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Goobster
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Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
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Quad screen results- Borderline high AFP level, anyone can relate?
Ok so many of you know I was dreading my AFP for some reason...
Well of course I get my quad screen results and my AFP was borderline elevated. This is exactly what I was worried about.
My dr thinks odds are it's not a valid elevation, and he wants me to get a redraw today. He said that most redraws show a normal result, esp with borderline elevations. After this, what then, if it doesn't go down? He would send me for a high level ultrasound to look at neural tube.
Has this ever happened to anyone? I know the AFP is very tricky and can often be abnormal for no reason at all. But yet, it has to be addressed and COULD be something wrong. I'm sick over this. I really don't want to get an amnio, but will if I have to.
Did this happen to anyone? I just am so ****** off, more than upset, b/c I HAD A FEELING THIS WOULD HAPPEN, and of course I am right.
On a good note, the down's came back great 1 in 1500 and the Trisomy's came back around 1 in 250,000, even better than my ultrascreen. But yet, it's never smooth sailing. Sigh.
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Posted 7/16/08 9:35 AM  |
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neener1211
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Member since 4/07 22952 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: Quad screen results- Borderline high AFP level, anyone can relate?
I didn't have the elevated AFP, but I had the Trisomy results come back 1 in 10.
What we did was first, freak out, then calmed down, and had the ultrascreen for them to really look at every part of the babies body to see if there was any sign of Trisomy. It was a long wait from 15.5 week to 20 weeks for the level II, but we didn't want to do the amnio if it wasn't necessary.
Luckily, they cleared us saying the baby did not have Trisomy.
If it is a neural tube defect, they should be able to see it on an ultrascreen as early as 12 weeks, so personally I would have the ultrascreen done first.
I DO have experience in our first child having a form of a neural tube defect, but they only caught it at 20 weeks-and they said that they could have caught it as early as 12 weeks, but didn't.
If you have any questions, let me know.
Many hugs to you, I know how stressful this is.
Message edited 7/16/2008 9:41:10 AM.
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| Posted 7/16/08 9:40 AM |
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Goobster
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Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Quad screen results- Borderline high AFP level, anyone can relate?
Posted by neener1211
I didn't have the elevated AFP, but I had the Trisomy results come back 1 in 10.
What we did was first, freak out, then calmed down, and had the ultrascreen for them to really look at every part of the babies body to see if there was any sign of Trisomy. It was a long wait from 15.5 week to 20 weeks for the level II, but we didn't want to do the amnio if it wasn't necessary.
Luckily, they cleared us saying the baby did not have Trisomy.
If it is a neural tube defect, they should be able to see it on an ultrascreen as early as 12 weeks, so personally I would have the ultrascreen done first.
I DO have experience in our first child having a form of a neural tube defect, but they only caught it at 20 weeks-and they said that they could have caught it as early as 12 weeks, but didn't.
If you have any questions, let me know.
Many hugs to you, I know how stressful this is.
Thanks Neener. I am very aware of your past situation b/c I have searched old threads. I am very sorry about what happened in your first pg and believe it or not, I know someone who was in the same exact situation as your first one with the anencephaly. So that has always been on my mind, as I worry about anything and everything.
We did have an ultrascreen at 12 wks and anencephaly did not appear to be an issue. I am not overly concerned about that but I am more concerned about Spina bifida. I don't know if the high level ultrasound could detect spina bifida as easily as it could anencephaly. But I am jumping ahead, supposedly if the redraw of the AFP comes back normal, then great. If abnormal, then I go for the high level ultrasound. But again, I don't know that it can pick up spina bifida with certainty. So I can only pray for the next AFP to come back normal yet I still will push for the high level ultrasound for peace of mind...
Never smooth sailing, it's so upsetting.
Message edited 7/19/2008 8:34:07 AM.
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| Posted 7/16/08 9:47 AM |
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mikeswife06
Drama Momma
Member since 9/06 9947 total posts
Name:
Anne
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Re: Quad screen results- Borderline high AFP level, anyone can relate?
