In Limbo - poor progress in early pregnancy

[GemmaJen]

I don't know what I'm looking for, but I'm feeling very alone. It would be lovely to hear some positive stories, but I'm not sure there will be any.

I went in for a scan 12 days ago in EPU due to right sided pain, should have been 6w2d but measured 5w2d, gestational sack and yolk sack seen, but no foetal pole. Hcg level was in the right area for this gestation and cervix was closed. I was worried as we were so sure of our dates, confirmed by opk, bbt etc... And felt this couldn't be quite right.

Unfortunately started bleeding lightly last week, which proceeded to heavy red bleeding and cramps, went to A&E and epu again, by then 7 days since the first scan, cervix still closed, no obvious cause of the heavy bleeding and pregnancy was visualised on scsn, slight growth of 3mm to gestational sac but still no FP or heartbeat. Started on progesterone.

In for another scan today, bleeding has slowed but still present, I presume controlled by the progesterone? Its been 5 days since the last scan, slight growth again of GS by 3mm but this time a 2.5mm Feotal pole was spotted, but still no heart beat seen.

I'm at a loss, they won't call it non viable yet due to the slight growth so have booked me in again in a week. But I can't believe that it can be viable, I'm now 2 weeks out of kilter from my dates with extremely poor growth. I feel like I'm living in limbo, I was going in today prepared to be told not viable and to get it managed. But now I've got to put my life on hold for another week, with what I believe can't possibly be a positive outcome? We desperately want this pregnancy, and it's so painful to have a little hope but logically minimal chances.

Has anyone been through anything similar? I'm losing my mind and don't know how I can face this week.

Hello. I don't have any advice I'm afraid, but I've been into the Dr today for a first blood test myself. Strange BFP after a period, not much line progression, could be ectopic. That's my concern, anyway.

Just wanted to say I'm sorry you're in this situation, it sounds really shit. For you too @habiller x

@Billyv that sounds tough, my epu don't put much weight on hcg, they go by scan progression alone, as hcg can do strange things. They only do hcg levels if they suspect ectopic. I'm not saying all will be fine, I really hope it is though, this waiting with the unknown is just awful! Wishing you a speedy week and the best of luck for Friday x

@habiller my line progression for this pregnancy was slow, hence the scan with the right sided pain. Compared to the tests I had with my daughter, darker lines took several more days. I guess this pregnancy hasn't felt right since the first positive test. Are you having symptoms? I've barely had any.

@GemmaJen I'm doing ok at the moment. Pretty anxious, but I think because I immediately thought that something might not be right when I got the BFP, I've been protected a little. It's not like I've been thinking I'm going to have a baby and then had to go through the pain of finding out I might not be - I haven't yet got to the point of seriously thinking I might be having one.

DS was textbook - 9dpo BFP, no bleeds, no complications. So this is weird for sure.

What was your pain like? I've had a slight pain/burning sensation on and off on my left hand side, but I also had similar during my first pregnancy. So I'm trying not to worry about it for now. It doesn't feel like it's something that needs immediate attention.

I know our circumstances are quite different but it might be nice to hang out here with you guys while we wait? I started a thread but didn't have any responses. If you want to 🙂

Maybe someone will come along on here with a positive story for you soon.

@Billyv hope you're doing ok today?

My pain on the right was like a tugging cramping pain, went away after a few hours, but the anxiety stayed so raised it with 111, then gp and finally epu - only way to be referred in our area.

My bleeding pain felt like full on period cramps, wrapped around my stomach and down my legs, only had it for a couple of days and thankfully haven't had any since Thursday last week, got given codeine in A&E as paracetamol wasn't helping. The bleeding didn't stop, though it's much lighter than it was, but still heavier than spotting.

I've been googling and I just can't find anything positive, I should be 8w but showing 6w on scan, with only a weeks progress in 12 days, include the bleeding, cramping and still no heartbeat and I'm left wondering what the point is of waiting. I've had to cancel my week plans, and am spending most of my time in bed as moving about kicks of the bleeding. I just feel miserable. Urgh 😑

I'm sorry you're also going through a rubbish time too. Stay in touch here, if nothing else we can be angry at the world together 🥴

@GemmaJen oh that sounds horrendous, what a horrible experience. Awful that you're stuck in bed too, how miserable. I hope they make a decision soon. When are you next in?

