Ectopic pregnancy support thread

[tasmaniandevilchaser]

Hi everyone, this is a place for anyone who's had an ectopic pregnancy - whether you want to moan, cry, fret or just have a chat with other people who understand. I know there's lots of other good websites on ectopic pregnancies but after hijackingchatting with sunshine on another thread, I thought I'd start one here.

Well I'll get the ball rolling with my story - after a MMC in November (found out at the 12 wk scan that the baby had died at 10 wks) I was just getting myself sorted, having counselling, when I had the ectopic. I know I am lucky in that I have a lovely DD. Having had a normal pregnancy, I knew from the beginning this one was not good and as soon as I got a BFP I was down at the hospital.

After 10 days of mental torture, waiting around, scans, rescans, blood tests, it got too late for the methotrexate (they finally saw the ectopic in a scan on a Friday early evening and the methotrexate wasn't in stock )

I finally had the surgery to remove one tube on the Tuesday. This was the end of February, at first I wasn't sure how I would cope, but I am just plodding on. I know I am lucky that it didn't rupture, but honestly I can't think of having an ectopic as being lucky. Especially after a MMC .

Anyway, come join me if you want to share your story, I have , and

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Hi there - this thread is a little old. If you'd like to know more about ectopic pregnancies, we've got more information here. MNHQ

hi tired, good to hear from you, was wondering how it was all going. Glad to hear you're ok, when's the scan?

I had some bloods done today, I'm 4 wks tomorrow. They'll repeat the bloods on Friday and depending on the results, aim to scan around 5 1/2 weeks. The last one was rupturing at 6 wks so I wasn't keen to wait right til 6wks, but we'll see how it goes, it might end up being a chemical pg, it's still so early. Having twinges on the tube side, which is a bit worrying.

Happily the EPAU is in a new building now, so all the horrible memories of the MMC and the EP weren't so intense. But it is right by the mental health wards, so they can just pack me in there when I lose it! I was quite calm while I was there but now I'm waiting for the blood test results, I'm starting to get more and more worried. They normally call back in a couple of hours, and it's been 3.

Can you call them, tas? I'm sure they won't mind.

Just had today's hcg result back. It's still falling, but a lot slower than it was, so they want to test again in a week.

Anyone have any idea of the rate at which hcg should fall? It was 20,000 the day of the operation, 2,500 two days after the operation, and now 797, ten days after that. I think I expected another dramatic drop - this just seems a bit lingering.

Northey, if it helps, my hcg was 59 at 16 days post-op...

Are you thinking you might have become pregnant again?

Tas have they called u? If not give them a ring first thing. The epau understand how we feel stressed as well as excited.

Northy if I remember it took three weeks for mine to go below 25 then dr said if BFN on a test no need to do any bloods gp did one at 6 weeks to check iron as list blood and said she check hgc to reassure me!

Talked to DH about TTC again (i convince myself i'm happy my family complete but i know deep down the ache for another child is still there) DH is concerned wants to see specialist to access risks and how they'll manage them. Has anyone been referred to see specialist about ttc post ectopic? I can self refer to specialist if BFP as before but not TTC.

I wasn't actually. Shit. Do you think I could be? No, surely not. I'd have had to ovulate practically the day after the op or something, wouldn't I?

Actually, puff, do you know how high your hcg was before your op?

Ah, just read your posts again Northey, no very unlikely you're pregnant. Sorry, I shouldn't have even said that, wasn't thinking. I don't know what my levels were before I'm afraid. I should imagine yours will drop steeply over the next few days.

Ah well.

Hi there,
Northey, virtually impossible you're pg as your body won't ovulate until HCG levels get to non pg state (i.e. under 5 wotsits), hope that's one less thing for you to worry about!

Blood test results came back and they're good! Much better at nearly 4 wks than they were with the EP at nearly 6 wks. And with the EP I was in some discomfort. Now I've just got the normal occasional post EP twinges.

Obviously can't really tell much until I have more blood tests on Friday and compare, but for now it looks ok. Phew!

ahh x posts

Really, tas? I didn't know that, but it makes sense. So how does a post ectopic cycle work? Hcg goes to zero, and that zero moment is effectively CD1?

