2nd Ectopic 8 months apart

[Lauralindsay1234]

Hi all,

I've had 2 ectopic pregnancies in 8 months.

I had my first one in June 2018 when I was given 2 methotroxate injections.

This one I had surgery last week. On my early scan, it showed that the pregnancy was not in my womb and they thought it was in my right fallopian tube. I was shown a flicker on the screen which they told me was a heart beat. As my pregnancy was too advanced they could not treat me with methotroxate again and I was taken down to a ward to wait surgery.

When I getting surgery, they then seen my pregnancy was not in my right fallopian tube, it was on my right ovary? I have never heard of this. They removed it from there and sent the "tissue" away to get tested. I have had to attend EPAs to ensure my hormone levels are dropping which they are. Hopefully Thursday will be the last day I have to go.

I was told my last ectopic was in my left fallopian tube. So now I have had an ectopic on both sides

I don't have any children. Myself and my husband are now desperate to have kids.

I went to the doctor yesterday, she was thr most unhelpful person I have ever spoken to in my life. I broke down in tears and she has reluctlenty referred me on to get some scans to find out what is going on. Said I would get a letter in the post, unsure how long that will take.

Has anyone been through something sinilar and have had a positive outcome? I'm not even sure if I qualify for IVF. The doctor didn't even mention that to me. My appointment lasted 3 minutes!

xxxxxx

[EPT Host 20]

Dear Lauralindsay1234,
I am so sorry to hear of your ectopic pregnancies and losses. To experience one loss is difficult to deal with multiple losses is heartbreaking and my heart truly goes out to you.
Less than 1% of ectopic pregnancies are Ovarian (in or on the ovary), so it is very rare.
We have more information on types of ectopic pregnancy including ovarian here
https://www.ectopic.org.uk/patients/wha ... pregnancy/

I am so sorry to hear that your Dr was unhelpful, but it is good that you have been referred for scans. It is natural to be worried after everything you have been through. I'm sorry if this is difficult to read but sadly even with IVF there is the risk of ectopic pregnancy and as you have suffered the condition twice there is sadly an increased risk.
Once you have had the scans, it maybe worth asking you Dr for a referral to a fertility specialist. If you didn't find the Dr you saw this time sympathetic, I would request an appointment with another Dr.

Please be kind to yourself and allow time to grieve, to heal both physically and emotionally.
Sending much love and gentle hugs,
Karen x

The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
Registered Charity Number: 1071811

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[More2come]

Hi
Sorry about your loss.
I had 2 ectopics same side 6 months apart in left tube.
Both were treated with methotrexate.
A few months after 2nd ectopic i had surgery to evaluate tube. Found out it was badly damaged but everything else looked good apart from some endometriosis that was removed. I had no idea i had endometriosis. While doing the surgery they checked to see if right tube was open and thankfully it was. They removed left tube.

I wonder in they checked your tubes during surgery. Ectopics near/in ovary is very rare but can happen. Your tube could still be fine since the ectopic wasnt inside to cause damage.
Best of luck

[Maceface5]

Hi Lauralindsay1234, I’ve had a very similar situation to your second ectopic just probably a week or so apart. I went to EPU on 22 Mar 7wks pregnant with light bleeding and had been preparing myself for worst-case of a miscarriage but trying to stay positive. I was in no way prepared to have the diagnosis of an ectopic in the scan and mine was also live with a heartbeat.

They prepped me for laparoscopy explaining that I’d lose my right tube but after the surgery I had an additional large incision and on the debrief the next day they told me there was no evidence of the 23mm pregnancy in the tube so they had to perform a laparotomy and they did find what they thought was the pregnancy on my right ovary. It was all sent away for testing and I heard last week it was confirmed as they suspected as an ovarian ectopic.

