Monday & Tuesday
8:30am - Wake up
8:50am - Take a shower. Get sick.
9:15am - Steam work clothes/Get ready for work.
10:15am - Stop at McD's for a CinnaMelt and Half-cut tea (half sweet/half unsweet)
10:30am - Start my day at work (feeling nauseous every minute of the day).
5pm - Drive home praying not to get sick.
6pm - Get sick.
7pm - Try to eat dinner.
7:30pm - Get sick.
8:30pm - Get sick.
9:30pm - Get sick.
10:30pm - Get sick.
11:30pm - Get sick.
Wednesday, Thursday & Friday
Too weak/sick to work.
9am - Wake up (nausea begins).
6pm - Get sick.
7pm - Try to eat dinner.
7:30pm - Get sick.
8:30pm - Get sick.
9:30pm - Get sick.
10:30pm - Get sick.
11:30pm - Get sick.
ADD A TRIP TO EMERGENCY ROOM ONCE A WEEK ON THURSDAY & FRIDAY FOR I.V. FLUIDS AND MEDS.
Saturday & Sunday
I'm lucky if I get out of the house. And I've missed church, which for those that know me know that I hate missing a Sunday.
This past Tuesday I had a follow-up appointment and my OB sent me immediately over to Fairfax Hospital where I was admitted right away for "Severe Dehydration/Malnutrition due to Hyperemesis". I spent Tuesday and Wednesday there where they had me on IV fluids/meds nonstop. I begged to come home so they let me leave Wednesday evening. They placed a PICC line in (goes through my arm up through my chest and down to my heart). It hurts but I'm dealing. So this is what my life consists of right now... daily IV fluids/meds given nightly through the PICC line. Mac spent three hours with the Home Health Care Aide yesterday learning how to administer the fluids/meds. It looks like this will be my life for a couple more months, or until this Hyperemesis decides to go away. After doing a ton of research it appears that it normally subsides between the 12th-20th week, or is it possible (10-20%) for it to last until the day of delivery, or it can even last months after delivery.
Hyperemesis a rare condition but it is serious. I decided to include a few testimonials from real women who have gone through this. My emotional state is very close to how these women felt. I hope after reading these it will help people understand more of what I'm going through, especially for those that keep telling me "its just morning sickness and we've all gone through it."
"I am terrified. and praying every night that this won't happen to me again."
"You are screaming inside 'HELP ME' as the doctor is explaining this will all pass in X number of weeks. I feel like I'm dying a slow death."
"Everyone told me I would forget all about [HG] the minute they put her in my arms, but they were wrong. It is. forever in my head. was it all worth it? I am torn. Nothing can compare to the love you have with your child. but to say it was all worth it is something I don't feel completely comfortable saying." Angie N., West Orange NJ
"I entered this pregnancy believing that pregnancy was a healthy and natural life change and not an illness. I couldn't go to work. my husband had to help to bathe me because I was so weak. since I lost over 30 pounds. my father [came daily] to care for me and. take me to my appointments. my sisters shopped for food." Juliette P., Warminster, PA
"I ended up losing my job and my life for nine months. was told it was in my head. little treatment was offered... at 6 weeks pregnant. all i wanted was the pain and sickness to stop and was told I would have to. terminate. I have grieved every day for that loss. with awareness. and proper [information] maybe people. [with HG] can be taken seriously and given proper care. doctors can do operations that you'd never think. possible, yet they cant stop [HG]. its heartbreaking, and soul destroying." K.N., Lancashire, England
"My plea to the world of non-HGers: quit suggesting crackers! IT is really frustrating that there is such lack of awareness that even some health care providers will recommend things (like crackers) that may help for regular morning sickness, but are like suggesting a band aid to someone with a broken arm. I lost 10% of my body weight in about 6 weeks, have had so many IVs for dehydration that I can't even count. The suggestion of crackers is insulting." EG , Seattle, WA
"My best friend (24 years old) died from what I believe was HG. She died over a year ago and her condition went 7 months undiagnosed before she died. Serpil
"I went through several different emotions... I hated myself, the pregnancy, my life. I had panic/anxiety attacks because I felt so trapped in my own body. I felt like I was going to lose my mind." Danielle O., Knoxville, TN
"I would sleep on the floor of the bathroom most nights. My husband didn't understand what was happening at all and got very irritated with me. I would just cry all by myself and other times I was too sick to even react to anything at all. I have never felt so alone in my entire life." M
"You are screaming inside 'HELP ME' as the doctor is explaining this will all pass in X number of weeks. I feel like I'm dying a slow death."
"Everyone told me I would forget all about [HG] the minute they put her in my arms, but they were wrong. It is. forever in my head. was it all worth it? I am torn. Nothing can compare to the love you have with your child. but to say it was all worth it is something I don't feel completely comfortable saying." Angie N., West Orange NJ
"I entered this pregnancy believing that pregnancy was a healthy and natural life change and not an illness. I couldn't go to work. my husband had to help to bathe me because I was so weak. since I lost over 30 pounds. my father [came daily] to care for me and. take me to my appointments. my sisters shopped for food." Juliette P., Warminster, PA
"I ended up losing my job and my life for nine months. was told it was in my head. little treatment was offered... at 6 weeks pregnant. all i wanted was the pain and sickness to stop and was told I would have to. terminate. I have grieved every day for that loss. with awareness. and proper [information] maybe people. [with HG] can be taken seriously and given proper care. doctors can do operations that you'd never think. possible, yet they cant stop [HG]. its heartbreaking, and soul destroying." K.N., Lancashire, England
"My plea to the world of non-HGers: quit suggesting crackers! IT is really frustrating that there is such lack of awareness that even some health care providers will recommend things (like crackers) that may help for regular morning sickness, but are like suggesting a band aid to someone with a broken arm. I lost 10% of my body weight in about 6 weeks, have had so many IVs for dehydration that I can't even count. The suggestion of crackers is insulting." EG , Seattle, WA
"My best friend (24 years old) died from what I believe was HG. She died over a year ago and her condition went 7 months undiagnosed before she died. Serpil
"I went through several different emotions... I hated myself, the pregnancy, my life. I had panic/anxiety attacks because I felt so trapped in my own body. I felt like I was going to lose my mind." Danielle O., Knoxville, TN
"I would sleep on the floor of the bathroom most nights. My husband didn't understand what was happening at all and got very irritated with me. I would just cry all by myself and other times I was too sick to even react to anything at all. I have never felt so alone in my entire life." M
And this one sums it up...
"[She] has been bedridden in darkness - with no TV, no ability to read, barely able to talk, for the last 7 weeks. A steady and heartbreaking moan can be heard coming from her room. she hangs on, because she knows if she terminates, she will never have the courage/strength to try again." Gail, NJ
