Possible ectopic??? Any advice/ similar stories?

[Ttckate]

I am 5+3 today. I am having right sided pain that comes and goes, nothing too intense. But I am worried it is ectopic.

I had two previous ectopics in my left tube, the latter resulted in rupture and tube being removed. I also had a HyCoSy test on my remaining right tube a couple of weeks before I would have conceived and doc said it was ‘perfect’. But I’m still so worried.

I also have some on and off spotting, mainly brown but a couple of times red. Only when I wipe and not running out etc.

I had my bloods done through the epu last Friday: 188hcg and then on Sunday: 335hcg. So very low not not quite doubled.

EPU said they won’t scan until six week but going out of my mind.

Would love to hear any positive stories from similar situations, or either way really?

Everything is telling me that it must be ectopic - spotting, low HCG, pain etc. But there are just no immediate answers.

I'm sorry for your previous loss. I also had 2 ectopics- both ruptured sadly and I lost both tubes. Your hcg level being so low for 5+2 and not doubling would worry me too OP - I know you are looking for hopeful posts. Have they booked you in for your 6 week scan? 6 weeks would be Friday?

@theintern Thank you! Sorry about your previous losses, and both of your tubes how traumatic!!

Yes I will be six weeks on Friday, but they have not booked me in. Getting bloods done again tomorrow and results on Wednesday and she said we will go from there. Hoping they will see me on Friday, but the lady I spoke with was fairly dismissive and insensitive, when I explained how worried I was. It’s difficult because I know from their point of view there is no point scanning when they won’t see anything! I just wish there was another way to know and save this limbo. It’s so dramatic but it just completely takes over and I can’t focus on anything - although coming from experience I’m sure you probably feel this!

Hi there,
sorry for all you’ve been through.
i had ectopic last year with left tube removed.
i luckily became pregnant again this year but shortly after I had the positive test I started to have pain in my right side.
i went to A&E and whilst there emailed the EPU. Because of known history EPU fast tracked bloods in A&E and offered a scan first thing the next day. If bloods were ok they would let A&E release me to rest and return the next morning for the scan. Bloods were fine so I left and returned the next morning for the scan at 4weeks 5days. They were able to see the embryo had attached to a safe area and although as it was so early they couldn’t confirm viability they could rule out ectopic. They were even able to do this via abdomen ultrasound and didn’t have to use transvaginal ultrasound. They could also tell me from what they can see the pain was being caused from
scar tissue from my left tube removal that managed to grow a little bit on my right ovary and it was causing a small pulling sensation.
before I presented myself to a&e the party line has always been that if I got pregnant again I was to let them know and they’d get me in for a 6 week scan. But if a person who’s had an ectopic that resulted in a tube loss presents with pain at any stage they should be scanned as soon as possible. The scan is simply to confirm safe placement and rule out ectopic.
i would recommend going to A&E and calling your EPU again.

i am now 20 weeks pregnant with a (touch wood) so far so good pregnancy. I wish you all the best and just keep pushing them. You have a history of ectopic and you have pain during early pregnancy. It’s their duty of care to protect you from going through another tube removal x

@JessFar ah congratulations on your pregnancy 🌈🎉

It is nice to connect with people who have been through similar! I did think they would scan me just to know if it was in the right place - but the lady said they would not be able to see until my HCG was over 1000. It’s great that you were able to get some reassurance so early on at 4weeks. I might call back tomorrow if I have more pain and ask to be scanned, even if they can just locate something, it would give me peace of mind.

Thanks for your response and advice - all the best for you and baby!✨

Thank you ☺️
No problem at all.
I’m proof it is possible for them to see embryo placement very early. As I said it will just show placement but placement is all that matters with ectopic.
i can’t remember exactly what my bloods were but they were normal for the stage of pregnancy I was at.
the peace of mind factor and protecting your mental health is also another element of duty of care they have to you in offering you a scan asap.
sending you positivity that all will be ok xx

Hi in 2018 I had an early miscarriage at 6+5, never confirmed if ectopic or not was PUL (pregnancy of unknown location). I had some spotting was scanned at 5+4 but couldn't see anything on the scan, bloods hcg was not quite doubling, each time increased but less % wise than the previous, they told me they expected it to not be viable and had booked me in for another scan, however I had heavy bleeding and cramping before that so the scan was instead to ensure I didn't have anything retained.

I then had my daughter had spotting at 5 and 7 weeks but she was fine.

2021 I had another early miscarriage, earlier than the previous.

2022 ruptured ectopic at 6+2, absolutely no symptoms anything was wrong just bits of bloating and cramping, but nothing major until the night of 6+1 when I felt really bloated and constipated but that stopped after a couple of hours. Then 12 hours later I was suddenly in agony, lightheaded, had gone a grey colour, my blood pressure was ridiculously low when I got to hospital, was through triage and on a drip less than an hour after I got there, scanned and in surgery a couple of hours later. So lost right tube as well as pregnancy.

