Pregnant after lots of bleeding?

[Chica1990]

Hi everyone, long time lurker here.

I’ve been ttc since July 2019 with no luck. This cycle has been pretty weird as I have been bleeding since my last period and started bleeding again with heavy cramps on day 22 (Thursday 24th). I even woke up early Sunday morning (cat woke me up) and noticed I had pains in my lower back.
Just because the cycle had been so weird I did a cheap strip pregnancy test Sunday morning and noticed a faint line on there. I’ve done more tests and even a digital (with my second wee of the day) and they all came back positive, days after I started what I thought was an early period. I was even wearing tampons on Saturday!

Do you think there is something else going on or have you experienced or know of a lot of blood with a positive at the end? I know some people aren’t aware they aren’t pregnant for a while and after this I can understand why! (If I actually am). My best friend who miscarried earlier this year said her pregnancy tests started showing negative before she bled at all.

If any of you can share your experiences or wisdom I’d really appreciate it as I’m so confused.. please also keep your fingers crossed this is the real deal!!

If it is the real deal and anyone is interested in knowing what new things I did this month I’m happy to share

[Chica1990]

@kirinm I’m doing ok! The days since I came home have passed surprisingly quick. I decided to tell my friends rather than keeping it secret (I hadn’t told them I was even trying before) and they have been incredible. They have spread out seeing me weekend just gone and this week so I have a visit to look forward to every day and have been spoiling me with pampering treats and flowers.
I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders by telling them everything and it’s been weirdly liberating. I like to think if they have a positive test under weird circumstances they can come to me and I can encourage them to get to the bottom of things too.
I’m going to have this week off work to really relax, I want to be sick of sitting down and really be ready to go back!
Mentally I’ve been thinking about the loss more than I expected, but I know it’s normal. Hopefully when things go back to normal I won’t think about it as much. I’ll be booking in for my infertility appointment as soon as I get my next period but I’m worried they won’t want to see me now!

Sorry for the long update. How have you been? Thank you for being kind and checking in on me. I would love to send you something as a thank you but I appreciate it can be weird to send your address to someone online. I’m just so grateful I’ve had you there all the way through! I’ve been lucky.

[kirinm]

This thread fell off my active list and I couldn't find it.

How are you doing @Chica1990 ?

[Kate105]

Glad you’re doing ok @Chica1990! I wasn’t as far on as you so managed to escape with keyhole surgery thankfully. However I was horribly lumpy for the first week or so, to the point where I was actually worried that the surgeon had been really messy and I was going to have these awful scars! But after that everything really did settle down a lot so don’t worry, that will improve eventually! Glad you’ve got your mum for company, that’s really lovely xxx

[Chica1990]

I had heard of ectopic before obviously but I wouldn’t have considered it happening to me before. I can’t believe it’s as common as it is now I’ve heard the stats on it.

I’m feeling more myself today but really tired. I slept surprisingly well last night considering I usually sleep on my front but had to stay flat on my back. My mum booked this week off to stay at home with me while the OH is at work and it’s been really nice having the company :) xx

[kirinm]

Glad I could be of some use @Chica1990 just sorry you've had to go through this. I hate to be the person who brings up ectopics on threads like yours but heavy bleeding followed by positive tests just triggers that response in me.

I really think a complaint against the EPU is a good idea. No one is suggesting they would have discovered an ectopic at that stage but IMO they should have done repeat bloods. How hard is that?

How are you feeling?

[Chica1990]

Thank you @Bizawit

I know, really thank god! I’m so appreciative, especially as I was so confused at the time. I think if I didn’t have the responses here to encourage me to keep questioning this (particularly @kirinm) I probably would have buried my head in the sand and gave up (until things went BANG).

I’m definitely going to raise a complaint about the EPU next week. Not everyone has the typical unwell and pain signals that’s in their textbook!

[Bizawit]

@Chica1990 I’m so so sorry you are going through this . Wishing you a speedy and emotional recovery.

Thank god you were able to get advice from this forum, from women who’ve been through similar, and advocate for yourself . This makes it all the more shocking how the first EPU treated you. I hope this all gets fed back and they realise how outrageous their behaviour was.

[Chica1990]

@LynzP85 they did say I could contact the GP if I felt I needed more time off. I’m fortunate enough that I can work from home at the moment which does ease the pressure/stress of facing work if you get what I mean.
Thank you for the crossed fingers and I will have mine crossed for you to get a bfp soon.

