Official Charting thread

[BookwormPrincess]

Are you sure you're on a BFP? That was my first thought.

Do you mean BFN? Glad you said your AF sometimes stops and starts - I have had that before, although it's still not back on today. Cool - I shall enjoy a short AF this month!

I took two temps this morning and don't know which one to use. I had a very dsiturned night and didn't get to sleep till gone 3am. Then woke at 6:40am took my temp (36.14 C), then went back to sleep and took it again when I woke at 10:15am (36.31 C). Which one do I record? I went with the 10:15 because I figures I'd had at least 3 hours of sleep, but it's confusing.

Jemma, hope DD is getting better.

 

[BookwormPrincess]

Ha Ha, spoke to soon. Spotting is back! Think I am over-analyzing everything.

 

[ksdedee74]

I would take the first temp. I do not slepp very well, and end up, up and down alot. The thing about temping is it doesn't have to be an exact sicience you are looking for patterns. I always try to take the first reading because I sleep alot harder the first set of hours. But Fertility friend says to try to take it in the morning, even when you are up during the night. http://www.fertilityfriend.com/Faqs/Night-Waking.html
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/Faqs/Lost-sleep.html
Basically do it the same all the time. If you wake up at night any take it in the morning do that everytime. I take my temp at 6am I have my alarm set for it, but If I have up any time after 5 I go ahead and take it because I know the temp is close. I am usually up till 2 or 3 in the monring. I have alot on my mind lately and just haven't been able to shut off. I usually go back to sleep after taking my temp. When I do actually get to sleep at a decent time i write it in my notes, but I have noticed it doesn't seem to affect my charts. My pattern is becoming very clear. I wouldn't have said that the first few times I temp. I thought it looked a mess but I am starting to see stuff after a couple charts. Do the best you can and give it time it will work out. Just be consitant.

 

[felinity]

We aren't officially trying to conceive yet (I'm still on birth control), but I've been starting to chart because I have PCOS and (according to my doctor) probably don't ovulate. I'm trying to find patterns in my own cycle so that I'll be able to see what's going on when we are officially trying.

Does anyone know whether there are chart examples for people who are on birth control (which simulates but blocks ovulation)? I'd be curious to see what the patterns look like, to compare with mine.

 

[ksdedee74]

Your pattern on BC and off will be different, it takes 2-3 months for your cycle to regulate after coming off BC. For many how our bodies regulate our cycles is very different from how BC regulates it.

 

[Assisi]

Your pattern on BC and off will be different, it takes 2-3 months for your cycle to regulate after coming off BC. For many how our bodies regulate our cycles is very different from how BC regulates it.

Yes this very true. For example, on birth control pills you should not see any mucus, but once you come off them you will start to see mucus. I'm not sure about temperature (today's like my second day of temping!), your cycle length may change, in fact I would think that almost every thing will change.

It may take a while to 'get back to normal' after you discontinue contraception. I have no idea where to find examples of charts for you, I would think that they would all be very similar and charting wouldn't tell you much about your body or whether you ovulate normally or not.

 

[felinity]

Yeah, my problem is that I have no "normal." My body does dumb stuff like having no period at all for several months, then switching to having a period constantly, with no breaks at all. No fun, that!

My ob/gyn has already told me that if I want to conceive and go off birth control, I'll probably need Clomid, so we'll be starting that route pretty immediately once my husband decides he's ready.

Thanks for the input, ladies.

 

[Assisi]

Yeah, my problem is that I have no "normal." My body does dumb stuff like having no period at all for several months, then switching to having a period constantly, with no breaks at all. No fun, that!

My ob/gyn has already told me that if I want to conceive and go off birth control, I'll probably need Clomid, so we'll be starting that route pretty immediately once my husband decides he's ready.

Thanks for the input, ladies.

Wow! That's a lot to deal with. I hope and pray that you will have a smooth transition from birth control to normal cycles and then to a normal pregnancy. It sounds like your cycles are awful.

