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1052300 tn?1262940306

Lab error or misccariage (positive HPT yet 3 HCG?)

Hello.

I have some weird test results going on here and was looking for some help. I am currently 5w6d preg.- as far as I know.

At 8 dpo I had a teeny bit of implantation bleeding- which is typical of me when PREG.

At 4w1d preg. I took a HPT and got positive (along with three other HPT- just to make sure.

Next day (4w2d preg.) I went to the dr. who did a urine test- came back negative. Also did a BLOOD test- Went home and did more HPT- all positive (these are the ones that detect 25 HCG.) Well- a few days later I find BLOOD came back at 75 HCG. (Dr.'s attribute the negative result to too much liquid intake?)

Three days later- had HCG done again. (4w5d)

Yesterday- 5w5d- my doctor tells me the HCG (at 4w5d) came back at 3! ?????  (3 means NOT PREGNANT) Says I could have miscarried (I have had 2 miscarriages in the last year) or lab error. Well- the lab was having a problem with dull needles and tubes that refused to fill- that they had to send back. Dr. sends me to lab for another HCG- which won't be back until MONDAY. (AND I usually HAVE TO GO IN TO the dorcor's office- as NO ONE will ever return my calls ... or I can wait until my next appt on Wednesday.)

On the way home from doctor (which I told the dr. I was doing)  ... I get two more HPT and they come back DARK postive immediately.

So if I am at 3 HCG- the HPT would show negative, right?

Should my doctor have done a urine PREG. test there or sent me for an ultrasound immediately? Is my doctor doing right by me? Has not done an internal exam.

What would make my HCG so low other than lab error- too much water again? Vansihing twin???? Still implanting? Ectopic?

I have no bleeding/cramps/etc. Breasts are still swollen/I am exhusted.

Thank you :)



29 Responses
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631676 tn?1333718203
Fantastic update. Labs can be tricky. I had a friend who had a CVS after 2 MCs, and then a week later they said they botched the test. So she had to do that risky procedure again -and wait another 2 weeks for results. But in the end the mistake ended up with a good result. She has a one year old now.
Helpful - 0
1052300 tn?1262940306
Went to the Dr. today. At least they'll remember my name now- haha.

Yes- I have my ultrasound paperwork. They were closed or I would have already scheduled it ... but not going until 3 weeks- but we should be able to see a lot then. AND I dont need to be seen by the dr. for another month. (10 weeks)
Helpful - 0
216278 tn?1308861082
OOOOHHH! I have goosebumps!  I was out all afternoon yesterday, but logged on as soon as I could this morning, just to check on you!!

Congratulations! I am so happy for you...and it's a wonderful number!!  Are they scheduling you for the u/s now???? If not, I agree with the others and it's time for a new doc on the scene ;)

Wishing you a HAPPY and HEALTHY nine months!!
Helpful - 0
377493 tn?1356502149
Whoooohoooooo!!!  Although I was pretty certain you were going to get good news, it so great to hear it confirmed!!!!!  I am so happy for you!  After all that, you DESERVE a nice, uneventful remainder of your pregnancy.  Congrats hon!!!!
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984847 tn?1253732146
YAAAAAAY!   Great news at last...I as sitting on the edge of my seat trying to check in whenever I could!  I'm sooooo happy it was good news. CONGRATS!!!!
Helpful - 0
1006003 tn?1256227415
Yaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!!!
Helpful - 0
958842 tn?1266512599
I KNEW IT!!!!!!!!  SoOoOoOoOoOo happy for you!  I'm telling you, listen to that little voice inside you, it is always right! ;)
& YEAH thats a GREAT number
Helpful - 0
1008869 tn?1283961257
YAY!! I KNEW IT!!!!

4000 is PERFECT for 5w5d!

So glad you persisted!!!  Phew! Love it!
Helpful - 0
212720 tn?1304375415
Yay! I have been following your posts. I am so sorry you had to go through such stress. Have a happy and healthy continued pregnancy. :)
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1052300 tn?1262940306
OK I AM BACK FROM THE OFFICE!!!!!

