Help! Beta doubling, nothing on U/S

keepinthe_faith · 09-15-2008, 08:21 PM

Hi all,

My DH and I started our IVF process in early July, and we retrieved on 8/18. We implanted 2 5-day Blasts (5AA, and 4AA), and started our 2ww. Our beta-HCG and u/s history is:

16dpo - 105
20dpo - 209 (~96 hours doubling time) <yikes!>
23dpo - 705 (~41 hours doubling time) <phew!>. Nothing on u/s.
27dpo - 2459 (~53 hours doubling time) <phew!>. Nothing on u/s.

BTW, no bleeding, and tired all the time (could this be because of the meds?)

Our biggest concern is that the HCG levels seem to be doubling well now, but we're still not seeing anything on the u/s. Is it possible to have a good doubling HCG, and reach levels in the 2000 range, without seeing on the u/s? What could cause that?

I've read about ranges of HCG at different days, and we seem to be within an "accepted" range. I've read about possibilities of the implant happening later than the doctor expected. I've read about tilted (retroverted?) uteruses, which might cause the u/s images to show up later. I've read about the possibility that both blasts may have implanted late, in which case either one might be ~1000 (HCG level), causing neither to show up on the u/s. Maybe both blasts implanted, but one didn't make it, causing the small jump between the first readings, but regular growth subsequently. I've read that in some cases, levels of ~1000 are needed to see a sac, but in other sources, I read the level should be ~2500. I've even read about the dreaded ectopic pregnancy, which still happens in 1-2% of IVF cases (but can this happen with the HCG level on the 2500 range, with a good doubling time?).

Our next u/s is on Wednesday morning, and I'd be ecstatic if I saw something there. But, and here's the fear, I'm afraid we may not, and I won't know what to think. Any thoughts out there?

Thanks for reading this far, and thanks in advance for any insight. Not sure if we're looking for hope or just answers...

KTF

miamomma · 09-15-2008, 08:56 PM

No words of wisdom- just wanted to wish you luck on Wednesday!

jilltine · 09-16-2008, 06:14 AM

I am in the same boat as you with IVF
beta #1 223 18dpo
beta #2 444 22dpo
today ?

The dr told me my numbers wern't going up like they would want them to. I was there today for my third beta and I asked the tech if she see this often. Se said unfortunatly she does and it seems to happen to the same people. Not to make you feel bad but she said sometimes the numbers are ok, but than there is nothing at the u/s in cases like ours. I know this is such a struggle but remember "what is mean't to be will happen" This my 2nd IVF the first one I didn't have any embies left to transfer. Try to stay positive you never know when miracles happen.

elatedmama · 09-16-2008, 01:59 PM

how far along are you?

I went in at 6w2d and all we had was a gest sac and yolk sac- at 8700 beta

I went in today and there was a baby measuring right on time

I suspect if I had gone in earlier I would have seen nothing

GL!!!!

HopeSprings · 09-16-2008, 02:09 PM

My OB refuses to do u/s before 4 weeks dpo for this reason. With the twins my scan at 4w6dpo showed them both and both heartbeats.

keepinthe_faith · 09-16-2008, 03:31 PM

miamomma - Thanks! I'm really nervous...

jilltine - Did you get a new Beta today? My DH and I have spent the last few days reflecting back on "what is meant to be." We like to think of ourselves as spiritual people, and we really have to have faith that all things happen for a reason. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a miracle for the both of us.

elatedmama - Based on my retrieval, I should be in my 6th week. And, my beta should be in the 5000-6000 range (assuming the same rate of increase). Thanks for sharing your experience. It gives me some more hope for tomorrow. Was the 6w2d scan your first u/s?

HopeSprings - I agree with you. I wish we had never had any early scans, and we went right into the 6w scan. Even though things may not be progressing perfectly, at least I could've enjoyed the fact that I was finally pg, as opposed to agonizing during the time between scans. Congrats on the twins. Are you still pg, or did you deliver?

HopeSprings · 09-16-2008, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keepinthe_faith

miamomma - Thanks! I'm really nervous...

jilltine - Did you get a new Beta today? My DH and I have spent the last few days reflecting back on "what is meant to be." We like to think of ourselves as spiritual people, and we really have to have faith that all things happen for a reason. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a miracle for the both of us.

elatedmama - Based on my retrieval, I should be in my 6th week. And, my beta should be in the 5000-6000 range (assuming the same rate of increase). Thanks for sharing your experience. It gives me some more hope for tomorrow. Was the 6w2d scan your first u/s?

HopeSprings - I agree with you. I wish we had never had any early scans, and we went right into the 6w scan. Even though things may not be progressing perfectly, at least I could've enjoyed the fact that I was finally pg, as opposed to agonizing during the time between scans. Congrats on the twins. Are you still pg, or did you deliver?

My twins are 3 1/2 years old. I need to upgrade so I can get a signature so people can learn about me, but I can't afford to right now. I am actually pregnant at the moment with a complete miracle baby. My whole story is posted in the pregnancy/donor forum.

nikka0427 · 09-16-2008, 04:00 PM

good luck

elatedmama · 09-16-2008, 05:44 PM

Keep-

It was my first ultrasound- I was really freaked out when I saw nothing and I really though that it was a blighted Ovum- I freaked out for a week and basically prepared for the worst- I was stunned when I saw the perfect little baby in there!

keepinthe_faith · 09-17-2008, 12:03 PM

Thanks for all of your good thoughts. We had our next u/s today, and they found a small kidney-shaped sac <yay!>. No b-HCG blood draw today.

