My experience with Cytotec (misoprostol)

As I read so many of these personal stories to know what to expect, I feel it's only fair to pass on what I went through for others.  As it's true - every woman is different and so while some similarities it was a bit different.

I was told to take four pills (200mg each) vaginally all at once (some people take two at first and then more while some are told to take them orally dissolving between cheek and gum).  From searching the internet it appears I was told to take such a high dose all at once and vaginally because of how far along I was (8w3d when finding the missed miscarriage) and the fact that I had not started to miscarry on my own at all.

So I took the four pills at 2:30pm on New Years Eve (Tuesday).  At the same time I took one of the pain pills (Tylenol #3 with codeine), a zofran for anti nausea, and two antibiotics (azithromycin).  After an hour I noticed my heart appeared to be pounding in my chest but my pulse was not quicker.  It's just an odd feeling to feel your heart beating hard.  I was worried it was from the azithromycin since I'm allergic to erythromycin, which is a cousin drug.  So I email my RE and he told me to just not take those pills and monitor the situation.  But I had barely any cramping the first two hours.

 Hour three-four.  Some cramping that were similar to a really bad period, but nothing to write home about.

Hour four-six.  Worst pain of my life.  No way to mince words here.  I spent most of these two hours laying on our bathroom floor naked writhing in pain and either moaning or swearing with my eyes clenched shut.  I got so hot and Jeff had to keep cooling off wash clothes for me and eventually just got me an ice pack.  I felt twice as if I might pass out (you know the drunk world spinning feeling?) and three times I thought I might puke.  But I didn't do either.  At some point in here I was able to take my temp (as I was supposed to go to ER if it got above 101).  It was 99.7.

Suddenly the pain lessened so I thought by what I had read that maybe I had passed the sac.  But no - all I had was very very light spotting when I wiped.  Then I got very cold.  Very very cold.  Jeff wrapped me up in five blankets as I lay on our bed breathing through the remaining pain.  I spent half an hour like this just lowly moaning.  My temp was 96.4 - how is that possible?  It was just 99.7!  This freaked me out a bit.  Then the greatest idea I've ever had came to me - hot shower!  Jeff started the shower and I climbed into heaven.  OMG.  However, I turned the shower to as hot as it would go, and after half an hour letting the hot water pour over me I realized my skin was bright red and perhaps I could not regulate my temperature or realize how hot the water was (also kind of scarey in it's own way).  So I got out.  But mercifully at this point the pain was almost all gone and I was no longer cold so I still believe it was the best idea.

By the time I got out it was five and a half hours into the drug.  I finally started having a light flow.  But had almost no pain from 7:30 on.  Went to sleep finally at 2:30 in the morning (seemed as if the drugs possibly make you wide awake).  Woke up at 5:10 am needing to pee, and when I did suddenly I could feel something passing through my body about the size of one of those bouncy balls  that you would have if you ever played Jacks as a kid.   I went and got the collection cup (yes we decided to collect), put on the rubber glove and pulled my gestational sac and child from the toilet.  It was as they described and if you are going through this you can find other sights to tell you what to look for as I don't have the heart to write it out here. But I will say it didn't hurt, passing my child.  Just a very distinct feeling of something coming out.

Jeff woke up from me opening and closing door and could see my face as I broke into crying.  He comforted me for a little while and I stayed up for two hours before the emotional and physical exhaustion overwhelmed me and I feel asleep on the couch for four hours.

All this to say I only had two hours of pain, although they were severe.  And that I had barely any bleeding the entire time.  Didn't even fill one pad and within 24 hours I was back to almost non-existent spotting.  This worried me - and with some reason.  On Friday - three days after having taken the drug - I had an U/S that confirmed I had passed the sac but that my lining was still 10mm.  It is supposed to be around 2-4mm.  So I was given a refill and told to take the drugs again.  No!  I didn't want to go through that again.

This time I started the drug at 4:15pm on Friday (again 4 pills) only it's now 19 hours later.  Nearly no pain (good) but also no bleeding (bad).  So here I sit worried that Monday's ultrasound will show no difference and I might need a D&C.  I've been off work for a week now.  And because of having to go into the doctor again on Monday my store said they'd cover my shifts no problem Monday and Tuesday and since I have my usual Wednesday off will not have to go into work until Thursday.  Jeff took Monday off, worked a half day from home on Tuesday (having the half day and holiday Wednesday off) and ended up taking off Thursday and Friday but he really needs to go back to work now.

This is going to be a looong weekend.  And it's a winter storm weekend.  We've already gotten a foot of snow over the four days here in NW Chicagoland and we're supposed to get 2-6 more inches and Monday the high, the HIGH is negative 8.  Super.  Holed up inside with television and books.  Not that I wanted to go out this past week, yet I'm starting to feel like I'm swimming in my grief in this house and would like to go out if only to get more food.  Now I'm just rambling.  I will update again after Monday.