Crackers Aren't Enough

The HER foundation contributed letters from our forums members for a show that featured Hyperemesis as a topic. The show aired in April of 2007.

Moderator: annmarie

Crackers Aren't Enough

Postby PamelaRose » Mar 01, 2007 3:32 pm

Shiny white porcelain sweats drops of cool water as I crouch down, retching acid and bile and blood. Stomach empty for another few minutes, I slowly shuffle my bruised, emaciated, IV-dependent body back to bed. During what is supposed to be a happy, glowing time, I cling to life and hope fervently that my unborn baby survives. Most days I pray to live; sometimes I beg to die.

This is the reality of hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. While the vast majority of pregnant women experience some degree of sickness, hyperemesis strikes only a few out of every thousand. There is no known cause, though theories abound, and there is also no cure, though treatment is progressing. HG, as it’s called in experienced circles, is characterized by weight loss, dehydration, nutritional deficiency, and electrolyte imbalance, and severity varies from woman to woman. With my moderate HG, I vomited once or twice an hour ’round the clock during the calm times and every 10-15 minutes during rough stretchesâ€â€
Pamela

4-Time HG Survivor
*Brody (8-11-98 )
*Avery (1-24-01)
*Reilly (12-16-02)
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Postby krisalis » Mar 01, 2007 3:39 pm

Thank You, Pamela

Kris
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Postby JourneyOfHope » Mar 01, 2007 3:45 pm

I thank you so much for writing that it almost hurts...
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Postby Princesshood » Mar 01, 2007 3:58 pm

Thank you so much Pamela! You have truly helped me with my fight against HG. I am in tears of joy for everything you have done.
:hugs: Sara
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wow

Postby Elie » Mar 01, 2007 4:34 pm

I became very familiar with the "smile and nod" tactic too. The mere mention of crackers and gingerale made me laugh because I couldn't even drink water! Thank you for posting your story.
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Postby Susannah » Mar 01, 2007 11:19 pm

Thank you. That was beautiful and gutwrentching.
Susannah
Elizabeth born at home 5/25/06 HG 8 weeks-delivery
Rose became our angel 8/2/07
Grace born at home 5/23/08 HG 7 weeks-delivery

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Postby IslandDreamer » Mar 01, 2007 11:35 pm

So excellent, Pamela!
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Postby Irene » Mar 02, 2007 4:39 am

Pamela; Words are not enough, but thats all I have got. THANK YOU!
Emily Ann 05-2004 Severe HG
Baby Angel 19.07.09. HG
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thank you

Postby Caitlin's mom » Mar 02, 2007 11:53 am

Thank you Pamela,
You (and the others on this site) have reached a place in my heart that no one has been able to do in six years. Everything you said is so true. If only I had known six years ago that there was even one other woman with HG, I would not have felt so isolated and alone. No one else can understand the anguish of a woman with HG and the excruciating choice of trying to have another child or just being happy with a family of three. We have four bedrooms in our home and it kills me that two will always be guestrooms and never a nursery. Most especially I am comforted to know that I will never have to explain myself here and that everyone understand how much I love my daughter, but how much I hate being pregnant. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Bridget
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Postby tgger007 » Mar 02, 2007 4:20 pm

Sweetheart,

You put it into words I could not express.. I tried but your words were trully something I wish I could hand out to everyone if I ever get pregnant again.
Crystalyn

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Postby caseyhg » Mar 04, 2007 4:25 pm

Thank you for putting it into words. It was so true and perfect, I cried.
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Postby Cobysmom75 » Mar 04, 2007 7:47 pm

Thank you Pamela! You couldn't have said it and described it better.
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Postby catsandfrogs » Mar 04, 2007 7:55 pm

Pamela,

You have put into words and described the suffering of HG so well and eloquently I nearly cried when I read it.

Thank you for writing this...

Shannon
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dd#2 - 4 years old

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Postby yulia47 » Mar 05, 2007 12:03 am

Thank you... Your letter should be distributed to all health care professionals, so they stop with crackering for good!
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Postby JST » Mar 05, 2007 3:44 pm

You are so right about people and their "Have you tried..." comments! I was already exhausted and half-crazy from HG and I became even more weary by trying to tell them that NOTHING works. No one believed that I could not keep even a sip of water down for weeks on end. I began the smile and nod as well. It was so lonely. Thank you for your clear expression of how it really is. Love and hugs to all. Jenny
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Postby MommyLisa » Mar 05, 2007 11:32 pm

Wow. It's been 4 months since I gave birth to my fifth and final baby. I always struggled with HG (Is there a word that means "more" than struggled? Because that's what I mean when I say struggled). Thank you for your sincere desire to help so many others through this. You are an inspiration. Thank you Thank you Thank you. It breaks my heart to read it, but it is so true! And it needs to be heard. Thank you for being our voice!
Lisa
Lisa P.
Mom to Jacob -8, Benjamin -6, Maegan -4, Matthew -2, and expecting baby #5 the middle of Oct. 2006 (Am I really doing this again?!?)
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Postby SusanRedhead » Mar 13, 2007 11:44 am

Thank you, Pamela. The burn of people's words still echo in my heart some days. The life that is meant to be celebrated becomes a time of grief and despair. Your words remind me of the lonely battle of HG many years ago...and that I don't forget, because the suffering can be turned towards the good by helping others today. Thanks for inspiring me to keep being support.
Susan
*Caitlin 07/14/93
*Conrad 05/24/96
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Postby DMImakai » Apr 18, 2007 12:44 am

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for your articulate and perfect expression of the reality of HG. And thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your role in this site. It was my lifeline during my pregnancy.

DMI
DS, Feb. 2007, mild-moderate HG
DS, Jan. 2011, mild HG
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