Brilliant tas I know you won't feel reassured till you see baby in the womb on the scan but for now it's good little steps forward :)

hi, yes that makes sense, when it's down to under 5 it would be CD1 and your body starts gearing up for ovulation. How are you feeling anyway? Are you having a bit of time off work?

X posts tas!!

yes berries, I can relax a little bit now. Though every twinge is still stressful....

how are you?

I'm ok actually. Cd10 so at that exciting stage (not that there are many when ttc!) and hearing of your bfp has given me a boost. Off on holiday on Monday so looking forward to that. Will be drinking all through ov and the 2ww as not going to "be good" on holiday for no reason iyswim! Just trying to relax about it now and accept that it will happen at some point, I just have to wait for it.

I always am at my best in week 2 and 3 of cycle....

Am feeling all right, thanks. Surprisingly tired by the trip to the hospital. I really can't believe how tired I get at the moment! But things are improving. Yes, still off work for a bit, which is nice.

berries have a great holiday! If it's any comfort, I hadn't been abstaining from booze the last couple of weeks (I am now though, think this tiny bean needs all the help it can get!). Glad my hopefully happy news has given you a boost, know it can be hard sometimes to hear. My DH always says a holiday is good for TTC so hopefully you'll have some good news too soon.

Got my 12 week scan on the 7th, I'll be 13 weeks.

Tas Sooooo pleased . Keeping everything crossed for you. I know exactly how you're feeling right now, I had a better feeling when I got this BFP than with the EP and MC's.

Berries I concieved this one about the time of a VERY boozy weekend (6 hrs sleep during 64 hrs!) while running a bar at a motorcycle rally. Relax and enjoy your holiday

Northey Hope you're getting plenty of rest, I think your HCg needs to be

Hi everyone. I had two ectopics in 2010. One in July that 'sorted itself out' and one in September that ruptured and nearly killed me. With the last one I knew I was pregnant and had started to bleed. I assumed it was a miscarriage and went to A and E who told me that it wasn't an emergency, to go home and wait for nature to take its course. I couldn't get a scan that day despite pleading with them and so went the next day for one. They said I'd had a miscarriage, they could see nothing and very sorry etc. Two days later I went to the loo, felt constipated and felt something tear inside me. I couldn't stand up and was bent over - I had to ask my 3 year old to get me some water which he did, god bless him. I staggered to the phone and called my husband and said I felt ill, I went to bed leaving my 3 year old playing. My husband came home and by this time I was having serious palpitations. I'd called NHS direct and told them what had happened and they thought I'd torn something during a bowel movement and advised me to have a bath. So I'd had one, felt worse and went to bed. I told my hubby I needed to go to hospital and he drove me there and our neighbours looked after our son. When I got to hospital I explained what happened and they put me in a cubicle and left me there for about 30 mins. Then I passed out. When I came to I was on a drip and was told I'd 'retained some product'. The doctor left me for 20 mins and I passed out again. This time a gynacologist came down, prodded me on the shoulder and I screamed and diagnosed an ectopic. I later found out that when I arrived at A and E I was as in as bad a situation as someone having a heart attack. Anyway, they rushed me to surgery, I signed my life away and they removed my tube through an abdominal incision like a C section. I felt horrendous afterwards and had 8 weeks off work. In the meantime I wrote a complaint letter to the hospital - we were treated badly at A and E - I got a 9 page letter back but in the December we went on holiday and I fell pregnant again and had a scan at 6 weeks and there it all was in the right place and 9 months later another little boy joined the fam. I found the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust Forums useful to keep the faith and I guess I'm just sharing the story to let you know if you are reading this having given up hope, you don't need to. Big love to all of you who have gone through this. it's bloody awful xxxx

I forgot to say I also had reflexology after the ectopic. I'm not into that at all but I was willing to try anything to conceive. Reflexology + holiday to California + bottle of wine + acceptance that one child was fine and great and it didn't matter if I had another one or not = did the trick! Good Luck ladies who are trying xxx

Thank- you loopybear my family have been great and this thread has helped me understand and accept my feelings about my EP are ok and normal.
Thank-you makehaynotstraw I am on the mend but still having some episodes of pain in my tummy which ~I am guessing is normal as I am still only 3 wks post op.
Hi Northey feel for you and hope your remaining tube heals well and wish you the best of luck for TTC. You asked about the risks of having unprotected sex, I was told that you are more fertile after an EP or MC and women who fall PG immediately after an EP are at an even higher risk of that PG resulting in a MC or being an EP than those who wait 1-2 cycles. I am worrying about the same thing as we have been using condoms and one split.

