My experience with Hyperemesis

Hyperemesis has changed my life and I will NEVER be the same.

I experienced Hyperemesis Graviderum pretty severely with my first pregnancy. I lost close to 40 (60 total after Mayah was born) pounds while pregnant and threw up everything I ate.....unwillingly and uncontrollably. I had a case very rare and was told my chances of having HG again this bad are astronomical.


Not much is known about this disorder and research is slow coming due to the limited amount of testing that can be done on a pregnant woman. My treatment has not varied much from my mother's treatment of the disorder while pregnant with me almost 25 years ago. That being said I believe my HG to be partially a genetic thing due to the fact my mother, grandmother,cousin and two of my aunts have had this disorder, ranging from moderate to severe in nature.

Hyperemesis Graviderum or HG for short is best described as the following:

What Is Hyperemesis Gravidarum?
HG is a debilitating and potentially life-threatening pregnancy disease marked by rapid weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration due to unrelenting nausea and/or vomiting with potential adverse consequences for the newborn(s).

Not much is known about this disorder and research is slow coming due to the limited amount of testing that can be done on a pregnant woman. My treatment has not varied much from my mother's treatment of the disorder while pregnant with me almost 25 years ago. That being said I believe my HG to be partially a genetic thing due to the fact my mother, grandmother,cousin and two of my aunts have had this disorder, ranging from moderate to severe in nature.

The treatments I have tried are listed here:

* A Variety of natural treatments such as Citrus, Ginger,as well asnatural techniques such as rest, warm baths and showers, and several diet changes.
*Abstaining from all forms of pre-natals.
* The vitamin B6/Unisom cocktail
* Bedrest
* Zantac
* Reglan
* Phenergan-in the followings forms:pill, IV, injection and suppository form.
* Zofran-in the following forms:4mg and 8mg , non dissovable and dissolvable pills, also 4mg and 8mg IVform.
*IV hydration several times, including several admissions to the hospital.
* Several tests for gallbladder involvement, UTI's and bladder infection, including aMRI. (these test all came back negeative except for one bladder infection that turned out to be causing contractions , but not causing the HG) .
* Gastroenterologist consult and continued blood testing pre andpost partum for various disorders and diseases, common and rare.
* A Picc line with nutrition (TPN) and hydration with home care.
* Perinatologist(High Risk)consult with recommendation for early induction.
* Hypnosis and relaxation techniques with the help of a psychologist.
* Early induction at 36 weeks.

One thing that has helped me tremendously is the women in the forum below.
If you have any questions please feel free to PM me or go the forum below.





*3/13/09- My First Positive Home Pregnancy Test- Clear Blue Digital

*3/17/09-Day period was supposed to come...nothing! Blood work from day before
CONFIRMS PREGNANCY! HCG- 46!

*3/19/09- Second Set of Bloodwork came back Great! HCG 92...perfectly doubled in the48 hour time limit set by my Ob-Gyn!

*4/4/09- Diagnosed with Hyperemesis Graviderum(HG for short) and put on Zofran,Unisom and more vitamins. Also lost my job a few days later.

*4/30/09- First Pre-Natal Appointment...the nurse was so nice!!! My Due Date is November 25th,2009!

*5/6/09- LOVE my midwife!!! Such an awesome and caring lady! She couldn't find the heart beat so she sent me to ultrasound due to my past medical history of miscarriage....and I got to see my baby! Heartbeat was a STRONG 170 bpm!! Baby was moving alot! I soooo bawled and still can't stop smiling!!!

*5/25/09- 13 weeks 5 days....Felt Little Flutters in my belly on Memorial Day!!!

*6/3/09 - Heard the bean's heartbeat! High 160's! YAY BEAN! Put on Reglan in addition to my Zofran as I have lost more weight...anything to help stop this HG.

*6/15/09 - Though the Reglan is helping it has not stopped the throwing up or losing weight completely...lost more weight. The bean's heartbeat was still good and still in the 160's!

*6/30/09- Check up on my weight again. Gain 1 lb...an accomplishment in the HG world! Bean's heartbeat was strong! <3

*7/8/09- At exactky 20 weeks I felt what I believe was my baby kick mef or the first time! Felt like a tennis ball came from inside my belly and hit the outer part of my belly! Happens alot when I sit down!

*7/9/09- Woke up with fluids running down my legs and a puddle....called midwife. Went to Labor and Delivery....all is well though. Maybe just peed my self due to all the strain on my body from hyperemesis. Diagnosed with baterial vaginosis and given a gel treatment because I can't possibly stomach the pills.

*7/16/09- GENDER ULTRASOUND!!!!!
Mayah Elizabeth Teresa Graham will be joining our family in November!!!! Midwfe and U/S tech said she looked perfect and even measured a day ahead! Heartbeat was 164....needless to say she is quite active!

