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Original poster

Clearblue Digital Conception Indicator - having a larf aren't they?

47 replies

AuntyViral · 18/04/2010 20:10

At is it at our expense?

I know these things work very well for some people and that my situation means i am in the minority. They are fun and when it is all going swimmingly quite a nice thing.

I think I am about to miscarry for the second time in 5 months. I had an mc earlier in the year which was indicating by these tests failing to 'click over' from 2-3 to 3+ until a week after they should have done and then tailing back off to 2-3.

This time (again ) they failed to 'click over' on friday when I had expected it - and saturday said still only 2-3. I was feeling less tired/sick and more worried so this was not unexpected. In the afternoon yesterday i thought i might as wel use the tests i had bought and did one which came up 3+

I am going to sound mad now but been ttc for a while... this morning I did 2 tests both came up 2-3.

Cried a lot. went out shopping came in did another one which took AGES to come up with a result and then came up 1-2. DH came into the room and i said 'my hormones are bottoming out' grabbed ANOTHER test dipped it in the same sample and it came up 3+

I have wasted loads of money and please don;t come on and tell me I am a loon and it's all my fault. I can't help getting my hopes up.

I am posting this not to ask if i am miscarrying but more to ask if this product should be available when it can evidently give extremes of different results?
has anyone else experienced such problems or spoken to clearblue about it? I did ring the helpline on saturday and she said not to worry about differing results but to be honest it was not much consolation

sorry for huge post

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OnlyWantsOne · 18/04/2010 20:59

if you used the same urine sample, and two different tests from the same manufacturer... I would through them away and relax. What a load of crap! Poor you, please try and relax

Original poster
AuntyViral · 18/04/2010 21:03

thanks OWO -wish i could

OP posts:
OnlyWantsOne · 18/04/2010 21:10

It's terrible I feel really sorry for you. Im 7+4 and cant really relax or enjoy it yet, as had a Mc at 9 weeks last time

really hope that things settle for you, could you not have bloods taken to see HCG levels? xx

Original poster
AuntyViral · 18/04/2010 21:20

I have mc'd twicw before and had the hcg thing but find it very stressful so am going to have early scan but very pessimistic

congratulations owo

OP posts:
Rockbird · 18/04/2010 21:29

There was a thread earlier this week on this, poster had a clearblue dig that was going backwards. She went and had a blood test I think and it came back fine. It doesn't always mean bad news though I know it's impossible not to worry.

Original poster
AuntyViral · 18/04/2010 21:31

thanks rockbird

OP posts:
OnlyWantsOne · 18/04/2010 21:32

AuntyViral may I jsut ask how you get an early scan? As I had one with DD, then had a MC since and my GP didnt mention it when went to tell him was PG this time.

Have been ill and have concerns and would love a reassurance scan

Original poster
AuntyViral · 18/04/2010 21:39

i am actually paying for it but if it looks rubbish then i will easily get one by telling gp i m/c early last time and then go to local epu

you can have one if you feel very stressed

OP posts:
OnlyWantsOne · 18/04/2010 21:40

what do I say to my GP then (haha can you tell im intimidated by him )

WilliamItWasReallyNothing · 18/04/2010 21:44

I think if you want the test to give you "accurate" results on the weeks since conception you have to use the first urine of the day. If you use them later in the day the results can be a bit wonky...

HTH

Original poster
AuntyViral · 18/04/2010 21:47

thanks but two very different results ?

OP posts:
WilliamItWasReallyNothing · 18/04/2010 22:03

I think the hormone level fluctuates throughout the day naturally

It says in one of the tick bullet points at the top of the instructions to use the first urine of the day for an accurate conception indicator result (I missed this until after I'd tested)

Have a look at this too - Q 16 in the Scientific Section

www.clearblue.com/uk/HCP/faq.php

Tangle · 19/04/2010 09:38

The hormone level does fluctuate throughout the day naturally - and will also vary a lot with the amount you drink and how often you wee.

But it seems reasonable to expect 2 tests dipped in the same sample to give the same result.

AV - just going for the "is it plugged in?" type question... How confident are you that you dipped the first test (the really slow one that showed 1-2 weeks) for long enough? I was trying to take a test (an old fashioned one) one time and managed to get it completely wrong by not dipping it for long enough - it took forever to come through and then was very unconvincing when it did, even though I was actually pregnant. Is it possible that's what happened with you?

Re. what to ask the Dr - you could call the ante-natal ward direct and explain why you're so anxious and see what they say. You may not need to go through your GP at all.

Fingers crossed for you

bluecardi · 19/04/2010 09:46

Hope you're ok AuntyV

Mimi1977 · 19/04/2010 10:32

Just wanted to say I have had similar concerns when my test came up not pregnant with a digital one and the normal CB one was a good positive. It really is enough to set you into panic.

Try not to worry and I think because you have had two miscarriages you should defo push for getting your bloods done. Okay it won't change anything but it can reassure you or at least prepare you. Could you change GP to a less intimidating one?

I can't reassure you but have been equally worried by the result from the digital. Am very early days at the moment (5+3) and am very nervously going through these early weeks. Defo try Tangle's advice and ring ante-natal ward. Midwives usually lovely too and very sympathetic (more so than some GPs) so try and get hold of the midwife at the surgery. Good luck.

