Retained products, first period or chemical?

[vjb39]

As if losing your baby isn’t enough… here I am 12 weeks later still with a positive test 😩 advice please as I really don’t know how much more of this I can take.

I had a D&C on 18th May for 2.2cm retained products after 2 failed rounds of misoprostrol for a MMC that was discovered 30th March.

Bleeding after D&C was light, took a test 10 days later and got the faintest of squinters which was amazing after seeing clear positives for so long. Bleeding slowed to spotting and I assumed that D&C had done its job and the test having been so faint would be negative any day.

3 weeks after d&c I started AF style cramping and bleeding heavier- called the EPAU and they said it’s likely to be my period, a little bit earlier than expected but as long as it’s not too heavy or painful it can be normal.

This heavier bleeding has now been going on for 12 days! It’s lighter than my normal period, sometimes heavy and red, sometimes lighter and pink and sometimes mucusy (sorry TMI)… also lasting way longer than usual. Anyway I got freaked out that’s it’s not actually my period and did a test (or 4)… all squinters 😭 if it was my period surely I would be testing negative by now?

My HCG was 500ish when I had the D&C so I feel like after nearly 5 weeks it should be at 0? I’m now worried about having retained products again.

Or could it be a chemical? That could account for the faint tests and when I have had a chemical previously I bled for 9 days on and off?

Sorry for the long rant but I’ve been through so much the last 3 months, I was so happy after the D&C because I felt it was all finally over and now there’s all this uncertainty again 😩

Hmmm I don’t know @vjb39 - which is obviously not helpful! - but just wanted to say I know the uncertainty is awful, and I’m sorry you’re dealing with that. (I had MMC end April and medical management, followed by D&C 1st June and now waiting for results on possible molar pregnancy). I’d say it’s worth a call to EPU again. They might scan, or do blood tests, which could give some more information.

@Oxalis00 thank you for your reply! I know I need to call EPU but I really don’t want to because it’s like admitting that it’s still not over.. that’s stupid isn’t it!
hope everything is going alright for you… sounds like you have been having a rough time too 😔

Ahh @vjb39 it’s not stupid, it’s completely understandable. You just want to put that part of your life behind you. And it’s been SO long! Before my own experience (8 weeks today from MMC. And still bleeding!) I had no idea a MC could be so drawn out. Or that it could be complicated by all this not knowing about your own body. I feel for you. Have EPU staff been kind before? Hopefully they’ll be able to reassure you and/or take some action. It could be any of the above I guess, or something else, and you need to know.

@Oxalis00 its horrible isn’t it! I really feel for you that you are still going through it after the d&c 😩 have you got more appointments coming up then?
i called the EPU today, they have been amazing the whole way through, I can’t fault them really! They said the bleeding alone doesn’t seem too concerning but paired with the positive test even though it’s really really faint they need to see me, I’m going in later in the week. Was hoping I would never have to set foot in the place ever again tbh but guess I’m going to have to 😂

Glad they’re taking it seriously, and hopefully you’ll have some answers soon. I’m due another pregnancy test in a few days, 3 weeks after D&C, so if that’s still positive I’ll be back off to EPU too. Otherwise just waiting for histology results on the possible molar. Good luck to both of us…!

@Oxalis00 good luck! Got my fingers crossed for you 🤞🏼

Hi @vjb39

Sorry for your loss. I am going through somewhat similar situation. I got to know mmc on 27th April then in month of may took 3 rounds of misoprostol but had to undergo SMM on 9th June due to small RPOC left behind. I went for a follow-up scan on 20th June due to heavy bleeding for 8 days where they found still small tissue left (1.5 cm). I am really clueless now what to do next. :-( It feels like forever and not getting over.

Hi @Akan

I am so sorry that you are going through this 🥺 have your midwives/doctors offered you any further treatment or are you sticking to expectant management?

I have had another ultrasound now and doctors have confirmed it is indeed retained products, around 2.4cm. Over the last few days I have had 2 more rounds of misoprostrol but they have done nothing, no bleeding at all so far. Not even really had any cramping or pain at all, it’s like my body isn’t even registering the medication.

They have said really the only option I have left is a hysteroscopy which is a small camera and they look in the uterus and cut away any remaining products. I am hoping in the meantime the products come out by themselves because I really don’t want to under go another procedure!

