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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

A&E? ectopic pregnancy

68 replies

Junebug11 · 10/07/2023 11:55

Sorry know not aibu.

Currently pregnant, not sure how long exactly but only early.

I had a very small amount of brown bleeding about a week ago which I wasn't too concerned about at the time (had the same with my son).

However today I have been getting a shooting pain in the top of both arms near my shoulder and I am now panicking about ectopic.

The only thing stopping me is that otherwise I feel fine, a bit queasy and tired but that's to be expected, no severe tummy pain, no bleeding since last week. I know shoulder pain can be related to ectopic but I'd have expected other symptoms alongside it.

Anyone have any experience?

OP posts:
Original poster
Junebug11 · 10/07/2023 11:55

I haven't been lifting things or exercising or anything like that to cause any ache in my arms either. The pain is quite sharp and sudden and then goes for a little while and then comes back.

OP posts:
satellitesunshine · 10/07/2023 11:58

i don’t think a&e would do anything if all you say is you’re pregnant and have shoulder pain unless you had other symptoms really. if i were you i’d probably just go for a private scan - i know my hospitals early pregnancy unit don’t just hand out scans unless there’s obvious signs of an ectopic etc but i had shoulder pain in early pregnancy too and was told it was just coincidental (and it was)

Original poster
Junebug11 · 10/07/2023 11:59

Thanks! I'm not in any rush to go, I just wasn't sure how seriously you are supposed to take just one symptom! I'll probably leave it for a little bit and see if anything else develops

OP posts:
Capitulatingpanda · 10/07/2023 12:00

Have you got an early pregnancy assessment unit? Look on hospital website. They will scan for possible ectopic.

Nordicrain · 10/07/2023 12:01

satellitesunshine · 10/07/2023 11:58

i don’t think a&e would do anything if all you say is you’re pregnant and have shoulder pain unless you had other symptoms really. if i were you i’d probably just go for a private scan - i know my hospitals early pregnancy unit don’t just hand out scans unless there’s obvious signs of an ectopic etc but i had shoulder pain in early pregnancy too and was told it was just coincidental (and it was)

Ecpotic pregnancies can be really dangerous, fatal in fact, and shooting pains in the shoulder is one of the main signs. I would hope that they would do something about it.

OP, I would go get checked out somewhere.

Luxell934 · 10/07/2023 12:01

Call your GP and see what they say x

Dancingfairydreams · 10/07/2023 12:01

Please go. You could die. I nearly did. Go now, please.

Capitulatingpanda · 10/07/2023 12:03

I did have other pain with my ectopic but I think any concern and try and get in contact with midwife for advice either EPAU or my trust had a midwife advice helpline.

satellitesunshine · 10/07/2023 12:05

Nordicrain · 10/07/2023 12:01

Ecpotic pregnancies can be really dangerous, fatal in fact, and shooting pains in the shoulder is one of the main signs. I would hope that they would do something about it.

OP, I would go get checked out somewhere.

Show quote history

i know that, i work in maternity and agree but my hospital told me personally that shoulder pain alone doesn’t warrant a scan. hence why i’m saying go private because i waited hours to be told that when i would’ve been safer making an immediate private scan had it actually been ectopic

MrsR87 · 10/07/2023 12:06

Nordicrain · 10/07/2023 12:01

Ecpotic pregnancies can be really dangerous, fatal in fact, and shooting pains in the shoulder is one of the main signs. I would hope that they would do something about it.

OP, I would go get checked out somewhere.

Show quote history

This. I would definitely get checked out. Looking at the NHS website I would at least call 111 as you have had two of the symptoms listed. It could of course be coincidental, and I hope it is, but it’s not worth taking a chance.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/

nhs.uk

Ectopic pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilised egg implants itself outside of the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/

Original poster
Junebug11 · 10/07/2023 12:09

Thanks, I will call 111 then or the GP maybe.

