Charting my morning’s temperatures has really only had one meaning for me…. to find out when I’m ovulating and trying to conceive. For those of you who don’t chart, the reason you can pinpoint ovulation (0r see if you aren’t ovulating) is that your morning temperature will begin to rise after the egg is released. If you are successful at conceiving, then your temperatures should remain high, if not, they will drop to indicate when your cycle will start.
My journey with charting began a few years ago when we just weren’t getting pregnant. Within a month of charting, I could see that my basal body temps were low. Being new to the charting world, I went out on a limb and decided to try progesterone cream. Low temps can indicate low progesterone. With adding the supplemental cream after I ovulated, my temps rose and I was able to conceive. (Oh, how I wish it would be that easy again!)
We are once again trying to conceive, but things are a bit different now as I have had two miscarriages, two successful pregnancies, and a Hashimoto’s diagnosis. Deciding to record my temperatures was a way to help pinpoint what is happening with my cycle.
Within the first week of charting, I could already see that my temperatures were a bit low. But this time I was not comfortable supplementing progesterone cream (available from Beeyoutiful) because the low temperatures could also be indicating that my thyroid was in a hypo (under-active) state. (With Hashimoto’s one can swing from hypo to hyperthyroid symptoms.)
I decided to just keep charting and see what would happen.
Something that I think is often under-emphasized is the need to be aware of your body. When it comes to healing your body through diet, supplements, and herbs, it’s super important to pay attention to your body and what it is telling you.
My body didn’t feel like it was in a hypothyroid state for a few reasons, despite the low temps. (I am steadily losing weight with a good diet and this does NOT happen when my body is hypo) I also had a few symptoms of being in a hyperthyroid state. (My anxiety has been on edge and my heart was racing at night.)
Neither one made sense because my symptoms didn’t match up. So now what’s?
My adrenals! The symptoms I was experiencing were my adrenals on the verge of “crashing”. That made total sense as I had a majorly stressful month and my sleep had been lacking and I was out of my adrenal supplements.
Based on my symptoms and what my body was telling me, I now know where to go. There is a major difference in the supplements I use when I’m on the verge of having an adrenal crash or when my thyroid is hyper and taking the wrong ones at the wrong time may have made matters worse.
I’ve been charting my temperatures for three months now and my temperatures are still consistently lower than I’d like, but I’m still not comfortable just using a progesterone cream until I get my labs tested to see how my hormones are doing.
I am very blessed to have a doctor that will listen to me and knows the importance of listening and paying attention to the body. As soon as I called and explained what I was thinking, he scheduled a blood draw and appointment for after the tests are in. No need to waste time and come in first. He trusts that the body will show us what is going on.
I would never have dreamed when I restarted recording my temperatures that I’d be able to pinpoint what my thyroid, adrenals, and hormones were doing.
It is worth every ounce of annoyance to wake up each day and record my temperature if it will help me stay on top of my Hashimoto’s. I have found that with paying attention and the right supplements, I can avoid crashes and extreme swings of my thyroid! How amazing is that?
Do you chart your temperatures each day? What have you learned about your body from doing so?
Jessica
GREAT post Jessica!
Hi,
I started charting my temperatures in May of this year. I did it for 2 months, and I looked at my chart and thought what the heck am I looking for!?! I was so frustrated and confused that I just gave up on it. At the end of July I purchased a copy of “Taking Charge of Your Fertility” and it has been a tremendous resource! I have not quite completed charting for one cycle yet. But already I can tell so much about my body. I chart to see of I am ovulating, right now I am seeing whether or not my luetal phase will be long enough. I think I may have a thyroid issue as well, as my waking temperatures are quite low. Thankfully I have a doctor’s apt soon to chat to him all about it. 🙂 But yes, I agree that charting is incredible!! 🙂
I LOVE that book! I think every woman should have a copy. After reading it I was flabbergasted that my body did all these things and I never really learned how to pay attention to it.
My husband and I are also trying to conceive again, so I’ve been charting for about nine months now (after taking a break when my son was born almost two years ago). What is considered “too low” of a temperature before you ovulate?
Pre ovulation temps should run around 97.2-97.4. I hope that helps. 🙂