Eptopic?

[Xmishell37]

I have a repeat blood test tomorrow after my HCG last week was just 9, I had a sore stomach through the week and Ive had a consistently dull pain in my right side tonight and so paranoid it's eptopic (originally thought chemical) has anyone had experience of this and had similar symptoms? I will obviously express my concerns to the nurse tomorrow and hope they give me a scan x

[MrsOrangejuice]

Sorry you're going through this. I don't think one HCG reading like that can determine if it's ectopic as like you say it could be a chemical, or even a slow starter (although my doctors said anything below 20 was borderline, and it depends how far along you are). Hopefully if you have a nurse appointment today they can support you and maybe arrange a repeat HCG so they have a better idea, they may not do a scan if you're quite early on and the HCG is low. But if you have pain symptoms then they should keep a close eye on you.

[Xmishell37 in reply to MrsOrangejuice]

Thanks so much for Ur response, the nurses were lovely this morning, did a scan and urine pregnancy test for an instant result, there is some fluid around my ovary so likely a cyst that's burst n caused the pain, if my blood test from today doesn't come back negative they will probably see me back tomorrow (never been so relieved to hear a pregnancy test be negative!)

[MrsOrangejuice in reply to Xmishell37]

That's good that they're looking after you and taking this seriously. I do know what you mean re the negative, it's a horrible situation to be in but ectopics can be so serious and cause complications, that there is a relief in having that ruled out. Also, I don't know if you've had early losses before or chemicals, but they definitely don't mean that it won't work next time x

[Xmishell37 in reply to MrsOrangejuice]

Thanks, I've had two frozen transfers and first one miscarried at 5.5 weeks, that was the second one where HCG was 9 so I'd kinda ruled out a positive at that stage, I've got one frozen embryo left but it's poor quality so probably less than 20% chance of it even implanting 😔 it's such a rough process I'm trying to improve my egg quality before the next egg retrieval which will likely be in summer so if you have any tips im happy to listen!! (First round I had 20 eggs retrieved but most were immature so only 3 embryos made it to day 5) xx

[MrsOrangejuice in reply to Xmishell37]

I had two early losses at 5 and 6 weeks on fresh transfers, and turned out the HCG never got above 100. But the third transfer (a FET) worked immediately and was strong from the start. The first one was NHS and they went on about how it was amazing quality etc, and it still didn't last, so not sure how much they can actually tell at that stage. And the second time was private but they wouldn't tell me the quality of any of them, just that they were good enough to transfer or freeze. And actually I preferred that approach and it was the second of that batch we had success with, which I guess was lower quality. So I wouldn't set too much by the grading. Also my consultant kept saying the fact that we'd had fertilisation, blasts, implantation and then some development was a good thing as it ruled out a lot of issues, and he said it's just numbers and to keep going. He also said for unexplained infertility with age not being an issue he'd expect only 1 in 3 on average to work, and similar odds to those who conceived naturally. That's really hard to swallow at the time, but he was spot on - after the successful FET, we had a later loss from a fresh transfer (PUL, suspected ectopic) then a BFN on a FET but am now 6mnths pregnant for the first time ever naturally - happened while waiting for the next FET. So just don't give up hope, this process is really rough, and the lows are crushing, but it can work eventually. x

[Xmishell37 in reply to MrsOrangejuice]

Wow thank you for sharing ❣️ I'm 38 next month and my partner is 44 so I don't really feel like time is on our side, trying to get booked in for my next transfer (last one of this round) after my withdrawal bleed, previously I've waited for two periods but just want to get on with it, I'm fully expecting to have to do round 2 but you just never know! Blood test from this morning confirmed negative so no more investigations required re eptopic.. thankfully xx

[MrsOrangejuice in reply to Xmishell37]

I was a couple of weeks off turning 38 when I had my daughter, and will be 40 with this one (my OH's in mid 40s too). But I totally get the feeling of time pressure. I went for back-to-back collections and transfers in part because of that, and it certainly did no harm. Glad the test result confirmed not ectopic, although bittersweet, and best of luck with the next one. And even if that doesn't work, my second collection was miles better than my first in many ways, so don't feel too disheartened if you do need to go that route as the results can be very different each time x

[Xmishell37 in reply to MrsOrangejuice]

Thank you 💗 it does feel reassuring to her people's stories who are of similar ages because I constantly kick myself for not getting referred for IVF sooner, but I always lived in hope I'd conceive naturally then I didn't and time flies, I'm not sure the NHS would allow me back to back egg collections and I didn't even know it was a thing until reading more on these kind of forums, my plan is to do the 3 rounds on NHS and if these aren't successful pay for one round then stop, hopefully it won't get to that stage! 🤞🏼 Xx

[MrsOrangejuice in reply to Xmishell37]

Yes same, but it also took us the best part of 5 years to actually start treatment with a very slow NHS referral system where we are then lockdowns etc.It's amazing if you get 3 NHS rounds btw - we got 1 after all those years of waiting, and no transfers after one fresh. So when that transfer ended we immediately (within a month) went private. Whichever option you go with chances are you will have success eventually, even if it doesn't feel like that now. x

[Xmishell37 in reply to MrsOrangejuice]

💗 the NHS is great at times and sucks at other times, going private is SO much quicker, I could have started private treatment in January last year and decided to wait as I expected to hear from NHS is March, I never actually started treatment until August which doesn't like much of a wait but felt like FOREVER! Currently trying to force seeds and nuts down as a snack and wondering how long by brain will take to like them lol good luck with the rest of Ur pregnancy! 💗

[Debsdex11]

Hi, fingers crossed for your blood test, that should give them a lot of info, if it was chemical it should be going down, if it’s ectopic it will be rising but slower than normal pregnancy. With ectopic I had quite bad pains and bleeding on and off, I went to hospital to get checked and confirmed ectopic and needed surgery. Having said that when I was then finally successful last year I also had tummy cramps and light bleeding through most of the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, just not as painful as ectopic. I’m now 29 weeks. In the end the blood tests and scans will confirm what’s going on and we can’t change it so to just to try to stay positive if we can. Good luck xx

[Xmishell37 in reply to Debsdex11]

Thanks you and congratulations ❣️ the nurses were lovely this morning, did a scan and urine pregnancy test for an instant result, there is some fluid around my ovary so likely a cyst that's burst n caused the pain, if my blood test from today doesn't come back negative they will probably see me back tomorrow (never been so relieved to hear a pregnancy test be negative!) Xx

[Debsdex11]

That’s good the nurses were taking care of you, it makes such a difference when they’re lovely Yes ectopic is the worst result, so I’m glad it turned out not to be. Big hugs xx