2nd M/C: Miso experience VS D&C experience

[BabiesInHeaven]

Hello friends, I've been following these boards for a while now while I was going through my own MC looking for any and all info that would help me with my own decision of which option to choose with my recent missed miscarriage - and though you don't know me - I want to thank all of you strong, dedicated women that were of help to me when I thought I could no longer pull through... your stories helped endlessly.

The reason for my posting now is that DH wanted me to share our experience with the Miso, so that you can read a encouraging story about the pills too.  I was such a MESS looking at all the boards and online communities this past few weeks reading about the horrible complications with the pills.  This is for all the women who are as scared as I was, to know that there can be a positive outcome too.

We got PG this past Aug with Clomid.  Slow fetal development throughout.  Started 2x/day vaginal progesterone for 3 weeks.  Missed Miscarriage at 8 wks with fetus developing only until 6w5d, though I had no bleeding or cramping.  Doctor ordered me Misoprostal 200mg with Vicadine to be taken that night.  I wanted a D&C (as my first PG ended in MC at 10wks and had a D&C and loved it!  No pain and had closure immediately).  Anyhow, DH wanted to MC naturally so there would be no scarring from the surgery, and I wanted nothing to do with the Miso as I thought I would die from blood loss.  We compromised by waiting one week to MC naturally, but nothing happened.  The agony of wearing pantyliners, waiting for the spotting, every bathroom break checking the toilet paper for a hint of pink.  I felt like I had a bomb in me ready to explode at any moment!  We went in for another u/s hoping that the fetus was absorbed, but it was still there, quiet and still.  Again, I wanted a D&C but the DR wanted Miso and DH wanted to wait it out... I felt like I was lost in a nightmare.  I felt sick thinking of the dead fetus in me day in and day out.  I had no closure and was living in a fog.  Finally 2 weeks after the diagnosis I started to spot and that's when we decided that we better make a decision instead of the risk of an infection with the dead tissue in me.  

I am not kidding when I say I truly thought I was going to die from blood loss/complications with the pills.  I spent the day cleaning the house and making sure everything was in order in the bedroom/closets and kitchen in case I passed on and my mom and mother-in-law had to come to our home to help DH with arrangements and such.  Needless to say, I was a mess.  We had the keys to the car ready for the ER trip and had the bags by the door.  DH took the day off to help me.

Day 1
4:00pm had a good lunch for energy
5:00 insert 4 Misoprostal pills 200mg vaginally
5:20 took two advils
7:00 minor cramps started
9:45 lower back pain started
10:00 dull red spotting began
10:30 one Vicadine
11:00-12:30 finally started!  waves of pain and passing large clots! back and forth from the bathroom to the couch 20+ times!
12:30am vomited while on the toilet passing large clots!
12:45 felt MUCH better
1:30 slept with a heat pad on my lower back

Day 2 (even though I passed clots the DR called and wanted me to do another dose)
2:30pm lunch
3:30 insert 4 Misoprostal pills 200mg vaginally
4:30 one 800 mg Tylenol
10:00 nothing the whole night, no clots, no pain, no cramps!
10:30 slept

That was last weekend.  We went in for a followup ultrasound this past week and everything is out!  

I want you to know that I couldn't believe I was alive, I was ok and lived through this.  I guess the fact that we MC early at 6w5d was helpful.  I know everyone has their own experiences, but if it's ANY consolation I wanted to share my true story and let you know that it's not THAT bad.  You won't DIE.  You will be ok, if it's early in the PG it might be the best bet to just do the Miso (before 8-10 wks).  I know it's hard to believe, I was the one that wanted the D&C but now that this experience has passed I would do the Miso again if I had an early loss.  It was HELL waiting for something, anything to happen, so I would do it when first diagnosed, those 2 weeks felt like 6 months to me, but now I finally have closure.

I'm sorry for all your losses.

[PetiteWonder]

I think its important to note that there are risk with each option.. even natural miscarriage...  but in reality, women have been naturally miscarriage since the beginning of time and yes some have resulted in death due to infection before modern medication but many women turned out fine.

Same goes for a d&c, 1 women will get one and have a good experience, another will and will not... Could have temporary complications or life long effects

Miso - there are horror stories of people having bad experiences with them and resulting in infertility... many people will take them and be fine.. others will not ....

Its good to see both the positive and negative stories on these boards as it helps people decide what is best for them.

I had a d&c, and it was a good experience..  Would I get it next time? I dont know at this point, it may not be fine next time.. it would depend on the circumstances.  I hope I dont ahve to go through another miscarriage for a while but if I do I hope to have the strength to wait to try for a natural miscarriage.  On the day i got my d&c, i was in and out of the OR in 10 minutes.. The person before me though, had major complications and was in the OR for 2 hours.. I know because my surgery was delayed.. and man was I scared after the nurse kept coming back saying its going to be a bit longer wait there are some complications with our last d&c =/

Im sorry for the people who have permenant complications resulting from their d&c.  When it comes to AS, doctors do brush it off.  They tell you the serious of risk but then tell u it only happesn to 1% of people.. you dont want to be in that 1% though.  On top of that, a study found it actually happens closer to 14-25% with the risk going up with multiple d&c.... and the risk is higher with the scrapping method vs. the suction method.. I heard in Canada, the suction method is usualy the one that is used but in the USA, it varies but scrapping is still used as the primary method so ask your doctor which is used..  find out how experienced they are with the procedure too.

On that note, at the hospital here, they said on average they perform 30 d&c's a day... a day! that is about 10,000 a year...  and the majority have no complications at all but the risks are real, and it can happen to you.. So when making your decision, review all the options and dont take the decision lightly..  The decision is differnt for each person...

[mhv]

Just an added thought... a much unknown, often untold "side effect" of a DNC can be Asherman's syndrome.  Interuterine adhesions.  Is it rare? Yes.  But does it happen?? YES!!  Asherman's is often dismissed by RE's, Obgyn's, ect... they say "it doesn't happen".  But I am here as living proof it does.  There are several other ladies on the fertility board that are dealing with this too.
It can steal your fertility, and it can be very hard to get rid of.  You can have the adhesions removed, but they often return quickly and multiple times and can interfer with embryos implanting, being able to carry babies to term, an uneven endometrium...  depending on where the scarring is... these are just to name a few of the awful things it can do.  If treated by the wrong doctor, it can even take your fertility away.
Every time I hear of I lady getting a DNC I cringe.  I am so afraid of the complications that can come from it.  

So please think twice about getting that DNC and try other options first.

xo