Please feel free to shake your head and roll your eyes at the following post.
I had 10 cycles before I started taking fertility meds of some sort or another, a total of 20 before I conceived and 3 since I miscarried (including the one immediately after, which was actually a pretty normal one for me). I'm avoiding work at the moment (because I'm crampy and tired and AF is pissing me off), so I started looking over my old cycles on Fertility Friend. Here's what I've learned. (Warning, this is what happens when a "data" person has too much data on her hands and she really wants it all to mean something. I spend a lot of grading ink trying to force my chemistry majors to analyze their results instead of just listing data.)
- In the first 10 cycles, my LP was, most often, 12 days long with a couple of 11 and 13 day cycles. Since my first medicated cycle, all but 2 have had at least a 13 day LP (one was 15). Whether it was a medicated cycle or not. (It's possible that someone performed a statistical analysis on these data and that the difference was significant.)
- For the 19 cycles leading up to my BFP cycle, I spotted at least one day before AF showed up and, sometimes, two to four days before AF arrived. In the three cycles since the miscarriage, I haven't had any pre-AF spotting.
- Before my miscarriage, I had very sore breasts post-O. Most cycles it started within a few days after I ovulated. Some cycles it only started three days before AF arrived. But, my breasts were always sore at some point. And, this is something that has been true about me since puberty. At least a week out of every month since I was 12 I've had to hold my chest when going up and down stairs to keep it from hurting. When I was pregnant, my breasts were astoundingly sore up until the day after I started bleeding. Since my miscarriage, my breasts haven't hurt a single day during any of my cycles. It's almost like my body said "OH, that's what 'pregnant' actually feels like. We weren't there before, we'll stop doing that, now."
It seems like it is probably a good thing that I've started having a slightly longer LP. It also seems good to not spot pre-AF, anymore. The breast thing confuses me, though. Is that a sign of lower progesterone?
So, do you know what it all really means? That I should step away from the computer!!! This is the problem with "going natural" for a while. I have so little to obsess about that I have to invent something.
Anyway, I guess my actual point here is to ask those of you who have had a m/c: did your cycle change after your m/c? If so, did it go back to normal?
Back away from the computer, slowly, with your hands raised. LOL. Wow, I didn't even know that FF existed and here you are going all super-analytical. You need a REAL break, LOL. Time for a new obsession, though what, I don't know...
ReplyDeleteDo I need to come over there and remove the thermometer from your home? :) I think it's easy to become obsessed and wonder why some things are different. I think it's very interesting that you aren't sore at all pre-af now though.
ReplyDeletefunny that you posted this, because i had just been thinking the same thing and i had been looking at my cycles (also too much time on my hands and i have obsessive-compulsive tendencies)
ReplyDeletei still have the pre-AF spotting, though no one (bar my acupuncturist) thought that was an issue..even though it still bugs me.
one thing that i've noticed is that it's taken four cycles (i'm now on 4th cycle since m/c) for my body to get back into the same rhythm. and by rhythm i mean gearing up to ovulation and then the ovulation itself.
before the m/c i used to have lots of EWCM - since the m/c hardly any. before the m/c i would get a postive OPK and then ovulate two days later. since the m/c ovulation has happened all over the place..as in same day as positive OPK, next day..blah blah..which made BD a little bit harder.
this cycle has been the first one that ovulation has been two days after the first + OPK.
as for my boobs, i haven't noticed much change at all...because i can't remember if i was over-analysing them or not. in fact i think i'm going mental because i read back on my notes from previous cycles and it's like reading someone else's notes and i'm not sure whether to believe myself -- does that make sense or am i really mental?!
woo, long answer! sorry...
oh, and sorry to hear that AF turned up. that cow. :(
ReplyDeleteMy FF membership is about expire, and may it RIP. I hate FF more than I hate FB. Well, I guess that is not entirely true, it can be helpful. But, all too often it can make you really, really crazy.
ReplyDeleteI also noticed that my cycles and symptoms completely changed after I had a miscarriage. I'm not sure if it held any meaning, or if my body was just trying to figure things out. I used OPKs afterwards and got positives on CD 14 when normally they'd be positive on CD 19. It made me want to pull my hair out!
ReplyDeleteI can tell you you're not alone with the hungry for data feeling. I got rid of my VIP service on FF since I wasn't doing medicated cycles, but now I miss it! I love having all the knowledge and data I can get when it comes to my infertility. Has it gotten me anywhere? No child yet, but I am glad I am proactive. I even was given a compliment from my nurse & cnm about my calendar/journal that last year (during medicated cycles) I updated religiously. They told me that I was the exception to the rule when it came to someone coming in seeking infertility treatments. I actually walked out that day with a smile on my face (in comparison to tears most of the time) since I was told I was doing the right thing for a change.
ReplyDeleteHope there are some people that can really help you out with your post m/c questions.
I've thought about these cycle changes a lot. My pre-AF spotting has not changed: I start spotting in the afternoon of the day before I get my period. Always, without exception. But other things have changed:
ReplyDeleteI used to spot (very watery bright red blood) for days before I ovulated. Now I don't spot at all mid-cycle (though I also drink red raspberry leaf tea).
