Well, I need
some help. Or advice. Or tough love. Whatever your specialty is, I need
it.
Yesterday I
had pretty much resigned myself that this cycle was a bust. I was only 8dpo,
and my temperature dropped significantly. Which means it's over; my period will
start in a few days. I was disappointed, but prepared.
This cycle
had been sort of a long shot. I starting using OPKs for the first time in over
a year. Since my cycles are much more regular now than the last time, I figured I'd give it a try again. On CD24, I had a very clear positive
on the OPK. We had lots of sex that day and the next day (and luckily, the day
before as well). It seemed like we covered all our bases. Three days later, my
temperature spiked, officially confirming ovulation (okay, semi-officially).
And then
yesterday, when my temperature dropped, I realized I might be officially
dealing with a LP defect. Some other bloggers made some excellent comments and
suggestions on my last post about this, and they are totally right. My luteal
phase is short. Maybe not official-defect short, but it could definitely be
hampering implantation. I’ve been doing all kinds of research about how I can
naturally lengthen my LP. I’ve ordered some Vitex and I’ll be picking up some
Vitamin B6 later today. Back when I saw my doctor in January, she suggested
taking baby asprin to improve overall circulation to my uterus, so I may as
well add that to the cocktail of pills. I feel good about this plan.
EXCEPT...this
morning my temperature was back up to its post-ovulation level, the exact same level
before the drop yesterday. I was feeling some cramps last night when I went to
bed, assuming I was starting my period. This morning, I realized it feels way
more like muscle pain—which makes sense since I’m doing T25 and did the Ab
Intervals video yesterday. I know I was snippy and short with Bobby all day
yesterday. And while I hate, hate, hate the PMS excuse, I assumed that’s what
was happening. But...he was also pushing my buttons. Since junior high, Bobby
has known exactly how to annoy me—and he was firing on all cylinders yesterday.
And while I love the man more than life itself, it was really starting to grate
on me. But, I know I was also a little crabby and disappointed that this cycle
had failed. PMS or just general marriage spats? We haven’t had sex since the
marathon around ovulation. And Bobby gets annoying when he needs to get laid.
This could all be totally unrelated to what’s happening inside me.
So...what
the heck? How can my temperature take a huge nosedive and have me convinced the
cycle is over, and then shoot right back up and take all my hopes and dreams
right with it? The obvious answer is that one of my temperature readings was incorrect.
While I’m inclined to say it was probably today...I don’t want to. I want to
believe that yesterday’s was the error and my temperature is still soaring and
I’m still “possibly pregnant.”
This morning
I temped a little early. I woke up around 5:30 a.m. and knew I wouldn’t get back
to sleep so I shoved the thermometer in my mouth. My temp alarm goes off at
6:15 a.m., so my reading today was a little early. BUT whenever I temp early,
the reading is generally lower than normal—not higher, like today. BUT I was
also really warm when I temped this morning. It’s still getting colder
overnight, and Bobby likes to keep the windows open. So I wake up feeling like
I’m camping—it’s absolutely freezing around me, but I’m warm and sweaty under a
mountain of blankets. So, I was feeling warmer than usual, which may have
contributed to the high temperature.
So here I
sit at 9dpo, desperately hanging on to the thread of hope that I’m still in the
game for this cycle. When I temp tomorrow morning, I’m sure it will confirm
that today was an error, and my period is due to arrive any minute.
So...help—has
this happened to anyone? Advice—what should I do next? Tough love—do I need to
stop being delusional and let go of this cycle and hope the cocktail of pills
can fix my LP in the next few months? How do I get through the next 18 hours
without going crazy and strangling my husband?
The waiting is the worst part.
**Edit: Since Toni asked, I'll post my chart
(well a terrible screen shot of it, the app isn't cooperating to letting
me update, so these are just partials of the important part).
 |
| This is the chart in question. There's an obvious ovulation spike, it remains elevated for three days and then dipped yesterday before spiking again today. |
 |
| This is last month's chart or comparison. The ovulation spike, it remained elevated and then dropped. I got my period a few days later. |
I would say give it til tomorrow or the next day and take a pregnancy test. I mean if you kind of already feel like your out you'd have an answer but at the same time if it turned out positive woohoo!! I have never really done the temp thing so I am no help there.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amie. I'll probably wait until at least next week to test, but sooner if I can't stand it. If my temp stays low tomorrow, I'll know it's over at least.
