New to Charting

SPinkD · #1 March 6th, 2007, 06:47 AM

So, I have been lurking around this month and stalking all your charts...figured I would introduce myself!! My name is Lindsay, I am 28...29 next week. DH and I have been together for 8 years, married 3 and we are TTC #1 after a loss this summer. JM has been a refuge for me and a huge source of information for me the past 7-8 months. I pretty much just lurk around all of the TTC boards...I feel like I am starting to fit into way too many of them, lol.

Anywho...I have always charted or keep track of my cycle start and end dates as well as keep an eye on my CM. I decided I would take the plunge and go ahead and start charting temps, etc. Hello...think I am more frustrated now than ever! I have always been a 28/29 dayer, even after I got my regular cycle back after the loss. If I hadn't been temping, I would have said that I O'd alot earlier than what I am seeing...I still think I did. I have been using a regular digital thermometer and just started getting higher temperature readings. I bought a basal this weekend and plan on starting using that next month, but have been taking readings on both (only recording the regular), just out of shear curiosity. It is amazing the difference in the readings...crazy. Anyway, what if the regular thermometer has been right all along and I did just O? Am I actually going to have a longer cycle this time or is my luteal phase just going to be short and for that matter, what if it is always this short?? Oh the drama! I know only time will tell...but it sucks.

Do you ladies have any ideas or thoughts?

#2 March 6th, 2007, 07:08 AM

Looking at your chart it does look like you just ovulated hun. Your LP doesnt change it stays the same maybe 1 to 2 days difference. Unless your like me and just got off of clomid then it changes big time! As for your cycles they will just be longer, take the day you Oed and add how many days your LP usually is and that will be your cycle length.
I was told the only difference in a BBT and reg is that BBT go by the closest tenth. Unless your using a digital one then its not any different. I use a digital BBT and have started to see if the reg was any different and I dont get a difference at all with them.

NutMeg76 · #3 March 6th, 2007, 07:10 AM

I looks possible to me that you did O as late as it says. I would keep an eye on it for a few days. Next months chart will be more accurate since you are using a better thermometer, but I think the overall pattern, accurate therm or not looks like you did O around CD 20, and since you had a few patches of FCM it seems you may have tried to O sooner, but just didn't follow through. Have you had any stress, or big life events lately that may have delayed your O?

SPinkD · #4 March 6th, 2007, 07:25 AM

I figured that was the case...so weird. Maybe just the stress of temping for the first time screwed everything up. I was sick at the beginning of my cycle...but not enough to where I think it would make a difference. I am interested to see what happens next month. They have been about .5 off between the two thermometers...I don't get it.

Thanks for the insight...at least I DID O...that is a good thing. I was starting to worry. Just wish we would have BD another day or so!

NutMeg76 · #5 March 6th, 2007, 07:35 AM

Is the reg therm you are using a quick reading one? If it is then it may be lower because it doesn't have enough time to equalize between the colder therm and your mouth. I used a reg one for ages and it was always just as accurate, but it took about 30 sec to finish, longer if it was cold in my room. Then I lost it and used the fever therm that I use for the kids, and it is really quick, like 9-15 sec and it was always lower. So I finally bought a BBT since I needed to replace my missing one, and they are about the same price as a good fever therm. Of course I found my old one a few days after the new one arrived...lol.

SPinkD · #6 March 6th, 2007, 07:42 AM

Yes...it must be a quick read...it is speedy where as it seems like it takes an hour for the other one to finish reading. It is also fairly cold in our house in the morning. I wonder if putting them in my pillow at night would help.

ShawnaCAN · #7 March 6th, 2007, 12:40 PM

Another option is to take a charting course, it will help reduce a lot of the confusion with learning! There are several different systems of charting, and there are LOTS of teachers in Oklahoma!

#8 March 6th, 2007, 01:12 PM

Do you temp oral or vaginal hun? I always put it in my mouth for a moment to warm up before turning it on.

SPinkD · #9 March 6th, 2007, 02:08 PM

Thanks girls...I will see what I can find with the charing course.

NutMeg76 · #10 March 7th, 2007, 07:59 AM

If it is really cold in my room I will hold it in my hand for a few seconds to warm it up before using it.

ShawnaCAN · #11 March 7th, 2007, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Thanks girls...I will see what I can find with the charing course.[/b]

If you need any help finding a local instructor, just let me know and I'll post some.

diznynurse · #12 March 7th, 2007, 08:14 AM

The only thing about your chart that I'm questioning is why you O'd so late after your + opk? You should O 24-72 hours after +. Good Luck.

SPinkD · #13 March 7th, 2007, 08:36 AM

I take my temps orally. I kept the thermometers in my pillow last night. They both came back with results really fast...I did them twice in a row just to be sure and they came back the same each time.

Are the charting instructors on fertility friend? I couldn't find where they were. Is it a VIP thing? I am going to do the charting course and then if I still feel like I need more, I will seek out an instructor.

Quote:

The only thing about your chart that I'm questioning is why you O'd so late after your + opk? You should O 24-72 hours after +. Good Luck.[/b]

Yeah, that is the whole thing that threw me off too. Really they were positive or nearly positive for a week. Maybe I got some defective tests?

Thanks for all your help ladies...I appreciate it!

ShawnaCAN · #14 March 7th, 2007, 09:57 AM

No, Fertility Friend does not have formal instructors - just a very basic course in charting that you can learn on your own.

Several organizations around the world teach women to chart for conceiving and avoiding purposes. They all offer personal instruction.

http://boma-usa.org (The Billings Ovulation Method)
http://nwfs.org (Northwest Family Services Sympto Thermal Method)
http://familyplanning.net (Family of the Americas Ovulation Method)
http://fertilitycare.org (The Creighton Model)
http://ccli.org (The Couple to Couple League Sympto Thermal Method)

diznynurse · #15 March 7th, 2007, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Are the charting instructors on fertility friend? I couldn't find where they were. Is it a VIP thing? I am going to do the charting course and then if I still feel like I need more, I will seek out an instructor.[/b]

Most of what you need to learn is your own body. The aches, pains, cm and temps. I've finally realized when to start using opk's by my bodies cues of aches and pains. Taking your temp is just a way to confirm O, not predict O. kwim. Although once you begin your charting and have a few charts to look at you can say okay I get 2 dips before I O. It takes awhile to learn. In the mean time, bd 3 times/wk, that gives you your best chance of hitting your O day!

Good luck!!!!!!