The RE left us a little concerned, as he said we would likely miscarry. According to him, the sac seems to be a week behind schedule (we're 30dpo, or 25dp5dt). He was hoping to see this last week.

We're going in next Tuesday to see if we can detect a heartbeat. So, another week of waiting, and keeping our fingers crossed.

Silver lining...no ectopic, and we finally got pregnant!

KTF

09-15-2008, 08:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
keepinthe_faith Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5	Help! Beta doubling, nothing on U/S Hi all, My DH and I started our IVF process in early July, and we retrieved on 8/18. We implanted 2 5-day Blasts (5AA, and 4AA), and started our 2ww. Our beta-HCG and u/s history is: 16dpo - 105 20dpo - 209 (~96 hours doubling time) <yikes!> 23dpo - 705 (~41 hours doubling time) <phew!>. Nothing on u/s. 27dpo - 2459 (~53 hours doubling time) <phew!>. Nothing on u/s. BTW, no bleeding, and tired all the time (could this be because of the meds?) Our biggest concern is that the HCG levels seem to be doubling well now, but we're still not seeing anything on the u/s. Is it possible to have a good doubling HCG, and reach levels in the 2000 range, without seeing on the u/s? What could cause that? I've read about ranges of HCG at different days, and we seem to be within an "accepted" range. I've read about possibilities of the implant happening later than the doctor expected. I've read about tilted (retroverted?) uteruses, which might cause the u/s images to show up later. I've read about the possibility that both blasts may have implanted late, in which case either one might be ~1000 (HCG level), causing neither to show up on the u/s. Maybe both blasts implanted, but one didn't make it, causing the small jump between the first readings, but regular growth subsequently. I've read that in some cases, levels of ~1000 are needed to see a sac, but in other sources, I read the level should be ~2500. I've even read about the dreaded ectopic pregnancy, which still happens in 1-2% of IVF cases (but can this happen with the HCG level on the 2500 range, with a good doubling time?). Our next u/s is on Wednesday morning, and I'd be ecstatic if I saw something there. But, and here's the fear, I'm afraid we may not, and I won't know what to think. Any thoughts out there? Thanks for reading this far, and thanks in advance for any insight. Not sure if we're looking for hope or just answers... KTF

09-15-2008, 08:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
miamomma 1000-4999 post queen of hearts Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,093	No words of wisdom- just wanted to wish you luck on Wednesday! __________________

09-16-2008, 06:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
jilltine 300-399 post 5 of hearts Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: pennsylvania Posts: 391	I am in the same boat as you with IVF beta #1 223 18dpo beta #2 444 22dpo today ? The dr told me my numbers wern't going up like they would want them to. I was there today for my third beta and I asked the tech if she see this often. Se said unfortunatly she does and it seems to happen to the same people. Not to make you feel bad but she said sometimes the numbers are ok, but than there is nothing at the u/s in cases like ours. I know this is such a struggle but remember "what is mean't to be will happen" This my 2nd IVF the first one I didn't have any embies left to transfer. Try to stay positive you never know when miracles happen. __________________ Jill 31/Andy 36 Our little miracle on IVF #3

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09-16-2008, 01:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
elatedmama 100-199 post 3 of hearts Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: California Posts: 122	how far along are you? I went in at 6w2d and all we had was a gest sac and yolk sac- at 8700 beta I went in today and there was a baby measuring right on time I suspect if I had gone in earlier I would have seen nothing GL!!!!

09-16-2008, 02:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
HopeSprings Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 10	My OB refuses to do u/s before 4 weeks dpo for this reason. With the twins my scan at 4w6dpo showed them both and both heartbeats.

09-16-2008, 03:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
keepinthe_faith Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5	miamomma - Thanks! I'm really nervous... jilltine - Did you get a new Beta today? My DH and I have spent the last few days reflecting back on "what is meant to be." We like to think of ourselves as spiritual people, and we really have to have faith that all things happen for a reason. I'll keep my fingers crossed for a miracle for the both of us. elatedmama - Based on my retrieval, I should be in my 6th week. And, my beta should be in the 5000-6000 range (assuming the same rate of increase). Thanks for sharing your experience. It gives me some more hope for tomorrow. Was the 6w2d scan your first u/s? HopeSprings - I agree with you. I wish we had never had any early scans, and we went right into the 6w scan. Even though things may not be progressing perfectly, at least I could've enjoyed the fact that I was finally pg, as opposed to agonizing during the time between scans. Congrats on the twins. Are you still pg, or did you deliver?

09-16-2008, 04:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
nikka0427 1000-4999 post queen of hearts Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: east coast Posts: 1,175 Blog Entries: 1	good luck

09-16-2008, 05:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
elatedmama 100-199 post 3 of hearts Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: California Posts: 122	Keep- It was my first ultrasound- I was really freaked out when I saw nothing and I really though that it was a blighted Ovum- I freaked out for a week and basically prepared for the worst- I was stunned when I saw the perfect little baby in there!

09-17-2008, 12:03 PM	#10 (permalink)
keepinthe_faith Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 5	Thanks for all of your good thoughts. We had our next u/s today, and they found a small kidney-shaped sac <yay!>. No b-HCG blood draw today. The RE left us a little concerned, as he said we would likely miscarry. According to him, the sac seems to be a week behind schedule (we're 30dpo, or 25dp5dt). He was hoping to see this last week. We're going in next Tuesday to see if we can detect a heartbeat. So, another week of waiting, and keeping our fingers crossed. Silver lining...no ectopic, and we finally got pregnant! KTF