My Gosh the local clinic kept me waiting a long time to get these! Usually they call around 1pm...It's 5pm now...I figured for sure it was because they didn't want to have to make such a depressing call...
But anyway...
Beta HCG = 12,362
Progesterone = 70.7
Estrogen = 1,185
So, I think we are still in the running. Beta is slowing, but still going up. And I think at this point, the going up is what matters the most (I believe it typically slows by this point). Let me know if I'm right about that.
Ultrasound is set for Friday morning (gulp). There better be a yolk sac there!
So, you'd never guess it, but even always-expecting-bad-news Mo is a little bit, just a little bit reassured.
Friday and then next week's ultrasounds will be the big tests.
But this is all I could hope for for now.
Big exhale over here.
Thanks for your thoughts and support.
Mo
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Woohoo--great news!!!
ReplyDeleteYippee!! So glad to read this. The 70 is quite the jump! A great think ...and explains the oh so quiet uterus. Stay in bed and bathe in the reassurance!
ReplyDeleteYes!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, beta definitely slows by this point...and you're still nearly doubling.
There will be a yolk. There will be a yolk. There will be a yolk.
Two more sleeps, as we say around here, and you'll see.
Thanks for the update. I've been anxious all day for this!!! Hugs.
OMG, I could not have been on pins and needles more if it had been for myself! YIPPEE! Things are looking great, Mo! And, u/s is a less than 48 hrs away. You can do it...hold on until then.
ReplyDeleteI bookmarked this site a long time ago, it was the only P4 during pregnancy graph I'd ever seen:
http://repro-med.net/repro-med-site2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25&Itemid=12
And, as far as beta levels go, this shows a GUIDELINE for early pregnancy:
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/duringpregnancy/hcglevels.html
So glad you are feeling more optimistic and I hope that remembering this, this feeling nothing yet being decidedly pregnant, is helpful in the future.
Wonderful! Thought with that high a progesterone you may want to up your fiber intake... just saying :) Best of luck friday.
ReplyDeleteYES!!! I have been refreshing your page over here like crazy! Those are gorgeous numbers! Love seeing that progesterone so high!!
ReplyDeleteYes, your beta absolutely should be slowing down by now, no worries there.
*big hugs* So happy for you!
Yay so happy to see this, thought the silence was a bad sign for sure, but no just a busy day at the clinic I guess - phew! And progesterone = 70 wow, looks like the extra supplements are working then. One step at a time...
ReplyDeleteLIKE!!!
ReplyDeleteWith a beta like that, I'll eat my shoe if there isn't a heart beat!
ACK!
Can NOT wait for friday!!!
I am so glad the phlebotomist disregarded your wishes and ordered that BETA! Yay!
ReplyDeleteI cannot wait till Friday :)
SO relieved. SO SO SO relieved. And those numbers look fantastic. Utterly perfect, actually. So stop obsessing over symptoms, (or any lack thereof) ok? For the next 48 hours just (if you can, & I KNOW how hard a thing that is to do, & how easy it is to SAY). Thinking of you, and so very happy for you tonight. You still have hurdles left to go, but you hopped over this one quite nicely.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you got good news!
ReplyDeletewow! now *there's* a p4 number! good job!
ReplyDeletebeta looks strong too- no idea about when the doubling stage tapers off. but that is a nice beta, no doubt about that.
phew.
so, yes, i would hope that you see a yolk sac, or at the very least, a better u/s experience than you had with your RI. high res., lots of close-ups, correct measurements, no questions left unanswered.
rest well tonight, mo, and thank you for sharing the numbers here!
That's great news! So happy to hear it. One hurdle at a time. You are doing great!
ReplyDeleteMo, OMG, talk about a hormonal barrage, of absolutely the best sort! Things look awesome, on this front.
