help I'm confused about doing D & C or natural

Policewife · 09-23-2008, 03:17 AM

My doc is pushing for a D & C... He wants me to do it Wed, and come in for preop tomorrow (technically today now) .... He says if I don't the pain will be excruciating to miscarry and I won't be able to handle it when I try to pass the placenta ( baby measures 7 w 5 days at death)..

I'm not to happy about going under. I have several heart conditions and last time I went under I had a severe reaction about 15 seconds before I went under and my eyes swelled shut and I was sooo itchy and broke out in hives. I just dont know what to do.. Whats the pain of natural miscarriage compared to D & C.. what are the risks??? Comparativly??

I'm so confused and of course my husband just left and went to work the day we find out there's no heartbeat to leave me home alone to think about this, AND he's decided since the procedure is "harmless" to go to work the day after leaving me alone all day afterwards. I don't know how sore I'm going to be or what...

Blondie87 · 09-23-2008, 03:41 AM

I miscarried at 10 weeks. My baby didn't measure 10 weeks.. not sure what it measured.. anyways. I had alot of pain for a couple days.. but it wasn't that bad. My doctor prescribed me vicadin and I took it just cuz I didn't need to be reminded by the pain as well as the bleeding that I was losing my baby. With you being worried about other complications.. I would just wait it out. Ask for some pain meds and take them when you need them. HTH!

hela · 09-23-2008, 01:45 PM

Hi I've been reading your posts on the pg board and I'm so sorry for your loss and the difficult time you've had.
I wonder if your dr would prefer you having a d&c because of all the bleeding problems you've had, at least that way you're in hospital and being monitored if you should have a big bleed again. It might be the safer option even with heart problems.

Big hugs to you and please give yourself time to heal

siany22 · 09-23-2008, 02:26 PM

im so sorry for your loss too, ive been following your story too with my 1st miscarriage i had a D and C as i was 12 weeks along my 2nd loss was an ectopic so i wasnt given a choice.
in your situation it could be best to wait it out especially if you have heart problems.

big ((((((hugs)))))) xx

AnotherDreamer · 09-23-2008, 03:56 PM

I was 5 weeks when I miscarried. It was quite painful, but not absolutely unbearable. I would recommend asking for painkillers if you do that.

However, I think your doc actually wants you to do it for the bleeding problems and hemorrhaging you've been having. That way they can remove all the tissue, and there's no second guessing if you are going to start hemorrhaging heavily when you do start miscarrying.

I'm sorry your husband isn't helping you out more.
You'll be quite sore, I would imagine, not to mention how emotionally trying it is.

My husband didn't come home from work when we found out I'd lost the baby. He was up with me most of the night when I started contracting during the miscarriage. But eventually he fell asleep and I had to suffer alone, it was going on 7am and he had to work in the morning (I was up all night miscarrying. I eventually passed out because my body was so exhausted.) I understand why he stayed at work, and why he fell asleep. I don't begrudge him for it, but I still wish it had been otherwise.

If you are really concerned about the pain you'll be in, and your husband going to work, try talking to him about it. Explain how it is an operation, it's invasive, and you're scared. It won't hurt to talk to him. I don't know if it would do any good, but I should hope it won't do any harm.

I don't know anything about your heart condition, or anesthesia, but talk to your doctor about your concerns. Sorry for what you've gone through, and what you're still going through. Sorry for your loss.

SassyMKB · 09-23-2008, 04:28 PM

Tara - I'm so sorry for everything that you are going through.

I don't know your health issues, so I can't say whether you should miscarry naturally or have the D&C based on that. Also, it's a personal choice. For me, I chose the D&C (it was also my doctor's recommendation). After I knew the baby died, I just wanted it out of me and overwith. Emotionally, I couldn't handle the possibility of waiting weeks to complete a natural miscarriage. The doctor recommended it because:
1) they can run tests on "the tissue" to try and come up with an explanation for the m/c
2)with a natural m/c you won't know when and where you will be when it happens, so with a D&C you have more control
3)many women who miscarry naturally have to have a D&C anyway b/c it all doesn't "come out"

As for the physical part of the D&C, it wasn't bad at all. There was some cramping the day of the procedure (like a bad AF) and I was on Advil for a few days. Otherwise I bled for 5-7 days afterward - like a light AF flow.

Whatever you choose, I hope it's as fast and painless as possible.

