Talk to me about ectopics

Laurakat81

I haven't really had much time to talk to my RE and ask him all that is on my mind. He called to check in me yesterday but I was still in too much pain and too groggy to have a meaningful conversation with him. I did go in for a beta check and asked for Xanax. I'm not sure how I'm going to get through a third loss.

I think he said I'd have to wait two months before TTC again. He said he'd put me on some medication (clomid maybe) to try and force an egg out of my left ovary each month. We were originally scheduled to do IUI next month but then I thought I got lucky and wouldn't have to deal with it. I don't know if he will want to jump straight to IUI or since I did get pregnant on my own if he will want to have us try again first. Is 2 months a typical wait time?

But I'm really confused on things like: when will I bleed? I've only had spotting yesterday. I'm used to the more "typical" miscarriage where you bleed a lot. Is it unusual that I'm not bleeding already? Will I not bleed until after my hcg falls to 0? And will that be considered my first period?

I'm also curious on risks. I'm completely taken aback that I had an ectopic. I feel foolish because I assumed I wasn't at risk and therefore truly thought it would never happen to me. From Dr. Google I've learned that past surgeries on the uterus (my 2 d&cs) did increase my risk. And that now I have a significantly higher risk of it happening again. Is that the case even if the "bad" tube is gone. He did a dye check on the left and said it was practically perfect. Is that enough to assume my chances of it happening again are pretty slim?

Tell me everything you know about ectopics. I do plan on asking my doc all of this but until then I thought I'd ask you! TIA!

butterfly843

When I was still seeing my RE I had a bunch of HSG's and none of them ever showed tube issues. I never thought I would have an ectopic, add to the fact that it was a surprise pregnancy (we've been trying for 8 years and the ectopic was the first time we got pg without IVF). Since we aren't doing treatments anymore I don't know how long your dr will want you to wait. I had a d&c along with my ectopic so I didn't really bleed much and didn't have my betas followed down. I just had a follow up visit a few weeks after my surgery. My dr always says I'm her interesting case, not sure I find that comforting. I've heard you have a higher risk of another ectopic once you have one, but I think they include all ectopics in that study, even ones that didn't lose a tube.

Allie-Jo

Mine was removed with surgery as well, but my tube hadn't ruptured or even split yet, so my Dr. was able to save my tube.  He also said my tube looked clear after they took it out, and my other one was too, so they have no idea why it happened, and that it probably was a fluke.  It was my first BFP and I had never had surgery or anything done on my uterus so we will never know why it happened.  I started spotting about 5 days later, and it led to AF like flow for about 5 days, which is about 2 days longer then my AFs usually are, but it never got really heavy. 

I was told that because I didn't have to have a D&C or have my tube removed, that I was TTA for 6 weeks vs the 3 months that he has put other women on for removing tubes.  It also is important to grip everything, it really makes your head funny for a while. 

Allie-Jo

Also, my HCG fell pretty fast, under 2 weeks, but I also only had gotten to about 350 when I had surgery, I was down to almost 40 within a week.

As far as trying IUI, I might depending on DH.  For us it isn't really something that we need.  DH has a PERFECT SA so if we can just get a stupid egg in my ute we are usually good to go.  However I have almost considered it for the sheer fact of sex then can finally be about SEX instead of making a baby, because after a while that wears on you.  So if it is covered by insurence, I would go for it, and leave sexy time for you two and not for baby making.

Laurakat81

Allie-Jo:

Also, my HCG fell pretty fast, under 2 weeks, but I also only had gotten to about 350 when I had surgery, I was down to almost 40 within a week.

As far as trying IUI, I might depending on DH.  For us it isn't really something that we need.  DH has a PERFECT SA so if we can just get a stupid egg in my ute we are usually good to go.  However I have almost considered it for the sheer fact of sex then can finally be about SEX instead of making a baby, because after a while that wears on you.  So if it is covered by insurence, I would go for it, and leave sexy time for you two and not for baby making.

I'm so glad you said that. This is exactly why I wanted the IUI and was thrilled when my RE suggested it. In all honesty I think it might have played a huge role in why we got pregnant right before we were to try the IUI. There was this huge weight lifted off DH and I when we realized that it was the LAST month sex was about TTC, no matter the outcome we would never have to force ourselves to do it again. Unfortunately it's not covered by insurance but I think it's an expense we can make room for. It's definitely worth it in my book.