An obsessive HPT question...

[Katie]

Hello! It's my first time posting on this board. I was just wondering what you guys thought of this. I'm a little....obsessed with HPT's. I've been testing since 8dpIUI. My IUI was Feb 25th and my beta is scheduled for Friday. I've been getting terrible evaporation lines which teased me at first that I could be pregnant.... But I know you aren't supposed to read HPT's after 10 minutes (and the lines are coming like an hour after I take the test, and they are barely there, definitely evaporation lines), so I haven't let them give me too much hope. I'm 12dpIUI today. I've had 4 pregnancies (including a chemical and a m/c) and have always had a solid + on 12dpIUI. So I was heartbroken when this morning's HPT was again negative (testing with an HPT that detects 25mIU). On a whim (ok, obsession) I took one this afternoon (same brand as this morning, I actually took 2 brands this morning and both were quite -). The HPT this afternoon came up + after a few minutes and stayed there, but the pink from the line seemed to run a bit and there was a lot of pink in the test line area. I wonder if it was an error? The brand was the Dollar Store brand (New Choice). I've always gotten good readings on these, but they are terrible for evaporation lines (at least with my own body chemistry). This + came up after about 2-3 minutes. How could it be SO different from this morning's reading that was extrememly - ?

I know I should just stay away from these darn things. I originally started taking them because I have a horrible cold and I want so badly to take something but don't want to if I could be pregnant. So I was taking an HPT, hoping it would be + so I could write off taking any medication. I keep getting - and then I don't have the guts to take medication. I did finally give in and take some Robitussin for my terrible cough. I figure hacking isn't going to do an early embryo any good (if I am pregnant).

Is anyone else as obsessed with HPT's as I am? What do you think of today's reading? I'll take another one in the morning (of course!). Oh and I swear I tend to get better results with second morning urine than first morning urine (in previous pregnancies).... has anyone found this to be true as well?

[BC-Maura]

Hi Katie and welcome to the bb. Obsessed with HPTs? People here? YES! I think at one point or another we have all been obsessed with HPTs. They are tempting and irresistable at times! We understand the magnetic pull towards the HPT aisle at the drugstore and towards the box sitting on the shelf!

Anyway, I know you've always gotten ++HPTs with your other pgs at 12 dpIUI, but EACH pg is different and you really, really can't judge this experience by the past. Implantation takes place between 6-12 dpo and this could be one month where you implanted on the later side. You just never know this early! Up to 10% of pg women will get a false positive when testing this early.

As for the confusing HPTs today, it's hard to say what's going on. What brands were those taken earlier? I don't have any experience with the Dollar Store brand, but I think some others here have used it and found that it worked ok. A day really can make a difference, so tomorrow may shed more light. If not, then your beta on Friday certainly should give some indication!

I hope that you see a BFP tomorrow when you test! Let us know, ok? Sending you lots of ++++++++++++++s!

GOod luck
++++++++++++
Maura

[Katie]

Thanks Maura! Other brands that I have used are Answer Early Result and Rite Aid brand. Both have given distinct negatives. An Answer was negative this morning and because I'm obsessive and when I got the Dollar Store + this afternoon, I took the Answer (with the same cup of pee) and it was super negative too. This is just horrible. HPT's actually make the waiting worse I think.... They cause mind games! lol

I'll update you guys in the morning with my HPT results.

[BC-DKNY]

hi katie...welcome to the board! there's not really too much i can add to what maura has already said.

here's a link tho where you can look up what brands detect what amount of hcg:

http://www.fertilityplus.org/faq/hpt.html

i was a total HPT junkie at one point too. you could've opened up my bathroom closet and had your choice of any number of tests and brands i finally got fed up with the obsession and disappointments. as a matter of fact i took it to the other extreme. i didn't go buy another HPT until i was already 5 days late for AF.

best of luck and please let us know how it goes!

[Katie]

Thanks everyone, but this morning's HPT is very negative. I think yesterday's was an error. The pink from the test line was all over the place yesterday.... Scary that the tests can give you an error. Another failed cycle.

[BC-Maura]

Oh, Katie, I'm so sorry! I hope that your feeling is wrong and that it's just too early still to be testing. Lots of++++++++s for Af to stay away!

Keep us posted and good luck+++++++
Maura

[BC-DKNY]

i'm sorry katie don't give up yet tho, where there's no AF, there's still hope. best of luck!

[stacy-ann]

Oh Katie & welcome to this BB.

I am so sorry I always say it isn't over until the witch shows and I pray she stays away for 9 mths.

I was one of those HPT junkie when I was in TTC so you are not alone.

There is always hope when AF hasn't shown as yet...stay away Af or else..


++++++++++
Good luck!

[Katie]

Thanks again everyone. My beta came back at 6, so I go back on Sunday to see if it's down to 0. A chemical pregnancy. I do think that one Dollar Tree brand HPT was an error. The same exact brand test earlier that day was negative and the next morning was negative. The way the ink went across the test just seemed odd. I think it was an error.

[BC-DKNY]

oh no katie.....i'm sorry for your disappointment. i'm gonna keep my fingers crossed for you anyway. please update us after your next beta.