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Miscarriage/pregnancy loss

Find support and share your experiences on our Miscarriage forum. See also legal rights and support after baby loss.

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Original poster

Friend just had 2nd ectopic (also 1 miscarriage)

15 replies

Lushaddict · 07/02/2008 21:12

A close friend of mine is currently in hospital after having her 2nd ectopic pregnancy. They have been TTC for about 2 years and the first time ended up being ectopic. They gave her some kind of injections which is used for cancer to break down the cells whilst still in her fallopian tube as she was reluctant to have surgery in fear of losing a tube. This process was quite drawnout.
The second pregnancy ended in miscarriage at about 5 weeks and she was taken into hospital this week with pains with the 3rd pregnancy. Today they have said it is ectopic but to big to remove with the injections so they are operating.
As I type I am praying she doesn't lose any fallopian tubes but am waiting for any news

I cannot begin to imagine how she must be feeling, it will kill her if she can't have children (she's 35).

Does anyone have any experience of this? I am amazed she's had 2 ectopics and am thinking maybe there's a problem with her tubes preventing the egg to pass through.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 07/02/2008 21:17

I believe Aitch has had two.

If she loses a tube she will still hopefully have another functional one. Was she having fertility treatment? If she was she's probably had a lap and dye test on her tubes already (should bloody well hope so after 2 years TTC.

Poor woman, any miscarriage is hard, but with the threat of permanent damage looming, I can only imagine what she's going through.

MaureenMLove · 07/02/2008 21:20

I've had two ectopics and sadly it is just sheer bloody bad luck. There is however, no reason what so ever why she would not be able to conceive again from the other tube, if she looses one. Although we are are led to believe that we ovulate on alternate tubes every other month, I was told by my consultant that that doesn't happen, so in other words her chances of conceiving with only one tube, is no different to that of two.

She is going to need a lot of recovery time though. Its pretty major surgery tbh and the recovery time is much the same as a c-section. No heavy lifting or driving for 6 weeks. My doctor advised 3 months before trying again and I conceived within 6 months of ectopic.

Piffle · 07/02/2008 21:22

Wow poor her
I conceived ds2 with tube after an ectopic and several miscarriages.

Good luck to her, if they caught it early she may only need a laparoscopic procedure and this is much easier than the full laparotomy emergency one where they dash and cut you open like a c section (yes I had that one dammit)
The loss of a tube is not overly helpful to conception but it is not a total disaster, she will also be eligible for assisted conception procedures as well, so she has a few options
Certainly a simple test to see state of tunes would be worthwhile but not until she is well recovered from this, although if open surgery then can check the state of things while operating.
HTH (prob not now you'll be really worried)
But it's ok it's not the end of her chances

Original poster

Lushaddict · 07/02/2008 21:29

No she wasn't having fetility treatment whomovedmychocolate.
Thanks so much for the fast responses
I didn't realise having 2 was common to be honest (well, not common but you know what I mean..am not functioning properly at mo)

Its comforting to know she may still be able to concieve.

OP posts:

whomovedmychocolate · 07/02/2008 21:36

Listen, I've had as many miscarriages as I have successful pregnancies. It is possible.

She's not very old and even if the tubes are damaged, IVF is still a possibility. What she will need is love and reassurance from those round her and later on information on what happened.

Original poster

Lushaddict · 07/02/2008 22:32

Just heard from her hubby. They did a laparotomy not keyhole and she has lost one tube.

OP posts:

MaureenMLove · 07/02/2008 22:38

Ah, poor thing. She's gonna need a lot of looking after. I expect she'll be in hospital until Monday at least. Take your cue from her, when it comes to saying the right things. Hopefully, someone at the hospital will be able to reassure her that all is not as bleak as it may seem now. There really is no reason why she can't conceive again.

Quattrocento · 07/02/2008 22:42

It would probably have been better for her to have had a tube removed in the first place tbh

If you have an abnormality caused by an infection, the tube could still be blocked.

