Pregnancy of unknown location

[okisthisright]

Hi, I had a positive test early October, a few days later I started to bleed with small clots and my tests were going lighter so assumed mc and that was was

Have been feeling a bit sicky and having stitch like pain when coughing / sneezing so took another test last week which was positive, I should have been around the 8 week mark and weeks indicator said 1-2. Retested in the AM as had drank lots and went up to 2-3

Had a scan on Friday and they could not find the pregnancy but could see hemorrhagic cysts on both ovaries. Noted as pregnancy of unknown location and booked in for mid next week for test at the hospital

I'm so confused, I would expect they would have been able to locate as I should over over 9 weeks now! I've got a trip booked end of the month and I'm so worried this won't be resolved before then and I will need to mis this

Does anyone have any experience of how they deal with this at the hospital? Am I likely to be scanned or just blood test? I'm so confused

Anyone 😔?

Do you understand what "pregnancy of unknown location" could mean?

@theydontspeakforus from my understanding there's three options

1. Pregnancy is too early to see via scan but as my last period was over 9 weeks ago I doubt it is this

1. Ectopic which I'm sure if they'd be able to see this at this point and no pain which I thought would be the case at this stage

1. Miscarriage, bleeding was over 5 weeks ago so I don't think hcg would still be high given hour early the bleeding was

I'm not sure on what they're going to do at the appointment and how quickly this can be resolved which I know there is no certain answer

I had one: they can’t find it because it’s not really a pregnancy. You had a conception (with abnormal chromosomes) that didn’t head down the Fallopian tube but has landed somewhere else. So even if you are 8 weeks, it’s not a fetal size 8 weeks, as no pregnancy sac/ fetal growth. They all fail naturally but the concern is that could potentially cause bleeding or problems in the interim.

I was given methotrexate injections and basically had regular scans and bHCG and progesterone levels (every 48 hours) until the numbers started falling and they knew it was resolving. I think majoritu people only need one injection, some need two and unusually I needed 3, given roughly every 4 days. I would say it took 2-3 weeks to resolve and a bit longer to get over the ordeal. Sorry you’re going through this and hopefully you’ll just miscarry it spontaneously

(Mine also diagnosed day before a holiday which I had to cancel. Totally feel for you)

@okisthisright Hi Ok sorry you’re experiencing this. I’ve just today started my period after a PUL. Like you I had faint positives and then my “period” arrived. I felt off and did a test that was surprisingly positive. I had ongoing monitoring at the EPU as these factors made me at risk of an ectopic. My HCG were monitored every 48 hours to see if they were rising or falling. Over a week they were rising but not doubling and not rising as high as expected, again a further indicator something wasn’t right. I had an internal and external scan last week. The pregnancy was not in my uterus and therefore a PUL, couldn’t clearly be seen in fallopian tube. My options were to have bloods again to see if they started to decrease and therefore I would pass naturally. If my levels continued to rise I would need to have had medical intervention of methotrexate but as it’s a chemo medication would mean holding off TTC for three month. I went back again last Thursday and my levels were only at 47. I’ve started my period today and will double check with a pregnancy test at the end of this week. The whole process from positive test to period had been a little over two weeks. Hope you’re getting some support x

@TotallyWhatever thank you for this, I did read it wouldn't be the same size as a foetus would be but just thought they'd be able to see something if it was in the tube? I'm not sure

I'm just hoping it can be resolved within the next few weeks 😔

@ROZRAX thank you so much. It's the waiting that is the worst part I just wish I knew what was going on

@okisthisright if it’s in the tube I think that’s classed as conventional ectopic, but PUL are outside the Fallopian tube/uterus. I understood it that the conception occurs up near the ovary but it doesn’t get wafted down the tube and ‘heads out’ to outside of Fallopian tube and too small to pick up on scan. Hopefully you’ll HCGs will just drop spontaneously , but mine were rising after a few days of monitoring (but nothing like at viable pregnancy levels) and hence needed methotrexate.

@TotallyWhatever thankyou I hope so too, I read somewhere that pul/ectopic usually lower hcg is this right? My tests are very very strong so that is confusing me a bit

Yes levels are lower than usual however they still rise but slowly if it's not resolving it's self.
Mine were rising a lot but not doubling x

I had an ectopic, they couldn’t see it at your stage either. They eventually found it a few weeks later on a scan (they scanned for a long time). They were doing hcg tests every two days. Have they started that yet? Mine went on for ages, then when they found it I was given the injection.

@Lillybobs86 thank you, the strong test today really threw me but I supposed if my last period was 9 weeks ago then the hormones would be higher anyway even though no foetus 😣

@Proamble that you, my first appointment is Wednesday. I called this morning to see if I could get in earlier but the said because I've no pain apart from when I sneeze etc and not bleeding they can't see me sooner. I'm hoping they'll scan me given the dates I don't want this dragging out

Yes my home pregnancy tests were always very strong right up until my emergency surgery.
It's hard to go by those as even if I had tested after my op they would still be strong as hormones take time to leave your body.
You'll know more when they see your levels when they do your bloods.
They'll be able to know more with numbers and how they progressing over 48 hours x

@Lillybobs86 thank you for telling me this. It's nice to speak to someone else who's been there

No worries it's such a worry time I went through pul in august and they eventually found ectopic.
I remember it was a very confusing time I had no one who has gone though this apart from fellow netmums so feel free to message x

It wouldn't be an ectopic at this point as they would be terribly worried about a ruptured tube and wouldn't leave you another week. I had a rupture at 8/9 weeks.

@Lillybobs86 Thank you, everyone I've spoken to has said they've heard of them but don't really know what they are so it's hard to find someone who knows how it feels

@dwArty they've said pregnancy of unknown location at present but I've not been seen by NHS only a private scanning place so hoping they can locate something later this week

Good luck. If you have any reason to think it might be ectopic get seen sooner. A ruptured tube can be very serious,

They've still been unable to locate, my bloods were low 200 so not sure if this is good or bad. Booked in 48 hours for another set 😣

Sorry to hear this :(
It's so frustrating isn't it just the unknown..
Do they know what your bloods were before or is this the first time they took blood?

Yes mine were around this too at the same duration as yours, and they didn’t drop. It was so frustrating. I obviously knew that it wasn’t viable, but like you wanted a resolution. It took a few weeks of scans and bloods before they eventually located it. I got the injection and all has been fine, my periods have returned to normal now and I’m passed the 3m period. Good luck! It was so time consuming having to go for bloods and scans, but was all worth it. I hope you get a resolution soon. Good luck!!

@Lillybobs86 it was the first time, I'm back in in a tomorrow so we'll see then hopefully