Decreasing HCG levels

[princessandthepea]

Hi, I'm new to mumsnet but need some advice so here goes...
I found out on Thurs I was pg after doing a positive test. I had what I thought was a period 3 wks ago so thought I should visit my GP. My GP sent me to the local EPAU & they did a vaginal scan but could find nothing so then took my HCg levels. They were only 215 & I guessed I was around 5 wks pg but as I haven't been trying & am on the mini pill I'm really not sure ! Anyway today I went for another blood test & the levels have dropped to 185. I'm not kidding myself that I'm still pg as I know that this isn't a good sign but wondered if the slight decrease means it's more likely that I've had a m/c or is it more likely to be eptopic ?
Am gutted because even thought the babba wasn't planned it was more than wanted but we have a beautiful 2 year old so really appreciate how lucky I am.
Just thought it'd be nice to get some advice from someone who maybe has been through it or is going through it x

Princess, I am sorry to hear of your loss .

I had a m/c in hospital and was admitted for bleeding, basically I asked for a pg test to check that everything was ok (it was a sunday so no scan facilities) anyway I was told that the hormone levels don't decrease dramatically and it will take time for the body to adjust for example you will test + even if you have very recently given birth

I think only the hospital could tell you in the pg was ectopic.

Keep well

Thank you KD73, so sorry for your loss it just helps to hear from others who have been through it. I have no pain & no bleeding apart from the 'period' that I had 3 weeks ago. I think its strange how I felt pregnant Thurs but by today I am being told my HCG levels are dropping. I'm just waiting for the pain or bleeding to start
Thanks again tho

I know what you mean about one minute being pg and the next not....

I can advise that my dp and I attended a rememberence service ran for babies and whilst v. strange we got great comfort (we are not particularly religious), it reminded us of the joy and massive excitment we had experienced upon discovering the baby

We have subsequently arranged for a tree to be planted in dedication of our baby.

All these things helped us get through a horrible and horrendous time.

I still have good and bad days - you will too but for the moment look after yourself - remember the worst has happened, it was nature and there wasn't a damned thing you could do to stop it

Thanks again, that sounds like a good idea. I don't just want to 'forget' about baby so I want to remember him/her in some way.
I am really struggling to cope with my grief at the moment, this has all happened too fast. I go back tomorrow for more blood tests so am just hoping that it's not eptopic. I feel sorry for my DP too, he is trying to be helpful but he doesn't seem to understand that the only thing that I think will make me feel ok is to have a healthy baby in the future
Hope I stop feeling like this soon coz it really is so awful & I feel so bad when my lovely DD keeps asking 'Why is mummy upset, is mummy naughty ?' Ahh bless

Princess, it seems like yesterday that I felt utter despair but time is a great healer. You will experience good and bad days, take each one as it comes.

I can't think about ttc again at the moment (too painful). Cycle was between 30 and 32 days after laparoscopy in March, but only had 2 visits from AF before BFP its now 33 days since m/c - don't know what to make of it - I do know it took 3yrs to get this far

Your dd sounds gorgeous, she must be a great comfort , I am glad to hear that dp is trying to help. I found mine was fantastic but our grief was very very different, I fell apart while he tried to save me .

Look after yourself and don't hesitate to post again if you want a friend

Thanks again KD73, you've been more than helpful. I'm so sorry to hear about what you have been through. It is still such early days for you too, but at least you have managed to become pregnant, so surely that means that you can do again ?
Was this your 1st m/c ? Most people who have a m/c go on to have a healthy baby or babies afterwards. My mum, sis, SIL, & a couple of friends all went on to have more children after their own m/c's so I'm taking some comfort from that
When I first found out about losing my baby yesterday I automatically thought that I can't go through this again, yet just one day later I know that I will do because I so want another baby to complete my family.
I will be so scared of things going wrong but it is more than worth it to end up with a healthy baby at the end of it.
I wish you lots of luck & love in you having your own little one in the near future x

Thanks Princess,

It took a while (3 yrs) but finally I got pg and hopefully I will be blessed again!

I am glad to hear you are feeling better and hope that you get a bambino too!

KD

princess - im so sorry to hear your news, i know its difficult as i had a mc not that long ago but it does get better, i remember realising about 2 weeks after mine that id actually managed to go all day without crying and was amazed.but from that point on it did get better.

i felt the same way as you about needing to get pregnant and luckly i did after my 1st af, i ve just reached 12 weeks but i wont lie its nerve wracking and still is.

i hope your well make sure you look after yourself x

If you've been pg once then the chances are that you'll get pg again...I just hope I can hold onto my nxt one for longer tho
I'm feeling much more positive now but have more HCG tests to get taken tomorrow so just hope that baby isn't ectopic
Congrats spugs, is this your 2nd pregnancy ? The baby gets so much stronger every day so it really is lovely to get to 12 wks. Just look after yourself & keep baby nice & snug

