Is it possible to have low hCG that doesn't double and then starts to?

By travellingbee Dec 31, 2014

I don't know what is going on with my body. If you've seen any of the other threads of commented on, you'll know that I am away and can't get in for another beta test until tomorrow. I had a great progression of lines in the beginning on my FRERs. But when I went in for my first hCG test, I was only at a 40 at 14 DPO. At 16 DPO it only went up to 51. They said it's probably either a chemical or an ectopic pregnancy. I'm now 5 weeks 2 days and no bleeding, spotting, pain etc. I have sore boobs, mild nausea and my linea nigra is starting to show. Took hpt again and it's dark! Wondering if it's even medically possible for my HCG to have only risen so slightly and then take off and start doubling. Anyone know? Really not trying to get false hopes up but I'm so confused. These tests are 21 and 23 dpo.
Eta top is this am

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Cole
grapefruit / 4649 posts

Dec 31, 2014

A close friend of mine had betas that suggested she was going to miscarry along with bleeding and she has a sweet little boy now! I don't know exactly what her numbers were but she said it was no where close to doubling and they drew labs three times.

My fingers are crossed for you!
Mrs. Jacks
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts

Dec 31, 2014

In my personal experience no. But when my betas were stalled for a bit, the possibility arose of a vanishing twin. That can cause betas to do weird stuff. I hope that's the case for you.
Reese
pomegranate / 3521 posts

Dec 31, 2014

@travellingbee: no idea but those lines are quite dark. Hopefully you get some answers soon.
Mrs. Pickle
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21628 posts

Dec 31, 2014

I have no idea what it could mean. I know you must be going crazy. I'm hoping for the best for you!!
ShootingStar
coconut / 8472 posts

Dec 31, 2014

Like @Mrs. Jacks: I've heard of it happening with vanishing twins. A good friend of mine something similar happen, and it turned out she lost a twin. At one point they thought she was losing the pregnancy.

And not to be a Debbie Downer, but there can be weird things that happen with the dye on the tests. Most pregnancy tests don't really show *how* pregnant you are, it's just a binary pregnant - yes or no. If they're from different dye lots or different boxes, it's possible the color could show up differently and might not be based on how much hcg is actually in your system.

To combat that, what I did when I was about to have a CP was buy pregnancy tests which needed the most amount of HCG to show up. I figured if the tests were the least sensitive I could find and it still showed up positive, then I was still pregnant.
BandDmommy
pomelo / 5660 posts

Dec 31, 2014

@travellingbee: no experience. Are you going to dr?
Tidybee
nectarine / 2834 posts

Dec 31, 2014

I had slowly rising numbers (and darkening pregnancy tests) until I was about 7 weeks pregnant. My doubling rate was something like every 9 days or something jnsanely
Slow like that. I did have a nonviable pregnancy but a fetus and heartbeat did develop before the fetus died around 8 weeks.
travellingbee
hostess / papaya / 10219 posts

Dec 31, 2014

@BandDmommy: tomorrow.
@ShootingStar: I took a digi that says pregnant. Im not saying I can tell that it's doubling, based on hpts but it's clearly not dropping. I'm not even hopeful this is a normal pregnancy just wondering if it's even possible, regardless of likelihood.. Or if it's only possible to be an ectopic or inevitable miscarriage that is just taking it's sweet time.
travellingbee
hostess / papaya / 10219 posts

Dec 31, 2014

@Tidybee: that's what I'm worried about...
Torchwood
pomelo / 5607 posts

Dec 31, 2014

I hadn't thought of a vanishing twin. That might make sense. Oh, I hope there's a happy ending waiting for you!
Mrs. Jacks
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts

Dec 31, 2014

@ShootingStar: you are totally right on all accounts. However, she hasn't had any spotting and is still pregnant... So I'm holding out hope. Besides, it seems since all of my bad luck people around me have had all kinds of miraculous outcomes. Like I'm a good luck charm.
Tidybee
nectarine / 2834 posts

Dec 31, 2014

@travellingbee: limbo land is the worst. You'd rather know and just deal with either way. I hope it is good news!
Mrs. Jacks
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts

Dec 31, 2014

@Tidybee: that's what happened to me. Heartbeat was good and everyone said I had a miracle. Then at 8 weeks the heart stopped and the baby was gone.
travellingbee
hostess / papaya / 10219 posts

Dec 31, 2014

@Tidybee: yes I'd much rather a chemical that ended quickly like the last one.

I tend to doubt it was a twin because I only had one mature follicle. But I s'pose it could've split. Seems so unlikely.
travellingbee
hostess / papaya / 10219 posts

Dec 31, 2014

Funny thing is, if I hadn't had betas done, I would have thought this was a perfectly normal pregnancy.
ShootingStar
coconut / 8472 posts

Dec 31, 2014

@Mrs. Jacks: I'm hoping for the best too :). Just trying to offer up a possible reasonable explanation for the test if things don't end up well.
travellingbee
hostess / papaya / 10219 posts

Dec 31, 2014

Well, my flight home was cancelled due to an ice storm so I will have to reschedule my labs. so frustrated!
GoGoSnoGirl
pear / 1558 posts

Dec 31, 2014

@travellingbee: oh dear, so much anxiety you must be feeling. I am keeping my fingers crossed for you that you can get some more clarity here soon. I have no idea what the likely outcome might be, but i hope it ends with a baby for you!! So sorry you're dealing with all of this around the holidays, too--both because it surely takes away from the holiday, but mostly because you can't get in & get medical care.
jodyblair
kiwi / 611 posts