I am sure your redraw will be fine but I am so sorry you have to go through this.  
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| Posted 7/16/08 9:51 AM |
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neener1211
:-)
Member since 4/07 22952 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: Quad screen results- Borderline high AFP level, anyone can relate?
Anencephaly is a form of spina bifida. So YES they can detect it. Of course an amnio will be able to tell you for sure, but the ultrasound CAN detect any open neural tube defects.
Mayo Clinic
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| Posted 7/16/08 9:51 AM |
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neener1211
:-)
Member since 4/07 22952 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: Quad screen results- Borderline high AFP level, anyone can relate?
To tell you the truth, if I were in your situation, I would do the 2nd draw and the ultrasound. If the 2nd draw of the afp comes back with nothing wrong, and the ultrascreen is done and shows nothing wrong, that would put my mind at ease.
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| Posted 7/16/08 9:54 AM |
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SweetTooth
I'm a tired mommy!
Member since 12/05 20105 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: Quad screen results- Borderline high AFP level, anyone can relate?
No advice, just 
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| Posted 7/16/08 9:54 AM |
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Goobster
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Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Quad screen results- Borderline high AFP level, anyone can relate?
Thank Neener. I didn't realize that. I am heading for my redraw and will be back on later.
If anyone else reading this has any stories to share, I would appreciate it.
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| Posted 7/16/08 9:56 AM |
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hbugal
Lesigh
Member since 2/07 15928 total posts
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Re: Quad screen results- Borderline high AFP level, anyone can relate?
Most, if not all, neural tube defects can be found via ultrasound if they are looking for them...The same goes for Down Syndrome, Patau Syndrome, & Edwards Syndrome. But in a lot of cases they really have to look for the markers or abnormalities.
In most cases your doctor or genetic counselor will tell you that the only way to be 100% sure is via amnio. Now while that may be true it is also true that with a high resolution ultrasound machine they can rule out most of them too...
My eldest daughter has Down Syndrome and I refused to have an amnio. I was pushed by my doctor to have one b/c having a previous child elevated my risk. A perinatalogist performed my Level II and looked for all the softmarkers of Down Syndrome. After 14 years of "research" on my part I felt comfortable and assured that DS did not have Down Syndrome. My doctor still pushed me to have the amnio....
Now while your case is neural tube defect related essentially the same remains true.....
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| Posted 7/16/08 9:56 AM |
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neener1211
:-)
Member since 4/07 22952 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: Quad screen results- Borderline high AFP level, anyone can relate?
As I was reading that article from the Mayo clinic, it says: that an ultrasound is quite clear on determining the severity of spina bifida. Then below under the amnio, it says, an amnio is not accurate in determining the severity of spina bifida.
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| Posted 7/16/08 9:56 AM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Quad screen results- Borderline high AFP level, anyone can relate?
Posted by neener1211
To tell you the truth, if I were in your situation, I would do the 2nd draw and the ultrasound. If the 2nd draw of the afp comes back with nothing wrong, and the ultrascreen is done and shows nothing wrong, that would put my mind at ease.
I could swear I read that certain low levels of Spina bifida cannot always be detected on the US. I am sick to my stomach about this possibility but again, I am jumping ahead of myself. I have to calm down.
Message edited 7/19/2008 8:34:57 AM.
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| Posted 7/16/08 9:57 AM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Quad screen results- Borderline high AFP level, anyone can relate?
Posted by neener1211
As I was reading that article from the Mayo clinic, it says: that an ultrasound is quite clear on determining the severity of spina bifida. Then below under the amnio, it says, an amnio is not accurate in determining the severity of spina bifida.
True, I would think an amnio would just say if it exists or not, not the severity. This sounds understandable.
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| Posted 7/16/08 9:58 AM |
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neener1211
:-)
Member since 4/07 22952 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: Quad screen results- Borderline high AFP level, anyone can relate?
