Long-time lurker first-time poster here! I feel like I can now finally "give back" to all the ladies in this wonderful community who have kept my spirits up every month. You all have so much strength and optimism and I sincerely admire you and am grateful for the support.
Short back story: I'm 29, happily married 4 years, regular 28-day(ish) cycles but with lots of spotting during the TWW since I was 24 (had a pregnancy then that was terminated, long story for another day). Prior to that pregnancy I had perfect cycles without spotting - I never really understood what changed. Even birth control didn't control the spotting. I saw an OB about it and they didn't find anything so I resigned myself to the notion that we would likely have fertility issues.
BFP story: I finished birth control in June this year and we decided to NTNP. I'm very in touch with my cycles because I used to do a temp chart so I tend to know when I'm ovulating just by symptoms and dates alone - CP and CM haven't ever told me anything of a predictive nature honestly.
LMP = 11/1/2014
1-5DPO = mild cramping, which I usually experience during my TWW as my lining builds
6-9DPO = light spotting only when I wiped - which was normal for me - except it was slightly pinkish instead of brown (clue #1); sore BBS, which is also a normal part of PMS for me
10DPO = spotting suddenly disappeared and I was dry as a bone (clue #2); BBS still sore but no more than usual
11DPO = desperately in need of fried chicken (clue #3); still mildly cramping and sore BBS; felt a little under the weather but again, nothing abnormal. I complained to my co-worker that I was feeling grumpy. Later that night out of nowhere I had a full-on mental breakdown about my "suspected infertility" that resulted in some WebMDing (horrible idea at the best of times; clue #4). I went to hot yoga and regained my sanity after a good night's sleep. Ahhh sweet relief.
12DPO = cramping, sore BBS, still no spotting which would normally be increasing in intensity by now as AF comes; had to take a nap after work (clue #5); extremely vivid dreams and I feel like I'm "running hot" to the point where I made my husband turn down the heat (clue #6)
13DPO = cramping; BBS a little less sore; desperately in need of penne pasta for lunch and went to great lengths to acquire it; again had to take a nap after work; went out for dinner and vomited a small amount right afterward from the indigestion (clue #7); very vivid dreams and still running hot
14DPO = no cramping; BBS sore again; still running hot; ravenously hungry yet experiencing indigestion; very thirsty but can't quench it; passed out in my arm-chair even though I had a good night's sleep; dreams still vivid and abstract. Also - and this was a strange thing for me to notice - my dogs were ALL OVER me, sleeping on my stomach, acting suckier than usual, not leaving me side. I told my husband that I thought they were acting weird. Oh and where the heck is AF?! (clue #8)
15DPO (this morning) = still no sign of AF, BBS less tender but still full feeling, cramping in my right ovary area, had very vivid dreams yet again last night but this time I dreamt I took a pg test and it was positive. I woke up and after a few minutes of letting my thoughts go wild I grew some lady-balls, snuck out of bed and took the FRER test. I watched it instantly turn BFP - like WAY before the control line showed up - and it's much darker than the control line. Shock and giggles ensued.
My symptoms have certainly not been as obvious and severe as I expected they would be. In fact they are nearly indistinguishable from my normal PMS symptoms for the most part (I know, I hate reading this in posts too, sorry ladies!). The only things that I'd classify as "different" are the fact that my usual TWW spotting stopped (was probably IB in reality) and that my BBS are still full and sore at a time when it should be subsiding, signalling the arrival of AF. Next step: conquering the first trimester!
Thank you again ladies for all your support. I'm sincere when I say do NOT give up hope. The female body is miraculous. If you have any questions or if I'm omitted something glaringly obvious please please please don't hesitate to ask. Christmas babies to you all xoxo.