Dec 31, 2014

I really hope you get some answers soon. Being in limbo is the worst! Is it possible to get betas drawn at one of those independent labs? I know we have some here called Quest or something like that. Just a thought so you don't have to wait until you get home!
NorthStar
pear / 1881 posts

Dec 31, 2014

@travellingbee: oh no! I've been following your journey and hope that you get some answers whenever you make it home..I can only imagine how frustrating and confusing this all is! {hugs}
travellingbee
hostess / papaya / 10219 posts

Dec 31, 2014

@GoGoSnoGirl: thanks. I feel that the most likely outcome is a miscarriage at some point but I'll admit to holding a small sliver of hope. It is very frustrating for all this to be happening right now. I'm also worried that if it's ectopic and I have to go to the ER here, I may get substandard care due to being stuck in a small town.
travellingbee
hostess / papaya / 10219 posts

Dec 31, 2014

@jodyblair: possibly but we can't drive. There is an ice storm going on and everything is closed including the roads.
jodyblair
kiwi / 611 posts

Dec 31, 2014

Ugh. I'm so sorry
Torchwood
pomelo / 5607 posts

Dec 31, 2014

I'm really sorry this is getting even more stressful. Out of curiosity, what is your gut feeling on the outcome of this? Not what you're telling yourself to keep away false hope or anything, but how you actually feel? I found that with my pregnancies, I just had a bad feeling about the two I lost, and even despite my anxiety after losses had a good feeling about the last one (which yes, ended badly, but was a perfectly viable pregnancy) and this one (which is going well so far). I also just knew I was pregnant the last two times, and that I wasn't the one month that we didn't have success, so I'm starting to really think intuition matters in these things.
travellingbee
hostess / papaya / 10219 posts

Dec 31, 2014

@Torchwood: well that's a good question... I dont know. I had a great feeling in the beginning and was kind of blindsided that my levels didn't double. I know if I hadn't had the beta done I'd be confident. There have been no indications anything is wrong. No spotting, no pain, strong hpts, normal symptoms....but since I found out that it didn't double, especially having just had a chemical last month, I assumed it would be another loss. So now I dont know....
MrsMccarthy
honeydew / 7295 posts

Dec 31, 2014

Ectopic would be my concern on this situation. It's hard though when it's this early. I'm so sorry that you are going though this and I will pray that it's a miracle baby!!!!
Ginabean3
pomegranate / 3401 posts

Dec 31, 2014

Just praying that you get some (good) answers soon!
Mrs. Confetti
blogger / pomegranate / 3491 posts

Dec 31, 2014

No experience, since I never did betas with my loss, but I'm just sending you the happiest and sparkliest of positive thoughts that you are just a slow doubler this time around. Thinking of you!!
littlejoy
pomegranate / 3375 posts

Dec 31, 2014

My betas did the same for my first pregnancy (which ended at 6 weeks, 1 day), but my hpt were very, very light (and got lighter every day). My betas were 44 and 44, so no rise at all. Not ectopic, just something went wrong. My feeling is that your betas are rising, and those tests are dark (!!!), and that seems like hope to me. I also had no symptoms. I hope you get answers soon!!! Sending encouragement!
travellingbee
hostess / papaya / 10219 posts

Dec 31, 2014

Well so I talked with the nurse at my REs office just a bit ago because I had to reschedule my appt tomorrow. I asked her point blank, is there any chance that this is still a normal pregnancy? She said, oh yes! We have this happen sometimes and it turns out ok, but we just wanted you to know that there was the possibility that it was ectopic and to watch out for symtpoms. I told her that wasn't the impression I was originally given and I stopped my progesterone a week ago. She said "oh no! You shouldn't have done that!" Great.... Progesterone is at home. I can't get there until tomorrow night...
NorthStar
pear / 1881 posts

Dec 31, 2014

@travellingbee: can you call them back and see if they can get a prescription for where you are currently..at least enough to get to tomorrow? I realize that you haven't taken some in awhile, but just in case..

ugh - how frustrating, confusing, etc.
travellingbee
hostess / papaya / 10219 posts

Dec 31, 2014

@NorthStar: I can't get out to a pharmacy as the roads are closed. stupid weather!!
FannyMae
persimmon / 1461 posts

Dec 31, 2014

@travellingbee: I've just caught up on reading this, my gosh I'm really really hoping for the best for you!!
littlejoy
pomegranate / 3375 posts

Dec 31, 2014

So frustrating!!! I'm so sorry. But, my fingers are crossed for you. The news from the nurse sounds so encouraging! Thinking of you.
MrsMccarthy
honeydew / 7295 posts

Jan 1, 2015

Ugh!!! I am so angry about their incompetence but hopeful for you and your pregnancy! Stick little baby! Stick!
blackbird
wonderful grape / 20453 posts

Jan 1, 2015

@travellingbee: ugh so hopeful for you!!!
travellingbee
hostess / papaya / 10219 posts

Jan 2, 2015

Cross posting this. Annoying result on CB digi this morning. Still just as confused. Couldn't it have been 1-2 or 3+ So I know it definitely was a miscarriage or definitely was viable. Grrr
blackbird
wonderful grape / 20453 posts

Jan 2, 2015

@travellingbee: wtf that's so close confusing!!! Can you see your dr today?!!
ladybee
grapefruit / 4079 posts

Jan 2, 2015

@travellingbee: Ugh! Hopefully you can see your doctor or get betas done soon!