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Saturday, Jan. 05, 2002 - 8:04 p.m. - Please Keep Crossing Those Fingers
This morning I went in for another blood test to check my hCG levels at 9:00 am. Despite the fact that we had company over at our house until after midnight and I didn’t get to bed until after 1:00 am, I still woke up at around 6:00 am and couldn’t go back to sleep after a night a tossing and turning again. So anyway, it was easy to get up, shower and eat something before heading to the Dr’s office. Once again, although my blood test was at 9:00 am and I was out of the office by 9:15 am, I didn’t get the call from the Dr’s office until around 1:30 pm. The good news is that my hCG level has increased significantly. The iffy news is that it didn’t double, but only increased 77%. (It was 320 on Thursday and today it was 570.) Unfortunately the new nurse at the office isn’t particularly friendly and didn’t reassure me that the number was fine adequately. When I asked if the fact it didn’t double was a problem, she never really answered, but simply told me that the Dr wanted me to go ahead and make an appointment for an ultrasound next week. I asked if there a was a certain day I should make it for (thinking like the blood tests I would have to wait X number of days or something), but she said it didn’t matter. Somehow I find that hard to believe, since if I came in on Monday I doubt they’d be able to see anything yet since the hCG level would still be a bit low even if it didn’t double. (I believe the hCG level has to be around 1300 in order to even see anything on an ultrasound.) After I hung up with her (she was rather curt and didn’t exactly encourage further questions), I was a little panicked. This wasn’t the news I was hoping for. I was hoping for a nice number right around 620 or so (at least). I started checking out the internet for information on hCG numbers and did find some encouraging words that stated “Obviously there is a very wide scope of "normal" amounts of hCG. For this reason, Beta hCG tests are most useful when they are done in repetition. A pregnant woman's Beta hCG level should double every 2 or 3 days for the first few months of pregnancy. Therefore if a repeat hCG test shows a rise, it indicates a normal healthy pregnancy, whereas any hCG level that fails to increase significantly in 2 or 3 days indicates trouble in the pregnancy.” I guess the key words here being first of all that it can take 2 – 3 days for the hCG level to double and as long as “a repeat hCG test shows a rise, it indicates a normal healthy pregnancy.” Although my hCG didn’t double in 2 days (just shy of 48 hours), it did rise significantly, so I guess I shouldn’t be panicking. But I wish I would have had a higher number so I wouldn’t have this niggling doubt and concern right now. I also decided to try and schedule my next ultrasound about mid-week next week. I doubt I’ll be far enough along to see a heartbeat (I realized I was wrong on my estimate yesterday, I’m only at the end of the 4th week or at the very beginning of the 5th week today), but perhaps they’ll be able to see a yolk sack and make sure I’m where I should be for 5 weeks then. I assume that they’ll have me come back in a week later for another ultrasound at 6 weeks and hopefully (knocking on wood) we might be able to see a heartbeat then. (Oh please, oh please, oh please!) I mentioned in yesterday’s entry that Michael was going to be leaving for Austin tomorrow, only now he’s feeling terribly sick (throwing up and the works) so he’s thinking about not going this time and instead doing the next training session. I hate to admit this, but I was rather looking forward to him going and having some time to myself. Is that really awful??? You’d think I’d want him around right now, but I was kind of looking forward to just having to look after myself for the next week – eat when I want, what I want, nap when I want, sleep when I want, etc. You’d think I’d already have that, but with another person around the house all the time, you do always have to consider them into your plans. It isn’t that Michael is demanding of me, but he’ll give me a hard time for how long I spend at the computer or ask how laundry is coming or what’s for dinner. It’s not that I mind doing those things, but it would be nice to do them when I wanted to and not have anyone else to worry about (except the “peep”). Also, my mom and I wanted to spend some time together and we always feel guilty when we go off “playing” and leaving Michael at home all the time. Again, it isn’t as if Michael won’t let me go and spend time with my mom, but I feel guilty. I’m afraid I didn’t get much done in the way of responding to emails and guestbook entries today and they keep pouring in. You people write the sweetest things and make me cry! (In a good way.) Thank you for all your support, your kind words and your time. I also want to say “welcome” to all the new notify list members that have signed up since January 1! I used to write a note to each new person to the list, but it’s just getting too much, so please consider this your welcome!!
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