Ectopic - worried about management

[Soerdu]

I had a scan last week at estimated 6+4 where a Pregnancy of Unknown Location was diagnosed. They took my bloods 48hrs apart which fell from 7500 to 6400 and have told me that the drop is low and indicates the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy. I'm 42 so the chances are higher. I've also had 2 miscarriages in the last year. Currently having brown discharge which is also indicative of the ectopic pregnancy.
I'm really worried about how it's going to be dealt with. Everything I read says a methotrexate injection and I'm terrified of having it. I have an all consuming fear of vomiting and it's listed as a common side effect.

Wondering if any of you have had ectopic pregnancies and how you managed them? Did you have to have the injection or surgery or did you manage to wait for it to pass itself? If you did have the injection was it as awful as it sounds?

Due to go in for another scan in a couple of hours and I'm just so nervous ☹️

I had exactly the same a few years ago and had the injection, and it was absolutely fine. I don't remember any major side effects, there was no vomiting. The whole experience is very upsetting so my heart goes out to you, but I was just glad it didn't have to result in surgery so the injection was the lesser option. Take care of yourself

My trust never prescribed the injection - although this was five years ago. The options were wait and see or surgery. I ended up in surgery. I only went in to have a moan as it was 2 weeks since diagnosed and just wanted it over. The doctor had the time to scan and that is when it was discovered I was internally bleeding. The surgery was not that bad and I was glad to be over.

If your hcg is dropping then it could be your body is resolving this itself - brown discharge isn't necessarily a sign of an ectopic - it's more likely to be a sign of the impending miscarriage.

Methotrexate isn't usually given above a hcg of 5000 - I'd ask about that - the paperwork I was given by my hospital was very very clear on that as it's not shown to really work with high levels. I had it at 5,000 and it failed but I had a confirmed ectopic and it ruptured 3 days later.

I didn't have any vomiting with MTX - it's drug also used to treat some cancers so side effects were tiredness, general feeling of malaise and couldn't drink alcohol for a while as it does affect your liver and felt awful if I drank

To be honest I'd request follow up bloods - if levels are dropping id wait and see.

They can only really do surgery if they actually see something and identify where it is otherwise they'd be opening you up to root around in the hope of finding it - And may not

I had surgery for mine as it was close to rupture. The surgery was fine and over with very quickly. They had to remove one tube which I found hard to cope with as I was worried about conceiving I’m the future. Be gentle with yourself and be guided by the medics.

Thank you all for your messages so far and @couldishouldigoforit thank you for that information. It urged me to look up the NICE guidelines so I'm a bit more informed. Still waiting at the hospital right now and hoping for a not too terrible outcome.

I had a similar thing 5.5 years ago (and my 4.5 year old DD is in the next room btw!)

I had the methotrexate injection and I don’t remember there being any side effects in particular. Definitely no vomiting. Obviously it was a miserable time in general, but physically it didn’t really affect me and I got pregnant again a few months later.