Posted by Goobster
Posted by neener1211
To tell you the truth, if I were in your situation, I would do the 2nd draw and the ultrasound. If the 2nd draw of the afp comes back with nothing wrong, and the ultrascreen is done and shows nothing wrong, that would put my mind at ease.
I could swear I read that certain low levels of Spinal bifida cannot always be detected on the US. I am sick to my stomach about this possibility but again, I am jumping ahead of myself. I have to calm down.
I know it is hard to calm down, it is horrible to hear that something is possibly wrong with your child. However, I am sure that they can look at all the markers on the ultrasound, you would be surprised at the detail they will go into.
Frankly, with our baby and anencephaly-the doctors should have seen that there was something wrong. In the pictures, there was no forehead. I noticed it, but dismissed it as something blocking the baby's head.
If the doctors are specifically looking for something, I think they will be able to tell you in 99.9% certainty what is going on.
Message edited 7/16/2008 10:04:44 AM.
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| Posted 7/16/08 10:04 AM |
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neener1211
:-)
Member since 4/07 22952 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: Quad screen results- Borderline high AFP level, anyone can relate?
You are 17 weeks +, they should be able to do an ultrasound now to check some of this.
I had an extra sono at 15/16 weeks to MAKE SURE there was no neural tube defects, so I know it can be done.
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| Posted 7/16/08 10:06 AM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Quad screen results- Borderline high AFP level, anyone can relate?
Posted by neener1211
Posted by Goobster
Posted by neener1211
To tell you the truth, if I were in your situation, I would do the 2nd draw and the ultrasound. If the 2nd draw of the afp comes back with nothing wrong, and the ultrascreen is done and shows nothing wrong, that would put my mind at ease.
I could swear I read that certain low levels of Spinal bifida cannot always be detected on the US. I am sick to my stomach about this possibility but again, I am jumping ahead of myself. I have to calm down.
I know it is hard to calm down, it is horrible to hear that something is possibly wrong with your child. However, I am sure that they can look at all the markers on the ultrasound, you would be surprised at the detail they will go into.
Frankly, with our baby and anencephaly-the doctors should have seen that there was something wrong. In the pictures, there was no forehead. I noticed it, but dismissed it as something blocking the baby's head.
If the doctors are specifically looking for something, I think they will be able to tell you in 99.9% certainty what is going on.
I hope you are right. I just know I read though that if the spina bifida is a milder form, it may not be able to be picked up. I am not sure about this, though, I didn't ask my dr. Maybe I am wrong and it would be very clear.
Neener, I know exactly what you mean. I have looked up pics online about what you are referring to and that's why I am not so concerned about anencephaly b/c our ultrascreen pics didn't resemble those I saw online. Either way, I hope this is all a false alarm, as I read the AFP can often have (which was partly why I was so worried about it).
Message edited 7/19/2008 8:35:31 AM.
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| Posted 7/16/08 10:07 AM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Quad screen results- Borderline high AFP level, anyone can relate?
Posted by neener1211
You are 17 weeks +, they should be able to do an ultrasound now to check some of this.
I had an extra sono at 15/16 weeks to MAKE SURE there was no neural tube defects, so I know it can be done.
When i go for the blood draw, I will ask my dr if I can go for this asap in addition to the redraw. Hopefully he is in the office and I can catch him. Thanks for the advice. 18 weeks on Friday here.
Message edited 7/16/2008 10:09:36 AM.
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| Posted 7/16/08 10:08 AM |
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neener1211
:-)
Member since 4/07 22952 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: Quad screen results- Borderline high AFP level, anyone can relate?
Posted by Goobster
Either way, I hope this is all a false alarm, as I read the AFP can often have (which was partly why I was so worried about it).
And this is why, when we try for our next child, we will just do an extra ultrascreen, and ONLY the monoscreen for anencephaly...not all those other tests in the afp if the 12 week testing comes back.
I'm so tired of worrying-mentally I can't take it anymore.
It sounds like your tests and screens aren't jiving...I am hoping and praying this is just a false alarm.
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| Posted 7/16/08 10:17 AM |
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