Am I having a missed miscarriage?

[Leo090813]

Hi ladies, I had a faint BFP 2 days before my AF came, assumed it was an indent/evap as period had come. This was 7 days ago and on day 2 of period I had EXTREME cramping to the point I was crying in bed. Sorry TMI but the blood was sooo dark almost black. My periods usually last 5 days MAX and I'm on day 7 now and still bleeding heavily which has had like small black clots in. No large clots from what I've seen. Does this sound like im having a MMC? My period pains have never ever been as bad as they were that night. I would just like to know if this is a MMC or weird period. Do you think if I tested it would show positive if it was indeed a MMC? Thanks ladies x

@Chica1990

‘Maybe you weren’t pregnant at all’ - what a thing to say! To be honest I don’t think a lot of gps know much about gynaecology issues. I was lucky with my gp she thought something was weird on my pregnancy test and referred me to the epu. They scanned me when they thought I was 4 weeks (I was actually around 8) and did blood tests, even if you can’t get a scan I would push for another blood test to compare levels, stagnant levels over a 48 hour period is an indicator of ectopic. Where abouts in the country are you?

Sorry you’re going through this and of course it could unfortunately be on the way to a miscarriage but the bleeding is worrying and it’s really worth making sure nothing bad is going on. Like you said the silly doctor pointed out it’s not a ruptured ectopic - but it’s better to find out when it’s unruptured!!

Honestly that broke my heart saying that! I said I've had 3 tests how can they all be fake positives? He just said "it's possible". I've phoned my GP this morning to see if they can refer me to another hospital for an early scan, he said the same thing that it'll be too early to scan even to check for ectopic, so I just need to wait, he said unless I get huge amounts of blood loss/pain then I'll need to go back to A&E. it feels horrendous knowing I've got to do a week of this, I have work and home schooling to do and I just can't get my mind off of this situation. Do u think I should retest again in few days and if the line is getting fainter I'll assume it's MC? X

OP the dark blood you're mentioning should be setting off triggers to even the dumbest of medical professional. Prune juice is often the description given for bleeding associated with an ectopic. Push hard to have your bloods taken from the EPU.

Your levels are low so hopefully the chances of it rupturing if it was an ectopic are also very low but blood levels can be taken every 48 hours which will help determine what you're potentially looking at. I would ring your EPU directly even if you do need to self refer.

OP the dark blood you're mentioning should be setting off triggers to even the dumbest of medical professional. Prune juice is often the description given for bleeding associated with an ectopic. Push hard to have your bloods taken from the EPU.

Your levels are low so hopefully the chances of it rupturing if it was an ectopic are also very low but blood levels can be taken every 48 hours which will help determine what you're potentially looking at. I would ring your EPU directly even if you do need to self refer.

Hey, keep an eye on it and symptoms with increased blood flow (more than a pad an hour) or pain and I would go into A&E or at a minimum call 111. I know GPs and medical services are struggling at the moment but if I were you I would keep pushing. I'm surprised that they haven't offered a repeat hcg. Even with that it can give you a lot of information. You need to be your own medical advocate. Is private an option for you?

I would test again tomorrow and check to see if there's a line progression or decrease. Its not a great way to check because you will always get a positive if there is hcg present. But it's something that you can do. After my mc's which were diagnosed with hcg blood tests over a week and a scan they told me it looked like both were self resolving and to do another test week after bleeding stopped to confirm that the pregnancy had ended. And if I had still a positive to call the epu immediately.

Once you have been reffered to the epu (normally via gp or ems) you are able to self refer in the future.

I really hope all gets resolved quickly for you. Make a hot water bottle and try to rest. Which I know is near impossible with dc already.

@kirinm

OP the dark blood you're mentioning should be setting off triggers to even the dumbest of medical professional. Prune juice is often the description given for bleeding associated with an ectopic. Push hard to have your bloods taken from the EPU.

Your levels are low so hopefully the chances of it rupturing if it was an ectopic are also very low but blood levels can be taken every 48 hours which will help determine what you're potentially looking at. I would ring your EPU directly even if you do need to self refer.

Thanks for your reply. I've read the same regarding colour of blood but doc didn't seem worried. The a&e I went to is on the same site as the EPU, I'm scared to ring them and the doc ring me and say I told you to wait! I asked GP if they could take my bloods to check levels and he said there's no point as it's still too early to tell which from what I'm reading is crap, if they're declining it's obvious I'm miscarrying and if they're not then the bleeding needs to be investigated! Makes me wish I just lied about my period dates so that they would scan me! I'll see how I feel today and talk to my boyfriend about next steps. Thanks for your help x

I've had two ectopics that started with bleeding that went on for days. Please go to the A&E if you can as even with low hcg there is still a chance of rupture. Don't mean to scare you but you really have to be careful. I too got a blazing bfp, that kept going light, then dark, then light again. I've recently had surgery and methotrexate all in the space of a couple of months and it is honestly the worst things I've been through. So get a scan as soon as you can, and I send very best wishes to you!

