Should I get a D&C?

TatianaHdz · 12-28-2005, 04:00 AM

Hi guys. As I mentioned in my previous post, I had an ultrasound today and the doctor couldn't find a heartbeat. He wants me to do a D&C on Thursday, but I was wondering if I should? I have a friend who advises me against it and I saw a psot on here about pain and not liking sex afterwards. Just curious what most of you would advise, or if you know what some of the bad side effects could be to having a D&C? My doctor said I could wait to let it happen naturally if I want...only problem is running the risk of bleeding too much and having to go to the hospital. Any in put would be appreciated.

Iluvstjohn · 12-28-2005, 04:22 AM

I had a m/c at 10 weeks along and I chose a dnc instead of "waiting it out" because it could have taken up to a month for it to happen...I had already gone through a month of ups and downs and heart ache...so I opted for a dnc and was sooooooo glad I did. For a number of reasons
1. I was awake for the procedure but had 'good drugs"...like if I had a couple glasses of wine for of good!
2. My dh was in the room for the whole procedure....that was nice
3. It was over within 10 minutes...the whole shabang...I was there and back in my house in an hour....
4. I bled/spotted for a couple of days...

Now...for me, a dnc was taking the easy route..PHYSICALLY...as there is no easy route emotionally. I wan't about to risk hemmoraging and all that jazz....so a dnc..."a dustin' and a cleanin'" was a good option for me. Gave me a fresh start in more ways than one.....
good luck in your decision...
Holly

GoingCrazyInTX · 12-28-2005, 05:15 AM

Like Holly said having a D&C is the "easy way out" physically but the emotional part is still the hardest. For me I couldn't stand the thought that my baby was iside of me and not alive. I just wanted to get it over with. Like someone mentioned on the other board...did you have an u/s done where they can really tell that the baby is gone. For my u/s the doctor was able to see that there was no blood flow at all going to and from the baby. Whether or not to go through with the D&C is really a personal preference. The risk of a problem from having one done is very minimal if you trust your doctor. I was out for my procedure and stayed at the hospital for a few hours. After they knew I wasn't bleeding excessively and after I'd eaten and gone to the bathroom they let me go home. If I had to decide on whether or not to do it again I would.

cysterof2miracles · 12-28-2005, 05:39 AM

Get a second opinion first. Make sure there is no heartbeat. Some women have went to do a d&c and gotten an u/s that showed the baby was still alive.

Gnzls924 · 12-28-2005, 06:51 AM

I second getting the ultrasound to make sure that there is no heartbeat.
We can still hold on to miracles.

But if it is not to be, I would suggest the D&C route. Going through it naturally can be so hard on you emotionally and physically, not to mention traumatic. And I've heard that for some women who have gone through it naturally have experienced problems and ended up with a D&C.

My heart really goes out to you at this time. Again, I am so sorry for your loss.

Loralyn · 12-28-2005, 08:30 AM

Sorry you are going through all of this. I agree with the others on getting a second U/S. I have heard of them finding a heartbeat after saying there is no heart beat.

My doctor gave me a choice. He said he would give me 3 weeks. I hate to have sugary...I just didn't want to go through being in the hospital.

It took 2 weeks for me to m/c. It ended up being very painful and I went to the ER. The "labor" pains lasted about 3 hours. They gave me morphine for the pain and a muscle relaxer (don't remember the name of it). I also passed a lot of tissue type stuff for several days after.

The decision is very tuff. You have to decide what is right for you. I really don’t know what I would do if given the choice again. It more than sucks either way!

Take care!

jnmanderson · 12-28-2005, 04:38 PM

I did just want to pass this along to you and the others around this board... I came across this after my m/c and found it very interesting reading http://www.misdiagnosedmiscarriage.com/

Tatiana:

so sorry you are having to go through this! Deciding to have the D&C is a personal choice and for me I choose to have it for mostly the same reasons as the other girls. I went for an u/s at 9.5 weeks and there was no hb but I had no signs of m/c either. Dr advised me could take weeks for it to start and since I was almost 10weeks along. A big factor for me as well was when the dr said that I might see the fetus when I passed it and I really could bare the thought of that - considering how emotional I already was!

Phoenix Rising ^^^ · 12-28-2005, 05:25 PM

Tatiana, I'm so sorry that you have to make this choice. I'm so sorry for your loss. I've had three losses since June 2004. The first two were 2nd trimester so I had no option but to have labor and delivery. My third loss back in Oct of this year I was 11 weeks but, my baby stopped developing at 8.5 weeks. I was on progesterone so I had no signs of m/c until the day the Dr. told me that there was no hb. I hadn't used my progesterone that morning because I slept really late and had to make a mad dash to get to the Dr. office in time for my appt. I knew I was having a vaginal ultrasound that day so I didn't use the suppository. Once we were sure there was no hb (confirmed by a second ultrasound by a radiologist) my Dr. asked me if I wanted a D&C. I really didn't want one. I asked what I could expect if I took the natural route. My Dr. told me it could take up to a month to m/c naturally and that it was likely to be very painful with a lot of bleeding and that I may still need a D&C anyway. I decided that sice it had already been 2 1/2 weeks and I wasn't bleeding or cramping then I should go ahead with the D&C. That was on a Thursday, my Dr. tried to get me scheduled for the next day but couldn't. So I was scheduled for Monday morning. That afternoon, I started having some mild cramping. It wasn't bad. By Saturday evening it was really bad so, I went to the hospital and had the D&C that night. I'm glad I did. I don't think I could have tolerated the pain all weekend. After the D&C I was there in the recovery room for about an hour. I was given something to eat and drink and I went to the bathroom and I went home. I was sad that I wasn't pregnant anymore but I was glad it(the m/c) was over. I had period like bleeding for about 5 days, and mild cramping for two days off and on. AF returned in 6 weeks.
Whatever you decide, know that your cysters will be here for you. Please post soon and let us know how you are doing.

