Slow declining HCG

[MrsAlexander]

Long story short... 38, three miscarriages, no living children, always felt I had a progesterone deficiency but stuck in a long queue for referrals to the recurrent miscarriage client.

Last Monday I was 5w:d and started to get wipe pinky wet, very very occasionally more of a red. Spoke to EPU and they did a blood test, HCG was 151.

Pinky wet continued, had another test Thursday and I had a conversation with the senior nurse about progesterone. She spoke to the consultant and they agreed on six weeks worth prescribed - finally have all these years of my asking 💔 only for me to find out two hours later that the HCG is 132 and they believe it's a loss. I am told progesterone will not help now.

Pinky wet continues (sometimes it does go away completely) and blood test Saturday shows 109. They tell me they need me back on Monday as it's dropping very slowly. They also say if I suddenly get severe pains I need to go to A&E right away. I ask if that's because they think it could be ectopic and they say not to scare me but yes due to it dropping slowly.

Honestly I'm petrified, numb from this now being my fourth loss. Has anyone had it where it's dropped similarly and suddenly dropped down? I really want to avoid any sort of medical management or surgery. Boobs are still tender today and I did a pregnancy test and the line is still very visible - about 70% as dark the control line 💔

You must be so relieved @H20202 - fingers crossed for your next test.

Yesterday was day 4 for me. On Tuesday when I had the injections I was 118. Yesterdays results I was braced for the rise etc and I was 116! Happy with the drop even if it's just the tiniest one but I know I'll be super nervous for the Tuesday's test. It's all a white knuckle ride isn't it?!

A little update... had no side effects up until this afternoon when I started to get the lightest of bleeding, barely anything and then I've had some mild cramping. I did start to flap it was going to suddenly get worse but it hadn't yet. Blood test tomorrow to see how Day 7 was on Methotrexate.

@MrsAlexander how you feeling today? How was your day 7 bloods?
I’ve been back today due to cramping, bleeding (2 weeks after MTX!) and pains in my bum.
my HCG is now 45 (dropped 70% in 5 days) so hoping the pain is just the last push now.
try not to panic if it’s not jumped down today.. mine only moved on day 10 so there’s always still hope xx

Well @H20202 that's great news you're down to 45! Not good about the bleeding and pains in your bum? How random but maybe it's not so strange? 🧐

So yesterday morning I thought I had started with a tiny amount of bleeding, almost unnoticeable. By late afternoon there was definite spotting which continued all evening with mild cramping for a little while. Today it's more like a period and I've had cramping that has been fairly mild for the most part and of course, day 7 blood test.

So... day 0 118
Day 4 116
Day 7 66

I cried with relief that the numbers have dropped so much in seven days, particularly from day 4 on Saturday until now. I am going back for another blood test next Tuesday and I'm assuming this bleeding is a side effect or part of a miscarriage? I honestly don't know. It can't be period as my number is too high I think?

Oh that’s great news I’m really pleased for you! We are both so close now and hopefully by next Tuesday we will both be discharged!

i asked about the bleeding they said it can just be some womb lining but not a period - however a period is exactly what my bleeding is like too! xx

@MrsAlexander

I'm almost scared to think this ordeal could be over as it's felt never ending. I'll be honest it's highlighted true friends and who is only there for the good times which has been another layer of difficult for me.

I'm under the impression we will not be "miscarrying" but re-absorbing the cells so the bleeding sort of through me. It makes me wonder that we have both started bleeding at numbers not too far away from each other that it's our body hitting reset?

I want to ask them exactly when I can start trying, is it just a case of counting 12 weeks from the injection date? Did you ask @H20202 ?

I’ve heard it’s from the injection date but I’ve also heard it’s from the date you reach 0 or there abouts as that’s when you can restart the folic acid and you need at least 12 weeks of this.

I’ll be going from when I start the folic acid just to be sure - especially if my body is about a week behind with the MTX.

let me know how you get on next week if you’re up to it x

How are you doing @H20202 ?

I have my bloods tomorrow to see where we are at from the 66 last Tuesday. I have felt fine, bleeding that started last Monday lasted four days. It was virtually just like my period, very very little clots - a tiny bit at one point but that was it. My bum cheeks can still feel a little bruised at times which is odd but generally okay.

I'll update this post with tomorrows result. I had a nightmare last night that the numbers had gone up again and genuinely woke in such a panic 😔

@MrsAlexander all good here, stopped bleeding after about 3 days - so exactly like a period. No more pain.
returned to hopsital today for bloods - hcg is 7! So officially discharged. Nurse didn’t really give much advice on TTC or future but I know ectopic pregnancy trusts says safe to take folic acid (now officially not pregnant) for 12 weeks before TCC, taking me to end of November.

in all honestly just glad it now seems to be over and I can give my mind a good rest.

hoping you also have good news today? Xx

Ahhh that's great news you're discharged @H20202 !

My blood test today came back as 12 so I am also officially discharged! I meant to say to you, NO ONE told me to stop the folic acid at any point you know. After you saying it I stopped it but I will start taking it again.

I tripled checked with the nurse, she said to count ten weeks from today as the injection was a fortnight ago - bringing it to 12 weeks.

No other real advice given to me either, they've said the moment I get pregnant again (if I do, not even ready to think about it right now) for me to call and they will put a plan together to monitor me.

Oddly, my pelvis has started to ache and get stiff. I do have twisted hips which can ache if I'm on long car journeys so it's a similar sensation to that but no car journeys here so assume it's a side effect that will go.

What a rollercoaster this has been but I'm breathing a sign of relief that this chapter - albeit a lengthy one - is over ❤️

@MrsAlexander it’s crazy because the methotrexate kills the folic so you think they’d have said about that as soon as you had the shot!! A big oversight for both of us - I think the moment they think it’s ectopic you should be told to stop folic acid immediately.

I know it seems a strange thing to be pleased about but I’m glad you are also discharged and can begin to draw a line under this too.

take care of you in the coming months and if/when you try again I hope it all works out ❤️