Need to take Cytotec to start miscarriage--advice?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
16:06 here. I opted for cytotec because I had a D&C a while back, and while I don't know if it caused scarring, I do think that it depleted my uterine lining entirely too much. My periods were really, really lite for the next few months. I also had ongoing pain in my side/uterus after my D&C, and I, to this day, wonder if there is some damage there that might have caused this second miscarriage. A week after my D&C, I passed a little piece of blue plastic. I'm guessing it was in there from the D&C. So I agree with the poster you are talking about (and no, I'm not the same one): D&Cs have risks, and I think doctors don't acknowledge the extent of those risks and certainly don't admit to them. It is also unclear (and I don't think medically established) whether it's a good thing to scrape the lining of the uterus to the degree they do in D&Cs. The lining needs to build back up before an embryo can implant appropriately. And I wonder if they are too aggressive in how much they scrape. I didn't have any issues with the cytotec. No vomiting. No excruciating pain. I don't know yet if everything was passed and won't know until the follow-up visit, but I'm glad I gave the cytotec a try. At least I will know if I get a D&C that it was necessary. I spent months worrying the last time that I was too quick to do a D&C and it was delaying my ability to conceive. No matter what individual preference a patient or doctor may have, cytotec is still the less invasive option. And there are ways of mitigating the pain and side effects. It is also pretty temporary. I did the pills in the cheek/gum, and I still didn't have vomiting. But I ate a meal and took pain killers a half hour before doing the cytotec, and I think that helped. I just want to counter the scary stories about cytotec. I waited 2 weeks to take cytotec because of all of the scary stories I read. And I totally regret not just doing it 2 weeks ago. |
Anonymous
17:59 here. That's interesting that you were strongly advised by someone at GW. There's a GW doc who's on the forefront of Asherman's treatment (Robinson) and I wonder if he's educated his colleagues! I had to fight NOT to have the D&C even after I already had been diagnosed with Asherman's... Please consider calling your doctors office and asking if you can get prescriptions for a painkiller and Zofran. You may have to push, politely, but there is no harm in asking. It made the whole thing so much more comfortable for me -- no nausea and very minor pain. If he says no (which I'd be mad about since it's standard for Shady Grove), ask and see if you can find a couple of Percoset or Vicodin from someone who had a root canal or something. It makes me mad that women suffer when there are effective drugs that can reduce discomfort. I was terrified but wanted so badly for it to be over. I took the Zofran and painkiller at 9 am, the cytotec at 9:30, and by 1 pm it was done and I was almost giddy with relief. This is just my experience -- read the link and decide for yourself -- but I really do believe that dipping the in the vinegar (acetic acid) sped the time to completion. It was all over quickly and cleanly. And lastly -- I'm sorry. It is a sucky situation. You are not alone. |
Anonymous
I recently had two D&Cs 4 months apart and I'm really scared of this. What were you symptoms? |
Anonymous
Not the PP, but are you talking about symptoms of Asherman's? I think the problem with uterine scarring is that you could have no symptoms -- except fertility issues. If you are concerned, ask your doctor to get a saline ultrasound (can't remember the exact name), but it's how they look for scarring on the uterus. I haven't had it done, but I've read it's fairly simple procedure. |
Anonymous
| My only symptom was very light periods. |
Anonymous
|
I had a D&C with my first miscarriage and was concerned about scarring, so used Cytotec for my second; I ultimately needed a D&C anyway to follow up with the Cytotec because the miscarriage was incomplete. I was, however, further along than you are, so that might have affected the outcome; I wonder if that explains much of the difference between the experiences people on here have had. I will say, however, that you should a) do it in the morning--if something goes wrong, you don't want to have to deal with it in the middle of the night; b) push for painkillers, but, at a minimum, start taking the strongest thing you can get over the counter before you start; and c) have someone with you. I had a lot of pain and tremendous bleeding--soaking through a heavy duty pad in less than 15 minutes for a couple of hours. My dad, who's an MD, happened to be visiting; if he had not, I would have been in the hospital. It was really quite scary, and passing the fetus was traumatic (what the heck was I supposed to do with it?).
Please be careful and don't do it alone. I'm so sorry for your loss. I know how hard this is. |
Anonymous
| You don't HAVE TO take it. You can wait for your body to start the process itself. Been there twice. I know it is a hard thing to wait for your body to do it, but I personally opted for that. From what I've heard either way you go could be either really painful or something like a really heavy period. Anyways, wishing you the best. |
Anonymous
| I did cytotec 1.5 months ago (after 8 week ultrasound showed no heartbeat). I was terrified after reading stories online, but it was honestly fine. Very little pain, though I did bleed on and off for 3 weeks, which I hadn't expected. For me, so much better than waiting for it to happen naturally. Just got my period, and anxious to start trying again. PS - would be interested to hear about other posters' previous and subsequent pregnancies. I have 2 children, this is my first miscarriage. |
Anonymous
| Add me to the list of people with scarring complications after a d&c. Though I was able to get pregnant again, the scarring caused placental previa, acreta, and abruption and eventually led to a hysterectomy. I'd try the drugs first. |
Anonymous
|
I'm so sorry for your loss, OP. I had a missed miscarriage where the baby had stopped growing 4 weeks before. I opted for the Cytotec and it wasn't as bad for me as some of these other posters. The cramping was painful, but definitely not unbearable. I think I just took ibuprofen. I didn't have any vomiting or diarrhea. The Cytotec didn't work for me after about 36 hours, so I got a D&C instead. The D&C ended up being a really positive experience for me. I got pregnant again 6 months later and just had a baby.
