Abnormal Period... odd miscarriage?

sibemom

I've tried searching google for (gruesome) photos and textual answers to what I experienced this morning to no avail. Unfortunately, I know many of you have gone through miscarriages here, so I ask for your stories and perspective to help me try to understand one way or the other on my morning experience.

For anyone who wants to read my full story of this morning you can do in my blog.

The short version is this: went back on birth control for the past two months, haven't tried since fall (yes I realize how long ago that is), I did have sex a couple of months ago that was at the FRINGE of what would have possibly been a time to end up pregnant.

All night last night massive cramping woke me. I've only been getting strong period cramps since last summer when I started trying to conceive. This morning I have a rush of blood, more than normal, hit the shower and continue to bleed very heavily. I end up with several large clots including one that seemed heavier and more than just blood clots coming out while I'm in the shower. It seems to have white gummy tissue in it, some darker blobs, and some pinky tip sized hard nodule in the mix. The cramps continued way heavier than I've ever had all morning and bleeding quite heavily (rushing to the bathroom to prevent bleed through more than every hour).

Could it be something that didn't get expelled last I tried in the fall? Am I crazy (I sure feel it but need to ask)? What was your experience with a definite miscarriage? Have you expelled odd clots/tissue that you mistook for a miscarriage of some sort?

robin

I can't help with the miscarriage but just had to reply. I would call the doc andif it were me I would have saved the odd clot in a plastic bag and taken it in to show the doc. I know that sounds gross but I would want to know. If the doc didn't need to see it then I would throw it away. If it is a miscarriage the doc would need to make sure that everything was expelled before you can try again. I hope you are able to get some answers!

Sorry I'm not much help. Has your doctor given you any explanation for the change in your periods since ttc?

Robin

sibemom

Oh... I called the (gyn) doctor that day it took all morning to get the answer they didn't want to see me and to just take ibuprofin at such and such dose to slow down the bleeding. I do have a regular doctor appt on Tuesday and plan on asking there since my gyn doesn't seem to care.

Yes, it's gross, but I couldn't throw it out either. It's saved. How do you bring up "wanna see this?" to the doctor? *laughing at self a little here*

I was great the day after all of this but then last night I started having a different type of cramp, the type you'd get maybe from gas or needing to move your bowels. It too is coming and going in waves, but less frequent than the period cramps the other day. Definitely something wrong 'down there'.

robin

Do you go to an re or a regular ob gyn? I would probably just be matter of fact and say..... this may be gross but I brought in what came out so you could see. It just desnt look normal to me. Could it be a fibroid? It does sound like something is not working quite the way it should be. Did you had an hsg or any other tests before you started this journey? I had to have a test that looked at my uterus, sorry I don't remeber the name. The shot saline soultion into my uterus to make sure there was nothing there and that it was working properly. I had to have this because I had a fibroid removed and had devekloped a serious infection from that surgery. Because of tghat surgery I have decided if I have to have surgery for endometriosis again it will be with my re not my ob gyn.

I hope the doctor is able to give you some answers and listens to your concerns!

Hoping for the best for you!

Robin

GeminiJai

I had a "chemical pregnancy" (very early miscarriage) with my 1st IUI and, to be entirely honest, that sounds almost exactly what I experienced. Afterward, it was basically explained to me that the heavy bleeding and cramping could have been attributed to the sloughing of my uterine lining. That first day, though, the bleeding was so frequent and heavy that I actually did have an accident while at work and had to go home to change (I stood up at one point to go to the bathroom and change my tampon and immediately felt like a balloon had burst down there).

Hang in there... I hope all goes well with your doctor's appointment. {{HUGS}}

sibemom

So, test earlier this week had my HCG at 181 and a later one at 83.5. The nurse I spoke to today actually used the phrasing "definitely looks like you had a miscarriage". I mean, I know everything pointed at that, but it just didn't make sense to me. Go figure, I try 4 times last year (last one in like Oct) w/ donor sperm and get nothing, this time I use a condom and somehow this.

