Vent: Had a D&C for nothing... now have to do MTX.

Re: Vent: Had a D&C for nothing... now have to do MTX.

• decoycandy member

  December 2015

  That sucks. I am so sorry for the ordeal you've had to endure. I don't have any advice, but I will wish you so much luck, love, and happiness and hope in the very near future, you get that baby you so richly deserve.

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• Bsks2002 member

  December 2015

  I'm so sorry for your loss....hugs and prayers to you.

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• Rachd110 member

  December 2015 edited December 2015

  I'm so sorry for what you're going through. I know it's not easy. Although I have no experience with a D&C, I just got two shots of methotrexate yesterday. Like you my HCG numbers would rise, decline then rise again, which is a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. The numbers were to low to show anything on an US. My RE called it a pregnancy of an unknown location.
  
  So far not feeling any horrible side effects. I was already bleeding for 9 days before receiving the shot. My nurse said the bleeding will probably get worse, so far it's light. I started bloating pretty bad last night and have on and off abdominal pain. I'm hoping my symptoms don't get worse. I've read a lot of horror stories.
  
  I don't think methotrexate affects future fertility, but you do have to wait 2-3 months before trying again. The medicine has to be completely out of your system. Oh and no exercise, BD'ing or alcohol until HCG is at zero or doc says it's ok. My doc is closely monitoring me while on methotrexate--two blood tests--one week apart.
  
  I'm looking forward to finally having closure. After bleeding for a week and passing clots, I thought I already miscarried and was ready to move on only to find out my HCG level went back up. This process is very frustrating and stressful. I'm ready to be off this emotional roller coaster. I'm hoping you will have closure soon with minimally side effects.
  

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• penelope4612 member

  December 2015

  Hi,
  
  I'm sorry for your loss and everything you're going through.  My experience was similar to Rachd110 - I didn't have a D&C but did have methotrexate (my ectopic was ultimately confirmed to be in my tube before I got it though).  I had a little bit of nausea the night after the shot but not much else.  I was already bleeding off and on for like a week before the shot and continued to bleed lightly for several more weeks, and then when my HCG reached zero I had a period (after I thought I probably couldn't bleed anymore).  But I didn't have any other terrible side effects.
  
  If you do a google search, you will find plenty of women out there who have successfully conceived after getting methotrexate, but, as Rachd110 said, you do have to wait several months before trying again.  My doctor told me I would have to wait 3 months, which I thought meant 3 months following the shot, but apparently she meant 3 months after my HCG dropped to zero.  So it really ends up being 4 months for me, since my HCG dropped to zero a month after the shot.  I believe this is because methotrexate removes all the folic acid from your body and they want to make sure your stores are high enough when you start TTC again that the future pregnancies develop ok.   You will probably be advised to stop your prenatal after methotrexate.
  
  Is your doctor going to monitor your HCG for a while after the D&C to see if it drops?  Or go straight to the methotrexate?

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• hapafamilyvlog member

  December 2015

  So I just got the shot about an hour ago. I was really nervous and felt sick to my stomach when they made me look at the giant syringe, with an even bigger needle, with radioactive yellow chemicals in it, just to confirm that everything was correct...  Shots in the butt HURT.
  
  In any event.... it's over now. Sort of. I'm getting the 4-day followup HCG bloodwork on Monday, just before I head out to travel to Florida to see my family with my husband for the holidays (I'm out in San Diego). I'm nervous about being so far away from my OB/GYN with all this going on, so I have to figure out a way to get my 7-day bloodwork done while I'm in Florida (and my insurance doesn't exist in Florida, so that should be a fun task... NOT). Now I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that the symptoms aren't too bad. And also very much looking forward to my numbers dropping to 0, hopefully quickly, so I can get back to being healthy again in preparation for TTC.
  

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• thisisallyson member

  December 2015

  I'm so incredibly sorry to hear that you have gone through all this.
  
