Methotrexate - what to expect

[canitbesimple]

Has anyone ever had methotrexate before? I’m meant to be getting it tomorrow 😫😫.

Just looking for advice on how long symptoms last? What was the pain like? Was the injection itself sore?

As you can tell I wasn't expecting this. I believed I had a miscarriage but turns out I have an unknown location of pregnancy and as HCG isn't increasing & scans are empty it's being treated the same as an ectopic pregnancy 💔

Hi there
I'm so sorry you're going through this, it's such a confusing experience. I had a pregnancy of unknown location as well and the methotrexate injection 2.5 weeks ago. The injection did sting a bit for a very short while (they let me leave the hospital immediately and I was fine) but wasn't very painful. I had a headache the day after but other than that no symptoms - no pain, no bleeding until what I think was a normal period last week as my levels had come down. I was surprised because I was expecting to feel awful. My HCG levels weren't very high to begin with though. I think everyone reacts differently, so give yourself the time/space in case you do have some side effects and ask to be signed off by the ward?

It has worked for me, and my levels came down within two weeks so I have now been discharged.

Sending you a big hug, and hoping that it goes as smoothly as possible.

xxx

@lotus37

Hi there I'm so sorry you're going through this, it's such a confusing experience. I had a pregnancy of unknown location as well and the methotrexate injection 2.5 weeks ago. The injection did sting a bit for a very short while (they let me leave the hospital immediately and I was fine) but wasn't very painful. I had a headache the day after but other than that no symptoms - no pain, no bleeding until what I think was a normal period last week as my levels had come down. I was surprised because I was expecting to feel awful. My HCG levels weren't very high to begin with though. I think everyone reacts differently, so give yourself the time/space in case you do have some side effects and ask to be signed off by the ward?

It has worked for me, and my levels came down within two weeks so I have now been discharged.

Sending you a big hug, and hoping that it goes as smoothly as possible.

xxx

Thank you so much for sharing!

I'm very sorry you had to go through this! It's a horrible rollercoaster of unknowns. So many emotions.

I was scheduled to get mine this afternoon but my blood tests have been as follows:

20th: 95
22nd: 108
24th: 125

So they've delayed it until next week. I'll get further bloods done on 31st and then go ahead with the injection in the afternoon if no good hcg increase.
Not sure why today's result has suddenly put a hold on it as they were certain the injection was happening today.

I have no idea how far I am as I found out in Feb I was pregnant but then had bleeding they aren't sure if it was chemical and this is another pregnancy or if this is the same pregnancy that isn't progressing. I had no bloods done last month so nothing to compare to 😅

Another dreaded week of waiting

Ach, I'm so sorry, the waiting is terrible, isn't it. So hard just not knowing what on earth is going on. Your levels are similar to mine with similar increases. The highest it got was 150 something with very small increases (think the last one was only by 7% or so).
I'm so sorry you have to wait another week, can you ask them why they want to wait?
Take care

@lotus37

Ach, I'm so sorry, the waiting is terrible, isn't it. So hard just not knowing what on earth is going on. Your levels are similar to mine with similar increases. The highest it got was 150 something with very small increases (think the last one was only by 7% or so). I'm so sorry you have to wait another week, can you ask them why they want to wait? Take care

It's a horrible wait isn't it. Really wouldn't wish it on anyone 😫

They've decided to wait as they have no blood results for last month when I first found out I was pregnant and I haven't had any bleeding since Feb 25th so they're now wondering if it is a new pregnancy or previous pregnancy. I have no pain and all scans are completely clear. So they've decided to wait another week to double check bloods haven't went up too much before going ahead with the methotrexate. Honestly shocked as I was prepared for it all day

Oh I see. That is so hard when you were all ready for it. Really hope the next few days don't drag too much. I found it so hard to concentrate on anything else, and did so much googling trying to find answers, which didn't really get me anywhere. Had never even heard of pregnancy of unknown location and there is so little information available, and it didn't really help when even the consultant said they were confused too.
Take care and I'm here if you want to chat.

Hi @canitbesimple I'm so sorry you're going through this. What a difficult time with all the waiting and uncertainty.
I had similar increases in hcg as you but mine were in early 200's.
The jag itself was a bit stingy but that didn't last long. I recall just feeling a bit lethargic but nothing unmanageable. I did get the rare side effect of mouth ulcers but they cleared up quickly.
My mum used to take methotrexate for arthritis and had awful side effects so it maybe is just dependent on dose / reason why it's required.
Wishing you all the best x

Thank you so much.

I really hope the next week doesn't drag either I have no idea why they decided to delay it 😩.

I have also spent too many unhealthy hours on google trying to find answers hoping that it isn't going to be this but I think it's highly likely that I'll get methotrexate next week. I just hope our next pregnancy goes a little better than this one 🤞🏼

@auldmaw

Hi *@canitbesimple* I'm so sorry you're going through this. What a difficult time with all the waiting and uncertainty. I had similar increases in hcg as you but mine were in early 200's. The jag itself was a bit stingy but that didn't last long. I recall just feeling a bit lethargic but nothing unmanageable. I did get the rare side effect of mouth ulcers but they cleared up quickly. My mum used to take methotrexate for arthritis and had awful side effects so it maybe is just dependent on dose / reason why it's required. Wishing you all the best x

@auldmaw thank you for sharing. I feel like it's definitely going to be injection next week I'm dreading it. Hope I don't have any side effects.

Was it definitely 3 months before you could try again. That makes me so upset to have to wait 😩

Hi @canitbesimple I was really dreading it because of my mums experience but it really wasn't that bad. I had been in a lot of discomfort with the ectopic so, if anything, I was relieved to have something happening (I found out I was pregnant in the Feb but knew immediately something was wrong. Didn't get injection until April).
By that point I just wanted it all over with.
There was actually a mix up and I was initially told I couldn't conceive for 6 months. That stopped me from accepting the injection and waiting another week to see if things would happen naturally. The following week a different consultant told me it was 3 months. I'd have taken the injection the week before had I known that.
And to be honest, I needed that 3 months to just give myself a breather. It's hard when you're trying to conceive but my ectopic was my 2nd loss in 5 months. I actually ended up taking the rest of the year off trying!
Just be gentle with yourself. I needed it to be physically over before I could emotionally heal x

Hi @auldmaw

Thank you for your honesty 💕
I feel like because the only sign of ectopic is the low hcg I'm scared to get it if I don't really need it. I haven't had any bleeding for over a month I have no pain or dizziness and scans aren't showing signs of ectopic. I just don't want to get something and set myself back if it isn't necessary. I'm an over thinker and as usual I've convinced myself I'm going to have every single side effect possible.

And if I'm being honest with myself 3 months is a huge heartbreak for me. I've put so much pressure on myself to have a baby that I want it so badly that I don't want to accept 3 months waiting 😩

I wish this had been different xo