Anyone out there had a long miscarriage? (Feels like forever)

[CharlieTango]

Hi I'm a newbie, 39, one DS of 2.5 yrs and going through a miscarriage. Just wanted to see if anyone's had a similar experience to me and could shed a bit more light/understanding on what's happening. Here goes (sorry if it's long/TMI)...

Started bleeding on 22 Jan when I was 10 weeks. I'd had an implantation bleed in Dec and ultrasound at EPU dated the 'fetal pole' (their words, not mine) at 5 weeks. The scan on 22 Jan showed that the baby had stopped developing at 7 weeks 3 days. Was told by nurses in EPU it was a missed miscarriage and that I could have EPOC or continue to miscarry naturally and come back for a scan a fortnight later.

Scan on 6 Feb showed RPOC - irregular vascular area of 27mm x 18 x 13. Was told by EPU nurse I could have the EPOC as RPOC were still big enough but didn't like idea of general anaesthetic and decided to carry on letting miscarriage happen naturally as I thoughtit wouldn't be long before I stopped bleeding.

Had another scan on 22 Feb which showed RPOC area of 21 x 8mm. Read my notes on long trek back to EPU which also mentioned follicles were mature on both ovaries. Given urine test to do a week later (when I got home I realised it had been opened and was resealed with sticky tape ).

Urine test positive on 27/2 so rang EPU who told me to do another test a week later on 6/3.

On 1/3 bleeding had got so heavy again I was getting through a super plus tampon every 2-3 hours (I know, I know - not meant to use them but fed up of wearing 15 tog duvet betweeen legs). Saw GP who was concerned and rang EPU. Did urine test on 6/3 - positive, so went to hospital for blood test that day and then blood test on 8/3. Called GP on 8/3 to let him know urine test results, he said HCG levels should halve over 48 hours and to keep his colleague posted (GP went on hols on 9/3).

Got results back today on phone from EPU - HCG levels 140 on Sat 6, 110 on Mon 8. Told by nurse in EPU to do another preg test on Monday 15 and ring in result.

So....
Am wondering are these HCG levels normal 6 weeks after starting to bleed? (NB haven't stopped bleeding the whole time. Got lighter in mid Feb but totallyl fed up with it.)

Is it usual to bleed the whole time?

Have seen EPU nurses and my GP but has anyone else with similar experience been referred to gynae team? Feel I would like to speak to someone with more knowledge in depth but should I go through GP for this and side step EPU?

Am also feeling silly for not considering EPOC - feel like I've wasted time as am going to be 40 in the summer and would dearly love to have another baby, but am also thinking that time is not on my side and am an utter fule for not having EPOC.

EPU don't seem to 'get' that we're desperate to have another baby and telling me to 'get pregnant when you're ready, leave it a couple of months' - still haven't stopped bleeding, so chance would be a fine thing! When I raised the age issue, got rubbish comment from EPU nurse of 'Oooh you don't look like you're nearly 40' to which my reply was 'But my eggs are'.

Feel like time is running out and I'm angry with myself for not miscarrying 'properly' and getting back in the saddle to try again...

Hi charlie i can really understand what you are going through, i went through this last year. I was told at 9 weeks i had a mmc and after loads of scans and positive pregnancy tests i was offered misoprostal to help my uterus contract as the sac just wouldn't move. I had also been bleeding quite heavy for weeks. The misoprostal did work but it took 2 more weeks of huge clots and very heavy bleeding before i finally got a negative test and a scan that showed the all clear. My advice would either be to call the epu and tell them you want to talk someone about your options of medication or call and ask for the erpc. I personally wished i had gone for the erpc in the beginning but like all things you never know how it is going to pan out. Mine went on for 10 weeks in the end and my gp advised me not to wait anymore due to the risk of infection. You are open to infection if you leave it too long which can cause problems with future fetility [ the doctors words, not mine ]. I really hope this is of some help to you. All the best x

Charlie - just wanted to share my experience in case it helps. I have actually had 7 miscarriages now, (have 3 children too!). Most of my miscarriages have been early and very straight-forward, some even lighter and than a period and less painful. But two have been slightly different.

One last year, I actually reabsorbed, it sounds horrible and was not emotionally nice. So instead of my hcg levels halving every 48 hours, it took more like a week to halve. This meant that it took a month to go from a 6.5 week pregnancy to zero hcg. I bleed initially then it stopped totally and scan showed sac still there. Then it was not until I got a negative pregnancy test a month later that I finally bled again. I never passed clots like I did with other miscarriages, and it was totally painless, but emotionally was draining. I have had other simple miscarriages since then.

My most recent miscarriage, I had a scan showing a heartbeat at 7 weeks, but then with some slight spotting at 11 weeks, there was no heartbeat seen on the scan. This time I opted for the ERPC. I could not bear the thought of re-absorbing another one. The erpc, was simple and much easier for me. Afterwards I had spotting, and nearly two weeks on, my pregnacy tests are getting fainter, so hoping my levels are dropping normally.

I know what you mean about feeling like time is running out. I am 42, and unfortunately having had 6 miscarriages in the last 18 months I have decided my time has run out.

I would suggest you go back and request an erpc, but it is a personal decision. Before this miscarriage I would not have chosen to do anything but pass the pregnancy naturally myself. But this time I changed my mind, and I am glad I did.

I hope it all resolves quickly for you, how ever it works out for you.

Thank you Rasputin - have been thinking about going private but as this is first mc I put my trust in NHS - don't feel they went through options available or pros and cons either. Wish I'd read up a bit more before making my decision but felt too wobbly and upset at the time.

daisytaylor - thanks for advice. The EPU never mentioned misoprotal or any medication to help mc happen, literally just miscarry naturally or erpc - were you offered these through an NHS epu or did you have to go private? Sorry your mc went on for so long - how are you doing now?

rainbowdays - my heart goes out to you. Totally understand about the erpc - if this happens again, I would not trust my body to miscarry (I'm crap at giving birth as well so should've taken the hint from that) and would opt for surgical intervention. I don't know if they would perform the erpc as they told me the rpoc had to be over 23 or 25mm (does that sound right)to qualify for surgery.

Sorry if this is TMI, but bleeding much lighter today so doing urine test on Mon and will see what the score is. Will get appointment with GP if still positive so I can have their back up when dealing with EPU. Thanks everyone, really appreciate your posts x

Hi charlie i am alot better now, i had alot of irregular spotting for 2 months after the mc was over and my gp found i had a mild infection and deep thrush which has now settled after medication. I am just waiting for my third period and then hoping to try again. I was offered to wait which i originally opted for and after a few weeks i was offered an erpc or the misoprostal but there were concerns with an erpc as i am overweight. So i decided to try the medication. This was all through the epu at my local nhs hospital which is queens in romford.