CBEFM Stick analysis time!

As I near April 2013 (6 month mark past last depo provera shot), I am starting to see more regular cycles. For now, "regular cycles" mean that I have a very, very light flow for about 5-7 days (usually with spotting beforehand) and that my cycles are now lasting more than 21 days and under 44. I need this range because otherwise, my CBEFM is useless to me.

*Check the fine print ladies, CBEFMs are calibrated to work for cycles that have a length between 21-44 days.

Anyhow, in the past few months since I stopped depo provera shot, I've been taking the occasional CBEFM test stick to see if my LH line is even there. Most cycles, it has been MIA. I started taking tests yesterday, and welllllll.......

What does it mean when your cycle is messed up?

That is what I ask myself. Yes, cycle's change. You can have a consistent pattern six cycles in a row, and just when you seem to have identified the pattern, it changes. If ONLY for that one cycle. Just to show you that you can't ever be definite when it comes to your body.  I don't know how many times I've seen posts on forums or pregnancy sites claiming that "royal jelly messed up my cycle!" Replace the underlined word with the newest supplement to be touted as the infertility cure. I've seen it said about Soy Isoflavones, Vitex (chasteberry), and any number of other blends or new supplements.

Here is the cold hard truth. These supplements are supposed to make your cycle change. Yeah. I said it.

When something changes that is good, we sigh in relief or jump for joy and think, "Yes! It worked" or something to that effect. When something changes that is not what we were hoping for or expecting, it messed it up or didn't work.  After 3 years of attempting to conceive successfully, I will admit that many (ok, most) of the times that my cycle took a drastic turn, I was moaning and complaining with the rest of my TTC pals. But later, because hindsight is 20/20, I saw how perhaps these changes, although not the immediate miracle I was longing for, these changes are what just might push me towards that happy ending in the form of a healthier cycle.

The first time I tried Royal Jelly, I loathed the increase in PMS symptoms AFTER AF, that made me insanely paranoid that I had actually become pregnant but was having early bleeding. Which when you think about it, isn't a great sign anyway. BUT, one thing I did notice about my flow, was it turned from dark and clotty, to thin, bright red. Almost really EWCM with blood. And from what I've read, a bright red, non-clotty flow is a healthy one. So, although it was inaugurated by some killer cramps, the likes of which I had not seen since my teen years, I took this as a sign I was headed in the right direction.

So to sum up the good things that happened when my cycle "messed up":

1. Healthier, cleaner flow
2. Symptoms more similar to adolescence, which let's face it, are generally more fertile than your 30's . 
3. Lengthening of LP to just around 11-12 consistently. Also, spotting before AF is now negligible, and sometimes absent.

So, I recognized a temp pattern in my early pre-O temps. Around 5-7 days after a "false O" that occurs about the 2nd week of my cycle (CD's 7-12), I get my true O. I have to say what was most frustrating to me was my CBEFM! After 2 lows, I just kept getting Highs. And 3 days after FF gave me cross hairs, still only High! I will say though, that looking at the sticks, they've read closer to lows that I've had in the past. The closest to a Peak was about 3 days before FF said I O'd, where both lines were present, but quite faint. 

Yet, here is my chart today. 

9 days later I get my O. 2 days past the longest stretch between my "false O" and true O. Plus no High on my CBEFM. But as you can see, my clear Fall-back rise pattern, which has only failed me a few times. So I'm sold. Goodbye CBEFM, I might give you ONE more shot next cycle. But did the Bee Fertile "mess up" this cycle? Not really. Because in order to fix something, sometimes you have rebuild it piece by piece. Lay the foundation, shift a few things here, add some things there, and eventually, your building is functioning more effectively. But it takes time, and sometimes it won't work right away. 

Besides, if you read the literature on Bee Fertile, it is not claiming a quick fix. It lets you know that it becomes most effective after 3 cycles. If you get knocked up in cycle 1 or 2, you're just lucky!  I hope I get that luck!

Disclaimer: Although the Bee Fertile supplements were provided to me at no charge, all opinions are my own. Trust me, I 'll give you the good, bad and in-between with an un-varnished eye!

