Hard couple of days... Ectopic pregnancy

[Anonymous]

We found out Wednesday that my pregnancy is in my right tube. Right at the base where the egg is released. It didn't even make it through the tube. I forgot the technical name for where it ended up implanting itself. Doctor said that my HSG test I had done a year ago showed two perfectly working tubes, but now he believes that the right tube might have malfunctioned. I felt like a robot. Not that he made me feel like that, it was just my own demons telling me to feel like that. He said that the next step may be IVF to decrease the risk of another Ectopic pregnancy. We won't be able to try again for another four months or so until I have gone through two full normal cycles. Now I'm questioning if I'll ever have another normal cycle again. I'll be 36 in September and now scared to death this was our only shot. I had two shots of Methotrexate that morning. Then found out I am Rh negative so they gave me a shot of Rhogan too. I go back for my final Methotrexate shot on Mother's Day. The irony huh? I just wanna skip this weekend.

[Anonymous]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I really wish I knew you in "real life" so I could give you a hug!

If it helps, six weeks ago, I was exactly where you are now, except that I'm 2 years older and the ectopic was in my left tube. It was a very stressful first few weeks because my beta numbers were all over the place, and we weren't sure what was going on in there. But then we saw the ectopic on the screen (internal ultrasound) and I went straight to the MTX shot that afternoon. (Only got one shot -- the embryo had stopped growing around 5 weeks and the betas were only in the mid-100s.)

That was a month ago. I got my period four days after the MTX shot and then my beta numbers dropped down to 2 a few days after that. My doctor told us to take a month off from trying and then start again when we felt ready. I just got my period agan today (day 30), so it seems that things are back on track.

won't lie -- I'm still pretty stressed out about it and wonder sometimes if there's a real problem in there. But FWIW, my doctors are pretty relaxed about it. They think it's just a one-time thing, and they haven't even recommended an HSG (never had one). I, but it turns out ectopics are common and tons of people go on to have healthy pregnancies (with or without IVF) afterwards. Check around on this board -- there are lots of encouraging threads.

Again, big hugs and lots of love to you. I know Mother's Day will be especially hard. I'm just going to think ahead to next year and imagine both of us pregnant or with new babies then!

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much for sharing your story with me. I am so sorry for your loss. Our stories are very similar. Are you an IUI patient or did you conceive naturally? It encouraging to hear that your doctors are optimistic that this is a one-time thing. Seems as if the MTX shot worked well for you. That's great that you got your period so soon after the shot. My doctor said it could take a couple months to get my period back. Have you always been regular?

You're story gives me hope. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Happy to share. Everyone on this board is so open and helpful. Happy to do the same where I can. (And I hope to have REAL hope to share eventually -- as in a BFP and healthy pregnancy!)

The ectopic was conceived naturally after 6 months of trying. It's actually my second pregnancy - DC#1 was also conceived naturally after 5 months and is a happy, healthy toddler. (I had an IUD placed after DC#1, and it came out 3 months before we started TTC #2.)

My cycles do tend to be quite regular. 28 days or so. But the doctors warned me it could take a few months to come back, so I feel lucky.

The other fact I think I left out above is that I initially thought I had miscarried. I got a faint positive line on the HPT the day my period was due, then a low positive beta number from the blood test the next day, then 10 days of light bleeding but no cramps or clots. So I went back for another beta test to be sure the lost pregnancy had cleared out and everything was ok. That's when the blood test numbers came back weird (still positive and slightly higher than before) which led us to the ectopic.

I hope the MTX does it's job for you. The statistics are encouraging -- it really does tend to work. And then as soon as your betas are back to zero (or one or two), get started on the prenatal vitamins (folic acid) again. I think that's the big problem with the MTX - it drains the folic acid reserves from your body to inhibit cell growth. So you want to be sure to build your reserves back up as soon as the ectopic is gone.

Of course, so much of this is staying relaxed and maintaining hope. Easier said than done, I know! But I've found it really helps to have support, even virtually here on DCUM!

Hugs and good luck!!

[Anonymous]

4 months seems like a long time. I had an ectopic (from ivf cycle) and had the meth. shots then was given the o.k. from my doctor to do another ivf cycle 2 months later. I was told that the drugs they give you had a short life span in your system, although you do need to take folic acid and after a few weeks, i still felt exhausted, which i was told was a side effect.

[Anonymous]

Another story: I had an ectopic that went to 9 weeks before we figured out it was ectopic, as I hadn't had my first appointment yet. Conceived naturally. I went in because I had pain and they didn't see anything on the ultrasound, so they did a D&C, which is when they determined it was ectopic. Then lapro surgery the next day because my shoulder started to hurt, so they thought it was getting to large to do meth. shot, though when they go in there they couldn't see a bulge so they actually didn't touch my tubes. So I got a meth. shot. Then a week later, my levels were still really high, so they did another d&c. The pregnancy had made its way into my uterus by then. It was a horrendous week. But....I got pregnant 3 months later at age 38 and gave birth to a beautiful girl, who is now 5.

[Anonymous]

I'm so sorry to hear your story. I could have written it myself a few years back. I got married at age 36 and got pregnant naturally a couple of months later but didn't know it because I was still having periods. Went to the doctor because of the pain. Got the shot, but it didn't work and unfortunately my tube ruptured two days later. I was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. Not fun. But....after seeing and RE and some disappointing months, I got pregnant with our twins with our first IVF.

Looking back, I remember being completely freaked out at the prospect of IVF. After going through it, I have to say it wasn't that bad. It was stressful, but so was all the months of trying and failing. With IVF I at least felt a sense of control.

Please give yourself some time to heal and take very good care of yourself. If your doctors advise you to go straight to IVF (and there are no mitiating financial barriers) I would take their advice.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you all for your stories. They have all helped me in different ways, and have greatly touched my heart.

I am taking each day as it comes. Some are better then others, but I know it will all be ok. I am trying to think of the positive here, and that is, I was able to get pregnant. I never thought that would happen. And I am grateful to have been able to go through that short experience, even though the outcome wasn't in our favor. All of your stories give me hope. We know that we'll have to do IVF next cycle because that is what the RE is suggesting. He wants to make sure that there is no chance for an ectopic pregnancy again. Although I'm not sure how you can do that with 100% certainty. But I trust him. I am scared to go through IVF but excited at the same time. I've had five shots in the hips in the past five days. I think I can take a couple more shots in that region if it results in a pregnancy.

I'm just at a crossroads now on whether to pay per cycle or to do the Shared Risk Program that Shady Grove offers.

Thank you again for your stories. My heart breaks for your loss, but I'm smiling knowing the successes you've had.

[Anonymous]

I am sorry you have to go through this, OP.

I had an ectopic 7 years ago on a clomid cycle after 15 months of TTC. I was frustrated, overwhelmed, scared and SAD. I got a shot of methotrexate, but the ectopic was too far gone (OB missed it and I was around 9 weeks) and I ended up having surgery and losing a tube. 2 months later we did our first IVF cycle and I was pregnant with TWINS. They just turned 6!!

FWIW, that time seems so long ago and I really have to think about which tube I lost anymore. Right, I think?! Hang in there. IVF was emotionally tough, but the shots were not bad at all. And the end result made it totally worth the pain.