TTC Girl Advice Needed and Much Appreciated

[KraizyDaizy]

Hello ladies! So glad to find this forum! I have been on IG site, but this site seems to have more information on this one and I hope some of you ladies can share you wisdom with me.

Here is my situation:
I am 37 and my DH is 40. We have 4 sons who are 12, 10, 5 & 3, so a DD is my pink dream! We have been TTC for over a year and a half, swaying most of the time but not strictly. I have Graves disease and had my thyroid taken out in 2003, so I am currently on 175mcg of Synthroid per day. Thinking my levels were off I had blood drawn a few weeks ago and I am extremely anemic with a 7.9, Vit D deficient with a level of 4 and my TSH was a 1. So my level of Synthroid was adjusted to 188mcg on the 7th day of the week, on 50,000ui of Vit D twice a week (100,000ui), and on Folitab 500 which has Vit C and Follic Acid in it as well.

I am extremely tired of course and sickly, so my question is, sickness is supposed to sway girl right? Should these levels sway girl or no? Should the levels get back to normal before we can even get pregnant?

Should I be adding the magnesium and calcium citrates, and other minerals on top of all the meds I am already on?

Since I am 37 and DH is 40 which should we try frequent DTD or a cut off or both or 0+12?

How does an Ovulation Monitor fit in to the girl swaying? I have a CBE that I just got last cycle that showed my surge at cd20, when I thought I was getting +OPKS at cd14 or cd 15. We are BDing too early I think and stopping before I got close to O maybe. Anyways, any advice on how to incorporate the monitor would be helpful since it was very expensive. I think there might be a thread, but I have searched and not found it yet?

I am BBT charting, checking my CM and cervix, just bought a Diva cup size 2 and have also purchases the Replens to lower PH. I have a PH in the 4-5 range already or I did last time I checked it.

I was thinking we would DTD through O using the Replens and the diva cup, but maybe that is a bad idea? I am on CD15 now, so if you can help me figure out any information on all these items or questions, I would greatly appreciate it!!!

I know this is a long post and so am thankful you took a moment to read it. Please respond if you can. I am so confused....

[rainbowflower]

welcome!

CBE = is that the same as the fertility monitor? does it tell you "high" or "peak" days? would you be doing a cut off? abstaining/FR/compressed FR?
where did your temps say you OVed? CD20 or CD14/15?

yes, sickness is supposed to sway pink

are you doing one of the diets? if you're doing the LE diet, you might not even need the calc/mag supps

I don't think you need the diva cup

[KraizyDaizy]

Rainbowflower,
Thanks so much for replying!

CBE = is that the same as the fertility monitor? Yes, it is the ClearBlue Easy Fertility Monitor
does it tell you "high" or "peak" days? yes, it does show these days
would you be doing a cut off? I am not sure what to do. What do you think I should do in my situation with our ages and so forth. Also, my DH has been on hydrocodone for a back injury in a car wreck two years ago, maybe this would sway girl?

abstaining/FR/compressed FR? I don't know. I have read many things and I am guessing it depends on your situation. Like mine now I am CD15, with an expected O date around cd21 and abstaining would not be enough time I think? or FR or DTD straight through? no baby in over a year and a half so maybe he has a lower sperm count with all his pain meds?

where did your temps say you OVed? CD20 my last FF chart said my temp was 97.85 HIGH on cd19, 97.57 PEAK on cd20 and 97.78 PEAK cd 21. FF says I Oed on cd21, but if you change FF from advanced to monitor method, it says CD20. I did not use OPK's because I thought the monitor was supposed to do that, but it measures the surge differently.

or CD14/15? the cycle I did get a +OPK was a couple cycles back and my temp on cd15 was 98.16 and FF also confirmed that my O was on cd15 as well. I was on Femara that month, so not sure if that helps you. Not taking Femara now.

yes, sickness is supposed to sway pink Is my low levels considered a sickness pink sway?

are you doing one of the diets? I have lowered all salt, hardly ever eat sweets, don't eat meat other than a little chicken. I am a pasta girl. I live on plain rice cakes.

if you're doing the LE diet, you might not even need the calc/mag supps The LE diet, I have been trying the one on IG, but it is way too strict and my body cannot do it at times since I am so weak with the anemia and low VitD.

I don't think you need the diva cup How come, they are supposed to sway girls and Instead cups sway boys? what should I do then. Just BD normally?

So sorry for so many questions, but I am not getting any younger....

[rainbowflower]

aha, I use one of those too then but not sure it's marketed with the "Easy" in the name here

I don't believe cut offs sway given all the controlled studies done and the inconclusive results, and I think when you're older it might be more difficult to get pregnant anyway so you might have to DTD closer to OV if not BD through OV in order to catch the egg

I haven't heard anything about a back injury swaying before, unless because of medication for it? I don't know much about medications or how they sway

If you're so close to OV abstaining might not be quite long enough, and maybe more DTD would get more swimmers in there and give more chances to catch the egg for you.

You've been TTC for the whole year previously? what was your sway or were you NTNP?

the LE diet could be good for you then - you can add in other foods (banned on other diets) in small amounts as long as you keep within certain limits

the sperm are only in the vagina for 5-15 mins after DTD anyway, it doesn't take them long to head into the cervix on the way to the egg

[zanacal]

I believe the Diva cup is recommended with an IG style sway to be able to control the pH better? However, the theory many of us run with is that anything which lowers sperm count sways pink. Having a low pH may very well lower sperm count by killing some of the swimmers (both XX and XY) but using something to hold more of the sperm closer to your cervix and for longer does the opposite!

