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Anyone had an ectopic treated with methotrexate in both tubes?

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Scrubsfan103
Posts: 34
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2021 11:43 am

Re: Anyone had an ectopic treated with methotrexate in both tubes?

Post by Scrubsfan103 »

Yeah every case is so different. I just wish I knew what was the cause of my ectopics. Seriously considering IVF but think I want to try one more time first. I will see what the gynocologist recommends at our meeting in May.

Calliepup
Posts: 18
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2021 12:46 pm

Re: Anyone had an ectopic treated with methotrexate in both tubes?

Post by Calliepup »

Thought I’d update my hcg levels to see if it helps anyone else:

5+0 - 740
5+2 - 1700
6+1 - 4200 - diagnosed
6+3 - 4300 - methotrexate administered
Day 4 post methotrexate - 5300
Day 7 -5200, dose 2 administered
Day 4 post second dose - 3800
Day 7 post second dose - 3300

Esb27
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2020 9:45 pm

Re: Anyone had an ectopic treated with methotrexate in both tubes?

Post by Esb27 »

Hi Calliepup,

Glad to hear they are going down now after the 2nd dose - I hope you aren’t too disheartened by the small drop in day 4 to day 7. Seems to take most people a while to drop, especially after having to have a 2nd jab. Finger crossed they continue to drop. How you feeling about it?

My day 7 levels were 100 (from 542 on day 3 abs 1900 on the day of the injection), finally feeling myself again today (day 9) though literally in the last hour I’ve been getting a dull ache in my left shoulder kinda near the tip. Quite paranoid about a rupture but it’s not a bad pain more like a dull ache and my bleeding stopped yesterday/I feel fine but am getting a bit nervous. Trying to remember how my shoulder felt in my last ectopic but that was almost 2 years ago and I’ve blanked it out!

Scrubsfan103
Posts: 34
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2021 11:43 am

Re: Anyone had an ectopic treated with methotrexate in both tubes?

Post by Scrubsfan103 »

HI Calliepup and Es27,

Glad both of your levels are going down. Hopefully they continue to down.

I had my follow up on Wednesday and the hcg level was 5 so they consider the matter resolved and I no longer have to go back. Its very bittersweet as I would have been 10 weeks today but I am thankful that the medication worked. In all it took 4 weeks from date of injection. The first time my levels were slightly higher and it took about 6 weeks.

I have already restarted my prenatal vitamins and hope to try again in 12 weeks depending on how my appointment with the fertility specialist goes in May.

Esb27
Posts: 28
Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2020 9:45 pm

Re: Anyone had an ectopic treated with methotrexate in both tubes?

Post by Esb27 »

Hi Scrubsfan103,

Glad to hear you’ve finally been discharged. 4 weeks is pretty good!

Good luck for 3 months time and your visit to the fertility specialist!

Scrubsfan103
Posts: 34
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2021 11:43 am

Re: Anyone had an ectopic treated with methotrexate in both tubes?

Post by Scrubsfan103 »

Thanks Esb27.

Good luck with your recovery as well.



Nicole

Calliepup
Posts: 18
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2021 12:46 pm

Re: Anyone had an ectopic treated with methotrexate in both tubes?

Post by Calliepup »

Hi,

Glad both your levels are reducing. Mine are too - they were 740 on Monday. I did have a few days of really bad cramps but the cramping and bleeding has stopped.

We are going to wait 12 weeks from the second injection rather than 12 weeks from hcg 0. I’m going to try and be prescribed folate rather than folic acid once my hcg falls to 0. I’m just scared to wait too much longer. That will mark 1 year since we started trying. It’s crazy because I always fell pregnant really easily until now.

Still not got my gynaecologist appointment. It was apparently processed at the end of March so I’ve to wait another few weeks until I hear, and then it’ll be a wait for the actual appointment.

Scrubsfan103
Posts: 34
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2021 11:43 am

Re: Anyone had an ectopic treated with methotrexate in both tubes?

Post by Scrubsfan103 »

Hi Calliepup,

Glad your levels are going down.

Yeah, I am eager to try again as well.

I hope you get an appointment soon.

All the best,
Nicole

Lanterns
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2021 8:15 pm

Re: Anyone had an ectopic treated with methotrexate in both tubes?

Post by Lanterns »

Hi everyone, I’m so sorry to read what you are all having to go through.

Wish I could add some words of encouragement. I’m going through my second ectopic pregnancy at the moment and going back to the EPU later today to be treated with methotrexate for an ectopic in my right tube.

