I think I've found a doctor!

Discuss ways to prepare yourself, your family, and your protocol for HG.

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I think I've found a doctor!

Postby bibliojo » Feb 08, 2005 7:27 pm

So, I finally had my dr appt today with the specialist I had been waiting 3 1/2 months to see. Overall, I'm really happy with how it went. He was very sympathetic and understanding about HG and says his goal is to get women with HG to the point where they are able to function. This being Canada, he first prescribes Diclectin (up to 8x/day) then Maxeran (Reglan), Ranitidine, and Gravol which is what I had already decided I would try with this next pregnancy. And he's going to look into Zofran as an option if these medications don't help. TPN is after that. He sees about 5-6 women a year with HG and seemed pretty knowledgable when I brought up all my various questions. And he didn't rush me at all. He was running about 20 minutes behind but he took his time with me so that's a good sign I think. And he also reassured me that once I get pregnant I don't have to wait so long to see him. He understands the urgency of HG and I can get in right away for an appointment whenever I think it necessary. So, I'm really relieved that I've found a dr that understands HG and knows how to treat it properly.

One thing he mentioned was that I should expect to be hit by the HG earlier and harder but with the intense part of the HG not lasting as long as in my first pregnancy. Also, I should expect the part of my pregnancy where I had more normal morning sickness (after the HG) to last longer. He says this is what he typically sees in subsequent pregnancies. Has anybody found this to be the case?

Thanks,
Joanna
2 HG pregnancies
Lukas - February 2003
Katya - October 2006

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Postby meg » Feb 08, 2005 7:35 pm

Joanna,

In regards to what the specialist described as far as your HG, here's what happened to me:

Hit earlier and harder: 2nd pg -- Yes! and Yes! 3rd pg -- No. and Yes!

Intense part not as long: 2nd pg -- Yes! 3rd pg -- About the same as 2nd.

More normal m/s part after intense part longer: 2nd pg -- Yes! 3rd pg -- YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope this helps you to prepare yourself. I'll keep up with this post to see how others experiences compare. I wonder if the pattern will prove true?
Hugs,
Meg

Mom to Anabel (7), Patrick (4) and Moira Grace (1)
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Postby emily » Feb 08, 2005 9:41 pm

Sounds like a great visit!

In regards to subsequent pg's... nope. Mine has been different from the first pg. "Better" I guess, but much different. I think HG is just the most random thing ever.

Emily
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Postby Marie » Feb 08, 2005 11:36 pm

Joanna,

In this pregnancy HG started about the same time, but did ease up on the vomiting sooner. The nausea is a lot worse in this pregnancy than the first. I'm glad that you found a physician that understands HG. What was his opinion on steriods?

Marie
HG baby arrived 11/18/99.
Lost an Angel 6/04.
HG baby arrived 7/01/05.
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Postby nomore » Feb 09, 2005 10:16 am

Joanna,

I am so happy you found a Dr you think will be good. SO SO important. In regards to your questions. HG hit much sooner with my 2nd pregnancy and MUCH stronger more quickly. The 2nd time around I was very nausated the whole week BEFORE I tested positive. With Madison, I was pretty nausea free until my 7th week. (Except if I let myself get too hungry).

I hope that you follow the pattern where HG is better in subsquent pregancies :)

BTW, i go back to the Accupunturist today and I think we are measuring my progress today. I cant say ENOUGH how happy Ive been with it so far. In 2 weeks, my body feels healthier than it has in YEARS! I am also doign Weight Watcher and since I started the accupunture my sucess has improved literally 300%. I think my poor body was so out of whack!!!!

We are going to do the liver test soon and start the detox after that. I keep planning HG being unbearable, but my hubby is so optimtimistic that things will be better. I let him talk me into beleiving last time would be better too... and look where that got me.

I hope things are good!!!!! Did your son have his party yet???