More blood tests tomorrow... Trying not to worry but it's impossible really isn't it?

@Billyv I'm in on Monday for the next scan, on the plus side, other than a bit when I woke up this morning I've had no bleeding today. I feel some relief, though I guess it doesn't change the lack of scan progress. 5 days left to go.

Did you have your second hcg test? How are you doing?

Hello. Really good you haven't had any bleeding today. Can you keep busy through the next few days?

Yes, went in today for the second test. Have to wait until Friday for the result. Thanks for asking ☺️ yeah I'm... OK. Had some spotting last night, which has continued into today. It's v faint now though.

My HCG was around 360 (can't remember the exact figure she said), which the Dr wasn't particularly hopeful about. When I googled it afterwards, that would be well in range for 4 weeks, but wouldn't be great if I were further along than that.

So obviously 😁 I divided 360 by 2 until I reached around 10, as apparently HCG is around 10.15 two days after implantation. 12 days would be exactly when I started bleeding - what I thought was a period. So obviously now I'm wondering did I implant late...? And have a heavy implantation bleed.

But of course this could all be a complete coincidence, I don't know when I ovulated/implanted or even if my HCG was higher than 360 at some point.

The spotting isn't a hopeful sign anyway.

Easy to spend yourself crazy speculating while you wait though isn't it? The Dr thought the most likely scenario is early miscarriage.

Really hope you get an answer on Monday. My situation is a bit crap, but yours sounds extra specially crappy.

@Billyv how did your test results look? Hoping they were positive, what's the next step for you?

My bleeding has now been fully gone for the last 48 hours, even when putting the progesterone in, so that's been a relief. I know it doesn't prove anything really, but to see the end of it, considering it was so heavy for a few days feels like I'm moving forward. Still no new symptoms, and it could all change on Monday with the scan result. I'm not even sure what I'm hoping for anymore? Progress and a hb would be bittersweet as with the strange growth delay I'd still be worried it would mc before 12 weeks anyway. No progress and an assisted mc, would be devastating, though I've believed this would be the case for 2 weeks now, it wouldn't lessen the sadness of it - it would be our 4th miscarriage. And then the inbetween - some growth but a slow hb or no hb, I'd guess that they'd still manage it to a mc, but I'm not sure and I sure as hell don't want to wait and see any longer if its doomed to fail. I've barely been able to work, exercise or see anyone in the last few weeks. My mh is all over the place and I just want to know the way forward. If they try to make me wait for another scan I think I'll lose my mind.

@habiller how did your scan go?

@GemmaJen it's definitely a miscarriage - after the blood results showing a slight increase in HCG initially, the next lot showed a slight decrease. Just been to the hospital for another blood test.

It's ok, I wasn't pregnant long.

I'm so sorry you're suffering so much, it's an absolutely shit situation you're in, which would be a struggle for anyone to deal with.

I'm hoping for a good outcome for you. And if not a good one, then at least a quick one now.

Best of luck for your scan. Hope you get some answers @GemmaJen xx

Hi girls hope you don’t mind me jumping in . I’m also in a limbo. I had my first bloods done on Thursday past and they came back at 34 I was 13dp just got bloods redone today so waiting on them results but was told to prepare for the worse. I have no bleeding or cramps but none of my tests are dark but there not getting lighter either. It’s all up in the air until I get results but I’m really confused on what to think bottom pic is 16dp but not with morning pee

Hi @Shannon88 any news on your results?

My HCG had only dropped 30 Friday-Sunday. Hoping for more of a drop when they do them tomorrow, have been bleeding a week so I'd just like it to not drag out.

Hope you are ok @GemmaJen

@Billyv i took a test this morning and it’s faded to basically nothing so it’s confirmed today. I’m still in with doctor tomorrow to see what the level was yesterday but more to just have it on file now that I had miscarriage

I'm sorry @Billyv and @Shannon88 miscarriage is so bloody awful. I feel for you both, its not easy no matter when it happens 😑

@habiller congratulations that's great news, good luck for your scan, January seems so far away!