My first ectopic was in my left tube around the same time a year ago and was expectantly managed.

I feel so devastated by it, not only because I feel as though the methotrexate is terminating a pregnancy who is desperately trying to cling on, but also because it’s happened in both tubes. I feel as though i’d processed and come to terms with what happened the first time around and the fact that I might only have one good tube as initially they suspected this second one was on my left side again. I’m struggling to come to terms with the fact that there’s something wrong with both my tubes and that I may not conceive naturally or at all. The next step after this is a dye test to check my tubes are clear and if not it’s ivf. I’m 33 so I’m worried that time is getting away from us and our chances aren’t good.

One thing I can say is that my husband and are I are doing our best to take things one day at a time and trying to stay hopeful about the future, but it’s hard. A life without children for me is something I will really struggle to come to terms with if it comes to that.

Scrubsfan103
Posts: 34
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2021 11:43 am

Re: Anyone had an ectopic treated with methotrexate in both tubes?

Post by Scrubsfan103 »

Hi Lanterns,

I am sorry that you are going through this.

We have really similar stories and I completely understand how you feel.

Like you, I thought my second ectopic was in the same left tube especially since I was having pain on that same side. But that turned out to be a cyst. I was so surprised to hear it was in my right tube as I had hoped that I had at least one good tube.

I have had one fertility doctor suggest that both tubes must have been initially damaged and are possibly even now more so after having ectopics in both. She also cautioned that even with IVF, ectopic pregnancy is still possible and thus I may eventually have to remove my tubes. I obviously don't want to have to do that so I have my appointment with a fertility specialist on May 4th and am hoping they can refer me to get my tubes checked. If all seems okay i am willing to try one more time though i know from experience these tests unfortunately do not guarantee that another
won't happen. If there is some damage or blockage that can't be repaired I will have IVF but am unsure if i would resort to electively removing any tubes. If I have another ectopic in either tube I would probably choose surgery.

Its very hard for me as well to think about never having kids. I want to be a mother more than anything.

I wish you all the best in your recovery. Try to remain hopeful.

Nicole

Lanterns
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2021 8:15 pm

Re: Anyone had an ectopic treated with methotrexate in both tubes?

Post by Lanterns »

Hi Nicole,

I’m so sorry to hear that you having to go through this as well but thank you for sharing, it’s comforting to know I’m not on my own. I hope you are coping as well as can be expected.

My treatment went well yesterday, I wasn’t expecting there to be 4 injections (2 in each side) and I sobbed from start to finish, but also had a quiet moment of saying goodbye in my own way. Luckily so far there’s not been any side effects but it’s early days so we’ll see how it goes.

I really wasn’t expecting to feel this level of grief and I don’t quite know what to do with myself but I think the answer to that is time. At the moment for me, the idea of facing more heartbreak over another potential ectopic or failed IVF feels a bit much and I’m not getting any younger (33). I’ve always had it in the back of my mind that I might like to adopt, and perhaps all of the this awful stuff now is a calling to do that. Who knows?!

I really really hope that your story has a happy outcome and that you get to have your baby in your arms sooner rather than later, however they may get here. Sending hugs, support and loads of luck. You are not on your own.

Scrubsfan103
Posts: 34
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2021 11:43 am

Re: Anyone had an ectopic treated with methotrexate in both tubes?

Post by Scrubsfan103 »

Hi Lanterns,

It really does help to have other people understand what you are going through. No one that I personally know has been through this once let alone twice and apart from my husband I haven't told any of my family or friends.

Having the injection can be really heartbreaking. It took me about a week to start to experience side effects and that was after i had to get a second dose. Hopefully, you do not have to get another dose.

Its been almost six weeks since my initial diagnosis so I can say time does help. But I still think about my losses everyday and feel a pang whenever I see a pregnant woman or babies. My baby from my first ectopic would have been due this month so it's extra hard thinking about what could have been.

I really want to try again but it is scary to think about going through this a third time. I read that the chances of a third ectopic are about 25-30% which is so scary. At the same time, I have read numerous stories on this board about women who had two or more ectopics and went on to have successful pregnancies which does give me some hope. My husband and I are also open to adoption. We just want a baby however we are blessed to have one.

Thank you for your kind words. I hope that you get your baby soon as well. I wish for you healing both physically and emotionally.

If you ever want to chat, I am here for you.

Nicole

Lanterns
Posts: 5
Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2021 8:15 pm

Re: Anyone had an ectopic treated with methotrexate in both tubes?

