The Official TTC Thread!

[drk]

Fisher - now I''m curious to see your chart again. Sounds like you''ve O''d though! And CD 18 really isn''t bad. Before I started the treatment stuff, I was usually later than CD21.

And since I''m curious to see how everyone''s charts are coming, I''ll start things off with mine as of this morning - and then I''ll get back to the studying!

Kate
11dpo

 

[peonygirl]

Sha: Although I was ordered the CD3 tests months ago I haven't been able to take them because of my miscarriage last cycle and the fact that I haven't gotten a period since then. Hopefully I won't have another 60-day cycle, but I'm not too optimistic. I would like to see a dr for a second opinion soon, but we'll see!

Sunkist: Thanks sweetie! Good luck to you too!

Fisher: The higher temp today is a great sign!! Please keep us updated.

Kate: Gosh, I feel for you SO much! I have only been trying for about 6 months, and I feel totally emotionally drained. I can't imagine being through everything you have. It is well known that women struggling with infertility (at least one yr of unsuccessful trying) have high rates of depression. Put another way, on average it's higher than women battling cancer, especially for those trying more than 2 yrs. (It's kind of random that I know this, but all my research/pubs were on depression). It doesn't surprise me, since there's not a whole lot of genuine social support available from friends and family, there's a massive sense of hopelessness/uncontrollability, pregnant women/kids evoke negative feelings, and ultimately social isolation must be common. Plus, there's the whole thwarting of one's dreams, which come relatively easily to most people. So knowing that probably doesn't help at all, but I hope you know that everything you're experiencing is normal and probably expected.

I really do have high hopes for you and IVF, even though I'm sure that it will be expensive and rough. You will probably be one of those people who transfers two blastocysts and then has her hands full with twins in 9 months.

What meds are you taking now? Is FS follistim? Good luck on your boards!!! BTW, your current chart looks great (if you didn't already know!)

 

[Festy]

Hi DrK, it''s nice to see you again. Ditto Peony, your chart looks great. I''m sorry you''re feeling so crappy. It sucks to feel bitter. I''ve certainly had my moments and we''ve only been trying for 6 months or so.

Peony, thanks for posting some helpful information re: depression. It''s a good reminder for me to keep exercising to keep my mood up and not hibernate like I want to!

Fisher, great temp today!

 

[so cal girl]

Date: 1/16/2009 2:12:44 PM
Author: swimmer
Thank you ladies,
Congratulations SoCal! How exciting.

Festy, yes, I''m also in Bahston! And my old three-decker''s windows were installed probably in the 1860s, if it wasn''t for the vinyl siding, we could feel the breeze. Are you staying warm?

ChinaCat: great point, I need to chat with someone about this, thank you all for being so welcoming.

Peony: Mmm, lots of the above? I have PCOS and had some other ovarian issues, so am working with a reproductive endocrinologist, but yes, while we would be thrilled to adopt, it is sort of this task that we recently set out on and yeah, I am not used to failing at anything. That sounds just terrible right? But with most things if I work my arse off it gets done. From reading your musings I bet you share a lot of this struggle. Usually if we just put enough brain energy into a problem it is resolved, but this is so not controllable. Well, we try to control and calculate with temping and looking for signs, but I ultimately feel so powerless here. Ya feelin'' me?

swimmer - This is exactly how I felt. Damn all of us for being overachievers! It killed me that this is one thing that I couldn''t control.

Sha - I didn''t have any symptoms, and I still don''t. I mean, I have slight cramping, but that could be PMS, too. I just figured what the heck. I was really hoping to see the two lines, so I was more happy than shocked. I think I''m still have trouble believing it''s real.

drk - I see your are considering IVF. I didn''t have time to look back in the thread, but I have you tried IUI yet? I just know that it is more likely to be covered by insurance. And my sister did IUI, and is now expecting twins!

sunkist - My husband wants to wait just so I don''t get excited, and then get let down if the doctor says there is nothing there. But we went to dinner with both sets of parents last night, and he said I could tell them. I didn''t, because I kind of agree with him. I''d like to see the doctor before we start getting everyone all worked up! Only another week and a half

Thanks everyone for all your congrats. I did another test this morning and the second line got darker. I''m 12 DPO. I think I''ll give it another couple of days and take a digital to confirm.

Who is testing next? drk, are you thinking you might test again in a couple of days? Good luck to everyone!

