First, sorry for my English, not a native...I am very anxious and hopefully looking for some answers. I am 5w6d pregnant after a FET (single tranfer) medicated cycle of 5 day blast PGD tested.
This pregnancy does not seem to have started very well. I got the first bfp (faint) 6dp5dt and after that beta hell started:
11dp5dt: 52
13dp5dt: 130
15dp5dt: 284
The doctor at first talked almost about stopping medication but after the two doubling betas just referred me to an ultrasound next 24 August. At first I asked for an ultrasound to be done today as I am very scared of an ectopic, but to be honest, I was so scared of the ultrasound that I have finally decided to wait till the 24th as I am not bleeding nor having any pain.
I have been told and have read all about the important being the doubling time, but honestly, the numbers are so low that they fall under all viability/good prognosis thresholds I have seen in studies.
What I would like to ask for anyone having gone through a similar experience is: with these numbers, do you think it is realistic to be hopeful about a happy ending or would it be one of those miracles only rarely happening? Is it really true the theory about low betas in FETs?
I would really appreciate any honest opinion.
Many many thanks!!!
PS: I hope you do not mind I am posting in this group
I don't have any advice as I am sort of in the same boat with low betas. My dr is very positive and just happy that I am doubling. Everything I have read has said not to focus on the numbers and focus on the doubling. I know easier said that done. Please know I am thinking of you as I anxiously await my third Beta results today.
ME- 35 DH- 40 TTC #1
IVF#1 w ICSI- 4/20/11 ER, 6 Eggs, 4 Fertilized, 4/25/11 5 day ET, 2 blasts- 5/4- Beta= BFN- No Frosties
IVF #2 w ICSI-6/21/11 ER, 4 Eggs, 2 Fertilized, 6/24/11 3 day ET 2 embryos- Beta 7/5/11- BFN- No frosties. NEW RE IUI #1- started 50ius of follistim 1/25, IUI 2/3/12 - BFN AMH-0.73- DOR 2/2012
IUI #2- 3/17/12 started 200ius of Follistim , 3/24/12 added ganirelix, 225ius Follistim and 75ius of repronex, IUI- 3/30/12, Beta April 13, 2012-BFN
Appointment with Dr. Schoolcraft at CCRM July 18, 2012 WAITING ON A MIRACLE AT THIS POINT AMH tested again 1/2013- 1.4!!!! IUI #3- 1/14/13 started 200ius of Follistim, 1/20/13 added menopur and ganirelix, IUI 1/25/13. Positive HPT 2/6/13- Beta #1- 193- BFP!!! 2/8/13-Beta#2-426.6 2/26 ultrasound #1- TWINS! Delivered a healthy beautiful baby boy on 10/17/13 10ls. 2 ounces
TTC #2
AMH .75 VERY POOR RESPONDER IUI #4 cancelled due to only one egg responding
IUI#5 cancelled on CD 10, (3) follicules were still very small even on 300 IU's of Follistim. Also found fluid in my uterus from C-section scar
BFP- 8/9/15
Beta #1 8/10/15 13DPO- 9.2 (fingers crossed this sticks)
I am sorry your RE is not more reassuring. it is hard to know how things will go from betas. Yours are doubling appropriately though they are low. Hopefully, your will be a happy ending. Best of luck to you.
cseg, I had the experience you fear and I keep in mind (even for myself) that it is rare. My numbers were low (lower than yours by two days) and doubled normally, no bleeding (w/P4 supp) and no pain. Long story short those are the most dangerous ectopics and I'm fortunate my story continued past that experience. So given that's rare but it happens and is life threatening, I agree it's important to go in when hCG is 1,000 to 1,500 to be safe. Seems your dr has that in mind. On the other hand, most low hCGs result in chemical pgs, a few in miscarriage and some, yes, some in healthy viable babies!!!!! It's a cliché here, but I do prepare for the worst and hope the best...
FX, FX for you and your babe.
Unexplained IF/RPL
TTC#1 2003 BFNs, 2004-2009 5 angels above
2010 IVF-PGS-FET#1, DD b. Aug-2011
TTC#2 2012 BFNs, 2013 FET#2, DS b. Nov-2013
TTC#3 2015 BFNs, FET#3 (my 6th and last angel above)
Many thanks to you both! I also wish you too the best for your next steps in this journey!
Sharon, I am very sorry you went through an ectopic. Did you not have any symptom at all? At which week was it discovered? In fact, I am more afraid than my RE about the ectopic; I hope I have not made a mistake by deciding to wait until 7w3d for the scan, as I will be much over 1500 hcg by then if betas have kept doubling...
It's appropriate to be your own patient advocate. My story: On 20dpo my hCG was 124. At 6w0d hCG 1500, my uterus was empty. (I know now that for a singleton pg this is DX of ectopic; I believe my dr did not review the hCG results b/c:) The nurse scheduled u/s the following week. Someone online told me I should demand to be seen 2 days later, but I "trusted" my OB. At 7w0d hCG 6000, pg was visualized just outside my uterus; P4 was stopped. MTX is most effective under 5000. 1st shot 7w0d didn't work; 2nd shot at 8w0d hCG 8500 did work, sort of: hCG dropped significantly. 8w3d I had medium flow. 8w4d I had throbbing (as expected with MTX). At 9w0d hCG 2000 (success! the OB said) my tube ruptured ... violently . The pg was removed with my tube. So, yes, I keep in mind how rare my experience was but secretly hope folks with low, doubling betas get u/s when hCG is 1500 and that they have an experienced OB.
