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Maternal (Expert Forum)
Re: HCG levels following a miscarriage
Patient medical question and answer from The Maternal and Child Health Forum. Health topic area and articles about newborn care
Re: HCG levels following a miscarriage
by Angela__0, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By Angela on April 07, 1999 at 11:56:14:
In Reply to: HCG levels following a miscarriage posted by Anne on April 07, 1999 at 00:57:08:
: I found out on 2/24/99 that my baby was dead. I thought I was 17 weeks pregnant but the fetus measured only 13 weeks. I had a D&C on 2/26/99. It was my first pregnancy. I had my follow up appointment after one month. The doctor said I should get my period soon as I have always had extremely regular 29 day cycles. Instead I started experiencing pregnancy symptoms (nausea, lower abdominal cramping, constipation, excess saliva). I took a pregnancy test on 3/26/99 and it had a faint positive result. I repeated the test on 3/28/99 and the line was darker. (The test was the Equate brand from Wal-mart). I am wondering whether I could be experiencing residual hcg from my prior pregnancy or whether I am in fact pregnant. Additionally, I have developed flu-like symptoms without a fever. I recall a friend telling me that some women have flu-like symptoms in early pregnancy. Have you ever heard of this? I am going in for the blood tests next week but am dying to know if residual hcg is a possibility (given that the fetus was dead four weeks and it has been four weeks since my d&c). Thank you.
Anne,
I had the same thing happen to me. I am sorry that you were 17 weeks. I feel that life is too cruel sometimes.
Anyways, to continue my story.... I was 10 weeks pregnant, I had a D&C on Feb 17/99. I had a
second D & C on Feb 28th. My HCG level was still high three weeks after my first D&C. I got tested again on the four, fifth and sixth weeks
after the D&C and finally last week (March 31st) I had a NEGATIVE test result. My HCG level is now back to normal.
I still have cramping. I am seeing my doctor again this week.
I found someone else whom had the same thing. I searched for Placenta
accreta. (that is the condition I had that caused me to bleed and bleed).
When I searched for that name, a title came up What is Placenta Accreta. In there, there is a
link to a woman who 5 weeks after her D& C, her HCG level was at 500.
If you need more info, please write back. I have to go to a meeting.
Angela
I had an hcg count of less than 2 on 4/2 yet have still not gotten my period. I have never been late before. My doctor wants to start me on hormones at the end of this week to kick-start my system. Did you have this problem?
Anne,
I may have had a period around the 4th week after the first D&C. My doctor
gave me Progesterone for 5 days to stop my bleeding (after my 2nd D&C my bleeding did not stop).
The doctor told me that 3 days after the last pill I would have a period.
I didn't. I had it around 10 days after the last pill. However, it wasn't a normal period.
I was extremely heavy for one day and then very light for about 3 days.
From what I read, in a normal cycle your hormone levels are very high while ovulating
and then drop to very low. When they are very low, then your bleeding starts. With taking hormones,
the doctor is trying to bring your hormone levels high and then when you stop taking
the pills your hormone levels will be low and you will get a period.
I have heard that some women wait almost 3 months before they get a normal
period. Having an HCG at 2 is good. That means that your body is back to
normal. Mine was at 5 on March 31st which is considered normal as well.
Good luck, write back if you like.
Angela
Follow Ups:
In Reply to: HCG levels following a miscarriage posted by Anne on April 07, 1999 at 00:57:08:
: I found out on 2/24/99 that my baby was dead. I thought I was 17 weeks pregnant but the fetus measured only 13 weeks. I had a D&C on 2/26/99. It was my first pregnancy. I had my follow up appointment after one month. The doctor said I should get my period soon as I have always had extremely regular 29 day cycles. Instead I started experiencing pregnancy symptoms (nausea, lower abdominal cramping, constipation, excess saliva). I took a pregnancy test on 3/26/99 and it had a faint positive result. I repeated the test on 3/28/99 and the line was darker. (The test was the Equate brand from Wal-mart). I am wondering whether I could be experiencing residual hcg from my prior pregnancy or whether I am in fact pregnant. Additionally, I have developed flu-like symptoms without a fever. I recall a friend telling me that some women have flu-like symptoms in early pregnancy. Have you ever heard of this? I am going in for the blood tests next week but am dying to know if residual hcg is a possibility (given that the fetus was dead four weeks and it has been four weeks since my d&c). Thank you.
Anne,
I had the same thing happen to me. I am sorry that you were 17 weeks. I feel that life is too cruel sometimes.
Anyways, to continue my story.... I was 10 weeks pregnant, I had a D&C on Feb 17/99. I had a
second D & C on Feb 28th. My HCG level was still high three weeks after my first D&C. I got tested again on the four, fifth and sixth weeks
after the D&C and finally last week (March 31st) I had a NEGATIVE test result. My HCG level is now back to normal.
I still have cramping. I am seeing my doctor again this week.
I found someone else whom had the same thing. I searched for Placenta
accreta. (that is the condition I had that caused me to bleed and bleed).
When I searched for that name, a title came up What is Placenta Accreta. In there, there is a
link to a woman who 5 weeks after her D& C, her HCG level was at 500.
If you need more info, please write back. I have to go to a meeting.
Angela
I had an hcg count of less than 2 on 4/2 yet have still not gotten my period. I have never been late before. My doctor wants to start me on hormones at the end of this week to kick-start my system. Did you have this problem?
Anne,
I may have had a period around the 4th week after the first D&C. My doctor
gave me Progesterone for 5 days to stop my bleeding (after my 2nd D&C my bleeding did not stop).
The doctor told me that 3 days after the last pill I would have a period.
I didn't. I had it around 10 days after the last pill. However, it wasn't a normal period.
I was extremely heavy for one day and then very light for about 3 days.
From what I read, in a normal cycle your hormone levels are very high while ovulating
and then drop to very low. When they are very low, then your bleeding starts. With taking hormones,
the doctor is trying to bring your hormone levels high and then when you stop taking
the pills your hormone levels will be low and you will get a period.
I have heard that some women wait almost 3 months before they get a normal
period. Having an HCG at 2 is good. That means that your body is back to
normal. Mine was at 5 on March 31st which is considered normal as well.
Good luck, write back if you like.
Angela
Follow Ups:
