Low beta and the same line on tests for 6 days. Clutching at straws

[BlueMumma2018]

So I found out at 6dp5dt that I was pregnant on a frer and got 1-2 weeks on clearblue. The lines made no progression on tests up to 11dp5dt. I had my beta yesterday at 11dp5dt and it was 34.9. I know this isn’t promising but just don’t know who to turn to.

I’ve been through such a rollercoaster of emotions through the 2ww being devastated it hasn’t worked, to being
elated and overjoyed when I found out. Back to panic over lines and now this. To make things worse I told my husband on his birthday I was pregnant and he was so happy. I don’t know how I’m going to get through this. I’m looking for advice for those that have been through it, how do you get over it and when did you try again? Or from those with success stories..

I have to go back tomorrow for another beta. Until then I’m in limbo and can’t even eat I feel so shook up..

Pic of test that has been this darkness for 6 days.

I'm so sorry. I would say as you know already, a beta that low at this stage is unlikely to end well. I've been there more than once unfortunately.
I'm so sorry this is happening to you. It's really shit. The only words of comfort I might offer is that for me, the stage you are at now was by far the hardest. The not knowing for sure. Once you know for definite and things resolve physically, you can at least process it and start to think about next steps.

Hi, I am very similar to your situation. I am 10dp5dt, had my beta today and was 14 hcg, my lines also are not getting darker and be tracking since day 6 .. mine are lighter than your one, I have heard it could be eptopic and am freaking out ?! I go back on Monday for more beta bloods to see if it goes up or down any. Did you get 2nd bloods done ? What was your results ? I have read of some with initial beta of 30 odds and having a healthy pregnancy so I wish you lots of luck and hope all goes well 🥰

added a pic of my lines …

@BlueMumma2018 i have been there and it sucks. My beta was 36 at 10dpt and I ended up having several blood tests before it got to scan. Mine was increasing just not doubling.
they warned me all along to expect the worst and ours ended up a blighted ovum.
but I googled like a maniac during that time and there were a lot of stories of low betas that worked out fine.
unfortunately you won’t know until you get that second blood test.

keeping my fingers crossed for you! Just try your best to keep busy the next day or 2. It’s hard but you’ll get through it

Hi @hopefullsosbry @sadeyedlady2 @LT103
i had my second beta back this morning and it was 50.9, so a 46% increase in 48 hours. I’m so confused as the clinic haven’t given any opinion but told me to continue meds. They asked if I wanted to book in 6 week scan. I’m a bit concerned about the lack of care for a possible ectopic etc 😤I don’t know what to think.. x

@BlueMumma2018 Oh that’s great news it’s increased but yeh I think they should do a scan just now, no? Can I ask what clinic you are using? We are at GCRM in Glasgow, I done another test this morning but line seems to be fading so I guess it will just come away, I have still to go for bloods on Monday even if I bleed over weekend as they just want to check the level is dropping. Fingers crossed your wee baba will hang in there .. wishing you lots of luck xx

@BlueMumma2018 i would ask for another blood test in 48hrs. I was told they had to double in 48hs and anything less than this was suboptimal. I ended up having 4. Then having another 2 later because of a bleed before I made it to my 6wk scan

i got a handout on low/suboptimal hcg levels from my clinic which I could try and find for you if you want but I don’t want to interfere.

i also worried about ectopic as it was mentioned but the nurse told me they would expect much higher levels with that.

i would be worried about an a embryonic pregnancy/blighted ovum which is what I had but there are also lots of stories where people just have slow rising hcg and everything is fine

@hopefullsosbry ah its so hard isnt it and such a lonely place. Thankyou, I am not holding up much hope. I think I will leave it a good few days now and retest bloods but it is expensive at £75 a go, im with simply fertility in Essex. Sending you luck too, here to talk xxx

@LT103 thanks for sharing your experience. How are you now? I have also read this morning about lots of success stories but also not so. I wouldn't be surprised as I/ we seem to get every rare incidence going. its so crazy that its like a 20 something percent chance you'll conceive through ivf and then a 20 something percent chance it will miscarry.. feels like a kick at the last hurdle xx

that was our first transfer back in may and we ended up needing an MVA a month later as it wasnt coming away on it’s own. It was tough but we have now just transferred our second embryo and are currently 7 days post transfer so have no idea how this one will go. My consultant told me what happened last time was just one or those things, nothing we did or didn’t do and extremely common. But it didn’t mean we were more at risk of it happening again

however this turns out you will be fine. Just take it easy and look after yourself!!