* 8/13/09- Prenatal Appointment today...lost 2 more pounds. Mayah is doing great...heartbeat was high 140's and strong...kicks me like crazy too! Meds have become more regulated due to flare up of hyperemesis and now Zofran is 3 times a day in addition to Reglan and B6/Unisom cocktail. Have to have a checkup in a week as well as an appointment with a nutritionist. Oh Joy.

*8/14/09- Admitted to the hopital due to severe dehydration. Several med changes including Phenergan suppositories( OH FUN! NOT.) as well as Zantac. NO reglan if the pheneragn and zofran is being used. Also talked to about Acupuncture as well as IV infusions three times a week at the infusion center.I feel like a human pincushion.

*8/21/09- I went to the Dr.'s today and they now have me on dissovable zofran 8mg(which my insurance doesnt want to cover and I am waiting for an override) and the pill form of phenergan, which they say is supposed to help me through the time when the zofran is wearing off but not time to take another one. All the other pills I got last week are now not usable.
I am still throwing up 3 to 5 times a day and losing weight.
So I am seeing a doctor to collaborate with the midwives and help me with a treatment plan. I also have to start having growth scans on Mayah to make sure she is growing properly.

*8/27/09- So tomorrow I have an appt. for an ultrasound to see if my gallbladder is contributing to this HG or not....looks like it isn't though as I just had labs last week and all levels were fine plus no pain in that area,so its just a precaution.
Now have to go see a perionatalogist (high risk doctor) to see if they can help or not...which means I may lose my midwives....and I think they are going to put in a PICC line for the rest of my pregnancy with home heath care...although I am not sure of the costs and that scares me. I was told my dizziness could be due to low blood sugar or my meds so no cause for worry there as of yet.

9/1/09- Experienced bleeding and mucus discharge consistant with losing my mucus plug. Sent to Labor and Delivery. Found no evidence of loss of plug but did find a polyp that is causing the bleeding on my cervix. Midwife said it should go away, if it doesn't they will biopsy it after pregnancy.

9/3/09- Appointment with the midwife. Gained 2 pounds, but told it could be because I was wearing jeans instead of the sundresses I normally wear. Gallbladder ruled out as source of hyperemesis. Weekly visits still required and I have glucose test and Rhogam shot this week. Still throwing up at least twice a day.

9/5/09- after three days of throwing up HARDCORE (5 to 6 times a day.) I ended up in L and D. Started having contractions and found out I also have a bladder infection. Joy Joy.  

9/9/09- Had Glucose test done as well as Rhogam shot. Waiting for the test results. Also developing a cold, which I thought was allergies unitl it took a turn for the worse. Also Still throwing up EVERYTHING, including fluids......Friday's appointment should be fun, with lots of questions as to why I have no PICC Line yet. WTF.  

9/11/09-9/13/09- Ended up in the hospital Friday after noon until Sunday afternoon with my electrolytes severely messed up as well as severe dehydration, as well as an 8lb pound loss of weight in a little under a week. Talked to about PICC line, told I shouldn't get it unless absolutley neccessary due to risk of sepsis. Need to try peripheral line and midline first. Agreed to try this with at home I.V. hydration and a perinatal consult.

9/14/09-So I get sent home with a very small needle in a very small vein that is ready to expire last night, waiting for the iv nurse to come to my home today. My veins are very tough to deal with...they roll,hide and are quite tiny. Pair that with dehydration even in the slightest bit and I am a hard stick at best. So she comes and tries to put in a midline,which is more permanant than a normal iv but less invasive than the PICC.
She tries twice with no luck. Then she tries to put in a regular iv and only finds one usable vein. Again no luck. My other arm is so bruised and battered from the hospital that it is unusable.
So she then attempts to at least use the one that I got sent home with.
Then the line decides to fail. The I.V. nurse says that if I dont get a PICC line soon, I will end up back in the hospital. Great. 
So now I am here with no line, with no food or liquids staying down, with no way to have a regular I.V. put in, all because the midwife WOULDN'T listen.
Another 2 pound weight loss.

9/16/09- PICC line installed in my arm,the procedure was pretty invasive and I had an anxiety attack afterwards. Scared me a bit but the nurses that come to take care of me are super nice and caring. Started IV Fluids for 12 hours a day.

9/18/09-Started nutrition and vitamins through IV, which take 15 hours to complete, every day. I am encouraged to continue trying to eat and drink regularly but not having any luck keeping anything down.  

9/19/09- BABY SHOWER! So much fun!!!! Threw up twice during the 2 hour shower but I felt so loved and supported by my family and friends!

9/21/09- Had a growth ultrasound. Baby Mayah is growing fine...she is 3 pounds 5 ounces right now at almost 31 weeks,which places her in the 43 percent tile. Placed on IV hydration 4 hours a day in addition to 15 hour TPN. Hooked up for 19 hours a day out of 24....yay.

