Ladies I really need support...

I just got my HCG levels back and to me they weren't good. I am soooo devastated I can't stop crying. On Friday at 21dpo they were 6,049 and yesterday at 24dpo they were only 13,763. The nurse said if there was a problem it wouldn't of rose so much. But in reality it wasn't only 2 day it was 3 days which should of made it at least 18,147. I was so upset on the phone that they put one of the doctors on the phone and she was trying to reassure me that she thinks everything is fine. That the numbers don't have to double every 48 like the textbooks say, etc., etc. She said once the numbers get to 10,000, they start to slow down, but in my opinion not this much!!! She said as long as I'm not cramping and bleeding that it's best to wait until my appt next week for my ultrasound and see if there's a heartbeat or not. How the #@&* am I suppose to just sit back and wait? She said that I'm too early for them to see anything on a sonogram now. I just can't believe this is happening to me! I can't stop crying! Please ladies I'm so scared!

Re: Ladies I really need support...

I am praying that all is ok!!! Sending you big hugs and really warm thoughts!!! To make you feel better, I have heard of these things happening a lot recently though and all is ok a lot of the time... I know that this is hard to do but try not to be worried until you have the definite reason to be sad... Right now, it is cause for concern not alarm....

Re: Ladies I really need support...

how far along are you? Why is it too soon to see anyting on a sonogram?

Re: Ladies I really need support...

this happened to me at 5 weeks along, but i had severe bleeding. my beta on a monday was 7300 and on weds it was 13000. it is true that when your levels get over 6000 they tend to take longer to rise and double. my doc told me it can be anywhere from 48-72 hours. i know waiting can be hard. in my case, everything was fine, and i am 16 weeks along!

etd to say that at 5 weeks the sono only revealed a yolk sac, and no fetal pole. i went back a week later and saw the baby and a heartbeat. a week really does make a difference.

Message edited 1/24/2006 6:36:02 PM.

Re: Ladies I really need support...

Re: Ladies I really need support...

know that whatever will be will be and there is nothing you can do. with my first pregnancy that ended in mc i knew my numbers were off, but they were doubling at an even slower rate than yours. i wouldn't discount your numbers just yet, did you receive your progesterone levels as well? when my progesterone started to drop even though my hcg levels went up, i knew that there was a good chance that things would not go as planned...

Re: Ladies I really need support...

I hope everything is ok

Re: Ladies I really need support...

Everything is likly to be fine.

Please dont take this the wrong way, Im just trying to re-assure you, but I really feel your over-reacting a lot.

do you have any type of anxiety problems? Because the stress your putting yourself under is not good for youor the baby, and your Dr may be able to put you on something thats safe while PG to help calm you.

I re-read your post a few times and cant honestly see what your upset over? Your numbers rose perfectly? Have you done some online research? Your numbers are great and with those beta numbers there is no way you would have a miscarriage. At least right now your not. Your numbers would have to be LOW LOW LOW to be even considering that.

After 6000-10,000 the numbers RARELY double....so in fact your numbers are better then average.

You need to trust your dr's more. They are there to help.

Im just afraid of what will come down the line in your PG if this is how upset you are now when all is apparently fine. Theres going to be so many more weeks of pains, and aches and seemingnly weird and scary things ahead.

Were you this anxious with your first pregnancy? The only other thing is maybe some counseling, someone to talk to about your fears and re direct the anxiety?

Good luck! All is gonna be ok!

Re: Ladies I really need support...

Oh please try not to get so upset, its not good for your little baby.

It's very true that your #s do not have to double every 48 hrs and also it is true that once they reach a certain point, they will slow down and not double as fast.

Your #s sound just fine to me. If your drs were concerned, they would have you back in for more tests.

How far along are you? Have they done a sono yet?

Here is a list from the American Pregnancy Association that shows the WIDE range of normal HCG levels...I hope it helps reassure you

3 weeks LMP: 5 - 50 mIU/ml
4 weeks LMP: 5 - 426 mIU/ml
5 weeks LMP: 18 - 7,340 mIU/ml
6 weeks LMP: 1,080 - 56,500 mIU/ml
7 - 8 weeks LMP: 7, 650 - 229,000 mIU/ml
9 - 12 weeks LMP: 25,700 - 288,000 mIU/ml
13 - 16 weeks LMP: 13,300 - 254,000 mIU/ml
17 - 24 weeks LMP: 4,060 - 165,400 mIU/ml
25 - 40 weeks LMP: 3,640 - 117,000 mIU/ml
Non-pregnant females: <5.0 mIU/ml
Postmenopausal: <9.5 mIU/ml

Re: Ladies I really need support...

#'s can drive you crazy. Everything sounds promising to me and your doctor isn't worried, so I'd try to relax.

Re: Ladies I really need support...

Re: Ladies I really need support...

Re: Ladies I really need support...

Re: Ladies I really need support...

Hang in there! Since I'm not that familiar with the numbers, I can't speak to that.

What I can say is that this is out of your hands. You can worry & stress all you want but ultimately it's up to your body.

Re: Ladies I really need support...

Re: Ladies I really need support...

I am so sorry you are going through this. my thoughts and prtayers are with you and your little one that everything is ok.

Re: Ladies I really need support...

Re: Ladies I really need support...

