Temp question

[midwest07]

Last cycle was my first month of temping, and I would say it really was a textbook chart.  All temps pre-O were 97.8 or below, there was a dip down on the day of O, and an immediate rise the day after.  After O, temps stayed above 98.1, then dropped for 2 days before AF arrived.  It was really a great first chart for me to understand how it should look.  I didn't even temp at the same time every morning and it didn't seem to impact the numbers.

This cycle is a little off so far.  I am only on CD6, but have had 3 days of temps at 98 or higher.  I thought the first day was an odd one, so I discarded it on my chart, but the next two days have been high too.

So my question is - do your temps tend to follow a similar pattern each cycle as to what the temps actually are?  That is, usually below a certain number pre-O and above a certain number after?  Could I be getting a little sick and causing higher than average temps?  Do I need to be more careful about the time I temp?  I am trying to be better about taking it right when the alarm goes off, rather than after 20 minutes of restless sleep hitting the snooze button.  Honestly, sometimes in this weird waking up time period, I imagine that I am temping and then realized I was just dreaming and haven't done it yet!

Also, just a little plug for temping - I am so glad I started it this last cycle.  I O'd later than usual, which caused my cycle to be the longest since I got off BCP.  But, since I was temping, I knew that was the reason for the long cycle, not because I was pregnant.  It was just nice to feel like I knew what was going on rather than having false hope.  Though of course, it was still disappointing to get AF!

[lola]

The problem with temping is that because you're looking at data each day it is really easy to try to determine what each day's data tells you. That's dangerous.

Your daily temps don't mean much, what does mean something is the pattern you see over the entire cycle, and over a few cycles combine.

Do what you can - take your temp at the same time every day, use the same thermometer, track what temps need to be discarded. The rest, put aside until you have at least three months under your belt. Trying to figure it out day by day and week by week will drive you nuts!

[simpsongal]

Ditto, Lola. FWIW, I don't think 20 minutes on either side makes a huge difference. I temp between 6:30am and 7:30am. I have seen a difference if I wake up at 6am, go back to bed and temp at 8:30am.

[VillainV]

My temps aren't always the same from cycle to cycle, but the general pattern is the same. I usually have a few temps between CD1 and CD6 or 7 that end up getting thrown out. And any morning after a night of drinking (those don't happen often!) or if I don't sleep well, my temps seem to be higher than normal. But overall, the pattern is the same.

Don't be thrown off by a chart that isn't "textbook." Yeah, we all like pretty charts. But as long as you can tell when you ovulate, within a day or so, using temps/OPKs/CM/CP/whatever else you use, then your charting is a success:-)

[midwest07]

Thanks guys! I just liked how nice and neat my first one was because I had seen a lot of posts with really up and down temps, so it was nice my first was so clear. But I guess looking back, I didn't know it was clear until a few days after O and could see the obvious pattern. I will keep working on it!

Does anyone else do the dreamy wakeup state and cannot remember if they have taken it or not, or am I crazy?!

[lola]

Feb 8, 2013 15:06:18 GMT -5 midwest07 said:

Thanks guys! I just liked how nice and neat my first one was because I had seen a lot of posts with really up and down temps, so it was nice my first was so clear. But I guess looking back, I didn't know it was clear until a few days after O and could see the obvious pattern. I will keep working on it!

Does anyone else do the dreamy wakeup state and cannot remember if they have taken it or not, or am I crazy?!

Oh I have definitely done this. I have dreamed I temped and then when my alarm went off been so confused. lol.