Hyperemisis Sufferers- how do you get over the terror?

[Lily Dust]

Im just wondering when and how any of you girls out there who suffered Hyperemisis got past the absolute terror of suffering it again to consider the TTC journey for another pregnancy?
DD is 15 months and it seems everyone else is talking about or having their next bubbas, I have mixed feelings about all these babies, we have toyed with the idea and cant even be sure it would happen after a long TTC journey initially but TBH I am absolutely terrified at the prospect of hyperemisis again and not being able raise my DD whilst pregnant. Im not talking run of the mill m/s here, with DD I started throwing up at 6 weeks until 36 weeks a minimum of 6 times a day and any where up to 12, was on and off a drip constantly and medicated with Zofran wafers to ease it, although it never stopped the vomitting fully. I spent the first 19 weeks bedridden and then had to be near a toilet at all times, ok enought boo hooing about that Id love to hear from any of you!

[~clover~]

TBH I just prayed DD2 was a boy & that it'd be different with a boy. I was shattered when it started again.
I only had DS coz I wanted a boy so badly I'd have suffered again to do it.

DD3 was a suprise & I was too shocked to think straight. It was very hard emotionally in every way. Having another baby, being sick again. I would say to myself every day 'you've come this far, it will end'. It was so, so hard. Hating myself for doing it again. Not only to myself, but to everyone around me.

I am glad in a way that she suprised me though. HG was my only reason for having no more babies. When she came along it was my sneaky chance to go there just once more.

I'm looking into getting something permanent done now, coz I know I couldn't go through that again. I won't let myself or my kids.

[Tinks]

My sister had it, it took her 6 years to want to have another baby. She never forgot how terribly sick she was. Her 2nd pregnancy was worse than the 1st and she says she's NEVER having another one.

[angelaartsstudent]

Hyperemisis with both pregnancies here.

Totally unmedicated first time...lost 12kg, couldn't eat, In hospital heaps for dehydration, the usual. Puked 10 times in one morning when I was 36 weeks and thought I was going to die, it was so violent.

This time...the ONLY thing that kept me sane was just biting the bullet and spending the required $150 a week on Zofran. It wouldn't take away the sick feeling but it did stop the vomiting.

Note about Zofran: If you start taking it very early in your pregnancy it has apparently been shown to actually reduce the time that your hyperemisis lasts (helps stop it for good). I'm 25ish weeks now and not puking every day, just a few times a week, so it's worked.

[UsPlus2]

I had it with my first and was petrified about the thought of having it again. But as my partner and I figured, we TTC when DS was only 9 months because as much as he needed him, a baby was also easier to handle then say a toddler that was on the go, or if we waited until I was back to work before etc. I also knew better what worked and didnt, meals that were easier to bring up, hydration plans, things like a really soft mat and scented candles in the toilet etc all things that made having it easier to deal with. For us it was a matter of the longer we left it the least likely hood I go back to it if that makes sense.

Just so you have a good news story to, I've barely had m/s this time

[diva det]

I had it bad with my twin pregnancy. So bad that i was on a drip a few times, lived on 3 zofran a day and lost 20 kg during my pg! I vomited from the moment i found out i was pg until the day i delivered- so badly and violently that i burnt my oseophagus and managed to do some dental dammage due to the bile burning my mouth as well.

I was terrified it was going to happen again but i did some research and found a great TCM practictioner who helped heaps. I also vested in a set of sea sick bands which i got a little bit of relief from.

I also waited till my twins were at school before we got pg again so that if it was bad again, then at least the kids were at school.
With my singleton pg i was sick but got away without having any drugs to stop puking and i managed to stay out of hossy. No where as bad as the twins!! TCM made a huge difference and it stopped the really bad puking. M/S eased off at around 14 weeks this time thank goodness and i loved the rest of my pg!
good luck and maybe look into alternative therapies to help out! Worth a go!

[angelaartsstudent]

Another person here with dental damage. Dentist asked me seriously if I was bulimic (sp).

Don't forget to brush after you puke, ladies!

[Lily Dust]

Clover- you hit the nail on the head, honey. Not wanting to do it to myself but definately not wanting to do it to DH or DD either

Tinks- thats exactly why Im so scared!

angelaartsstudent- great that the zofran has helped a little this time. Took it from 8 weeks with DD, cost the earth just about!!!

Usplus2 that is great news for you this time around!!! It is nice to hear a good side to it but its not looking good in the odds here Never thought to make the whole 'spew experience' a bit more pleasant.

*det* dumb question, but whats a TCM practictioner?

Im certainly hearing you on the dental issues too! Although not as bad as many of you. Think I read somewhere NOT to brush after, better to rinse mouth thoroughly. Something to do with actually spreading the bile around to all teeth through brushing...ewwww sorry that was pretty gross!

