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1st Trimester
Nikitamarlay
member
Me(39)+ BF(33) TTC #1 since 1/12
m/c 9/9/12 4w4d
m/c 5/23/13 8w2d
Low HCG (but doubling) after "Period" like Bleeding
Nikitamarlay
member
Sorry about the long post (& sharing way too much info), but I want to make sure I cover everything.
I am almost 39 and have been ttc my first child for over 6 months. I had a chemical pregnancy in August 2012. My OB prescribed clomid for me to use starting my next cycle day 5.
I had a period that started on 3/26/13 (typically my cycles are 24-25 days long) & a positive OPK on 4/6/13.
From BBT it looks like I either ovulated on 4/7 (fertilityfriend.com) or 4/9 (myfertilitychart.com).
Starting on 4/19 (10 or 12 dpo) I had what I assumed was a period. It started light and became heavy throughout the day. The blood was bright red to dark red and had a large amount of stringy clots with some cramping. The second day started out heavy (also with the stringy clots and some cramping) then was light by evening. I spotted for one more day.
Monday, 4/22, I became extremely nauseous & since I was supposed to start clomid the next day I thought I would take a pregnancy test just to be sure. It came back positive.
I called the OB office & (after a ton of miscommunication between the receptionist & the nurse) was scheduled for the beta tests. I was 99% sure that the tests would show that my HCG levels were dropping or nonexistent, but needed to be sure.
1st HCG Beta: 21 at 14 or 16 dpo (4/23)
2nd HCG Beta: 56 at 16 or 18 dpo (4/25)
3rd HCG Beta: 143 at 18 or 20 dpo (4/27)
There has been so much miscommunication at my doctor's office, so I'm not even sure if she's getting all the information. One nurse didn't seem concerned that I had such heavy bleeding, another I talked to acted like it wasn't written in any of my notes. They just say that my numbers are in range and a nurse will contact me 5/10 to go over additional blood work before my first prenatal exam on 5/13.
If not for the bleeding prior to my positive hpt (or my age or my previous loss) I probably wouldn't be worried, but from everything I've read, things don't look good. Although my beta doubled, they are very low.
I hope that I'm just being paranoid, but I just have this nagging fear that things are not right.
Could the bleeding have been caused by wacky hormones, my short luteal phase (typcially 8-10 days), or by late implantation (I had a massive temp dip on 11dpo, one day before bleeding started)?
If the bleeding I had was another chemical pregnancy/early miscarriage would my HCG levels still be doubling?
Are my low HCG levels indicative of an ectopic pregnancy?
I'm really afraid and I'd appreciate any insight (good or bad).
Me(39)+ BF(33) TTC #1 since 1/12
m/c 9/9/12 4w4d
m/c 5/23/13 8w2d
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Low HCG (but doubling) after "Period" like Bleeding
Sometimes, pregnant women bleed for no reason. Now, bleeding paired with cramping and betas that aren't doubling-that would be reason for concern.
If you were miscarrying, your betas would not be doubling. The actual number, isn't really relevant.
High hgc levels are usually associated with ectopic pregnancies, not low ones.
Your numbers are low but they are increasing. So for now you are pregnant! Congratulations!
However, my RE makes me go for Beta tests every other day until HCG reaches at least 1,000. Can you request that? Ask to speak to the doctor directly if you do not think there are properly addressing your issues.
I have no idea why you would have been bleeding so I cannot offer any thoughts or advice on that.
Good luck. My fingers are crossed for you!
Just to clarify for the OP: This is not true. Low and/or slow betas are very common in ectopic pregnancies--and far more common than high hcg.
I'm not posting this to scare you, OP, but I just want to put it out there that bleeding and low hcg can be a consistent with an ectopic--so that you can be vigilant and seek medical attention if you have any pain (especially one-sided). However, keep in mind that ectopic pregnancies are rare, and it is FAR more common for a mother with your betas (low but doubling) to NOT be ectopic, even with the bleeding.
When I was pregnant last time, there was a mom (her name is hijoi) who had very low betas (I think she started at 25 on 16 or 17 dpo). I think she also had a significant bleeding episode. I think she had her baby girl in July, so you may want to try paging her on July 2012 board. She also used to post on pregnant after 35.
Congratulations on your BFP. I hope this is the start to a very H&H 9 months!
UPDATE
First, thank you all for the support & information!
My doctor just emailed me back & said that late implantation could be responsible for the bleeding (and lower HCG levels), but more likely it is just random bleeding & that it is very common & most of the time it turns out fine.
She also said that other concerns certainly would be an ectopic pregnancy, but usually she sees plateauing or inappropriately rising HCG levels.
She said I can come in for another blood draw to see where I'm at.
So, now I'm trying to decide if I want to go in today at lunch (it would be 3 days from last draw) or if I should go tomorrow morning.
Thanks for updating us! That sounds very encouraging. Where your other betas taken in the morning? If so, then you could wait until tomorrow morning. If the other betas were taken in the afternoon, I would go in today (and get as close to the other ones as possible).
I couldn't escape work today. Looks like I'll have to hit the lab before work tomorrow so it will probably be around 8am, so it looks like I'll be there about 93 hours from beta #4.
My 1st two betas were in the morning, 9:30am & 8am, the accidental one was around 4pm, and the last was at 11am, so I'm all over the place.
Previous betas have been doubling aprox. every 32 to 37 hours, so I'm hoping (fingers crossed) for some much bigger numbers!
I just got a call from the doctor's office. Things are not looking good. My beta is only at 354 (doubling approx. every 71 hrs). They're going to call me back to schedule an ultrasound.
This is not the birthday news I was hoping for. I'm just trying to hold it together & not start crying at work.
