final update - ectopic

On Jan 11, 5:56*am, cjra wrote:
Thanks all for the support. Not to be too dramatic but it's thanks to
groups like this and kellymom where I got lots of advice that I am
literally still alive. I probably wouldn't have thought about even
taking a pg test or that it was ectopic. My mind had skipped over
that.

Well thanks goodness for that, I was chatting to my husband last night
and mentioning how you'd been sent away from the ER and how I'd posted
that you should at bare minimum have another blood test and saying how
when I posted that, not for one minute did I think you would have an
ectopic, just that I was irate that the ER doctors didn't direct you
to appropriate follow up.

I have to wait 6 months to ttc again, which at 38 seems like an
eternity, but at least I am still here!

I know absolutely nothing about this consideration, but I'd definitely
double check it, what the risks would be, what the risk of another
ectopic is and how does it change over time. IIRC you had a
miscarriage before A? If it were me I'd want to know that the advice
had been given taking age into consideration. My doula had had an
ectopic pregnancy, which had presented with very very minimal
symptoms, but was bad enough for her to lose the tube, she was
pregnant within weeks, I don't know what was said to her about timing,
but she was monitored closely in the early stages, she was mid
thirties at the time and had taken a long time to conceive her first
and the ectopic, different circumstances, but enough in my mind that
I'd want to ask more questions, get more numbers and make my own
judgement of the risk/benefit profile.

Hope your recovery goes well, did they go in laprascopically? I've had
that done for investigation and the pain afterwards seemed to be
mostly from trapped gas and it was horrendous for a short time, but
then a very rapid recovery, but that I was still jolly thankful to
have very little time for a couple of weeks looking after DS (15mths
at the time). I think I must have done some work in that time, but
reduced hours I think.

Cheers
Anne

Anne Rogers wrote:
On Jan 11, 5:56�am, cjra wrote:
Thanks all for the support. Not to be too dramatic but it's thanks to
groups like this and kellymom where I got lots of advice that I am
literally still alive. I probably wouldn't have thought about even
taking a pg test or that it was ectopic. My mind had skipped over
that.

Well thanks goodness for that, I was chatting to my husband last night
and mentioning how you'd been sent away from the ER and how I'd posted
that you should at bare minimum have another blood test and saying how
when I posted that, not for one minute did I think you would have an
ectopic, just that I was irate that the ER doctors didn't direct you
to appropriate follow up.

I did f/u with the OB on friday (1st er visit was tuesday) and he did
a blood test but based on the sono report he felt confident it wasn't
ectopic. In fact was quite surprised that on the wed following it was
so obvious. Even when the blood test showed rising hcg, it was minor
(165 to 207 I think). Initially he planned for a 3rd blood test but
when I told him about the pain on sat pm and the 2nd er trip, he
recommended a sono but felt it wasn't an emergency.

I went in on wed b/c I was spo dizzy. The pain was no longer severe
but had moved to me shoulder/neck.

I asked him today about the sono in the ER and how it was missed. He
said that wasn't too surprising if it was early on, and that typically
it takes 3 visits before there's a clear diagnosis.


I have to wait 6 months to ttc again, which at 38 seems like an
eternity, but at least I am still here!

I know absolutely nothing about this consideration, but I'd definitely
double check it, what the risks would be, what the risk of another
ectopic is and how does it change over time. IIRC you had a
miscarriage before A? If it were me I'd want to know that the advice
had been given taking age into consideration. My doula had had an
ectopic pregnancy, which had presented with very very minimal
symptoms, but was bad enough for her to lose the tube, she was
pregnant within weeks, I don't know what was said to her about timing,
but she was monitored closely in the early stages, she was mid
thirties at the time and had taken a long time to conceive her first
and the ectopic, different circumstances, but enough in my mind that
I'd want to ask more questions, get more numbers and make my own
judgement of the risk/benefit profile.

I will discuss this more thoroughly at my f/u appt to be sure. I think
the issue is the scar tissue in the repaired tube. They want to make
sure the tube is fully healed. I am at increased risk of a second
ectopic now. Yes, I did miscarry my 1st pg at 11 weeks.



Hope your recovery goes well, did they go in laprascopically?

No. He is not trained to do it and there wasn't time to find someone
who was.

Definitely have the pain from trapped gas, but all the muscle/ tissue
is sore too. It's hard to sit up. Kneeling on all 4s is the best
position. It hurts like hell tho. Honestly labor was better but I
think it's a mental thing.

I'm to stay out of work and no driving for 2 weeks at least. I am home
now.

On Jan 11, 5:56 am, cjra wrote:
Thanks all for the support. Not to be too dramatic but it's thanks to
groups like this and kellymom where I got lots of advice that I am
literally still alive. I probably wouldn't have thought about even
taking a pg test or that it was ectopic. My mind had skipped over
that.

