Pregnancy of Unknown Location - is it definately all over?

[TiggieWiggle]

I'm hoping somebody on here might be able to help me to understand what is happening to me.
Yesterday I referred myself to the Early Pregnancy Unit at hospital because I had some brown discharge (like beginning of period - sorry if TMI) no real pain just the odd twinge.
They did an internal scan and my lining was very thick but they couldn't see anything in there - no sac, nothing. My LMP dates put me at about 7 wks 3 days but I have irregular and sometimes long cycles (33 days). The ultrasound lady broke the news to us gently -as if it was all over and we were put in a private room.
When we saw the doctor and she did an internal exam though she said that she was 90% sure it wasn't ectopic as she could see some placental tissue in the uterus lining (?)
I am off work today trying to get my head around everything - I still have no pain and some pregnancy symptoms. I have to go back tomorrow for more blood tests.

Has anyone on here experienced anything like this? Is there any chance of a happy ending? I don't know how I should be feeling

[Tg2049]

Hi all,

I am badly in need of your suggestion. I am not sure when I conceived as I have PCOS and my dates are off. When I realized I got pregnant, after 2 weeks I started spotting and then light bleeding with very horrible cramps that lasted for 3 hrs n I passed a big clot then 2 small clots. Thereafter I spotted for 5 more days but not heavy . It was bright red. Dr did a US and said uterus is clean. But after that my hcg is rising 96 (8/3) to 232 (8/9) to 337(8/11) to 526(8/15) to 733(8/18). Today I went thru US but uterus and tubes was empty and they saw something on my right ovary. They suspect a cyst. I am not sure what's happening? Is this tubal or normal pregnancy? Please suggest

[EffinIneffable]

Hi Kameli
I'm so sorry you're going through this horrible experience, especially after you have been through all the stress of IVF already.

This is very similar to what happened to me in January this year, although it was natural conception rather than IVF. My HCG was rising, but they couldn't see anything in the uterus on ultrasound and so suspected ectopic. I had a laparoscopy and they couldn't find a pg in my tubes or ovaries, so diagnosis remained PUL. All this time HCG was rising slowly. They wanted to give me methotrexate too - it works by stopping cell division, and strips the body of folic acid, which is why you should wait a few months before ttc again. I wanted to avoid metho if possible - the surgeons/consultants gave me a week but the EPU wanted me to take it sooner. In my case, I mc'd naturally before I needed to take the metho. The mc was very straightforward (unlike my more recent mc which at 11 weeks was much more painful).

In my non-medical opinion, my pg had always been in my uterus but had disintegrated to such an extent it couldn't be seen on the scan. Placenta-type tissue is hard to see on u/s but can still produce HCG. The surgeon was really confident it wasn't ectopic from the laparoscopy.

Unfortunately you can't speed up a mc naturally, but if you can ask them if they're happy to wait a week or two it might well happen in the meantime. If your HCG is dropping at all then they might let you wait a while before recommending you take it. As long as they can't rule out ectopic, it has to be a concern as it can be a very serious condition - and if you feel unwell, particularly weird shoulder-tip pain that you might have had after the lap, get to the hospital asap.

I hated the whole mystery of it all and the totally unhelpful PUL diagnosis.

[Kameli]

Hi everyone, I am new here. I like to know if anyone has experienced the same as what I have gone through.

I had my first cycle of IVF and was confirmed pregnant by two blood tests. Two weeks later I was scheduled for a scan, but the doctor cannot find anything in the uterus and they suspected ectopic pregnancy as there was a shadow from the scan on my right ovary. The doctor then rushed me for emergency laparoscopy surgery where they cannot find anything near my ovaries or in the two fallopian tubes. My HCG level remains high.

One week after my laparoscopy, my HCG is still not falling fast enough. Based on my blood test, I remained pregnant but the mystery remains unsolved. Doctor's diagnosis is - I have a pregnancy in an unknown location. He was considering D&C procedure but decided against it as I just had laparoscopy done last week. He then prescribed a jab - Methotrexate (which is used on cancer patient) to terminate the pregnancy. I was told this is a common treatment used on ectopic pregnancy. I postponed this jab as it will mean, I cant conceive naturally for the next 3 months. Now my main concern is how to terminate this pregnancy naturally.

Pretty confused and hopefully someone who has walked this path can shed some light.

Thank you

[tinablueeyes197]

Hi ive just gone through this myself yesterday its heartbreaking... I was 6 weeks and I was bleeding light on wed went to hospital they told me to come back if it got worse which it did and I misscarried but it was a pul :-( only thing that is helping me is that I can get pregnant there is alot of women out there that cant so im greatful for that. This was my first pregnancy im 27 and healthy xx

[AnnabelleLee]

The OP is from 3 years ago.

