My experience of ectopic lasted a little under 2 months and was a complete rollercoaster. If it wasn’t for two of my best friends, my wonderful Dad and my partner I don’t think I would be mentally or physically here today!
In January 2025 I had a missed miscarriage so was anxious about pregnancy again In April 2025 I felt a bit strange as my period was two days late, I did a pregnancy test but it was negative. I actually had to have a CALMS tablet to calm me down. Two days later, what I thought was my period, arrived. It was a strange period as I had a lot of pain. I rang 111 who told me it was just a period and gave me a prescription. After that I did not stop bleeding.
Two weeks later I was tracking ovulation but still bleeding. Ovulation strips were the highest I’ve ever seen in the readings but I was spotting. A friend asked if I was pregnant so I did a test – yes I was!! My bleeding was worrying but I didn’t think anything of it.
The blood got worse so I rang 111 again on Saturday morning in a panic, an out of hours doctor’s appointment misdiagnosed me with a UTI (urinary tract infection) and advised me to call the early pregnancy unit. I knew the place from January! I called them on the following Monday and they booked me in for Friday. The next day I had heavy bleeding and I assumed it was another miscarriage. My body was amazing as it passed most of the blood first thing, I had a funeral to attend in the afternoon.
On that Friday I was expecting them to confirm the miscarriage but I got the news it was ectopic. My levels were relatively low so I was offered surgery or at home management.
I chose at home management as I wanted to keep my Fallopian tube intact if I could. What followed were blood tests and the loss of my dignity with endless transvaginal scans. I suppose I wasn’t sad but just in shock and a little scared. I took 4 weeks off work, there was one instance where my HCG (pregnancy hormone) levels went up and I had a bag packed for surgery, however at the next appointment the levels were back down again! At this point I asked to change to see a different doctor at the EPAU (early pregnancy assessment unit) and they were just incredible.
I was talking to a therapist from my experiences before and the emotions I went through with him have been interesting.
About 5 weeks in and levels at about 50, I woke up in the night with what felt like trapped wind. I managed to go back to sleep and in the morning tried to get some help – my doctor told me they had no appointments and to call 111.
111 were too busy to answer so I just got on with life and it passed. At my scan the week after, I thought I was going to be discharged, I got told there was free fluid – aka blood in my pelvis. It had ruptured.
I was told I needed surgery so I had to go to the hospital. The doctors there were amazed at how I was getting on with life. I am not one to sit still at the best of times. I had a Fallopian tube removed. My HCG (pregnancy hormone) levels at this stage were 10 – not pregnant.
Right now I feel lucky I had that routine scan else I could have been very poorly. I am immensely grateful to my early assessment pregnancy unit.
I am pleased I know my body well enough to know something wasn’t right, but frustrated at how it felt my concerns were ignored or misdiagnosed. I hold onto hope that there will be a child in my future and hopefully I will give birth!
I’m anxious about the future but trying to learn to live and control what I can control.
If I could say one thing: Know your body, lean on friends and family and advocate for yourself. Ask for help - you're not alone, even though it can feel like it!
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