Charting to Avoid August Thread - Page 7

[CanidFL]

I'm obsessing about my chart Why the temp spike? any why haven't I got any fertile signs yet this cycle?

This is another reason why I can't do NFP in the long run. I am way too obsessive.

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by CanidFL

I'm obsessing about my chart Why the temp spike? any why haven't I got any fertile signs yet this cycle?

This is another reason why I can't do NFP in the long run. I am way too obsessive.

I get obsessed, too. Unlike most women who seem to never want AF, I'm happy when I have it because then I don't have to think about anything for at least a few days.

[Sk8ermaiden]

Originally Posted by MarineWife

I started charting in 2002 when we were ttc #2. I think I charted 2 or 3 cycles before doing ART. Then 2 cycles before getting pg with ds2. I started charting again when I got my first PP AF after ds2 but, again, we were ttc, not cta. I charted for 22 months then before getting pg with ds3.

I love it for ttc but that was so much easier (so far). I didn't pay much attention to my cm unless it was ew so, even with all that time charting, I don't really know what my BIP is. Plus, like Canid, I have longer than normal cycles so cta may be very frustrating for me if I end up with weeks of being potentially fertile. So, I'm hoping that after about 3 cycles of cta I'll get the hang of things and it won't be so stressful for me.

I'd prefer to just do nothing, not try but not prevent. DH doesn't want another child, though, so this is my compromise. I'd probably still chart even if we did things that way because my cycles are so long and irregular I'd never know when AF was due or if I was late or anything.

So, today is CD1 for me. Now I can get down to business and really try to figure this stuff out. I'm going to assume I did O on cd45 because that makes my lp similar to what it was with my first PP O cycle after ds2. I'm not putting this past cycle in my stats, though.

Thanks for your answer! I'm in cycle 6 (month 11), and LOVE it. I like it even better for long cycles because I actually have a clue what's going on for once.

[MarineWife]

I have 27 total charts but only 8 that I can use in my stats.

[MarineWife]

Since I started a new cycle I just checked when my predicted next AF will be. Based on my stats, it could start sometime between Sept. 18-22. Wouldn't you know, my annual pap smear is scheduled for the 22nd. My cycles weren't regular before and they are certainly not predictable right now so I'm not sure what I should do. If I wait to see what happens and I do get AF then, I may have to wait another 2 months before I can get another appointment. It's been about 2 years since I've had one. If I change it now, there's no way for me to know I won't have AF for the new time. Aaaaargh!

[CanidFL]

How accurate do you think it is? Don’t they just use an average of previous cycles? I know it’s not ideal but you can still get a pap while on AF. Maybe just call and see if they have an opening a couple weeks before or after your appointment? Or book it with another doctor who has more availability?

[texaspeach]

I'd call and say you just realized you'd have your period at the time of the pap. my dr can do a pap during your period - she uses thin prep. They centrifuge the sample so blood cells are separated from the cervical cells. I wouldn't want to have a pap during full flow, but if you're comfortable doing that toward the end it might not matter.

I've found that even with docs that fill up fast, if you need to move an appointment over a couple of days or a week, they're pretty good about it.

[MarineWife]

Yeah, it is just an average of my past cycles. That's part of my problem. Since my cycles aren't predictable at all yet I have no idea if I'll actually get AF then. I'm a new patient with this doc so it's more difficult to get an appointment since they need extra time. She's the only woman in town and I really do not feel comfortable seeing male docs. I guess if the doc doesn't care that I have AF I won't worry about it. If I end up having AF then, I'll just call ahead of time and make sure it's cool.

[Marlet]

Grrr. I put in this mornings temps and tried to not adjust it since none of my other times are currently adjusted (I went and changed them all and never switched it back). The stupid software won't stop adjusting it! :

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by OtherMother'n'Madre

The stupid software won't stop adjusting it! :

You have to go to your preferences and change it from automatically adjust to either ask beforehand or never adjust.

[Marlet]

I figured it out after posting. I just stuck the original temp. in there at my regular time.

I did notice that my temp. really does raise the .1 every half hour or so. That's kind of neat in a nerdy sort of way.

And because I like to tweak things I took advantage of my free vip option over at ff this morning and readjusted all my temps. It took away my crosshairs again. I really need to be better at taking them at the same time from now on. Is it so bad I jsut want af to come already? I wish I had my tea with vitex in it.