I agree with you iloveberries, my dh has been great and my dd?s made me a card which said ?please don?t be too sad mummy you still have us and we love you? That just made me cry.
Hi tasmaniandevilchaser, congratulations I am happy to hear everything is looking as it should for you, it is understandable you feel worried and I would feel exactly the same. Thank you for sharing what your surgeon said to you it makes sense. I didn?t ask why they missed the EP at the first scan I was just in shock, I have no idea what happened RE the ges sac they said was in my womb I can only assume that was taken at the same time as my surgeon said I could try again after my next period. I was just too numb to even process fully what had happened until after I was discharged let alone ask questions. My friend says that I should put in a formal complaint as she thinks they were negligent but I wouldn?t know where to start.
Hi tiredandwanttogotobed I work nights myself so I know exactly how you feel. Congratulations sending positive thoughts and hope your worry eases once you have had your scan.

Hi leo1978 thanks for sharing. Your experience sounds very similar to my own, I arrived at A&E at 8am explained my symptoms and sat in the waiting room till 8.50 before even being seen. I was seen by a nurse, explained my symptoms again and she said a doctor would see me soon before disappearing. I sat in a cubical and did not see another sole till the Dr appeared at gone 10.30, she examined me and disappeared without telling me anything, she re-appeared 20mins later and 'I'm sure you are well aware what the bleeding indicates, I have spoken to my senior and there is nothing we can do. I will give you some more pain relief and then you should go home and return for your scheduled scan in the morning and they can confirm it for you' She then disappears again and 30mins later a nurse appears and gives me some oramorph and says they need a urine sample before I go.

Hey. have just popped in to see how everyone is.

I have lost track of the names, but sorry to see so many new 'faces' on here. Hope you are all healing well and looking after yourselves.0

Tas How exciting! Really pleased for you. I knew with my EP that something was wrong from the start. This time round i felt a million times better and although i was worried about a MMC (amongst many other things!), i kinda knew it wasn't another EP which was quite reassuring. Plus the early scan helped!! I was scanned at 6 and a half weeks, despite my EP being diagnosed at 5+6. I also had a lot of twinges on the side of my surgery, i still am actually! My consultant says it's scar tissue from the surgery stretching....

Someone was asking how long it took for hcg levels to drop, i have no idea as mine were never checked!

Also, about sex.... I couldn't bring myself to do the deed til after my first AF. Think that was about 6 weeks post op. Even then i spent the whole time thinking this could kill me. Mind you, it didn't do much harm as we conceived the next month!!

Hope you have all had a good bank holiday and have managed to get some sun! All is good here, I am host to an incredibly wriggly 24 week fetus and at last the nausea has passed!

Sending bfp vibes to all who want them, and healing vibes to all who need them!

Hey. have just popped in to see how everyone is.

I have lost track of the names, but sorry to see so many new 'faces' on here. Hope you are all healing well and looking after yourselves.0

Tas How exciting! Really pleased for you. I knew with my EP that something was wrong from the start. This time round i felt a million times better and although i was worried about a MMC (amongst many other things!), i kinda knew it wasn't another EP which was quite reassuring. Plus the early scan helped!! I was scanned at 6 and a half weeks, despite my EP being diagnosed at 5+6. I also had a lot of twinges on the side of my surgery, i still am actually! My consultant says it's scar tissue from the surgery stretching....

Someone was asking how long it took for hcg levels to drop, i have no idea as mine were never checked!

Also, about sex.... I couldn't bring myself to do the deed til after my first AF. Think that was about 6 weeks post op. Even then i spent the whole time thinking this could kill me. Mind you, it didn't do much harm as we conceived the next month!!

Hope you have all had a good bank holiday and have managed to get some sun! All is good here, I am host to an incredibly wriggly 24 week fetus and at last the nausea has passed!

Sending bfp vibes to all who want them, and healing vibes to all who need them!