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  • Pregnancy and you blog

  • March 13, 2012

    Ectopic pregnancy recovery: Healing takes time

    By Mary M. Murry, R.N., C.N.M.

29 comments posted

I've written in the past about the pain and grief that follows the loss of a pregnancy. For women who experience an ectopic pregnancy, that pain and loss might be even more dramatic.

An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus. The most common type of ectopic pregnancy is one that develops in the fallopian tube. This type of ectopic pregnancy is often referred to as a tubal pregnancy.

Why is an ectopic pregnancy so difficult? It starts like any healthy pregnancy. You miss your period and usually have a positive pregnancy test. Everything seems normal. Then you might experience lower abdominal pain and slight vaginal bleeding — or severe pain and heavy bleeding if the fallopian tube ruptures. The embryo can't survive outside the uterus, and there's no way to continue the pregnancy.

The signs and symptoms of ectopic pregnancy are virtually the same as those experienced by women who are having a miscarriage. If your fallopian tube is still intact, your health care provider might not be able to tell you right away if it's an ectopic pregnancy. The diagnosis is usually confirmed with blood tests and an ultrasound — but sometimes it's simply too soon to detect a pregnancy through ultrasound.

While you're waiting for the diagnosis, you might be angry because your health care provider can't tell you for sure whether you'll be able to continue the pregnancy. You might begin to mourn the loss of the baby, only to see a beating heart on the ultrasound. This can be a crushing experience. You might also fear for your future fertility.

If you're diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy, prompt treatment is needed. Your health care team will be focused on the medical issues at hand — especially if it's an emergency situation. It can be all too easy to lose sight of the fact that you've lost your baby or what the loss means for you.

If you have signs or symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy, speak up at your appointments. Make sure you understand the tests used for diagnosis. Ask for an estimate of how long the process might take. Find out about treatment options. Is medication appropriate in your case, or will you need surgery?

After an ectopic pregnancy, remember that you need to heal physically as well as emotionally. Ask your health care provider any lingering questions you might have — and expect healing to take time. Share your feelings with your partner, loved ones and other close contacts. Seek the support of other women who've experienced ectopic pregnancy. You don't have to feel alone. Many women will understand your pain.

29 comments posted

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  • May 6, 2013 9:51 p.m.

    i had a etopic pregnancy.It was the worst thing that could ever happen to me. i havent been the same since

    - lisa

  • April 29, 2013 10:40 p.m.

    Amanda, give yourself some time to heal in body and soul. It is normal to feel scared after an experience like this. You will be worried about this happening again. Maybe you could make arrangements with your health care provider for an early pregnancy visit perhaps with an ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy is in the uterus when the pregnancy is far enough along to be able to tell.

    - Mary@Mayo

  • April 22, 2013 6:34 p.m.

    I am 32 and had been trying to conceive for around 5 years. I finally got pregnancy only to find out it was and ectopic pregnancy . I went to dr after experiencing cramps and light brown spotting for a few days . I nearly passed out at work and knew that something was wrong . The next day at the drs office they did and ultrasound and confirmed the ectopic and rushed me into emergency surgery . I was heartbroken . I wanted this baby so bad and here I am with no baby , one less tube, and scars to remind me of my loss . I am so scared to try again for the fear of going though the same thing . I don't know what to do .

    - Amanda

  • March 26, 2013 11:32 a.m.

    I had my ectopic/tubal pregnancy in February 2012 after 5 years of trying . I think it was one of the most difficult things I have ever been through.This was made all the more difficult by the techs running the U/S, I could clearly see my baby and hear the heart beat but they refused to talk to me saying you need to wait here while we get a doctor and from that point on, it was a blur from them telling me how I needed surgery and had to go at that moment. I felt that many nurses and doctors were somewhat cold and unfeeling as to what I was feeling and going through. Then after having the surgery and one tube removed, they actually were thinking about sending me home the same day, I ended up staying overnight before going home, however the following evening I ended up back at the ER from complications of the surgery. I think med prof need to take more time to explain to patients what is going on and what will be their next step. I had my hsg in April of last year and the remaining tube is clear so I'm still trying and hoping for the best. I hope everyone on here gets the child they have hoped, tried, and prayed for.

