Welcome!

[MamaLily]

Edited to add: Teddi - I just re-read this post and realized it's way too long and emotional. I think hearing about your problems w/your insurance company brought back too many memories of my own when I had HG. Sorry! I was just going to delete this message, but thought I'd leave it - in case one or two suggestions might help. Good luck! - Anna

_________________________

Teddi -

I can't tell you how angry this makes me! It's just ridiculous that the company you pay to insure you won't cover what you need. It's not responsible of them to disregard the health of the patients they insure.

Sorry for that rant. I also had problems with my insurance company (Pacificare) while I had HG. I lived in CA when the HG started, and since my mother also had HG, she immediately flew me to Utah so that she could help me. Little did we know how severely I would be sick. Pacificare fought me on every single thing...IVs, home health, hospital bills, NG tube supplies, etc. It was crazy. I understand that they didn't want to cover those things in another state. And it was probably more expensive for them. But there was no way I could have flown back to CA. It just wasn't an option. And my perinatologist agreed with me. How do you fly when you have a feeding tube in your nose? And when you throw up just lifting your head off the pillow? Pacificare in the end was wonderful - they covered everything. I was grateful! But it was such a pain to fight for everything.

Here are my suggestions:

1 - Find an advocate. Maybe it's your dh, or your mom, or your sister, or your friend. Someone who understands HG and is willing to do whatever it takes to get you what you need. Frankly, if you want me to be your advocate, I'm more than willing. Someone closer to you is obviously better, but if you don't have anyone, e-mail me and I'll do what I can. I'm serious! You need another person (who isn't going through HG) to fight for you. My mom was my advocate. She was amazing and I know I can never really repay her for all that she did for me (although giving having her first grandchild definitely helped even the score!).

2 - Talk with Kaiser. I know that they must have Zofran and there must be a way to get it for you. It's just ridiculous for your doctor to say, "we don't have zofran any more." Ridiculous and insulting! If you have to call Kaiser and threaten a lawsuit, do it. I'm not kidding. Insurance companies fear lawsuits more than anything, because one person who sues can easily turn into a class action. If you know a lawyer, possibly consult with him/her.

3 - Find a new doctor. I realize the system is definitely flawed and you don't want to end up as a "problem patient." But your health and the health of your baby is worth doing whatever it takes to get the care you need. Does your hospital have a Maternal/Fetal Medicine department? Talk with them - the doctors there are usu better trained to care for HG patients. If I were a physician and a patient came into my care because she wasn't taken care of elsewhere, I don't think I would mind the fact that she was a "problem patient." If someone is sick, she is sick. And some doctors are good about HG and others just aren't. If it is going to take a specialist to get zofran, then find a specialist! Are they telling chemo patients that zofran is not available? I think maybe you just need to find the right doctor!

I am the moderator of the "Find a Physician" forum. And I have found some great ways to search for doctors. If you'll let me know the city where you live and the hospital where you want to be seen, I can hopefully find a more aggressive, proactive doctor who is willing to do what it takes for you to feel better.

Hang in there! You just shouldn't have to fight with insurance companies when you are already fighting with HG. Please e-mail me or let me know what I can do to help. I'm sorry if I've been overly dramatic or if I've overstepped any boundaries...I just want you to make it through this pregnancy with as much help as possible. And the treatment you are getting (or NOT getting) is crazy.

Please let me know what I can do...

- Anna

[MamaLily]

Carolyn -

I'm sorry to hear about your frustrating appt. Maybe the doctor has good reasons that I don't know about, but it seems silly to me that you have to relapse completely before you can return to the steroids. Frustrating!

Hang in there...I'll be hoping that the relapse doesn't come!

- Anna

[Ivydragon]

Teddi,

It just sounds so awful. You've got to try to talk to your Dr. She can't let you suffer this way. Obviously she's more afraid of the consequences for herself than treating you fairly as a patient, and that simply doesn't sound like a Dr. who wanted to practice medicine to help people to me.

Have you asked your Dr. exactly what she expects you to do without the Zofran?

How far are you along now? I wonder what Kaiser would say about steroids. They ARE much more inexpensive.

The B6/Unisom details are in the Zofran/B6/Unisom post in this forum. Don't hesitate to post after it if you need clarification. Maybe one of these lesser options might help curb this enough for you.

