Hyperemesis Gravidarum- Part 2

When I found out I was pregnant the second time, I knew I needed to change doctors and find one that took HG seriously.  Luckily I found an amazing OB and she treated my HG promptly and aggressively.

She started me on Zofran tablets that dissolved on your tongue.  I couldn't swallow pills without throwing up.  I will also point out that I'm weary about taking medications most of the time, especially during pregnancy.  However, I had to make a choice- take medications to ease the nausea enough to eat enough to sustain me and my babies, or end up in the hospital and be fed TPN through and IV.  So I chose to take medications.

Once I had lost more than 20% of my body weight from throwing up so much, she put me on strict bedrest.  She told me I was at the point of needing a PICC line.  We had already tried Zofran several times a day, with little success.  I tried Reglan, which I would take 30 minutes prior to eating and it was supposed to prevent vomiting.  It worked, however, I had a severe reaction to it and couldn't take it any longer.  I tried the Unisom/Vitamin B combo with little success as well.  The last straw before sending me to get a PICC line put in was to try a steroid taper in hopes that it would increase my appetite.  It worked better than anything.  I barely dodged getting a PICC line.  On a side note, I have read many success stories about ladies with HG getting PICC lines.

I have talked a bit about the physical toil that hyperemesis took on me, but what about the emotional and long lasting effects?

HG has absolutely determined the size of our family.  I do not want to be pregnant again with HG, and the odds are that I would have it in future pregnancies.

I felt very alone while suffering from HG.  Though my mom, dad, and Thomas supported me, very few other people did.  I was treated as if I was overreacting.  Most people (especially women) acted annoyed with my condition.

Long term physical effects are easily getting nauseated, decrease in overall appetite, a hernia, enamel from my teeth being stripped, and still feeling weak overall (though this could be attributed to stress as well).

The reason I'm sharing this story is because hyperemesis gravidarum is serious.  Women can die from this.  Their unborn babies can die as a result from HG.  It's not just morning sickness.  Famous author Charlotte Bronte is believed to have died from HG.

And not only is it serious, often requiring numerous hospitalizations and medications, it is isolating.  So few people understand or have seen what HG does to the women who have it.