Fertility charting pattern prediction Pt 2

So, if you read my post about an Interesting Chart Pattern I discovered, here's a followup to it! Yesterday, I posted about noticing a "false O" after AF that usually proceeded O by about 5-7 days. So, with my "false O" being on Sunday (2/26) CD7, I looked ahead about 6-7 days and see that I should O around this weekend, Sat Mar 3 or Sun Mar 4. It would be a kind of early one for me, although I have O'd on CD13 before.

So, I predicted that today would be my first High on my Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor (CBEFM). And so it was!

Here is a pic of my chart today, with the green marks I added predicting possible O dates and readings on my CBEFM.



Also, I noticed yesterday my nips started hurting, which has progressed to a faint bruised feeling on the sides of my BBs--all classic signs of approaching O.

I have to say that with the Bee Fertile supplements, I feel a stabilization of my cycle symptoms. They follow the same familiar pattern, but are more stable and consistent. Previously with Vitex, my moods have become despondent and alternatively happy.  With Royal Jelly I get some stabilization, but eventually the severity of the PMS symptoms during my period took its toll.

Since my period ended and I've started the Bee Fertile regimen, I've noticed a very stable mood, if a little weepy and nostalgic at times, but never so overpowering that I felt swept away. I also feel I have improved energy. But this is the "calm before the storm" so to speak. This is the one time in my cycle I feel "normal" As O approaches, the symptoms and my analysis of them increase and my mood becomes more erratic. I'm praying that this will bring a welcome change that also leads to increased fertility!

So, I'm not really doing Sperm Meets Egg plan faithfully. But with this new prediction, I'm hoping to use it to plan and hit the 3days before O and O. Since today was High, I gotta get busy!

Disclaimer: Although the Bee Fertile supplements were provided to me at no charge, all opinions are my own. Trust me, I 'll give you the good, bad and in-between with an un-varnished eye!

Hmmm...interesting chart pattern

So, I keep getting "faked out" by what seems to be an early O---low temps after period ends, then a huge spike that seems like I have O'd much earlier than I usually do. It's happened so often, that when my temp spiked 3 days ago, I took it for granted. But then I thought....hmm, I wonder if this pattern could give me a heads up to when I might O!

So I created an overlay of "average" charts and I did identify a pattern.



I identified the highest temp that spiked after AF and before O. (circled in red) You'll see that of the 4 cycles I identified, the highest temp spike occured 5-7 days before O was identified. So, with that logic, looking at my current cycle...



It looks like if O could be 6-7 days from now, it could occur CD13-14 (Sat Mar 3or Sun Mar 4). If that is the case, then if we make sure to BD starting today and for the next 5 days, we could easily catch O! We'll see if my theory holds true! Either way, I'll still be using my CBEFM to track it.

Peak Day on CBEFM!!!

Well, today is it! My Peak Reading Day on CBEFM! My temp also jumped up to 98.0.....which makes me wonder if O was yesterdary, but that's hardly possible as the CBEFM is rarely wrong on these things. I did start a wee bit late on the test sticks, but I don't think it was late enough to have that much of a miscalculation. ALTHOUGH, with last cycle being super crazy, I did delay setting my CBEFM and my FF CD is off of each other.

So, today, I woke up and tested with certainty that today was Peak Day. And sure enough, there it was! It's strange feeling of certainty I feel. Almost certainty that not only have I O'd, but THIS is it. I'm going to get my BFP.

I really hate this certainty because it's much too early to be certain of the end result. Because that certainty has betrayed me before....even as recently last cycle. And not to rationalize, but last cycle I was reacting to symptoms in an almost manic surety. It's the thought that "these symptoms are so STRONG or UNIQUE (insert whatever) that I MUST be pregnant" Had a sense of nervousness, because it seemed as the knowledge was hanging on a thread that could snap any moment.

But now, even though I have almost NOTHING to go on I have this unshakeable certainty. Even though I don't want it because of disappointment that will be lurking around the corner it's not going away! I only hope it turns out genuine.

I guess we'll see in about two weeks....

Cardiac MRI rescheduled AGAIN!

