Medical Abortion Forum - Does Everyone Have a Bad Time With Medical Abortion?


Does Everyone Have a Bad Time With Medical Abortion?

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melemel

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Does Everyone Have a Bad Time With Medical Abortion? Posted: 11-06-07 08:12am


Hi all, New here, and 7 weeks pregnant. I'm 35. I live in the UK and I am having a medical abortion on the NHS on thursday, with 2nd appointment on saturday. So far i have read nothing but horror stories regarding medical abortion - intense pain, heavy bleeding, nausea etc. I have one child already so have been through labour without pain relief so am no stranger to pain! I would love to hear more postive experiences with medical abortion procedure. My partmer pointed out that the majority of people who have an experience which is tolerable (if not easy) would not post their stories. That maybe only the women who have had a bad time would want to share their story to 'warn' others. Please, i'm so scared - anyone have anything positive to say?

Marianne0558

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Posted: 11-06-07 08:35am


Your partner made a great observation. Usually the women who post about their abortions on most forums, had bad experiences. If someone had a more positive experience, they are less likely to get online and talk about it. Not everyone has a bad experience with MA's. There are plenty of women on eHealth that had a positive experience, and I'm sure they will be posting fairly soon to ease your mind. Keep in mind, there is always a chance with ANY medical procedure that unpleasant side effects could occur, but try to be positive. If this is the right choice for you, try not to worry so much about the unknown. Hope this helped a little. -Marianne

Moo

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Posted: 11-06-07 12:00pm


I've just sent you a message but not everyone has such horrible times with medical abortions but remember you can choose the method you wish. Keep us updated and if you need anything then feel free to contact me Mollie

Carifairy

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Posted: 11-06-07 13:17pm


You also have to understand that surgical abortion ONLY TAKES 5 MINUTES, and women are often asleep or in a pain free 'drugged' state when they have the abortion. Med abortions are LONG processes, and you are not asleep. Realistically, a medical abortion is an induced miscarriage, so it is going to to very intense.

lucy315

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Posted: 11-06-07 19:44pm


Hello melemel. I have had an abortion, but not a medical abortion. I chose to have s and a. I was in and out of the clinic in only 3 hours, and the whole proceedure only took about 5 minutes. I chose not to be put to sleep, and although there was some bad pain, it went by VERY quickly. We even went out to eat afterward. I had mild cramping for a few days and barely any bleeding. I considered medical abortion because I thought I would feel better being in the privacy of my own home. But like you, I read too much about it, and changed my mind. Whatever you chose, I wish you the best of luck.

melemel

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Posted: 11-07-07 03:07am


Thank you all for your support. Marianne I feel better for your thoughtful words. Of course i'm expecting pain and evrything - i just hope my experience is not of gushing blood, unbearable pain, wracking nausea and hospitalisation! One problem i have is that im very scared of hospitals, but thats beside the point and just something i have to deal with.. I have had a surgical abortion before in my early 20s, so Lucy, I know what thats like. I had no problems whatsoever then, I took it all in my stride and was up and about straight away. Medical has been recommended because i am only 7 weeks gone. Im just amazed at how im managing to get myself in a state over every little part of this process - even worrying if i can drink enough water to have a full bladder for the dating scan and keep it down, as i have terrible morning sickness! Do you always have to stay in hospital til the pregnancy has 'passed' in the UK does anyone know? In a way i'd rather go home..

lucy315

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Posted: 11-07-07 03:30am

melemel wrote:

One problem i have is that im very scared of hospitals, but thats beside the point and just something i have to deal with.. I have had a surgical abortion before in my early 20s, so Lucy, I know what thats like. I had no problems whatsoever then, I took it all in my stride and was up and about straight away. Medical has been recommended because i am only 7 weeks gone.
Im just amazed at how im managing to get myself in a state over every little part of this process - even worrying if i can drink enough water to have a full bladder for the dating scan and keep it down, as i have terrible morning sickness!
Do you always have to stay in hospital til the pregnancy has 'passed' in the UK does anyone know? In a way i'd rather go home..

I'm surprised they suggested a medical abortion at 7 weeks. I was barely 6 (only 5 1/2 weeks) when I had my s and a. I'm not sure if the rules are different here in the US, but the women I know who had the medical abortion got to home the very same day. I thought they told me it could take up to three weeks to "pass". I may be wrong, though.

nana98

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Surgical Abortion Posted: 11-07-07 04:23am


please can someone explain to me the difference between medical abortion and surgical abortion thanks

Carifairy

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Posted: 11-07-07 13:24pm


With surgical abortion, the doctor uses a straw like tube to suction out the pregnancy.

Carifairy

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Posted: 11-07-07 13:24pm


With a medical abortion it is COMMON to have gushy blood, as that is what happens for a short time.

melemel

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Posted: 11-07-07 15:25pm


Yeah, thanks for that carifairy. have you had a medical abortion yourself?