    - April

  • February 27, 2013 8:53 a.m.

    Feb.27/2013 last yr.of Jan 13/2012 I had my 1st ectopic pregnancy at first I didn't know I was pregnant for about 12 years of marriage.I did not expect anymore that I'm going to get pregnant it suppose to be my 1st child my husband and I are really happy when we found out that I'm pregnant(nothing is impossible to our god)We went to my doc.to make sure that I'm ok and the baby.While having a talk to my doc.she ask me when was my last mnthly period stop but I didn't remember.She just advise me to took an ultrasound.I took the said ultrasound right away and take the result.On the following day me and my husband went to my doc.again to know what was the findings of the said ultrasound.We were both speechless cause the doc say's I got an ectopic pregnancy.She advise me to undergo on a surgery.So,the procedure went thru.Mix emotion's happen's in me I ask my self why me?Why of all happily married women like me waiting for a long time to become a mother.Maybe it takes time for me to heal the pain.But now I'm still hoping and praying that someday soon I'll become a mom.thks!to my husband for all the support and the love he given me.And my family who was there all the time.And also my friends who always listen and giving me a shoulder to cry on.And I thank God,i know u have a reason for all of this,I know that u still have a plan in me.But,life goes on maybe soon I wake up again w/a smile in my lips and say thnk u God for the wonderful gift.

    - hazel

  • February 19, 2013 10:46 p.m.

    I have been reading all of your stories and am very concerned about a friend of my daughters, she passed out two days ago at work and was sent to the emergency room, she was told that her HCG levels were extremely high and he thought it was an ectopic pregnancy and was to go and see her doctor, she was not to work, or do anything until she saw him, she was asked when she last had her period and it was jan 1st! she called her doctor but did not tell him what the doctor said just that she was told to follow up, she is planning on working tomorrow, where she lifts alot of weight, I am so concerned and wonder if I should take her back to emergency myself instead of waiting two more days, which is the earliest they said they could get her in?

    - robin

  • February 6, 2013 3:45 p.m.

    I just had my surgery from my first ectopic pregnancy two days ago. The doctors made a few misdiagnosis with what's going on with my pregnancy. I had experienced the worst possible pain and went in to see a doctor but the nurses sent me home and was that it's probably just the ligament. I went home with the horrible and lay in bed hoping it will go away but I started bleeding heavy. I went back in to see the doctor. They sent me home again and told to come the next day for ultrasound. They thought I had incomplete miscarriage and they did the D&C. After the surgery my high quant is still 4700. Then they said I might have an ectopic pregnancy so that same day they ordered me to have the methotrexate to dissolve the pregnancy tissue. The next day I was rushed in the ER. The U/S confirmed that my right tube had ruptured already and I had some internal bleeding. I was already 10 weeks that time. I heard my baby's heartbeat during that ultrasound for the first time. It was heartbreaking, I was so close to death. I don't know how to deal with the pain. It was a nightmare that had to go through all the extra procedure for no reason. It's scary.

    - Lyn

  • January 19, 2013 4:19 p.m.

    I just had surgery for both an ectopic pregnancy in my left tube and a 10cm cyst that had been weighing down and damaging my right tube. This was our first pregnancy, and is the most challenging thing I've ever had to face. This site helps me realize I'm not alone, though. Right now we must wait at least 2 months to see if my tubes will heal for us to try to conceive again. Our chances are at about 50/50 right now, but our doctor didn't sound super hopeful about a natural conception. We will just have to wait, pray, and see. For those of you who are not sure if you're experiencing an ectopic, my warning signs were very confusing, but I hope I can help. I started out with very light brown spotting for a week and a half. My HcG levels started out VERY low, but continued to rise every two days by 66% and even doubled quite often! Our doctor could not find anything (other than my cyst) on an ultrasound though, so there was no proof of where our baby was. It wasn't until I experienced extreme pain that brought me to the ER two nights in a row that the doctors realized that what they thought was another small cyst on my left ovary was in fact my baby stuck in my left tube. It was causing me so much pain that they rushed me to emergency surgery to remove it. Had I waited much longer, the baby and clotting could have ruptured the tube. My advice is to see a doctor asap before it is too late and causes more damage (emotionally and physically) than you need to endure. Good luck.

