Another re-intro and questions (loss mentioned)

[heytheredelilah]

Hi, I was here for a few weeks several months ago, but GKU quickly.  Unfortunately I miscarried at 9w 2d.  That was almost 4 weeks ago.   We want to try again, but I have a couple of questions...

My doctor wants to follow my hcg until it is below 5.  At 3 weeks post miscarriage it was still 173, and HPT's still show BFP.   He said we could try immediately but I know I am unlikely to ovulate with hcg in my blood.   Can anyone who has been through this tell me how long it took for yours to get below 5? My doctor thought 2-4 weeks, but here I am at 4 weeks still with HCG.

Also, we have a trip to the carribean planned for early May.  How doe GKU feel about traveling to a Zika area while  TTC?    I will obviously call my doctor too.

thanks and I am looking forward to getting to know you all again.

[BurritosAtEveryMeal]

Welcome back and so sorry for your loss. I would need more research before traveling to an area with Zika but that kinda scares me TBH. Your dr will be hopefully have a firm yes or no.

[heytheredelilah]

I should clarify. My doctor said no need to wait if I feel ready, but did mention that the first ovulation after a misscarriage is unpredictable, so I guess we are more like NTNP until I get my first period.

[ladytiffany24]

Welcome! So sorry for your loss. I hope you can get some answers here. There are a lot of knowledgable ladies! Good luck!

[bex15]

Welcome back, I'm so sorry for your loss

[kayladawn91]

Welcome back. I am so sorry for your loss.

Here's my anecdote: I did not have my HCG tracked down to zero after my loss so I'm not sure how long you can expect that to take. However, it did take 8-9 weeks for me to get my first period AL. At 7 weeks post-loss I still hadn't ovulated. My doctor did not suggest we avoid during that time but I benched myself for those couple of months so I could recover emotionally first.

I also know that a few women here have cancelled trips due to the worry of Zika, but I would talk to your doctor, do research, etc. and do what you feel is right for you.

I would also invite you to join our TTCAL thread, posted on Tuesdays, if you feel like it would be helpful. It can be a great place to ask questions and get emotional support as you navigate TTCAL.

I'm looking forward to getting to know you again but am so sorry your find yourself here.

[littlelion]

heytheredelilah I'm so sorry for your loss.

I'll give you my anecdote too. I had my last MC tracked down, it took about 2 wks. I had gotten mtx shots to end an ectopic pregnancy. My prior losses (all natural) were not tracked and for the most part got my period about a month later. And twice after miscarrying did end up pregnant. Ovulation is very unpredictable! With all that said, each person and each MC is different.

As for Zika, I am choosing not to visit Mexico this spring. I haven't spoken to any dr about it but Mexico is on the CDC list of countries to avoid.

[peaseblossom55]

I'm so sorry for your loss.
I know my RE did not want me to go to the Bahamas in March because of zika. It's not even an area really affected either. I'd rather be safe than sorry.

[lgraceh]

So sorry to hear about your loss. I don't have any experience tracking hcg, but I did just get back from Mexico yesterday. We used bug spray the first day out on an excursion, then just carried it with us. No one we associated with had any bug bite issues. We were fine. Completely an anecdote, but we didn't worry after the first day. Would worrying about it ruin the trip for you? Or would your regret not going if you aren't KU in the next few months (which is hopefully not the case)? It is a tough call to make, but I'm glad we didn't cancel our vacation for TTC. I agree with PP that you can't schedule your life around TTC and to use protection or avoid for the next few weeks if you are worried.

[requiressnacks]

heytheredelilah, I am so, so sorry for your loss. I recently went through this so I can share my experience. Also, you can look at my FF charts as far as ovulation is concerned

I had a MMC in early December, at almost 9 weeks. I took cytotec and started bleeding around December 5th. I tracked HCG down to zero, which was finally reached about 4 weeks later. I will also mention that I ovulated before my HCG was less than 5. So it does happen. I got my first natural period on Jan 8, a few days after my first negative blood test. My doctor also did a saline ultrasound after i got my period to make sure I passed all the tissue. That's when we were officially cleared.

And regarding Zika, we cancelled out trip to Mexico for March. This was at the recommendation of my doctor. She doesn't really think I'm in huge danger of getting it, she just thinks there are too many unknowns. Delta airlines gave us a full refund on our tickets, no questions asked.

I'm happy to answer any other questions you have!

[cookswithwine9]

Welcome! Sorry for your loss.

[Deleted]

Sorry for your loss. Welcome

[bazinga]

I'm sorry for your loss. Welcome back.

