Ectopic concerns - when to be seen?

[TigerLily38]

Hi everyone, I'm in some other pregnancy threads on here but thought I'd start one to get specific advice as I feel quite worried and would really appreciate any advice.

I'm 5w4d pregnant and today have had brown spotting/stringy discharge. I also found it really hard to go for a wee today, had to go back multiple times and basically push my tummy to be able to go...it has got a bit better as the day went on. Then tonight walking the dog I got the worst stitch type pain on my left side, my husband thought he was going to have to get the car as I was doubled over. When I got home this went away, but I've read that the pain with ectopic can come and go.

My EPU is shut but their website and voicemail says their gynae emergency unit is 24/7 and to go there if any urgent concerns when EPU is shut. I really don't want to waste people's time and would feel stupid if I'm overreacting, but I'm scared of leaving it too late after hearing about others experiences. Would you go and get checked tonight with these symptoms?

Tia for any advice xxx

I would probably get it checked out just to be sure. Could be completely normal, you could always try 111 to see what they say? Or does the emergency unit have a phone number?

I would get this checked out. When I miscarried at a similar time, I was advised to go to A&E to get it checked out. Best of luck to you, hope it’s a good outcome for you. And if it helps, I got pregnant the very next cycle with my now 2 year old x

@Wednesdayonline @Quantum88 thank you both for your replies, I went through 111 and they told me to come to the gynae emergency dept (same place as EPU but out of hours). Just been into triage and told its a 5-6 hour wait and that they can't scan me out of hours ☹️ so just waiting to speak to a Dr but I don't even know if it's worth staying really if they can't confirm anything 🫤 x

Go to gynaecology regardless. Ectopic is time sensitive: I had an ectopic pregnancy ; I had brown discharge then normal bleeding/ like a period for 4 days all whilst having pregnancy symptoms. Called hosp, they told me to go docs and get HCG bloods done. 5 days after the bloods, I went for a private scan to put my mind at ease where I was sent to hospital asap. If I wasn’t in hospital, my tube would have ruptured the following morning but luckily I was taken in for surgery just in time as I was at the hospital already/ and because they had the HCG results, they were able to move things a lot quicker, getting me an emergency scan etc. don’t take any risks, listen to ur gut. I hope all is well and it’s nothing but please get checked regardless xx

@HussaAZH thank you for your reply, I'm so sorry to hear this happened and so glad they caught it in time! I've just asked the nurse if I can come back in the morning when the scans are available- she said the only thing that will happen tonight is I sit in the waiting room for 6 hours and then the Dr (only 1 working) speaks to me and feels my tummy, definitely no scan to diagnose ectopic tonight as no staff to do it. If I go back at 8am they have more staff in and more chance of a scan, so think I'm going to do that but if symptoms get any worse I'll go to A&E xx

Thankfully atm spotting seems to have stopped and pain is only v mild, praying it stays like this til I can be seen tomorrow AM xx

Ask them to do your HCG bloods before you go?

Morning all, unfortunately they couldn't do bloods last night just a finger prick, called the EPU this morning and they've told me to go back. Said I probably still won't get a scan just a pelvic exam similar to a pap smear which I'm dreading! I asked if they could diagnose ectopic without a scan and they said we can tell a lot from areas that are tender so we will know the next steps. Wish they could just do the scan instead because she said it might be really painful 🥲

I hope they do a scan for you! Seems odd for them not to. Fingers crossed for you 🤞

They should do a scan ideally, maybe they will once they’ve done the other checks. Iv had plenty of them exams, they are more uncomfortable than painful/ try not to tense up whilst it’s done otherwise it can hurt. Have you got any back pain?

Sorry to see your going through this @TigerLily38 I'm on another thread with you.

I had a ectopic back in 2023 I was 7 weeks along when I found out. My symtoms was
Brown spotting moxed with red followed by a 4 day bleed which I thought was a miscarriage then more spotting on and off . Slow rising hcg and terrible terrible back pain to the point just walking would kill.

Im surprised the epu havnt got you in for bloods. Normally have to have them every two days for a week to watch what the levels are doing and then they scan once hcg level are about 1000.

Saying this spotting and aches and pains are very common too in a healthy pregnancy. Around 5 weeks I had terrible pains on my right side which triggered me thinking in ectopic but all is fine and baby was in the correct place.

Hopefully you get some reassurance today xxx

@HussaAZH just got home from EPU, you were right definitely more uncomfortable than painful! No back pain thankfully 🤞

@Jadeypie hello!! Thank you for replying here too😊 sorry to hear about your previous ectopic I've just got home from EPU, they did a urine sample and finger prick, then the internal exam with a speculum to see if they could see a cause for the bleeding/the extent and then one where she felt inside to see if I had any pain in certain areas.

As my pain has gone today rather than persisting or getting worse, and the bleeding isn't excessive they've booked me in on Tuesday morning for a scan to rule out ectopic as they aren't too concerned at this point, but obviously need to scan to be sure. She said they'll do bloods at that point if needed...not sure why they couldn't do them today but apparently they don't until after the scan? Interesting/annoying how different the practice is at different EPUs! Anyway feeling better to have been seen, bleeding/spotting is still only light and the pain is better so hoping for the best 🤞🤞🤞❤️xx

Crossing everything for you OP! Xx

@Quantum88 thank you!!🥰🤞xx

Update?

@Caffeinelover01 they ruled out ectopic at the scan, currently 37 weeks 😊😊 had some more spotting/bleeding in the early stages but it eventually stopped and everything was good!

thabks for ur reply how far alone was you when they scanned you.. I had a scan same symptoms as you but I have a PUL I’m 4 weeks and 3 days maybe it’s to early to see so ectopic is still not ruled out either

Ah I'm sorry to hear you're going through this too ❤️ I think I was 6 weeks for the scan, they pushed it back a bit as I remember the Dr said 5 weeks was too early to see much either way and can cause more worry x

Have they said they'll scan you soon? Hopefully all will be fine when they do, the symptoms are so confusing as it can be ectopic or can be normal early pregnancy! I was told to watch out for symptoms like rectal pressure and shoulder tip pain, if you get those go straight in x

Hi yes so they just called me back my progesterone levels are good and my Hcg is at 277 and I have another scan booked for next week Monday… I have stopped with the pink discharge I hope it’s truly just my body adjusting … also I don’t have any of them symptoms .. nurse did spind positive with my numbers

Aww that sounds really positive!! Keeping my fingers crossed for you that all goes well with Monday's scan, at least your numbers are reassuring in the meantime 😊 x