WIll this ever end?

I have read through quite a few topics on this site and noticed that very few people provide the ultimate outcome of their situations.  I decided to document my experience as it happens with the hope that someone with similiar problems might find it useful.

On June 7th of 2010 I started what I thought was my cycle.  I had never really been regular so it was pointless to try to track my cycles.  Seven days came and went and my bleeding continued.  By the time I hit thirteen solid days of bleeding, I went to the ER.  Having two sisters that are RNs, one suggested it might be a miscarriage.  

The ER visit was a nightmare.  The doctor greeted me by saying "Uhhhhh I am not a gynocologist.".  I was given a urine test and an hour later, a round of blood work.  The nurses would ask me questions like "Is this your first pregnancy?" and such.  At this point, I had no idea that I was pregnant.  When I asked them if I was, they would stutter and say "Oh, I don't know...are you?".  When hour four rolled around, I was wheeled off for an ultrasound and transvaginal probe.  The nurse was just as rude as the others and in no way gentle about the proceedure.  By hour five, the doctor came in and finally said "Your urine test and blood tests show that you are pregnant, but the ultrasound and TV probe show no signs of a pregnancy.".  He then did a quick pelvic exam and said that my cervix was still open and since I had a successful natural miscarriage in my past, decided to let this one take care of itself.  I asked him if I needed a Rhogam shot since I am Rh negative and he said "Good question.....I guess we can give you one.".  Hour six and a half, the primary nurse gave my fiance attitude because we had to wait for the Rhogam shot.  She said that we should have mentioned the need for one when we were first admitted, despite the fact that we had no idea we were pregnant.  After over seven hours in the ER, we were sent home with a paper attatched to my discharge write up that was an advertisement for a free clinic.  I felt every emotion imaginable; despair, anger, and humiliation being the strongest.

Since we did not have insurance, we were unable to go for a follow up with an OB/GYN doctor.  In my town, the doctors won't even let you in the front door without a substantial payment up front for their services....something we just could not afford.  We decided to wait it out and see if it cleared up on its own.

July 13, 2010.  The bleeding was still going non-stop.  The flow was almost a pattern.  Started heavy, tappered down to moderate, then down to light spotting.  Each time I thought that this nightmare was finally over, the cycle would repeat.  The light spotting lasted for a day or two and then would return to full flow.  I decided to return to the ER and to my distress, got seen by the same horrid doctor.  I was immediately given a room in the ER bay and told to provide a urine sample.  While I was in the restroom, I could hear the doctor lecturing my fiance about us not going to an OB/GYN and basically giving him a lecture on our financial situation.  The results came back positive again.  My first ER visit showed an HCG level of 52, this visit showed a level of 70.  Finally, the doctor called the OB/GYN doctor in and I was given a very painful pelvic exam and had my uterus swabbed.  My uterus lining was at 5mm thickness and the second round of ultrasound and TV probe showed no changes.  The OB/GYN doctor offered to work with us on making payments for her services but demanded that we visit her that upcoming Monday (July 19th).  She said that she would let me go without any visitation costs if my pregnancy test showed a negative.

July 19, 2010.  Went to the OB/GYN's office.  My pregnancy test came back still positive.  The doctor ordered yet another round of blood work and said she wanted to see me on July 21st.  

July 21, 2010.  Returned to the doctor and was told that my HCG level was at 71.  It was not decreasing like it should with a miscarriage and was not increasing at a rate that would be considered "normal".  She decided that I needed surgery and first suggested Laparoscopic Surgery.  I asked why she was skipping the D&C step and she took a moment to consider that option.  Ultimately she gave me the choice of which surgery I wanted.  Since I am only an RN student, not  doctor, I told her that she should decide and I will be fine with whatever she thought was best.  In the end, she decided to try a D&C first.  I was then told to report to the main hospital for pre-op.  The lady at the front desk asked for a due-date and told me to go sign up for medicaid so I would not be stuck with a mountain of medical bills that I simply could not afford.  After going through pre-op, I signed up for medicaid and had to fight my emotions while the case worker discussed the benefits I would recieve upon delivery of my child.  

July 22, 2010.  I went in for my D&C.  Everything apparently went well and the doctor took a biopsy of the tissue she had extracted.  I was told to avoid strenous activity while I healed and sent on my way with a follow-up appointment scheduled for today, July 28th.  I had faint spotting immediately after my D&C and didn't experience any pain.  

