thermal shift!! really lost.. new to charting

[xxkayluhh07xx]

so ive been charting for 3 days now.. yes i know thats not along time.. but im TTCing so anything weird to me that i can find when i research is making me really lost.. i had a .2 thermal shift when my period ended.. is this normal???? it rose from 96.6 to 96.7 now to 96.9

[Jaimee]

When charting you want to look at overall trends instead of individual temps.  So you may get some odd temps here and there due to a variety of things like waking up a bit later, having a poor night of sleep, illness, vigorous exercise, travel, injury, or stress.  When you first start charting, try hard to take your temp after at least 3 hours of solid sleep, at the same time every morning, without getting out of bed, and before eating or drinking anything.  I recommend setting your alarm if necessary (even on weekends!) and keeping the thermometer on a night stand right next to your bed so you can just reach over, take your temp (still laying down), and go back to sleep if you'd like/can. 

Temps during and right after your period can be a little higher than your "usual" pre-O temps b/c of lingering progesterone.  Since you're new to charting you don't know if this is your pattern yet.  You also don't know what your normal pre-O and LP temps are such that you would be able to spot outliers.  I would say, though, that temps in the 96's are not high and I wouldn't worry much at all about fluctuations of 0.2 degrees or even more while your temps are that low.  Hopefully they will fluctuate less as you approach O so that you can spot a clear thermal shift.  There are some women that have slow rises or stair step rises, but even with these types of patterns the temp generally will rise higher than 0.2 degrees (over a period of a few days) to reach a typical LP temp such that an over all biphasic pattern is clear when you look at the chart as a whole.  My advice is simply to stay consistent and you'll see a pattern emerge over your cycle(s).

I know when we were ttc sometimes I would wonder if I might possibly be pregnant despite bleeding if my temps remained higher than usual through my period.  It was never true.  LOL!  But if you're curious about this, you can always test again b/c by now you should get a clear BFP if that were the case.

[Jaimee]

I meant to add, have you looked at some sample charts to see what a text book cycle looks like?  And then at some other charts to compare different types of patterns?  If you just signed up for Fertility Friend, you should have free VIP features for a little bit.  You can access the chart gallery and just look at charts to get a feel for them.  You can check out this chart for an example of my "typical" pattern: http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/25f63a/  Notice the fluctuation in my pre-O temps.

[xxkayluhh07xx]

yeahh ive looked at them.. Im expecting alot o fbad things lol.. im really stressed (im diagnosed with major depressive disorder, mood disorder, and generalize anxiety disorder with panic attacks) sooo my stress level sucks and its hard to control.. and i dont even think im ovulating because ive been having unprotected sex for WELL over 6 months..like a yr prolly longer.. i havent gotten preg.. and im stressed over that fact also... i was on BC two types (depo and nuvaring) and they both caused MAJOR complications i bled EVERY day for like 6 months while on the depo shot.. then i quit getting it and bled for another 3 months.. and it took like another 3 months to even start to begin regulating periods.. now that i have a DECENT schedule for my periods its like i dont even think im ovulating.. mainly why i started charting this month because if i see anything wrong im calling my gyno and i have my temp charts to bring into him.. 

[Jaimee]

Originally Posted by xxkayluhh07xx 

mainly why i started charting this month because if i see anything wrong im calling my gyno and i have my temp charts to bring into him.. 

Sounds like you're going through a lot!  As for doctors and charts, hopefully you'll find one that will look at them!  The first midwife I saw didn't even know how to read my chart to get my ovulation date!
 

[xxkayluhh07xx]

dang you'd think doctors would know those things lol

[xxkayluhh07xx]

i looked at your chart n i understand the difference now..i feel a little bit better about being able to notice my ovulation time IF im ovulating lol

[Jaimee]

LOL!  That's just the thing, I've definitely come to learn over the last 10 years that doctors certainly know some things, but often have holes in their knowledge, are not up on the latest research, or refuse to consider more alternative ideas as legitimate.  They are just people, after all.  So now I question, question, question.  I do not take any doctor's advice blindly.  I always do my own research and consider all my options before making decisions whether it has to do with an illness or a pregnancy.  When you do get pregnant you'll find there is a whole mess of stuff you'll have to work your way through, deciding what testing you want, how you want to be treated, how you want to birth, how you want your newborn treated and then comes all the parenting stuff!  You've come to the right place to get inspired by all sorts of smart women who are doing things based on what they feel is right for themselves and their families. 

It'll be exciting to see over the next couple weeks how your chart shapes up!

[xxkayluhh07xx]

yeahh im deff a researcher!! i goggle EVERYTHING lol