Taking in to consideration your ages I wouldn't abstain. As you've been ttc for some time now it's likely, as you say, that your DH already has a low sperm count - but if you want to do something to lower it as part of your sway then I would consider a compressed frequent release (have DH release once or twice in a short time frame before having your first attempt) and I would DTD 2 or 3 times close to ovulation - maybe the day of your +OPK and the next 2 days (so potentially O-1, O and O+1). I honestly don't think I'd go over the top with any of this in your situation though. Your fertility is obviously lowered already for whatever reasons and if you can't get pregnant you can't get a girl OR a boy! Are you currently doing anything in terms of acid jellies/lime/antihistimines etc?

If you don't get pregnant this cycle I would definitely consider switching to the LE diet - it's easier to stick to in the long term and also safer, there's no need to take a break from it for health reasons and you can adapt it to suit your own circumstances.

[zanacal]

We posted at the same time rainbow - good job we said much the same thing :D

[KraizyDaizy]

aha, I use one of those too then but not sure it's marketed with the "Easy" in the name here

I don't believe cut offs sway given all the controlled studies done and the inconclusive results, and I think when you're older it might be more difficult to get pregnant anyway so you might have to DTD closer to OV if not BD through OV in order to catch the egg

I haven't heard anything about a back injury swaying before, unless because of medication for it? I don't know much about medications or how they sway

If you're so close to OV abstaining might not be quite long enough, and maybe more DTD would get more swimmers in there and give more chances to catch the egg for you. I am thinking more towards DTD through O, but maybe use Replens or Rephresh? do you recommend that?

You've been TTC for the whole year previously? what was your sway or were you NTNP? what was my sway, well at first the IG diet really strict. I used Hannah PH tester to test PH and I found it difficult, but my PH was in the lower girly range. I tried the lime douches, the lime tampon, used replens, but it is hard to read my CM and reading from the posts I used replens after or before DTD so it killed the swimmers I am sure. I have been taking supplements like magnesium and calcium citrate, follic acid, BBT charting, ferning scope and been reading but on IG it is totally different than this site. I am finally understanding a little of what I have been doing wrong. Like with my CBE fertility monitor, I must have been so off thinking I Oed earlier with what I thought were positive OPK's to have my last cycle show my LH surge on CD 19. I just need to straightened out I think casue IG has me totally wrong!

the LE diet could be good for you then - you can add in other foods (banned on other diets) in small amounts as long as you keep within certain limits

the sperm are only in the vagina for 5-15 mins after DTD anyway, it doesn't take them long to head into the cervix on the way to the egg really I never knew this! so using a cup to help keep them in there longer does not work, cause they have already left the cm or the liquid the sperm is in from DH and all that is left after 15 minutes is just waste or something??????

This is such good information! I feel so enlightened! Keep the info coming!!!!

[KraizyDaizy]

I believe the Diva cup is recommended with an IG style sway to be able to control the pH better? However, the theory many of us run with is that anything which lowers sperm count sways pink. Having a low pH may very well lower sperm count by killing some of the swimmers (both XX and XY) but using something to hold more of the sperm closer to your cervix and for longer does the opposite!

Simply amazing!!!!! I never would have thought that, so that is how I had my last two boys!!!! I used the Instead cup which I later found out was for boys and not girls, but even then the pooling of sperm give more of the boys sperm a chance duh...feel so stupid! but just bought the diva cup for $40, what do I do with it now?

Taking in to consideration your ages I wouldn't abstain. As you've been ttc for some time now it's likely, as you say, that your DH already has a low sperm count - but if you want to do something to lower it as part of your sway then I would consider a compressed frequent release (have DH release once or twice in a short time frame before having your first attempt) and I would DTD 2 or 3 times close to ovulation - maybe the day of your +OPK and the next 2 days (so potentially O-1, O and O+1). I honestly don't think I'd go over the top with any of this in your situation though. Your fertility is obviously lowered already for whatever reasons and if you can't get pregnant you can't get a girl OR a boy! Are you currently doing anything in terms of acid jellies/lime/antihistimines etc?

I tried lime early on and I could never get the PH right, and I ended up irritating my VG. Also tried the lime tampon and it was a disaster!!! I have used the replens, but my CM is like cottage cheese afterwards and from what I just read, you have to use it before DTD like days in advance or hours and I was using it with DTD!!! grrrrrh!!! the stupid replens finger killed my swimmers I guess! I even heard you can put it in the Diva cup which I was going to do, but now I am sure that is out of the question?

If you don't get pregnant this cycle I would definitely consider switching to the LE diet - it's easier to stick to in the long term and also safer, there's no need to take a break from it for health reasons and you can adapt it to suit your own circumstances.

Where is the LE diet located? Also is there a thread on using the fertility monitor in correlation to the O+12? I saw where sagebrush said it was in a post all in itself, but where?

