Testing HCG levels all the way to 0?

jms627

Hey ladies!

I'm curious about people's experiences with follow up HCG levels. Did your OB/GYN do follow up blood draws all the way to 0?  I'm 27 days post-MC and I'm at 12.5.  I was 700 the day after the M/C (from 21000 the day of the confirming u/s), and 70 a week later.  Doctor just left a message about doing another blood draw next time I'm home (I travel a lot).  12.5 seems so low to me that I was surprised that they'd want to do another one.  Pretty sick of the blood draws at this point  I'll obviously follow doctor's advice, but I'm curious as to whether anyone else was tested all the way to 0. (also I apologize if this has been answered before - I searched but didn't see anything).

rslh10

I had mine followed to 0. It dropped within two weeks and was never higher than 277. It was 234 the night I went to the ER.

rmpar29

After my second blood draw at 6, my OB let me out of the weekly blood draws.  I agree that 12.5 seems too low to be an issue, but I'm glad that you are following docs orders.  I hope that your next one is the last one.

CreechMommy

I never had my hcg checked.  Not once.  Not when I started bleeding and not once after.  When I say never checked, I mean by my OBGYN.  I did have them checked at the ER, but he told me the levels after he told me there was no hb so I don't remember what he said.  

All that to say - be thankful you have a thorough Dr.  It may be hard to do, but I would have felt a lot more comfortable if I had tests telling me what was going on rather than just guessing.  

I've since switched to another Dr. 

Km380

I had mine tracked to zero. Weekly blood draws for a few weeks. It sucks but it's necessary. Just switch arms each week

kreardon11

<5 is considered not pregnant. As long as you get <5, you're good. 

I've been going for 5 months of draws, but that's because I had a molar pregnancy. The blood draws are necessary to make sure your levels don't increase at all. 

yellowcat10

My RE wanted them below 5 before he would stop testing, I think it was at 3 on my last draw.  It took me 3 weeks, mine actually dropped a lot faster than anyone expected. 

alovett26

I just had a chemical pregnancy and levels were at 116, then 91 in 48 hours. My docs (At Mayo Clinic) said with a CP they didn't need me to keep coming back and tract it since they are going down and the u/s was clear... May depend on how your m/c went, your body, history, etc.

mrsjg2013

leloyd said:

I had mine followed all the way to zero with each loss and am working on it again with this one. It is very important to make sure you have no retained tissue.

This.  I had retained tissue... which they discovered via hysteroscopy (which I don't believe is common after every d&C?).  I hadn't had my numbers tracked until then.  Maybe ask if you can do every week and a half if your arms are getting really beat up?

jms627

Thank you ladies for all the feedback - much appreciated.  I definitely want to monitor to be sure of no retained tissue, and if that's just a few more blood draws so be it.  I will say I do have a very thorough NP and for that I'm grateful!

matiekae

My doc just said to take a HPT in 2 weeks and if it came back positive to call him. I felt that this was a little nonchalant... but it was negative so I didn't call. I also did not have a D&C and was just under 6 weeks when I had my MC. I used a FRER as I know they are very sensitive, but I cannot find what level they start detecting HCG and highly doubt it's as low as 5... I haven't worried too much about it because I trust my doctor but of course it's lingered a bit in the back of my mind.

purplehaze11

My first loss I had a d&c and they didn't follow the levels, but this past loss they have been. I'm over 6 weeks post and my levels are unfortunately taking their sweet time, but I'm thankful they are watching them closely.

matiekae

Greeneyes842 said:

@matiekae I was googling awhile back trying to figure out the FRER sensitivity level as well, and found FRER to be listed around 12 and the FRER digital around 18-20.  These are unofficial sources though, just based on personal reports of betas levels.

Thanks! That is actually lower than I was assuming I think it should have to be listed on the box or website... but I guess I'm not in charge of that haha

uromys

This thread totally reminds me I never called my doctors office to see what my numbers were this week. :-q I've stopped expecting anyone in that office to ever get back to me.

I've been getting my hCG done weekly since my d&e over a month ago. Last know draw before AF two weeks ago was 271. I am unfortunately dealing with retained tissue that I believe may still be hanging out in there. I'd rather test weekly then not know if something were wrong.

Hope everything goes smoothly for you, and is over soon.