Based on my experience, I would take the Cytotec over doing nothing but call your doctor for more explicit instructions and to ask about pain management. I personally preferred to get the physical part over with so I could start healing emotionally. Good luck to you. I'm so sorry you're going through this. |
Anonymous
FYI, the WHO recommends that the effectiveness of Cytotec be judged after ONE WEEK, not 36 hours. Shady Grove allowed 3 days, which I thought was bullshit. It's over 90% effective if you give it the full week. Look up the WHO info on misoprostol. It is used safely all over the world. If I were a cynic I'd say that it's not used in America very much because it's such a cheap and non-interventionist option. And doctors who do use it don't use it properly and then claim it doesn't work. SG told me it was only 60% effective. If it's 60% effective for them, they are using it wrong. Luckily I did my own research. |
Anonymous
I'm one of the PPs who thinks cytotec is a better first-line option. I just used it last weekend, and I'm not sure everything has passed, so I'm not sure if I'll need the D&C anyhow. But here's my question, what is the effective way to use it? I've read most doctors give two doses. Mine only did one, and he's definitely pushing the D&C. I have a slight worry that maybe I should have gotten two doses. But I agree, it is much less invasive than the D&C. And I don't think people realize the risks with the D&C. It's possible as well that they don't get everything out with a D&C. After all, it's not like they have great visibility where they are scraping. And that's what scares me the most. I have also read in some places that it actually isn't a big deal if not everything comes out right away. I don't know if this is true, but I read somewhere that usually, it will all come out in your next period. I have strong reservations about the D&C. I felt like I was pushed into one on my last miscarriage and it reduced my lining too much and possibly caused damage that led to the current miscarriage. It seems to me a relatively recent thing that D&Cs are standard after first trimester miscarriages. So many older women who have had early (first trimester) miscarriages just say they passed everything naturally. They didn't even have the option of the cytotec. Sure, it was drawn out and miserable, but it doesn't sound like they all got infections. It seems to me that the D&C (where they force open your cervix and use tools to scrape out your uterus) has a greater infection risk than a natural miscarriage or one that is *sped up* with cytotec. Perhaps there aren't more infections with D&Cs because they give you doxy (antibiotic) during the procedure and after. It isn't necessarily that they get everything out. But again, I'm curious to hear what you think is the correct way to use the cytotec. |
Anonymous
| I know several people who had a bad experience with cytotec and it is ineffective often enough to require a d&c anyway. As for the few posters who claim to know more than doctors, I'll let you decide whether you want to trust someoneone you've met in real life who has gone to medical school or anonymous internet posters. |
Anonymous
Not sure what you are asking. I had a great experience with the d&c, quick and painless. Got pregnant with my first child within 2 months and had a completely uneventful pregnancy. Went on to have a second child two years later with no issues. Had a horrible experience with the cytotec, tons of cramping and days of heavy bleeding. No way I would do that again or rec. it to anyone else. |
Anonymous
I'm one of the PPs who thinks it's worth trying cytotec first, and I haven't claimed to "know more than doctors." But I HAVE experienced doctors not being completely forthright with me about the risks of a D&C. And there are doctors who do actually advise trying the cytotec first. And one thing is undeniable, it is clear that different doctors have advised different ways of using the cytotec. Some don't even prescribe painkillers. So, yes, this is a reason to ask questions of the doctor. I also don't understand how your anecdotal experience is supposed to trump other posters' anecdotal experience. You know people who had bad experiences with cytotec. Well, I've used the cytotec, and it was fine. I've had bad experiences with D&C. My entire point is that the cytotec is pretty noninvasive. It may be uncomfortable, but it is relatively noninvasive (especially for this use -- it's a different issue in use with delivery of a live baby). There is no question that a D&C is more invasive than using cytotec. And I can't imagine any doctor who has gone to medical school would disagree with that statement. All PPs are trying to say is that it might be worth it to try the cytotec first, but make sure the doctor gives you painkillers and proper instructions, as it's clear OP's doctor did not. And that can make a huge difference in the experience you have with the cytotec. I definitely think that taking the painkillers a half hour before the cytotec and not having an empty stomach was a HUGE factor in me not experiencing any severe pain or stomach distress. But my doctor didn't volunteer that information. I HAD TO ASK ABOUT PAINKILLERS AND WHEN TO TAKE THEM. I think a big problem is that doctors prescribe the cytotec but don't go over all of the instructions in taking it. I also think that, in general, doctors don't thoroughly explain all of the possible complications of a D&C. |