morning sickness - was my doctor unhelpful?

[lilymum]

Saw my doctor yesterday. It's my 4th pregnancy and the sickness is worse than it has been in the other 3 (although pretty bad with them). Doctor was sympathetic, but said there wasn't much she could do. I explained I wasn't eating, and she suggested taking a multi-vitamin. She also urged me to take my folic acid, despite my explaining that I can't keep a tablet down (can't even swallow it without gagging).

She didn't ask what I was eating, which is virtually nothing, or how frequently I am vomiting (4 times yesterday, usually at least twice a day), and didn't seem unduly concerned when I said that I had lost 9lbs in weight in about 12 days. She said I sounded slightly dehydrated and prescribed me a rehydrating fluid which she says is salty and is blackcurrant flavoured - not sure I'll be able to stomach it.

She didn't check my blood pressure, despite my telling her that I have fainted, and when I told her I was sleeping badly, suggested maybe I was slightly depressed - should like to know who wouldn't be feeling this ill!!

I wasn't expecting a miracle, but she didn't really offer anything practical that I could do/take, and having spoken to a friend this morning, whose sickness was less severe than mine, I feel a bit short-changed. She was offered anti-nausea tablets, and my doctor didn't even mention them. I'm usually a bit more assertive, but feel so weak and tired that I just meekly allowed her to pat me on the back and tell me to look after myself.

Am I being unreasonable?

do you want to take anti-nausea pills? Or at least find out the pros and cons? If so I would go back, perhaps to another doctor (or to the same one if you like her and think she will listen) and be explicit that you'd like to explore that option. Explain how bad you are feeling and that you are concerned for your health.
Presumably you know all about the various self help things like ginger and some kind of bracelet thingy that helps some people. Give the rehydration stuff a go - if you can't take it that at least gives you a 'reason' to go back to the dr. Did she ask you to come back for review if things got worse?

Go back again and again, I was dx'd with hyperemesis after puking constantly for 8 weeks, 20-30 times a day, would seriously recommend a homeopath if you know a good one, it did not cure my sickness but made it manageable, I was on brink if being hospitalised for rehyrdration, I lost over a stone in 3 weeks. I did not want to go to hospital so I sorted out a homeopath
The only foods I could tolerate at all, was
water, very cold only and not from tap.
tomato cup a soup very week and very hot...
Grated fresh pears, but to this day I cannot stomach pears as they remind me of how sick I felt. Also do buy the sea sickness bands, they REALLY help, I took mine off for the first time at 8 mths pregnant... they help make in manageable.
I refused anti nausea tablets, the ones you are usually prescribed are anti psychotics GO FIGURE!
Plus there is no proper testing performed on whether they may or may not affect your baby.
I truly sympathise, I dread another pregnancy...

If you are feeling constantly sick and being sick doesn't relieve it try the homeopathic remdey Ipeac (or even better see a homeopath).

Also think you need to go back and see a different GP, or the same one if possible. Someone in my antenatal group had hypermenesis in both pregnancies and needed to hospitalised for a bit. try the rehydration fluids- as elliot says you'll be able to tell her they don't work.

I had to have anti nausea pills for all four of my pgs's, although not as much with the last two, because I found acupressure wristbands helped a lot. The drug i was prescribed was metaclopromide I think. Worked wonders.

I do think your doctor has been unhelpful. Sounds like you are contending with a lot more than a bit of nausea!

I would go back if the rehydration stuff doesn't work and just say that you really need some more options from them as you can't manage it as it is. I don't have a helpful doctor either. I get the feeling I am being very unreasonable when I don't want to take an option that is actually no good to me!

Hope you feel better soon.

lilymu, you poor thing. Yes, she sounds unhelpful, are you up to seeing her again?

I saw my GP yesterday about blood in my vomit (I'm sick several times a day as well ) and she offered the anti-sickness pills to me, but I declined as I think it could be worse. I wear the seasickness bands all day too, sometimes forget they are there - I'm not sure they do anything, but I wear them anyways. A friend told me today she swore by ginger gum, that might be worth a try.
But if you have lost that much weight, I think you need to go back. Let us know how you get on.

Go Back definately!! I was amazed when I had my first antinatal appointment with my GP that she offered them! I mentioned that I had been feeling nauseous and she asked me if I wanted any! Hadn't even been sick! Think the fact that I'm a nurse (early morning start and foul smells!) might have swung that in my favour though! Turned them down, I said I only would if I started being sick.
Definately go back, make a fuss, at least get her to do some proper checks on you, exaggerate if necessary! Sod it, the more fuss you make the more they often listen to you, sad but true! If you still don't get anywhere then change GP and explain your reasons for doing so. There should be no need for you to suffer through your pregnancy with this, there are lots of options, natural, homeopathic and medical. Being sick is the worst, poor poor you. Hope everything gets sorted ASAP.

I would think twice about taking anti nausea pills unless you really really need them. I think it can be an unknown risk in the 1st trimester. I too had terrible nausea during both my pregnancies. I vomited 4-5 times a day for the first 4 months. Despite that I managed to gain lots of weight as I found that having something in my stomach at all times helped a little. I munched on crackers and other mild things all day long. Definitely take a daily vitamin that inclueds folic acid. I found that the children's chewable ones were the easiest to keep down. Try drinking plain water (room temp.) or caffeine free fizzy drinks. You might want to take another look at what you are eating and rethink your diet. I found that anything the least bit acidic would make me vomit. Even things like tomatoes. I drank a lot of non-acidic fruit juices. Sorry you are feeling so bad. In most cases (mine included) the nausea goes almost overnight at around 3 or 4 months.
If it's any consolation, when I went into my gp's to complain about the nausea and later the rash that I got all over my body and the skin growths and the cramps etc. etc, , the gp kept congratulating me on not having swollen ankles. As if that made all the other misery worthwhile.

Someone told me that (after being hospitalised for dehydration) she was offered the anti-nausea pills with the comment "But we don't know if they're really safe for the baby", so she struggled on without. That's why I took Vitamin B6, instead. It works for me (at least makes life manageable), and it was equally unclear if it was safe/unsafe. The thing is, you can go out and buy some today and give it a try (try 25 or 50mg, 2x/day)...

Know what you mean about complete lack of sympathy, though. I thought all GPs were like that? I had steady weight loss in 2 pregnancies (my BMI dropped to well nearly 19 at ~12 weeks pregnant), and near fainting episodes for first trimester, too. My first iron level test in 2nd pregnancy was a joke 10.3(I know this is not "normal" for me) because I was eating so little and so badly.

Thanks for all that. Sorry it's taken me an age to read it - just been too ill. I've been in bed for about 2 weeks. Have found that the only way to manage the nausea is by lying down and eating a little of whatever I want. Very fortunate in that my Mum has taken time out of her job to come and look after me and the girls. I've lost a stone in weight so far, and have been given iron tablets, as I am already anaemic but can't face the constipation so haven't taken any yet...

Anyway, Mum went back home on Saturday, so I'll see how I manage this week.

do not take iron tablets, go to health food shop and bbuy spa tone, it is mineral water style sachets, easy to drink with a little orange juice, more easily absorbed, boosted my iron fabulously easily, and no constipation.
I spent 3 months in bed too, I felt dire, every time I move the room revolved and I threw up, I lay on my tummy reading it was all I could do, took me 3 hours to eat half a slice of toast and drink tea. I would be ok 4-7pm then bad again once I smelt dinner on the go.
Good luck...

MANY SYMPATHIES OFF ME TOO. I had horrendous morning sickness with my daughter and the weight fell off me too. My GP was very similar to yours Im afraid