my ERPC's tomorrow morning - feeling emotional and a bit panicky

[silvermum]

I've been quite calm all weel - feeling a lot better about things since discovered missed miscarriage at 8.5 weeks 10 days ago. Thought i'd almost 'got over' the whole thing. But now i'm facing the operation tomorrow morning i feel really anxious and stressed. having irrational fears about the operation going wrong.
it's not helped that I have been working all week - felt perfectly well enough and wanted the distraction - and ended up having a really stressful day at work today. Only just finished work now and feel a bit unprepared for what lies ahead tomorrow.shared experiences anyone?

so stressed in fact i can't type properly. "Quite calm all week"is what i meant to write.

So sorry you're having to go through this. I had 2 ERPCs earlier this year - no complications, but it turned out I had a molar pregnancy, so they had to remove some regrowth. All fine ever since.

The procedure itself was much more straightforward and stress-free than I had imagined. Went into hosp about 8 am - for the first ERPC I had a vaginal pessary inserted - had to stay in bed for about 30 mins after that - this opens the cervix. By the time it came for the procedure - about 11:30 - 12, I think, I had some crampy period-like pains, but nothing terribly uncomfortable.

Anaesthestist explained the GA procedure in anteroom - everyone very caring and calm. Was under for 20 mins, maybe - woken up after what felt like a very restful sleep. Back to room, slept for a while, then had lunch and DH and dd came to pick me up about 2pm. I was very tired the next day, and dozed on the sofa a lot - the day after we flew to Italy on holiday. Bleeding wasn't too bad, iirc, and I really don't remember any afterpain at all.

The whole experience was so stress-free that when I had the mole diagnosed and was called in at short notice for a second ERPC, I was positively chirpy, bizarrely enough. Our hosp is very good - there's an entirely separate ward for these procedures, though I did have the surgery itself on the labour ward - was wheeled through and didn't see or hear any pregnant women or new babies.

I hope tomorrow goes well - be gentle with yourself, and take it very easy in the days after the procedure.

Sorry to hear you are having to go through this. I had ERPC in February this year - make sure you take a nice warm dressing gown and plenty to read - I ended up waiting for nearly a whole day to go into surgery and remember being very cold! They will give you the talk beforehand about the risks but they made it very clear at our hospital that problems were very rare. The actual procedure was pain free - I didn't have any bleeding immediately afterwards, but had quite a heavy bleed about a week later. My stomach was quite swollen for a while after which I was quite surprised about at the time! They will give you painkillers at the hospital but I didn't need to take any.

I think you just have to cope as you feel best, for me, I needed to get on with things and put it behind me. I took a couple of days off work as I was very tired after the GA but other than that was physically fine.

Will be thinking of you tomorrow

thank you very much. it's very helpful to hear others' experiences. it sounds straightforward. my experiences of the health service with my miscarriages (this is my second) have been really negative so far; i just hope tomorrow is more positive and the staff are kinder. i'm not a remotely "needy" person, but everyone i've encountered (GPs/in the hospital so far) has been rather dismissive and business like. I expected a bit more gentleness, but that's probably busy London hospitals/GP surgeries for you...

Gosh, yes - dressing gown and books/magazines - hosp blankets quite thin! And have something nice to eat waiting for you at home, and get DH to make you a nest on the sofa when you get home.

silvermum even though I dont have experience of ERPC ( I had medical management) I just want to wish you all the best for tomorrow and hope it all goes well.

Sending you lots of hugs...

thank you everyone...loving the idea of a nest on the sofa!

Hi silvermum - I had one today. It's my second. Each quite different. Last year I had one at Kings and was in and out within an hour and a half. Felt quite out of it when I regained consciousness. Not much pain. Didn't need many painkillers. Bleeding stopped within a few days and my cycle back to normal within 4 weeks.

This time I had to take pessaries (4) to soften cervix. I went in at 7.30am and finally had op at 9.15 Was told I would be there til 1-2pm but I had other ideas and was out by 10.40. I was very alert straight away. It was quite cold so do take a warm dressing gown and slippers/socks. Pain is worse this time but still bearable. Having done the waiting option and the surgical, I much prefer the latter. Over and done with quicker and can get on with life again rather than waiting weeks to pass a dead baby Hope it goes ok for you. By the way, the staff were very nice. Much more so than the ones at the EPU who did not even say they were sorry for my loss.

How are you today silvermum? Hope it went ok - well as well as can be expected iyswim.