Thank goodness for the very nice receptionist who has witnessed my plight.

HCG is 4,000

LAB ERROR- all seems well.

Wow- is that high for 5w5days??

Thanks all soooooo much!!!! I just can NOT believe it. Makes me NOT want to do those HCGs anymore...nless they wanna do em in twos...
Helpful - 0
1008869 tn?1283961257
Wanting, its so heartbreaking to hear your story, but ending with lots of waiting, with such a positive wonderful blessing that you deserve!!

Slip-n-slide (god I loved playing that as a child!)...Your DR's reaction time is unaceptable. To have to go down there to the office and wait to get an answer is ...um...insane and intolerable! 3rd m/c and you are treated like this???!!! Give me their freakin number! Arrrgggggg!!!

6w.2d is just enough time to see at least a sac and pole. And 70% a heartbeat. I would demand an u/s

PS....SWITCH DR'S ASAP!

You will get great news today, I feel it...but this DR's office sux
Helpful - 0
984847 tn?1253732146
This is crazy! You have got to be a wreck...I'm so sorry you have to play the waiting game. I cant imagine (well, I guess most of us actually can :( ). I'm so nervous for you I keep checking every couple of min to see if you post...Would you go get the results from the Dr already I think we are all on pins and needles lol!  Good luck and happy results Hon...you deserve it. I'll be checking in on you.
Helpful - 0
1052300 tn?1262940306
Thanks so much for sharing. Sorry for your loss. The waiting- roller coaster is horrible- I would like an u/s but being 6w2d- I am not sure if it would show anything.

The worst is that this will be my 3rd mc in a yr- and my drs refuses to help you out until you go a month without passing it naturally. So being that I am getting up there in age- and feel like I cant leave the house- as I might have it happen while driving or something.

I called the office twice by now. I'll be going up shortly- they close at 5pm.
Helpful - 0
216278 tn?1308861082
In Dec. 2006, I went on my first month of Clomid. In January, I got a positive hpt (the kind that says pregnant), I called and scheduled the beta. I remember I went in for it on a Friday. It came back at 88. A great first number, they told me...congrats, they said!  So, I spent the weekend telling everyone I could think of! I was so excited.

On Monday, I went in for my second beta and they called me in the afternoon.  She said "are you sitting down? I'm so sorry. You aren't pregnant." I'll never forget those words for the rest of my life. I was crushed. I actually screamed "NO" in my office.  She said that my beta came back at 3 or 5 or something.  She told me that I had to come in the next day for another one to confirm that the number was at 0.  On my way home, I called them back and asked if I could take an hpt at home that night. She said, of course, but it will be negative and I'd still have to come back the next morning.

That day started what would be the worst month of my life and the biggest roller coaster I was ever on.

At home, I took the test and MUCH to my surprise, it said pregnant.  Being after hours, there was nothing that I could do with the information but be confused and excited again.  The next morning, I took another beta and it was like 200 (I have the numbers written down, but it's all in storage right now).  She said she doesn't know what happened...maybe the blood draw that had been negative had an air pocket or something, but I was pregnant.  However, the numbers weren't where they would have liked them to be with the doubling, etc.  Hurry up and wait and see....

So, the next beta, the numbers doubled and all looked well. The next beta they did not and this went on for about 1 week and a half.  Blood draws every other day. Holding my breath until the call in the afternoon.  It was awful. Not to mention, we were being hit by our 'blizzard' and so there would be days that the labs or RE's office would not open on time or close early! It was such an emotional time...happy and optimistic one day...depressed and sure it was over the next.