Policewife · 09-23-2008, 05:29 PM

Thanks girls. I guess I'm going through with the D & C... My doctor scared the living hell out of me toay. He won't even do the surgery without clearance from my cardi which is fine. Then he got into having an ambulance ready and blood transfusions ready becasue I have the hematoma and talking about me being transported to the Hospital afterwards and having my cardiologist present etc etc.. Its like some major operation now to make sure I don't die on the table.. I dunno I don't want this to happen... It makes me wonder if I want to try for another baby again. I don't want to go through this ever again

justagirlgirlgirl · 09-23-2008, 06:18 PM

(((Hugs)))

I had a natural m/c and it was painful but tolerable. I also had a D&C at a later and again it was painful but tolerable. I had percocet (sp?) for pain but only took one and didn't really need it after that. I had more muscle pain all over (side effect from anesthesia) than uterine pain.

If they do the D&C, it sounds like they should just do it in the hospital setting. I had mine in the hospital, and it seems like a hospital would be more prepared to deal with your extra concerns with your heart and everything. Sorry that he's scared you so much and that you've been having such a difficult time.

Stacie M · 09-23-2008, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Policewife

Thanks girls. I guess I'm going through with the D & C... My doctor scared the living hell out of me toay. He won't even do the surgery without clearance from my cardi which is fine. Then he got into having an ambulance ready and blood transfusions ready becasue I have the hematoma and talking about me being transported to the Hospital afterwards and having my cardiologist present etc etc.. Its like some major operation now to make sure I don't die on the table.. I dunno I don't want this to happen... It makes me wonder if I want to try for another baby again. I don't want to go through this ever again

I hope you don't mind me posting as I have no personal experience with this, but I wonder if they could possibly perform it at the hospital instead of at the docs office? If it were me and they were concerned with other medical issues, such as your heart, I would just prefer it be done at the hospital. Maybe call them and find out. I don't know why they couldn't do it in the same-day surgery center of your hospital if they are that concerned. (((HUGS)))

siany22 · 09-23-2008, 06:33 PM

awww im so sorry youre going through this. give yourself some time before you start ttc again.

Policewife · 09-23-2008, 06:51 PM

they are doing it at a day surgery place so I don't know if they'll be more equipt for it or what but he didn't make it like it was. I dunno I had surgery in 06 for my tonsils and other than the allergic reaction to whatever they gave me before I went out I obviously made it. I'm sure its different because A) I've already lost a lot of blood and B) I have the potential to loose a lot of blood. I guess we'll just have to hope for the best huh.

SassyMKB · 09-23-2008, 07:54 PM

Tara, I don't know how long a tonsilectomy is, but the D&C procedure only lasts about 15 minutes. I was out, but it wasn't heavy anethesia. Same type of anethesia they use for a colonoscopy, I think.

HEATHRB25 · 09-23-2008, 08:44 PM

Tara, I hope you are ok...I've had D & Cs in the past but not for m/c/...they were ok, quick, some cramping afterwards....I had a natural m/c last week and I don't think my case was typical....It just happened that way...started at work, mostly done within 6hours at the ER....Had bleeding for a week, cramping pretty heavy for 2 days after the m/c...not intolerable though.....Please keep us posted as to how you are. I've been praying for you... {{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}

Iluvstjohn · 09-23-2008, 10:37 PM

here's some uplifting news for you! I had A LOT of fetal tissue at my dnc at 10 weeks along. I was NOT put under for my dnc....instead I had iv sedation...so I was sort of loopy. My husband was present and in the room with me THE WHOLE TIME. I kid you not, it took no longer than 10 minutes. The time I left for the procedure and the time I can back was less than an hour. The dnc was physcially the easy way out fo rme.....as I had to wait a whole month to six weeks for it to "be over".

I also have a bleeding disorder where my platelets don't clot fast enough. I am a bleeder.

I will tell you that you are regenerating blood cells as we speak.....so the fact that you have lost blood is ok....

I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the dnc.....If this is time for it to end for you, then you should do this.

You may want to pursue your own health issues and get them stabilized prior to the next pregnancy. It will be one less thing you have to worry about!

Good luck tomorrow......may it be a good "dustin' and a cleanin'" and may it be easy on your soul.....

Fleegle4 · 09-23-2008, 11:21 PM

Tara --

I'm terribly sorry for your loss and hope you're on the road to recovery soon. I know how hard it's been. You definitely should be having the D&C in a hospital, especially with some of your complications. I really had no pain with mine -- I woke up, had one big cramp, the nurse gave me a shot of something, and then after that I think I took about six advil in total over the next few days. The biggest problem I had was feeling loopy for the next couple of days as it took time to shake the anesthesia. I think the whole thing took about 45 minutes from start to finish -- I was in pre-op at about 4 or so getting onto the gurney, and I woke up in recovery and after a few things were done, I saw the clock and it was 4:45. They put me out, but not so deep that I needed the intubation tube. I remember none of it. After I was brought home from the hospital, I stayed home alone for the next day and a half and it wasn't that bad. I remember eating a lot of ice cream, because that's what I felt like doing.