Empty Sac Limbo

[thehurtingheart]

This is my third pregnancy, two previous losses - an embryonic pregnancy at 7w4d in October 21 and mc at 5w3d in January. Currently 7w and went for an early reassurance scan 2 days ago to see nothing but a small and empty sac.

The technician suggested that we could be less far along than we thought and that if we wait two weeks we may see some progress. Phoned EPU and went for a scan with them yesterday and they were very doom and gloom and told me to prepare for another miscarriage.

Each pregnancy I have been in some sort of limbo and more and more I am feeling like the whole process is just one massive limbo - the tww, watching test progression, the wait for a scan etc..

I am devastated and feeling extremely angry.

After our second loss we booked ourselves a holiday next week as since we got married it feels like it has been nothing but sadness and disappointment with loss after loss but now as we wait in this limbo the EPU have advised we shouldn't go in case of haemorrhage on the plane!

And today I have tested positive for covid.

Obviously I have read EVERYTHING I can find about gestational sac sizes and success stories plus stories of losses. I have no bleeding but minimal pregnancy symptoms too so my stupid brain is still holding on to some hope that MAYBE our little one will appear if I make it back for another scan... but the rational side of me is preparing for loss -- no way could my dates be that far out considering how closely I was tracking everything...

In my experience of life miracles do happen -- just never to me.

Any comments welcome -- sorry for the rant!

Hi @thehurtingheart I’m sorry to hear about your previous losses and your current situation. I am in a very similar place to you at the moment - had a scan at the EPU at 7 weeks last week (due to ongoing spotting) and all they saw was a gestational sac and yolk sac, no embryo. Unless I had an immaculate conception I’m very sure of my dates so I know this isn’t good news.

In contrast to your experience the staff weren’t doom and gloom at all, I just got a ‘well you could just be earlier that you thought, it happens a lot’ even though I told them I couldn’t possibly be any more than a few days out. The Dr even seemed shocked when I started crying!

My next scan is on Monday so not too much longer to wait (I have a busy job so weekdays go quickly) but I know I’ll be a nervous wreck by the time it comes around. We were also supposed to be going on holiday next week but slim chance that will happen!

I hope the next 2 weeks aren’t too painful for you and you get some good news on the other end. I’ve gradually stopped googling as much over the past couple of days which has helped and work has definitely been my saving grace. Do you have anything else you can focus on to keep you sane while you wait? x

I’m so sorry to hear about this and your previous losses. I have been there and it is so shit.

Here are some practical things you can do.

Phone GP and ask for a HCG blood test to check levels and potential rise/falls. Cite the mental health impact of waiting.

Book a private scan for when you are 8 weeks and check for any growth or developments a week on.

@ChipAndDip @Suprima

Thanks both for your replies.

@ChipAndDip I am sorry that you are also in this situation, I hope that you have one of these miracle cases and that a little bub appears for you at your next scan! Because of the covid I am off work, I was hoping that would help take my mind off things... trying to stay busy by rewatching downtown abbey and doing a bit of work from home when I can bring myself to focus!

@Suprima sorry to hear of your past loss! I am surprised they didn't take my hcg levels at the scan, from home testing my lines are still progressing but I know this can happen even with an empty sac as the sac produces hormones - maybe this is why the hospital didn't test. I have phoned my GP though to see if they can test my thyroid function, blood sugar and clotting factors as I don't think I will be able to wait months hearing from the recurrent miscarriage clinic. I'm not hopeful though, last time I called my GP they were useless :(

The hospital said they would phone on Sunday and invite me back for a repeat scan if I hadn't started miscarrying by then - so far no signs of this.

This is the worst waiting game!

Just to close of this I ended up having medical management for another missed miscarriage.

@thehurtingheart I'm so sorry for your loss, and previous losses. I'm in a really similar situation, had an 11wk MMC in October, now almost 8wks but early EPAU scan on Monday put me a week behind, and HCG levels not doubling as they should.

I had two private scans yesterday at different places (had meetings there anyway to discuss recurrent miscarriage testing) and one looked ok (120 heartbeat) and the other not (could barely find a very slow heartbeat, small gestational sac). So I'm so confused.

Waiting for the next EPAU scan on Monday but the limbo and waiting is hellish. No bleeding or cramping but also pregnancy symptoms vanished 2 weeks ago, despite there still being a heartbeat.

In my heart I know it's over but a tiny, tiny part of me is hoping I'm one of the rare cases where things work out ok.