Anyone had an ERPC with just a local?

[jaffajiffy]

I found out yesterday that my third pregnancy is ending with my third miscarriage, and I'm booked for an ERPC tomorrow (it's private). Apparently I'm only having a local anaesthetic. Anyone had this? What was it like? Was it awful being awake for it? How long before you could go home? Was there lots of pain afterwards? My first mc was natural and second was medical management, but I'm having this one tested, so ERPC it is!

Thanks in advance.

Hi Jaffa, sorry you are going through this. I have had this twice (the most recently on Thursday) then exactly a year a go previously. I have also had a natural miscarriage before then. I was 9 weeks this time (they think the heartbeat stopped some time st 8 weeks, we saw it at 7. Then last year i was 11weeks, stopped growing at 7). The process was very, very straight forward first time. You are only in hospital for about 3 hours, bleeding after is minimal and you should experience little pain and you can have your OH there in the room. I got oral pain relief before then they do a local anaesthetic in your cervix. The pain is more a cramping and emptying feeling as your uterus contracts during the procedure. It does feel strange and i felt a bit sick and my heart raced a bit during it (apparently the local anaesthetic can do this). The actual process is only usually around 10 minutes. The staff I was seen by were wonderful (it was nhs).

My one this week wasn't as easy as my uterus had become very tilted back and it was difficult to reach. Unfortunately it took longer and was more painful. Don't let that put you off, if your uterus is positioned normally it will be easier.

Again I am so sorry you are going through this awful business and I hope you are being looked after.
Do not hesitate to pm me if you want more information.X

jemima that's so helpful, thank you! We've met before on MN, haven't we. I used to be Jaffababy but removed the 'baby' from my name as babies just aren't happening. I'm sorry we are meeting again on a mc thread, and I'm so sorry for your losses. Your recent one must be still very painful.

So is that 3 hrs from going in? I have to be there at 830 for a pessary (not sure if that's anaesthetic or to soften the cervix) and then the procedure is at 1030. So how long after 1030 do you reckon?

I think my heart will be racing. I get panicked when I'm having something done at the dentist, but I hope it's more panic-inducing having someone hovering over your face than poking around your lady bits, ifkwim. I'm worried I'm going to call it off in panic or have a panic attack.

Thanks again, so much.

Ps we had two scans, both right size and with heartbeats, the most recent at 7w5d. At 8 wks it's 98% sure you're ok, so this has been v hard. It died sometime this week measuring 9w1d. Very sad.

Hello, yes we did meet this time last year on a mc thread then I was 'travelling hopefully' briefly but found it too hard when nothing was happening for us. More recently I met you on super ovulation thread (I had medicated iui for this pregnancy as we have been ttc for over 2 years and have unexplained infertility). It is all totally heartbreaking and I know the next few weeks and months are going to be tough as I really, really struggled to deal with it all last time. I hope you are coping ok.
Like you I am finding it particularly hard having seen our babies little heartbeat at 6 and then 7 weeks. It feels like I fit into every worse case scenario (the 3% who have 3 mc in a row, the 10% who have a mc after seeing a heartbeat etc etc). Trying not up dwell on things too much though.

With the procedure I had the pessary for about an hour then the procedure end to end (explaining it all, setting it up etc) takes about 30 minutes and then they let you rest for about 2 hours. Once they are sure you aren't bleeding too much and have been for a sucessful wee without too much bleeding you go. You have strong antibiotics for a week.

I hope that all helps and I wish you all the best for the Erpc.

Thanks again, jemima. I'm in miscarriage admin mode right now preparing for tomorrow. You must now be in the processing stage, which I know is when it hits. Thinking of you and hope you are mending, physically at least.

I took a lot of pills to get that last pregnancy, and I don't know if I can face anything else again. One day at a time.