The ONE Thread Feb 19 - 26 - Page 2

[newtoTTC]

We are on our 6th month of TTC and after months of lurking and reading I have started posting.  I am 3 days into the 2WW with my first month on Vitex and 4th month on vitamin B6 for short LP.  Here's hoping for a longer LP this time, or better yet, BFP.  I think the no/less stress approach is great, I wish I could manage it!  I end up stressing about trying not to stress!  

[newtoTTC]

We are on our 6th month of TTC and after months of lurking and reading I have started posting.  I am 3 days into the 2WW with my first month on Vitex and 4th month on vitamin B6 for short LP.  Here's hoping for a longer LP this time, or better yet, BFP.  I think the no/less stress approach is great, I wish I could manage it!  I end up stressing about trying not to stress!  

[jpack]

Hi NewtoTTC, welcome! I'm in my sixth cycle of trying, too! And I'm totally with you about not stressing - it's really hard.

A2E - I'm sorry about your temp dip. Isn't it weird how the temp cycle can be so predictable?!  I was thinking about that today, noticing a marked up and down over the last couple days and then overlayed it. I get that pattern almost every month! So strange! But I'm so sorry for you about the long, unclear cycle. I was really hoping for us both that first month of extra fertility would work, and if not for me, at least for you!

AFM - another midwife appointment yesterday with a different midwife in the same group. She was pleasant. She did suggest I add vitamin D. I did a little googling and am not blown away by the evidence, but I'll add it just the same. And she also suggested the chill-approach. Fortunately I've been really busy so I've been able to stay focused on other things - I'll just pretend that I'm really zen about TTC!

[aHikaru]

I have a curious question for a hypothetical situation.

CD 15- BD

CD 18- Ovulation

would DOC be CD 15 or CD 18?

[Stevi]

aHikaru... Conception is when sperm meets egg. Therefore cd18.

[newtoTTC]

jpack thanks for the welcome.  I saw your previous post as well, have you had your progesterone tested?  I am fairly sure mine is low, based on low overall temp and short LP but my MD was really resistant to test anything until we have been trying 6 months or more.  

Needless to say I am in the process of looking for a new MD or midwife but in the meantime just wondering other peoples experiences with how long they waited to get hormone levels tested if they were concerned there might be an issue.  We are trying for our first so this is all still fairly new to me. 

[jpack]

NewtoTTC - do you chart your temperatures (I'm kinda assuming you do since you know your LP)? When I brought in my charts to see a new MW, she was impressed. I think they take you more seriously when you make it clear that you take yourself seriously. I did a lot of research on progesterone and testing - I also think I have low progesterone since I also have a short LP with spotting before AF. Of the research I did, it does seem that progesterone fluctuates a lot throughout the day. Saliva tests for progesterone levels are thought to be more accurate since they are more stable over the course of the day (my chiropractor offered me one -  I might try one next cycle, but I don't know if any mainstream Dr. would). I understand that to diagnose a luteal phase defect, they may test progesterone three times during the peak (6-9dpo) in order to get a clearer picture since one test at a time might not give a complete picture. That said, my MW ordered one blood test for CD21. I hadn't ovulated until CD18, though, so for 3dpo, my progesterone levels were good at 11.7. But I tested again a week later (9dpo) and they were still only 11.4. It seems like those numbers were "good enough for government work" as they say, not bad but not great. They were high enough to demonstrate that I ovulated (I understand anything above a 5 or so confirms that you ovulated) but since Dr.s like to see higher than 10 (or >15 for a medicated cycle), 11 wasn't exactly easing my mind. I also could have missed the peak, and could have been testing at time of day with lower levels, since they do fluctuate throughout the day. My mother had a luteal phase defect and really struggled with infertility, so I'm maybe a little too type-A about it.

I hope you find a new MD you feel more comfortable with. I think it's really awful when professionals dismiss your concerns. They are valid and you deserve to have all your questions answered regardless of how long you have been trying. I have said this before here recently, but every cycle you try and don't succeed, it sucks. Period. It sucks if it's your second cycle or your tenth (though sure, it carries different emotions and experiences). That was consoling wisdom that I got from a dear friend who struggled for 18 months for her first. that it's not going the way you planned...

[Stevi]

newtoTTC...   With your new MD, I suggest you tell him/her that you have been trying for more than 12 months. It seems to be a rule that doctors don't want to intervene in any way until a year of TTC has passed for those under 35, and 6 months for those over that age. So, fib.

[Attached2Elijah]

jpack: Aww thanks hon. Yeah, it's getting annoying to even chart anymore because the same thing happens every single month (except last, of course) and I get annoyed seeing that stupid drop 3 days before AF even makes an appearance. Makes me angry. I wish one of us would have been able to move on! GRRRR!

AF should be here by tomorrow... possibly today. Going to try vitex next month. We'll see how it works.

[LindsayDawn]

I'm trying to play catch-up, been crazy busy and haven't been able to visit! Most of the last two weeks here looks like bad/sad news. Maybe that means a lot of good news is on the way for us? 

I had a positive OPK yesterday, so I'll be Waiting To Know in the next thread. Based on what the folks with sperm count problems (we might too) have said, I decided to go with BDing every other day, rather than every day this week. What a RELIEF it's been. The extra sleep alone will help me keep the stress down, and maybe this will be our month.

[Stevi]

So, after that crazy previous cycle of after AF spotting, late ovulation, and a 14 day lp... I think I may have ovulated insanely EARLY this cycle! Like, yesterday! And I haven't BD'd since last cycle! Sigh. My temp spiked this morning and my CM is creamy and abundant. I'll try to get a BD in tonight, as I had planned it anyway, but it looks like I may be taking an unexpected break this cycle.

