Hey all,

My wife was just diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy (tubal). It is also a blighted ovum.

we are faced with three choices:

1. Removal of the ovum from the tube.
--this could cause scaring in the falopian tube increasing the risk of another tubal pregnancy.

2. receive Methotrexate shot/s to dissolve the ovum
--on the surface this seems the best choice but the side effects of this drug aren't exactly your run of the mill nausea and headache stuff. Plus there is only a 70% success rate with one shot and she could require successive shots to completely remove the blighted ovum.

3. removal of the entire tube.
--aside fron the risk of the surger itself it does kinda lower the chances of future pregnancy.

Has anyone here had any experience with this?

Thanks

Doug

<small>[ November 03, 2004, 04:24 PM: Message edited by: d_rose ]</small>

Oh.....so sorry!

I've had a couple friends who've had surgery.

Neither of them went on to have kids but I'm not sure if it had anything to do with the surgery or nothing to do with it.

The doctors should have the best understanding of what she should do (where the ectopic is in her tube and how advanced it is)

I wish you both the very best.

It seems that in most cases..they prefer to start with the least invasive [option 2] which does work for most [70% is pretty good odds..not outstanding..but not bad considering that the long term consequences are fairly minimal]

however..

I do understand it to be quite painfull..cramping and nausea and headache..basically the worst case of the flu imaginable while having a miscarriage.

So she'll need lots of TLC..I also understand that it can take multiple attempts and several days.

I know that they will want to act quickly to diminish the chance of permanent damage being done..but perhaps it would help to read the experiences of others who have undergone the same thing? I know that there are several journals open to the public that go into great detail about the entire process. I looked some up when a close friend was having troubles, but unfortunately do not remember the site.

Also..OT did you know that piers anthony also wrote some fairly x rated erotic fiction?!

I was a bit of a highschool girl when I discovered by accident..seeing the author..warm fuzzy feelings for a childhood friend...and <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" />

My friend had a tubal about 12 years ago. She opted to have the tube removed and gone on to have 2 children ... uhhh, make that 3 children, the third being an OOPS 7 years after second planned child. Prior to that, she was on birth control. She certainly didn't experience any ill effects regarding future pregnancies.

Just ONE experience ... hope many others respond, statistics can play a part in your decision.

I am so sorry that you are going through this. This happened to me when H and I were struggling very much with infertility. His A started fairly soon afterward. I don't think we talked enough about it or treated it as a miscarriage.

I had the shot--and it did take a while and I had to have 1 or 2 more shots. I did NOT feel any side effects. It was difficult, though, going into the OB/Gyn to dissolve the embryo while others were coming in pregnant. Emotionally it was tough.

I had found out that my left tube was blocked prior to the ectopic, but the ectopic was in my right tube. Go figure! I would NOT have surgery unless the embryo is too developed for the shots. Your doctor will have a recommendation.

Again, I am sorry. I went through a lot of fertility issues, so if this is part of a struggle with infertility for you and your W and you have questions--I would be glad to help. We finally got pregnant after our second IVF and our D is now 3 1/2. My prayers are with you through this tough time.

I had a tubal pregnancy diagonosed on 9/21/2001 the day after my 2nd son turned 1. My doctor recommended surgery due to my intense internal bleeding and the size of the tube (ready to rupture). I agreed and later that night they did a laposcopic (sp) surgary and removed one tube intirely. I was sent home the next day to recoup. I was fine in a few days. I went on to have another baby who was born 1/15/2003. The only thing done differently with this pregnancy was that I had an ultrasound a week after finding out I was pregnant to insure that it was not another etopic. I am currently trying to convince H to have a 4th, would LOVE that girl <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> however unless our M gets better, not a good plan <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="images/icons/frown.gif" />

I would put attention to Lemonman, as he is a surgon- he might better answer for you...

BEst of luck in this hard hard time.

This will be hard on your wife, I took it like a dealth, because in my heart that was what it was.

Thanks for the quick responses guys.

I think we are leaning towards surgery just because there seems to be an urgency on the Doc's part to get this taken care of. She was diagnosed this afternoon and they wanted to do the surgery today but gave us til 8am tomorrow to make a decision.

We didn't actually know we were pregnant at all this time. My wife is on the pill so this was just one that slipped through I guess. Over the last year we have had two blighted ovums, the first wen almost 4 months before it miscarried.

We both want kids but for some reason something is not hooking up right.

Thanks all for the kind words and prayers.

God Bless,

Doug

nood....Piers always seemed to have a sexual streak in his writing....which books in particular are you refering to. Gotta do some research <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

hang in there. She will need you for several days after. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

I'm sorry I got here so late Doug, but a GREAT site for ANY pg ? is: www.babycenter.com

Hugs to you both!

Hey all,

Well we didn't make it to the next day. The tube with the ectopic pregnancy ruptured early tuesday morning. After a couple hours in the ER she made it to surgery.

Lisa came out fine and lighter by one falopian tube.

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers.

p.s. Anybody ever spend 8 hours in a waiting room/s with a 7 year old. Next time I want the surgery <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

God Bless

Doug

So glad she is fine after the surgery.

OUCH!!

and waiting room with a 7 year old? OUCH!!!

BTW..one of the Piers Anthony books is called Firefly..so if you and the wife get bored some evening...[wiggles eyebrows] holy cow..I mean..it's been a long time..but I had to scrape my chin off the floor when I read this..you are right though..there always was a strong sexual element to his books..probably why they are so well received by the middle school batch <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

--Noodle