I’ve been on a rollercoaster of emotions. The two hour wait for surgery with a live pregnancy was the hardest, I was heartbroken for what was about to happen and I’ve been very up and down since. I’ve also been going back for HCG tests and it’s hard to see the numbers come down as the hospital wants when you don’t want them down at all. I’ve had two counselling sessions which have been amazing and I think I was starting to come to terms with it but on Friday they got the histology results analysed and called to say the tube they removed had an infection so I’m now on strong antibiotics for two weeks to try and save the other tube which has knocked me back emotionally and physically again.

We have an 11 month old baby so in many ways are so lucky and I didn’t have your awful situation of two ectopics so close together, but I’d already imagined what that live pregnancy would have grown into had it just positioned itself somewhere else. It’s incredibly sad, frustrating and exhausting, and the future feels uncertain. I’m sure it will get better in time but I just wanted to say I share a lot of what you’re going through and it’s so tough. Sending you and anyone else struggling a lot of love through the tears, hope each day is a little bit easier than the last xxx

[Lauralindsay1234]

Thank you so much everyone for replying, it does help speaking to people that are going through or have been through something so similar to myself. It is truly devastating, I am so sorry for your loss.

My scan was on 22nd March, I got kept in hospital and had surgery was on 23rd. As I was stable emergencies got taken before me. After surgery, the doctor said my tubes looked healthy so I don't know what is going on. If they are blocked would it show up on the outside? Or do you need to see what's going on on the inside? I really am clueless and don't really know what's happening. When I went to visit the doctor just to ask additional questions the only answer she could give me was "you must have a blockage".

I haven't had my results back yet from the tissue that that was removed, I asked on Thursday but they weren't back yet. I have to go for another blood test this Thursday so I will ask again.

I just feel a bit in limbo just now, my doctors are really bad. I am now waiting for a letter to come through with a hospital appointment which I don't even know how long that normally takes. I want to be positive but right now it's extremely hard with so many unanswered questions.

My days are spent looking for success stories online which are pretty hard to find

[Maceface5]

It sounds like your GP is not informed and not at all helpful, hopefully when you get your tissue results back the hospital can give you a bit more of an idea about the condition of the tube, although I was also warned to prepare for not getting answers which is hard to hear. The surgeon said my tubes looked a little inflamed during surgery and it turned out I had a recent infection (currently unexplained but my partner and I have been exclusive for years!) but they can’t say if that was what caused the ectopic and I don’t know in your case if you’d be able to see any damage from the outside if you don’t have any current issues.

If it helps, although this ectopic was a surprise natural conception, our first is an IVF baby conceived in the first round through NHS-funded route. I got in just before our area’s age cut-off of 39. If you do have damaged tubes but good quality eggs there may be a good chance for IVF success for you too if you do want to go down that route in the future. Is it possible to see a different GP who may be more educated and supportive? xx

[Maceface5]

Just to add when I said surprise natural conception, we were TTC, just trying naturally for a few months before going back to the clinic... given our trouble getting pregnant first time hadn’t expected it to actually work!

[Lauralindsay1234]

That's devastating for you to conceive naturally and for this to happen. So sorry to hear that. My heart goes out to you both.

I have had a bit of a set back after my last appointment (yesterday) to get my levels checked. They have gone up slightly, not sure how that can happen, and I have to go back again on Monday. If they don't come down after Monday they said they will need to review treatment. Its just dragging on and on.

Its great to hear that your first round of IVF worked. This is definitely something we are interested in. I am 34 and my husband is 36. I think we would qualify. I wanted to discuss this with my doctor but the conversation didnt not go that way at all. I am going definitely going to change doctors.

Thank you for listening and replying. I appreciate it. Hope your keeping OK. Xxx

[Maceface5]

Ah, sorry to hear the levels have gone up, that must be unsettling. What level are they now? And are you going back to the hospital on Monday? Hopefully if you are at least you can use it as a chance to ask lots of questions. Will keep my fingers crossed for some positive news for you - this process already feels never ending without anything more to deal with.

