[LadyLacy]

hi, I had my first confirmed loss in Jan of this year, got pg 3wks later then at 7 wks 5 days was dx'ed w/a possible blighted ovum. "I'll be 10 wks" tomorrow and other than off and on cramps or spotting, there's no sign this will happen any time soon. my doc (family doc) doesn't want me to get an infection so she's sending me to the obgyn to do a consult on a dnc.

my #s are dropping highest was over 50, now they was down as of last tuesday to 36,000 (it was about 10 days from the last draw of 48,899) i've losted most of my pg symtoms. but a couple seem to be persistant to the end.

anyway.

what can I expect? I think I've read it takes about 15 minutes? will I still bleed afterward? the nurse said I won't be able to drive. but will I be sore afterward? will I be able to go about my daily duties in a day or longer?

did your doctor recommend waiting to ttc due to the dnc? my dh is willing to activily try again but, I'm scared to. however, I'd like moms answer to that question in addition to any info the doc may give.

I'm sorry if these are self explanitory questions. I'm scared of the dnc, all the doc has said is what it does, she didn't say anything about how I'd feel or what any possible recouperation time would be. and I don't know what to expect and I thought if I had an idea, it would help calm my fears.

thank you for any and all responses

[amandakay29]

It does take about 15 minutes for the procedure. But it takes a little time on both sides with you going to sleep (they will sedate you but will not intubate you) and positioning and all that. Afterwards you will feel like you are having really bad period cramps. My was off and on for a few days. My first one I bled A LOT but it's not common...they had not got everything and I had to go back and only bled for a few days after that one. The worst part is the emotional healing. Good luck. My T & P's are with you and I'm sorry for your loss.

[taralyn]

Hello!

First of all, I'm sorry for your loss. I had a d&c done on Feb 19th after I had a missed miscarriage. They also told me the procedure itself only takes about 15 minutes, but since they will put you under general anastesia (sp?) you will be there longer. I think I was there for about 2 hours, check in to check out. I had some cramping that felt like period cramps, but nothing too severe. I didnt really bleed that much, maybe for a day after the procedure...but I did spot for about a week after. They tell you not to drive for 24hours after because of the anastesia. I actually felt find physically the next day, but still stayed home from work just to deal with things. That was on a Friday but I was back to work on Monday. My doctor told me to wait until my first period (which I just got yesterday) before we tried to TTC again, I would just ask the ob what they suggest in that area.
Hope that helps and good luck!

[Halloween81]

Welcome to the board. I am really sorry to hear about your losses. I had a natural m/c so I am not much help but I know there are lots of ladies here that will help you.

[tobynscarlett]

Hi! Welcome to the board. I had a d&c to remove retained placenta after my son was born at 17 weeks. The procedure wasn't bad at all, I never even took tylenol for pain and I had very minimal bleeding. Physically I was fine and had no trouble. I even left my house to run some errands the next day. I wouldn't worry too much about having one, it is a lot easier to deal with than you might think. Just be sure to ask all of the questions you want to know before they put you to sleep.

[..Jessica..]

Welcome to the board.

I'm very sorry to hear of your two losses!!!!

I don't know anything about D&C's, but I can see the other ladies have helped you with those questions.

I wish you a speedy recovery!!! Good luck tomorrow!!

[Seizetheday]

I had my D&C o12/12/08.. i bled for about 2 weeks.. heavy for about 1week. it was painful for days 1-3 for me, but not too bad ...Hd it Fri, back to work MON....needed the weekens for emotional healing more than physical....ood LUCK.. remember to take the socks they give you gotta find a positive!

[..Penelope..]

Hi, LadyLacy. I'm so sorry for your losses

I had a D&C on Feb 7, 2009. I should have been 12 weeks along, but my baby had died 3 weeks before, at 9 weeks - a 'missed miscarriage.' My cervix was still closed, and the bleeding had tapered off to spotting, so I was offered medication to force my body to miscarry or a D&C. I chose a D&C. They told me that they would have to slowly open my cervix and then suction out what was inside my uterus.

