TTC following an ectopic pregnancy

[PinkElephant]

Hi, My DH and I have been TTC for the last 8 months and finally found out I was pregnant before christmas. Since then I have been in hospital and have been treated for an ectopic pregnancy. I was given a hefty dose of Methotrexate which has made me feel rotten and should induce a miscarriage soon. We can't start TTC for 3 months now which is really hard to take as it took us a while the first time - but everything will have to be on hold until the summer now. Has anyone experienced this?

Sorry for your loss, I haven't experience of this, but bumping for you incase someone comes along

PinkElephant, I didn't post on the other thread as I didn't want it to get lost amongst the other posts!!

I am so so so truly sorry to hear about your ectopic pregnancy! It must be totally devastating for you and DH. How very awful. I am sure that you are giving each other the support you need right now. (((Hugs))) It's a shame that you have to wait to ttc again, but that time will soon come around. I understand you being worried about it happening again... but I am sure there are plenty of women out there who have gone on the have healthy pregnancies and gorgeous bouncy babies!!

It's really difficult to know exactly what to say in a situation like this. I want to remain positive for you (don't I always!!) without sounding insincere!! I can't imagine how much this must be hurting but my natural urge is to say hang in there!! Pathetic thing to say, but hey, that's me!!

All the best for you flower!! Fingers crossed for a summer of hot sex (!) and a healthy pregnancy thereafter!!!

Thinking of you.

Kitty and Ready - thank you for your kind words xx

Hi, i had a EP and ruptured tube at the end of november. They didnt give me the Meth shot as tubed had ruptured. Ive also been told to wait 3 months.

At first 3 months sounded ages away but im half way there now (6 weeks post op) and i know that the next 6 weeks will fly.

My fiancee and i are so eager to start trying again but were taking our Dr's advice and waiting.

Dr told me that if i conceived before the 3 months the risk of another EP is slightly higher.

The next 3 months will fly by and before you know it you'll be pregnant again.

I had an EP diagnosed today. I had an collasped ectopic, which meant that my tube is still intact and didn't need metho either but I don't know how long I should wait.

Hi SGK, so sorry to here of your loss. Was just reading your thread on the precnancy board. Have you started to bleed heavy yet? Hope that you dont have too much pain. If you visit www.ectopic.org (ectopic pregnancy trust) they will be able to advise you on how long to wait. Im sure though in all cases they say wait for at least 2 full cycles or 3 months. Which ever is the soonest. Apparently if you conceive before then, the risk of another EP is slightly higher.

Look after yourself. Have long hot bubble baths and lots of chocolate {{{HUG}}}xxx

missnatalie I read your thread when it was happened. I haven't started bleeding heavy yet and I still am having cramps.

Missnatalie - will you TTC straight away after the 6wks you have left to wait?

SGC - I asked yesterday what will happen to me and they said in a month or two I will have a detailed xray which will check everything is ok in my uterus, apparently a scan is of no use as it won't be able to pick up the small detail if I no longer pregnant. Are you still to have your blood monitored?

oops - SGC was supposed to be SGK, maybe I'll go back to calling you sparkly!!

Hello there,

I'm so sorry to read your sad news. I had an ectopic pregnancy in October 2005 (I had surgery). As has been suggested, please come and check out www.ectopic.org - The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust (EPT) - there's loads of useful information on the homepage and there are also messageboards, with a lot of ladies (sadly) who are in a similar position to you now, so you don't have to be 'alone'... and of course there's everyone here too. I rarely post here, more of a browser, but was on here when my EP was first diagnosed.

Take care

And the information on Methotrexate that the EPT has will help you understand why medics recommend waiting to ttc again...

Hi Pink Elephant, yes we will be ttc straight away although my period is due approx 4 days after the 6 weeks is up. By the time we ttc again i will probably be 13-14 weeks post op. Ive been taking folic adid for a couple of weeks now too. Hopefully, fingers cross next time will be alot easier.

Dont worry. Your time will come Pink Elephant. The 3 months does fly by and before you know it you'll be feeling sick and putting on weight

How long after the methotrexate can you start taking folic acid, vitamins and drink alcohol? Do you have to wait till levels are back at zero?

Please read the Methotrexate info on the EPT's site - it will help you understand the reasons for waiting to take folic acid, drink, etc. One reason is that meth affects the liver function. Please check out the information - did your hospital not give you anything on discharge?

I didn't have metho or any surgery, as my EP was self-resolving so should I start taking folic acid now, so that I am ready? Am still bleeding, with some cramping.

how are you doing, skg? as far as i'm aware that shouldn't be a problem have you thought about posting your qu on the EPT website? self-resolving eps are becoming more common (in that docs are becoming more confident about not treating with metho to be on the safe side) but they're pretty rare. best thing you could do would be to shout out for Izzie on the EPT
site. and she will be able to confirm or deny my gut feeling that you should still wait a few months before ttc even without metho...

Yes it was, but being pregnant made me realised that I am ready for another baby. Now all my kids are at school, and I am older now (28 on the 13th!! OMG) I am ready to do it again.

Aicth, I am ok, thanks for asking. I still haven't really cried, but I feel ok.

maybe it'll hit you, maybe not. the second time for me was very different from the first, so perhaps that's the same for you.

I cried at the hospital, my dad wanted a coffee and we went to the cafe where I burst into tears. But that was it. This is different to my miscarriage, everything feels different. I just know how happy we were when we found out I was pregnant, everyone was, and now we are left with nothing.

All I know, is that its wierd to me that I have been pregnant 5 times but only have 3 children, very strange....

i've got one from three... it is weird, isn't it? all those little promises, coming to nothing... not much to say on that except that i agree with you.

JJane - thanks for the advise. I did have a look on the ectopic website. I went back in to see my hospital doctor yesterday as I was having really sharp pains in addition to the constant cramping, she's really helpful. I will ask all the queries about folic acid etc in my FU appointment which will be hopefully be within the next 3 months.

Sparkly - I just feel completely numb to be honest. I was very tearful whilst in hospital and just have to think about it and I fill up. But I haven't really cried properly and don't feel I can. I just feel I need to get through the blood tests and generally feel better on this wicked methotrexate. At the moment I just want all the aches and pains to go away now and my body to be normal again.