D&C or Medication?

StaceyM06

Hi ladies,

I'll probably be joining you again. I was here briefly back in Nov. after an early natural m/c after spotting. This time my HCG did not double and my progesterone is low - 16dpo: 133, 18dpo: 256, 22dpo: 381. My progesterone is 7.5 and she said she'd like to see it at 15 so I'm starting vaginal pills. She told me today is was 4 during my last m/c. It would have been nice to know that before we started trying again! I am pissed about that.

Anyways, my dr. is having me go for betas tomorrow. If they don't increase by 60%, she recommended a d&c or medication for me to miscarry. Has anyone ever had this choice? Or would you be willing to share your experiences? The dr. said I could choose either one. She said the only difference would be that with a D&C I would probably not have to go for additional betas. 

TIA,

Stacey 

MrsAtch

I had a choice, it was a missed mc most recently, and I chose Misoprostol. It was a good compromise for me- because I didn't want to drag things out naturally, and I didn't want to shoulder the risks of a D&C if I didn't have to. If I ever have to make the choice again, I'll take Misoprostol again. I had a D&C with my first loss and it was a horrible experience. At least with the medication I was able to be in the comfort of my own home, with my husband by my side.

StaceyM06

MrsAtch, thank you so much for sharing. Can I ask how long it took and if it was physically painful? And when you had your first period after it? No problem if you don't feel like sharing this information. 

baloneydisc

My first was a missed m/c & I was given cytotec to induce the m/c.  If I have to go thru it again I will be asking for a D&C. 

I used the pills around 8pm.  I started cramping around 10pm.  Around 11pm I was in serious pain.  I ended up laying on the floor in the bathroom because I was so hot, crampy, in intense pain, crying & bleeding like crazy.  I passed quite a few clots that night.  Around 2am the pain finally subsided enough for me to go to sleep.  The next day I passed some more clots / tissue, but the cramps weren't too bad.  I bled for like 5 days, then spotted for several more.

Let me know if you have any questions.

MrsAtch

I'm more than willing to share. I'm sorry you have to make this decision to begin with- but if sharing my experience can help I'm happy to.

It was physically painful for me- there were two days where the cramps were really intense, though I know it isn't like that for everyone. The majority of what I needed to pass happened within the first few days, but I bled for about 2 and a half weeks. (My first week was quite heavy, and the subsequent week and a half was light and then spotting).

I took the medication 6 weeks ago yesterday, and I got AF back 10 days ago. I know that it can vary from woman to woman, and that the method of your miscarriage doesn't necessarily change how long you bleed or how long it takes to get AF back. It's really different for everyone.

Again, I'm so sorry for your loss. I hope you find comfort here, and that you heal quickly. 

bbhalphen

I'm so sorry!  Praying that they go up, but if they don't, I had a D&C last week. 

I chose it because:
(A) we sent the fetus off for testing (if that's an option)
(B) I wanted to get it over with
(C) I passed big clots at home after my last D&C and had contractions--it was very painful, but my RE did a better job than the OB and I barely bled.  I've never used the medicine to induce m/c, but I'd be scared to have twice as much clots and bleeding.
(D) they'll usually send you home with some good pain pills

itsmegin

I had the choice. My missed m/c was found at 8 weeks, baby had stopped growing at 6. There was a lot of back and forth, a maybe heartbeat, so we got to 11 weeks before we did anything. I chose medication but it didn't work. I bled a bit but everything stayed firmly in place. I was given a second dose and again, nothing happened.

So I had to do a D&C. Looking back, I am so glad I did. I bled a lot during the D&C, so if the Misoprostol had worked, I probably would have had to go to the ER and have an emergency D&C anyway. The D&C was quick, easy and painless. Much better than waiting around and home and worrying about bleeding too much or not enough, IMO. But, I think it does work the first time for most people, so it could be the best option for you. So sorry for your loss, and GL with your decision, whatever it may be. 

Izabella22

I'm sorry you are going through this tough choice. I don't have experience w/ d&c but I did receive the methotrexate shot to end my ectopic,. while the shot was not too awful I started bleeding heavily within 2 hrs and wound up in the ER the next day, all told I bled for 3+ weeks. If a d&c had been an option for me I would have taken it, it seems like a faster and less drawn out process than the shot. That was my experience though and I know some people have had much better w/ the mtx shot. Good luck with your decision and again I'm very sorry, come back and join us whenever you are ready, its a great supportive group.

mizdiz444

I'm so sorry you are going through this.  (((Hugs)))

Froggy76

I had a D&E last week, and I would go that route again if I ever had to.  There was no waiting around to m/c, or any pain or cramping.  They are also sending the tissue for testing.  I am still bleeding a little bit, but it's been just like a period, nothing major.

ctaylor

I'm sorry you're going through this.  I went through something similar last week (found out at 8w3d that the baby never developed).  I was given the choice between a D&C, the pills, or just wait to miscarry naturally.  I chose D&C because I couldn't take the idea of just sitting around waiting for it to happen (dr said it could be 2 days or a week).  I also didn't want to go through the cramping, passing clots, etc.  I'm very happy with my decision (well, I guess happy is not the right word, right?).  The procedure was quick and totally painless.  I had no cramping at all afterwards (didn't even need tylenol, even though they gave me a prescription for painkillers).  I had some spotting, but it's pretty much gone now. 

 Best wishes on whatever decision you make, I know it's hard.

StaceyM06

Thank you, ladies. I really appreciate your sharing your experiences. This is a wonderfully supportive board!