Updated- beta hell- lurker looking for support

Mrs.Ess

***previous loss mentioned****

Hi everyone,

I lurk here a lot and post occasionally on IF and regularly within my IVF cycling group on the IF board.

This was IVF#1. We did a 5dt of 2 blasts. Beta #1 was 188 @ 8dp5dt;
Beta #2 was 348 today @ 10dp5dt. Didn't double, looks like it increased by 92% or a doubling time of 54 hours from all I can figure (not a math champ so I may be wrong).

The nurse said "it's concerning" because they like them to double. She also said she thinks it could just be that both implanted and one may not be secreting as much hcg as the other since I started with a fairly high beta number. She said they see that sometimes... But I can't go back until Monday to see what happens next. My progesterone was good, 38 (I'm on PIO), and TSH went up from 1.8 to 3 so they are increasing my synthroid.

I am so worried. I had an early mc this spring and my 1st two betas did almost exactly this (although the numbers were significantly lower all around) and them crashed a week later. I don't know if I can handle this if it ends badly. I feel stupid for transferring two; now I may lose both and have only 2 frosties (which I know I am lucky to have).

Is there still hope? I feel like the answer is yes but has anyone been in a similar situation? Could really use some hope right now.

Thanks so much.

Update- 3rd beta was 1496 at 14dp5dt!!! Looks great. Schedule the first u/a end of the month. Thank you so much for your thoughts and kind words!! So happy

turquoisequeen

Hi fellow sweet pea! Not sure if this is helpful or not but my betas had about the same doubling time as yours and they didn't even want a 3rd beta. They said they just wanted to see it go up by 66% or more in 48 hrs. There is a chart somewhere that has been posted on this board recently that shows a range up to 72 hours. I think @IFinTN also had similar beta times. 

Funny that my thyroid went up as well (to 4.5 which really worried me) and they increased my dosage. I asked about it repeatedly but they said not to worry, that they would just treat it and check again in 4 weeks. 

I'm trying to stay positive so I hope you can too! I'll be thinking about you!

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Mrs.Ess

Ugh. Thank you guys so much. SO much!!! I have read anywhere from 48-72 hours is normal for doubling times, but the nurse said multiple times "It's concerning". So of course, I got concerned. I think I'm extra nervous due to the loss I had. I have been focusing so much on that that I haven't been able to see positive.

Going to keep hanging on. Congrats to you all, GL on your u/s @turquoisequeen‌ and congrats on the heartbeat @IFinTN‌. Love seeing names I know over here

Mrs.Ess

@sunshinedaisies000‌ You are probably right. It seems silly now hearing what other REs consider "normal". Hopefully I jumped the gun and was upset over nothing. Monday can't come soon enough

Thank you for listening!

pblge

Agree with PP--sounds normal to me! I have my fx that you get a great number Monday!!

xc1148

I'm sorry the nurse told you it's concerning

If it helps, my second beta did not double. I think it might have only gone up 67% or something. All I'll say is that it's very common, try to avoid google, try and rest, and good luck monday!!

AMShark

There's an on-line beta doubling calculator that I like to use at:

https://www.countdowntopregnancy.com/tools/beta_doubling_calculator.php

The chart at the bottom of the page lists the range for doubling times - and it's really pretty wide. It's really hard to know much from beta's, since hcg levels and doubling times vary so widely.  Hopefully, your nurse was just being very cautious - maybe based on your history.

Try your best to relax, and hopefully, you'll get some good news with your next beta or 1st u/s.

Mrs.Ess

Thank you guys so much. Every encouraging thing you are saying is helping more than you know

BostonGayGal

THere is a breed of doctors and nurses that are just super concerned all of the time. My betas were okay according to the chart but my doc had that hesitant concerned tone. My betas were doubling every 53 hours. But the between my 2nd and 3rd betas the doubling time was much faster and the RE was happy. So far so good.

Of all three of my pregnancies these were my lowest and slowest betas, lower even than my early loss. That is a bit of a mental obstacle for me but if the doctor isn't going to worry I should try not to worry either.  I'll be hoping for the both of us.

Mrs.Ess

@BostonGayGal‌ thank you. I will e thinking positive thoughts for you as well!

After I freaked out, I put my logical hat back on. I'm feeling positive again and passing the time until Monday. Having random nausea on and off, can't stay awake, and still peeing on tests every morning. Taking those things as a good sign

Ecarabeo217

Hello there! Betas look normal...only ~65% of betas double in 48 like the books say. And fwiw, early pregnancy also increases your TSH levels. There's cross-reactivity between a portion of the hcg molecule that binds to thyroid receptors and activates it. So your meds probably didn't need adjusting, but either way, I'd say the increase in TSH is actually a good sign! (I won't adjust pt doses in early pregnancy if they were previously controlled until after 10 weeks. It usually normalizes) breathe and enjoy....it sounds like a promising start!

Mrs.Ess

@Ecarabeo217‌ Thank you for your reassuring comments. The thyroid issue is a new discovery for me, didn't find out that my TSH was elevated until after my mc so of course I convinced myself that's why I lost the baby. Have been on low dose ever since and am super paranoid .

Ecarabeo217

Keep us posted!

Mrs.Ess

Patiently waiting for the results call.. Reading this over and over for reassurance while I wait.

turquoisequeen

Looking forward to hear the update!!

bears1011

Me too!

Mrs.Ess

1496!! They said it looks excellent.

Ultrasound scheduled for end of the month . So relieved and excited!!

bears1011

Yay!!

pblge

Wonderful!!!

Ecarabeo217

Yay! Woot woot!

Mrs.Ess

Thanks you guys!! I guess I will be moving over to PAIF for awhile

turquoisequeen

That is great to hear!!

gsancho

Great update!

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Momarazzi007

Great news!!! Yeay!!!