Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Beta #3

Last night I had my blood drawn, not at the clinic, but at the local lab. No problem, except my puncture wounds was still bleeding 3 hours later when I went to bed. Weird.

Now, if you are expecting me to say that my HCG was down to zero, especially after getting my period, well, you'd be wrong.

Dr. Alternative called me this morning. "Uh, well, as you know, you had low numbers: first HCG was 19, then it went down to 17 two days later. Well, a week later your HCG is 109."

WTF?!!!!!!!!!

"As you have been bleeding, I'm worried it's a possible ectopic pregnancy. We'll need you to test again tomorrow and then we'll give you a shot of Metho-trop-something to clear out the (some technical term for anything left of my baby)."

I was stunned and just said, "Uh-huh" and then hung up.

Wait! How could I have an embryo in my fallopian tubes? Mr. Jem and I did not have marital relations this month. We had three embryos transferred into my uterus. If I've been bleeding for three days, how? What? And Where? is this happening?

WTF!!!!!!!???!

I'm waiting for my IVF nurse coordinator to call me back so I can ask more questions. The only thing I feel better about is understanding why I've been such an emotional mess - it wasn't just the loss, the period or the cold. I've been having pregnancy hormones rushing around my poor body. Why couldn't I have gotten 109 for the first beta?!

Again, WTF!! Anyone have any clue as to what's going on? Please, I need your collective wisdom. I don't want to ask Dr. Google.

Jem

19 comments:

Ernie said...

This may not be the most helpful post, but my struggle with fertility is that since I stopped taking BC, I have not stopped bleeding. It has been almost one year of constant bleeding, so I have read everything I can find about bleeding. There is a lot of information about bleeding during your first trimester such as implantation bleeding (which wouldn't be heavy), ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages, and women that bleed, are put on bed rest, then are able to carry the baby to term.

I am very curious to hear what your IVF nurse coordinator will have to say. Have they had a woman that has bled at your stage, but still been pregnant?

I wish you the best of luck!

~S said...

Hi, Jem. I'm so sorry you are going through the wringer! I have no idea what could be going on, but of course I continue to hope for the best.

If the outcome isn't what you hope, my only advice is don’t take the methotrexate until you are absolutely satisfied that all of your questions have been answered by a doctor you trust.

I'm praying for you and keeping everything crossed for good measure! Maybe you had a late implanter.

Jendeis said...

WTF is a perfect question to be asking. Thinking about you and hoping for good things, even an answer will be a good thing.

Heather said...

I've heard of ectopics happening from IVF. I've even heard of it happening after a blast transfer as well. It's rare, but happens sometimes. I hope they can get to the bottom of things soon because waiting does suck. I'll be thinking of you.

Take care.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Jem... I hate this for you... I have no advice whatsoever, except don't consult Dr. Google. Crossing my fingers that you hear some positive news soon, and sending you warmth to help with whatever the outcome...

Brooke said...

I hate this crap. WTF. I am so sorry. It does sound to me like it could be an ectopic. I mean, there's a chance. Will you be having a fourth beta? Probably. I know there is an increased chance of an ectopic after embryo transfer - it's so weird. I guess they can really move around a bit before implanting.
I hope you get all your questions answered by the nurse later. Try to stay strong, girl!

Adele said...

So very, very sorry that you are going through this. This is absolutely sucky, as if you didn't have enough to contend with already. I'm not sure if this helps but after my last miscarriage I was given cytotec to hurry things along (it was a missed miscarriage and showed no signs of budging). To make a long story short, it didn't work and five days later when I went in for bloodwork, my numbers had shot up by hundreds of points. If a miscarriage is incomplete, if there's still something left, it can keep generating HCG. It's awful because it just prolongs the inevitable.

In your case, though, I'm not clear why the number would go down and then jump up. Also, will they ultrasound you? I would think they should, and that something that is putting out that much HCG should be visible. Again, I'm so sorry.

Anonymous said...

Oh my God Jem! That's nuts! It can't possibly be ectopic, right?

Well, I will be praying for you - hoping that somehow through some miracle you are still pregnant. Hang in there...

Pie said...

Jem I am so sorry you are in this hell. As other commenters have said, ectopics can happen with
IVF, perhaps at an even slightly higher rate than non-IVF. My SIL had a similiar beta hell after her miscarrage (it wasn't ectopic). It took over a month for her beta to get down below 5. They told her at the time that she likely had a small amount of residual tissue that was giving off that small amount of hormone. I think she ended up taking medicine twice to finally have a zero beta.

I'm so sorry you are going through this! (((HUGS)))

Allison said...

Um. Wow. WTF is right.

If the repeat beta is high as well, I think I'd ask for an ultrasound to completely find out what's going on - especially before taking whatever drug your doctor mentioned. Right? I don't have experience with IVF, but I think I'd need to see pictures to show me what, if anything, is going on in there.

Best wishes, Jem. Thinking really good thoughts for you through cyber-land.

Melissa G said...

WTF, indeed.

Ugh, I just hate that you are going through all this extra heartache - you've already been through so much.

From what I have read this does sound like an ectopic. But I agree with the other ladies, if your next Beta goes up, ask for an u/s.

I hope you get answers sooon.

Hugs.

Tracey said...

I'm sure they'll thoroughly check you out and get to the bottom of what's going on. The embryo definitely could have traveled to your tube and stuck there. Bleeding wouldn't impact the tube I don't think. This really sucks - I know you must want to just get the whole thing over with. Why does it have to be so complicated - like it's not hard enough, right? Good luck with everything! I hope it all get figured out quickly and easily.

Mad Hatter said...

I'm so sorry - how awful to be going through such confusion and worry! I'm with Allison on this one - I wouldn't take anything until they've confirmed exactly what is going on...so much of this is a mystery and you just never know - there's always an exception to the "normal" way things happen. I'm hoping beyond hope for the best outcome possible.
Love,
Maddy

Brooke said...

Jem, I just wanted to say that I also wouldn't take any methotrexate until I had another beta or two, plus an ultrasound...just in case...

Take care...

Fertility Chick said...

I wish I had some advice for you - all I can say is WTF indeed! Know that I'm thinking about you - I hope you get some answers soon.

Anonymous said...

Oh Hon, what hell you are going through, not knowing what's going on! Thinking of you.

Stacie said...

Oh, Jem. I am so sorry that yet another curve ball was thrown your way. I wish I could tell you what is happening. Please know that I am sending love your way...

'Murgdan' said...

Can't anything be easy? I'm sorry you're having to still go through more with this. Unfortunately ectopic is still a risk with IVF (I think maybe even more than a normal cycle)...because the embryos do move around in the uterus after transfer and they can reflux into the tubes. Unfortunately ultrasounds don't usually show anything this early, and ectopics are generally diagnosed by the beta results...because ectopics are slow rising and non-doubling generally speaking. But it's still worth asking about. Still...it's shitty. And I'm sorry. I hope you get some answers.

TeeJay said...

OMG, as if you don't have enough on your plate as it is. It seems strange to read all the comments that say that ectopic is not impossible with IVF. I thought the whole reason they did a mock embryo transfer was to make sure that things were put in the right place in the uterus so that they weren't in your tubes. Learn something new every day.

I'm so sorry you are going through this. It's very confusing. I hope you get a good answer for what is going on. I agree that you should ask for an u/s to see what might be going on in there.

Hugs coming your way.