Has Anyone Else Ever Medically Stumped Their Doc?

Updated on January 04, 2011
C.A. asks from Dallas, GA
16 answers

Okay so I posted a few days ago about this but I am pregnant. The doc has been telling me things didn't "look" good based upon my HCG levels. Friday 12-17 it was 583, then 12/20 it went up to 603, and then 12/21 it went to 660. It isn't doubling like it was supposed to and that is the concern. Mention of ectopic was in place and the discussion of even giving me an injection to terminate the pregnancy however my doc said it was MY choice.
He did do a sonogram yesterday which revealed nothing. No sac no nothing. The ultrasound tech said she couldn't find anything good or bad and that she couldn't see that it was an ectopic pregnancy either. It worries me that they see nothing but then again I think well maybe I am sooner than what they really think but my last period was November 21st. Last time I was preggers my HCG levels did similiar and there were threats of "ectopic" as well but it ended up being twins!!! However at 4 weeks they were able to confrim the eggs sacs in utero-this time nothing or as of yet perhaps. I can't be the only one out there that has gone through something like this. I cannot justify terminating the pregnancy IF my numbers are still going up -slow as they may be but they are still inching forward. I have had NO Cramping and there has been no bleeding not even spotting going on. My doc shook his head yesterday saying EVERYTHING else looked within "normal" ranges EXCEPT for my blood work......I trust in God and know whatever happens -well it happens but as a human as flesh I want to know. I want answers has it been known to have such low HCG levels with it progressing slowly and the pregnancy be fine? I am scared because I feel like if it is ectopic-I'm a ticking time bomb so to say but if they cannot confirm whether or not its an ectopic I cannot and will not do the shot-I need proof! I feel like I should be on that show medical mystery diagnosis or whatever its called.............I just want to know that my pregnancy is fine and my baby is okay. I keep going through my mind of what the causes could be but I cannot explain it either......my biggest worry is the sonogram not showing anything yesterday-the blood numbers mean nothing to me personally but nothing on the sonogram concerns me but maybe I'm just not far along enough yet....maybe the baby is hiding?? I don't know-I feel helpless!

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N.C.

answers from Charleston on

I had In-Vitro Fertilization to conceive my daughter. They could SEE her on the ultrasound at only a few weeks into the pregnancy. They had to do a transvaginal ultrasound, but you could clearly see one tiny little dot. Find a new doctor. :)

More Answers

G.T.

answers from Modesto on

Not being able to see if it's eptopic is a positive. You are just being over anxious. Keep yourself busy, worrying is not good as it will only lower your immune system, I know you know that. You are doing what you can do, technology is doing what it can do. You just have to be patient, I see no other choices do you? Embryos DO hide... if it's a boy you can name him Hyde :) If its a girl you can name her Heidi :) if it's another set of twins... well you have the two names.. haha. Sorry, I havent had enough tea yet and my joke sucks.

4 moms found this helpful
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A.H.

answers from Jacksonville on

It's very hard to find a gestational sac before 4 weeks. You may have conceived sooner than you thought. I'd just wait it out, schedule another appointment in two weeks so that if it's too soon NOW, then it may be easier to see then.

FX that it's NOT ectopic! I figure as long as the numbers are going up, and you're not suffering pains or cramping, then those are good signs!

(FX - fingers crossed)

2 moms found this helpful
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A.S.

answers from Boca Raton on

I don't have any specific thoughts on your situation but I wish you all the best. Try not to worry (easier said than done I know).

After the last few years I have lost alot of faith in the medical profession. Today I view health care professionals as sources of info, and help for very specific types of problems. But in my humble opinion, the *art* of practicing medicine has been lost for the most part.

Good luck to you and your family.

2 moms found this helpful
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J.U.

answers from Norfolk on

I think you have to be at least 3 month to have a clear picture otherwise it will look like a little bean.

Try not to worry and take it easy. Eat some healthy things and drink plenty of water. You may or may not be taking care of a little one in your body but you are taking care of you. Time will tell.

Hugs.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.S.

answers from Houston on

leave it up to god. if you lose it do it on his terms not yours. if you have twins again let that be his terms not yours and if you have a single same thing his terms not yours. I think the shot is premature in my opinon. lay low and watch before deciding. remeber your first pregnancy.

