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Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Patient Stories |
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I am an Arkansas native and two time survivor of hyperemesis gravidarum. Hyperemesis Gravidarum is a severe form of pregnancy related nausea and vomitting. Unlike typical "morning sickness" which often subsides as the day progresses, nausea and vomiting for hyperemesis patients is constant, uncontrollable, and may often last throughout the entire pregnancy. The effects of this condition are both physically and emotionally devastating. During my most recent pregnancy, the condition was so severe that I required hospitalization on a weekly basis in order to receive intravenous fluids. Most hyperemesis patients can relate to the horror of being physically unable to drink even a small amount of water without experiencing a vicious episode of vomitting. Unable to hold down any amount of food or liquid, I lost 27 pounds within the first two months of the pregnancy. During this time, I also exhausted all sick leave available to me through my job, racked up an enormous amount of medical debt, became incapable of caring for my older child, experienced a great deal of depression, and basically lost all ability to function in my usual capacity. Other than regular intravenous fluids, my doctor could do very little to treat this condition. He first suggested a B6 vitamin and Unisom combination. This was ineffective. I was then prescribed Reglan and Phenergan. This was also ineffective. The last treatment option was a drug called Zofran. Zofran is a very expensive drug most commonly prescribed to Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Again, the Zofran (although over $60.00 PER PILL) was 100% ineffective. The final suggestion from the doctor was to undergo gall bladder surgery JUST IN CASE it could be contributing in some way to the nausea. The thought of the damage this condition could be inflicting on my unborn child was frightening. The possible effects of the illness alone were frightening enough. The trepidation of serious complications was multiplied by not knowing the potential effects of prescribed medication, and by the anxiety of considering the dangers of a possibly unnecessary surgery. I was well aware of the many testimonials of those who used marijuana to effectively treat nausea. Like most expecting mothers, avoiding substances that would put my child at risk was important to me. After researching marijuana use during pregnancy and learning that numerous studies have failed to find negative impacts on the fetus from marijuana exposure, I was still hesitant to smoke any amount of marijuana while pregnant. I am not an advocate of drug use during pregnancy. I do, however, condone treating hyperemesis gravidarum with medications that actually work. Marijuana proved to be the ONLY substance that offered any degree of relief. Shortly after making the decision to give this controversial treatment option a try, my wellbeing improved drastically. Able to hold down some fluids and basic foods with the help of marijuana, I was able to avoid the repeated hospital visits and became well enough to return to work and to my family. I later gave birth to a perfectly healthy and perfectly normal daughter. I do not regret my decision to medicate with marijuana to treat the hyperemesis gravidarum. I do, however, regret that the classification of marijuana as an illegal drug will prevent women who could benefit greatly from this medication from even considering it as a legitimate treatment option. I further regret that thanks to legislation such as Arkansas' Garrett's Law, women such as myself would automatically be presumed guilty of parental neglect under the state's civil code. The choice to use medication that will effectively facilitate noursihment for the pregnant body, and thus the fetus, should not be considered a criminal act. AMANDA Pine Bluff, Arkansas Other links of interest: Myths About Marijuana and Pregnancy
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