When do you know if it's a chemical or not? Mild OHSS, drinking loads of water and faint positives....?

[Lelo3479]

Hello all,

Hope you are as well as can be for you 🙏

I have been testing positive since 6dp5dt, now 12dp5dt, still only getting weak positives though unless I have concentrated urine. I'm very very pleased but also worried.

I drink alot of water as standard at least 3 litres a day. But having to drink more due to Mild OHSS (doesn't feel mild 🙄).

If I go to the loo, test on my 1st wee of the day it's really light.

So I've tried the method of not drinking much water until after I go for my 2nd wee, the 2nd wee test result is alot stronger.

I'm using clear blue ultra early so they're very sensitive. Despite my water intake, should it have darkened by now?

Is it due to the OHSS? I've read it can cause hcg levels to be lower and increase more slowly due to the amount of fluid in your body, anyone any experience of this? Having weak positives due to OHSS and successful pregnancy?

Is it chemical? Or would that have been negative by now 6 days on?

Any experience shared I'll be grateful please x

[Chowlady14]

Hi Lelo I honestly can’t comment on the OHSS affecting it but it makes sense that diluted urine would affect. Can you get in for some BETA blood tests it’s the only real way of knowing. My last cycle of double transfer I was testing positive with frer faint line from 5dpt this progressed until 11dpt and then day 12dpt (embryos were day 5) started to get lighter. Had blood tests which showed low hcg which was decreasing around the same time so stopped meds and ended in chemical.

I’m now on 9dpt of another double 5 day transfer, tests are darker this time but been having so much black/brown discharge the past 2 days I know I’m out. My clinic is telling me to keep taking meds. Today’s free is still a blazing positive but looks identical to yesterday so no progression as in dye stealer but I know it’s over. My point being that home pregnancy tests are not as reliable as blood tests. If you can get in for some bloods I think it would put your mind at rest. Good luck xxx

[Lelo3479 in reply to Chowlady14]

Hi ChowLady, thanks for replying and offering your experience.

How did you get the blood tests? Was it from your GP or the clinic?

My OTD isn't until Monday, so doubt my clinic would entertain me until then. I'll speak with the clinic Monday, see what they have to say.

I'm thinking about trying to get a referral for a private ultrasound locally from my clinic or my GP, as my clinic is 2 hours away and we're away early Wednesday morning, would really want to know whats happening before then.

So sorry to hear about your chemical. Your latest transfer with your strong positives, are you sure your discharge means you're out? Could it not be delayed expulsion of implantation bleeding ? Irritation of cervix? Sorry trying to find hopeful reasons for you 🙏💐. Best wishes and hope it's good news for you, xx

[Chowlady14 in reply to Lelo3479]

I paid for the bloods privately, you should be able to search on line places that are close to you that do them. I know that you can also order a finger prick test on line from medichecks which come back in 2-3 days and are about £30-£40. I’m terrified of needles and blood so that’s not the best option for me.

I’m not sure you will see anything on a scan yet huni, be very careful you don’t have a scan too early and upset yourself unnecessarily as it’s too early to see anything. I believe from 6 weeks is when early reassurance scans are offered. Again try googling place that do them near where you live.

I think I’ve been through so much I’ve just become a negative Nancy on everything. I’ve been using my cyclogest the other way to avoid cervix irritation. The silly thing is I had a double transfer in 2020 and the exact same thing happened which resulted in the 3 year old currently shouting from his bed he’s thirsty/hubgry/scared/needs the toilet/needs the light on 🤣 but it feels like it was a lot more this time and my lining was thin so I just don’t have any faith whatsoever.

I have everything crossed for us both! Also if there is an EPU near you they might do the blood tests for you but unlikely at the weekend if you have no spotting xxx

[Lelo3479 in reply to Chowlady14]

Oh congratulations on your 3 year old 😁 I hope your symptoms don't prove you right, it is so hard when you're let down so often after hoping deeply, I totally understand why you've lost faith.

Fingers crossed for us both too! Please keep me updated if you feel able 🤞🙏💐.

Thank you for for the blood test advice, best wishes xx

[Chowlady14 in reply to Lelo3479]

I will and please let me know how you get on xx

[Lelo3479 in reply to Chowlady14]

Will do xx

[K_LNB]

No help on the OHSS part of the question. But I’ve had one chemical and two pregnancies and they were a mixed bunch in terms of test colours and number of days taken to see a result… so I have my fingers crossed for you!