My luteal phase used to be anywhere from 10-15 days. Now it's always 14 days after my first peak reading. Though the pre-m/c charts were all done off of temping and the post m/c charts off of the CBEFM so maybe my temps are not as accurate at predicting my ovulation.
My cycle is equally as irregular now as it has been since around my 28th birthday (about 9 months before we started trying and 1.5 years before the miscarriage).
My boobs are exactly the same as they were before-- they get big and slightly tender and kind of hot and blobby (when pregnant they were denser and more painful and not hot or blobby, even though big).
And now I have nausea around O and before AF, which I never used to. Caused by the prescription prenatals I've taken since the pregnancy? Who knows.
It's okay to be over-analytical about your cycles. At this point you'll probably figure out what's going on before your doctor's do. Here's hoping your next cycle turns into a natural BFP. Good Luck and thanks for your comment! ~ICLW
ReplyDeleteI am a fellow type A FF anaylizer =) I agree that having a longer LP no spotting pre AF are both good things. The difference in sore BBS seems like a hormone shift which I know is super common after a m/c or pregnancy. Most of my friends say the shift never really goes back to what it was before...so maybe you won't have sore BBS anymore until (notice the UNTIL) you get preggo again.
ReplyDeleteI can tell you that my cycles shortened after my m/c but I think that was mostly because I started to O earlier. I think my LP got a bit longer (maybe from 11ish to 13ish days) afterward as well. I don't have my FF account login at the momemt but if I can go back and check I will.
ReplyDeleteNow, go read a book or knit something and step away for the analysis!
Some Friend, right? I hear you; without drugs this cycle, I'm all about the temperature readings. Without TTC this cycle...what the heck am I doing taking my temperature every morning? Must. Have. Data. I don't think it's been long enough since my m/c to be able to answer your question very accurately. What I know so far is that my first cycle back, after my first period, was suuuuper long. After that, we're still figuring things out. Understatement.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, I have spent WAY too much time on that godforesaken website... So miserable. One of the best things about a highly monitored and medicated IUI cycle? I feel like I can finally put down the thermometer, and step away from the computer... I would tell you to do the same, but on a natural cycle, I wouldn't either. The only difference between you and me is you have the scientific background to figure out if it's statistically significant! I just use my judgment - your way is much more legit!
ReplyDeleteMy cycles have changed so many times over the years I've lost track! A longer LP is good :)
ReplyDeleteFF is definitely crazy making...I can so see where you are coming from though, I'm a crazy over analyzer too!
Hi, My name is Sarah and I am an over analyzer, it has been 14 months since I last logged onto FF.
ReplyDeleteI finally put my account on hold because I was driving myself insane each and every month analyzing ever twinge and twitch.
ICLW
#100
I'm always a little annoyed that I never temped before I had a miscarriage. I'm so badly want to know what my cycles looked like.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'm definitely the type who over-analyzes my FF data every month (and compares it over and over and over with past months) and it drives me crazy! Why did I have to discover charting?? haha
iclw
Yes, my cycles have also changed since my m/c. I can't really say they are all the same though, but 2 of them I had no pain when AF arrived. I have started spotting again after the m/c, which I didn't do for the last few years with here and there an exception... My boobs are also not really sore since the m/c, and also not yet back to their pre pregnacy size, but close though. Also the cycle lengths are very different anything from 25-30 days, where before I was almost constant at 28 days which changed to 30 days just before my pregnancy...
ReplyDeleteIts been almost 4 months for us since the m/c so I cannot say when it will go back to normal - my RE said I should go on the pill to regulate things, but so far I didn't want to - still hoping for a miracle here...
I can't believe I actually paid for FF! I guess that's a drop in the bucket of my IF expenses though. Still, it used to frustrate the hell out of me.
ReplyDeleteMy cycles didn't change since my M/C, so I can't help you there.
Happy ICLW
That is one reason I had to walk about from FF...it was stressing me out too much and I know I was reading into it way to much. GL with your data!
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question about cycles--mine changed after my m/c's, but I also changed what I was doing. I tried taking vitex and it really messed things up. After I quit taking it, they seem to be going back to relatively normal, except that I get a lot worse cramps and nausea/vomiting (sorry if TMI) with AF now.
ReplyDelete(ICLW #123)
I have to admit to dropping away from FF almost 1.5 years ago. I found it was causing me more stress than I needed in my life and it was creating a rift between my husband and I as we were starting to only have sex when it said we should, not when we wanted.
ReplyDeleteICLW
FF can definitely make you crazy!!! I stopped using it after awhile & just relied on my CBEFM, which I highly recommend. After my m/c my cycles went right back to normal, with the exception of no peak reading once or twice. Take a deep breath & do something that makes you smile! (((HUGS)))
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your kind words on my blog as I go through a m/c right now. It's my third and my cycle has honestly never been the same since the first one.
ReplyDeleteI used to be very regular and after each one it's never gone back to "normal", actually being very short at times. I went to acupuncturist for a while and that helped temporarily.
That's my two cents - not sure it's worth much more than that. ;)
Lily - The Infertile Mind