EggsandBacon · 19/04/2010 10:39

Hey Aunty V,

I totally understand you doing the digital tests - I miscarried at 10 weeks earlier this year and am 5 weeks 5 days now (and bricking it!). I saw GP on Friday and said that I'd done the digital test and got 2-3 weeks, and that I was going to do another one to check it had gone up to 3+ weeks. The first thing she said is "don't worry if it doesn't go up". She said that they aren't as sensitive as you think and can be misleading.

She was very kind about me being a crazy about it (I was crying at the time!) so kindly didn't tell me not to do the second one, but the impression I got from her is that she'd rather I didn't do it as it causes more worry than necessary. So I agree that Clearblue are maybe having a laugh, but I can't say to any pregnant woman post mc to not do it, as I think we'll cling to any hope we can get at this point!!

If this helps, I walked into the nearest EPU to me on Saturday - got there half an hour before it opened, and they scanned me for reassurance. My EPU does this (they do it without asking questions for women post mc) and they told me to go back in two weeks for another one (as was only 5weeks 3 days so too early for a heartbeat). I'd recommend it if you can get it - just go straight to the EPU - I hope you can get this too as I think you deserve some reassurance.

Hope you are doing ok and hope it goes alright.

EandB

Original poster
AuntyViral · 19/04/2010 17:19

hello all and thanks so much for messages - the best of mumsnet support like this

Well had after quite a crampy night i woke to a tiny tiny bit of spotting so was feeling totally bleak. At lunch dh brought home the ubiquitous clearblues with torture indicators - which i did anticipating something awful and it came up 3+

still feeling crampy so not out of woods by any means

eggs so pleased about your scan! What did you think you were ( dates wise) wondering how accurate at this very early stage? What is your edd now?

I will have my private scan tomorrow - its 70 pounds which i know is a lot but i drive myself insane .....

will call epu for follow up if things look ok but if now thanks again for all your support

I really loathe those tests - they are th devils work

OP posts:
EggsandBacon · 19/04/2010 17:45

Hi Aunty,

My EDD is 15th Dec - the scan didn't change this, she just said that it looked consistent with my menstrual dates (i.e. it looked like a 5 week 3 day pregnancy).

The £70 is worth it for peace of mind, but I'm guessing from what you've said above that tomorrow you'll be 5 weeks 3 days? So you'll be like what I was on Saturday. If so, just so you know, you'll just see a gestation sac and hopefully a faint yolk sac tomorrow. I started a thread about this as that's all I saw and all the MNetters who replied said that's normal!! The sonographer also said that's normal but I still panic that she wasn't telling me something, don't know why.

After tomorrow, perhaps you can walk into EPU in two weeks time to check the bean has developed by two weeks, if that makes sense? That's what I'm doing and hoping it a) does, and b) that it reassures me!

Will be thinking of you tomorrow, let us know how it goes - best of luck.

EggsandBacon · 19/04/2010 17:50

This is the thread I started about what you should see on the scan at 5 weeks 3 days. Obviously, it could be a few days out because you don't really know when implantation and whatnot occurs, but thought this might be useful for tomorrow?

Good luck.

Original poster
AuntyViral · 19/04/2010 17:57

Eggs thanks for that
I am already getting worried I have done the wrong thing booking it - but tbh if there is NO hope i would rather know....but will I?

I already have children but am old ( very) and am a panic -er as I have experienced the awfulness of miscarriage

my lmp was 7th march but I normally have longer cycles and those sticks of doom indicate later - so who knows!

OP posts:
EggsandBacon · 19/04/2010 18:15

I know what you mean, I wasn't sure after having the scan on Saturday if it was much use or not, but they should be able to tell you if it's a 5 week + pregnancy at the least, and if it looks ok so far. And then, if you've had that scan, then you can have another in two weeks to compare it to so you'll know if it's progressing at the right rate.

I think the way you feel is normal, miscarriage is awful beyond belief and it's hard to stay positive in a pregnancy after it. I'm not one to talk as I'm pessimistic about mine now, but just to say the indicator says 3+ for you today, and a bit of cramping and spotting happens in healthy pregnancies too, so it still looks good.

Hoping for a nice scan tomorrow - you'll hopefully see a dark blob on the screen and maybe a little lighter coloured blob in it (which is the yolk sac) which is what a 5 week type scan would look like.

Original poster
AuntyViral · 20/04/2010 22:29

thanks eggs

Had scan today which was inconclusive
just showed sac which was all ok for around 5 weeks pg (8mm) but was all a bit pessimistic.

came out and felt a fool for not telling sonogropher i always have 30-35 day cycles which may have made it look a bit better
hey ho - in some pain but no bleeding preparing for worst

told to go back in 7-19 days

OP posts:
EggsandBacon · 21/04/2010 10:05

Hope the second scan will be more conclusive, thinking of you, it's a really hard time . I know there isn't anything anyone can say to make it easier for you right now, it is just a waiting game. Keeping fingers crossed.

Original poster
AuntyViral · 21/04/2010 16:46

incidentally.. the devil sticks are now all lovely 3+ even in afternoons

swinging between optimistic and negativity!

OP posts:
ANTagony · 21/04/2010 18:52

Have m/c twice before 12 weeks and I'm going on depth of colour on the sticks myself Asda/ Tesco own brands.

I've read HCG levels can be tested in your blood though so I'm thinking about asking the nurse/ midwife at the local surgery if I could have a regular blood test in these early weeks to monitor that the levels are doing what they should be. I'm a fair bit behind you, a ridiculously long way to go, how am I going to stay sane only just 4 weeks!