Etopic Concerns - CP- AF- Increasing BFP's

cxsimo08

Hi Ladies, 

It's been a while since my last post but I'm not sure what to think about what's happening and am trying not to panic.  After 2 failed IVF's, I did my 6th IUI last month after the 5th resulting in my first ever BFP and then quickly a CP. With this current cycle, I got a light BFP on 14dpo and beta was 12 so RE said it was likely another CP.  Went back for second beta and HCG was 14 so I stopped progesterone suppositories and waited for my MC to start.  Did a 3rd beta and HCG was 13, progesterone 0.1.   Got AF the next day, just like last time but this time it lasted only 3 days- which is a normal period for me- but last CP I had AF for 8 days.  I still felt pregnancy symptoms this morning (CD 5 - or 25dpo) so I took a HPT and got a similar light line BFP.  Has anyone ever heard of still getting a BFP after AF?  With my HCG so low I doubt its a good thing, but Is this what an Etopic pregnancy looks like?  After years of infertility I'm terrified of an Etopic rupture lessening my likelihood even further.    Should I go back to my RE?  Next appointment was supposed to be Friday.  

XO 
Christina 

Holls214

I have never had this happen and I’m sorry you are going through all of that. I have heard it takes a couple weeks for your hcg to reach 0 so it could still show up on a test I assume. Hugs. 

mayflower513

My last natural pregnancy was an ectopic.  Typically if the HCG plateaus it can be an indication of an EP.  So if I had gotten pregnant again naturally they’d have done beta testing and an ultrasound at 6 weeks to make sure it was where it should be.  In my case, I didn’t have betas done since it was a natural pregnancy after I had just had a baby 5 months before without IVF as well, but the fetus was still alive and measuring where it should be at 8 weeks, so they said my HCG levels would likely not have told us anything. I’m not sure at what point they would have plateaued (if they’d have gotten higher than 13ish, but I think they would have).  Is it possible you had a CP AND an EP?  I’d request an ultrasound as soon as they’ll do one to rule it out.

cxsimo08

Holls214 - Thanks for the love, it's been a rough journey.

@mayflower513 I think i'm going to ask for a scan today.  I haven't had pain (other than period cramping when I had AF) but I feel so dizzy! Did you have pain with your etopic?

mayflower513

@cxsimo08 they probably won’t do one until you’d be 6 weeks if your levels still aren’t down, has it been that long?  I had a lot of dizziness and I had terrible cramping on my right side mostly on one day when I remember we went pumpkin picking and I ended up having to take a bath in the middle of the day because it was so bad.  I chalked it up to the fact that I had just had a baby 4 or 5 months before.  When I went for my 8 week scan my OB said he didn’t see anything in the uterus, so I said I’d had pain on my right side and he looked and found it there.

I hope it’s not for your sake, keep us posted and good luck!

northbeach3

Just chiming in to say if it’s not ectopic you can still have HCG in your system after AF. I’ve had to MCs and have had AF even when hcg was low. It took about two weeks to go from 15 to 0. 

Obviously if you feel pain, a scan seems warranted. 

cxsimo08

Thanks @northbeach3 - That's so crazy that you can get AF and still have HCG up, but I guess that happens.  Last time with my CP after AF my HCG was at 0 so I thought that once I confirmed AF it would be the same.  This time surprised me.  

@mayflower513 That's so scary that you went through that.  I have definitely taken a bath to alleviate pain so I understand how extreme that is.  I have not felt that way this cycle, and just feel dizzy so am hoping it's the HCG messing with me and not anything else.  BTW- Big congratulations on your little bean!

Update - I did go to the RE today and she did a scan and bloodwork.  Scan showed I did have AF because my lining is gone, she couldn't see anything in my tubes (thank goodness) but did see a cyst on my left ovary.   HCG rose to 20 though which is weird (and aligns with how i'm feeling) so she needs to keep monitoring.  I want to have hope but I know I shouldn't.  It's so hard.  

So this weird a** cycle is now: 

8/24: 14DPO - HCG 12, Prog 12 
8/27: 17DPO - HCG 14, Prog 9 (stopped suppositories) 
8/30: 20 DPO - HCG 13, Prog 1
AF - 8/30-9/1
9/4: 25 DPO, CD 6 - HCG 20, Prog 0.4

northbeach3

Wow @cxsimo08 that is pretty bizarre that it went up again. Glad you were able to get some confirmation about AF. Wonder if your cyst had anything to do with it? 

