14 DPO for both my PGs

danilou I try to SWI every day for about 4 days before ov, and then on ov day itself, plus one day after. EWCM days are critical days to not miss though. I think hippy gives good advice as well. The first time we SWI we were both determined and on a mission. Have to confess that several months on we're both really tired, so its important to remain sensitive to that aspect of things too.

AFM: I nearly missed ov this month and probably would have if I hadn't used a CBFM as well as charts because it happened two days earlier than normal. So as it happens we only had one day of SWI before I got my two monitor peaks.... which has left me feeling unsettled and worried we haven't done enough. (I know it only takes one sperm, but I've always worked on the theory that the more the egg is bombarded the better). Oh well...

Oh, and EPO seemed to extend my LP from 14/15 to 17.

Bum decafgirl after following your travails here and on the buses I thought this would be your month, maybe see you on the March bus.

Ho Hum it's all very boring for me at the moment, a few days to go until I start looking for that EWCM, and that's only in case it turns up early...

Hi ladies, I was taking wellwoman supplements (to regulate my cycles, ha!) and pregnacare conception on alturnate days but when they ran out I didn't bother restocking as they'd clearly stopped working.

My cycles were awful when ttc DS - some up to 70 days but I fell pg the first month of charting which was more fluke than anything else. That was at the 12 month mark but in reality it was only the 5th egg...sigh.

So, I'm going to GP even though they did the day 3/21 bloods last time to see what they can do. I cannot just sit back for another 12 months. I've got an ap for Friday at 4pm.

xx decaf

So sorry decaf.

It is soooo horrid. especially when you're starting to think maybe maybe.....

Not sure what you should say to the doctor, are your cycles very iregular then - is that the problem. I guess you need to rule out stuff like Polycistic Ovary Syndrome etc. Good luck anyway, do you have a nice doc?

How are you getting on silver and babyV???

No I don't temp anymore. God, if i woke up one day and the temps had dropped - i'd know it was game over and then it would be a waiting game - that would be awful!

I'm just trying to enjoy being pregnant at the moment and not thinking too far ahead.

Analysing toilet tissue is my new hobby!

Oh decaf I'm really sorry. CD1 is such a truly crappy one. All your hopes for that cycle quite literally flushed down the toilet. Look after yourself and enjoy some wine or something. Though I recommend not necking half the bottle in 10 mins like I did

8rubberduckies sounds like we're at a similar stage right now. I'm on CD8 so just starting to think about putting some effort into SWI. What day is it for you?

hippy how many weeks are you now? Is it about 6?

Thanks ladies, (please forgive the overlap from the March bus)

Am just in the process of writing down all my cycle lengths from ttc DS and from August 09 so GP can see how odd they are.

First time round I had (in days)
36, 44, 67, 45, 68, 39, 36, 33

then this time I've had
34, 37, 53, 31, 32, 34, 46, 49

Do you think I'm a candidate for Clomid? I do think I ovulate but it's just really unpredictable...

At first glance decaf your cycles this time look better than the first time.

Don't really know anything about Clomid, but it can't hurt to ask.

OK decaf, am in no way an expert, in fact, am very ignorant, but surely a drug that stimulates ovulation is not right when you actually are ovulating? Have you considered seeing a medical herbalist? sigh I wish I could think of something a bit more constructive. I hope you can hammer something out in terms of A Plan. In terms of going to see your GP. maybe worth considering going with a wish list of what you want (so you don't get fobbed off iyswim?) When's your appointment?

I wish you all luck.

hippie, I know, I know. Interested to hear that you stopped temping, I was wondering what to do about that and decided I would, if pg,stop temping straightaway. Like you say, knowing before anything happened would be just awful. And wouldn't change anything anyway.

DH's birthday tomorrow and am going to test with FMU. Really nervous about it.

love to all x

decaf, I'm sure I read somewhere (probably on here), that a pregnancy is like chucking all your hormones up in the air and having them land any which way - or in other words, you could have textbook cycles pre-pregnancy, only to have haywire cycles post-pregnancy. That might mean that any blood results from pre-DS are worthless, and you need to have bloods done again.

Although having said that, it seems that your cycles have always been unpredictable. On the plus side, charting means that you are pretty sure you ovulate, that your LP is a good length, and presumably that your progesterone is high enough during the LP. Maybe take your charts in, in case your GP is interested.

I would ask specifically what hormones will be tested - LH, FSH, prolactin, testosterone etc.

I'd also consider looking into using EPO - or p'haps ask the doc about it - some are more receptive to herbals than others (DH was actually prescribed St. John's Wort once). Don't know anything about Clomid I'm afraid.

Be kind to yourself, decaf. Remember CD2 is easier than CD1.

Thanks for your thoughts, hippy and shaggy. I really thought decaf had cracked it this month, and I feel a bit despondent about my own chances now. Still, it ain't over til the Fat Lady Flo sings, as they say.

Oh heck, silver, I'm not surprised you're nervous. But I have a good feeling...a birthday test would be soooo great. I'll be thinking of you.

Hi spilttheteaagain I'm on CD10 so am conserving all my energy and taking a deep breath ready for the off... My last cycle was 41 days, so we may be in for the long haul on SWI to make sure I keep going with it long enough and catch that egg

Oh, guys, I just had to post; was making yorkshire puds over the weekend (anyone spot where this is going?), and as I cracked the eggs into the bowl I thought "I wish I had EWCM like that, that would be amazing.

Oh dear. I am jealous of yorkshire pudding for their ewcm-ness.

You lot are bloody marvellous

Am already feeling more cheery (managed to get the tears over and done with before DH came home) was looking at the Starflower/Evening Primrose combination in tesco tonight but will hold off until I've spoken to the GP on Friday. Think I'll give agnus castus a go as well but will need to look into the dosage to make sure I'm not doing more harm than good.

Have done a bit of research on Clomid and although it's primarily prescribed for anovulation it is also given to people with irregular cycles. Apparently you take it on cd2 - cd7 then SWI for the next 10 days or so then hey presto, you're pregnant

Have so far indulged in a chocolate eclair, glass of wine and a cup of strong coffee so it's about time I had another chocolate eclair!!

Silver I have got everything crossed for you and I'm really, really hoping this is your month xx

Ah, also forgot to say, our window cleaner cheered me up no end tonight when he knocked on the door looking for payment and asked me if my mam or dad were in!!! PMSL xxx

silver I have my fingers crossed for you. Glad to hear you're gonna use FMU. Please let us know asap (unlike me who kept you all waiting - so sorry about that).

splitz I'm 5 weeks and 1 day !!!!! So nearly there really .

decaf Have you thought about acupuncture. I have never tried it but lots of people on MN with odd cycles seem to swear by it. I used reflexology instead (so much more pleasant to have your feet rubbed than to have needles stuck in you!!) You could consider either of those if you are in to that kind of thing.

babyV I know it's disheartening that decaf got her period but it doesn't necessarily mean you will. You could still be in for a BFP. Don't give up just yet chuck!

How do you find a reflexologist, tell them you want to get pg but not have them rip you off? Are there specialists for fertility?

Agree with the foot rub versus needles thing..