TTC after ectopic

[TheUNITUBER]

HiI thought it might be good to have a thread for women ttc after an ectopic pregnancy, or those in their "waiting period" to begin ttc again after treatment. Trying to conceive after ectopic has its own particular difficulties, IME, because of the fear of it happening again. If there is anyone out there who has experienced this and wants to talk, I'm here.My story: I had my first ectopic earlier this year and was treated with methotrexate. I waited three months and conceived again in July, which became a chamical pregnancy. With both of those pregnancies I just knew that something was wrong - although I did not have a single "classic ectopic" symptom. Then in August I was thrilled to become pregnant again and this time the pregnancy seemed completely normal. Unfortunately it was another ectopic in the same tube as my first and this time I lost the tube. I'm recovering from the surgery and feeling rather shell shocked at the moment. The first time I had an ectopic I thought it was just bad luck, and lightening would not strike twice in the same place. Then it did, and it is huge thing to process. I very much want another child (I already have one) and feel like time is getting away from me.So, if anyone is going through this too and would like to talk, please pipe up. Or if you have been through this and come out the other side (preferably with a successful pregnancy to show for it) please could you post? I could use some hope right now. Thanks

Gosh sorry - I seem to have an issue with my formatting and that post is hard to read.

Thanks to anyone who struggles through it!

Hi I think we spoke on another thread! You really have been through it, havent you, I do hope you are getting lots of support.

Mine feels very trival to yours, I had an ectopic last week, which the nurse told me on Monday may of been and m/c as my HG levels went down from 255 to 80 in 48 hrs, though I thought a ectopic is a pregnancy anywhere but in the womb,(mine was just outside the top of my tube) Fortunately I didnt need any treatment, as hopefully it will sort its self out. I am hoping to try again my next cycle, but im having to try really hard to stop myself from using my ovulation sticks this month, I know its the sensible option to wait and month to ensure everyting has sorted its self out, im just so impatient and the only thing that is keeping me going is the thought of having a baby in my arms next year.

How long have you been advise to wait, and how are you coping with everything? It would be great to chat and follow each others progress, and hopefully before too long we'll both have happy news to share!xx

crossed

Hi ellsbellzie. Yes we spoke on your other thread, it was also me (under a different name) who started the May 2009 ante-natal thread. Ironic, hey?

I don't think what you've been through is trivial at all. Either way, whether it is physically traumatic or not, being diagnosed with an ectopic is a really big deal. With my first ectopic to start with I was just glad it was not worse, then I was anxious to get the treatment done with and then I was just so disappointed, both to lose the baby and because I felt my body had failed me. It's a lot to deal with.

Did the hospital advise you to wait a month? I've had a load of conflicting information. I've been told that it is ok to try when my tummy stops being sore, that I should wait for 6 months and every variation in between. I think I am just going to see how I feel and, assuming that I feel up to it, I am going to give it a go after one proper period. As I have a fairly long cycle that should give me several weeks to recover. The surgeon who did my op did say it would do no harm if I became pregnant within a few months, so that is some comfort.

Maybe we should both treat the wait as a chance to get really healthy. I did this last time when I had a 3 month wait. An awful lot of healthy eating and vitamin taking went on during that period!

I did put 'fingers crossed' hence the 'crossed' but it vanished for some reason!!x

Add me to your thread if you want . My ectopic happened in October last year after almost 3 years ttc and sadly resulted in a salpinectomy (removal of tube) as it ruptured. Alas I am not ready to give up just yet and am still TTC, would be nice to talk to people who understand. And Unituber the shock does pass i promise please feel free to search my posts just after my ectopic (around Nov 2007)

Yeh the nurse advised I wait until i'd had a proper period though she did say some people start trying straight away, which I feel is a little to early if not just to deal with the physcological side of it never mind your body getting over it. What vitamins would you recommned taking, im not really one for taking them but I thought they would do no harm! Could you please tell me what a 'chemical pregnancy' is? As ive read about them on here, but dont know much about them!
That really sad you started the May thread, I see its going strong, lets hope we get to start a new ante thread very soon11xx

Hi Pepperpots. Have you had any tests done on your remaining tube?

Ellsbellzie a chemical pregnancy is a very early miscarriage. In my case I got a BFP, but because I am a freak and keep on testing I got a BFN a couple of days later and then my period came a day or two after that. So basically the egg tried to implant but couldn't dig in properly for some reason. Very frustrating! Re the vitamins I take the Zita West ones but they are quite expensive. I don't think that when I started taking them I envisaged that I would still be taking them a year later. And they make your pee alarmingly green...

Sorry Pepperpots, I just realised that sounded a bit... forward. I am really sorry to hear about your loss, and the rupture must have been very scary. I think I probably have seen some of your earlier posts before (as when I had my first ectopic I think I searched MN on the subject several times over!). Thanks for posting, it's good to hear from others in the same boat.

As far as the surgeon was concerned I had one remaining 'healthy tube' and 2 good looking ovaries although neither has proven to much use since but like i said i don't give up easily

I'm so sorry you've all had to go through this. My ectopic was over 5 years ago and I lost a tube when it ruptured at 9 weeks. I can still remember the shellshocked feeling .

Just thought I'd post as you did ask for positive stories. Well, I was already undergoing infertility investigations when I had my ep and was 36 so felt time was not on my side. My positive outcome is there on my profile...DS born the same month as my 40th birthday and conceived naturally too. Took a while but I think that's just me .