DeleteUsing progesterone during your luteal phase is a good way to help add some days. Do you have a link to your chart? I am visual person and its easier for me to see something.
ReplyDeleteI have started looking into progesterone creams - but I'm a little worried about screwing up the dosage. There's definitely more room for user error with a cream over a pill! But that's probably the next step. I added some of my charts to you can see them, if it helps.
DeleteHave you ever heard of an implantation dip? It's when temp drops as implantation occurs and then goes back up the next day and stays up (seen in positive pregnancy cycles). I have no clue if what you had was an implantation dip, but until your temps drop and stay down and/or AF shows you are always still in the game. Many things can affect temps spiking too, like a high protein meal before bed, drinking alcohol, having restless sleep, a warmer than normal room temp, etc. so it's not 100% accurate to base things off of one high temp following the low temp. The only thing you can do now is wait and see, as hard as that is.
ReplyDeleteIf you do not end up being pregnant and your LP does end up being shorter than 12 days total, you may benefit from adding progesterone (Prometrium is a common one) at 2 or 3 days post-ovulation throughout the LP to make sure you're getting enough progesterone to support a proper LP. If no pregnancy is confirmed by 14 dpo, you'd then discontinue the progesterone and a new cycle would start.
Fingers crossed though that your temps stay up and good news will follow this cycle still!
This was my first (crazy, naive, optimistic) thought too. I've seen charts with implantation dips, which would usually occur between 7 to 10 days after ovulation (so, possibly right on target for you?). Not trying to get your hopes up unfairly, because like Emily says your temp can be affected by a lot of other stuff too. But it ain't over until the red lady sings. I'd be planning to pee on a stick if she hasn't shown by 14dpo.
DeleteI actually haven't heard of an implantation dip (great - one more thing to get my hopes up!) but I also haven't spent much time look at other people's charts. I know there are quite a few things that could affect my temperature...I've just never had it happen so drastically, especially post-ovulation when my temp seems to stabilize. But yes, this will probably be solved tomorrow morning, with either my temp back up (still in the game!) or back down (and out). Thanks for your help, though, ladies! I learned something new.
DeleteSooooo, updates?
DeleteNow advice other than to just say ride it out and see what happens, and try not to kill Bobby in the meantime.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amber. I think he's steering clear for the next few days...he's a quick learner!
DeleteSorry I wish I had advice to offer but I don't really do temp charting as it never seemed to work for me. Hope this cycle is not a bust though.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jessah. It took me such a long time to get the hang of temping - and I'm still not sure it's working for me!
DeleteHey girl. So I am alllllll about tough love, but I also never want to bring anybody down or come off like a bitch, so I often hold back in blog comments (much less so in real life) and try to be supportive without giving false hope. That being said, I think your chart could mean anything, honestly. I have given up on "definite" good or bad signs in cycles, because I've had every symptom and chart pattern (including similar weird dips and rises), but the outcome has always been the same. My very honest advice is this- tell yourself there's a chance, but you're probably not pregnant, and then try like hell not to think about it too much. If you are pregnant, those few days of caution won't matter, and if you're not, they will protect you a little bit. That's what I do every month, and it helps me not hit bottom too hard. Are you planning to test early, or just wait it out? No matter what, I am pulling for you! I hope this weird wacky chart *does* mean something and you're about to get the best surprise of your life.
ReplyDeleteI was totally hoping for some tough love from you. I'm normally pretty hard on myself -- like I'm delusional enough to let myself hope a little bit, but in the reality part of my mind, I know I'm never pregnant - no matter what my chart or my crazy symptoms (mostly in my mind) are lying to me about.
DeleteI wish I had some words of wisdom for you...but honestly, I'm not sure what to say. I remember when I was charting for 60-70 day cycles and scrutinizing the temps. And I remember how frustrating it was...my mood was directly related to any major shift in temps. I finally had to stop because I was driving myself crazy. My inclination is to stay hopeful and positive...and then crash if you get your period. I mean, throwing in the towel now...does it really change how awful CD1 feels? It never did for me, but I totally get trying to protect yourself from getting your hopes too high. It's an exhausting cycle...but I think there is always room for hope.
ReplyDeleteExhausting is the exact right way to describe this. I was never really convinced that this was it, but I really wanted to be. I also promised myself a ridiculously over-sized iced coffee (with multiple shots of espresso) on CD1. So there's that to look forward to.
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