Low HCG levels
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Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11222
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Topic: Low HCG levels
Posted By: KiwiL
Subject: Low HCG levels
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 6:16pm
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Hi all,
Some of the ladies here will already know I am a bit stressed out by my pregnancy. I don't mean to be a pain driving anyone silly, but would love to hear others' experiences. I had my bloods taken yesterday, at 18dpo. My doctor is away so the receptionist gave me the results over the phone. She was really quiet for a bit, and then finally said that my levels were at 182. My doctor is away til next week, so I don't really have anyone to talk to. That's low isn't it? I am really scared because I had a miscarriage over a year ago and it has taken this long to get our next BFP (we had all sorts of complications). I just don't know how I could bear going through all that again and am already worried that maybe my body just doesn't like being pregnant. I am getting another test on Friday, but in the mean time I am worried, worried, worried. Has anyone else with low HCG gone on to have a successful pregnancy? Thanks, :o) |
Replies:
Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 6:20pm
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I wouldnt worry at this stage, anything over 5 is pregnant! With kobe my levels were really low at the start so i had to have them taken every few days for a couple of weeks till my doctor was happy with them. I think this sort of info can cause so much worry for no reason, a lot of doctors dont even do the hcg levels its just that they are done in the first antenatal bloods.
Dont stress you will be sweet! |
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 6:21pm
No advise sorry, but big, big  to you.
Sending lots of positive vibes your way xx ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: Brenna
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 7:44pm
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My first blood test came back with HCG levels at 50 and I was about 18dpo. At the time, I didn't even know what HCG was or what it meant so I didn't think anything of it and my pregnancy went without a problem (apart from ms)
Try not to worry too much (probably easier said than done)
-------------  My beautiful 2 girls...nearly 4 and 13 months
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Posted By: Kels
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 8:01pm
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I had low levels (under 100) with Alize too and I had no idea until my MW rang and said she just wanted me to have a bloodtest every 2nd day till she was happy the level was rising. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs |
Posted By: Mama2two
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 9:12pm
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Yup, us too. Really low levels under 100 for us and we were told to prepare for a miscarriage. The levels were definitley going up but were never at the level that the 'books' say they should be. I have a healthy baby which proves not everybody is going to fit into that certain mould with their pregnancy.
Keep your chin up Laurie, I'm sure everything will be just fine  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 9:52pm
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Thanks for your comments ladies... this is exactly what I need to keep my hopes up. Last night I thought I would go crazy with stress and worry - this is a much better feeling.
If you have a good news story, keep em coming and hopefully one day I'll be able to do the same! |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 9:53pm
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dont worry the receptionist was prob quiet cause she doesnt understand the test results.
this site http://www.dml.co.nz/hbook/5a7b0ab.htm - here has some good info re hcg levels that you may find helpful. |
Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 10:39pm
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I have never been told any of my HCG levels, my Dr and midwife never even mentioned to me that it was something that could get checked out. I just looked on my first blood test form too and there are no HCG levels anywhere!
Try not to worry, it sounds like your levels are pretty normal, and even if they weren't, everybody is different and experiences pregnancy in different ways. I'm sort of glad that no one ever mentioned HCG levels to me, sounds like one more thing to worry about 
Good luck hugs for u ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 11:00am
| Thanks for your replies ladies. They certainly help me keep positive! |
Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 12:58pm
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Grrr. I am really angry.
My nurse called me today to give me my blood test results, two days after the receptionist gave them to me. She told me the HCG was at 37. That's way too low for how far along I should be. She has no idea where the receptionist got 182 from. How can people make such errors? I am really upset and frustrated at the moment. 
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Posted By: yummymummy
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 1:15pm
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Big hugs Laurie
Fingers crossed for your test tomorrow. How soon would you be able to get the results? ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Peace
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 1:22pm
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First of all let me say that bloods for 18 DPO will be subject to so many different things.
1)Ovulation. Whether you are charting or using pee sticks there is no damn sure fire way (with them) to say ovulation was exact and on time (unless you had BT's and a scan). So for instance you could have ovulated a little late. 2)Fertilization and implantation. These both occur at their own speeds. You could have had late fertilization and late implantation. 3)HCG levels can be relative to sex and genetics. I have read in my wanderings about the internet that girls HCG levels can tend to be on the slightly lower side and boys are more likely to sky rocket. So it could be that you are about 3 days ahead of yourself which could mean that your bloods could be at around 50 or less depending on sex and genetics. Which puts you well within the normal range of HCG levels. And as for personal experience, Olivia never went over 77,000 for HCG levels. All the best Laurie, I really hope this works out for you!!  ------------- DD1 May 2006 DD2 March 2011 DD3 August 2012 |
Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 3:08pm
Thanks Peace. I am not terribly optimistic but will of course cling to what little hope there is until it's confirmed otherwise. Who knows, I could just be an oddball!! 
