I was able to achieve this by making the current html document current using Webbrowser.Navigated. Simple code is below, I now truly understand the difference between Navigated and Completed.
Private WithEvents doc As HtmlDocument
Dim item_id As String
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
doc.GetElementById("btnsubmit").InvokeMember("Click")
End Sub
Private Sub WebBrowser1_Navigated(sender As Object, e As System.Windows.Forms.WebBrowserNavigatedEventArgs) Handles WebBrowser1.Navigated
doc = WebBrowser1.Document
End Sub
Private Sub WebBrowser1_DocumentCompleted(sender As Object, e As System.Windows.Forms.WebBrowserDocumentCompletedEventArgs) Handles WebBrowser1.DocumentCompleted
item_id = doc.GetElementById("hdnitemid").GetAttribute("value")
End Sub