Brown bleeding - 2nd ectopic or normal??

[Blue00]

I had an ectopic pregnancy in March that resulted in having my right tube removed. Starting trying again in May and fell pregnant in June but had a very early miscarriage. I am now pregnant one month later (around 3weeks+6) and had faint positive on pregnancy tests for a few days. However for the last 4 days, I have been finding brown watery blood when I wipe (sorry TMI), I’m in no pain but I’m so scared this is going to be another ectopic as it’s the same type of bleeding I had in March. Has anyone gone on to have a positive experience with this??

I had 3 missed miscarriages then fell pregnant a 4th time. From 5 weeks I had brown bleeding on and off for over a week. When I went to hospital for an early scan I told them I knew I was having another miscarriage but I now have a 10 week old daughter. It doesn't necessarily mean bad news x

Hi Plixy, thanks for that - good to know it’s not always bad news! Congratulations on your daughter!! I’m going to the EPAU today for bloods so should no more by end of the week hopefully! x

Good luck, hope it all goes well for you x

Hi @Blue00. Not exactly the same as your story but... I had a MMC at ten weeks last July. I then stopped trying for a bit and unexpectedly found myself pregnant again in February. It was ectopic and I had my left tube removed. The shock and pain I felt was horrendous, I found the whole thing so traumatic. I am now 17+3 weeks pregnant. I remember at the start of this pregnancy being PETRIFIED and convinced beyond doubt it was another ectopic. At this stage you are still very early and bleeding is likely to be implantation (I didn't bleed with my ectopic until I was about 6 weeks). Funnily enough the most bleeding I ever had in pregnancy was with my DD who is 2.7!! Anyway, because of your history your EPU should see you very early. Mine saw me at 5 weeks. All they could see was a sac in my uterus but that was enough for me! Please make sure you let your GP know or self refer to your EPU. It's so hard after an ectopic but it is possible to have a normal pregnancy and I hope they can put your mind at rest xxx

Are your tests getting darker?
I had an ectopic in January last year and had left tube removed and sadly had another 2 weeks ago and had to have right tube removed - there was no suggestion this was going to be ectopic as hcg numbers were rising really fast and no pain until it ruptured

The ectopic guidelines are to wait 3 months after an ectopic before ttc again to let things heal and to reduce chances of another ectopic/miscarriage so it's possible that your miscarriage was actually ectopic but your body managed to fix it (I had a miscarriage in May and the doctors think that's what happened to me)

I'd say ring into your EPU for a scan due to your history but 2 weeks ago I did that when I had pain and they said to go and wait in a&e and no guarantee of a same day scan - I got my ivf clinic to scan me - they saw the heartbeat and called an ambulance and I ruptured a couple of hours later x

Sorry to hear your story @itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted. That sounds very traumatic.

I just wanted to say, OP please don't rely on HCG tests or pregnancy tests getting darker. In my ectopic pregnancy the levels rose perfectly and my tests got progressively darker too. The only thing that can tell you for sure is a scan so please contact your EPU. The wait until then will be horrible but it really is the best way to find out what is going on. I am keeping all crossed for a positive outcome for you xxx

Thanks all, so awful we all have to go through things like this. I waited the time recommended by my doctor before trying again but you are right that could have been another ectopic last month. EPU have sent me for bloods today, so I imagine this will happen every day over next week until they can see something on a scan as I’m still so early. I’m 99% sure this is another ectopic, but id just prefer to know, it’s the not knowing that is the worst!

@Blue00 that's good you've got in for blood tests - just please be aware that hcg rising normally still doesn't mean it's not ectopic - I had doubling time of 28 hours with this last one and everyone said they were confident not ectopic and then it was! X

@itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted I know same with my first, no pain, really clear positive pregnancy test results and doing hcg tests, so not sure why I’m putting myself through this but I feel completely useless just waiting until they can scan me and doing nothing! I wish I’d not taken a test so early now! x

Doubling*

How are you getting on @Blue00? xxx

@myheartisbrokenbutihavesomeglue not good unfortunately, bloods are really low and nowhere near doubling, obviously they can’t diagnose anything until they can see something on a scan but all signs pointing towards a second ectopic. I’m terrified of losing my remaining tube. Not sure why life has to be so unfair 😔

😔

I'm sorry you're going through this, it's so worrying after what you've already experienced.

You asked if anyone had had a positive experience in similar circumstances, so I thought I'd share my story.

I've had three pregnancies. All three featured brown bleeding in the early weeks, but no pain. The first was diagnosed as a missed miscarriage, though I believe it was an ectopic that miscarried due to the way it presented. The bleeding went on for weeks, it was awful. We kept trying.
Over a year later I was pregnant for the second time. Brown bleeding started around 7-8 weeks, no other symptoms. Called the doctor on a Friday, they put me on the call back list but never phoned (they wrote the wrong number down). At the weekend I collapsed due to a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. Like you I lost my right tube. I was devastated and thought it was game over for having a child at that point (we'd been trying for two and a half years).
Six months later I was pregnant for the third time. Again brown bleeding started in the early weeks. I was referred to the EPU for blood tests and an early scan. Both were fine. The bleeding stopped soon after. I went on to have a normal pregnancy and a healthy baby boy. But throughout I worried.
We only have one DC in part because of these experiences. It was awful (and the ruptured ectopic could have killed me).

Each time I experienced very similar brown bleeding. Each time had a different result. So it doesn't necessarily mean something bad is happening.

I really hope things work out for you this time. But please don't lose heart. It can result in a happy ending.

Oh @Blue00. I'm so sorry you are going through this. I know how frightened I was to loose my left tube and go through that whole ectopic experience, I can't imagine how worried you must be. I am keeping everything crossed for you that this is not another ectopic. However if it is I hope they find it quickly and you can take the drugs that mean you don't loose your remaining tube. Will keep you in my thoughts xxx

@smileandsing so lovely to hear you had a happy ending after all that heartbreak, hopefully I will get my happy ending eventually!

@MyHeartIsBrokeButIHaveSomeGlue thank you, I’m hoping for the drugs this time too and that they work. My bloods are only at 43.8 so still a long way off it been over I think unfortunately. I wake up each morning praying for a miscarriage - which is an awful thing to wish for but feels like the better of two evils in this case

@Blue00
Sorry it wasn't good news again
Your numbers are low so they should
Be fine to give methotrexate again. (UK they don't recommend it above 3500 and definitely won't give it a ice 5000)
On my second ectopic hcg was over 17000 and there was a heartbeat so they couldn't offer the drugs and removal was the only option

When you've only got one tube they really try and save the remaining one as much as they can however bear in mind your risk of another ectopic will be a lot higher now x

Thought I would post an update as still at a loss as to what is going on! Wednesday I had the worst cramping pains and starting bleeding with clots. Pain subsided after 20 minutes but bleeding has continued since. Had bloods done today and in a week they have gone from 43 to 540 which completely surprised me. They did a scan but can’t see anything anywhere yet so I’m back for more bloods on Sunday. After everything that has happened I can’t see this ending happily so I just want it finished now rather than this waiting game!

Hi @Blue00! I'm going to keep everything crossed for you that this has a happy ending. Will be thinking of you. Keep us updated xxx

@MyHeartIsBrokeButIHaveSomeGlue thank you!

How are you @Blue00?