6.29.2007

What is Hyperemesis Gravidarum???

Because people need to know.

http://www.hyperemesis.org/downloads/HG_overview_media.pdf

The following *exerpts are taken from the above webpage.

*Did you know that roughly 25% of women who suffer from HG will terminate the pregnancy?

*The best analogy is to imagine having food poisoning or a stomach flu for six months or so. Add
to that pain and sensory sensitivities experienced with migraines. It is very miserable and women often fear they will die or never recover.


*Watching TV or reading often worsens the nausea and vomiting, so mothers may have to remain in a dark room void of stimulation.

*Over time, they can develop many complications including muscle and bone loss from
malnutrition and bed rest, anemia, liver and gall bladder disorders, hernias, thyroid dysfunction,
severe acid reflux, stomach ulcers, sleep disorders, extreme fatigue, impairment of their mental
functioning, and emotional trauma.


*They also have to deal with the side-effects of the multiple medications required to treat HG,
which often includes anxiety, headaches, nausea, insomnia, and severe bowel dysfunction.




If you ever have the chance to know a woman with HG, please, be a support to her. Follow through with your offers of help. Don't down play her experience. Don't pull away because you feel helpless. Be her friend regardless of how "whiney" you perceive her.

I am learning who my friends are. I have had friends and family that have come out of the woodwork that have taken my kids, that have let them play at their house and do fun summer activities that I could otherwise not do with them. I have sweet and understanding friends that will call me for no reason other than to ask how I am doing and how my husband and children are doing. I have had family come over and sit with me so that my husband could have a much needed break so that I wouldn't have to be alone. You see, he witnesses constant suffering as do my kids. It isn't fair to them and they need breaks from it. People have done that for me and asked for nothing in return. Some day I will pay them back!!! I have had people call me and just let me go on and on listen without judgement or guile. Friends have asked my husband and children over to their homes for dinner or they have brought over nutritious and non-smelly food for my family. One of my biggest fears during this is the feeding of my family. I normally LOVE to cook and normally my family has a healthy, homemade meal from scratch. It has become quiet the adjustment for them to live on sandwiches, cold cereal, cut up fruit or whatever my husband can microwave in the basement because the smell makes me sick. So these small acts of kindness are actually enormous!!!

Complete strangers have now become my friends. I have received books, cards, hypnosis cd's and random e-mails of women who care and who make me feel so loved. I have a stack of cards sitting on my nightstand next to my countless bottles of pills atop a book that completely validates the HG experience. I look at it and I can feel the love for me. It makes me weep when I see it.

Cyber friends, who I consider REAL FRIENDS have made me feel like I am worth so much. It is priceless. Thanks to all of you....you know who you are!!!! Your good mail means the world to me.

Then I have had friends that have pulled away. That think I am being whiney and a big baby. Ones who wonder why I can't suck it up and be strong. Ones who think that if I am having a good day, a good hour or a good ten minutes and I take my kids out of the house then I must be playing this whole thing up because I am an attention seeking baby. They don't understand that the effectiveness of my Zofran only lasts for about 30 minutes now and that as a mother you have this desire to make your kids your priority in the off-chance that you do feel good. Ones who take every opportunity to let others know how you don't really have it "that bad" and that I should take one look at their lives to know how bad life can be.

So please, be in the first three groups of people. You will never know the difference you have made in a woman who is enduring constant suffering's life. You could be her small miracle for the day.


I know this blog has become a "Stephanie vents about her terrible rotten pregnancy" blog, but it is my journal of this section of my life. I type it here because I need to. I need other women to see this for what it is. A real condition, a disease, a circumstance that is REAL and terrible! It is currently all consuming and it is what my life is right now. Someday I will be up to writing about the "better" things in my life. So thank you to all of you who are helping me endure one of the "worse" times. I love and appreciate all of you.

24 comments:

Tori :) said...

(((HUGS))) (((HUGS))) and more (((HUGS))) I wish I lived closer and could do more to help! :( I would love to send you a cd of Sei's hymns. I don't have your address though. If you'd like it email me at swampbrat at gmail dot com.
(((HUGS))) - ok, I'll give you a breather.

Anonymous said...

What you are going through is so awful! I wish I was closer to help you out more. I might be coming up in a few weeks. I will have to stop by and see if I can help...or bring you NFC...if you think you would be able to eat it. Sending you plenty of Cyber hugs.....I love you tons.

Sketchy said...

HUGS Stephanie! I admire you so much for just getting through this. You're entitled to a little venting and complaining going through this.

Michelle Fluttering Butterflies said...

I wish I could give you a hug, and cook your family food or take them to the park. I'm thinking about you...

Jamie said...

(hugs) I know what you are going through. With my last, I was probably thisclose to being diagnosed with it. Being in a new town with no friends or family, 3 other little ones to care for, and a hubby gone 50% of the time, and the migraines, had this just about killing me. But the cute little girl on my lap today was worth it (even though when she's going through her terrible 2's tantrum makes me want to rethink that, lol). Hang on and know that you have tons of people in your corner!

Dawn said...

I just realized how long it's been since I"ve been over to visit. I have heard of this and feel so bad for you. It must make it much worse to know that people don't understand and think you're exaggerating or whatever. My friend with fibromyalgia has the same situation. Blessings and hope things improve soon! Especially the birth!

The Amazing Trips said...

Hang in there!!

My poor sister had HG with two of her three pregnancies (the last two). She was so, so sick that she had to have home health care nurses come over with the second and was hospitalized with the third. The third pg was a complete surprise - she NEVER wanted to get pg again after what she had been through w/ my nephew. (The good news is, my niece is the most adorable & wonderful child ever.)