@Kate105 I’m glad to hear you are feeling better. One thing I did forgot to mention (or maybe I did mention it) was I also needed a laparotomy to remove the ectopic due to it being larger than they thought as it was 8 weeks. Did you have the same and is it with this you had the stitches? They look bloody awful it’s like they are poking out. I think it’s actually the abdominal cut that is causing the most discomfort.

You’re right, it was all the uncertainty before which was upsetting and at least it’s done now. In hindsight it was all heading this way but I was in denial because I felt fine at the time. Hopefully I make a speedy recovery like you! I hope emotionally you will be ok too.

[Kate105]

Hope you’re doing ok today @Chica1990 it’s a bit rough to start with but just take all the painkillers they offer you! And if you’re on codeine then I would definitely treat myself to some laxatives 😂🙈

I’m three weeks post surgery tomorrow and I was back to work on Monday. I’m feeling so much better now although I’m only just losing the last of my stitches- whatever they tell you, they do not dissolve in 7-10 days!!! Emotionally I think I’m ok, although we’ll see if anything hits me retrospectively. But I do think the worst part of this was all the uncertainty and once I knew what the problem was and what I needed to do to fix it, it was still horrible but a lot less stressful. Xxx

[LynzP85]

@Chica1990 I'm pleased you finally got some answers to what has gone on here but I'm sad it has ended this way. I had my fingers crossed for you.

Please make sure you speak to your GP and take some time off work, I took 6 weeks off after my miscarriage in July - I needed recovery time from the MVA procedure plus I wanted to stay off until my first period came as I had heard it can be quite heavy. Interestingly my first period (August) was light - about 4 days, and came a month after the procedure, however my September period was much heavier- I was changing tampons every two hours and had to wear pads at bedtime which I've not done for years so just a heads up your body might do things in a different order to what we expect.

We went back to trying after my first period, no luck last month, but we've just had my second ovulation cycle so fingers crossed this month.

Please also look into speaking to a counsellor, I also did this as I'm surrounded by 4 friends who are all due November-February and I wasn't sure how I would cope when their babies arrive. I've really enjoyed my therapy sessions - we've cover more than just baby loss so it's been really worthwhile.

Sending love xx

[Chica1990]

Thank you @Smoby and thank you for your previous advice too x

[Smoby]

Sorry to hear what you've been through OP. Wishing you a speedy recovery x

[Chica1990]

@kirinm I felt a bit silly for going through with at the time especially as I felt well in myself and wasn’t in massive pain but they did say it would have been unavoidable and definitely was the best thing to do! I feel really sore now (woken up and can’t get back down) and I’ve put put on a ward where there is a really unwell woman muttering to herself and making odd noises. Luckily I have my phone, Netflix and AirPods!
I did see your message before I went in but didn’t get a chance to reply. Thank you for taking the time to checki in on me throughout all of this and validating my concerns. It’s been a big help And reassurance especially as I hadn’t told many people at all due to not knowing what’s going on.

@Kate105 thank you for the well wishes. I’m sorry this happened to you too. I’m sure like me there you thought there could be no way you would be that unlucky. How are you now?

Thank you @MF1981. I wish I could sleep more tonight but I’ve been signed off work for two weeks so will have plenty of time to catch up!

Thank you again to everyone has posted during the past horrible week and a half! Fingers crossed I’m ok to go home tomorrow so I can start putting this behind me. I will have to wait another period before I can try again but after this experience I’m not too sad about the idea of a one month break Xxx

[MF1981]

Sorry to hear this @Chica1990 - rest up xx

[Kate105]

I’ve lurked on this post from the start but I just wanted to send my best wishes to you OP. I had my right tube removed three weeks ago due to an ectopic and while I was really sore for the first few days, you will feel better surprisingly quickly. It’s a really shit situation and it’s really unlucky since it’s so uncommon, but you’re not alone! I’m sorry you’ve had to go through all of this. Good luck xxx

[kirinm]

Oh @Chica1990 what a stressful day for you. I am so pleased you went ahead and so glad you have been so well looked after. I'm sorry that they had to remove a tube but it sounds like it was necessary. Are you feeling any better now?

[Chica1990]

I don’t even know where to begin with today.

Got here at 7.30am and did the blood test, the hcg had gone down to 201 which isn’t the rapid drop they would have liked to have seen. I went ahead with the diagnostic laparoscopy and they said they would remove an ectopic if they saw one.

I didn’t realise how unpleasant the lead up was especially as I’m not great with needles and that thing my arm was freaking me out. I had a little cry when the doctor left as I was regretting the decision and overwhelmed, but the nurses heard me and came in to chat to me, they were so lovely and re assuring. I had to wait for a rapid COVID test and I think it was at around 1pm when the theatre was ready for me and came out at 3pm.

