TTC - ectopic survivor - one tube!

[breakingdawn]

Hi everyone! It has been a long time since I have been in this forum. Although my loss has not been recent, it was devastating. I have a journal if anyone else shares a similar story and would like to read it. In short, I had an ectopic pregnancy in September of 2011. I almost died and did lose my right tube in the process. By a miracle I did get pregnant a month later with a healthy girl who is now going on 4 years old! I have another daughter who is going on 8. We decided to give it one last go for a boy (but a healthy baby would be fine too). I am concerned because I am older now, do have one tube, and there is always the risk of another ectopic. I posted in the one tubers forum but seems it is not very active anymore. I just wanted to say hello to anyone else out there who has experienced an ectopic, losing a tube, or a loss in general. I wish all of you the best of luck in your TTC journey!

 

[BronteForever]

Hey Breakingdawn, I posted in the one tubers area too but this might be the better place since that's not as active anymore. But best wishes on your journey. I lost my left tube in April 2009 after an ectopic pregnancy. It was a very tramatic experience for me as well since I was sent home from the hospital after my tube had ruptured because they misread my ultrasound. They called me back the next day and rushed me into surgery but it was quite the ordeal. We definetly weren't ready to TTC yet and waited about 3 years. Nothing has happened since then and a recent HSG test showed my other tube is likely blocked from scar tissue. Now I'm mad I waited so long but can't do anything but move forward. Likely to IVF. My RE appointment isn't until May. In the meantime we are still trying but I'm not really hopeful.

But I'd love to follow you and wish you lots of success. Looks like you have a great track record with only having one tube. So hopefully it doesn't take very long.

 

[breakingdawn]

Mine was also very traumatic. I knew from the beginning it was an ectopic but no one believed me. :. My hcg was just never right and I kept having pain on my right side. Sadly when they found out after a dnc and methotrexate it was too late. My tube ruptured, I had internal bleeding, and it was an emergency surgery on labor day weekend. I do still worry about scar tissue being on my other tube now since it has been a while since I had my last daughter. I am trying not to over think anything, especially since we just started trying again. I am definitely a little nervous. I would love to follow your journey, feel free to post here and keep me updated! Maybe we can find some other ladies in the same boat.

 

[GI_Jane]

Hi ladies...
My ectopic was oct 2014 and was quite traumatic too...was told it was a miscarriage- nothing seen on Ultrasound but so much pain on my right side and HCG not going down. 3 weeks later of HCG monitoring and awful on/off pain they decided to operate and found internal bleeding and a twisted up tube which they removed. And to think the doctor said it was pain from constipation caused by the pain killers I had been popping! They would not listen until I was lucky and saw a different doctor!

Fast forward and we've been TTC but no luck (I also have PCOS which complicates things). A HCG this January showed my remaining tube looks clear. So the next step for us is clomid.

Breaking dawn how encouraging that you got pregnant a month after tube removal! I didn't think you were allowed to TTC so soon after having methotrexate? If you're worried about scar tissue could you ask for a HSG.

Bronteforever I certainly understand you waiting to TTC. Its taken a while for me to get over it too..not just losing the baby but the whole ordeal of having the ectopic diagnosed and treated.

Good luck ladies and happy trying!

 

[breakingdawn]

Hey there! Fortunately methotrexate had no effects whatsoever. We actually were not even TTC that month. I wasn't charting or even really paying attention to O. It was a miracle. But she's a happy and healthy 3 year old! I think we will give it 6 months or so. If no baby luck I will try the hsg. But honestly since we already have two kids we won't go through IVF or anything substantial. This is just really a last attempt to try for a boy because we both would love one!

 

[BronteForever]

You'd think they'd have a better way to diagnose these by now. Goodness.

I've had bad ovulation pains for a few years which is one of the reasons they suspected scar tissue. I also just found out my ectopic was in my left tube. I was under the impression since 2009 it was in the right since that's were my scar is. Makes so much more sense with pains I've had since then. But do either of you know if it's common to enter the opposite side to get to the tube? I'm assuming that is what has led to more of my current issues.

Breaking Dawn - you might not even need an HSG test then unless you want to know. Sometimes knowing is easier than just wondering.

Hey Gi-Jane. Good thing you trusted your gut and found a new doctor. After my experience I also figured out those two things are super important! Good luck on Clomid!

 

[breakingdawn]

Hmm interesting. My doctor did say that despite my right tube being gone... the egg can get picked up still by the left tube?? I had no idea about that.... and honestly I never tried to google it because I figured he was pretty knowledgeable since he has been in all sorts of books/magazines for women's research in the OBGYN field! :O

 

[BronteForever]

Yeah my doctor said that as well Breakingdawn. I found it fascinating that it could happen that way but I guess it makes sense.

I was just meaning for surgery. Are your ladies scars from your surgery on the same side as the tube you lost?

 

[breakingdawn]

My scar tissue he said was on the side with my bad (right) tube. He said removing the tube removed all of the scar tissue. But what's to say my left tube does not have scar tissue now from the last c section? You know? I am trying hard not to think about it because the thought of another ectopic terrifies me. But I know my doctor would be more proactive this time and we could catch it a lot sooner so hopefully I would never have to go through what I went through again.

 

[BronteForever]

Totally get it now! So you had scar tissue prior to your ectopic which caused it. Makes sense. Mine is the opposite. They never found any reason for it and think it just happened and I've developed all the scar tissue since my ectopic surgery itself.

It's hard not to worry. There are so many unknowns. But you've had a healthy pregnancy since then so lots of stuff are in your favor!