    - Lisa

  • January 17, 2013 2:28 a.m.

    i had an ectopic peagnrncy in 2006 i had no pain in my shoulder was offered no support and no were to find out were i was able to get support, NHS need to give more support and i was just sent home with some painkillers nothing els, i was 3 months with my first child more needs to be done in NHS for baby loss awareness not just with ectipic. I lost a baby and also lost a part of my body that i never ever thought of and sounds so strange but kinda grieved for that also.

    - Manoli

  • January 15, 2013 5:34 a.m.

    well some pregnancy tests can pick up even the fatnseit amount. Most hpt have a sensitivity b/w 25miu and 50 miu but if your taking a non digital test you may get a faint line when you have a smaller amount. The drs don't confirm pregnancy until it is at least 25. Its confusing!!!-5= not pregnant5-24= equivocal meaning that its 2 soon 2 call25+ is pregnant!!!!do you mean that your 3 weeks past your last period or 3 weeks past ovulation??

    - Fereydun

  • January 4, 2013 10:51 p.m.

    October 2011 I suffered my 1st ectopic and had my left tube removed at 8 weeks. My husband and I have been trying for 5+ years. I took two weeks off and when I went back wish I could have taken an additional few weeks but I'm a supervisor in a small department so I had to go back. My awesome director was amazing and super understanding and compassionate. When I least expect it I miss my period in November 2012 and sure enough it's Positive. I immediately started to pray as I was just starting to heal mentally and emotionally from my first loss. NYE I woke up with No pain and went to get my hair done and have breakfast knowing something didn't feel right inside. A few days prior I was having pain from my vagina to my butt which went away when I was on my knees rocking back and forth. I called my Dr and told them I have to come in and they have to do an U/S because something just isn't right. We looked and listened and got a chance to hear my little nugget heartbeat. The Dr made a few faces and said did you hear that I said yes and thank you for letting me hear my baby heartbeat. I asked him what was the other huge object and he said a Fybroid. I told him to give me a few minutes to call my husband and asked him was he on call and he said yes. I told him I'll see in the ER and said ok and left me alone. I called my husband and told him to meet me at the ER b/c it's happening Again. Now I'm left with No tubes but still have hope and faith. God is a just God and makes No Mistakes

    - Hurting

  • January 4, 2013 1:03 p.m.

    There is more than physical recovery when you have an ectopic pregnancy. You have to heal emotionally and spritiually. I believe that 2 weeks is an acceptable time for body, mind and spirit to heal and be able to return to your job and co-workers. If you had surgery, bled much or had other physical complications, it may be longer before you return to work. Give yourself the time you need to heal. If it seems like you are not physically healing, speak to your health care provider. The same is true for your mind and spirit. If you are not healing, talk to your health care provider, counseler, church leader, friends and/or family.

    - Mary@Mayo

  • January 4, 2013 12:42 p.m.

    all is as described, just no one can tell me what recovery looks like, what pains are normal, what aren't. Gp only gives antibiotic or creams for healing cuts.

    - Anita

  • January 3, 2013 11:10 a.m.

    I my expierence took place Jan. 1,2013 doctor removed 1 tube and ovarian cyst. the doctor said I can go back to work January 14th im grateful for the time off because my job seems I should recover in 48 hours. have to remind myself my health emotionally and physically comes first.

    - Joy

  • January 1, 2013 8:21 p.m.

    I am recovering from surgery to remove an ectopic pregnancy as well as an ovarian cyst. I don't feel very good, though the pain is going away slowly. I feel like it was all for nothing. have nothing to show for the pain. I'm so thankful for a wonderful husband who has taken such great care of me though. Does anyone know when it's normal for us to recover from surgery? I got home Saturday night from the hospital, and it's now Tuesday night and my boss wants me to come to work tomorrow. I don't feel up to it at all, and I've heard everything from three to seven days recovery time..

