HCG levels not changing within 48 hours?

[worriedandworries]

Last week I had an ultrasound, and discovered that my IUD (not hormonal) has dislodged and fell down into my cervical wall. The sonographer isn't sure how long its been like that, but suggests its been like it for a few months.

After having the scan I took a pregnancy test and found out I was pregnant (around 6 weeks). However I have been bleeding for 3 weeks and experiencing lots of pain. The ultrasound hasn't shown any sac etc, so I went to EPU to have blood tests to check my HCG levels.

The baseline results were just under 200, so nurses suggested I was miscarrying (I'd already assumed as much and have prepared myself for this), but I went back after 48 hours and the levels are pretty much the same. They're consulting with a doctor as what to do next, and should come back to me in the next day or two with what the plan is.

I'm now freaking out that it could possibly be ectopic? If I was miscarrying, shouldn't my HCG have gone down? Or can it take time to do so?

I've accepted I'm having a loss despite not even processing being pregnant to begin with, however I'm terrified that this is quickly becoming dangerous?

It can take time to go down. And as mine did, it can go up and down which is very confusing.

When they scanned you, could they see any evidence of a uterine pregnancy? If not, did they call it a pregnancy of unknown location? did they talk to you about an ectopic?

When they can’t see anything in the uterus is when they start looking at your ovaries and fallopian tubes. Although it may not show up if it’s small. Did they have a good look there too?

it may simply be a case that your embryo stopped growing a few weeks back which is why they can’t see anything and your body is catching up to registering the loss.

Ectopic becomes life threatening on rupture and from other peoples experiences you will likely know when that happens. It’s described as a severe stabbing pain In one side and can be accompanied by shoulder tip pain.
Im currently going through an ectopic and I’ve known about it for 4+ weeks - no rupture. Please don’t panic!

ectopic pregnancy trust has lots of really helpful information

@H20202

They actually scanned me to check for PCOS as we assumed the issues I was having for that, turns out it was a mixture of the Coil moving and being pregnant. The scan was before I had a positive test, but they checked my uterus and ovaries and couldn't see anything at all - I'm unsure if they checked the fallopian tubes.

I've just had a call off the Doctor, the HCG went up by 1 in 48 hours, and is still in the hundreds. They're thinking it may be ectopic or its just taking a while to lower. They're taking me for a scan in a few days. I'm having cramps and bleeding - but I wouldn't say its severe.

Wow - 4 weeks, are they still doing tests or does any processes just take that long? I'm incredibly sorry to hear about your situation, its truly an awful thing. I will thank you for your comment, its certainly calmed me significantly.

I'm sad it takes to long, selfishly we are due to go on holiday in 2 weeks, and I'll be gutting if I have to miss it, I was so excited to take my little one away for a while.

Thank you for the suggestion of the ectopic pregnancy trust - i'll take a look.

I’m guessing they’ve just had to tell you about the possibility of ectopic given then can’t see a uterine pregnancy to rule it out.

from my experience with an ectopic, my hormone never plateaued - it decreased when I was cramping and passing tissue but never got lower than 40 then it started to rise again - which is where I’m at now.
ive now had medication to hopefully dissolve.

you can see how it can drag on for so long when it goes down and then back up, all the repeat bloods and scans.

as awful as a miscarriage is, the best we can hope for is that it passes as quickly and as uncomplicated as possible.

Everyone and their bodies is different, perhaps you will miscarry however two weeks is very close.
definitely speak to your doctor/nurse about it. Mine was a no go, if I rupture and I’m abroad it would be a nightmare.

although they may think it unlikely that yours is ectopic,‘I suppose they don’t really ever rule out ectopic until your testing negative for pregnancy hormone on your hcg OR they are a viable uterine pregnancy. they may on that basis, advise you against your holiday as they will want to monitor and check you every few days until everything is clear and you’re back down to 0 (or there about).

sending you a big hug, it really is all so shit xx

Ps they can’t see your fallopian tubes on a scan as they’re paper thin but they look at the space between your ovaries and uterus as that’s where the tubes are even if they can’t see them x