To those who had m/c's- Question

[vicky77]

Hi, some of you know me already. I had my first IVF back in November, it was a BFP, but unfortunately I had a m/c at 7 weeks. I had a D&C on December 22, since then I've been having some brownish spotting, that instead of decreasing I feel like it is increasing in amount. Today I am even having some cramping..... .
I did some ovulation tests last week that were positive, but I did them for 3 days and they were always positive, and very positive, so I am guessing maybe it was a false positive from still having HCG in my system.
I am just worried that there might be something wrong, and that is why I am still spotting, I wouldn't like to have to go through another D&C....
Any suggestions????

[vicky77]

nobody has ever been on the same boat?
Please I need other experiences as of bleeding after D&C....

[jordan22]

Vicky.. I have not been in the same boat but did your DR have your beta checked again since the D&C ?? ((((HUGS))))

[vicky77]

Hi Tonia, first off, CONGRATS ON YOUR BFP!!!!!
Yes, I had my HCG checked today, it is still 8,000 so I will repeat it next week to see what is going on.
I am having more like a period right now, but of course it is not a real period, so maybe this helps lower the HCG, I don't know....

[suzhan]

Vicky - I don't have first hand knowledge, but I'd definitely get in with your RE (or even your regular OB/GYN). An HCG of 8000 2-1/2 weeks after the D&C seems high to me, but I really don't know. I do know that there can be some risk (even with the best of doctors) that there can be some retained POC (products of conception) that prevent the level from going down. A repeat D&C may not be the only option - you may be able to take a medication (methotrexate). Again, only a doctor can really advise you so you need to get seen! It took me 7 weeks to get AF after my D&C last spring and I thought I'd go out of my mind. I kept thinking I'd get AF starting 4 weeks or so after the D&C and even had cramps & a little spotting (really minor, minor) at about 4 weeks, so I thought AF was arriving....and then nothing for 3 more weeks. When I talked to my RE about ready to jump out of my skin in week 6 and he said, "let's wait another week before doing anything" I thought I'd lose my mind in the next week (you can tell patience isn't my strong suit!!!) But, the day I was poised to call him to say, "Okay, what's next", AF came completely unannounced and without warning. I can say that the 'what's next' was going to be using progesterone to jump start the period. But, it didn't come to that. I will also say the the nurse practitioner in my RE's office really encouraged me to start on BCPs after the D&C and I declined (always the optomist that maybe a miracle would happen between IVF cycles....) But, she said the BCPs really help to re-regulate the hormones after a m/c (or even after an IVF cycle.)

Well....sorry for the long winded answer, but that's all I know.

[suzhan]

BTW, I saw the answer the dr gave you on the other board about the OPK turning positive and the relationship to hcg. He said hcg wouldn't turn an opk positive, but....here's what I've found....Not saying he's wrong (he's the doctor) but my research showed different.

In fact, my OPKs are traditionally completely blank in the second window unless I'm actually ovulating. The OPK showed I was preggo much more clearly than the HPT early on.....Hmmmm.....


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OPK's detect LH (luteinizing hormone) which is the hormone associated with ovulation. Pregnancy tests detect hCG, the hormone associated with pregnancy. LH and hCG are, at a molecular level, nearly identical. hCG has a beta subunit, meaning it has an extra little "doodad." To use a stupid but easy to understand example, LH and hCG are identical twins, except that hCG wears a funny hat.

An OPK tests only for the part of the molecule that LH and hCG have in common (the "face" or "body" of the identical twins.) So an OPK will turn positive when it detects either of the "identical twins"-- ovulation or pregnancy hormone.

The reverse is not true, however, because an HPT tests for the part of the molecule that is unique to hCG (the "hat.") Therefore, a pregnancy test will turn positive only in the presence of hCG, whereas an OPK will turn positive in the presence of hCG or LH.

Now, it's important to note that OPK's work differently than HPT's. A pregnancy test will develop 2 lines only if hCG (pregnancy hormone) is detected. Thus, "a line is a line" when determining a positive HPT. OPK's work differently. An OPK has a "control" line and a "test" line, just like an HPT. Unlike an HPT, however, the mere presence of a "test" line does not mean the test is positive. The test line must be as dark as, or darker than, the control line to be a positive result (meaning that a surge was detected, rather than the ordinary amount of LH usually found in your urine every day.)

[souris]

Vicky

i dont know what the HCG level means,

but for the periods : mine after D&C did not look like a period. It was brown -ish , no real red blood. It was more spotting than bleeding and was very light. I used only panty liners...

Hope it helps
xxx
souris

[vicky77]

Thank you Suzhan and Souris for your replies.

Suzhan, yes, I knew there was a cross reaction between LH and HCG, that is why it was really weird to read that the doctor in the board said there was no conection, but anyway....Thanks a lot for your research on the topic!!!
I did talk to my RE, he told me that until HCG returns to 0 I can have any kind of bleeding, not to worry because he did the D&C guided by ultrasound and he has no worries about it. But tonight I had been having the worse cramps ever, with a lot of blood and huge clots, I was worried, but decided to wait to see what happens in the course of the day, it looks now like it is getting better........

[souris]

Vicky

I also passed huge blood clots and had bad bad cramps and heavy bleeding. After that, i spoted for a few more days and then it stopped!
I am sure it will be soon over now

xxx
souris

[vicky77]

Thanks Souris, was it 2 weeks after that that you had AF????