It was ectopic and they removed the tube as the other tube looks really good. They said it was a larger mass than expected and think I was more like 8 weeks at that point, rather than the 4 (plus a few days) I had been telling them. I’m in absolute shock, they offered to show me pictures and I don’t think I could have got my head around it if I didn’t see it with my own eyes.

I said I’m surprised they couldn’t see it on the scan if it was further along but apparently it was towards my bowel and it could have been mistaken for feical(?) matter and with the blood on Friday it would have been difficult to see.

I was hoping to go home tonight but I didn’t wee much and when I got back to the bed I felt like o was going to vomit and started burning up.

Sorry if this is all over the place as I feel really groggy. I just wanted to let you guys know the outcome. I can’t even explain how well looked after I’ve been and the staff have been outstanding.

@MF1981 If you haven’t then do a test just in case! The alarming thing for me was all that bleeding with the really strong positives

[MF1981]

hey @Chica1990 how are you?

Your post caught my attention as I'm also having an early period that is lighter than usual but is red and more than a panty liner's worth - it's lasted a couple of days and then stopped. Now I'm tired and have a headache but not really any other symptoms. I called the fertility clinic today to get the ball rolling with treatment to start next month and she did ask if I'd taken a test but when I said it was red blood with a few small clots she said it's probably just an early period. Thinking I might wait and see what happens when my period is due end of this week.

[CliffordMouse]

Good luck today OP

[kirinm]

Good luck today @Chica1990 I will be thinking of you.

[ShalomToYouJackie]

My situation was definitely not normal and even the NHS website says you go home the same day. I'd never been put under before but the anaesthetists will look after you and reassure you.

I didn't want to tell work either so I just told them I was having emergency gynaecology surgery and they didn't ask any more questions. That's what I asked to be put on my sick note also so you could try that

[Chica1990]

Sorry I meant to say the blood around my ovaries was not noted on the Friday scan, so it seemed to be a new development.

@kirinm I am really nervous but I think this is mostly due to never having been put under before. The OH has and is trying to put my mind at rest if it does come to it, bless him.

@ShalomToYouJackie you sound like you had a horrible time of it! Thank you for prepping me as I’ve never had anything like this before. Hopefully if it does happen I can get back to normal quickly and put this behind me.


I really don’t want the director of the company (who I directly report to) to know the situation. Luckily we have an in house HR lady now who has children but I’m going to ask her to keep it confidential. I only want her to know so I can have the flexibility of using my paid sick days for this.

Out of interest, how did you approach this with work?

[ShalomToYouJackie]

Yes I had a laparoscopy too, I was home after 3 days I think but most people go home the same day. I have one very very small scar on my left side and they did the other incision through my belly button so although it's a slightly weird shape now, it's not visible at all.


It took me around 2 weeks to fully recover, I struggled quite a bit with getting out of bed and walking but other women on the ward who had the same thing done were completely fine and allowed home as soon as they'd been for a wee and could walk no problem, I'm not sure what happened to me, I think they told me they accidentally cut a bit of muscle so I was quite unlucky!

You feel a bit sick when you wake up and can be a bit uncomfortable because they pump gas into your stomach I believe but this fades really quickly, after an hour or so.

They'll give you painkillers and look after you and it's definitely worth it to be able to rule out ectopic or to treat it if that's what it is.

[kirinm]

Gosh, OP I will keep my fingers crossed that your levels drop. How are you feeling?

[Chica1990]

@kirinm I’ve never heard of that injection but I hate the idea of not being able to try for 3-6 more months when I feel like I’ve already waited ages. You’re right about the time it’s taking to resolve, it’s clear now this isn’t the real deal and my lining is even thinner now than Friday and I’m ready to move on, but my body won’t let me! I’m stuck. I’m so sorry you had to go through this too as it’s really frustrating.

I had another internal scan and they said there was a lot of blood around my ovaries especially the left which was noted on Friday. She called in another consultant and they mentioned to each other about vessels and things were close together? They were both lovely and really took their time looking around.
The scanner said you can usually only see ectopic on a scan if the hormone level is 1000 which I didn’t know?
She’s advised me to come in at 7.30 tomorrow and do another blood test, if it’s the same they want me to go in for a diagnostic laparoscopy so I won’t be eating and drinking from midnight.

@ShalomToYouJackie im sorry to hear about your experience, did you have a laparoscopy for them to determine this?
They haven’t been able to see a sac in either scans for me. Thank you for sharing your experience and words of support.

Fingers crossed for me tomorrow. Hopefully it will have dropped by a significant amount and a laparoscopy won’t be necessary. I just want this to be over now.