To want an early scan

[1wokeuplikethis]

Sorry if this is the wrong place but I am shamelessly hoping for more traffic as this is something that needs dealing with quickly.

I'm 5w 5d pregnant and for past 5 days have had dull aching/stabbing pain in my right side. I'm also very shaky. I've also been dealing with some shocking emotionally traumatic news this last week.

Phoned my dr hoping for a referral to epu for an early scan. He said he wants to see me later today to examine me. He said ectopic pregnancy has bleeding (which I've not had) so wouldn't be referred as an emergency and the only reason they would do an early scan otherwise is if there's concern of miscarriage, and I'd have to wait a week for an appointment in that case. Which doesn't sound right.

Basically, I sense that I'm going to go along today and be told everything is fine and that he can't refer me because it's not ectopic or miscarriage. But I want a scan now to make sure everything is ok and in the right place. Call it gut instinct. Plus I'm going on holiday next week.

I tried phoning the closest epu but they don't take personal referrals. I'm not sure what to do. Aibu?

I am really surprised to hear a GP won't consider an ectopic without bleeding

it would be surprising, but thats not the case. OP has no symptoms of an ectopic. She has the symptoms of pregnancy, and so far, thats all.

I went to the doctor on Tuesday after having really sharp, stabby pains and a massive great blood clot pass on Sunday. They examined me and immediately referred me to the Women's Health Clinic for a scan as they suspected a burst cyst on my right ovary. They also took a pregnancy test - it was positive! I was terrified that I had had an ectopic pregnancy.

I went there immediately after my appointment, went straight through for a scan and after everything it turned out i had a cyst that had ruptured and another one setting up camp. She also told me that I was about 5.5 weeks pregnant, so I'm in the same boat

I have had really bad pains, cramping and sharp pains - on the plus side it's all very normal, just your uterus expanding to accommodate the little pip growing! This is my second pregnancy too.

I'm going for another scan next week to make sure the cyst isn't growing but as others have said, normally you wouldn't have a scan if nothing else is wrong.

I'm sure all will be fine, but if you want a baby buddy to compare twinges, twangs and sickyness feel free to pm me xx

I had an ectopic pregnancy with no bleeding. Or pain. I was 9 weeks along and close to rupture.

Read up and look out for the other signs (includes discomfort going to loo, dizziness, shoulder pain) or better still pay for an early scan if you can.

Also be aware that any scan at your stage would be an internal scan. I had early pregnancy bleeding at 7 weeks with my first. External scan wasn't showing much so much to the shock of my DH and I, I was given an internal scan. Being our first we had never known of such things! The baby is now a healthy 9 year old but it was a worrying time.

EPU's are an incredibly underfunded and oversubscribed service and should only be used when necessary - bleeding / extreme abdominal cramping / suspected ectopic.

I've had 4 miscarriages and was under the recurrent miscarriage clinic, and I did get a reassurance scan with my first successful pregnancy. Due to my history I was entitled to a scan with second successful pregnancy but I felt a bit if a fraud so I declined (I did pay for a private one). Ultrasound Direct - nationwide - do a cheap reassurance scan I'm sure.

I've heard so many horror stories about women lying to be seen at EPU that morally I just couldn't use one again unless I had a proper reason to....

Put it this way, if you call your dr and tell him you have a headache and are anxious about it, he's not going to refer you for an MRI tomorrow. If your symptoms develop further and there is actual concern, you might get referred later on. You get the medical treatment that is clinically indicated. When it isn't, you don't get it. Pregnancy is no different, medically speaking.

If I felt like you I would probably pay for an early scan.

just pay for a early scan
you can't ask for one due to gut instinct

Early scans do spot ectopics. I had an early scan (6 was I think) because I had IUI. It showed a fetus in the right place, and a heartbeat. Unfortunately it didn't spot the other fetus in my Fallopian tube which was spotted at 9 weeks with no symptoms other than a light bleed that morning.

