Beta down, now up. What's going on?

Ok, so I've been assuming I am miscarrying. Took home pregnancy test Monday, positive. Went to my RE (this was an entirely natural pregnancy this time around, but used RE to conceive DS so I thought they could be of help monitoring) Tuesday and had blood taken. I questioned if I should be on progesterone, since in past my numbers were always low, but agreed to wait for test results. I even posted on the pregnancy and parenting forums here about taking progesterone while nursing, so I was prepared to argue with docs if necessary about safety. Beta was 101, progesterone 12. They said these were good numbers (my lmp was 10/7/11). Wednesday started very light brown spotting, called RE since I have history of MC, had two prior to birth of DS. Again questioned if I should have progesterone, but nurse said numbers were good and just to come in for my beta recheck Thursday. Recheck Thursday, beta fell to 44, progesterone 1. I assume it's done. Today (Saturday) bleeding heavy, red blood. Go for another check and my beta went up to 66 and progesterone is 0.5. The nurse on the phone said that she would offer me progesterone suppositories, but since I'm still nursing can't. I am thinking, ***, are you kidding me, now you would offer them? I press her about numbers falling then rising and she then admits she thought this was my second test, so then it makes sense that she would offer the meds, but then still can't explain to me if the beta going back up means my pregnancy is still viable or not and that I should talk to doc on Monday when I come in for more bloodwork. Please help me sort this out in my head.

1. I feel in my gut that with the first drop in beta from 101 to 44, progesterone going from 12 to 1, that I am miscarrying. Especially now that I am really bleeding today and no longer spotting. But is there some chance that this pregnancy is still viable, and that the progesterone would help at this point? After getting to a place of acceptance that I was losing yet another pregnancy, now I have this twisted conversation with the nurse and it's totally messing with my head. I kept pressing her to have her say, yes, your miscarrying, but then she backpedaled and said I should speak with the doc on Monday. BTW, it's the same nurse who on Wednesday when I called to say I was spotting said numbers look good, we'd check you if they were lower, but wait until Thursday. I could kick myself for trusting her. I will now never know that if I said no, I want you to check anyway, if maybe my progesterone would have dropped, but maybe they would have caught it before it got to a 1. Maybe meds would have helped then. I was going to call back to see if a doc was there, or even call my OB and relate the situation to them to at least get a definitive answer (yes, you are miscarrying), but my DH said to just stop, that I know my body, and to not make myself crazy calling. So instead I am posting here, lol.

2. Could this be an ectopic pregnancy? I'm not having pain (at least not yet).

TIA for reading this and responding. Please don't hold back, I can take it. I am beyond ****** right now for all this confusion.

Nicole

Re: Beta down, now up. What's going on?

Could definitely be an ectopic. I didnt experience any pain until my numbers were around 900 or so

Re: Beta down, now up. What's going on?

this is consistent with ectopic, i would def talk to your doctor ASAP!!! my RE said ectopics dont generally cause problems until -4w post ovulation so u prob wouldnt feel any different at this point.

Message edited 11/12/2011 4:51:28 PM.

Re: Beta down, now up. What's going on?

Posted by FlowerWife

this is consistent with ectopic, i would def talk to your doctor ASAP!!! my RE said ectopics dont generally cause problems until -4w post ovulation so u prob wouldnt feel any different at this point.

Re: Beta down, now up. What's going on?

Thank you all so much for responding. Of course, I am a bit (more) freaked out, but I called my OB and spoke to the doctor on call to review my situation. She said that an ectopic is in the realm of possibilities but I don't really have many of the risk factors (history of previous, tubal scarring/damage, VD, bleeding is heavy, spotting is more consistent). She also said it is not unusual for beta numbers to fluctuate, and did confirm that I am miscarrying, so I least I have now heard that with certainty from someone. I will watch for increased bleeding, dizziness, or pain, and if it happens will head to the ER. I have an appointment with the RE Monday, so hopefully I'll make it until then.

Again, thanks all for your support and for responding so quickly.

Re: Beta down, now up. What's going on?

i am very sorry and i am glad you finaly got to speak to the doctor!!!!!
i dont know. i know if i was pg and my prog was a 12 i would want prog supps for sure. maybe you can use the prog a few days after ovulation if you continue to ttc to have added support kwim?

again big huge hugs!