Ectopic questions

[Fairylightrome]

Hi
I was diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy in right tube yesterday after a couple of days of scans and PUL.
have had on/off bleeding for a few weeks. hgc (?) level was 118 on Thursday, bloods taken again this morning to see if it had gone up or down, and I was told they’d call in 2-3 hours to let me know the next steps, but I didn’t get a call and reception said the department had left for the day when I rang.
I don’t have any pain. I just feel so confused and scared of it rupturing, but feel a bit lost as I have no idea how likely that is or what to expect. They told me they don’t recommend the injection, I should either wait it out or go for surgery. I have a 2.5 year old and worried how I’ll cope looking after him after the surgery. Has anyone been through similar? Is 118 low and a sign it might resolve on its own? Or does it not work like that? I have v irregular periods so have no idea how far along I am. Nurse said she couldn’t tell but ‘reckons it’s been there a while’? Any help appreciated thanks x

Hey OP, didn't want to read and run as I am currently recovering from my ectopic surgery and I know how scary and worrying it all is. The EPU were monitoring my hcg levels over 2 weeks. First scan they couldn't locate pregnancy but I was around 4/5 weeks. I was spotting and the week after my bleeding was heavier so assumed I was miscarrying. My hcg remained static for a week then increased slightly. It only reached around 71 and I was about 6/7 weeks pregnant when they found the pregnancy in my right tube plus the internal bleeding on an internal ultrasound. I had to have emergency surgery same day and when they operated found my tube had partially ruptured. As I had internal bleeding they wouldn't let me have the injection. It was only when they did the second scan I began with some symptoms of an ectopic. I didn't get horrific tummy pain but started to feel light headed and heavy down one side of my body with shoulder tip ache which is one of the signs. Im glad they kept taking my bloods as i definitely didnt have the obvious signs to begin with apart from the bleeding. Is your EPU open tomorrow for you to call? xx

Hi thank you. So sorry you went through that. the EPU isn’t open at weekends but I think there’s a gynae on call there who I can ring for my blood results/next steps so hopefully I can get through. It’s interesting to know that you didn’t have the classic symptoms tho - this is kind of why I’m confused, I’m bleeding more than I was 2 days ago, but still not loads?! Yesterday when I had the 5th scan that found the pregnancy, they said there was no evidence of any bleeding at all. How did you find the recovery from surgery? Xx

Thankyou, it was such a shock and was heartbroken to lose the baby and my tube💔 Not sure how true this is but I read on here that the pain comes from the tube rupturing so caught early lots of women dont have the pain. The blood I had started as spotting for about a week then got heavier for a week without any signs of it stopping but it was never unmanageable bleeding. A really good sign you dont have any internal bleeding they may monitor to see if passes naturally - the sonographer said early enough this can happen without intervention. So frustrating for you and the wait is horrible. Surgery was keyhole, I was home the next day. Could do small walks to the bathroom and back but it took about a week for me to be properly up and about. Advised 2 weeks off work as a minimum. Pain was manageable with the painkillers just felt sleepy and groggy. The ectopic pregnancy trust website has been amazing for information and support if you need them❤️

If they've located it in the tube you should either be having the injection or being referred for surgery.. I don't understand the 'wait it out'.. it won't resolve alone.

I had left fallopian tube via emergency surgery. I had ruptured etc.

The surgery itself is fine and recovery relatively easy. I got pregnant again not long after too.

@Welshiegreen Thanks, I was told it could resolve on its own? Her exact words were ‘you can have the surgery right now today if you want it, but my advice would be to wait a few days and see if your hcg goes down and it resolves itself’ she said I’d have weekly or so blood tests to monitor it.

I've had two ectopics; one resolved itself and I ended up miscarrying. The last one I didn't even know I was pregnant and ended up having emergency surgery as near rupture. Removal of fallopian tube. Last pregnancy.
I can't have any more babies but I'm too old now anyway (43).
Are you being closely monitored?

