Hormone levels dropping slowly after ERPC - significant?

[Coconutfeet]

I had an ERPC on 29th January but I'm still testing positive on a pregnancy test. I've been back to the EPU and had a scan, which apparently showed that my uterus was clear (my main worry was that they had missed something and I would have to go through the whole thing again). They've taken bloods which on 22/2 were 573 and on 24/2 were 439. I've had more blood taken today and am waiting for the results.

I haven't seen the doctor since the scan but he has apparently said that he wants my bloods to be monitored.

I'm just wondering whether it's medically significant that my bloods are dropping so slowly. This was my 4th MC the first one was a blighted ovum at 10 weeks, the second was at 5 weeks, the third at around 6 weeks and this one was another blighted ovum at 9+5.

I get pregnant very quickly (especially considering my age - 43) but it feels as if my body isn't at all choosy and wants to hang on to a pregnancy even if it's not healthy. I may be reading much more into this and it may just be a question of some people's levels drop more slowly than others and I'll mention it to the recurrent miscarriage clinic when I eventually get an appointment but I wondered whether anyone had any ideas.

Anyone?

I had this coconutfeet. 8 weeks post ERPC my levels were over 600 I think. They were dropping but slowly. I was scanned weekly and they ultimately decided it was better I have a hysteroscopy and as it turned out I had a small piece of remaining tissue that needed removing. Make sure they scan you if they aren't already. Poor you, I hate it when mc's drag on and on and you just want to move on :(

With my ERPC, compared to all the other natural and medically managed mc I had, it took longer for my hcg levels to go down. I didn't have testing for this, but my period started 6 weeks after the ERPC, whereas with the natural mc's and the medically managed I had last month, my periods have started exactly 4 weeks later.

I don't know what the reason for this could be. I think with the ERPC, everything is removed within a few minutes so maybe it takes time for the body to come to terms with it? Whereas naturally it takes a few days/weeks for everything to be expelled and the body understands that better? That's just my weird way of thinking it through.

I hope things go back to normal quickly for you. Take care xx

Hi Coconutfeet, I had an ERPC on 7th Jan and am still waiting for my first AF - it's driving me mad!

They only monitored my bloods until they knew for sure they were dropping, they were still 1746 10 days after the op but dropped to 900 a couple of days later. I then had a scan and they gave me the all clear. I've just been given Provera to induce but still no AF .

It really is horrible as it stops us from moving on. Hope you get some positive news with the results tomorrow.

Thanks everyone.

Skitoo you're so right, it really does stop you from moving on. I think I need AF to come and give me a proper clean out mentally and physically so I can start afresh IWKWIM.

Milkyway - I think there may be something in your theory. When I had the natural MC I got a negative pregnancy test 12 days after the MC and I felt like my body had got back to normal much faster. At the moment, I still feel rubbish - v tired and I've got back ache most of the time. All hormonal I suspect.

Banana - My fear was that they'd left something behind but they scanned me and apparently it's all OK.

Skitoo - I was just wondering how long ago they gave you the provera. Have you had a negative pregnancy test by now? It's so frustrating isn't it. I really hope you get AF soon.

Coconut - I started the provera on 21st March and took for 7 days, most people then start their period 3-4 days later, not me though, still nothing . Spoke to the hospital yesterday and they said it can, in some cases, take up to 2 weeks, so I've got to wait one more! It has made me feel horrible, I am so bloated, I have a stomach the size of a football, am dreading someone asking me if I'm PG as it could look like it. Got a -ve HPT just after 3 weeks and hospital made me do one again yesterday, it was -ve too

So I feel like you do, I really need a clear out! Emotionally it's defintely dragging me backwards, said to DH last night that I feel worse now than I did the week after the ERPC.

Desperate to get back on with TTC, as I fell PG on 6th cycle of clomid and have already been given them to start again but just need AF to arrive first.

Will you get your results back today? How long ago did you actually stop bleeding?

Skitoo - You poor thing. Sorry to hear you're feeling so awful. I can completely understand why you feel it's pulling you backwards.

