Friday, December 4, 2009

Once more through the mill

There's something about the combination of pregnancy and Christmas that always seems to conspire to bite us in the arse, and I was really hoping that wouldn't prove to be the case this time around. Unfortunately, it was not meant to turn out that way.

Events took a dramatic turn on Tuesday morning. I had been suffering with abdominal pain and cramping for a few days, along with a small amount of bleeding the previous week. The pain seemed to be getting worse on Monday, and I was not due to go in to the hospital for a scan until December 16th. I went for my weekly blood test on Tuesday morning, and on my napro nurse's advice I phoned the hospital to request an emergency scan. At this point I have to say a big thank you to my bloggy buddy Fran for raising my awareness of the potential danger of ectopic pregnancy.

So off we went into Limerick, and no pregnancy sac could be located in the uterine cavity. They did however see something measuring 2 cm in the vicinity of my left ovary, pretty much indicating an ectopic pregnancy. I was given some battering by the dildo cam which left me in quite a lot of pain on my left side, and if that wasn't enough violation for one morning, the registrar then came along and gave me another internal. Next time I am definitely coming back as a man. Shortly afterwards I was given a shot of pethadene for the pain, which did sweet FA really, and I was dispatched by ambulance to the regional hospital.

Luckily a private room came free just as I arrived, and our health insurance was adequate to cover it. On Wednesday afternoon I was operated on, and sure enough there was an ectopic pregnancy on my left tube. They managed to save the tube, but only on our insistance. The fact that we really had to stand our ground over this issue we both found quite upsetting, but they respected our wishes in the end and did everything they could to save it. It means that I run a risk of 10% of having the same issue recur again in the same tube, but the thoughts of risking losing one tube now and possibly the other one sometime down the line if God forbid it happened on the other side was too much to contemplate for us. The medics' response to this dilemma seemed a little cavalier for our liking at first, we were told "well you always have the option of IVF if you should lose both tubes". Cause it's just that easy, right?

I had pretty excruciating referred pain under my ribs and in my neck and shoulders after the surgery, which was laparoscopic, so I needed pretty heavy pain relief in order to breath, which was quite frightening. So Wednesday night's sleep was very much broken. Yesterday my belly was bloated up like a balloon, so they wrote me up for peppermint oil capsules. I don't know if this had a direct knock on effect, but I ended up with a severe case of the squirts. Like up to the toilet 8 times last night. Yuck.

Anyway they let me out this morning with a prescription for strong painkillers and antibiotics if needed. I'm still kind on in shock about the whole thing. I think it will take a while for the reality of the last few days to sink in. I was really hoping and praying that life would not be so cruel to us this time, but I'm afraid that's the way it goes sometimes. Shitty things happen to nice people and there's not a lot any of us can do about it.

23 comments:

Martin said...

Oh jesus Jane.

I'm at a complete loss as to what to say.

Glad you are ok, but desperately sorry.

It's a fucked up world.

Twangypearl the Elastic Girl said...

Oh Jane. I am so, so sorry. What an experience, what a horrible thing to happen.

Agree with Xbox. Just terrible.

Illanare said...

I'm so very sorry. I wish there were adequate words.

Edith said...

I'm so so sorry.

Fran said...

Jane I am so very sorry for what happened to you. Ectopics are evil evil things, so sneaky as well and it does take a good open minded doctor to spot it early. My second time I was dismissed from the hospital with a "Sorry, it looks like you miscarried" when I went in with funny looking bleeding and well aware of ectopics. Of course I hadn't. And I know you may feel the same that EP is actually emotionally worse than a MC...
We are putting together an Ectopic support group for Ireland but it's very early days. It's so important to raise awarness. If you ever feel like talking I'm here for you, you can email me and I can give you my phone number. There's no pressure though and I'll always be available. You may have questions and worries about your future, you may need time to find peace again, and I'l be here always. Much much love, Fran

Feebee said...

Oh Jane, I am so sorry. What a horrible ordeal. Glad you found it in time and were able to save the tube but so sorry you have had to go through so much again.

Liz said...

I'm devastated for you.

Anonymous said...

Oh honey, that is just shit on so, so, SO many levels. I'm so very sorry. And... having to fight to save your tube... WTF?!

Mick said...

My goodness. That's totally fucked up.

mad, mad world

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry.

Xbox said it best, it's a fucked up world.

Again I'm so very sorry.

xxx

babyinterrupted said...

Here from LFCA - I had an ectopic pregnancy this last spring, and it was really hard. I'm so very sorry.

I_Sell_Books said...

FFS, this is so freaking unfair. I'm so damned sorry.

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry Jane. Take good care of yourself and take time out to grieve the loss.

xxx
(LFCA)

C said...

Oh Sweetie, I'm so, so sorry for your loss. I wish there were something I could say or do to take the pain away. Take care of yourself.

((HUGE HUGS))

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry. I am so so sorry. Oh Jane. What a horrible, miserable thing to happen.

(Having to argue with them to keep your tube? 'Just do IVF'? I will RUN to Ireland across the wave-tops just to slap that doctor silly. Say the word, and I will).

Many many hugs, and thinking of you and your husband. I am sorry there's another Christmas in this HELL.

Sarah said...

Oh honey, I am so sorry.

hugs.

AnxiousMummyto3 said...

Jane I am so sorry you had to go through this terrible experience. I can't believe how insenstive they were about your tube either-as if it wasn't traumatic enough, to have to insist on that too! (((HUGS)))

Panamahat said...

Oh no!!! I am SO sorry to hear this. I lurk over here from time to time and was pleased to hear of your pregnancy. I don't know if I have ever commented before, but I'm sorry now I did not congratulate you at the time of reading about your good news. I know all too well how these things can turn out for the worse.

My first pregnancy was ectopic, and the post op pain as you describe. The second ectopic (in the other tube) was not nearly as painful post op, and I have no idea why. I still have both my tubes, plus five uterine pregnancies that ended between 4-6 weeks under my belt. I'm 40 next year and still no live child. We've been at this game for over 6 years now.

I know this is not about me - I guess I am just trying to say I really do have some idea of what you are going through right now, and I am desperately sorry that you find yourself in this situation.

Sending much love.

Kim said...

Oh, Jane. Just...fuck. I am so very sorry.

I am glad they were able to save the tube. You were right to fight for it and they were bastards for not making it a priority in the first place.

You are in my thoughts as you continue to heal.

Rechru said...

So sorry. Oh God. So sorry.

A.
xxxx

DrSpouse said...

I'm so sorry to hear this. Thinking of you.

BABY STEPS said...

Urgh this is awful news. I am sorry you had to go through all this fucked up shit and join the unwatned club of 'I had an ectopic pregnancy'. It also is a bastard that you had to have surgery (not just an injection like I had) and worry about loosing your tube. Thinking of you

Lisa DG said...

I my- this is horrible! I am so sorry to hear this. I know how much this meant to you.