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Methotrexate, ectopic pregnancy and bleeding
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
I am 8 weeks, and now on my 2nd metho shot. It is now 3 days after 2nd shot. I am really not feeling much of a difference. I go into the dr tomorrow for more blood work. If the numbers have not dropped again I will be having the DNC later this week. This is sooo hard. We have been trying to get pregnant for 3 years. This is our 1st pregnancy. After the first scan they told us in was in my left tube. I am so scared, angery etc.
My husband and I were so excited to find out that we were expecting our first child after only one month of trying. At about week 5 I had mild spotting (some mucous with a pink tinge) and my doctor wasn't too concerned bc I had no cramping or pain. A week later I woke up and felt off. My uterus felt achey and heavy. When I went to the bathroom at work I felt blood dripping and I passed what looked like sac to me. It was whitish-pink in color.
I was devestated and convinced that I had just miscarried. I went to the doctor's office and they tested my hcg. They tested again 48 hours later. It was a holiday weekend so I didn't get the results right away but I was SO sure that I had miscarried that I wasn't too concerned. That Tuesday I found out that hcg had doubled. I was surprised because I had been bleeding for 5 days already.
After a few more rounds of hcg testing, everything seemed OK. The numbers were doubling and then they just plateaued. In 72 hours it went from 900 to 1400. We did an ultrasound, no sign of anything in my uterus and no sign of anything wrong. My doctor suspected ectopic and had me go in for an injection of methotrexate on Thursday October 20, 2011.
I honestly felt great the first few days, besides being tired. On Monday night (4 days after injection) I got really bad pain in my lower abdomen. I REALLY didn't want to go to the ER so I waited for it to pass. After 15 minutes of being very uncomfortable, my husband decided to take me to the hospital. They did an ultrasound and said that I had a blood clot on or near my right ovary and that I had some fluid behind my uterus. Besides that, everything looked OK and my hcg had dropped from 1500 to 1110 in 24 hours.
My pain got a lot better while I was at the hospital so I was sent home. This whole thing has been such a roller coaster ride. My heart goes out to all of you ladies-- I know how awful it is to go through this after you get the best news ever.
I just can't wait to get passed this and start TTC when the doctor says it's ok.
Best of luck to everyone!
I was devestated and convinced that I had just miscarried. I went to the doctor's office and they tested my hcg. They tested again 48 hours later. It was a holiday weekend so I didn't get the results right away but I was SO sure that I had miscarried that I wasn't too concerned. That Tuesday I found out that hcg had doubled. I was surprised because I had been bleeding for 5 days already.
After a few more rounds of hcg testing, everything seemed OK. The numbers were doubling and then they just plateaued. In 72 hours it went from 900 to 1400. We did an ultrasound, no sign of anything in my uterus and no sign of anything wrong. My doctor suspected ectopic and had me go in for an injection of methotrexate on Thursday October 20, 2011.
I honestly felt great the first few days, besides being tired. On Monday night (4 days after injection) I got really bad pain in my lower abdomen. I REALLY didn't want to go to the ER so I waited for it to pass. After 15 minutes of being very uncomfortable, my husband decided to take me to the hospital. They did an ultrasound and said that I had a blood clot on or near my right ovary and that I had some fluid behind my uterus. Besides that, everything looked OK and my hcg had dropped from 1500 to 1110 in 24 hours.
My pain got a lot better while I was at the hospital so I was sent home. This whole thing has been such a roller coaster ride. My heart goes out to all of you ladies-- I know how awful it is to go through this after you get the best news ever.
I just can't wait to get passed this and start TTC when the doctor says it's ok.
Best of luck to everyone!
i was off of metho for aprox 2 months secondary to losing my job and no insurance. i believe in that time i became pregnant but im unsure. i now have the meds through the e.r and im in alot of pain and need to take it but i dont no what to do! if i am pregnant will it kill the baby or make it deformed? should i suffer and wait until i find out?
Thanks to everyone that's posted - what a relief to here common stories. So here's mine.... I had my 1st ectopic 5 yrs ago. Like many here, I thought I was having an abnormal period b/c the bleeding continued longer than a week. Eventually was surprised to learn I was pregnant, followed by HCG levels that rose just slightly, then an u/s confirmed it was in my tube and I had a belly full of blood. Sent to emergency surgery and had tube removed. Remaining tube looked normal/healthy, so I positive for future pregnancies.
Two years later, hubby and I were ready for kids. Got pregnant, and HCG levels doubled - BIG relief. Unfortunately, miscarried. Then about 8 months later, pregnant again - ended with delivery of my son (now 2yrs old).