[rainbowflower]

you can find the details of the LE diet in the private section for dream members

fascinating the things you learn while swaying, isn't it? ;)

[Out of the Blue]

Simply amazing!!!!! I never would have thought that, so that is how I had my last two boys!!!! I used the Instead cup which I later found out was for boys and not girls, but even then the pooling of sperm give more of the boys sperm a chance duh...feel so stupid! but just bought the diva cup for $40, what do I do with it now?
[/B]

Ha! I did the same thing...Instead cups got me both my boys! I was studying up on IG before I found this site and had purchased a Diva Cup for TTC purposes as well. Never used it to TTC and turns out it works great for it's original purpose...AF! :agree: I actually don't think I'll ever need to use tampons/pads again.

[KraizyDaizy]

you can find the details of the LE diet in the private section for dream members

fascinating the things you learn while swaying, isn't it? ;)

Fascinating and confusing...IG is so much different than this site. Which came first this one or IG?

[KraizyDaizy]

Ha! I did the same thing...Instead cups got me both my boys! I was studying up on IG before I found this site and had purchased a Diva Cup for TTC purposes as well. Never used it to TTC and turns out it works great for it's original purpose...AF! :agree: I actually don't think I'll ever need to use tampons/pads again.

So you swayed for a girl without the DIVA? Or are you swaying? any pointers for me?

[KraizyDaizy]

I started regular OPK's yesterday and this AM I think I got a +OPK. Can you look and see what you think and then give me advice on what you all think I should do. I am CD17 with possible +OPK, but no PEAK on CBE monitor. I used a full applicator of RePhresh last night. My DH has not released since Saturday, so about 3-4 days abstaining (he is 40). My temp went up today to 98.38 which is the highest temp so far this cycle. I just don't know what is best for me at this point. I was basing my sway on my last cycle using my CBE monitor and FF, so this month my O might be sooner than I anticipated. Last cycle my coverline temp was 97.98. On CD19 and CD20 I got PEAK on CBE monitor, but did not use OPK's. CD21 was a HIGH on CBE monitor. If I use the Monitor setting on FF, I get my O as CD20 and changing to Advanced, I get my O as CD21. So, I was thinking I was heading that way again this month, but I started the OPK's and the RePhresh and I think I might have messed up any attempt this month????? Please help!!! What should I do to try for my girl this month? Remember I am coming from IG and the contradictions between the two sites is so hard to make decisions clearly, so any advice you all could give is so needed and appreciated!!! 930931932

[Out of the Blue]

So you swayed for a girl without the DIVA? Or are you swaying? any pointers for me?

I swayed for a girl w/out the Diva last summer. I unexpectedly got preg when we weren't TTC and instead actually taking a break from swaying. We unfortunately lost both the twins I was carrying so now we're currently TTC again. I now only use my Diva for when AF comes.

Here's some very useful info on the LE diet....Like Atomic says, there more in the Dream Members' section (including TONS of recipes)...

Nutshell version (the version in the Dream Members section is much more complete) -

Calories - 1500-1800
Protein - around 40-50 grams
Fat - between 25-60 grams of fat depending on caloric intake, 20-30% of cals from fat
Sodium - 700-1000 mg

FOODS THAT ARE ALLOWED ON THIS DIET THAT ARE STRICLY FORBIDDEN IN OTHERS - vinegar, lemon (just the addition of these two foods will make it MUCH easier to stick to the low-sodium aspect of the diet), tomato, potato, bananas, and most fruits and vegetables, esp. the lower nutrient ones.

FOODS THAT ARE LIMITED IN THIS DIET THAT ARE ALLOWED ON OTHERS - Eggs, dairy, beans, and nuts should be limited. Dark, highly nutritious fruits and vegetables should be limited, as should whole grains due to their nutrient content. Meats should be avoided as much as is possible.


I do hope people will consider becoming Dream Members, because it keeps the site up and running without having to resort to ads. The FGD and my LE and HE Diets are in there, plus I'm making a third diet called the "In Betweener" diet for people to use prior to when they want to sway and/or for people who are scared to cut back so much to sway pink and/or for vegetarians who want to sway blue. Plus I post all the recipes from my three cookbooks I am working on in the DM section.

[Out of the Blue]

I don't know anything about the monitors...Maybe someone else can help. I think as long as you're doing the diet and using RepHresh or something similar to lower pH, you're probably just fine. I may not be the best person to give advice b/c I don't really do a lot other than diet/RepHresh/BD all the time :) so my sway is a LOT less technical than most others out there. GL!!!

[KraizyDaizy]

I don't know anything about the monitors...Maybe someone else can help. I think as long as you're doing the diet and using RepHresh or something similar to lower pH, you're probably just fine. I may not be the best person to give advice b/c I don't really do a lot other than diet/RepHresh/BD all the time :) so my sway is a LOT less technical than most others out there. GL!!!

I really don't want a technical pink sway, so can you share yours with me? I am trying to diet, but not strictly. I have been sick with wacky hormone levels so I am hoping this may help me sway pink.

Should I only use the RePhresh every 3 days or more around attempt? If we DTD starting tonight, with the RePhresh have enough time to lower my PH and not kill the swimmers right away? Still need to do the JAD with it?

[KraizyDaizy]

I don't know anything about the monitors...Maybe someone else can help. I think as long as you're doing the diet and using RepHresh or something similar to lower pH, you're probably just fine. I may not be the best person to give advice b/c I don't really do a lot other than diet/RepHresh/BD all the time :) so my sway is a LOT less technical than most others out there. GL!!!

I really don't want a technical pink sway, so can you share yours with me? I am trying to diet, but not strictly. I have been sick with wacky hormone levels so I am hoping this may help me sway pink.

