Alright ladies I need your advice. I'm struggling. Morning sickness has become quite extreme. I'm throwing up all day and night. I eat and drink but just throw it up. I am also only peeing maybe 2 or 3 times a day, my normal prepregnancy is atleast every hour. My dr prescribed Reglan and I took the Reglan once but it didn't help, I still threw up and so I don't want to take meds that don't work. Today I was so weak and shaky that I just wanted to go to the er. I have been having horrible headaches that are a constant as well. So at what point do I call the dr and push to be seen. My first appt is next week, the 6th. It's the weekend and so if I call tomorrow they will just tell me to go to the er or should I just wait until Monday. I'm concerned about becoming dehydrated and harming baby. I have lost 5 lbs so far...prepregnany I was 134 and I'm 5'6. Im not a waffer but I am thin. I dont want to overreact but I also am to the point that I'm concerned about baby. Any advice appreciated.
Due September 8th
Beta#1 @ 10 DPO- 50, Beta #2 @ 12 DPO-250 Doubling Time 20.6 hours
First Ultrasound 1/30/11- Perfect in every way..heart beating strong!
If you're not able to hold anything down, even fluids, I'd go to the ER. Have you tried ice chips and/or coke syrup? Those are supposed to help with the stomach flu, however I'm not sure about the safety of coke syrup and pregnancy (it never worked for me anyway--just made me sicker--but I've heard it works wonders).
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Try Ginger Ale (make sure it's the kind with real ginger). For me there was a point where that was the only thing that helped. Ginger is suppose to help, but something about the bubbles helped too. Just a thought.
If your body is telling you go in, then go in. Otherwise, look up a local midwife and call her. She will talk to you (for free) and give you ideas to help you. Personally I think they might be a better bet than the doc. If you dangerously dehydrated, then go in!!
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139:16
DS 10/24/06 Born 4 weeks premature
Miscarriage/Chemical Pregnancy 4/3/10
Hopefully optimistic about this pregnancy...
Make a pregnancy ticker
It's a boy!
As a nurse I'm saying go in. If reglan isn't effective they can at least give you a one time dose of zofran or phergergan (I recommend zofran, phenergan is heavy duty stuff and I'd avoid it while pregnant) and they can pump you with some fluids IV so you aren't having to keep it down. It'll help with your headaches too. Beware though, zofran will make you constipated. GL!
Alicia (24) Levi (24)High-School Sweethearts
Went off BCP 12/2009 Born 3/18.
TTA until July or August
No reason you can't call the doctor now. That is what they are there for. You should always be able to reach an OB.
I would guess they'll say (and I probably would) go to the ER, even if their office is open. It sounds like you are very dehydrated at this point and IV fluids would give you some immediate relief of those symptoms, if not the nausea. The OB can't do that in the office anyway. And then yes, you can get a better prescription for anti-nausea medication, most likely something you would take around the clock to get things under control.
Laura
(6), (4), (2), born May 16, 2012!
The shop is closed. Our perfect family is complete
I'd go to the ER - good luck!
Susan - 30 married to Chris - 32
Catherine Anne born via c-section June 30, 2008
Rebecca Marie born naturally April 18, 2010
John McNary born naturally January 9, 2012
I hope you are feeling better this morning. What did you end up doing?
I just wanted to suggest that you try going gluten free. I was sick all day long with this pregnancy and when I went gluten free, it immediately stopped. With as sick as you are, it might take a couple days to feel better, but just try it. I can tell when I get something contaminated with gluten as I feel sick again. You have lots of options for things like crackers and gluten free pretzels if that's all you can keep down.
Thanks for all the encouragement and advice. I called the dr this morning. The dr I talked to said he doesnt like Reglan so he gave me Phenagrin suppositories. I can take it up to 4 times a day. I asked about Zofran but he said it's so expensive that he prefers the phenagrin. He said he wants me to try those today and then call the office tomorrow to see if I should come in sooner than the 6th. He is hoping that the phenagrin suppositories will bring relief so that they don't have to start iv's. He also told me to continue to eat and drink like I have been. He said even if I throw it up it gives me body a chance to absorb something.
As for all the suggestions for home remedies, I really have tried it all and nothing brings relief...praying for some relief soon but ultimately I just want a healthy baby. I haven't tried gluten free yet though so I will give that a go and see if it helps. My husband has been so sweet running to the store purchasing all of my random requests for things that I think may help me feel better.
Ok, I have lots of suggestions! I had hyperemesis with both of my pregnancies - if you aren't familiar with it, google it and see if it sounds like what you are experiencing. Basically it means excessive/uncontrollable vomiting that leads to dehydration. You might need to be hospitalized and/or go on home IV care if the dehydration is bad enough and you can't keep down liquids.
