Who's still TTC after an ectopic and/or methotrexate?

[pbl_ge]

I'm really not sure what to think about my doctors' divergence from what I perceive as the norm. I asked them, for example, why they no longer recommended the 3 months waiting time to TTC again. They told me, "Well, lots of people ignored that, got pregnant again, and nothing bad happened." They also added that bit about mtx leaving your system pretty quickly. I didn't raise the question about the alcohol, as I didn't want to hear them tell me not to drink any.

They did the liver tests and told me no sex, too. Like you, this has not been challenging! As I posted elsewhere, the pain in the last few days has been nontrivial, and I've been hovering on the border between spotting and light AF. I'll get new numbers on Friday, and I'm really hoping they'll be getting close to 0.

I'm in western New York State, btw.

Dolly, that's great that you want to try naturally for a few more months! It's funny, I have been itching to get a HSG since I heard of their existence when I started TTC. It's like I, too, had the "feeling" that that was something I might need. Maybe it's just that my charts looked so good, but my tubes were something I couldn't verify on my own. I'm really anxious to get that done and see what's what!

I'm going to be rooting for you girls to get speedy BFPs!!!

 

[ReadynWaiting]

Hi Ladies,
I wanted to share what I learned about Methotrexate when I went through it. I researched, asked questions and...obsessed because the info I collected either conflicted with what the Dr told me or with other info. What I finally determined (with the help of my Dr.) was that long term metho users (used for a variety of different conditions/diseases) were at risk for liver damage and fetal abnormalities due to the prolonged use. As someone stated before the half life is mere hours which means that as long as you have had only one shot it will be out of your system in less than a day(50% will be). Dr's tell you the extremes to protect themselves (and you for that matter).
My dr (when presented with all that I had found) said she would change how she instructed people. What she learned in school and what is "handed down" as proper precaution is based on long term use. She gave me the go ahead to start as soon as my cycle resumed. Once my hcg was below 50 I started taking prenatals and 4mg of folic acid just for my own sanity.
A great book to read if you are still struggling to get pregnant (it took me 6 months post ectopic) "Making Babies" by Sami S. David.
I wish you all the best and send you positive "forever baby"-making vibes!

 

[Dollybird]

Yeh I am.. On cd2 today- about 12 days till O! So excited! Dunno how I'm gonna keep myself calm about it all.. Felt so chilled about things when we weren't allowed to try but now it's upon me I'm starting to feel that excited obsessiveness creeping back up on me again! Xxx

 

[grace10209]

Hi guys
another comment I wanted to share.......the HSG does not help with fertility. Sorry, I hope that doesn't sound negative, but I just wanted to make sure you guys knew that.
Its a test to determine if your tubes are blocked OR have any type of damage as a result of the ectopic, but it is not a fertility tool so to speak. There are many women that conceive "after" they had the test done but there is no way to know if having the test done did anything to help that happen. The die goes through your tubes, so I guess if you HAD a blockage and the die fixed it, then yes - then you could say it "might" help with fertility......but that would be the only time.

I know a lot of women credit the HSG for getting them pregnant right away, and I am HOPING AND PRAYING that that happens with me too as I just had it done. but im not counting on it.

I personally wish there was a procedure they could do to make sure you dont have another ectopic, OR that there was some way they could "move" the baby from "wherever it is" over to your uterus so you can keep the pregnancy. Unfortunately, even with IVF = you "can" have another ectopic, although the chances of that are really really low. Like 2-3% I think.

 

[grace10209]

Yeh I am.. On cd2 today- about 12 days till O! So excited! Dunno how I'm gonna keep myself calm about it all.. Felt so chilled about things when we weren't allowed to try but now it's upon me I'm starting to feel that excited obsessiveness creeping back up on me again! Xxx

Yup I am with you 100% girl, I am a bit ahead of you as I'll be Oing probably by this weekend or next Monday/Tuesday and its crazy to be "in the game" again so to speak. I am thrilled and excited but also scared to get a bfp again. I think i'll be worried the entire 9 months!

 

[grace10209]

Hi Ladies,
I wanted to share what I learned about Methotrexate when I went through it. I researched, asked questions and...obsessed because the info I collected either conflicted with what the Dr told me or with other info. What I finally determined (with the help of my Dr.) was that long term metho users (used for a variety of different conditions/diseases) were at risk for liver damage and fetal abnormalities due to the prolonged use. As someone stated before the half life is mere hours which means that as long as you have had only one shot it will be out of your system in less than a day(50% will be). Dr's tell you the extremes to protect themselves (and you for that matter).
My dr (when presented with all that I had found) said she would change how she instructed people. What she learned in school and what is "handed down" as proper precaution is based on long term use. She gave me the go ahead to start as soon as my cycle resumed. Once my hcg was below 50 I started taking prenatals and 4mg of folic acid just for my own sanity.
A great book to read if you are still struggling to get pregnant (it took me 6 months post ectopic) "Making Babies" by Sami S. David.
I wish you all the best and send you positive "forever baby"-making vibes!