 

[sunkist]

Fisher, that''s great news! I hope this is it! I think if you see egg white you should record it. I don''t think recording CM will give a false cross hairs or take one away. It just might make it a dotted line or a solid line. So, if you got it, record it!

DrK Your chart looks great! I''m so hopeful for you, girl.

My temp dropped this morning on 8DPO

I have mild cramps, but nothings showed yet. Maybe later today or tomorrow. My LP was 10 days last month though! I guess this means I need to read up on short LPs. Anyone have some insight?

Amber

Thinking of you!

 

[sunkist]

Hey SoCal! Oh well ok, I guess a week and a half is do-able

It''s kind of neat to have a big secret just between you and your hubby for a while too. A happy and healty 9 months!

 

[sunkist]

ok, dumb question I want to ask real quick!

I feel like AF is coming, but no spotting at all yet. I''m headed to the lake today with out any restrooms. Is it bad to wear a tampon for a day if I really were prego??

 

[Festy]

Date: 1/17/2009 1:05:42 PM
Author: sunkist
My temp dropped this morning on 8DPO

I have mild cramps, but nothings showed yet. Maybe later today or tomorrow. My LP was 10 days last month though! I guess this means I need to read up on short LPs. Anyone have some insight?

Hi Sunkist, a temp drop right now means bupkes! (Yiddish for zilcho, nada, nuttin', pronounced bubkiss). It could go back up tomorrow, or it could stay right where it is until 10 DPO. Don't freak out yet. Easier said than done right?

ETA: I just saw your question about using a tampon...I doubt it could hurt. Maybe read the warnings that come in the box?

 

[sunkist]

thanks Festy, it''s just these cramps that are freaking me out. Oh well I''ll go have a fun Saturday. have a great day everyone!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Sunkist it's too early to know if this is a fakeout temps drop or is it is really AFF, but I wanted to tell you that both Lysser and myself had very short LPs about 3 cycles after coming off the pill. Mine was 8 days I think... I cried I was so worried because I knew that was too short to get pg

And the next month my CF got really good and I got KTFU... same for Lysser, she got KTFU the month after her short LP. Anyways, wanted to point out that IF it is a shorter LP don't worry about it at all, it is probably related to the pill. Apparently a true luteal phase defect is sooooooo rare, and if you have a 10 day LP *normally* (though who knows what normal is in those first months off the pill) then it is more than adequate to get KTFU. My LP was 10 days, for example. One nice thing about shorter LPs--you can take a preggo tests earlier and your cycles are shorter which means more changes to catch the egg!

PS: I'd go ahead and wear the tampon, but I'd make sure to try to wet it before removing it in case AF didn't show up... maybe you already know this, but the bad thing and using tampons without actual flow (or ones that are too absorbent for the flow you have) is that when you pull it out is can leave little tears inside you where it sticks, and can leave behind little pieces of fibre, and this can increase the change of certain infections. But if you have a shower or bath or swim before removing it then that should not be a problem.

 

[sunkist]

Back from a fun day on the lake and everything was a-okay. No AF, yet

(Thanks for your responses Festy and DD)

And DD, I''m always so grateful to hear your and others'' experiences of TTC. It really does make me feel so much better. I can chill now about my LP length

I saw your due date is Feb.28 and I just have to tell you that is my birthday! So I hope you have it then

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 1/17/2009 9:05:49 PM
Author: sunkist
Back from a fun day on the lake and everything was a-okay. No AF, yet

(Thanks for your responses Festy and DD)

And DD, I''m always so grateful to hear your and others'' experiences of TTC. It really does make me feel so much better. I can chill now about my LP length

I saw your due date is Feb.28 and I just have to tell you that is my birthday! So I hope you have it then

No worries, I''m glad my experience can make someone feel better about theirs... as for that b-day, although you are clearly awesome, I would prefer a March baby because a) I like the birthstone better (auquamarine vs. amethyst) and b) because I don''t feel ready yet

and March feels soooo much farther away than February!

 

[peonygirl]

DD, I'm a March 2nd baby!!

That's a nice birthday!

What do you mean that you don't feel ready?

Don't worry, just mail the baby to me, I will take care of him/her for a few days and then mail it back when you are ready!

Have you gotten your cosleeper yet?

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 1/17/2009 11:13:46 PM
Author: peonygirl
DD, I''m a March 2nd baby!!

That''s a nice birthday!

What do you mean that you don''t feel ready?