Well, I knew I had my MRI today, but when I went to bed I forgot to set my alarm for it. I wake up at 7ish and start getting ready, then freak, b/c the MRI lab said I had to be there at 7:30AM and it was 7:10 (at least a 45 min drive in rush hour). I thought it was weird I had to be there so early, when my appt was for 9, but from what I remember the nurse explaining there was a bit of prep involved. So, I call them and say, "This is Melissa A- I know I'm supposed to be there at 7:30, but my alarm didn't go off"--tiny white lie--"but I think I can make it by 8:30" Person at MRI Lab asks, "When is your appt for?" I say "I think it's at 9AM" "Ok, come on in."

I get there, check-in and when the lab tech comes out, he says there was a mistake, my appt was at 8AM and because they are so busy today they can't fit me in. Oops. I forgot to check the appt before I called and recalled that it might have been the first or second appt I had rescheduled that was at 9AM. He tried to call my "home phone". I was confused because my "home phone" is my cell and I didn't get a single call. He said he didn't call that number because it was out-of-state and he though it was not a good number. So, gave me a card and said I could reschedule.

He was actually very nice and apologetic, but I was a bit perturbed that the person on the phone didn't bother to verify the appt. >(

Soooo, next one is scheduled for March 17th @ 8AM.

Oh, and I got my first High for the month on my CBEFM. Since it came rather close to usual O, I suspect I will fall on my old pattern of 2 Highs before my Peak. If that is the case, I may O on Sun! And if I do, I should expect full AF the day after the next MRI.

Argh!!!!!! I hate this timing! I just wish I would have done the first one despite getting sick, then it could be done and I wouldn't have to worry about this mess.

Sinuses, temp spikes, sleeplessness, Oh my!

Ok, I know I've used the ol' "Wizard of Oz" Lions, and Tigers, and Bears, OH MY title before, but how can you resist? Also, this is a super long post, and if you read the whole thing, bless you! : )

Sinus update--fatigue is somewhat less, but cough is way worse, sore throat moderately sore (compared to severe) and ears are itchy. Yuck. I kind of wish I'd asked the Dr at the Walk-in for a z-pack in hopes this would clear soon---I saw online it was pregnancy category B!! So is the amoxicillin he gave me, but I have 10+ days worth!! One cool thing he gave was a list of OTC (over-the-counter) meds that are "safe" for pregnancy. (Expect a post with that later!)

Temp spikes---click the link to my chart at the top--99.1! Now for most people this would be a fever. I suppose it could be. I feel I don't have any reliable fever thermometers. The only one I trust is my BBT. Also, woke at 5AMish to pee and so got slightly less sleep than needed to accurately trust the temp. Here's the thing though---lately, my pre-O temps are hovering between 97.6 and 98.1---98.0 is my coverline and my pre-O temps were more often in the lower half of the 97s. So, now my coverline is about the same, but my pre-O temps seem to hover just underneath that until O. SO, assuming that I COULD be pregnant, and that I MIGHT go triphasic, it makes sense that I would get up to the low 99s, right?? (See me desperately grasping straws)

The sleeplessness thing. This COULD have been since I got the sinus infection (about 1 week pre-O) BUT from what I recorded on FF, the waking regularly around 4AM has been since O....not my usual LP experience, though it has happened a few times, this time it is CONSTANT. Also, the frequent urination thing---I usually overestimate this one, but I timed it the other day and 30 minutes after peeing I need to go again.  I can guarantee I will wake at least once before temping (~7:10AM--I know I'm weird for picking that time) and that time has ranged anywhere from 3:30-5AM. Most of those are early enough that I technically can get enough sleep in to have the required 3 hours sleep before temping. But not always. So, I just went and marked every day that I seemed to wake up early AM.

And, I know this is not the accepted truth, but I SWEAR that I have tested myself by taking temps when I first wake (at an early hour) and then again when I wake at regular testing time---and my temp DROPS. This is exactly opposite effect from what you read about in most charting materials. I suspect it is because I get all snuggly under the heavy covers that it acts as a sort of incubation and the first waking and getting out of covers creates a massive cooling down that the short amount of sleep can't regain the temp.

So, high temp, but this morning the leftover sperm from yesterday was streaked with darkish or bright red blood. This is just about on-cue for me to truly start spotting with my reg cycles. But at the same time I have doubt because, well, not to get to TMI, but let's just say there was a lot of irritation in the vajayjay after yesterday's exercise. Right after there was NOTHING. Today, just flecks in the seminal fluid.