My surgeon said the same Pepperpots. I even saw a photo of the remaining tube! He didn't put any dye through it but someone has told me that the outside of a tube correlates strongly with the condition of the inside, and the surgeon also said there were no signs of adhesions, infection or anything similar in my pelvis that he noticed (although obviously his job was the salpingectomy not a general look-see). I think my next move is to go see a specialist to work out whether IVF would make sense for us. I can't bear the thought of another year or two passing with no baby.

I do already have a child so in many ways I know I am really very lucky, but that does not get rid of the feeling that my family is not complete.

Thanks for your post too, Hairytoedhobbit. Your son is very sweet. I guess having a baby must get rid of a lot of the ectopic-related angst?

Unituber- hows things going hope you are ok! Havent been on here for over a week, been too busy! Im doing ok had my moments but just getting on with everything thing, it helps being back at work and having a busy family life. Im still counting the days until my next cycle, hope its not too long if im counting from my bleed from when I came out of hospital, it should be in 2 weeks time. Hope everythings going with you??xx

hi all was the may thread the curse of the ectopic? I seem to have had it too (missE)
when the mc started the scans did not show a pregnancy in the womb, they don't seem to know where it was but given the amount of blood loss and hormone levels they think it was ectopic/mc

the bleeding has stopped and I was asked to do a pg test in a couple of weeks just to make sure. I have had 5mc and this was the only ectopic.
have not yet thought about trying again tbh

am sorry for your losses

Oh no, I'm so sorry sfxmum. It does seem to be ridiculously common.

I invariably start thinking about ttc again right away. But this time, having spent the last couple of weeks contemplating starting again, having IVF consultations etc I feel absolutely knackered. The Dr warned us against trying again this soon and tbh I am just too knackered to ever think about it anyway.

Are your hormone levels coming down sfxmum?

I'm ok, thanks Ellsbellzie, just ridiculously tired. The scars ae healing nicely. I just wish my hormones would get back to normal - temps are still pretty high so I suspect my progesterone is a bit all over the place and I still feel quite pregnant (heartburn, nausea, sore breasts etc)which is really annoying. It's nice to hear that things are getting back to normal for you. Working and being busy is definitely a plus at times like these.

hi unituber yes levels seem to be coming down from 75 to 50 something in a couple of days, they don't want to do more bloods

am all for keeping afloat with plans and villagemum exercise, for me particularly running, is great medicine.
also talking to people helps dh is still just doing his best to be supportive but not talking , keeps saying 'lets just get through this one first'

Sfxmum, I know it's a shock being told you have an ectopic, but at least it doesn't sound like you'll need any treatment which is a much better outcome IMO (none of the treatment options are terribly nice...).

I wish I could pull myself together to do some exercise, but I work full time and have a small child so there are ample excuses about for me to avoid breaking a sweat! I find myself comfort eating instead which is just dreadful. If I have any more ectopics I am going to be the size of a house...

My DH tries to be supportive but I think it is hard to talk about. There's not much to say is there? I'm really disappointed with my body (again) and he just wants me to be ok and back to myself. Am getting lots of hugs though, which is lovely

Fingers crossed you'll get a lovely BFN in a couple of weeks and then life will go on.

Hi guys, sorry to hear your stories. I had an ectopic in May and methotrexate twice in June. I have just had a follow up scan and appointment which showed no obvious problems and we have been told we can ttc again. I am still processing everything that happened, and whilst really keen to try again, will be very anxious this time round. Fingers crossed for you all xx

Hi VKFAB, we've spoken on another thread.

I'm sorry you've had an ectopic. It is hard, I know, and sometimes I think methotrexate is the more difficult treatment because of all that waiting for the all-clear. It sounds like you are getting good care (a scan for follow up is pretty much unheard of around here!) so fingers crossed when you feel up to trying again everything will be fine.

Take care

hi all

i'm not ttc (in fact i am Done on that front ) but i thought i'd post to mention that, despite having had my left tube removed with my ep back in june 2003 (friday 13th), both my sons were conceived after i ovulated on my tubeless side

so there you go

Thanks Tutter. My second ectopic switched sides too. Contrary little blighters, aren't they?

Out of interest, did you have an enforced wait after having your tube removed before you tried to conceive again? The advice I've seen is all so contradictory...

i believe i was told to wait 3 months (i had a laparotomy)

i conceived on cycle #3, but miscarried

Hm, Unfortunately noone has been told "try again 3 weeks after the op"! Oh well...

BTW, I saw your thread about Metanium. My DD had terribly nappy rash caused by very strong antibiotics when she was in hospital once. I had no idea what to do about it and the nurses gave me Metanium which cleared it up in a few days. It's great stuff IMO (if a bit sticky and smelly). Hope your wee chap feels better soon.

sorry, didn't read your op in full - didn't realise your last ep was so recent. have you used the ept message boards?

Yes, their advice is to wait 2 cycles. The problem is I've had lots of conflicting advice including from the Drs I saw at the hospital and noone seems to give me a reason why they advise a particular thing (and I don't like following advice without knowing why). Think I will end up waiting a bit longer anyway, though.

Hi, we are TTC after an ectopic 3 years ago, it's taken my husband a long time to agree to try again. It was a very traumatic experience as I'm sure you'll all testify.
I was coming up to 8 weeks and was told even before I went into theatre that she planned to take my tube because of the risk of another ectopic in that tube. Does anyone know why some are treated with methotrexate and others surgically in a non-ruptured ectopic?
We have a 5 year old and neither of my pregnancies were conceived quickly so we're not holding out much hope. If it never happens, I'll feel happy we tried. Good luck to you all!