Some suggestions to try:
(1) Have your husband go to a Target or drugstore and look for keytone test strips for your urine. They often are grouped with the diabetic supplies. High levels of keytones are signs of dehydration and/or starvation - if you have more than a small amount, according to the strip, I would suggest going to the ER for fluids. This is kind of an easy way to check "at home" whether you are at a serious point in terms of dehydration and lack of food.
(2) I would push for Zofran. I was on Reglan with my first pregnancy and Zofran with my second - Zofran was A LOT more helpful. What your OB might not know is that there is a generic available for Zofran, so it is not really expensive like it used to be. Phenegran suppositories might work for some people - they didn't work for me, and I also didn't like that it was a more dangerous drug in terms of the pregnancy category compared to Zofran.
(3) I always felt like people were suggesting foods or liquids to me that I obviously had thought of before, so hopefully it isn't irritating to you - but the things that I was sometimes able to keep down were ice pops (the pedialyte ones were kind of helpful) or slushies (I would just crush ice with a small amount of decaf coke classic or lemonade). In terms of foods, it was always hit or miss - if it sounds good, no matter how weird it is, try it. For me, higher protein and lower carb things worked better - mashed potatatoes, toast, crackers and all of those things people always suggest just made me sick. Peanut butter and eggs worked better.
(4) Sometimes all of the stomach acid really makes things worse - if you are not already, you might want to try to take a pepcid or zantac to help control acid. You could try TUMS, also - for me, those chewable things just made me ill.
(5) BENADRYL! Try taking Benadryl every four hours or so, also - this is a common thing that helps for hyperemesis. Hard to say how or why, but it did work for me - coupled with the Zofran, my life became survivable at least!
(6) Check out this website for more helpful hints and support: http://www.helpher.org/
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or I can be of any help! I know this is horribly miserable and difficult to think past feeling this bad...
Good luck!
Thank you so much for your suggestions. I really appreciate it. I'm willing to try anything and everything to make me feel better. I told my husband I can survive this experience but I miss life. I am confined to our bed or couch as going out just makes me miserable as we have to stop constantly for me to throw up in parking lots or along the road. My poor husband, we have little to no food in the house because something I can eat one min I can't stomach the next so we just buy one bottle, can, box of things at a time as cooking just isn't an option right now. I will be calling the dr in the morning so if the phenagrin doesn't work today I will push for Zofran. As of so far with the phenagrin in makes me have to poop as soon as I put it in even if I didn't have to go before. It hasn't really done anything for me yet but I'm going to give it until tomorrow morning to see if I feel any different.
I'm sure I will be contacting you for advice and suggestions. It's nice to know Im not alone. All my friends had light ms if anything so they simply don't understand
I went into the doctors today to be checked for dehydration as the Phenagrin helped but I still threw up 10 times after taking it and 5 times so far this morning. My doctor did an ultrasound and showed that baby was perfect heart beating strong and measuring on track. She basically told me to keep eating and drinking what I can and call if it gets worse...really 20 times a day isn't enough AH...hoping this passses soon but thankful to know that baby is healthy and happy despite my struggles.
I'd get a second opinion. Throwing up 10 times will on nausea medication is not good. There are other drugs and other treatments. It sounds as if this doctor isn't really proactive in getting you better.
Me 34 DH 40
Thomas Gregory Joseph due 6/30/2012
I also think how much you are throwing up you need to go to the ER. At least to get some IV fluids.
Praying for you.
Dh 28 Me 25
Bethany Grace October 3, 2009
Judah September 15, 2011 Induced at 35w5d due to partial placenta abruption
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I would definitely get a second opinion. Could it be hyperemesis gravidarum?
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Natalie (24) married to Corby (28) since April 2009.
Off birth control since September 2010, charting since December 2010.
Pets: Jack (17)--Tabby cat Widget (3)--Tuxedo cat
BFP on September 18 (10dpo)! Estimated date of delivery: June 1, 2012It's a girl!
My doctors didn't recommend taking zantac or pepcid. They only allowed tums. Regardless, if prescriptions aren't working, antacids most likely won't do the trick.
I'm so sorry you're feeling so terrible. I had the same problem. My face literally felt green. I lost 12 lbs. If you haven't kept liquids down in 2 days you need to get an IV... and that will make you tinkle too.
zwizh413: I would definitely get a second opinion. Could it be hyperemesis gravidarum?
I had that... gotta take care of yourself. Better to take extra precaution... you will pass out.
20 times a day isn't normal. I'm glad your baby is healthy, I really am, but if you can't keep fluids down that's not really good. My doctor didn't treat me for nausea but he always said as long as I was able to keep fluids down, he wouldn't give me medications. I could do that, I wasn't nearly where you are, so I am just saying I can't imagine not doing something more for your vomiting and nausea. I really hope this gets better soon for you.