9/22/09- Saw Gastroentrologist today and he told me in his opinion nothing can really be done. He gave me a diet to try to follow and a stronger antacid and a tip to raise the head of my bed 4 inches to help prevent vomitting. Oh yeah and the wonderful tid-bit: "What you can't cure, you must endure." Oh wonderful.  

9/24/09- Regular OB visit. Midwife said baby looked good and I gained a couple pounds from the IV nutrition. PHEW. Midwife said unfortunatly I will probably not stop throwing everything up. Blech.

9/28/09 - Perinatologist Consult. Nothing new here. Will be having some blood tests done to rule out some very rare diseases. Told that they are not expecting aything from it, just being proactive. Also told that I am on the rare end of hyperemesis sufferers and because of how long and how sick I have been there is a high chance of reoccurance with each subsequent successful pregnancy and that it will probably be worse each time. Good news is,now with history like I have, the treatment will be more aggressive sooner. Recommended for Early Induction at 37 weeks as long as amnio shows Mayah's lungs are developed.

10/1/09- Saw a psychologist to try hypnosis and relaxation techniques. It was a little weird and frankly I am not sure when I am in the throws of throwing up and pain if I can concentrate long enough to try these things. I am trying during quieter times but it is hard. The doctor is super nice though and lets me vent which is always a good thing.

10/5/09- Relatively boring midwife appointment, except for the agreement for early induction at 37 weeks. My nephew was born today though, Zachary Ryan!

10/7/09-10/12/09- Feeling horrible, like something isn't right. Called my midwife,who wanted me to come to L and D for evaluation. I cannot control my throwing up, it comes every 45 minutes,is extremely painful and blood is coming up too. They think I have a bladder infection (turned out I didnt.) and try to give me by mouth antibiotics, which didn't go well, and I was admitted overnight. In the morning I am transferred to the hospital where my high risk doctor is and my care for the rest of my pregnancy is transferred to the high risk doctor as well. It took 5 days to get me well enough to go home. Will deliver there at 37 weeks, unless I get worse.

AT THE END OF MY JOURNEY:
I was only home a week before getting extremely ill again. Even though I followed all doctors orders and protocols, My liver started to have severe issues, came close to failing and I almost had to have an emergency c-section due to this trouble. My body was not getting better, and just couldnt heal itself. I spent the last 9 days of my pregnancy in the hospital before my induction on the 30th of October at 36 weeks on the dot.

Mayah was born healthy on October 31st,2009 and after about 12 hours my hyperemesis subsided.



If you have any questions or need to talk please dont hesitate to PM me ladies!


Thanks for listening!

I didn't read all of this, but if you ever get pregnant again, let me know how that one is!!
I think that was my first post on BG, almost 2 years ago. I experienced this too, & had to move back in with my mom because my husband could not take care of me. Long story short, I am terrified of getting pregnant again because of this. I'd love to talk to someone with the same experiece who has had another pregnancy after going through HG.

Quoting Chase'sMommy♥:“ I didn't read all of this, but if you ever get pregnant again, let me know how that one is!! I think ... [snip!] ... because of this. I'd love to talk to someone with the same experiece who has had another pregnancy after going through HG.”

I agree hun! I will PT you so that when I do preggers again (or if you do) we can chat about it!

In our HG forum there are ladies who have had mutiple pregnancies with HG, the degrees of severity vary.
http://forum.baby-gaga.com/about599069


Mama Cherry is like our den mama on that thread! She has had three kids with HG and is awesome to talk to!

Quoting Chase'sMommy♥:“ I didn't read all of this, but if you ever get pregnant again, let me know how that one is!! I think ... [snip!] ... because of this. I'd love to talk to someone with the same experiece who has had another pregnancy after going through HG.”

I didn't have it with my 1st pregnancy but had it horribly with my 2nd and 3rd.

Was this your first? I had HG as well, but not as severe as you or Cherry. I feel for you guys.

I'm worried about the same thing though. We want to try for a second baby starting in March, I'm terrified I will have it again. Last time my mom lived with us, but we have moved to a different state so I don't have the extra help.

Quoting Smiles instead:“ I didn't have it with my 1st pregnancy but had it horribly with my 2nd and 3rd.”

Im sorry hun! HG sucks! 

Quoting Mandi♥Trinity{EBFB:“ Was this your first? I had HG as well, but not as severe as you or Cherry. I feel for you guys. I'm ... [snip!] ... I will have it again. Last time my mom lived with us, but we have moved to a different state so I don't have the extra help.”

thank you for the concern dear!

I had to be taken care of fully by my hubby at the end. I dont know what I would do if I got pregnant again, especially if Mayah is 2 or 3 when it happens....I really want another baby though so she is not alone.