So in August, ready for baby #2. Get pregnant 1st month! But right away, I could feel something wasn't right. HCG numbers were bad - did a series of tests 48 hrs apart: 240, 267, 118, 288. They did an u/s, but really just to confirm no bleeding - was told nothing can be seen until HCG is 2,500. So was given methotrexate in order to save remaining tube. Had day 4 & 7 blood work, and numbers were 158 and then back UP to 208. Doctor and her associates perplexed - in their experience, 100% of people with HCG so low respond to 1st dose. They do a bioposy of uterine lining which does confirm no pregnancy material in uterus. So I got a 2nd round of methotrexate. Still anxiously waiting to get through this week, and for my days 4 & 7 blood work.
So I ask "what if" HCG levels again stagnate - I'll be sent to a specialist (an oncologist) to rule out a rare form of tumor that produces HCG.
The worst thing is the waiting and not knowing. I'm blessed to already be a mom and just want to be "normal" again.
Two years later, hubby and I were ready for kids. Got pregnant, and HCG levels doubled - BIG relief. Unfortunately, miscarried. Then about 8 months later, pregnant again - ended with delivery of my son (now 2yrs old).
So in August, ready for baby #2. Get pregnant 1st month! But right away, I could feel something wasn't right. HCG numbers were bad - did a series of tests 48 hrs apart: 240, 267, 118, 288. They did an u/s, but really just to confirm no bleeding - was told nothing can be seen until HCG is 2,500. So was given methotrexate in order to save remaining tube. Had day 4 & 7 blood work, and numbers were 158 and then back UP to 208. Doctor and her associates perplexed - in their experience, 100% of people with HCG so low respond to 1st dose. They do a bioposy of uterine lining which does confirm no pregnancy material in uterus. So I got a 2nd round of methotrexate. Still anxiously waiting to get through this week, and for my days 4 & 7 blood work.
So I ask "what if" HCG levels again stagnate - I'll be sent to a specialist (an oncologist) to rule out a rare form of tumor that produces HCG.
The worst thing is the waiting and not knowing. I'm blessed to already be a mom and just want to be "normal" again.
Dear Reema,
I am praying for you. Hang in there.
Please let us know how you are doing.
I am praying for you. Hang in there.
Please let us know how you are doing.
I have a story similar to many women here and I am so sorry for what you are going through. I had a positive pregnancy test in early August 2011, found an OB doctor and was just going to wait till 8 weeks before seeing her. Then I started bleeding and when I called the doctor told me to come in and see her. She did the HCG levels and they were low for how far along I was.
So a couple of days after my office visit I stated feeling a lot of pain and went to the ER where they confirmed my fear that the pregnancy was indeed ectopic. I wanted to just do the surgery and be done. My doctor recommended the Methotrexate and assured both me and my husband that this was the best option. Well, after more than a week of chemo my HCG levels wend down then started going up again and now my OB wanted to give me another shot or do surgery. I opted for surgery because I was in a lot of pain every time I moved or ate anything and the pain was going into the shoulder. She did the laparoscopy first and found out that there was too much bleeding to stop it with the small instruments. So she cut me open to stop the bleeding and remove part of the R tube.
Having gone through both options I can tell you that the surgery was a better way to go for me. Chemo is so toxic and if you read the list of side effects (possible cancers later in life-because chemo can hide in the fat cells) it is scary. In retrospect, I with I went with my gut reaction and fist choice of just doing the surgery the first time I went to ER. I am now almost 4 weeks post surgery and my HCG levels are back to zero. I am upset that I will have to wait at least 3 month before we can safely try to get pregnant again. I wish the doctor was more forthcoming about the possible danger and reactions to the drug.
I feel for every women that has gone through this situation. We just have extra angels in heaven watching over us because our children never really leave us. I now have 2 children-one here with me (3 year old daughter) and one in heaven.
Praying for peace for all,
Love
So a couple of days after my office visit I stated feeling a lot of pain and went to the ER where they confirmed my fear that the pregnancy was indeed ectopic. I wanted to just do the surgery and be done. My doctor recommended the Methotrexate and assured both me and my husband that this was the best option. Well, after more than a week of chemo my HCG levels wend down then started going up again and now my OB wanted to give me another shot or do surgery. I opted for surgery because I was in a lot of pain every time I moved or ate anything and the pain was going into the shoulder. She did the laparoscopy first and found out that there was too much bleeding to stop it with the small instruments. So she cut me open to stop the bleeding and remove part of the R tube.
Having gone through both options I can tell you that the surgery was a better way to go for me. Chemo is so toxic and if you read the list of side effects (possible cancers later in life-because chemo can hide in the fat cells) it is scary. In retrospect, I with I went with my gut reaction and fist choice of just doing the surgery the first time I went to ER. I am now almost 4 weeks post surgery and my HCG levels are back to zero. I am upset that I will have to wait at least 3 month before we can safely try to get pregnant again. I wish the doctor was more forthcoming about the possible danger and reactions to the drug.
I feel for every women that has gone through this situation. We just have extra angels in heaven watching over us because our children never really leave us. I now have 2 children-one here with me (3 year old daughter) and one in heaven.
Praying for peace for all,
Love
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