Finally, at about 8 weeks pregnant, the RE said to stop sticking me with needles and scheduled an u/s.  When we had it, there was nothing in the sac. I had a blighted ovum.  The worst part was that I was grieving for this child that I had thought I was carrying and all the hopes and dreams that you immediately have when you find out that you are pregnant yet I had a very clinical and logical side to me telling me it was NEVER a baby and so why the heck was I so upset?? (esp. the first time for me..I was still very naive about all the things that could go wrong in a pregnancy...I learned quickly, unfortunately)  

We chose to have a D&C that weekend as I knew that there was nothing there...I could see for myself and at 8 weeks, I knew that there should have been SOMETHING.

I know there are a number of women on MH and especially on the Fertility Forum who have had slow doubling numbers, lab errors and doctors who have downright told them to have the D&C because there 'was nothing there' ... only to go on to have healthy and happy pregnancies and babies.

For me, that wasn't the case.  After this miscarriage, I spent over 3 years ttc and finally got my BFP this past June! :)

I truly and sincerely hope that this all works out for you and that the beta numbers look good and double!

It's just that your story sounded so much like mine, I couldn't help but share mine.  Thank you for taking the time to read it!
Helpful - 0
1052300 tn?1262940306
Oh- I wanna hear- please tell me. I've already prepared myself for the worst- which is for the best. Please tell ...
Helpful - 0
216278 tn?1308861082
I've debated since yesterday about whether to post or not, because I never know whether to share not-so-good outcomes of my situations or not...so I'll leave it up to you ;)

Would you like to hear my story of a similar situation and how it resolved itself? It was not a positive outcome.

(I DO very VERY much hope for a wonderful, healthy and happy pregnancy for you!!!)
Helpful - 0
377493 tn?1356502149
Oh wow, not getting them to call me back would make me crazy!!  They need to understand this is a big issue for you and this is highly unfair.  I am going to check in as often as I can today looking for those results.  I truly believe it's good news though!!  Good luck.
Helpful - 0
1052300 tn?1262940306
I had another Beta done on Thursday the 24th.

It is definitely positive.

From what I have read HCG hits your blood FIRST- then your kidneys filter your blood and then it shows in your urine- sometimes on a diluted scale- which happened to me. So it seems to always be greater concentrated in your blood. When HCG lLEAVES your system it then is last to leave the urine- but I doubt 10 days later- unless I have acute kidney failure ...probably just 2 days at max ...

I just called the office for the doctor or nurse to call me back with the results- as I know they are in. BUT they have a real problem with returning calls- and so I ahve had to GO to the office wait until they give me the results.

Will post when/if I hear something ... :)

Helpful - 0
1008869 tn?1283961257
that is a major major positive...something is very very strange
Helpful - 0
958842 tn?1266512599
That is CRAZY!  When do you go in for another beta?  The lab HAD to be wrong!
Helpful - 0
1052300 tn?1262940306

Yes, the bottom pic is from today- and I swear the test line is DARKER than the control line.

Thanks everyone so much!

Keep ya posted ...
Helpful - 0
1006003 tn?1256227415
You're not crazy - THIS is crazy!

Obviously there's an error somewhere. No doubt about that. Keep us posted!

Best wishes,
~Wendy
Helpful - 0
958842 tn?1266512599
Yeah, no way would your 2nd line EVEN be as dark as the top test done!!!!  All 4 tests are for sure +'s! I think there was a lab error.
Poor thing ;(

Helpful - 0
377493 tn?1356502149
I just checked out your pics. Did I read it correctly and that bottom one is today?  There is no possible way your HCG levels were 3 10 days ago and you got a positive today.  There had to be a mistake.  You would most definately be showing a negative result today if that was the case.  You would be at 0 by now, and I would say almost definately bleeding.  I have never heard of a situation where there has been a chemical pregnancy without bleeding.  I've had 3 myself.  I would bet on the fact that you get good results tomorrow.  It is so upsetting you have to go through this, but I am convinced you are going to have a decent number tomorrow.  Hang in there hon, I know this is hell, but I am sure it's going to be ok.
Helpful - 0
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