how much pain in ectopic pregnancies?

[monkeymoma]

hi, I have mild right sided pain but it's more of a pulling/bruised feeling, a little like ovulation pain, but it's also the side of my CS scar that has the most scar tissue. I'm wondering what KIND of pain and how much of it counts as one sided pain, the kind where you need to start worrying about ectopics?

(so as not to drip feed: 4 weeks with a week of spotting so far)

thanks x

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Hi there - this thread is a little old. If you'd like to know more about ectopic pregnancies, we've got more information here. MNHQ

just been for my second HCG test - i am anxiously awaiting results, but even if they have skyrocketed, I'll still worry. I think I'll ask them if they wouldn't mind doing a rescan to definitely check there's a yolk sac. How are you monkeymama? I'm wondering if my pain is related to my CS scar - the internal one, rather than the extrernal one. It's not too early for it all to start stretching/softening up is it (at about 5 weeks)?

Sorry, although it was good that the sac was in the uterus, they refused to say it was definitely a gestational sac - there was no yolk visible and you can get pseudosacs with ectopics. Essentially, the scan was inconclusive and hasn't really provided reassurance of any sort! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you at the docs.

I had an ectopic just before christmas. I had a lot of right sided pain. went to the gp at 5+1 who told me it was too early to have pain from an ectopic. Ended up in a and e and having emergency surgery at 5+6. Have since found out that all one sided pain should be investigated!

My pain felt like a stitch pain. It was all on my right side. It did come in waves and most of the time it was bearable but when it was bad it properly stopped me in my tracks and took my breath away. It was also worse with a full bladder and during sex. I also had shoulder tip pain and was really dizzy. HTH!

right so I've gone from BFP to BFI (big fat inconclusive!)

GP was very concerned, sent me straight to hospital for a scan and said if the scan wasn't conclusive I'ld have a laporoscopy so to be nill my mouth as of straight away

Pain stopped on way to hospital and spotting cleared up - sods law, both back now with a vengence since leaving the hospital!

Hospital don't scan till 6 weeks, they took some blood, did a speculum exam, did a urine pregnancy test which they said was very weak and inconclusive - which confuses me because at home today both lines were strong and almost equal and today I got my first 2-3 weeks on CB digital (was 1-2 up to now). He wouldn't even diagnose me as being ANY kind of pregnant :-S I'm even definitely +ive on cheapo not very sensitive tests!

the registrar then said that they wont investigate pain or bleeding till it is continuing past 6 weeks unless the pain is crippling and the bleeding includes clots

right so what am I meant to think now? anyone want a game of i-spy? since I have 2 weeks to wait to find out if I'm here or there

joby sorry to hear about your ectopic!
I do find it MUCH worse in bed and with a full bladder

the registrar didn't get/listen to what I was saying about my dates, he didn't understand that I ovulate late, kept saying "well if your period is due now..." - NO my period was due over a week ago, I am 2 weeks since OV, 5 weeks since LMP, I OV during week 3 in a 4 week cycle, always have done, did with my son!

he seemed to be prodding way too high up my tummy too :-S

"I'm wondering if my pain is related to my CS scar - the internal one, rather than the extrernal one. It's not too early for it all to start stretching/softening up is it (at about 5 weeks)?"

yeah me too, have started some scar massage (makes me feel like I'm doing something anyway). Especially since the right corner of my scar is thicker and a bit more ropey

hope your latest results are reassuring, I see what you mean now about the sac

Ruddy hell, Monkey, that sounds crap! Where in the country are you - why on earth did they do a speculum exam? and why do a urine analysis when they have done a blood one?! Have you looked to see if you have an early pregnancy unit near you? Might be worth going again at a differnt time to see if you can get a different registrar.

I got my blood tests back - my HCG levels have doubled in 48 hours (almost exactly), which is what they are supposed to do, so this makes an ectopic much less likely, apparently. my pain is a bit better since I have been reassured slightly by that - some of it must have been tension. It is still there, though, quite stabby, but not enough to stop me in my tracks or anything.

