In March 2024, I found out that I was pregnant. I’ve had five previous pregnancies, so I didn’t overthink anything with this one. May arrived and I was on my way to a routine hospital appointment when I started bleeding heavily. I continued with my appointment, then I was wheeled to the Accident and Emergency room at the front of the hospital. I explained to the triage nurse that I was bleeding heavily, and I had to wait almost an hour to see the doctor.
I was initially seen but sent home, after being told, “You’re not having a miscarriage; your bleeding is not a cause for concern.” I will remember these words for as long as I live. The next day, I attended the early pregnancy unit (EPU) for a scan. This was the most painful experience I have ever had to endure. After almost an hour, I was told that it was an incomplete miscarriage and that all that could be seen were remnants of tissue. As the miscarriage process had already started, I was advised to continue it naturally.
However, my hCG levels (a hormone produced during pregnancy) were rising, and my symptoms were getting worse. After two days, I ended up back in the emergency room, where I was then kept in hospital for observation. This was a Friday evening, and I was shoved onto a surgical ward with elderly ladies. I sat with my curtains closed most of the time, asleep – it was all too much to endure.
On Saturday afternoon, I went to the toilet and remember feeling very lightheaded. Blood was pouring out of me, I passed a big clot, and I fainted in the toilet. I remember pulling the emergency cord and a nurse waking me up before I was wheeled back to my bed.
On Sunday morning, I then had severe pain in my shoulder tip, and that’s when the gynaecologist said he needed to do an emergency ultrasound. I had a massive pool of blood sitting in my abdomen and was rushed to theatre for emergency surgery that took 2.5 hours. I lost 1500ml of blood in the process, along with my right Fallopian tube and ovary. In reading my notes, it was written that my Fallopian tube had ruptured.
I was in hospital for five days, and it was the most traumatic experience I’ve ever had to go through. I recently fell pregnant at Christmas time but sadly lost it at 6 weeks and 2 days. Now, I’ve been told by my GP (general practitioner) that it seems like I’m going through perimenopause, as I have some of the symptoms. I am just very relieved I am still here today, as I was told it could have been fatal.
If I could say one thing...
Never be afraid to reach out for help. I didn’t and suffered mentally, but now I am receiving the correct support to help me through the toughest times.
Thank you to Sarah for sharing her experience. If you would like to share your experience of ectopic pregnancy, please visit our guide for more information.
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