Post by Lanterns »

Thank you and likewise. Please keep me updated with how you are doing. I’m back to the hospital on Wednesday for my first blood test post injection so I’ll let you know how it goes.

Scrubsfan103
Posts: 34
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2021 11:43 am

Re: Anyone had an ectopic treated with methotrexate in both tubes?

Post by Scrubsfan103 »

Hi everyone,

I hope everyone is doing better.

Just thought I would give an update. I had my appointment with the fertility specialist last week. It was just a phone conversation. She recommended that I have another Sono HSG done to check my tubes but lamented that this test won't guarantee that another ectopic wont happen. At this time, she doesnt recommend an exploratory laparoscopy but may do so later.

There is unfortunately no test than can guarantee you wont have another ectopic and she said that she has seen patients who had positive exploratory laparoscopies and still went on to have ectopics. She said that, even if the Sono says that my tubes are clear, based on my history she would still recommend IVF as she wouldn't want me to try naturally and have a 3rd ectopic.

Ultimately she said the decision would be mine whether I want to take a chance and try naturally or go with IVF. She did say ectopics can happen with IVF and though they can try and place the embryo far from the tubes it could still get suctioned back into the tubes. She mentioned that I could also have tubal occlussion surgery which in essence is tying my tubes. I would only do this as a last resort since its so permanent.

Right now, I am waiting to do the HSG within the next few weeks and go from there. My husband and I are contemplating trying again naturally once more before we decide to start IVF seeing as how IVF is so expensive. I live in Ontario where they offer one cycle funded IVF but there is a two year waitlist at my clinic and I only got on the list in January so I would still need to wait another 18 months which seems way too far away. So I am torn on whether to wait a year and a half for the funded IVF, try again naturally once more or take out a loan to help pay for IVF now.

Does anyone have any guidance or advice?

Nicole

Calliepup
Posts: 18
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2021 12:46 pm

Re: Anyone had an ectopic treated with methotrexate in both tubes?

Post by Calliepup »

Hi,

Sorry I haven’t been on much. I’m still waiting for my first proper appointment - they are doing a full fertility work up on us because we have been trying for a year, we have had three miscarriages and two ectopics so it seems like there are multiple things going on.

Personally I’d try without IVF first, we have just started to try again with the okay from the fertility clinic.

Scrubsfan103
Posts: 34
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2021 11:43 am

Re: Anyone had an ectopic treated with methotrexate in both tubes?

Post by Scrubsfan103 »

Hi Callie,

Nice to hear from you.

Hope you get an appointment and some answers soon.

Yeah I am gonna try again naturally one more time. My 3months is officially up now but i havent gotten a period since my ectopic. I have PCOS so my periods have always been irregular. My fertility doctor had prescribed Provera to induce a period so i am just waiting on a period to start so i can do cycle monitoring and another sono-HSG. Feels like everything is just a waiting game so it can be really frustrating but i am trying to be patient.

Good luck with everything. May we all get our rainbow babies soon.

Nicole

Calliepup
Posts: 18
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2021 12:46 pm

Re: Anyone had an ectopic treated with methotrexate in both tubes?

Post by Calliepup »

Just thought I’d update that I’m currently 6 weeks 4 days pregnant and it’s in my uterus! Got pregnant first month trying again.

I’m not convinced this is my rainbow baby as I have absolutely no pregnancy symptoms, but we will see.

MSKC
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Jul 16, 2021 7:09 pm

Re: Anyone had an ectopic treated with methotrexate in both tubes?

Post by MSKC »

Calliepup,

What great news. I pray for you that this is your rainbow baby!!
I’m so sorry for your previous losses. I’m currently day 2 after my 2nd methotrexate injection and your story brings me hope.

Thank you for all your posts.

MSKC❤️

Scrubsfan103
Posts: 34
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2021 11:43 am

Re: Anyone had an ectopic treated with methotrexate in both tubes?

Post by Scrubsfan103 »

Hi Calliepup,

Congratulations on your pregnancy.

I pray that your pregnancy will go smoothly. It is good to know that after two ectopics, it is possible to have a viable pregancy.

Wishing you all the best.

Nicole

Calliepup
Posts: 18
Joined: Thu Mar 25, 2021 12:46 pm

Re: Anyone had an ectopic treated with methotrexate in both tubes?

Post by Calliepup »

Just to update everyone I’m now 10 weeks pregnant ❤️

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