You have to be NPO for atleast 6 hours before surgery (nothing to eat or drink), so I ended up having to wait for awhile. Once I was in the room on the table, I started to panic a little, so I took a couple deep breaths and that's all I remember. The anesthetic must have gone through the IV line.

I don't know how long it took, but it couldn't have been longer then 30 min. I woke up to the breathing tube being removed. I felt no pain - I was still kind of floaty (for lack of a better word!) from the anesthetic. I was in the recovery area for about 15-30 min, and then they took me back to my room. I ate, and changed back into my clothes. I remember that the nurse told me that I had to pee before they would let me go...

When I got home, I was shaky and exhausted (I hadn't slept in 24 hours). For any pain that I couldn't handle normally, I took Tylenol. I never bled, just spotted. For about a week, I had a pulling sort of pain in my uterus that got worse with physical activity or sitting up. The D&C was on a Sunday, and I tried to go back to work on Tuesday, but the physical pain was too much and I was an emotional mess. I ended up staying home until the next Monday.

I spotted for 4 days, had two days of nothing, then spotted for another 7 days. My period finally came 25 days after the D&C. It was only brown spotting, and it only lasted 4 days.

Your doctor will probably tell you to wait a certain number of cycles before trying again. You might want to ask the reason for that recommendation, just for your own information. We were told two cycles, but when I went for my f/u with the doctor who did the procedure, she made it sound like it would be fine to try, since I'd had a period.

Emotionally, please give yourself time to grieve. Cry, talk to people, scream...whatever you need. We'll be here for you if you need us

[Sue46]

Everyone's D&C's experience is different. While the actual procedure itself left me with minimal to no discomfort I had complications with being put under anesthia and had to stay in the hospital over night. I did have a breathing tube and a catheder (SP) put in but that was when I was out and never felt a thing. I woke up bleeding and having to pee sooo bad. The blood was really heavy at first but it taper off that first day down to spotting the next day.

From the D&C I felt fine as soon as I woke up, but I got mastitis from all the milk in my breast. But I was 17wk along and its not really that common. Apparently I get a lot of things that aren't common happen to me!

Anyway, I wasn't trying to scare you or anything just telling you what happened to me. You know there are risk with any procedure and honestly it was worth it to me. I didn't want to wait around for it to happen on its own either.

Oh yeah, the most uncomfortable part was when they dialated me the day before using some seaweed sticks (I forget what they are called) that hurt!

So Sorry for your loss. I had a D&C last August. It wasn't painful but it was uncomfortable. My DH did have to drive me and I could not have driven myself. It was quick, but more than 15 minutes. Maybe closer to 30 minutes. I did bleed afterwards but not substantially and it only lasted off and on for 6-9 days or so. Oh and I was 9 weeks along BTW, not sure if that makes a difference. We are hear if you need to chat.

[Penguin115]

I had a d&c Jan 15 2009 for a missed miscarriage. I found out 2 weeks prior that there was no h/b and the baby was only 7 weeks, I should have been somewhere in between 8 and 9 weeks. I had bled the entire pregnancy and I just couldn't take it any longer and opted for d&c. procedure went fine, I didn't do so well before hand but i have a problem with needles, so almost passed out from iv going in. it only lasted approx 15 min, for about an hour before i just had to wait for iv stuff to go in, then moved back to the other room and i remember moving to the table and that is about all i remember then i too woke up to the breathing tube being removed. I couldn't leave until I ate and peed. When i went to pee there was alot of blood but mostly spotting after that for about 10 days. I had some pain but nothing terrible. I had to go to work the next day because i had an important meeting.

It has now been almost 10 weeks and i still haven't had what i would consider a period. I had some spotting that lasted about 5 days around 7 weeks after d&c. My dr told me i had to wait for one period which he said would probably be heavy (i guess he was wrong).

