Just looking for that glimmer of hope with slow rising betas

jenandgc · November 2012

Hi everyone -- I am hoping there is someone out there that can share a success story after going through a similar situation as me (dealing with slow rising betas).

To date I have had two miscarriages over the past couple years. One was at 9 weeks, one was at 10 weeks. Both times we heard a heartbeat, but it just wasn't a strong enough heartbeat, and a week after hearing both heartbeats the next u/s showed nothing. Also, after the second miscarriage, they did the RPL panel and found I needed to take Lovenox (blood thinners) due to the Factor V Leiden mutation. Oh, and I also have hypothyroidism!

Fast forward to this pregnancy. I actually didn't know I was pregnant until 20dpo as I had gotten what I thought was a period with four days of regular, period-like bleeding (so this pregnancy started off rocky). The only reason I decided to take a pregnancy test was that I started spotting (light brown) and my breasts started to hurt.

The brown spotting continued, up until about 6 weeks, but I haven't had any spotting or really any other symptoms since (with the exception of occassional breast tenderness).

What is concerning me the most right now is how my beta numbers have been tracking and the results of the ultrasounds I have done so far (I did have some cramping/severe pain at 5w6d which they determined to be from a cyst that apparently ruptured, but gave enough additional justification for u/s).

Anyways, my betas are not doubling, are well far behind where they should be, and my doctor has even taken me off the Lovenox due to the risk of having a miscarriage while on blood thinners.

Although I have mentally prepped myself for another miscarriage, I was hoping to reach out and hear from other ladies that had slow rising betas and are now further along in their pregnancy, or better yet, are snuggling with their precious little ones right now.

Here is what I have experienced with this pregnancy so far:

4w6d hCG at 73

5w1d hCG at 166

5w4d hCG at 268

5w6d hCG at 375 (u/s done due to pain, nothing showed but cyst issue)

6w1d hCG at 457

6w4d hCG at 538

6w6d hCG at 678 (u/s done as a follow-up from cyst, but still nothing showed for pregnancy; no gestational sac or anything)

7w1d hCG at 800

7w4d (today) hCG at 1326

So, as you can see, betas are not rising as they should, but all of a sudden they are rising more (on a percentage basis) then they were. My doctors cannot give me an answer at this point. Because of the loss of any symptoms I was having, and the fact that we couldn't see anything on an ultrasound when I was calculated (based on ovulation date) to be 6w6d, they assumed we would find my betas to have gone down, but they keep chugging along.

Also, I have inquired MULTIPLE times with my OB as I am concerned this is an ectopic.....she keeps reassuring me they do not believe this is an ectopic pregnancy. She says they MAY have seen what was the beginning of a gestational sac on the last ultrasound, but it was inconclusive as I had a lot of fluid built up.

So, that is my story.....any chance someone on here is in the 1% category (slow rising betas and still having a success story)?

jenandgc · November 2012

Oh bummer....I just checked in hoping I would find at least one good story Sad

anitanation09 · November 2012

I'm sorry I have not been in a similar situation. But I can offer you huge ((HUGS)) and T&P's that you go on to have a successful pregnancy and get your rainbow baby.

I have heard on here though, that ladies have very low hcg throughout their pregnancy, and go on to have a happy, full term pregnancy.

FX for you! More ((HUGS!!!)

anitaflora · November 2012

I absolutely know how you feel to be looking for success stories to ease your mind. I have been in that boat before and am feeling a bit that way now since my levels have consistently been low (although for now are increasing as they should). I wish I could tag someone like you can on FB because I very much remember kpowers having possibly a similar situation to yours.

She was/is on the Jan 2013 BMB which I was on before my previous miscarriage. And if my memory is right - she and her doctors were VERY certain that the pregnancy was not going to continue because her beta levels were so off. I just remember the emotional rollercoaster she was on so well and being so happy for her that it did turn out so well and that she is still pregnant now. I hope that she will see this post and respond and you get some other good success stories too.

Wish you all the best and will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers!

alb245 · November 2012

I'm definitely not a success story, but I did have some thoughts when reading your post. Like you, I too question whether or not this is an ectopic pregnancy (although I don't have any experience with that either). I'm really surprised that they weren't able to see a gestational sac at 6w6d, although with lowish betas I guess that is possible.

Any chance you are off on your O date? Also, I'm a little confused as to why your doctor took you off of the Lovenox if they're not convinced this is a nonviable pregnancy. I get that you wouldn't want to be on blood thinners during a miscarriage, however, if they think this pregnancy has a chance, I would think that the Lovenox would help due to your clotting disorder.

Also, (and I hope this isn't the case for you), during my last miscarriage, my betas continued to rise for almost a week after my RE declared it a miscarriage and I stopped all meds (including Lovenox and Prometrium).