Marianne0558

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Posted: 11-07-07 16:12pm

melemel wrote:

Thank you all for your support. Marianne I feel better for your thoughtful words. Of course i'm expecting pain and evrything - i just hope my experience is not of gushing blood, unbearable pain, wracking nausea and hospitalisation!
One problem i have is that im very scared of hospitals

Hospitalization isn't so bad. I was hospitalized for 7 days after labor and delivery and although I was a mess, it was nice to have people take care of me for a change.
The best thing about hospitals is in case something bad happened (God forbid), you're right where you need to be to get the medical support you need.

Just know that we are all here for you to talk to and lend our support. I wish I could be of more help but I'm not really sure how procedures are done in the UK.

Carifairy

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Posted: 11-07-07 16:16pm


Yes I have. One medical and 2 SURGICAL abortions. My first every abortion was medical. I was young, and people kept saying "Oh surgical is dangerous". I work in an abortion clinic, and I highly recommend surgical for its ease and painlessness. I had IV sedation with my abortions.

unicarrie

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Posted: 11-08-07 06:09am


"Do you always have to stay in hospital til the pregnancy has 'passed' in the UK does anyone know? In a way i'd rather go home.. " Last August I had a surgical abortion (D&C) at 11 weeks 4 days. They thought I was just 8 weeks when I first went to see the consultant and asked me to consider a medical abortion as the risks involved were apparently less dangerous. I took a leaflet for both medical and surgical and asked questions about both. You will have to stay in hospital until the pregnancy has passed, you could be there for 2/3 hours or 2 days. If you do get a chance to reconsider, I would suggest reconsidering a surgical termination. With a medical termination there is a chance that you may see the fetus, which can be traumatic for some women, obviously there is the chance of heavy bleeding and it can be quite painful. My surgical abortion took an hour from going in and waking up on the ward, and most of that was because I was too darn lazy to wake up in the recovery room. I was put to sleep (which was the most traumatic part of the whole experience - being scared of needles and all) and then was back in the ward half an hour later. I did not bleed heavily afterwards, it was just like a normal period and I experienced no pain apart from very slight back pain. I wish you well, you will be okay.

melemel

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Posted: 11-08-07 07:27am


Hey everyone. Thanks to everyone for their great support so far. So, i had my first appointment with the doctor this morning. In the end, after discussion, i am going for a surgical abortion whilst awake, but with the option of having a general if i should change my mind. Also partly becuase they decovered I am just a day or so off 9 weekws, and whilst they said it would be fine, i felt it was too late for a medical. I know that in the UK they do medical abortions later than in other countries, but i don't feel its necessarily a good thing. I just don't think i could have coped with the possibilty of seeing anything with the medical procedure. This way it will take (i'm told) ten minutes, and i will be away from hospital by lunchtime if all goes well. So my op is tomorrow at 8am. Wish me luck!

Tylanas

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Posted: 11-08-07 09:58am


Good luck indeed! You'll be just fine ^^

unicarrie

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Posted: 11-08-07 11:52am


Good Luck! You will be in and out incredibly quickly, I was. Hope all goes well.

melemel

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Posted: 11-10-07 09:51am


Hi all. Well, its over. i went in 8am yesterday for the procedure. After talking to the anaesthetist, i decided in the end to go to sleep for the op. What a lot of changes since my initial appointment. It was absolutely fine in the end, though they gave me pessaries to soften the cervix when i first arrived in case i was having it done awake, and they made me shiver and shake (apparently this can happen but it wasnt too bad). The anesthetic was fine, woke up very gently and relaxed and was out within and hour and a half. I had moderate bleeding and cramps all day and evening, and just went home and slept and ate! Today i have v light bleeding and virtually no cramps. Just feel a bit lazy and no energy (which is not surprising of course). Even went ot town and had a slow walk round the markets. I feel sad though, nearly cried when i saw mums with small babies... My partner has not really been helpful for the last week or so. I've been in bad need of emotional support - a hug, words of comfort, whatever. But nothing, not even in the hospital. When we went to bed lat night he just turned his back on me... Very cold. I know he's suffering too but i feel sad about the way he is. And he's always the most considerate usually! Now he's left me with our son (8 year old) to look after whilst he goes to watch a local football game when i just need to rest.. I guess i'm dealing with the fallout alone, apart from you lot here who have been amazing! Just going to take some time now to get over all this. Glad i went for the surgical option int he end. Far less trauma

Tylanas

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Posted: 11-10-07 10:05am


He is being a jerk, but maybe you and he could talk? This is clearly affecting him more than he wants to admit. You are a team and you need to act like one! I'm SO glad everything went well ^^