In 2000, during my first pregnancy, HG hit at about 6-7 weeks, and it hit hard! I was admitted to the hospital for 2 days for dehydration on my very 1st office visit at my OB and had lost about 10lbs in a week. My OB diagnosed me with HG but didn't go into detail about what HG was and my husband and I didn't ask, we just thought it was a fancy word for morning sickness. After I was released from the hospital I of course became dehydrated again within a day or two, I was throwing up up to 7x a day and keeping nothing down, my OB quickly got me setup on Homecare and IV fluids. My OB tried all the usual HG drugs on me...first we tried Phenergen, which stopped working after about 2 wks, then Compazine and Reglan, both which I had an allergic reaction to, and then Zofran which didn't seem to work but was the only drug I wasn't allergic to. Towards the end we even tried steroids but I don't really know if they helped because I miscarried at 12wks. I lost a total of 20 lbs and was off work for 2 months on short term disability. I still didn't understand what HG really was and had high hopes that my next pregnancy would be "normal".
We put off trying again until 2004, after we finished building our house and a trip to Italy that fell through. I found out I was pregnant early Feb 04 and HG hit me at about 4-5 wks, and even harder this time. I immediately went to the Dr. as soon as I started vomiting and couldn't keep anything down....my old OB had retired, so I had decided to give the local Health Center a try and was scheduled to see one of the MD's. I tried explaining to them that I was severly sick last time and needed some sort of anti-nausea drug to help with the vomiting, but the Dr. I saw just told me to try B6 and ginger and the usual....eat some crackers before getting out of bed, blah, blah, blah. I went home frustrated and on the verge of tears.
Over the next few days I continued to vomit and still kept nothing down. My husband finally rushed me back to the health center, and they finally took me seriously when they weighed me and saw that I had lost 10 lbs since my last visit. They tried giving me an IV but my veins were too dehydrated and they ended up referring me to my old OB's replacement, who thankfully had an opening that very morning. She was able to give me an IV in her office and get me some fluids and made an appt. to see me on Monday and sent me home with some Phenergan. By Monday I was dehydrated again and had lost more weight....she admitted me to the hospital on Valentines day for 2 1/2 days, the only thing I was able to keep down was jello.
I was released from the hospital but was back again in 2 days, dehydrated and vomiting up to 7x a day...I was on a downward spiral. They gave me Zofran which helped with the vomiting a bit (only 3-4x a day), but did not help me keep food or liquids down. My OB wanted me to try a feeding tube, which I agreed to try, but after having it in only 30 mins and feeling the tube come up every time I threw up I had them remove it and opted to try the PICC line instead. The PICC line went in beautifully and they started me up on TPN, at this point I wasn't even trying to eat anything and still vomiting 3-4x a day. I was released into Homecare on day 8 at 8pm and decided to go home without Zofran because I didn't think it was making a difference. BIG MISTAKE! That night I threw up 4x, and the next morning from 8am - 7pm before my husband rushed me back to the hospital, I threw up a total of 16x and it was increasing from every hr, 40 mins, 30 mins, etc. As soon as they got me on Zofran my vomiting subsided. I was in the hospital another 10 days until I miscarried at 7 wks. My hospital stay came out to around $60k, thank god for health insurance!
Both pregnancies, my husband was a rock, he was there for me 110%. I couldn't imagine doing it without him and not having any support. In fact he was the one to find this site during HG the second time. Both times with HG I couldn't keep anything down, lost up to 20 lbs, was off work for 1-2 months and was so weak. It drains you physically and emotionally and is so misunderstood by so many. I am so thankful for this site and to know that I am not alone. I dread going through HG again but really, really want to have a child, so we will try again early next year after I enjoy the holidays. I just want to say to all of us who have gone through or are currently going through HG that you are STRONG! Do not let anyone tell you differently!
Jenny