Should I only use the RePhresh every 3 days or more around attempt? If we DTD starting tonight, with the RePhresh have enough time to lower my PH and not kill the swimmers right away? Still need to do the JAD with it?

[atomic sagebrush]

Yes, I believe that your low nutrient levels would sway pink BUT be aware that drastically below normal iron and Vit. D levels will not be good for getting pg/sustaining pg. The risk you're running is twofold, firstly that the very low levels will not help you get pg and secondly, that the supps you must take (non-negotiable, for your health you MUST TAKE THEM) will end up swaying blue.

My advice is for you to get pg as quickly as you possibly can, so your levels are still depleted but hopefully have gone up enough to ensure a safe and healthy pg. I do not believe timing sways in any way and I really realy do not believe in O+12 esp. for older women because our eggs don't even LIVE 12 hours after ovulation. I personally prefer for older couples to try a frequent or compressed frequent release strategy (you can find the how-to link in the index or maybe someone can post it), BD either through O or stop no sooner than pos opk, and try to fit in several attempts in your fertile window, so O-3, o-2, o-1(you should get a pos opk on this day), then if you WANT TO, you can have attempts on O day and O+1 (not because I think O+12 works, but because you might release two eggs and you can catch the second one that way). This gives you 3-5 attempts in your fertile window and it is MUCH better for older couples.

Whatever you decide, it's your sway, but I just hate to see older couples spend months/years chasing after things that don't work/sway (timing and esp. O+12) because the harsh reality is that at some point, sooner, or later, it really will be the last fresh egg inthe carton and none of us know when that will be. (I am 41 so I know whereof I speak!! ;)) If you can't get pg, you have no chance at your DG.

I personally don't believe cal-mag sways in the ways that some other people do and in my LE Diet, I don't include them. My last sway failed when I was taking huge amounts of them. But if you feel better taking them, that's ok too - lots of people have taken them and gotten girls. What I really DON'T want people to do is a) eat their normal diet and just pop pills because that is a recipe for a failed sway and b) replace the calories and nutrients in their normal diet with calories and nutrients from "magic girl foods" like dairy (so switching from 3000 cals of meat and veg to 3000 cals of whole milk and tahini) because that too causes sways to fail. Swaying pink, you need to cut cals, protein, and fat at least somewhat - altho you need to be careful to do that in a way that is HEALTHY and supports your thyroid condition.







RepHresh is much better than Replens because it keeps working for up to three days after use.

[atomic sagebrush]

Whether you do the J and D or not is totally up to you. You can use the RepHresh more often around your attempt, but of course the more you use it and the closer to attempt you are, the worse it's going to be for the swimmers.

[atomic sagebrush]

The IG site came first (which is why they have so many more stats). I used to be swaying mod on IG but I couldn't bear it because I kept having to give advice that I totally felt was erroneous, based on bad science, swayed in the wrong direction,and was keeping people from conceiving. Even making some people get really sick. :( I was very happy to get this opportunity to do swaying "my" way and am very grateful for the opportunity.

The stuff you read regarding skipping breakfast, blood sugar, losing weight, and the overall emphasis on diet over timing and pH - that all came from me originally. When I first became mod on IG they ranked diet as just one of the 7 factors that didn't sway very much even tho it's actually the most important thing by far. Not trying to toot my own horn, just so that people know I didn't "lift" my stuff from IG.

[KraizyDaizy]

Yes, I believe that your low nutrient levels would sway pink BUT be aware that drastically below normal iron and Vit. D levels will not be good for getting pg/sustaining pg. The risk you're running is twofold, firstly that the very low levels will not help you get pg and secondly, that the supps you must take (non-negotiable, for your health you MUST TAKE THEM) will end up swaying blue.

My advice is for you to get pg as quickly as you possibly can, so your levels are still depleted but hopefully have gone up enough to ensure a safe and healthy pg. I do not believe timing sways in any way and I really realy do not believe in O+12 esp. for older women because our eggs don't even LIVE 12 hours after ovulation. I personally prefer for older couples to try a frequent or compressed frequent release strategy (you can find the how-to link in the index or maybe someone can post it), BD either through O or stop no sooner than pos opk, and try to fit in several attempts in your fertile window, so O-3, o-2, o-1(you should get a pos opk on this day), then if you WANT TO, you can have attempts on O day and O+1 (not because I think O+12 works, but because you might release two eggs and you can catch the second one that way). This gives you 3-5 attempts in your fertile window and it is MUCH better for older couples.

Whatever you decide, it's your sway, but I just hate to see older couples spend months/years chasing after things that don't work/sway (timing and esp. O+12) because the harsh reality is that at some point, sooner, or later, it really will be the last fresh egg inthe carton and none of us know when that will be. (I am 41 so I know whereof I speak!! ;)) If you can't get pg, you have no chance at your DG.

I personally don't believe cal-mag sways in the ways that some other people do and in my LE Diet, I don't include them. My last sway failed when I was taking huge amounts of them. But if you feel better taking them, that's ok too - lots of people have taken them and gotten girls. What I really DON'T want people to do is a) eat their normal diet and just pop pills because that is a recipe for a failed sway and b) replace the calories and nutrients in their normal diet with calories and nutrients from "magic girl foods" like dairy (so switching from 3000 cals of meat and veg to 3000 cals of whole milk and tahini) because that too causes sways to fail. Swaying pink, you need to cut cals, protein, and fat at least somewhat - altho you need to be careful to do that in a way that is HEALTHY and supports your thyroid condition.







