fall, slow rise hcg - miscarriage or ectopic - methotrexate concerns

[tickledpink30]

Hi Ladies,

This site has given me much information as i have needed it and i have now decided to join so i can try and gain some advice from people who have maybe had similar experiences. I would appreciate any advice you can offer.

Heres my story.

I found out i was expecting tues 11th dec, i used clearblue conception indicator it said 1-2weeks. I had no morning sickness and the only symptom i had being extremely sore breasts 6 days later i started spotting brown blood with occasional mild back cramps. I thought at this point this pregnancy did not feel right as with my other successful pregnancies I had extreme morning sickness. I went for a scan on wednesday 19th dec and within my uterus a 'something' measuring at 2.2mm was found but it still came back inconclusive and i was told it may be the start of an early pregnancy or it may be the reminants of a failed pregnancy. My HCG levels were 1170 - two days later i go back for my HCG levels and found out they had dropped to 736. I then felt sure with the medical advice that i was having an early miscarriage. Again four days later i have my bloods done and the HCG has dropped again to 706. I was told it was a waiting game but they would like me to come in after christmas to do another scan and take my bloods again. So 28th Dec i go back have my bloods taken and they have risen again to 1130 and the scan shows NOT a significant growth of the 'something' (their words not mine) to 2.5mm. I was told to come back in another 2 days and again my levels have gone up to 1360. It is at this point they tell me they are concerned its an ectopic and although they cannot find any mass in the tubes via u/s my hcg levels suggest an ectopic. I am told i will be taken to theatre that afternoon (New Years Eve) for a laparoscopy. After waiting in the waiting room for over 6 hrs I am then told that in a roundabout this is your choice kind of way that methotrexate will be a better option as the ectopic may be too small to see with the naked eye. They also tell me at this point that my progestrone levels are 30.5 and they consider a pregnancy viable if progestrone levels are over 30. I had previously read about methotrexate after researching all the possibilities myself when i did not feel things were right so i know the side effects and what the drug is used for its functions. Heres my problem though I am really not keen on putting that injection into my body. From past experiences with medication if theres a side effect to be had 9 times out of 10 i get a lot of them (sounds like i am a hyperchrondriac i know) so i am feeling very wary of agreeing to this particularly potent medication. I am also not keen on the drawn out process of this medical management. I have continued spotting and it has now become bright red with very minute clots. But only enough blood to fill a panty liner. The cramps in my lower back have continued with the occassional sharp pain in various areas of my pelvis but not even enough to warrant a pain killer. I am not sure if its advice or reassurance i am looking for but i just hoped to hear from anyone who had been in a similar situation. Despite all the facts, medical advice and my feeling this pregnancy is not right there is still something in the back of my mind telling me this could be a viable pregnancy. I am telling myself this is just wishful thinking but still taking that injection method frightens me and i am very wary of it. I have to go back tomorrow to make a decision please please ladies any advice or comments would be most appreciated...

Thanks for listening

 

[Hopefloats76]

Hi there,

Is it possible you had twins and one stopped developing? Hence the drop? You can't always see anything until the level is over 2000. This happened to me. saw nothing, then 2 days later had a heartbeat and in the uterus. Once it's over 2000, if you don't see anything, then something has gone wrong. Generally speaking. I would redo the betas and another scan when over 2000. I think it's a reasonable course of action, at which point, if there is nothing viable, you can make a better informed decision. If your hcg is below 5000 you can still do the injection, if not, it'll have to be a D&C. I wish you all the best. These things just aren't easy xo

 

[baby_maybe]

I had metho when my hcg was over 13,000 in march last year, but it wasn't a tubal ectopic, it was ovarian. If it had been tubal I would of had to have surgery to remove it. The metho isn't nice, but given the choice again I would still have it over the choice of the surgery.

The wait for my hcg to get to 0 was the worst part for me, it took nine weeks of getting blood drawn, but as I said before my levels were very high when I got the shot. The other down side of the shot over surgery is that you can't get pregnant again for at least 3 months after it, this was also hard for me.

Another thing to consider is because the doctors are saying your ectopic may be too small to be seen in surgery, you could end up in surgery and having the metho if they can't find it.

I was worried about what the metho may do to me as I was desperate for another baby, but I am now 31+ weeks along with our rainbow, so there is still hope if you do have an ectopic pregnancy diagnosed.

If you opt for the metho there's a great thread on here called 'ttc after methotrextae', lots of lovely ladies in there who have been through the same and can give lots of advice and support.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do