Continuously positive FRER, pregnancy symptoms but negative blood test?

[Lou8788]

Hi Ladies

Wondering if anyone has had a similar experience, I have been getting consistently positive FRER for the last four days. For the first time ever, suddenly my boobs became noticeably swollen, and feel different. I have had back ache and low-level cramps for almost a week. Today I had an HCG blood test taken and the level was less than 5, came home and took a FRER and still positive.

Can blood tests be wrong?

Do you have a picture of the FRER's? I had an issue with them last month as I was getting lines on them all. Went to get bloods which confirmed I wasn't pregnant. The line was faint but quite dark for an indent. I've always found them quite reliable before. Are you going to get your bloods tested again?

@chasingtherainbow1 I'm so sorry you had that experience, it really gets your hopes up :( I'll try and get the photos off my phone. I thought it might be a faulty batch so I bought another box, and the same thing! The lines seem to be getting darker each day as well. I have heard of people getting negative bloods and being pregnant. It seems unlikely but in the past I have never felt so pregnant! My boobs are out of control haha.

Ahh it won't let me upload them!keeps saying 'something went wrong'. Definitely pink. These lines show up well within the time frame, almost instantly. I cried like a baby the first day I got a positive because it was so clear, and then they've got darker as the days have gone by. The negative blood test has thrown me.

Ah maybe yours are different to mine then. It may be that yours are positive! Try leave it 48 hours and see if they get any darker (although if you're anything like me you'll want to test again tomorrow 😂). Fingers crossed for you 🤞

Thank you so much! Haha definitely I am absolutely a POAS addict. One each morning 😂 what happened with your tests? Did the lines come up later?

Where was your blood test and why did you have one? I’d be tempted to believe multiple FRERs if they’re getting darker…

I'm like that too. I'm just trying to be more relaxed this month and going to try and not do a test until period is due.

They got slightly darker over a period of 5 days and I was worrying it was a chemical/ ectopic so I went to the go for blood tests which confirmed hcg was less than 1. I'm trying to upload a pic of mine but it's not letting me do it either. I think I had a bad batch of FRERs!

I had it done at my doctor. It came back as less than 5 which blew my mind 🤯 I'm not ruling it out until AF shows up though. Ohh that actually sounds reeeeally similar to mine. It's so strange! I always thought false positives were impossible, especially on these. I'm worried I'll never trust a pregnancy test again haha.

I had an ectopic 10 years ago. It ruptured and I had to have emergency surgery to remove my left tube so I totally get being worried about an ectopic. I think it's part of the rest I test so much cos I'm super worried about it happening again.

Mmm this is so strange. So sorry you are in this limbo.

One of those tests has to be wrong and given how many FRERs you've done and you say the lines are strong, I'd be inclined to think the bloods are wrong. Can you do another blood test?

I know that occasionally people get faulty tests but not several. Also both tests are measuring Hcg so there is no explanation other than one being wrong. Ectopics are scary but wouldn't explain this result.

Best of luck and sorry again that you're going through this!!

Medical tests can be wrong. My DP had a sperm test that told us he was almost completely infertile. Was just a testing error! (What a fun couple of months that was while we waited to find that out!)

What did your doctor said, have they arranged for you to go back? Seems odd that the blood test would be wrong but you never know. Good luck!

Thank you so much for your kind responses and reassurance 😍 feel very lucky to have such support.

I'm so sorry that happened with your husband's test! That must have been the most awful feeling. How did you discover it was wrong?

I took another FRER this morning with FMU, and the line was still there but fainter 😔 starting to worry it might be a chemical. I really should stop testing so early! Just so tempting isn't it. Still, no AF yet so it's not over! I'll keep you updated.

Sorry forgot to answer the last question! I made another appointment for Wednesday as for the first time ever I feel genuinely pregnant. My doctor is pretty understanding of me worrying due to my historic ectopic. I have never felt this pregnant in my life but the blood test coming back negative made me feel pretty silly haha.

@Lou8788 @chasingtherainbow1 did you purchase your tests from Amazon? I’m having a similar problem with frers showing faint positives but not getting any darker and I’m beginning to think I’ve bought a few dodgy batches!

Hi @Lineeye I'm so sorry to hear you're going through this! I actually just got mine from the pharmacy, I bought two different boxes to double check and they seem to both be doing it! It's so heartbreaking right? Have you gone back and looked at the listing for the tests? I've heard some odd stories about fakes being sold on Amazon! Which is so unfair x

I did, mainly good reviews but there are some bad reviews saying they think they’re fake and producing false positives, but as they were sold direct from Amazon prime I thought I could trust them. Wish I’d seen these reviews before I bought them.

I hope we get some answers soon either way, I think being in limbo is the worst!

@Lineeye i got mine from Boots pharmacy. There must have been an issue with the batch I got because I've used them before and they've been great. Then last month they were just awful for indents

I wonder if it’s just the quality of first response in general that has gone down then? I’ve always trusted them but something just isn’t right. I think I’ll wait a few days and try a different brand.

I hope you guys get some answers soon, it is heartbreaking x

This is what my lines look like over the last 4 days, no real change. are you getting the same thing?

I’ve had 3 chemical pregnancies/ early miscarriages before and 2 healthy pregnancies and I’ve never come across this. Even with my chemicals the lines got darker before fading. This is strange.

@Lineeye they're what mine were like. I just called the doctors and asked for a blood test for clarification. Fingers crossed they will do one for you

@chasingtherainbow1 I think I might do the same and give the doctors a ring, thanks!

@Lineeye yeah I hope it goes well. I do think your last one does look a bit darker though so hopefully it's good news!

Oh my gosh mine look identical to this! They are super convincingly positive right?? How does the blood test thing work in the UK? Here we are allowed to have them just by asking, and are always given to confirm a pregnancy. Please keep us updated on your progress ladies!

This is the first month I've tested early, now I keep thinking I wonder how many chemical pregnancies I've had and not known. I'm worried to test next month in case this happens again.

I think the tests are faulty, I’ve had a google around and the same thing has been happening to other women over the last couple of years with really strong evap lines on frer tests. So disappointing. They used to be really good.