A+ for attention to detail...

..is what my OB/GYN said after seeing my chart! She was actually very interested in the program I use and when she found out it was free wrote down the name of the site. I think she's going to suggest it to patients in the future. I thought that was pretty cool.

I went today because I swear she said to check-in after I got off of the anti-psychotic. She said she doesn't think I need to have a blood test done because the whole reason for looking at the prolactin levels was because I wasn't ovulating and now that I'm ovulating there isn't an issue.

I feel really positive about the appt. She said now that I'm ovulating that I could come back in 3-4 months if I'm still not pregnant and we can discuss other options. I mentioned my short LP and the possibility of taking B6. She said she couldn't guarantee it would work, but that it certainly couldn't hurt.

We mostly talked about my other psych meds and possibility of tetragenic effects on a fetus. I explained that my psychiatrist is working on getting me to the lowest dose possible. She looked up one of my meds and because there is some link to causing neural tube defects said I need to take 4 mg (not mcg) of Folic Acid to counteract the effects of the medicine on my folate levels.

Also, I mentioned some pain I'd been having last Wednesday. I was in horrible pain, severe backache, abdominal pains all day, and it seems concentrated on my left side now. Also some slight nausea off and on on Wednesday. She thinks it is possibly a ruptured ovarian cyst (most likely the corpus luteum from when I O'd). She said that if it doesn't continue to get better to set up and appt with her or my PCP next week. That's kind of a relief because I thought it might be kidney related.

So I guess I'm back at the station, waiting to board the O train! I think I'm more excited this cycle than for any I have been before! Most likely because I think it a strong possibility that I'll O and I'm hopeful  that it will be around the beginning of next month.

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Week 6 Weight Watchers

I lost 1.8 lbs! I'm only 8.6 lbs lost, but hopefully when I reach my 10% you can see a visible change in my weight loss.

I thought I recorded my measurements earlier, but can't seem to find them. Maybe they are on a post on one of my forums.

Here's today's though:

Arm: 12 in    Waist:  43.5 in  Hips: 51.5 in  Bust: 44 in   Thigh: 26 in

So I guess I'll take the measurements in a month to see if there is any change!

Woohoo!  Also, when I went to my doctor yesterday, she noticed that I weighed 20 lbs heavier in January than I did now!!! What a great change!  That gives me confidence that I can keep it up.

Onward and upward! (or downward as far as the scale is concerned)

Weird period

Ok, so yesterday was at the last day of my period (CD5) I had nothing but spotting. And I had the worst pains in my abdomen. I had to pee ALLL the time and a horrible backache. I also felt slightly nauseous at different times of the day (usually after meals). Also, sometimes lightheaded and a bit dizzy.

Last night I woke with nausea so bad I couldn't sleep until I had a small glass of warm milk.

Today, the pains in the stomach were much better but I have noticed it seems localized on the left side. Also it seems my veins are getting MORE pronounced. My nips are still sore and today the left one started throbbing painfully some more and are sometimes itchy. And the glands under my arms were very painful too.

All I can say is WTH?? Seriously, PMS/Period symptoms after my period is over? Not fair. Plus it messes with my head making me think I'm pregnant and one of those girls that has her period even though she is really pregnant. I did a test yesterday and BFN. I really don't think I am because my temps don't support it, but I really wish I knew what was going on with my body. Could be some sort of urinary infection. Joy.

Hyperprolactinemia and luteal phase defect

So I did some research because I was wondering if my short luteal phase this cycle had anything to do with my hyperprolactinemia (high levels of prolactin in the blood). I found this article that shows there can be some links to a luteal phase defect and hyperprolactinemia. Among irregular ovulation and menstruation (had it), absence of menstruation (definitely had that) and galactorrhea [breast milk production in non-nursing women] (had that a long time ago) there is also THIS side effect: inadequate progesterone production in the luteal phase after ovulation. I guess since I never ovulated prior to this I hadn't gotten to experience this but now I'm 4/4 on symptoms of hyperprolactinemia!