I'm so sorry for what this Drs. actions will bring upon you. There's just no way you will be skating through this pregnancy, and her decisions not to prescribe you Zofran will cost you - emotionally and physically. We'll do what we can to help.

So help me, they better not prescribe things that are more risky to your fetus because they don't want to fork out the money for Zofran!

Hugs, Andy

[mamabear]

Where are you from, do you have a good Dr? California, and I have a good midwife. My HG was bad so she referred me to a doctor. He is ok, he takes it seriously.

What meds are you currently on, what has been tried in the past, and what doses are you on. Are they working - are you still vomiting, how nauseas are you?
Zofran 24 Mg a day. For 1 week. Then I gradually stopped because I wasnt noticing a difference with or without it. I vomit about once a day, but fight down vomitting an additional 3 times a day (you know what I mean, its in your throat, your mouth is watering...but you just hold it in somehow). I think about vomitting 20 times a day. I am nauseas constantly.

How far along are you? When are you due? 10 weeks, due 1/1/05.

What are you able to tolerate as far as liquids and solids go? I can eat a little starchy things (rice, bland potatoes, macaroni) in small amounts. Then I struggle to keep it down. I have to constantly change what I eat. Once I vomit something I cant eat it again. Its harder to keep liquids down, but I am not dehydrated so I am doing ok.

Do you have supportive help around you?
My husband was losing it because he works full time and we have a 19 mos old toddler, and I am basically bed ridden. I have had to call in sick to work, I am on my 5th week of sick leave. Its very stressful financially since I was the primary earner. I recently flew my mom in from out of state and that has helped a lot.


My questions is regarding the Zofran. I am vomitting the same with and without it (1 time a day) and it doesnt help the 24 hour a day nausea. I am not dehydrated, so I am not threatened with hospitalization at this point. I think (HOPE) I am on the way off of HG as it stopped completely last time when I was about 16 weeks pregnant, and I had absolutely no nausea after that. Would there be any benefit to continuing Zofran?

How much Unisom & b6 do you guys take for the nausea?

Thanks all, it helps to know Im not the only one out there with HG. Although my friends & family like to say that they understand because they had "morning sickness too", as we HG ladies know, morning sickness is NOT HG.

[teddi]

Thank you both for your suggestions.

I think what I could do is ask for a referral to the high risk OB. I am not sure exactly why (I assume is was the HG) but I was eventually given a referral to one in my last preg. Perhaps he has more lattitude and/or willingness to to prescribe Zofran. It's not at the same facility, the perinatology dept. is a few cities over, but it's closer to my mother's house.

On a good note, I managed to keep my own over the weekend. I didn't vomit that much, and I actually ate a little solids too. However, even my good days don't seem to be enough to stop the dehydration, just stall it. I'm really going to push fluids today, but my urine this morning showed a high spec. gravity and moderate ketones, and blood, again. =(

RE: steriods. I tried them last time, and I really had a difficult time with the side effects- insomnia & extreme moodiness/depression. I would do it as a last resort of last resorts only. Honestly, if I became "super bitch" again from the Prednisone...I don't know the impact it would have on my husband. Sometimes he's helpful, but a sometimes he's a real jerk.

We discussed it at LENGTH before I got pregnant, he swore he wouldn't fall into the pattern he did last time. And he still acts that way. Not all the time, but when he gets stressed, he'll act out (*sigh* like a child). It was so not helpful to hear at the Pharmacy, in public, how he was "having 2nd thoughts about this pregnancy" even though it's TOO LATE! Then he accused me of cohercing him into doing this again (when he asked for over a year!). He says that this stresses him out. I'm sure it does. But I guess he just doesn't get it- it doesn't help! And he can apologize 50 times after he says things, but it doesn't make me trust him. I can't see how adding a drug induced bad state of mind would help this.

Also, what about my son? He's home with me while I am home. I'd hate for me to act badly or be in a foul mood around him or depressed. Last Friday, i actually went to the hospital, then went to my work, then to the store. By the time we hit Target I was so exhausted! It was so hard to not snap at my son for just acting like a 4 yr old. It's not fair to him. All I could do was cry when I got home, and I'm sure it bothers him.

I just don't think steroids are a good idea. I'd have to lose another 25 lbs before I'd consider it. I also think that it was the reason my CMV infection happened, though I don't know it for sure.

