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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

GP has just refused to refer me to EPU

42 replies

gargalesis · 15/07/2014 18:02

3 years ago I had an ectopic pregnancy. I had no symptoms until my fallopian tube ruptured and I almost died. Afterwards my GP told me that if I got pregnant in the future I should get an early scan to make sure it wasn't ectopic.

I'm now 5 weeks pregnant. I had to wait 8 days to see my GP (it's a different one this time, I've moved). I've just got back from my appointment. I told her how traumatic it was and she just wouldn't take me seriously at all. She was so dismissive. She said "you were very unlucky last time, you'd have to be incredibly unlucky for it to happen again". I told her there was a 1 in 10 chance of a repeat ectopic and she shrugged and said "well, that's 9 in 10 chance of it not being ectopic". She said she would refer me for a scan if I had symptoms, even though I told her that last time I had no symptoms until the tube ruptured.

She repeatedly said that nothing could be seen until 7 weeks. I know full well it's possible to see a sac at 5 weeks, she kept telling me that you couldn't see the heartbeat until 7. But I kept answering that I didn't care about the heartbeat yet, I just want to know it's in my uterus.

I just feel so frustrated. I don't know what to do. As soon as I walked out of her office I burst into tears and I haven't stopped crying since. What if my other tube ruptures and I'll never be able to conceive naturally? I'm absolutely terrified.

OP posts:
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gargalesis · 16/07/2014 08:17

Thanks everyone for your advice. It gave me much more confidence to deal with it this morning.

I called the EPU and the woman I spoke to confirmed that I needed to have a scan at 6 weeks. She said in the meantime if I had any pain or bleeding I should go to A&E, but if not then the 6 week scan needs to be referred by the GP. She was very nice about it and told me to try again but if the GP was still not having it then I should phone back.

I called the GP surgery and explained everything, and the receptionist was really nice and sympathetic, and she wrote it all down and told me she'd give it to a different doctor and he would call me back.

You're absolutely right RevoltingPeasant. I'm going to make a complaint about that GP. She is woefully ignorant about ectopic pregnancies and that frightens me. I want her to receive the proper guidance/training.

OP posts:
RevoltingPeasant · 16/07/2014 09:50

Good for you, let us know how it goes! And I'm sure you will be perfectly healthy this time :)

dottyaboutstripes · 16/07/2014 09:55

I've just seen this and you did absolutely the right thing by calling EPU yourself. Doctors are seriously ignorant about ectopics. I also had a ruptured ectopic but have gone on to have three more babies (so take hope!) and each time, I went for an early scan between 6 and 7 weeks.
Good luck, keep pressuring them if they are still being awkward

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 16/07/2014 10:00

Wow. Please complain about this ignorant woman.

StrangeGlue · 16/07/2014 10:00

It's not what should happen but if you're really worried you could pay for a private scan, most places see you within a day or two.

Your gp should have referred you though I think.

JuniDD · 16/07/2014 10:38

Glad it looks like it's getting sorted. I had a bit of a fight to get a scan with a pregnancy after a molar pregnancy. I was also told they can't see anything until 8 weeks. WRONG! Fortunately, I was able to get the director of the follow-up centre to kick some arse on my behalf. I really understand how horribly stressful it is, particularly with the waiting around for dates and people not listening to you. Best of luck. xx

Bondy83 · 16/07/2014 17:43

If I was you id go to hospital/doctors and say youve got abdominal pains and give your previous history so they refer you to Epu or if you can wait 2 weeks you could always pay for a private scan they do them from 7 weeks

frankiebuns · 18/07/2014 10:20

That sounds like my dr! I had an op last year which left me with a bladder infection which was inevitable I went to the drs 2 days later with obvious symptoms and she said of course ur goin to bleed think what u had done in my country anti biotics are a privalige and not given out willy nilly I was close to telling her what I thought I went 2 hrs later saw another dr and got then straight away, id go and see another one or is there a private one u could go to think its £40 for a early reassurance scan at our private one!

gargalesis · 21/07/2014 12:09

Update: I managed to get a scan appointment for this Friday, but I started getting some pains yesterday and called 111 because I didn't want to take any chances. They sent me to the out of hours GP, who sent me to the gynae ward, who checked me out and did an HCG test. That came back high, and they were quite confident it wasn't ectopic, but arranged for me to go back to the EPU this morning for a scan. Everything was fine and in the right place. I saw the heartbeat and it made me cry. I'm so relieved!

OP posts:
Pobblewhohasnotoes · 21/07/2014 12:11

Wonderful OP!

NatashaBee · 21/07/2014 12:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AntoinetteCosway · 21/07/2014 12:32

I'm so glad for you OP Grin

gargalesis · 21/07/2014 12:55

Definitely NatashaBee, I'm composing a strongly worded letter right now.

OP posts:
kitkat321 · 21/07/2014 13:43

Lovely news xxx

RevoltingPeasant · 21/07/2014 13:50

OP good for you! Such good news about your baby and great you are complaining.

Just think, the next woman she sees in your situation could be in that 10% - and you may just have saved that woman's fertility or even life by ensuring that GP gets training. Well done.

squizita · 21/07/2014 14:10

Great news.
Good for you writing to them too ... your letter could actually save someone's life one day! All it takes is a blood test and a scan to confirm all is well. :)

seasavage · 21/07/2014 17:02

Glad to hear it's going well.

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