[hollie1stbaby]

Hi I had a miscarriage back in may and I was also referred to the early preg unit and my pregnancy was also marked and "unknown location" I had a stomach scan and a internal and they saw nothing to do with pregnancy atall but before I was seen I let out a little clot in the toilet of the unit I was only 4 weeks, I bled for about 2 weeks and had quite some pain, but I'm now 5 weeks pregnant 2 months later but I'm taking it slow my mind is all over the place keep thinking the same things happening again, but I'm feelin confident I've gone further than before haven't told anyone yet tho not even my partner I've told him I'm late but I think he knows the deal but after last time. But if ur pregnancy is named as unknown that's it its gone how far gone r u?

[Positivementakattitude]

Hiya ladies in a similar situation, found out on Friday morning was preg but had more than likely mc they wanted to leave until wed to do another pregnancy test as had showed positive but would up until a week after hence appt for we'd !

I was bleeding and had strange lumpy membrane fri morn hence rushed to docs, hoped and hoped all would be fine didn't want to wait until wed ( understandably) apparently no app until then !!! Ridiculous

Tried another hosp out of area and took referral letter from the docs nurse done another test and some bloods test still positive and call later with results of blood HCG levels were 730 something booked for a further blood test Sunday so waited very stressful and torturous wait

Got call last nite bloods HCG dropped to 140 something so not ongoing pg and told to keep appt for tues for scan in meantime I don't believe this is all over - no pain bleeding still but not even a period amount sorry -TMI

I am worried the worst is to come and in meantime still have pg symptoms bad back, tender boobs and heartburn

From reading this will continue until 0 and could end in procedure if not done naturally

Is there any hope they are wrong ? I'm not sure whether grief is making me cling on to any hope in meantime trying to get my head around this all so nice to see not alone it is def a very hard time so much swirling around ur head considering the fact we had no idea all we want now is a baby life works in mysterious ways tho. Or so they say !

[Positivementakattitude]

Hiya ladies in a similar situation, found out on Friday morning was preg but had more than likely mc they wanted to leave until wed to do another pregnancy test as had showed positive but would up until a week after hence appt for we'd !

I was bleeding and had strange lumpy membrane fri morn hence rushed to docs, hoped and hoped all would be fine didn't want to wait until wed ( understandably) apparently no app until then !!! Ridiculous

Tried another hosp out of area and took referral letter from the docs nurse done another test and some bloods test still positive and call later with results of blood HCG levels were 730 something booked for a further blood test Sunday so waited very stressful and torturous wait

Got call last nite bloods HCG dropped to 140 something so not ongoing pg and told to keep appt for tues for scan in meantime I don't believe this is all over - no pain bleeding still but not even a period amount sorry -TMI

I am worried the worst is to come and in meantime still have pg symptoms bad back, tender boobs and heartburn

From reading this will continue until 0 and could end in procedure if not done naturally

Is there any hope they are wrong ? I'm not sure whether grief is making me cling on to any hope in meantime trying to get my head around this all so nice to see not alone it is def a very hard time so much swirling around ur head considering the fact we had no idea all we want now is a baby life works in mysterious ways tho. Or so they say !

[squizita]

PS> Also ask for a scan re molar/partial molar, especially if you are Asian have any Asian blood in your family. I have but look white- jnr doc didn't think to ask, turned out I was high-risk and did have a partial molar. Don't worry too much though it's very rare and treatable

[squizita]

Something which might help is to ask them to track your PROGESTERONE. An experienced gynie can use it to gauge likelihood of ectopic AND if it is ectopic, whether it is failing naturally. This can give peace of mind re ectopics and avoid mexo.

[nickijayne92]

Hi everyone,
first timer here.
I'm really scared. I've been going through the same things. I found out I was 3-4 weeks pregnant on 26/06 and then started bleeding on the 27/06 I got really scared and went to a&e. the doctor said it was either an ectopic or miscarriage. I had bad stomach cramps that day and heavy bleeding the Dr. took blood tests and another pregnancy test he said I was still pregnant but very faint. I went back on the 28/06 and said my bloods where at 109 which is very low. I went back sat the 29th and they took them again. they said if it drops its a miscarriage and if it doubles I should still be pregnant. anyway they went down to 57.9 but bleeding stopped and no cramps at all. The nurse took more bloods after a week and it went up very slightly to 58.8. they said I'm having an ectopic pregnancy, they did a scan and found nothing in the womb and because i wasnt in pain they put it down as pregnancy in unknown location which has baffled me. Im waiting until sat 13th for more bloods but im petrified can anyone help me put things in place because i dont know if to get the methotrexate or leave it a couple of weeks. my partner doesnt want me to be in danger but i want to hold on a little longer.

x

[Fluffy2012]

So glad to read that there are others have gone through this. I am so bloody fed up, it's unreal.