I'm currently 6 weeks pregnant, I'm booked for a scan on Wednesday, I'll be 6+2, I'm terrified, I just keep thinking at this point 2 years ago I thought everything was fine then nearly died from internal bleeding. I can't be scanned any earlier as I'm on holiday until tomorrow night. I'm really worried after how fast things went so wrong last time. EPU were unconcerned when I rang, booked the scan for first day back after holiday and wished me a nice time but right now I just feel scared.

Sorry that's not reassuring, limbo is a horrible place to be x

@MaybeItsJustTimeToStop sorry to hear about your losses and previous experience.

I was similar when mine ruptured at 7wks -suddenly in agony, in a&e, then emergency surgery. I was more scared afterwards at the thought of all the internal bleeding/ near death experience - which only really hit me afterwards as well as the loss!

I think after what we have been through it is normal to feel so worried isn’t it. Especially as I really want to avoid loosing my remaining tube!

Fingers crossed for your scan, let us know how you get on 🤞✨

@Ttckate I think it does only hit you after it's all a bit of a blur at the time and so painful! I hope your bloods tomorrow give you some more clarity, will update when I know what's going on, I have everything crossed for you x

Just an update, had bloods done this morning! But I have been having really sharp stabbing pain shooting upwards (feels like it is going up my vagina, sorry tmi). I am also spotting but it has turned to red. Called the EPU and despite the pain and telling them it feels like what I had last time before my tube ruptured - they won’t see me. They want my blood results tomorrow morning and will then book me in.

Feeling so worried!! I just have a gut feeling this is ectopic. I asked EPU if because my HCG is low that means less chance of rupture and they basically avoided the question and just said again that they need my bloods.

That's so awful that they won't see you! Is there another hospital in reasonable distance you could try to call? If you ring 111 they'll probably direct you to a and e who transfer through to epu, sorry you're having such poor experience with your local epu.

@MaybeItsJustTimeToStop I didn’t end up going to A&E and the pain subsided. But EPU called this afternoon with my blood results and HCG has only risen by about 30, so indicates something wrong. I have a scan now first thing tomorrow.

I know it’s so terrible to say, but I just hope it is a normal miscarriage and not an ectopic. I really don’t want any damage to my tube.

Glad they're scanning you the miscarriage I had where my hcg wasn't rising properly didn't cause any physical damage, my daughter was actually concieved straight after. Thinking of you. I've been having lots of twinges today, I think they may be digestive or psychosomatic but after last time I just feel scared.

Yes just hoping for the best outcome of what most likely will be a sad situation either way 🤞

oh yes, your scan is also tomorrow isn’t it! Yes I think after going through something, you are probably hyper aware of any little twinge! Hoping for the best for you tomorrow xx

Hi @Ttckate I was treated for an ectopic last week. I had spotting on and off too, but I did also have very bad stomach pains. I also had the lightening crotch pain that you described. A lot of what you are saying does sound like it's ectopic, especially with the low hcg numbers. If you are 5 weeks they should at least be able to see if anything is growing in your womb tomorrow. I'm sorry you are going through this and fingers crossed you get some more answers tomorrow.

So not good news unfortunately. I am having a 3rd ectopic pregnancy. It is in my right (and only) tube. I am having medical management, so got to go back for that this afternoon. I have asked to be referred for ivf, as I’m not sure I can go through this again. I was expecting it, but I am just devestated and it feels so unfair that this is happening again.

@MaybeItsJustTimeToStop how has your scan been? 🤞🤞🤞 hopefully some positive news for you xx

Hi I'm so sorry this is happening to you. Mine was good news, its in the right place, have been put on progesterone as well.
Hopefully the medical management won't do any damage to your tube, have a chat with them about ivf, we looked into ivf last year (we've been trying for 3.5 years but this pregnancy is 23 months since the ectopic and we'd pretty much come to a place of its not going to happen) and I was told there's actually a slightly higher risk of an ectopic with ivf but I really don't understand the science of that x

Aw that is amazing news! 🙌🌈 And such a relief for you!!

They have referred me to speak to someone about fertility/ivf. They did say that if I go for ivf they may want to remove my other tube, so im not sure how I feel about that as there is always a small hope that in the future we would conceive without intervention. But hopefully I will get more information once I get an appointment 🤞

Wishing you all the best for the rest of your pregnancy x

Hi OP I’m so sorry to see your update.

Well done for pushing this but I’m angry on your behalf that you had to. I had both an ectopic and a chemical pregnancy diagnosed before 6 weeks and I’m not sure I’d have managed the stress of waiting even a few more days for confirmation very well at all! Wishing you all the best with your medical management and hoping you get some reassurance soon about the future.

Hi @Ttckate
I am so sorry this is happening to you again. It truly is incredibly unfair and I can’t imagine how you’re processing it all. Thinking of you during all this x

@Ttckate

I'm so sorry

If I can offer any words - I did IVF after losing both tubes to ectopics ( I could have opted to try and save the last one but I was done feeling like I was playing Russian roulette with my life every time I tried to conceive) and I was blue lit in with massive internal bleeding both times and hearing the screams of my daughter who was only 2 at the time will haunt me.

BUT I did go onto IVF and did have beautiful twins

Word of caution - IVF actually increases the chances of an ectopic rather than decreases it so definitely be prepared that they may recommend your tube is removed anyway x