Erpc under GA

[Hulaballoo]

Has anyone had one? I'm due one this week and a little worried... Is DH allowed with me? Will I get an injection for GA.. How is it done,? I'm 10+6 and baby measuring 5w... Did you bleed a lot after? Pain meds needed? 😳

[Purpleprickles]

I'm so sorry for your loss I had to have an erpc last year and it was my first time having a GA so I was very worried. It was all absolutely fine, my dh was allowed into the day surgery waiting room with me and to have my pre-op assessment with the anaesthetist too. This part was quite scary as they need to go over all the risks with you but hopefully yours will be as reassuring as mine. He said that having the cannula in my hand would be the worst part which it was but nowhere near as bad as I thought.

I had to wait on the ward without dh but everyone was so so lovely it was ok. My local trust put erpcs first on the surgery list so I was in surgery very quickly. Dh was allowed to wait in the day surgery waiting area. The actual GA was an injection through the cannula but this was fine as you are laying on the bed and you can't see. They told me it was like a large G&T and it kind of was as I was woozy and then out. When I came round I was very cold so they put a lovely hot blanket over me. I felt the most relaxed I had done in a few weeks which after the stress of a missed miscarriage was lovely. I was on the ward for a few hours, fed and checked a lot and then I was sent home with pain killers.

The bleeding really wasn't bad, I had some clotting about a week after but I had been told this could happen. I rested quite a lot but really felt physically fine. I had some period type pains immediately after the op but not at all bad.

So all in all the whole op and physical side was fine. However emotionally I was a mess, I rushed back to work to get on with things but that on reflection was a mistake. I ended up being signed off about six weeks later and then had the time to grieve for my loss. Please take reassurance that the procedure will be fine but also please take time to look after yourself afterwards. Big unmumsnetty hugs.

[Hulaballoo]

Thank you so much, I really wasn't sure what to expect. Not a fan of vanilla, had an awful experience with one with DD1 , it burnt and burnt my hand, so I'm not looking forward tob that 😟 glad DH can be there and bit. Was your DH allowed while you were recovering afterwards? I was told to get there for 11am... Hopefully won't have to wait too long... Thank you, I'm going back to work 5 days later 😐 I'm a teacher and nobody knows... Didn't really want to tell, then they'd know I was trying... But may have to, I'll see how I feel. Thank you again for your reply xxx

[Purpleprickles]

I'm a teacher too! Just take it easy, loads of jobs are stressful I know but it is full on. I had my erpc on the tues of half term and was back at work on the Monday. Like I said physically this was fine, I should have just taken some time to deal with my grief.

My dh was allowed in once I was on the ward again. I was in actual recovery for a really short time. This could have been just because of the hospital layout I suppose. I was wheeled quite far which was really awful going as I felt fine and so silly laying there passing people but on the way back I was drowsy and not bothered.

One thing I hope you don't mind me sharing as it is probably not what you are thinking about at the moment but I managed to get pg straight after and now have a dd who is 9 months. Mentally I wouldn't recommend this but having that erpc somehow helped my body as I had been trying for five years and given up having another dc. My midwife did say it can sometimes make you very fertile after.

I hope it all goes ok for you x

[Hulaballoo]

Thank you, I really wanted this baby, so much. I never thought my feelings would lessen. It could be my hormones still but I'm petrified of trying again. I keep looking at my youngest thinking... Will she want to be a middle child, do I really need to go through this again... I'm so confused now, so scared of trying again and it happening again 😕

[Fruitbat1980]

Hi OP sorry for your loss. I also had Erpc with GA. I was seen pretty quickly, hubby stayed holding hand while they put me under pre theatre, I was back with him on ward about an hour later. Home about 3 hours after that. Bleeding was no more than a regular period after. The emotional side took its toll, I had 2 weeks off work followed by two weeks (pre planned) hols.
look after yourself and take it easy. Cry a little, drink wine if that your thing and make sure you have some people around you x

[Purpleprickles]

I think you need to give yourself time to process all your feelings really. One of the reasons miscarriage is so hard I think is because you don't tell many people you are pregnant until the first scan so then it's harder to tell of the pregnancy and the loss. People who do know often try to comfort you by saying "oh something must have been wrong with the baby so it's better this way" which actually is no comfort. For us as well our baby hadn't really even developed into a foetus yet so I questioned at points the validity of my grief. However at the point you get that bfp,despite it only being a bunch of cells, you see that baby, you see that child, you see their place in your family and they are in your heart immediately.

I got pg again by just dtd once, it was more a comfort let's be close thing than anything else if that makes sense. I would never have planned it as this bfp came at the time I was signed off and was under counselling. Basically I was a mess and remained anxious and messy throughout the whole pg. So not really recommended but worth it for me now.

I really do wish you well and I think get through the erpc first before thinking too far ahead. Have you got good support in rl?

[limon]

Yes I've had both the erpc and tablets both for missed miscarriages . Definitely preferred the erpc - it was my first GA and it was very straightforward.

[Hulaballoo]

Thank you everyone, I'm going in tomorrow morning... Very nervous. Left my girls with family tonight. Did anyone else feel nervous saying goodbye etc or is it just me being overly emotional...🙄

[Purpleprickles]

Yep me, had to hold back tears saying goodbye to ds. Had to tell him
I was having a little tummy op. Cried also saying goodbye to dh. But you will be fine with the GA, you will. Good luck for tomorrow.

[SaltySeaBird]

I had one and it was fine. I had added complications but actually the GA and surgery itself were no problem and I didn't bleed too heavily afterwards. I actually went to work the next day as nobody knew and I never found my workplace understanding or very good with sickness.

My medically managed miscarriage was far worse.

Good luck 💐

[FruitCider]

I had a ERPC, was also my first general, was fine. My eye sight went blurry, then I felt drunk, then I closed my eyes, opened them again and the ERPC was done! I did have some pain relief through my cannula afterwards, I didn't really feel like I needed it but the recovery nurse insisted! I was only gone from the ward for about 1 hour!

[Hulaballoo]

Thank you, that's reassuring purple, thanks everyone, I'll let you know how it goes. Xxx

[Hulaballoo]

Hi everyone, well I went in at 11 for a repeat scan, at 12 had a cannula in but luckily could have it in my atm where blood tests are rather than my hand-had a bad experience with one in my hand with Dd1.... Then at 2 given a pessary to dilate the cervix. I went to theatre at 3, GA first, out within 5 seconds. Woke up with no pain, had pain killers still working. Very drowsy and tired but fine. Out at about 4.15.Starving. I came fully round in about 20 minutes and eating, drinking... Toilet... I was bleeding average period bleed and felt more tender as time went on but no major pain. Discharged at 7, then chilled by going out for a quiet meal followed by the cinema.... Had a short cry on the way home, DH very logical and practical so I'm not sure he understands the emotions as much. I'm going to miss my bean and imagine him growing up in my head 😢 now bed and a long lie in awaits... Nighty night xx

[Purpleprickles]

Glad it all went well Hull. My dh is very practical too and it can be hard when someone is all logical but you are emotional. Be kind to yourself and seek support if you need it. There are some really supportive threads on here and I also got counselling from Cruse for bereavement when I was signed off. They were brilliant.