Miscarriage, hcg levels, and hpts??? Help!

[Simplechick]

I'm so confused and unsure about my body right now.

Please forgive me if I go on too long, but I'm really hoping to get some info from other women who have (unfortunately) been down this road.

I was recently pregnant, everything looked fine on scans. Until I got a scan at 15 weeks and 1 day, showing my baby had died at 14 weeks 1 day (according to measurements, but seems to be right since I lost a lot of symptoms right around 14 weeks).

I had a medically induced labor and passed baby and doc said the entire placenta as well (I saw everything and it looked complete).
This was on March 23 (induction started March 22, but took till the next morning to deliver)

I bled from March 23, until April 6th, with some brown spotting for a couple more days.

Since the docs pretty much have ignored my requests to have any labs done, I've been trying to watch my hcg go down by doing IC preg tests each morning.

They started out very strong positives, and have faded to almost nothing, with an occasional total negative...same with the opks.

We have been sexually active since bleeding stopped, but never saw any EWMC, and never got a positive opk (testing every afternoon).

It's now been 30 days since delivery, still getting super duper faint positives on the IC tests...BUT I found two tests I hadn't taken from the preg, so decided to use them- the good ones, FRER and an EPT!!
Was hoping both would show negative so we could just move on, wait for my next period and talk about trying again.

But here is the kicker- the EPT was negative (well, pretty much, it showed a shadow, and an hour later obvious positive, but they do that sometimes due to evaps)

But the FRER was SUPER positive! At least half as dark as the control line and came up right away.

So.... Is it just the frer is so sensitive, it's still picking up hcg from my 15 week miscarriage, 30 days ago?
And if so, does that mean my hcg is high or low? EPT couldn't pick it up, but frer (6 days sooner kind) was able to. Both tests were on same urine sample, seven hour hold, took tests around 8 pm.

Will my period EVER return if I'm still getting such positive preg tests? And WHY was the line so dark on the frer (I expected a FAINT line if anything, IF my hcg was low since its been a month, and all others were faint) and so faint on every other test? Now I'm scared there is tissue left behind in my uterus!
My cervix is high and soft right now too...which I keep expecting it to get low and hard if my period was coming.

I freaking hate all this confusion...it's as if my miscarriage hasn't ended still and I'm in limbo.

Please, share your experiences or advice, or anything...I need some kind of encouragement from others right now...it's been so hard to deal with all this!

Thanks for hanging in there and reading my long post!

 

[cupcake23]

I'm sorry for you loss. If your mc was complete (baby & placenta) it is very unlikely that you have anything retained but I understand your frustration in waiting for a negative hpt/ af... The later you are in your pregnancy the longer it will take for hcg to leave. I was informed following my 8 week mc that it can take up to 8 weeks but average 4-6 weeks for af to show up.

I got a neg hpt at 2 weeks post mc, still no af, and I've started testing again as I believe I ov'd last week.

I would leave it another 2 weeks, test again, if you are getting a pos then go back and request beta hcg to confirm its not a new pregnancy. All the best x

 

[Simplechick]

I'm so sorry for your loss Cupcake...there just aren't words to make things better, ya know?

It is so frustrating...and docs won't even talk to me about anything...can't go in for a test because some are neg..then some are pos...I don't get how it keeps changing!! This has been the hardest miscarriage ever for me.

You're right, I need to just wait and see in a few weeks. Just wish I hadn't even taken that frer...just added to my confusion, and made me lose hope that the hcg was going down or gone finally.

 

[Starlight288]

I had a loss close to the same gestation as you(14 weeks). I had a d&e though. It's only been a 1.5 six be my procedure and I took a hpt just yesterday and it was clearly positive. I think the further along you are the longer it takes. I can't imagine after 30 days you'd still have enough HCG to pick up that dark of a line. I agree with the person above give it another week or so then request Bloodwork. No reason it should still be high at that point. Good Luck let us know!

 

[Simplechick]

I'm trying to upload a pic of my recent tests. Unfortunately, my camera is super low quality, so if you see the lines, they are literally twice as dark in real life.

The top test was taken last night around 7pm, the bottom one was from today, third urine of the day (urine was pretty light colored from drinking a lot of water and coffee) taken around 1 pm.
The second (bottom) test looks seriously darker in person, but not darker than yesterday's test... The result came up within 30 seconds, and I took the pic before it was totally dry and before the time limit was up (maybe at 2 min mark)

Now, I know these tests are super sensitive...but I just can't help but think I have retained tissue. And any tests I take (except frer) with fmu come up negative or super ghosty lines, or lines that show up past time limits (so don't count) I'm becoming neurotic I think over this...but keep reading about molar pregnancies and cancer risks...so I'm just scared.

 

[Simplechick]

Ok, so here is last nights test on top, and this afternoons test fully dried twenty mins after taking it.

HOW can it be darker than yesterday's test????? And with more diluted urine with a shorter hold than yesterday???

Does leftover hcg come and go in waves??? Maybe my body is picking weird times to dump the leftovers???

I think I need to call my doctor or something.

 

[Starlight288]

Hmm definitely odd. I don't know how HCG leaves the body but I'd think maybe there is some tissue lest.

 

[BSelck24]

I am so sorry for your loss so far along! I know it can take a while for HCG to leave your body, especially from 14 weeks, but I would call your doctor because it is possible this could be a new pregnancy! Just call to check and make sure everything is ok!