HG Survivor T-shirt available from HER Foundation.The birth of each of my children catapulted me into unprecedented happiness, joy and bliss; however, the journey to the rich road of motherhood was not so wonderful. In fact, it was laden with a debilitating and potentially life-threatening disease called Hyperemesis Gravidarum, or simply HG.
I promised myself after the birth of my last child in July 2007, that I would write about this problem and do my part to make others aware. HG is a pregnancy disease marked by rapid weight loss, malnutrition and dehydration due to unrelenting nausea and/or vomiting. It can have adverse consequences for newborns.
It was only by the grace of God that I survived HG or that I was able to continue working fulltime through all three of my pregnancies.
My pregnancy with my first daughter, J., was difficult. I had severe nausea for five months, but it was only a hint of the difficulties I would endure in my pregnancies with S. and B.
Before I go any further, I want to note that there is a foundation, the HER Foundation, which is dedicated to the education and research of mothers who suffer from HG and those who care for them. You can find out more at http://www.hyperemesis.org. I give to this organization, because I hope one day they will find a cure. I hope my daughters or future daughter-in-law will never have to go through what I went through.
Regarding my experience, many people were unsympathetic. The temptation for friends and even some family members was to dismiss my symptoms and misery and explain it away as my own weakness or inability to tolerate the discomforts of pregnancy. I only wish this were true.
It was only by the grace of God that I survived HG or that I was able to continue working fulltime through all three of my pregnancies.
My pregnancy with my first daughter, J., was difficult. I had severe nausea for five months, but it was only a hint of the difficulties I would endure in my pregnancies with S. and B.
Before I go any further, I want to note that there is a foundation, the HER Foundation, which is dedicated to the education and research of mothers who suffer from HG and those who care for them. You can find out more at http://www.hyperemesis.org. I give to this organization, because I hope one day they will find a cure. I hope my daughters or future daughter-in-law will never have to go through what I went through.
Regarding my experience, many people were unsympathetic. The temptation for friends and even some family members was to dismiss my symptoms and misery and explain it away as my own weakness or inability to tolerate the discomforts of pregnancy. I only wish this were true.
As we get older, or perhaps simply have more life experiences, we do grow wiser. This means we have more self-awareness, and thus a greater ability to recognize our needs. This is accompanied by greater courage or greater unwillingness to accept suffering if we don't have to. After two difficult pregnancies, by the third I was willing to ask for, if not demand, help. I started with my obstetrician, Dr. John Dosser.
“I can’t go through this again,” I told him. “I can’t keep my job and take care of my other children and all my other responsibilities if I am going to be sick like this. There has got to be something, somebody can do for me!”
I had tried everything imaginable. One prescription, which I can’t recall the name of now, worked to some degree. The sea bands seemed to help a little. Resting helped a lot, but it was not really an option for me. CRACKERS DID NOT HELP and every time someone suggested I use them as a remedy, I wanted to poke their eyes out. Dr. Dosser took me very seriously. He did not dismiss my complaints like at least one other obstetricians had. He didn’t relegate me to “Big Baby” status. In fact, he took me very seriously and he treated me for HG.
He started by prescribing me an anti-nausea drug, Zofran, they often give chemotherapy patients. It cost me $85, but the cost to my insurance was over $700. I was convinced this magic pill was going to be the answer to all my problems. I was so excited to try it and believed it would work and deliver me from a problem that was completely debilitating me.
Thus, imagine my complete spiral downward when it was a colossal failure. It did nothing to stop my nausea. The pharmacist at Walgreen’s is still mopping up puddles of my tears that I cried over the phone when I called and told her it wasn’t working. “I’ve never heard of it not working in pregnant patients,” she said. I was so incredibly disappointed.