  As for MTX, here's my experience with it.  I had the shots about 3 weeks ago. I was spotting for about 2 weeks before, turned to a slightly heavier bleeding the day before.  After the shots, it went back to spotting for a couple of days then practically nothing.  I had blood tests on day 4 and 7 then scheduled once a week (Saturdays) until the HCG is at 0. I met with my OB on Wednesday and she said that MTX is very safe and does not affect future fertility. She advised that we wait two cycles to try to conceive again but assured us that if we conceived before then, it would be okay. Like PP have said, the wait is mostly to give you time to build up the nutrients in your body again. I am hoping by next weekend, my levels will be at 0, but I know that it might take another week.
  
  Know that MTX affects everyone differently so just because this is how it was for me doesn't necessarily mean it will be the same for you or anyone else.  And yes, stop taking prenatal vitamins since the MTX is working against the folic acid - I've even read that some women will stay away from foods with it in it (leafy greens and such) to try and help the MTX along even faster.
  
  Hang in there. There is hope.

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• waitingwishing11 member

  December 2015

  @thisisallyson @penelope4612 @Rachd110 ... Thank you, ladies, for sharing your experiences and insight. It's good to know that I still have good chances of conceiving again, just hopefully without complications next time. Your words have given me hope. Feeling a little weak and dizzy this morning, which I'm attributing to the shot. Also bleeding and cramping a little more than I have been. I am also avoiding prenatals and foods that are high in folic acid. Hopefully it helps!

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• Rachd110 member

  December 2015

  @waitingwishing28 try Quest Lab. They are everywhere. Perhaps they can bill your OB office and your OB can bill you, so you can use insurance. Not sure if that's possible, but I went to Florida over Thanksgiving and my RE's office told me if needed I could get blood test at Quest and have them bill the office directly. I didn't end up needing it. You'll just need your doc to write an order.
  
  It's now four days after shot and the biggest side effect I'm feeling is fatigue. I'm tired all day long and cannot walk up and downstairs without feeling winded. I also have slight abdominal pain and very very light bleeding.
  
  Hope you're feeling well.

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• rivass89 member

  December 2015

  @waitingwishing28 I am so sorry you're going this, but you're not alone. I was told I was going through my second miscarriage because my levels were dropping and to go home and wait for the baby to pass. I went back in because I kept cramping and bleeding. They did a Sono and saw something in my right Fallopian tube. The most frustrating part is that they couldn't confirm if it was an ectopic pregnancy or a cyst so they gave me the MTX shot to be sure. It made me cramp so bad and bleed heavily. It's the third day since the shot and the bleeding has Slown down but I felt very nauseated and lightheaded and even threw up. I called my Doctor just for them to tell me if I'm not experiencing any pain, than its the definitely the side effects from them shot and just to wait it out. This is horrible so I know what you're going through. Like other women have said, it's different for everyone.
  
  Feel better soon and may God bless you!

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• junesunsplash member

  December 2015

  Don't give up!!
  Here's my backstory. Dec 2006 we welcomed a healthy baby boy April 2009 we welcomed a healthy baby girl. Both textbook pregnancies, no problems. June 2012 positive pregnancy test, later turned out to be an ectopic pregnacy. First shot of methotrexate, some cramping and bleeding like a normal period for me. Nov 2012 another positive, another ectopic, and another shot. Jan 2013 chemical pregnacy. By this time I was at a complete loss and didn't want to try anymore. Feeling like we were rushing things, hubby and I decide to give my body a break. July 2013 a positive test. This time levels looked great and were rising!! Sept I go in for an early ultrasound (I'm already labeled high risk) and no heartbeat I had miscarried around 10 weeks. A few days later I go in for a D&C (my choice...I didn't want to pass it at home). It was successful and the tissue was sent to a lab and no abnormalities were found. Jan 2014 I have a complete blood work up done. Testing revealed I have Factor V (blood clotting disorder). Doctor believes the miscarriage was due to a clot. I'm told to take a low dose aspirin everyday. June 2014 a positive test on my birthday. After 9 months of giving myself blood thinning shots and constantly being worried, a healthy baby boy came into our lives Jan 2015. 
  What I went through was hell. After the first ectopic, I was reluctant to share any news of a positive test. How could I have 2 textbook pregnancies and now I can't keep them!? Who knew that a low dose aspirin would change everything!! Please don't give up and have faith God Bless!!

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