hyperemesis gravidarum

Aim33

So I found out yesterday that I have HG.  I would love to hear from other mommies who have this too.  What has been your biggest challenges?  Have you found anything helpful to bring some relief? What kind of weight loss have you had? Have you been able to keep working during this?

Thanks to Allie on this board, one of her replies reminded me that I did see "hypermesis" on my hospital papers.  At the time, I was so upset to be sent to the hospital that when I saw the word that I had no idea what it meant... it got over shadowed by everything else I was thinking about.

Is it weird that my Dr. has never specifically told me that this is what I have and talked to me about treating it and what it would do to me? I feel let down by my Dr. He always seems so surprised when I go to see him once a month that I have keytones in my urine and have lost weight. He tells me I am not drinking enought water even though I drink a lot every day.

He always listens to the fetal heart tones and makes sure that the baby seems to be growing, but it almost seems to be that as long as the baby seems to be OK, that he doesn't care too much for the mom.   Maybe I am being dramatic... wouldn't be the first time.

Anyways, please feel free to share whether you have HG yourself and just know about it.  I appreciate all of your replies!

Thank you!

Aimee

Chelsey68

My best friend had it, she was hospitalized a few times and constantly sick. We would attempt trips out and she would end up throwing up in every public bathroom around. She lost alot of weight but she was overweight to start. The third trimester it would lighten up to just the mornings and random days. She would then gain all the weight back plus a little more. When she was in labor she was miserable because they wouldnt let her eat. As soon as the baby was out it was over instantly. She would happy dance on the scale the next day because she would originally be lighter than pre pregnancy weight. Then as she went back to eating normal she would gain it all back plus more. Happy dance over. Her doctor gave her zofran which gave her some relief. She did not try very hard to keep her vitamins down with the second baby (with the first she took flinstones.) anyway the second baby was a boy and his pee hole on his penis was in the wrong place. The doctor told her it was possibly because she didnt take her vitamins. Now it might not have been. It wasnt off enough to cause any big problems. Theres a surgery to fix it once there a year but my friend chose not too. They said he may have fertility issues from it. Anyway my best advice to u is to try to at least get the childrens vitamins down. Thats all i can take and my doctor tells me its better than nothing. Im bad with water so i drink powerade but im sure you just puke that up too. Not many people understand how miserable what you have is, you are defiantly not being a baby, i had bad morning sickness till around 18 weeks it was so awful now its controllable. I hope you see some relief soon.

Aim33

Thank you so much for your reply.  I am able to take my prenatals.  My Dr. changed me from one brand to another that had a chewable vitamin which has really helped because I am pretty sure the it was the original prenatal that was making me sick to my stomach every evening.  I can't imagine having no nausea for weeks in a row... I think I will do a happy dance too once I deliver this baby. LOL

Have a great day

OtterPop1

((HUGS))

I'm lurking, but I wanted to reply to you. I'm so sorry you are having to deal with HG; it really stinks! I was hospitalized briefly to be rehydrated when I was about 11 weeks (I had been vomiting 20+ times a day), which was when I was diagnosed with HG.

Zofran was the only thing that helped me. I started out taking it twice a day and eventually got down to once a day during the third trimester. I had good days and bad days, even while taking the Zofran. I still vomited occasionally, but it was much, much better than before. I would recommend asking your doctor about it.

I initially lost about 10 lbs, and I was about 12 lbs above my pre-pregnancy weight when I gave birth. My nausea went away as soon as I had my baby. It was so nice to have an appetite again!

I'm a SAHM (formerly a teacher). I honestly don't think I would have been able to work while I was pregnant because of the HG. I would have had too many times of having to leave the classroom to go throw up. I know some people are able to keep working, though.

I would definitely talk to your doctor and ask him about Zofran and any other suggestions he has that will give you some relief.

I hope you feel better soon!  

snickersforeveryone

I had it until around 18 weeks, and still deal with it off and on.  My doctor never specifically said I had HG either (I saw it in my paperwork too), but she expressed concern that I was losing so much weight (30+ lbs in the end), and that I had high amounts of keytones in my urine.  I was sent to the hospital in my first tri for a 24 hour stay, during which they pumped me full of fluids and anti-nausea medication.  After that, I began taking Zofran for the nausea, and because I also have a slow-emptying stomach that was contributing to the problem, they put me on Reglan.  I also take Zantac on top of that.  Since then it's been a slow uphill climb, but it's been getting better.  They told me that if I didn't start gaining weight and stop spilling keytones, they were going to put in a PICC line, so I drank more water than I ever wanted to drink to avoid that (about 70-80 oz per day).  I was lucky that doing this and taking the medicine seemed to help.  Many women begin to feel relief after the first tri is over, but some have it the entire pregnancy. To be honest, I only absolutely know I've gained back one pound, but with the way I've been eating the last two weeks, I expect them to tell me I've gained more.  I still have my bad days, but I watch the color of my urine to make sure it stays pretty clear, and I eat at specific times to help remind me to get something in me.

