Complications after miscarriage

milliegirl · 11-22-2003, 10:30 AM

I am wondering if anyone else has experienced complications after a D&E or D&C? I lost my baby almost 3 weeks ago at 12 weeks. The whole thing has been a nightmare (two trips to the ER and two D&Es in 2 1/2 weeks), but the long and short of it is that I probably had an infection after the 1st D&E due to retained placental tissue. Was treated w/ antibiotics after the 1st D&E, then went about 5-6 days before getting antibiotics again for the suspected infection. Went to the ER 2 nights ago with massive bleeding and huge clots. Dr. suspects intrauterine bleeding caused by irritation to the uterine lining by the retained tissue.

Am devestated by this loss and even more devestated to think there might be damage from all this (especially scarring from the infection) which will prevent me from ever having a baby. I already had a pelvic infection many years ago, am hypothyroid, have PCOS and am 34. This pregnancy felt like a miracle and I am terrified that it will never happen again. Am hoping to hear from anyone who has gone thru a similar experience.

Blessings,

MG

*DannysMom* · 11-22-2003, 11:35 AM

Milligirl,

I am so sorry that you and dh have experienced this loss.

From the sounds of it, your miscarriage has been compounded by the fact that you've gone on to experience additional complications. I am sorry you've had this additional pain and that you have lost your miracle baby.

I have had three mc's and have lost four babies
( one of which required a D&C, another requiring D&E and the others were deliveries). My most recent miscarriage was
Sept 2... at 15w1d. Your post struck a chord with me though. Because I have hit the *magic* number of losses (according to insurance), I won the distinction of having been given the *right* to have a panel of recurrent miscarriage testing completed and be covered. Part of that testing emphasizes testing for structural abnormalities of the reproductive system (primarily the uterus). In the last three weeks I have had an Hsg done, sono Hsg, and biopsy. My dr got back to me on Tuesday morning to tell me although the biopsy did not show evidence of infection, I do have small amounts of desidual tissue (pregnancy tissue) inside my uterus. It's been three months since my loss! The dr wants a repeat biopsy now. I am worried about what this means.

Why does your post strike a chord with me?

Well, after my last miscarriage I just wanted to lay down and die. My RE and Peri made hypothesis' that they believed that infection has been the cause of my recurrent mc's. They did cultures on me before, during, after my pregnancies and never found infection. My pregnancies always ended in mc... and with that... I was given triple antibiotics before I was released from the hospital after the delivery or D&C or D&E. Why would I test for infection, if I was treated with antibiotics? Since then, I have now learned that there is pregnancy tissue in me and I am not pregnant. I don't quite understand the implications of this. I don't know if it is tissue from this pregnancy... or could it even be tissue from my first or second pregnancy. I don't know how this is fixed, I don't know how it would affect future pregnancies... and like you, worry about scar tissue if future D&C's are required to eleviate this problem. I too wonder about my ability to achieve pregnancies more than ever, and the ability to ever go full term. I worry about my uterus and how much of it has been damaged by repeated trauma for lack of a better word.

I think it is a *positive* that you got to the ER when you did and that you still have your uterus. If at all possible, get your dr to do a biopsy prior to attempting your next pregnancy. My dr waited until my bHcg levels were <5 (non pregnant state) and a period had started before a biopsy was performed. And although my biopsy had to do with recurrent mc issues, a biopsy can tell you if you are starting with a clean slate and if there are any issues you may have prior to achieving another pregnancy (you talked about being worried about possible *damage* ).

It's awful that you have been down this road... and left with more questions than when you started. I hope you find the strength and the courage to keep going and finding the answers you are looking for.

Karen

PS Is it known yet why you miscarried?

kcal · 11-24-2003, 02:52 PM

I had complications after my D&C last December. I had the D&C on a Thursday and everything was fine. Friday I felt ok. Saturday, I started to feel like I was getting the flu. The sheet from the hospital said that if you got a fever over 100.6 you had to go to the emergency room. When we left the house it was over 101. By the time we got to the emergency room it was 103. They admitted me that night at the hospital. I was already on antibotics since right after the D&C. They pumped me with 4 bags of antibotics through an IV overnight. They took vials and vials of blood. They never found out what was wrong with me. Just that my white blood cell count was high. So, I had an infection somewhere. I had to miss a week of work because my doctor said that my immune system was low and did not want me to be around germs. I had another m/c in April. I was worried about something being wrong with me, but I am now 22 wks pg and this pg has been uneventful. Good luck to you.

Kim

milliegirl · 11-24-2003, 07:34 PM

I am sorry to hear about both your experiences. This whole experience has turned my life upside down and some days I am afraid life will never get better. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to communicate with others who have experienced similar things.

Karen, I am so incredibly sorry to hear about your losses! The complications only make it worse, I know. I am praying for you and sending heaps of baby dust your way. The pathology report said that the baby had an abdominal wall defect - that his abdomen never closed properly and intestines were on the outside of his body. In a way it helps to know what the problem was, but it doesn't make the hurt go away or make me miss him any less.

Kim, I am very sorry for your losses as well. Thank goodness you got help early and they treated your infection aggressively. It is wonderful to hear that you are having a healthy pregnancy - I wish you all the best and congratulations! It gives me hope for the future.

Thank you for sharing your experiences with me.

Blessings,

MG

Bunnyscott · 11-25-2003, 01:09 PM

Milliegirl -- First let me say I'm so very sorry for your loss. It's horrible to have a m/c to begin with, but it's like adding insult to injury to have complications.

As you can see from my signature line, I've had three losses. I had a D & C with the second one, then with the third (and most awful) I had retained placenta. After I delivered the twins, my OB couldn't get all the placenta out, so she took me into the OR for a D & C. She STILL couldn't get it all out, so I walked around with retained placenta for a while. I was re-hospitalized for a post-partum hemmorhage three weeks after we lost the twins and bled for a total of 16 weeks after the delivery. After nine weeks my beta was still not at zero, so I begged the RE for methotrexate to kill the remaining placental tissue -- it was still growing. He did it and it worked. They covered me with massive antibiotics and I, luckily, did not get an infection.

I tell you all of this not because I'm eager to relive it, but because I am almost ten weeks pregnant now. Your uterus, and your body, can go through a lot and you will still be able to get pregnant. On top of my losses, I have several fibroids now, and I have scar tissue from a myomectomy five years ago.

Take care. I'm sending you hugs and prayers to get through this difficult time. I hope the worst of it all is over for you and your body heals quickly. The emotional pain will take longer to get over, but I promise you that things WILL get better. I know it's really hard to see it right now, but there's always hope.

milliegirl · 11-29-2003, 10:54 PM

Hi Paula,

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with me and your words of encouragement. I am so, so sorry for your losses and all of the complications!

I am feeling much better physically and am starting to let myself believe that there is another baby in our future.

I am so excited for you and wish you all the best for a happy, healthy pregnancy and beautiful baby!

Many blessings -

MG