PREGNANCY-BIRTH Messages for July, 1999: Re: Has anyone experienced this??

Re: Has anyone experienced this??

From: Marshella

anonymous@obgyn.net

Fri, 30 Jul 1999 08:54:47 -0500 (CDT)

That sounds so famililar. Though my cycles have never been longer than 33 days, once when I was on a whopper dose of 150mg clomid, I had that same experience. It even felt like there was a watery area above my ovary to me, but I didn't know if I was just imagining that! It sounds to me as if you've had an episode of ovary overstimulation. It can occur even if you are not on infertility meds. I believe that people with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) are more at risk for this. This disorder causes multiple follicles to develop on the ovary during one cycle, but they don't always mature, or mature too early and release an immature egg that can't be fertilized. Then the ovary has to deal with all the corpus luteums or cysts that form on the ovary because of all the follicles. This syndrome is associated with overweight, very loooong cycles, very erratic cycles, and women who seem to have more than usual body/facial hair. At least, that's what I recall hearing. I had a friend once who had this and didn't have a cycle for like 9 months! She was hoping so much she'd be pregnant again but she wasn't. Have you had any kind of infertility work-up?

As for the OPK, YES, you will have positives for about 5 days! It is not a test like the pregnancy test that you just take once. The OPK tests usually come in a pack of 5, and all are meant to be used in one cycle. The line or other indicator/reaction (depending on test) will get DARKER as you get closer to ovulation. The tests are harder to interpret because of this. They measure the LH Lutenizing Hormone which slowly builds in your body up until ovulation. This is the hormone that stimulates ovulation, stimulates the follicles to grow, and once the egg is mature, it stimulates them to rupture and release the egg. You should always take these tests the same time of the day, and morning is preferred because you should have the same amount of water in your body. If you drink a lot before taking the test, it will dilute (water down) your urine and thus could indicate that you have less LH there that one time and throw things off. Unfortunately, these tests can be hard to interpret because it will really only tell you for sure when you have ovulated, and what you want is to have intercourse before you ovulate! Once that dark line starts to fade on the next test, the next day after ovulation, its time to play the ever famous "waiting game". :-) So it may take you a few cycles to get an idea of how dark is "dark enough" for you, and to tell when it means you are actually very close to ovulation.

Good luck, be sure to tell your doctor about your symptoms, I hope they wane soon! I remember clearly how bloated I was and how horribly my breasts hurt!! Even walking down stairs caused them to hurt. UGH. Take care and let us know how things turn out.

Mars (edd #1 2/10/00 after 5.5 yrs infertility)

At Fri, 30 Jul 1999, JH wrote: >
>I am currently trying to get pregnant. As you might have read from my
>earlier posts, my cycles are a bit strange lately. However, I took an
>OPK on day 21 and it came up positive. The very next day, I experienced
>sharp lower abdominal pain that lasted off and on for 3 days. It
>actually hurt when I walked. I am assuming this is ovulation pain? I
>have also had sore and swollen breasts since Day 25 and it is now Day 40
>- as well as a very swollen abdomen!(bloated)
>
>So, my question is....shouldn't I have ovulated around day 22 or 23 if
>the OPK came up positive on day 21? If so, why am I on day 40 and no AF?
>I took a HPT on day 38 and it came up negative. Could an OPK come up
>positive 5 days or more before you actually ovulate. Assuming AF comes
>today (40), that would mean I ovulated around day 26-which is not in
>tune with my pain or the OPK. I am so confused!!! Any much needed
>advice would be greatly appreciated. If this is pms, then I literally
>cannot wear my clothes or bras for two solid weeks because I am so
>swollen!!! Sorry for the long post.

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