    - MM

  • December 16, 2012 8:38 a.m.

    The symptoms of ectopic pregnancy, can mimic those that happen in normal early pregnancy like headache, nausea, vomiting and breast tenderness. In most cases, there are other symptoms that can occur.

    - Najeeb

  • December 16, 2012 12:38 a.m.

    On December 14, 2012 I had been my heart flutter and a racing feeling for like the two previous days and I thought it was stress I had been going through alot at the time.On this day it seemed the same and I was a little fustrated, it became constant and I was visiting my grandmother with my 3 year old daughter my doctor had just told me like 10 minutes before to go and get checked out but I was going to be hard headed and take a nap to see it calmed down luckily as I walked from the bathroom I passed out.I was rushed to the ER where i found out I was pregnant I had no idea why I passed out and the thought of me being pregnant hadn't crossed my mind because my periods where affected often due to my kidney disease. They told me my test was positive. They sen tme to have an ultrasound it was to early to see anything and she asked if i had any bleeding at the time i didn't. As i went to empty my bladder for the vaginal ultrasound I started to bleed i was later told it was etopic and life threatenin.I had the precedure done immediately and they saved my tubes. I have two beautiful daughters 6 soon to be 7 just next week and 3. Im so grateful because around this time 3 years ago i found i was pregnant with my last daughter at 6 months and was told.i miscarried and she's here so I consider myself blessed and thankful. Im sorry for every that has went through this and i pray that you all have closure.

    - Dominique

  • December 3, 2012 11:58 a.m.

    Stefanie I was wondering how things went at your appointment. Did you have an ectopic pregnancy? It can seem like it is taking a long time to get the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy and then things speed up to warp drive. The common thread that runs through everyones post is the pain, the fear and the loss. Thank you everyone for sharing with us.

    - Mary @ Mayo

  • November 17, 2012 12:20 a.m.

    On October 20 I went into the ER because I was in extreme pain starting in my abdomen throughout my body. God told me that it was a tubal pregnancy so that is why I went right way. The test came out positive that I was pregnant. I didn't know because I had my period on the 6th. The pain medicine wasn't helping and I knew something was wrong. My husband had to insist they go in and check because the hormone level was 1300 and they wanted to send me home and check in 2 days to see where I was at. It is a good thing that my husband did the talking for me. The tube had ruptured and there was blood all the way to my liver. It had clotted so I didn't bleed out, but they couldn't see what was going on through the ultrasound or vaginal because of the blood(fluid). The doctor had to remove my right tube and ovary. I went home on Sunday, but was rushed back to the ER on Monday because I had a rare hole in my diaphragm that was pushing air into my neck. My body wasn't getting rid of the extra fluid fast enough so I ended up with fluid in my lungs. I remember the nurses saying they had given me 4 bags of fluids on top of what I had received in surgery. I was in the ICU with oxygen for a day and spent 2 more nights in the hospital. When I left the hospital, I had 18lbs of fluid for my body to get rid of. Praise God for saving me so that I can be around for my 5 and 2 year old children. He Blessed me with 2 healthy children so I am thankful. Don't think that I will try for anymore.

    - Susie

  • November 16, 2012 10:36 a.m.

    Pretty sure I am in the process of an eptopic pregnancy. I am about 5 weeks along and 2 nights ago I had severe cramping on my left side and started to blees a little. Thought about going to the ER but did not go. My husband was away on business and my 10 month old was sleeping. Took a bunch of motrin and the pain finally left at 4am. I called my Dr. the next day. They just told me to go to the ER if I am in pain again amd made me an appointment 3 weeks from now. I was kind of upset that they did not order blood work and an ultrasound. Took a pregnancy test yesterday and was still positive. Now 2 days later I am feeling ok, just a bit bloated, some brown spotting and have little to no appetite. Tell me what you guys think of this. I am at a loss.

