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[newtoallofthis]

I hope you don't mind this rather long message, but I am feeling really confused. I started a thread in Pregnancy a few weeks ago (when I was going through the miscarriage) - but here is a recap.

About 3 weeks ago, when I was about 6 weeks pregnant, I started spotting. Mostly brown blood with two very watery red bleeds (Sorry if TMI). It was not very heavy at all (nothing like a period) and lasted 4 days. I had no pain or cramps apart from backache at the beginning (but that may have been unrelated).

I went to my GP who refered me to my nearest EPU. (By then the spotting had stopped) Two weeks ago this Monday, I had an internal scan, which showed an empty uterus and then had two HCG blood tests over 48 hours. The first one (on the same day as the scan) showed an HCG level of 34 000, the second one two days later showed an HCG level of around 3000.

The EPU have been crap very vague about giving me any answers and I am struggling to get my head around it all. I thought a miscarriage would include some heavier bleeding, cramping or clotting? If the scan showed an empty uterus - where did the embryo go? When will I bleed or do I just wait for my next period?

Pregnancy tests are still positive and I still have pregnancy symptoms. When will they stop? It seems so cruel that my body is behaving as if it is pregnant, even though I have seen the scan and it was pretty clear there was nothing there. I joke with my DH that if I didn't know better, I would be thrilled that the pregnancy was going so well (Strong symptoms and strong, positive HPT's)

I just want to move on and start ttc again, but at the moment I feel like I am in Limbo and have no idea what to expect next...

no direct expereince (I've had two complete miscarriages though), but this sounds like a blighted ovum, where there is a gestational sac, but no embryo. I'm so sorry that this has happened and sorry that the EPU were less then helpful. they should have sat you down and discussed options with you.

I think you will just wait for things to come away by themselves, or i'm sure that you can have this managed medically if you wanted, ie you take some pills and it gets things moving quicker. I would go back to your GP and tell him what the EPU said and that you are confused and upset at the way they dealt with you. also tell him about the positive pregnancy tests. As far as i'm aware if the products of conception are retained then this can lead to a pretty nasty infection, but I'm not sure how long this would take.

someone ill be along soon with more experience.

{{{{hugs}}}}}

you haven't put a title on this thread so it might get missed, but I'll ask some of the ladies on the pg after mc thread to come over for you

Daisy - Thanks for the quick response, it is a relief to just hear from someone - I can't tell you how unhelpful the EPU were, hadn't thought about going straight to my GP (duh!!)

Is there any way to edit my thread to include a title?

Hi newtoallofthis, I'm from the pg after mc thread Daisy referred to. I'm really sorry you're having to go through this, it's horrible.
I had a blighted ovum mc last September where my 12-week scan showed an empty sack. The EPU offered me the wait-and-see option, or ERPC and gave me a leaflet about mc which answered most of my questions. In my case I decided to wait and see and mc'ed naturally a week after my scan.The bleeding was pretty heavy, with clots (sorry if TMI)and strong cramping. I did have an EPRC booked as well but it turned out I didn't need it. I then had a scan to make sure all everything was gone. The pg symptoms gradually tailed off and 2 weeks later I did a HPT, which was negative. I'm sorry your EPU has been so unhelpful. As Daisy suggests, I would go back to your GP and get the reassurance you need. If you need support from others who are going through and have been through this, then this thread is great. It was a lifeline for me after my mc and there are some great ladies. (((Hugs))) to you and hope you get the answers you need.

I'm very sorry you are going through this. I also think you should go back and talk to your GP.

When I went to my dating scan at 11 weeks I found out that my baby had stopped grow at around 6 weeks. However, the gestational sac had carried on growing because my body had not clocked that the pregnancy was effectively over. Consequently I was still having symptoms and was still getting strong positives on pregnancy tests. This may be what has happened to you. I chose to take the tablets which helped the sac and foetus to come out. This did involve a fairly shocking amount of blood loss and clots. It then took over four weeks for a pregnancy test to come back as negative.

I have also miscarried at 6 weeks and then I had bleeding like a period. It wasn't particularly heavy. However, this does not really sound like what has happened to you. Also, if you had completely miscarried a 6 weeks, you should expect to have a negative pregnancy test by three weeks afterwards.

