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Miscarriage/pregnancy loss

Still bleeding 3 1/2 weeks after ERPC

7 replies

bushmills · 11/12/2013 16:52

Dear all,

I have written this here because I have had such conflicting information from GP's that I am very confused!

I found out at my 12 week scan that the baby died at 10 1/2 weeks. I had an ERPC a week later. I had very little bleeding/cramping in the days following the procedure. However a week later I started to bleed, not heavy, but more red that brown (sorry!). I have now been bleeding (like a very light period) for the past 2 1/2 weeks. I need to use 2/3 pads a day. I have no cramps and feel well.

Should I insist on a scan to ensure all 'products' were removed or do you think (like GP) that my periods have returned? How long will this go on for?

One GP thought it was periods returning, doubted that I had infection.

A second GP said that I should take a pregnancy test (very very faint positive) and he said that if it was positive I would need to have another scan.

Is it positive because I was so far along when I miscarried? Could there be consequences if there are retained products?

I did have a retained placenta with my daughter, maybe this is totally unrelated!

Thanks for any advice, just want it all to stop now! After bleeding lots with an ectopic pregnancy 11 months ago and now this, I need a break from blood!!!!

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Ruggle · 11/12/2013 17:20

Hi Bushmills

So sorry for your loss!

If your HCG levels are still high enough to show positive on a pregnancy test then I think it's unlikely to be your period. AFter a mmc at 11 weeks my bleeding lasted 2 weeks, though I didn't have an ERPC.. It took around 4 and a half weeks before i got a negative pregnancy test, and my period arrived in the 5th week. I was scanned each week to make sure things were progressing naturally, which they did.
I assume that doctors try to remove everything in one go with an ERPC, however I have read other people saying they've needed a second ERPC after having discovered that not everything was removed.

If I were you I would insist on a scan!

If you feel well and have no pain then I wouldn't think it's an infection, but it's definitely worth getting checked out. It could just be that you have retained some clots, and you will bleed until these pass. These would show up clearly on a scan.

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Monkeybrain10 · 14/12/2013 21:38

Sorry to hear about your loss. Yes, insist on a scan. I bled for 4 weeks after huge haemorraging(scuse mis spelling). It then happened again and ended up hospitalised and severely anaemic from blood loss. This happened because i had retained products but they never bothered to scan me to check after the first incident.
Speak to your gp, say u are worried and they should be able to book u another scan.

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bonzo77 · 14/12/2013 21:50

You should push for another scan. After my erpc in similar circumstances to yours, I had a BFN 5 days after the erpc. I bled very lightly for a couple of weeks.

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bushmills · 15/12/2013 16:21

Thank you all for your messages and advice. When I was discharged I was given the phone number of the ward where I had the ERPC and told to phone anytime if I had any questions. Well, I did that a few days ago and was told 'we cannot give out any information over the phone'. Useless. Will phone my GP tomorrow and insist on a scan. 4 weeks bleeding, I'm tired, emotional and fed up with the 'what if' questions. Want it to be sorted before Christmas and I think the only thing that will put my mind at ease is a scan.

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bushmills · 16/12/2013 09:24

Woke up this morning with awfully sore lower abdomen pain. Still bleeding. Had to take day off work because of the pain. Waiting for GP to call me. EPU doesn't open until 1pm and ward where I had ERPC is constantly engaged. Don't think I should go to A&E as not got heavy bleeding. I just want to be scanned to see if any retained products. So fed up. Want it all sorted so that I can move on.

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Bakingtins · 16/12/2013 13:23

Sorry to hear that bushmills hope you can be scanned and treated today.

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bushmills · 16/12/2013 17:38

Thanks for messages. Went to hospital and had lots of tests and scans. To cut a very long story short, they think it is my periods returning, although my tests showed up some 'interesting' things. On antibiotics for infection now, still got pain, although not as bad as earlier. Got another scan in a month to check the fluid around my pelvis has gone and my 'patchy' thick lining has come away. My advice is always get a registrar to look at your scans and talk through them with you.

Glad I went, reasurred that there is probably no retained products. Awaiting painful period in a couple of weeks.....