RepHresh is much better than Replens because it keeps working for up to three days after use.

Thank you thank you! So if I am understanding you correctly and correct me if I am wrong. My depleted or low levels, the odds of swaying girl are in my favor, but taking my meds makes me sway boy. Catch 22 I tell ya!!! I have only been taking the VitD and the Iron for a maybe a week and a half so I doubt they have raised my levels yet? So low VitD and Iron is good for girls? How?

Well, here is what I have done so far this attempt. Not sure I should have used the RePhresh with the Replens though. Can you look at my chart and tell me if you think I already Oed and out this month? I was told by an IG person that they think I am out this month that Oed CD17 and I am on CD18. My details are as follows:

CD16
Used applicator of RePHresh

CD17
3+OPKs
DH released am and pm after 3-4 day abstain
8PM took 4 tsb of Benedryl.
Pea size Replens at 8:30 should I have used this?
By 11pm I was so sleepy and could not get my DH to DTD as he was tired from all his releases LOL.

CD18 (today)
Woke up at 2am
Took BBT 98.21 should I use this temp
Took OPK positive
Woke DH up at 2:30am and DTD side spooning/doggie style.
Put Diva cup in. maybe that was a bad idea?
Jumped up and down, but did not JAD
Fell asleep
At 6:30 am took BBT 98.44 should I use this temp?
CBE monitor HIGH

My FF chart is in my siggy. Please take a look at it?

[rainbowflower]

what time do you normally take your temp? FF has a temperature adjustor where you can enter the temps you took and the time you took them, as well as the time you normally wake up and it will calculate what the temp would have been had you woken at the usual time. I'd think the earlier temp would be more accurate to adjust as BD likely warms you up!

I don't think the replens was necessary as the RepHresh would still be sorting out your pH but it probably wouldn't have done any harm

[KraizyDaizy]

The IG site came first (which is why they have so many more stats). I used to be swaying mod on IG but I couldn't bear it because I kept having to give advice that I totally felt was erroneous, based on bad science, swayed in the wrong direction,and was keeping people from conceiving. Even making some people get really sick. :( I was very happy to get this opportunity to do swaying "my" way and am very grateful for the opportunity.

The stuff you read regarding skipping breakfast, blood sugar, losing weight, and the overall emphasis on diet over timing and pH - that all came from me originally. When I first became mod on IG they ranked diet as just one of the 7 factors that didn't sway very much even tho it's actually the most important thing by far. Not trying to toot my own horn, just so that people know I didn't "lift" my stuff from IG.

You should toot your own horn as you have done such a great job with GD site. It is so much better I think and I feel informed and able to make better decisions instead of just doing this or that because I am told it works. I like to know why it works or doesn't. Thank you so much for all you do on this site! If I finally get my girl, I will be so mad that I wasted a year on IG. Really thanks again!

[Prettyinpink]

Just a note from a fellow synthroid taker, make sure that if you do take calcium supps that you do so at least 4 hours after you take your synthroid. If taken too close it can interfere with synthroid effectiveness. Not sure if your endocronologist or pharmacist ever mentioned that.

[atomic sagebrush]

The IG site came first (which is why they have so many more stats). I used to be swaying mod on IG but I couldn't bear it because I kept having to give advice that I totally felt was erroneous, based on bad science, swayed in the wrong direction,and was keeping people from conceiving. Even making some people get really sick. :( I was very happy to get this opportunity to do swaying "my" way and am very grateful for the opportunity.

The stuff you read regarding skipping breakfast, blood sugar, losing weight, and the overall emphasis on diet over timing and pH - that all came from me originally. When I first became mod on IG they ranked diet as just one of the 7 factors that didn't sway very much even tho it's actually the most important thing by far. Not trying to toot my own horn, just so that people know I didn't "lift" my stuff from IG.

[KraizyDaizy]

what time do you normally take your temp? FF has a temperature adjustor where you can enter the temps you took and the time you took them, as well as the time you normally wake up and it will calculate what the temp would have been had you woken at the usual time. I'd think the earlier temp would be more accurate to adjust as BD likely warms you up!

I don't think the replens was necessary as the RepHresh would still be sorting out your pH but it probably wouldn't have done any harm

Normally around 6:30am. I did the temp adjuster on FF for the 98.21 and it says 99.11, which I know is not true LOL!!! When I use both temps, 98.21 and 98.44 I get 98.77, so not sure what to use. LOL!!!

I am not going to use anymore RePHresh or Replens. I know it says it works for 3 days, but I just used a teeny tiny bit of Replens, so who knows.

[KraizyDaizy]

Just a note from a fellow synthroid taker, make sure that if you do take calcium supps that you do so at least 4 hours after you take your synthroid. If taken too close it can interfere with synthroid effectiveness. Not sure if your endocronologist or pharmacist ever mentioned that.

Yeah, I space out my meds during the day taking Synthroid first thing, then calcium around lunch, and iron in the evening. Thanks for looking out for me.

[atomic sagebrush]

Sigh! Please don't worry, you are NOT OUT! You will O 8-48 hours after your first pos OPK, average 36 hours. I think your timing was very good for conceiving. Your chart can't really tell us much today but in a couple days it will become very obvious what day you Oed on.