I can't remember the medication that my sister was on > but it's the same stuff they give chemo patients to help combat nausea. That was the ONLY thing that helped and she had to receive it via IV.

Gosh, I hope you are feeling better soon. Congrats on a baby girl > I love the name Julie Anne or Mary Anne. Or even, Jane. I've got NO problems with girl names - it's the BOY names that elude me. And since I'll be delivering a boy in less than a week ... I need to come up with something. QUICK!

utmommy said...

(((HUGS)))

I'm so sorry for everything you are going through. I can't even imagine. I hope you will feel better soon. I wish I lived by you and I could come and get your girls or cook you dinner or try to help. Hang in there.

(((HUGS)))

Gina said...

I wish there were something I could do. I would love to send you some good mail. I got my first package on Friday and I had forgotten how awesome it is to get something random and sweet in the mail!

I hope you are feeling up to the blog festivies at the end of July. It would be a pleasure to finally meet you. You are a darling woman and I have admired you from day one of reading your blog. I do hope you've gotten my emails in the past.

Many Hugs!

Super Happy Girl said...

((HUGS))
You know, I have said this before and I'll say it again, it's your blog and you should do as you please, not only this is your life right now, but as you wrote, it’s something that needs to be written so others are aware of the condition.

I guess those who think you are being whiney or wondering why you can't just suck it up don't understand it, have never heard or read about it (like myself). But I’d hope that those people would at least researched it/ gotten acquainted with it, because it sounds extremely difficult.
I think you are a strong, brave woman. Those who stand by you thru this difficult time are your real friends.
You can always vent in your blog. this will not last forever and we are here to give you cyber love.
Hang in there.

The Domesticator said...

Oh boy, I feel for you. I really do.

When I was in nursing school, I worked on a labor and delivery floor, and I took care of women with Hyperemesis. It is a horrible thing to suffer with.

I am sorry you are experiencing this. Just continue to surround yourself with positive, loving, supportive people. The rest weren't your friends in the first place.

Chellie said...

Stephanie,
That is so awful. I know there is nothing I can say to make it better, but just know you are in many thoughts and prayers of many people. How sorry I feel for the people that have turned the other way on you, but so glad there are those that have embraced you and your family.

Elizabeth said...

That's the worst. Sending you total stranger bloggin' love. Another terrible thing is to have another prego say "Oh, yeah, I just didn't let myself get sick." Didn't let yourself? Why don't you feel my right fist? and the left, and my foot....

Suzanne said...

Oh, Stephanie, these last months have been so rough for you! My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family! ***hugs***

Butterfly Mama said...

Wow! I'm sending you and your family many hugs and prayers through all of this. I would so be over there to pick up your kids or bring dinner if I could.
Hang in there and keep us updated even if you think you're being whiny your not. I just want to know how your doing...

Loves and Hugs, Heidi

Loving The Chaos said...

It's funny what we have to go through in this life. We each have our trials, but MAN I would not want to have morning sickness for nine months! Two was bad enough! :) It just confirms to me that the man upstairs knows what a strong individual you are! Your kids are darling by-the-way! :)

Thanks for all the nice comments on my blog. :)

Anonymous said...

Some long distant loves for you and your family. True friends RULE!

I am thinking about you.

Anonymous said...

You've been nominated!

Anonymous said...

Sending my thoughts and love and hugs!!


If only I didn't live so dang far away!

Alice said...

Steph-
Sending thoughts your way...I am so very sorry you are going through this and then people act like jerks about it! grrr! I wish there was something I could do, maybe there is? Let me know. Really! Keeping you and your fam in my prayers. :)

Lei said...

I am so sorry you are going through this Steph. I have a friend here who suffers as you do, so I have seent h effects firsthand. You have my sympathy and beyond! (((hugs)))

loni said...

My friend sent me a link to your blog asking me if this is what I had, too. When I read about it I immediately started bawling my eyes out, as all the painful memories came flooding back.
I never even knew it had a name.
I am so, so sorry that you are having to go through this, and that your husband and your girls are having to go through it, too. I wouldn't wish it on my worst of worst enemy.
Major, Super Duper (((((HUGS)))) for you and your family.
My faith in God got me through the worst nine(plus) months of my life. Zofran kept me out of the hospital (most of the time).
Phenergan (suppositories) helped me sleep when it was just that bad. Did you know you can take them both at the same time? Ask your Dr.
I wish I could give you the all knowing answer, but only you know what works for you, and that only works for a day or week.
Please know that I am praying for you and your doctors and your family. Every single day.

Mel said...

Stephanie,
I'm sorry that you are going through this. I have a friend that had this last year and now I'm kicking myself for not helping her more.

Oh, what a fun list of babynames on your sidebar! LOL. where do those crazy spellings come from?

Anonymous said...

I just came over from The Lazy Organizer's blog. I have three children and had HG with two of them, both of the girls. It is horrible. I was not prescribed anything during my first (back in 1999) because health insurance companies wouldn't approve it for pregnancies. Of course you know how terribly expensive it is. In short, I developed an overactive thyroid and was in and out of the hospital. I had to have an in-home nurse. My second pregnancy was only mildly better - at least I wasn't sick 24/7 (always at noon!). I had HG with my third, back in 2005 and was finally prescribed Zofran. I was on that until 16 weeks. I am now taking part in HG research. Horrible, horrible illness. I can truly sympathize with any woman who is sick. Incidentally, my sister didn't understand what all the fuss was about until she developed HG with her 3rd (they say it runs in families). I agree - women need to know about HG.