Pregnancy unknown location

[Son2020]

Hi

I recently found out I was pregnant which we were really happy about, I then went for an early scan and nothing was there but I was showing positive on a pregnancy test.
Slowly after I started bleeding so panicked and went straight to a&e.

They sent me home and then I ended up back there the next day and admitted into hospital to spend the night. They repeated scans which again showed nothing.

Now for the past week and a half I’ve had bloods every 2 days which has shown a slight increase in hcg each time however they still can’t find where the pregnancy is.

I just feel so on edge and anxious as have no idea what’s going on or how long I need to wait to get a final decision from the Dr’s re next steps.

Has anyone been through this before and was it a long process?

Any advice would be much appreciated

How far along do you think you are in the pregnancy? I had this at my first scan but I wasn't as far along as they thought I was and found the sac at about 5 weeks. They thought it was ectopic at first and had to go for regular scans.

Thanks for messaging, I’m glad they found the sac, hope all is well.

I think I’m around 7 weeks, have had 3 scans already and another one tomorrow as the hcg keeps going up by 100-150 but all the scans show nothing there.

Feel so anxious as have no idea what the outcome is going to be

I don't have much pregnancy experience I'm afraid but can you ask for a second opinion? Is it the same person doing the scans for you? This must be very worrying for you.

Sadly I had a miscarriage in July.

I’m really really sorry to hear that, it’s heartbreaking to have to go through.

I’ve had different midwifes/nurses do the scans and I think the dr is going to do them tomorrow. It’s a very long process from what I’ve been told by the nurses, feels never ending.

Hi, this is currently happening to me. I went to EPU a week ago with spotting which turned into bleeding. I’ve since had two sets of scans and bloods every 48 hours which show HCG levels are rising but not doubling. I’ve now been diagnosed as an ectopic pregnancy and I’m going in on Thursday for the methotrexate injection to try and end the pregnancy. It’s not easy and there’s a lot of back and forth to the hospital but it’s really important to find out exactly what’s going on because untreated it can be really dangerous.

Best of luck xxx

Hey, I’m so so sorry your having to go through that, it’s just awful.

I think I’ll be having to do the same after tomorrow’s scan. The back and forth is the worst part as your stuck in limbo.

Thanks for messaging, hope you’re ok xx

I had a pregnancy of unknown location. I'd tested positive on a PG test at home and then at 6 +4 I started bleeding. Went to the EPU and they scanned me but couldn't find the pregnancy. They took bloods and then took them again 2 days later. They said if the levels haven't gone up then the pregnancy is self resolving. If it is going up they would re scan me and if it wasn't in the womb I would be given methotrexate.

My levels dropped so there was no need for further intervention and I bled very heavily with cramps for about a week.

I'm sorry you are going through this although I would say that if there is nothing in the womb it's better to have the methotrexate than wait and risk a rupture

I’m so sorry to hear that, it’s an awful feeling.

I went in today, they found it on the scan so it’s 100% an ectopic pregnancy, they gave me the injection earlier today.

Not feeling great with it at all today, hopefully will start to feel better tomorrow, it’s all very upsetting but I’m glad they’ve found it as I was terrified of a rupture

@Son2020 I'm so sorry to hear your news. It's little comfort to say that "at least you didn't have to have surgery"

The only thing I will say is don't force yourself to feel better or thankful because you didn't have a rupture. It's a, devastating blow anytime you have a loss, regardless of whether there could have been worse complications.

I cried bitterly when I had the 2nd loss so please let yourself moun and be sad and don't be afraid to tell peopel for support. Get in plenty of pads, painkillers and you're fave foods and wine (if you fancy a drink) and let yourself be spoiled.

I really am so sorry that this has happened xxxx

@Son2020 really sorry to hear your news. I’m going in for my injection today so I’m not too far behind you...! Like you I’m trying to stay positive and just be relieved that I can hopefully avoid a rupture. Hope you’re ok. Look after yourself xxx

@Gemc81 thank you, I really appreciate it xx
I was terrified I would need surgery but as my hcg levels were so low they thought injection would be the best thing. Now it’s just a waiting game I guess to see if it works.

Yeah I thought I could bottle it up but I’ve spent a lot of time crying too which I actually think is helping me in a weird way.

My husband has been great with making sure I have everything I need, I can’t have wine yet but defo counting down the days until I can as it’s much needed

Xxx

@Kate105 I’m sorry to hear your news too, I really hope that you were ok with it and doing ok now. I’m struggling with exhaustion, So I’ve just been trying to sleep as much as possible and having continuous hot water bottles.

Get your fav movies/series on and try to rest as much as possible.

