Heavy bleeding 5 days after surgical abortion

[Bexicle22]

I had a surgical abortion on Friday and had a regular period type bleed. The next two days I had very light spotting then the bleeding stopped. But on Monday night I started getting sharp abdomen pains and have had them on and off since. They're really painful and different to cramps. Then last night I woke up and I was bleeding heavily. Sorry for the TMI but I could feel the blood pouring out of me, it was thick dark red. I put a pad on and went back to bed after cleaning myself up. When I got up this morning I could still feel the blood coming out, still really thick and dark red. I'm used to having very heavy periods but I've never experienced this much blood. I don't want to have to go to the doctors if I can help it, how normal is it for bleeding to stop but then suddenly become very heavy, 5 days after the procedure?

Best get there before you need an ambulance

Good luck. Maybe you have passed something that was left, but it is not worth the risk of leaving it.

Keep a close eye on your temperature even after you have been seen, if it goes up then head straight back in x

I really hope you are ok. for those who come across this thread in future: the 'aftercare' advice is to seek medical attention if you are soaking more than two pads in an hour for two hours in a row or more. www.bpas.org/bpaswoman.php?page=72

Morning everyon,

Thank you all for your replies yesterday. I was getting ready to go up to the hospital when I felt this gush that was heavier than all of the others so I ran up to the bathroom and to be honest I've never seen anything like it in my life. My entire pad and all of my knickers were absolutely full of this black jelly-like stuff, there must have been at least enough to fill a half pint glass if not more. Then the pains started getting really intense and I was doubled over. My partner rushed home from work to take me. They took my temperature in a&e which they said was high and then they took some blood and stuck a cannula in my arm. I got there at 4.15pm and finally managed to get seen by a gynaecologist by about 10pm but by then the pains and bleeding/clotting had subsided and although I'd soaked another pad, I changed it and there wasn't really any more bleeding. Which is typical! The Dr put a speculum in and felt my stomach and told me she couldn't feel anything that indicated there was any remaining product or that there had been any damage done to my cervix/uterus during the abortion and due to the clotting and bleeding and also my high temp that it was probably the beginning of an infection. She gave me antibiotics to take for a week and gave me a direct number to the gyaenocology ward in case I had any more pain or bleeding. Which I haven't as of yet, the bleeding seems to have stopped and I've only had the tiniest twinges of pain but only maybe two or three times. I finally was able to leave at just gone midnight so a very long day!

Oh crikey, that sounds horrifying. I am so glad that your partner was able to come and get you.

It sounds as though you might have passed whatever had been left, and the pains would be your uterus contracting a bit like after you give birth - I can't say for sure but as the bleeding has pretty much stopped now, it sounds like a possibility.

I really hope you feel better soon. Do take the antibiotics and do finish the course won't you, just to be sure.

Thank you for letting us know how you are x

OP, you were lucky.
Please read about haemorrhage and never ever do something as stupid as you have just done by not going to A&E straight away.
I'm glad you're ok, I was worried about you.

KiaOra, I spoke to a nurse about my bleeding when the clotting was small and she told me that it was normal and unless the clotting got bigger or the pain got severe there wasn't much point in going to a&e as they would just send me away with painkillers. As soon as the clotting became very heavy and the pain got intense, I did everything I could to get myself to a&e which wasn't that simple as I don't drive and the hospital is a good half hour away by car and I had my daughter with me which is why I had to call my partner. So I think it is a little harsh to call me stupid. But thank you for your reply, I'm glad it was nothing serious and I am taking my antibiotics as prescribed, one three times a day for a week. I never want to go through that again, it was absolutely horrible.

Psipsina, I think whatever it was that I passed may have been tissue that was left over. The nurse I saw in a&e asked if it was a black jelly-like substance that looked a bit like liver which is probably the best way to describe it. My abdomen had been quite tender since the termination procedure but the doctor had a feel of it last night and said it felt "comfy" and it doesn't feel tender now so hopefully whatever it was has fully passed now.

Really glad to hear that things seem to have settled down Bexicle. Thank you so much for coming back and letting us know you are ok -- you have been much in my thoughts.

Thank you niminypiminy, that's nice of you :)

I was just wondering if anyone knew the answer to this RE sex after abortions. I've read a lot of conflicting information as to how long you need to wait etc as you risk getting an infection. But what's the advice for if you already have an infection? Do you still have to wait it out or is it okay as long as you are taking medication? Obviously I don't plan on having sex at least until my bleeding has stopped completely anyway but I was just curious as there is advice for those RE sex to avoid infection but nothing about sex if you already have one

You'd be risking further infection iyswim

You need to allow for healing to take place. Otherwise you're easy prey for bacteria.