Ectopic? Terrified.

[ARLOV3]

Hi all. TTC number 2.

Last month I had a chemical. Got a very faint BFP on the day AF was due but it stayed faint for a week (and stayed 1-2 on a digi) and AF came exactly 7 days late so 5 weeks pregnant.

I’ve had a couple of chemicals before DD so didn’t think much else of it. Never tested again to check the tests went negative (wish I had done this now).

The chemical did upset me a little more than I thought it would, so this month I decided not to track and obsess.

Long story short, I’ve just had a very faint BFP.

I’m driving myself nuts wondering if last month I didn’t have a chemical but an ectopic, that’s why AF came and maybe that’s why my test is still positive. I think I would be nearly 9 weeks if that was the case?

I’m terrified, I don’t know what to do or who to call, if I was 9 weeks with an egg in my tube wouldn’t it have ruptured by now? Wouldn’t I be in pain? What if it’s a ticking time bomb?

Sorry if it sounds like I’m overreacting but any advice would be helpful and put things into perspective.

Anyone? Is it possible it’s not ectopic just residual HCG from the previous pregnancy? I’m not sure why they would be lingering for so long especially as I was only 5 weeks with very light tests so would indicate very low HCG. Unless it was ectopic or something’s retained?

Ahh. Freaking out.

Hi hun I don't have much advice but I diddnt want to read and not reply, if you're concerned I would definitely phone you're doctors and ask for a scan or hcg blood test! Xx

It’s possible you never lost the pregnancy, or you were carrying twins and lost one, or maybe you have retained tissue? I’d contact your doctor x

Thank you @bethj123 @Sellandtravel I think the next step is definitely blood test 48 hours apart. I think I will just call EPU tomorrow as my Doctor is a bit useless and wouldn’t see me when I had the chemical.

Thanks for your messages x

Well you could have been pregnant last month, and are differently pregnant this month.

Best of luck!

Just left a message on EPU answerphone - hopefully they’ll call back tomorrow and can help me!

my Doctor is a bit useless and wouldn’t see me when I had the chemical

I'm sorry that you've been upset, but what would you expect them to do?

@Umbivalent I was going to ask if they’d do bloods 48 hours apart and to have a record of pregnancy and miscarriage but they didn’t want to see me.

Hi @ARLOV3 I’m so sorry for what you’re going through, I know how incredibly stressful it is, I have been through this myself!!

There are symptoms of ectopic. Unfortunately I didn’t have any and mine ruptured at approx. 8 weeks. It’s possible you had a chemical and are now pregnant again? I’d say it’s unlikely you’re having an ectopic if you’re possibly 9 weeks along you’d certainly be experiencing some type of pain. The best way to check initially for an ectopic is 48hrly blood tests. They can do scans but they don’t always show up (like in my case). Contact your GP or EPU (whoever will see you) tell them you’re concerned about an ectopic and you would like 48hrly blood tests. If it’s a normal pregnancy, the HCG in your blood tests will approx double every 48 hours. A big tell tale sign of ectopic is if the HCG IS rising SLOWLY but NOT doubling..
sending you all the love and strength in the world. Keep us updated. If you experience ANY pain please go straight to A&E / emergency.
Just to let you know, after I had my ectopic rupture my tube I had surgery to remove the tube but I was pregnant again 3 months after the surgery AND I for that pregnancy I ovulated from the side where there was no tube!! Xx

Ask for a scan before making any decisions.

Could you not just be pregnant again?

@ARLOV3 sorry you're worried and going through this. From what you've said I would assume it is a new pregnancy.

I've had multiple chemical pregnancies and wasn't seen for them, unfortunately there's nothing they can do but my dr did record mine when I told them I had a positive test so you can call and make sure they put it in your notes if you're concerned in case it happens again?

Hopefully all is well and this is a new pregnancy for you but I know how hard it is to dismiss something once the thought has popped up so follow it through and get checked so you can put your mind at rest and if it is it can be sorted. Good luck x

@Farfaraway1 so sorry to hear you went through that what you’ve said makes total sense so thank you for replying! I am waiting for EPU to call today and hopefully I can get a couple of blood tests done. Conceiving DD was a bit stressful with a couple of losses and then a further year before we conceived again, I told myself I’d be chilled this time around but all this has just been a stark reminder of how disappointing this journey can be, it’s hit me all over again!

@firsttimemummy321 thank you for your reply also - when I told the GP last time they just said I’d have to wait for my first midwife appointment I think they totally missed what I was trying to say, it’s all on an email service since Covid so I didn’t actually get a chance to speak to anyone and it looked like quite a generic copy and pasted message! But never mind, as you said apart from popping it on my notes there wouldn’t have been anything they could do.

@RizzleRazzle there is a chance! The line was just so faint, exactly like the ones were when I had the chemical, which just made me wonder if it’s the same ones lingering around.

Thank you all for helping me rationalise! Don’t know what I’d do without the TTC board!

Hi @ARLOV3, have you heard back from the EPU yet? Hoping you get some reassurance!

Hi @Lililou was going to update on Monday -

EPU were fantastic, called me back on Friday and had bloods drawn, got the result the same day and HCG came back as 44. She’s given me the paperwork to come back Monday to get another draw and also pencilled me in for a scan on Tuesday afternoon should I need it.

I did however take another test today and it’s much darker than the one I took when I first posted - darker than any of the tests got with my chemical last month so I am cautiously optimistic that this may actually be a new pregnancy and I’ve just caught it really early.

Will update on Monday! Thanks for checking in x

Oooh!!!! Best of luck!!!

@Umbivalent thank you! X

Hey @ARLOV3 what a stressful time for you 😭 I hope you get some good news at your scan and this new pregnancy is progressing well x

I had a chemical last month. My lines got darker, but a few days later I didn’t ‘feel’ pregnant anymore and tested and my line was so faint! The next day it had gone completely and the bleeding started. I was between 5-6 weeks when my chemical happened. It’s so heartbreaking to only be pregnant for week isn’t it 💔

Hi OP

Just wanted to pop my head round the door and say that I had a chemical pregnancy and then conceived DS3 the next month so it is possible for it to be a new pregnancy

Congratulations, hope all goes well!

Sorry to hear that @MsK89 yes it’s just frustrating to be like oh I’m pregnant! Then a week later oh no I’m not. I don’t think I was more than 5 weeks when mine happened either!

Ahh that’s wonderful @TJ17 I hope that’s what happens to me! I had 2 chemicals/early losses before DD but then it took me a whole year to conceive her after the second one so I’m hoping that this time it’s different and I’ve fallen straight away with a sticky one! Xx

Just wanted to update the thread:

I had my second blood test today which has just come back as HCG 150 so more than doubled since Friday which is good news, although the midwife has said those numbers are low.

No need for a scan etc and been told to treat it as a new pregnancy. Out of my hands now! Thanks for all the advice! X

Oh that's reassuring OP! So glad it's not ectopic. Hoping you have a happy and healthy pregnancy 🤰