Medical abortion 3 week complications - help!

[Tiffi]

Hiya, sorry if this is long winded or confusing..

I had a medical abortion 3 weeks ago. Really hard decision for us and feel awful about it. I really wished for a straightforward experience so it would over and done with but it seems that’s not happening for me

I bled heavily on the day, passed 2 big clots. Then had period like bleeding and cramps for a week. The bleeding slowed down and went brownish, then last week it suddenly went really heavy and bright red, I was soaking through to my clothes and the blood had a smell to it (which I now know is not normal)

It then died right down again, had a couple of days of no blood other than brown blood when I wiped.. then yesterday it suddenly went heavy and bright red again and I’ve started passing clots. I also did the test and it came back with a faint positive

I called BPAS and they’ve scheduled a scan in for Friday but I’m worrying a little bit (I have health anxiety anyway)

I did think about going to A&E last night when the bleeding was really heavy but I lay down and it slowed down, and it wasn’t filling 2 maxi pads in 2 hours like they say. Although I did keep sitting on the toilet rather than letting it go into a pad so it’s hard to say

Anyway I’ve woken up this morning and I feel so weak, I slept until 8 which is so unlike me I’m usually up at 5. I’ve got cramps and generally feel a bit crap. No temp or anything though

I’m not sure what to do? It doesn’t seem to warrant an A&E trip but also doesn’t feel right

Oh and I’ve felt sick since yesterday afternoon too.. not sure if that has anything to do with it or not

If was you, I would maybe see your GP, I'm no doctor, but the continued bleeding and the smell could indicate some infection possibly and also sounds like some of the pregnancy may not have fully passed, but everyone's body is different and even after childbirth some women do bleed foe a few weeks upto 6 weeks others don't.
I would also be scared I like you have health anxiety, but try not to overthink and maybe go a n e or your gp, or ring BPAS again and demand you need to be seen earlier as you are really worried and tell them how you feel.
I hope everything gets sorted for you, in the mean time get lots of fluids and healthy foods down you if you can to but your strength xx

Thank you for responding, the bleeding has gone down again this morning to period like volume, but still with some clots.

BPAS can’t see me until tomorrow so I think if I don’t feel any better by this afternoon I’ll call 111 or take myself to A&E. I’m just a bit worried it could be infection which I obviously don’t want to ignore

Wondering if anyone else has experienced a change in bleeding like this at this stage?

Hya, heavy bleeding always scares me as I naturally have clotty heavy periods but they only last 4 to 5 days, I take my second medication tomorrow for my abortion but worried about the bleeding.
Just keep an eye on it maybe check your temperature and if your resting heart rate is a little fast that can indicate infection too.
But again all our bodies are different and some women will bleed longer and heavier than others, at least you are there tomorrow so try not to over think and worry as a health anxiety suffer mys3lf we do always come to the worst outcome in our heads, but I'm sure all will be fine.
Just watch some Netflix and drink lots of water to flush everything out and make a nice healthy bowl of fruit to snack on, sending hugs to you xx

How did your scan go?hope you got an answer. I had similar but a very positive test (not at all feint) & I had retained products. Here to talk if you need it

Hi any update ?

Hi, I'm not the OP but here if you need anything @Unluckyone

Hi. I jus need someone that relates and can tell me what’s happening. I’m so scared and filled will anxiety. Aches and pains .
can you tell me ur experience

Really happy to share my experience, not quite sure of your situation but assuming it's related to the topic of this post here goes....

I had an abortion 18 months ago, opted for a surgical procedure rather than tablets. After the surgery I had a period like amount of bleeding, tailed off after a few days to a small amount, sometimes needing a pad and sometimes not but it was almost always there to some degree. As it was a surgical termination I wasn't told to do a test after 3 weeks but the after care booklet said to call if still bleeding after 3 weeks. Plus I still didn't feel quite right, not as nauseous as I had done but still off.

Phoned the aftercare line who booked me in for a scan a few days later. After the call I took a test as I had a spare, it was positive & as dark as it had been pre surgery. At the scan they found I still had some retained products from the pregnancy that hadn't been removed.

I chose to take more misoprostol to see if that expelled the remaining tissue, then booked for a re scan a week later to check & if still there the option to repeat the surgery.

The misoprostol increased the bleeding but re scan showed products still there so I opted for repeat surgery. After surgery had another period like bleed then all settled down completely & went back to normal.

If you've not been seen for a follow up then push for one, or certainly speak to someone for advice. None of my experience is set in stone, I had choices along the way but just chose to go with what they recommended. I could have just waited for my next period to hopefully clear it, could have taken a second dose of misoprosotol, no one pushed me for a second surgery if it wasn't what I wanted.

Please don't panic, it will all be fine - trust your instinct & if something doesn't feel right seek help

i Had medical one. The tablets.
sounds the same with the retained product issue.
how many weeks of bleeding did you have? And then the second surgery did it clear it all out ?
I went clinic the first time- they said they could see tissue, n test was positive. so I got the pill again (internal one) nothing happened for a week. I was too scared for surgery. Went back clinic for a follow up a week later , and again tissue remaining but the nurse said it looks like I’m about to have a period. n test was negative too.
next day massive gush and felt a massive thing come out of me in the loo. It was huge tissue. And then 10 days of bleeding. Thought it was all over. Few days of light spotting etc.. then I had really bad pain in my stomach that I went a&e. They saw nothing in the abdominal scan. And didn’t do an internal one. Sent me home with pain relief.
next day massive gush of bleeding little tissue. Bleed for 7 days. Now it’s calm again. But cramps are there and now out of the blue back ache.
I called the clinic and sent off my hospital notes. Someone will call me. My Flo app says I’m due a period next week. But how is that reliable since iv been bleeding 8 weeks on the trot :(

how are u now? Are ur periods normal now after 3 periods? I’m scared this has made me infertile for the future

So sorry for not replying sooner - back to work & school!

The not knowing what's going on is so stressful, especially when bleeding starts & stops. Having a negative test is definitely a good thing though, hormone levels are low enough that you cycle should sort itself out, also having had a scan that showed nothing is a good thing too although know abdominal isn't as detailed but still reassuring.

Did you get a call back from the clinic? What did they say?

Yep all has returned completely to normal for me & I'm sure the same will be the case for you, even if it doesn't feel like it right now. It's also unlikely your fertility will be affected, of course not impossible but more chance it won't be than will so try not to worry too much, easier said than done I know.

But absolutely push for more scans etc.. if things don't settle down

The clinic they no longer can help me with anything as now it’s a medical issue and need to peruse this with the gp. Told me to get gynea referral for a tranvaginal scan . And also told me to get the doc to do sti swabs on me . As they don’t know why I’m still bleeding in the pattern I am if my insides are cleared out. So iv done that. I’m waiting fr my gynea appointment. No letters yet. (Doc referred yesterday) and I’m going to a health clinic thing tomoro. Never been since iv not had any other partner. Don’t know what to expect. It’s jus about ticking off the boxes and ruling things out.