My levels were thankfully finally down to 10 this week (third week of tests - 380/52/10) so they've discharged me on that front. But still awaiting test results from the swab to determine cause of the infection and still another week to go of the antibiotics, which are grim and giving me bad stomach issues constantly. I feel shattered and can't wait for this to be over. How long are you off work for? I've currently got a medical note to end of next week but at the rate I'm going I think I'll need to extend for at least another week... x

[Lauralindsay1234]

Last week they were at 60 and now they have gone up to 64 not a lot but the girl said on the phone if they don't come down they will need to review things. Physically I feel OK it's just mentally draining

I'm the same, been signed off until 19th but with the bank holiday would mean I'm back on 23rd. I kinda just want to get back to normality now so I was going to go back but depends on what happens after Monday.

Aww that's rubbish, I'm sorry the antibiotics are unsettling your stomach. You can't go back to work like that, your better to take the time off just now to recover fully. You don't want to go back and then have to be off again xxx

[Bhakti]

Hi

I was just reading your story and wanted to comment as our stories are not exactly the same but similar in that we’ve both had two ectopics in 8 months.

In July 2018 I was pregnant for the first time. It was an accident as we weren’t trying but the baby was definitely wanted. I had an ectopic pregnancy in my left tube and as I was in pain and bleeding they recommended surgery and my left tube was then removed. My husband and I waited some time but then decided to start trying in April and much to our surprise we conceived first time. I went for an early pregnancy scan but nothing was found in my womb and I was then told to come back for another one a few days later. I don’t want back and they still couldn’t find anything but was told as my womb lining has thickened and they couldn’t see anything in my tube or ovaries. Good news I thought. A few days later I went for a third scan by now my hcg was circa 8,000. They found the sac and fetal pole measuring 5 weeks 6 days but it wasn’t in my uterus. The baby had lodged itself in the stump of my Fallopian tube from my left side so partially in my womb and partially in my tube.

Three consultants looked at my scans and scanned me due to the fact it’s so rare. They don’t want to operate due to the risks of already having had surgery on my left tube and it being removed. I have had my first metho injection yesterday. I don’t feel any different yet, no pain no bleeding just the odd slight cramp on my left side.

I asked why this keeps happening. I’ve only ever been pregnant twice and twice it’s ended ectopic. All I get told is it’s bad luck. There’s nothing wrong with my tube or my ovaries and they think I should try naturally as ivf has risks of ectopic too. Is this true? I’m so confused.

[Lauralindsay1234]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Your situation is so similar to mine. Ive only been pregnant twice and both ectopic but my first one was the left and second on the right. The first one was treated with the injection, second with surgery and I had to get the injection later as my hormone levels didn't go down as they took the pregnancy off my ovary.

Yeh I think that is true that IVF can result in ectopic but I would maybe ask for a second opinion? I read somewhere that the odds are better than trying naturally. I also know someone that had an ectopic, had their one tube removed and the other tube was blocked, had IVF and it was successful.

I too have a lot of unanswered questions. Always get a different answer. I am waiting for a hospital referral to find out what's going on. I think you get dye put through your tube to see if their is a blockage. Have you had that?

Sending lots of love xx

[Bhakti]

My right tube picked up this pregnancy so it’s open for business the egg just flew to the other side and bypassed the uterus.

I’ve been told my ovaries and tube look fine and there’s nothing wrong. Once my hcg drops and I’m in the clear I’m definitely asking for a referral. The consultants have said next time i would be under their care from the moment I get a positive result but I’m not sure what difference that would make!

I hope you’re feeling better now? I’m just hoping my hcg levels start dropping.
Xxx

[Lauralindsay1234]

Yes I feel alot better thanks. I'm back at work now, wanted to get back to normality. How you feeling today?

Your levels will come down. I don't know if they told you this but when you get ypur day 4 bloods it is normal for your levels to go up a bit but they will come down for day 7.

Xxx

[Bhakti]

Thanks for the heads up! My hcg is pretty high so I’m hoping it drops quickly. So far I’ve experienced no pain or bleeding. The odd cramp here and there but nothing more then that. It’s worrying me as I’d heard the injection was supposed to be painful and uncomfortable? When did you experience pain?