    - Stefanie

  • November 10, 2012 9:32 a.m.

    November 07,2012 I had my second eptopic pregnancy. I have now this year lost both my tubes and my left ovarie. It's crazy how I wasn't trying to have another baby but I never expected the results I got. Back on April 23, 2012 I went to have a sonogram and went into cardiac arrest because the baby was in my tube and it erupted. Talk about scary I didn't remember anything. After I found out what happened the doctor assured me I would be able to still have children. Now I realize that I will never have another baby and it saddens me. I am grateful for the 3 kids I do have they are 12,10, and 6. I am 29 and me and my husband wanted one more and now we can't. I am blessed though God gave me 3 angels and I have to be thankful for that. Layingin my bed recovering from this surgery is very hard. Thought I would share my story.

    - joanne

  • October 21, 2012 11:50 p.m.

    So I experience my first ectopic pregnancy. I am 28 I have an 8 yr old and a 5month old. I was told I was 5 wks pregnant. I didnt know. I woke up in pain and just felt something wasn't right. I had my cycle for 36 days now non stop. I never knew the pain I would have to suffer but Im happy I know my body well enough to know something was wrong. I got to the ER and i neefed emergency surgery asap or my life would be over. So I went to the er instead of work. I'm ok now and sharing my story today. I'm recovering now day 3 out of surgery.

    - A.J

  • June 22, 2012 12:49 p.m.

    Twenty six years ago, aftyer five previous miscarriages, I suffered an ectopic pregnancy. I was returning from a trip to New York, and it ruptured on the plane. I lost one tube, and nearly bledf to death in the pocess. Six weeks later I was pregnant again (at 45, with 1 tube) with a beautiful result...my daughter. I just returned from the hospital where that same daughter had an ectopic, with resulting surgery, just two days ago. It was all even more horrific than I remembered, nd ll the same pain flooded back for me. The only good part was that she did not hve to endure the terrible scars and incisions that were made on me and that serve as daily reminders of the emotional and physical pain I suffered through. People just don't get it. Was it just a coicidence, or are the Mother/daughter surgeries realted in any way?

    - Sherry

  • June 6, 2012 2:57 p.m.

    I recently experienced the loss of my 2nd ectopic pregnancy under the care of Mayo Clinic Rochester. I must say, the clinical care I recieved was excellent! The surgical staff excellet, the nursing staff excellent, even the transport staff was excellent! I never doubted that I was physically in the best hands in the world. But, where was the emotional care that I feel I still need? After my first ectopic was surgically removed at another facility I remember recieving a packet containing information about grief, pregnancy loss, local support groups, and even information on creating a memorial for my lost baby whose heartbeat I can still picture in my mind on ultrasound. I even received a condolence card in the mail a week after the loss. At Mayo my little angel baby was called the "products of conception" that were surgically removed. People were kind, but I never heard anyone acknowledge that I had reason to grieve. Thank you Mayo Clinic for the great knowledge and ability you brought to me through your amazing staff, but please consider working harder on providing emotional support after pregnancy loss to your patients.

    - Kat

  • June 4, 2012 3:41 p.m.

    I had an ectopic pregnancy which was awful in its self but the way that OB practices are run now it is hard to talk to a doctor to actually find out what is going on. I went in for my initial visit with the NP and then went on to have labs drawn. The triage nurse called with the lab results and delivered the results in a cold textbook manner and told me when to return for more labs. There was no time provided for me to ask questions yet if I were to call back to ask them I would need to leave a message and wait for her to play phone tag with me. After each lab draw the phone conversation was the same with no further explanations. When I finally was able to speak to a doctor things were so rushed at this point because of what could happen I didn't know what to do or think. Needless to say the whole process sucked and the methotrexate shot was not successful so a second shot was required. If anything else could have go wrong with the whole process it did. Now after completing an HSG test we were told that the left tube is blocked. How do you get through all this grief? All the physical pain is gone but the emotional is still hanging on strong!

    - Lois

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