Methotrexate, ectopic pregnancy and bleeding

[scaredincanada]

I have had two doses of Methotrexate administered by a needle. Between doses, the embryo grew from 2.8 cm to 5.8 cm in a span of a week. My Bhcg went from 2600 down to a little over 900. Was at the hospital under observation but have been released. This is my first night home, and I am concerned about what can happen. Experienced a fainting spell while under observation, low blood pressure after, but since then went up. Still ight headed, bleeding light to moderate, bright red, no tissue or clots. Slight cramping in my left side (where ectopic was discovered). Does anyone have any similar experiences or experienced this? What was the outcome? Am I just paranoid, or am I in grave danger at this point? ALL honesty is respected, will not get offended. Thank you

[erna791]

Hi all,
I'm really glad to have found this site and wanna thanks everyone who have shared their experience here. It's really helpful for me. I'm about 7 weeks pregnant and my hcg is already at ard 24000. Did 4 transvaginal scans but they cant see anything at all.. anywhere.. My hcg did double up on the first 2  blood tests but begin to slow down on the next 2 blood tests. My gynae confirm it's a unhealthy pregnancy and most likely an ectopic. I was given a dose of Methotrexate yesterday. So far there are still no bleeding, no cramps yet. I'm really worried if it's normal and really wonder when will the bleeding and cramps will start. This experience is really stressful.

[CypKitty]

OMG I am reading all this and going 'It is not just me!" I had been on 3 cycles of Clomid when on the 31st of May I got a period. It lasted its usual 8 days and then when i was wiping CD9 and 10 there was brown blood and pain had started. CD11 it was red. By this stage I was wondering what was happening and posted on my TTC Facebook (Effie Ivf Ttc) and someone said it sounded like an ectopic. So I went and got a HPT and sure enough I got a positive and I just cried and cried. We went to the hospital however because it was a public holiday they couldn't do an US but they did bloods and HCG was 1002 which put me at 6 weeks (At the time I would have been just over 5 weeks) so we went back to where we were staying.

When we went home 2 days later the pain had gotten worse so we went to the medical centre and he sent us to the hospital and again they refused to do US because of public holiday so I went home. By this stage I had called my IVF doctor and they booked me in for bloods on the 16th of June. This showed 900 which meant I was MCing but pain was still there as well as heavy bleeding. I had to redo bloods on the 20th which showed 600 and when I went to my appointment on the 21st he said I would need the Methotrexate shot. This got done on the 24th.

I am having follow up blood on Friday (1st July) and the pain has seem to have gotten worse since the shot. I am now having difficulty moving around and I am very stiff - considering I am a fit active person this is hurting me alot. I hope I feel better soon :(

[CypKitty]

OMG I am reading all this and going 'It is not just me!" I had been on 3 cycles of Clomid when on the 31st of May I got a period. It lasted its usual 8 days and then when i was wiping CD9 and 10 there was brown blood and pain had started. CD11 it was red. By this stage I was wondering what was happening and posted on my TTC Facebook (Effie Ivf Ttc) and someone said it sounded like an ectopic. So I went and got a HPT and sure enough I got a positive and I just cried and cried. We went to the hospital however because it was a public holiday they couldn't do an US but they did bloods and HCG was 1002 which put me at 6 weeks (At the time I would have been just over 5 weeks) so we went back to where we were staying.

When we went home 2 days later the pain had gotten worse so we went to the medical centre and he sent us to the hospital and again they refused to do US because of public holiday so I went home. By this stage I had called my IVF doctor and they booked me in for bloods on the 16th of June. This showed 900 which meant I was MCing but pain was still there as well as heavy bleeding. I had to redo bloods on the 20th which showed 600 and when I went to my appointment on the 21st he said I would need the Methotrexate shot. This got done on the 24th.

