Beta Hell

Yesterday was my fourth and last beta, and I was hoping for a good strong number to fortify me for the wait until my ultrasound (which has been scheduled for next Tuesday).

Instead I got 2,543.

Now, actually, this is a fine number, it’s the doubling time that has me worried.  Based on beta doubling calculators, between my first and second beta (305-621 over 2 days), there was a doubling time of about 47 hours.  Between second and third (621-1634 over 3 days), it increased a little to 51 hours.  But between the third and fourth (1634-2543 over 2 days), it went allllll the way up to 75 hours.  That’s means that it’s suddenly taking a whole extra DAY to double!! That’s scary.

I am really, really trying not to freak out.  I am also failing miserably at not freaking out.  But, to make me feel better, please indulge my list of reasons not to freak out.

Why Chelsea Shouldn’t Be Freaking Out

• The nurse said it was fine.  Actually, she didn’t say fine, she said great.  The word “spectacular” was used.
• When I called the nurse back to ask for reassurance, she said that when the doctor saw the numbers he was not at all worried by them.  I’m pretty sure that his years of experience with hundreds if not thousands of betas trumps my Googling.
• The nurse also said that, after everything that I’ve been though, it’s normal to be anxious.  That could be part of it.
• According to this website, normal doubling times are 31-72 hours until the number gets to be about 1,200, then 72-96 hours.  I seem to be sticking to that perfectly.  The nurse also mentioned that the doubling time can slow down as the number increases.
• I’ve also read online that, once you get to about the 5^th week of pregnancy, you can’t rely on betas as much anymore and ultrasounds are better.  Yesterday I was 5w1d.
• If my clinic hadn’t insisted on testing me until I got to 2,000, everything would have looked perfect.  A lot of people only get two tests, to make sure the number is doubling, and I would have aced that.  I might just have too much information.
• It still rose 900 over two days, which is more than it has risen over any other two day period.  So not only is it still going up, it's still snowballing.
• I haven't had any spotting or over-the-top cramping that would indicate a miscarriage.
• I’m starting to wonder if my body just doesn’t produce as many hormones as some other people’s.  My estrogen never doubled very fast or got very high while I was stimming, either, but I still did ok.
• 2,543 is a good, healthy number.  Lots of pregnancies destined to fail never get that high.
• From my Googling, I’ve found plenty of people who had similar numbers and went on to have healthy babies.

Why Chelsea Should Be Freaking Out

• The rise seems to have hit the breaks very abruptly.  I would expect the normal slowing to be more gradual, wouldn't you?
• All the people on the internet seem to double with lightning speed well into the 10,000s.
• The nurse said that they want to see it double in three days.  Although she didn’t seem very concerned about this, at the current rate it would take a little more than three days to double.
• From my Googling, I’ve found plenty of people who had similar numbers and went on to have miscarriages.
• Hydros increase the chance of miscarriage.
• WHERE ARE MY SYMPTOMS???? All I want to do is throw up.  it would make me feel so much better.

It’s going to be a loooooong five days.