Oh, and I decided to test using my CBEFM test sticks with my Clearblue digi OPK reader---the sticks look ALMOST exactly the same. It sure fit. Please don't laugh, but I was so tired when I first woke to pee at 5AM that I think I compromised the test with overflowing urine. I'm new to the CB OPK digi and I forgot that you put the test in the reader BEFORE peeing on it. I was using it like I would for the CBEFM. The CB OPK digi reader wouldn't work with it. So I tried again at 7Am and it did read it...got nothing though. And it looks like Estrogen is back in dominance, which for the average LP it would be higher than LH at this point. I wish there were a home Progesterone test! Kind of pointless unless it is quantitative and all home tests are qualitative (i.e. first one gives an exact # of the levels and the second is just a Yes/No answer). So if there were a Progesterone pee stick I'd have to take a baseline one right before O and then start testing later...but still, it'd be hard to know just HOW high it is getting.

I know we POAS addicts like to think a darker line means more hormone in the test (OPK, HPT, FSH, whatever) but the truth is that although this is generally true, each batch of the respective tests can have a varying amount of dye in each test---meaning same brand, different batch could yield very different results from the same urine sample in terms of color darkness. So, that's why ladies if you take an HPT one day that is super dark and the next very light followed by another dark one---mostly differences in dye, but then you add in different concentrations of urine (unless you truly used all from the same urine sample within 1 hour). Same thing for OPKs. We all like to think we can line up our OPKs and see a gradual darkening of the test line--and generally we can, but don't be surprised if there are a few in-between that get really darker or really lighter than the previous--it's all down to dye and pee.

Riding the Big Red Wave today...

So, Saturday the spotting turned into full flow. I'm so tired of maxi pads, etc. Plus they are bad for the environment. I had previously looked into cloth pads, but the idea of washing them so often wasn't appealing.

I checked out a thread on TMP that gave a lot of good examples to durable alternatives to disposable pads/tampons. After looking at all the options, I decided to order The Keeper (I actually ordered the Moon Cup made of medical grade silicone). This is a menstrual cup made of either natural gum rubber (latex)--The Keeper or medical grade silicone--The Moon Cup.

The way this works is that the cup is inserted in the vagina to catch the menstrual flow. I'm excited for it to come in for the next cycle.

However, I do have a cardiac MRI on Feb 3. My doctor is going to analyze it to see if there is any real difference and decide what to do. If there is a decrease in function as one of the ECHO's showed, he will call me in for an appt. Otherwise I'll see him in September!

I'm really hoping that I'll be able to actively TTC this cycle! I'm even going to break out my monitor to see if I can start tracking my cycle again. I wasn't before because the test sticks are so expensive, but it is quite accurate.
 
That's the plan for now. Fingers crossed I'll be given the go ahead to TTC!

O date changed

Well, since my "false O" my temps have been around my pre-O temps. I had an OPK on CD15 that was so close to being positive, but I was unable to test the next three days so I'm not sure if I O'd or not. My temps have jumped a little but dropped again today. But since Thursday my nips have been painful to the touch, in addition to sore sides. And today the nips hurt even w/o touching them. Which leads me to think I have already O'd.

My Clearblue Easy Monitor is no help at all. It keeps reporting low. But, if I enter raised temps for the next three days it says today is O day. Which would match my CP and CM...I think I'm going to jump DH tonight and quit waiting!

Strange chart

So, I'm trying SO hard to stay off of the computer. I at least have to get on to update my charts at Fertility Friend and Countdown to Pregnancy.

I have noticed this cycle more than last my pre-O temps are super high. Other than one or three that are in regular pre-O range the rest are 98.0 and above. The last 2 temps I had to temp adjust because my urge to pee in the morning has been so strong. I don't really think I have changed much my drinking habits at night.

Also, I've had a super high sense of smell the last two days. It is something I usually get around O, but I haven't had other classic O symptoms. I have been trying to assess my CM, but it seems at most Creamy---one day it seemed watery, but I downgraded it. Also, the most fertile my CP got was MM-. Still not quite there.

Yet, I did a little advance experimentation with FF. I entered two more temps at about the same temp I am now (98.2) and FF gave me dotted CH on CD9! That would be a SUPER early O, plus I would have one day of unprotected intercourse around 4 days before O. Not great odds, but possible. I don't really think that I O'd then, but I have to wonder.

