MTX & Pinching Pains

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1

Hello,

I am currently being treated for an ectopic pregnancy in my right fallopian tube. My timeline & some questions I have are below:

15th Jan - Positive pregnancy test

22nd Jan - A&E visit due to isolated pain & bleeding. HCG 300ish

24th Jan - HCG 200ish

26th Jan - Ectopic confirmed via scan

28th Jan - HCG 490

30th Jan - HCG 498

2nd Feb - HCG 498 (1 shot of MTX given)

6th Feb - HCG 686

8th Feb - HCG 664 (told if levels don’t decline, I will be booked in for surgery following week)

11th Feb - HCG 569

17th Feb - HCG 189

25th Feb - HCG 22

4th March - TBC

At first it didn’t seem as though the MTX was working for me & the pregnancy had kept growing & I was in quite a lot of pain. However, thankfully they have dropped quite significantly over the past 2 weeks, so I am hoping 1 more set of bloods this weekend & I can be discharged. EPU have said they would like my levels below 12 before they discharge me, I just want some re-assurance that once my levels reach below 10 or even 5 that there is no risk of rupture as the worry has been crippling for me over the last 6 weeks?

My bleeding has increased over the last 2 weeks, & is more red than brown now (I hardly bleed after having the MTX). I am also still experiencing a pinching kind of sensation on my right side where the ectopic is. It comes in waves throughout the day & is really unsettling as it reminds me of it still being there. I haven’t been scanned since 11th Feb which is when they confirmed the ectopic had reduced in size from 1.9mm to 1.2mm. Is it safe to assume that it will have got smaller if my levels have dropped so much?

I understand it can take some time for the mass / pregnancy to be absorbed back into the body, could that explain the pinching pains I am experiencing? I am desperate to try & start moving forward with things like exercise so I can heal mentally but the pains make me not want to do anything incase I am still at risk of causing damage.

I also just wanted to say thank you to everyone on this forum, it has been my safe space over the last 8 weeks & there is not enough information online, so this has been so helpful in helping me through this.

Sophie X

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Hi Sophie

My HCG levels are almost identical to yours, my ectopic is in my left side and I feel the exact way, constant pinching sensation which seems to range from being severe of mild, my HCG after MTX is dropping really slowly so I’m having bloods every 48 hours still, I’m on day 11 following MTX and my blood are still 5100

Wishing you a good physical and emotional recovery :heart:

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Sorry to hear it is taking a while, hopefully you get some big drops over the next few blood tests. I was losing hope that it was working for me & then it seemed to just kick in!

The pinching sensation is so strange, I find it hard to explain it to anyone but it does make you worry :frowning: !

Crossing my fingers for your levels & keep me updated! X

4

Dear Sophie,

I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy loss,

Pain, discomfort, cramping in your tummy and bleeding are common following treatment for ectopic pregnancy. Some women report bleeding and spotting on and off for up to six weeks. Provided you are not soaking a pad in less than an hour or the pain is so severe you can’t manage it with over-the-counter pain relief, such as paracetamol, you should try not to worry. If you have any concerns, you should seek a reassessment.

The mass in your tube will take some time to settle, as we don’t routinely scan in the UK, there is no robust evidence to suggest how long this takes on average. This is one of the reasons we suggest not trying to conceive until you have had 2 periods. Please also be aware that following methotrexate, once your hCG levels have fallen to pre-pregnancy levels, you should take folic acid supplements for 12weeks before trying to conceive. This will also allow time for a mass to be absorbed.

Once your hCG levels have reached pre-pregnancy levels, there is no risk of rupture, you will be able to resume exercise. Some people are shocked by how tired they feel following Methotrexate and the ordeal of ectopic pregnancy and if you regularly exercise and haven’t been able too for a number of weeks, your stamina and strength may have reduced. We therefore advise taking things slowly and building up to your normal fitness levels.

Sending much love,

Karen x

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Hi Karen,

Thank you for your reply & advice. We are not looking to try until May / June as need some time to heal, so hopefully I will have a few periods in that time & some reassurance that the mass has been absorbed.

Thanks again,

Sophie X