I'm sorry I've been quiet, of the 3 outcomes from my scan on Monday (good news, bad news and no news) I got the worst of the 3 again. The feotal pole had grown by 2mm in a week, still no heart beat. Measuring 6 weeks still. So I was told to wait another week. I lost it, I've been an emotional wreck for 4 weeks now, the EPU doctors won't 'call it' as non viable, but that's all I'm being told, no reassurance that everything might be OK, nothing. It's like they know it's bad news but, to them waiting is low risk. I know it can't be viable, I had my first positive test 6 weeks ago, I've had 4 scans over 4 weeks showing barely a weeks growth! My MH is in tatters because I can't grieve, I can't move on, I can't do anything, I'm off work as I can't focus, my life is on hold. It's infuriating. They agreed after my protests to do an hcg. Which showed 27,000 (it was 7,000 4 weeks ago) and a poor nurse rang me at 10pm to tell me, having clearly not read my file and thinking she was giving me good news, of course I broke down again. I hate crying, I hate feeling like the mess I'm being at the moment, I just want to know what's happening. They have agreed to let me talk to the EPU doctor today - everything so far has been relayed through the EPU nurses, so I've not been given any answers to questions. And repeat the hcg bloods, but they've said if there's an increase, even if only by 1 I'll still have to wait till Monday for a repeat scan. I believe they are waiting for the magical 7mm FP with no heartbeat so that they can call it against that viability guideline. My biggest fear now, given it grew 2mm in the last 7 days is that it'll be 6.5mm next week and this nightmare will have to continue.

I've tried to tell them my body had done this before, my mmc was discovered at 12 weeks and was measuring 7w with no hb, so this is just so familiar. I've had 1 successful pregnancy with my daughter, where everything was textbook, so know this just isn't right.

And I've still got to take those damn progesterone pesseries. I'm so ready to move on from this, being stopped from doing so is breaking me down.

@GemmaJen do you think you could say directly to the EPU, or to your GP, that you want to end the pregnancy? If you know it isn't going to work, and your MH is in pieces, then I don't think a termination is unreasonable. If you think that is an option for you? Sorry I know it's really difficult, I don't know if you feel you could do that without them saying it's not viable. Bloody awful that they won't just say. I had the same thing with the gynaecologist I spoke to on Sunday, I was utterly baffled she wouldn't say it's not viable when I've been bleeding a week, just because my HCG hadn't dropped as much as they'd expect.

Could you phrase the question to the Dr something like, "in your experience what is the probability that this will end in a viable pregnancy?", or "could you give me a rough probability or percentage chance that this is viable?", because then at least they might have to say it's a 98% chance or whatever of miscarriage.

Well. Turns out it is ectopic and I need surgery tonight. So surreal

Hey guys!

No, I didn't have much pain, I thought I'd just miscarried last Thursday when I did have pain and went to a&e. I had a funny burning sensation, turns out that's internal bleeding.

All ok this morning, not too much pain and I'm getting to lie in bed eating yoghurt so could be worse.

Hope you are ok @GemmaJen xx

Oh @Billyv that sounds so scary?! How are you doing this morning, did surgery go well?

I had bloods taken yesterday and a rather emotional chat with the consultant gynae, they've sought second opinions on my case but feel that waiting is the better option. He feels it will be an mc, and other than repeating about the guidelines, couldn't really give any hope. The EPU nurse that was with us did say she had seen some odd cases over the years where things have worked out, so that was slightly helpful to hear. It's not that I have hope, but I need to understand why I'm being made to wait, so at least something vaguely positive was said. They've agreed that they'll make a decision after the scan on Monday regardless of whether the 7mm has been met. Though they may need the consultant from that oversees u/s to provide approval. It was good to talk it through with the people making the decisions, I feel less in the dark now. They've given me all the info on mc management options as well and confirmed they can sign me off work. It was a traumatic conversation, I pretty much phased out, my reaction to the stress is worrying me, I hate feeling out of control.

@GemmaJen ah it sounds like you will have progress soon, even if it isn't the progress you would have hoped for. I'm really sorry that you're going through this, it sounds like an utter nightmare. What would your options be for if they do call it as a miscarriage on Monday, if you don't mind talking about it?

I'm home now and all ok. The surgery was fine and I'm not in too much pain, glad it's over with. Quite strange not being able to pick my 16m old up. The worst bit was waiting to go in for the operation, and thinking of my partner and boy at home missing me. It was kind of lonely, but I wasn't in very long really. DP is being great.

Hope you're ok @GemmaJen x