The last recorded OPKs were around CD4 and CD5 (BD on CD5). Those so far were the closest to positive as I had a medium darkish line, but still nowhere near positive. The last two days my OPKs have been completely and utterly BFN---there was no line whatsoever. Also, I've learned to slightly interpret my CBEFM sticks and those were really negative. The estrogen is super high and the LH is almost non-existent. Going by that, I'd say I haven't O'd at all, and could be another week or so away from it.

Time will tell. If I JUST look at my PMS symptoms (sore side bb, backache, higher sense of smell, etc) I would say I have just O'd. But NONE of my other fertility signs (except possibly BBT?) agree with it.

Sometimes I really hate charting. 

Ovulation achieved!

So, yesterday I had my second Peak reading on my CBEFM. Usually that means that yesterday, CD17 was my Ovulation day and that today I would get a High reading on my monitor (which I did!). Also, as hoped for I got a great temp rise (3/10 of a degree or so). Let's hope it keeps going UP!

I often go to Countdown to Pregnancy - My Two Week Wait Symptoms to enter my symptoms. I love going here. It has so many symptoms you can record during your tww. It almost makes waiting to test bearable.

Now the wait begins....

Peak Reading Day!

Woohoo! Last night I had this nearly positive OPK

It's so close, I can't be sure it wasn't positive. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to take another later that day.  So I just knew when I got up this morning I would see this....

FIRST PEAK READING!!

So, on this Independence Day I set freedom to an egg to travel down the Fallopian tubes and search out a good sperm!

The Clear Blue Easy Fertility Monitor was stressing me though, because you're supposed to wait no more than 15 seconds after wetting the test stick to put it in. Well it was giving me the "Clean Me!" symbol. So I quickly swabbed it with a q-tip, reinserted the stick, and it still wanted to be cleaned! So I wet the q-tip, and this time when I inserted it it started to read. Phew!

As far as BD....we didn't get it done yesterday because we left for Tacoma at 4PM and we didn't get home till 12:30AM :(  We did have a great time with his nieces. We babysat them while his sister and her husband went out for an anniversary dinner. We took the girls to Old Spaghetti Factory. I had an Orange Italian Soda (I'm obsessed with Orange Cream Soda lately), but my entree wasn't so great. The girls are adorable, about 12, 8, and 5 (I think). Then we took them home and played Wii Rock Guitar and the oldest showed me her report on Ohio.

When his sister came home, they tried to convince us for about 10 minutes to stay the night. Normally, I would've tried to convince DH to stay too, but I was thinking that if tonight was shot as far as BD, he'd NEVER want to BD at his sister's and who knows if he'd want to when we got home! So I kept quiet. Then we sat around mostly telling jokes to each other for about 30 minutes...I think they were hoping if they kept us late enough we'd agree to stay. But we went home anyway.

So, either today or tomorrow I should O and then see a temp jump. Then the tww begins! I'll definitely keep you posted...

High Fertility Day!

So, I've been using my Clearblue Easy Monitor and so far had nothing but Low. Today I got my first High reading! And also, I think I have genuine EWCM! It was clear, slippery and stretched at least 1 inch. I wonder if O is around the corner? I sure hope so.
   I got a reasonably dark OPK, but I did the test around 7:45PM. I'm excited and hopeful that I'll have a reasonable length cycle (like under 42 days) and will hopefully O again. If that is the case the CBEFM will definitely help with this. I just need to get another box of test sticks for the next cycle.
   My temps are a little on the high side for pre-O, but still below 98 so that is good. My back started to ache again last night, but almost in a different way and I can't figure out why.
   We went to see The Last Airbender last night, and although I was really excited to see it, I just couldn't keep my eyes open through it. I had to fight sleep off but at the very end I gave in.  It wasn't that bad of a movie, I was just so tired. And I'm not sure why. I think it has a lot to do with a recent med change my doctor made. He wants me to take some meds during lunch, and I haven't done that in soooo long so I forget often. Hopefully I can start to remember next week because I think it is affecting more than my energy. My mood seems to be slightly less stable too, but I'm using coping skills to manage :D