Unexplained IF/RPL
TTC#1 2003 BFNs, 2004-2009 5 angels above
2010 IVF-PGS-FET#1, DD b. Aug-2011
TTC#2 2012 BFNs, 2013 FET#2, DS b. Nov-2013
TTC#3 2015 BFNs, FET#3 (my 6th and last angel above)
Just a quick update for anyone reading. In the end we went for an u/s yesterday at 6w4d and we saw the heartbeat!!! We know there is still a long road ahead but for now there is still hope. Very happy but already nervous for the next u/s, a big milestone for us as by then it will be past the moment when we had one of our losses.
Cseg mine did not double and I was terrified because they weren't doubling each time but just hit 20wk today and am still paranoid. I am glad all went well, and remember once you go to your regular OB don't be afraid to demand ultrasounds if ins covers them.
Re: Low doubling betas FET/IVF/PGD
TTC #1
IVF #2 w ICSI-6/21/11 ER, 4 Eggs, 2 Fertilized, 6/24/11 3 day ET 2 embryos- Beta 7/5/11- BFN- No frosties.
NEW RE
IUI #1- started 50ius of follistim 1/25, IUI 2/3/12 - BFN
AMH-0.73- DOR 2/2012
IUI #2- 3/17/12 started 200ius of Follistim , 3/24/12 added ganirelix, 225ius Follistim and 75ius of repronex, IUI- 3/30/12, Beta April 13, 2012-BFN
Appointment with Dr. Schoolcraft at CCRM July 18, 2012
WAITING ON A MIRACLE AT THIS POINT
AMH tested again 1/2013- 1.4!!!!
IUI #3- 1/14/13 started 200ius of Follistim, 1/20/13 added menopur and ganirelix, IUI 1/25/13. Positive HPT 2/6/13- Beta #1- 193- BFP!!! 2/8/13-Beta#2-426.6
2/26 ultrasound #1- TWINS!
Delivered a healthy beautiful baby boy on 10/17/13 10ls. 2 ounces
IUI #4 cancelled due to only one egg responding
PAIF or SAIF Welcome
IVF #1 ET 1 d3 embryo 10/30/11 BFP
3 Embryos frozen (1 d5, 2 d6)
DS born 07/29/12
FET #1 ET 1 d5 embryo 02/10/15 BFN
FET #2 1 d6 embryo didn't survive thaw, transferred last d6. CP
cseg, I had the experience you fear and I keep in mind (even for myself) that it is rare. My numbers were low (lower than yours by two days) and doubled normally, no bleeding (w/P4 supp) and no pain. Long story short those are the most dangerous ectopics and I'm fortunate my story continued past that experience. So given that's rare but it happens and is life threatening, I agree it's important to go in when hCG is 1,000 to 1,500 to be safe. Seems your dr has that in mind. On the other hand, most low hCGs result in chemical pgs, a few in miscarriage and some, yes, some in healthy viable babies!!!!! It's a cliché here, but I do prepare for the worst and hope the best...
FX, FX for you and your babe.
Unexplained IF/RPL
TTC#1 2003 BFNs, 2004-2009 5 angels above
2010 IVF-PGS-FET#1, DD b. Aug-2011
TTC#2 2012 BFNs, 2013 FET#2, DS b. Nov-2013
TTC#3 2015 BFNs, FET#3 (my 6th and last angel above)
Journey Complete.
It's appropriate to be your own patient advocate. My story: On 20dpo my hCG was 124. At 6w0d hCG 1500, my uterus was empty. (I know now that for a singleton pg this is DX of ectopic; I believe my dr did not review the hCG results b/c:) The nurse scheduled u/s the following week. Someone online told me I should demand to be seen 2 days later, but I "trusted" my OB. At 7w0d hCG 6000, pg was visualized just outside my uterus; P4 was stopped. MTX is most effective under 5000. 1st shot 7w0d didn't work; 2nd shot at 8w0d hCG 8500 did work, sort of: hCG dropped significantly. 8w3d I had medium flow. 8w4d I had throbbing (as expected with MTX). At 9w0d hCG 2000 (success! the OB said) my tube ruptured ... violently . The pg was removed with my tube. So, yes, I keep in mind how rare my experience was but secretly hope folks with low, doubling betas get u/s when hCG is 1500 and that they have an experienced OB.
Unexplained IF/RPL
TTC#1 2003 BFNs, 2004-2009 5 angels above
2010 IVF-PGS-FET#1, DD b. Aug-2011
TTC#2 2012 BFNs, 2013 FET#2, DS b. Nov-2013
TTC#3 2015 BFNs, FET#3 (my 6th and last angel above)
Journey Complete.
Unexplained IF/RPL
TTC#1 2003 BFNs, 2004-2009 5 angels above
2010 IVF-PGS-FET#1, DD b. Aug-2011
TTC#2 2012 BFNs, 2013 FET#2, DS b. Nov-2013
TTC#3 2015 BFNs, FET#3 (my 6th and last angel above)
Journey Complete.