if you had a d&c

[MWOS]

and you feel comfortable talking about (I'm sorry, I know this is such a sensitive subject), what was it like? 

I've got 23 hours to stop bleeding and it's getting heavier 

I don't know what to expect. She said it was under general anesthesia, so at least I know what that's like.  I'm assuming outpatient? How many days were you off work?  What the fuck am I going to tell my boss

[cuddlyevil]

Mine were both outpatient. I was under general anesthesia. Mine were done on Fridays so I had the weekend to recover.

I had some pressure and cramping. They gave me pain meds and antibiotics.

[MWOS]

did you go back to work that monday? so like, 2 days off?

[VillainV]

I had one last December. Physically, the procedure was very easy. I was put under heavy sedation (not quite general anesthesia, but I went to sleep) for about 20-30 minutes. I woke up in no (physical) pain. I bled like a heavy period for maybe 24 hours, then like a light/normal period for another 2-3 days, and spotting for another 3-4 after that. I had light cramping that improved over the first week. D&C was on a Wednesday afternoon. I was physically able to go back to work on Monday, but not emotionally ready yet. Honestly, the physical discomfort was minimal, but the emotional pain was the hardest part for me.

It took maybe 7-8 weeks for my HCG to drop back to <5 (my OB's benchmark for when she would let us start TTC again). I got a normal period 29 days after the procedure, and ovulated 14 days after that. I had no scarring or anything from the procedure. I'm now 14w1d with my second pregnancy and everything is going great so far.

Edited to add:   I was given some pain meds after the procedure, as well as a drug to help my uterus shrink back down (to control the bleeding).   After 24 hours I didn't need the pain meds anymore.  Also, it was definitely outpatient.   I went in at 12:30, procedure was at about 1:30, in recovery by 2, out of the hospital by 3, home by 3:45.   I was able to eat a light dinner that night.   

[Booze Raccoon]

I've had 2.  
Outpatient
Went to work the next day.
Had it on Thursday.  Friday we started moving into our condo.  So I was carrying boxes up a few flights of stairs.

I had a script for pain meds and I never even filled it.  

As far as procedures go, it was easy.

[tdk2]

The actual physical procedure and recovery was very minor. I think I took a day on the couch after. But I think that was more mental than physical.

I was surprised though, I figured its be more painful recovery like a laparoscopy.

(Mental recovery from losing kids was the harder part)

Your bleeding- is this just random or was it a miscarriage? I think I missed some of your earlier posts. Either way sucks to have a ton of bleeding, I'm so sorry you have to go through this. Not like you don't have enough other health issues. (((Hugs))

[MWOS]

I'm not having a miscarriage, I just can't stop bleeding

[tdk2]

Sept 29, 2013 9:33:28 GMT -5 MWOS said:

I'm not having a miscarriage, I just can't stop bleeding

Gotcha. That's what I had thought but then felt bad responding assuming not.

I missed answering when you were deciding btwn hormones or d&c. I would vote d&c. It was way more straightforward than I thought and minimal recovery. I've had tons of hormone treatments over the years for endo and those have always messed w me way more than the d&c did.

[MWOS]

Sept 29, 2013 9:34:33 GMT -5 @theycalledherkate said:

Sept 29, 2013 9:33:28 GMT -5 MWOS said:

I'm not having a miscarriage, I just can't stop bleeding

Like you can't stop bleeding after your regular period?

My period started August 22nd.  

I went to the doctor and started progesterone pills on Sept 12th because I was losing orange sized clots at that point.  Progesterone stopped my period within 48 hours and it stayed away for 4 days.  Then it came back and I still have it, despite being on the same dosage of progesterone for 6 days. So I've been bleeding for just about 6 weeks with a 4 day break. My period before that, in July, lasted 17 days but went away on its own. 

[MWOS]

d&c is not straightforward for me because my genetic condition causes excessive scarring. My uterus is the last place I want excessive scar tissue.

