Ectopic/miscarriage advice

[JeffV]

Hi all,

Just looking for some advice as I'm such a mess I couldn't really take in what the EPU said to me and am now feeling very low.

I'm 5 weeks PG and yesterday I went to the GP with pink/brown/red spotting and painful cramps. She was concerned that the PG test only had a faint line for the stage I should be. She took my bloods to send off and did an exam. She referred me for a scan and further bloods today. On the scan they couldn't seen anything in my uterus but found something small close to the left ovary. They think it could be an ectopic pregnancy but couldn't confirm it. My HCG results that were sent away yesterday were 74 and now 56 this afternoon which they said is low and could indicate a miscarriage will happen. I'm still feeling uncomfortable and have a small amount of spotting. They will repeat my bloods on Friday and possibly rescan if required. I'm not sure what will happen from here because they aren't sure what the situation is.

I was just wondered if anyone has had a similar experience or can share any stories/advice. We are very upset and feeling very lost and scared as we have been ttc for a long time now.

Thanks

Sorry to hear this. It’s such an awful thing to go through! I’ve had two miscarriages in the last six months, after TTC for a year, and your GP sounds way better than mine. I self referred to my EPU both times. Unfortunately a declining HCG level isn’t usually good news, I was six weeks and mine went from 192 down to 53 two days later and I then passed the miscarriage. Afterward the consultant said she would consider it a ‘chemical pregnancy’ due to the hormones not being high. Second time I spotted again HCG went up from 2200 to 2500 which was where they suspected ectopic and sent me off for a scan - fortunately that was in the correct place just ‘not viable’. The good thing is that they are already investigating with bloods and more importantly the scan if they suspect ectopic. It’s very early days and your levels are low - when that was the case with my first miscarriage I was back to my normal cycle quicker than the one where my HCG was high. The waiting is the worst but look at it as Friday you will know what will happen and begin to deal with the emotional impact of it all. It’s the worst thing you can go through but it is so so common, 1 in 4, something I only realised once it happened to me. All I can say is take some time, don’t feel guilty about anything as this stage there was nothing you could’ve done. Personally I found telling close friends helpful as I was a wreck and it explained my moods plus I really discovered just how many women go through miscarriage and then go on to have healthy babies. Physically, I was ok after a week with both, mentally, I can still burst into tears if I talk about it but feeling more positive and hopeful now some time has passed.

Thank you so much for sharing your story @Bettybird, I'm sorry you have been through so much. I know 5 weeks is early and ectopic can be really dangerous but I'm so shocked and depressed. I'm dreading going back tomorrow to see what has happened. How long after you were down to 53 did you miscarry/AF show up @Bettybird (if you dont mind sharing)? I've not really been told anything other than expect a miscarriage. I've tried to read bit on MN which has been helpful but it feels a very sad a lonely time

It is a massive shock of course - and you are bound to be depressed for some time and feel extremely upset. Alongside the emotional impact you have your hormones to contend with as well, so please give yourself a break and try and rest. Ectopic can be dangerous yes, but it isn’t confirmed and I think that as your HCG is so low and its reducing that hopefully it will pass without any medical help. If they were worried about they would not have let you leave - obviously it’s a massive thing for you but for them they see it as ‘nothing they can do’. The bloods will tell you more tomorrow but what I would say is write down any questions you have and have them with you tomorrow. No question is too silly, and it’s easy for everything to go out of your mind when you’re in there. I miscarried the same day as my 53 HCG - it was as if my body knew as soon as my mind had it confirmed. It was just bad cramping and like a very heavy period, uncomfortable. Once it was over the pain stopped, I bled for a few days and got AF about 30 days later. I temp so I know I ovulated the month after, once I got my head around the miscarriage all I wanted was a normal cycle! They tell you to take a pregnancy test to check it’s negative a few weeks later, I guess to check the hormones have fully left your body. Best of luck for tomorrow, the EPU is a rough place to be in, but just focus on a day at a time. Tomorrow will at least give you a definitive answer, even if its not the best one. It feels lonely but you’re absolutely not alone, it’s just a shi club to be in. Let me know how you get on if you can.

Thanks for all your support @Bettybird I feel so alone and not sure where to turn. I really appreciate your kindness. I'm sorry for what you have been through.

Just an update as requested the bloods came back as 51.7 which is a much smaller decrease. They dont seem to know what's going on. I have to go to the womens ward on Sunday for more tests. I'm really scared about it all to be honest. I hate the no knowing and would prefer this to just come to a natural end as soon as possible. This long limbo is awful

I just wanted to close this thread off in case in the future anyone is in a similar position with slower fall hcg/suspect ectopic and finds it when googling things.i found lots of open ended threads when I was searching so thought I'd report what happened to me.

I have been monitored regularly by blood tests as the hcg was decreased as quickly as the EPU had hoped and the pain was indescribable. Ended up in A&E and was given stronger pain meds and more tests. Then ended up on the gynae ward who were very kind. Miscarriage happened after that at home and was very painful. Blood tests then showed my levels had dropped and EPU where happier. Exhausted now and have last appointment with GP today. If anyone in the future finds this thread I recommend reading the tips on coping with miscarriage practicalities on this mumsnet forum - it was helpful and reassuring

Hello all, sorry for jumping on but just wanted to share my similar story, might help and I may be able to get advice too.
I found out I was 6 weeks pregnant on the 6th January, second pregnancy. On the 23rd of January I had some brown blood so quickly made an appointment with My GP who referred me for a scan the following Tuesday the 28th at the EPU. Over that weekend the bleeding got a lot worse and I began losing large clots with severe cramping, ended up at out of hours as it was a Saturday who advised that I was miscarrying and waited for my appointment. I booked a private scan for the Sunday in a local place, they externally scanned me and could not find a baby or sac or anything which was awful to hear.
Going on from that I attended my appointment Tuesday, no scan was completed but I had a blood test, hgc levels were 784 and was told to go back in 48 hours, I did this and they decreased to 744. I was due to go in on Saturday for another blood test but ended up at out of hours Friday again due to pain, they kept me in for the weekend and I had my internal scan and more blood work (738). Nothing could be found on the internal again and the consultant put it down to a pregnancy in an unknown location. I am continually having blood tests done every 48 hours now. They have gone from 738 to 454, down to 404, then 368 and Friday was 301. After my blood work Friday the nurse explained that they are now not ruling out an ectopic due to the levels and this information has stressed me out. Can this be the case if they cannot find the baby? She has said that unless they stay at a figure they won't need to intervene as my body is doing what it is supposed to be, but I always thought an ectopic would end in some sort of intervention from medical professionals. I have been off work this whole time as I feel my head isn't in the right space, and also I think going back n fore to the hospital for bloods and scans is going to be quite disruptive so it was easier to go on the sick. I'm just looking for some advice or information from someone who has been through a similar position that can help. I am still bleeding, spotting now but has been extremely heavy prior to this. Thank you in advance x

I had an ectopic pregnancy quite a few years ago. I had to go back to the hospital every 2 days to check if the levels were going down on the third day I had a scan and they saw free fluid I was bleeding internally. Not to scare you but I felt a little bit ill but nothing horrendous. If it happened to me again I'd take the injection they offered instead of trying to manage it naturally. I ended up in theatre an hour hour and had my tube removed. Also I had two healthy kids within 3 years after incase your worrying about future chances of conceiving. Good luck and if you feel ill or weak or unusual go to hospital x