@Funkypickle

Hey, keep an eye on it and symptoms with increased blood flow (more than a pad an hour) or pain and I would go into A&E or at a minimum call 111. I know GPs and medical services are struggling at the moment but if I were you I would keep pushing. I'm surprised that they haven't offered a repeat hcg. Even with that it can give you a lot of information. You need to be your own medical advocate. Is private an option for you?

I would test again tomorrow and check to see if there's a line progression or decrease. Its not a great way to check because you will always get a positive if there is hcg present. But it's something that you can do. After my mc's which were diagnosed with hcg blood tests over a week and a scan they told me it looked like both were self resolving and to do another test week after bleeding stopped to confirm that the pregnancy had ended. And if I had still a positive to call the epu immediately.

Once you have been reffered to the epu (normally via gp or ems) you are able to self refer in the future.

I really hope all gets resolved quickly for you. Make a hot water bottle and try to rest. Which I know is near impossible with dc already.

Thank you. I think testing tomorrow is a good idea to see how the line is looking. Either way I'm not hopeful this is going to be a viable pregnancy so I just hope the bleeding stops soon and that my tests show negative ASAP so we can move on. Thanks for your advice re EPU x

@Halli2020

I've had two ectopics that started with bleeding that went on for days. Please go to the A&E if you can as even with low hcg there is still a chance of rupture. Don't mean to scare you but you really have to be careful. I too got a blazing bfp, that kept going light, then dark, then light again. I've recently had surgery and methotrexate all in the space of a couple of months and it is honestly the worst things I've been through. So get a scan as soon as you can, and I send very best wishes to you!

Sorry for your losses and thank you for your advice. As mentioned above with the EPU being linked to the a&e that I visited I'm scared they'll just tell me to listen to doctors advice and test in a week. Going to chat with my boyfriend and discuss next steps. Thanks

Don't be scared about calling the EPU. Call them and tell them you've had dark bleeding, pain, positive pregnancy tests and your hCG levels were quite low when testing in A&E. Say you are concerned about an ectopic. Some EPUs are crap but these are all issues that suggest some investigations are needed. A scan may not show anything but repeat blood tests may.

Also, I'm 100% sure the A&E doctor will not call you!

@kirinm

Don't be scared about calling the EPU. Call them and tell them you've had dark bleeding, pain, positive pregnancy tests and your hCG levels were quite low when testing in A&E. Say you are concerned about an ectopic. Some EPUs are crap but these are all issues that suggest some investigations are needed. A scan may not show anything but repeat blood tests may.

I know I'm just being a wimp I think I'll call them then, and see what they say. Thank you! I'll let you know what they say. Thanks

I know how stressful this is but a scan wouldn't show either way at this stage. Unfortunately you have to wait. Although I don't know why your gp isn't organising more blood tests.
If you are in intense pain or filling a pad an hour go to a&e.
I hope everything is ok for you.

I'm so sorry that you're going through this and that you're in limbo atm.
I agree with pp suggesting you call the epu. Call the hospital switchboard and ask to be put straight through to them xx

Thanks for all the advice about calling EPU. They've arranged repeat bloods and scan Friday morning. I'm so relieved. Will just be nice to know either way. Pray for me! X

Bless you OP. So glad you’ve got a plan of action. I’ll keep everything crossed for you that it’s a good outcome. Stay safe and rest up

That’s really good they booked you in without a referral.

Like someone else said they may not find anything on a scan so prepare yourself for that but the bloods should give an indication of what’s going on.

Fingers crossed for you!

Really pleased you've got an appointment. I can't stand it that women are so frequently fobbed off by GPs or A&E doctors.

I'm so pleased too and wouldn't have known to do it if you guys hadn't told me so thank you. No matter what the outcome I'm just pleased I'll know more in two days rather than waiting a week. So thank you all! X

Morning all, just a quick update, still bleeding but not heavy. I've also started getting some serious pregnancy symptoms, the sorest nipples and achey boobs, and keep gagging when I brush my teeth sorry tmi! I had no pregnancy symptoms before so does this suggest as the symptoms are increasing that things could be ok? X

I really pray this is good news for you OP, and remember that bleeding during early pregnancy is very common! But with my ectopics I had pregnancy symptoms, sore boobs, feeling sick, certain foods made me sick to my stomach so I thought it was a good sign. But you won't know until you get your scan, or bloods done. Please update us and again I wish you the very best. Keep strong!

I don't want to give you false hope @Leo090813 - if it an ectopic, you can still get pregnancy symptoms. I hope that isn't what it is.

Ok thank you ladies. Praying for good news tomorrow! I'll keep up the thread updated x

Thinking of you today x

Good luck today. Let us know how you get on x

@Leo090813 good luck today