False positive(s) question

I am trying to wrap my brain around this and hoping you girls could help me understand...

I got 4 BFP on Thanksgiving - 2 ept, 1 FRER, 1 digital. Saturday I started bleeding and Sunday the digital came up BFN. I went for bloodwork Monday.

I talked to my doctor today and she said that there was absolutely no trace of any HCG in my blood. She said even if I was only pregnant for a day, there would still be a trace of HCG left a week or two later because your body doesn't flush it that fast. Hmmm Her conclusion is that it was most likely that there were FOUR FALSE POSITIVES rather than a chemical pregnancy. Ummm.... I asked her how 4 tests and 3 different brands could all be wrong and she said that the tests can sometimes mistake a luteal hormone surge for the pregnancy hormone. Or I could have been ovulating and that's what caused the +.

Has anyone ever heard of this? I tried to find stuff online and I don't see much -- and certainly not 4 tests. I can understand 1 test being wrong, which is why I took 4!

I really like her and have been comfortable with her all this time, so I'm a little perplexed. She seemed to think there was nothing to worry about.

Re: False positive(s) question

I have actually heard of this! This happened to my friend about 5 years ago and she got this same answer from her dr. at the time. I think it's this is a very rare occurance but I guess it does happen.

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i think you should see a new doctor.
there is no reason if you had a chemical for there to be ANY trace of HCG in your blood over a week later. that is ridiculous. some chemicals happen and resolve themselves within 2 or 3 days. as soon as you get AF you can generally consider your beta at or near 0. so if you had bloodwork after that there is no reason at all there would be any HCG left.
and the idea of 4 false positives is absurd. that just doesnt happen unless you took some other med with HCG in it (which im sure you didnt unless you were undergoing fertility treatment).
i honestly, really, would find a new doctor ASAP, cause your doctor absolutely doesnt know what they are talking about.

im sorry to sound harsh on this one, but ive had chemicals (twice) and i feel like your doctor is completely giving you the run around and either does not know HOW to treat you or does not want you to even think that you had an early m/c. some doctors dont believe in chemicals as being relevant so they think its better for the patient not to know, which is absurd since that shouldnt be their decision. anyway good luck, im sorry you are going through this, but i really believe you got a total BS answer from your doctor.

Message edited 12/3/2010 6:01:09 PM.

Re: False positive(s) question

I have no idea but lots of

Re: False positive(s) question

i agree with flowerwife..i had 4 positives on a sunday...a bfn on monday a beta on monday and only a 1 on the beta...which means i had much higher hcg the day before then it plummented in one day. i know in a week it would have been zero.

time for a new doc. you arent an idiot. you know your body so sorry xoxo

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Re: False positive(s) question

I think your instinct is right on this one.

False positives are pretty much impossible. One faulty test, or you reading an evap line as a positive, that, I'd believe. Four? Including digital? No way.

Re: False positive(s) question

I'm sorry you went through this. I agree with the above posters.

I had a very similar situation last month - I had taken four tests, and then a few days later began to spot, which then turned into heavier and (sorry) clotty bleeding that lasted a bit longer than my normal periods. I went to my doc for blood work about a day into the bleeding and no trace of Hcg was found, although apparently my cervix was a bit open. She mentioned the possibility of a false positive, but chalked it up to a chemical in the end.

Although it's after the fact for you, it might be worth meeting with another Dr. if you don't feel satisfied with the explanation you were given.

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I'm so sorry you had to go through this. I agree with the PP's, may be time for a new doc.

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Aww that is sucky but I agree with everyone else…you WERE pregnant. I have heard that chemicals are hard to catch so it may have been too late when you got your bloodwork.

Hang in there hun and I wish you better luck next month!

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Personally, I don't agree with her. First, it 100% sounds like a chemical. Second, when I miscarried for the first time at 9 weeks my beta was around 1400 when I finally miscarried. 3 days later it was down to 30 and 2-3 days later it was at zero. Since a chemical pregnancy happens soooo early your hcG levels are generally going to be pretty low and once you bleed they should usually drop fast because they don't have far to go. Of course everyone is different but I think with a chemical it's not likely you would have any trace of hcG in your urine or blood a week or two later.

Furthermore, false positives are not common. You either have hcG in your system or you don't so if you got 4 BFP's, especially using the FRER too, you weren't imagining it. You were pregnant it just didn't stick.

I think you're doctor is a little clueless. Sorry.

Message edited 12/6/2010 7:46:50 AM.

Re: False positive(s) question

This same thing happened to me at the begining of october. I had about 3 positive tests and then about four days after my missed period i had bleeding, went to the doctor and no HCG... BUT my doctor did not say it was the tests he said it was probably a chemical and that my HCG was high enough to trigger an early responce test but low enough that my numbers dropped immediately.
On a lighter note he did say that I could have tried again that month but we waited a cycle to check my progesterone.

sorry to hear this!

Re: False positive(s) question

You were pregnant

I had the same issue back in September. My dr called it a m/c from the get go. I was only pregnant for 6 days before I started to bleed. My numbers plummeted drastically over 1.5 days. Even when I began to bleed, I was still testing positive on FRER and on digitals. I am living proof that these tests are super sensitive. It's unreal. My beta was only at 7 and I was still getting positives. (Keep in mind anything under 5 is considered not pregnant and will read NEGATIVE on a test).

I have to agree with the others; your OB sounds a little nutty. I'm sorry you have to go through this- it truly suucks.

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sounds like what happened to us..u were preggo and had a chemical..i am so sorry..i would def look for a new doc

ever want to talk please fm me

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Thank you for all the support. When I talked to her on the phone initially that Monday she said I should definitely come in for bloodwork that afternoon, which I did. On the phone she said it could have been a very early miscarriage. Then once I got the bloodwork back she said it was definitely 4 false positives because there was no hormone in my blood. I said, "this may sound dumb, but there'd be hormone left even after i bled and if i was pregnant for a day?" and she said yes.

Now, I know reading it everyone is saying to jump ship. I have a history with her and she's been very wonderful about things in the past so I'm leery to just leave, but all your comments make me wonder if I'm in good hands. Anyone have any Nassau recommendations? Would anyone give her another chance and see what happens?

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I want to say jump ship because it really sounds CRAZY that she doesn't think this is a chemical, (you definately did not have 4 false positives) but I do know what it feels like to finally find someone you feel comfortable with and knows your history. Either way I think it all depends on how you feel about her and if other than this you feel like you can trust her.

Message edited 12/7/2010 9:02:59 AM.