ReplyDeleteOn other fronts, I was going to chime in with your earlier post-- I would definitely get a second opinion as to the directives that your reproductive immunologist gave. When you first posted the list of immune suppressive initiatives being taken (the IVIG, the steroids, even the vitamin D, which has a role of both suppressing some the inflammatory pathways, and at the same time, regulating the immune system), I'd already thought that was going to be more than enough. I'm amazed that he is now making you do more, when there is clearly (based on all your tests so far) no call for it. The only issue you had had is low progesterone, and that cannot be an autoimmune problem.
Pregnancy is already a time of local immune-supression. On top of that, you are providing some degree of systemic immune-suppression with the steroids, when it does not appear to be needed. You are already falling sick, plus you work in a hospital right? His advice is like asking for trouble. While a low grade fever is not going to harm your baby, getting multiple full blown infections would definitely not be a good thing during pregnancy.
Plus, I would definitely follow up on Rebecca's question- is there really a call for lovenox? The 3 things that indicate it are a positive lupus anti-coagulant test, anti-phospholipid antibodies or a MTHFR mutation/high homocysteine levels. If you have none of these things, I'd be hesitant about taking blood thinners. Increasing the dose would make me even more nervous. Many docs are understandably nervous about prescribing it, because if you don't need it, taking it can itself cause issues. All in all,I think you should get multiple second opinions on all of this.
All of this aside, you have, from all accounts, a pretty good chance with this one...it makes me so happy to say that!! I hope today's news is going to buy you a lot of peace till the ultrasound happens.
Super duper FANTASTIC!!!!! At my first u/s at 5w4d, we couldn't see a yolk sac yet either....but all is well at 14 wks. Hoping for good news on Friday for you!
ReplyDeleteanonymous - thank you - that is helpful to hear!
ReplyDeleteMo
YEAH!!! This is such wonderful news!!!! And wow is that progesterone working or what!
ReplyDeleteYES! Now those are awesome #s all around. Thank you for posting this update. I've been obsessively reloading your blog. ;-) Hoping you can continue to feel reassured until your Fri. appointment.
ReplyDeleteYou know, we are all waiting to exhale right along with you. Finally I can breathe! That is a number that kicks some serious a**!
ReplyDeleteSome serious fist pumping over here in the great white north. And yes, once you get into the thousands, that beta stops doubling...but man, your number is pretty excellent!
Just because YOU don't feel anything, doesn't mean bad things are happening. And how 'bout that progesterone???
Am thinking theres more than one in there...
Hello from the great white north...!
Your numbers look great! Your progesterone is definitely no longer an issue! You must be so sleepy having it in the 70's! I'm crossing all things for you for your Friday ultrasound. Try to take it easy and get over this cold. I'm glad Moxie is being a good snuggle companion through all this :) Hang in there Mo!
ReplyDeleteSqueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to pipe in, after Jay, on the other side of the lovenox fence. According to my hematologist, there wasn't a real need for me to be on lovenox (my APA results were, apparently, questionable, and I'm heterozygous for MTHFR) but she also respected my RE's decision to put me on it, and my OB's to keep me on it, as lovenox at a prophylactic level does NOT carry the same kinds of risks as regular heparin, which needs to be monitored very closely. That's not to say there's no risk, just that there's not a huge one (bone loss is the biggest, beyond bleeding). My RE tested my platelets a couple times, and that was that. I don't know if I needed it, but I have two kids from the two pregnancies when I used lovenox; I miscarried on cycles when I didn't. Maybe that's a coincidence, but maybe not...
ReplyDeleteOf course, 3 months postpartum, I've still got the bruises on my abdomen...
Yay!!! Yep, it slows after 6k I think. IIRC, the doubling time at that point can be 96 hours. We didn't see a yolk at 5w5d, but there was a HB a week later. I think you are on track for good news Friday. I'm so excited for you!
ReplyDeleteBIG smile here!
ReplyDeleteReally happy to read this post! Wow, your progesterone really shot up! Yeah, I think the hCG stops doubling, so it's not a reliable thing to look at anymore. But the good news is that it hasn't dropped. Sending Big prayers your way for Friday.
