Retained products of conception?

Now the bleeding, cramping and pain in my right lower back have all increased - I passed a clot the size of a NZ fifty cent piece- the old one!

Of course all this has freaked me out so I went of to the after hours doctors - my GP not in until Thursday. After taking a detailed history the nurse felt that I might have retained products of conception - left behind from the D and C and I'd probably be referred to the hospital (only she added that that was a decision the doctor would have to make).

The doctor read my notes, came in to see me - we went over it all again and she felt that I could have retained products of conception or it could be my first period after the D and C. She called my GP's office and managed to get my hCG blood test results from the nurse. My hCG is down from 75000 to 20 and therefore borderline positive.

The upshot of all this is that i might have my first period and it is abnormal and more painful than a 'normal' one or I could have retained products of conception (RPOC). I'm to wait a few days and book an ultrasound if the bleeding etc doesn't taper off. Turns out I've left it too long after the D and C to qualify for a free ultrasound and it will cost me over $200.00 to check to see if the hospital didn't do their job properly!!!! I'll be asking for a refund if that is the case.....

Meanwhile we wait and I'm reminded of the miscarriage........and I wonder what will come my way next!

PhD suspension - stinkin' head cold - and still with the hCG

Had a very constructive and beneficial meeting with my PhD Supervisors and DH. Upshot is that I am going to suspend my PhD until I am well enough to continue. My best option seems to be to suspend for one year although I can return whenever I feel I am well enough. I am to act as if this is a withdrawal though - in that I give up my office, return text books things like that - so that I am forced to have a complete break and not be thinking about what I think I 'should be' doing. Makes sense.
In the meantime I've come down with a stinking head cold that I just can't seem to shake.....I guess I'm so run down that I'll be prone to picking up everything that is going around for a while. Multivitamins and minerals here I come. Getting cold sores (haven't had one for over ten years) and styes in my eyes too - sure signs of being run down.

I still have sore breasts and I'm still spotting exactly three weeks to the day since the D and C. Since I still have sore breasts and my bras and jeans still don't fit again I decided - mainly out of curiosity - to take a home pregnancy test. Guess what? Still positive. Got myself into a bit of a panic that this may mean that I'm still retaining pregnancy tissue. I called the Womens' Assessment Unit and explained the situation - hCG can take anywhere from 4-6 weeks to reach undetectable levels especially if they were high to begin with - and mine were - 75000 IU/ ul

Explains the sore breasts and tingling nipples.....thank God I don't have morning sickness anymore. And I'm still getting the proctalgia fugax/levator ani or whatever it is. That pain started when I fell pregnant and was particularly bad immediately after the D and C so I wonder if it has more to do with my uterus or cervix or pelvic floor than my anus or rectum??!!! Ah well I've got a check up with my GP tomorrow - might even be free if I can give a positive pregnancy test!!!

I just want all this ill health and these upsets to end - please God haven't I suffered enough over the past year???!!