Hi princess. Sorry you're going through this. Its not a good feeling I know. I can't give you any real advice tbh, but I have been in that situation. I had an internal scan to see if I was still pg, but, like you they could see nothing in my uterus. They did however 'suspect' ectopic because of a dark shadow or something like that towards the top (it was a couple of years ago now). They monitored my HCG levels over the course of the next few days, just like they are doing for you and unfortuanately for me it was ectopic. What I'm trying to say is, the chances are, they would probably have seen 'something' not quite right and also they would have told you if they had any cause for concern, so try not to add the worry of ectopic to everything else you're feeling now. Hope everything goes as smoothly as something like this can tomorrow. Post again, once you get your next HCG results, if you can, I'll be looking out for you.

Thanks Maureen, I will do. I've looked at other threads & felt so gutted for everyone that has m/c after m/c. I really don't know how they cope

Hi Princess, I have just had my 4th miscarriage (have 3 DS's though) and I have been getting my hcg levels checked. When I went for scan (after bleeding) there was nothing there and so they said they have to monitor to check for ectopic pregnancy. They said that they were looking for a result that was reducing and less than 500. My results decreased from 1400 to 600 and yesterday to 150 and they said from that they could classify it as complete miscarriage ( I was 8 1/2 weeks when mc though so dont know how that affects it all). Not sure if that helps at all but best wishes for the future anyway.

Sorry for you losses Springflower, I can't even begin imagine how you feel after being through this 4 times . You have your 3 other precious children but you can't replace or forget the ones you lose .
My pg wasn't planned & I was on the mini pill so have no idea how far pg I was but guessed about 5 wks as I got similar symptoms to when I was pg with my DG. My HCG levels on Tues were 215 but on Thurs they were 185. I'm just hoping that it is a bigger decrease romorrow.

((((Princess))))))

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I have had two miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy. With my miscarriages my HCG gradually dropped. With my second miscarriage the HCG levels started dropping before I started bleeding.

When I had my ectopic pregnancy my HCG levels kept slowly rising. So in my experience dropping HCG levels does mean a miscarriage but obviously every person is different. Are they monitoring your levels every 48 hours?

Take good care of yourself

What a nice message Princess - thanks. How much of a gap was there between those 2 levels? (Sorry if you've already posted this). It does sound positive that they are not increasing anyway like lubyloo says. I was given the impression that they would keep rising if it was ectopic and fall otherwise. good luck tomorrow anyway but try not too worry too much.

Yes Luby, am back at the hospital tomorrow & probably every 48 hours until the HCG levels have gone right down. Am so glad I am getting over my needle phobia as this would have been so much worse when I couldn't even wait for an injection without crying .
I should resemble a pin cushion by the time they're done with me

The gap was 48 hours, I must be in a good postcode lottery area coz they are looking after me & letting me know my results on the same day. I've read some threads where people have had to wait days for more tests & to get they're results...shocking

Hi again, it is great to get the results quickly - I hadnt realised that some people have to wait a while which obviously just adds to the anxiety. I'm in Edinburgh and I've had great treatment with all my mc but it does sound like there's a lot of variation. Good luck tomorrow.

Hi again, have just had my results back & they've dropped to 85 so its the lesser of two evils hopefully.
The hospital is going to ring me later to let me know if I need to go back in for more blood tests or if I just need to do a repeat pregnancy test in a weeks time.

Good. Thats one worry less for you. Hope you don't need to go back again, you could probably do with being able to deal with it without the added stress of hospitals. Take care.

Glad to hear it's not ectopic. I hope you don't need to go back and can start to try and recover from this. Wishing you lots of luck for the future. Look after yourself.

Thanks Luby, I am back next Fri for another blood test & to see if it's positive. Hopefully it isn't & then I can strat to recover from all this.
Everyone has been a big help though & I would recommend mumsnet to others who are going through it.
Hope everyone else is ok ?

Time is a good healer Princess. I know its what everyone says, but it is true. You may not think it now, but it will get easier, promise! Take your time and you're right, in amongst all the fights, there is a good heart in Mumsnet!

I have an ectopic which they found after my HCG level dropped. They did say that with ectopic pregnancies the HCG level tended to rise slowly or stay about the same. I was lucky (if you can put it that way) as i am miscarrying on my own without the need for surgery or drugs. It is just taking so long - went for my 7th blood test today and it is still at 185.

So sorry for your loss AnnieA, this is such a horrible & emotional thing to go through. I understand how you feel as I am still miscarrying, & I started bleeding today which has made it all the more 'real' & so very grim .
I am more positive though now & am back at work as I find it takes my mind off things. I realise that it is so different for everyone though & you need to do what ever you feel comfortable doing.
I really hope that you've got plenty of support around you. I've got lots of lovely friends who are keeping me sane but I find that I need to speak to people who have or are going through it, hence me being on mumsnet !
Take care x