I'm so glad that it all worked out. Good for you for being persistant
in following through.

Sharalyn
mom to Alexander James

On Jan 11, 10:39*am, betsy wrote:
On Jan 11, 5:56 am, cjra wrote:



Tho I think my OB was on target and didn't hesitate, he was initially
going off the report of the ER where they basically disregarded my
symptoms. I am fairly good about being an advocate for myself, but at
the same time hate to be seen as a hypochondriac and I know how
doctors roll their eyes when they hear "I read online...."

I'm so glad you persisted. *It is very hard to be a good advocate for
yourself when you are ill.



In any case, it all could have ended very badly.

Turns out the tube didn't rupture and they were able to save it. The
egg never attached. When he sliced open the tube, out popped a
"marble" (the egg mass). The tube is clear as is the other one, tho of
course I am at greater risk for an ectopic again.

I'm glad that it worked out so well given the circumstances. *While
you don't want another ectopic pregnancy, if it happens again, you are
much less likely to be brushed off at the emergency room.

True, this puts me more at risk for another, so they'd at least take
me seriously. I just hope I never experience it again. My SIL had an
ectopic years ago. She now has 10 kids and one on the way (I can't
recall when the ectopic occurred, I think after #3), so obviously it
didn't affect her fertility. On the other hand, I had a cousin die
from a ruptured ectopic years ago.


I have to wait 6 months to ttc again, which at 38 seems like an
eternity, but at least I am still here!

I know the biological clock worries too. *I had a miscarriage at 38
and it took months for my cycle to normalize enough for another
pregnancy. *I now have a lovely 3 year old born since then and am
expecting another within a month, despite another miscarriage at 41
and months waiting for normal fertility to return. *I hope everything
goes well and you have another. *I actually think that having longer
spacing than we had planned between children has worked well for us.

Thanks for offering that, it really helps to know others having kids
at that age.I know it's possible, but it's nice to hear others'
success stories.

I'm also crossing my fingers for DH's cousin. She's 41 and also had an
ectopic pg in October and is very much hoping to conceive again (this
would be her first).

No. He is not trained to do it and there wasn't time to find someone
who was.

Definitely have the pain from trapped gas, but all the muscle/ tissue
is sore too. It's hard to sit up. Kneeling on all 4s is the best
position. It hurts like hell tho. Honestly labor was better but I
think it's a mental thing.

I'm to stay out of work and no driving for 2 weeks at least. I am home
now.

Shame there wasn't anyone available, it makes a big difference to
recovery time, even appendectomies are often laparoscopic these days.
Sounds like from what they found you'd have been a really good
candidate had someone been available. I hope you've got decent
painkillers (if you don't call your doctor), they won't help the pain
from the gas, but they should help the other stuff, which helps you
mobilise and sort out the pain from the gas! Minimising pain relief
after surgery doesn't seem to help anyone, though pay attention to
your bowels, anything opiate based can slow things down and the last
thing you want after abdominal surgery is difficulty passing a stool!

Cheers
Anne

it really helps to know others having kids at that age.

I was older than you are now when I conceived my firstborn.

Pologirl

On Jan 12, 4:39*pm, Anne Rogers wrote:
No. He is not trained to do it and there wasn't time to find someone
who was.

Definitely have the pain from trapped gas, but all the muscle/ tissue
is sore too. It's hard to sit up. Kneeling on all 4s is the best
position. It hurts like hell tho. Honestly labor was better but I
think it's a mental thing.

I'm to stay out of work and no driving for 2 weeks at least. I am home
now.

Shame there wasn't anyone available, it makes a big difference to
recovery time, even appendectomies are often laparoscopic these days.

Yeah, there just wasn't time to get that organized. The doc wasn't
willing to wait and I wasn't going to argue.

Sounds like from what they found you'd have been a really good
candidate had someone been available. I hope you've got decent
painkillers (if you don't call your doctor), they won't help the pain
from the gas, but they should help the other stuff, which helps you
mobilise and sort out the pain from the gas!

hrm. I've got pain killers that are ok - basically tylenol with
codeine, but I'm going to stop taking it. It knocks me out for a few
hours and gives me really horrific dreams, so I wake up exhausted and
really groggy, then can't fall back to sleep. Tylenol or advil is
working better. Doesn't take the pain away completely, but takes the
edge off without the other effects. I had demerol in the hospital and
it gave me splitting headaches.

Minimising pain relief
after surgery doesn't seem to help anyone, though pay attention to
your bowels, anything opiate based can slow things down and the last
thing you want after abdominal surgery is difficulty passing a stool!


