A crazy morning...Update #2

JennyP1

So I just introduced myself to this board last Friday. DH and I had recently gone thru IUI #1 to try for our second child. AF came and we started planning for IUI #2. Today would be CD11, a little early to start testing based on my typical cycle but something was nagging at me to test early. I had a box full of OPK tests so I figured what the heck, right? So i take the OPK and there it is...a little smiley face staring back at me!! WTH? So I've had this head cold, sinus congestion thingy going on for about a week and had been taking Mucinex and nasal decongestant so I thought those might be messing with the test results so I pulled out the instructions. It says that some medications can impact the test but so could being pregnant. So DH convinces me to take a HPK this morning and voila! BFP!!! So now I'm really confused...

Called my OB she wants me in at 1:30pm today for US! I'm totally nervous, confused, excited, worried all in one. Any advice or words of wisdom, help ladies!!

Update: Just got back from the OB. They did an US and didn't see anything. They ran blood test for hcg levels. I'll hopefully have results back later this afternoon. If the hcg is high they think it could be an ectopic pregnancy. If lower, it could just be just too early to see anything. So at this point I still don't know anything. I am worried about the ectopic pregnancy but trying to stay positive at this point. 

Update #2: My test results are back and they said my hcg levels are low so I guess that means no tubal pregnancy, more likely a miscarriage/chemical pregnancy. I'm supposed to find out tomorrow when my doc wants me to come back for another blood test to see if levels continue to drop. Ugh...now what? I guess we have to wait for another whole cycle to try again. The waiting sucks...not to mention I'm totally cramping and having pain near my ovary now. Is that normal after all this?

lhcooper

Hi Jenny -- I have been checking for your update since, as you know, I was worried about you given my experience.  I am so sorry you are going through this.  No matter what your doctor says, you should insist on getting the levels checked again (I am sure they will want to do this anyway).  That will give them a clearer picture of what is going on, because, for example, if the levels go UP again (this is what happened to me), that will be an indicator of an ectopic.  I'm still concerned that that is what is going on since you mention pain by the ovary; I had pain there too--well, in the tube somewhere--for my ectopic (my hcg levels fluctuated from 200 up to 700 and then down again, and then up again--yours may not be that high).  But the cramping could also be just from your body being like "what the hell is going on."  Try not to worry too much, though it's hard.  The one thing I'll say is that IF it is ectopic, you have fortunately caught it very early, and given that that's the case, if it is--and I'm not saying that it is--the methotrexate shot they use to clear it up works extremely well and does not have horrible side effects (really).  It's scary, but much better than having to have surgery.  If your pain does get any worse before your blood test, call your doctor's office right away, no matter what time it is--and/or go to the emergency room. 

Again, I am so sorry you are going through this.  It sucks, as I know all too well.

JennyP1

lhcooper:

Hi Jenny -- I have been checking for your update since, as you know, I was worried about you given my experience.  I am so sorry you are going through this.  No matter what your doctor says, you should insist on getting the levels checked again (I am sure they will want to do this anyway).  That will give them a clearer picture of what is going on, because, for example, if the levels go UP again (this is what happened to me), that will be an indicator of an ectopic.  I'm still concerned that that is what is going on since you mention pain by the ovary; I had pain there too--well, in the tube somewhere--for my ectopic (my hcg levels fluctuated from 200 up to 700 and then down again, and then up again--yours may not be that high).  But the cramping could also be just from your body being like "what the hell is going on."  Try not to worry too much, though it's hard.  The one thing I'll say is that IF it is ectopic, you have fortunately caught it very early, and given that that's the case, if it is--and I'm not saying that it is--the methotrexate shot they use to clear it up works extremely well and does not have horrible side effects (really).  It's scary, but much better than having to have surgery.  If your pain does get any worse before your blood test, call your doctor's office right away, no matter what time it is--and/or go to the emergency room. 

Again, I am so sorry you are going through this.  It sucks, as I know all too well.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and info. I too am a bit concerned that it may still be an ectopic. I asked the nurse about the pain and she said cramping and bleeding may continue but if it gets worse I will go in immediately. How long did it take before they correctly diagnosed your ectopic?

lhcooper

I would say it took about 5 days.  First I got the positives on the OPK and then the HPT, and went in for a blood test the next day.  I think that one came back at around 700, which was too low.  That was on a Thursday.  I had another test on Saturday and it went to 200, so I was told I was miscarrying.  Then I was tested again on Monday, didn't get the results until Tuesday, and it was up again at 500--that was the kicker suggesting an ectopic.  So, after that, my OB suggested a D&C (which I refused)--she seemed to think that would let us know which it was, a uterine or ectopic, which I thought was weird (no one needs an exploratory D&C); my RE advised me to go with the methotrexate shot but beg for an ultrasound (unlike with you, no one had done one yet--but that's because I was between doctors at the time and it was all a little hectic).  So, first I got the shot, and then right after (b/c of scheduling issues), I got the ultrasound--which revealed a 3cm mass in my left tube, which is where I had been feeling discomfort (and it was only ever "discomfort," not the sharp stabbing pain that they say usually goes with an ectopic--I was very lucky).  I think that was on a Thursday, a week from the first beta.  I'm happy to report that I very recently had an HSG (to check my tubes) and they were completely clear, no scarring or anything from the ectopic back in January/February.

Again, I'm sorry.  It sucks to have the sudden hope that an IUI worked and then be crushed like this, and in this scary way.  It will be ok.

ETA: it looks from the dates in my signature (didn't think to check them!) that it took a little longer than I say above.  Looks like I got the BFP on 1/26 and the methotrexate shot on 2/10.  In my head it went much faster than that, that's for sure.