waiting to miscarry 10 weeks and counting

PCOSDC · 02-04-2008, 12:27 PM

So I found out I was pregnant about a week before Christmas and about 2 weeks later found out that the baby wasn't growing and HCG was dropping. It's now 10 weeks from LMP and I still have the sac inside me. I was in the ER yesterday for pain but still no bleeding. The doctors refuse to do a D&C and want me to wait for it to happen naturally. It really sucks. I was just wondering if this has happened to anyone else.

NerdyGirl · 02-04-2008, 12:37 PM

Kristy~ What an awful situation! Have they given you ANY reason for not doing the D&C? I am surprised they aren't worried about infection, let alone your pain and discomfort. You're still getting betas, right? Have they fallen dramatically yet?

I'm so sorry this is just continuing on and on for you.

PCOSDC · 02-04-2008, 12:46 PM

They said I'm at higher risk for infection if I get a D&C rather than if I wait. My betas were down to 49 yesterday.

Tensei · 02-04-2008, 12:49 PM

Kristy - Just popping in this thread to give you more *HUGS*

HOLLAND · 02-04-2008, 12:50 PM

PCOSDC · 02-04-2008, 12:50 PM

Thanks Bekki you are a wonderful support system.

NerdyGirl · 02-04-2008, 12:53 PM

That's strange that your beta is so low but you still have the sac. Normally, betas only drop that much once the sac is expelled and only small amounts of hormone are still circulating.
Docs routinely prescribe antibiotics after a D&C, so I'm not sure why they would tell you the risk of infection is greater than natural. Maybe they're trying to avoid any possible risks to your cervix?

This is just awful. Hopefully someone else has experienced this and can answer your questions.

PCOSDC · 02-04-2008, 12:56 PM

Well when I had the ultrasound yesterday they said there are 2 sacs. Every other ultrasound I had they only saw 1.

rainyangl · 02-04-2008, 02:37 PM

Kristy, I've been following along your m/c and I am just appalled with the treatment you are receiving. I am so sorry you are still going through all this!

I mean, can you not demand a D&C? You foot the bill, I don't see what the problem is with them. It's been too long for you to keep waiting it out.

RunnerDuck · 02-04-2008, 02:44 PM

It can take up to 12 weeks for a blighted ovum to pass... I am not sure why this is but I read this during my first m/c (blighted ovum). So 10 weeks, while grueling... not alarming.

There *are* risks to a D&C... both of my m/c where I could have had one, I opted not to, because of the risks. They are small, and honestly most women come out OK, but there can be damage to the cervix or uterus which can make future conceptions or pregnancies hard. So really, if you can avoid it, it's best.

Have they offered you cytotec? This is a pill that causes uterine contractions... I took it for 2 of my m/c. It can take multiple doses and the second time even with multiple doses it took weeks for the actual miscarriage... till I passed something solid I mean... I am lucky that my doctors were OK with prescribing this but my back up plan, if they weren't, was to go to planned parenthood and ask about it... it would be kind of loony going there for this but they give it out for abortions... it's a possibility. Do you have planned parenthood where you are?

There is no risk to you, physically, for this to be taking so long, but mentally, it can really take its toll. Having a miscarriage is hard... waiting forever for closure is just making a bad thing worse. I'm sorry you're having such a rough time with this.

Mindijean · 02-04-2008, 03:18 PM

I agree! Cytotec is what I had both to deliver the placenta when I lost Daniel and to avoid a D & C with my second miscarriage. Why wouldn't they do that?

PCOSDC · 02-04-2008, 03:56 PM

I asked for the cytotec when I saw my RE on last FRiday. He said "itt causes really bad cramps" I said "I don't care I can handle it" so he said we would do an U/S in 2 weeks and see if I resorbed the sac but then I went to the ER and they did an U/S and the sac(s) are still in there.

I can't demand a d&c because I'm not footing the bill. I live in Ontario and the province is calling the shots.

I am just really ready for this to be over. How low does my HCG need to be before it will start?

NerdyGirl · 02-04-2008, 04:23 PM

I think the HcG can be at different levels to trigger the m/c, but if the placenta doesn't detach fully, it may not necessarily be passed. For me, my HcG dropped from over 8000 to about 7000 on the morning of the m/c. It fell 2 days later to 160 after everything passed. Then another 2 wks to be back at beta negative.

HTH

RunnerDuck · 02-04-2008, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PCOSDC

I asked for the cytotec when I saw my RE on last FRiday. He said "itt causes really bad cramps" I said "I don't care I can handle it" so he said we would do an U/S in 2 weeks and see if I resorbed the sac but then I went to the ER and they did an U/S and the sac(s) are still in there.

I can't demand a d&c because I'm not footing the bill. I live in Ontario and the province is calling the shots.

I am just really ready for this to be over. How low does my HCG need to be before it will start?

It causes really bad cramps?? Well that's the POINT! Arg.

I was prescribed vicodin both times although really it wasn't THAT bad. I took it more for the mental numbing than the physical. You can take pain pills... even 800mg of motrin would work wonders if you need it. I'm sorry but that's a lame excuse on the doctor's part. It causes cramps.

The reason you may be seeing 2 sacs now is it could be breaking up. After my last m/c I went in for a scan a few days later and the sac looked like it had grown... but I think it had just ruptured and spread out somewhat. Yours could have broken up or something... I don't know. Whatever the case, I really don't like this "reabsorb" line doctors like to give when we miscarry. You don't reabsorb your uterine lining every month... you shed it (well, if you don't have PCOS

) You don't reabsorb a pregnancy... one way or another it has to come out. It may kind of break up and mush with the uterine lining... but you do not reabsorb it.

I have never heard of low HCG triggering the actual loss of the pregnancy. Usually it follows the loss... but I don't know. Seems like progesterone dropping is what should cause the loss... sometimes it takes the body a while to realize it needs to let go.

Again I am sorry this is taking so long. Is there any chance of seeing another doctor? Maybe a woman?

PCOSDC · 02-04-2008, 04:45 PM

Well mine was all the way up to 8500 and then started dropping slowly week by week. 8500, 7100, 1450, 394, 129, 49 but still no bleeding or cramping, just sharp ovary-type pain on the right.