Good luck to you.

jenandgc · November 2012

alb245:

I'm definitely not a success story, but I did have some thoughts when reading your post. Like you, I too question whether or not this is an ectopic pregnancy (although I don't have any experience with that either). I'm really surprised that they weren't able to see a gestational sac at 6w6d, although with lowish betas I guess that is possible.

Any chance you are off on your O date? Also, I'm a little confused as to why your doctor took you off of the Lovenox if they're not convinced this is a nonviable pregnancy. I get that you wouldn't want to be on blood thinners during a miscarriage, however, if they think this pregnancy has a chance, I would think that the Lovenox would help due to your clotting disorder.

Also, (and I hope this isn't the case for you), during my last miscarriage, my betas continued to rise for almost a week after my RE declared it a miscarriage and I stopped all meds (including Lovenox and Prometrium).

Good luck to you.

All good questions and things I certainly have thought about A LOT.

I am fairly certain of my O date simply because I do chart (CM, temps, and OPKs) and have been charting for about two years. So even if my O date is wrong, it shouldn't be by more than a couple days. Top that off with the fact that I know each and every day of BD'ing, and I should be pretty close with my dates.

I wasn't sure about stopping the Lovenox either, even if my doctors think the pregnancy is nonviable....it is something I am still struggling with. My doctor did say she is 99% sure this is going to be nonviable, but that anything is possible this early and with my hCG continuing to go up they will not give me a prescription for misoprostol (I do not want to do a D&C for a miscarriage unless deemed medically necessary)....I got the impression that although they do not think the pregnancy will work out they really can't give up on it so early (medically speaking)! Therefore, with taking me off the Lovenox, I guess their thinking is that with there being such a high chance of starting to miscarry naturally, they would just want to make sure I am safe. I am still taking a baby aspirin, however.

I guess only time will tell. I check my levels again on Wednesday with an u/s in the afternoon. I never knew how long 48 hours could really be until I started getting pregnant!

jenandgc · November 2012

One more follow up to the Lovenox question -- I did ask about going back on it after this past Friday's results (I asked in a "just in case" kind of way since I could be that 1%!) and they did say that if my levels continue to increase, and they are able to see something on an u/s this coming Wednesday, they would consider having me go back on it with extremely close monitoring.......so, again, I definitely struggle with this particular issue and with betas acting the way they are, the stress is just amplified!

KacyChicago · November 2012

I have no advice for you, and I'm sorry for that. But I did want to say that I hate you're going through this, and I hope you see some great progress on Wednesday. I can only imagine how tough this is, and I hate it for you. Best of luck to you.

alb245 · November 2012

jenandgc:

I guess only time will tell. I check my levels again on Wednesday with an u/s in the afternoon. I never knew how long 48 hours could really be until I started getting pregnant!

I'm so sorry you're going through this I hope the next 48 hours fly by and you get good results at your next appointment!

kpowers982 · November 2012

Hi there, I've been through beta hell myself, and have so far made it to the other side. Looooooong story short, my first beta at 12 DPO was 13, it only rose to 14 at 14 DPO, and doubled/not quite doubled over the next few weeks. The wonky betas, my incredibly low progesterone (started at 4.3), some red bleeding, and a u/s that showed a gestational sac but no pole led 2 doctors to rule it as an early miscarriage, but since my betas were in the low thousands by this point, they made me wait 10 days for a conformation ultrasound before they would treat me. When I went in for my follow up u/s, at this point I'd been in beta hell for 5 going on six weeks. Sure as sh!t on that ultrasound, there was a baby with a HB of 150 measuring 6w5d. I'm 11 days behind when I "thought" I O'd (I was temping and using OPKs), but my baby has been measuring according to these new measurements this whole time, and I'll be 30 weeks this Thursday. The doctors shrugged and said my O date was either off or I implanted VERY late.

So, it's less common, but it DOES happen. I can't really explain it, but it does. Hang in there. I do know how gut wrenching this situation is. I will continue to hope for you that you are the exception to the rule as well. Fingers crossed for you and take care!

jenandgc · November 2012

Everyone -- thanks so much for your kind words and thoughts!

kpowers982, just the glimmer of hope I was looking for! I realize it is a VERY slim chance that things will work out for me, but there is a chance.

Will keep you all updated....

BritsyB8 · November 2012

I don't have any advice or a story for you, but I am praying that for whatever reason your LO is just starting out a little slow and you will see some increasing betas or something on an u/s very soon!!

jenandgc · November 2012

Just a quick update -- they did an ultrasound and they found what they THINK is a cervical pregnancy. Apparently this is something VERY rare and dangerous. Taking the appropriate steps to confirm and then decide what to do.

Thanks again everyone for your thoughts and prayers.

anitaflora · November 2012

Was just thinking about you and wondering what was happening with you. I'm so sorry to hear that it doesn't sound like the outcome you were hoping for

. But I'm so glad that it was discovered and that it will be addressed to keep you healthy. Best of luck & I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

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