I wish you both success. Currently I'm hoping somehow the HSG test cleared out some of the scar tissue.

 

[breakingdawn]

Yes mam. Apparently I had old scar tissue on my right tube (possibly from my first c section) and they are fairly certain that is what caused my ectopic. I wish you the best of luck! I have heard the HSG test can actually clear your tubes pretty well! I am hoping that is the case for you.

 

[mod19]

Hey guys can I join?

I had my first ectopic that ruptured in 2007. I was young and dumb, but I still new something wasn't right because I bled the whole time. When they found it, it was about to rupture, but I had to wait for the surgery for another woman whose had already. By the time I got into surgery mine had too (go figure). They repaired the tube and sent me on my way. The next day I was rushed to the er and had to have the same surgery again because not everything was sewn up correctly and I had internal bleeding...fun!

After about 4 years of trying dh and I decided to get help. The dr sent me right to have an hsg done which showed a blocked right tube, which I already knew. We got pregnant that cycle which ended up ectopic again, so my new Dr removed it along with my right tube on April 25, 2014. I tracked my cycles for 2 months with opks and she gave me clomid for the 3rd cycle and we got pregnant! And now I have a beautiful little girl who is about to be 11 months old, born on April 25, 2015. Exactly 1 year later

2 months after having her I got pregnant again, but was (cannot remember the name of it for the life of me) unviable. There was a sack and a placenta, but no baby. Had to have laprascopic surgery again at 12 weeks since I wasn't miscarrying on my own and I had a grapefruit sized cyst on my ovary.

So here I am. CD5 of month 1 ttc #2. If nothing happens 's by June when I'm due for my yearly visit I'm going to ask my Dr for clomid again. She told me clomid is good at targeting a functioning side to ovulate from. I will be using opks until then and walk in prepared if we are unsuccessful by then.


Sorry for the book

 

[breakingdawn]

Hey and welcome! Of course you can join! Wow, it sounds like you have had a tough journey as well. By the time I finally had surgery my tube had long since ruptured and I think he said I had 3 or 4 cups of internal bleeding. It was severe. I was very close to dying. I am honestly thankful to be alive. I hope your journey is short and without any issues! Feel free to update in here as often as you like. I am not telling any friends or family we are trying for a final baby so this group is really all I have. I have told one friend outside of bnb but we actually met here.

 

[mod19]

I have actually told a few people this time. I didn't the first time and suffered in silence. I think I'm going to try soy iso next cycle just to see what happens.

I hope everyone here doesn't have any further issues. I think the surgery is worse than a miscarriage imo. Instead of seeing blood you prep for hours (usually) knowing the outcome and when you wake up its the worst feeling. Hopefully our lack of tunes doesn't hinder any of us!

Has anyone else here used clomid?

 

[breakingdawn]

I have no experience here with clomid but maybe someone else can chime in? I agree, surgery was hard. My ectopic surgery and loss was one day before my husband's birthday. However, our daughter whom we conceived one month after our loss, was born one month early, on Father's Day.

 

[BronteForever]

Hey Mod19, welcome to this small group. Sounds like you have had quite the journey. Good luck this time around. I have also heard Clomid is good to help essentially trick the correct ovary to ovulate. I've also heard your good tube can pick up the egg even from the other ovary. So you all have an excellent shot.

My remaining tube is blocked so I'm not sure what all my options are besides IVF. I don't have an appointment until May with the RE where we'll discuss everything. Based on where it's blocked at I don't think there are many options which is frustrating.

 

[BronteForever]

And I agree surgery was hard. You not only have to deal with a loss but also with the potential for it to affect your future fertility and that's a lot to handle all at once. Plus it sounds like everyone here had an extra hard time before surgery because of misdiagnosis, doctor error, or from having to wait for surgery.

Before my ectopic I was much more trusting of doctors (when I managed to go at all) and now I like to get second or third opinions and have learned to trust my gut more.

 

[breakingdawn]

I couldn't agree with you more about trusting your own gut when it comes to doctors and diagnosees. I really hope things work in your favor, I will certainly be keeping you in my thoughts.

 

[mod19]

And I agree surgery was hard. You not only have to deal with a loss but also with the potential for it to affect your future fertility and that's a lot to handle all at once. Plus it sounds like everyone here had an extra hard time before surgery because of misdiagnosis, doctor error, or from having to wait for surgery.

Before my ectopic I was much more trusting of doctors (when I managed to go at all) and now I like to get second or third opinions and have learned to trust my gut more.

Completely agree!

I've been lucky enough to find a Dr that is sympathetic and gets me in asap after a positive test. She does early scans with me until a heartbeat is detected. With my last loss I called about brown spotting and she said to come right in for a reassurance scan.

It sucks that Ivf may be your only option. I'm sorry, I can't even imagine how that must feel. May seems so far away, but it'll be here before you know it and will be able to move forward. I'm not sure where you're located, but there are a few states that are required to offer infertility insurance. Of course it's something you have to obtain on your own, but I'm sure it's better than covering everything out of pocket. I started looking into it before I met my current dr, and the one before her was quick to mention a fertility specialisr. Ugh. Men should not be in that profession.

 

[breakingdawn]

So, I know the odds of me being pregnant right off the pill at age 35 with one tube are slim to none but I thought I would just make note.. I am having the same weird symptoms this month as I did when I got pregnant with my last daughter. Headaches, some back pain now, and my nose is all stuffy like I am getting a cold but not really. Then this morning I had an odd pregnancy dream. I had two of those before I found out I was pregnant with Alice. Again, not reading much into this, just thought it was interesting.