July 27, 2010.  I noticed a quater-sized blood clot pass but the bleeding was still light and bright red.  I read over my post D&C paperwork and saw that it can take up to two weeks to completely heal from a D&C and decided to just wait until my appointment today to discuss any possible concerns.

July 28, 2010.  I woke up today feeling like things are going well and this could be the ending of a nearly two-month long nightmare.  The bleeding is still light to moderate but still bright red with occasional dime-sized clots and stringy blood.  I have experienced occassional cramps that were mentioned to be common post D&C surgery.  My appointment is scheduled at 1:45pm but I received a call from the doctors office at 11:21am.  The receptionist informed me that my biopsy results were in and that there was no placental tissue extracted from my D&C.  The doctor wanted me to come in today and have yet another round of blood work done to test my HCG levels and I would need to return on Monday, August 2nd for another round of blood work.  I asked the woman if not having placental tissue was a good thing or something I should worry about and she said "I don't know."

So, I am about to get ready to go to doctors office where I intend to throw all sorts of questions at my doctor.  I will keep posting as I go through this aweful experience.  

[needhelp24121]

I've also noticed that others haven't followed up, so I too will share my story.

My cycles aren't normal, but they aren't always irregular either. They vary from 28 to 35 days. My last cycle started on May 9th. I hadn't started yet by June 20th (42 days later), so I decided to take a preg test. I took 3 just to make sure I was reading them right. They were all positive. Everything seemed to be going great. I don't have health insurance either, so my doctor's office told me to apply for medicaid because it too is insanely expensive without insurance. In order for them to process my application, they needed a letter from my boss telling how much (little) money I make. My boss kept "forgetting" to write the letter.

I never spotted or bled or anything until.......

July 8th-- At about 8:00 pm I started bleeding really heavily. Blood was just pouring out of me, along with several big and small clots. I knew what was happening. It was my first pregnancy, but I knew what all that blood meant. I didn't call that doctor or go to the ER, I just stayed at home. Didn't sleep at all that night.

July 9th-- Still bleeding really bad, so I called my doctor's office and told the receptionist what was going on. She put a nurse on the phone. The nurse asked for my name and my doctor's name. She found my file, she said "we don't have on your file that your pregnant" I told her about the no insurance and everything. She told me to go to the hospital lab to get bloodwork done to check my hormone levels. To make sure I was pregnant and to see if I was having a miscarriage. She told me to go then and again on Monday the 12th.

July 13th--The nurse called me with the lab results. She said "your numbers indicate that you are having/did have a spontaneous abortion (miscarriage), your hcg level did drop."  She also told me the doctor recommended I go back to the lab once a week, every week until they say to stop. They want to monitor my hcg levels until they go back to zero. She also sheduled a doctor appointment for me on August 3rd, knowing I have no insurance. She told me they would "work something out."

July 20th--I stop bleeding, no spotting or anything, but still cramping a little. Nurse calls with lab results. I don't know my initial hcg level, she never told me what it was. She did tell me though that my levels dropped from 800 on the 12th to 93 on the 19th. Said I would still need to go back for another test.

July 27th--No bleeding for the past week, still cramping every once in a while. Since my levels dropped so much the previous week, I was hoping they would be zero by now and I wouldn't need anymore lab work. Nurse calls with results: levels only drop to 19. Since they aren't 0 or less than 5, I have to go back yet again next week for another test. My doctor appointment is next week also. I will post after my app, hopefully I wont have to go back for anymore blood tests after next week.

When I was at the hospital for labwork, I knew the admitting receptionist, and she helped my apply for something called HCAP, to help me pay for all the labwork since I have no insurance. She was the most helpful person to me, and thats probably because she knows me.

[NeverBroken]

Thank you for sharing Needhelp.  I am sorry you have to go through this.  It is twice as hard on those of us that have to struggle with the no-insurance aspect of the miscarriage.

As for my update....get ready for the rollercoaster!

So, Wednesday, July 28, 2010 I went back to my doctor for my follow up.  The doctor said that since my D&C showed no placental tissue it meant that she had not fixed the problem.  My heart sank into my stomach and all I could think was "Why is this happening to me?".  The doctor said she was going to give me a prescription for an injection that will basically kill anything in my body that is pregnancy related.  I asked her is an ectopic pregnancy was still a concern and she said that if it was, the baby was too small to see on an ultrasound so my life was not in danger.  I guess you can call that good news.  