Your circumstance is actually more than a catch 22 because the low levels are actually pretty bad for conceiving, too. So you are aiming for the point where your levels are low normal - high enough for healthy baby but not so high that they're making you uberfertile either.

Nutrients across the boards sway blue, and iron and Vit. D are nutrients. I believe the Vit D sways more blue than the iron does becos it boosts T levels, but TBH we do not have enough info to really know.

Neither of those temps is at all accurate and throw them both out.

Replens was fine. I would not have advised the Diva but it's done now so no worries.

Jumping up and down does nothing, esp with Diva in. JAD is meant to remove sperm and semen and if you have a Diva in, it stays put regardless of what you do.

[atomic sagebrush]

PS - my sigh was directed at IG, not your question!! :)

[Out of the Blue]

I really don't want a technical pink sway, so can you share yours with me?
Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you. I answered this on the Pink Swayers thread this a.m. but that thread moves quickly so here’s the basics on what I did for my 1st attempt:

• Started Vitex late Oct.
• DH took a very low dose of Lic Root
• I followed LE diet for the past 5 wks (but ate more veggies than carbs…just my personal choice since it works better for me and isn’t the norm)
• Drank 2 – 4 C. of Peppermint Tea per day
• BF DS2 (6 – 8 x a day) not sure how much this helps but I threw it in there anyway…
• DH released during my AF and we started to BD shortly after that (see my chart below)
• This is where my sway differs and doesn’t make sense for most (maybe not even me but we’ll see :p )…A bit of RepHresh almost every a.m while BD almost every p.m. w/Sylk.

I don’t take any other supps, etc. so no testing pH, no low dose aspirin, Saw Palmetto or Zyrtec for me. I want to get preg quickly while still making things challenging (hence the frequent RepHresh and Sylk). I suspect I’m fairly fertile. I know my sway is not the norm but it felt right at the time so I went w/it. I’ve got no regrets, even if this is a gutter ball resulting in a BFN and AF! I’ll scale back on the RepHresh if I have to do this again.

Good :luck: to you, whatever you do to sway! The really nice thing is that there’s not only one way to sway and “the perfect sway” doesn’t really exist. Just do what you can and feels right for you and go w/it!

[KraizyDaizy]

PS - my sigh was directed at IG, not your question!! :)

Thanks so much for sharing! It makes me happy to see that we can adjust our sway to our way and not just the IG way. It was always hard to say you went against what IG was telling me to do and now, I just feel I can do whatever and that is just okay. No judging, more of support her on GD I think.

Well we had two DTD attemps so we will see. I am on CD22 and FF says I Oed on CD19. What do you all think? My temp is up pretty high though, and it seems higher than my other cycles so I hope this warm cycle is a girl?

[atomic sagebrush]

Wishing you the very best of luck! You're def. warmer this cycle but we're not totally sure if that means anything or not.

[atomic sagebrush]

Oh and PS - I have a Wyatt too. :)

[KraizyDaizy]

Oh and PS - I have a Wyatt too. :)

Oh that is way cool! How old is your Wyatt? Mine is 5.

[auroara78]

I wanted to name DS2 "Wyatt" but DH said no because A) I really really like the movie Tombstone too much and he thought i stole it from 'wyatt earp' B) he hated the way I said it, with a southern twang...hey I live in the state of VA and I don't talk real country ya know, but sometimes....something comes out!

We went with Evan instead....because it was the only name we could agree on! DH wanted Orren or Jarren but those were too unique for my tastes!

Sorry to hijack the thread...but I just wanted to say I still love the name Wyatt and Atomic & KrazeyDaisy, you have good tastes in names!

[KraizyDaizy]

I wanted to name DS2 "Wyatt" but DH said no because A) I really really like the movie Tombstone too much and he thought i stole it from 'wyatt earp' B) he hated the way I said it, with a southern twang...hey I live in the state of VA and I don't talk real country ya know, but sometimes....something comes out!

We went with Evan instead....because it was the only name we could agree on! DH wanted Orren or Jarren but those were too unique for my tastes!

Sorry to hijack the thread...but I just wanted to say I still love the name Wyatt and Atomic & KrazeyDaisy, you have good tastes in names!

My DH gets both middle names and I get the first. We have to agree, but it is my call on the first name and his on the middle names. If I did not like the ones he picked out, I persuaded DH otherwise. He uses all his best friends names like a tribute to his best buds and it somehow works well. I cannot wait for me to finally get to name my girl!!!

[auroara78]

Omg can you imagine naming a little girl? How crazy would that be!!!

DH and I had a name picked out for a girl when pregnant with DS2. The first name at least....

We had Lillian picked out. We were going to call her Lily. He liked Krystana for a middle name and I liked Elizabeth as a tribute to my mom and my maiden middle name. He thought Lillian Elizabeth sounded too long, but we've got a short last name, so i thought it was OK and I knew my mom would be tickled pink if we included her in the girl's name. I am still going to push hard for Elizabeth as a middle name if we ever get our girl.

I'm not so sure about the name Lillian now. I like it, but it seems very common, but DH is still really into it, so who knows?
I don't have a better suggestion right now, and I won't even seriously pursue this until I truly am pregnant with the girl.I hope it happens!!

Have you O'ed yet KD?

[KraizyDaizy]

Omg can you imagine naming a little girl? How crazy would that be!!!

