Long flashing smiley on ovulation tests, normal or missed peak?

[Springcloud26]

Hi, looking for some advice! First time TTC and on Cycle 4 after coming off pill around 7 months ago.

Past 6 cycles have been 29-32 days, with one unusually long one at 39 days. Had bloods taken, only potential issue TSH was elevated (T4 and antibodies normal) but gp wanted to wait and repeat bloods (next month) before doing anything.

I started using CB Advanced Digital ovulation test for this cycle as have no idea when I actually ovulate and just using Flo app. Started testing CD 9, High appeared CD11. I’m now on CD18 and it’s still flashing smiley ‘high’. DTD every other day. Testing daily FMU.

It feels like a long ‘high’ period, and I’m going to keep testing, is this still normal or have I missed my peak? Should I be testing more than once? Switch to evening urine?

Thank you 😊

You haven’t necessarily missed your peak. I usually had the flashing smiley face for quite a while. The solid smiley face always came eventually. If I remember correctly I had the flashing smiley face for just over a week the cycle that I conceived my daughter.

Thank you! That is reassuring to hear, I will keep going testing this cycle 😊

I didn’t get on with the clear blue ones - the smiley was too vague for me.
I moved to the easy@home ones off amazon and you can use the app to measure the score and see the difference day to day.

I also think afternoon/evening is recommended for testing.

@TurtleGroove thank you, I will look into these. Yep, now that I’ve started tracking, I think I would prefer more data!

When TTC my son we had about 7 days of flashing smiley then solid. How many times a day are you testing? Once you get the flashing smiley you can test more than once a day to catch the peak. It's a bit expensive doing that with the clear blue sticks, but might be worth it. If your cycles range up to 39 days then your hormones might just climb a bit more gradually and you still have enough time to ovulate. Good luck xx

@SKLM I was testing once a day with first urine, and as @TurtleGroove mentioned maybe I’d be better afternoon / early evening?

I ordered some easy@home on Amazon next day delivery so started these instead 3 times a day (without missing a day from CB). I’ll do this for next few days just to see if it climbs or if it stays low and I’ve missed it. I think this cycle will be a bit of trial and error! Still dtd every other day just in case.

It looks like I am getting towards peak now - the last 2 tests were 5 hours apart today. Wish I’d started tracking LH sooner and not just relied on an app! 😊

@Springcloud26 those lh strips are looking really good. I am pregnant with my second at the moment, I changed from the clear blue monitor to the pre-mom lh strips as my cycles got longer after my first baby was born. I found it much cheaper and if you get the free app you can get a graph of your lh rises and peaks. So helpful. But you have covered yourself really with dtd. If you keep at it for another couple of days you will have easily caught ovulation 😀

@SKLM Congratulations! How far along are you?

I feel this will be my best timed cycle so far, and I’m learning so much!

@Springcloud26 yeah the learning is quite something isn't it, I found it very enjoyable too, I can be quite hyper focused on things sometimes and I certainly found a lot to analyse in my cycle whilst TTC.

I'm 9 weeks currently. We fell pregnant after 3 cycles with this one. Two cycles i had no luck with the clear blue digital tests, I got my static smiley but very early in my quite long cycle so I started to suspect I was having more than one peak per cycle. So, I switched to the lh strips for one cycle and found that yes I was having one peak of around 0.9 at day 14 which must be a failed ovulation attempt (this is when I get a static smiley). I carried on testing daily. Then as I suspected, about two weeks later, got a huge peak of 1.7. we timed dtd around that second peak and that very cycle we got pregnant. I really rate the strips they get you very closely in tune with things!

Good luck 😀

Honestly. Keep testing first cycle here after coming off pill last month. I tested and it was a bit all over the place then got high on 2 different types. This carried on for maybe 6-8days id stopped but suddenly felt an ovulation symptom... tested and boom peak id give it until day 10 or so.

@SKLM Hope everything progresses well! Hearing your experience with the strips is very reassuring. Mine rose to 1.23 late morning, and now down to 1.17, so I think that was my peak!

@Slippedonmahbeans00 I will keep testing for a few more days to see what happens next, I am finding it so interesting! After 4 cycles I’m now thinking I have been getting my dtd timing completely wrong. Good luck with your journey!

@Springcloud26 ah yes you may have hit it! It will be really satisfying to keep testing for a few more days and see how long it stays high/how long it takes for it to come down. Are you noticing any ovulation type symptoms that are coinciding with this? If you hit your peak today, ovulation is likely tomorrow which is exciting.

@SKLM no symptoms at the moment, but I will be very aware tomorrow!

Just wanted to update that I’m 15 DPO today and got a positive! Obviously early days and I’m in complete shock, but I definitely think the OPKs helped with the timing this cycle!

@Springcloud26 aw congratulations, that is absolutely fantastic news! So glad that the opks helped you 😊

@SKLM thank you! How are you feeling?

@Springcloud26 ah thanks for asking. Still feeling pretty sick and being sick most days! Just had our dating scan though and all looking well there, just waiting for the results of the blood test they do. Have you told your partner? You must be over the moon x

@SKLM so pleased everything went well with the scan!

Yes I showed him when I was sure (the line pretty much showed straight away) - we are so happy! I’m not sure how I’m going to keep it to myself for the next few weeks, especially if I start to feel really sick and it becomes noticeable at work. It’s so good to be able to chat with others here, especially during this phase!

@Springcloud26 I can't remember, is this your first baby?

I know how you feel. It's something you want to keep to yourself naturally and that gets really hard when you have noticeable symptoms! Do you think you'll wait to tell your manager? I had to tell mine early the first time as I needed time off sick. They were all so good about it at work X

Yes this place has been so helpful for me at times.

@SKLM yep it’s my first time TTC and first positive, so this is all completely new to me 😊

They will be understanding at work, so I’ll see how I go - I know legally you don’t need to tell them for quite a while but if all okay at 12 weeks, I think I’ll start to share at that point, if I don’t have to earlier.

@Springcloud26 it's funny, I am pregnant with my second but I still feel like a complete novice. Like an honorary first timer again! Each pregnancy really is different, so everyone keeps telling me, and I'm starting to believe it too! We sat in the waiting room for our dating scan a few days ago and all the same emotions came rushing back, joy and anxiety.

Having supportive work makes all the difference.

You have so much to look forward to 😀