Hi there, I am new to this site and have found everyone’s posts so useful so wondered if anyone could advise me about vitamins / diet after ectopic. Sorry for the long post!
I was rushed to A&E on the 17th November where it was confirmed I miscarried because I passed a lot of blood and a large amount of tissue. However my hcg levels kept rising and it was discovered I had an ectopic pregnancy in my left tube. On the 26th Nov I was treated with Methotrexate, my HCG was 3600 at the time so 3 days later I went back to get a 2nd shot, however although my numbers were not too high (5600) they discovered I had fluid on my stomach and decided they needed to operate before my tube ruptured, that day I had my left tube removed and it was lucky I did because the surgeon said as it was bleeding heavily/about to rupture whilst surgery was taking place.
I had 2 weeks off work (a month in total due to previous time off for the apparent miscarriage). It has been the hardest thing Me and my husband have ever gone through but I am now back at work and managing to feel very strong and positive.
I’ve been told that my right tube and ovaries look healthy so I am hoping all goes well next time we conceive.
I was just wondering , especially because I had the methotrexate shot, if there are any vitamins, specific foods that people would advise I take whilst I prepare myself for trying to conceive again (which won’t be happening till late feb due to 3 month break from shot). Also to help with energy levels now whilst I recover. I have started taking folic acid but does anyone advise that the pregnacare conception is better and should I be taking a multi vitamin or iron tablets or anything at the same time?
I intend to start doing some yoga soon and will then start other exercise but at present my stomach muscles are still tender so don’t want to push myself.
I asked my doctor about vitamins etc but he was incredibly unhelpful and actually said ‘what are you worried about, it’s not even like you’ve had a bad ectopic’ with a big grin on his face! In return I burst out crying and told him to never tell another lady that her ectopic experience is not a ‘bad’ one, I left feeling like id been told I’ve just had a cold or something, nothing to worry about!!
Thank you for reading my post and I hope someone can give me some advice…because my doctor couldn’t!!
Hi Rhi - what in the name of goodness is wrong with your doctor?! Good for you for telling him off! I think I would just have cried and not said anything back The sonographer I had that confirmed my ectopic was similarly unfeeling - her exact words were ‘it’s ectopic. The bathroom is over there - go and clean yourself up’ - said whilst not even looking at me. What a charmer.
Anyways, I just had my mtx injection on Friday, and so I am really interested to know what others might recommend in terms of recovery. My diet isn’t the best at the moment as I’m eating rather a lot of cake by way of dealing with sickness, and I’m feeling a little sorry for myself too!
I am researching foods that are high in folate to help replenish depleted stores (beans, lentils, raw spinach, asparagus etc), and I plan to cut out all processed foods. I had cut caffeine from my diet whilst I was trying to get pregnant (I’ve had a bit of a relapse!), and I never thought I’d hear myself say this, but I will also be giving up alcohol too.
Before I got pregnant, I was a vegetarian, but while I had all the hcg in my system, all I’ve wanted to eat is beef…I think once I’ve got a negative test, I may carry on eating meat for a little while for the protein. I have been bleeding for 7 weeks so far and I suspect I will need to make sure I have enough iron to ward off anaemia so will be looking forward to some nice steak dinners, and I will probably take an iron supplement too.
The mtx has given me very sore, dry skin, so I am fully planning on a facial, and a massage once the soreness in my stomach has gone. I really just want to be pampered for a little while!
I think yoga is a great idea. I think I might go swimming a couple of times a week too if I have the energy to get up early enough to get there before work.
It would be good to hear from others who’ve come out the other side of the physical recovery to know what helped them feel better too as I’m just making vaguely educated guesses at what might help!
Thanks so much for reading my post, it sounds like you’ve been having a tough time as well, are you feeling okay since having the shot? Have you had a check up since? It’s such a hard thing to go through isn’t it, although it’s only been 3 weeks I am already feeling a lot more positive and stronger. Going back to work helped to take my mind off it. I hope you are taking things slowly and looking after yourself.
Like you my diet is not great right now, mainly because I spent the 2 weeks after my op in pain and crying so chocolate really was needed to help get me through!! I have also gone back on the caffeine, will cut down again though and have decided to not drink at all…hard when I got married 6 weeks ago and have 5 bottles of champagne in my fridge that we got as gifts…they are literally calling out to me, I just worry what effect the shot and alcohol combined can have on our bodies.
I’m sorry you didn’t have a great time with your sonographer! Such a shame they couldn’t show more empathy for you and the situation! Do you have any children? My husband and I don’t but had been trying for 7 months previous to this.
I am not a massive red meat fan but like you I craved it , I guess we just need to listen to our bodies although being a vegetarian it really does make it a much harder decision for you!
