Hyperemesis Gravidarum- anyone been through this?

[ohiominnie]

Ugh! I feel for you.

I never had it that bad but with dd #1 I had bad morning sickness.....all day long. I did everything I could to not throw up, but ended up finding out that if I DID throw up, I'd be good for a couple of hours before the nausea got really bad again. So the cycle was "throw up, eat, a couple hours later get nauseated.....fight it for about an hour, throw up, eat, etc....."

I apologize to anyone who was out to eat with us as after I'd order I'd go to the bathroom and throw up, then be fine for dinner! And it wasn't like I had to force myself to throw up. Usually the nausea was bad enough that just looking at a toilet did me in!

What is that?? Anti-bulemia? Throwing up BEFORE you eat???

And, for some STRANGE reason, the thing that settled my stomach the MOST was tortilla chips and salsa!! We used to buy it by the gallon jug!! I'd sit down for lunch and have a huge bowl of salsa.

Which may explain why I have to call my dd "My little chili pepper." She definitely has a very hot and spicy personality!!!

 

[puffkin]

Not much to add, just I hope you get through this

I had the all day sickness (throwing up 6-8 times a day) and I dropped about 10 lbs., but never got bad enough to need hospitalization. It was hard to convince the doctors how serious it was, but when I started spending 4 hours in the bathroom at work each day hanging over the toilet, I basically said they better do something. Zofran was a lifesaver for me, I still felt nauseous at times and still threw up occassionally, but I could at least function. I went off it at 21 weeks, and was fine afterwards.

One thing that helped me was that I drank the ensure shakes (I bought the wal-mart brand ones). They tasted good and had lots of nutrients in them. And while this may sound gross....at least they weren't too bad if they came back up

 

[rhanditresmom]

Yep, had this with both of my pregnancies. I had to be hospitalized with both and once I came home, I was on IV's at home to maintain hydration. I lost at least 20 lbs with each pregnancy. Unfortunately, none of the anti-nausea medications seemed to work. The closest I got was Phenegren shots at the hospital. I couldn't even tolerate water! For me, it lasted the first trimester, then tapered off. (and I certainly made up for the weight I lost in the first tri!) This is one of the reasons we decided to stop after 2 children.

I know exactly how you are feeling and I feel for you. There is hope, though. Hopefully you will feel better after your first trimester!

I'll be praying for you, it can be so miserable.

 

[ducklite]

Yes. It did get better after my fifth month, but didn't entirely go away until a few days after I delivered.

And puffkin, I know what you mean about some things coming back up better than others. Surprisingly McDonald's fries were one thing I could "usually" keep down, and they came up easily if they did.

Anne

 

[BabyTigger99]

I had it with my son. I ended up being hospitalized 6 different times for it (outpatient, just for fluids). They ended up prescribing a supository that worked pretty well for me. It settled down quite a bit once I reached about my 5 - 6 month. Nevertheless, I would still throw up at least once a morning all the way until the day I delivered.

I could never find anything to settle my stomach very well, but I can tell you what tastes good the second time around!

 

[GADISNEYGIRL]

I'm so sorry!! I had this, too. For nine months! Went through the hospital, IV route... Zofran did (mostly) work for me, IF I took it every 4 hours. 4 hours, 1 minute...nope, I was sick. So nighttime was really bad, I woke up sick a lot in the middle of the night. Ironically, vomiting saved me from a C-section. DH was already suited up... I threw up, and DS was born!

 

[juligrl]

Yes, I've been there too. I really do feel for you and completely understand what you're going through . My first pregnancy wasn't as bad later on (I'd only get that sick feeling right before I had to 'toss the cookies', although that lasted until into my last month). I had the IV for rehydration only once then.

My latest pregnancy I was sick from day one. I was driving to church one morning and saw a billboard advertising pulled pork sandwiches (which I do like) and I nearly threw up. I said "Oh, gee! I think I'm pergnant!" took a test and of course it was positive.
Even when I wasn't bent over a toilet hurling I had a low grade nausea my entire pregnancy. I too had the Zofran (it made throwing up harder), and still ended up needing rehydration twice. I never did find anything that really "worked" to ease the nausea, but I didn't let it stop me from living. We even went to WDW in my 7th month. I just made sure to always have a cup on me just in case...

There is good news! Take comfort in the fact that you are having this massive "morning sickness". It means your body is making an abundance of the right hormones for the pregnancy to survive.
Your baby will take what he/she needs. Just keep eating and tossing (if it went down easily, it came back up easily. I liked soups best.) and take your pre-natal vitamins. I lost 15 - 20 lbs. with each child (I'm usually right around 140 so it did show), before I gained anything. with my first DD I ended up gaining 35 and my second DD 30, and my girls were 8lbs. and 7lbs. 13ozs. respectively, so they did thrive despite my misery.

Try to think of the beautiful end result you will have. It can make it a little better. My now 4 month old DD was born at 5:55pm, dinner time. As soon as she was born, I wolfed down an entire meal (hospital food at that) and it was the first time in 9 months I'd eaten and didn't think I'd see it again . It won't last forever and the payoff more than makes up for it!

 

[belle&beast]

I was never hospitalized, but I was close. I vomited for 7 months and I never knew when it would strike! Zofran really worked well for me as the pregnancy went on, but during the first trimester not much stopped it. I hope you feel better soon! Peppermint and lemon hard candies helped at times- sometimes just smelling them helped me to get my composure. Everyone is different, but that helped me. Good luck, and just try to stay positive and think about the end result- your beautiful baby! It will be worth everything you are going through now!