Don''t worry, just mail the baby to me, I will take care of him/her for a few days and then mail it back when you are ready!

Have you gotten your cosleeper yet?

hee hee.. do you think the USPS offers insurance on a baby?

I hope I didn''t sound ungrateful by saying that, it isn''t a complaint at all, but everything about the TTC process, pregnancy, and parenthood is such a big life change! I guess a part of me would just like a couple more days in the phase I''m in before everything changes again. And I haven''t gotten the cosleeper yet... I have been so busy with job interviews in the last month that I haven''t had a second to think about anything else! Which reminds me, a while back you commented on JPSPs... I''m amazed to find someone who knows what those are! Yup, I have 4, plus a couple PSPBs and a JESP...Just to throw out some more random letters.

 

[sunkist]

haha! DD, those are both very good reasons to have a March baby. I love aquamarine too And as long as you''ve got some diapers and a place cleared for the baby sleep, you''ll be fine. I know you''ll be a great mom.

 

[fisherofmengirly]

DD,

Totally understandable how you''re feeling. I go through a mini-freakout/excitement kick each time I am waiting to see if I''ll get a period or be growing a baby for 40weeks or so. I can only imagine the freakout/excitement/oh-my-goodness-what''s-about-to-happen-with-my-life-as-I-know-it kick when it''s really almost time to be a parent. You''ll do really great, though. Your baby''s a lucky one... parents who care and always will, no matter what comes along. And that''s what really matters, right?

****
Sunkist,

How was your temp today? Thinking good thoughts for you, sweetie!!

****
Swimmer,

Yeah, wouldn''t it be great that if you tried hard enough and really knew you''d be a devoted, loving parent, it would be easy to get pregnant? Hm. That would be awesome!!!

Good luck to you through this process. Don''t let it bring you down. Maybe try to see it as a little more time with just you and your hubby. Those are precious moments, or so I''m told by my friends who had children right away. Sometimes that helps me, and other times, not so much. It''s just one of those things, I guess.

****
Sha,

What have you been up to these days?

Blushing and November, thinking happy thoughts for you, too!!

****
Yesterday Paul and I had our trip to Helen, GA. It''s a small little German-themed town in the mountains of GA. I love the little shops and it was so much fun. I caved and bought a wooden airplane (you know, the old fashioned kind with the little propellor at the front) for the baby. It was hand crafted by this little ol'' man and he was just so nice and the plane will be so cute up on a shelf until the baby''s old enough to play with it. Somehow, doing little things like that makes me feel like there will eventually be an end to this whole TTC process. The baby will end up with some fun toys out of his/her mommy''s craziness, so I guess it''s a win-win situation.

Anyway, it was freezing the whole time and I was all bundled up, which was fun, too. I rarely had to bundle up in Cali, so it''s always fun when I get to act like a snow bunny. We also got an ornament for the Christmas tree, because I''m cheesy and like those momentos for years to come.

Then today, my temp shot up again. Yay! 98.45. I''m pretty sure this is the real deal now. At least I''m hoping like mad that it is!! FF moved my O day to CD21, but I don''t care (FF has done that in two of my other cycles, too). That''s a really great O day for me, with my history, and I''m really feeling pretty good about this cycle. 35 day cycle is great for me, so yeah. Excited, excited. That''s me!! Hoping this one ends in a baby!!

 

[natalina]

SoCalGirl- CONGRATULTIONS! I am so happy and excited for you and your DH! Wishing you 9 happy months and a healthy baby!

Swimmer- Welcome! I''m a newbie here too! It''s so nice to have these ladies to share with. Everyone here is so helpful and kind.

Peony- I''m 6DPO now. Last month my LP was 12 days. I think I''ll just wait for my period, but if not, what is the earliest DPO for recommended testing? Wishing you luck with your cycle this month- hope it isn''t another 60 day''er!

DrK- Thinking of you. Sorry this journey is like an uphill battle. I''m really hoping this is your month.

Fisher- Thanks for the info re: temp drop after O. Good to know. More importantly- Yay for another temp rise! Mine went higher today too. At 98.35, it''s the highest it''s ever been since I started charting (2.5 months). So, since you don''t really know your O date, how will you know when to test? Or will you just wait until you know your period should have arrived (hoping that it doesn''t

)? I am excited for you!

Sunkist- how was your temp today? Has AF made an appearance yet? Hope not!

 

[littlelysser]

Hi ladies!

Hope you all are doing well!

