Ectopic Questions- LONG!

[angelini]

Hello lovelies - I hope it's sunny where you are!

I'm sorry this is so long, but I can't get any help from the doctors until Monday!

I was hoping someone could offer a bit of advice as I'm still in the dark and don't know if my pregnancy is ectopic or not ... I went to my GP yesterday because I was spotting - really light pink, sometimes I could see streaks of blood in CM - so I wasn't too worried, but wanted to be reassured. She sent me for a scan to make sure everything was okay - I was 6w+2 yesterday.

At the scan, they saw a sac (nothing in it) measuring 5w+3 and 'something' on my left ovary. The tech called the doctor in who said it could be ectopic and that my GP would probably recommend a scan in a week or so since I wasn't in any pain. He also said I should go back to my GP that afternoon as she might want to look at other options.

I went back to my GP who freaked out and called the ER gyno and asked if I should go in ... the ER gyno said yes, so off to the ER I went thinking something terrible was about to happen. I waited in the waiting room for 2 hours (still in no pain) before being taken in. I had bloodwork done which showed my HCG at around 4,000 (ER doc said that would be right for about 6 weeks?).

Finally the ER gyno came in and did an internal to see where the bleeding was coming from and if she could feel anything or if I felt any pain - said the bleeding was from my cervix and wasn't much at all and she couldn't feel anything, nor was I in any pain. She said it was possible, based on my symptoms (sore boobs, nausea, tiredness) that I was really pregnant, but she couldn't be sure yet.

So ... here I am, back at home after an uneventful night (ok, ok, I came home and went to bed because my body is convinced it's pregnant even if I'm not!) and won't have any news until Monday when I am to go back to the hospital where they have a 'Bleeding in Early Pregnancy' clinic - she said they would probably re-do the ultrasound and will take bloods to measure HCG again. If it doubles, it's a real pregnancy and if it goes slightly up or slightly down, it's ectopic with a pseudo-sac in my uterus.

I was just wondering if anyone has had any experience of this? If it turns out I have both a real pregnancy and an ectopic pregnancy, I will be pretty unusual - stats I've seen are anywhere between 1-10,000 and 1-30,000!

Is there any chance it could be a real pregnancy? It took us 11 cycles to get pregnant and the thought that we aren't is devastating.

[PrincessC]

I'm not sure how much my story will help but I think you could be pregnant and it's not an ectopic at all

I got our BFP at 13dpo after having a mc last October. After my mc, I had a few scans that showed I had a "fluid filled structure" in my fallopian tube very close to the ovary. I was referred to a specialist but between appointments I became pregnant. Which was fantastic because they thought my fertility would of been affected
Anyway, at 4+3 I had extreme cramping in the side of my "blockage". I went to the ER and was in overnight and had a scan 1st thing in the morning. Scan showed nothing and some shadow in my ovary. They were thinking it was an ovarian ectopic. So they measured my levels and told me to go back to the ER for follow up bloods in 48 hours. I had yet to see my Gp and saw her the same day as I had the bloods done at the pathology place for the hospital.
The Dr from the hospital called me and told my levels had more than doubled so that was a great sign and was happy for me to see my Gp for care. I then got a call from my Gp telling me to go straight to emergency as she thought it was ectopic going from my levels :-/
Got to ER and they told me I was fine to go home if I had no pain or bleeding. (Had no bleeding this whole time)
My Gp then tested my levels every 48 hours and they were rising perfectly. Sent me for a scan at 5w 3d and we saw bub in the right place with a healthy HB I was not expecting for a HB as that is very early to find one! Everything is right on track now and I am nearly 14weeks.

HCG levels vary heaps and I was told it's more about them doubling/rising every 48 hours rather than the number itself. I had no bleeding but plenty of people have spotting in early pregnancy.
With dd I didnt have a scan until 7+3 and was told that was early and may not get a HB so I'm thinking you will def see bubs at your next scan
It might just be the cyst that provides bub with progesterone b4 the placenta takes over. That's what I was told about the shadow in my ovary. It is re absorbed once the placenta takes over.

Sorry that was all over the place I'm really positive that it's not an ectopic for you

[Jaspat24]

I've had two ectopics last year, 4 months apart, one either side and as such have no tubes now.
I had pregnancy symptoms really early, like 5-7dpo and i just knew something wasn't right both times. I was only really early along both times (under 6wks) when i had the emergency surgeries. I had weird bleeding, and my hcg and progesterone blood levels were out, i think the hcg was high enough but the progesterone was way too low.
Both times they could clearly see a 'mass' in the tubes and nothing in the uterus at all. I agree with PP about the 'something on the ovary" being a cyst. What happens each month is the ovary will produce follicles and usually the biggest, most dominant one will release an egg. After the egg is released the follicle changes into a corpus luteum which produces the progesterone needed for a pregnancy. This will hang around until about 12 wks of pregnancy until the placenta is big and strong enough to take over.

Bleeding in early pregnancy is very scary, worrying and emotionally draining. If its only lightish and not bright i wouldn't worry too much. I think your GP is doing a great job getting you seen by ER gyno etc and keeping on top of it for you. Get lots of rest, try not to stress and fingers crossed everything works out ok

Just an added aside...i'm now 10wks pregnant from my first IVF cycle; no tubes doesn't mean you still can't get pregnant!

[angelini]

Thank you both so much! The gyno did say that it might be a corpus luteum since one showed on an earlier u/s from Feb ... still no bleeding or pain today so I'm trying to be positive, though the new u/s did say the cyst was vascular ... but the gyno saw that report and wasn't concerned, so who knows!

Thanks again!!

[PrincessC]

Let us know how you go Fingers crossed for you !!

[angelini]

Thanks, PrincessC - had some brown spotting early Saturday then nothing until pink spotting this morning but it didn't last long. Going back to hospital for hCG test and possibly another u/s. I'll let you know how it goes!