ReplyDeleteAwesome numbers!!!! So excited and hopeful for you!!!!
ReplyDeleteMy progesterone was 6 at one point in the very beginning, I was on suppositories only though. My immunology clinic freaked out. But CCRM said it was fine I ended up switching to PIO and the numbers went way up. Can't wait to hear your good news on Friday!!!!
This is freaking awesome news!!!!xoxo
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to chime-in on the Lovenox debate...
ReplyDeleteMy hemotologist put me on Lovenox during both of my successful pregnancies and I "only" have Factor V Leiden (hetero) with NO family history of clots. It's never wrong to question why something is being prescribed, but I think (from the research I've studied and discussed with hemo) it's a pretty safe part of recurrent pregnancy loss treatment.
SO, SO HAPPY (huge, goofy grin on my face!) for your good lab results. Will be waiting on pins and needles for Friday's update. :)
Mel
P.S. Thank you SO much, Mo, for your thoughtful comments on our post about our dog, Duke. *hugs*
Yup - betas do slow - see my own post from 2 years ago worrying about that very thing: http://silverhopeforthebest.blogspot.com/2010/05/times-ten.html
ReplyDeleteI'm with Jay on the immune-suppressants - I wouldn't be going overboard when infection or high fever might be a greater risk to the pregnancy. On heparin, I was given it for Factor V Leiden but was only on 40mg - if you have no clotting issues, I'd be concerned about going higher than that. Are they checking your INR levels to assess your clotting?
Sorry - meant to say . . . WOOHOO to the fabulous hormone levels!
ReplyDeleteFantastic numbers! I'm so pleased for you!
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed for your ultrasound. I believe I commented on my experience with ultrasounds around the six week mark, having two four days apart. I doubt you'll be able to see a heartbeat, but I really hope you get to hear one. We could hear it at six weeks, one day (through the transvaginal probe), and it was just the best sound in the world.
I do think a yolk sac would be a definite. Hoping for you!
Like everyone else, I am rooting for you and the little bean. I am glad the progesterone is up -- let's keep it that way!
ReplyDeleteSending tons of love and hugs and sticky vibes your way. We are having hope FOR you, even if you can't have it yourself.
Much love,
Jo
Holy smokes! It looks like the progesterone is working for you :). Glad to hear that you are slightly reassured. Still pulling for you and the baby!
ReplyDeleteI am SOOOOOO happy to see this post!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, up is good. Doubling slows down at this point!!! Your numbers are GREAT!
YAAAAAY! The numbers look fantastic, and your HCG should absolutely be slowing. I read that it starts to slow after 6,000 and you are well above that. And your progesterone is so nice and high now! I really think it was just a little dip that happens with so many people. I am super excited for your u/s, I'm sure it's insanely nerve-wracking but I really believe you are going to get through those just beautifully. Big sigh of relief over here and SO glad you are feeling a tiny bit reassured!
ReplyDeleteBig smiles in Cincinnati! :)
ReplyDeleteYAY!! Been checking back all day and delighted to see this news. GO Mo! Peace vibes coming your way.
ReplyDeleteGo go go!
ReplyDeleteYay!!!
ReplyDeleteLook at that P4...I told you you caught it early!!! Praying for a great ultrasound on Friday!!
ReplyDeletePHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteNot for the faint of heart, this.
Geez.
Wonderful news, Mo! I've been a bit worried with the slow update. I couldn't wait to check your blog after I got home from dinner tonight. So far, so very, very good!
ReplyDeleteHooray! So happy to hear this news:)
ReplyDeleteIt all sounds great! Betas do slow. The U/S is what counts now. Hope you get great news on Friday!
ReplyDeleteSo happy to read the good news in your post. Continuing to send lots of prayers! (and yes, they slow as they get higher)
ReplyDeleteAwesome News!!! I think after 10,000 Beta starts to slow down:)
ReplyDeleteSo very glad to hear this great news, will continue to pray, cross fingers, hold thumbs, light candles and hold you and Will up to the light. As Kate said, this is *not* for the faint of heart. So try to rest easy and know that we're all rooting as hard as we can for you out in the bloggosphere!