I am sending you all the love and strength because I know exactly how you must be feeling and it is awful xx

Goodness @vjb39 that’s so unlucky you’ve still got RP after all you’ve been through. Hugs to you. This WILL be over one day, you just can’t know when 🥺

@Akan I’m sorry you’re experiencing this too. It’s mad that so much intervention can still result in RP, and that a MC can take so long! I never would have guessed this before my own experience. Do you have support around you? Go gently, and be kind to yourself. It’s a lot for body and mind to deal with.

I had sudden really heavy bleeding again this week, 3 weeks after D&C (8 weeks after medical management) so went back to hospital. They couldn’t explain it 😒 but said scan showed I’m finally clear. Also clear on suspicion of molar pregnancy too. That’s a relief, but it’s still hard feeling in limbo - I’ve been bleeding for over 8 weeks now, and don’t know what my body is doing.

@vjb39 How are you getting on? Have you had the hysteroscopy yet?

@Oxalis00 i have been in today for another scan and consultant appt! They want to book me the hysteroscopy under general anaesthetic so looking at a 2-4 week waiting list, just waiting on a letter now to tell me my appointment date 🙄 the thought of it being 4 more weeks is not appealing but at least I know it will be sorted soon!
How are you getting on now your scans are showing you are all clear?

Oh goodness @vjb39 another wait! That’s miserable. Feeling stuck in your own body is so hard, and I know I’ve felt like every month counts if you’re planning on TTC again. Hopefully it’ll be towards the 2 week end of things for you, and this will be the end of it all.

I was still getting pain and passing lumps so am on antibiotics now. Feeling a bit brighter today but still sore. Cannot believe it’s been so long - 9 weeks tomorrow since medical management. I thought that would be the end of it! Hoping this will sort me out but I won’t be surprised if there are lingering issues. Almost everything has gone badly so far…!

I don't know why people call anything chemical. It's still a real pregnancy, just early.

@Oxalis00 yes hopefully it will be sooner rather than later and can move on from this! But you are right about TTC, it’s hard watching the months go by thinking about where I could be if only the miscarriage had been sorted straight away!
Glad you are starting to feel better, I feel the same… like everything that could have gone wrong has. Maybe we are just the unlucky ones 😔

@porridgeisbae I’m aware a chemical pregnancy is still a real
pregnancy thank you as I had one before the loss I am dealing with now. People call it that because that’s what it’s called medically, not to try and make it into something it’s not.

@vjb39 Yup, I mentally add 9 months every time we get into a new month and am a bit shocked by how far that is from my previous due date… Not a helpful habit! One day we’ll be the other side of all this.

@Akan How are you getting on, any progress with the retained products? Your dates are very similar to mine, and I know how despairing I’ve felt when things don’t seem to have moved on in all that time. I hope the medics have been responsive and kind.

@porridgeisbae I don’t know the personal background to you making that comment, and I’m very sorry if you’ve suffered any losses of your own. One reason people might use that term ‘chemical pregnancy’ is as shorthand on these boards for an experience that we can all understand - a very early loss that registered on a pregnancy test but possibly without other symptoms or verification. The OP was seeking clarification about ambiguously current bleeding, so the shorthand was practical and hypothetical. Others might use the phrase as they find it easier or prefer to think of the loss in those terms - and I do think it’s up to each person to describe and name their own experience in ways that suit them. It’s respectful and empathetic to allow for a range in that. One person’s choice doesn’t infringe on anyone else’s preferred vocabulary or devalue anyone else’s experience.

Hi @Oxalis00 Sorry for your loss. I am waiting for a follow up scan on 4th july to check if tissue has cleared naturally. My bleeding was stopped but still spotting intermittently. I tried to track ovulation also at the same time but getting high fertility smile on clearblue digital opk since last 8 days no peak. It never happened earlier. I always had 2-3 days of high fertility followed by peak. Don't know what's going on inside my body. Not getting much support from medical team. I tried to reach Out to EPC and outpatient to speak about my concern as I was feeling anxioua but haven't heard anything from them.

