Holy hook effect

[kiyaa]

I had gotten really strong BFPs.. had my first faint line at 9DPO on October 16th, tested on this obvious positive FRER at 10DPO.

13 or 14DPO, I had a less sensitive rapid response FRER left, so I took it and it was a dye stealer!

I was still using cheapies and watching the line progress until I ran out. I haven't had any of my appointments or blood work done, so I decided to buy another FRER pack last week after I hadn't tested in a few days to ease my mind.. the opposite happened. 25 DPO, these are the results I got.

I flipped out on this light line. And this was the one time searching google made me feel better. I found out about the hook effect, where HCG levels can be so high and it overwhelms the test to the point it can't read it any more. I was too scared to try to use more tests even with diluted pee. I emailed my doctor and asked for bloodwork because of the light line. Two days later, my results came back with 36,000 at 5 weeks 5 days!

Needless to say I'm returning the unopened pack of FRERs I bought during my freak out.

 

[Kitana]

Congrats on your bfp! This is why they tell you to stop testing! A frer is sensitive enough for very low levels but goes a bit weird when you are truly and positively pregnant. Try to relax and don't test anymore. Enjoy your happy 9 months!x

 

[Jellybean86]

I had gotten really strong BFPs.. had my first faint line at 9DPO on October 16th, tested on this obvious positive FRER at 10DPO.

13 or 14DPO, I had a less sensitive rapid response FRER left, so I took it and it was a dye stealer!

I was still using cheapies and watching the line progress until I ran out. I haven't had any of my appointments or blood work done, so I decided to buy another FRER pack last week after I hadn't tested in a few days to ease my mind.. the opposite happened. 25 DPO, these are the results I got.

I flipped out on this light line. And this was the one time searching google made me feel better. I found out about the hook effect, where HCG levels can be so high and it overwhelms the test to the point it can't read it any more. I was too scared to try to use more tests even with diluted pee. I emailed my doctor and asked for bloodwork because of the light line. Two days later, my results came back with 36,000 at 5 weeks 5 days!

Needless to say I'm returning the unopened pack of FRERs I bought during my freak out.

I tested way too much and made myself freak out over nothing. Really think once you get one positive you should stop testing. My first pregnancy ended at 6 weeks 4 days and my tests had progressed from 1-2 weeks to 2-3 weeks so I thought it was all fine. Then when I got pregnant with my successful pregnancy, the tests at the beginning were never very dark and it took ages for the clear blue weeks tests to move on to 2-3 weeks. I also had major cramping and assumed the worst was happening again. But it was all good and I had a healthy daughter on her actual due date!