Think Fertile Thoughts!

Edited by Stevi - 2/23/12 at 9:28am

[aHikaru]

Originally Posted by Stevi 

So, after that crazy previous cycle of after AF spotting, late ovulation, and a 14 day lp... I think I may have ovulated insanely EARL this cycle! Like, yesterday! And I haven't BD'd since last cycle! Sigh. My temp spiked this morning and my CM is creamy and abundant. I'll try to get a BD in tonight, as I had planned it anyway, but it looks like I may be taking an unexpected break this cycle.

Think Fertile Thoughts!

My last cycle was crazy also, it was 34 days, out of a 28-30 average, with +OPK on CD21, I'm pretty sure it was due to all the traveling and flying.

AFM:

I didn't know what to expect this cycle, but it's looking like O day was yesterday, a week earlier than last cycle. I find it amusing that I get just as excited about a BFN OPK then when I see a BFP HPT, maybe because I was afraid of O late and having to wait, like last cycle. I am so glad it is here on time  We will be traveling by car this weekend for DD's and my birthday, so hopefully that doesn't affect implantation and fertilization. Other than that we've relaxing as much as possible at home.

[anyalily]

Hi all, just lurking and checking in. I think we are taking this cycle off, but I reserve the right to change my mind when I ovulate. LOL

Sending fertile energy to you all!

[skinnyloveBC]

Thanks so much to everyone for your very kind messages and thoughts. They have really helped.

So strange to read about all of the wonky cycles... Maybe everyone's bodies are just re-setting for the new year and getting better on track for the BFPs? Or they're just confused about what month it is and think that it's April Fools already. I'm sorry for all of the confusion and early/late ovulations. I'm sending everyone fertile vibes!!

DoulaR: So happy for your husband's citizenship! You guys have really big hearts--you're truly an inspiration.

The discussions of the benefits of relaxing during TTC reminds me of a discussion I read as part of a Fertile Soul eLearning Series. I'll paste the paragraph. Hope it's not too long!

"My colleague Donna Huber and I always begin our “Reclaim Your Fertility” Fertile Soul Workshops with two questions for the attendees: “How many of you believe in miracles?” and “How many of you think you can force a miracle?” Whether the miracle in our lives is the birth of a biological child, the completion of an adoption, the realization of a long-forgotten dream, an opening to spirit, reconnecting with our creativity, or the conscious decision to embrace child-free living, miracles are possible for all of us. They happen when we have the courage to go to the depths, feel the tenderness of our own vulnerability, and let go. Or as Donna says so eloquently, when we realize we “don’t have to give up the dream, but we can give up the fight.”

Of course, like many PPs have said, no/less stress depends on your own personality. I'm a bit of a control freak, so I felt like doing nothing to track my cycles would be far more stressful than just doing what little things I could and leaving the miracle up to the one in charge.

Hoping and praying that this is the month for everyone's BFPs!!

[skinnyloveBC]

AFM: Going next Wednesday for our 8-week ultrasound. Can hardly believe our little bean has made it this far!

TGI(almost)F!

[LisaAdkins20]

AF showed her face today. 11 days late. That has never happened before. I am really bummed. 

[Shawnamarie]

Yeah, I brought up the low/no stress approach more as a query to see what you all thought of it. I'm going to try to keep myself calm about this whole process but the fact that I'm trying for my first at 34 makes me feel like I don't have a ton of time to lose! I'm finishing grad school in a few months so at least that is keeping my mind (mostly) occupied for now. It's amazing how despite everything I have going on I still seem to have enough brain space to think about getting pregnant. 

LisaAdkins20, it sounds like everyone has had some wonky turns with their cycles lately. Sorry to hear about AF showing up.

I'm only on CD8 and wondering what this cycle will turn out to be. My naturopath started me on the Thorne brand B complex (it has a good deal of B6) to try and lengthen my LP this cycle. If that doesn't kick in after a couple of cycles I'll try vitex. Right now I'm a bit down with a cold and crossing my fingers I feel healthy when it's time to BD! I'm sure it will happen anyway.

[newtoTTC]

jpack Your quote is great, and so true.  it is really amazing how much it helps just to hear from someone else going through the same thing that you understand and that being frustrated isn't unreasonable.  Thanks for the support!  To answer your question I do chart, on FertilityFriend (trying to figure out how to upload my chart, computers aren't my best thing) both temp and CM, so I will make sure to bring my charts with me.  

A2E I started Vitex this month for a short LP (8-9 days) and my temps were higher which is a good sign but I also ovulated 2 days later than normal.  Not surprising I guess because it is supposed to lengthen your cycle, just hoping it lengthens LP as much as the first half.  I hope the B6 works wonders for you.  

Hopefully all the new tweaks work for all of us and there are BFPs all around soon.   I am at CD 25 right now and I am never longer for AF than CD 26 but so far no PMS or temp drop (which also always comes like clockwork 2 days before AF), temp keeps going up so I am crossing my fingers!   Based on being DPO6 but close to "late" now I have to see how long I can hold out before I HPT.  

[Attached2Elijah]

I'm sitting at 12dpo with no AF! I haven't had a 12 day LP in a WHILE! I'm excited! I don't hold out any false hope that AF won't show up tomorrow but still exciting to be back to a 12 day LP!

[Attached2Elijah]

Welp, she came nice and early this morning... soooooo Can I be moved to waiting to O? Thank ya, Ma'am!


Ahh, Welcome NewtoTTC ... Keep me updated on the vitex. I think I might hold off until next month since AF is already here and I haven't even bought the stuff yet but definitely doing the B6 this cycle. FX for you!