Previous Ectopic Pregnant Again Very Anxious

[Soph1809]

Heya so I’ve jst found out I’m pregnant again on my first month of trying after ectopic surgery to remove tube very early October. I was in such an anxious state last night that I called EPU today as felt I had some shoulder pain. I would be around 4 weeks 5/6days if my cycle is 28 days. I went in for a scan and they did say we might not see anything this early which wouldn’t be unusual sometimes we can sometimes we can’t. So nothing was seen other than the endometrium lining is thickening. They’ve asked me to have HCG bloods as that’s policy. I was told sometimes after ectopic ovulation may be bit all over place and I can’t be sure exactly when I ovulated so I may be a few days or so earlier than I think. They also said hcg below 1500 they wouldn’t see a sac yet. Done bloods today and I’ll see what they come back and ones Sunday to hope they’ve gone up by the 63% they would like to see. Once they know what bloods doing they will make a plan to re scan. Is it possible that it is just too early? Obviously I am terrified of another ectopic and with Xmas approaching I’m even more so nervous given what I went through last time. I’m trying my best to hold it together, having lots my dad to cancer this year and the ectopic I’m feeling pretty beaten right now. Thanks in advance ladies

Sorry about the ectopic and congratulations on the new pregnancy. My first pregnancy was ectopic however it resolved itself without removal. I have had ovulation cramps every month since (except when pregnant).

In my second pregnancy I had a scan at 6 weeks to check placement. They couldn't see the fetal pole at that time but could see a gestational sack and yolk sac. All was well.

In my third pregnancy I waited until 7 and a half weeks to have a scan and went privately because I couldn't face going back to the epu. It wasn't ectopic either.

All this is to say, there's much more chance of this baby not being ectopic than there is of it being ectopic. I think you're just too early to see anything on a scan! X

Congratulations on your pregnancy! Your worries are so understandable given what you've been through.

I work in an EPU and it is absolutely possible, and actually extremely likely, that it is just too early to see anything on a scan. Even at 6 weeks there's no guarantee you'll see anything other than probably a gestational sac, so 4 weeks is incredibly early to be able to see anything.
I know it's easier said than done but try not to worry too much, you're in good hands. Contacting the EPU was the best thing you could have done, and exactly what you should have done after experiencing an ectopic, as they will now be able to monitor your pregnancy to make sure it's progressing as it should. Patients that have had previous ectopic pregnancies are always monitored closely until it is confirmed baby is okay, so they will take good care of you! And fingers crossed this baby is in the right place and everything is as it should be

@vibratosprigato it sounds like it’s different for everyone! I’m just so anxious it’s horrible. Have had bloods and more on Sunday so guess we will have to go from there thank you for your support

@gee31 it’s really reassuring to hear this from someone who works in EPU. I did feel a little silly contacting them so early but I am just so on edge. My bloods today where 60 which they said is not super high but that they can’t comment much as it’s the increase over 48 hours that is most important. My last period was 2 Nov so 34 days and I think I ovulated around 18 Nov so 18 days dpo but can’t be sure I just got pain around that time. I was shocked that I fell so quickly but also quietly happy but the happiness quickly faded into anxiety overload. I want so badly for this pregnancy to be a normal healthy one like my daughter was but after having been through an ectopic it’s actually terrifying. With Xmas looming even the thought of any loss/medical intervention is just filling me with dread. I hate to be negative and so badly want to be positive. I’m usually a very strong person but at them moment I’m crumbling a bit inside. Thanks again for the support

Update- bloods have gone from 60 to 180. They aren’t going to do anymore, although my cousin who’s a midwife (in Australia) said probs best to do more over a week to be happy they continuing as should…so I might ask??? Will they allow in UK? I sort of want to advocate for myself a little here X unsure when to scan could do Friday this week probs be around 5wks 4 days) or early week after be around 6 wks 2 days…..

Based on your blood results it's unlikely to be an ectopic pregnancy which is comforting news. I'd wait until at least 6 weeks for a scan unless you have sinister symptoms before then x

its so hard waiting when worried about leaving if it is ectopic. I’ve read some people whose bloods have gone up like this and it’s been ectopic… i am trying to take good news though. I would prefer to see some more bloods though… xx

What were your symptoms with your ectopic? With mine I had some brown bleeding/discharge around 4.5 weeks that I put down to ovulation and then one sided pain and more brown bleeding at 7.5 weeks when the ectopic was discovered. Looking back though I had one sided tenderness from early on and would feel pinching if I bent over/lifted my leg.