Um, yeah. I'm getting nervous. I think I will have some prunes
tonight...as I haven't had a bowel movement since before surgery
Wednesday (tho my system did clean itself out pretty well on Tuesday
night...) Of course I didn't have real food until Friday, but still...
And for TMI - I can't really wipe myself there, as I can't stretch
back without a lot of pain.

Um, yeah. I'm getting nervous. I think I will have some prunes
tonight...as I haven't had a bowel movement since before surgery
Wednesday (tho my system did clean itself out pretty well on Tuesday
night...) Of course I didn't have real food until Friday, but still...
And for TMI - I can't really wipe myself there, as I can't stretch
back without a lot of pain.

not sure why, but codeine is particularly constipating amongst
opiates, as you've had surgery, you should be careful what you use and
probably only try things you've used before. One I personally like is
lactulose solution, but I've not seen it to buy in the US, I had my
MIL bring some over before I had my surgery. Most things that have any
laxative affect send my bowels into overdrive, but senna doesn't and I
decided in advance I was going to take it after number 2 and it worked
great, but it could have been the vast quantities of water I drank
that helped too. I had the same tear reopen and much worse internal
damage to my pelvic floor but that side of things was a non issue
thanks to paying attention to it, when first time I'd had to run a
shallow bath to pee in! Can you get a spray bottle to spritz yourself
down there, or maybe use baby wipes, it's quicker to wipe to less
effort iyswim. You could also do it from the front, being very careful
about it, I can't remember why, but I've definitely resorted to that
option, with no issues.

Cheers
Anne

On Jan 12, 10:08 pm, Anne Rogers wrote:
Um, yeah. I'm getting nervous. I think I will have some prunes
tonight...as I haven't had a bowel movement since before surgery
Wednesday (tho my system did clean itself out pretty well on Tuesday
night...) Of course I didn't have real food until Friday, but still...
And for TMI - I can't really wipe myself there, as I can't stretch
back without a lot of pain.

not sure why, but codeine is particularly constipating amongst
opiates, as you've had surgery, you should be careful what you use and
probably only try things you've used before. One I personally like is
lactulose solution, but I've not seen it to buy in the US, I had my
MIL bring some over before I had my surgery. Most things that have any
laxative affect send my bowels into overdrive, but senna doesn't and I
decided in advance I was going to take it after number 2 and it worked
great, but it could have been the vast quantities of water I drank
that helped too. I had the same tear reopen and much worse internal
damage to my pelvic floor but that side of things was a non issue
thanks to paying attention to it, when first time I'd had to run a
shallow bath to pee in! Can you get a spray bottle to spritz yourself
down there, or maybe use baby wipes, it's quicker to wipe to less
effort iyswim. You could also do it from the front, being very careful
about it, I can't remember why, but I've definitely resorted to that
option, with no issues.

Cheers
Anne


You can't find lactulose because it's a prescription drug here.

You don't wipe from back to front due to the possibility of wiping
bacteria from your gut into your urethra, causing a UTI (one of the
top causers of UTI in women is ecoli). (that said, I've done it, and
I've never had a UTI in my life--knock on wood)

Sharalyn
mom to Alexander James

"sharalyns" wrote in message
...
On Jan 12, 10:08 pm, Anne Rogers wrote:
Um, yeah. I'm getting nervous. I think I will have some prunes
tonight...as I haven't had a bowel movement since before surgery
Wednesday (tho my system did clean itself out pretty well on Tuesday
night...) Of course I didn't have real food until Friday, but still...
And for TMI - I can't really wipe myself there, as I can't stretch
back without a lot of pain.

not sure why, but codeine is particularly constipating amongst
opiates, as you've had surgery, you should be careful what you use and
probably only try things you've used before. One I personally like is
lactulose solution, but I've not seen it to buy in the US, I had my
MIL bring some over before I had my surgery. Most things that have any
laxative affect send my bowels into overdrive, but senna doesn't and I
decided in advance I was going to take it after number 2 and it worked
great, but it could have been the vast quantities of water I drank
that helped too. I had the same tear reopen and much worse internal
damage to my pelvic floor but that side of things was a non issue
thanks to paying attention to it, when first time I'd had to run a
shallow bath to pee in! Can you get a spray bottle to spritz yourself
down there, or maybe use baby wipes, it's quicker to wipe to less
effort iyswim. You could also do it from the front, being very careful
about it, I can't remember why, but I've definitely resorted to that
option, with no issues.

Cheers
Anne


You can't find lactulose because it's a prescription drug here.

You don't wipe from back to front due to the possibility of wiping
bacteria from your gut into your urethra, causing a UTI (one of the
top causers of UTI in women is ecoli). (that said, I've done it, and
I've never had a UTI in my life--knock on wood)


very quietly

me too.
--

Jamie
Earth Angels:
Taylor Marlys -- 01/03/03
Addison Grace -- 09/30/04

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