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Original poster

Please help: Need to hear your experiences of taking RU486 (abortion pill)

76 replies

SladeyMadonna · 01/05/2008 16:41

I don't want to hear reasons why i shouldn't be having an abortion. I have to -and don't want to discuss the reasons here.

I am thinking of taking the RU486 and I know that it will induce something similar to a miscarriage. Has anyone taken it before? How bad was the cramping/bleeding it caused? (I will be taking it at 5/6 weeks if that makes a difference).

And do you think I will be fine to go on holiday 10 days after taking it?

OP posts:
Original poster
SladeyMadonna · 03/05/2008 18:39

They can't do a surgical at 5 weeks because it will be too early to see the sac on the scan. Which means there is a high rate of them not removing it. So the pill is the only option I have. I am only allowed to stay in the clinic for 20 mins after taking the second pill (to check I am not being sick). Then I will have to travel home on the tube in rush hour. I hope nothing happens until I get home.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 03/05/2008 18:46

when they do an ERPC for missed MC they don't scan you as they operate.

i had missed MC and my foetus died at about 5 weeks.

i was under the impression that hte surgical procedure used to evacuate the miscarriage was the same as the one used to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, so i don't see how they can tell you they can't do a surgical abortion because they can't see the sac on teh scan.

they could well see mine at that stage.

Original poster
SladeyMadonna · 03/05/2008 18:52

Thanks for that input Expat (and sorry that you have to hear about me terminating a pregnancy when i know you lost a much wanted one)

I will double-check next friday at my appointment if they can in fact do a surgical procedure.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 03/05/2008 18:53

it's your choice, Sladey, and sure you have your reasons.

but i truly don't see why they can't do an evacuation at that stage when they can do them for people whose foetus died at the 5/6 week mark and their bodies didn't expel it.

NurkMagiggy · 03/05/2008 19:29

I wonder, Expat...it's strange. Maybe there is some thought withint the system that sees the surgical method as preferable for women who are in an awful position having not chosen to abort - iyswim - there was no choice for you
While I am reluctant to blame it on money I feel there may be an issue with cost of procedure as well as the risk factors...it would perhaps be a false economy (in fact no economy at all?) to perform surgical procedures on the large numbers of women who terminate by choice, and then possibly have them return for further assistance when it doesn't complete the abortion satisfactorily?
Whereas the 'medical' method has a high 'success' rate in terms of completion of the procedure at two sittings and with minimal aftercare and so on...
I really don't know.
I am so sorry for you both. Sladey - if you wish to open up about the situation you've found yourself in, please talk to the women on here, they are a lovely bunch and most will not judge...a lot of us have been there x

Original poster
SladeyMadonna · 03/05/2008 20:17

Thanks for all your supportive messages. And just to clarify - i am paying for the procedure, so not draining NHS funds.

Though I am trying a range of herbal remedies this weekend to try to induce miscarriage. Am now worried about poisoning myself from them though!

OP posts:
stripeymama · 03/05/2008 20:22

SladeyMadonna can you email me - lollipoptree at hotmail dot co dot uk - I can point you to some very good information on other's experiences but can't post it here.

stripeymama · 03/05/2008 20:31

Only because its not my story to tell, iyswim. But it is really helpful and honest information that should make you feel better about the decision you are making.

NurkMagiggy · 03/05/2008 20:35

Really didn't mean it to sound like that, never crossed my mind about NHS etc - so sorry. Was just trying to figure out the protocol re Expat' s experience
Sorry you are going through this.

muggglewump · 03/05/2008 20:43

stripeymama would you mind if I e-mailed for the information too?
I've found it really hard to find anything non judgemental and helpful since I had a termination last year

stripeymama · 03/05/2008 20:43

Thats fine

muggglewump · 03/05/2008 20:58

Thank you

Surreynanny · 03/05/2008 21:00

Hi, just read your post and saw you were going through this on your own, if you would like some one non judgemental to be with you, I know you don't know me but I hate to think of you going through this alone. I would willingly accompany you if that is of any help and you are not too far away. Email me at surreynanny at hotmail dot co dot uk.