I had what I thought was an early miscarriage 2.5 weeks ago, got a yucky infection (as described in posts above) so GP put me on two different antibiotics and sent me to the emergency gynae team for a scan. Three days lAter, I ave a scan and they can't see anything but I have a positive pregnancy test, so they do a blood test and I have hCG level of 395. I go back in on Sunday, and found out on Monday that they had gone up to 516 but my progesterone level was 8.9. They book me in for a further scan and blood test this coming Friday.

Today I started getting the horrible brownish discharge again and am very sore on the right hand side. I went to see the GP (who is wonderful), who sent me straight back to the hospital as he was concerned about it being ectopic. And guess way? They sent me home without performing any tests and told me to take paracetamol and come back on Friday.

Confused, I called my GP back who was not very impressed and called th hospital to speak to the consultant. I had a good chat with him (my GP) who is going to be doing lots of reading up on PULs tonight. In the mean time, I am tired, sore, confused and scared. If I am not pregnant in my uterus or Fallopian tube, where on earth can I be pregnant?! My body feels pregnant and I am so bloody tired.

[jennifercourts89]

hi, i was pregnant in feb this year, started bleedin around 5 weeks and was reffered to epu, they did a scan and blood tests and was told to go back in 48 hours for repeat blood test, if the hcg had risen it was an on going pregnancy, if it had dropped it was a failed pregnancy and if it was around the same it was signs of an ectopic pregnancy, my hcg levels had risen so i was ecstatic to think everything was fine, however had to go and have more blood tests in a further 48 hrs, these then had stayed at almost the same so had to have an internal scan, nothin showed up :( they told me i had a pregnancy in an unknown location and had to stay in hospital over night to have methotrexate injections the following morning, this was horrible, after being told i had lost my baby at the age of 22 with a 3 year old child at home wanting her mummy i had to stay on my own in the hospital, the methotrexate breakes down all of the remaining cells what are left of your baby this sounds horrible but it has to be done, i hope you have not gone through the same thing because i wouldnt wish this on my worst nightmare, hope everything turned out good in the end for you, however i am now currently 11 weeks pregnant and really happy, if this has happened to you, there is light at the end of the tunnel, im talking from experience xxx

[jtsd]

Hi Ladies

first time on here, i have just found out today that i have had a PUL.... last thursday i went in because i started having slight discharge which turned into bleeding, i was referred early because my Son was Stillborn at 23wks in Oct 2010.
So went in and they suspected suspicious ectopic, becuase they wernt too sure whether it was or not, they saw something in my right tube near right ovary... did some bloods came back at 333.... finally they let me home because i was in no pain and told to go abck Sat after 48hrs... went in and they had increased to 649.. got told to go back after 4days so went in on Wed and went for another scan to see where the baby was developing..... still nothing..... went down to see Doc who wanted to do some bloods and swabs because he wanted to know where the bleeding was comeing from... if i had aby infection or anything... sorry for TMI but as he was swabbing he pulled out a big blob, which suggest it could be the baby, which has come away on its own. So they dont really know whether is Miscarry or was Ectopic but came on its own hence why they said PUL.....got to go abck weekly for blood as they want to get it them down to 10. today there at 366, so slowly coming down....

Hope everything works out for you guys x

[jtsd]

Hi Ladies

first time on here, i have just found out today that i have had a PUL.... last thursday i went in because i started having slight discharge which turned into bleeding, i was referred early because my Son was Stillborn at 23wks in Oct 2010.
So went in and they suspected suspicious ectopic, becuase they wernt too sure whether it was or not, they saw something in my right tube near right ovary... did some bloods came back at 333.... finally they let me home because i was in no pain and told to go abck Sat after 48hrs... went in and they had increased to 649.. got told to go back after 4days so went in on Wed and went for another scan to see where the baby was developing..... still nothing..... went down to see Doc who wanted to do some bloods and swabs because he wanted to know where the bleeding was comeing from... if i had aby infection or anything... sorry for TMI but as he was swabbing he pulled out a big blob, which suggest it could be the baby, which has come away on its own. So they dont really know whether is Miscarry or was Ectopic but came on its own hence why they said PUL.....got to go abck weekly for blood as they want to get it them down to 10. today there at 366, so slowly coming down....

Hope everything works out for you guys x

[Vics32]

Hi Tiggie.

So sorry the pain has started You should be OK to go out next Sat, I went out Sat as I was getting cabin fever, although I was poorly afterwards, might have been a bit soon. I started bleeding heavily on Thurs. Still bleeding this morning, but lighter, and not painful anymore.

It also doesn't sound trivial to me. Someone said to me you must have nice things to look forward to.

I too wanted to keep things as normal as poss for DS. The problem is, you can't cover as much up when they're 12.

Give yourself a few day proper rest. Do a small amount the first day you feel able, but don't over do it. Go to bed if you want to. I hope that helps in some way.

I feel as though I should say don't give up hope, I know that's easier said than done.