VivC · 12-28-2005, 08:04 PM

((Tatiana)). I'm sorry you're going through this. I agree that you should have another opinion/ultrasound done before having any procedure.

You actually have a few options - naturally, d&c, or oral medication...I don't think one is any "better" than another. Naturally takes longer, and sometimes you end up needing a d&c anyway, d&c sometimes leads to problems later (very rarely), oral medication sometimes doesn't work fully, so you end up needing a d&c...

The question isn't which is better - it's which is better for YOU? If knowing that you're just waiting for your pregnancy to end is very difficult for you, then natural may not be the way to go. If you're comfortable waiting for nature to do its job, then it probably is.

But no matter what you decide, it's the right decision.

Viv

naomid · 12-28-2005, 09:56 PM

I had misopristal inserted and 2 hours later I started to mc. I took some pain killers and by morning I was fine. I had to still go for checkups to make sure everything came out. They have you get 2 prescriptions in case you need another dose the next day. I really didn't want the surgery.

mandy71480 · 12-29-2005, 04:32 PM

**graphic answer warning**

My natural miscarriage was a NIGHTMARE. I bled for 5 weeks straight, including hemmoraging, a trip to the ER.... I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but natural miscarriage HAS to be at least somewhat more emotionally draining that a D&C. I had to go weeks and weeks watching the 'products of conception' as my dr called it- aka MY BABY, being expelled from my body. If you've never been through it it's hard to know just how emotionally trying it is. I would go to the bathroom and see huge clots and start crying- not knowing if it was my baby I was seeing or pieces of it. I freaked out when I hemmoraged because of all the blood. It was VERY scary. You can read more about my story on this post if you want: My natural miscarriage story- GRAPHIC WARNING

TatianaHdz · 01-03-2006, 11:16 PM

Thanks for all the input, guys! After reading all your advice and stories, I had finally made the tough decision to go ahead and have the D&C. I did not make the decision lightly. I took several days to decide on it, and I decided I would NOT do it without another u/s first. Then, after finally making the decision, I called my doctor and he refused another u/s. He said since he had just done one, there was no reason for another. What a jerk! So, I said ok...I was just going to go somewhere else for an u/s before having him do the surgery. (only wanted him to do the surgery b/c he is an RE and promised to be very careful not to scar anything...plus, he's really experienced even if he is a jerk)

Then, I found out that the surgery would cost me $1k up front (my insurance deductible)!!! I don't have that kind of money right now, so I guess I have no choice but to wait it out. Hoepfully, if there's some type of emergency, I can go to the ER and they will bill me later instead of charging the entire $1k up front. It would actually be more. It's the $1k deductible + 20% of the cost of the surgery.

Soooo...right now, I am just waiting to have a miscarriage naturally. I'm just hoping my body will FINALLY do something right and completely get rid of everything so I don't get an infection or anything. It's been a week so far, and nothing yet. I'm hurting emotionally, but I feel fine physically.

Michelle, thanks for the link! It really gave me a better idea of what to expect, and it even gave me a little hope.

THANKS AGAIN guys!

sinclair319 · 01-04-2006, 12:33 AM

I know you've already made your decision, but I thought I'd throw my thoughts in for anyone who finds this post in the future.

I had a sac but no growing baby at 6 1/2 weeks. I had the D&C scheduled for 7w 2d. I'm so glad I had the D&C because
* it gave me closure--not wondering when I'd start to bleed, like a previous poster, I couldn't stand thinking my baby was in my body and not alive
* I only bled for 4 days
* The RE was able to get enough tissue to do genetic testing. Because of the results, my husband and I got tested too. Thankfully we're both healthy, it was just a fluke. This somewhat puts my mind at ease knowing that it shouldn't happen again. The testing was also able to show that it was a little boy--it made it more real, but also gave me some peace in knowing
* I didn't have much pain (mostly nausea coming off the anesthesia) or problems with sex--I think we had to wait a week
* Besides the initial news, waking up from the procedure was the hardest--I just cried and cried knowing that I was no longer pregnant.

We're finally starting another round now and yes, I'm terrified, but trying to remain positive.
So sorry that any of us ever had to go through this, especially after the crazy ride of infertility.

SheriKCMO · 01-04-2006, 04:39 AM

((hugs)) i'm sorry finances are stopping you from completing your decision. i hope this won't be hard physically.

SweetPea76 · 01-04-2006, 03:56 PM

Tatiana-

I'm so sorry you have to go through this and that finances make it impossible for you to get what you want.

Not that a m/c could ever be positive, but I had a natural m/c at 11 weeks and had no complications. It was difficult knowing that I had passed my baby into the toilet, and I was in extreme pain for about 30 minutes, but after about 1-2 days of heavy bleeding, I had what was like a normal AF for about 7 days, each day the bleeding getting a bit lighter. My doc did an u/s and we learned that the m/c was indeed complete and I would not need a D&C.

I don't know if your doc gave you guidelines about the m/c, but the general rule is if you are filling more than one overnight pad an hour you are bleeding too much- go to the ER immediately. (For the first few hours I was going through one pad an hour, but not more- then it tapered off.)

My only other piece of advice would be to ask your doctor for some pain pills. My doc gave me both Vicadon and prescription Motrin. I took the Vicadin for the first two days (2 at a time for the first day- and I could still feel it) then I just switched to the Motrin.