ReplyDeleteAwesomeness!!! Holding you three in my heart and hoping for a beautiful ultrasound!
ReplyDeleteYea!!!! Great numbers!!! And yes, the beta doubling time definitely slows down. It sounds like yours still has a very nice rise going on though - I don't think you have anything to be concerned about in that area.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping that Friday brings more great news for you and Will...
OMG, that is truly FABULOUS news. Great numbers...great doubling times...makes me wonder if there is more than one.
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely write that doubling times slow down substantially by this point.
Smiling my arse off over here!
ReplyDeleteSo happy for you Mo, your progesterone jumped back into line pretty quickly didn't it!! yay!! xxx
great news mo!!!! i'm prepared to bet big money that on friday the twin will be making an appearance too!!!
ReplyDeleteGood news! IMO, being sick is an indication that your immune system is down, which will let the baby take hold (not get rejected by your body's defenses). I was very sick w/ bronchitis when I got successful on an IVF - was actually vomiting on the transfer table if you can imagine...
ReplyDeleteOne word of caution: take extra folic acid if possible right now b/c meds. may block absorption. My baby had a birth defect (tethered spinal cord, related to spina bifida for which he had to have surgery), which MAY have been caused by folic acid malabsorption. Just warning you about this b/c I'm like you and want to cover all the bases.
Hope all goes smoothly for you from now on!
What wonderful numbers, I just checked back to my beta my wonderful OB did weekly betas to keep me calm, my 28 dpo was 6300 and 35 dpo was 22200 way lower than other. My first scan was 5w6d with that pregnancy and I saw a beautiful heartbeat. My little bean is now nearly 4 1/2. I feel sure that you will have wonderful news on Friday, I really think this is it for you.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the lovenox goes, I don't think there's much evidence for anything other than low/ prophylactic dose.
Looking forward to good news on Friday.
Happy for your reassurance. Hoping/praying for the continued good news tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteGreat news Mo! I agree - your beta won't double after a certain point. LOOK AT THAT PROGESTERONE NUMBER!!! YAHOO!!! Can't wait for tomorrow's u/s. Finges crossed!
ReplyDeleteHooray! That number popped right up! Anything above 10,000 HCG and you may see a heartbeat so I'm betting not only yolk sack but the beautiful flicker of a tiny heart. I'll be saying prayers for calmness and peace between now and your appt.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, what great news!!! Your numbers all look amazing and your beta is still nearly doubling, although you're right, it's normal to slow down. Mine slowed down so much more than yours has, and everything turned out to be fine.
ReplyDeleteAs far as your lack of symptoms..... let me just tell you that for the majority of my pregnancy I didn't "feel" pregnant. I felt 100% normal most of the time - no symptoms whatsoever, especially in the first trimester. It's really crazy to feel so normal but have so much going on inside. You always think that when you're pregnant, you'll feel so different, but that's really not the case! Congrats - I'm keeping everything crossed that tomorrow's ultrasound looks just as good as your numbers!!
I tend to lurk but wanted to comment that I too am pulling for you and checking for your updates constantly!
ReplyDeleteGreat news! Thinking of you as always, especially tomorrow when you go in for you u/s. These early days are brutal! I still am traumatized by them.
ReplyDeletexx
Ocgal
Yay...so happy to hear this. I remain optimistic for you.
ReplyDeletekd
So happy for your good news!
ReplyDeleteWahoo! All fingers and toes crossed. :)
ReplyDeleteSQUEEEEEE!!!!! Awesome numbers! So excited for you!
ReplyDeleteYay yay yay! Looking forward to more good updates.
ReplyDeleteI am so, so glad!! Can't wait to hear about tomorrow's u/s!!
ReplyDeleteSo glad the numbers are good.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, beta's start slowing after about 2,000, so as long as it's climbing it's good.