Pain after surgical management

[KittyFantastica]

Hello,

I had ERPC on Friday last week for a missed miscarriage at 10 weeks. I had minor bleeding afterwards and very little since. I had two instances of pain in the first 24 hours but they passed quickly and then the next few days were fine.

I noticed yesterday (four days post-surgery) that I started to have some sharp and sudden period-like pains very low down. They were intermittent and nothing a paracetamol couldn't handle, but they remained consistent throughout the evening. This morning, I can feel the same pain occasionally and it's worst when I'm using the bathroom. Using the muscles in the area is a bit painful and I feel a bit like there is pressure low in my belly.

I have no other symptoms of infection or anything; no temperature, no bad smells, no sickness or ill feelings. Just the pain and pressure.

Has anyone who had this done before experienced the same? EPU said to phone if I had worsening pain, but I'd say it's been pretty much the same the last few days. It just wasn't there for the first four days after surgery so seems a bit odd. I don't want to waste their time if it's just bruising or everything going back to where it should be, etc.

Update: just in case anyone in future is searching for something similar.

I had a uterine infection. It was misdiagnosed as a bladder infection by a consultant who didn't want to listen. They weren't able to scan me the day I went back, so he basically guessed and have me antibiotics for a uti. The real issue was undeniable and a lot more obvious by the time I went back a week later in agony.

Hi, could you please share how you found out? And how you're doing now? I've got similar symptoms and worried it might be an infection.

Hi @NphysT, when I went back the first time due to the pain, it was Good Friday and they had no one to do the ultrasounds, so once I'd been seen and (wrongly) diagnosed by the consultant, they booked me in for a week later to scan me just to make sure there were no retained products.

When I went back for that scan, which showed no retained products and with escalated pain, I explained to the midwife who did my obs that the pain was worse and that I didn't think it was a UTI. She diagnosed a 'classic case' of uterine infection and got a consultant to sign off the correct antibiotics.

The way the consultant diagnosed initially was to do an internal exam. It was very sore when he pressed against my cervix, which he said wasn't unusual as it was bruised, and again when he pressed on one side. He said that was my bladder and it had to be a bladder infection, but he didn't actually press as hard anywhere else. I did tell him I had no uti symptoms and the pain was all over, but they were rammed and I could see he just needed to prescribe something and get me out the door.

@KittyFantastica Hi, firstly I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm in a similar situation now.

I had the procedure on Saturday (4 days ago) and for the past couple of days I've been getting period style cramps and sharp pain in my lower stomach/pelvic area, which similar to you feels like lots of pressure, especially when sitting on the toilet.

I've had very minimal bleeding (more or less nothing after leaving the hospital other than some brown tinged discharge) and no other ill effects (no burning when I pee or anything), it's just the sharp pain/pressure which I am concerned about. I spoke to the EPU this morning and they have said that this is normal as obviously with surgery there is going to be some pain and bruising.

I'm just concerned as I'm going on holiday on Sunday and want to ensure I am going to be ok for the week and now I am worried about some kind of infection. Did you find that the antibiotics cleared up your pain or was there anything else going on?

Thank you!

Hi @rosecbrm, I'm so sorry you're experiencing this after your loss.

Honestly, I'm surprised at how dismissive EPU have been of your phonecall. I was told that pain should be very minor - nothing more than requiring a paracetamol or ibuprofen, certainly not sharp or constant - and that if I had any worsening pain or concerns to call back.

I was brought in to be examined the first time I called about the pain. I had minimal bleeding too, it had stopped by 4 days after surgery. The consultant was too rushed and misdiagnosed the bladder infection. They did book me in for a follow up scan though to make sure there was not retained tissue.

I knew it wasn't and said so, but had to go away knowing I'd be back in a worse state. I went back five days later as the pain was even worse and they scanned me. No retained tissue, so they were certain it had to be a different kind of infection to what the consultant said. The midwife said it sounded like classic uterine infection and got them to sign off different antibiotics. Four days later, the pain was gone!

I'd definitely give them a call back and say the pain you're having it uterine and not like the bruising immediately after surgery. They told me my cervix was bruised during the exam, but that wasn't what hurt. It hurt on the inside, and not like a bruise.

Sometimes you have to push it a bit or use buzzwords. I'd give them a ring back tomorrow and tell them the pain is worse, it's not the same as the surgery pain and that you had several days without pain before this new, sharper pain started. I hope they do the right thing and see you asap.

@KittyFantastica thanks for getting back to me so quickly lovely!