 

[Jemma]

Do you mean BFN? Glad you said your AF sometimes stops and starts - I have had that before, although it's still not back on today. Cool - I shall enjoy a short AF this month!

...

Jemma, hope DD is getting better.

Hi there, to you and everyone.

I'm sorry. Yes, I meant a BFN. I'm so sleep-deprived these days that I don't make sense even in person. Usually my AF will still last the full length (maybe a day shorter, if I'm lucky), but will have mini-breaks occasionally. Wierd.

Thanks for mentioning DD. Yes, she's getting better slowly. Still not eating much, but not throwing up anything like she was that night. She's drinking water too, which is great. No dehydration this time, praise God!

Ha Ha, spoke to soon. Spotting is back! Think I am over-analyzing everything.

*raises hand* I'm guilty of this too. I was convinced I'm pregnant this cycle. Had all the typical symptoms. Even measured my bust measurement and showed the measurements to the doctor! You know, I never thought you could embarrass a doctor - they've seen it all, and all that - but I think 'cause he was male and I was specifically drawing attention to my bust size.

Don't I feel like an idiot?! I'm sure it'll be hilarious one day.

Anyway, still not sure whether pregnant or not. Has been so stressful here lately that I haven't noticed any pg symptoms. Am having cramps, but that's going through the entire family due to the gastro bug. I'd be worried if DH thought HE was pregnant!

 

[ksdedee74]

Bookworm - your chart looks good so far. keep up the good work.

Jemma - do you have a chart posted?

Maggie - Your chart looks promising this month. I see you are 9dpo, I am 8. I keep looking at my chart for some sign of something but....

Pinktulip - Your chart is different but it is basically saying you haven't o'd yet right?

SOTFB - Had you just not updated or have you decided not to temp this month. I seriously thought about it. But being that I love math and the patterns of it all and such. I keep going. If i was guessing I thought maybe you were at 7DPO That would put you at around the same place as Maggie and I, Wouldn't be great if we all had BFP's together.

We everyone here's praying it will be a BFP party all the way around for all of us this cycle!!!!

 

[BookwormPrincess]

Bookworm - your chart looks good so far. keep up the good work.

Jemma - do you have a chart posted?

Maggie - Your chart looks promising this month. I see you are 9dpo, I am 8. I keep looking at my chart for some sign of something but....

Pinktulip - Your chart is different but it is basically saying you haven't o'd yet right?

SOTFB - Had you just not updated or have you decided not to temp this month. I seriously thought about it. But being that I love math and the patterns of it all and such. I keep going. If i was guessing I thought maybe you were at 7DPO That would put you at around the same place as Maggie and I, Wouldn't be great if we all had BFP's together.

We everyone here's praying it will be a BFP party all the way around for all of us this cycle!!!!

Thanks for the encouragement Ksdedee! I am finding this charting business hard work but it is fascinating.

Jemma - you made me chuckle with that doctors story!

Felinity - wow, you do have a lot to put up with, I hope the clomid works when you try it.

 

[PinkTulip]

Bookworm - your chart looks good so far. keep up the good work.

Jemma - do you have a chart posted?

Maggie - Your chart looks promising this month. I see you are 9dpo, I am 8. I keep looking at my chart for some sign of something but....

Pinktulip - Your chart is different but it is basically saying you haven't o'd yet right?

SOTFB - Had you just not updated or have you decided not to temp this month. I seriously thought about it. But being that I love math and the patterns of it all and such. I keep going. If i was guessing I thought maybe you were at 7DPO That would put you at around the same place as Maggie and I, Wouldn't be great if we all had BFP's together.

We everyone here's praying it will be a BFP party all the way around for all of us this cycle!!!!

No, I haven't. I usually O late - around the 18th. I am not trying this month though.. I just don't feel ready yet

 

[Jemma]

Jemma - you made me chuckle with that doctors story!

