early bleeding, vanishing twin?, low hcgs, now a decrease

[girlathome]

Here's my story:

My LMP was somewhere in the week of 7/27-7/31. I don't remember but I am guessing maybe the 28th. Sometime in the second to third week of August I was suspecting I was pregnant, though because my PMS symptoms are so similar, I just waited. On 8/24, I spotted a few time and on 8/25 and the morning of 8/26 I thought I had my AF, but then it spotted abruptly which was very unusual. AND the symptoms continued and became more like pregnancy symptoms. So on 8/27 I took an HPT and got a faint BFP, and again the next day. I was confused as I thought I had gotten AF so I called my Dr who ordered an HCG test. The results came back that Fri that my level was 49. They told me it seemed low and told me to expect a M/C over the weekend (which really made for a fun Labor Day weekend!). Over the weekend nothing happened except the pregnancy symptoms got worse and the BFP got darker, so I called back and had my HCG taken on 9/2 (5 days later). It was 774! The doctor gave me an exam and said it wasn't ectopic, the early bleeding may have been a disappearing twin and though the level was still low, it was going up dramatically which looked good. Suddenly, after being depressed for a week about losing a baby, I thought there was good hope. They retested my HCG and this past Friday called with the results. Not good. It dropped to 452. Once again they forecasted a weekend of miscarrying. What a roller coaster ride!

So here I am a few days later, waiting. Nothing has happened. I have had continuing pregnancy symptoms, along with severe dizziness. Some mild pains in my lower abdomen which could be cramps or stress or from barely being able to eat. I have grieved twice now and am finding myself in the awkward position of knowing I will not be able to accept it fully until it happens. So I am wondering stuff like if my dehydration could have effected the HCG levels or even helped cause a M/C. I only drink about a cup of coffee and one other drink each day and have had morning sickness. I am pretty sure dehydration has been causing my dizziness. Is one decrease enough to write off a pregnancy? Or maybe when the phlebomotist took my blood and blew my vein (my entire elbow area is bruised and very swollen), she somehow caused the test to be inaccurate. I know it is a dangerous path I am going down, but at the same time, I can't picture that a little false hope is going to make this any worse. Can anything make this worse?

Should I call my Dr this week if nothing else happens and request an U/S? I think if I ask for another HCG they will think I am off my rocker. Should I just try to stay hydrated and hopeful until the inevitable happens? Or should I start grieving now, even if it takes weeks before the M/C? I feel so lost as I wander around the house each day wondering what I am supposed to be doing. Also, I think it is easier for my DH and the few other people I have told to feel like it is over now even though I am still carrying around my baby and I find that very annoying.

Good luck to all the women here! I appreciate this place just being here so I feel less kooky.

[onomonapetia]

Hi I posted to your other post-the one where you responded to me. I read that one first so ignore most of what I said! You need to have an u/s!!!! Demand it! I don't know why your doctor is only going by the levels anyways, I knew nothing about mine, only that my progesterone was low and had to take suppositories. I don't want to give you false hope, but what harm could it do, just to be able to see the baby there. Your probably what, about 5 weeks? They should be able to to at least see the sac and maybe more. Doctors make mistakes, and to me, most of the time they are quick to tell you the worst before they can even be sure. DEMAND an U/S!!!!

[girlathome]

Thanks Maria. Since I posted I had some minor spotting which stopped early yesterday morning. My stomach has not felt right, but I can describe exactly how it feels. I sense it may be the worst coming on, but I have decided today, until I see more blood, I will remain hopeful. If nothing happens by tomorrow, I will call for an ultrasound and more blood work. For now I am going to try to relax for one day as I think I need it.

And yes, I wouldn't even be 6 weeks until Thursday (I think). I posted the numbers a little incorrectly at the top here. I think my LMP was July 31.

I will keep everyone posted.

[girlathome]

Does anyone know a miscarry can cause middle back pain, like where the kidney is? I have a history of UTIs and kidney stones and now getting a pain in my back on the right side just below my rib cage. I am going to try to see the doctor tomorrow. Hopefully I will make it through Parents Night at school okay tonight, but any thoughts on this are welcome... thanks!

[girlathome]

Well, no ultrasound for me today

The nurse was going to try to schedule one for me but the doctor wants me to do another HCG first. I know they want me to M/C naturally, but an ultrasound would ease my mind and give me more closure while I wait... let me prepare mentally. Oh well, maybe Friday. They are going to test for a UTI, so that is good.

The blood test isn't until tomorrow, so I am going to "cram" tonight (drink plenty of fluids and go to the lab that gave me better results). Chances are VERY slim, but keep your fingers crossed for me!

[onomonapetia]

I can't believe your dr won't give you an u/s! What is his problem? That is rediculous, I would see about a second opinion. I'm so sorry you are being put through this. I will keep you in my thoughts!

[girlathome]

Well, turns out I DO have a kidney infection which would explain the back pain and low grade fever. It is hard to notice "frequent urination" when you already have that from pregnancy. Now I am wondering how long I've had an infection and if it could have been effecting this pregnancy all along. Does anyone know if a kidney infection could slow growth or HCG production? I got an antibiotic, and also, I convinced the nurse that I should go do the HCG today instead of waiting until tomorrow... I'm not sure what the point was anyway of waiting a day.

It kind of made my stomach turn while I was at the lab and I saw them punch in a diagnosis code and it came up on the screen in all caps "MISSED ABORTION". Do they have to use that word?

Anyhow, after my results come back tomorrow, I am guessing they will either need to give me an ultrasound or they will ask me to wait through another weekend. I already told them I would not agree to any other options until I saw an ultrasound. And it is reassuring to know that no matter how long they make me wait, the end result will still be the same. (I would just prefer to know sooner.)

Once again, I will post an update when I have one. Thanks so much all you beautiful strong women for just "listening" (i.e. reading).

In the meantime, I want to get rid of this infection!!

[girlathome]

Bad news, my HCG went up but not enough.

8/28 - 49
9/2 - 774
9/4 - 452
9/10 - 651

The doctor is worried about tubal. He said the numbers are too low to see anything on u/s. Is that true? He said the only thing they could do is a D&C and test the tissue to determine if pregnancy material was in my uterus. If not, I have to go on Methotrexate. They want to do it tomorrow as he is worried about waiting out the weekend. I am SO overwhelmed. It went from waiting patiently (well, kind of) for a natural m/c with a little hope to get me by, to suddenly no baby, AND D&C, AND maybe methotrexate. Plus the kidney infection.

My husband wants us to try to get an ultrasound squeezed in before the D&C. If they can't see anything nothing lost, right? I hope they don't fight me on it. They have me scared now.

Fingers crossed for me that it doesn't get any worse. I'm not sure if I could deal with one more bad thing.

[onomonapetia]

They should just do an u/s already! I am so so sorry the drs are being so difficult. I hope you find something definitive one way or the other, that must be torture for you! Let me know what happens.

[girlathome]

Follow up... it was ectopic. I got a D&C AND methotrexate (joy). Besides being really sad, physically it hasn't been nearly as bad as I expected... very little pain and very little bleeding. I haven't been feeling quite right, but I can't specifically describe how. Probably those chemo shots. My husband was with me until they wheeled me into surgery and there as soon as I got out and the doctors and nurses were all very supportive and helpful. And of course I am thankful I didn't end up with a ruptured tube.

I need to go sleep now. If anything, the whole ordeal was VERY tiring. Good luck to everyone waiting and grieving... and to those expecting!

[ahajjljj08]

OH IM SORRY SO FOR YOUR LOST, IM GOING THROUGH A M/C NOW MY SELF, I WILL BE PRAYING FOR YOU!