I'm not sure when my results will come through. It took a couple of days last time. I only bled for about 3 days then had nothing then another bleed about a week after and nothing since then. I guess that as long as my hormone levels are dropping I just have to wait. Bah!

I've had levels stay so that I got a +ve 3 months after, even after natural mc - but they got back to normal eventually. But it is important that they do get back down to normal - so if you aren't, keep pestering to make sure that things are at least continuing in the right direction.

Thanks Mistlethrush. So did your levels did eventually go back to normal with no further treatment/intervention?

The hospital called me yesterday. My levels have only dropped from 439 to 425 in almost a week. I've got to go in for another scan on Wednesday. Presumably they're worried that they've missed something. Really don't want another ERPC.

First time, no - required intervention, that was following initial erpc. After the 2 'natural' mc, yes, they did eventually get back to normal, but I was quite carefully monitored given past history.

The good thing is that they are going down at least.

Hope it all works out for you OK.

Thanks for the reply mistlethrush. Can I ask what intervention you needed first time round? I'm worried that they're going to need to do another ERPC.

I have recently had a ERPC for what was called a 'missed misc'.

I did a preg test about 10 days later, still positive. I asked one of the Drs I work with as I was very paranoid about retained products, and he reassured me it was quite normal as my body had not wanted to let go of the pregnancy hence the missed misc, and then they did the ERPC so it can sometimes take some time for the body to catch up and realise it is no longer pregnant.

I plan on doing a further test this week to see what is happening.

Emptycrisppackets - Yes, I think a couple of weeks at least of positive tests following a missed miscarriage are pretty normal I bought some cheap pregnancy tests from Ebay to keep checking the levels. Hopefully you should find that they're fading. I started to worry when, after more than 3 weeks, I was still getting a very strong positive.
Good luck, I hope you're levels go down soon. It's horrible to keep getting those positives isn't it.

Yeh it is, and I seem to have had an infection too after my ERPC, so that hasnt helped as it made me feel really icky, and for a few days more pregnant that I had before.

I get my tests from poundland - pack of 2 for a quid

Sorry to hear about your infection Emptycrisppackets. It's the absolute last thing you want on top of everything else.

I didn't know Poundland sold preg tests. I'll bear it in mind for next time!

First one turned out to be a molar pregnancy - which is extremely unlikely to happen to most people - so I wouldn't start googling or anything.

But the 2 'naturals' which were early days anyway - took 3 months to get levels down and you can imagine that an ERPC is not going to make things go quicker in terms of the hormone drop....

How horrible for you Mistlethrush. Fortunately they've ruled out molar pregnancy in my case. I had another scan today and it turns out that they left something behind. I've also started bleeding so they think it may be coming away on its own. If not, next step is another ERPC.

Coconut, sorry to hear that today, hope you're getting lots of tlc and taking it easy. How long do they plan to leave you before deciding on ERPC?

Thanks Skitoo. I've got to go back in a week so I think they'll review it then. Work is horribly busy at the moment but at least it's keeping my mind off things.

How about you? Any sign of that period yet?

It's all a hideous waiting game isn't it. Good thing with the work, mine is the exact opposite at the moment, which means I spend far too much time thinking about it and looking at the evil Dr Google!

No sign of anything for me, which now has me extremely worried, as I have responded to Provera before . I've just spoken to the hospital who are going to get back to me later after they've spoken to my consultant - so hoping for a plan later today!

skitoo - just in case it helps - I was bleeding after 1st erpc - kept on spotting then flooding every few days - which was why I eventually managed to persuade the Dr that I needed a follow up scan. So hopefully things will get back to normal for you soon.

Coconut - I hope that you won't have to have a 2nd and it all sorts itself out.

Sorry to hear that Skitoo. It must be really worrying for you. Hope you get a positive plan soon.

Well, I'm bleeding very heavily and passing clots so I'm hoping that I may be passing everything naturally now. Fingers crossed.

Hope you're as okay as you can be Coconut, take it easy and I hope it is all over for you soon.