Please help me, Need advice

Hi everyone. I am 7 weeks pregnant as of today. I got my progesterone level and my hcg levels taken almost 2 weeks ago. The first time the prog. was 21.9 and the hcg was 2,500. About 6 days later the prog. dropped to 18.4 and the hcg was 9,400. I had me prog. taken again last night (3 days later) and it was a low 14. I went in today (4 days since last)to get them both rechecked and the prog. was back up to 16 and the hcg was almost 15,000. My questions are one, has anyone experienced a situation like this and went on to have a normal preg? I understand hcg levels are supposed to double every 72 hours. Mine went up maybe 60+% but did not double. I have no bleeding, cramping, but I do have a UTI & am being treated for it. I heard a fetal hb of 120 on Mon., but I m/c before and heard one as well, so it is not too reassuring. The levels did double at first, but why would they not go up and then the prog. is flectuating. Is this normal? Should I be worried? Please send some advice ir stoires that might help me have a little confort. One thing that scares me besides the levels is the fact that my nipples are not as sensitive as they were, but I don't know if this matters much so early in preg. Has anyone had a healthy preg. and had numbers like this? When I m/c a few months back the hcg didn't rise like this at all nor did the prog. The prog. was only at 6 and I bled 3 times before having a d&C. Well, anyhow, thanks... Rachel

[Debra_Maine]

I have read that once your hcg reaches more than 6500 it could take up to 96 hours to double. What does your doctor say about the numbers?

[Venus8]

Well, my Dr. is out of town and the Dr. that is on call for him is not very helpful b/c he is not my regular Dr., and has really bedside manners to say the least! He said if I were having a m/c there is nothing I can do but to wait and let it happen. He said my numbers are supposed to double every 72 hours and said aince my prog. level went back up to 16 it could support the preg. w/o having to take prometrium. I wasn't aware that after the hcg levels hit a certain point they don't exactly double every 48-72 hours...

[Debra_Maine]

* For HCG levels <1200 mIU/ml, the expected doubling time is 48-72 hours.
* For HCG levels 1200 to 6000 mIU/ml, the expected doubling time is 72-96 hours.
* For HCG levels >6000 mIU/ml, the expected doubling time is >96 hours.
Got that from this website:
http://www.conceivingconcepts.com/learning/articles/hcg.html

[TBomb]

Hello my levels were like that too... I am now 15w. and everything is just fine... I do take the progestrone supplement this being my last week... But I was scared to death as well.. I also had a mc before... But now everything is just fine... Hope this helps...

[Christie2004]

Debra has given you excellent advice--yes, at a certain point it does take longer for the numbers to double.  Don't get too hung up on progesterone levels.  They can vary enormously--even several levels drawn on the same day can vary.  

Bad bedside manner or not, your OB is unfortunately right.  There is not much else to do but wait and see.  It is not uncommon for pregnancy symptoms to wax and wane.   As you know, it is reassuring to have heard the fetal heart, but is not a 100% assurance of everything being all right.  

I remember lots of ladies on this board say they panicked b/c they lost all their pregnancy symptoms, and everything went on to be ok.  Look back through some of the older posts.

Good luck, and I hope everything is all right.

[Venus8]

Thanks for those numbers Deb, made me breathe a bit easier. It seems my hcg levels were doubleing every 48-72 hrs until they started getting higher after the 9,500 point. Another question, is it ok for prog. to go up and down in early preg... i realize i shouldn't be worried too much if it's above 15, but just curious...?

[Stacie30]

the breast soreness difference is probably due to the lower progesterone. i was on prometrium with clomid when i was trying to conceive and they were sooooo sore!!!

Docs very from one extreme to the other on progesterone therapy. some say it works miracles in sustaining a pregnancy that is otherwise fine (just the mother doesn't produce enough progesterone) and others say all it does is prolong an unviable pregnancy. I do have a friend that had 3 miscarriages before they figured out she just didn't make enough progesterone to support a pregnancy until the placenta takes over...they put her on progesterone therapy and wahlah!!! healthy full term baby.

I would think given that you miscarried before after hearing a heartbeat that they would be more sensitive to you and put you on prometrium if that is what you want to try. it may be the problem or it may not, but it sure wouldn't hurt anything to take it and you would probably be alot more emotionally secure with your pregnancy if you did take it.

[Venus8]

I was on prometrium the last time i m/c. i started it after the first bleeding episode. from what i understand, it really just helps you prepare for implantation. if it does not implant right, a m/c will occure later. i felt like it did not really help me at all. i m/c around week 8 but since i was on the prometrium it didn't expel anything b/c my lining was so thick. i have a prescription for it, but i feel kind of weird about filling it. my prog level is at a 16 today... hopefully it will stay there. i am not sure what i should do. the prog level was 21.9 and it hasn't gone back up but i have heard it's ok to go up and down as long as the hcg levels are fine?

