A bit of internet enlightenment

I finally found something on the net today that gave me some answers... peace of mind.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/ObGyn-Pregnancy-issues-1007/first-period-early-miscarriage.htm

I quote:
The first period after a miscarriage is rarely "normal". It can be heavier than normal, lighter than normal, have some clots, be very crampy or not crampy at all. One thing that is certain is that your first period will usually not be like anything you've had before. To make sure it is really your first period, make sure it has been at least four weeks since your miscarriage AND you have had about 20 days of no bleeding or spotting. For the estrogen threshold to be met, you should not be bleeding anymore. Otherwise the lining is not being rebuilt, and you are still experiencing progesterone withdrawal.Technically, when things go perfectly, your first period will not arrive until 4 weeks after your hCG levels reach zero. Since most women will not be tested all the way to zero (which is typically reported as "less than 5"), you will not know exactly when this will happen. In a normal recovery, it takes three weeks for the hormone chain to fire up again, and it will not be marked by bleeding or any physical symptom. You will only know that the new cycle worked by having a period at the end of it, between five and seven weeks after your miscarriage.More than likely you did have a complete miscarriage. If you had not, your hCG level would not have fallen to near zero so soon after the initial miscarriage bleeding. Unless this was a period that required a pad every hour or two for more than a week, I would not be concerned. I would say that it was simply the abnormal period that comes after a miscarriage.You probably should have been using a condom if you had sex within two weeks of the loss. This is because your cervix is slightly open then and you are very susceptible to infection. You may or may not have ovulated during that first cycle. Because your hormones are still trying to get back into a regular pattern again and your body is still healing, the general recommendation is to wait through 2 normal menstrual cycles before getting pregnant again.

So, I tested a HCG result of 7 on October 13. I'm guessing it would make sense for me to spot again on November 5th because that's about 3-4 weeks after the HCG most likely reached below 5. That could have been my abnormal first period after the m/c.

I don't know... I guess knowing all these details isn't really going to help me predict my next cycle and ovulation, which is ultimately what I'm trying to do: figure out when I can get pregnant again. But since I naturally miscarried, it could take several months before my cycles return to normal. I want to say "according to all of this, I really should be expecting my period this week assuming I'm still on the 28 day cycle plan." In reality, it could come whenever it feels like it... since my hormones are probably still so out of whack.

I broke down and called the doctor's office today and left a message for the nurse to call me back. But now ...I think I don't need any reassurance.

I'll just wait patiently and go ahead and make vacation plans for the next few months. I don't think I'll be getting pregnant any time soon.