Anxious - TTC after Ectopic, No Period but Negative Test

Hi there,

This is the first time I have posted on here.

Had surgery in March 2012 for ectopic pregnancy and I lost my right tube. Husband and I have been TTC again. It is currently 37 days since my last period and I've done 3 HPTs - all negative. I have some symptoms such as sore breasts, very tired, backache, terrible acne but I'm not sure if they are pregnancy symptoms, signs that I'm about to get my period or whether I'm just imagining every little pain! I have also had stomach pain on and off for about 2 weeks - more discomfort than pain. It is in the same area as the scars from my surgery so I don't know if it's just the scars healing or pain in my ovaries/tube or somewhere else. Prior to stopping the pill in January I took it for 10 years, so I'm not even sure what my cycle is like normally when I'm off the pill.

Last month I went to the doctor when I was 5 days late for my period and blood tests came back negative for pregnancy. I am not sure whether I should make an appointment or not - I feel like I'm being a bit silly running to the doctor every month when my period is late. After being told I'll need scans early to confirm future pregnancies are in the right spot, I'm feeling very anxious that I could be pregnant again with the baby in the wrong spot.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation and can offer some advice?
Cheers,
Lisa

Hi Lisa, sorry I haven't ever been in your position but I'm pretty certain ectopic shows up on pg tests same as normal pg... U said u don't know what ur cycles r like now so its quite possible u aren't 'late' at all, maybe just have longer cycles than u realised?? If u start charting u should pretty quickly be able to recognise when uve ovulated & then will have a more accurate time frame of knowing when ur late. I can understand ur worry & hopefully someone else will be able to help more :)

Oh lisa I am sorry for your loss.

I had an ectopic pregnancy in February 2010. I too lost my right tube. No one mentioned what recovery would be like at the time. It wasn't until my follow up that the ob said to me, 'people are so blasé about someone losing a tube, but it's a loss of an organ, just as significant as losing a kidney'. I was amazing as I'd spent the past two months thinking I should suck it up and get on with it all.

I feel pregnant again soon after and had dd3 in late December 10. But since then I have had pain on and off in that same area. Just at my pap smear this month my ob said that that is common and that it's the scar tissue :( its not that painful. I can live with it but I was a bit sad to hear I'd have to live with it if you get what I mean.....

Ectopics are traumatic physically and emotionally. There is a lot to process and it's not a nice journey.

I am glad that you have found Bellybelly. You will get loads of much needed support here. You are not alone.

I would chart your cycle and hey I'd run to the GP if you need too as much as you need too. But ectopic pregnancies show up just the same as normal pregnancies. So if it's negative then it's probably negative.

Hugs Hun!!

Have been thinking of you...

Thanks for your replies. It's encouraging to speak to other people who have experienced an ectopic - as much as friends and family have been very sympathetic, nobody that I know has gone through that experience and I think the loss is underestimated. And thanks for sharing your story Tegam, makes me feel better to know that people can conceive quickly after losing a tube.

Saw my GP today and she was very reassuring. She said it's very normal for my cycle to be all out of whack and to give it another few months to regulate - if it doesn't sort itself out by October then we'll look at the next step then. She's confident that the sore breasts, acne etc are just signs that AF is coming. I guess I just need to learn how my body signals that AF is due now that I'm off the pill. Thanks for taking the time to reply. :)

Please know that Bellybelly is a great resource. Keep chatting and reading. Glad to hear you have a nice GP and also a plan :)

I'm sorry to hear of your loss. I can see why you'd feel anxious about your future pregnancies.

Have you considered charting BBTs to track ovulation? That may help you better predict when AF is likely to arrive. If you're ovulating late as a result of your hormones still being out of whack since your pg, then at least you'll know when it's happening and that AF is due within 2 weeks(-ish) of ovulation.

Otherwise, I hope your cycles get back to normal soon. :hug:

Hi Lisa

Im so sorry to hear you have experienced an ectopic and loss of your tube. I also had an ectopic in January of 09 and lost my left tube....as Tegam said you have lost an organ as well as losing your angel its not easy and can be a long road both emotionally and physically. After my ectopic i went on the pill for 3 months (doctor's recommendation) and then was lucky enough to get pregnant 3 months after that and my DD2 was born in March 10. Give your body time to recover and hopefully your AF is just around the corner.