"Hook Effect". Attention POAS addicts!! (preg. mentioned, x-posted)

onedaysoon · #1 February 10th, 2011, 04:10 PM

If your a POAS addict like I am, then you might find this interesting...and maybe even if you're not.

Yesterday I took another IC, and I noticed that the last couple have been lighter. So, naturally, I started to worry and freak out...begin the anxiety. After doing some internet "research" I came across something called the "hook effect". Essentially, it's when you've got to a point that your HcG is so high that it can show up as light or even negative on a HPT. I ready somewhere that if you take one urine sample and test with one test with just urine, and another test, with the same sample, but then diluted with water, that the diluted one will be darker cause the HcG is lower (following me?! lol). Well, I couldn't just let this go by. I had no more ICs, so off I went this afternoon and bought 2 FRERs to give it a go.

And, here are the results:

This calmed me quite a bit. I didn't dilute the urine a whole lot, but enough (not quite half and half).

So for all you POAS addicts...I now realize there comes a time to STOP!! lol
btw: I'm 7 weeks 6 days (or 7 weeks 1 day as per u/s)

Brittanie · #2 February 10th, 2011, 04:12 PM

I'd heard of this before. Interesting to actually see it in pictures.

ashj_1218 · #3 February 10th, 2011, 04:20 PM

Wow. I have also heard about that...but it is good to see in practice.

missy123 · #4 February 10th, 2011, 04:22 PM

Have you ever seen the show "I didn't know I was pregnant"... Could this be why when most of them take pregnancy tests they come back negative?

mafiamom · #5 February 10th, 2011, 04:33 PM

very very interesting! this happened to me when i was pregnant with the baby i lost. it showed lighter and i figured it was b/c the baby had already died, but my hcg at the time i found out out there was no heartbeat was 41,000!

we should sticky this so we can pull it up when someone posts the inevitable - my pees sticks are getting lighter!

ohnicole · #6 February 10th, 2011, 04:39 PM

That is actually kind of cool to see!

okiliz · #7 February 10th, 2011, 05:03 PM

Hmmmm a new thing to try

onedaysoon · #8 February 10th, 2011, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missy123

Have you ever seen the show "I didn't know I was pregnant"... Could this be why when most of them take pregnancy tests they come back negative?

I've seen the show....and maybe it could be the reason. I think Britney Spears is one of those people who always test negative on tests (even blood tests)...but that's even more rare apparently.

Quote:

Originally Posted by okiliz

Hmmmm a new thing to try

lol...that's kinda what I was thinking, and another reason to POAS (once an addict....) Plus, it was uplifting to see that it was true when I tried it, cause I was seriously panicking that my HcG was dropping or something.

TnPhotoMama81 · #9 February 10th, 2011, 06:56 PM

Thanks for sharing this! Pretty neat.

shanise.robertson · #10 February 10th, 2011, 10:32 PM

Hope you dont mind if i post a link about this in am i pregnant

thats so cool

StaceygirlPa · #11 February 11th, 2011, 02:58 AM

Thanks for sharing this. I have heard about this before but it's nice to see it in pictures. I agree that maybe we could get this as a sticky.

onedaysoon · #12 February 11th, 2011, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shanise.robertson

Hope you dont mind if i post a link about this in am i pregnant

thats so cool

No problem Shanise! I hope it can prevent people from having the same panic attacks I did about HPTs getting lighter.

Shadeauxe · #13 February 11th, 2011, 06:04 AM

Interesting information.

The real thing is to stop taking pregnancy tests if you already know you're pregnant. Why torture yourself like that. Carpe Diem!

I am also a fan of Carpe Carpum (seize the carp) because it's fun to say.

.:Shortcake:. · #14 February 11th, 2011, 06:09 AM

I have not taken any tests since I got my first beta. Mostly because I know I would freak myself out if the test was lighter.

onedaysoon · #15 February 11th, 2011, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .:Shortcake:.

I have not taken any tests since I got my first beta. Mostly because I know I would freak myself out if the test was lighter.

Smart, but my OB doesn't do betas, so it was my way of watching the numbers rise...then scare the pants off myself.

Hee hee...Carpe Carpum...love it Courtney!

Addaboy · #16 February 11th, 2011, 07:05 AM

I love home science projects!!!!

Though I will admit, I am one of those that continue to test, but I am also going through my 4th m/c too. And this is the only loss I've had where the tests didn't get lighter on me when I started to not feel pregnant. My HCG is hovering in the 500's & with my previous losses I only got up to 212.

But I have heard at a certain point your HCG levels off as far as home pregnancy tests go, so this was pretty neat to see!