mischka

Hello all,

Well I have just gone through the Cytotec rigmarole and let me tell you, I am NOT amused. Here's the story:

I was diagnosed with a blighted ovum at 9 weeks and the diagnosis was confirmed a week later.

My gynae prescribed the RU abortion pill to "separate" the ovum from the uterus and Cytotec 2 days later to trigger the actual miscarriage. I was not given a choice to have a D&C, and I was not given much information as to how much pain to expect and I wasn't prescribed any painkillers. I like to be on the safe side and I stocked up on Ibuprofen.

So yesterday, I took some Ibuprofen and half an hour later, I took the first dose of Cytotec. The Cytotec (taken orally) kicked in within 10mn (!!!) and i was in intense pain for 45mn until the whole dose of Ibuprofen took effect. After that the pain became bearable. I started bleeding after a couple of hours and I took a second dose of Cytotec at noon. I passed a LOT of clots and membranes, which I had to examine carefully to check whether I had passed the amniotic sac (sorry abt the gore).

The bleeding and cramping lasted all day and went on til today.

Went for an ultrasound tonight to check what the status is and it turns out that after 2 days of cramping, bleeding and contractions, there is still STUFF LEFT IN THERE! Which means I have to go through the whole ridiculous process again tomorrow. And I am told that if THAT doesn't work, I may have to do it yet again.

Now call me a rebel, but I believe that a failed pregnancy in itself is already hard enough psychologically, without adding to it a long, painful, uncertain and humiliating miscarriage process to it.

Adding to it the pain, the stress of waiting for the pain, searching through the "wreckage" to try to identify it, bleeding, waiting for ultrasounds in waiting rooms full of pregnant women parading their bellies under your nose, and being endlessly poked and prodded only to have to do it over and over again because it didn't work the first time around amounts to adding insult to injury, IMHO.

If, God forbid, I should have to go through a miscarriage again, I am demanding a D&C straight off, even though I am aware that there is more risk of scarring, etc. I just want it to be over and done with as soon as possible so I can move on. I can't deal with the whole process lasting days on end and having to be repeated over and over with no guarantee it is working.

I wish I had known all this before going through with it, which is why I am posting this. I hope it helps.

All the best to you all.

Fleegle4

I'm sorry for your loss. May I ask why you're not going to have the D&C tomorrow? Why on earth would they say that it may take two more more tries with the pills rather than just getting the job done now that the first bunch of pills didn't do it? I was never given the option of pills, but I did know that I didn't really want to go through the process of checking what I passed to see what came out, and was grateful that I didn't start serious bleeding before my D&C.

Any chance you could get to another doctor? Something sounds odd here.

And you're right, this is hard enough without making you go through all this.

mischka

Hi Fleegle,

Thanks for your message. Well here in France as a rule they tend to favor meds over D&Cs because they think it reduces the risks of scarring and infection and also probably because it is cheaper for the public health system (health insurance is managed and paid for by the State here). They now only do D&Cs when it's the only option left.

Since apparently there isn't that much left in my uterus, a second course should do it (or so they say), and if not, I am scheduled for a D&C Friday morning (!!!!!).

But yes, I will be changing doctors because I am hopping mad at how little information I was given.

Thanks for your support!