BBT thermometer selection.???

I have been bbt charting for about 1.5 yrs.  Prior to this cycle I used an old BD digital termometer that we already had.  It wasn't super fast but it didn't take to long and my charts always made sense.  Even if my cyle was screwy the bbt would explain it.

Well the old BD started to poop-out, so I went and bought a new BD and I think it is supposed to give you your temps in like 9 or 12 secs. This cycle I was given clomid, u/s and HCG trigger to induce ovulation.  RE says there is no way I did not O, but my temps have not gone up at all.  They are all in the 6.7 to 7.0 range. The last two mornings I used the new BD thermometer and the old one. My temps on the old one are higher but not as high as they have been in previous cycles.  

Any advise or thoughts?  Any body have a thermometer that they have had good luck with?  

[paranoidpatty]

Honestly, I don't trust the beeps because I notice the temp changes even a second after it beeps.  Try it, after it beeps peek at it while it's in your mouth and just watch the temp continue to climb in the next few seconds.  I just keep it in my mouth for a full five minutes.  Otherwise, my temps would probably be all over the place.  I record the beep temp in pencil and use the 5 minute temp and there is always a big difference of at least .3

I use a regular thermometer with only one decimal spot that I bought from Walmart for about $4.  I have a BBT also but I don't like that one, it records a lot lower than my other one and records all over the place.

[Tanker Chic]

Thanks for all the input.  I'll definitely be using your suggestions.  I don't think the quick results ones are good for this purpose.  Unfortunately patience has never been one of my strong points.  

[tina1111]

When mine beeps, it beeps 3x that is finished and locks on that temp. It stores the temps for 5 days. I'll watch it to see tomorrow, but I think mine stays on that temp. It will bounce between two temps forever sometimes until it decides which one it is. Like 97.76 & 97.75, I think that's why it takes so long.

[Mikeal'smom]

I know what you mean, I have one of those thermometers too that are supposed to give a temp in 8sec. and sometimes it seams like the other thermometers that take longer are more accurate.  I would just say, make sure you are using the same thermometer every morning, maybe go pick up a new one that takes a little longer and see if that one makes a little more sense- good luck to you though, I hope this is the cycle for you!

[peekawho]

http://www.bd.com/thermometers/products/basal_basal.asp

[tina1111]

My walgreen's one is very accurate but it takes a long time. 1-2 minutes. It won't beep unless it stays at the same temp for 5 seconds.

[paranoidpatty]

I'm guessing you're using an actual BBT then?  My BBT doesn't stop after the beep.  I have both but the BBT doesn't seem to be as accurate for some reason.  I remember putting them both in my mouth at the same time and recorded the temps of both at the beep time.  The BBT beeped at a way lower temp than the regular one beeped so then I left them both in and at the end of the 5 mins they were both almost the same temp (okay, I have too much time on my hands LOL)  That's why I think it's more important to use the 5 minute temp instead of that beep.  Try it and you'll probably notice the difference.

[tina1111]

Yup, it's a bbt. It takes a long time. I've never timed it. I'm just awake at 4am and dh is asleep so I shut it off and look at it in the kitchen. I fall back asleep somtimes waiting for the beeps and it has a shrill steady beep if it falls out of my mouth or I have my mouth open. Talk about a rude awakening! lol  I'll try the other, too.

[paranoidpatty]

Sounds like that's a good BBT.  I have to check mine out, I know it says it holds the temp but I don't know how to use it.  I like the idea of the shrill beep if you fall asleep.  Let me know what happens after your experiment.

[Tanker Chic]

Hahaha That is funny because I put both in my mouth at the same time also.  The last couple of days I have taken my temp so many times for comparision, I think I actually rubbed a blister under my tongue...  We're all nuts!! :o)

[tina1111]

I had a temp last week in the low 96's and didn't believe it so I bought another thermometer that day, gosh this is obsessive, I use both every am. lol  So far they match every day. I'm hopeless. I feel like I'm at an AA meeting. Hi I'm Tina and I'm a temp-aholic.

[paranoidpatty]

Hi, I'm Patty and I'm a tempaholic too!!  I remember one time I woke up in the middle of the night delirious and just stuck the thermometer in my mouth out of habit.  It took a while for me to realize that the alarm didn't go off!!  

Warning though, if you're doing the 5 min temp you will HAVE to stay awake.  I fall back asleep until the first beep and then after that I'm concentrating on memorizing that temp until the 5 min mark and that keeps me awake till the clock changes.  

[Tanker Chic]

I could temp 5 or more times in a row, but I don't think I have the patience to wait 5 minutes for 1 temp.  Waiting 1-2 is a challenge for me.  

On this last chart, I am tracking 4 temps.  The first and second from the new thermometer and the first and second from the old one.  I got it bad.  I'm not ready for an intervention tho!!  

[paranoidpatty]

Wow!  I think you got me beat by temping 4 each day.  It's hard enough with two on mine.  I have to color code the dots and lines but believe it or not, I'm so used to it that I can't go back to just one temp.  

Oh yeah, I even take my temp after I get settled in the bed at night, thinking I might have a clue of the next morning's temps LOL.  Also, I keep a thermometer at my desk so I can see what it is at work.