Ectopic pregnancy? Please share your stories

[xkatyx]

Hi everyone

I recently found out I am pregnant I'm roughy 4 and half weeks.

I had my hormone leeks checked and 2 days ago they were 164 and today they were 211 and my progestion (sp?) was 70 and has remained there.

I have been told that pregnancy may not be viable or there could be a possible ectopic pregnancy.

I'm so upset and would like to know of it was an ectopic am I at risk at this early if it rupturing?? I'm petrified and now thinking I have a side pain gosh I'm in tears.. Please anyone

I'm really so sorry... What have the hospital said? Imagine it's too early for scans. Will they be testing your hcg levels again?

I had previous ectopic pregnancy, but didn't know until too late. It's good that you have been tested early and they can monitor.... although I know that probably doesn't sound like good news to you.

Perhaps it's possible that it's still viable? Sorry, don't know how to interpret hormone levels, so can't say whether it's good or bad.

Do you mind me asking how gone you were when your tube ruptured? I'm so scared of that happening.

The hospital want me to go back Friday for another blood test so hopefully will know more then.

My hormones didn't double which means pregnancy isn't viable unfortunately

bump

Sorry you're going through this. I have no experience but didn't want to read and run. I don't know much about levels so can't help there but have they booked you again to check levels and do a scan? It might be a good idea to also post this on the miscarriage board, there maybe more people who have had experience of this and can help with advice. Any pain in your sides or shoulder pain then take yourself to a&e and kick up a fuss until you are seen properly and checked.

Hi xkatyx, really sorry you are going through this. I had an ectopic 6 years ago and also went through the 'is it, isn't it' stage at around 6 weeks. All I know is that HGC should roughly double every 48 hours. HOWEVER I have also seen stories on this site where people's HCG has not quite behaved as it should and they still had a viable pregnancy.

In my case sadly it was ectopic and this was picked up as potential problem in an early scan (for other reasons) when they couldn't see anything in the uterus. Then they did the HCG levels (meaning a 48 hr wait) and they were rising but not doubling and they took me straight into theatre for a laproscopy which removed the pregnancy but not the tube. I think if the HCG levels are not too high they can treat with drugs but mine were too high. I can't comment on your actual levels - I just don't know. I was told ecoptics rarely rupture until after at least 7 weeks - it seems very unlikely at your stage and I'm sure if they were concerned that it was a possibility they would rush you into theatre right away. It is still a horrible experience though .

Try looking at the ectopic pregnancy trust website - they have a whole chat section where lots of people will be able to help and they also have a helpline I think. I found it really helpful 'afterwards' with emotional support and understanding the implications (even if you lose a tube it doesn't massively decrease your risk of conceiving again - mine was blocked by scarring from the operation but i have still conceived two healthy pregnancies since then). Sorry I'm not good at doing links but just google 'ectopic pregnancy trust'. I really hope there is still good news for you, but if not try not to panic and give yourself time to grieve this as the loss of a baby .

Let us know how you get on.

Thank u very much. I also read that slow rising hcg isn't always bad but I have period pains and a backache that is more to the side .. But not on my side?? Nothing painful though just aches.

I was told hcg levels are too low to scan as they won't see anything ;(

I'm sorry you also went through a horrible time.

It's all very unfair and I would just like it all over with now

X

Don't lose hope. I had hcg levels that didn't rise as much as they'd like and cramping. At 6 weeks I was told pg was probably not viable and may be ectopic, a week later we were told we were expecting twins. Bodies aren't always text book so look after yourself and wait and see. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you xx

Sorry xkatyx, been away from the laptop.

I was about 6 weeks or just over and, because I had no idea what the symptoms were or even that I was pregnant, I hadn't sought medical advice. You have done the right thing to get medical help and be monitored with tests.

In my case, I had an incident of excruciating pain/feeling dizzy and waves of bad abdominal pain for a whole day, then another episode of severe pain the next day and then passing out. At which point, my husband called the ambulance... although, stupidly, I was saying it wasn't necessary. Ridiculous, I know. But, what I'm trying to say that it's good that you haven't ignored it as I did. My pains weren't anything like period pains, so perhaps that is a good sign for you.

I also recommend the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust website and forum, both for information and support:

www.ectopic.org.uk/

I, too, found it really difficult afterwards from an emotional point of view. So, please know that, if the outcome is not good, there is a lot of support out there.

Despite having the ruptured tube removed, I have since fallen pregnant so it is ABSOLUTELY possible for you to conceive. I have had early scans to ensure everything is in the right place.

.... I am really sorry that you have to go through this. Hopefully you will get some answers on Friday. If you get any shoulder tip pain or if the pains worsen, pls get yourself to A&E.

Thinking of you....

Thank you, gosh hormones are obviously higher enough to make me cry.

I know I shouldn't but I wanted to see if slow rising hormones wernt always bad news but everywhere I look it all points to ectopic.

Thank you for your reassurance I don't suppose you remember what you hcg levels were? Wow twins how lovely

One thing I did find Is that progesterone levels are usually low with ectopic and mine are 70 which us I think high

you just have to sweat this bit out, i'm afraid. i've had two ectopics and two children after them. my third pregnancy went something like 36, 56, then after three days cos of a bank hol, 81. this plus bleeding, pain and my utterly crappy history meant they were scheduling me for metho.

two days later, 148, two days after that... we were able to see something in the womb using a transvaginal... and it was my eldest daughter.

so no, don't give up hope. the very best of luck to you.

I won't go into my ectopic as its a very long winded story.

I basically lost my tube due to numerous hospital/staff errors.
Even when they realised it was ectopic at around 8wks they still didn't think it'd be a problem as my hcg levels were low, i think something under 500. They called me at 6 or 7o/c at night & told me to come in at 9am for yet another scan.
By 11pm i was in a huge amount of pain & losing alot of blood & went to a&e.... who didnt believe me.
Wasn't given a scan until gone 11am by which time i had internal bleeding, blood clots shooting out of each direction from the tube & it was just about to burst.

Even though hcg levels are low you can still have serious problems like it did with me. There was no chance to save my tube.

Sometimes hcg don't always rise like they should but the pregnancy will turn out fine. Other times sadly not.

Just make sure you continue to have blood tests to check what your hcg levels are doing. Mine went up, down and then up again.
With hcg levels that low its normal not to see anything in the womb yet anyway so don't give up hope.

Really hope your next set of hcg results show a good rise & that everything will be alright x

oh and yes slow rising hormones points to ectopic, but that is only because it is something that can be measured at a time when a patient is complaining about bleeding or pain. (btw, good that your docs are taking this seriously, so they should).

however, look around all the people you know... happy, healthy adults who may have had slowrising hcgs as embryos and no=one would know... really, this area is pretty mysterious. ivf is teaching doctors a lot, but there is a way to go yet. correlation, wrt hcg, does not equal causality, or words to that effect.