I went back to Dr. Dosser and told him the drug didn’t work. He was very understanding, and not entirely surprised. Thus, began a new approach to treatment. Every few days – I think I was allowed to go twice a week – I went to the Emergency Room to receive fluids. The routine became very familiar to me and I became familiar to the ER nurses and doctors. I’d show up after finishing a day of work and promptly pee in a cup. (Sometimes, I’d actually call and ask them if it was a good time to come to the ER.) They’d run a urinalysis and subsequently determine I was dehydrated (no matter how much water I drank, I was dehydrated). At that point, they started an IV and gave me fluids – two or three bags each time as best I can recall. The bags had some medicine in it, but I can’t remember now what it was. (Nothing too fancy.) I can’t fully describe the relief getting fluid intravenously provided. I immediately improved each time, but within a day or so, the improvement waned as I became dehydrated again and again.
I had tried everything imaginable. One prescription, which I can’t recall the name of now, worked to some degree. The sea bands seemed to help a little. Resting helped a lot, but it was not really an option for me. CRACKERS DID NOT HELP and every time someone suggested I use them as a remedy, I wanted to poke their eyes out. Dr. Dosser took me very seriously. He did not dismiss my complaints like at least one other obstetricians had. He didn’t relegate me to “Big Baby” status. In fact, he took me very seriously and he treated me for HG.
He started by prescribing me an anti-nausea drug, Zofran, they often give chemotherapy patients. It cost me $85, but the cost to my insurance was over $700. I was convinced this magic pill was going to be the answer to all my problems. I was so excited to try it and believed it would work and deliver me from a problem that was completely debilitating me.
Thus, imagine my complete spiral downward when it was a colossal failure. It did nothing to stop my nausea. The pharmacist at Walgreen’s is still mopping up puddles of my tears that I cried over the phone when I called and told her it wasn’t working. “I’ve never heard of it not working in pregnant patients,” she said. I was so incredibly disappointed.
I went back to Dr. Dosser and told him the drug didn’t work. He was very understanding, and not entirely surprised. Thus, began a new approach to treatment. Every few days – I think I was allowed to go twice a week – I went to the Emergency Room to receive fluids. The routine became very familiar to me and I became familiar to the ER nurses and doctors. I’d show up after finishing a day of work and promptly pee in a cup. (Sometimes, I’d actually call and ask them if it was a good time to come to the ER.) They’d run a urinalysis and subsequently determine I was dehydrated (no matter how much water I drank, I was dehydrated). At that point, they started an IV and gave me fluids – two or three bags each time as best I can recall. The bags had some medicine in it, but I can’t remember now what it was. (Nothing too fancy.) I can’t fully describe the relief getting fluid intravenously provided. I immediately improved each time, but within a day or so, the improvement waned as I became dehydrated again and again.
Thus, another treatment was begun. Dr. Lipe, an ER Physician at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City – another doctor who was completely devoted to treating me for HG – started me on what he called a “new cocktail” that had helped some women suffering from HG. This cocktail was Pepcid AC, Reglan and Vitamin B-6. Reglan, which is commonly used to treat heartburn from gastric reflux, helped push food through my digestive system. This pretty cheap prescription helped me so much.
Nothing completely delivered me from the pain and discomfort caused by HG. Fortunately, between months five and six, the nausea ceased, but for some pregnant women, HG lasts the entire pregnancy. For anyone out suffering from severe nausea accompanied by weight loss, you are NOT alone and you are NOT a weenie. Anyone who makes you feel that way needs to go to the HER Web site and read up on this disease. (I lost 20 pounds during the first two trimesters of my last two pregnancies, followed, of course, by enormous weight gain in the last trimesters.)
During the difficult days of my last two pregnancies, I sang myself to sleep every night with hymns I remembered from my childhood. It was a deeply spiritual time for me. I reached out to the Hand of God every night in bed, and prayed for His mercy. So many nights, I rested in Him. It is the only way I was able to get up and go to work every day for nine long months – three different times.
Pregnant women are incredibly vulnerable creatures. If you know one, whether or not she is suffering from HG, remember to pray for her. Some women breeze through pregnancy. My friend Amy said to me once, “I loved being pregnant. I never felt better.” How absolutely wonderful for her! I loved hearing that and knowing not all pregnancies are as terrible or burdensome as mine were.