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K.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

I know that when I went through infertility the RE wouldnt do a ultra sound until 6 weeks because most times you cant see anything and it just makes you worry. I would wait it out for at least 2-3 weeks. And go get another opion.
Time is not on your side if its ectopic. I know of a couple of women that had no pain until it was an emergency.
Good luck I know its an emotional rollercoaster

1 mom found this helpful

V.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

I have been following your posts, and while I don't have any first hand experience with ectopic pregnancies (and the whole idea scares me), I am curious about something... How far along do you and the doctors think that you are? I mean... your last period was on Nov 21st? Was that the first day of it? So you probably wouldn't have ovulated until December 5th or so... correct? That means you are no more than 3 weeks along by my math. Am I missing something here? Seriously.. I am not trying to be obtuse... but I am confused.

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S.C.

answers from Fort Wayne on

Ok Mama, take a deep breath! I've been reading your posts over the last week and I know how stressed out and worried you are. I don't blame you! The bottom line is this. You have to wait. Yeah, it sucks. Yeah, it's hard. There is really nothing else you can do!
I would be very hesitant to do anything to possibly terminate at this point. I would absolutely wait until you know for sure. If I had to make a guess, I would say that you're probably only a few weeks along and that's why they can't see anything yet. You're simply too early. As far as the hormone levels, well, you've been through this before. Maybe your levels just don't double as fast as the norm.
Take a breath, say a prayer, and enjoy your holiday.

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T.T.

answers from Chicago on

a FEW ISSUES HERE. iF YOU WAIT UNTIL THEY CAN SEE IT IT MAY VERY WELL BE TOO LATE FOR THE SHOT AND THEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE SURGERY WHICH WILL EITHER DAMAGE YOUR TUBE ENTIRELY (sorry didnt mean for it to be all caps!)or create scar tissue making any chance of a next pregnancy being ectopic again or you lose that fallopian tubes ability to be used DRASTICALLY reducing fertility....it would be one thing if your numbers were almost doubling but they arent even making it near that. i think you are really messing with fire here. I had an ectopic and though the shot was no fun, its way better than losing half of your reproductive capacity! good luck to you

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B.

answers from Augusta on

First of all take a deep breath.
My numbers were like yours with both of mine.
They really didn't double like they were supposed to.

Deep breath , baby could be hiding, it's tiny right now.
relax it's not good for either of you.

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S.H.

answers from Spartanburg on

If I were in your situation, I would definitely wait until you had more proof before deciding on an ectopic pregnancy. No cramping, no nothing! That's very unusual. Ectopics are very painful. The minute you start having more than a little discomfort I would definitely pay another visit to the dr., but I agree with most that you are right on track to having a healthy pregnancy! Let's hope & pray that this is the case.

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J.B.

answers from Phoenix on

I always thought you would have discomfort with ectopic, maybe I am mistaken. Why do they think its ectopic? Just becuase your numbers arent doubling? Well if you had that as the case before maybe you are just different from their "norm" and things are fine. I too would be hesitant and wait until they had some proof before taking the shot.

I agree with the other ladies that by my calculations you are probably only 3 weeks or so and it is very hard to see anything that early. I had a sonogram at 5 weeks with my last one and they were able to see the sac at that time. i would suggest enjoying your holidays and getting another sonogram scheduled in a week or two to see if the picture is any clearer.

Praying for calm & clarity for you!

L.!.

answers from Austin on

Since you're heading into the Christmas holiday weekend, hospitals might not be fully staffed and your primary doctor might be traveling... Please call your doctor and discuss a plan of action (where to go, who to call, etc.) in the event your condition changes and you start noticing cramping or other symptoms of an eptopic pregnancy. My understanding is that you can bleed out and it can be fatal should your follopian tube burst.

Good luck! I hope everything turns out well!

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K.I.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I agree with Victoria, Im 25 weeks pregnant and my last period was june 20, so they told me my due date is april 5...
Its all make sense, you are around 3 weeks pregnant or so,
why just don't relax and wait a few weeks...all that stress is not good for you (or baby if is the case)..
I mean the doctor hasn't say something about it would be dangerous to wait a little longer? if not, just enjoy holiday with your kids ..

M.H.

answers from Raleigh on

I posted about this the other day, but failed to mention that my doctor won't even do an ultrasound until at least 8 weeks because they often don't see anything until then. The nurse said they used to bring women in earlier, but there were so many women horrified that they weren't really pregnant (from not seeing anything on the u/s) that they stopped doing it. I am not even going in for my first until I am 11 weeks along! I know you had to get it done, but for now, just sit back and try and relax. I hope that all goes well!

P.S. For the women who are asking (because I am almost at the same point in my pregnancy), she is indeed 4 weeks along. How far along you are starts at the first day of your last period, believe it or not, so she will actually be 5 weeks on Sunday.

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