Congrats on your pregnancy, i see that you are 28 weeks now? that is wonderful!!! so you are totally in the safe zone now! that must be the most amazing feeling! were you terrified the entire first trimester?

 

[Snuffles]

Ooooh so informative you ladies are, tell me more

Also, so then once AF resumes can I try again or do I have to wait another cycle after that to try?

 

[pbl_ge]

Hi guys
another comment I wanted to share.......the HSG does not help with fertility. Sorry, I hope that doesn't sound negative, but I just wanted to make sure you guys knew that.
Its a test to determine if your tubes are blocked OR have any type of damage as a result of the ectopic, but it is not a fertility tool so to speak. There are many women that conceive "after" they had the test done but there is no way to know if having the test done did anything to help that happen. The die goes through your tubes, so I guess if you HAD a blockage and the die fixed it, then yes - then you could say it "might" help with fertility......but that would be the only time.

I know a lot of women credit the HSG for getting them pregnant right away, and I am HOPING AND PRAYING that that happens with me too as I just had it done. but im not counting on it.

I personally wish there was a procedure they could do to make sure you dont have another ectopic, OR that there was some way they could "move" the baby from "wherever it is" over to your uterus so you can keep the pregnancy. Unfortunately, even with IVF = you "can" have another ectopic, although the chances of that are really really low. Like 2-3% I think.

Yes, that's the theory--for those women who had minor blockages in their tubes--I've heard them referred to as "cobwebs," but that's probably not the technical term--forcing the dye through might clear them. As ectopics can be caused by the ovum just getting snagged somewhere, and not a true occlusion, clearing out that debris can be helpful.

The extent to which an HSG may help prevent another ectopic and/or increase successful conception is indeed very controversial, and likely would only entail slight effects (small percentage improvements, likely not even statistically significant). But every single resource I've read on the topic acknowledges the possibility of improved outcomes, with the caveat that more research is required.

Will try to find the actual studies later and post them.

 

[pbl_ge]

Ooooh so informative you ladies are, tell me more

Also, so then once AF resumes can I try again or do I have to wait another cycle after that to try?

I've not heard consensus on that! My two doctors were split on that question. One said wait a cycle, the other said you can try once levels are at zero.

 

[Snuffles]

Doctor's really should have the same answers, just saying. Well what she told me is that we wait for the levels to be zero and test once a month to make sure they stay zero, but I highly doubt they would be zero and suddenly spike really higher considering my baby has already aborted itself. This gets so confusing

 

[grace10209]

Doctor's really should have the same answers, just saying. Well what she told me is that we wait for the levels to be zero and test once a month to make sure they stay zero, but I highly doubt they would be zero and suddenly spike really higher considering my baby has already aborted itself. This gets so confusing

Once you hit 0, you are no longer pregnant. So im not sure what she meant ......... If you numbers hit 0 and then went up the following month, it would be an entirely new pregnancy.
My suggestion would be to ask your doc when you can ttc and go by what she/he says.........if you trust them.
You have to trust your MD. and yes, every MD is different. Its hard because Medicine is not a 100% exact science, its not all black and white and there is a lot of gray out there. WHich is why we are all getting slightly different answers.
My RE said one cycle, I then double checked with my OB and then some docs at my hospital - and I feel comfortable ttc now. its really about what you feel comfortable with. But, i will say, that I would definitly make sure you are on your prenatals for atleast 4 weeks before you ttc again. You agree pbl?

 

[pbl_ge]

I was just writing a response to this, and got an email that you'd responded, too, grace!

I think your advice is good. There's SO much information out there these days that it's nearly impossible to wade through and make decisions! Especially regarding pregnancy! Don't I look forward to that quagmire again! (The parenting stuff is even worse!) When I got pregnant I had already made the decision that I would find one or two resources that I really trusted (e.g., the Mayo Clinic book), and not listen to contradictory or dubious sources. I'm not 100% certain of my doctors, but if I were than I would have them as a second source!