Yeah, I never thought it was possible to embarrass a doctor with that many year's experience! He owns the practice and has been there seemingly forever, but yes, I embarrassed him.

 

[Jemma]

Jemma - do you have a chart posted?

...

We everyone here's praying it will be a BFP party all the way around for all of us this cycle!!!!

Hi

I started charting about a week ago, then had a break for a couple of days when DD got violently ill with gastro. I'm not going to bother posting the link because my temps were taken at all different times with very little sleep in between due to everybody being sick here. My week's worth of temps are all over the place. I don't think there's really anything informative you could glean from the chart, but if you're still interested in the few temps that are there, let me know.

A BFP party would be great! C'mon, little spermies, reach your targets! Go go go go!!!!

 

[gracepaints]

Hey guys! Finally updated the list.

MAGGIE - congrats on your BFP!!!!!

 

[BookwormPrincess]

Hi there,
Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who persuaded me to start charting my temps on FF (especially SignoftheFishBurger).

I am gobsmacked that muy chart is showing a pattern! Wahey! I was really expecting the fibromyalgia and sleep problems to mess it up and give me really erratic temps, but praise God, it looks ok.

Thanks Girls (going back on my mini-break now - it is actually helping me stay calm, thinking of you all though). x

 

[Assisi]

I'm so over my cycle at the moment! Ever since the miscarriage I have been charting and hoping to see some kind of pattern return. But every time I get a sign I recognise and I think I know what's going on, something changes and I realise I was wrong!

After I had a normal bleed (yay!) starting on 17th March, and a few days of dryness, I began to experience what I thought were fertile symptoms (using mucus). I thought I had ovulated on 31st March (early for me), but now I have a mucus discharge! Not quite fertile, but not really dry either. What can this mean? Do you think I ovulated girls? Unfortunately I stopped temping upon the advice of my gyno, because he said mucus should be enough and that it was probably a good idea for me not to be thinking about possible conception first thing of the day every day. I do know my pre ovulation temp though, should I see if it's higher now?

Thanks! Help!

 

[ksdedee74]

I'm so over my cycle at the moment! Ever since the miscarriage I have been charting and hoping to see some kind of pattern return. But every time I get a sign I recognise and I think I know what's going on, something changes and I realise I was wrong!

After I had a normal bleed (yay!) starting on 17th March, and a few days of dryness, I began to experience what I thought were fertile symptoms (using mucus). I thought I had ovulated on 31st March (early for me), but now I have a mucus discharge! Not quite fertile, but not really dry either. What can this mean? Do you think I ovulated girls? Unfortunately I stopped temping upon the advice of my gyno, because he said mucus should be enough and that it was probably a good idea for me not to be thinking about possible conception first thing of the day every day. I do know my pre ovulation temp though, should I see if it's higher now?

Thanks! Help!

Wow I wish I could help unfortunatly I also have mutiple patches of mucus. I have heard gynos recommend the not temping also but I couldn't do it. For me it is comforting knowing I am ovulating and when. I think about having a baby and getting pregnant first thing in the morning in the afternoon and in the evening anyway. But it is nice to know my body is doing what it is supposed to and it just isn't the right time.

Would now be on time with your usual cycle? If so I would assume you are ovulating.

 

[Assisi]

Would now be on time with your usual cycle? If so I would assume you are ovulating.

No It's still too early for me to be getting fertile mucus in a normal cycle.

Thanks for your post though! I think I'm starting to agree with you about the temps, I think about it a lot anyway...so why not have the benefit of knowing?

 

[ksdedee74]

I have been thinking about just writing my temps down, but not putting them on a chart until I have some questions about how I am doing. I know that when I put them in my chart i anylyze them and think about it alot more than just when i take them. But when I have anxious days I can put it all in my chart and go oh ok so I did ovulate that day or ok I didn't ovulate.

I think that i would still use the chart to make sure I ovulated and make sure my cycles are staying the same, I will temp daily and record my temp in a notebook just not chart & graph daily. Does that make sense?