In fairness, paracetamol is doing the job but I think I'm just super worried about getting an infection on holiday! It seems to flare up when I'm moving around or get up too quickly, so I'm not sure if that's just a sign I need to take it a bit easier.

I'm definitely going to keep an eye on it and ring tomorrow if it persists.

Thank you so much x

Absolutely understand your worry @rosecbrm. They told me that I shouldn't have any pain at all by 4 days and could go back to every day activities. I could hardly walk by 10 days post surgery.

It's worth getting checked. As you say, you don't want to be thinking about this on your holiday. You've been through enough already.

@KittyFantastica just to update you on this, I went to the epu yesterday and had blood and a urine sample which showed no infection luckily, but showed my inflammatory marker to be quite high.

The doctor did an examination on my stomach and and internal examination and I was quite tender on my stomach and inside (surely that's to be expected though?). Got to go back today for an ultrasound to rule out injury to my womb - she said this is rare but just wants to check.

Really praying it's all okay as I'm due to go on holiday tomorrow morning 😭

Pain felt better yesterday and more so today, so I'm hoping I'm just super swollen from the surgery and it's nothing more than that.

Well done for going back @rosecbrm, I'm glad they saw you.

I have everything crossed that, as you say, it's just residual tenderness. My husband actually asked me yesterday whether I'd still choose the surgery if I could go back. Hard one to answer as you never know what will happen.

I hope everything feels much better for you over the next few days. Make sure you have some good travel insurance just in case you need some antibiotics x

@KittyFantastica thank you lovely!

Completely agree with you, the actual surgery and 2 days after for me were absolutely fine. It's just this pain these past 3/4 days that's not been great and made the experience seem worse.

Hope you are emotionally recovering well, hopefully we will never have to make this decision again and the next time we are in the hospital will be for good reasons only 🩷

Here's hoping 🤞

Hope you have a wonderful holiday @rosecbrm!

@KittyFantastica thank you!

I had my scan yesterday, showed a 3.2cm either blood clot or retained tissue, but as I was only 7 weeks at my mmc, my pregnancy sac was only 18mm so they think it's a blood clot.

Hoping it passes on its own. My pain has massively died down now, still there but I don't need any pain relief. I think it was just I was super tender and bruised as they said the blood clot probably wasn't causing that.

Got to monitor it over the next few weeks and if it doesn't pass then will most likely have to repeat the surgery, but hopefully it will!

Currently on holiday and it's wonderful, landed this morning. Hope you're well x

Just to update incase anyone else is reading, I passed the clot last night. Just had normal period pain and bleeding started (which I had none before), and then when I wiped I saw it was there, quite shocking as it was very big!

They did said bleeding can be delayed with this procedure so I'm guessing that's what happened to me. X

So glad you're over the worst now @rosecbrm. Enjoy the rest of your holiday!

@rosecbrm @KittyFantastica hi both! I’m currently recovering from a surgical 5 days ago and I have been experiencing period like cramps the past 3days. I called epu yesterday and asked if it’s normal. They said they’ll check with the doctor and call me back if there’s any concern. They haven’t called me back but today I’m experiencing the same cramps. I’ve taken paracetamol but it’s not doing anything. Would you call epu? I don’t want to be wasting their time.

@Rainbowflower2024 hi lovely, so sorry for your loss!

It's a tough one as I think period type cramps are to be expected, when I spoke to the doctor at the EPU they said this is basically your uterus contracting back down to the original size.

If paracetamol is still not helping though, I would probably give them a call! There's no harm in being checked over just for your peace of mind, it is what they are there for. Do you have any other symptoms?

Hope you recover quickly and it's nothing bad, sending lots of love xx

Hi @Rainbowflower2024, sorry you're going through this too. As @rosecbrm says, my EPU also said I shouldn't have too much pain and to call them back if I needed anything stronger than paracetamol after 48 hours.

I think some period type cramps are to be expected, but if they're worse than regular period cramps, I'd definitely give them a call.

@rosecbrm @KittyFantastica hi both! Update - I bled out in public and soaked through my clothes. Passed out more pregnancy tissue. Went hospital and they confirmed it was an incomplete mc even though I had the surgical management. Cramps have stopped but I have a scan tomorrow to make sure everything has passed. I am hoping it has because if there’s still some left then I’ll have to have another surgical which I don’t want!

@Rainbowflower2024 oh no I'm so sorry that happened to you! But fingers crossed that was all of it now and the scan is clear tomorrow.

Please keep us updated xx

I'm so sorry @rosecbrm, that sounds so traumatic! I hope you have a swift recovery now.