I think you should get a second opinion, this must be miserable for you! If your ER visits aren't insanely expensive then I would suggest going in to get some fluids and ask for Zofran. Phenergan worked for me so that I stopped throwing up (still felt crappy) but it seems like Zofran works better for most people.
Good Luck!
me (27, British) DH (28, American) married July '09. Three rats, one iguana and one dog = <3
TTC #1 since July '11, BFP 10.7.11, EDD June 21st 2012
Protein C Deficiency (inherited blood clotting disorder) Diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis May '03
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I hope you are feeling better! Good to hear the baby is doing well. If you are still vomiting that much, I hope you can get Zofran and/or IV. This might sound obvious, but the longer you go feeling this way, the harder it is to recover - it basically is a cycle, where your nausea is intensified by the dehydration and you can get in a bad situation. During this (my second) pregnancy, I was able to keep it more under control because my OB was VERY proactive - put me on Zofran at first sign of nausea, and then admitted me to the hospital pretty fast when it became clear that I was dehydrated. My first pregnancy, I tried to "tough it out" and rely on Phenegran and Reglan for awhile, and I lost a ton of weight, was hospitalized longer, and had a rougher time getting back to feeling slightly ok.
Thank you ladies for all your advice. I am still feeling awful. I agree that this just feels like a vicious cycle. I feel that if they would just give me an IV that I might have a chance to bounce back. My dr office just doesn't seem concerned which is very annoying to me. There are 5 Drs and 3 midwives in the practice and every time I have talked to someone different. I hate to just go into the ER without their support but I am also tired of being told call if it gets worse. I don't have a lot of options for different drs in my area but today found a local practice that only has 3 drs and thought about switching. I just want more personal care (no modwifery practices in my area) and someone to take me seriously. There are a few days where I will only throw up maybe 10 times a day but I am still completely unable to function, showering is about the max energy I can expend. I am weak and feel like I am slowly withering away. I eat and drink as much as I can but nothing seems to help me keep it in. I think I may see if my husband can take me to this new dr to sign the paperwork to transfer my records...although I am worried it will be same thing different place when I switch.
I do not have personal experience in this area, but I agree with all the PP's who said you should just go to the ER. I'm not sure why your ob-gyn isn't concerned, but my doctor repeated and repeated that dehydration is the WORST thing I could do to my baby and that it increases the risk of miscarriage. He said I need AT LEAST 64 ounces of water per day for starters (that equals 8 8-ounce glasses). There is NO way you're getting anywhere close to that, and vomiting makes you quickly lose all of your water intake (and more). You have no energy, which is a common sign of dehydration.
I'm sure you know that besides dehydration being bad itself, it can lead to other things like UTI's and kidney problems.
So many of us women either are taught by our mothers or otherwise believe that we're causing "problems" or that we're bothering someone by seeking medical care. That is NOT true. I get that you don't want to offend your doctors (since there are few in your area anyway), but if I were you, I'd find a doctor who is compassionate and who gives you the personal attention and care you deserve.
Regardless of what you decide about the ob-gyn, I'd go to the ER. If the ER agrees you are "fine" this way, you don't have to tell your doctor you went. Your ob-gyn's office could be missing the big picture -- it is possible the various doctors and nurses haven't communicated or updated your chart? Maybe they erroneously assume you must be exaggerating? No matter what, calling on the phone can never replace the importance they should be placing on seeing you and examining you. I think as women we have very good instincts, and look how many people have said you should go to the ER - I think your instincts are right!
I'm so glad to hear that everything is fine with baby, but I wouldn't wait around just assuming that everything will stay fine. Your body is taking hit after hit after hit - how long can you keep that up?
All of us probably know all too well feeling of "it has to get better tomorrow" - but in my non-expert (but caring!) opinion, you shouldn't wait because it really sounds like you are overdue for an IV. Going to the ER almost guarantees you'll get an IV at the minimum. Not to be too gross or insensitive, but if you're vomiting when you go to the ER, you will be seen and treated IMMEDIATELY. (Maybe that is the key for your ob-gyn's office, too -- maybe you should go there when you are at the worst peak of your vomiting?) I just can't believe your ob-gyn's office isn't being more proactive?
I'm sure you'll get better, and I hope it's soon, but I still think you need an IV. Best wishes
I'm 36, DH is 34. We've been very happily married since 2009. We have 2 very small cats - they are our children!
1st BFP 1st cycle TTC 02/2011, but 04/2011 (& D&C 06/2011). (No heartbeat at 8-week appt, m/c at 11 weeks.)
2nd BFP 1st cycle TTC once allowed (08/2011-09/2011). Baby # 1 due 5/23/12 but C-section (due to prior abdominal myomectomy) will be approximately 5/16/12.
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