@LT103 fingers crossed for your transfer this time round .. hopefully will be ok for you, @BlueMumma2018 do you have any pregnancy symptoms at all? I guess if you have not tummy pain or bleed then just sit it out, if you get pain /bleed maybes ask for scan ? Really hope all will be fine . We have had one fresh and one frozen transfer that failed, this is our 2nd frozen and used the embryo glue this time round .. lest it implanted I guess at lest. We still have two frozen so just need to be hopeful, prior to ivf we had a missed miscarriage from natural pregnancy that there was no heart beat at 11 weeks all came away naturally after 11 weeks, and had a chemical with a natural pregnancy .. it’s hard but just need to keep going I guess .. although the percent of having so many failures just increases with each one .. and I turn 40 in December so odds seems so far away just now .. 😏 xxx

For my first ectopic, my HCG was very low but doubling/tripling every 48 hours. I had pain and bleeding and suspected an ectopic early on. The clinic/hospital said they couldn't scan before 6 weeks unless HCG was over 1500 as they wouldn't be able to visualise anything before then anyway. My second ectopic, it started higher but was rising sub optimally.
It's really difficult to tell based on two blood tests and as long as you don't have any other symptoms, chances of an ectopic are low and it's more likely to be a miscarriage. I think you're probably sensible to wait a few days and get another test. It's such a difficult time just waiting in limbo.

@sadeyedlady2 It’s definitely hard. I start a new job tomorrow and feel like a zombie. Im calling the gp in the morning to be transferred to the local epu. I can’t afford to pay for anymore beta bloods at the clinic. Since my last one I have had a lot darker tests. I have no idea what it means. I have no sign of ectopic or miscarrying at all. I just hope it doesn’t go on too long if it isn’t viable 😥

Hope you will find out soon what’s happening and you will be ok? Good luck with the new job ! Sending positive vibes your way xx

It's infuriating that clinics charge for this when it should just be part of the package. Mine outright refused to do blood tests first time around and I had to get them done at an independent private clinic. The IVF clinic did eventually start monitoring after I had pain and bleeding along with the low HCG results. The second time, I changed clinic and agreed prior to starting that they would monitor my HCG if I got a positive due to my history.
I hope the GP is helpful and really really hope you'll be one the lucky few to get a good result. Hope the job went okay today.

@sadeyedlady2 the clinic haven’t been supportive at all. I asked them if it was possible I could be having an ectopic with slow rising hcg and they just said they don’t know, that’s it! I am sitting in epu now waiting for a scan and bloods. So fed up xx

That’s really bad. My clinic treated bloods no extra charge. I ended up having 6 in total 🙈. 4 before we gave up and said let’s wait on scan and then 2 more before the scan as I had a bleed.
They should be helping you get to the bottom of it. Fingers crossed EPU gets you some answers

Yes my clinic were the same. The one we go to now is much further away but they are much better. It's so hard. I know they see this stuff every day, but they need to have some empathy or understanding of how difficult it is. The EPU were even worse than the clinic for me but that's another story.
I hope you get some answers this evening.

@BlueMumma2018 how did you scan and bloods go? Hope all was ok? I got my bloods back and has dropped to a negative, also period came on .. wishing you lots of luck ! Xx

@LT103 hows your current transfer going ? When do you get your Beta taken ?

@hopefullsosbry i had it taken this morning so don’t have results yet but I got my BFP this morning. Mix of excitement and panic after last time so we’ll see

Hi @LT103 yes I feel that it should be a standard duty of care. For something so ridiculously over priced a few blood tests shouldn’t be extra. I’m having to get more meds aswell due to them not helping me and still not knowing what’s happening. They’re happy to dish them out for quite possibly a failing pregnancy. I am with access fertility so I can’t change clinics now but will make a huge fuss about it when I have the strength xxx

@sadeyedlady2 so far the epu have been kind every though I still haven’t been seen 🤣 got to laugh at this point x

@hopefullsosbry i ended up leaving last night and have been back here since early this morning. Still haven’t been seen. I’m so sorry 😢 how do you feel? Xx

@BlueMumma2018 oh gosh hopefully you get seen today, sending lots of positivity your way that everything will be fine, the wait must be so hard, I am ok thanks, just have to roll up the sleeves I guess and prepare for the next transfer, we still have two frozen so just hope we can get next one in now before they close over Xmas .. @LT103 that’s great, hopefully your level will be nice and high this time .. warmish wishes to all and sending lots of virtual luck to you both .. 🥰

Wow, I can't believe you're still waiting to be seen @BlueMumma2018, that's horrendous. I can imagine how tired and frustrated you must be feeling. I know all services are under resourced but I do feel womens services are particularly bad.
That's great news @LT103, hope you get a nice high number today.
I'm sorry for your loss @hopefullsosbry It's so heartbreaking to have that spark of hope and then have it taken away.
I'm mid way through an FET at the moment, hoping to transfer in a week or two. Its our second last embryo and we won't be doing anymore after those.

@sadeyedlady2 have everything crossed for you that your two or even one of your last two will work .. good luck keep us posted 🥰

Just an update for anyone interested. beta yesterday was 147.. so average doubling time since Friday of 63 hours. Still low for 5 weeks. On the scan yesterday there was a tiny 'black dot' of 1.5 mm long and wide. Still very much unsure and only possible explanation could be I implanted late, although I got my positive 6dp5dt. I feel like this little bean is trying so hard 😫