Teddi

[Ivydragon]

MamaBear,

Welcome to the board!

You know, if you didn't notice any improvement of your nausea or vomiting on the Zofran, and ESPECIALLY didn't notice a worsening of your symptoms at 10 weeks coming off Zofran, then clearly you must be like immune or something to how this drug works. No reason to keep taking it.

Are you watching your dehydration with urine sticks to measure ketones to make sure you aren't dehydrated? Ketones aren't a fool proof method, but they are the best we have for that.

I'm assuming you have tried Phenergan or Reglan? Esp. this being your 2nd pg. . .

There is a forum for 1st trimester gals, and in there is a post all about B6/Unisom/Zofran that you can read up on, gives you all the info on B6/Unisom you'd need to discuss this with your Dr.

Most HGers peak at 12/13 weeks, so your next few weeks will likely be rough, with improvement after that. If you try the B6/Unisom w/o much result, you might be interested in B6/Meclizine. I'll see you in the 1st tri. folder. I moderate there, too.

Hugs, Andy

[Ivydragon]

Teddi,

I can see why you do not wish to pursue steroids. Perhaps if it looks like you'll be faced with that possibility in the future you could ask to see if different steroids make you react the same in a similar way. I have heard of several different ones being prescribed for HG.

Please let me know how it goes in asking for a referral for the Perinatologist. Looks like obtaining Zofran is your last hope in getting through this without going to a PICC or NG tube. I'm afraid you'll simply keep sliding backwards into the HG pit w/o something adequate enough to halt the progress of HG.

Hugs, Andy

[frizzyqueen]

Where are you from, do you have a good Dr? I'm in Ohio and I'm hoping my doctor is good have an appointment with her in three days. She was nice during my pap smears but I don't see her much till now. Hopefully she'll know about hyperemesis or is willing to try her hardest to make this easier than my last two pregnancies.

What meds are you currently on, what has been tried in the past, and what doses are you on. Are they working - are you still vomiting, how nauseas are you? Nothing yet. Took some phenergin for a brief hospital stay with IV fluids already. Hoping find out more info here so I'm prepared to ask for whatever works

How far along are you? By my estimation about 5 weeks When are you due? that would put me due in January right or Feb? I'm not sure. I'm hopeless since I wasn't trying to get pregnant AT ALL and didn't discover I was pregnant until I was hospitalized to rehydrate. They did a urine test and surprise!!

What are you able to tolerate as far as liquids and solids go? Well before this hospitalization (where I found out I was pregnant LOL) I was eating normal foods now I'm eating bland stuff and liquids and staying away from things that expand a ton in my stomach since I swear they are the worst things to throw up ever because they make you feel like you're choking.

Do you have supportive help around you? My hubby is the best ever!!

Do you have a past termination or miscarriage - those emotions do come into play in the first trimester. no I was threatened with a therapeutic termination with Jonas (my oldest) if I didn't get any better. Like this was going to make me stress about not keeping food down any less. Changed doctors as soon as I got out of the hospital. I wanted someone who thought that maybe this extreme measure wasn't what it was a LAST resort not a threat for a 19 year old pregnant with her first child with hyperemesis like I was going to snap out of it. SHEESH

Do you have any other children you are caring for or worrying about? Have 2 children Jonas 09/92 and Thora 10/97

Are you trying to work? nope


Will give a brief history also. With Jonas had several hospitalizations for rehydration and preterm labor. Have distonic (sp?) reactions to Compazine and Reglen ; Benadryl and Phenergen don't really work for me. Had home health care before hospitalized until Delivery day due to preterm labor and hyperemesis issues (Jonas was born at 34 weeks). With my daughter Thora I took Phenergen and one other drug whose name escapes me at the moment which didn't really work. Had an NG tube from 4 months on and it actually helped some. Wasn't hospitalized as much for hydration and it did help not having to swallow smell or look at food when I was ill. Of course once a cycle began all I could do was throw up my NG tube a bunch of times and get it reinserted until the cycle ended. I've noticed my hyperemesis cycles I'll throw up SEVERELY for about a week and then recover for a week to three weeks which is the longest I've gone between bouts. I'm hoping when I see my OB/GYN in three days and after reading about some meds on this board I'll be able to go in informed about Zofran (which I found out from my friend who also had hyperemesis her first and second pregnancies) and other meds that might help me out this time. It's been so long and I want to know what is currently helping ladies with hyperemesis.