Chart signs and possible pregnancy symptoms..perplexing

Well, this was my first cycle trying both Soy and the CBEFM. I used Soy CD 5-9. I started getting high readings on CBEFM around CD8 along with watery CM. I had a temp dip on CD9 and now have had three successive high temps! FF is tentatively saying I O'd (dotted CH) but my CP has been either low or medium. And I know this is probably IPS because I'm only 3DPO (if I did O CD9), but today around 3 I started having a metallic taste in my mouth (still do) and now around 10:30PM my gums are sore. I started to reach for the floss thinking I have something stuck but it's my whole gums. The taste is so bad I want to eat to get rid of it but will screw up my Weight Watchers. I'm trying not to get my hopes up but I have heard recently that metallic taste in the mouth and sore gums can be a pregnancy symptom. I guess I'm just going to temp each day and continue testing on the CBEFM until it either reads Peak or Low again. I did a few tests on FF and even if my temp goes low and stays low it just moves the coverline (although I didn't test if the temp goes lower than my "O" temp....but I was afraid to find out!) Now with these symptoms I really want my temps to stay up. Plus, CD8 was the ONLY night DH and I have DTD this cycle. Crazy, right?

I got a High fertility rating!

So for the last two days my CBEFM showed high fertility! :) We did BD on Sunday, but I don't think we'll be able to anytime soon as DH has hurt his back :(

We shall see.

Starting soy treatment already!

So yesterday I started my first soy treatment. I almost forgot to take two pills to make sure I was getting at least 80mg. For this first cycle I'll be taking 80mg for five days starting CD5-CD10.

And today was my first test for the Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor (CBEFM). I wasn't sure when it would ask me to test, but last night I opened up my new box of tests, just in case. At first when I put it in I was wondering if I put it in wrong and went to get the manual. It just took so long to read it, but the manual said at least 5 minutes. It gave a low reading which I totally expected.

Now the trick will be timing BD, but not letting DH know that we're BDing because I'm ovulating....hmmm, tricky.

The Silver Lining

So....my fertility signs have been super confusing. After my positive OPK, I have had a continually high cervix and sore nips. CM stayed kind of wet but mostly creamy/sticky.  And my temps have not been cooperating at all.

Today looks like it might be the nail in the coffin....Spotting. When I checked my cervix I had brownish and very red spotting. Also a HUGE temp drop. If I DID O when my OPK said I did, I would only be 6DPO. In desperation I can hope that this is implantation. But my heart tells me this is it...AF is sending her calling card and I will start another cycle.

The silver lining to this is now I get to start using the Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor! It's odd that I was kind of hoping not to be pregnant so I could use a device that will help me get pregnant. But the little bit of hope in me is going to wait for Full Red Flow before I start cycle CD1 on either fertility Friend OR the CBEFM.

Resetting your Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor

So my co-worker recently found and gave me her Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor to use as she isn't using it any longer. I downloaded the instructions to it here.

As it was used before me I will need to reset it or it will be going on its memory of my co-workers last 6 cycles. So I tried to take a picture step-by-step to show you how to do this if you are thinking of buying a used monitor.

Step 1. Make sure the monitor is OFF and open up a test stick. I bought a few expired test sticks for this so that I don't waste a set of new ones.

Step 2. Unwrap the test stick.

Step 3. Prepare stick for insertion into monitor. You must remove the cap (on the left)

Step 4. Place cap on opposite end (over the soft wick).

Step 5. Your test stick is now ready to use in the monitor. The view you see here should be facing up when you insert it into the monitor.

This is what it looks like once inserted.

Step 6. Note: I don't have pictures of these steps exactly as I needed both hands and could not take a picture of it.
   a. Press and HOLD the m button (to the right of the display.

   b. Turn the monitor on. The button will be on the left side of the monitor.

Step 7. At first you will see on the screen this symbol warning that a test stick is inserted and must be removed. KEEP HOLDING DOWN THE m BUTTON!

Step 8. Next, the display will show all of the symbols on the monitor. KEEP HOLDING DOWN THE m BUTTON!

Step 9. Once the screen returns to just the sign warning to remove the test stick, you can let go of the m button and remove the stick.

