Medical abortion failed? Marie Stopes fobbing me off

[TheAdeptOliveBalonz]

TW - pregnancy tests attached

I’ll keep this as short as possible with main bullet points.

• Attended MSI on 10th September
• Dated 6 weeks 3 days
• Took first pill to stop growth on 13th September
• Took the other 4 pills on 14th September (dissolved in side of mouth)
• Bled with large clots bright red like a heavy period
• Heavy bleeding for 2 days/ light bleeding for 3 days then stopped
• Took the sensitive pregnancy test they provide 3 weeks post medical abortion it came up faint positive

• These are Amazon bought pregnancy tests I’ve taken today which are very strong. I also for record took a digital which is reading 3+ two weeks ago. And I’ve taken another digital today and it’s still 3+ I’m 4 weeks post abortion this Friday. Do you think it’s failed? Marie stopes instead of booking me in have sent me another test in the post which should arrive tomorrow

has anybody had anything similar if so what was the outcome

so sorry you are going through this. I had a medical abortion on the 25th August. Felt like it worked - had cramps and clots. Was still testing positive 3 weeks later- they sent out another test to take at 4 weeks. Before it got to the 4 week mark I had random heavy bleeding and passed another clot. Called NUPAS who sent me for a scan. Scan showed retained tissue and the nurse said “quite a lot of it”. Was told to just retake the pills, I asked about antibiotics incase of infection and was told I didn’t have any symptoms so they wouldn’t prescribe (this was 5 weeks after I had taken them originally). I took the pills again but this time had no bleeding or cramps and worried it had failed I called NUPAS again. I was just told sometimes it happens and to test in a week and then see what happens. I was an emotional wreck wondering what was going on and terrified of getting an infection so I called my GP who was amazing and said she thought 5 weeks was a long time to be bleeding and prescribed me antibiotics, she then suggested I contact the hospital if I feel unhappy with the advice I have been given. The doctor ended up getting me an appointment at the early pregnancy unit at the hospital and they felt I would benefit from surgery to remove the left over tissue.

Sorry for the long story but I think my point here is that although the clinics try their best, if things don’t go straightforward and you don’t feel things are right then the best thing you can do is contact gp or hospital.

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond!
I totally agree I’ve even been thinking to myself I’d rather pay for a private scan as what if it hasn’t worked but they just say it’s retained tissue when it’s not. I know this is unlikely but it’s a thought that went through my mind

It is an extreme rollercoaster. I’ll be honest I’ve had a medical before and it was very very painful like contraction worthy. I have 3 kids and my pain threshold is high and I struggled. This was like a heavy period and was manageable in terms of pain. I did pass many big clots didn’t get to see any as I spent most of the time sitting on the toilet as I didn’t want to see but I felt them leaving my body.

driven myself mad and read every thread I can find and some women have had heavy bleeding and big clots and have gone back and baby is still there

@TheAdeptOliveBalonz
This is why I wish I’d have just gone the surgical route to start with.. I feel like with a medical it can be a bit of the unknown. I’d push for a scan if you are concerned, the pregnancy unit at the hospital were really good and made me feel so much more reassured. I have been thinking if i had just left it with NUPAS I’d still be waiting for surgery now.

Do you reckon I can just go down to the EPU and request a scan?

It depends how your hospital works I think? Some you can go there instead of an and e, others you have to get referred to. Your GP might be able to help? I was so worried about telling mine, but she was amazing. Basically told me to remember that although I had treatment with NUPAS that I did have other options available to me.

Had a lovely midwife who I spoke to today from MSI they have booked me in for a rescan tomorrow

she’s already said it’s most likely retained tissue if this is the second test that’s positive

i took their low sensitivity test again today and faint positive

I am going through exactly the same, came here to post and your thread was at the top.

I took the first pills on 16th Sept and second on the 18th. I was 6 weeks exactly when I took the first one. I bled a lot and had a few small clots, minimal cramping. It lasted around a week but then this weekend I had a really heavy gush of blood. Got an immediate positive on the LS test this morning and I'm in bits.

Phoned MS and got fobbed off with them sending me another test too, so phoned my clinic direct and she agreed I should be rescanned but they don't have another appointment for a week 😔

I was also 6 weeks (and 3 days)

was the positive on their special test strong ? Or faint? Mines faint

is there any chance you can get to another clinic if you drive? If you can ask them to tell you next available dates for any clinic that’s what I did im
going to a clinic that’s 30 minutes away

I called today and they got me in for tomorrow morning

@TheAdeptOliveBalonz the clinic just called me again and said they've reviewed and want to see me tomorrow morning. Thank god.

I wouldn't call the line faint but not super strong either. But it came up so quickly.

So happy they called you back
at least tomorrow your mind will be at rest

will update here tomorrow when I’ve been
I’ve noticed a lot of threads never provide updates so will leave my update here for reference for others

Hope you're feeling OK this morning @TheAdeptOliveBalonz . What time is your appointment? Mine is half past 10. I will update too.

Mines at 9am! 30 min drive but better than central London which costs me congestion terrible parking and an hour away!

I’m feeling okay a little nervous

will hopefully have an update by 9:30 latest

Update : they are saying it’s retained tissue and have offered me more tablets or surgery

Same here. They've advised I take 2 of the tablets again to clear it. They did say I could wait until my next period as sometimes the tissue is expelled during that, but that carries an infection risk. No signs of infection at the moment thankfully.

They gave me 4 tablets

@TheAdeptOliveBalonz I took a second dose of tablets after they found retained tissue on a scan- unfortunately it didn’t work for me and I ended up having surgery anyway . I think retained products is really common. Hopefully they will clear it for you

I really really hope so

did you have the surgery done under general or local anesthetic ??

@TheAdeptOliveBalonz I decided on general as I was worried about the pain. I had my surgery 5 days ago and I have now completely stopped bleeding and have mild cramps that I have been told could last 2 weeks.

How are you getting on @TheAdeptOliveBalonz ?

I took my tablets at around 4pm today and nothing really happened for hours. Then about 45 minutes ago I started getting heavy ish cramps and passed a small bit of tissue and blood. No idea if that's it or not so I'm just waiting...

@WildlyAnxious so I ended up having another bleed about 4 a days after I took the second dose. I told them this at the hospital before the surgery and they rescanned me and said it was still there. I’d obviously passed some of what was left but not all. I suppose it depends on how much is left to pass, I would say just keep an eye on it and if your not happy push to be scanned again to check it’s all gone.

I hope your doing okay, this is a horrible thing to have to go through xx

Thanks @Sweeeetie , I will definitely be monitoring closely. Had lots more bleeding and clots throughout the night so I'm really hoping it's worked - I'm really shocked at how much has come out considering they said it was small enough that I could wait if I wanted.

I’m about to take mine now! Fingers crossed