Dear Sasa boo,
I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy and loss, these are not daft questions, it is never tmi, and I am sorry you weren’t offered more information whilst you were in hospital.
If you had your fallopian tube removed (Salpingectomy) there is often no follow up and repeat blood tests are not needed. Some hospitals like to see patients again at 6weeks after surgery, however some do not offer this either. If you were not offered a follow up appointment, we would recommend seeing your GP at around 6weeks after surgery or before you return to work, to undertake a postoperative check to make sure that you are healing well.
Experiencing an ectopic pregnancy is a huge ordeal and you are in the early stages of recovery. Your body needs time to heal from your surgery which is in itself a gruelling task. You have also had to process the loss of your baby and been through an immense rollercoaster of emotions - all of this will take time to come to terms with.
You should take it very easily for about six weeks after surgery. Your body will be using its energies to heal internally. It is normal to feel physically and emotionally exhausted during this time and please do be kind to yourself. Recovery can take time and some days will be better than others, one day you maybe ok and the next you maybe in discomfort or more emotional. This is perfectly usual and the healing process will go back and forth in this way for however long you need. It is important to listen to your body’s signals and pain and feeling tired are your body’s signs to tell you to rest. We suggest keeping a healthy balanced diet, drinking lots of water and resting. Once your wounds have healed, very gentle exercise such as a short walk can help, but please do take this slowly.
I would say something that covers time we normally suggest for rest ie - in general, after six weeks you should be able to return to most jobs from a physical point of view, but many women need to take more time off to help them deal with the psychological (emotional) impact of the loss of their baby and the frightening experience they felt being diagnosed with and treated for an ectopic pregnancy.
It is not unusual for women to bleed after treatment for ectopic pregnancy. This first bleed after treatment is a response to falling hormone levels and involves shedding of the uterine lining and is not classed as a period. The length of the bleeding can vary from woman to woman and some women do report spotting and bleeding for up to around six weeks after an ectopic pregnancy. It can vary a little on when you will start to bleed also.
While the bleeding is usually nothing to worry about, if you find that the bleeding increases so that you are soaking more than a pad in an hour or have offensive smelling discharge or body temperature of more than 37°C, please do get medical attention.
It is normal to experience some pain as you recover over the next few weeks and pain and bruising is part of the healing process. The discomfort and bruising should reduce over the next few weeks and I would suggest taking the pain relief that has been prescribed for you as directed by your doctors.
Stitches are usually dissolvable and should dissolve completely after 1 week. Sometimes they dissolve slower and if they are irritating you they can be removed after 1 week. Make an appointment with your practice nurse at your GP surgery if you need to have stitches removed.
We have further information on recovery from surgery here-
https://www.ectopic.org.uk/patients/treatment/
When we experience ectopic pregnancy we are suddenly faced with a life threatening emergency and it’s treatment, reduction in fertility, concerns about the future and the loss of our babies. Experiencing any one of these is an ordeal, putting them together is immense. Many women, including myself, feel isolated and it is important to look after yourself emotionally as well as physically.
We will all be here for you for as long as you need.
Sending much love,
Karen x
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Further information is available at www.ectopic.org.uk
Email us at ept@ectopic.org.uk.
Our helpline is 020 7733 2653 (available Monday to Friday 10am - 4pm).
Detailed medical information can be found on our website. Please remember online medical information is NO SUBSTITUTE for expert medical advice from your own health care team.
