Positive HPT nearly 5 weeks after miscarriage

[mrsmindcontrol]

After advice please.....I had a miscarriage on Monday 20th May. I had a scan on that day & it showed that the lining of my womb was thin enough to class as a complete miscarriage.
I was 7.5 weeks but suspect baby had died weeks previously due to a previous scan showing small sized foetus for dates.
4, nearly 5 weeks on I am still getting + HPT. I am panicking I'm pregnant again (the original pregnancy was very much unplanned & against the odds).
Do i need to see a Doctor or should I wait another week or so to see if tests turn negative?

[Rockchick1984]

I got positive pregnancy tests for about 6 weeks following a miscarriage however if you are concerned the dr can do blood tests to check that your levels are dropping. Have you had unprotected sex since the miscarriage?

[mrsmindcontrol]

I haven't had unprotected sex, we've been using condoms as waiting to be sterilised & can't use hormonal contraception. However, last pregnancy happened despite condoms AND the MAP
Given you had + results for 6 weeks, I may leave it another week before I contact the dr.

[squizita]

I don't wish to alarm you, however would suggest going to the doc immediately. There are 5 possibilities - from my experience of extensive medical tests after I had a similar HPT issue and subsequent (tentative) diagnosis for bloods going down slowing after a MC, some require follow up or at least monitoring.Thankfully they are the rare ones!
1- some people's bodies take a while to recover (but check up will ensure this is just the case) ... most likely, thanfully!
2- tiny amount of retained products - if you're not in pain etc' it's no infected and may well just come out but it can keep HCG 30+ (which registers on a HPT) even if just a few tiny 'roots' of the placenta are left, hardly visible. In most cases if they thought this they would just monitor, but watch out for signs of infection, maybe a shot of antibiotics. 10% of MCs have an element of this, so it's also likely - it means your next AF may be heavier and clottier.
3- you're pregnant! :)
4- 1/4000 risk - a heterotopic (that's a tiny ectopic twin), which like all ectopics could be dangerous if left unchecked. They can scan for this and do 48 hr bloods to rule it out. Only a 1/4000 chance so don't panic! And if it is, it is unlikely you'll need surgery - most die on their own or with an injection.
5- 1/1000 risk - a partial molar pregnancy. This requires blood tests every 2 weeks for 6 months and in a small proportion of cases, mild chemo. This is what I have. It's very rare - if you MC in hospital they check the materials for it, but as you MCed naturally I guess they would use a scan again, and a serum blood test.

As I've said those two last ones are MEGA RARE but it's worth getting it checked by a GP or EPU for peace of mind. My doc was useless - as were the general clinic juniors at my local hospital - but the moment I was referred to the EPU they were SO thorough and sorted me out.

...Hoping it's number 3! :)

[squizita]

...oops sorry, apologies re-read can see you didn't want the pg. In which case ignore last comment SOORY!

[mrsmindcontrol]

Wow squiz, sorry to hear what you've been through. Are you ok?
I've called the GP now & waiting for a call back, I'm just so worried I'm pregnant again that I hadn't thought it might be something more sinister.
Thank you for your advice x

[squizita]

Oh no, I hope I haven't worried you. It is by far most likely to be a tiny bit of retained placenta which will bleed out like a clotty period (TMI) and then all be over with.

My case is 1/1000 miscarriages in rarity, so don't worry!!

[mrsmindcontrol]

Oh god, update....spoke to GP who spoke to the EPU who then rang me back. Essentially, I spoke to the nurse who scanned me on 20 May. She said that the scan definitely showed that the miscarriage was totally complete so the + test is definitely showing a + for a new pregnancy. She said that the residual HcG from a 7 week pregnancy would have cleared within 2 weeks post miscarriage which means there is no other explanation other than I am pregnant again.
I am dumbfounded. We used condoms religiously, I just don't understand.
Is there any chance, do you think that I'm NOT pregnant?

[tametortie]

Personally I would ask for a couple of hcg blood tests 2 days apart to see if levels are rising or falling.

I tested positive for weeks after my mc.

[squizita]

Ask for blood tests. This nurse seems not to be following the protocol for a PUL (pregnancy of unknown location) at all. Ask to speak to the gynie registrar - explain what the nurse has said and that you would like a second opinion. Request a check for PREGNANCY OF UNKNOWN LOCATION, HETEROTOPIC and PARTIAL MOLAR. I had the same clueless approach as I was treated initially by inexperienced staff: it was only when I very firmly explained that due to it being my 3rd MC and unexplained pain my DH and I had not had relations for 4 weeks since the op that they HAD to believe me. The dept consultant was furious with those staff about it.

It is also VERY possible- MORE likely than anything else- for small traces, easily missed by a scan, to stick around. They are not dangerous unless they get infected. And 10% of natural MCs have them.

[tametortie]

Fab advice squizita

[mrsmindcontrol]

Thank you squiz. I called GP back
& by some miracle managed to get an appointment for first thing Monday morning. Fingers crossed