I am having follow up blood on Friday (1st July) and the pain has seem to have gotten worse since the shot. I am now having difficulty moving around and I am very stiff - considering I am a fit active person this is hurting me alot. I hope I feel better soon :(

[lis21]

I can't believe they can't find anything...anywhere..?? Did you go to an u/s specialist? First of all I hope all is well. I was reading your story and it really touched me because I understand the whole "waiting for something to happen after the shot" process and that it's the hardest thing! After it's all done, you do feel relief because you learned so much and like you said, it makes you a stronger person knowing that you can handle something like this. About letting your friends know, take your time! I know I waited almost a month to actually face the world and share my pain with friends. Is going to get better, is just a different process for different women, like you mentioned. Another thing, isn't just crazy how the methotrexate is suppose to take care of what's going on with only 1 or 2 shots? They take so much precautions at the hospital when injecting you, wearing gloves and covering their bodies and face...I thought, what in the world are they injecting me with? I believe you must have a very strong organism if you had 3shots and nothing yet! Best of luck and keep strong! remember God always has a plan.


Lis

[tweebrd2]

Thank you so much for posting your stories.  It has greatly helped me through such a difficult time.  My tale is a little different and just want people to be aware that it really can be different for everyone.  I found out I was pregnant on Friday, May 13 after 6 IUIs.  My betas were doubling, but around 52 hours instead of the 48 they like to see.  On 5/20 I had an u/s and they could not find anything - no sac, no baby, no tubal bulge.  On 5/24 I had another u/s and nothing again my RE diagnosed it as an unconfirmed ectopic.  I wasn't convinced/had a hard time believing this was happening as I had no signs - no spotting no cramping.  At my insistance I went back on 5/26 for another u/s but same thing nothing was there.  I agreed and had my first dose (2 shots) of MTX on 5/26 with a beta of 4835.  I went back on 5/31 for my second dose (again 2 shots) and my beta was 8914.  I went back on 6/2 and my beta was 8765.  It was not enough of a drop for the RE and I went back on 6/3 for a THIRD dose (yep 2 more shots in the butt).  My nurse informed me that was the first time she had ever had to give anyone 3 doses - lucky me.  My beta dropped to 7453 on 6/6 and then to 5599 on 6/9.  

I still have not had any cramping, or spotting or bleeding.  My boobs are still just a tender as they were the day I found out i was pregnant and I am still nausus most mornings.  I think it cruel to still have to have these symptoms when I know I am not really pregnant.  I have spent every day waiting for over 2 weeks now for the cramping and bleeding to start as the nurse warned me it will happen it just is different for every woman as to when and how bad.  I just wish I could get it over with!  I though the 2ww to find out if I was pregnant was long, but it was nothing compared to this.  Maybe mine won't be too bad since it is taking such a long time?  

I have no idea how long I will have to wait for my beta to reach zero, but in the mean time I am still waiting to be able to be allowed back in the sun (hopefully before my beach vacation next month) or have a glass of wine.  I am sure my friends all think I am pregnant since I have not been drinking, but I just don't know how to tell them what I have been through.  Maybe once everything has been resolved I can tell them...

It has been really difficult going through this by myself (I do not have a husband or partner), but I think it has also made me realize I can handle much more on my own than I ever though I could.  I am not sure if/when I will be ready emotionally or physically to TTC again, but I am convinced more than ever that having a baby on my own is something I can do.

Best wishes to everyone!

[Newyorking]

Its been exactly one month since I was diagnosed with ectopic and got methotrexate. Very very painful. The first week was brutal especially being at work. The second week got better but I had very bad constipation and the pain was unbearable, I felt as though something wanted to come out but couldn't. I took mild laxatives that helped within two days and reduced the pain. I took Ibuprofen for 3 weeks till the pain subsided. My levels went down from 388 to 216 to 110 to 29 to negative. Today the doctor cleared me and asked me to wait till August, I can start working out as well. The pain is dull, but still there. I did not exert myself because it caused pains. I am relieved and hope it doesn't happen again. This process has increased my awareness. It has caused immense sadness though because whenever I see a toddler I feel a deep sense of loss, and I pray desperately that I have a normal healthy child. I will be 34 in three months and I really want a child soon. It is a difficult phase especially the pain. Even though doctors ask people to visit in 6 to 8 months, I have had a relatively speedy recovery because my ectopic was caught within 3 weeks of pregnancy. I don't know what would have happened had I waited.

I am not sure whether to take HSG - the doctor said its up to me. I want to make sure that my swelling has gone down, but my doctor didn't seem too concerned and said that my HCG levels had come down and everything was normal. I just feel unsure though.