The numbers do not have to double like the textbook says. Like another person pointed out whatever will be will be, believe me I have been there. Try to relax and hopefully you will get a peek at your ultrasound.

Re: Ladies I really need support...

I posted for you the other day a whole listing of HcG number but I don't know if you saw it let me search:
HCG Levels in Pregnancy

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The following information is from Anne Frye (CPM)'s book: "Understanding Diagnostic Tests in the Childbearing Year" 6th edition

p. 108 "Normal hCG Levels in Early Pregnancy"
"HCG is detectable in the blood serum of approximately 5% of pregnant women by 8 days after conception, and in virtually all the rest by 11 days. HCG rises progressively from conception. Levels double on the average, every 30.9 hours until values reach 6500 mIU/ml (6,500 IU/L) at approximately the eighth week after the last menstrual period (LMP). After that the rate of rise becomes individualized, peaking between the 60th and 70th day (9 to 10 weeks) LMP. HCG decreases slightly between the 12th and 16th week post LMP, and then remains constant until birth. "


p. 111 "To Diagnose Pregnancy"
"A blood serum level of less than 5 mIU/ml (5 IU/L) can be considered negative and anything above 25 mIU/ml (25 IU/L) positive for pregnancy. If you are unsure, repeat the test in two days to see if there is an upward trend, which indicates pregnancy."

"Levels higher than expected for the weeks pregnant may be due to multiple gestation or inaccurate dates. ... Levels for normal pregnancy fall within the following wide ranges. You will note a discrepancy between the ranges of normal in the two tables below. The actual level can vary widely, and is not as significant as the amount and rate of rise, particularly before 10 weeks."


p. 112

PREGNANCY STATUS SERUM hCG LEVELS

from conception from LMP (mIU/ML or IU/L)
7 days 3 weeks 0 to 5
14 days 28 days 3 to 426
21 days 35 days 18 to 7,340
28 days 42 days 1080 to 56,500
35 - 42 days 49 - 56 days 7,650 to 229,000
43 - 64 days 57 - 78 days 25,700 to 288,000
57 - 78 days 79 - 100 days 13,300 to 253,000
17 - 24 weeks 2nd trimester 4060 to 65,400
25 wks to term 3rd trimester 3640 to 117,000
After several days postpartum nonpregnant levels (<5)"


I also read somewhere that it does not necessarily DOUBLE it rises a certain percentage I want to say 66 but let me look it up

The "normal" ranges for the Beta hCG blood pregnancy test are shown in the table below.

Week from the Last Mentral Period Amount of HCG in mIU/ml
3 5 -50
4 3 - 426
5 19 - 7,340
6 1,080 - 56,500
7 - 8 7,650 - 229,000
9 - 12 25,700 - 288,000
13 - 16 13,300 - 254,000
17 - 24 4,060 - 165,400
25 - 40 3,640 - 117,000

Because of the wide variation in values, the test is not useful in establishing the gestational age of a pregnancy.

Beta hCG levels should double approximately every 2 days for the first four weeks of pregnancy [2]. As pregnancy progresses the doubling time increases. By 6 to 7 weeks gestation beta hCG levels may take as long as 3 1/2 days to double [3,4]. You can use the calculator below to calculate the doubling time of two beta hCG samples by entering the date of the blood test and the corresponding beta hCG value for that day. If the hCG level is declining the the half life of the hormone will be calculated.

As pregnancy progresses the doubling time increases. By 6 to 7 weeks gestation beta hCG levels may take as long as 3 1/2 days to double [3,4].

I had the same thing happen to me and I know how nervewracking it can be. Everyine deals with everything in their own way so if researchin and asking questions helps you you should do it!

Re: Ladies I really need support...

Try to calm yourself down. It's not good for you or the baby to be so upset. I know it's hard, but you will find that for the rest of your life, now, there will always something to be stressed about with a child. How you handle it can make all the difference sometimes. It is perfectly normal to be worrying in the beginning stages of pregnancy, however, learn to trust your doctor, as hard as it may be. Remember that there are some things in life you just cannot control, and unfortunately, this is one of them. Take care of yourself!

Re: Ladies I really need support...

I know it is hard not to worry, I know I do over every little thing. But your numbers really do seem fine and not out of the norm. If your Dr is not worried, you should not be! I am sure everything is fine.

Re: Ladies I really need support...

Some for you sweetie...

I feel for you, I really do. It's so hard to not worry when people tell you not to because you will anyway. I am the same way.

When my doctor told me that my AFP levels were higher than the norm and that I was at possible risk for a birth defect baby, I got sooooooo hysterical! DH told me to calm down and to go talk to the doctor. So we both went. So basically our choices were to continue with the pregnancy as is (and wonder for 5 months if we would have a normal baby) or have an amnio test done (which posed a very small risk of miscarriage) So it was a risk we felt we had to take and the risk was so low for a miscarriage and if it happened then that would have been god's will and a sign that something was definitely wrong. Thank God the test turned out normal but it was agony waiting for the results. The waiting is the hardest part of all. So I know it's not easy to just sit back and wait. One thing you gotta have is faith and hope. I know it's hard but you need to try and relax too because it really isn't good for the baby...

You can FM me if you ever need to...

Re: Ladies I really need support...

Everything will be OK!! I am so sorry you are going through this. Its totally udnerstandable that you are worried.