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Miscarriage/pregnancy loss

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Spotting, HCG rising, nothing on scan - ectopic?

5 replies

danielleb97 · 18/01/2021 09:04

Hi,

I'm just looking for anyone who has had similar experiences to mine, as I'm so fed up of being in limbo already. :(

I got my first positive on 28/12, after trying to conceive with my fiancé for around 6 months. Going off my last period (27/11/20) I should be around 7 weeks today though I feel this could be off due to irregular cycle length and not tracking ovulation.

Everything was going fine until I started spotting around 2nd Jan, I was trying not to worry but ended up phoning my GP on 4th Jan and going in for some internal and external checks. They assured me everything seemed okay and it was likely implantation bleeding.

The spotting stopped on the 5th, until this Monday (11th) when it picked back up again. I felt quite concerned and phoned the EPU who told me they wouldn't scan me unless things got worse. However, we both really wanted some reassurance and figured since we were over 6 weeks, we should see something if we booked a private scan. We managed to get one for Monday evening, though they couldn't find much, even on an internal scan. The sonographer was really abrupt and cold with us and said I had a 'thick' uterine lining and also saw something that could have been a sac, but they said they couldn't be sure and chances were I was much earlier than 6 weeks. The sonographer did say said she could see it "was not an ectopic pregnancy" though.

Then on Tuesday, the spotting got a bit worse, not heavier, just brighter in colour which was concerning so I ended up phoning the EPU back Tuesday night and was advised to attend Wednesday morning for bloods. I went for these bloods, and my numbers came back at 1932, and they booked me in for a scan Thursday (yesterday) afternoon. They didn't tell me too much about the scan, just that there was "no sign" of a pregnancy. I then had a follow-up chat with the nurse same-day who said to me that I was likely experiencing a miscarriage (possibly already had miscarried) and that's why there was nothing on the scan. Though, they told me to come back on Friday (today) to have repeat bloods to confirm my HCG was going down.

I was understandably devastated and went home and have been grieving with my partner. I went back this morning for the repeat bloods and received the results in the last hour & they've risen. They're now 2595.

Now I've been told I have to go back to the EPU on Thursday 21st for a repeat scan and more bloods to "see if the pregnancy is progressing normally" - I said I had already been told I had miscarried, and I am still spotting bright red. They said that because the hormone levels have gone up, they can't tell what's going on until I go back on the 21st.

I was hoping someone can offer me advice/stories that may help me get through this 6 day wait until I go back to the EPU? I am really fearing the worst with an ectopic now, and feel I was misinformed by the private scan company I saw on Monday 11th as the EPU are clearly concerned I could be having an ectopic pregnancy.

I realise now that this is a complete essay and I apologise for that, thank you if you bothered to read all of this! X

OP posts:
Kate105 · 24/01/2021 10:21

Hi, how did you get on? I did earlier in the week but didn’t want to message because I had a very similar story to you but I did end up having surgery for an ectopic pregnancy. So didn’t want to just come in with the worst case scenario!

Hope at the very least you have some clarity now. The uncertainty is just awful. Xxx

Kate105 · 24/01/2021 10:21

I did see this earlier in the week even!

danielleb97 · 24/01/2021 10:51

Hi!

My scan on Thursday was inconclusive again so they did more bloods same day around 12 ish and my HCG was 5151! I had to to wait hours for doctor to get round to me and he was too concerned to let me go home so I had to be admitted.

They wanted to get me in for a laparoscopy Thursday night to try and diagnose the pregnancy but couldn’t, I was distraught having to stay in overnight as I hate hospitals. Got rushed in for surgery first thing Friday morning which was daunting but good I got seen to so quickly! I got lucky that the emergency surgery theatre had nothing on so because I was on the emergency list they picked me up straight away.

Came out of surgery midday on Friday, had to wait on the the ward for 3+ hours for a doctor to tell me what actually happened... And they didn’t bloody find anything! He said there was a little bit of blood in the POD which they removed for me but no ectopic pregnancy - my tubes and ovaries were in such good condition they didn’t even want to touch them so let them be.

Because there was no ectopic pregnancy hence no risk of me rupturing I was able to go home and be discharged which was great.

I went back again for repeat bloods yesterday 😭. Got those results back yesterday night and my levels had risen again now sitting at 5701. They had me back in for another scan today at 8am (which showed no pregnancy again and honestly I’m not even surprised at this point) and I’ve been waiting to speak to a doctor ever since!

Such a nightmare-ish situation. So sorry to hear about your surgery and ectopic. How did it go? Xx

OP posts:
Kate105 · 24/01/2021 13:27

Oh you poor thing what a nightmare! I really hope you get some answers soon. It took my hospital about 10 days to confirm the ectopic, I then had methotrexate but it didn’t work so ended up having to get surgery in the end. This was back in September so just getting back to TTC now and feeling a lot better about the whole thing. Whatever it is you’ll be ok! Xxxx

Neady1980 · 25/01/2021 14:47

I totally understand what your going through. I'm 8 weeks and on Thursday I started to spot only lasted a couple of hours. Friday I was spotting again and had cramping so went to emergency, the did an ultrasound which showed gestational sac but no yolk sac, dr. Said it could be ectopic or miscarriage and gave me an appointment for epu this morning. Everything was fine over the weekend no pains and was just spotting. I got an internal scan this morning and was to pregnancy location unknown, they couldn't see anything Sad . Got bloods done today and back Wednesday for more bloods, however an hour ago I had more cramping and now bleeding is heavy with clots so I reckon the miscarriage has started Sad

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