I've read through the posts here in 2nd Trimester HG, and I haven't seen these questions answered yet. Forgive me if I'm asking the same old "newbie" questions that everyone asks.
I'm 15 weeks today. This is my second pregnancy, but my first with HG. With my son (age 5), I had some plain ol' morning sickness in my first tri, throwing up about twice a day and eating like a pig in between times, but it went away after my 12th week and the rest of that pregnancy was pure magic. This time around, I've been fighting HG since week 5, and weeks 7-12 were pure hell. I missed 6 weeks of work, and spent the entire time laying in bed (when I wasn't in the ER getting an IV), because I simply didn't have the strength to do the least thing. I'm back at work now, but I still don't have my usual strength and energy back. My doctors (family doc, OB, and ER doctors) were writing "hyperemesis gravidarum" all over my medical forms, but no one ever told me what that meant (and they still haven't). I just thought it was medical lingo that meant I was throwing up too much. Everyone treated me as though I were just a big wimp. I don't know how many times doctors and nurses and family members would try to "explain" what morning sickness was, and how normal it is, and how I should just eat some soda crackers and try to fight the urge to vomit. Puh-LEASE! I've known from the beginning that this pregnancy is a whole different animal from my first.
So, anyway, my questions. I lost 15 pounds in weeks 6-8 (I was 134 pounds to begin with), and I still haven't gained any of that weight back. I've been on Zofran since my 10th week, and it helps me control the urge to vomit. It doesn't help the nausea or give me any appetite, though, and I have an aversion to EVERYTHING. So, basically, I'm eating in between dry heaves. I was taking 8mg twice a day, but for the past 2 weeks, I've needed to up my dose to 8 mg three times a day. I switched OBs a month ago, because my other doctors just weren't giving me the care I need, and I'm scheduled for my second OB visit with the new doctor next week. I'm wondering if I need to be concerned about the weight issue yet. I don't want to go on tube feeding if it's not necessary, and I don't want my new doctor to think I'm some kind of hypochondriac, but I want to be sure my baby is getting the nutrients it needs. My fundal height is measuring about 4 weeks smaller than it should be (it measured at 10 weeks last week, when I was actually 14), so I'm getting worried. What would be the best way to talk to my doctor about this, so that he doesn't dismiss my complaints as nothing, but doesn't just strap me up to a feeding tube and put me on more bed rest? (I'm the sole breadwinner for my family, and I really can't afford to miss any more work.)
Thank you so much for any input and advice you can give.
Carmen