I will say that the diversity in opinions in medicine is a reflection of the diversity of opinions in medical research. When a new discovery is made, such as that one doesn't have to wait 6 months to TTC following methotrexate (an old guideline), it takes a while to convince practitioners of that. Also, a new discovery (such as the possibility that you don't have to wait at all) contradicts existing practice and research knowledge, so there's natural skepticism about new (and often somewhat preliminary) findings.

So the diversity of opinion is good, because it is reflective of advances in knowledge. And it's good that not everyone follows the newest research guidelines, as sometimes those turn out to be bad procedures after further study. It is a real pain in the ass to deal with as a consumer, though!

(Who has guessed yet that I'm a researcher? Not biomedical now, although I used to be!)

 

[Snuffles]

Well the doctor I am seeing now isn't even my regular doctor. I was just handed to her as my primary OBGYN had to go deliver a baby at the time. But I have to have more blood drawn tomorrow and when she calls and if she tells me it's zero I will then ask for a more specific time period for trying again. Because I would love to try again once we move to PA since it will be a bigger place and we can actually afford to have a child.

You're so smart Pbl, I'm a little jealous lol

 

[ReadynWaiting]

Hi Ladies,
I wanted to share what I learned about Methotrexate when I went through it. I researched, asked questions and...obsessed because the info I collected either conflicted with what the Dr told me or with other info. What I finally determined (with the help of my Dr.) was that long term metho users (used for a variety of different conditions/diseases) were at risk for liver damage and fetal abnormalities due to the prolonged use. As someone stated before the half life is mere hours which means that as long as you have had only one shot it will be out of your system in less than a day(50% will be). Dr's tell you the extremes to protect themselves (and you for that matter).
My dr (when presented with all that I had found) said she would change how she instructed people. What she learned in school and what is "handed down" as proper precaution is based on long term use. She gave me the go ahead to start as soon as my cycle resumed. Once my hcg was below 50 I started taking prenatals and 4mg of folic acid just for my own sanity.
A great book to read if you are still struggling to get pregnant (it took me 6 months post ectopic) "Making Babies" by Sami S. David.
I wish you all the best and send you positive "forever baby"-making vibes!

Congrats on your pregnancy, i see that you are 28 weeks now? that is wonderful!!! so you are totally in the safe zone now! that must be the most amazing feeling! were you terrified the entire first trimester?

I am in a "safer" zone than I was at the beginning but I still worry. I worry about going in to labour early, things that could affect the development of my baby, if delivery will go safely...I could go on. I think once you have experienced any type of loss in pregnancy you live in fear.
I have had 6 ultrasounds, tons of bloodwork, multiple visits to the dr/midwife/specialist and the list goes on but she is still in there and bouncing around looking healthy and developing well. I wish that each and every one of you gets your desired forever baby with no complications. I know it seems like forever when you are trying (each day feels like a month) but it will happen eventually.
I know this is a thread meant to have no pregnant ladies on here so I'm popping back out as quickly as I came but my thoughts are with all of you .

 

[pbl_ge]

Hi Ladies!

I'm excited to report that my levels are ALMOST 0!!!

I got tested yesterday and they're at 24.5, down from 2000 four weeks ago. I haven't had a real bleed yet, although as some of you know I had very heavy cramping and spotting for a few days. I'm assuming that the bleeding will happen soon, but it's hard to be sure since I was told my lining was thin (normal, non-pregnant thin) 4 weeks ago. God only knows what's going on in this regard. Anyway, at this point, I gotta get AF, gotta get the HSG, and then I'm ready to TTC again!

How are all of you?

(Btw, ReadynWaiting, I definitely appreciated your input, even if this is a thread for those still TTC!)

 

[Snuffles]

Yay!!!! I'm so happy for you sweetie, you're getting very close

I forgot to update in here that Wednesday I found out my levels are at zero now we're just waiting on AF.

 

[pbl_ge]

Cheers, Snuffles! We're at the same stage!

 

[grace10209]

Yay for both of you!! Tomorrow is cd10 so we are gonna start bd'ing every other day tomorrow!! Woohooo

Praying for my rainbow baby and a bfp in early November !!

You guys start your prenatals again?

 

[Snuffles]

Wooooooo

We're hoping for a November/December bfp and this time I'm not telling family til after the first appointment or 12 weeks.

I started my prenatals on Wednesday, because the doctor said it was fine to start again.

 

[grace10209]

That's great- I was told you want to be back on them for 4weeks before ttc (well that's the safer) as you know some woman don't even start them until they know they are pregnant! Yikes!

Hope we all get our healthy bfp's together!!

Yay!!!