KaSo · 03/05/2008 21:04

They don't do a surgical procedure at 5wks for a termination as there is a large risk associated with every general anaesthetic. GA is not something Drs like to use unless it's really necessary so the pill is a good alternative.
A friend of mine used it recently and had severe vomitting and the runs, so don't plan to do anything for a day or two afterwards.

expatinscotland · 03/05/2008 21:07

some women on here, however, have had terminations performed under local anaesthetic.

a GA isn't strictly necessary for ERPC at all.

it's routine here, but it isn't in many countries.

magnolia74 · 03/05/2008 21:08

Oh God, it sounds awful! I was told that I can't get a surgical abortion until after 8 weeks, so unless I want to undergo that when on holiday in the Far East (cos i am on holiday for 2 months backpacking), then the pill is the only real option.

I have just had a surgical termination at 6 weeks.

tulip27 · 03/05/2008 21:14

Hello, I had this procedure last year at 6 weeks. It was a little uncomfortable but when the paracetamol took effect there was no pain atall.The next day I was running the local toddler group so that all the pregnant mums could have a break, I was even doing a skipping race with the children. So 10 days later you may still be bleeding but keep on the paracetamol and you should be ok. Good luck.

Original poster
SladeyMadonna · 03/05/2008 21:19

I would choose the non GA route if it was surgical - i feel that I need to suffer at least some pain for this.

Surreynanny - thank you so much for your kind offer. i won't take you up on it though, as I want to do this alone. I think having someone else there would make it more "real" if that makes sense?

Stripeymama - I will try to email you tomorrow.

Magnolia - I hope you are OK.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 03/05/2008 21:23

you don't need to punish yourself for this, sladey!

i'm sorry you feel that way.

but it can be done under other forms of anaesthesia.

if you had it done under local, the only pain you should feel is from the anaesthetic being injected into the cervix.

you may also receive some contraceptive advice prior to the procedure and/or have a coil inserted at that time if it's your wish.

magnolia74 · 03/05/2008 21:27

I could not have been awake to be honest. I see where you are coming from about punishing yourself but you really shouldn't xx The decision to terminate is hard enough as it is.
Have you gone through BPAS? I found them really understanding, non judgemental and they explained every possibility.

stripeymama · 03/05/2008 21:29

You do not need to punish yourself for this. Please let go of that idea.

muggglewump · 03/05/2008 21:51

Please don't punish yourself, I too did that and it didn't help either before or after the abortion, it made things worse.
Accept all the help that is offerred, if someone wants to help they are not judging you, they know you are making the best decision for you and you are all that counts in this

Original poster
SladeyMadonna · 03/05/2008 23:24

I am going through marie Stopes. they have been OK. First person i spoke to was nice and sympathetic. When I phoned back in a bit of a panic the next day, the other woman wasn't that sympathetic. And I can't have any anaesthetics or gas and air because I am coming unaccompanied.

OP posts:
muggglewump · 04/05/2008 00:17

Are you sure Sladymadonna?
I had two GA's in two days and I went to BPAS in London. I live in Scotland, they knew that and that I was on my own.
I'm also getting sterilised under GA in 3 weeks and again, I'll be on my own and leaving the same day to go home to my DD, that's obviously a local hospital though.
I'd ask again about anasthetics (can't spell that)

NurkMagiggy · 04/05/2008 07:07

I remember all this hooha now, Marie Stopes do have strict rules like that at their clinics
I was told I could have all these options like sedation etc, then only if I was accompanied - it was like the more questions I asked, the more conditions there were, they were really cagey.
Sladey is right about that.

Hope you are feeling Ok this morning pet. Please stop thinking that you deserve to feel pain and so on, it isn't true, and nobody will judge you for a difficult decision like this - as I said many of us have been there.

What you deserve is as much help and support as is available to help you get through it without pain or problems.

Just do be totally sure that you can manage it, and aren't doing it for anyone else's sake. The more confident you can be that it is the right decision for you, the better you will deal with it afterwards.
Lots and lots of women go through it without regrets, it is not the end of the world

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