can hcg level rise after a miscarriage?

[mommamia75]

Hi there.  I'm new to this forum but I'm glad that I found it because I have some important questions.  On 04/22/03 I was 7w3d pg.  I got up that morning to get ready for work as normal.  All of a sudden I started bleeding badly with no warning - 4 or 5 clots in all.  I went to the ER and 5 hours later was seen by a doctor.  The u/s showed a sac measuring 5 1/2 weeks.  My Hcg level was 10,000 and an exam showed my cervix to be closed.  The on-call doctor said this was considered a threatened m/c and to carry on as if I was still pg.  I went back on 04/28/03 for a follow-up u/s.  The doctor said there was no sac to be found and to be prepared for a D&C.  No vaginal u/s was done or any internal exam.  My Hcg level was then at 20,000 - which was doubled from the last time.  He phoned me on 04/29/03 to come in for a D&C, however I had a gut instinct telling me not to.  I live an hour from the nearest hospital and the u/s machine there is very old.  I was not convinced that they could dectect a h/b or sac with this antique machinery at 8w2d.  I am going in the morning for hcg level testing again.  Please someone give me some advice.  Can hcg levels rise after a m/c??

Anxiously waiting,
mommamia75

P.S. I had a m/c on 02/04/03 and D&C on 02/07/03.

[nurse12hr]

They can, but not usually very much.

I say go with your gut.  There is no harm in following some more levels.  They should double or triple every 2 to 3 days.  

However, if you start to bleed badly, or have abdominal pain, go AT ONCE to the ER.  There is a chance the pregnancy implanted somewhere besides the uterus (ectopic).  If the u/s equipment is very old, it may be hard to diagnose that.  

When you go back to the doc for levels, insist on a referral to another facility that has proper equiptment.  You need a vaginal ultrasound.  That equipment has been around for 10-15years, so you should have some sort of access to that.

[Raqz]

I agree - go with you gut feeling.  

The same thing happened to me last week.  I did have an internal examination by my doctor on monday who said that the cervix was still closed and carried out a pregnancy test - I just got the reults today - negative.  But I still feel pregnant, my stomach has doubled in size since last week and is rock hard and I still have slight nausea.  I am going to go back to the doctors after the weekend, if the symptons persist.

Please let me know how you get on.

[mommamia75]

Thank-you guys very much for your advice.  It was the same advice my mother gave me.  I also told my doc that I was not convinced and that I wanted a second opinion.  I'm just so confused but will keep you posted on the outcome!!