So confused! Loss Mentioned. *Update* I think I'm out.

Jmccabe12210

I went in for my first ultrasound yesterday and they saw a sac but it appeared empty. They told me they could have caught me too early or that I could have possibly had a miscarriage. They said they wouldn't know until I had two rounds of blood work. So my results from yesterday's blood work were HGC 29,000-30,000. They said that was high and that my Dr. Was concerned he didn't see anything but couldn't rule anything out until tomorrow's labs. What is going on? I honestly was just expecting low levels and now I'm just more confused. What could this mean? 

muybueno

How far along do you think you are? And is it based on LMP or did you track ovulation?

srcr2011

It could mean a lot of different things. I had a BO and my levels were ok and rising,  but U/S after U/S showed just a sac. I needed a d&c at 9 weeks. This pregnancy, I was earlier than expected and saw nothing and panicked. I saw a healthy baby with a flicker heartbeat a week later. For me, and my history,  bhcg alone are ok, but aren't a l definite way to tell if the pregnancy is viable. Hope it all works out for you. 

Jmccabe12210

I thought I was 8 weeks based on LMP and I track my periods on a phone app. And according to my first HGC read at my primary care to confirm the pregnancy my calculations were right. My HGC was 4800 they told me
i was between 4-5 weeks and that was 3 weeks ago. ? 

talkthewholetime

Did he check your tubes etc for the possibility of an ectopic?

comealongponds

How far along do you think you are? And is it based on LMP or were you tracking O by temping?

The HCG is quite high to have only seen an empty sac on ultrasound...you may want to prepare yourself for bad news I'm afraid.

From this really old article on PubMed:

"When the level of HCG reached 1000 mIU/ml by using the first International Reference Preparation, a gestational sac was seen sonographically in each patient. When the HCG level reached 7200 mIU/ml, a yolk sac was seen in every patient. Ten of 22 patients with HCG between 1000 and 7200 mIU/ml had a visible yolk sac. Every patient with an HCG level greater than 10,800 mIU/ml had a visible embryo with a heartbeat".

Concerns include that sac in fact being a psuedosac and the pregnancy in fact being ectopic, and the possibility of a missed miscarriage.

I'm having twins, so my HCG levels are a bit different, but at 5w5d my HCG was 27000+ and we saw two sacs and two yolk sacs in each. The following week, my betas were 85000+ and we saw two fetal poles with heart beats. Hopefully you're just really early and your betas are weirdly high, and an ultrasound in a week or so shows some development. Your betas won't double at this point, so as long as there is a rise, there's hope. Push for a follow up ultrasound in a week or so if your numbers continue to rise. Fingers crossed for you. 

muybueno

Jmccabe12210 said:

I thought I was 8 weeks based on LMP and I track my periods on a phone app. And according to my first HGC read at my primary care to confirm the pregnancy my calculations were right. My HGC was 4800 they told me
i was between 4-5 weeks and that was 3 weeks ago. ? 

Anything is possible, but even if you were off by a week or so, you'd expect to see something more than an empty sac at this point. Esp with numbers that high. I'm sorry you are in limbo.

Edit: typo

Jmccabe12210

I know the ultrasound tech checked my birth canal & ovaries. Everything looked good. Not sure about tubes. Than you all for your feedback. Going back for bloodwork tomorrow so probably won't know anything until Friday. Waiting game. 

BmcD2016

Waiting is the hardest! Hugs to you!

MollySm

Waiting really sucks.  I saw an empty sac last week (at 6w 2d), and went back today to see a heartbeat.  But a few years ago I had the same empty sac at 8.5 weeks, and my follow up ultrasound showed the same.  I miscarried a few days later.  Really the only way to know for sure is to wait and check with another ultrasound.  But I know it's a terribly hard wait.  

comealongponds

Also, was this a TV ultrasound, or an abdominal one? Transvaginal is definitely better early on, even at 8w3d they had trouble seeing my babes on the abdominal scan (especially since I gave a retroverted uterus). Sorry you're in limbo, it's a shitty place to be. 

Jmccabe12210

It was a TV ultrasound. 

thatlauragirl

Hoping for the best for you!! As someone who has dealt with several losses, the biggest thing that concerns me is with an HCG that high, from what I understand you should be able to see something. I know the anxiety and stress playing the waiting game and I'm so sorry you're dealing with it. FX you get great news at your next appointment.

jarethinafrock

I hope that you get some positive news on Friday. Big hugs.

m6agua

1. I would request a transvaginal ultrasound. It will be more accurate.

2. What size is the sac measuring? I assume they will check it again in a couple weeks?

3. TW*my story
my first pregnancy I spotted just before 10 weeks. I had an u/s at 10 weeks that showed just an empty sac measuring 6+2. I was sure on my dates because I tracked ovulation by temping. They called it a blighted ovum and a missed miscarriage. I passed everything naturally a week later at 11 weeks.

Jmccabe12210

*update*

Level from Tuesday 29,963 and
Level from Thursday 33,670. 

Numbers didnt go go up enough. Having another TV Ultrasound on Thursday but it's looks bleak.  

muybueno

I'm so sorry the numbers didn't go up. I can't believe you have to wait until Thursday. That's like a week and a half between ultrasounds. Thanks for the update- let us know what happens on Thursday, if you're up for it.