Ultrasound is scheduled for 5/9/13, and they won't test HCG beta any more until after the ultrasound results.
I guess there is nothing else I can do, I feel so helpless and hopeless. This month is particularly hard, with getting the bad news yesterday on my 39th birthday, and the EDD of the baby I lost last September on May 11th.
Good or bad, I'll update if anything happens or when I get more information.
Well, no definitive answers, but still not looking good.
They weren't able to see anything on either the normal or the transvaginal ultrasounds. Nothing in the uterus or in the Fallopian tubes. The doctor said that she wouldn't really expect to see anything this early, but they thought it best to look to see if there any fluid built up etc. So I guess it's good that there wasn't anything obvious in my tubes.
I had a HcG beta pulled as well & it came back a very disappointing 1361. According to the calculators online, doubling approximately every 101 hours.
The doctor said that although she can't 100% say that I'm definitely losing this baby, this really looks like an "abnormal" pregnancy that will lead to a miscarriage or end up being ectopic. She told me she thought that I should get my HcG again in 2 days & if I get cramping/pain/bleeding to go to the hospital.
So, for now we wait, re-test on Saturday, wait for results until Monday, and reevaluate.
I'm so devastated, I've wanted a baby for so long. It seems so cruel to be in this pseudo-pregnancy limbo. I can't really feel the joy of finally being pregnant or start to mourn what may be the inevitable loss that looms.
Apparently my OB's office doesn't review your case before the nurse calls you for your phone intake before your 1st prenatal visit.
I just got the big, "Congratulations, Mom!" thrown at me. Had to try to get away from the people in my office and tell her that things are still up in the air and not looking promising. Once I explained what is going on she was very apologetic, but the damage is done.
I feel like my heart is being ripped out.
HcG dropped to 1238 today.
No bleeding, a little cramping, but no real pain, so I'm hoping that at least the chance of ectopic is dwindling.
Not sure how to really know if I'm having ectopic pain. Obviously if my tube is rupturing I'd be in extreme pain, but what kind of pain would I have leading up to it?
Will check HcG beta again on Monday & the doctor wants me to come in Tuesday when my first prenatal exam was scheduled.
HcG down to 868. Still no cramping, bleeding, or pain.
At least it looks like it won't drag on for too much longer. I just keep telling myself that the sooner this is over the sooner we can try again.
I see my OB tomorrow afternoon, not sure why. The numbers seem to be decreasing steadily & there wasn't anything on the last ultrasound so I don't know what she plans on checking. Hope I don't have to have a d&c.
Fingers crossed that all these appointments & tests don't completely break the bank. I have crappy & expensive individual insurance that has a huge deductible & only covers 80% after, so the less extraneous appointments the better.
HcG down to 760 (as of 5/15)... I wish it would just bottom out already. I have to go back on Friday for another draw. They charged my insurance $139 per beta test, but I'm still waiting to see how much of that I'll have to pay.
Still no pain, cramping, or bleeding.
Met with my OB/Gyn on Tuesday. She did a pelvic exam & tested for tenderness in ovaries. She recommended that I wait one cycle before trying again & to use the clomid that was previously planned. Because I'm Rh negative I got the RhoGAM shot. She wants to see me in two weeks & gave me a couple options to think about.
1.We do nothing & wait for my HcG to drop to 0 and everything to end naturally.
2.She said it doesn't look like ectopic but if my HcG plateaus then I'll have to get the Methotrexate shot.
3.If it is not ectopic I could get the medication that would cause my to have contractions to speed up the process.
I don't know what to do. Should I wait it out or get the pill? Anyone have advice on this?
I'm so sorry you're having to go through this! I hope it happens quickly and easily for you so that you can move on.
Update:
My HcG continues to drop. Doctor wants to check my betas weekly until they get down to 2 or less.
As of yesterday, 5/21/13, (8 weeks) I'm down to 418.
For the last couple of days (once in a while) there has been a slight pinkish tinge when I wipe, so I'm hopeful that I'll start bleeding soon. Fingers crossed that I have a normal length cycle (mine are 24-26 days) so that we can try again.
The doctor said that I should wait one cycle, so even though I wish I could just start now I'll wait one month. But it is so upsetting knowing that I'm not getting any younger & I keep thinking what if the only good egg I have is during the cycle we have to sit out. Arg.
Just posting this because I hate when I'm reading a thread & it just stops without saying what happened. I wish that no one else would have to look for information about this type of issue, but know that it may be helpful to someone else.
Now for TMI...
Started bleeding pretty heavy Thurs 5/23/13 (with cramps that were just a little bit worse than usual), continued heavy with some small clots here & there through Saturday. Sunday & Monday were more of a medium flow. Yesterday was pretty light, and I seem to be just spotting today. This has officially been the longest period I've had in years.
HcG down to 33 as of 5/28/13.
I'll have to go in for another HcG on 6/4/13. Fingers crossed that it is down to 2 or less so I can move on.
If this cycle behaves normally, I should ovulate around 6/4, but I'm not sure if I want to waste the money on opk tests since I have to wait a cycle. Anyways, if the cycle is normal I should get my next period on or around 6/16, which means that we could ttc at the end of June. Fingers crossed since I hear that the cycle after a miscarriage can be screwed up.
As of 6/7/13 HcG is <2
My last period finished spotting 5/31. I didn't temp or use an opk this cycle, but I think I felt some ovulation type pains back around cycle day 15, which is about right for me, so fingers crossed that my next cycle starts on time (next Sunday-ish) & I can start the clomid and we can try for our rainbow baby.
Thank you to everyone who gave me support when I needed it.