The Hook Effect and why I no will longer POAS!

gingerchix1980 · November 2014

Just because I can I decided last night to POAS to ease my pgAL brain. BAD idea! The line was significantly lighter than it had been the week before. I immediately thought about my previous mc and how a similar thing had happened. Then I bought some more sticks.....FMU was just as weak as the night before. I went to the ER as I don't have OB or a regular GP for bloods and possibly an U/S and balked at the idea of waiting 5 hours so I consulted Dr. Google who told me about the Hook Effect. Essentially your hcg levels get too high for the tests to read properly and start getting lighter. It was suggested to dilute your urine and test with that. Below is a picture of FMU (top) and diluted afternoon urine both from today. Really random. My brain is not running quite so rampant now. (The bump doesn't like my picture, will upload from laptop, BRB).

Edited to say significantly lighter instead of significantly darker.

Edit #2 - to note that I don't have OB or a regular GP and hoping that the ER (the walk-in clinic around here) could do bloods and possibly an U/S.

gingerchix1980 · November 2014

So, on top is FMU, below was taken at 1:30pm with diluted urine (half and half).

MsOCT · November 2014

I'm pgal too, and I'm trying to say this in the nicest way- chill out. You're not going to know anything until you have an US, or test betas. Stop peeing on tests and trying to interpret them. Today, you are pregnant. Be happy in that place.

forevergraceful · November 2014

A line is a line. The dye could have been different in the test.

gingerchix1980 · November 2014

@lynnyloo - I don't have on OB, the prenatal clinic doesn't see you until 10 weeks here. I don't have a regular GP either. I went to see if they could send me for blood work and possibly for an u/s to see if there was a MMC.

@CALEO - yes, sorry, the lines got significantly lighter, not darker.

@MsOCT - I know, I'm usually an incredibly laid back person, and I shouldn't have bought anymore tests, but my laid back self took a temporary hiatus yesterday!

gingerchix1980 · November 2014

@forevergraceful - I took a couple of tests, all were quite light. It wasn't just the one because I was aware that different tests can have different levels of dye in them.

OctoberStars · November 2014

You went to the er? What exactly were you expecting them to do for you? Wave a magic wand to keep the embryo in there?

gingerchix1980 · November 2014

@OctoberStars - yeah, that one, the one they forgot to pull out of their closet when I miscarried! Douches, can't believe they didn't use it.

I don't have a Dr. The ER is used in the town I live in as a Doctor's surgery. It's kind of what's done around here. As I mentioned above, I was looking to get bloods done and maybe an u/s.

foodie12rn · November 2014

@gingerchix1980‌ - how many weeks pg are you?

Unknown · November 2014

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gingerchix1980 · November 2014

@hoping&waiting12 - 6w5d. Around the time I miscarried in August. Why?

foodie12rn · November 2014

gingerchix1980 said:
@hoping&waiting12 - 6w5d. Around the time I miscarried in August. Why?

Just curious how far along you were. In only 4 weeks 4 days, so I didn't know if they would have been able to see anything if you'd actually has an u/s.

Here's an idea: why don't you find an OB? You can explain that you've had a previous loss and tell them you're having anxiety about your pregnancy.y OB is going to do a 6 week u/s to calm my nerves. Stay away from the ER. Seriously.. It's a waste of your money and time and the hospital's time as well!

gingerchix1980 · November 2014

hoping&waiting12 said:

@hoping&waiting12 - 6w5d. Around the time I miscarried in August. Why?
Just curious how far along you were. In only 4 weeks 4 days, so I didn't know if they would have been able to see anything if you'd actually has an u/s. Here's an idea: why don't you find an OB? You can explain that you've had a previous loss and tell them you're having anxiety about your pregnancy.y OB is going to do a 6 week u/s to calm my nerves. Stay away from the ER. Seriously.. It's a waste of your money and time and the hospital's time as well!

Unfortunately in the town I live in, there only option is the prenatal clinic at the hospital. I live in Canada, so it's Federally funded health care. We don't get to choose our OBs, the hospital provides them through the clinic. Also, the ER is free here and in my town it's pretty much used as the walk-in centre.

foodie12rn · November 2014

gingerchix1980 said:

hoping&waiting12 said:

gingerchix1980 said:
@hoping&waiting12 - 6w5d. Around the time I miscarried in August. Why?
Just curious how far along you were. In only 4 weeks 4 days, so I didn't know if they would have been able to see anything if you'd actually has an u/s.

Here's an idea: why don't you find an OB? You can explain that you've had a previous loss and tell them you're having anxiety about your pregnancy.y OB is going to do a 6 week u/s to calm my nerves. Stay away from the ER. Seriously.. It's a waste of your money and time and the hospital's time as well!

Unfortunately in the town I live in, there only option is the prenatal clinic at the hospital. I live in Canada, so it's Federally funded health care. We don't get to choose our OBs, the hospital provides them through the clinic. Also, the ER is free here and in my town it's pretty much used as the walk-in centre.

Oh ok! I live in the US and I'm a nurse. Our healthcare is definitely a bit different. I'm sorry you have to wait for so long to be seen. Try to relax and keep your mind occupied. Hopefully the next few weeks fly by!

gingerchix1980 · November 2014

chelseamb11 said:

If I were in line behind you with a legitimate concern, I'd be pissed you're taking time and resources away from the ER because you've being super anal about the color of a line on a test.

And that was one of the reasons that I decided not to wait. So, as I left without being seen (as I mentioned above) I wasted neither time, resources, nor anyone else's time with a "legitimate concern".

wineandcake · November 2014

I completely understand why you would choose ER. I'm in Canada as well, I'm in a very small town (2000ish people) and the doctors aren't accepting new patients right now, they don't do prenatal care here, and they only see walk ins between 8-9am m-t-th-f so its difficult to get in. The way people call their OB's after hours and on weekends is just bizarre to me because we just don't do that here (or anywhere I've lived before), emerge is the only option.

I would say that unless you are having bleeding/painful cramping to hold out until your appointment. I know its hard, but it's really the only option besides finding an elective ultrasound clinic and paying for an early scan... Would that be an option? We don't have them in my region or the next over, but I know big cities in Southern Ontario do.

gingerchix1980 · November 2014

@chelseamb - thanks. I always check the toilet paper too!

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