Janet~
Jonas 09/92
Thora 10/97

[Ivydragon]

Welcome!

I was a 19-yr.-old, pg with my first child too, except I'm three years younger than you, so mine was born in '95, but our daughters were only born a month apart.

You're not the first HGer to face a surprise pg. So, you're not alone there. There is a post in this forum all about B6/Unisom/Zofran that is very helpful in understand these drugs. The HER website here is full of info. Be sure to read all about your drug options, especially about steroids. Feel free to ask lots of questions. Maybe we can help figure out a way to keep you from relapsing so often.

Huge Hugs, and congratulations on the pg!

Andy

[koolaidNcookiesmom]

Where are you from, do you have a good Dr? I am from Colorado. I have a great dr who is doing everything possible to help me!

What meds are you currently on, what has been tried in the past, and what doses are you on. Are they working - are you still vomiting, how nauseas are you? I am currently on 4mg of Zofran, but will be moved up to 8 soon! I take the odt. It's not really working, but I feel a little bit better. I have not vomited in 3 days (yeah) and my nausea is horrible! I was on phenagran before, but that didn't work at all!

How far along are you? When are you due? I think I'm 10wks, due January 15, 2005, but my dr changed that to 8wks, and due 1/28/05 (my wedding anniversary).

What are you able to tolerate as far as liquids and solids go? Right now I am eating light non starchy foods. I have been on a clear liquids diet for 3 days (ordered by dr).

Do you have supportive help around you? My husband is really supportive, but my mom thinks I'm making it up, so it's still kind of tough.

Do you have a past termination or miscarriage - those emotions do come into play in the first trimester. No.

Do you have any other children you are caring for or worrying about? I have a wonderful 16 month old girl. I had hg when I was pg with her also (but it was so much easier when I could nap whenever I wanted to and not have to worry about a baby, but I love her so much)!

Are you trying to work? I was, but my husband told me I could quit, so I did!

[Ivydragon]

Hi! Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Thanks for all the detail in your message!

You say your Zofran isn't working, but you're not vomiting as much? Sounds like it really IS working, just not as effective as you would like it to be. Read the Zofran/B6/Unisom post if you haven't at the top of this forum. Combinations of drugs often work better than Zofran alone. Zofran is notorious for leaving left over nausea for the HGer to deal with.

There is a great area here on this website all for family and friends, refer your mom here.

Lots of us have gone on to that 2nd HG pg putting us in a position to care for a toddler or older child when we are so ill. If you need suggestions of how to cope better, just let us know.

Try to stay hydrated. Small frequent meals, liquids and solids separate may help w/ your nausea when you're allowed solids again.

Start a message strain all about you so we can keep track of you!

Hugs, Andy

[lcastillo22]

Where are you from, do you have a good Dr?
Hi! I'm from Washington State and have been seeing a friendly midwife at a birth center.

What meds are you currently on, what has been tried in the past, and what doses are you on. Are they working - are you still vomiting, how nauseas are you?
I have been taking Promethazine suppositories for the past two weeks. The first time I went to the ER because I couldn't keep anything down they gave me Reglan plus a few extra pills to last 3 days. I took those but felt irritable and anxious on the Reglan. The next time I went to the ER for fluids about a week later I asked for something different and that's when they gave me Phenergan and the suppositories. So for the medicine works great and I have been able to gain back most of the 12 pounds I lost and eat normally. I am taking Flintstone Complete vitamins because I am scared of what will happen if I swallow my elephant prenatal. I wasn't able to go outside for a long time, and still get tired easily from a walk--like the sun is draining me dry!

How far along are you? When are you due?
I am about 10 or 11 weeks--due on February 19, 2005

What are you able to tolerate as far as liquids and solids go?
I started throwing up and feeling horrible around 6 weeks. I gradually got so dehydrated I couldn't even hold ice or even little sips of water down--ugh, I feel like crying when I think back on it.

Do you have supportive help around you?
My husband is sitting around waiting for his MBA program to start so he has been taking care of me the whole time. We live with my parents so they help out a lot too (but not when my dad cooks with onions!).