Look after yourself xx

Thanks @Son2020 I’m doing ok! I’m really tired too so just burrowing deep into the sofa 😂 hope you’re ok too xxx

Sorry you're going through this aswel. I ended up at the early pregnancy unit on Tuesday because of pain. They scanned me but too early to see anything as I was only 4 & half wks. They did find something suspicious in my Fallopian tubes so suspected ectopic they said. My Progesterone was high so she said the pregnancy is alive but my HCG wasn't as high as they'd like. The consultant booked me back in for this Tuesday for another scan & bloods, but yesterday I was 5wks & started bleeding. I'm currently in bed with a hot water bottle. I know I'm losing it. It's a hard process for us ladies to go through. I'm gutted as it's taken us 15months just to fall pregnant & im 35. I will ring the EPU on Monday & see what they say & if I still have to go in & be checked.
Fingers crossed that we all manage to get pregnant again soon & this time it'll be a sticky one for us🤞🏻x

@Chlo2701 I'm sorry you're going through this. Can I say though that you really ought to call the hospital or 111 and ask them whether you ought to go to A and E. If they suspect you have an ectopic it's not really something to leave. When I had mine they were very insistant that it was dealt with and monitored very closely to prevent rupture. Mine resolved by itself but they wanted regular blood tests to check the HCG levels were going down and scans to make sure my womb was def empty to avoid the need for emergency surgery x

@Gemc81 I was just going to leave it until Monday, because I thought that if it was definitely ectopic then I would of been in a lot more pain & heavy bleeding, or am I wrong? I don't know what to expect as never had a miscarriage at 5 weeks before. It started yesterday afternoon, it's like a period & I've only had one small clot this morning, the rest has just been red blood. & although i've had cramps on & off I can cope with them. I don't want to make something out of nothing if this miscarriage is happening how it should, & last thing I feel like doing is going back to the hospital & sitting in a room with other pregnant women. I also feel ok in myself, I've not got a temp, feel dizzy or have pain in my shoulder. If I was in danger of my tube rupturing if it was ectopic then wouldn't I be in more pain? Sorry for the questions back but I've got nobody else that I can ask that's been in our situation before🤦‍♀️x

@Chlo2701 it really depends what stage you're at.

I had the same thing happen to me at 6 weeks pregnant. I started to bleed so I went to the EPU and they scanned me and couldn't find any evidence of a pregnancy in my womb but they saw "something" up near my ovary in my tube. So was classed as a pregnancy of unknown location. Weren't sure if it was a cyst. They sent me for bloods that same day and said they wanted to see me back for repeat bloods in 2 days to see what my HCG levels were doing. If they were rising then they would be giving me an injection of methotrexate to stop the pregnancy so that it didnt grow any bigger and rupture my tube thus requiring surgery. If it was dropping then the pregnancy would be self resolving and they wouldn't need to see me back. This was the Thursday. I was seen in A&E on the Saturday for the bloods and had the results back the same day. My levels had dropped massively so they said they didn't need any further intervention and to take a pregnancy test 2 weeks after I had finished bleeding and if it was negative then all is fine, which it was.

My bleeding got heavier from the first appointment, over the weekend and I had cramps too. I had no other pain like in my shoulder tip etc which is associated with ectopic RUPTURE not a PUL.

My best friend had an ectopic pregnancy and her levels were increasing so she had to have surgery. She didn't have any pain etc as the pain is associated with the rupture of the tube but she had to have surgery as they couldn't find the pregnancy in her womb but tested her blood and her HCG levels were increasing. They removed her tube.

I don't want to worry you and I'm sure all will be fine but I personally would want to know my levels were dropping alongside the bleeding just to make sure. An ectopic rupture is incredibly serious xx

@Gemc81 no don't worry love you've not scared me at all. You've actually made me feel better. I was only 5weeks on Friday when the bleeding started. I've been using pads & it's just been like a period bleed so have the cramps. I've not had clits that I was expecting, only a tiny little one yesterday morning. The bleeding seems to have slowed down lots today & it's gone back to brown & all cramps have stopped today. When I have a normal period I usually bleed for 5 days & this has been less. So I'm wondering if i will start bleeding again tonight or tomorrow. I know it affects everybody differently. I'm going to ring the EPU tomorrow morning & let them know what's happened. Thankyou so much for responding to me you made me feel better x

Clots not clits 🤦‍♀️

I bled much more heavily than my usual period (big clots, filling several maxi pads a day) with this ectopic so fingers crossed for you that this is just a scare 🤞🏻 Xxx

@Chlo2701 how are you today? x

@Gemc81 I'm ok love, bleeding started again last night, just bleeding like a period. Rang hospital & they still want me to come in tomorrow morning, dredding it really as I know they're just going to confirm what I already know x
@Kate105 I know in my heart I've definitely lost it x

@Chlo2701 im so sorry to hear this. Its horrible going for a scan to be told you're miscarrying but it can help to move away from the wondering to knowing for sure. Take some time to grieve it always here if you want a chat xx

@Chlo2701 I’m really sorry that you’re going through this. It’s an awful feeling as it’s just all so uncertain. It is defo worth going in though I guess to give you some clarity but also make sure your safe as well. It’s just horrible though, I’ve hated when I’ve had to have scans as similar to you each time just confirming what I already know and it’s like you feel a wave of emotions each time.
Take lots of time for you and take it easy. Hope you’re ok after the scan today xxx

@Kate105 hope you’re ok after your injection xx

I’ve just been told my levels have only dropped slightly so have to go in for more scans and bloods this week. I’m just hoping they drop more by Thursday as I don’t want to have a 2nd dose.

Hope everyone is doing ok as can be xxx

Don't know if this is helpful but I just wanted to give some hope if i can. I had an ectopic pregnancy a few years back, it was our first pregnancy and we had been trying for over 2 years. I was devastated, especially as they told me it would decrease my fertility still further. However i fell pregnant 3 months later and had my little boy and now I am expecting again (fell pregnant within 2 months of trying depsite breastfeeding). There is totally totally hope and soon it will all be a distant memory!