GirPipley

I do not want to give you false hope, but...that is a normal rise for HCG of that level. It shouldn't be doubling every 48 hours anymore, so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

Did they pull progesterone levels?

Can you call back and ask for an ultrasound today? There is no reason for you to have to wait till next Thursday.

Again, I do not want to give you false hope, but my MFM was not able to find anything at all on a scan last Monday when my levels were almost 7000 at 6 weeks. I went back Friday and they were able to find the babies WAY high up in my uterus. They didn't see them Monday because they didn't look high enough. I also have a heart shaped uterus that makes it harder to get a good look this early, and its retro-flexed.

Do you know if your uterus is tilted? That could make it difficult for them to see.

I have my fingers crossed that you'll be able to get in for a scan today and everything is going to be okay. I can't believe they want you to wait until Thursday. I'm sorry.

chloe97

Also, hate to give you false hope because I'm far from out of the woods, but my betas only went up 3% From 5+4 to 5+6 and somehow I managed to have a great ultrasound with a strong heartbeat at 6+2 and 7+1. Betas sometimes do weird things.

But yeah, echoing what PP at that level they aren't expected to increase that much at those levels. As my Dr says all that matters is what is on the ultrasound.

Jmccabe12210

They closed at 12 noon today. I will at least have to wait until Monday. I don't know if I have a tilted uterus. Never has been mentioned. 

tvh1982

I keep my fingers crossed.

I just had an tv ultrasound and at first they 'lost' my embryo (or fetus by now) 
She freaked me out as it was there the day before. 
She found it in the end though.

So I'm going to keep my fingers crossed for you. 

Ps, possiblility to do more betas if they can't do is just yet? Of numbers keep rising, it's a good sign.

GL

Oakleypoozles

I just saw the levels update. Praying for you. Hope everything is still ok.

srcr2011

I'm sorry you're stuck in limbo. 

shevaCC

The unknown is the worst! I'm really sorry. I hope the weekend passes quickly and they can get you in earlier in the week.

comealongponds

I'm so sorry you're still stuck in limbo. As others have said, betas stop doubling after a certain point (6000-ish), so the fact that they're still increasing is good. Once your betas reach this level, the best diagnostic is actually ultrasound, so I hope you get better information on Thursday. Thinking of you. 

MrsDho11

I'm so sorry that you're stuck in limbo.  I hope things end up working out.

aquasocks

The waiting game is the worst. I hope you get good news at the u/s. You're in my thoughts!

hollowway

Could go to the ER? Get an ultrasound there?

DunkinDecaf

So sorry you're in limbo. Fingers crossed you get good news soon!

comealongponds

MaMaBear1323 said:

Could go to the ER? Get an ultrasound there?

I know it's hard to wait (I've been in limbo and I knew it's awful) but please don't encourage using the ER for non-emergencies like this.

OP- By all means, if you're bleeding excessively or having signs of excessive blood-loss or extreme pain or other concerns, go to an ER - don't go because you'd like an earlier ultrasound. Call your doc on Monday and start badgering them to bump up your ultrasound if you want to. 

m6agua

Sorry for limbo. FX you have good news next week.

thatlauragirl

I hate that you're going through this and really hoping that next week's appointment brings great news.

CecilTheBear

I'm so sorry you're in limbo. I hope they're able to squeeze you in earlier. You're in my thoughts.

Jmccabe12210

Thank you all so much for your comments. Trying hard to just be positive. It's just crazy that after one 5 minute ultrasound and two blood draws they're telling me it's likely it's not a viable pregnancy. I have absolutely no experience with this and just want to thank you woman who have gone through similar situations for the advice. I'm going to call Monday and badger them for something earlier. 

Katemr1146

Just stopping in to say I'm thinking about you. So sorry you're in limbo. Hope you get some answers soon

kmommy37

Going through this too. I should be 10 weeks today but am spotting brown and us showed a sac but no fetal pole.  My hcg was a little under 7000 and I'm at lab for second draw.  Repeat us Wednesday.  I'm pretty certain I'm out so wish I would just start to mc naturally. 

Jmccabe12210

I'm so sorry CourtneyKline. It really is the worst not knowing. I'm at the point where I just want to know one way or the other. I can feel myself getting depressed. 

Jmccabe12210

Had my second ultrasound today. This time there was a yolksac and what might have been an amniotic sac but still no heartbeat. Last time there was nothing to be seen so they think my pregnancy is progressing but not normally. So I had blood drawn yet again to check numbers and they won't do a DNC or give me medication to start a miscarriage because he said there's still a 10% chance I have a healthy baby. Not great odds but I guess it's something. I'm honestly terrified of miscarrying. I've never gone through this before but I honestly feel like I don't know anything new. Still just waiting...

MollySm

I'm so sorry that you are still waiting.  Being in limbo is terribly hard.  

BmcD2016

Still very sorry. I hope you have answers soon. 

DunkinDecaf

I'm sorry you're in limbo and facing crummy odds. You're in my thoughts. Do you have another scan coming up when you think you'll get conclusive answers?