Anyway, I went to medlab and redid the test today, cos I couldn't bear being at work anymore. I asked for a copy of my results and it is clear as day it is 37. There is no 182 anywhere at all, so I can only assume that I was read someone else's results. So, that doesn't impress me, but nor does it impress me that the nurse took two days to call me back! I asked for a call on Tuesday, and she didn't know that the receptionist gave me "my results" that day. I have an appointment with my doctor (who normally is absolutely brilliant) on Monday, which is when he gets back from leave. I'll be letting him know I am not very happy with the staff. Now, all this brings me back to the sharp pains I have on my left hand side. The nurse said if my levels are still going up, but too slowly, I need to be checked out for an ectopic. All this would be much easier to deal with if there wasn't all the mucking around afterward. Trying to keep positive, but feeling very drained at the moment. :o( |
Posted By: Kazzle
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 3:32pm
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awww laurie, what a tough time you are having, just wanted you to know that im thinking of you and sending you lots of hugs. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 3:35pm
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BIg hugs Laurie! But there is great truth in what Peace posted, hCG levels vary hugely, and have to start out low in order to get higher, it's possible your wee bean implanted later rather than sooner. The important thing is to see how they rise, if they are doubling every 48 hours thats considered normal. Bear in mind too that it's also possible to have completely normal hCG levels and still miscarry, hCG is such a random thing and there is such variation between what is normal.
Hang in there, I will have my fingers crossed for a good result from todays blood. I also had sharp one sided pain with the gremlins and had a scan at 5w5d to rule out an ectopic, turned out it was just a corpeous luteal cyst on that side causing the pain. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: yummymummy
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 5:37pm
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I had a pain on the right side and had a scan too to rule out an ectopic. Mine too turned out to be a cyst - probably the same one as Emma's but I don't remember the name. And I've still got pain on the right ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 8:29pm
| Yeah, I have had a lot of cysts, so I wouldn't be surprised if that's what it is. I guess time will tell! |
Posted By: shelleybean
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 9:47pm
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Owwww Laurie, We do hope that you are resting up all this stress wont be helping you and baby. Keep your chin up, and look forward to hearing all your positive update's ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 05 October 2007 at 1:28pm
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Hey,
I just called for my results and spoke to a different nurse, who was so lovely. We talked for about 10 minutes and she was really kind. So, my levels have increased to 69. Doesn't really make any sense. Jill ran them by the other doc who wants me to test again in a week to see what is happening. In the meantime, if I get any severe pain over the weekend I am to go to hospital straight away. They say ectopic is unlikely, as usually symptoms present very quickly, but better to be safe than sorry of course. I asked her again about the 182. The receptionist they had was a locum, and they said they wouldn't be using her again she was so bad. Anyway, it turns out she just read me some random result from my Day 22 bloods. Stupid girl, but at least I know where that came from. The levels increasing are very odd. But I am not overly concerned as after my last MC my levels increased for a few days after the ultrasound, so I could just be an oddball! I honestly felt with everything in me today that they were going to be slightly, but not significantly higher. The nurse said she hadn't seen anything like this before. I hate all the mucking around!! It wouldn't be nearly so bad if I didn't have to keep waiting, waiting, waiting. |
Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 05 October 2007 at 7:50pm
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Jess, it was about 56 hours actually. From Tuesday morning till Thursday late afternoon.
It would be good, but I am 100% sure of my dates. I know when ovulation was, because of OPKs and charting. I could have been a day out, but DH and I had not BD'd since the conception time due to him having hurt his back. I am quite perplexed by it all! Just hoping that it is not ectopic. Have read heaps on the web, and signs/symptoms often don't present till week 7!! |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 05 October 2007 at 8:11pm
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You could always rock up to the hospital and tell them you are having pains on one side and suspect ectopic, they will do an emergency scan to rule it out. Even if it's too early to see bubs they will be able to rule out anything abnormal with your ovaries/tubes. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 05 October 2007 at 10:02pm
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Thanks Maya... not a bad idea! This is very confusing for me... still trying to get my head around what it could all mean.