This actually cheers me, because if my doctor does a blood test on Friday and the levels of prolactin are back to normal, then it stands to reason that I was still experiencing slightly higher than normal levels of prolactin, enough to impair my progesterone production and shorten my luteal phase.  I am hoping that by the time I ovulate this cycle that this will no longer be a problem and I will go on to have a longer luteal phase (inshallah!)

In the meantime, there are several things that can be done to manage a luteal phase defect. One way is to take B6 throughout the cycle and supplement with progesterone cream after O.

There is some research also that because Vitex works to balance the cycle in favor of the hormone progesterone it could also be a good fix for a luteal phase defect. I have a the Fertility Blend vitamins and one of the primary ingredients is Vitex, so I'll likely finish those up this cycle to see if it helps.

Here's hoping!!! Inshallah our BFP cycle will come soon!

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Weight Watchers Meeting

So, I may not have posted my latest Weight Watcher results because I have been gaining slightly. Well not today. Even though it was the first day of my period, I lost 2.4 lbs! Hooray!  Making some progress.  Just gotta keep the weight loss train going!

I think when I hit my 5% (12 lbs lost) I'll post some more update pics.

Now I have a short Luteal Phase...great

Well, my hopes were dashed when last night I saw what looked like significant bright red spotting. I decided to wear some protection to bed just in case. It's a good thing I did because I started my period overnight. So, on to the next cycle! Onward and upward!

I am having horrible pains though. My stomach feels as though I've done a hundred crunches, cramps, maybe bloating and of course still have sore nips. Yay for periods!

Anyway, I think there are good things to draw from this cycle. First, I ovulated! A genuine temp rising ovulation confirmed by OPKs.

However, I got my period at 9DPO a seriously short luteal phase. This causes problems because right during prime implantation time, menses starts preventing implantation from occurring.

Not good information out there whether it is low progesterone or insufficient growth of the follicle during the follicular phase that can contribute to a luteal phase defect. I'm inclined to think in my case it is the latter as I only stopped my med that was raising the Prolactin in my blood two weeks before ovulation.

So, hopefully this cycle will have an earlier ovulation and a longer LP. I'd like to see it be at least 12 days. In some of my research it shows that Vitex (Chasteberry) is a vitamin that can assist in a luteal phase deficiency. I have Fertility Blend, which is a vitamin/herb blend and one of the primary ingredients is Vitex. So I'm going to start taking it this cycle to see if it helps.

Implantation or AF??

So, yesterday my temp dropped down to coverline and I told myself not to worry, because it's just one low temp. Today, my temp is now almost down to where it was when I O'd.

I decided to actually check my CP and CM today. My CP is low, medium and open. I couldn't really tell about the CM because we DTD last night, so I'm thinking it's semen. However, there was bright red spotting.

I'm having a bad feeling that AF is on her way. I'm having cramps, but I've BEEN having cramps b/c of my UTI or whatever urinary thing I have.

Also, my nips are KILLING me...just throbbing and painful. Also, I've been having somewhat pronounced veins, but this morning I even saw veins in my left bb (which is much larger than my right bb). And now the sides of my bb are sore....that's NEVER happened. My underarms are sore too.

I just don't think I'd see an INCREASE in symptoms if AF was coming right? I know she's a right evil witch, but really? I also think since my cervix is lower and we DTD that maybe the spotting is cervix irritation?

Plus, I haven't O'd so I have NO idea what my LP is. I really don't want the problem of a short LP. 9DPO is waaaay too short.

Please God, let this be implantation or at least just an estrogen surge and let my LP be longer!!

Restless night

Ugh...I got NO sleep last night, so I wasn't able to take my temp today. But 5 days of elevated temps! I'm really starting to believe that I have ovulated. For reals.

I have a mild UTI right now, so a lot of my IPS "symptoms" are really the UTI...like frequent urination, pelvic cramping, etc.

But in addition to that I've been having fatigue since Sunday and today my veins are really and truly pronounced. I noticed BEFORE I showered and thought perhaps that was just because I had been very hot in bed.  But then I decided I would look again a little after the shower (because they're usually pronounced after showers) and they're still very dark. Especially on my right side, whatever that means.

