'Inconclusive' pregnancy test at gp- bfp home test?!

[vintagelife]

Hi, wondered if anyone could help? I'm 4 wks pregnant and just been to see gp to get referral for an early scan due to having an ectopic pregnancy earlier this year. Did a test at gp which showed a faint line which he said was 'inconclusive.' I've come home and couldn't resist testing again and have a very clear bfp....I'm so scared but I realise it's so early still. I have to drop of a morning urine sample at the gp tomorrow so they can send it to be tested. Anyone got experience of this? Thanks

[BeginnerSAHM]

You can't get a false positive, even if it's a faint line. Congratulations! Maybe the GP is being cautious in case it doesn't stick and is a 'chemical' pregnancy. The problem with being able to pick up pregnancies so early these days is you also pick up very very early miscarriages that you might not have known about otherwise. Fingers crossed for you!! Two positives though... That's good! It doesn't matter at all if the line is faint - it.'a still a positive. First morning urine tomorrow should give a stronger line.

[Sweetasstevia]

I think tests used by gp's are quite cheapy strip ones - I bet you are testing with more expensive one like clear blue or First Response that can detect the pregnancy much quicker. Congratulations!!![

[vintagelife]

Thank you both for replying. The test I did just now is darker than the first one I did on Friday. I wish I hadn't been to doc now as all it's done is completely stress me out!! The tests I'm using were cheapy ones but are sensitive (10m something?) he didn't leave it very long to develop either. Just came out thinking it was all going wrong again. Don't think I'll sleep well tonight does anyone know what sensitivity the nhs use?

[NotSpartacus]

I think your gp doesn't understand how pregnancy tests work. A faint line still indicates that you are producing hcg. It is as likely to be the result if less inducator being put on the stick during manufacture as anything else.

You have had a previous ectopic and need an early scan, regardless of whether the gp thinks the line is faint.

Can you self refer to the epau?

[vintagelife]

I know! He even went to show the midwife and she said inconclusive...Which has really worried me. I tried to phone the epu Saturday and again on Monday and it's just a recording saying gp's can refer patients and to leave the patients name etc. I thought about just showing up there but I'm unsure they could see anything on a scan this early anyway?

[redjumper]

You're definitely pregnant so congratulations! I can tell you for a fact that the NHS often use cheap tests and there's no such thing as inconclusive....a line is a line. It's faint on their tests because they're not that sensitive in early pregnancy that's all. It's not a chemical pregnancy, that means an early miscarriage which often goes undiagnosed because people think it's a late period. I used an NHS test on the day my period was due and it was negative. A clear blue test at home was positive and that's all I needed to know, I am pregnant (13 weeks now!).

[pocketsized]

Epu scanned me at 5 weeks due to previous ectopic history. They pre-warned that they wouldn't be able to tell at that stage if pregnancy was viable or not, just if it was in the right place or not. Thankfully it was, and they followed up with another scan 2 weeks later which showed a heartbeat. Now nearly 19 weeks! Good luck OP, chances are everything will be fine, but better safe than sorry with an ectopic.

Xx

[vintagelife]

Thank you so much for all of your replies, it has really helped. Will report back on here when I know more xxx

[HamAndPlaques]

I had a false negative at the GP despite BFP at home and was well and truly pregnant. There's virtually no such thing as a false negative, except in some very rare conditions. Good luck.

[NotSpartacus]

Yes, they can see very early whether a pregnancy is in the right place. My dd2 was spotted on a scan at around 4+4. What they can't see then is a heartbeat, which is why people tell you not to get scanned until around 6 weeks, but if your concern is ectopics, earlier is better.
One note of caution - if your dates are wrong or if it is ectopic, they may not be able to see anything on a scan, so you end up with a period of uncertainty. But personally I. always preferred being "in the system" to waiting, especially where ectopics are concerned.