[Venus8]

TBomb... when did you start taking the prog meds, during the last week or prior to that?

[Debra_Maine]

I started my prometrium the day after I ovulated. My doc says it's best if started from conception.

[susanelizabeth]

My progesterone was even lower and I went on prometrium around 6 weeks.  I delivered a healthy baby girl in Feb '04....

[Venus8]

Do you think the prometrium helped your pregnancy? Were you bleeding or did they put you on it b/c you had low prog? Thanks, Rachel

[TBomb]

My doc. put me on prog. when I was 6w. I know this is a little hard to believe but here it goes anyway....I found out I was prego. at 2w..Reason..I was sooo sick... I had mc last year and my back was bothering me so I went to the er. They tried us but said I was way to early to see a heartbeat,so my doc. sent me back for a follow up.. As well as bloodwork... That is where she found my hcgs were not doubling every 48 to  72 hrs. They were rising but not enough I guess to suit her.. She then started checking my progestrone levels and told me I needed supplements to help sustain the pregnancy... She told me this may or maynot help but it was worth the try... So here I am at 15w and All is well.. I quit taking the supplement next week...

[Venus8]

Thanks everyone for replying to my post.. I got my breast tenderness back last night and still today, so that is not a prob. I guess I am just struggleing as to whether or not I should take the prometrium. My level was at 16 the last time checked , so I don't know. My regular Dr. will be back on Wed. The on call Dr. says I don't need them. Oh jeez... I hate this waiting game...

[Debra_Maine]

My doctor said it can't hurt you if you don't need it, so why not just take it?

[Niki73]

That sounds just like my story! I had three miscarriages and with my fourth I was given the progesterone hormone injections twice a week up until the 11 week when the placenta takes over nourshing the fetus! I had a healthy baby girl and the same thing so far with this pregnancy except a healthy baby boy!!!!If the pregnancy does not look viable from the start they will not give you the injections because it does prolong the inevitable. But some women just don't produce enough of their own to support a viable pregnancy!!!!

[diop]

This is my first time joining a forum and just wanted to give my input. I am 7 weeks preg and was told that my progesterone levels were at a 16 so my doctor has now put me on prometrium twice daily. They state that my levels were normal however they want them to be at 20 or higher now. This is my first pregnancy ever and I have never had a miscarriage. So google and forums are my friend right now. I do belive in God and believe that he will give you the desires of your heart. However, it still has been very hard. I have also read where prometrium is not good to take while pregnant. But since I have read at least one success story it has given me hope that I can have a healthy pregnancy while on this drug. I guess that I just need to read more success stories to keep my faith strengthen, you know. I do sympethize and emphasize with all of you. I go back to see my doctor on Monday to see if they has been change in my progesterone levels or not. Keep me in your prayers and I will surely keep you in mine.

[hoping123]

Thanks for all of your posts. I miscarried August 30 at almost 8 weeks.  I started spotting at 6w4d.  My HCG level was low and the next blood test I took went down.  The ultrasounds done on me showed the baby growing with a hearbeat.

I am pregnant again and was so worried that I got an appt with my dr at 6w.  She did a blood test and an ultrasound.  The ultrasound showed me to be 5weeks with no heartbeat.  The HCG test came back at 2600 which I guess is low if I am 6 weeks but normal if I am only 5weeks. I am now 6w5d and started spotting today.  This time the ultrasound shows me to be 5w4d with no heartbeat.  Good news is the sac is growing.  My dr did another HCG test and a progesterone test.  I won't get the results for a couple of days (have to send it out of state because of insurance).  In the mean time my dr gave me a perscription of prometrium, 100mg per day oral form.  I have done some reading and I guess my concerns are that she didn't perscribe me enough and that I may be starting it too late to save this baby.  Does anyone know if my perscription is too low.

Thanks

[hoping123]

Thanks for all of your posts. I miscarried August 30 at almost 8 weeks.  I started spotting at 6w4d.  My HCG level was low and the next blood test I took went down.  The ultrasounds done on me showed the baby growing with a hearbeat.

I am pregnant again and was so worried that I got an appt with my dr at 6w.  She did a blood test and an ultrasound.  The ultrasound showed me to be 5weeks with no heartbeat.  The HCG test came back at 2600 which I guess is low if I am 6 weeks but normal if I am only 5weeks. I am now 6w5d and started spotting today.  This time the ultrasound shows me to be 5w4d with no heartbeat.  Good news is the sac is growing.  My dr did another HCG test and a progesterone test.  I won't get the results for a couple of days (have to send it out of state because of insurance).  In the mean time my dr gave me a perscription of prometrium, 100mg per day oral form.  I have done some reading and I guess my concerns are that she didn't perscribe me enough and that I may be starting it too late to save this baby.  Does anyone know if my perscription is too low.

Thanks