Expert: Pat G - 11/23/2009

Question
I had a medical abortion on wednesday november 18th and it is now sunday november 22nd. I have not had much bleeding but i am still cramping. I was wondering how long I should expect to have cramps for. They are not intense, but mild and constant even with pain meds
thanks  

Answer
Hello, Michelle,

There are several things I don't know, that would help in giving you an answer. How far along were you? What medications did you take? Whether or not the meds even WORKED is an issue at this point, especially since you haven't had much bleeding.

Be careful with some pain meds because they can cause you to bleed excessively, and may result in hemorrhage, which could become life-threatening. A good remedy might be cayenne (hot red peppers), either in food (so it tastes spicy) or in capsules. If it gets too serious, have someone take you to the emergency room. If you used any meds vaginally, you are also at risk for a deadly infection, so if you start to get symptoms, have someone RUSH you to the emergency room and have them mention that the doctors need to look for Clostridium sordellii (toxic shock syndrome). This can kill within hours.

I don't think there is any such thing as expectations. Abortion is very unnatural and disrupts a woman's hormones, so anything is possible. So the only thing you can really do is wait and see.

I hope things go well with you. Please give me some additional information and let me know how things go.