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Miscarriage/pregnancy loss

Find support and share your experiences on our Miscarriage forum. See also legal rights and support after baby loss.

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Original poster

ERPC - local or general?

22 replies

Patsy99 · 10/09/2011 07:02

At my 8 week scan this week they couldn't find the embryo's heartbeat :(. It's probably a MMC and they're going to confirm at a further scan this Friday. I've read the really helpful thread about dealing with a missed miscarriage and have decided to opt for surgical management, if I don't miscarry naturally before then. The hospital have said it's my choice as to whether to do it under local/general anesthetic.

Can anyone offer any views - does it hurt much under a local or was it more traumatic (than it is anyway obviously)? Thanks.

OP posts:

MayDayChild · 10/09/2011 07:11

Oh general. I went out sobbing and I woke up sobbing
Im generally a toughie
It's all to do with unnecessary risk of anaesthetic but deep down what do you feel

deemented · 10/09/2011 07:31

Yes, general here too. Why make it any harder on yourself then it already is, sweetheart?

I know it's awful, and i'm so sorry you're having to go through this, but i really do think that general is better, emotionally and physically.

ExpensivePants · 10/09/2011 08:42

General here too. I went in sobbing as well, there is no way I would have coped with any awareness of what was going on, even though it was my first ever GA and I was shit scared.

I woke up feeling a lot better and almost...well...happy in comparison to how I felt before. Of course that didn't last but just for a few hours it was a relief from feeling so sad.

kat2504 · 10/09/2011 10:09

I agree. I'd never had GA before but it was by far the best option. I couldn't have coped with that whilst awke. I just couldn't have seen them doing that.

Sorry you find yourself in this awful situation, hope you have a quick recovery from the erpc.

Alliwantisaroomsomewhere · 10/09/2011 11:48

I had ERPC under GA last Monday. I also went in sobbing, but I woke up relieved that it was all over.

There is no way I could have done it under local. Don't put yourself through that, Patsy99. I can only imagine how horrendous it could be.

I hope you feel stronger soon. Must say that I could not have waited for it to happen naturally - I wanted to get better as soon as I could and am so glad I opted for surgical management.

ruddynorah · 10/09/2011 11:55

General too. No way would I have had local, no way.

Original poster

Patsy99 · 10/09/2011 14:04

Many thanks all. That's completely unanimous, ERPC by general sounds like the way to go.

I've sobbed so much already I can hardly believe I can cry anymore, but I guess the ERPC will be a difficult day.

OP posts:

kat2504 · 10/09/2011 15:39

It will be a difficult day, but it will mark the beginning of the getting better stage and once it is over you will slowly be able to move on.
there has been quite a few threads on what to expect on the day, but if you need info feel free to ask.

banana87 · 11/09/2011 15:45

General all the way. Very sorry for your loss :(

SukieQ · 11/09/2011 16:16

Sorry for your loss. I had ERPC at 12 weeks under general. Only option they'd give me. I went in sobbing and I couldn't have been conscious for it. Advise general.

StickThemWithThePointyEnd · 11/09/2011 16:19

Sorry for your loss :(

I had my first ERPC with a local, and I hated every moment of it. Had my second with GA and much preferred it.

MillontheFloss · 11/09/2011 20:29

I had the op under local and it really wasn't as painful as I thought it would be. Just twinge- type pains really. It was over in about 15 minutes and an hour after the ERPC finished I was on my way home.

I guess it's more about the emotional pain of feeling it all happening which you don't have under general. I just didn't want it under general myself.

gluttom · 12/09/2011 07:06

I had an ERPC under local - not painful and over very quickly - the dr was lovely. Was in and out of the hospital within 2 hrs - think you have to hang around a lot with general,?

Alliwantisaroomsomewhere · 12/09/2011 07:22

That might not be the case, Gluttom. I had to check in at the hospital at 1.30pm and then left at about 4. The last 45 min or so was spent waiting for surgeon and nurse to see me before I went. I felt surprisingly okay after the GA.

Tw1nkle · 15/09/2011 20:17

Sorry to hijack this thread, but I'm not being given the option - i've been told it must be a general!!

Does anyone know how long I'll be under for? And will I have to stay in over night?

Thanks.

MayDayChild · 15/09/2011 20:38

I think it's v quick 20 mins or so. Def in and out within a long morning or afternoon.
Hope it goes ok x

Magicrabbit · 15/09/2011 20:42

I had a erpc today under general... I was taken down to theatre at 9.30, was out by 9.45 and remember waking up by 10.30. I was discharged and heading home by 12pm. I have to say that the experience was not as bad I'd imagined and although I'm tired and a little sore tonight, feel I'm well on the road to physical recovery..

Magicrabbit · 15/09/2011 20:43

Sorry, when I said 'i was out' I meant that I was under the anaesthetic - in case this was unclear!

Tw1nkle · 15/09/2011 22:01

That's encouraging Magicrabbit.

I had a General last year for a laparoscopy, so I'm not too nervous....yet!!
But i'd like to me home the same day if possible - have my DD to look after!!!

kat2504 · 16/09/2011 06:40

Twinkle, you'll only be under anaesthetic for about half an hour or so. When I had mine I was back in my room on the ward less than an hour after I was wheeled out of it.

It's usually day surgery unless there is a good reason for them to keep you in. I arrived at hospital at 8 in the morning and left at about one in the afternoon.

Original poster

Patsy99 · 21/09/2011 11:44

Twinkle - I had the ERPC yesterday under general, as recommended by many on here. Arrived at hospital at 3pm, up to theatre at 5pm, came around from the anaesthetic about 6pm and they discharged me at 7pm(!). I felt really exhausted and crampy last night but ok today. They've signed me off work for 2 days post-op recovery which they said is the minimum they recommend. I feel so relieved to get that part of the miscarriage over and done with.

OP posts:

Tw1nkle · 21/09/2011 15:45

I went for a follow-up scan, but because the 'miscarriage' is now down to less than a centimetre, they are recommending that I just continue to wait, and not have the surgery as yet - I have to go back on the 29th for another scan......

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