Just wanted to check in with my girls! I''m 7w1d today! So far it hasn''t been easy! I''ve been having spotting and stuff on and off. A few nights ago I had some bright red bleeding and passed a clot! It totally stunk. But had ANOTHER u/s and the kid is measuring on track, HB looks good. Doc can''t explain why I''m spotting, just am. Blah. But otherwise, things are going well!

Festy - How are you doing? I know you weren''t temping this cycle, and I''m thinking some VERY good thoughts for you!!!!! And of course I read this thread - *every day*! And, although I totally hope this is your month, I do think being laid back and not temping and charting - particularly when you are fairly confident of when you O (I also get the sore nips - and for the record, they have been sore for the past 5 weeks!!! OUCH) - is really the way to go! But again, I hope it is a non issue! And may I remind you that DH and I had sex ONE TIME around O time (my guess is two days before) when I got KTFU. Nutty.

BB - Yay for normal SA!!!! That is wonderful! Hope you are doing well!

LuLu - How are you doing?

Sha - I hope you get your tests soon! And to be frank, I''d LOVE to live in the Caribbean these days! We had several negative temps these past days...and um, it is sucktastic for sure!

Fisher - Yay for O! That''s great!

Peony - Many O vibes your way! That is interesting about TTC and depression. Not surprising at all, but certainly interesting.

Sunkist - I agree with Festy - temp drop at 8 DPO means nada. Zilch. Nothing. And the first time I got KTFU, DD is correct, my prior LP was like 8 or 9 days! It was short. That one didn''t stick, but I don''t attribute it to that. Since then, my LP ranged from 10 to 11 days.

Swimmer - Welcome to the thread! I think you''ll find this is an absolutely wonderful group of women. Wonderful. And I definitely think that the lack of control in the TTC process is the toughest thing. I think many of us here are they type of personalities that decide we want something, work hard for it, and get it! This whole thing has been a real exercise in patience. Which I *TOTALLY* lack!

Natalina - Welcome to the thread!

Amber - How are you doing friend? Hope all is well in amberland!

inluv - You doing alright? How is Miley??? You''ve got to be excited about the NFC championship today! Here''s to hoping for an all PA Superbowl!!!

Dr.K - I hope this is your cycle as well. I''m so sorry you are having to go through this crap. Blah. And FWIW, I think your chart is looking good!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Hey Fisher, can you post your chart? I am curiuos now to see how the pattern is shaping up... and with temps that high it *does* sound like O for you!

 

[Sha]

Yeah, Fisher, I'd love to see your chart again too. Sounds like you definitely O'd!!

Sunkist - did you say your LP was about 10 days? I remember you were 2 days behind me, so you're 9 dpo today, correct? I hope AF stays away for you!

Littlelysser -thanks for checking in. That's great everything went well at your ultrasound! I've read that a lot of women have spotting during pregnancy so maybe it's just one of thsoe things..?

Just a quick drive-by.... Today is 11 dpo for me. Temp today was still high and I've been having some intermittent shooting achy pains in my breasts. That's about it, really. My temps don't tend to drop until about 13-14 dpo (LP around 14/15 days on average), so those temps will tell the story, I guess.

Best wishes to everybody else testing! InLuv, where did you disappear to?

Socal - how's the feeling today? Has it sunken in yet?

 

[sunkist]

Fisher, hooray for a higher temp today! I''m curious to see your chart too. If FF switched to CD21 after the last few days of high temps, that''s probably the day. Yayyy! Your trip to the mountains sounds fun! I love bundling up in winter. Fisher, I am in So Cal and we are not getting any bundle up weather at all here, which stinks. We had to take a trip to CO to make it feel like winter for us. Of course, boating on the lake yesterday while enjoying the sun isn''t bad for January either, but where''s the cold and rain?

Hi Lysser! Wow, 7 weeks

ahh, I''m so happy for you! I''m keeping hope about my LP length. Thank you!!

So, this morning CD9 my temp is still below the coverline, I still have mild crampage, but no AF not even any tinted CM. I guess it''s a good sign? I''m just not trusting this Woman Flow though

Here''s what my dips look like--

 

[fisherofmengirly]

I have to copy from FF and paste in Paint, then save as a GIF and post here. Paint is acting up and won''t let me paste what I copied from FF. I''ll have Paul look at it and see if he can figure out what''s going on. I mess up this computer all the time. Argh.