@Hellodarknessmyfriend thank you. I’m not sure about closely monitored - went for blood tests today and was told I’d get the results 2/3 hrs but didn’t… was told to ring back on Monday. Told to go to my local an and e if I get pain that makes me double over or diarrhoea. I’m so paranoid every little twitch is making me want to call 999

I mean I’m not in pain, and only light bleeding/spotting, so I guess I’m okay? Just don’t know what to expect really!!

.

@Fairylightrome My symptoms at first were a lot of pain when trying to poo and pain - on and off - on one side. Bleeding at the time a period was due - only lighter. As ectopic progressed I felt very faint and dizzy.
My husband had gone through a vasectomy so didn't for one second consider I could be pregnant!
If you feel OK in yourself but starting to bleed it could well be resolving naturally.
When was your last period?

I had a ruptured ectopic at eight weeks, no bleeding at any time. I just had a sore stomach, a bit like indigestion, then collapsed. I was in and out of consciousness but I had a searing pain in my shoulder. I was at work, my colleagues called M ambulance that was there in about four minutes, within an hour I had surgery. The shoulder pain was the thing that made them rush me straight to the theatre for surgery.

Despite losing a fallopian tube and having a huge blood transfusion, major abdominal surgery, (keyhole not possible) plus they discovered a massive cyst on an ovary which they also removed, I recovered fast and subsequently had no issues conceiving my two amazing children.

Good luck and I hope it is soon resolved.

Quite a few ectopics self resolve, which isn't surprising given they aren't in the right environment. With HCG levels so low it may be that this pregnancy is going to fail by itself.

OP, I wouldn't be overly concerned about rupture given your HCG levels. You should discuss with your doctor whether it would be better to get rid of the damaged tube. I had two ectopics on the same side, because the first time I had methotrexate and the damage to my tube remained. As soon as I got rid I had a normal pregnancy.

@Okayornot thanks a lot for this and sorry for your losses. I think that was the nurses opinion looking back that the tube would be damaged anyway so better to remove than go for the injection, I just couldn’t really make sense of what she was saying at the time!

Doctor just rang me to let me know the hcg level has gone down to 67 and she said it looks like it’s resolving itself… still worried it could go back up but fingers crossed!!

@Fairylightrome Really hope things resolve naturally for you. Sorry for your loss - it's always heartbreaking 💔 x

@Hellodarknessmyfriend thank you ❤️

@Fairylightrome hi Fairylight so sorry of what you and all the other ladies have been through? I'm just wondering did it resolve on it's own. They couldn't see anything on my scan and I had a bleed like a period with clots but I still have abdominal cramps and my hgc went from 120 then 124 two days later and 147 today. They've booked me in for a scan on Saturday but I'm sitting here like a ticking time bomb..I'm so frightened.

Hi @Sparrow11 sorry I only just saw this. How are you doing now? Mine was resolving on its own, all was going well then suddenly on Thursday my hcg level shot up and scan showed it had got bigger?! So now I’m booked in for surgery on Monday. Did you have the scan today? Hope you are okay, it is scary but your hcg levels are similar to mine (low) and they’ve told me that even though it’s possible to rupture it’s much more unlikely with levels like that, so they don’t see it as an emergency, so I feel less worried about it all now. I feel absolutely fine but just bleeding. Xx

@Fairylightrome Hope you are okay! I went for my scan early yesterday and they couldn't see any signs of ectopic pregnancy. They think there is some retained products in my uterus but they're not sure why my hormone levels are acting the way they are as that would point towards ectopic pregnancy. Did they see yours on any scans? I didn't have my bloods redone, just the scan as this what the consultant requested. I am waiting for the consultant to review on Monday and decide what the next steps are. I feel relieved that they couldn't see any signs of ectopic but still worried that my hormones have been increasing very slowly as nobody can seem to explain it. Good luck for Monday! Hope everything goes okay x

@Sparrow11 ahh okay. No they couldn’t see mine on the first scan, then a specialist nurse called me to come back the next day and she found it. She had to call for a second opinion though as it was small so hard to see, but then they confirmed it. Ok good luck for Monday, I guess they just need to keep monitoring you. It's just hard waiting and not knowing what’s going on isn’t it! Xx