DH and I had a name picked out for a girl when pregnant with DS2. The first name at least....

We had Lillian picked out. We were going to call her Lily. He liked Krystana for a middle name and I liked Elizabeth as a tribute to my mom and my maiden middle name. He thought Lillian Elizabeth sounded too long, but we've got a short last name, so i thought it was OK and I knew my mom would be tickled pink if we included her in the girl's name. I am still going to push hard for Elizabeth as a middle name if we ever get our girl.

I'm not so sure about the name Lillian now. I like it, but it seems very common, but DH is still really into it, so who knows?
I don't have a better suggestion right now, and I won't even seriously pursue this until I truly am pregnant with the girl.I hope it happens!!

Have you O'ed yet KD?

We have Elizabeth in common LOL! Not hard to name a daughter at all, we actually already have her name picked out. It's Delilah Mary Elizabeth. Delilah because I just love it love it and Mary Elizabeth was DH sister's name who died at 16 of Leukemia. He already knew he would name her that and she was his best friend as well, so it fits his best friend middle naming perfectly LOL!!!

Wait, is it bad luck to tell the name LOL! Just went to a shower were the wife would not tell us the little babies name because it was bad luck LOL!!

I love your name Lilian Elizabeth! It's beautiful!!! Never heard of Krystana, but it is lovely too!!!

Check out my chart on FF, it in my siggy and tell me what you think? It says I Oed, so hopefully I did LOL!!!

[KraizyDaizy]

Looks like AF is on her way, spotting this am. My cycle was shorter than the last two, so I really don't know what is going on with me. I am so over swaying. Cannot stay strict on the diet and I think RePHresh and Replens killed my chances. Thinking of getting a microscope to check DH's swimmers. Anyone know what strength you need to get?

[atomic sagebrush]

Oh that is way cool! How old is your Wyatt? Mine is 5.

Mine is ~gasp~ 20!!! People looked at us like we were CRAZY back then and some people hadn't even heard of it before, which was really surprising to DH and I.

[atomic sagebrush]

Looks like AF is on her way, spotting this am. My cycle was shorter than the last two, so I really don't know what is going on with me. I am so over swaying. Cannot stay strict on the diet and I think RePHresh and Replens killed my chances. Thinking of getting a microscope to check DH's swimmers. Anyone know what strength you need to get?

I'm sorry! I wouldn't waste money on a microscope - just reduce the amount of RepHresh/Replens and space it further from when you BD.

[KraizyDaizy]

I'm sorry! I wouldn't waste money on a microscope - just reduce the amount of RepHresh/Replens and space it further from when you BD.

How much RepHresh, and how often? I am CD4 today and would like to start this sway off right this time. Any help suggestions you could give me are much appreciated! And I am thinking we DTD from AF to O, doing the JAD??, what do you think? I am throwing timing out the window and keeping my diet low everything, taking supplements, Benedryl and baby aspirin. The supplements would be calcium and magnesium citrate right?

Also are you TTC boy? You have 4 sons from what I read on your profile, but not swaying for a girl?

[KraizyDaizy]

Mine is ~gasp~ 20!!! People looked at us like we were CRAZY back then and some people hadn't even heard of it before, which was really surprising to DH and I.

20, you must have started early? My oldest is 12 and just thinking of him being grown kills me LOL! I just love the name Wyatt!

[atomic sagebrush]

How much RepHresh, and how often? I am CD4 today and would like to start this sway off right this time. Any help suggestions you could give me are much appreciated! And I am thinking we DTD from AF to O, doing the JAD??, what do you think? I am throwing timing out the window and keeping my diet low everything, taking supplements, Benedryl and baby aspirin. The supplements would be calcium and magnesium citrate right?

Also are you TTC boy? You have 4 sons from what I read on your profile, but not swaying for a girl?

However much RepHresh you're doing, if you aren't getting pg, cut it by 1/4 or 1/2. OR you could add 3-6 hours onto the time you use it, so if you had been using it 12 hours before DTD, use it 15-18 hours before.

Are you going to actually BD aF-O?? In that case I do def. suggest you continue with the RepHresh to make sure vaginal pH stays low.

:agree: with losing timing, I think that is hte one thing that prevents most people from conceiving beyond any other.

:agree: LE Diet!!

My personal opinion is that I don't think cal/mag sway in the ways that people claim they do. If you haven't read these already, here are my essays about why.http://genderdreaming.com/forum/trying-conceive-girl/610-calcium-conundrum-controversial.html (this is a three part essay, for some reason the second part isn't working but you can get the idea from the other two.)

I would LOVE another boy or a girl, I am over GD at this point but would love one last baby to complete our family because I still feel like someone is missing. I think a boy would fit in better around here whereas a girl might get lost in the shuffle a bit. My dream that I had of a little girl with my two much older boys, that dream is gone and can never come true anyway so if I were to talk my husband into TTC again (doubtful) I will enact my blue sway plan and boost our fertility however I could, which would be a necessity anyway due to our ages. I would be happy either way!

[atomic sagebrush]

20, you must have started early? My oldest is 12 and just thinking of him being grown kills me LOL! I just love the name Wyatt!

I had Wyatt when I was 21, Clark at 25, then tried to be done for 13 years! Had Tate at 37 and my last baby Marshall when I was 39! (same DH, just a LOOONG gap!)