Did you have anything like that? I'm wondering because if you did, can you compare it to how you're feeling now? I have had one sided pain in each pregnancy since the ectopic, and also have one sided ovulation pain, but it's somehow just different to the ectopic pain x

Congratulations on your pregnancy.

Posting for solidarity, I had a ruptured ectopic In April and I'm now 8 weeks pregnant. I found out at 4 and the wait for a scan at 6 weeks was excruciating. I felt so depressed and was convinced it was going to be another ectopic but at 6 weeks we saw a heartbeat in the right place.
It sounds like a good sign that your bloods have a gone up. My surgeon said that it was best to wait for 6 weeks as more chance of seeing the baby. I hope the time passes quickly for you. Xxx

No real advice but have been exactly where you are and didn’t want to read and run. Pregnancy after an ectopic is such an anxious time and that wait for confirmation all is well is absolute hell. All you can do is try to look after yourself mentally whilst keeping half an eye out for physical red flags. Easier said than done.

It’s great that you’re already in the system though and that the EPU are monitoring and have no cause for concern yet. I was 6 week 1 day I think when the EPU were happy enough to discharge me so hopefully not long left for you to wait.

@Spaghetti127 congrats to you too! its such an excruciating wait. Whilst I’m pleased bloods are behaving so far as should I still think it would be good to monitor them I’m still not comfortable with just assuming it’s a uterine pregnancy but I think anyone post ectopic is guarded. Only those who have been through it understand the anxiety. 😟 so they said they could scan Friday where I would be just short of 6 weeks by one day but if I ovulated late might be more like a few days short. Dr said if they can’t see anything they would bloods and rescan following week…Or I wait until the following Tues then I’ll be confident I’m 6 weeks. So hard as just want to know so I can breathe a little. I know doesn’t mean pregnancy is 100% going to go full term but to know in right place and to not have to worry about medication or surgery would be comforting definitely xx

@NapTrappedAgain thank you for you kind words. It’s a horrid wait. I’m trying to keep busy as much as I can. It’s so hard being invited out for drinks atm but also not even knowing if it’s a viable pregnancy, I don’t want to tell anyone right now anyways but very very close mate or me mum or something who was there when went through my ordeal but don’t feel can do that even. I’m speaking with EPU today so hopefully I’ll set a plan with them x

I recognise so much of this OP. I remember thinking about having a NYE cigarette because the pregnancy was probably in a fallopian tube again anyway. It felt really hard to be both protective of the pregnancy in case it was viable this time and myself by not getting my hopes up too much.

Personally we also didn’t tell anyone until we had good news because I couldn’t face it. Are you able to talk to your partner about how you feel?

My ectopic was diagnosed at 5week 3days and I had surgery the next day. I think I was first scanned with my non-ectopic pregnancy around 5 weeks, it was too early to see everything but they were fairly confident it wasn’t ectopic again. I just had to wait an extra week to get confirmation of heartbeat and baby officially in the right place. So hopefully soon they scan you and you can get at least a bit of an idea what’s going on.

Everything crossed for you OP!

@NapTrappedAgain it’s totally a horrible space to be in, not knowing what’s going on inside your own body. Gosh my pregnancy with my little girl I didn’t even think of anything as such and 12 weeks scan all fine. This is so different after going through an ectopic and the surgery. My partner always says to just be positive which is really easy to say but so much harder to do! My scan Friday didn’t show anything other than thickening but at 4.5ish weeks pos close to 5 they were not surprised to not see anything. Bloods going up seems a little reassuring albeit they seem low but it’s the increase I’ve been told is more important but would prefer to continue with the bloods, I can pos scan again end of this week but so scared if too early again I’ll be then really worried 😟 but at same time want to keep on top of things- if it’s ectopic again I want to try not have surgery. So hard xx

I’ve had a small amount of spotting so thinking this may be another ectopic now or miscarriage. Hospital were happy with bloods but won’t do any more evens though I’ve pleaded. Have to see if I start bleeding or pain now I guess. This sucks 😞

@Soph1809 I'm sorry to hear that, did you have spotting with your last ectopic?
Hopefully it's all ok. How long till your scan now?

