ERPC (D & C): Worried I may have an infection-please share your experience after an ERPC or D & C

[chickenrice]

Following ERPC on Wednesday, had left-sided pain which eased off by the end of the day. Bleeding eased off (red to brown) the next couple of days but by the weekend it was red again and I have passed a couple of big clots. Had and am still having pelvic pain but more worryingly started having and still have a sharp right sided pain near ovaries. Especially painful last night. Am really worried whether this could be an infection. Already have adhesions from endometriosis outside the uterus. I do not want to get ones inside following a possible infection.

Also did anyone get any antibiotics after the procedure because I did not?

I went to the EPAU yesterday but was not seen by the doctor. The nurse did not examine me but said it might just be cystitis and I should drink a lot of water and cranberry juice. Rang up this morning to ask to speak to the consultant who did the procedure because I did not see any doctor after the procedure but was told he was not in the unit and really I should come back next week if the pain persists.

I would be grateful if anyone could tell me whether in their experience they have had increased pain and blood loss after the blood loss subsided and any one-sided pain and whether it is normal to receive antibiotics after the procedure. I know that it can be normal to bleed between one and two weeks and pass some clots but am worried that I may have an infection and that the delay in being examined by the doctor can lead to any infection taking hold and me having recurrent miscarriages or further problems with fertility as a result.

CR, I had ERPC following molar pregnancy. I did have the bleeding start up again after petering out , which was one of the things I'd been warned to look out for. I went back for a checkup, but it was nothing. As far as I remember I was't given antibiotics after the ERPC. I would go to GP if friendly, A&E if GP no good and you are truly worried.

It is a horrible time (mine passed in an alcoholic haze). It does get better, though.

Hope it clears up for you soon.

Yes, do insist you are seen.
I had a hideous bout about three weeks after an ERPC - remember it sharply, we'd been pranged (not at all dangerously, hit a suitcase that had fallen off someone's car) on a motorway in the middle of the night and we were waiting for the AA and I was in a heap by the side of the road, that's enough about me - and it turned out not that the ERPC had caused an infection but that it had made something (that had probably caused the miscarriage) flare up furiously.

A laparoscopy and course of horse-sized antibiotics later I was pregnant successfully.

my story fwiw - i had an infection 10 weeks after my EPRC although doctor said it had probably been around longer for that - had not been feeling great with hindsight. Had flu like symptoms and a period that went on and on. No pain as far as I remember. Thought it was just my cycle getting back to normal but then started having heavy bleeding and clots. sorted out quite quickly with ABs. could have been admitted to have them IV but opted to stay at home (well at the hotel - was actually on holiday at the time). Have been ok since. didn't have ABs at the time of the op. am currently TTC and have previously always got pregnant first month of trying (now on month 3) so am hoping there is not a link to the infection - hadn't even considered a link until I read your post !

I had to have a STOP (suction termination of pregnancy) in August as we were told our baby had a condition that was incompatible with life (another long story I have gone on about already on another thread!)

Anyway, I think maybe the recovery is similar to ERPC (though not sure). I bled a little for about 4 days. Then, after I thought all discharge had stopped, suddenly had red blood loss. I didn't really have pain though. I was then prescribed antibiotics as a precaution when I went to A&E.

I've had treatment to my cervix for abnormal cells in the past as well, and as soon as I had increased bleeding was also prescribed the same antibiotics. Again, as a precaution.

The antibiotics were horrible and made me feel wretched. I may not even have needed them, but I suppose I was glad they gave them to me just in case.

I think try your GP and then maybe go to A&E as well if you cannot get any joy anywhere else. The A&E nurses checked with the gynaecology ward when I went.

I had an ERPC for a missed miscarriage. Minimal bleeding for a few days then WHAM it was like Niagara Falls with HUGE clots. And the pain was indiscribable. Was away at the time, went and saw my in-laws GP (dh just put me in the car and took me there). Was reassurred it was reasonably common for this to happen and as by then it was already calming down I was sent home to rest with instructions to return if it started up again. It didn't.
I didn't have antibiotics.

Thinking of you.

hi
had erpc last dec and did not recieve antibiotics. Had very heavy bleeding for about 2 weeks after with clots etc. Pains and trouble going for a poop...all fine though it was apparently just part of the op???????? Dont know if it makes a difference what gestation baby is when you mc as I was found at 15wks but baby died around 9wks.

Hasnt affected fertility either as I am currently 7mths pg and actually due the day we found out last baby had died.

i would go back to the docs or hosp as asap just be checked out, don't want to scare you but if they have missed something or your pregnancy was ectopic, twins maybe they could ahve missed it and an ectopic can be very seriosu to your health, please get checked out to be on the safe side

Thanks for everyone's messages and I am sorry to hear of your losses.

It really helps to read them to understand some of the symptoms I am having.

Thanks Diddle for mentioning an ectopic but they have pretty much ruled that out as I had an emergency laparoscopy for a suspected ectopic 3 weeks ago and they found that the tubes were clear. It turned out to be a pocket of fluid that had collected behind the tube as a result of my adhesions from endo. They then suspected this to be a molar pregnancy which is why they did an ERPC but if it turns out that it is not it would possibly be an anembryonic gestation. Really , I would have liked to miscarry naturally but the consultant advised that the ERPC was the way to go. If I miscarried naturally, I would have accepted all this pain and bleeding, etc but I did not expect this with ERPC.

I am still having pelvic pain and pain on my right side. The bleeding seems to have eased off today. Went to the GP yesterday but she was useless. She said she had received some letters from the hospital but asked me to explain what had happened instead of reading them. She showed no interest in treating a possible infection and no sympathy. Despite me then requesting that she examines me not necessarily internally but just feels my abdomen, she said she did not need to and that I should return to the hospital because I was still under their care. Asked if it was possible that the symptoms I was getting was because the ERPC may have missed some products of coception, etc, she said that never happens.

Guess I will have to wait and see how this develops. Shall try the A & E next if pain worsens.

Hang in there, CR. Just to reassure you, with molar pregnancy ERPC is def. the way to go, and the earlier the better. I'm not convinced about the not missing things part -- I'm sure it's at least possible.

The post-ERPC is a very difficult time, and all your physical perceptions are heightened. It's most likely that your symptoms are within the normal range and will settle down by themselves. But if you're in agony, def. go to hospital.

Hope you feel better soon.

I'm not entirely sure what happened as I was 19 and the doctor deemed me too young to bother explaining properly. Either way I had a miscarriage, then a D&C, then kept on bleeding. For days, a weeks even I think IIRC. Big huge clots and constant running blood. Eventually I collapsed, and was taken to hopsital where the doctors said my blood count was alarmingly low, dangerously so, and I had to have an emergency blood transfusion.