I also posted today''s temp. wrong. It was 98.49, not 98.45. Not a big difference, but still a difference.

Maybe it''s because last cycle was so incredibly long and frustrating, or maybe because it''s a new year and I''m still carrying that "fresh year, new chances" theme around with me, but I feel really, really hopeful this cycle. Funny thing is, whenever I talk to Paul about the baby, the one-day-will-be baby, he doesn''t act disinterested, but more like he''s humoring me, if that makes sense, and he''s not doing that now. He said he''s more hopeful than he has been, and said something just feels different. I think it''s a growing intensity in desire to be parents, but it''d be fun if it was really some kind of "sense" about what''s to come.

My good friend, Tena, says she knew at the moment of conception that she was going to be a mother. How cool. I don''t know if she said that with each cycle though.

I didn''t meet her until her son was 2.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Sunkist if I recall right, you had a big mid-LP dip last cycle too? That could just be a pattern for you. Such a big dip may be a good sign about your fertility... dips in the LP are aused by a secondary surge of estrogen that tends to happen around that time (estrogen lowers temps and progesteron raises them), and high estrogen is associated with higher fertility! Fun fact for the day

Fisher How was your BD timing for CD 21? Did you hit some of the magic days? PS: an easier way to save the FF charts is to right click on the chart and go "save as" then just choose jpeg and the file location on your computer. All done!

 

[sunkist]

Oops. In my last post I said I was on CD9 but as you can tell from my chart I meant 9DPO.

But really none of that matters now because stupid AF came and I''m really on CD1!!

Shucks!

Sha I''m crossing my fingers extra hard for you! It''s sounding great so far.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 1/18/2009 7:10:31 PM
Author: sunkist
Oops. In my last post I said I was on CD9 but as you can tell from my chart I meant 9DPO.

But really none of that matters now because stupid AF came and I''m really on CD1!!

Shucks!

Boo hiss! Onwards and upwards, hopefully this is the cycle for you!

 

[Sha]

Date: 1/18/2009 7:10:31 PM
Author: sunkist
Oops. In my last post I said I was on CD9 but as you can tell from my chart I meant 9DPO.

But really none of that matters now because stupid AF came and I'm really on CD1!!

Shucks!

Sha I'm crossing my fingers extra hard for you! It's sounding great so far.

Awwww....that sucks!!! I'm sorry, sunkist...

Is there something that you can take to lengthen your LP? I hope it really is related to you coming off the pill, and that will straighten itself out soon. I hope this new cycle is the one for you, too!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 1/18/2009 7:51:35 PM
Author: Sha

Awwww....that sucks!!! I''m sorry, sunkist...

Is there something that you can take to lengthen your LP? I hope it really is related to you coming off the pill, and that will straighten itself out soon. I hope this new cycle is the one for you, too!

I think the odds are about 100% that it is due to coming off the pill... as I mentioned, true LP issues are sooooo rare. I can''t tell you how many TTCers over the last year here have worried about a short LP or two, only to find that it isn''t a problem at all! I''m sure it is no issue for Sunkist either in the longer term. The same types of hormonal issues that affect CF affect LP coming off the pill... it is a complex feedback loop where hormones at the start of the cycle prompt hormones at the end. So I think when she sees the "return of the goo" she will also see longer LPs. At least, that''s been my observation based on hanging out here in the TTC thread for a year...

 

[Blenheim]

Sunkist, I''m so sorry. Hopefully your LP will regulate itself over the next couple of cycles.

Fishie, how many DPO do you think you are? I know you said O was hopefully on CD21, but I''m just trying to put it in context. I really hope that this is it for you too.

 

[sunkist]

Thanks DD, Sha, and Blen! I hope this next cycle is it too. I was just thinking and maybe I have a little more insight that maybe my body is still regulating - before BC, I got pretty bad cramps during AF (while on BC I almost had none). And last month, my first real period off BC, my cramps were very minimal. Then this month I had minor cramps yesterday and this morning followed by stronger cramps in the afternoon. They were pretty bad, I would have laid down in bed had I been home. After they subsided (perhaps due to tylenol?) AF showed up! Sooo, I'm just taking that as a sign that I'm getting more back to normal. So maybe I should be happy about my cramps...

hehe

I can't wait for everyone else to test this month! I've got great hopes for each one of you

I wish we could have a TTC thread get-together IRL , ahh wouldn't that be fun?

 

[natalina]

Sunkist- Stinker! Sorry about AF!