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 06 October 2007 at 7:30pm
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LOL, believe me I remember all too vividly! I went to the hospital and made them give me a scan coz I was so anxious, and now I look back and think, "what an idiot, you only had to wait another week till the dating scan". The things we do! ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 07 October 2007 at 11:59am
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Thanks. I am not really worried, I haven't had any pain this weekend at all, so am just going to wait to see what my doctor says tomorrow. I trust him and know he'll have some good advice.
In the meantime, anything even remotely resembling a preggie symptom has disappeared. I honestly feel 110% normal!! |
Posted By: KateW
Date Posted: 07 October 2007 at 12:11pm
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Hope everything goes well for you! ------------- ~Our miracle IVF babies~ http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: Sarah Beth
Date Posted: 07 October 2007 at 1:46pm
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given your concerns Laurie, perhaps you doctor can send you for a scan. I know mine did as I had had a miscarriage before, so just wanted to send me off to check all was ok, and from 6 weeks you can often see a little heart beat which really puts your mind at ease! ------------- "> 
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Posted By: noodle
Date Posted: 07 October 2007 at 2:48pm
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Laurie i hope all is ok, good luck at the doc tomorrow! Thinking of you hun! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 07 October 2007 at 8:07pm
| Thanks Noodle. I'll let everyone know how I get on. |
Posted By: emachan
Date Posted: 07 October 2007 at 11:36pm
Laurie - I hope that you have some positive and happy results tomorrow! Of course you will!!!!!!!!  ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  DD#1 Sept 08 DD#2 Oct 09 |
Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 08 October 2007 at 1:14pm
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Hello all,
Feeling a bit cheerier today. Saw my doc this morning, who was super nice as normal. He sent me for another blood test which has come back at.... ....303 Very interesting! Far more positive than I was last week. We are both still very perplexed as should still be higher for my dates, especially since I am so sure of ovulation and conception etc, but they are growing exactly as the should be and he said at the moment to treat it as a normal pregnancy. He said just keep an eye out for pain or bleeding and contact him if necessary. So, I am very excited, but super nervous too as I really don't want to have extreme disappointment if it all goes the other way again. What an emotional roller coaster!! |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 08 October 2007 at 1:33pm
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Yay Laurie! Will you have a scan? ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 08 October 2007 at 1:39pm
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thats still positive news though. so with those results what edd are they giving you?
Hope you get to go for a scan |
Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 08 October 2007 at 2:11pm
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They're going to take a wait-and-see approach for the next couple of weeks. Doctor said that ectopic doesn't really become a concern until levels reach 1000 and/or if I get any pain or bleeding of course. Gonna have another blood test in a week and then see my doctor in two weeks. I will ask for a scan at that stage to see what is going on if nothing else has happened between now and then.
Having said that... my dates CAN'T be wrong. I'm adamant about that, given when DH and I BD'd. |
Posted By: BaAsKa
Date Posted: 08 October 2007 at 7:12pm
i was so adament of my dates with Astin - i knew right down to the time!! of when we BD'd, implanted etc!!! but all throughout my pregnant the scan etc were so certain that i was actually 2-3 weeks ahead!!!!!
SO these things tend to vary quite a bit. Its all sounded very promising for you though .
I had bloods at 10DPO - 24, then 12DPO - 89 then at 14DPO - 210!! and i have very healthy bubs to show for it
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Posted By: KiwiL
Date Posted: 08 October 2007 at 7:56pm
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Thanks Amber. My results are quite a bit lower... 37 at 18dpo, 69 at 20dpo and 303 at 24dpo.
BUT at the moment, they are growing at a good rate, so I am just going to cross my fingers and hope like hell everything does what it should! |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 08 October 2007 at 8:14pm
Laurie, that is normal for me. I don't get morning sickness, only fatigue and 'heavy' bladder and nausea that comes and goes. But up until 8 weeks or so I don't know any different from being not pg. ------------- |
Laurie wrote:Posted By: Two Blondinis
Date Posted: 09 October 2007 at 9:22am
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I didn't get any symptoms of being pregnant except for the expanding waistline and a bit of heart burn towards the end, I was very lucky! Here's hoping you'll have a symptom free pregnancy too ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
 
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Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 09 October 2007 at 10:06am
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Thanks, I was worried about the lack of symptoms, but then this morning I woke up at 5am feeling quite sick, so I think thats a bit of ms kicking in ------------- |