Please Help! Ectopic Recently

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1

It breaks my heart to write this but I am sending myself crazy!

I found out I was pregnant on the 25th July and on the 27th July I had a scan to rule out extopic. They said they could only see the gestational sac and both my tubes were clear. However on the 6th Aug I attended emergency department doubled over in pain on the left side and going into my back, they didn’t scan me and was pretty useless if am honest and sent me on my way, however I continued with the pain and was told if it got worse to ring the gynae assessment unit which I did on the Monday morning. She basically said you have a urine infection and pregnant what do you want us to do! Although they thought it was an infection my urine was clear. She then said it maybe trapped wind! They didn’t scan me as I had a scan 2 weeks ago that confirmed my pregnancy.

I continued to not feel well and went to my Drs that afternoon in pain and severe bloating who then said it was not a urine infection and my bowel, and to drink peppermint tea! However I was due to have a scan on Thursday the 10th but was going out my mind and something didn’t feel right so I booked a private scan Tuesday morning! I woke up feeling amazing pain free. I was in there a matter of 5 minutes and I was doubled over in pain and if I hadn’t paid £100 for this scan for reassurance I most likely wouldn’t be here today! The sonographer was concerned. She only had to look at my stomach which was swollen (here me was hoping it was just a bump) to see something wasn’t right. Anyhow she quickly placed the probe in me and immediately called and ambulance. It was confirmed I was bleeding internally and had a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. My pelvis was full of blood and there was no pregnancy seen in the uterus at all!

It Turns out I was having twins, one was stuck in the tube and the other was cooking away nicely in the right place. We are both heartbroken and devastated! However if this was picked up then there may of been a slim chance they could of saved the one in my womb! But due to the internal bleeding it had no chance.

As you imagine im in bits! Having to deal with the fact I’m no longer pregnant, been neglected, lost two babies aswell as a tube down I can’t describe how I feel, I keep blaming myself and wish I would of never left A&E Sunday! However I should be greatful for using my head and gut instinct and booking a scan. I really would love some reassurance and for anyone who has had an ectopic pregnancy how long did it take you to recover and/or conceive again. I am on a time scale due to other health problems so worrying this is the end for me! They told me a cycle but I can’t even wait that long! I want to get onto it straight away. I’m physically getting their however emotionally struggling I feel such a failure and me and my partner are just bickering.

Now am a tube down am I going to Be thing for months! It was my first month trying and I fell on instantly!

I am sending myself crazy… :frowning:

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I’m so so sorry for your losses.

I’m in the middle of medical treatment for EP and had methotrexate on Saturday.

I feel your pain, I am angry that the doctors missed my EP initially and said that I was being overly cautious. They then realised my scan showed absolutely nothing…nothing anywhere and finally after 5 more days I was doubled over in pain and they they just said they’d check bloods…5 days after a hug of 217 it had risen to only 367 and they then decided to treat but wouldnt scan at all.

I am 37 and although we have a beautiful daughter that we love dearly we had been try for 6 years and only after fertility treatment did we fall pregnant conceiving on July 25th.

It’s devastated both me and my husband and we are unsure how we can process the grief and for me the guilt that I don’t think treatment will ever be considered again by the specialists as the odds increase (I only have one functioning ovary and this is the side the EP is believed to be.

I still may need my tube removed but won’t know till bloods are back Wednesday and Saturday this week.

The pain mentally and physically is unbelievable all I can do is cry… …i care for other people’s babies…this is going to be so hard to come back from…I just hope we all find some peace some day xxx

3

Dear RHughes82,

I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy and losses, to experience one loss is difficult to experience two in the way you have is just heartbreaking and my heart truly goes out to you.

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 and your feelings are completely understandable. From the bottom of my heart, you are not to blame.

The chances of a further ectopic after a first in UK is 10%. So that’s 90% chance of the embryo being in right place next time.

As a gentle reminder regarding conceiving again, we and many medical professionals advise waiting for two menstrual cycles. It is important to allow time for your body to recover and emotions to surface and be worked through. This is so that you have some comfort that your body is returning to its natural rhythm and you have a last menstrual period date from which to date a new pregnancy - key information in checking you are not suffering from an ectopic pregnancy in the future. The first bleed soon after surgery for ectopic pregnancy is not classed as a period as it is the body’s response to falling hormone levels.

Generally, when a person has only one fallopian tube and both ovaries, they are still able to get pregnant from an egg at the opposite ovary as an egg from one ovary can travel down the tube on the other side. The fallopian tubes are not attached to the ovaries and, at the point of ovulation, some very delicate structures called the fimbriae begin to move gently creating a slight vacuum to suck the egg toward the end of the tube it is nearest to (like lots of little fingers waving and drawing the egg towards it). So, if you have only one tube then there is only one set of receptors working and one set of fimbriae creating a vacuum and so the egg is much more likely to find its way to that tube, whichever ovary it is produced from. Conservative estimates suggest that an egg produced on the tubeless side manages to descend the remaining tube around 15 to 20% of the time.

While generally it is possible to conceive after an ectopic pregnancy, the amount of time it takes varies from couple to couple. Factors include age, general health, reproductive health and how often you have sex, among other things. It may be comforting to know that 65% of women are successfully pregnant within 18 months of experiencing an ectopic pregnancy and some studies suggest this rises to around 85% after two years.

Importantly early scans avail. As soon as you know you are pregnant, contact your local EPU to inform them and book in for an early scan at around six weeks. Remind them of your previous ectopic pregnancy. This self refer route is the best route in our view. Hopefully you will have some comfort to know you are under the radar of medical professionals right away.

Making the decision to begin trying to conceive is an emotional rollercoaster compounded by our sad loss. Again, you are not alone. We here emotional support whenever you need us. There is a specific TTC board you can look at too whenever feel ready.

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.

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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.