Anyone had a D&C? Not looking forward to this :/ Updated

[Macaela25]

Long story short, I had an incomplete miscarriage in mid-April. Since I've managed a few miscarriages myself (early ones are generally nothing more than cramps and heavy bleeding) I stupidly skipped my follow-up dr appointment once u/s showed imminent miscarriage. Found out in the ER two days ago that my body didn't get rid of practically anything and I need to have a D&C. I'm very lucky that I didn't develop a horrible infection in the last two months.

If you've had one, was it general anesthesia or sedation? Was recovery painful, and how long did it take? I'm teaching a brand new summer class starting Monday and I'm hoping to only need to take one day off. I'll obviously take more if needed, but I was just wondering how the recovery tends to go.

[tammyinwv]

I had about 2-3. I am now 50 yrs old, but I had a miscarriage with my first pregnancy, and one after my thrid pregnancy. That was about 32 yrs ago. It was general anesthesia. I had absolutely no problems afterwards. I believe some menstrual like bleeding for a short while afterwards. I dont even remember much cramping. If this class is going to involve you being on your feet for long periods or lifting, I am sure doc will want you to take some time off. You really need to ask your doc, but dont be surprised if he wants you to take off a week or two. Mine has been so long agao, I am not sure what the standards are now. Good luck tho.
Tammy

[KarenLR65]

I've had three miscarriages with 2 D&C's and one natural. I actually preferred the D&C method. Once it's over it's much less painful. I was out like a light when they were doing it and went home not long after I woke up. I did take several days off from work but the job I had was very physical with heavy lifting.

I think your doctor will know best if you can do your class. Each person is probably different in their reaction to it. I think mine was also more emotionally draining than physical. This was about ten years ago. I'm sure if anything things have improved since then.

I'm so sorry you're having to go through this. It is not an easy thing to do. The good news for me is that I have two beautiful daughters that I am so thankful to have been able to carry to full term. If you are trying to have children don't be discouraged and don't give up!

[melodyjg]

For me it was just mild cramping, but what got me was the noise....it just tore my heart out knowing that the noise was taking away what I wanted so badly at the time.

But I did want to say, ask if you can have an ultrasound after the D&C after they have done it to make sure they got everything, they did not do one with me and long story short two weeks later I ended up having a natural miscarriage also because they did not get everything either. It was a very painful ordeal one that I hated going through.

[melodyjg]

Oh and my D&C I was fully awake....I don't think you are put out anymore on them or at least I wasn't.

[ScrappyDoo]

I had one 3 years ago and they did general Anesthesia. It was not too bad, just some cramping the next day. I went to work the day after and lifted and moved patients like I always did without any problems.

[Kulis]

I had one just two weeks ago along with a hysteroscopy. I was under general anesthesia.
I was told to expect some cramping and bleeding afterwards. I experienced light spotting and no cramping at all.
Both the surgery center and the doctor's office called to follow-up and told me to take it really, really easy -- even four days afterwards!
The worst side effect for me was the need to sleep the rest of the day, but that was due to the anesthesia, not the procedure.

My husband has had lots of same-day surgical procedures, and the advice -- because of the possible anesthesia effects -- is to avoid driving, operating equipment, making important decisions, etc. for 24 hours afterwards.

[scentednights2002]

Yes. I lost my second baby at 4 months. I was out completely. Wasn't horribly painful afterwards. Really mostly cramping. I get fairly bad cramps anyway. It was more the emotional recovery than anything.

[abond0017]

Coincidentally, I just had one this past Wed.

I was not put under full anesthesia...instead it was something called MAC anethesia where the anesthesiologist manually kept me just to the point of unconsciousness by adjusting and delivering the anesthesia during the procedure (although some tings I have read about MAC have said the patient remains able to respond to the dr...this was not the case for me...I was out). That way I didn't have to be put as fully under and did not need to be intubated. I did not feel anything or see or hear anything during the procedure. I woke up with some pretty bad cramping but a nurse promptly put some pain killer in my IV...so really I didn't have much pain. Since I did not have full anesthesia, I recovered quickly (able to eat, walk, talk, pee which are all markers you must meet before being discharged) and was able to leave very soon after the procedure. Got home and slept for a few hours...woke up with mild cramps, ate, and took ibuprofen for them. Took it easy (mostly on the couch) for the next 2 days. I was told strict pelvic rest and no exercise/strenuous activity/ lifting more than 15 lbs for 2 weeks. The 2 days I took it easy, I was able to walk with my DH around the block to walk the dogs, but I would start mildly cramping soon after and have to take another ibuprofen. Even yesterday a long walk caused me to start cramping again. I did have a small gush of blood (sorry for being so graphic) when I was recovering at the hospital right after the procedure, but bleeding wasn't much after that or up until now...mostly spotting/tinted discharge needing only a panty liner.

My best friend had a D&C last year. I took care of her through it since her DH was deployed and her experience was a bit different. She had full anesthesia and was much more groggy for longer after the procedure. She slept longer after I brought her home that day and was nauseous and her throat hurt from the intubation so she couldn't eat as easily as I was able to. So, I think the type of anesthesia will really impact how you feel after the procedure.

I would recommend for you to take two days off. The day of and the day after. This will not only let your body begin healing faster but it'll give you a day to deal with any emotions that arise.

I was also still a bit uneasy with my movements on the 3rd and 4th day...meaning I moved a bit more slowly and tried not to tense the muscles in my abdomen...this helped to curb the cramps from coming on as often.

Good luck and don't be worried. You'll be fine.

[kymberly21]

I scheduled mine for Thursday and took of Thursday and Friday, then used the weekend to rest. I felt better by Monday, enough to work with no lifting and like myself in about 10 days.