Robin
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Postby bibliojo » Feb 10, 2005 5:43 pm

Thanks for all your replies. It's interesting to hear how other women compare to this dr's theory. He was saying this was generally the experience he's had, and of course, doesn't follow true in all cases he's seen. But it's nice to know what to prepare for.

Marie,
I didn't ask about steriods. I personally am not entirely comfortable with taking them and I'm more focused on trying to get Zofran. This being Canada, they are typically a bit more cautious with the drugs they prescribe for pregnant women. Motherisk in Canada has Zofran as the last drug option on their algorithm but I have yet to hear of a Canadian women being given Zofran for HG. This dr wasn't aware of it being an option but was going to investigate it for me. So I'm at least happy that he didn't dismiss my idea right away.

Robin,
This dr said I probably won't even need to do a test to see if I'm pregnant because I'll know because of the nausea -- just like you said! Oh, fun times ahead for us! :wink:

I'm SO happy that acupuncture is working for you! This dr also talked briefly about acunpuncture too. I don't know if I'll try it. I'm just really hesitant about the spiritual side of it. Have you found it to be very "spiritual" in how they do it? How much do they incorporate of Chinese religions?

I wish that you could have talked to my dr -- he was very realistic in terms of the suffering I will have to go through again. I personally have found the more I have planned, the more I have forgotten what it was like (or maybe it's just that so much time has passed with me planning and planning and planning! :wink: ) and the more optimistic I have gotten in regards to the treatment (that I might get Zofran has gotten my hopes up a lot!). I know this necessarily isn't a good thing - but at least I'm getting to the point where I'll let myself get pregnant again! I'm trying to be realistic but I am also focusing on the outcome - a new little baby and a sibling for Luke. However, you have a fresher and more realistic memory of the suffering having only gone through it a few months ago so I probably babbling like a fool here... :)

Nope, haven't had the party yet - on Saturday though! And only 5 more sleeps until he turns 2!!! LOL - can you tell who's more excited??! :lol:

Hugs,
Joanna
2 HG pregnancies
Lukas - February 2003
Katya - October 2006

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Postby nomore » Feb 10, 2005 7:07 pm

I wasnt aware that zofran was not as commonly used in Canada :( I can tell you that in the worst of HG it felt like it was doing nothing, that is until I wouldnt take it and I realized just how much it was doing (but yet so little,a s I still vomited about 10 plus times a day taking it). I shrutter to think what it would of been like WITHOUT the zofran at that point!

I didnt have a good reaction to the reglen and have never tried compazine. Phenergan works well for me, as it puts me to sleep, and there is some relief in sleep (just not really optimal if you are with a 2 year old!!!!)

As far as the accupunture I really havent seen the religoius side of it. Since I know the DR that is doing it, he has nt pushed that on me. I will say I find the Chinese therory of medicine very intrigiung. I have focused more on the idea of my body being in harmony with itself (now I dont see that as relgoius, but I guess some could). I didnt really know what to expect with the accunpunture and herbs. I figured I didnt have much to loose. I have to say on a very personal note that I have lost a lot of faith after this past fall, going through having to decide to terminate. I have been very angry, especially with God, as I truly dont understand why he would let me suffer so much and be forced to make a desicion that we NEVER wanted to make.

Accunpunture/chinese medicine is pretty much the last resort for me. My desire for another baby is about 3 times as strong as it was prior to getting pregnant this last time. I want so much that sometimes I feel like it even hurts. Doing this is the only way my hubby and I could agree to try again. With some hope it might be tolerable. Just be careful, sometimes too much hope around here is a dangerous thing for those planning. (I am not trying to be pesimsitic, just realistic.) I had truly forgotten how truly bad it can be. This time, With HG much fresher in my mind, I am thinking much clearer and more realstic. I am not trying to scare you, just keep a reality check going in your head!!!

I am very excited that its getting close and you are feeling so prepared! I hope the bday party is WONDERFUL!!!!

Enjoy!

