Tablets for medical management failed, surgery option?

[yellowmellw]

Hi

I took the tablets for medical management of miscarriage and they haven't worked so I'm booked in for the surgery option on Monday.

What should I expect please

Hi @yellowmellw, so sorry you find yourself in this situation

I had ERPC last year, it was a smooth process and would have opted for the same this time; unfortunately was in a great deal of pain and would have had to wait several days for the surgery. So did medical management.

My experience was an early morning arrival at the ward, after fasting from midnight. I was given some vaginal tablets to soften my cervix an hour of so before; but I understand some areas don’t do this. Cannula fitted, and obs taken every hour.

Headed to theatre about 11:30ish. Anaesthetic administered by cannula in the pre-theatre area. Everyone was very nice and explained everything to me. They advise I might feel a stinging sensation up my arm and a strange taste in my mouth; both of which I did; but was focused on them counting me down from 10 - I never made it to 1, was out cold.

Came round in the recovery area. Slightly disorientated and had been crying (cheeks wet) but no memory of why. Someone was there as I woke, reminded me of where I was and asked if I was in any pain. No pain, slight discomfort, but they topped up the meds just to be on the safe side. Stayed in recovery for about 20mins while my obs settled and then back to ward.

Ward was fine, nurses again checking obs and pain medication. I just kept taking all meds offered to avoid feeling any pain! Was able to get up and go to the toilet within an hour or so. Felt okay.

Ended up being kept in overnight due to low blood pressure, but was up and around like normal most of that evening. Discharged the next day, which was my DS birthday and ended up going straight from the hospital to bowling and dinner. So yeah normal.

I found the whole experience okay. And would be my preferred way to go, if I had to do it again. Even after doing medical management.

Bled for about 7-10 days after the surgery, like a normal period. Then was back on track and normal cycles after 4-5wks.

I know it is a really scary thought going in, but for me anyway, it was the easiest part of the whole horrid miscarriage.

Thank you so much for replying. I just have a few questions.

Was the tablet insertion quick and was it infront of dp in the ward behind a curtain I 'm a bit embarrassed.

Did you keep you own pants on till the time came etc.

Did the gynaecologist meet you beforehand to explain the procedure or was that just a nurse.

I think my DH was asked to leave the room for tablet insertion. In my experience they are very good with this kind of stuff, and protect you privacy/dignity.

They gave me the option of inserting the tablets myself, as they knew I am not good with smear tests, internal exams, etc. I opted for the nurse to do it, as I didn’t want to do it ‘wrong’.

It was very quick and wasn’t too bad. You have to hold them in for a bit to have the effect, and they slowly dissolve, which is a strange but not uncomfortable sensation. You are advise against going to the toilet for a period after insertion, to allow them to take affect. It’s not unlike the tablet insertion for medical management, if you’ve had that.

I can’t remember whether I had pants on going down to theatre. I either did, and they were hospital pants, so could be easily torn off; or didn’t and had a bed pad underneath. I think it was hospital pants though.

Gynaecologist met me before hand and explained he’d be doing the procedure. They will tell you as much or as little as you want to hear, and of course answer questions. I saw him again afterwards, he told me everything went okay but did advise he’s put an internal stitch in due to something (can’t remember what!)

Nurses go through reams of paperwork before/after procedure. Seemed to be a form for everything; from consenting to procedure to disposal of products of conception.

Thank you so much you've really reassured me you don't know how much I appreciate it thank you for taking the time

No worries. I hope everything goes smoothly @yellowmellw.

If you have any other questions or thoughts over the weekend, please ask.

My experience was very similar but i was discharged 4-5 hours after the sugery. The actual op abd recovery was the least traumatic part of the whole thing x
My recovery has been quick and straightforwars too, ovulated 2 weeks later and period bang on 4 weeks x
Hope everything goes well for you x

So sorry to hear you are experiencing this.
There was a thread a little while ago where some of us shared our experiences of miscarriage management. http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/miscarriage/3172871-Missed-Miscarriage

I opted for surgical management and my experience was very similar to PPs above. I felt well informed, listened to and looked after at all stages of the process. Experienced minimal pain or distress and would definitely choose this as first option again.
Wishing you all the best

@yellowmellw Just to reassure you, I also had to have an ERPC as I didn't naturally pass all the tissue. I was really upset to have surgery, but actually it was very straight forward and I took a lot of comfort from all the care and attention I received. My experience was pretty much exactly the same as PineapplePrincess in terms of the process. The tablet thing was very quick and the doctor was very gentle, nothing to worry about. You wear a gown and are covered throughout whilst you are awake and I didn't feel embarrassed (I'm quite shy about things like that too). I was even having a joke with the surgeon and nurses, that's how relaxed I felt. I was home within 2 hours of the operation (my blood pressure dipped but I was dehydrated, so after glugs of water I was discharged). After 6 hospital visits, 3 scans, 1 surgery I can honestly say the surgery was the least distressing part of it.

Best wishes, hope you're managing ok x

Yellow I had surgical management eventually too and it was the best solution for me - I actually wish I’d done it at the start. Staff were great, physically it wasn’t scary and they discharged me with painkillers and I felt I could properly start to grieve the loss once the physical side was resolved.

I hope you have a smooth recovery and will be thinking of you

If you need emotional support the Tommy’s midwife support line can and do offer mc support too

I had mine on Thurs and it is just emotional literally no pain but it isn't glamours. I had already started to misscary so bleeding and pain.
It hurt when she inserted the tablets for about 1 minute, (my partner was there but never saw a thing) she told me to just put a pad in between my legs but I didn't like that so she got me some of the disposable pants. I went down to theatre with them on they removed them when I was asleep. After they just put a pad in between which I obviously didn't know, it didn't stay in place but the HCA changed my bed as soon as she saw.
I saw the Nurse, the antehtist and surgeon both came to see me, they didn't check me over just asked a few Q's.
After I was in pain - same pain I went down with 2 paras and codine sorted it. Had a good sleep for a few hours.
I've had light bleeding and little pain. But no pain now unless I lay on my tummy.
Everyone was amazing and said sorry you're in this position etc.
Don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you have.

I'm going in tomorrow I have to go to epu first to check everything it still there. I've been bleeding quite heavy for past few days and lost small clots but not much. So don't want then to do internal scan as it will get messy and I'll be embarrassed.

Hope all went okay today @yellowmellw

@PineapplePrincess hi yes the surgery itself went smooth and was out by 1pm. Couldn't stop peeing last night and didn't sleep till 3.30am so think just might be the effects from the Anaesthetics wearing off so feel a bit shit today and warm. Although no pain and minimal bleeding downstairs which is great. Thanks

I was really hot for days.

Rest up xx