Whilst holidaying in Devon during 1999, I started to bleed. My husband rushed me to Barnstable Hospital. They informed me it was too early to say but it could possibly be an ectopic pregnancy and advised I got checked out when I got back home.
I went to see my GP the next day, who said I was miscarrying. He told me to go home and put my feet up; however, I felt something was wrong as I was bleeding old and new blood and still getting positive readings from pregnancy tests. My hair and nails felt strong and healthy, but my stomach was very swollen. I went back to the GP and told him all my symptoms, but he didn’t even examine me, and I was told to go home and not to worry. That same day, I asked my dad to take me to get checked out at the early pregnancy unit. They scanned me thoroughly and also obtained a second opinion, then told me that I wasn’t pregnant but there was a mass. I was sent up onto the ward for an operation as the ectopic was in the cervix. The mass was multiplying and breaking off and going around my system . When I came round from the operation, I was told I had haemorrhaged and could have died.
I was very lucky to be alive. In the following meetings with the consultants, I was informed that at that time there had only been three recorded ectopic pregnancies in the cervix, one of whom unfortunately died, and two needed full hysterectomies. I had to have aggressive chemotherapy later on to eliminate the rest of the fluid, which was still multiplying.
Mr Padwick, my surgeon, managed to save my womb.
I went back to my doctor to tell him what had happened and ask why he hadn’t examined me. He said I wasn’t a classic ectopic, as I wasn’t writhing around in pain. I told him no other woman should go through what I’ve been through.
Fortunately, I was able to fall pregnant and had a beautiful baby boy despite doctors advising I would be unlikely to carry to full term. I am extremely grateful, as I owe my life and my son’s life to Mr Padwick and his amazing team.
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