Seven years ago I had symptoms that I knew meant something was seriously wrong with me. 18 months later I was treated for endometriosis (General anaesthetic, GA, #1) and got the OK to try for a baby. 6 months later, got pregnant but had bleeding and pain from day one. Rang NHS direct who sent me to the emergency doctor. She was reluctant to come out and sent me to my normal GP the next day. My GP told me to go home and wait for a period. Two weeks later, period finished but pain still there so returned to GP. Sent home again as it was just ‘my body returning to normal’. Four hours later, I fainted with endometriosis type pain. I tried to sleep it off, until I threw up. Ambulance arrived, blood pressure through the floor, blue light on. I went to the hospital but the hospital with a gynae doctor was full so they gave me emergency fluids and had to put me in another ambulance to go to the hospital with the gynae doctor after all. Had emergency surgery in the middle of the night (GA#2). Tube and baby removed. Woke up in intensive care, having had a collapsed lung from all the pressure of blood sloshing round my abdomen, and lost 3 litres of blood (60% of my entire supply).
Six months later tried for another baby, no joy. Had test and discovered right tube completely blocked and something in my womb. Spent a worrying two days thinking it was another ectopic. No, just a polyp. Two months later, had said polyp removed (GA#3) and discovered blockage was inoperable.
Six rounds of failed IVF followed (another 4 GAs) - didn’t respond to the drugs, ovary on the ectopic side didn’t work, discovered DH had problem with low sperm count, then my response dropped so low they said it was not worth continuing. Then another op to diagnose ongoing problems (GA#8)
Four months later I remembered about a man who could unblock tubes, so had that done. Told chances of successful pregnancy were minimal as tube still v badly blocked. Five months later, got pregnant naturally. Immediately ran to A&E with pain, and suspected ectopic. They agreed and were about to operate as nothing showed on the scan. Three stressful days later they let me go home but with a week to wait until they could confirm it was a uterine pregnancy. One week later, more pain, and bleeding this time, so back to A&E. They confirmed not ectopic but I had to wait another week to see if it was a miscarriage. Thankfully everything fine.
For the first time in 6years I was pregnant, and instead of worrying the baby was doomed, for a change we could just be happy and excited. They were three precious weeks.
Went on holiday - we had planned an extended trip to mark the end of our hopes of having a baby - and while we were away, had more pain and bleeding and went back to A&E. Had a D&C that day (GA #9). Got to see Auckland from an ambulance.
I fear we will never have a second miracle - part of me doesn’t want a baby now, I’ve had enough. I probably can’t appreciate it. I know it sounds odd, but I’m so emotionally ‘done in’.
Sorry it’s not a happy ending but hopefully it will make some people happier, thinking that at least they aren’t me!
Bluebell