Pregnancy of unknown location

[MissInvincible]

Has anyone had a similar experience? 5 weeks ago, nearly a week after my first positive test, I had a small amount of bleeding. My GP said it was probably a very early miscarriage. A week later and I was still getting positive pregnancy tests so I was referred to the hospital, after a week of waiting for an appointment they did a scan and could see nothing. My beta hCG levels came back as 346, and have increased slowly over the last 2 weeks (548, 707, 886 and 967) so I had a repeat scan on Wednesday which again showed nothing. I should be 9+ weeks pregnant by now and all the hospital can advise me to do right now is 'see what happens'. I'm going slowly crazy not knowing what is going on!

Huh? They told you to 'see what happens'? Dont they suspect it could be ectopic? Have they checked? Seems like an odd attitude to me.

They do suspect it is ectopic, they don't know where it is. But they cannot confirm it as my hCG levels are still rather low and they cannot see anything yet. I have had no pain at all, and no bleeding since 5 weeks ago. They could see nothing on either scan (6+ weeks and 9 weeks).

So sorry to hear this it is horrible not knowing what is happening.

Yes, I had a very similar experience.

My hcg rose very, very slowly, went up to a max of almost 200 and at 'eight weeks' they gave me an injection of methotrexate to dissolve whatever was wherever it was.

With your very low levels, and rising so very slowy and in terms of not being able to see anything at nine weeks, they will, I'm sure, have informed you that the pregnancy is not viable.

I suspect the 'see what happens' is about seeing whether you miscarry or whether you need intervention like I did.

They suspected mine was ectopic, but we didn't find out.

I'm so sorry to hear that this is also happening to you.

I began to bleed at five weeks, and then stopped after three days. I then bled again twenty days later, which lasted for five weeks, and required methotrexate about half way through the bleeding. I needed antibiotics at the end, to stop the bleeding.

Thanks for sharing your story, hairyfairylights. The doctors at my local hospital will not give me methotrexate as it is against hospital policy (they do not agree with it on ethical grounds). I just don't really know what to expect to happen next, I have been waiting to miscarry for weeks after I had thought it had already happened. It really is mental torture. :(

Hang in there MissI. It is mental torture I know :( I do hope you get things resolved soon

That's shocking about methotrexate on ethical grounds - it's not an nhs hospital? Can you change hospitals??

Methotrexate is only suitable (AFAIK) for fetal 'matter' that is simply not viable!

x

It is an NHS hospital - it is the biggest hospital in our region. I don't know which other hospitals nearby would give me the injection. There is no sign of my hCG levels dropping at the moment, I feel sick and am wearing a maternity bra as I am so sore, I just want it to be over :( I really don't want to have to go down the surgical route, I think one of the options is a laparoscopy as one of the doctors mentioned it last week. :(

Oh gosh, hon, I so feel for you.. I don't know if it is any consolation but I have been through such a similar scenario, it's so very, very difficult.

I would recommend waiting it out for the next scan, just to be totally sure dates/size wise.

Before a laparoscopy I would strongly suggest seeing if there is another hospital that will use methotrexate if they definately find it is not viable.

Know that you will come through this and you will feel better it's just such a hard thing - and I know all you want is for someone to tell you what is going on. x

I don't want to lead you to false hope, but I also would hate to see you use intervention un-necessarily. There are many stories on the misdiagnosed miscarriage web site of slow rising hcg and of scans showing nothing, and yet ending in successful pregnancies. It is rare but it does happen, and that is probrably why the hospital do not step in for early intervention. At the same time, you are at risk of an ectopic, and it is important that you are aware of ectopic symptoms to look out for

I am so sorry you are going through this , it is not fair, and the waiting to find out is very hard. I hope you get answers soon.

Thanks galwaygal, it's really not looking good I'm afraid. I went for another scan this morning and they still can't see anything :(

I had some more blood taken too and phoned for the results this afternoon - 664 - so they have dropped significantly over the last few days. They are just going to keep checking my hCG levels every week until they are back to 'normal', so I guess that's it :(

I had something similar, but ended up being treated with methotrexate twice as levels fell but not enough. I found it useful to know that the progesterone levels were too low to ever sustain a normal pregnancy. i felt so much better once I knew that.

I am SO shocked abouthe the metho not being available due to ethics. That is unbelievable, is the hospital in NI?

The hospital is in the north of England. They think it is resolving itself without intervention as my hCG levels have dropped quite a bit since the last count, I don't know what my progesterone levels are/were. They are going to keep checking my hCG levels every week just to make sure. To be treated with methotrexate I would have to travel to the next town which is covered by a different health authority - apparently the use of methotrexate varies throughout the UK.

Well, I started bleeding and cramping last night so I guess that's it :( It has gone now, I don't feel pregnant any more. :(

so so sorry to hear your news x

I'm so very sorry - this happened to me too and it was so hard. I found all the waiting and wondering and not knowing what had happened truly exhausting, never mind the reality of losing a baby. so, be very kind to yourself over the next few weeks - nothing more i can say really. just wanted to let you know you're in my thoughts. take good care x

This happened to me too and it's horrible - so sorry for you It happened on valentines day last year. I am currently pregnant again (18 weeks)but still feel sad sometimes. Please give yourself time to grieve and come to terms with your loss.