My name is Sally. I have three children: Rachel (born 1988), Timothy (born 1991), and Emilia (born 1997). I suffered from HG with all three pregnancies, before the HER Foundation began.
During my first pregnancy, I vomited day and night from 6 weeks until my 6th month then just felt extremely nauseous until I delivered. My OB gave me phenergan suppositories to help but to no avail. I ended up losing 25lbs.
When I became pregnant with my son, I thought it couldn’t possibly happen again, that it must have been a fluke. Nope. HG struck again. During this pregnancy, my OB ordered Phenergen injections 3x a day. My husband had to learn how to give shots, and I was continually bruised from all the injections which again did not help. I lost 22 lbs. My daughter was 3 1/2 at the time, and I could not care for her. My friends and family helped and delivered meals to my hubby because I couldn’t handle the sight/smell of food.
I waited 6 more years to build up the courage for my third and final pregnancy. This time, I was confined to bed with an IV drip of Phenergan 24/7 with nurses, family, and friends coming to the house to care for me and my other children while my husband went to work. I vomited for six months and had nausea for the last trimester. I lost 14 lbs.
With all three pregnancies the only time I got relief was when I was sleeping. I had no idea pregnancy could be SO AWFUL! Getting through each day and having to face another morning was so difficult. My friends and family could not understand because they all had wonderful pregnancies with very little sickness.
I had HG with all three pregnancies and lost 25lbs with first, 22 lbs with second. and 14 lbs with third and used Phenergan as suppositories, injections, and IV drip. I had many trips to hospital for IV fluids and vomited 24/7 from 6 weeks to 6 months with all three, then there was the lingering nausea until giving birth.
I had damage to my throat and stomach, severe heartburn, sores on lips from vomiting and dehydration, and premature labor that was stopped with steroids, and I suffered from depression/anxiety and Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome.
I’m 59 now and will never forget my experience with HG. Even my daughters, now 34 and 24, are afraid to ever get pregnant for fear of having HG. HG’s impact continues to be felt.
I would tell others that there is a support group of women who have been there. You are not alone, and the HER Foundation is here for you with information, education, and support.
~Sally
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