My Experience at 5 weeks, 1 Day
It really helped me to see others’ stories here, so I’m posting mine. I’m including every detail from all the notes I took, so this is long. I did this because I was anxious going in and starved for information to help me know what to expect. I bolded what I thought are key events.
This occurred 36 days (5 weeks and 1 day) from first day of last period, at most. There is a chance it was closer to 33-35 days, as I hadn’t been documenting my cycle closely.
I’m 31F, healthy weight and height but close to the lower limits of healthy for weight. I say that for weight because I think medications can hit me stronger than others (in good and bad ways).
I was alone for this process, but my close friend who lives nearby made a plan to work from home and helped with my dog and by checking in, as I was anxious about having complications. I think being physically alone for most of this made the experience easier for me personally.
Day 1
1:07 AM - Took mifepristone. (This was supposed to be right before bed but ultimately couldn’t sleep until almost 4 AM). This part was difficult for me psychologically because it stops the embryo from growing, and felt a little bit like putting a stop to something I already loved and felt was a little magic. I was still resolved in my decision, but just be prepared that this can be a really emotional process.
8:00 AM - Heaviness and slight upset that is typical of the day before my period. Makes sense, because a swift progesterone drop typically precedes menstruation. I really felt like the magic was already gone; I felt different because the hormones in my body were already different. I missed the way I felt the day before.
9:30 AM - Took 800 mg ibuprofen and 8 mg anti-nausea medication. I did not end up taking more of these medication later. At this point started with final preparations like getting dressed, walking my dog, etc.
10:40 AM - Inserted 4 misoprostol tablets vaginally. Also ate breakfast (egg on toast) that I had prepared immediately before inserting. I had been snacking a little earlier in the morning had had coffee earlier, but didn’t document snacks.
10:48 AM - Felt the need to vomit, started using heating pad for very mild cramping (more like discomfort).
11:49 AM - Went to pee and there was no blood on pad or in the toilet. No pills came out. No difficult cramping, some general discomfort that I normally experience with my period, more like having an upset stomach or subtle digestive issues like you might get with a hangover or slight food poising. Was feeling nauseated. Felt like how I might feel the first day of my period, nausea was maybe slightly worse. Continued using heating pad, more as a comfort item than for pain. Anxiety was the biggest source of discomfort at this point. I felt kind of light headed, which could have been anxiety.
12:13 PM - Took the heating pad off. False sense of security? Around this time I was researching signs of internal hemorrhage because my belly felt full and bloated, but I wasn’t bleeding yet (everything was fine, but highlighting my anxiety).
12:30 PM - Put heating pad back on at lowest setting because I read cramping should start in 2 hours and I was scared. It helped with nausea. There was some vaginal discomfort but nothing that would prevent you from going about your day. My feet felt weird. It was happening earlier but now is more noticeable. They’re almost tingly.
2:05 PM - Got up to use the bathroom. Bleeding has started, a very small amount in the toilet like a very light period; blood is very red. Pad is still clean. Feel achy in lower back and a little in the legs.
2:30 PM - Ate lunch (got up and microwaved soup). All went down ok. Lower back hurts and starting to cramp more.
3:00 PM - Cramps ongoing. Not that bad. Like severely uncomfortable aches, but I could still easily focus on tv, breathe, and think normally.
3:24 PM - Went to the bathroom. A lot of blood in the toilet, thinner than I would see in my period and more at one time than I think I’ve ever seen. No clots. Some spots on pad. My body felt like I was having a really bad period. Like my normal periods, it’s extremely uncomfortable but the pain is not severe - it’s more like intense aches and soreness, no sharp or disruptive cramps.
4:05 PM - Friend came over to check in and walked my dog, returned at 4:25.
4:30 PM - Got up to refill dog’s bowl, could feel that I was bleeding into the pad. Went to bathroom and saw the pad was starting to soak through. Sat on toilet, heavy blood. Large clot came out. It looked like a beta fish in the toilet. Changed pad. Standing and walking, immediately feeling a little better. I thought it was over at this point because I thought this was all I needed to pass - I was ultimately wrong about that, but did feel a sense of relief in this moment that helped me as the process continued.
4:49 PM - Back on the couch. Intense headache. Some cramping in abdomen but symptoms in the rest of my body felt better. Belly felt extremely bloated.
5:39 PM - Could feel that I was bleeding more. Used the bathroom. A lot of blood again but no clots. As soon as I sat back down after using the bathroom I could feel more blood passing.
6:49 PM - Could still feel myself bleeding pretty heavily.
7:11 PM - Changed pad without using the bathroom. Went for a short walk with my friend and dog. Small steps felt safest. Couldn’t button up my jeans, which typically fit very easily. It was uncomfortable but good to get outside.
7:30 PM - (approximate time) Returned home from walk. On the couch with the heating pad. Cramping wasn’t severe and I decided not to take more ibuprofen or anti-nausea medication, but kept using the heating pad for discomfort. Could feel blood passing when I moved around. Legs felt a little swollen and sore, kept them slightly elevated on a couch cushion.
9:20 PM - Used the bathroom again. Blood was passing with clots. It looked much more similar to period blood at this point. Pad was completely soaked through. Changed pad again. Microwaved more chicken noodle soup (dinner).
10:58 PM - Used the bathroom again. Light/medium bleeding. Small stringy clots. Abdomen felt very full. Went to bed not too long after this.
Day 2
3:29 AM - Woke up needing to pee very urgently and used the bathroom. Passed two large clots the same size as the clot from 4:30 PM. One was very clearly a sac that was more tan/pink attached to some tissue that was dark red/almost black like everything else. The other clot looked more like a beta fish, similar to the earlier one. Back to sleep.
8:30 AM - Woke up feeling much better. Feeling less bloated, less achy, more energetic. Still feel a little like I have my period but it feels much more benign than yesterday. Continued to bleed lightly.
12:28 PM - No real updates. Continued light bleeding, but feel close to normal.
General recommendations
Have a plan for emergencies and understand signs of complications before beginning.
Drink lots of fluids throughout the experience (whatever you like - I chose water, Dr. Pepper, Gatorade, and had chicken noodle soup for my main meals).
Get a heating pad. These are typically not expensive, I bought mine on Amazon for around $20. I don’t use one normally, so quality didn’t have to be great. Had to get me through one day.
Hunker down. Plan as if you’ll have a severe flu for the day. You may not feel comfortable standing for long periods of time to prepare meals or going on walks if you have an animal.
A note on going through this for the most part alone: I was grateful that a friend checked in and was available by text and generally concerned throughout the day, and that was all I needed to feel safe and supported. I did not feel the need to have him or anyone else physically with me for the most part. You can survive this without a partner rubbing your back or crying with you. If you’ll be alone, make a plan for emergencies or complications, and notify a trusted friend if you would like someone to check on you via text or call. For me, getting as much information as possible to know what to expect and identify a potential complication or emergency was the most time-consuming part of preparing for this experience, and the most important.
I hope this is helpful to someone.
