Retained tissue 6 weeks after miscarriage. MVA booked and terrified

[Wilson2022]

Hi everyone, first time posting on here. I found out in April at 12 week scan I had a embryonic pregnancy or blighted ovum. On the 7th of April I had an appointment at EPU where I decided on medical management. Had my miscarriage that night/early hours of next morning which was so painful and scary 😟 I have bled pretty much ever since, including 2 episodes of complete flooding and heavy blood loss. I’ve also had 2 lots of antibiotics so far. On Monday I went back to EPU where they scanned me and found 3cm of retained tissue. I am booked in for MVA on Monday but am absolutely terrified it will cause me a lot of pain. I have lots of questions but I guess the main ones are: Do they scan you again first before MVA? Will they automatically offer pain relief or will I have to ask for it I.e gas and air? How painful is it really?
I just like to know what’s going to happen and how bad it will be. Please be honest so I can prepare myself.

Hi @Wilson2022 , I'm so sorry you are going through this. I also had a blighted ovum confirmed and had an ERPC on Wednesday. I think this is slightly different to an MVA, but all I can say is the operation was over quickly and I had barely any pain. In recovery, my tummy hurt slightly, so they administered some painkillers intravenously but I can't remember the pain now which is strange. For the past 2 days, I have taken 1 ibuprofen and that's it, so not painful at all. Sorry I can't be of more help, but I hope it goes well 🙏

I had the procedure last week. There was two girls in at the same time as me. They didn't have any pain and couldn't feel the cervical injection, just some light cramps afterwards. I didn't have a great experience.
Gas and air was available straight away I didn't have to ask. I would suggest taking some pain relief afterwards. All three of us needed to after about 30-40 mins so taking it straight away means less pain.

They scanned me and then gave me the tablets to soften/open the cervix which are inserted vaginally. And then gave me antibiotics and painkillers each as a suppository. After 2 hours I had the procedure. You lay down on the table, legs in stirrups and a sheet is put underneath your bum. They use a speculum to open and then wash the area with water and then inject the local anaesthetic into the cervix. A few minutes later the vacuum starts. This part is noisy for a few seconds and the noise happened a couple of times for me. Then after 10-15 mins it was over. They helped me put on some mesh knickers and a thick pad and then I went into a communal room to rest for 30 mins. I needed to have a wee before I was allowed to leave. And that was it.

So sorry you're going through this too xx

Thank you for replying. I have been given the misoprostal pessaries to put in at home at 08:00 then appointment is at 11. I’m nervous but glad they are good with pain relief. Did you feel okay at home afterwards? My sister is having my 2 year old for me but just wondering if I should ask her to have him overnight?

Also, I’m so sorry for both your losses. It’s such an awful thing. And now, almost 7 weeks after finding out I just want it to be finished and try to move on 😢

I was in quite a bit of pain afterwards for a few hours. I'm still taking paracetamol every 4 hours now and it's been a week. Every time I lifted my little one (19 mo) up it was causing a lot of bleeding for the first 48 ish hours. I think I had a pretty bad recovery based on the other experiences I have read though.
I think the emotional/hormonal ups and downs are worse than the pain so I would suggest having someone around for both things if it's possible xx

Thank you for sharing your experience. I’m hoping as it’s only a small amount of retained tissue the worst of the bleeding is already done and I’ll just get light bleeding. But ill have to wait and see. My plan is to ask for the gas and air as soon as I lie down for the procedure to help with anxiety as well.

@Wilson2022 I had MVA last week. I was so so anxious. I asked for the gas and air straightaway, before the injection and I went to town on it! Use it as much as you need, I didn't feel anything and was so away with the fairies I can't remember much of it at all. X

Ahh thank you. I had a biopsy a few years ago which so painful and it’s just making me anxious. I will be asking for gas and air straight away when I go in