weird changes in body, feels like pregnancy?

[Catherine2023]

Warning: may be TMI, I'm explaining as much as possible

So a while back I felt so sure I was having implantation symptoms
My cycle was a bit off, I felt strange twinges to one side of my uterus, just something I had never felt before. I wasn't TTC but it was possible since I wasn't on birth control and relied on the pull out method

But sure enough af showed up eventually. Despite that, I took a test to be sure and sure enough it was negative. A little suspicious negative, but I have line eyes.

I was content with my answer and life as normal continued.

Roughly 4 months later:
My abdomen has within the past month, grown to the point where I look so bloated I almost look pregnant. My coat is quite tight now, and I have put on a small amount of weight for the first time in years, with no changes to diet or lifestyle. I'm quite a slim build and I'm very tall, and the only area that's grown is my abdomen. I'm not huge, but, it's enough to make me concerned especially since it hasn't gone down. Usually if I'm bloated it only lasts a few days.

I'm still seeing my cycle every month, plus intermenstrual bleeding (more than I've ever experienced)
I'm not experiencing pregnancy symptoms aside from a bit of nausea, randomly I feel sick just looking at random things that never caused that before, but I'm not throwing up, even if I gag. My back also really hurts and I feel heavy.

The weirdest thing of all, is I keep feeling movement in my abdomen. Sometimes I see it too, like spasms. I feel it under my bellybutton, or to the side of it. I can feel it sometimes with my hand against my skin, or just internally like something flips over.

I went for a short but fairly quick walk in the cold today, when i eventually sat down it felt like 10 spasms happened all at once inside me, settled and then a few more, it felt utterly bizarre and lasted a minute or so. It felt really quite strong, I've never felt that before. This has gotten more frequent over the past couple weeks

I know it's possible to have your period and be pregnant, or even to have a cryptic pregnancy with the hook effect on pregnancy tests. But I honestly don't know if I'm being a crazy person or if I could actually be pregnant. As far as we are aware, he has pulled out successfully each time and he has taken necessary precautions against... contamination, so I'm kind of in disbelief that it could even be possible.

I want to take a test, including tests with diluted urine to counteract the hook effect, but I feel so sure it'll be negative and I'm not sure either of us will trust it.

What do you all think?

If you don’t believe the tests then get the GP to do a blood test for hCG.

P.S. pulling out is not contraception. If you don’t want to get pregnant then you’ll have to take other precautions

Just do a test and find out!

oh and as @Pollywoddles says, pulling out it’s a contraception.

Christ almighty, go and take a pregnancy test! Nobody on Mumsnet is psychic and can tell you if you're pregnant.

The test should be 99% reliable.

Go to your GP. If you have a "bump" and are feeling movement, your uterus should be clearly palpable. They can also refer you for a HCG blood test if necessary. But to be honest, if you are getting negative urine tests, the chances of pregnancy are miniscule.

I have no idea what the hook effect is??
If you’re 3 or 4 months pregnant a test would show it. So just go and buy one.

Do a test, and also go to the GP as others have suggested - my SIL gave birth at five months to my nephew and didn't have a clue she was pregnant, had regular periods and was so, so slim - in fact she looked like she'd lost weight

(PS, after lots of care in hospital for being so early, dnephew is adorable!)

The hook effect is getting a negative or lighter positive test because the level of HCG is so high. It can be counteracted by diluting the urine with water.

And yes, take a test.

I really don't appreciate your response. I'd recommend against assuming someone's situation or their abilities to simply go get a test. I am not in a position to do that quite so freely so cut the attitude.
Secondly if you'd bothered to read my post, you'd see I've already taken a test, and that's the problem. As far as I can tell, I'm not pregnant, but unfortunately there is such a thing as a cryptic pregnancy, or a pregnancy with the hook effect which is when imbalanced hormones cause false negatives on urine, or even blood tests.
The point of my post was not to receive judgement from a community of people who ought to have a little sympathy.
I just wanted advice, or to see if other women had experienced similar feelings or had tried a diluted test in order to counteract the hook effect. You have no idea of my mental state or my situation right now, or how this is affecting me
If you have nothing positive to input, kindly butt out...

@Pollywoddles @2chocolateoranges
I know pulling out isn't a form of contraception, but it lessens the risk of pregnancy all the same so at the time I felt it was safe enough. Obviously I'm now educating myself on other options but at the time I wasn't too bothered if I did conceive, though not actively trying.

I'm glad your nephew is okay! I imagine that was quite the shock for your SIL! Just goes to show that pregnancy isn't black and white and can be hard to detect

If you're not in a position to buy a pregnancy test how would you look after a child?
Urine tests would be positive.

@Catherine2023 thank you! It really was, but you're right it just goes to show what can happen. Hope you get sorted x

I would absolutely be going to the GP with your symptoms and asking for some tests, pregnant or otherwise. Hope everything's okay.

Not that it's any of anyone's business, but the situation I'm in right now is temporary. God, posting on here was a big mistake, I wish I hadn't bothered.

🤔You clearly want the outcome from this to be that you're pregnant, even though the chances that you would still have had periods AND have tested negative throughout are basically negligible, so go and pay for an abdominal scan. That will give you an answer in about three seconds flat.

Op if you have an enlarged abdomen and mid cycle bleeding, that definitely needs checking with a gynecologist x

Go to the GP
Sort your contraception out FFS

If you have a Home Bargains, Poundstretcher type shop. Or access to Amazon. All very cheap for pregnancy tests

How old are you OP? Could be peri menopause starting. It’s incredibly unlikely that you are pregnant, but you could contact your GP for blood tests to check HCG, and other hormones for peri?

I got pregnant using pullout so definitely would not recommend if you don't want to get pregnant. Its extremely unlikely that your pregnant if your getting negative tests and your still getting your period. I would definitely contact your GP and explain your symptoms to see what's going on

So you want to take a test, but mysteriously can't take a test, so instead are hoping some psychic stranger on the internet can provide the answers?

There could be people who've experienced the exact same thing but for a totally different reason or with a totally different outcome to yours.

Take a home test and arrange to see your GP ASAP because if you're not pregnant then the abdominal bloating and inter-cycle bleeding needs prompt investigation.

When you can, I think you should take one more test just to be certain as you may have tested to early, I understand this may be difficult but it will then definitely rule out pregnancy and you can book in with gp for further investigation if it's negative. Try not to worry... as hard as it is. X

From my understanding, you took a test quite early on? Have you taken one since?