Chin up lovely x x x

[TiggieWiggle]

Hello again

It hurts now but I'm taking lots of painkillers - are you feeling any better (physically I mean) today Vics32? Life can be so cruel - at least by getting caught naturally you have proven that it is possible for you though.

I know this might sound a bit trivial but I'd arranged a really special day out at the theatre with DD next Saturday and I'm really worried that I won't be able to go - want to keep things normal for her

How long will this pain and bleeding last? When will I be able to leave the house again?

[Vics32]

Hi Tiggie,

I have a DS who is 12!

We had been TTC for 2.5 years and have been undergoing fertility treatment, got caught PG naturally though

I feel lucky to have my boy...

I had red/brown discharge too, then, two days ago, Thurs, proper heavy period type bleeding (if that makes sense - TMI I know!) Still the same.

I'm thinking of you and hoping all will be well for you.

V x

[TiggieWiggle]

I'm so sorry you are going through this too Vics32 - the waiting is horrible isn't it. I'm pretty sure I'm starting to miscarry now as brown discharge is turning red and increasing (still no pain yet though - I'm dreading it but have heavy, painful periods anyway so I'm sure I'll cope).

I went to work yesterday just to get some normality and take my mind off things - everyone was really supportive but now I'm off for a week as it's half-term.

Do you have any other children Vics32? I'm cuddling my beautiful DD (nearly 4) lots and feeling very lucky to have her.

[Vics32]

Hi everyone.

I really wanted to post on here, have been looking for the right thread for a few days. I am currently, as we speak, miscarrying my baby at 6 weeks pg.

I too had an 'inconclusive' scan at 5wk+3 because of light bleeding. I am under the EPU as I suffered an ectopic last time I was pg.

Tiggy I had HCG of 2,107. Thickened lining of the womb, but no sign of baby They saw a small dark patch but couldn't be sure what it was. Not where it should be anyhow. I was sent home and told to wait for a week, bleeding started next day and has got heavier with pain since.

I have a confirmation scan on Monday which they think will show miscarriage and blood test which they think will show decreasing HCG levels. I completely understand how you feel. The waiting is by far the worst part of all this. You are not alone in how you are feeling.

Rainbow is right, go to the hospital if you have any doubts.

V x x x x x

[rainbowdays]

Just to say that they would not see anything on the scan until after your levels get to about 1000 generally. It could be that you are just not as far along as you think too.

I will be hoping for a miracle for you as I have just had one: with my "suspected ectopic", and "inevitable" m/c, that is proving the medics wrong right now.

You asked if "it is definitely all over" the answer to that is not necessarily. Although your hcg did not double, it did rise, so that is a positive in that the pregnancy is progressing however it is a possible sign of an ectopic, OR it could just be slow-rising hcg levels and a normal pregnancy too. BUT - watch out for signs of ectopic and go to hospital if you have any doubt, also ask for further hcg levels to be taken every 48 hours.

It is the waiting that is the hardest part. I hope you get an answer soon.

[OtterInaSkoda]

Bugger. So sorry, Tiggy.

Waiting around is dreadful but please don't be terrified. If you're in pain, call the Dr. Whatever happens make sure there's someone around and that you don't have to go anywhere. It'll be OK. Grim perhaps, but ultimately OK.

Sending you (most un-MNlike) hugs
V x

[Muser]

I'm going through something similar Tiggie. Went in last week with bleeding. HCG levels were low but rising, my progesterone levels were very low and falling.

Went back today for another blood test, HCG levels still rising, progesterone levels still very low. I'm being scanned tomorrow so they can see if it's an ectopic or just a mmc. It's horrible waiting and I'm terrified as well. Please go and insist on a scan, they really shouldn't keep you waiting so long.

And please look after yourself, it's such a horrible time. Don't go back to work until you're really ready.

[Lubyloo]

Sorry to heat that Tiggie. Please phone them for a repeat HCG to be done 48 hours after your last one (so Saturday I guess) Don't let them leave you. Are they scanning you at the beginning of next week?

I don't want to scare you but I have had two ectopic pregnancies. The first one the hospital were great and did HCG tests every 48 hours for two weeks until they decided to treat it with methotrexate (a small one off shot of a chemotherapy drug)

I have just had my second ectopic pregnancy but the hospital left me a week without checking when it was clearly ectopic. I ruptured, lost my tube and very nearly my life. I am kicking myself for not insisting they did more tests. Please, please make them do a test on Saturday so they can get a fuller picture. Will be thinking of you.

[TiggieWiggle]

Ok so I went for my HCG test today and they had gone up to 407. They are now saying that they think it's ectopic but let me go home because I have no pain. They want to scan me next week but think that I will either miscarry between now and then or go into hospital if I have any sharp pains in one side.

I can't stand this waiting around for something horrible to happen - I'm really scared.