low hcg in early pregnany, is the doctor wrong?

[monkeymoma]

My GP referred me to the womens health unit 2 days ago because I had spotting (never a flow, never red blood) combined with R sided pain

I kept explaining to the doc at the womens unit that although on the day my dates by LMP were something like 5+3, I was actually 4+0 (based on OV dates, same situation as when I had DS) - he didn't really listen

had bloods taken at 4+0 MY dates (5+3 by LMP dates), the result was 288, doc says this is too low and is a MC

I'm wondering if anyone can shed any light because I don't think the doc listened to me re dates

Is 288 low for 4 weeks EXACTLY or is it low for 5+3 which he is insisting on going by (despite me repeatedly telling him I was 4+0 on the day the bloods were taken), I asked him to clarify what it should be at FOUR weeks, he was vague and said for 4-5 weeks it shoudl be >1000

Thanks! I'm not trying to be in denial if it IS too low for my actual dates, I just want to know if its low for what I REALLY am x

www.americanpregnancy.org/duringpregnancy/hcglevels.html is a great site to show hcg levels in pregnacy.

based on that I'm right in the middle for 4 weeks
also when I got home from the unit I did a clear blue digital which gave me a 2-3 weeks that day (as it should be at 4 weeks) and it had been 1-2 weeks up until then
I did that because he'ld said my urine sample was a "weak inconclusive" positive, but even on the very unsensitive POASs at home my line is nearly as dark as the control, and on sensitive oness its as dark

is he just NOT FECKIN LISTENING about my dates? or am I being too hopeful?

according t'google, the range doesn't start being >1000 till 6 weeks which I'm nowhere near?

I'm very confused, he was very definite that it was too low and was a MC

Personally I'd insist on quantative bloods, to see if your hcg is rising or falling. How else could he know if you're experiencing a mc?

I have to say I had quite bad cramping on my right side but I had a scan at 6 weeks and so knew it wasn't an ectopic. Spotting is also quite common at 4 weeks and unless you have any significant bleeding I wouldn't agree to any sort of invasive treatment. But DEFINITELY ask for those bloods, 48 hours apart so they can see if your hcg is rising or falling. If your dr won't do it then go to the epu at your local hospital. Good luck!

MonkeyMoma, I got so bloody sick of people not listening to me (I OV very early, so was more pregnant than my LMP would have you think) and being so rigid, that I just "moved" the date of my LMP. So instead of telling them it was on the 27th of Jan, I tell them it was on the 24th.

I'm sure that people might say that this is a bad idea, but I think its worth it as everything gets sorted out at the dating scan anyway (and I was bang on on my dating scan), but this could have quite serious consequences in cases like yours.

I asked should I repeat the bloods
he said "maybe in a week"
I said "shall I pick up a blood form so I can get it done in a week?"
he said "nah wait and see and do it in a week"

• so that's a no then

I know that spotting and cramping is normal I had some with DS, I went to the GP as it was prolongued (over a week) to ask my GP how long I should let it go on before worrying, and he sent me straight to womens health as he "didn't like the combination of both spotting and pain"

Sastra I wish I had done that

I was spot on with my dates re my DS, but took me ages to get heard, eventually confirmed with dating scan (and he arrived bang on MY EDD)

I always ovulate late in a normalish lengh cycle, always, every month, did with my son, did this time (used OPKs so KNOW)

kicking myself now for giving my actual LMP

As I understand it all dates are based on lmp, so you technically may have conceived 4 weeks ago but the average hcg levels for 5w +3 are based on dates that use your lmp as a base, therefore taking into account it will have been 9-12 days after that you likely conceived. I hope that makes sense, it is really confusing. I wish you well, hope the tests show all's well.

I have very short cycles, I ov'd at cd10 and was due af at 12 dpo, luckily I have an Ob that listens to me so he adjusted my edd to when I ovulated and every single scan since (and I've had 6 so far!) has been exactly right for dates.

Well, if he won't refer you for bloods then maybe do another cbd when you should be 5 weeks unless you get any more bleeding or it becomes heavier? Is it possible for you to go straight to the epu at all? I don't know if they'll see people at 4 weeks or not but it might be worth a phone call.

I would be incredibly annoyed at your dr though, how the hell does he know if it's low or not if he's nothing to compare it to! For all he knows a blood test tomorrow could show an hcg level of 1000!

As Foxy said, ask for a repeat blood test, that way you'll have a definitive answer (hopefully it'll have gone up) and can relax.

Unfortunately the home preg test will still give a pos result for a few days during and after a miscarriage as it takes a while for the levels to drop.

Sorry your going through this, hope it works out.

I just wish he'ld given me a straight answer when I'ld pressed him about how many weeks it was low FOR

if he'ld said it was low for 5+3 then that would be one thing, or if he'ld said it was low for 4 then I'ld resign myself to that - but now I am even more in the dark than before he gave me the results and don't know how to feel!

but he wouldn't commit to how pregnant he thought I was, "4-5 weeks" is pretty vague in terms of hcg levels isn't it? which does he think I am? 4 or 5?

I did ask for repeat bloods
he said maybe next wednesday
I asked for a blood form FOR next wedneday
he told me to wait
tosser!

Sorry, see you've got a tricky g.p.
How about the nearest EPU? They should be happy to take your blood and/or a trans vaginal scan.

"Unfortunately the home preg test will still give a pos result for a few days during and after a miscarriage as it takes a while for the levels to drop"
but would they go UP? my CBD went UP from 1-2 post conception to 2-3 post conception on the day I had the blood test done?

foxy he IS the epu doc

banjaxedfilly this is the doc at the womens health unit I'm talking about, he is the EPU doc

he wont scan anyone till 6 weeks

Oh God, I'm incapable of reading this evening. Is there a different unit you can attend?

For the bloods, I see the point about a scan.

no, my GP initially tried to refer me to the further away unit got the impression he thinks the nearest one is shit but they refused and said I had to go local

phoned the private place and they only deal with 8 wks +

x posts.
Where are you? There are walk in units dotted round the country where they see anyone in need.

www.earlypregnancy.org.uk/FindUs1.asp

my local one is not a walk in, I don't think there is a walk in one nearby

my local one is listed on that link but it is definitely not a walk in

the next nearest one listed on there is the one that wouldn't take me when the GP rang them

Sorry monkey I re-read and realised you meant you were at the women's centre already. Can your GP not order bloods on your behalf and bypass this silly doc at the epu?

Yes you may continue to get positive results even after a mmc but the hcg will definitely not rise, which is why the quantative bloods are so important! a cbd at 5 weeks should show a 2-3 or 3+ for you, at least you'll have an idea then!

yup I'll make an appointment with my GP next week and ask him for a blood form

I'm already getting a 2-3, which means there was a rise from the day before the bloods to the day of the bloods