Umm...POAS and really confused now. HELP!

[mrs.t]

So we aren't really TTC right now, but we aren't using any kind of BC except pull and pray. So my AF is late, however I am still nursing my toddler so I haven't had any "normal" cycles, meaning I do get AF every 30ish days or so, but it has been as long as 40 days and as short as 28 days. I am ovulating, but I did not chart this cycle. I decided to POAS to see what happened. It's a CVS brand early result test. It's supposed to give you a VERTICAL line if you are pregnant, not a plus sign or anything like that. So I used it, and there is a really faint HORIZONTAL line. Like barely visible, total squinter. If it was vertical I would be calling my midwife, but horizontal? WTH? Anyone have an experience like this?

[AndtheStars]

Maybe it was assembled wrong?  Go buy another test!  Quick!  Also, you could check peeonastick.com.  It's my go too for all POAS related questions.

[Jaimee]

Agreed... get another test.  Dollar store tests are just as good, but First Response Early Response is the go to test.  Did you use FMU?

[mrs.t]

Argh, so I stupidly dug it out of the trash and now there is a faint vertical line in the results window. So of course now I am freaking out even though it's most likely an evap line. I'm testing in the morning, I did not use FMU with this one. Wish I had left it in the trash.

I checked peeonastick.com and it said the horizontal line was not a positive...so now I'm busy thinking about the vertical one! This is why I don't POAS very often.

[Jaimee]

Don't think about that vertical one... it appeared outside the time window and must be considered a BFN... for now.  Let us know what you get in the morning!!

[mrs.t]

Got a BFN this morning with the second CVS test. Still no AF though, now going on 33 days...sigh. I'm gonna buy some FRERs later or tomorrow if I can hold out. So frustrating!!!

[Jaimee]

Well, since you're not charting you don't know for sure when you ovulated.  Three days past your typical length cycle isn't much, so delayed ovulation is you most likely bet here.  Do you recall days of fertile CF that could help you guess at your O day better?  Do you recall when you had unprotected sex? 

It's really odd that you had a faulty test, but a BFN with FMU is pretty conclusive for now.  It wouldn't hurt to try a different brand, but my guess is that AF is on the way within the next week.  Why did you stop charting this cycle?

[mrs.t]

I didn't really pay too close attention to my CM. I wasn't charting because first DS was sick (which meant crap sleep for me) then DH was sick, coughing all night long and waking me up, so I figured temps would be disturbed anyway. I figured I would observe CM but we weren't really DTD anyway because of all the sickness. We did a few times, and once was around my typical O day, but I'm thinking back and realizing that I had some wonky CM, so maybe it was an annov cycle or very delayed. Who knows? I do feel PMS symptoms, but when I was pregnant I felt similar symptoms. I guess I'll wait a few more days and test again...it sucks because I'm going out tomorrow night and really want to drink some sangria! Hopefully AF shows up.

[Jaimee]

FWIW, I have charted through sickness and crappy sleep and still see a biphasic pattern.   I just always figure it's worth it even if disturbed temps or illness-caused dry CF obscure exactly what's happening, throwing things off by a few days, because at least I know around when to expect AF.  

[mrs.t]

Yeah, I would normally chart through it as well, but this cycle was just too ridiculous to be bothered. Normally I would wake up at around the same time every day, so my temps, even if they were disturbed, would show a pattern. However, DS was sleeping really late, or waking up really early due to DH's coughing fits, so I couldn't take my temp at approximately the same time every morning and I just gave up. That's one of the reasons I wish AF would show, so I could start fresh with a new cycle and chart again. BTW, tested again this afternoon with a FRER and got another BFN, so I highly doubt I could be pregnant.