Hi everyone,
I’m reaching out for advice/experiences for traveling during treatment for an ectopic.
I was first diagnosed on March 9 (hcg 3100) and given my first shot of MTX the next day. On day four, my hcg had risen to 5800, but it came down 10% to 5200 on day seven. They treated with another shot of MTX on March 16, and my levels were down to 2800 this past Wednesday. I’ve also been having severe cramping/bleeding, which the doctor said means the medicine is working.
My husband and I were scheduled to go to Hawaii tomorrow, but cancelled that portion of the trip as soon as we found out about the ectopic. We had still planning on going to California (five hour flight from NYC) for a wedding next Thursday, but my doctor is strongly recommending that we cancel the trip. He says there’s still a risk of it rupturing it doesn’t want me to be in the air or on the other side of the country when that happens. I’ve heard of people rupturing with levels below 100 so just wanted to get a better understanding of what the risk of rupture is at various levels of hcg. I have more bloodwork next Wednesday and am really hoping I’m at or below 1000 by then.
Has anyone else traveled with hcg levels this high? At what level does your risk or rupture decrease dramatically? Any and all advice welcome and appreciated!!
Hi there,
I’m so sorry to hear about your ectopic. I found out mine was ectopic on 20 Feb, got mtx two days later, day 4 bloods showed hcg had doubled, day 7 they were down to 2800ish. Day 10 it ruptured whilst I was in hospital. I was getting severe cramps that morphine was not relieving, and all pains were central so I was convinced it was the mtx that was causing the pain, but the doctor insisted he operate.
If your doctor advised you not to travel, I would tend to heed their advice.
Best of luck xx
Dear wythe0530,
I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancy and loss.
While I appreciate that feeling of wanting to “get back to normal”, you have done exactly the right thing in asking about travel at such a delicate time. With experiencing an ectopic pregnancy, your body is going through a challenging ordeal and it is important to take things easily during your treatment.
As you are being treated with methotrexate we would echo your doctor’s advice in not traveling until your levels reach pre-pregnancy levels. We would also advise that you do not undertake any strenuous exercise or lifting or housework while your hCG levels are dropping. While I do not want to alarm you, your Dr is correct that there remains the risk of rupture even with low or declining hCG levels. You should not resume exercise until your hCG levels are falling consistently and are in the low 100s.
I am afraid it is difficult to predict how long it will take for your hormone levels reach non-pregnant levels. As we are all individual, our bodies respond differently to the drug and it depends on factors like how high levels reached and our unique physiology. What I can say is that it can take a number of weeks and, while it can take some time, it is not as invasive a procedure as surgery. It is also encouraging that your levels are falling steadily although I appreciate that it can be a drawn out process.
As a gentle reminder following Methotrexate, you should wait until your hCG levels have fallen to below 5mIU/mL (your doctor will advise you when this is through blood tests) and then take a folic acid supplement for 12 weeks before you try to conceive. This is because the Methotrexate may have reduced the level of folate in your body which is needed to ensure a baby develops healthily. The Methotrexate is metabolised quickly but it can affect the quality of your cells, including those of your eggs and the quality of your blood for up to three months after it has been given. The medicine can also affect the way your liver works and so you need to give your body time to recover properly before a new pregnancy is considered. A shortage of folate could result in a greater chance of a baby having a neural tube defect such as hare lip, cleft palate, or even spina bifida or other NT defects. This is why the “wait” and then taking folic acid for 12 weeks before trying to conceive is so important.
Sending much love,
Karen x
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