Need advice on dehydration

Partyof6? · August 2016

This is one of those times I think it is okay to start a new thread.

I am almost 14 weeks and I have not been this sick. I have now had a headache for over 36 hours and stopped being able to eat around lunch yesterday which was a bowl of cereal. That was the last food I kept down and since last night, I have stopped being able to hold down any fluids either. It is not immediate like most issues I have had, but like an hour or so after drinking it comes back.

I went to my RE this morning, but I always figured he is way more focused on the science part of making babies, not the mother side of things. They checked my blood pressure, it was fine, and checked baby who looked fine. I was honestly surprised and forgot to even ask about nausea meds.

I am technically in between doctors. The RE doesn't know what to do with me I don't think and the OB I am transferring to has never seen me for this pregnancy. When I called this morning, they were not sure what to do with me either. It's a Friday afternoon, and I think both offices are closed now.

Honestly, at what point might you head to the hospital? I have issues with low blood sugar, so I am sure not being able to eat or drink is going to be a big problem. I haven't been able to swallow any meds. Would you go to an ER/urgent care, or a hospital with an L&D unit?

My RE basically told me if I got worse or didn't get better to call the OB. I am considering bypassing that.

Any advice? This is my fourth baby, and I have never been this sick in a pregnancy. I know some of you have dealt with awful nausea, I didn't know if you had a rule of thumb on how long is too long from your doctor or midwife.

poetryandoceans · August 2016

Go to the ER; I don't think urgent care can give you IV fluids and IV anti-nausants (can Americans correct me on that? They can't in my corner of Canada). But you're probably already burning into fat stores for energy, and baby is taking everything it needs first. If this keeps on, you WILL faint/lose consciousness because of the low blood sugar. You've already called the OB this morning, so you're not bypassing the OB. And your RE said to take action if you haven't gotten better and you haven't.

Seriously, losing consciousness is so disorienting and so scary. If you can nip this in the bud, and prevent it, do so. You've got into a bit of a vicious cycle where you can't keep food down, and you can't keep down the meds that will allow you to keep the food down. Your body needs food and water, and when you can't get it, you need to go to the ER to get them to help you. If you're worried about seeming too alarmist, you're not. Take care of you!

NiceyMeany · August 2016

If you can't keep even the smallest amount of liquids down for a whole day, you need to go to the ER. It doesn't take long to get critically dehydrated from this stage of pregnancy onward.

Can you try taking very small sips of gatorade every few minutes? Like literally set a timer and take a capful every 10 minutes. I've heard that works for some folks.

Sorry to hear you're feeling so awful

scifichick09 · August 2016

I don't really have any advice, but I just want to express my concern for you! That is really worrisome, I do hope you feel better soon and are able to keep some liquids down.

lfrank12 · August 2016

I agree with everyone else, you should bypass urgent care and head to the ER. If you went to urgent care they would just send you there anyways, so you might as well save yourself a trip. As someone who has fainted before due to dehydration, it can come on suddenly. I would suggest going tonight if possible if you still cannot keep any liquids down.

I'll thinking of you and I hope you feel better soon!

Partyof6? · August 2016

Thank you. I feel like I am not able to get great advice from my doctor right now and I just texted my husband that he's taking me when he gets home.

We have a stand alone ER 5 minutes from here or I can go to the hospital where they have L&D. Do you think either is okay, since baby was fine, or would you go where there is an L&D unit so they are used to pregnant women?

silvercamaro77 · August 2016

The only thing I want to add is a bit of comfort that if you're keeping some things down for an hour or so then you are getting at least some benefit from it. No where near enough of course, but at least a tiny bit.

poetryandoceans · August 2016

silvercamaro77 said:

The only thing I want to add is a bit of comfort that if you're keeping some things down for an hour or so then you are getting at least some benefit from it. No where near enough of course, but at least a tiny bit.

^^WSS - I realized after I posted that if the liquid isn't coming back up right away, you're absorbing some of it. Not enough, but still. The no food is still a big concern.

For the ER vs L&D hospital, the L&D is likely overkill, but if there is a nurses' line at the ER, you could call now and confirm they won't just shuffle you along to L&D. Some places get weird if the patient is pregnant, even if that's not why they're there, and it would suck to get to the ER and be told you had to go on to the hospital anyway.

Partyof6? · August 2016

Thank you. The hospital with the L&D unit has an ER too, so I might just go there and go in through the ER. If they don't want me they can send me upstairs.

I can also try to call the other, they are just close and not usually busy.