 

[Darth Cupcake]

OP - Hang in there! Every passing day is one day closer to your delivery. I had severe nausea and vomiting during both of my pregnancies. I was miserable. In my misery, and because we wanted more children, I requested information from several adoption agencies as I was positive that I could never go through pregnancy again. However, it does eventually get better. You can and will make it all the way and have your precious baby.

 

[AllyandJack]

Hey, Beck....I wanted to pop in and let you know I'm thinking of you and hoping you start to feel better soon.

 

[llij]

Hang in there! You have my sympathies as I have been diagnosed with this while I was pregnant with dd#2. I was hospitalized twice and phenergan along with a motion sickness patch seemed to help me tremendously. I hope that the Zofran will 'kick in' and work for you.

 

[vettechick99]

And it wasn't like I had to force myself to throw up. Usually the nausea was bad enough that just looking at a toilet did me in!

I've been there way back in my partying days.

Becky, I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. This is one of my big pregnancy fears because 1. I'm kinda small and can't afford to lose much weight, and 2. I can't exactly run to the bathroom when I have 30 4th graders depending on me. I very well can't barf in front of them either. Can you imagine your teacher running to the trash can 5 times a day?

Anyway, I don't have any advice for you except vent all you want and remember there's a prize at the end of this misery!!

 

[kparc]

I KNOW you will feel better soon. My doctor kept telling me it was a good sign, it means your hormones are really working!

That is the same pep talk I got. I had this during both of my pregnancies. I was hospitalized and then had IV therapy at home for a week or two. With my first pregnancy, it passed after those first few weeks of morning sickness and I felt good the rest of the pregnancy. The second pregnancy I was also given zofran! It did help! I didn't feel wonderful but I could eat and function although I still occasionally got sick to my stomache. My doctor would tell me it was a good sign also and I did have two beautiful healthy babies....
and - I know it's little consolation but I could fit into my jeans right after giving birth.( no pregnancy weight to lose- in fact I weighed 10 lbs under my pre-pregnancy weight)
I know it's not easy but you will get through this!

 

[Chelley00]

With 3 out of 4 kids I'm a hyperemesis pro! I can drive my car and puke at the same time now I kept a pillow, phone, blanket and snacks in my bathroom since I spent so much time in there. My husband actually bought me a gardeners kneeling pad for Mothers Day so I could use it on under my knees while I threw up.



Zofran can make you constipated, so be aware of that. Other than that, I found if I ate all day long (maybe even just a Cheerio every 10-15 minutes, I felt like I could move. Peppermint helped, as did citrus candies. I loaded my purse full of stuff I could munch on and kept stuff all over the house so I could sit and snack if I felt bad. Plain water made me sick, as did anything greasy. My prenatals made me horribly ill, but once I started taking a different all-natural brand, I could tolerate them again. Once you find a trigger food, avoid it until after your baby is born.

Sea Bands help. They are cheaper than the anti-naseau bands. You may still feel crappy, but probably won't throw up.


Once the baby gets here you'll forget all about it. I did so much so that I've done 4 times!!

 

[lemondog]

Ooooh....been there. It's rough. Thank goodness Zofran worked for me, although it was expensive. I didn't care...it was the only thing that allowed me to function. I had to take it until the day I delivered because every time I tried to wean from it I started vomiting again. The only other thing that helped me was sipping on unflavored seltzer all day, every day. Hope this passes for you soon.

 

[Val]

Had this with my middle DD....hospitalized three times, threw up for 9 months. I teach at a university- threw up before my class, then ran to the bathroom afterward. Even had students follow me and continue to ask questions while I puked! Even when I went into labor I didn't have pain, but vomited every three minutes (was 8 cm dilated when I got to the hospital to be checked to see if I "might" be in labor!)....

.....she is now 14. I THINK she was worth it (depends on her attitude at the moment- oh, the joys of teens). In retrospect, she was very, very worth it. Can't believe she is starting high school in less than a month. Didn't have it as bad with my last two pregnancies, and only threw up once with my first!

You will make it through this, and it is a postive sign of good, strong hormone levels. Dry crackers, flat coke, the meds and taking it easy all helped me- try different things and you will find what works best for you. And congrats on the baby- what a blessing! Just remember to keep a good diary so when s/he comes home late and misses curfew the punishment can be 1 minute reading from the diary for every minute s/he is late!!!!

 

[beckmrk04]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. It's good to hear that a lot of people have dealt with this on some level and you're still all here and still think it was worth it.

I was fired from my job yesterday. They "let me go" because they needed someone more dependable (how I dare I miss work due to being ill/hospitalized). I was so angry at being fired for something that not only makes me miserable, but is completely out of my control. But- oh well. I am just looking at it like one less thing I have to stress over. Now, I can stay home and puke in myown toilet.

ANd whoever mentioned that just looking at a toilet was enough to make thempuke- I totally get it!!

I asked my dh, "WHY do I feel compelled to vomit in every freakin toilet I see?"

 

[beckmrk04]

Ooooh....been there. It's rough. Thank goodness Zofran worked for me, although it was expensive. I didn't care...it was the only thing that allowed me to function. I had to take it until the day I delivered because every time I tried to wean from it I started vomiting again. The only other thing that helped me was sipping on unflavored seltzer all day, every day. Hope this passes for you soon.

I could not BELIEVE how muchmoney those pills cost!!!!

My prescription was for 42 pills of Zofran. I have insurance, and I only had to pay $30.

HOWEVER- 42 pills without insurance would have been $1,072!!!!! That's $25 per pill, and I have to take those suckers every 4 hours!

I don't know how someone would do it without RX coverage.

 

[AllyandJack]

Oh, Beck, I'm sorry about the job.

 

[Maleficent13]

to you, both for this and for the job...