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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Cryptic pregnancy or stupidity?

65 replies

MrsBCup · 04/04/2022 10:15

Weird question I know. Probably just paranoid so feel free to rip into me.
It started a few days ago, I noticed my boobs had gone up two cup sizes. My stomach is incredibly bloated (see pic). Last night I felt what felt like movement in my stomach and it suddenly feels very swollen, told myself it’s just gas but did a test to be sure and as expected it was negative as the last time I had sex was November last year.
Surely to God if I was 5-6 months pregnant a test would have picked it up? Should I just forget it and stop being paranoid? Or is cryptic pregnancy a real thing?

OP posts:

Ozanj · 04/04/2022 10:45

See the GP.

ChloeHel · 04/04/2022 10:52

Someone posted recently and she was convinced she was pregnant but after x amount of scans there was no baby. She had gallstones.

I would definitely ring the GP for an appointment. It could be hormonal or could be gallstones.

Original poster

MrsBCup · 04/04/2022 10:59

Absolutley mortified
Just spoke to the receptionist at the GP who refused to book me an appointment and after confirming I had opened my bowels today said I needed to go to the chemist and chat with them.
Told her I had a swollen and uncomfortable abdomen. I’m in shock haha

OP posts:

irishfarmer · 04/04/2022 11:02

I did read the thread, sorry if I've missed it. Have you done a pregnancy test? If not I'd do one. I was pregnant (miscarried) and got periods.

The pharmacist might be able to help.

Mangogogogo · 04/04/2022 11:09

I can genuinely sport a bigger bump than I had when I was actually pregnant just by being bloated! Also ibs and wind can really, really feel like a baby moving. It has caught me off guard a few times but now I try to just weirdly enjoy it!

I think if it was a 5 month baby it wouldn’t have just popped up overnight, I know some people say it does but it’s like highly unlikely!

See what the pharmacist says or ring 111 maybe?

ChloeHel · 04/04/2022 11:09

As a pharmacist I can tell you they will simply say you may have wind or IBS and offer you some wind settlers or buscopan. The bloating could very well be either of those diagnoses but that wouldn’t explain the breast size increase and change in periods.

You can of course try either of these medicines but I would be reluctant to send you away with them just incase they mask symptoms of something else!

I’m baffled how GP receptionist sent you away like that, they have no qualifications in health what so ever, so it definitely shouldn’t be down to them to decide if you should see a GP based on the fact you’ve had a bowel movement today.

I would be ringing back to say that you have spoken to a pharmacist and due to your other symptoms they have referred you back to the GP as they believe it needs investigating - because honestly that’s all they would do anyway!

Kaw10 · 04/04/2022 11:41

If they are all fobbing you off could you go for a private scan? If there's a baby in there then an ultrasound will show it and put your mind at ease

Original poster

MrsBCup · 04/04/2022 11:57

@Kaw10

If they are all fobbing you off could you go for a private scan? If there's a baby in there then an ultrasound will show it and put your mind at ease

Thank you. I was thinking this but didn’t know if I’d look like a fruitcake booking a private baby scan and potentially ending up not pregnant 🤣

OP posts:

Rosehugger · 04/04/2022 11:59

The GP should be seeing you straight away- it could be several things that need urgent referral to hospital.

You need an urgent appointment, try again tomorrow and don't let the receptionist fob you off.

They should be checking you for anything from pregnancy to ectopic pregnancy to ovarian cancer to endometriosis. It may be none of those things but you do need to see a GP straight away.

tcjotm · 04/04/2022 12:03

If you had unprotected sex in November, surely it’s quite likely you could be pregnant? You definitely need to see a GP in case it’s something else, but with everything else you’ve described, I would not be surprised. Especially with you recognising the feeling of movement - you’d be on time with that now.
The only thing from what you’ve said that rules it out is the negative pregnancy test and I wouldn’t reply on that. I thought they weren’t reliable later in pregnancy?

tcjotm · 04/04/2022 12:06

Also wtf with the receptionist, why does she get to offer her untrained opinion on your bowels? You need an appointment, you have concerning symptoms, you’ll tell the doctor the specifics. Not the receptionist.