Robin
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Postby emily » Feb 10, 2005 7:45 pm

Hi Robin,

Glad to hear of your success with accupuncture. I am debating scheduling an appt. I just feel like I have already been such a burden on us financially already, I am having a hard time justifying the extra expense even though I would love to feel better. I guess my big worry is going and spending the money and NOT feeling better.

Emily
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I can get Zofran!

Postby bibliojo » Feb 11, 2005 2:07 am

My OB called me today to say that he would prescribe Zofran for me if after the Diclectin, Gravol, Stemetil, and Maxeran I was still not able to function. I'm so thrilled! :D I'm really impressed by this dr too. I never expected him to call me at home - I just expected that he would tell me about what he had found out about Zofran when I saw him next once I was pregnant. And he also went on to tell me about an article online on NVP and that he had saved a brochure on HG in my chart to give to me the next time I saw him. I think I am in love with my new dr! :lol:

Joanna
2 HG pregnancies
Lukas - February 2003
Katya - October 2006

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Postby bibliojo » Feb 11, 2005 2:18 am

Robin,

I've sent you a pm so be sure to check your messages.

You are right about there sometimes being too much optimism among us non-pregnant people. It's almost like if you do a good job preparing you will have an easier time of it, but that isn't always the case. So would you mind keeping me in check? I think I've finally started to get excited about having another baby and my emotions are starting to run away with my dreams...I know it's for my own good to be realistic about the pregnancy, the HG, and how difficult it is the first while once the baby arrives. I know my chances of avoiding HG are nil, but maybe I can avoid the ppd this time round.

Hugs,
Joanna
2 HG pregnancies
Lukas - February 2003
Katya - October 2006

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Postby adelmaal » Feb 14, 2005 3:08 pm

With regard to subsequent pregnancies:

1st: Started throwing up 6 weeks to the day. Intense through 24 weeks then less intense for the remainder of the pregnancy.

2nd: Started throwing up at 6 weeks to the day. Intense through about 16 weeks then less intense until about 20 weeks. Went away and stayed away for the remainder of the pregnancy.

3rd: Started throwing up at 6 weeks to the day. Intenst through about 12 weeks. Less intense until about 16 weeks. Seems to be gone.

His first theory did not hold true for me but his second did. Mind you, with drugs early on my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies have been much more manageable and the intense period has not even touched the intense period I experienced in my 1st unmedicated pregnancy.

Robin:

With subsequent pregnancies I have managed to avoid the absolute worst of it with the use of drugs early on. I think if you respond well to the drugs then preparation and getting on meds early can definitely make your HG more liveable. Not non-existent but less debilitating. If you do not respond to drugs then that's another story...
Aryn-Leah

Alexandria Caelan, DOB 3/25/95
Cole Vincent, DOB 5/27/98
Raegan Reese, EDD July 24 2005
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Postby rjdecker » Feb 18, 2005 12:41 pm

I am on #5 and have learned that HG is coming, so I went to my new OB before I got pregnant. We live in a new town and was curious if I would get the help I need. But this MD seems to be pretty up on it and very supportive, even his nurse is supportive and seems to be pretty friendly. I took zofran with my third pg and it didn't touch me. Even IV. However, I have been reading other topics here and it sounds like sometimes it needs to be combined with other drugs. Maybe that might be the key. Just don't let it get bad before you call the MD. I am on week 5 and called as soon as I started nausea. I have been taking unisom and B^ even though I wasn't sick at that time. I read in a book called "What to expect when you are expecting" that one study showed that women who took B6 before HG set in, it helped a lot. So I started taking B6 before I got pregnant and we shall see how I fare! The drug that has helped me the most has been vistaril. It isn't used that often, but wow, I could eat and drink and even was able to work part of the time. It helped me a lot! Although, the first two or three shots made me sleep a lot. But that was a nice relief. I have managed to stay out of the hospital and avoid IV's when I have taken the vistaril at the first sign of any trouble.
Jenny
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