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Original poster

how early can signs of ectopic begin?

35 replies

Hattie05 · 19/02/2008 21:10

I am due my period in the next few days, but for the last 3 days have had large clots of brown discharge and watery brown discharge.

It crossed my mind that i could be miscarrying so searched on here and came accross ectopics and noticed that the pain i've been feeling in my shoulder for the last 3 days also can be a sign of ectopic pregnancy. (sounds strange i know, but its the weirdest pain just on tip of my shoulder as described on the ectopic site.)

I am not ttc but not on contraception - just using condoms. The only time there may have been an 'accident' was 2nd Jan, on a drunken night (this is when it gets embarrassing) we had sex and fell asleep straight away. I woke up in the morning to find the condom still inside me . Since i've been reading about ectopics and the fact that the coil can be a barrier to the sperm fertilising in the right place, i'm wondering if the condom could've done the same job as the coil does? does that make sense?

I'm having mild cramping pains tonight and did also last night.

I'm waiting for nhs direct to call back.

But part of me things i'm being ridiculous as we're only talking 17 days ago - would signs start this quickly?

Hope someone has read to the end of this and can help me out here!

OP posts:
Tutter · 19/02/2008 21:14

right, am trying to cast my mind back here

i think it is possible

it doesn't take long for the fertilised egg to reach the fallopian tube. it then takes 7-10 days for the egg to reach the uterus (in a normal pregnancy)

it follows that an egg could implant in the tube very soon (a day or two?) after ovulation, and start to develop there

i don't know, however, how long it would take for it to reach a size sufficient to kick start the symptoms you describe

i would suggest you visit the message boards of the ectopic pregnancy trust (www.ectopic.org). the nurse advisors there are very helpful, and far more knowledgeable than i am

good luck

Tutter · 19/02/2008 21:15

with my ep i believe i started to cramp and bleed only a day or so after discovering i was pregnant, so maybe 4 and a half weeks

Original poster
Hattie05 · 19/02/2008 21:17

Thank you tutter, i did look at that website, but didn't notice a board! shall go have another look.

OP posts:
Bellie · 19/02/2008 21:18

with my ep I started to bleed at 5.5 weeks.
Hope everything is OK.

Tutter · 19/02/2008 21:19

here you go - link

AitchTwoOh · 19/02/2008 21:19

it does sound worrying, i'm afraid, and that shoulder pain is not something to be ignored. i had symptoms of mine on the day my period was due. thing is, you really can't rule anything out with ectopics, they truly are weird little buggers. i know of people that have had a normal period and then discovered that they were pregnant the whole time and it turned out to be ectopic. fingers crossed it's (just) some weird infection or other but you would be silly to ignore it.

Original poster
Hattie05 · 19/02/2008 21:23

Thank you everyone.

Thanks for not making me feel stupid!

OP posts:
B1977 · 19/02/2008 21:23

See ectopic.org as above.

If your discharge is like "prune juice", I think you should go to your nearest Early Pregnancy Unit / Emergency Gynaecological Unit and get it checked out, ectopics are potentially really dangerous, don't just wait and see.

Mine was like Tutter's, technically I was about 6 1/2 weeks pregnant when my EP was found but this means I had conceived just over a month before. If you catch an EP in time they can treat it with an injection, leave it too late and your fallopian tube will probably rupture and you will have internal bleeding. MUCH better "annoying" the doctors than leaving it.

Sorry, don't mean to scare you!

Original poster
Hattie05 · 19/02/2008 21:29

I guess its like prune juice?

My pad doesn't really have a lot on, but whenever i wee and wipe i have brown clots on. the pad has a watery brown dishcarge on.

Sorry!!! is that like prune juice?

OP posts:
Original poster
Hattie05 · 19/02/2008 21:31

noticed sore boobs today as well, which is why i thought i may be pregnant - which then turned into miscarriage - which could now be ectopic???

what a whirlwind of a day!