NiceyMeany · August 2016

@Partyof6? keep us posted please!!

poetryandoceans · August 2016

I only mention it because in our city, there are two main hospitals; one has the L&D as well as Peds, but we of course live 5 minutes from the other one. My husband works in the field, and he's said that, barring an absolute emergency, we would want to go to the hospital that's further out. The docs that work in the closer ER so rarely see pregnant women and children that they kinda freeze and panic. They're not supposed to let their skills slide because they ARE an ER, they're supposed to be able to handle anything that comes through, but... theory vs practice, right?

laurenmichael725 · August 2016

I would head to the closest ER, but an urgent care will be able to hook you up to an IV and give you anti-nausea meds. At least all the ones I know of. They don't love handling pregnant women and children, so when in doubt, they'll send you to an ER anyway. The wait times in an ER could be long, whereas urgent care will likely be shorter. If urgent care sends you to ER they'll call ahead, speeding the process up. And I would also make sure someone else drives you if you're feeling so dehydrated that you might pass out. You'll be told to follow up with your OB after being treated.

foxrosy · August 2016

I say go to the ER, I don't think urgent care does IV fluids either, which is probably what you need. They should have an OB on call anyway. I'm so sorry you are dealing with this! I hope you feel a lot better soon. Gatorade is an excellent suggestion. Also, regular coconut water is very hydrating and replenishes electrolytes. Keep us updated. I will be thinking of you.

Aussie45 · August 2016

I don't have any suggestions or helpful hints, but I wanted to say I'm sorry you're feeling so bad! My friend was very similar in the fact that she couldn't keep anything down. It sounds horrible

I hope you start to feel better and that they are able to give you something to alleviate your symptoms so you can get some temporary relief!

WinchesterGirl · August 2016

If the OB didn't offer meds, you need to go get hydrated for sure.

The OB's office should have an on call nurse though, and you could ask for dissolvable zofran. That way, no worries of keeping it down. Rather than send me to the ER when I started throwing up like this they immediately called in zofran and diclegis. I got them within an hour and then I could start keeping down liquids.

So sorry you're dealing with this, it's absolutely miserable!

Gingersnap · August 2016

Hope all is well!

SweetT · August 2016

I got a terrible stomach virus while
pregnant with my first. My doctor told me at the time to keep my stomach empty if need be by not eating, but to suck on ice cubes or take small sips of water. I froze some orange juice in Popsicle molds and took a few licks every half hour just to get some sugar. I was sleeping probably 20 hours a day for 3 days but not eating wasn't an issue my doctors were worried about.
If you can keep your stomach empty and only add small amounts of liquids so as to not throw up you can avoid dehydration.
If you already feel like dehydration is starting I would get to an ER as soon possible for an iv.
feel better and keep us posted.

Partyof6? · August 2016

I am sitting in the ER now just waiting for the IV. Thanks for the advice!

birdiejo · August 2016

I hope you feel better soon!

jab3-2 · August 2016

How are you doing @Partyof6? I really hope you're feeling better and they were able to help you at the ER.

Partyof6? · August 2016

I just got home. They gave me a bag of fluids, phernergen and benadryl. The headache is still nagging me, but the nausea is better. Trying to eat some crackers and drink some water and make sure it stays down. She gave me a prescriptionfor the phernergen (however you spell it).

jab3-2 · August 2016

Oh man, well I'm so glad to hear the nausea has subsided at least somewhat. It's ridiculous you've been having to suffer like that, I'm so sorry you've been feeling so awful. Maybe after a decent nights sleep tonight even the headache will let up a little for you too or hopefully just go away completely!

ohstars · August 2016

Glad you are doing better! Sending good vibes!

FreshBakedBrownies · August 2016

I'm glad you got fluids and are doing a little better!
I'm not sure if this will help you too (or if you can keep it down) but for my pregnancy headaches, a 50/50 mix of cranberry juice and coconut water has been magical. Coconut water is supposed to have electrolytes, so maybe that's why it helps?
Best wishes that you stay hydrated and can start eating!

foxrosy · August 2016

Feel better! Glad you got some fluids and meds.

laurenmichael725 · August 2016

Glad your feeling a little better!

Xstatic3333 · August 2016

Thinking of you @Partyof6?! Glad you went in.

Jelly Bean 001 · August 2016

Glad your doing a bit better. When I got horribly ill from a stomach bug with my 1st baby, the ob told me to drink pedialyte. It worked really well at keeping me hydrated and calmed my stomach some. hope you stay hydrated now.