Question about reality checks?

So I was having a non ld last night and did a reality check. This is the first time I have ever come close to a DILD by the way (the only two ive had were MILD). So I vividly remember looking down at my hands and seeing how deformed they were. In the dream I logically thought "Oh my hands look messed up because I was just outside in the freezing cold." So I did not become lucid. I know that this reality check does work for me because in my second lucid dream I looked down at my hands I immediately knew. So my question is, has this ever happened to you? Have you ever done a reality check, have it work but still not become lucid? Also, what could I do to solve this problem?
Thanks,
John

That has happened to me before, but I always preform two reality checks and the second one worked. I would suggest making a habit of doing more than one RC. Personally, I always plug my nose and try to breathe in, which seems like the most reliable, then I would look at my hands, like you did. I think the hand reality check is among the most unreliable because of all the different outcomes. You oculd have 6 fingers, 8 fingers, no fingers, but the nose plug one is either yes or no. If I were you i would keep doing the hand check but also do either the nose plug or something else, such as passing your finger through your hand.

Try plugging your nose and breathing. That will almost always bring out your lucidity.

If you are new to LDing like me you level of lucidity will be weak too, so you could do a reality check and realize youre dreaming and then a little while later loose your lucidity.

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll try the nose plugging rc more often