The EPU will phone me tomorrow and hopefully book another scan just to see what is going on. I am now very grateful to live where we do, and get good early pregnancy provision (Worcestershire).

monkey, if it gets worse at all, or the spotting turns into 'prune juice' like, I would get to A and E straight away and take your pregnancy tests with you!

Hope you feel better tomorrow. I am sorry for others who have had ectopics - it has certainly made me realise how horrible the waiting is.

that's great about your levels

I went to the same unit that the EPU is in, the EPU is 6 wks +

I don't really know what the speculum was for to look for signs of bleeding, which he didn't see, cause everyone knows that symptoms hide when you see a doctor! I guess he didn't take my word for it!

I'm mostly baffled by this faint positive inconclusive pregnancy test they did? spent £50 on a selection on way home to double check and they're all +++

I think my GP's surgery is a bit more on side than the womens health unit, so maybe I should book in with the MW?

it was really annoying how he kept not understanding my cycle and how pregnant I am Vs where I am in my cycle, my GP was able to grasp the concept straight away, its not that unusual to not OV on day 14!

so maybe he thinks its a faint +ive for 5+3?, which I'm not! I'm 4+0! (but they're still not faint!, they were faint last friday!)

morning sickness already !
how can my hormone levels have been so low at hospital yesterday and today I have morning sickness??

I was looking forward to getting some reassuring symptoms, but now that I still have that pain in the right I don't know what to feel

Were you in A&E? IME A&E doctors are a bit clueless about odd cycles and strange pregnancy symptoms. Luckily mine were quick to hand me over to the emergency gynaecology team (not the same as EPU who were a lovely, but completely different unit on a different floor). These are the people who dealt with ectopic pregnancies (among other emergency women's problems). They had their own ultrascan machines, a small 4 bed ward (away from babies and very pregnant women) and their own consulting rooms. They can scan as early as they like using a transvaginal scan, although it can be hard to see what is happening.
I'm appalled that you've been left to wait it out with no proper follow up or support.

I wasn't sent to A&E was sent straight to the womens health unit (same place EPU is in) and saw the gynae registrar

there was a scan machine in the consulting room and space to scan me that day but he wouldn't have me scanned till 6 weeks

he said he would ring today with my blood results - nada, I'll ring tomorrow

he said that he was unconcerned about spotting and pain before 6 weeks, unless it's crippling pain or clots, in which case, go to A&E (who I agree are a bit clueless at this stuff)

He talked about scanning me at 6 weeks, but didn't book me in?

I wish I could just relax now that I have morning sickness, but the pain in the right was so sharp today when I picked up my DS I nearly dropped him!

no spotting today though

That's rubbish about the blood results. And they should be rechecking them in 48 hours to see what they are doing. Can you go back to your GP to request a second blood sample? or ask the Registrar tomorrow. If you look on the ectopic pregnancy trust website, I am sure there are some guidelines on there that hospitals are supposed to follow. Glad there is no more spotting. My pain was pretty bad for a couple of days, but has started to ease now. I had a burst cyst - maybe that is what your pain is? If it gets any worse, go to A and E. Hope you manage to have a nice weekend.

Sorry to hear the traumas your going through. I spoke to an out of hours gp when i had bleeding who advised me to go straight to a + e if i had any pain. I went to a+e who referred me to gynae. I was scanned at 5+6 going by my lmp which is where the found the mass in my tube. Mind you the gp completely fobbed me off!

If you are still in pain it's definitely worth persevering with getting yourself checked out with bloods and a scan.

I phoned womens health about the blood results I was supposed to be phoned with yesterday, they just took my number.

DH phoned the private scan place and they only scan from 8 weeks on

How are you doing monkey mama? hope all is well.

Hi Haggisfish, I'm okay, in limbo but feeling positive today, have updated here (sorry it's long!):
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/1465523-low-hcg-in-early-pregnany-is-the-doctor-wrong