I went to fill my prescription for a strong dose of Methotrexate and about had a troke when I read the pharmacy's write up on this particular drug.  It is used commonly with cancer patients and the list of side effects were a mile long.  Upon receiving the injection, I would basically be a useless lump on the couch.  My mind was spinning and I felt like I could no longer handle this never-ending nightmare.

July 29, 2010.  I received a call from the doctor's office saying that I needed to make sure I did not have anyone give me the injection of methotrexate and that I needed to return to their office sometime next week for another run of blood work.  I asked the lady if I should bring the injection with me and she said no....leave it at home.  Naturally, my curiosity was peaked but thanks to HIPPA laws, I knew the woman would not be allowed to give me any information over the phone as to what had changed the doctor's mind.

After talking about this situation with my school mate, we both agreed that the only reason we can come up with for this sudden stop on my treatment is that my HCG levels must have dropped quite a bit which would mean that the methotrexate is not needed.  I suspect that the few clots that I passed must have been tissue that could have been stuck in my fallopian tube since the D&C was thurough and I have not had any clots since that few passed.  I am not very patient these days so I am going to return to the doctor on Monday, August 2nd and I will demand to know what my HCG levels were from my last round of blood work.  I am trying not to get my hopes up high as they have constantly been crushed in the past but my fingers are crossed that this craziness is coming to an end.  

On a side note, I am happy to finally be able to report that, after 53 days of solid bleeding, it has finally stopped!!!!  Unfortunately, since I had to wear pads for that long amount of time, it has caused external vaginal irritation that can be quite painful at times.  I am now able to wear panty liners and am using an external vaginal anti-itch cream to supress the irritation.  Other than that, I feel so much better these days.  My energy has returned and I am able to, once again, shower without assistance.  It is amazing what you take for granted in life.

I will post again after my appointment on Monday.  Let's hope that a light finally appears at the end of the tunnel for us Needhelp.

[needhelp24121]

Yes, lets hope NeverBroken.

My tunnel doesn't seem like it was nearly as dark as yours though.
I am truly sorry for your loss too.
I thought bleeding for 12 days was rough, I couldn't imagine bleeding for 53.
My doctor's appointment isn't until tuesday, so I will post after that.
Good luck on your doctor appointment Monday.

[NeverBroken]

*****UPDATE*****

August 2, 2010.  I went to the doctor's office today and was almost immediately taken back for my lab work - a pleasant change from the usual hour and a half wait.  I inquired as to why I was told not to take the methotrexate and what my previous lab work results were and was told that my hCg level dropped down to 14!!!!!!!!  So, to recap.... my inital level was 51, then jumped to 70, followed by a 71, and now a beatuiful plummet down to 14!  My hope is that this recent test will show a long-awaited zero!  One can only hope.  As for everything else, I have experienced a light spotting but that is apparently normal so I am not going to stress over that.  All in all, it has been a good day!  I look forward to hearing your results 'needhelp'.

[needhelp24121]

UPDATE:

August 3rd--I went to my doctors office today, where I had to wait almost an hour before being seen by the doctor. After waiting an hour to be seen by the doctor, I was glad that she spent about 45 minutes with me going over all my labwork and everything. Nothing abnormal in my bloodwork to indicate the reason for the miscarriage, so it wasn't my fault (she had to reassure me a couple times). I've been blaming myself, just a part of the grieving process I guess.
Doctor told me my hcg level is now down to 6, so I no longer have to get bloodwork!!!!!! Finally, words I wanted to hear! As for everything else, my physical exam revealed that I'm fine, I did pass everything naturally. The doctor said she wants me to wait at least 3 months before TTC again. My husband and I decided though that we are going to wait longer than that since we don't have health insurance, so my doctor prescribed me birth control (also to help with my cycles). She told me my cycle should start again very soon, then I can start taking the pill.
I'm glad you got some good results too!! Hopefully we will be sucessful in future pregnancies!!!

[NeverBroken]

***Final UPDATE***

I got the results back from my latest round of blood work.  My levels are almost at zero so I no longer need blood work!!!  The spotting has stopped and life as I know it, has returned to normal!  Looks like we survived the nightmare NeedHelp!!!