Did you know that if you have a tube removed, your fertility doesn't decrease by 50%, as you might expect?

The clever little remaining tube just swoops over to the other ovary and does a neat catch. Not all the time, but quite a lot of the time. So you end up with fertility of around 70%.

Quite enough to have lots of babies, I promise you

Piffle · 08/02/2008 09:59

oh poor her. It is horrendous after laparotomy. She needs absolute rest and she will not be able to try to conceive for six mths in order to heal. I had this procedure and two years later conceived ds2. Loss of one tube does not mean a 50% reduction in fertility. I ovulated from side with no tube and still fell pregnant. But she will need to take early sensitive preg tests and get to doctors early to get checked if she does fall pregnant. Bless her is she in touch with ectopic pregnancy trust boards? They are excellent for well informed support. Hope she is ok. Horrible experience for them

Tutter · 08/02/2008 10:04

hi - sorry for your friend's loss

just a quick one as ds2 waking but i wanted to let you know that i conceived both my dsses from left ovary + right tube - at my early scans they told me both times that they could see i had ovulated from my tubeless side

eggs can and do travel "across" to the other side (tubes are not as far apart as you might think from looking at a 2D diagram)

so, her fertility won't be reduced by 50%

she'll need lots of TLC - it's a tough thing to go though x

Bekkie32 · 13/02/2008 16:41

Listen.. I got married in sept 2000 and was TTC for 7 years. In 2005, I was rushed to hospital as I had an ectopic pregnancy. For me I had to have emergency surgery and I lost my left tube (it had already burst). I thought my hopes were over for a child - after another year of trying with no joy we tried IVF as they also said my right ovary was lazy and I had little hope in conceiving. The IVF failed... we lost around 1,500 pounds. the hormones from IVF must have triggered something as the month after the IVF failed I fell pregnant naturally with my first baby.

Infact just after the failed IVF we flew out to newzealand. I did not know I was pregnant and I was due to have a laproscopy to check out my right tube (with the cour dye test etc,..). I was actually booked in for an operation, which I cancelled as my period never arrived and i sent an email to the doctor saying I would prefer to wait until my period comes. If I had not done that and if I had not had the operation then I would have no baby, as the baby that was there would have been killed in the OP. freaky eh? But really even if one tube is removed there is hope..believe me. keeoing fingers crossed all goes well.

Bekkie32 · 13/02/2008 16:42

colour dye test, that was meant to say.

Original poster

Lushaddict · 16/02/2008 17:22

Well, she's been told the remaining tube is okay luckily.
Apparantly there was a 7cm blood clot which was causing alot of the tummy pain whilst she was first in hospital. Im not sure of all the details but am visiting her on Monday.
Am going to print this thread off as you all have been very encouraging.
She has mentioned she's terrified of trying again but still wants to go ahead.

OP posts:

Bekkie32 · 17/02/2008 18:09

That is good the other tube is okay. Fantastic news!

there is hope, as my remaining one was ok too. When she is all ready for trying again in the future, once she has overcome this traumatic experience, cycle monitoring can be done as it can take ages to conceive again with one tube. For me it took a further two years. Of course it is not the same for everyone, but it is amazing as they do an ultrasound on your ovaries to see which side ovulates and can tell you when. they can also make a certain ovary ovulate, if for some reason it wasnt (also in my case ), with hormones. Just something to keep in mind on the off chance that you find it takes an age with one tube! So concentrate on getting better - pamper yourself and live in thought that it can happen.

When you get the bundle of joy you want, you are also relieved that you were not pregnant sooner, otherwise you would not have the one you have now.

wishing you a healthy recovery and thinking of you during this difficult time.

MaureenMLove · 17/02/2008 18:26

Great news that the other tube is still good! You need lots of love, pampering and rest now! Don't try to do to much, too soon. Your head may feel like you're ready, but your body will need lots of looking after.

Lots of well wishing vibes from us!

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