Update - New to the group - confusing first early ultrasound

JessTy3 · June 2016

Hi Ladies! Excited and nervous and confused... I had a miscarriage 3 months ago. It was tough but thankfully I got a positive pregnancy test two weeks ago (day 27). I also got a smiley face from an ovulation test on day 10. My doctor had me come in yesterday for an early ultra sound - at exactly 6 weeks. At first she didn't see much. She was disappointed. She then had me pee and checked again. At first she thought she saw something and then wavered. Her machines are old - not sure if that matters. She was pretty pessimistic and I left the appointing sad and very confused. I thought it was still pretty early? But why was she so pessimistic? Not sure if it matters but my pregnancy test said 1-2 when I took it two weeks ago. What are your thoughts? Thank you!
Please note that I also has my numbers taken about a week ago - HCG in 1400s and progesterone was 20. Can you still have an empty sac with good numbers?

All looks good! Measuring right on target at 7 weeks and 4 days with a strong heartbeat. In conclusion, early sonograms can be just too early! I suggest waiting the extra couple of weeks if possible.

LoveIsOwlYouNeed · June 2016

Was it an abdominal or transvaginal ultrasound? It can make a difference, especially at 6 weeks.

Do you know when you actually ovulated? Do you temp? Ovulation tests can't accurately place ovulation and your test weeks ago said 1-2 that would also put you at 4 weeks, not 6, which could be a factor. I guess I need a little more information to help me out here, but I wouldn't lose hope, and kind of disappointing that your doctor would be that pessimistic about it...

JessTy3 · June 2016

It was transvaginal... I didn't take temperature. Its all so confusing to me! 2 weeks ago the pregnancy test said 1-2 weeks. And then don't you add 2 weeks? So, I think that could make me 5-6 weeks? Any advice would be great! And, thoughts that her machine is dated? Also, my numbers were good. Thank you!

LoneStar21416 · June 2016

Did you have an empty gestational sac or did the doctor see nothing at all? I'm confused by your original post.

BBoyd2013 · June 2016

If you took the CB weeks estimator then you should be around 5-6 weeks now. I don't know how accurate those are but I love them. I take them religiously for the first few weeks lol. I'm also confused if she didn't see anything at all or just a sac and no baby. And what did she tell you? You said she was pessimistic but what exactly did she say? It could be you are little earlier than you thought but she should have at least been able to see a sac. I'm sorry, this is so worrisome. I know. That's why I strongly dislike early u/s. 9 out of 10 they cause so much unnecessary worry. I have a history of complications and it's tempting to try to get an earlier appointment but I know if I don't see what I think I should see then I'd be a worried mess :-/

JessTy3 · June 2016

Sorry for the confusion... There was a sac but went back and forth whether or not she saw something in it. At first she saw maybe something in the corner. Then she saw that my bladder was full. After I emptied it she was sure she saw something but then took it back. Nothing was clear. She's been my doctor for over 15 years. I wonder if she was playing it down so she wouldn't get my hopes up?

nan814 · June 2016

The weeks estimator tests are estimating weeks since ovulation. So when it said 1-2 you were really 3-4 weeks pregnant. I would maybe be looking for a new doctor though. I'm sorry she confused and scared you.

cjs260 · June 2016

Hmmm.... The only advice I can really offer is to wait until your follow-up. I know that's awful and being in limbo is terrible, but everything can be so different depending on when O happened. And without temping, you can't really know. And to answer your earlier question, yes, in some cases you can have an empty sac and still have good numbers, especially this early. I know that's probably not what you want to hear. Also, the weeks estimators are notoriously bad at giving the wrong weeks and upsetting women in early pregnancy- I don't trust those things at all! Try not to worry, you're so very early that everything might just be a little too small to see yet. I'll be thinking of you!

JessTy3 · June 2016

That would put me at 5-6 weeks which very well might be too early. Thank you so much! I do like her... I'll give it a little more time to see how things go with her.

JessTy3 · June 2016

Thank you!

JessTy3 · June 2016

8 more days till my follow up appointment... Hoping that things changed since my 6 week appointment when only a sac was detected. Since then my symptoms have definitely increased - nausea, boobs hurt and have grown, and tired. Do you think I would still be having symptoms of it was an empty sac? Thanks ladies!

cjs260 · June 2016

@JessTy3 Tw: loss mentioned. I think that's probably a good sign, but I personally had a blighted ovum my previous pregnancy (an empty sac). I had symptoms the entire time with that pregnancy, as well as this one. I've also had spotting with both pregnancies. The only difference is that in one pregnancy, we saw a heart beat and in the other we didn't see anything. Of course, my pregnancies have nothing to do with yours, I just wanted to share an example of two very similar pregnancies with one important difference. I sincerely hope that everything looks just perfect at your next appointment!

JessTy3 · June 2016

Yeah... That's what I thought. I had a miscarriage three months ago (chromosome issue)... Hardly any symptoms with that pregnancy. I have a beautiful son and I am very blessed. Just not sure I have the energy for back to back miscarriages.

JessTy3 · June 2016

Also, when was it confirmed that it was empty? I went 6 weeks exactly and doctor kept changing her mind whether or not she saw something. Could it have been too early?

cjs260 · June 2016

@JessTy3 It definitely could have been too early for you, especially if you weren't tracking your temp and don't know exactly when you ovulated. Mine was confirmed when I was 8w5d and the sac measured about 6 weeks with nothing inside.

JessTy3 · June 2016

I got a smiley face but never took temp... Thank you so much for your advice!

cjs260 · June 2016

@JessTy3 many people get smilys (or positive opks in general) several times a month. It's one of the reasons temping is the golden rule on ttc sites. But I sure hope everything turns out to be just fine.

JessTy3 · June 2016

I hope so! I love my doctor but the appointment was so frustrating! At first she didn't think she saw anything, then she had me empty my bladder, then she saw something, and then took it back. Ugh! Her ultrasound machine is so so so dated. Do you think that matters?

Briala · June 2016

That can make a difference ultrasound machines have come a long way in the last couple years.

JessTy3 · June 2016

Thank you!

ThePax89 · June 2016

An old ultrasound could definitely be the culprit!

JessTy3 · June 2016

Geez... I hope so! The way she wavered about whether or not she saw something in the sac was totally confusing! Not what I wanted to hear...

ThePax89 · June 2016

Do they have access to a better machine? It's terrifying not having all of the information in these situations

ChrissyD1203 · June 2016

**lurking from Jan 2016.

My doctor had an old machine and also couldn't see anything at 6 weeks.

JessTy3 · June 2016

Nope... But I go to a different place for all the bigger appointments

juliehollz13 · June 2016

I've always read they cant see anything until your HCG is at least in the 3000's. I'd definitely go to a different Dr. - my RE wouldn't even do an U/S until 7 weeks because she said there's a high chance of not seeing anything that early.

JessTy3 · June 2016

I had a miscarriage just three months ago... She wanted to do an early ultra sound cause of the miscarriage and she thought it would make me less anxious. Her thoughts kinda backfired!

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Update - New to the group - confusing first early ultrasound

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