Post-Abortion Pain: Seeking Information and Support

Question
I had a medical abortion 8 months ago at Planned Parenthood. I was also 6 weeks and 2 days pregnant during the medical abortion. Ever sense the abortion i have had lots of lower back pains and stomach pains. The lower back pains have lessened but are still there. The stomach pains are very painful i'd rate it a 10 on a scale with ten being the worst pain. The pain only last for 5-6 seconds sometimes a few seconds longer then go away and i usually get this about every week. Every month sense the abortion i also experience brown spotting on a pad but sometimes when i wipe it's bright redish and pinish that last a full week so 7 days and the spotting fills up about 3 or 4 light day pads a day. Also sometimes before the spotting i experience some cramping. I usually start the spotting a week or two before my period is due. I started Necond 1/35 birth control pills 4 months ago and still have the spotting for a full week. My periods were irregular so i started the birth control. I now get my periods every 28 days and they only last a day or two. A week after my abortion i went back to Planned Parenthood for a check up and i had a good amount of bleeding still in my uterus on my left side which is the side where the fetus was attached to and the right side was clear and she marked it as a complete abortion. I had a transvaginal ultrasound. A month after the abortion i started bleeding and went to bathroom where i discovered what looked to be tissue that came out because it was gray and hard and was about a little bit over an 1 inch in length. Is there anyway that there is still tissue left in there that was hidden by the bleeding from the ultrasound that could be causing my constant spotting and pains. I don't know if I should tell my gynecologist this because i don't know if it seems that serious or not can you tell me what it sounds like to you? Have you ever herd of anything like this before? I'm 19 years old and I don't know what I should do. Thank you so much if you can help me.

Answer
Hi Liz,

this is a rather nasty story you tell me. Complications from  medical abortion are rare. From here I cannot make
a diagnosis. I can't believe that the stomachache has any connection with your abortion. Never heard such a thing.
Tissue staying behind is almost impossible. What you have seen can be a partly organized old bloodcloth.
These also become grayish after some time.
The periods with the contraceptionpill are always a bit less than without protection.
I can only advise to contact planned parenthood again, and have an ultasound made.
I would like to console you, but I have no idea what I can do more for you.
Bests, and please keep me posted.
Dr Shan