Hi everyone. I had an ectopic in august 2016 (left tube removal) and am currently 5 weeks and 4 days pregnant.
I was admitted to hospital last Wednesday (at 4 weeks 5 days) after having back and abdominal pain. I had an ultrasound and transvagnial but nothing could be seen apart from ‘free fluid’. I had beta hcg taken and doctors said if they result comes back at over 1500, they should be able to see at least a sac on the scan. Mine came back at 1505 (how frustrating) so I was kept in for 2 nights so they could take another beta hcg. I was mentally preparing myself for bad news and was SO shocked that my next result was 3645, so the numbers had more than doubled.I also had a full blood count taken at the same time and my heamoglobin level actually went up, so it confirms I’m not bleeding internally and the fluid is likely to be from a burst cyst?!
The doctor advised against having another scan as he said not a lot would change it two days and that I should keep my 6 week scan appointment. I was sent home and told this is ‘probably’ a normal pregnancy (after them saying this is ‘more than likely an ectopic’). My scan is on Thursday.
I’ve had no bleeding and feel completely different to how I did with my ectopic last year (in fact I didn’t feel pregnant at all) in terms of symptoms.
All I’ve had pain wise is this back pain and cramps.
I am a very pessimistic person and always think the worst…everything is saying this is a normal pregnancy however I can just picture them on Thursday telling me they can’t see a sac. (By this point I think my levels should be in the 20,000s so they should definitely be seeing something)
Has anyone had a similar experience? Maybe with free fluid or hcg levels?
The doctor said there’s still a 15% chance of ectopic even if my numbers double, which doesn’t exactly reassure me. I’m petrified!!
Dear Ella13,
Whispered congratulations on your pregnancy,
After an ectopic pregnancy, finding we are pregnant again can be a mix of emotions and I can completely understand your feeling nervous. It is perfectly normal to feel scared after the ordeal you have endured. I also felt twinges and aches after my ectopic pregnancy, particularly when I next felt pregnant. My mind started racing and I was only really able to relax to some degree after my early scan. It is a nerve-wracking time and you have a friend here who understands how you are feeling.
In isolation, hCG tests only provide a part of the picture - declining levels indicate that a pregnancy has ended and will be miscarried. It can also possibly indicate an ectopic pregnancy that is “self-resolving”. Also hCG levels rising by less than 66% over 48 hours means it is likely (but not certain) that it is ectopic. If levels rise normally, they suggest the pregnancy is implanted in the uterus. You may see from this that hCG levels only indicate certain possibilities and are not in themselves a definitive guide. A positive identification of an implanted embryo on a scan is usually needed before a final diagnosis/certainty that the pregnancy has implanted in the uterus. This is possibly the reason why your doctors are waiting until your appointment to carry out scans and tests. Scans are routinely carried out at around six weeks with subsequent pregnancies after an ectopic. This is because there is a reasonable chance at six weeks of seeing an embryo around this six week mark.
It is very encouraging to hear that your hCG levels are rising. I am afraid it is not possible for me to draw firm conclusions from a single reading and also I am not medically qualified. I wish I could give you the comfort that you need but I am afraid it is not possible to say whether or not a pregnancy is ectopic from a stand-alone hCG reading.
Sending positive thoughts and much love,
Karen x
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