Of course, when I talked to them today the doctors were all already gone for the day. So the nurse says in reply to my concerns about ongoing waves of pain "I don't know what to tell you - go to the ER".

robin -
re: fibroids/other tests - after reading up on my own and then talking w/ my regular doctor and she said that because I had a transvaginal ultrasound last spring before I started trying (which should pickup on that) and it's not been long enough for that to grow she didn't think that was likely.
re: my doc - just an ob/gyn there isn't many options here I'd have to drive two hours to a bigger city for more options. not sure what an "re" is.

GeminiJai -
Yes, that sounds familiar. It's good to feel 'normal' by hearing your story. How long did you have pain after? My bleeding slowed significantly later that day and stopped two days later (when my period should have stopped) but the waves of pain only went away for one day and have remained since.

I guess I need to suck it up and go to the ER since I'm not getting answers from either my ob/gyn or regular doctor. I don't know what it horrifies me so to go there. And... yes, I know if there is something wrong this shouldn't matter, but I am fretting about having a male doctor down there.

*Sigh*

robin

Sibemom,
Go to the er, they will likely have a male and female on staff and you can request a female. I am so sorry for your miscarriage! I am thinking of you. An re is is a reproductive endrocronologist.....ie a fertility doctor. Someone that specializes specifically in infertility. The reason in ask is they are a lot more receptive to seeing you immediatley and would have had you in to check you out. My re had me visit every 2 weeks after getting my bfp and was available for consultation all the time. In fact he told me if I had any concerns to call right away and they would get me in. They take the approach that you have spent a lot of time and money on this they want you to not worry if something doesn't seem right where as an ob has so many patients they just answer lots of questions over the phone and tell you to rest and relax. I love my ob don't get me wrong but the service was much more personalized with my re. I absolutely loved him and wish he could deliver this baby he helped create. Alas that is not possible as he would never get any time tosleep or any days off if he did this.

I hope you can get more answers and that your pain is able to subside! I am thinking of you and sending you lots of prayers!

Robin

sibemom

All of those prayers were not falling on deaf ears and I thank you for them Robin. I haven't had a pain since 9pm last night. I'm holding my breath that it might be over. In all of my reading it seems that some people have pain (labor like pains) until their levels get low enough. I'll tell you this... if that's labor pain:
1). by golly it's unpleasant
2). I survived it for a week... so I think I could make it through a normal labor!

So much more understanding to all those who have gone through this process. I still can't even understand the emotional pain of knowing you were pregnant and starting to plan for that life and then losing it.

Take care all and thank you for being my sounding board.

moewhit25

Sibemom, I'm sorry that you are having this challenging experience. I'm wishing you continued strength to persevere. I would have certainly had a major meltdown by this point. When I started bleeding from the chemical pregnancy last month, I didn't have any associated pain and my beta and HPTs continued to be positive. That positive test is what was making me crazy because it make me hold on to a shred of hope.

I certainly hope that the pain has completely subsided and that you can begin to get some answers to what's going on. Sending hugs and positive thoughts your way. Keep your head up!!

Moe!

GeminiJai

Sibemom- Like you, my bleeding slowed significantly later that same day and stopped altogether two days later, as did the pain. I just found out on Friday that I've got 3 cysts in my right ovary so I'm out this cycle and have to wait til April to try again. Guess this is "someone's" way of telling me that it just wasn't my time and a reminder that I'm definitely not in control during this process. Hard thing to come to terms with since I'm such a control freak and "master of my own destiny" - or so I thought, lol. Glad to hear you're no longer in pain, though. Keep your chin up! {{hugs}}

sibemom

GeminiJai and moewhit25 - thank you again. It's good to have people to lean on that really GET things. I have been feeling well, and went for a regular gyn appt last week. We're looking at starting again in a month and a half.

My next hitch is that after this long discussion she was in SHOCK when I asked about CMV that they'd even have positive donors (shrug) and tested me. I'm negative, so she's encouraging me to look at other donors... which is a few steps backwards. It's funny how 'in love' you can be with your selection.

We WILL be preparing for our babies sometime this year!