Are you planning to cycle again soon?

cxsimo08

@northbeach3 I know! At this point I don't know what to think and I'm increasingly worried and irrationally hoping for a miracle.  I've been testing with Wondofs at home at the same time and they are getting darker- this AM was the darkest yet.  Do you know if a cyst can increase HCG?  Am researching but finding mixed results and my RE doesn't tell me much (she's the type that gives you less info not more).  

Would like to cycle again but I think I have to wait until HCG gets to 0 right?  Ah this is all so crazy!

cxsimo08

Officially in google research hell.  Can't find anything similar.  What the heck is wrong with me- I feel sick over this.  

mayflower513

@cxsimo08 I haven’t read about it in a really long time but is a molar possibility at all a potential?

northbeach3

Oh yes @mayflower513. I feel like that could be a real possibility. I do remember reading about that and I sounds like that can be a concern even after an MC. 

Keep bugging your RE @cxsimo08! I hear molar PG can be very risky... I forget, are they related to possible cancerous cells?

northbeach3

Here’s a link:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/molar-pregnancy/symptoms-causes/syc-20375175

cxsimo08

Thanks @mayflower513 and @northbeach3 !  I had not thought of molar pregnancy but I will bring it up with my RE - ugh so many scary things!  I did speak with my doctor this week and she said because I had my period and she confirmed AF (with my progesterone dropped and lining thin), she is ruling this a pregnancy of unknown location.  Basically she said even though it's unknown (because my HCG is too low to see it) she does know it's not in my uterus because my lining shed.  She said I would have to get the shot if my HCG kept increasing- which it has -today I got a dark line on my HPT so i'm sure it's at least doubled.  

The crazy part about this is my cycle looks normal other than the HCG- I'm growing an egg and my lining is thickening.  If I hadn't been monitoring so closely, we would have thought that period was it, and started trying again this cycle.  Ugh- infertility is seriously nuts!! 

caitiemae

@cxsimo So sorry you're going through this and still haven't gotten any closure!  I wish everyone dealing with infertility could be spared from ectopic pregnancies, it just doesn't seem fair.  I'm happy to hear that you have a doctor listening to you and monitoring the situation.  Hugs!

zamoraspin

@cxsimo08 Is there any possibility that you are one of those rare folks with a double uterus? No idea if that would explain it.

purplg8r

I had an ectopic with what I believe was AF.  I was temping and my temps dropped on the day it does every month just like normal. I also took a hpt to be sure.  But when I was still lightly bleeding on cd10, my friend told me to take a HPT.  It was immediately positive. I went in for bloodwork and they thought it was a miscarriage. My hcg was 434.  2 days later it was 421 so they agreed it was a miscarriage. 3 days later it was 281 so I went back a week later to see if it was low and it had gone back up to 485.  They then said it was “disappearing twins (where one dies and is absorbed by the other). 5 days later it was 885. It was going up but not at the right rate so they decided it was an ectopic. From there on out my numbers yo-yo’d.  They couldn’t see anything on an ultrasound around cd 30ish and I had 2 methotrexate shots on cd33. I bled that whole time. I know how terrifying it is 

MSU_Girl1202

I'm so sorry you're going through this. What a scary and unnerving experience. I've been dealing w infertility for 11 years and though I havent had the same experience,  based on what I have experienced and read, I'd agree that you have an ectopic somewhere, but since your beta isnt 1500 yet, you wont be able to see it on ultrasound. Given that the lining has hed, I'd ask think it's not in the uterus and the safest thing to do is get the methotrexate shot before it gets big enough to damage your fallopian tubes. 
The only additional crappy part about the methotrexate is then you cant get pregnant for 3 months...but it's better than your fallopian tube exploding. 
Again, so sorry you're going through this

northbeach3

IF never ceases to amaze me. While I knew ectopic PG happened, I didn’t realize they could be undetectable by ultrasound but that yo-yo ing HCG could be an indicator. Now one more thing to worry about as a possible wrench to throw off cycles!  

Im sorry you’re still in limbo @cxsimo08 but it sounds like your doc is monitoring it well. Hope you can get back in the saddle sooner rather than later. 

cxsimo08

Oh my gosh ladies, I went away for a business trip this weekend and came back to your flooding of messages and support.  You guys are so wonderful.  Thank you so much.  