[Lelo3479 in reply to K_LNB]

Thank you x

[Eloquentia]

Hi! Congratulations on the positive test but sorry to hear about the OHSS. When I got OHSS after egg collection, I was told by my clinic to go on a protein rich diet (protein shakes and protein yoghurts a few times per day) - apparently protein helps absorb the liquid that builds up. We didn't do a transfer at that time because of the OHSS, so I don't know how it might affect the tests. I did FRER tests fist with my successful transfer as they are much more sensitive than the Clear Blue, so it might be worth trying with one of those? Fingers crossed for a smooth and easy pregnancy!

[Lelo3479 in reply to Eloquentia]

Thank you, yes I've read that protein helps with albumin production of something, will definitely got stuck in x

[Loverofpizza]

Congratulations on your BFP! I'm just over 5 weeks pregnant and recovering from late onset OHSS (it's been absolutely horrendous and i look 9 months pregnant already from the amount of fluid in my abdomen 😫) and up until the last couple of days my tests were all showing light lines, but very definitely positives. Like you i read that hcg levels are affected by OHSS as i was starting to worry about a lack of line progression, I've read at least two studies where this applies to blood serum hcg levels as well as the levels detected in urine. Just something to be mindful of if you do decide to get bloods done, it could cause unnecessary worry because they are likely to be low numbers even though it's not believed to have an adverse effect on pregnancy. The last two days i have tested again and the lines are now darker than they were, and my symptoms are definitely ramping up so I'm hoping that's a good sign, although I'm still feeling really anxious about my early scan!

Best of luck with your recovery, and i hope that everything goes well for you ❤️

[Lelo3479 in reply to Loverofpizza]

Thank you, that is very reassuring to hear regarding your faint lines too, but sorry you're going through it also! Mine is late onset too, I had no issues with the trigger for egg collection other than puddings and bloating, but considering they'd just stabbed my ovaries at least 17 times I'm wasn't worried it was anything abnormal lol.

My stomach is solid, I look about 7 months already 😔, both ovaries are so painful and feel so swollen, peeing and pooping cause so much pain urgh! But pain relief is helping, I have no shortness of breath and I'm peeing alot and it's clear so I'm happy I don't need to go to the hospital 🤞 just worries me that as my hcg rises that it'll get worse 😱, has it with you?

Congratulations on your pregnancy 💐, when is your early scan?

That's really reassuring your lines are getting darker now. I've also read the studies, but it still is worrying.

Have you needed any treatment for your OHSS? How long have your symptoms been ongoing? How are you feeling?

You say recovering, but symptoms are ramping up, is that pregnancy symptoms? Or OHSS? X

[Loverofpizza in reply to Lelo3479]

It sounds like your experience is similar to mine. I started getting symptoms of OHSS about 2 weeks ago, although at the time i didn't realise that was what it was until the pains became severe and then my stomach ballooned overnight. I had none of the risk factors and only 13 eggs retrieved, no sign of issues at transfer either. I had an emergency scan the Friday before last, and they talked about me going to hospital but because i was managing the pain, and weeing as much as expected for the amount i drank, they were happy for me to go home and manage it with paracetamol every 4 hours, eat lots of protein etc. They signed me off work for a week and suggested reclining with my legs elevated. It did seem to get a little worse for a day or two, and I'd be awake for hours in the night with pain but I'm definitely on the mend now. I only tested again because i was starting to feel better and i worried that it meant my hcg was dropping and the pregnancy was failing but that's when the line was stronger, so i don't know what to make of it.

My ovaries still feel really swollen though, i can feel them if i turn over in bed, walk too fast, go over a bump in the car etc but the tightness and pressure higher up in my abdomen seems to have gone away today so i think the fluid build up is mostly gone. Last night was the first night in two weeks that i haven't woken up in agony.

I think the OHSS is getting better, and pregnancy symptoms are slowly taking its place. I've never felt so tired, my boobs are really swollen, I've got a crazy heightened sense of smell, and I've started to feel really queasy today. It's subtle but its there. Yesterday i saw something funny and i laughed like i never have before and suddenly felt so overwhelmed that i cried 😳 i can only assume that's hormone related too!

I've got my first scan Tuesday 27th, I'll be 6w4d then. I'm praying that it brings good news!

I hope you start to feel better soon xx

[Lelo3479]

Awww not long 🤞🙏 really hope it's good news for you too! I'm so reassured you're feeling on the mend!

Mine really became obvious as OHSS 4 days ago, but had been going on for about 4 days before then, listening to your experience it is so so similar, thank you for sharing. I feel reassured that hopefully it will start getting better within a week or so.

Working on your dates, I think you're about 5 days ahead of me? I'm 4 weeks 4 days.

Best wishes x