[~Lynda~]

i had a d&c in august and i just opt'd for a natural m/c this time. the d&c took 15 minutes and I bled/spotted for 2 weeks after that. got period on time from d&c. dr. said to wait one full cycle before ttc again. i'm so sorry for your loss!!!! HUGS

[LadyLacy]

thank you all for the warm welcome, hugs, encouragement and for sharing your stories. I do feel better having an idea of what to expect, before, during, and after. I have no idea if or when it would be (happening on its own) I guess I will know more of how I'm doing after talking ot the ob in a few. I will update after my appt.

wanting to scream, cry, rage sounds about right. but for now, it doesn't help me feel any better.

thank you all!

[~~~Sara~~~]

I am so sorry for your losses. I just want to add as the other ladies have said I think like anything there are different experiences for each person getting a D&C, I was so scared and in a way didn't want one, but it was in my best interest for my health at the time.

I was at the surgery center only 2 hours and felt loopy afterwards, but not too bad. I was depressed also so I just wanted to sleep. My husband took care of our son that night and I got a babysitter the day after, but I was okay after that. I barely bled at all, had a little spotting is all.

We got pregnant just a few weeks after and I am 7 weeks now, so far everything looks good with this PG, but of course I am scared too. My doctor does not believe there is a medical reason to wait after D&C, only an emotional one. He said if my uterus wasn't read it would not be able to get pregnant. I hope he's right and this pregnancy sticks, as you can see I still don't have a ticker or anything because I am just nervous.

I am sorry you have to go through this, lean on the ladies here, they are great.

[LadyLacy]

thank you Sara, I pray things continue to go well for you and lo.

well tomorrow i should have an answer as to if we need to schedule the dnc or not. the ob thinks there is a potential that things are fine (she said my #s even though they dipped are still higher than what she hopes to see) that my pg symptoms are a good sign. but she said if we didn't see an embryo on the screen tomorrow than she'd be confident that it was an irregular pg and the decision would be made at that point as to if I need the dnc or not. so tomorrow am I will know what happens next.

thank you all for the encouragement and support. it does make this roller coaster ride a little easier to take.

[..Penelope..]

Thinking of you, honey...*HUGS*

[Kary♥RN]

I am so sorry for your loss... I also had a D/E, D/C. You can't drive for 24 hours that is only becoase of the anesthia (you would be a DUI if you got into an accident) Mine physically was easy. I had no bleeding or cramping. I had more of a "pap feeling" that feeling after having your yearly done. I went in at 1130 and was home by 3. I also had the general anesthia. And took no medications for pain.
It AF about 34 days to return for me. I am now on day 12 I still have not O.. I am doing OPK's so hopefully I will O soon. So this is my first cycle with AF after my m/c
As for TTC my Dr gave me the go ahead when he cleared me at my 2 week follow up. My DH had back surgery so we missed (I think) the first O following my M/C.

[LadyLacy]

thank you Kary and best prayers on your ttc journey.

they opted for the dnc. so it was done this morning I left at 6 am and left the hospital around 9 so about 3 hrs. they took good care of me. I didn't know anythin after they used the mask and next thing I knew they was waking me up! I had a drink they checked the vitals and I was cleared to go home. I at first felt cramping but now I have minor back pain, mimimal bleeding, feel a bit sleepy and cotton taste. I feel hungry but I was nausous earlier so I'm just sipping on water. I go for my follow up in 2wks and she said she should have the pathology report then.

[kellyanne]

I'm glad it went smoothly, Lacy, although I wish you didn't have to go through it at all. Get some rest and try not to think about things for awhile....if you have any kind of mind-numbing hobby (crocheting for me) do that....or watch movies or something. It helped me immensely to get the pathology and know that my baby had major chromosomal problems and could not have survived. Just a little FYI though....its likely they will know the gender and you should decide beforehand whether that is information that you want to have, or not.

Take care!

[LadyLacy]

thank you Kellyanne, I've been watching tv and trying to take it easy. I've gotten crampy today don't know if thats b/c I've "done too much" or just par for the course. I was wondering about that. I'll have to think about it. I have a few more days to decide.