[BeginnerSAHM]

When I said maybe the GP is cautious in case it doesn't stick, I meant it could not implant properly. It is possible (not likely!!) that then you could have a very early miscarriage. To have any line - even a faint one - you must be pregnant or have recently been pregnant. You must have the pregnancy hormone in your urine. I only mentioned it as a possibility as it could explain why the GP saying it was 'inconclusive'. Presumably, he and the midwife do know how pregnancy tests work, they just haven't explained their response properly. Anyway - congratulations again and try not to worry!! You will have to wait a few days/weeks to see a heartbeat on a scan which i realise is very frustrating. I've had early miscarriages and also early scans for bleeding with a pregnancy that turned out fine (5 year old asleep upstairs) so I appreciate you could well be feeling anxious. It sounds like you've had a couple of good strong lines though, which is great.

[vintagelife]

Beginner- yes feeling very anxious as have been ttc since recovering from ectopic. It's very early days so may well not be viable, I just found it strange having a faint line at docs and a clear one at home half an hour later! Well hopefully by tomorrow night I'll have a better idea. Notspartacus- I completely agree I just want to be in the system asap! Xxx

[HazleNutt]

I remember a thread here where GP claimed that the lines have to be of equal strength and therefore just a line was negative. Which is totally wrong, of course. A line is a line.

[BeginnerSAHM]

Wow .... That is really quite worrying....!

[HazleNutt]

here it is, was the nurse, but still:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/1981216-BFP-AT-HOME-BFN-AT-GP

[vintagelife]

That is shocking hazlenutt! Well I just phoned up for the results and got this response: 'results aren't back yet.' Arghh! I said shall I try and ring later then? She casually said 'yeah try tomorrow...' I did my own test this morning and got the darkest line yet. Just want to self refer. So frustrated! Thanks for your support everyone x

[pocketsized]

Does your EPU do self referrals OP? If you are still in the same area as where you were treated for the ectopic I would suggest giving them a ring if you are concerned. As notSpartacus said earlier is better with ectopic and it sounds like your GP surgery are a bit of a nightmare.

Hope you are doing alright.

[vintagelife]

Update; rang gp today and they confirmed positive test and said they would fax through my details to epu then they will contact me to arrange a scan between 6-8 wks... Obviously 8 wks would be too late considering I was in surgery at wk 8 last time. He also said 'if you have any pain or bleeding before then, come back to us....but I'm sure that won't happen.' I just wanted to get off the phone at this point... I'd love to have self referred but there doesn't seem to be that option. Gp has been a bit of a waste of time!

[pocketsized]

I'd get on the phone to them anyway OP, just say your GP is referring you but you just wanted to find our what the process was.... I expect they will be much more switched on!

[vintagelife]

I have tried to phone on three occasions and get the same recording saying 'gp's can refer patients...etc' so had to go the gp route.

[pocketsized]

Urgh, what a pain. I think GPs are great if you have tonsillitis or an ear infection etc, but it's frustrating when they don't seem to have the I depth knowledge of reproduction stuff - it's such a worrying time and you just want to speak to someone who is more of an expert. Hopefully they will see your referral and get in touch soon.

[NotSpartacus]

That is awful. Actually, I think it is negligent.
I remember my second ectopic. I went to see a gp who examined my tummy and told me I was fine.
I think you should phone the epau direct and tell them your gp does not understand the issue and that you need a scan. I did this and the consultant told me to just come straight in.
Where in the country are you?

[NotSpartacus]

Sorry, I see you have phoned the hospital. Try the switchboard, ask for the direct line for the epau nurses or get the name of the consultant and ring his/her secretary.
Most hospital staff I have found to be v helpful about this stuff - it is all about getting to speak to the right person.

[vintagelife]

Thank you for taking the time to reply notspartacus. I did try the switchboard at one point and they put me through to the same helpful recording! I've looked back through the letters from after my op and found an email address for the consultants secretary, so I've emailed her. I'm in Gloucestershire.