Oh @Akan I’m sorry, that’s a really hard place to be. It’s good you’ve got the scan coming up, and once you’re in there hopefully you’ll get more information and support. I know how horrible it is not to know what’s going on with your own body… I’ve been trying to track ovulation too, just to try and understand, but not hugely confident of finding anything conclusive. Have you had negative pregnancy tests? If not it could be the HCG is showing up on ovulation tests. I have heard MC can make ovulation tracking harder for a month or two for some reason.

@Oxalis00 yeah my pregnancy test is negative. That's the only good thing in this whole situation. I really wanted to avoid surgery at first place. But now after surgery also if tissues are not removed, I am really frustrated.

I’m also baffled like you! I opted for the Surgical route and 11dpo I stopped bleeding then 13dpo I’ve started bleeding again and there’s an odd smell, found out today there’s retaining tissue which she thinks is the cause but will ring me again in a week to see if the pain is still there…. Then also found out both ovaries have cysts on too, great! I was also testing negative after 7 days so feel like im in limbo!

@Chrissy1208 im sorry 😞 you just assume after surgical that it will all be sorted don’t you! Have they mentioned anything about the smell? Seems strange that they are leaving you if they know there is tissue still left! hope you are coping ok with everything

@vjb39 its crazy the amount of time you have to wait for a decision to be made. I think they must be hoping my body will do things naturally and cause them no bother maybe? I’ve been on antibiotics so that has sorted the random smell but it’s still not resolved the problem. I just want to be back to normal, get a period back and carry on but it seems never ending! Hopefully I’ll get some answers Tuesday when the EPAU ring me for an update x

How is everyone getting on? Things got a bit more complicated for me and it’s been found I do actually have further retained products (this is after medical management and then a D&C for RPOC, nearly 3 months after MMC diagnosed) so I’m feeling pretty angry at the moment!

Noooooo @Oxalis00 that is awful news I am so sorry. It’s so horrible to feel so out of control of your own body and held back from moving on because you still have RPOC. What have epau said are next steps?
I had my hysteroscopy on Wednesday and although the surgeon said it was a really tricky procedure I think (and hope) it’s finally over for me. Apparently the products were so large they were taking up 2/3 of my uterus and that was after 4x medical management and a D&C! Im now on iron tablets because my haemoglobin is low (after two surgeries and months of bleeding non stop) 🥺 so awful what we have to go through, as if the loss isn’t enough already!
really hope you get some answers soon!

My goodness @vjb39 I just don’t understand how a D&C can be so unsuccessful! Did they give any explanation how there can be so much left after surgery FOR retained products?! Really glad you’ve had the hysteroscopy now, and really really hope that’s it for you. Have you been ovulation testing or anything? Do you think you’ll TTC again?

I’m having a hysteroscopy today so hoping the same! My blood count is also really low after 3 months of bleeding (and twice being told it’s my period…) so I’ve had one transfusion and will probably have another. There’s also signs of adhesions on the latest ultrasound, I guess after the surgery, so that’ll be the next thing to deal with. Cannot believe it’s still dragging on…

@Oxalis00 so glad you are getting the hysteroscopy so quickly! This SHOULD be the end for you. I know it’s scary having another operation but at least they can have a proper look around and see if there are any adhesions or anything else left and this can be a bit more peace of mind for you?

i asked the question about RPOC after d&c and the surgeon said in my case it was due to how tightly adhered the products still were to my uterus even after all this time. That’s what made the procedure so tricky! He said the d and c uses suction which is set to specific levels so not to harm the uterus, the products were just stuck so tightly that the suction didn’t move them and they got left! The only thing that was ever going to be able to move them was the hysteroscopy because there is direct visualisation and they use some instrument called a truclear to physically cut it away from the rest of the lining!

I have discussed ttc with my husband and I think we are going to start again straight away! I have almost stopped bleeding from the procedure now and the doctor said as long as I’ve stopped bleeding it’s ok to have sex again. They recommended waiting for the first period to ttc for dating purposes but I don’t want to wait that long! I found out about the mmc on March 30th I feel like I’ve waited long enough! I have never used ovulation sticks and we have been so lucky to conceive our little boy and this pregnancy within a few months so I don’t really want to add that extra level of pressure? I am tempted to try though because I have no idea what my cycle is doing 🤷🏽‍♀️

please update and let us know how the procedure goes!