I'm definitely pregnant but only found out about a week ago so haven't been in contact with any midwives or pregnancy units yet

OP posts:
user1469559754 · 10/07/2023 12:10

Please go immediately to EPU or A&E. I didn't have pain just brown spotting. When I got shoulder pain they admitted me and my ectopic had ruptured and I almost died - had blood transfusions and days recovering in High Dependency Unit. Don't let them fob you off.

SpringHexagon · 10/07/2023 12:11

I had this while I was pregnant, it did worry me at the time but I also had no other symptoms, because everything was fine (that I know of).
I'm sure I read somewhere that trapped gas can cause shoulder pain, but still no idea what caused it.
To put your mind at ease it's always best to get checked, but think you would need to contact your normal gp surgery rather than a&e unless you did have other symptoms.

calmcoco · 10/07/2023 12:11

Definitely get this checked asap, do not mess about.

calmcoco · 10/07/2023 12:12

If it is ectopic it is much better to find it early.

Don't waste time with the GP - NHS says ring 111.

Coolblur · 10/07/2023 12:24

Not to worry you but I would speak to your GP/midwife/the EPU.
I had brown bleeding with 3 pregnancies, the last one resulted in DS, the first one ended in missed miscarriage (although I later suspected ectopic), and the second one was a ruptured ectopic that required emergency surgery. At the risk of sounding MN levels of dramatic, I was taken to hospital in an ambulance and would have died without surgery as I'd lost a lot of blood internally.

All three presented in the same way, although the brown bleeding was slightly later on with the ectopic. I had no pain with the ectopic, until it ruptured, then the pain was the worst I've experienced. I was told to monitor it by the midwife, suspecting possible miscarriage I think, two days later it ruptured.

Don't leave it to chance, call them today and express your concerns.

Loopyloooooo · 10/07/2023 12:25

Hey OP, im an ex resus and triage nurse lovely, with pain in your shoulder you need it checking. Going to A+E is completely appropriate, take someone with you for support if you can. Hope all is ok xx

VariantHela · 10/07/2023 12:28

Please go and get yourself checked, better safe than sorry. I had pains too in early pregnancy and it was all OK but ectopic pregnancies are very dangerous. Lots of love x

Original poster
Junebug11 · 10/07/2023 12:33

Thanks I'll call shortly. The brown bleeding only lasted a couple of days and has been a week now with nothing. Would it not carry on if it were ectopic? Sorry I know no one can really answer that

OP posts:
Tinkerbell36 · 10/07/2023 12:44

Definitely go to A&E - i had an ectopic and shoulder pain and needed emergency surgery.

Whatthediddlyfeck · 10/07/2023 12:46

Please get checked-a friend lost his 25 year old daughter to an ectopic last year…hope all is well x

user1469559754 · 10/07/2023 12:46

Yes. Don't waste time with GP. Insist on being seen at A&E. my midwife tried to fob me off saying there was always pain with and ectopic. I never had pain. Even as they were rushing me for emergency surgery.

TheWorstWeek · 10/07/2023 12:49

It could just be implantation bleeding but please call your GP and see if they can refer you to the Early Pregnancy Unit for a scan. I had an ectopic pregnancy, discovered at 8 weeks, but was fobbed off from doctor to doctor for about 10 days from when bleeding started because I didn't have severe pain and wasn't bleeding heavily. Fortunately I never did have severe pain and I was scanned before it ruptured but I did have to have same day surgery to remove my fallopian tube and pregnancy.

PlaneMum19 · 10/07/2023 12:58

I went to A&E with shoulder pain and bleeding .. only very early pregnant. They took me straight to EPU which confirmed ectopic pregnant.. I had surgery the next day. Please phone GP/EPU or A&E it's not worth the risk.

FrogandToad · 10/07/2023 13:07

I had no symptoms at all with my ectopic pregnancy. As I had had a previous missed miscarriage, I booked a private scan for 8 weeks.

Attended the scan and no pregnancy could be found. But I knew I was pregnant, I had tested every few days and my dates were 100% correct.

Went to a&e, they scanned and found it straight away in my fallopian tube, they were amazed I wasn't in any pain at 8 weeks.

I started to bleed later that day but they were already prepping me for surgery.

Better to be checked, just in case!