Now your monitor is ready for it's first use! You'll see the flashing m symbol and two dashes where the cycle day is like so:

So now I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of AF so that I can begin using the monitor! This cycle I intend to use soy isoflavones on CD3 for 5 days to try and jumpstart my estrogen and bring on ovulation.

We'll see!

Another restless morning

Ever since I started cutting my anti-psychotic in half I usually find myself awake anywhere from 3-5am. Not every morning, but enough to notice a difference and I never had trouble sleeping through the night before. I wonder if it will affect my temperatures. I usually try to stay in bed until my alarm goes off but this morning I was so hot and sweaty that I decided to take my temp an hour early and go ahead and get up. I wish I were in bed asleep right now because I'm still quite tired, but it just wasn't happening.

The weird thing is that for so early my temp was a bit higher than normal (97.90). Yesterdays OPK was completely negative, however, I did notice my sample was more diluted than it has been the last few days. Still, I got zero test line and I think that if I had ovulated yesterday there would have been SOMETHING even with a diluted sample. So I feel this higher temp today is just a fluke unless by some miracle I'm ovulating today.

A lot of my other fertility signs are pointing towards it. Lately my cervix has been so high I can't reach it so I can't evaluate the texture and my CM has been odd. It has a very lubricative feeling, but most of what I pull looks sticky more than anything, so I've been putting creamy.

I just don't know what to think about my body because I get a sign like a super-high cervix, but negligible CM. Yet still no positive OPK (barely even close) and temps all over the place. Looks like I'm back on my anovulatory cycles. I had such hope because for at least two cycles in a row I had 28-30 day cycles on their own with no help. That was when I was on the calorie-shifting diet and had lost some weight. I have to wonder if there is something about a higher protein diet that is more regular.

I must try using the diet generator for it again. I can't be depended on to eat according to the diet when I have too much control over what I eat and it was working. Plus, there was this diet program we were set to start, a holistic program, but there is a problem with the way WA state licenses it so the owner is having to decide if she can stay and run it or not.

I'm not sure how many days to give AF before she shows. I did just get the ClearPlan Fertility Monitor from my friend at work and have ordered the test sticks so I may just wait to use the progesterone to start AF until after they show up so I can reset the monitor.  I even ordered about 3 expired sticks to use for resetting so I don't waste a good stick from the new package.

In reviewing the prices online for the sticks I really do think Amazon is the  best price for sticks within the expiration date. There were a lot of them going for about $20 or less on eBay, but the expiration date couldn't be guaranteed and I wouldn't want to chance it.

I really wish I could call in sick today and just try to get some more rest, but it is so hard to try and reschedule clients and my schedule is out so far anyway that I think that I shouldn't call in just because I'm feeling poorly. I suppose I could go back to bed and try to get some rest and come in an hour late. Then do some work from home on Wednesday. I think I'll just shower and go in because even now I'm still hot and sweaty.

I think I need to really watch the caffeine. I had two sodas yesterday. I only intended to have one but my husband served me one for dinner and I wanted it so I drank it anyway. I think at the very least I'm going to say no soda after 5PM and see if that helps with my sleep at all because I'm very sensitive to caffeine. Too much a day or after a certain hour messed with my sleep before and it certainly will now. I guess it will have to be the price I pay for going off the medicine. I wonder if I should start taking Melatonin on a regular basis just to see if it will help me sleep through the night.

We'll see what tomorrow night brings

Gift of Clearplan Fertility Monitor

So, today at work while the computers, phone and tv were down, me and another co-worker were chatting and I was sharing our efforts to conceive and obstacles and what not. My co-worker was very sympathetic and stated that it took her awhile before she was able to conceive her daughter.

Then, an amazing thing, she stated that she has a Clearplan Fertility Monitor (now Clearblue Easy) that she isn't using and would like to give me!

This is so exciting. I mean, I know based on my temps right now I am not ovulating, but going off the meds may help when my prolactin level goes down to start ovulating.

So, I am hopeful for many reasons. First, I am hopeful that the elevated Prolactin is the only thing preventing me from ovulating and once the meds have left my system I might start having a normal cycle.

Second, now I will have this AWESOME tool...could be one of the best things to assist a couple in trying to conceive. For FREE! Obviously I'll have to buy the test sticks for it, but this is too cool.