I guess the main thing Im scared of is there are no guarantees it wont happen and Im so worried about missing my DD grow up AAARRRRGGGGHHH why cant this be easy?!?!? Its really doing my head in ATM and then it starts the whole 'well maybe we wont be able to conceive again anyway' stuff but I spose thats a whole new thread!

[angelaartsstudent]

That's exactly why I never brushed right after, only rinsed...but I ended up with my teeth being eaten away at anyway ($5000 bill and only have 3 functioning molars left), so not sure which is the best advice anymore!

Yeah the Zofran is MENTAL expensive. I am literally still broke from buying it this time around.

[Diamond Girl]

I missed many months of DS1's life too, and for that I'll always be sad, but I can tell you it was totally worth it and Im glad I had them fairly close together. Watching DS1 and 2 together and the bond they have is so beautful. Everytime DS1 says his brother is his best friend it just melts my heart. Yes I missed out on some of DS1's 2nd year, but the gift I gave him was amazing. This is why I was willing to put myself through hell to do it again (though it hasnt got to that yet).

[Sagres]

I am in a similar position to you, DD is 17 months old and we are TTC no. 2. I don't think I have any brilliant advice on how to get over the fear of being like that again, but the things I have done are a) taken a few months between thinking about TTC and actually taking that step, and using that time to get used to the idea of going through it again, and b) mentally preparing myself for it to be really really bad again, like just assume it is going to worse next time and then if it is worse I will be ready for it and if it is not as bad it will be a happy surprise. But mostly just taking time to think about it and mentally prepare. I suppose at the end of the day not having another baby is not a path I will choose, so given I have established that fact I just need to grit my teeth, be the tough cookie I know I can be and get on with it.

Good luck...x

[willow5]

*det* dumb question, but whats a TCM practictioner?

I guess the main thing Im scared of is there are no guarantees it wont happen and Im so worried about missing my DD grow up AAARRRRGGGGHHH why cant this be easy?!?!? Its really doing my head in ATM and then it starts the whole 'well maybe we wont be able to conceive again anyway' stuff but I spose thats a whole new thread!

:yeahthat:

I'm curious about the TCM practitioner too! I tried chiro after a couple of months which may have helped a bit, I was going to try acupuncture but took the Zofran first and it worked for me at about 5 months THANK GOD!!! I assumed you couldn't have it too early on my, doc only suggested it at 5 months

I am terrified too, originally DS3 was going to be my last bub, DS1&2 are teenagers now and I'm thinking DS3 should have a sibling closer to his own age, but then I think of the HG and I don't think I can do it. I wasn't sick at all with DS2 and had M/S for a month or so with DS1 one but nothing like being bed ridden for 5months with a bucket and using a shower chair to shower every couple of days when I could manage it. Lucky I had the shower chair too because I strained my groin after my 12 week ultrasound, the car trip and then the technician pressing around on my belly was a bit much and while I was squatting at the toilet throwing up my groin gave in which meant I had to move to DS2's room closer to the toilet so I didn't wet myself on the way I was so slow moving with the pain.

OMG sorry I'll stop with the self pitty now.

Anyway I know how you feel great thread! Thanks for posting. Maybe there'll be some more NOT horror stories to help us get past the fear

[Tinks]

Another person here with dental damage. Dentist asked me seriously if I was bulimic (sp).

Don't forget to brush after you puke, ladies!

My sister's dr gave her Zantac tablets to reduce the acid in her vomit so her teeth wouldn't rot.

[diva det]

i was on prescription zantac and that still didnt help!!!
i was shoving zofran and zantac in my gob to stop it coming out and microlax up my butt to help it come out!!!!LOL

a TCM is a traditional Chinese Medicine Practioner
I received acupuncture sessions twice weekly to start with and wore seasick bands on my pressure points to give me a little relief in between.
it took the edge enough that i didnt have to be medicated and i didnt need hospitalisation, but i was still sick and still vomited but not as severe and not as long. The key was to start ASAP as soon as you find out you are pg- once you get dehydrated and it starts to hit you hard- its too hard to get back up again. My TCM guy specialises in women's health issues to he was pefect for what i required.
if anyone in melb wants his name, feel free to PM me

[angelaartsstudent]

Ah yes, Microlax. Memories....I haven't poo'd for at least 5 weeks, so it's about time I bought some.

To be honest, Zantac hasn't done stuff all for me either.

My breath is HORRIBLE, ladies. I've done all I can....but it's still bad. My throat tastes like blood from the vomiting, my teeth hurt...this sucks.

I had a bit of a cry to myself about it in the shower this morning becuase I keep brushing and rinsing and flossing and doing all the right stuff and my throat hurt like hell...booo...

Whinge over!