I ordered a bunch of HPTs in the mail that were sent Friday so I may check the mail later to see if I got them in. We'll see.

First Ovulation!!!!

Hamdallah, thank God, I have FINALLY ovulated!! My OPK was right, the next day I ovulated and the day after that my temp rose and stayed UP. Today is 3DPO meaning FF gave me SOLID red cross hairs! Yippeee!

My temp was at 98.01! And, that was at 4:50 (I woke insanely early for a bathroom trip). According to the temp adjuster it would have been 98.19 if I had taken it at 5:45!!!

Inshallah, the temp will keep going up or just simply stay up! That would be awesome!

I do not know if I want to do an IPS watch this cycle. On the one hand, it might be a good record so I can see, but I don't even know what my "usual" PMS symptoms are.

Right now I do have very sore nipples, but I commonly have that before my period. The only difference is they aren't necessarily sensitive to touch but they are just painful when I'm sitting doing nothing.

Well, I'll keep everyone posted! I am thinking of testing on Father's Day, although I'd only be 11DPO...but it'd be so great to give a positive test to DH and say, "Happy Father's Day, Daddy!" *sigh*

Tentatively thinking ovulation has occurred...

Don't want to count my eggs before they're released, but my temp went up today! I'm hoping this is a good thing.

I was attempting to change the set time for taking my temp, but think that perhaps I shouldn't do that until my next cycle starts. So I am thinking I will take my temp as close to my original wake-up time as possible.

So, likely, I'll get up take my temp and let my thermometer keep the temp for me until I wake up again later.

Hopefully my temps will continue to rise. God willing.

Ovulation anyone?

I honestly do not know what to think. CD31....last few days I have had some cramping. I was kind of hoping AF was on her way...but then my temps started to drop and I seem to be ovulating...I've had all the classic signs. High, soft cervix, what seems like EWCM (might have been seminal fluid), and the one or two times you WANT to see a temp drop (may indicate O).

So today I took an OPK...just to see...




So...it's so darn close to positive, I just cannot tell. I've heard that if half of the test line (like looking at it regular the whole left vertical half) is as dark as the control then it's positive...this one looks positive by THOSE standards.


Otherwise, maybe I will tomorrow, or perhaps I've O'd today and I will see a nice temp rise tomorrow. My evening OPK was definitely negative...although still a nice line.


But I don't really trust OPKs. Last month I had BEAUTIFUL definitely positive OPK....but then AF came 6 days later. I mean I'm grateful not to have 50+ day cycles with no O, but this is just torture. I really have little hope, but just in case if DH EVER gets home we'll DTD...he's rather late and I should be getting to bed. :(


Ah well...keep you posted...

Must do research....

I took a test today and BFN. . . but the way my temps are heading I think I may have O'd today! We'll see...I'm not very confident that my temps will go up and stay up around 98, which they'd need to to confirm O.

All of this had me thinking, I was so concentrating on just getting off of the anti-psychotic that I didn't even stop to think about how long it would take the meds to get out of my system and how long after my prolactin levels went down before I might possibly be able to O...one cycle? Two? I was hoping for right away, but now I realize this may be expecting too much.

I'm going to take time to research hyperprolactinemia and it's relation to anti-psychotics.

ETA: So, did some reading and they estimate with the stop of anti-psychotics it may take 2-3 WEEKS for prolactin levels to normalize. Hmmm. I saw the doctor last week before I left for Texas...that means it's only been a week and chances are I won't ovulate soon....well, the month is just beginning!

Why?

Well, today I had a HUGE temp drop. And because my chart was only tenuously holding on to ovulation, FF decided I had not yet ovulated.

I asked a doctor friend at work today if it is possible to PMS without ovulation. She asked a few clarifying questions and she said it could be possible to have PMS symptoms without ovulating. I didn't have time to go into specifics.

So, now I must face yet another annovulatory cycle...no spotting today, so hopefully AF will show up soon and we can get going on this next cycle!! I have now been off of the prolactin-inducing medication for about a week so let's hope by the time my period starts it will allow me to ovulate...I suppose I should set up another appointment with my OB/GYN.