UPDATE:Ectopic pregnancy, ruptured fallopian tube & emergency surgery...oh my!

[Emmas Mom]

I had my follow up surgery visit today & my doctor said everything is looking good. She confirmed the fallopian tube couldn't be repaired so she did remove it. She seems to think my chances of getting pregnant again are still much better than average & even though the risk of another ectopic is higher, if only marginally so. I'm still conflicted. I saw a little baby while at my appointment today & part of me just screamed that I'm not ready to give up. Still, I'm kind of scared now & DH is no help. If he has his way we're totally done. I shouldn't complain right? We are lucky & have two happy/healthy little girls. I don't know. My doc said not to even think about anything for two cycles so there is some time to consider things. She also said I had bled a lot internally & it had gone all the way up to my diaphram(sp?) & that's why I was having so much trouble/pain breathing. And one other thing I found out today was that the Ultrasound report from the ER was WRONG! During the US the tech told me that she couldn't find the fetus but there was a lot of fluid, right? Well I saw the report today & it clearly states there was NO "free fluid"...as they called it. So between the tech & the Radiologist there was a HUGE, HUGE miscommunication & when the ER doctor got the US report & saw there was no fluid....that's why I was sent home. Makes me wonder if the Radiologist even LOOKED at the US images because the tech clearly saw the fluid, which I know now was blood! I have spoken to the hospital about this & someone is looking into it & I am supposed to hear back within another week (we'll see). Someone could die from a mistake like that & they seriously need to be aware of what's going on.
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It’s been a very long, very unexpected weekend & I’m a little drugged up right now so pardon me if it all sort of blurs together. Thursday night I was planning to watch McCain speak at the RNC. Just after he started to talk I got hit with a wave of nausea so bad I ran for the bathroom, and NO...it wasn't in reaction to him! Looking back at it I can say THAT is when my right fallopian tube ruptured. It quickly escalated to intense pain in my abdominal region & I was literally on the floor curled in a fetal position. That’s how DH found me at the top of the stairs when he got home from work about 45 minutes later. I managed to get into bed & must have drifted off to sleep for awhile because I woke up & it was around 10:00. He had gotten the girls to bed & came to see how I was feeling. I had him look up a couple things online like ectopic pregnancy & appendicitis. I had taken a pregnancy test the prior Monday & knew I was pregnant so those were two things I knew it could be. Honestly because I was so nauseous (didn’t know what end it was going to come out of) I really thought I’d eaten something bad initially. When it didn’t go away that’s when we started trying to figure it out. Anyway, I went to the ER around 11:00 & they did blood work & gave me an ultrasound. The blood work ruled out appendicitis & confirmed I was pregnant. The ultra sound showed a lot of fluid but they couldn’t find the fetus anywhere. The ER doctor consulted with the OB on call & at around 3:00 in the morning, ready for this, they SENT.ME.HOME. My discharge papers told me to follow up with my OBGYN in 1-2 days or (of course) the standard “come back if your pain continues”. By the next morning I was in so much pain DH was going to rush me back to the ER but I had no desire to see them again when they’d just dismissed me. We called my OBGYN & they got me in at 10:00. They had requested my lab work & ultrasound report from the ER but of course it wasn’t there by the time we got there. When she finally got it she sent me in to the ultrasound tech there & confirmed I’d had an ectopic pregnancy & that the reason there was so much “fluid” was because I was, and had been, bleeding internally. She was quite upset when she said they should have admitted me to the hospital & sent me into surgery the night before. She had to call around the local hospitals to find out who had an OR available to do an emergency laporotomy…I think that’s what it is called…not the exploratory laproscopy, the other one. Anyway, by 12:30 she found the hospital (NOT the same one I’d gone to the ER at the night before, thank goodness) & basically said to my DH “go there now” because I was having surgery in one hour. Honestly, I’m kind of glad it happened so fast. I really had no time to process & that was good. I got admitted to the hospital & sent to surgery prep. I’ve never had surgery of any kind & only been in the hospital for normal, uneventful vaginal deliveries so it was pretty scary for me. Coming out of the general anesthesia in recovery was surreal. Knowing I’d a had a breathing tube, they had obviously hooked me up to a catheter & now had a lovely four inch incision with staples….very strange not having been aware of any of that taking place. So that was Friday & I spent yesterday & most of today in the hospital recovering. My sweet, sweet sister in law basically came on Friday & took care of the girls until last night when DH finally sent her home. DH had to work yesterday so she brought the girls to see me. I think they had fun with their Aunt though it was sweet to hear them tell me how much they missed me & wanted me to come home.

Now, here’s my question for you all. We haven’t gotten any bill from the ER yet. Would you SAY something to the hospital about them sending me home with a ruptured fallopian tube & internal bleeding? I mean, I really feel like we need to say something to someone but I don’t know what or to who. If anything, I’d be really grateful if they’d not make us pay the ER bill.

What a weekend. I wanted #3 but after this experience I’m a little gun shy. Even though my doctor said I should still be able to have another baby. I’ll be 38 at the end of the week, so I’m not too sure I want to push it much longer. It’s been a very scary weekend & I think I’m just now starting to process it all.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Kristine, ((((hugs))) for your loss and frightening ordeal! I wish you an easy recovery.

Beth

[elephantmeg]

just wanted to send hugs and hope you are feeling better soon. I'm sorry for your loss

[cdlamis]

Oh Kristine! How scary for you! And I am deeply sorry for your loss and worries.

Glad they caught it in time though. I know ectopics can very dangerous.

Yes! I would complain to the hospital! Maybe ask your OB what he/she thinks first. I had an ectopic scare once (turned out to be negative) and they kept me overnight until my OB released me. I think it could have turned out much worse if you were at home.

Hugs! I know you want #3 and this must be very confusing/scary for you. Will be thinking of you.

[WatchingThemGrow]

Ok, I cried reading your post. SO glad you're okay now and that you got the medical attention you needed and that someone came to be with your girls.

Yes, I'd make sure the director of their ER gets notified in writing about their error.

Praying for a speedy recovery and your decision on #3... 38 is fun. You still feel "young"ish. Happy early birthday!

[Ceepa]

What a frightening experience! I'm glad your doctor was able to get you the help you should have had the first time you went to the hospital. Hope you feel better soon.

[Mommy Of A Little Angel]

Oh my goodness! I am so sorry for your loss. I am glad that you are on the road to recovery now. Take care of yourself!

[wencit]

That is so scary! I'm glad everything turned out OK in the end, but I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

[MelissaTC]

How scary!!!!

I am glad that you are ok but am sorry to read of your loss.

[Melbel]

I am sorry to read about your loss and wish you a full, speedy recovery. I am amazed by your composure in the face of such adversity. In time, you will know what to do about #3. I would want to report the issue to hopefully help avoid a tragedy in the future. Unfortunately, I doubt they would cut you a break on the ER visit tab considering you were ultimately able to receive proper medical care without suffering additional permanent damage/problems due to the delay.