Nothing completely delivered me from the pain and discomfort caused by HG. Fortunately, between months five and six, the nausea ceased, but for some pregnant women, HG lasts the entire pregnancy. For anyone out suffering from severe nausea accompanied by weight loss, you are NOT alone and you are NOT a weenie. Anyone who makes you feel that way needs to go to the HER Web site and read up on this disease. (I lost 20 pounds during the first two trimesters of my last two pregnancies, followed, of course, by enormous weight gain in the last trimesters.)
During the difficult days of my last two pregnancies, I sang myself to sleep every night with hymns I remembered from my childhood. It was a deeply spiritual time for me. I reached out to the Hand of God every night in bed, and prayed for His mercy. So many nights, I rested in Him. It is the only way I was able to get up and go to work every day for nine long months – three different times.
Pregnant women are incredibly vulnerable creatures. If you know one, whether or not she is suffering from HG, remember to pray for her. Some women breeze through pregnancy. My friend Amy said to me once, “I loved being pregnant. I never felt better.” How absolutely wonderful for her! I loved hearing that and knowing not all pregnancies are as terrible or burdensome as mine were.
[FINAL NOTE ABOUT FMLA:
Another thing I want to mention is about FMLA – the Family Medical Leave Act. I was so concerned about using up all my FMLA with my own sickness, too many days I went to work when I could have benefitted from rest. I wanted to “save” as much of my FMLA (12 weeks by law) for the “qualifying event” as possible. What I did not know was that my at-risk and very-difficult pregnancy was one qualifying event, making the birth of my daughter another. Thus, I could have qualified for 12 weeks of FMLA for my pregnancy and another 12 weeks for the birth/caring for my newborn. I so desperately needed those 12 weeks to take care of myself. I put my pregnancy at higher risk than I had to – pushing to go to work every day and keep up all appearances. I smiled 10,000 smiles I didn’t want to smile because I didn’t want anyone to think I couldn’t do my job. Certainly, more needs to be done to support pregnant women in the workplace.]
Another thing I want to mention is about FMLA – the Family Medical Leave Act. I was so concerned about using up all my FMLA with my own sickness, too many days I went to work when I could have benefitted from rest. I wanted to “save” as much of my FMLA (12 weeks by law) for the “qualifying event” as possible. What I did not know was that my at-risk and very-difficult pregnancy was one qualifying event, making the birth of my daughter another. Thus, I could have qualified for 12 weeks of FMLA for my pregnancy and another 12 weeks for the birth/caring for my newborn. I so desperately needed those 12 weeks to take care of myself. I put my pregnancy at higher risk than I had to – pushing to go to work every day and keep up all appearances. I smiled 10,000 smiles I didn’t want to smile because I didn’t want anyone to think I couldn’t do my job. Certainly, more needs to be done to support pregnant women in the workplace.]
And here is me, three months later, about to deliver. I gained all my weight in the last trimester.
I survived HG and so did my unborn baby and family!
10 comments:
I was like you. Lost 18 pounds before I ever put on an oz. Weighed 8 pounds more when I went to the hospital than I did before getting pregnant. I worked full-time and the "10,000 smiles" comment was a complete deja vous for me. No one knew what I was going through. My DH vowed "never again" at the time...I was so miserable. Yet, like you, I had another. And I hoped it would be different. It was. I had a few extra side-effects to contend with in addition (eg: a rare treat called "Hyper-Ptyalism"...it was abysmal, and gall bladder attack, and sciatica, etc.)
I've heard of so many women who were miserable the first 2 times, but their third pregnancy was a breeze. I'm hoping that someday I have another, and that if I do, I'm thusly blessed. But even if pregnancy showed me it's worst again, I'd be grateful for the chance to have another.
You're a great writer. This was terrific information about a condition that was little understood and acknowledged just 12 years ago when I had my first.
I've noticed you commenting on a lot of the blogs I stalk. Fun to read more about you!
♥
Blue
I just ran into your blog! I think it's great!
I had HG too and NOBODY can ever really understand the misery we had to endure.
Thanks for sharing your story!
