TTC after 2 Ectopics
I have been on Glow for several weeks now reading everyone's similar experiences with ttc and also loss. It has been comforting, reassuring, makes feel like I am not alone, but most of all gives me hope!
(I apologize in advance for all the detail and if my story of my experience is a little scattered- thank you for taking the time to read my story. I also ask that anyone with negative comments please keep them to yourself, writing and posting this is a big deal to my healing and I have nowhere else to post and share this, thank you for your respect.)
I am about to be 29 next month, I had my first MC at 20 at 11 weeks w a D&C since my body didn't recognize the failed pregnancy. I was devastated, it took me 6 months to just stop crying about it. At 22 I had my DS (now a 6yr old, smart handsome and loving 1st grader) but I almost had him at 28 weeks, had to go on bed rest and made it to 38 wks🙌🏼🙏!! That was with my ex who I haven't seen in 6 years- he was abusive verbally and physically, it was so bad I had to get a restraining order and full custody when my DS was just 10 months. Fast forward 2 years and I met my DH, the most amazing, loving, understanding, caring, sweetest man I just still can't believe exists! And the most amazing stepdad ever, DS only knows him as "dad" and I wouldn't have it any other way. We are both cancers (July bdays), we are best friends, lovers and he has been there for me through the lowest lows and our best times and obviously health issues and ttc.
onto the ectopics...we started ttc last July, I was pregnant by October after going off the pill. On October 25th I went to my first prenatal visit at 6wks. I knew something just didn't feel or seem quite right, I had been spotting for several days and that morning I was doubled over in pain that felt like full on contractions and spent the day on the couch with a heating pad rocking back and fourth trying to convince myself everything was okay. Well my appt was at 3:30 with just a nurse, I told her about the spotting and pain and she looked concerned and scheduled me an U/S right away at 4:30pm. I couldn't see anything on the US, no baby, no heartbeat but pregnancy test was definitely positive but hcg level was also not quite right. No more than 10 min after the dr looking for the US results he came into the exam room. Now this was a new dr for me and the first time ever meeting him, he flat out asked me right away "do you have anyone here with you? And when is the last time you had anything to eat or drink." (My DH was at work an hour away) before I could hardly answer the question he told me that I have an ectopic pregnancy and also a lot of interal bleeding/ blot clot in my abdomen right above my uterus and he had to go in and "take a look" and pregnancy was not viable.....OMG WHAT??? I had never had such a horrible sinking terrified feeling ever all at the same time started just bawling my eyes out and I was alone at the dr office at that time. The dr told me to call DH, so I did and also my mom. Meanwhile a nurse got me into a wheelchair and they immediately took me over to the hospital wing to prep me for emergency surgery. Then later that night I woke up from surgery with DH right by my side- the dr told him HE had to tell me about the surgery- DH tried not to break down telling me that they not only had to take my baby but they couldn't save my left tube too. I looked down at the two stitched up incisions and just lost it!! They then had me sent home at 11am the next day- I'm mentioning the times because this all happened SO fast I don't think I could fully comprehend what all just happened and how my life just changed so much in just a few hours. I wasn't even in the hospital for 24 hours!
Okay, so that was worst part but it messed me up in the head for awhile, complete PTSD from the whole experience. I couldn't function going back to work a week later and I was prescribed xanax for my anxiety and something for the depression I fell into. I was lost. Just lost. I started having several glasses of wine at night, which spiraled into a problem pretty fast. At that time I didn't know if getting pregnant ever again was a possibility and I felt that such an important part of me and being a woman and mother had been taken away from me by the dr taking taking my tube. Thanksgiving rolls around and I take a pregnancy test just to see...it was positive!!! I was ecstatic! I couldn't believe it! But of course that went away that following Monday and I was sent back into the hospital because they had missed some of the tissue of the pregnancy during the surgery 4 weeks prior and I was given a methotrexate shot. Way to get kicked when you're already down, right? I fell into a deeper depression and found comfort in wine and my anxiety prescription. (Addiction is a serious problem- I don't condone this at all FYI). I kept spiraling and by January DH was very concerned (always my biggest support) he brought up the idea of rehab, which I agreed I thought was a good idea too. I wasn't taking care of myself and most importantly not being there 100% for my little boy who was in kindergarten at the time. January 17th, my parents agreed to pay for rehab (very worried too and just wanted "me" back) so I cried, kissed and hugged all my loved ones goodbye and checked myself into treatment. I got a huge reality check, learned so much and had time to focus on me without any distractions or stress for 6 weeks. I hated not being able to see my family but I knew that it was for the best and that I needed to be the best possible me for my family and especially needed to be happy and healthy physically and mentally if I wanted to ttc again. I finished treatment and returned home February 28th- we got pregnant almost immediately. I was still in a little bit of a fog- there was a light at the end of the tunnel for my depression but I wasn't quite there yet and I just couldn't feel like I could let myself feel excited about being pregnant again- not until I saw a heart beat and in the right place. But who would think that they would ever have a 2nd ectopic in a row, let alone in LESS THAN 6 months of each other??? Yeah well that's just my luck I guess...😣
Dr wanted to do surgery again- don't think that damn dr tries anything else😡 besides surgery- (this time it was on the right tube) crying I almost yelled at him that there was NO WAY I was having surgery and I would only do the methotrexate shot, I was sure as hell was not going to have my only tube left taken. (My left tube could have been saved if he had offered me the shot the first time around by the way). So I got he shot, that was May 1st.
This time I refused to let myself get down again, I had come so far since October, especially January and I needed to stay strong for myself and my family. So I picked myself up, started running again, getting back in shape (gained 20 lbs since jan) focused on my health, bought all the vitamins, serrapeptase to heal my tube, cassava twins, you name it to boost my overall fertility! Then had my 2nd regular cycle June 10th. Been tracking my ovulation religiously (ovulated yesterday, yay!!😊) and boy it's been fun trying this month, being happy and healthy again! Love having a new job from home now, being able to enjoy the little joys in life with my DS and DH- family dinner every night, trail runs with the puppy, family adventures on the weekends to lakes, rivers, waterfalls, just everything!! (We live in the Pacific Northwest).
So now I am 1 DPO (I think I just might have ovulated more than one egg this time around from all of the supplements and double dosing cassava everyday!! My ovulation pain was strong and lasted almost 5 days!) and just have a great feeling about ttc again and so excited, IT IS possible after loss, ectopic, hitting bottom and making it back up again. I can't wait to start POAS and I am praying and having faith that I will get my rainbow baby soon. It feels good to be high on life again, happy, healthy, on no medication what so ever and back to myself. even if we have to try again next month, I feel so blessed to be where I am today, still able to ttc after how far I fell and have my beautiful son, wonderful DH and great supportive family behind me. I am greatful for what I have and have faith and hopefull for the sweet baby or babies I pray to god we will have eventually!🙏👶🙏🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈
(Thank you for reading this, it took me awhile to get the courage to even write this. I hope that I can help and give someone else hope from my own personal experience.theres a lot that I left out and I apologize if my story is a bit all over the place- a lot happened in a short amount of time. Good luck! 😊)
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