Has your doctor suggested an anti-nausea medication?  One thing I've learned is to continue taking it even if you think you're starting to feel better without it.  It's easier to stay ahead of the illness than it is to bring it back under control.   Also, my doctor had me completely cut out my prenatals for a while, since they can contribute to nausea.  I'm hoping to start taking them again soon.  I wish you the best of luck...I know this is no fun.  Please keep us posted on how you are doing!

theone07

Sorry about the HG! I have it too. It was horrible for me until week 21, I lost more than 15 lbs just the first 14 weeks. Then managed not too lose any, but didn't begin gaining until week 22. I was vomiting so much and so hard that I would almost pass out. I was coughing up blood and having various other awful symptoms. I essentially ended up in bed until week 20, and hadn't driven for months because of the dizziness & nausea. But I did start feeling better a bit ago. I had to drink gatorade & Ensure for awhile to get any calories in me, and sometimes it was literally a swallow every 15-20 minutes at a time just to try and stay hydrated. I am on Zofran still, but was on Zofran, Promethazine, and Zantac. There were days I couldn't keep any of them down and had to do suppositiories. It was a nightmare I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Some docs are just not that aware of all the stuff that can go with HG. Check out the website: www.helpher.org. It has so much info for you & others.

I did pretty good for the past month or so, but I have noticed over the last 10 days that my nausea is returning full force. Fortunately, the vomiting seems to be staying away (for now). My baby kept growing the whole time even though I had all the weight loss, and now LO is right on track. So just hang in there. Eat & drink what & when you can manage. Even if it's little tiny bits at a time. And maybe print some info off for doc, because HG can definitely lead to ketosis (ketones in your urine). 

Good luck! Hope you feel better! 

 

 

Mrslisvenn

I have HG and instead of taking oral meds, i have a zofran pump that i wear all the time everyday. the zofran pump does not cure my nausea 100% but it reduces my vomiting significantly and with the pump, i do not have to go to the hospital anymore and it does help me eat a bit more. 

if you ever want to chat, please feel free to contact me as i had moments when i was soooo depressed during my first pregnancy as i was so frustrated with being sick all the time  

averysn

I developed Hyperemesis at the end of my 5th week and was officially diagnosed around 8 weeks.  Starting my 6th week I couldn't get out of bed and had to quit my job.  My Dr. had me quit my pre-natals and put me on oral zofran, phenergan and reglan, but even with all these medications I had to go to the emergency room 3 times for dehydration and excessive vomitting.  I lost 13 lbs. within the first couple of weeks.  After my 3rd hospital visit my Dr. put me on the zofran pump which gives me 24/7 medication.  He also put me in the hospital for about 48 hours during my 11th week to get some vitamins in me and keep me stable.  During the hospital stay he started me on a new medication called Emend and put me on Celexa for anxiety from being so sick (I literally was in bed from the 6th week so I was SUPER stressed and depressed).  I continued the Emend for about a week after being released from the hospital and today am still on the zofran pump and take 2 phenergan each day as well as the celexa.  I am finally able to eat normal foods again and can hold down between 40-60 ounces of water a day.  I can honestly say the Emend and pump are the greatest medications out there and the pray from my family, friends and church have brought me a LONG way.  Even though I am still on medication 24/7 I am able to function again and my nausea level is much more tolerable (I also have not thrown up since my 11th week ... I am 14 weeks now!)  

 I completely understand about the frustrations of living with Hyperemesis ... especially since pregnancy is suppose to be such an amazing thing!  Although my Dr. is AMAZING I did get VERY frustrated several times because I felt like you that as long as the baby is ok it doesn't matter how the mom is.  All I can say is find the Dr. who knows about HG and then FIGHT for what you need.  I literally went into the office every 2 days until my Dr. agreed to put me on the pump and I had to ask him to admit me into the hospital.  But the fight was worth it and feeling somewhat like a human again is a miracle!  If you have any questions feel free to ask!