I started a blog myself! Check it out at babyyouremakingmesick.blogspot.com
Thank you so much for writing me back! I am excited about your upcoming project and would love my blog to be mentioned! Let me know if you need any help.
Whe I think back to when I first found out I had HG, I would have LOVED to have found something like that in my web searches!
You are making a difference!
Lets keep in touch!
Thanks!
-Stacey
babyyouremakingmesick.blogspot.com
I am 36 weeks now, and this, my 3rd pregnancy has been my best in terms of HG, but it still went on until 26 weeks. I am SO thankful. I lost a lot of weight initially, but went on to have wonderful births.
People really don't understand, and they talk about how much more challenging life will be when Baby is here. NO. It will be AWESOME because I won't feel like HELL all the time! I do have severe heartburn and an associated really painful sore throat. I am ready for this birth! I also want to note that I am somewhat of a health food enthusiast, and I do enjoy fitness when not pregnant, so my problems are not lifestyle related.
Thanks for shining some light on this. I hear you!
I am currently 16 wks pregnant and suffering from HG. I cannot even imagine what it took for you to work during such an incredible time. I have been at home for 3 months and still feel that it is unbearable. For the moms out there who have HG, look into the Zofran pump. It did not help me during the acute period, but I believe that it is keeping me healthier for now. I turned to blogs to find out when the nausea completely went out for most women. I want to not feel nauseous for a day!!!
Also wanted to let you know that you can sign up for the study being conducted by the HER foundation. We need to get answers.
Thanks!
I had 3 hyperemesis pregnancies and was fed TPN through a PICC Line for between 6-8 months each pregnancy. I am considering a 4th and final pregnancy but I know what will happen, and I dread the absolute misery and suffering of HG. My three boys are 11,9 and 7 so I had to wait all these years to try to forget my HG trauma. It is so debilitating and NOBODY understands. I did have kind doctors (overall) but the well-meaning comments from people trying to get me to have ginger ale, water, etc. when I couldn't even swallow my own saliva, became annoying. I pray they figure out what causes HG so it is a problem of the past.
Dear ANONYMOUS on 11.11.11
This continues to be the oldest post on this site that still draws commetns. I published it in 2008!!
I do understand what you are going through. I have wanted to write about HG for a larger audience, but to be honest, it was so unbelievably traumatic, it's been hard to open it all up again. Your comment inspires me to try and write about it and bring awareness to this devastating illness. People truly do NOT understand. But, hey have some saltines. Gahhhh!!! Bless you!!
Coming across your blog post is such an encouragement! I am also a HG mom facing my 6th time through it. Of course, my desire would be to have a normal pregnancy, but we are prepared for another very difficult one. Each pregnancy was worse than the previous and I was blessed in the last 2 to have a home nurse, PICC line and zofran pump. I am hoping to blog about this pregnancy even if I do face HG again, maybe it will bring more awareness and encouragement. Thank you so much for sharing your story-it is by God's grace that I have made it through to hold that amazing blessing at the end of all of the trial. I cannot imagine walking through this illness without Him! Blessings to you all of you!!
I just want to tell you what an encouragement your above testimony has been to me. I am still suffering at 31 weeks. I have lost a total of 28 lbs and have only gained 1 at my last appointment. I too live in the OKC area. My first OB dropped me because I complained too much and my insurance tried to tell them how to treat my HG. I was left finding a new OB at 28 weeks with a mind blowing diagnosis of gestational diabetes.
Brandi, I am so very sorry to hear about this. I know how terrible this illness can be. I can only be grateful for it now for the clear understanding that it gave me about God's love for me. Truly, there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Only God or someone who has gone through this truly understands how awful it can be. There were days I didn't think I could go on. I pray that soon your baby will be in your arms safe and sound, and the memory of this difficult time will hold purpose in helping others who walk through this horrible fire. Rest assured, you are in my prayers. I hope you write again soon. I would get in touch with Dr. Mark Lipe. He helped me so very much. One of my goals for 2012 is to write an inspirational book for women with hyperemesis. I pray daily that God helps me find the time b/c I know it's so needed. I'm sending love and prayers for a restful evening your way. xoxo
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