@caitiemae You are such a sweetheart, thank you for your support and thinking of me 
@zamora_spin OMG I've never heard of that! I did have a laparoscopy for expected endo (which I don't have) and all looked normal but who knows where that thing would hide! 
purplg8r I'm so sorry you went through that.  Honestly that's what it sounds like this is.  Are you glad you went with the shot? Did you wish you did it earlier? 
@MSU_Girl1202 thank you so much for your support.  I agree with you - your logic is sound and it's exactly what I'm thinking (even though I don't like it).  My RE said I wouldn't have to wait 3 months- is that weird? Everything on every board said to wait but she said that new research suggests otherwise and I could start as soon as my HCG gets to 0.  
@northbeach3 UGH I know lady.  This is all honestly so crazy.  I would typically kill to have doubling HCG- now I'm terrified.  Thank you so much for keeping up and thinking of me.   


Update: I did go back to my RE today and my HCG is now up to 119!!  That means the last two times now I'm doubling normally.  She wants me to come in Friday for bloodwork, ultrasound and an office visit to talk about options.  

8/24: 14DPO - HCG 12, Prog 12 
8/27: 17DPO - HCG 14, Prog 9 (stopped suppositories) 
8/30: 20 DPO - HCG 13, Prog 1
AF - 8/30-9/1
9/4: 25 DPO, CD 6 - HCG 20, Prog 0.4
9/7: 28 DPO, CD 9 - HCG 44
9/11: 32 DPO, CD 14 - HCG 119 

northbeach3

oh wow, what an update! i hope you're able to figure out what's up... this is such a unique case!  please keep us posted! fx for best possible outcome.

MSU_Girl1202

Wow!! That's crazy!! Everything crossed that it keeps doubling and you have a pretty little embryo just where it should be friday!

purplg8r

@cxsimo08 I’m honestly not sure that I’m glad I went with the shot.  My chances of having another ectopic are 20% which is terrifying to me and I panic every month. Now that I’m having to do ivf anyways, I kinda wish I had just had my tube removed. 
With your doubling numbers, maybe it was the disappearing twin thing

mayflower513

@purplg8r

*TW*
when I had my ectopic I had my tube removed (they wouldn’t do the shot since I was 8 weeks and there was a heartbeat — it actually had ruptured by the time they went in anyway).  I still had an increased chance of ectopic which I didn’t understand, I think once you’ve hadn’t one your risk is just higher because the other tube is likely damaged too?  In my case, it actually was damaged as well and I ended up having the remaining one removed before IVF.  So, I don’t think you not getting the shot would have reduced the 20% chance of a repeat ectopic.  

cxsimo08

Hey Ladies, 

So I started spotting late Thursday and Friday went to the doctor and my HCG dropped to 37.  I am feeling a lot right now but mostly relieved.  This was a scary few weeks but as much as I never thought I would think this- I'm incredibly lucky with this result.  Things could have gone far worse.   My RE will keep monitoring down to 0.

Thank you all so much for your support and love.  I'm so glad we have each other and wish you all nothing but the best on this trying journey.   

XX
Christina

northbeach3

Well glad you have some clear results now. Glad it wasn’t something more concerning!

mayflower513

@cxsimo08 I’m so sorry this cycle didn’t work out and for the rollercoaster and fear.  But, I’m also glad you now have a clear answer and the relief.  ((Hugs))

cxsimo08

Thanks @northbeach3 and @mayflower513! You guys are so sweet.  While this time it ended in a miscarriage like the last- it was so much scarier this time.  I'm really thankful for your support.  I never thought I would have anxiety like this, but I feel like all of you ladies just understand me in a way no one else really can.  

@northbeach3  - I hope your FET went well today and you're feeling good.  Thinking of you XX

northbeach3

Thanks for asking! Went on without incident! Transferred a 5BB. Have been sitting on my couch working so I’m ready to teach my classes tomorrow. Wish I could have been binging Netflix. haha 

my clinic tests early so my beta is next Monday! Stay tuned

cxsimo08

Yay! FX - And totally think you should switch to Netflix! ;-) Take a little break!

northbeach3

i plan to this weekend... i've finally been able to start the new season of bojack horseman