PREGNANCY-BIRTH Messages for June, 2001: Re: High hcg, no heartbeat at 6 wks -- scared!

Re: High hcg, no heartbeat at 6 wks -- scared!

From: William F. von Almen, II, MD, FACOG (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sat, 30 Jun 2001 19:10:34 -0500 (CDT)

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In reply to: first: "High hcg, no heartbeat at 6 wks -- scared!"

At Sat, 30 Jun 2001, first wrote: >
>I had my first ultrasound (both abdominal and transvaginal) this
>morning. I am exactly six weeks today. The ultrasound tech warned me
>that we might not see anything becuase it was so early, and she did see
>a sac with something inside. She also marked on the sheet that it was
>"pulsating." However, when I saw the doctor a few minutes later, he said
>it was very troubling that we hadn't seen a heartbeat, and basically
>said he thought the embryo was dead. He then sent me for an hcg today.
>Here are the numbers I have: On Wednesday (evening) the hcg level was
>17,550. Today (Sat am) it was 29,209. When I talked to the doctor
>again, he now says that because the number went up substantially he has
>gone from being "very pessimistic" to "very hopeful" and doesn't see the
>need for any more tests until next week, when we can do another
>ultrasound. OK. Here are my questions. Given those numbers, why
>wouldn't I have seen a heartbeat today? What are the chances that it
>will be there when we check a week from now? Should my hcg have doubled
>between Wed and today (is it a bad sign it didn't?) And should I (for my
>own piece of mind) insist on another hcg test to make sure it's still
>going up and wasn't still high today only because it just stopped
>growing? Sorry so long, but I'm very scared and want to give as much
>info as possible. Thanks!

First

First off, we treat patients, not numbers! I agree, it is not great that the hcg did not double, and it would have been great to have seen the heartbeat. I think I would ask for another hcg on mon, see what it does and then sit tight for the ultrasound. It should show something, and if not, that will be bad news.

--
William F. von Almen, II, MD, FACOG
Editorial Advisor-Pregnancy and Birth
Private Practice
New Orleans, La.

*Please understand I can not respond to private emails.

*These comments are for educational purposes only.  They are
not meant to take the place of an examination by a qualified
health care provider.  They are not intended to be the start
of a physician-patient relationship.

Next message: Claudia Twisdale RN: "Re: My son has arrived"
Previous message: William F. von Almen, II, MD, FACOG: "Re: Gastrochisis pregnancy"
In reply to: first: "High hcg, no heartbeat at 6 wks -- scared!"

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