Because of the other fetus I had no surgery because they wanted to see if the fetus in the tube would die naturally so the other fetus wouldn't be risked. It did, other baby is fine.

If you're really anxious just go to put your mind at rest.

Can I just stress that at no point did I say I was hoping to wangle a free early scan for shits and giggles because it would be lovely to see a yolk sack. - from some of the replies you'd think that was my angle.

I was concerned that a pain in my side could be ectopic. Not that I'm miscarrying. And the fact of only being referred if there's bleeding was concerning me.

Even if I am only 5+5, if the Dr thought there was a chance I've got an EP and wanted to refer me I would absolutely go as I'm sure all of you would too- who would say oh no, the EPU's are so over-subscribed and overstretched I will wait it out and see if I collapse, or if I change my mind I will pay for an early scan because I'm a martyr.

Sorry but some of these replies have really riled me. But thank you to others who have been helpful and sympathetic.

I saw the Dr who examined me and took my blood pressure and have been assured there's nothing to worry about. Great! However he did suggest I go back if I hve any further pain, rather than tell me GP's are overstretched as it is without hysterical early pregnant females taking up valuable appointments moaning about every tiny twinge and I should pay to go private.

I woke up don't take it personally whatever comes up medical wise there is something posted about wading nhs resources.

Good luck, I hope it all works out for you. Some level of pain is normal (and probably shows things are progressing as they should) but only up to normal pp level ime.

If you go to you local a&e that is attached to your maternity/epu then they will refer you to the epu or call down someone to see you.
The pains in the side could be a cyst on your ovary from where the egg came out from..... i had this in 6 of my pregnancies that progressed to full term.
I've had 5 ectopics..... 4 'sorted themselves out' before 6 weeks.
The 1 ectopic that was bad, was missed around 5 times by the epu and a&e..... even when i was bleeding heavily.
Not all ectopics present with bleeding though.
I had shoulder pain and really bad pain in my left side but only a day before my tube was about to burst..... this was around 8 weeks.
The 4 weeks previous to that i had a lot of bleeding & a d&c (they thought it was a mc) but i only had some mild stomach cramps during that time.
OP if you don't feel right in yourself go to a&e, gp's know a little bit about lots of things unlike consultants & specialist who know a lot about one subject. The doctors at the epu are the best people to know if your pains are normal or not.
Good luck.... yanbu to want a scan if you're in pain, ep are not something to take lightly.

Op I had the exact same symptoms as you. I was a little further along at about 7 weeks. They scanned me because I went to the walk in centre which is at our local A & E hospital. It turned out to be a huge pocket of trapped gas that was pushing on my fallopian tube. Hopefully, it will be the same for you. Good luck

I have had ovarian cysts in the past that flare up and go away, so similar to your gas bubble maybe it's something like that. Thanks for sharing your experiences, I do feel better than I did this morning.

if the Dr thought there was a chance I've got an EP and wanted to refer me I would absolutely go as I'm sure all of you would too- who would say oh no, the EPU's are so over-subscribed and overstretched I will wait it out and see if I collapse, or if I change my mind I will pay for an early scan because I'm a martyr.

Over dramatic much? Nobody is suggesting that you or anyone refuses an appt that is necessary, they are telling you not to push for one when it isn't necessary. An entirely different thing. And you're riled because they are right.

Look you're pregnant and you're anxious. Get a scan. It won"t help if you are miscarrying as someone has said - there's nothing they can do.

My last post was overly harshly put. I apologise.

My last post was overly harshly put. I apologise.

Posted early. They knew at 5+3 for me that things weren't right -still had to wait to be sure and that was hard and horrible and distressing but in some ways better than the wondering stage before that. Get a photo if you do have a scan and it's not looking good. It's all you'll have. You can chuck it away later if you decide it's macabre. I wish I'd asked (instead of apologising when the sonographer's supervisor told me off for crying). Don't be guilted into not going cos your worries aren't worth it. But if you have the cash go private.