Thanks cricri,I'll head over to that thread shortly and am hoping to see my GP on Thursday...

My scan showed (to use the words of the consultant) 'Absolutely no sign of pregnancy'.

If it was a blighted ovum miscarriage, would the scan have shown an empty sac?

Thanks neolara,

Hi there
I have had 4 miscarriages and with the last one when I went to the EPU, after not that much bleeding but i had passed a sort of clot/stringy bit (TMI), they said there was nothing there to be seen. They monitored my blood levels to check that they were coming down. I think it was below 500 that they had to be before they would discharge me and that did take a few weeks so slowly dropping levels would explain the continuing symptoms and positive tests. It sounds as if you had maybe done all the bleeding/'coming away' that there was before the scan and that even though it didnt seem much that was all there was - I guess it depends why the pregnancy didnt progress but if it was early on there might not be much. They usually say 4-6 weeks later for your next period and you may find it is heavier or different to usual. Not sure if that helps but will answer anything I can. Good luck

Thanks Springflower, that does make alot of sense and makes me feel better that maybe I won't have a very heavy bleed & cramps before my period. I am worried that the worst is still to come (if that makes sense!!!)

I am sorry to every one on this threads who have had more than one miscarriage. I feel so terrible after just one, that I am touched by the support of people who have been through much worse...

Hi NTAOT.

So sorry for the loss of your pregnancy. I know how it feels as 2 weeks ago I had bleeding & period-like cramps at 7.5 weeks. Thought I was miscarrying but did not lose any tissue or obv pregnancy material.

Was referred by GP to EPAU who scanned me & also saw "an empty uterus" with no sign of any preg! Was very confused... My HCG came back at 6000. As I still had some light bleeding & crampy pain they were very concerned & took me to theatre for emergency keyhole surgery.

I turned out to have an ectopic preg in my right tube which they removed & now I'm recovering at home.

It is vaguely poss that you could have an ectopic which has spontaneously miscarried, but sometimes there is persistent placental tissue which they need to deal with. They need to keep checking your HCG levels to ensure they go to zero.

Most importantly if you have ANY further bleeding or pain then get to A&E or EPAU asap so they can assess you quickly. Otherwise get your GP to keep checking your HCG or re-refer you to EPAU for follow up & further advice.

Sorry they have not been more helpful to you. It's the time when you need the most support & good information, and it's a shame they weren't up to the job. Look after yourself.

Also! sorry I only just thought of this I remember now them saying that if the HCG is over 1000 then there should definitely be something visible in the uterus on scan, so that does make me wonder whether your pregnancy was somewhere else (ie. tubal etc)

I also am desperate to start TTC again but they do say to wait until after next period (in case of ectopics, 3 months) to let the body & cycle settle down & recover/heal both physicaly & emotionally. Easier to say than to do!

I hope you get some answers soon. Take care.

Thanks SAIRZ, when I had my first scan & blood test results they suspected an Ectopic - but when my hormone levels dropped, they agreed it was a 'normal' miscarriage. I asked if it was an ectopic that fixed itself but they were non-commital.

I am really surprised at how the EPU handled the whole thing. They did the right tests & scans, so I am thankful - but all in all it was terrible. I spoke to 4 different people during the 3 days I was treated there and no-one took a correct case history. I kept having to correct them when they talked about my symptoms and then there was the consultant who asked me (very abruptly) why I was crying during my scan (By that stage I could tell something was wrong and I wasn't sobbing or wailing, just sniffing with tears runing down my face.)

So you can see why I don't trust the EPU too much and am hoping my GP will be more helpful...

ntaot, your EPU experience sounds horrific . If you have the mental strength I would put in a complaint with the hospital patient liaison service. One would expect a sonographer dealing with women who are potentially miscarrying to be a bit more sympathetic.

I hope that you can get some answers soon as to what is happening. Fortunately (or not [sada]) I was never in any doubt as to what was happening with me.

Keep posting; there is a great deal of support on MN.

re editing the title, I don't think this is possible, but you could start a new thread with a title and then do a link to this one in the first post maybe?

Thanks Daisy. My DH is really keen for me to put a complaint in against the clinic(He was there and equally as shocked) but I just want to feel like I am getting better before adding more stress.

You are very clever! I will start a new thread right now....

New thread here