Confused newbie!

Hi all!

I am new to TTC and new to this site. I am a little confused at the moment, and was hoping to get some advice/opinions.

I have been off the pill for 8 months now, and hubby and I have just started TTC (I am in my first TWW). My cycles have always been irregular (since coming off the pill they have varied between 32 and 38 days) which is an added difficulty.

I think I ovulated on the 1st of June, and we BD the night before. We kept BD-ing incase I was having a longer cycle, and stopped on CD 24, meaning I would be facing a wait of 8-14 days.

On Monday I started feeling really strange sensations in my abdomen, like a cross between butterflies and a tightening sensation. Straight away I was feeling light headed and queazy. Since then I have had light cramps every day, been really gassy and bloated (and a little blocked up, sorry TMI!). I have had cold like symptoms as well, and light headaches. I've also been really fatigued, and feel this wave of exhaustion come over me around 5pm every day.

Last night I started getting a sore lower back, and it is still sore this morning.

I took a HPT first thing this morning (CD 29, possibly 10 DPO) and it was a BFN. My period is due between Monday and Friday next week. Do you think I could be pregnant? When should I test again?

I really have this feeling that I am pregnant, but then maybe I'm just imagining things and getting my hopes up. How many of you knew before you got a BFP?

Sorry this is such an essay, I just am so confused!

Thanks,

Alix

Hey Alix, Welcome to Belly belly!! Having a irregular cycle after coming off the pill is very common, It took my system about 12 months to get back to 'normal' and then a few months of TTC. If i were you i would 'try' (try being the key word there ;)) to wait until either your AF is due or after. Some people are lucky enough to get a BFP at 10 - 14DPO but it is very very common for women to have to wait a bit longer which is a bit of a pain but good things take time! Have you tried using first response early HPT's? They are pretty sensitive and can show a BP up to 6 days before AF is due. With my DS i had all the symptoms very very early on but HPT's didn't show up that i was UTD until approx 6 weeks so dont discount anything. If you are really certain that you are UTD and the HPT comes back negative maybe see your doctor and get a HCG blood count done. The symptoms that you have listed are very common in early pregnancy. Do you usually get lower back pain as PMS symptom? Usually true early pregnancy back pain is felt in the small (very low in your back - almost feels like its in your bones or hips) but in saying that some women experience muscular pain too so its hard to say! :rolleyes: Good luck :pray: and let us know what happens!! If you don't get the result you re looking for and need any tips on charting or TTC i am sure that there are a lot of lovely ladies who would be willing to give you advice. There are quite a few good methods of pin pointing exact ovulation (or getting pretty close to it) if you are interested. Take care!!!

Thanks for the welcome Nat.

My period has always been irregular, even before I was on the pill. So it is back to normal for me!

I don't ever get lower back pain as a PMS symptom. This pain in my back is not muscular, it is like a a dull ache and seems to be just above my backside.

I bought some FR tests today, but I will hold off as long as possible before testing again. I might try on Tuesday (the earliest I expect my period) and then again on Friday (the latest I expect my period), then after that I'll go see my GP if no AF.

I feel a bit silly, like I'm imagining things. I know how hard it can be, and how long it can take to conceive, and I would be more shocked than anyone if I fell straight away. It's just hard because it is my first month and I have nothing to compare it to. That said I've been off the pill for 8 months and have never had symptoms like this.

I have tried charting my CM, I'll have to pay more attention to it (charting on fertility friend) and maybe start charting my temps as well (does it have to be a special thermometer?).

Thanks again! Alix.

It is Very hard not to read into symptoms that are not there or to misinterpret the
to being pregnancy related but that back pain is a pretty good (sore but still good) sign. Yes you do need to have a special thermometer to chart ovulation. You also need to make sure that you take your temp first thing in the morning an before you get out of bed after atleast 6hrs of uniterupted sleep and try to do it at the same time each morning ( I have heard of women getting fluctuated results if testing at different wake times, so no sleeping in!! Lol) ovulation predictor test strips are very good too! I highly recommend them, you can buy them off eBay very cheaply for about $8 - $10 for 20. Charting your CM is great but with me as an example I have very stringy CM for about 4 - 5 days so it's hard to pin point it on that alone. I personally temp, use the OPK's and chart CM. good luck once again babe! Hope you get the answer you are looking for.