Pain 3 weeks after ectopic surgery

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1

Hi All,

I had an ectopic pregnancy and had surgery to remove it, along with my right Fallopian tube 3 weeks ago.Whilst I am generally out and about and making progress, when I up my activity levels, I really notice an increase in pain, especially at night. Being paranoid after the ordeal that I (and we have all) been through, I went to the GP to check that all was ok and that I didn’t have an infection( paranoid that my remaining reproductive organs would become damaged too!)Anyway, the GP didn’t think it was anything to worry about but sent me for a blood test to put my mind at ease, and all came back normal. Today, my latest symptom is a sharp pain from my vagina that comes on now and then. It’s sharp and quick and then goes away.Has anyone else experienced this or anything similar? Should I go back to the doctors or is this a normal symptom? I am finding that every little symptom I have completely stresses me out and whilst I don’t want to visit the doctor all the time, I don’t want to ignore anything that could make everything worse!

I am a teacher and returning to work next week after theEaster break.I am looking forward to seeing the kids and being back in a routine again but I don’t know I will cope with my energy levels and pain if I ‘over do it’.

Any advice, especially regarding the vaginal pain would be really appreciated!

So nice to be able to chat on here and share our anxieties/experiences together.

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Dear Coo123,

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

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.

Having said this, I am not medically trained and if you are experiencing pain that is concerning you or if you find that you have an increased body temperature of more than 37°C or offensive smelling discharge or the wound site starts oozing or feels hot to touch, please do get medical attention as soon as possible as these can be signs of infection.

With regards to returning to work after surgery, 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. If you find you are becoming to tired, do not hesitate to contact your doctor to ask for further time off.

Please be kind to yourself, allow time to grieve, to heal both physically and emotionally.

Sending much love,

Karen x

If we have been able to help you, are you able to help us with a small donation or by volunteering?

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.

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Hi coo123. I’m currently experiencing the same sharp pains. I had an ectopic right tube removal 10 days ago. I only started feeling this pain 2 days ago. I was wondering and worryin if it was an infection too. And goggled this so many times in a panic and cannot find anything related. But i’m recovering physically well otherwise. So i dont think it is an infection. I’ve noticed i seem to hav this sharp shooting pain more if i stay still for too long or before i go to the toilet. (Even if i dont think i need to go). I’m assuming its down to healing and scarring. I’m jus wonderin R u still experiencing the pain? And that ur not alone. Big hugs.

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Hi,

Can you please tell me what was your outcome because I’m going through the exact same thing and I can’t find anything online. I’m anxious imagining all sorts of things… thank you

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Hi allexandra, sorry for delay in reply. I didnt got to the GP in the end, as it eased off. But i think my pain was related to healing and maybe scar tissue. Hope u r recovering well. Lots of hugs