Fast and then slow rising HCG

[sls571]

My last mentrual was 5/3/08.  I tested for pregnancy as follows:

5/29 - very faint positive You could hardly see it.  It was done with an EPT 5 day before your due test.

6/2 - 103 (beta hcg at my doctors) Level was 103.  At this time I started prometrium (3 times a day)

6/4 - 432.  

6/6 - 928.

6/11 - 3964

6/16 - 6388

6/18 - 8227

I am testing again on 6/25 in order to determine why my levels did rise very fast in the beginning and then slowed down, but continue to rise slowly.

Also, I had ultrasounds on the following days with these results:

6/4 - nothing seen

6/9 - gestational sac and yok sac seen.  I was told I was about 4 to 4 and 1/2 weeks even though I thought I was alreadyu 5 and a half weeks.

6/11 - ultrasound showed the same.

6/18 - gestational sac and yolk sac, but no heart beat.  

The doctor believes that due to the slow rising levels of HCG and and no heart beat that it is not developing properly.  He did ask if I was a week behind as at this time I as supposedly 6 and a half weeks according to LMP.  He als stated that even at 5 and a half weeks a heart beat should be present.  

They increased the prometrium to 4 times a day in hopes of the levels rising  and a heart beat..

I have already had 2 miscarriages and am hoping for this one to be successful.  

What is your opinion and is there any possible way that I am a week behind (only 5 weeks 4 days and that my body is just not producing enough HCG.

Also, has anyone had a very bad odor that comes right through your clothes?  It happens every now and then.

Also, will the prometrium help.  Please respond.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP AND POINT OF VIEW.

[Crystal125]

Your HCG levels at the end are a bit concerning, although I'm no doctor. They should be doubling every 48-72 hours. But I'm not sure why he would concern you with a heartbeat at 5 1/2 weeks. With this pregnancy I went for my 6wk ultrasound and seen the gestational sac/yolk sac but no heartbeat, and my doctor said that it was normal as long as the yolk sac was seen that it means something is happening, but just to make sure he rescheduled an appointment for the next week to make sure there was a heartbeat, so I went back then and seen a heartbeat. 5 1/2-6wks you won't "always" see a heartbeat. Some women are different, usually always takes me until I'm about 7 weeks pregnant to see a heartbeat. Being only in your 5th week I honestly don't think it's a concern to not see a heartbeat, with the only exception being your HCG levels.

[jenniewagster]

being that i have been through this myself, your doctor could very well be wrong. with both my successful pregnancies, they did ultrasounds at about 5 weeks and both times they could see no heartbeat at that point. as a matter of fact i have a friend that just had the same thing happen to her. she went back the next week at about 6 and a half weeks and saw a heart beat. also when i was pregnant, it was around 6+ weeks that they could finally see a heart beat with my children. i had 3 miscarraiges and 1 molar pregnancy before i got pregnant with my now 7 year old daughter. and hcg is not always the same in everyone. my experiance is that if it is going up, thats usualy a good sign, although i am not a doctor. they could be wrong about how far along you are, or just another day or two could show a heart beat. dont give up hope just yet!!! good luck

[sls571]

Thank you so much for your replies!  After I wrote this posting earlier, I literally had to shut everything down and go to sleep.  My eyes would not stay open!  I passed out cold and I woke up wanting to go back to sleep.  I am taking this as a good sign as well.

Your responses made me feel so much better.  I thought...hmmm...the HCG is rising not decreasing so there is still hope.  If I am onlyh 5 and 1/2 weeks, there may be no heart beat.  I don't know why my doctor feels that way.  My mother thinks that I should hold off on doing anything with the pregnancy until 7 weeks just in case the doctor is wrong.  If the HCG level increases as we are hoping they will by next Wednesday, I will be persistant to hold off on another week for an ultrasound.  Hopefully he will not have a problem with doing that for me.

Again, thanks for your responses.  Have a great weekend.

[Gina209]

I think you're doing just fine! Your HCG is still rising and thats a great sign!
On 6/3 my HCG was 6,000 then on 6/10 it was 41,360 and than on 6/12 it was 55,990. Now within the 2 day time period they certainly did not double, but they still rose. My doctor had me come in for an U/S and we saw and heard the heartbeat! He said everything looked great! And sometimes when your HCG numbers get high they take longer to double, so I wouldn't worry. Also I went in for an U/S when I was 5W1D and we only saw a Gest. Sac and Yolk Sac...went back at exactly 6 weeks and saw the heartbeat. So sometimes you see it earlier and sometimes later, every pregnancy is different! I wouldn't worry, especially since your HCG is rising! Congrats and Good Luck!

[leighanne143]

they do not have to double every 2 days.  from what i have read as long as they are going up 80% every 3 days that is still good.

[sls571]

In 2 days, mine only went from 6300 to 9200.  I am not so sure it is going up by at least 80%.

[sls571]

Sorry..actually it was 6388 and 2 days later 8227.  Again, my levels are rising, but veryyyy slowly.  I am still hoping.

[Crystal125]

Well you still have another day.. technically they aren't too worried unless it's been 72 hours. Who knows, maybe the last 24hrs after that test they jumped up a lot farther than before? Either way they're still going somewhere, hopefully everything will turn out fine and you can relax some.

[sls571]

Thanks Crystal...That's what we are hoping.

[sls571]

Insteading of waiting until Wednesday, I talked them into doing my HCG and progesterone levels today.  If I waited until Wednesday, we wouldn't have the results until Thursday and I cannot wait until then!  Hopefully, my levels have gone up a lot.  I will at least be more prepared come Wednesday for the ultrasound.  I am so crossing my fingers.

[sls571]

I got my results.  It went from 8227 (6/18) to 13,337 (6/23).  It is doing the same thing it did last week when they tested 5 days apart.  It is not doubling, but coming close to the double number that should';ve appeared with 3 days.  I am going for the ultrasound tomorrow and from what I am reading, a 13,000 - 18,000 level, you can uusually then see the heartbeat.  I so hope there is one and it is a strong one.  I am not giving up hope.