I bought a great pot of face mask from body shop to sort my dry skin out because it looked so grey after my operation, it’s the oat and honey one , highly recommend it…as well as treating yourself to a facial of course!!
Anyway let me know how you are doing , have a lovely Christmas and once I’ve done a bit more research on this myself I will let you know of any handy healthy tips!!
Hi Rhi - how are you getting on? I must admit that I have hit a bit of a bad patch, and seem to have taken two steps backwards and am struggling to do anything, or eat anything other than toast and biscuits! I was discharged from my EPU today as my hcg dropped really quickly following my mtx last week, and I had thought I would be over the moon, but instead I just feel sad and empty. I think I was so focused on getting my numbers back to normal that there’s a bit of emotional fallout that I haven’t dealt with yet.
We don’t have any children and I’m currently wondering if I have the strength to pick myself up and try again! We had been trying for more than a year, and had just been referred for fertility treatment when I got pregnant. I have a follow up appointment with my doctor next week to talk about next steps as I’m 34 so I don’t have a lot of time to be hanging around where my fertility is concerned.
Anyways, I am giving myself Monday and Tuesday to mope about a bit more and then I really need to get my act together. I have made some enquiries about a yoga class near me that’s starting on 7 Jan, and I have decided to use the next three months productively and do a sponsored weight loss to raise some money for EPT. I just need to find the energy to get out of my pjs!
I hope your recovery is going well (is that champagne still in your fridge or have you given in? )
I am so sorry you are having to go through all of this… What a great question and conversation that so many will benefit from!
I’d like to add that a study involving over 18,000 women showed those taking folic acid supplements (a form of vitamin B) every day had a better chance of getting pregnant including a 40% lower risk of suffering problems producing eggs - the second biggest cause of female infertility.
The study released at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine annual meeting looked at the women’s diets, whether they took multivitamins and for how long. Those taking multivitamins, which included folic acid, for six days a week or more had a 40 per cent lower risk of ovulatory failure, compared with those who did not take a pill. Women who took a pill on three to five days a week had a 30 per cent cut in risk, while those taking pills for two days or less were no better off than women not taking supplements. The analysis showed folic acid was one of the most important reasons for the reduction in risk, although some other vitamins played a part.
In the UK, 1mg of folic acid daily is regarded as the safe upper limit. Women hoping to become pregnant are currently advised to take a 0.4mg supplement of folic acid every day after stopping contraception, and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. The vitamin is also found in citrus fruits, tomatoes, green leafy vegetables and wholegrains.
Conversely, studies have shown that alcohol can reduce levels of fertility by making ovulation more erratic or preventing ovulation.
Regarding men - studies have shown that eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day can help ensure strong, healthy sperm. Researchers analysed the diets of around 50 infertile men and compared them with men who had successfully fathered a child. Twice as many fertile men were eating five servings a day compared with the infertile men. The daily intake of vitamin C was significantly lower among the infertile men.
The study showed antioxidant vitamins, particularly those found in tomatoes, carrots and leafy vegetables, appear to help sperm development. Although some men in the study were taking supplements, it was concluded the combination of vitamins found in fruit and vegetables was probably more useful.
Thanks for your replies on this - the info on folic acid above is really interesting.
I just wonder if any of the hosts can help a little more with regards to folic acid and trying again.
I was given 1 shot of methotrexate on the 26th November, but then on the 29th November I ended up having surgery to have my left fallopian tube removed. I have been taking 400mg of Folic acid as well as Vitamin D since my op, for the last week I have switched this to just 1 pill of Pregnacare conception. Could someone please let me know if this is enough folic acid (just with pregnancare conception) or should I be taking more to top up my levels after methotrexate?
I am also just wanting to check about conceiving again, it says on this site and a few others that it is advised to not conceive again for 3 months or 2 periods whichever the sooner - I have had one period since my op, if my next period arrives on time around the beginning of Feb could we start trying to conceive then or should I carry on waiting until at least the end of February and a little more?
I don’t want to rush anything, its just something that has been confusing me, 2 periods which may not take you to 3 months or 3 months?!
I am making sure I am eating healthily and staying hydrated and I have also started taking up slow exercise, swimming and yoga - although yoga was a little painful where my operation was but I assume that’s just my muscles getting used to being worked again. I actually got really sad when I cam home from the gym after my first session, I’ve only signed up because I want to be really healthy for when we try to conceive again and the little pains I got whilst swimming and stretching and my lack of energy were all just a reminder that my body has been through a trauma and that I am no longer pregnant and have to start the process all over again. I felt really useless but I am sure I will feel more positive next time I go!
Anyway look forward to hearing from anyone who can help
The sonographer I had that confirmed my ectopic was similarly unfeeling - her exact words were ‘it’s ectopic. The bathroom is over there - go and clean yourself up’ - said whilst not even looking at me. What a charmer.