Original poster

MrsBCup · 04/04/2022 12:06

Thanks everyone. I’ve messaged babybond and explained the situation asking if I could book a scan to check even though there’s a chance I’m not pregnant as I didn’t wanna just book and end up looking like a crazy person if nothing was there.

OP posts:

Original poster

MrsBCup · 04/04/2022 12:07

@tcjotm

I wanted to honestly scream

OP posts:

tintodeverano2 · 04/04/2022 12:07

I would call the GP again! No way would I allow a receptionist refuse an appointment- they have no medical training at all.

Starsong82 · 04/04/2022 12:10

Google 'hook effect' op. It's possible to be pregnant and have a negative test - basically sometimes hormone levels are too high for a home test to pick up. Try testing again later in the day after drinking lots of water or even diluting your urine with a little water before testing. Whether positive or negative though still worth a chat with your GP.

WildCoasts · 04/04/2022 12:17

It's probably nothing but you do need to get it checked asap. If you can't get a check then go to emergency, especially if your stomach is hard.

MyDcAreMarvel · 04/04/2022 12:21

Did you tell the receptionist about the period issues etc?

MedievalNun · 04/04/2022 12:28

Ring the surgery back, tell the receptionist that you need to see the GP. If she says that she won't, ask for the practice manager. If they still say no, get in touch with the health board. You definitely need to get checked out.

Original poster

MrsBCup · 04/04/2022 12:29

So I’ve just done some looking back on my period app and unless sperm can live for 8-10 days then I can’t be pregnant thank Christ. Thank you for all the lovely messages and advice xx

OP posts:

ChiefWiggumsBoy · 04/04/2022 12:34

If you’ve been pregnant before the surely you remember how hard the MW would palpate your belly? Do that. At 5 months if there is a baby in there you’ll feel it.

The ‘movement’ you feel is probably just intestinal. I get it a lot, am not pregnant.

Not saying you don’t need a doctor, as lots of other things can cause this, just that you’re unlikely to be pregnant if you can’t feel anything in your abdomen.

PrivateHall · 04/04/2022 12:36

OP unless you think normal weight gain has caused your abdomen and breasts to increase in size, then you still need to get back on to your GP because if it isn't weight gain; this needs investigating. Please call them back and refuse to get into a discussion with the receptionist about symptoms.

DollyDingleberry · 04/04/2022 12:36

Oh god. So this happened to me but under very specific circumstances.

TTC for 10 years, 15 miscarriages, 12 or which were before 8 weeks so I'd been through a lot and due to totally irregular cycles I never knew when to expect a period.

Anyway, I had a 'period' then bled heavily 3 weeks later so assumed another miscarriage. Took a pregnancy test and there was a faint line so yep I thought - miscarriage again. We decided to stop trying because it was like the last straw. We then didn't have sex again.

Anyway, I had bleeds on and off on a roughly monthly schedules so assumed all was well. I'm a size 18 (this becomes important later). I thought I had a stomach bug about a month after the miscarriage because i was throwing up daily for a couple of weeks and felt really shite.

Anyway, 6 months after the 'miscarriage' (you can see where this is going) i suddenly got this walloping great 'roll over' feeling in my stomach that kept happening. It made me feel ill every time it happened (usually after eating) so I went to the doctors.

GP had a feel, immediately found my uterus and asked if i could be pregnant. I told her no because I'd not had sex since my last miscarriage, I'd had periods all the way through since then etc. Anyway, the midwife happened to be at the surgery that day so she grabbed her and her doppler and with a bit of wriggling about, we had a little heartbeat that wasnt mine

I got sent up to the early pregnancy unit the next day for a scan and i will never forget the words in Feb:

'When did you say you miscarried?'
'July last year, why?'
'I don't think you actually miscarried. You're around 30 weeks pregnant and due in early April'

Lots of testing and scanning ensued, but all in all he was totally fine.

He arrived 3 weeks early, totally perfect and he's just turned 1

Glovez · 04/04/2022 12:41

Definitely needs further investigation, why are some GP receptionists so hard to get past?!

Aliceforgot · 04/04/2022 12:52

The GP receptionist should really not have refused you an appointment.

tcjotm · 04/04/2022 12:53

Please don’t dismiss it even if you think you aren’t pregnant. There are conditions that need treatment urgently that present like this, please don’t put it off.

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