Hey @Spaghetti127 a week away. With my precious I was 9 weeks had some tummy pain night before and woke up to bleeding so wouldn’t have noticed any spotting as such. I’m just gutted because I just think this can’t be normal. I jst hope I can resolve things without surgery as that’s my biggest fear

@Soph1809 I know how awful that wait is.

I had bleeding with my son and with my current pregnancy and all fine so far. I really am keeping everything crossed for you.
I know it can feel impossible that everything can be ok after going through something so awful and traumatic but it's amazing what our bodies can do.

@Spaghetti127 I didn’t have any with my daughter but I know some people do. It’s reassuring but I don’t know if you were the same but I’m thinking I’ve got pain in my right any pain I’ve had since finding out has been in my right and that’s my tube side, is that my brain playing tricks or genuine or what. I just don’t know what time. I pleaded for more bloods to give me reassurance but they won’t do it :( so feel very in the dark. I am so greatful so be able to talk to people like you. I know I sound all very doom and gloom and I’m jst trying to be realistic with myself I think xx

Congratulations @Soph1809 - I found myself here tonight as am in exactly the same situation and my mind has been working overtime. Had a shock positive test today following a ruptured ectopic pregnancy 18 months ago. I'm 42 so after trying for nearly a year after the ectopic (after I was physically recovered) we decided it was time to give up. We have a lovely 4 year old daughter and so decided to just concentrate on her, and I just started feeling like for me personally I was getting too old.

Admittedly we haven't exactly been careful but I wasn't tracking and we literally did it once last month, and with my age and after trying for so long I wasn't expecting this today. I'm tentatively excited but naturally worrying about all the things that could go wrong. I'm going to contact my GP in a week and ask for a referral to the EPU like they told me to if I ever got pregnant again.

Anyway, just wanted to offer a bit of solidarity - I know what you're going through. Fingers crossed everything works out for you, I think it's natural to worry. Ectopic pregnancies can be so traumatic.

@DejaMooo thank you for your message. Congrats xx now many weeks are you? It’s really anxiety provoking. I’m so soon after surgery that maybe it feels very raw but I think no matter how longs it’s been that trauma is still there. I feel like I’ve been feeling all sorts of symptoms pains etc but unsure how many are exaggerated in my head and if my mind playing tricks, it’s driving me bit balmy. Then I had a very small amount of spotting yesterday (pink/light brown) which hasn’t appeared since so my head is all the place, had some bloods but only over 2 days that tripled but I wanted more for assurance but they won’t. Scan next week and I’m dreading hearing the words of not being able to find anything. I know I should be more positive but can’t bare the feeling of disappointment. Sending solidarity right back at you xx

@Soph1809

How are you doing?

Heya, I’m just a ball of nerves to be honest. I want to get in festive spirit but just can’t. I am so terrified of this scan. As for the spotting it pretty much stopped had just had some very light brown discharge in panty liner but very tiny amount twice throughout 24 hrs so just keeping eye out? - no more pink colour. Not had any significant pains. Every niggle I am of course panicking it’s not okay. EPU said unless bleeding and pain etc they don’t see a need to see me as bloods good and what I’ve described can be really normal. For someone who’s had ectopic rupture nothing seems normal hey 😞x felt bit sick this morning was gagging a little but other than that not much else… jst a ball of worry! Thank you for asking though I really appreciate the support it’s getting me through x

That sounds good if it's brown but I know it's difficult to your mind at rest. I was convinced I was having pain on the side with my remaining tube but it must have all been in my head. Honestly, I found it so difficult, no one I know has ever had a rupture and I found it very different to my previous loss. It's just hard for people to understand the trauma and fear, but I say this as someone who was in your shoes just weeks ago, it all sounds promising. I'm crossing everything for you xx

@Spaghetti127 well now I’ve caused more anxiety because I tried on of those accufast weeks test that supposed to tell you level of hcg and it’s implying my hcg between 100-300 but maybe can see one more very very faint line up but probs making it up …my hcg Sunday was 180 so if that test is in any way accurate that would mean hcg barely risen in 4 days….why did I do that , I’m just clutching at straws right now. I did debate a private scan on Saturday as I’ll be 6 weeks but nhs scan is booked for Tuesday so is there much point. I do have some lower back ache on and off and some mild twinges but EPU said what I’ve said is normal. I wish I could have had some bloods to reassure me further. It’s the worse ever. Again I apologise for the waffle….sounds like you totally get it!