[KraizyDaizy]

Yes, I believe that your low nutrient levels would sway pink BUT be aware that drastically below normal iron and Vit. D levels will not be good for getting pg/sustaining pg. The risk you're running is twofold, firstly that the very low levels will not help you get pg and secondly, that the supps you must take (non-negotiable, for your health you MUST TAKE THEM) will end up swaying blue.

My advice is for you to get pg as quickly as you possibly can, so your levels are still depleted but hopefully have gone up enough to ensure a safe and healthy pg. I do not believe timing sways in any way and I really realy do not believe in O+12 esp. for older women because our eggs don't even LIVE 12 hours after ovulation. I personally prefer for older couples to try a frequent or compressed frequent release strategy (you can find the how-to link in the index or maybe someone can post it), BD either through O or stop no sooner than pos opk, and try to fit in several attempts in your fertile window, so O-3, o-2, o-1(you should get a pos opk on this day), then if you WANT TO, you can have attempts on O day and O+1 (not because I think O+12 works, but because you might release two eggs and you can catch the second one that way). This gives you 3-5 attempts in your fertile window and it is MUCH better for older couples.

Whatever you decide, it's your sway, but I just hate to see older couples spend months/years chasing after things that don't work/sway (timing and esp. O+12) because the harsh reality is that at some point, sooner, or later, it really will be the last fresh egg inthe carton and none of us know when that will be. (I am 41 so I know whereof I speak!! ;)) If you can't get pg, you have no chance at your DG.

I personally don't believe cal-mag sways in the ways that some other people do and in my LE Diet, I don't include them. My last sway failed when I was taking huge amounts of them. But if you feel better taking them, that's ok too - lots of people have taken them and gotten girls. What I really DON'T want people to do is a) eat their normal diet and just pop pills because that is a recipe for a failed sway and b) replace the calories and nutrients in their normal diet with calories and nutrients from "magic girl foods" like dairy (so switching from 3000 cals of meat and veg to 3000 cals of whole milk and tahini) because that too causes sways to fail. Swaying pink, you need to cut cals, protein, and fat at least somewhat - altho you need to be careful to do that in a way that is HEALTHY and supports your thyroid condition.







RepHresh is much better than Replens because it keeps working for up to three days after use.

Now that I have gotten over me not having a +HPT this last cycle, I am feeling better, but also scared I will mess up my next attempt so if you could give me some advice I would really appreciate it.

I did a little online shopping to get some needed supplies for this attempt. Bought OPK's, HPTS, CBE sticks, SYLK, and some Phion PH sticks from Amazon yesterday. Since you don't really believe in calcium and magnesium supplements, which would you think I should take in my situation with my hormone deficiency levels? Was thinking about getting Saw Palmetto? I have Natural Progesterone cream that I thought I would use as soon as I O, what do you think about the cream? I am thinking I will drop the RePhresh and Replens this month and just use a little SYLK at each DTD which will be from end of AF through O maybe since I am 37 and DH is 40 and we have been TTC for over a year and a half on top of my unbalanced thyroid levels, Vit D deficiency, and anemia may be hindering my getting pregnant. Is DTD from end of AF through O+1 a good idea? JAD? SYLK? I really don't eat much at all and I never have breakfast, so I am keeping my sugar levels low already. I do drink a little caffeine, I have coffee every morning is that bad? If you could give me simple things to eat for lunch and dinner that I could make rather quickly and not interrupt the other meals for my sons that I could actually stick to that would be great. I know this is so random, but that is my mood and I am just thankful I want to try another month. Oh, I am CD5 and AF is spotting at most. Should we start DTD now or wait a few more days? I plan to be a DTD as many times as I can get DH to do it. He is skeptical he can keep up, so that makes me think he has low or slow swimmers already? Should DH be on Licorice? Again sorry for being random, but I can't help it LOL!!!

[atomic sagebrush]

1)You CAN take Cal mag supps if YOU want to, just as long as you're informed about it and aware that it's not cut and dried. People ahve taken the cal-mag and had success but a lot of others have had failed sways.

2)I do think the SP is a good thing to take. :agree: http://genderdreaming.com/forum/trying-conceive-girl/7108-saw-palmetto-peppermint-tea-licorice-root-depth-how.html

3)Not sold on prog cream for swaying purposes but here is how to use it. http://genderdreaming.com/forum/trying-conceive-girl/1919-raising-progesterone-through-diet-b-6-prog-cream-how.html If you need prog for conception, it is MUCH better to visit your doc and get the prescription strength stuff because the creams are not standardized and may have varying dosages.

4)It all depends on how bad you want to get pg. If I was in a hurry to get pg, I would use a very light hand with sway tactics. RepHresh and then Sylk as a lube, and you might want to wait 5 min. before getting up (esp. when you're farther from O. if you have an attempt on O-1 or O day, you should prob. do JandD right away)

5)I don't think you need to DTD from AF-O (unless you want to as a kind of FR) but you could def. have 5 attempts in your fertile window. O-3 through the day after O, total of five attempts. If DH wants to do FR that's fine but if not, that's fine too. I would prob. at least try the licorice root the first month, esp. if you're dropping other sway factors.

6)caffeine is fine.

7)there are lots of meal ideas in the Dream Members section, all stickied at the top. (look for titles like, 50 meals, and 100-300 cal snacks, etc.) I bet you'll find some stuff in there that will help!