[indiemamma]

Our NFP/FAM story

We started using NFP right after we got married five years ago. I had not been on b/c before and suddenly, my poor new husband had a very b)tchy new wife. I didn't like the idea of using chemicals to control my natural cycles anyways, and did my geeky research online and at the library. I read the official NFP book cover to cover and liked a lot of the theory/theology behind it (we're protestants and had only heard that Catholics don't use b/c - not that they work with their bodies like NFP explained!) So we did that until a blizzard snowed us in and we had nothing else to do ... and we made our Jonathan! :

While I was anovulatory, I discovered Mothering and found the TCOYF book and really enjoyed its more "liberal" approach (I felt guilty using barriers after reading The Art of NFP). So we followed those rules until we ran out of condoms two Christmases ago... : Hannah!

Even though our kids haven't exactly been "planned" (except for the 3 minutes before when I said "we could get pregnant" and he said "great!"), the two times that I was sure we were doing it during a fertile time, we got pregnant! No problems there, like many of our other friends. Also, we really like the fact that all my mood swings are my own () and I'm not having to bother with having nasty chemicals in my system. Also, the fact that I'm in tune with my body helps me know the what and why of my cycle. I FAM!!!

[Lady Lilya]

Thanks for sharing that story!

[lovinlife1219]

Still figuring this whole charting thing out...it says I O'd super early but I think I am just O'ing. So I dunno We are using condoms for now until I figure it out better!! I'm glad we have this thread though, I am learning a lot!

[MarineWife]

That is a really early O, Erika, although not unheard of. Do you have pretty regular, short cycles? I would say based on the temps you have in there not before cd10. Do you remember what your cm was like those first few days?

[fanniefarkle]

Is a short luteal phase anything to be worried about from a cta standpoint? The first day of my temp shift to the first day of AF amounted to only 10 days. How would this affect charting and interpreting my fertility signs?

thanks, amanda

[lovinlife1219]

Originally Posted by MarineWife

That is a really early O, Erika, although not unheard of. Do you have pretty regular, short cycles? I would say based on the temps you have in there not before cd10. Do you remember what your cm was like those first few days?

Well, since I am nursing (a LOT!) my cycles are pretty irregular. I had my first AF about three months ago, then had a 32 day cycle and then my last cycle was 43 days (I think) so I guess it's normal for me to have short and long cycles for now! Where it showed that I O'd, I didn't have any cm during those days. The past three days it went from creamy to slippery and tonight it seems to be drying up so it leads me to believe that I O'd yesterday or something? It definitely keeps me from using charting as our sole source of protection, being that my cycles just started and I haven't really figured it out completely. But I am having fun learning! Wonder how long it'll be before I can just chart and can toss those nasty condoms...

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by sidshappymamma

Is a short luteal phase anything to be worried about from a cta standpoint? The first day of my temp shift to the first day of AF amounted to only 10 days. How would this affect charting and interpreting my fertility signs?

I don't think this is a problem wrt to cta. A short lp can be a problem if you are ttc because it may not be able to sustain the lining long enough for an embryo to implant and start growing. Also, 10 days is considered borderline for ttc purposes. It could be ok or it could be a problem. For just charting, it's not a problem at all since it just tells you how long your lp is.

[CanidFL]

Indimamma - welcome and thanks for the story!

Originally Posted by lovinlife1219

Still figuring this whole charting thing out...it says I O'd super early but I think I am just O'ing. So I dunno We are using condoms for now until I figure it out better!! I'm glad we have this thread though, I am learning a lot!

Your chart does not show a clear O right now when I look at it. Maybe you did just O but a couple days will tell

Originally Posted by sidshappymamma

Is a short luteal phase anything to be worried about from a cta standpoint? The first day of my temp shift to the first day of AF amounted to only 10 days. How would this affect charting and interpreting my fertility signs?

thanks, amanda

For CTA it is not a problem. It just means you have fewer safe days after O which is a pain for some that use condoms as a back up. For example if you had a 14 day LP then you would get 10 or 11 safe days depending on your peak day. If you have a 10 day LP, you could get 6 or 7 safe days.

So my temps are dropping now. Looks like my body is getting ready to O. I still haven't got any EWCM

[indiemamma]

Originally Posted by sidshappymamma

Is a short luteal phase anything to be worried about from a cta standpoint? The first day of my temp shift to the first day of AF amounted to only 10 days. How would this affect charting and interpreting my fertility signs?

thanks, amanda

I don't think its anything to worry about when you are CTA - and even when you are TTC again, it might not be a worry. My luteal phases have always been about 10 or 11 days long and we had no problem avoiding or conceiving. HTH!