Help! Ectopic/Methatrexate advice...!

[MrsBlue1986]

Hello all. 5.5 weeks pregnant currently

Last Sunday i had sharp left sided cramps. Went to A&E who couldn't decipher what it was.

However my hcg bloods are as follows

Last Sunday 333
Tuesday 470
Thursday 420
Today 430

They cant see anything on the scan but have asked me to decide on whether to take methatrexate or not or ride it out. I am generally symptomless apart from the odd twinge.

Really panicking because i dont know what to do. They havent officially confirmed ectopic but have said pregnancy in unknown location. I have had 2 miscarriages previously.

Anyone any stories with ectopic or methatrexate??

Thanks x

I’m sorry you are going through this. I had an ectopic and was advised that if my hcg levels were not doubling then it was ectopic. I also had an internal scan to check. I had the methotrexate injection at 7 weeks . It wasn’t as bad as I’d thought. I was admitted for monitoring beforehand to hospital. (for reassurance 10 years later I have had two healthy children)

Thank you for your message @SarahinCornwall. Did you have any symptoms of ectopic at the time? Im really worried that because they haven't officially seen anything on a scan, then it could maybe go on its own without an injection? The hcg hasn't gone down yet but maybe it will? How old were you when it happend. Im 35 so im already freaking out im running out of time xx

If it’s got this far it’s got a decent blood supply.

I’m so sorry you’re going through this, sil had one then a normal pg after.

What sort of HCG levels do they normally rupture at? Surely 400s is too low especially as it cant be seen on a scan anyway?

I had methotrexate. I had similar levels and they just didn't go down on their own. Even with the methotrexate it took quite a while for them to go down. I felt fine with the injection and just wanted it over.

I was given methotrexate with levels at 5000 but that's the maximum they'll allow it to be given in the U.K. (it's not licenced for use in ectopics but is the standard treatment) - i was warned might not work but I wanted to try and save my tube - I ruptured anyway 4 days later.

It's not a nice drug (usually used to treat cancer so often administered on the cancer ward) but its usually very effective when hcg is lower. You should be aware though that it can make you feel like crap for weeks and the risk of rupture remains until hcg reaches 0. Also it's dangerous for a new pregnancy so you mustn't try to get pregnant again for 3 months if you have one shot or 6 months if you have 2 injections

I was 29. I had slight bleeding but it was brown (sorry tmi). I also felt run down afterwards from the injection and the whole situation to be honest. I had to wait 6 months before trying again to ensure the drug was completely out of my system.

I had an ectopic last year - symptoms were one sided pain and mix of brown/red bleeding. I had methotrexate at 5+4 when HCG was 501. The injection did make me feel rotten for a few days but improved after about a week, HCG was back to normal after 2 weeks. Good luck! x