Apr 29, 2011

Day 2, Cycle 4

Late Wednesday night I got my period. Earlier in the day I had spotty discharge. Yesterday was my first full day of it and it has been heavy, but mostly clots when I use the bathroom. I expect this to last for three days, have a day break, and then the dredges for another day. That is if I am basing it on the past.

This cycle I am going back to tracking temperature and monitoring bodily fluids, even if it is difficult to predict the ovulation before it occurs. I think most of the symptoms I get means it is already too late. J will be really happy because we'll be trying more often and later into the cycle.

I spoke with my friend Jen who is also TTC. She is disppointed that it hasn't happened yet for them. She and her husband have a beautiful little girl (who is turning three today) and wish for her to have a sibling soon. I'm trying not to think about how much I want a child because I am trying to keep myself from stressing out (either way--if I do get pregnant there is a whole boatload of other stresses that will come into play) and trying to keep the mindset that maybe we'll be lucky enough to have a baby.

Apr 25, 2011

Day 50

This is the longest I've gone without a period not on purpose. I used to manipulate the Pill to make my period occur when I wanted it, sometimes having a 6 or 7 week cycle. I still feel bloated, cranky, and tired, but my breast sensitivity is gone. My temperature hasn't dropped yet either, but I suspect that it will happen tonight or within the next few days. It's two weeks today since I thought maybe I ovulated on day 36.

This past weekend I was reading more on PCOS and the symptoms and causes. They don't know what really brings it on, and not everyone diagnosed with it has symptoms. But caffeine may play a part and excessive exercise. I was drinking more coffee this cycle, as well as tea, but as for the exercise, I was gaining weight so I don't think that was an issue. I am hoping that this month is a fluke and I'll go back to the 35-37 day cycle with temperature and fluid changes.

I'm also putting off contacting my obgyn. I feel as if it will happen any day now, and my insurance only covers 50% of infertility testing services. And I also read in my coverage that I have to wait for a full year of no contraceptive use before they diagnose you as infertile. Something to think about before I invest in the ultrasound.

Apr 18, 2011

Day 43

So this month's experiment of not watching ovulation was a bust. Around day 37, when I was expecting my period to begin, I began getting sensitivity in my breasts. I've gotten more facial acne as well this month, which I was attributing to my facial wash and hormonal changes. Now, I'm leaning to possibly having polycystic ovary syndrome as the cause. I haven't been diagnosed but the symptoms seem to lean in that direction.

What does that mean? Well, I am going to have a harder time getting pregnant because I won't ovulate regularly or at all. For example, my temperature didn't rise all month to a constant level, but around day 37 as mentioned above, it finally did. That means I may have ovulated then. And that means a 54-day cycle, which is not normal at all. My endometrium will be old, my egg will be old, and prediction will be hard if it continues to be this way in the future.

I went to the gym twice this weekend and plan on continuing with the regular exercise until I lose some weight. Maybe I can trick my body into ovulating properly. Not being able to convert the sugars properly is a cause/symptom of PCOS and I was drinking more beer this month, plus eating more potatoes and starches recently. Diet changes are also in order. Goal: to be 125 with a lower BMI. If I don't get pregnant within the next year, at least I will be fit.