OP posts:
Tutter · 19/02/2008 21:32

watery and brown is absolutely a possible sign of an ectopic

i would call your gp first thing in the morning and ask for a referral to your local epu

or call the epu direct

if things worsen overnight, go to a&e

i don't want to alarm you but things can happen quickly. my left fallopian tube ruptured somewhere between 4.5 and 6 weeks

best of luck

AitchTwoOh · 19/02/2008 21:37

oh dear that is a rough day. there's no time to waste, though, get onto it first thing tomorrow and don't take no for an answer. you'll need a scan and possibly serial hcgs if they can't diagnose from the scan. i hope it's not, but you really must take the threat of ep seriously...

Original poster
Hattie05 · 19/02/2008 21:38

shit why do these things happen when you just don't need them to. I so need to be in work for 9am tomorrow.

May see if i can find a local epu and ring them tonight.

thank you for making me take this seriously! If i hadn't of read mumsnet i would've ignored it.

OP posts:
B1977 · 19/02/2008 21:41

If the EPU is open I would go now. I really hope it is not an ectopic but it is too serious to ignore. Thinking of you.

AitchTwoOh · 19/02/2008 21:42

the epu will likely be closed but you could maybe ring gynae and ask to speak to the doc there, they may be able to book you in at the epu for a scan in the morning. at least that's what i did with one of mine. listen, it's frightening, but you're taking it seriously, that's all anyone can do. i hope that it's nothing.

Original poster
Hattie05 · 19/02/2008 21:44

thanks aitch, i just discovered that the epu rang and rang!

Can i ring gynae ward?

Or should i go out and by a pg test first? that would be pos if ectopic also right?

OP posts:
AitchTwoOh · 19/02/2008 21:44

shoulder tip pain, i believe, happens because there is bleeding that irritates the diaphragm and for some reason shows up as a pain in the shoulder. so if you've been having that for three days... are you totally sure you had a period last month?

B1977 · 19/02/2008 21:46

My ectopic showed up as a faint positive on a test (I think it was a "First Response" one), but it depends on your hcg levels, it might not show up.

AitchTwoOh · 19/02/2008 21:46

yep, do a preg test. although it's not completely conclusive if you were pregnant and have a self-resolving ectopic (one that is in the process of disappearing) as you may have had something and the levels might have gone down. but it would be a good start.

you can ring whoever you want, tbh, they might not know what they can do for you though but it might help you to have more info. haven't nhs direct called back?

mostlyalurker · 19/02/2008 21:48

The thing to do is find out if you are actually pg by doing a test. Can you get hold of one?, if not a trip to a&e to take a test would rule it out and stop you from worrying.

Original poster
Hattie05 · 19/02/2008 21:52

no nhs direct never rang back.

Yes i known i had a period last month as it arrived on my daughters birthday - (strange things we remember!).

The shoulder pain started the same day as the brown discharge. I thought i must have bashed my shoulder. Didn't link the two until today.

I think i'll ring nhs direct again in a bit (they did say it could be four hours! beforei hear from them)

Could drive out to the 24hr supermarket for a pg test? but shall wait first in case nhs direct call!

bugger bugger bugger

OP posts:
MaureenMLove · 19/02/2008 22:00

Hi Hattie, just lurking a bit, I've been there twice too, so I have experience of it, but nothing that hasn't already been said. Hope things turn out OK for you.

AitchTwoOh · 19/02/2008 22:00

and you are sure it was an utterly normal period? if so, that's good. do you have a pal you could call who might have a peestick to hand?

Original poster
Hattie05 · 19/02/2008 22:04

Thank you Maureen

Aitch - yes fairly certain it was normal? although you cast doubt in my mind now! It was red and not prune juice so thats good? (the things we discuss!)

I may text a friend who lives very close by but i think she goes to bed very early so may not hear from her.

OP posts:
B1977 · 19/02/2008 23:06

Just to reassure you on the other thread - the YABU I posted was for the OP not you - x posts!

Oh dear hope you get as much sleep as you can and all the best for the hospital tomorrow.