My hubby and I have been debating whether or not to just get preggers again very soon so she is less mobile and active and easier to take care of(but it will be like being sick for 2 years straight)or to wait so I dont have to go through it again so soon but have Mayah be way more mobile and possibly more difficult to take care of.

I do have my mum to help, do you have any really close girlfirends you could rely on???

Quoting Mayah's Mommy:“ thank you for the concern dear! I had to be taken care of fully by my hubby at the end. I dont ... [snip!] ... more difficult to take care of. I do have my mum to help, do you have any really close girlfirends you could rely on???”

Thats def a hard decision to make! Mine wasn't as severe as yours and it actually let up at about 6 1/2 months (thank god) so I'm hoping that it will be better this next time.

We just moved a month ago, so at the moment I don't really have any friends. It's my hubby's home town. If we were to get pregnant within a few months of trying, it would still put me at 33 having my second. So we don't want to wait too much longer. So we're just going to chance it and see.

Quoting Mandi♥Trinity{EBFB:“ Thats def a hard decision to make! Mine wasn't as severe as yours and it actually let up at about 6 1/2 ... [snip!] ... would still put me at 33 having my second. So we don't want to wait too much longer. So we're just going to chance it and see.”

there is the possibilty you may not get it again or if you do not a severe. Talk to your ob BEFORE ttc and maake sure they are prepared to help you with it.Take a list of all your symptoms and issues from your last pregnancy and anything med wise that may have worked. Do not settle for a lax attitude from your OB about your HG.It is a serious and very troublesome disorder (as you know.)
That way you have early intervention if you do have it.
The best way to deal with HG is early diagnosis and intervention.

Good Luck TTC and my fingers are crossed for NO HG for you!

p.s. I will PT you if you need to talk!

Quoting Mayah's Mommy:“ there is the possibilty you may not get it again or if you do not a severe. Talk to your ob BEFORE ... [snip!] ... The best way to deal with HG is early diagnosis and intervention. Good Luck TTC and my fingers are crossed for NO HG for you!”

Yeah I was lucky with my first, I had 2 different OB's because we moved, and they were both great. I'm planning on checking around when I select one here and make sure I get a good one.

It helps that I'm an RN.. so I know what to expect with the doctors and am not one to let them push me around. Considering that I deal with them on a regular basis at work, I've learned to stand up for myself with the ones that are smurfs.

Quoting Mandi♥Trinity{EBFB:“ Yeah I was lucky with my first, I had 2 different OB's because we moved, and they were both great. I'm ... [snip!] ... that I deal with them on a regular basis at work, I've learned to stand up for myself with the ones that are smurfs.”

Good for you! 
So many woman get pushed aside or told its all in their heads and suffer tremendously. 

I am so glad I got the care I did...first with my midwives then with my team of highrisk ob's....if I hadn't I may have had severe complications! My liver startedto fail at the end(even with a picc line,tpn,homecare and perinatalogists)and if I hadnt gone to the hospital I dont want even think what could have happened to me or mayah. 

Quoting Mayah's Mommy:“ Good for you!  So many woman get pushed aside or told its all in their heads and suffer tremendously.  ... [snip!] ... and perinatalogists)and if I hadnt gone to the hospital I dont want even think what could have happened to me or mayah. ”

Wow you were really sick. I just can't imagine. I know how much I suffered and mine wasn't close to that bad. I didn't have to have the PICC and didn't end up getting admitted. I almost did, but just ended up with fluids in ambulatory care and sent home.

I actually was diagnosed through the ER. Being that I'm a nurse, I couldn't stop throwing up and knew I was getting dehydrated. So I went to the ER without bothering to call my doc. They called her from there and told her what I had, lol. But she was awesome about treating it.

I had the same meds, phenergan supp and oral, reglan, and zofran oral and dissolvable. Started out trying the B6 or 12 (I always mix them up) with the unisom.. the ER told me about that. Same thing I still got sick on the meds. The suppositories helped the most, but they put me to sleep.

You're right so many people do get pushed around. The thing is they can't BS me, since I know what they are talking about 

Quoting Mandi♥Trinity{EBFB:“ Wow you were really sick. I just can't imagine. I know how much I suffered and mine wasn't close to that ... [snip!] ... You're right so many people do get pushed around. The thing is they can't BS me, since I know what they are talking about ”

I got diagnosed in the ER as well and meds worked for me for a short time but just stopped working after awhile.....blech.

I can definitely wait to get pregnant again although the outcome is worth it!

God your much stronger then I am I have so much trouble dealing with stress!
As i've said before I never had it with my 1st, 2nd or 3rd but this time it's just not fun!
I truely admore you for sticking in there and your story is so sad but the end result is what matters in the end!
I just hope I can get the support I need aswell.
I pt'd you and look foreward to chatting more x