Do you have a past termination or miscarriage - those emotions do come into play in the first trimester.
No, this is my first pregancy.


Are you trying to work?
No way. I would have quit a long time ago if I was working. I am in awe of anyone who can hold down a job.

I guess I've got it easy compared to some of the women who post here--hopefully I'll have the strength and courage to stop taking the medicine soon. I feel like if I throw up even once I won't be able to stop!
Thanks so much for being here, I feel better already.
Liane

[Ivydragon]

Hi, and welcome! Congratulations on your pregnancy. You sound much like my first pg.

I am glad things are going better and that you are doing well on the Promethazine suppositories. Your reaction to Reglan is very common among HGers, and is a standard adverse reaction to the drug. Most of us hate Reglan, although when it does work, and doesn't provoke an adverse reaction it seems to be a good drug.

I am glad you have support. Don't expect yourself to be better overnight. Already being able to gain back so much of your weight by 11 weeks is really fortunate. You probably still have a rough few weeks, and then you'll notice small improvements. You really have to give yourself time to work your energy back up.

Weaning your meds isn't about strength, or courage, either, it's about how strong the HG is, and what it takes to keep you eating and drinking. Taking the Flintstone vitamins are a good idea when you can't handle your prenatal, although you should know that it is you, and not your baby that will be depleted if you cannot tolerate any vitamins at all. The baby would take from your stores in your body.

Has your midwife discussed B6/Unisom with you? It is available over the counter, and may help you to wean off of the promethezine more quickly. Many of us continue to vomit once we start, and your fear of starting the cycle again is one we all share, and it is wise to try to avoid it. Wean your drugs slowly, by increasing the time between doses as you are able (and when feeling much better), but do not just quit taking it, it can prove disastrous to not listen carefully to your body.

Huge hugs and feel free to ask lots of questions. Read the sticky note all about B6/Unisom/Zofran in the First trimester forum. You probably will not need Zofran (which is good ~ constipation is the horrible side effect), but the B6/Unisom info could be valuable for you to discuss w/ your midwife.

So, where in Washington are you?!? There's an HGer in Spokane, and I am just over the border from Spokane in Idaho! Always nice to know there's another HGer in the Pacific Northwest.

Andy

[lcastillo22]

Hi Andy--thanks for all your advice. I have 2 more refills of the Promethazine so I think I will use those for now. I can usually get by with one before I go to sleep, unless I overexert myself and go outside to the store in the summer heat. I have found that I really need to be careful when I feel good, because it usually means I will do something stupid like wash the car and then the next day be totally fried. I'll talk to my midwife about the B6/Unisom at my next visit.

My mom sometimes makes me feel bad b/c I am taking medicine, since she suffered so much with my brother and I. Reading posts from other women and learning more about HG has helped me to realize it's okay to ask for help, and to do everything possible to avoid the vicious cycle of vomiting and dehydration.

I live in Mukilteo, Washington, near Everett. It must be so hot where you are! Can't wait until cooler weather--I have to wait until around 9pm until the sun goes down before I can go out!
Thanks again,
Liane

[Ivydragon]

It has been so hot! Hotter than I usually can stand, and I try to figure out how to stay in the basement during the afternoons - except that so far it's unfinished, and not exactly fun, lol.

Yeah, every HGer learns to be careful the hard way. Actually, hearing that you are washing the car on a good day is so exciting - ok, so you shouldn't have, and it was overdoing it, and you probably felt horrible for the next several days, but usually I'd hear of women trying to do much less and relapsing. It gives a clear indication of exactly how bad off you are. You're actually doing alright. Try to look for less adventurous goals, and be happy with small progress until you feel much better for a month or two. Heat, fatigue, worry, and non HG illness are the biggest stresses triggoring a relapse, other than med changes, that is.

I hope it cools down for you, soon. Please do not worry about your baby. There are meds that are not ok in pg, but you're on a med that is amazingly common for HG. My Phenergan babes are now 9 and 6 1/2, and my 9 year old has "nearly" outgrown me (6-8 inches is really close in his mind). Both of them are completely healthy, and it is rare for there to be birth defects, and I haven't heard of any related to the meds administered during HG.

Huge hugs, and rest assured that being able to eat and drink means that you can sustain the pg, and taking your med actually helps you more than hurting you or the baby.

Andy