[tdk2]

Sept 29, 2013 9:38:57 GMT -5 MWOS said:

d&c is not straightforward for me because my genetic condition causes excessive scarring. My uterus is the last place I want excessive scar tissue.

Oh crap. I forgot about that.
Yeah, that's a bit scary.

I didn't mean to say its nothing. I just know I'm wayyyyyyy over hormone treatments after 20 yrs of them. That's part of why I didn't weigh in when you were debating bc I know I'm biased. (Plus it was prob 3am on my phone when I read it and I'm not always clear enough to write well.)

Are you dealing w a surgeon who is skilled/ knows about your genetic condition?

Ugh blows either way.

Bleeding sucks too. It's draining and exhausting and I'm sorry you've had to deal w it.

[cuddlyevil]

Sept 29, 2013 8:56:58 GMT -5 MWOS said:

did you go back to work that monday? so like, 2 days off?

Yep.

[nursewife]

Sept 29, 2013 8:51:12 GMT -5 MWOS said:

and you feel comfortable talking about (I'm sorry, I know this is such a sensitive subject), what was it like? 

I've got 23 hours to stop bleeding and it's getting heavier 

I don't know what to expect. She said it was under general anesthesia, so at least I know what that's like.  I'm assuming outpatient? How many days were you off work?  What the fuck am I going to tell my boss

I had two for having near constant heavy periods. I had it at the same time as an laparoscopic endometriosis ablation, so can't say much about recovering from that alone. I took one week off and found that was enough time to recover from the surgery.

I don't mind general anesthetic. Ive been under 4 times and awake once. I found taking Ativan the day before helped my nerves. I'm likely a bit of a pain in the ass while in the OR since I like knowing exactly what's going on and what meds are being given to me. A good anesthesiologist will help calm nerves. My surgeons have always talked to me before I went under and made sure I didn't have any last minute questions. Recovery always went well except for after my hysterectomy. If your having pain, make sure to ring for the nurse. They are great at handling any post op issues like pain and nausea. Make sure you have a vehicle that isn't hard to get in/ out of. Make sure to have a puke bag if the drive is far. I found I was ok with a short drive, but my one surgery was an hour away and I felt ill from the bumps in the road. Make sure you have a pillow and blanket in the way home as well. I always found I froze post op. A pillow helped to support my abdomen if I needed to cough or move.

Sorry this is a wall of text.

[Deleted]

Sept 29, 2013 8:51:12 GMT -5 MWOS said:

and you feel comfortable talking about (I'm sorry, I know this is such a sensitive subject), what was it like? 

I've got 23 hours to stop bleeding and it's getting heavier 

I don't know what to expect. She said it was under general anesthesia, so at least I know what that's like.  I'm assuming outpatient? How many days were you off work?  What the fuck am I going to tell my boss

I had a d and c a few years ago at around 10 weeks preg. Mine was out patient,  with no anesthesia.  It will probably be outpatient,  unless your doctor would like it to be inpatient,  which is kinda rare. I was off for a few days and bled a bit for those days, but it tapered off within a week or so. No pain meds either,  but a ton of hot pacs and alieve.

I told my boss I was having a minor surgery and it needed to be done on such and such date. You do not have to tell them what it is for at all. 

I will recommend you bring emotional support, plus get a ride, because I know I was rather disoriented afterwards. Surgery of any kind is scary.

I am so, so sorry you are going through all this. 

[Saint Monica]

I have nothing valuable to contribute other than hair pets.

[cc]

I was almost 10 weeks pregnant when I had a D&C after I started to bleed really heavily. I was put under general anathesia and the procedure went pretty quickly. I stayed overnight in the hospital, only because it was midnight when I had it done and they decided to admit me for a few hours. I was discharged in the morning and recovered pretty quickly. I felt pretty bloated, but no major cramps or anything.