[PepperPottsJ]

I'm so sorry for your loss, welcome back.

[KR]

Sorry for your loss!

As for my experience with miscarriage: after 4 weeks my hcg was 7 (and was last tested somewhere around 42000!). I O'd 2 days after that hcg draw. My md still wanted to track to zero but we didn't test for 2 more weeks after the initial test (due to being out of town for the holidays). Hcg was 0 at that point. So we were cleared to ttc right then.

[icedtea]

Welcome! I'm sorry for your loss.

My hcg went down very quickly, but my loss was much earlier. For Zika — I've been seeing people do both. I'd see what your doctor says and go with your gut.

[hullabalou]

I am so sorry for your loss.

I didn't have my HCG tracked down after any of my losses, but two of them were very early and the other ended in a D&C. My Dr. said to wait until after my first period to start trying again. I got my period back within a month or so after each loss, so I'm assuming my HCG was under 5 by that point. I never temped while waiting on my first post loss period so I'm not sure at what point ovulation occurred. I think waiting until after my period returned gave me some emotional healing time that I needed, as well.

I wouldn't travel to an area with the Zika virus, but I'm really majorly paranoid about most things so take that with a grain of salt.

[mikaela20]

Sorry for your loss.

For Zika - I personally would not risk it and would prevent on the trip and after the trip per medical recommendations I'm reading here in Canada. I would switch my vacation location to a non risk area so as to not completely cancel vacation plans. Good luck with what you choose.

[aprilz81]

I'm sorry for your loss. My situation was a different in that mine was a CP so my betas were back at zero about 2 weeks, maybe three.

I'm a little different than everyone else regarding Zika. We just returned from a cruise and I wasn't overly concerned and took bug spray with us and didn't get any bug bites (we were in Jamaica, Cayman Islands and Mexico).

My Mom (a nurse) was way more concerned about it than I was before we left but even she lightened up after we got to the islands.

You can get bit anywhere/anytime BUT you are more likely to get bit in the evening. On our cruise we were well out to sea when the sun set. Also, the ports were were at where highly commercialized and we didn't see any standing water (breeding grounds for mosquitos in general) and we weren't in the middle of the forests.

I was fine with the cruise because of what I just said, but I would be leery of spending multiple days in the same spot where you are more exposed during the evening hours.

[gabride2010]

Welcome back. I'm so sorry for your loss!

[wannabmama]

Welcome!
I'm sorry for your loss. I don't have any experience tracking hcg so am no help there.
I'm on the better safe than sorry side of Zika. I would go somewhere if I knew I wasn't KU and was ok waiting/using protection so that we didn't get KU until we are home two weeks with no symptoms. But otherwise I'm just too nervous (I also am a magnet for mosquitos...seriously. A summer night outside leaves me, sometimes, with 30-40 bites, even wearing spray, etc.)
We are considering a cruise and I'd feel a little better about that for the reasons aprilz81 mentioned (and the cruise we are considering is to Bermuda, which is not currently affected).

[notagoddess]

Welcome! I'm so sorry for your loss.

If I were in this situation, I would go but TTA for the duration of the trip and a little after. But people are approaching this in different ways, and it's up to you.

[mosdub]

I'm sorry you are back here so soon.

I had a unique situation (partial molar pregnancy) where my hCG dropped very very slowly after my D&C (it took me 6+ months to reach negative but that is NOT the norm for most miscarriages).

I didn't ovulate or have my period until after my hCG was below 100. I'm a little surprised your doctor would clear you to TTC before your hCG hit negative but he probably assumes your hcg will drop pretty quickly (as most do!). I personally don't think it's alarming that you still have hCG in your system 4 weeks post loss - everyone's body processes hormones differently and maybe yours just needs a little more time.

If your hcg isn't negative by 7-8 weeks though I would think your doctor would want to do a follow up ultrasound to be on the safe side.

[heytheredelilah]

Thank you for your stories. My ob wants another blood draw this week, but I am going to wait until closer the the end of the week so hopefully it will be 0 by then. As far as ovulation goes, my OB said that everyone is different. Sometimes the drop in hcg is enough to stimulate ovulation, while some people have to wait for it all to be out of their system. Other people have to wait for their first period. I just want a negative test for peace of mind.

As far as Jamaica goes, he suggested canceling mostly because of the fact that it can be sexually transmitted for some time after you return. Also, I would hate to find out I was pregnant and have to cancel after the date I can get my money back, so it's probably better to just do it now.

[PirateCat]

I'm sorry for your loss and that you are back here so soon.