When Morning Sickness Goes Haywire

Everyone has heard of morning sickness. If you have ever had to go through it then you know how bad it can get. With my first pregnancy I had very little morning sickness. So, it was a shock to me to be so intensely sick with my second pregnancy. I kept telling myself it's just morning sickness get a grip on yourself. But something just was not right. I would wake up every morning feeling like I was half dead. I would regurgitate anything that I had eaten, and I do mean anything. Even water was not capable of staying down. I also felt so drained. I literally had to crawl around the house to get from room to room. That is how weak I was. And I was dropping weight rapidly.

Does this sound abnormal to you? Well, it should. These are just a few of the symptoms of Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Hyperemesis Gravidarum is basically severe morning sickness so severe that it could cost you your life. Many people have never heard of this medical condition and I was one of them. I have decided to educate others about it.

Some of the symptoms to look out for are:

• Anemia
• Body odor (from rapid fat loss & ketosis)
• Confusion
• Decreased urination
• Dehydration
• Dry, furry tongue
• Excessive salivation
• Extreme fatigue
• Fainting or dizziness
• Food aversions
• Headache
• Hypersensitive gag reflex
• Increased sense of smell
• Intolerance to motion/noise/light
• Jaundice
• Pale, waxy, dry skin
• Rapid heart rate
• Rapid weight loss of 5% or more (from pre-pregnancy weight)
• Secondary anxiety/depression
• Vomiting of mucus, bile or blood

Gravidarum is serious but it can be overcome. Be on the look out for the warning signs and call your physician immediately if you think you may be experiencing symptoms.

The thing that was most frustrating for me was that so many of the people around me felt that I was faking this illness. They did not believe that I was sick enough to be hospitalized. When I finally was admitted in the hospital I was relieved. The staff there gave me the best treatments available and I recovered quickly. I was given medicine and fluids by I.V. for a few days. Then I was able to eat chicken broth and drink clear fluids. Soon I was well enough to go home. The doctor prescribed anti-nausea pills that were a truly a blessing. Recovery can take months. You have to remember to rest well, and eat light foods. Avoid spicy and/or greasy foods that could irritate your digestive system. Gas producing foods should also be avoided. Gatorade really helped me because it provided electrolytes that I badly needed. If you eat a food that upsets your stomach don't be discouraged because now you know that you are unable to tolerate that particular food.

Foods that helped me during my agony:

• Sprite soda
• Ginger tea - this works wonders!
• Gatorade
• Crackers
• Chicken Broth
• Jell-O
• Multivitamins

Thousands of women suffer in silence everyday from this debilitating illness. Hyperemesis is a terrible ordeal to go through but it can be overcome with medicine, modification of diet, rest, and support from loved ones.