they're saying it might be ectopic and leaving me to wait 5 days!!

[tasmaniandevilchaser]

I'm a mess, I just can't stop crying. They said my HCG levels mean I'm either going to have a miscarriage or I've got an ectopic pregnancy, then to come back on Friday for another blood test.

I had a MMC 3 months ago and I am just on the floor now. How do I get up and go to work tomorrow?

Oh my dear, I'm so sorry to hear that.

From a practical point of view, do you HAVE to go to work tomorrow? Can you not call in sick (if the GP won't give you a note to cover it, just make something up)?

Hi Northey, I think I remember you from when I had the MMC, you were very kind then as well.

I could maybe take the morning off work, but have something booked in for the afternoon, where I know the person I'm seeing has had to book in annual leave so they can get off work and see me. I can't let them down, though god knows if I'll make any sense!!! Maybe being busy will help....

I've been looking at threads about low hcg and now I have some hope, which is probably the worst thing! For anyone who knows about these things, hcg levels on Saturday were 200 and today (Monday) 268, so not looking good at all.
I've got to go back on Friday for more blood tests. I just want them to scan me, but they say it's too early (5 wks).

After the MMC last year, I never thought I'd hear myself say a miscarriage would be the better option.

I remembered your name, but didn't realise it was from that. We must stop meeting like this Oh how crap it all is. You poor thing.

If it's too early to scan, how can they diagnose an ectopic pregnancy for certain? Are they basically saying that you have to carry on until the foetus is big enough to see, in whatever location it is? It seems a horrible thing to have to do.

Maybe being busy will help, and distract you from obsessing about it, but if you feel like taking the morning off, then I think you should do so.

What are you doing tonight? How are you feeling at the moment?

hi, they can't diagnose anything for certain, they say it's likely to be either a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy Yes, they are basically saying I just have to wait until something either happens (i.e. miscarriage) or it gets big enough for them to see something - they can tell how big it is from the HCG levels.

DH came home from work, so I've got someone with me now. We're watching a very rubbish DVD. I don't feel as bad now, just resigned to more crap for a few months.

Oh :( so sorry this is happening.

This happened to me. I started bleeding at 7 weeks but because the HCG levels didn't fall quickly they assumed it was an ectopic rather than just a straightforward MC. I had to go to the hospital every other day for 3 weeks so they could monitor me. They never found anything and I didn't have any pain. Eventually the levels dropped far enough for them to be assured that I wasn't about to keel over. It was an awful few weeks but at least I escaped without needing surgery.

One good thing that did come out of it was that with subsequent pregnancies I had early scans to check they weren't ectopic.

How crap that there isn't a better way to manage it.

I'm glad you've got your DH with you - feeling sunken-hearted on your own is miserable.

Another good (well, relatively) thing is that your levels are low enough that if they do diagnose an ectopic you should be able to choose methotrexate instead of surgery, if that is what you would prefer.

Hi, thanks for your replies. Pandnot, that sounds awful. Glad that you went on to have more babies.

Feel rubbish this morning, but am going to just get on with my day best I can. With the MMC, I needed to sit and do nothing, but as I don't know what's going on, I need to keep busy until I do know.

How have you been doing, tasmanian? I just wanted to say I have my fingers crossed for you for tomorrow's scan. Will your DH be able to be with you, or would you rather go alone?

hi there Northey, thanks for checking in! Don't think they'll scan me tomorrow as HCG levels not high enough. Think it'll just be a blood test and then they'll call me later on that day to tell me the results. DH is taking the day off work, bless him, as I don't mind going for the blood tests alone, but don't want to sit around all afternoon fretting on my own.

Monday wasn't great but Tuesday was a lot better, I went back to work and it was good to be distracted. There's nothing I can do, so I just keep plodding on. I've started bleeding a bit again, so I'm not holding out much hope, but it's all out of my hands. I'll pop back tomorrow with some news. x

forgot to say, I went to my (long suffering) GP on Tuesday, she examined me and said it's not presenting as ectopic, which was very reassuring. I don't feel at all unwell or have any pain, so it's pretty unlikely. In fact boobs are definitely feeling bigger. There I go again, getting hopes up! It's most likely to be a miscarriage which I can live with. The thought of an ectopic with tubes scarring was very upsetting and I'm very relieved that's unlikely.

How awful for you but it is good that you're not in any pain indicating that it could be ectopic, be kind to yourself x

thanks RandomMess!

It's bad news, it's ectopic. I'm having the injection to stop the pregnancy on Monday. What shitty luck.

Oh tas I'm really truly sorry to hear that :(

Thinking of you.

Fuck, tas. I'm so sorry. Did they scan you today? What happened?

Sorry to read that, I hope there is no physical damage the emotional is hard enough on it's own

yes, blood tests from this morning said levels have started to double, and I reported wierd side and back pain when I went in so they got me in again late this afternoon and scanned me. The nurse was lovely, there's not a lot to see as it's so early, but you can see a little blob in the tube near the womb end. I feel so angry, a couple of centimetres further and it would have been ok. TTC has been a nightmare without all of this now it's just going to be more of a hassle. The nurse did say your tubes can swing around in there and catch an egg from either side, which I didn't know! Miraculous stuff!

But your tube is going to be saved anyway, is it? If you are having the injection?

I assume they think you are not at risk of rupture, if they are happy to wait till Monday for the injection, but please promise us you will be alert in the meantime to any worsening pain?

Yes the tube will still be there, but they say it's probably been scarred from an infection, so will be more likely to have another ectopic.

Yes I will definitely be alert to any pain! I'm obsessing about it! I don't have any pain at all now, so I guess I'm lucky (ha! BITTER emoticon!)

Ha. Yeah, GREAT.

And dizziness as well, is apparently another thing to look out for.

What are you doing this weekend? Busy or quiet?

I'm sorry you are going through this. I have had two ectopic pregnancies. Has any one suggested googling the ectopic pregnancy trust, wealth of info and support. It helped me through the darkest times.

Dizziness? I'd better eat something! I'm feeling faint from not eating (a proper sign of stress for greedy old me!) Quiet weekend, DD is going to my parents' house. I just want to crawl under a duvet. I'm normally very positive, I can think of some upside to most things in my life, but I'm struggling with this one. Thankfully I'm already in the hospital counselling system from the MMC, so I've got an appt booked for next month. That's one good thing I suppose.

I had DD1, then ep, DD2, then ep, then DD3. I had an op the first time round then methatrexate (sp?) the second time. I have a tilted womb which apparently means ectopics more likely?

There is something called maya abdominal massage, which may be useful when trying to concieve. Google.

thanks eliza, it's good to hear that you can go onto have more children. Sorry it has happened twice to you. I'm feeling miserable today and terrified at every twinge. My lower back is aching on one side, it's so rubbish all this happening at the weekend.