[chickadee77]

I've had two (one under general, the other... not). I'll echo what pretty much everyone has already said. My recovery from the one under general was actually easier than the other. Once the anesthesia wore off, I was good to go. I had mine on a Friday early a.m., but I was fine to be out and about on Saturday. The one under general, they gave me a script for pain pills, and I didn't even need to use it.

I don't have some of your same considerations, and mine were for pregnancy losses, so I tried to limit this to the physical aspects. (((hugs)))

[wiffle]

I started cramping, bleeding heavily, and passing huge tennis ball sized clots about 24 hours after my D&C. I was told to expect some bleeding but it got so heavy that I ended up driving to the ER in the middle of the night. They could barely see my cervix because there was so much blood but told me I "wasn't bleeding to death" and to come back if I woke up in blood-soaked sheets. :/ It finally stopped the next day and my OB said that some women just bleed more heavily than others after surgery. I am sorry you have to make this decision. *hugs*

[styme46]

Ditto cuddly. Mine was outpatient and we also did it on a Friday so I had the weekend to recover. I was out a few days the next week, but that was because I had my d&c 2 days after my dad's funeral so I was out because of that, not because of the d&c. I had some really mild cramping and that was it. It was pretty easy pain wise/physically.

[ohgillian]

I had one for excessive bleeding. It resolved it. I was under heavy sedation but not a general. Afterwards, no pain, very light bleeding. It was far easier than all the anxiety I had about the monstrous bleeding I was having.

Emotionally, it knocked me down a bit. I felt totally all "why is everything so g-d HARD for me???"

Hugs.

[peachykate]

I was going to ditto asking about a d&e, I'm not sure if that would even be an option but I would ask.

I had one after a missed miscarriage and it was a very easy recovery, the only real bitch was that I ended up with UTI from the catheter.

I'm just going to keep my fingers crossed that shit stops tonight out of no where.

[missmaddie]

Sept 29, 2013 10:58:41 GMT -5 specialk said:

I had one for a miscarriage a couple of months ago. It was under general anesthesia and I went home about 30 minutes after the procedure. I had some cramping and bled for two weeks afterwards. I returned to work two days after the procedure, but really probably could have gone in the next day. I was not given any pain medication and did not need any.

This is very close to my experience. I did have a lot of pain in my chest and abs from the sedation and felt like I had been doing too many crunches. Apparently some people's muscles tighten and clench under sedation and whine intabated.

[revolution]

I had mine done on a Thursday. It was outpatient and general anesthesia. I lasted in bed all day with really no physical pain at all. I probably could've gone back to work the next day but laid around anyway.

[Deleted]

I had one a month out from giving birth. I had placenta left over and my body was trying to "deliver" it (sorry) for several days. My d&c went very smoothly. I may have been in a twilight kind of sleep for about 40 minutes all together. I had my procedure around 6 p.m. and I think my OB felt really sorry for me so she admitted me over night so I could get some rest. Anyway, I wanted to say I think you will feel a world of difference once you have it done. I felt like a new person. I had been bleeding heavily for many days and had just lost too much blood so I was literally gray. I was on maternity leave anyway but if I remember correctly, I felt fine within 36-48 hours.

Don't be scared. I think you'll be glad you did it.

[atarianna]

I am sorry you're going through this. I had one and physically was able to move about in a couple of days. Emotionally I was a wreck and needed about a week to recover.

[MWOS]

holy fuck I hate my doctor's nurse

last week she said "the doctor will probably just have you take 5 more days of progesterone"
doctor said d&c or 8 WEEKS of progesterone

I called this morning and she says "the doctor will probably just have you stay on the progesterone and wait"

except I have to go in at two today to talk to the doctor

jesus, bonnie. evaluate yourself.

[bcv513]

OMG Mary I'm so sorry you're getting the run around. I hope things work out soon

[Deleted]

Mary I want to punch that nurse.

I have no experience but I want to let you know you have been on my mind and I'll continue to think of you ((hugs))

[Deleted]

Screw that nurse. I am sorry you are getting run around, but hopefully at your appointment your doctor will have a solid plan.