Nausea Question

[doulagrl]

Hello,

I hope you don't mind me posting here as I'm still waiting for diagnosis of celiac disease. I'm 26wks pregnant and about 8wks ago I decided to go gluten free because I had so many symptoms of gluten intolerence including multiple miscarriages and the baby I'm now carrying has a cleft lip which maybe due to malabsorption of folic acid in early pregnancy During my last pregnancy (I have a 2.5 yr old son) I vomited amost non-stop all the way through, was diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidum and barely managed to stay out of the hospital due to dehydration and weight loss (14lbs in under a week at one point) This pregnancy started out the same, throwing up 8-10 times a day, massive weight loss, but when I cut out the gluten at 18wks the vomiting suddenly stopped. I thought this was coincidence since I was now in my second trimester but when I added wheat in last week to see if my other symptoms would return I suddenly started throwing up 2-3 times a day again. Did anyone else with severe nausea problems decide to go gluten free mid-pregnancy and see this kind of improvement. I can't believe it is just coincidence since adding gluten back in is the only thing that has changed. Thanks for any advice you can give.

Melody

[almostnrn]

Melody,

I'd stay gluten free if I were you! If for no other reason than it seems to alleviate the vomiting for now. A gluten-free diet is often much healthier than a regular diet anyways as we are forced to eat more natural foods. I can't offer any advice because I never experienced vomiting when I was pregnant. I hope you continue to feel better! Good luck with your last few months!!

[mart]

Melody, sorry about your hyperemisis gravidarium. I had the same thing with my first pregnancy and was fed through a central line in a hospital all the way until my second trimester. What a nightmare! Few people understand how horrible this condition is. I remember wishing I would die when I had this. But congratulations! You were quite brave to go for a second child after having experienced it during your first pregnancy!

I don't know if cutting out gluten stopped your vomiting, but if you truly had hyperemisis gravidarium, I seriously doubt it did. This condition is caused by an excess of HCG (the pregnancy hormone). It usually levels out at or about the beginning of the second trimester, which is where you are at now. If you start to vomit when you eat gluten now, well then it would seem to me that the cause of your vomiting is the gluten and not hyperemisis. I still encourage you, however, to remain gluten-free if you suspect you have Celiac or any other gluten sensitivity.

I'm sorry to hear about the baby's cleft palate. You know, they can repair that beautifully now, so don't let this news bring you down in any way or prevent you from getting excited about your new blessed blundle of joy.

I'm glad you're feeling better and wish you a healthy remainder of pregnancy.

[doulagrl]

Hey Mart,

I'm so sorry you had such severe HG with your pregnancy. I was told by my midwife that the diagnosis of HG is made based on the symptoms of severe vomiting but can have a variety of causes, including but not limited to excess HcG. The fact that many of the anti-nausea drugs are actually antihistamines has led some researchers to believe that HG is some people is an allergic type reaction. I know for the 30+ weeks I was vomiting I felt like I had bad case of food poisoning. Some recent studies done at a major university on rats have found that repeated miscarriage can be caused by an immune responder being activated in pregnancy and attacking the lining of the uterus in early pregnancy causing low progesterone and subsequent miscarriage. Since I had to take progesterone for the firsts 12wks with both babies in order to be able to carry the pregnancy we wondered if perhaps my body was simply continuing an immune response to the pregnancy. Now I wonder if the immune response had nothing to do with the baby and was simply a heightened reaction to gluten brought on by the pregnancy which caused my HG symptoms. Interestingly I have a friend who has a very similar health history to me. We both had recurring mono infections and she had HG requiring repeated hospitilization with her pregnancy. Two years later she was diagnosed as a celiac. I just wonder if she was also having a gluten reaction in her pregnancy that caused her to be so ill. I wish someone out there would do some more research on the subject since the various causes of HG are still such a mystery. Even if a small percentage of HG sufferers were actually having a gluten reaction what a difference it would make if the symptoms could be alleviated by simply going gluten free.

Melody

[i don't know if cutting out gluten stopped your vomiting, but if you truly had hyperemisis gravidarium, I seriously doubt it did. This condition is caused by an excess of HCG (the pregnancy hormone). It usually levels out at or about the beginning of the second trimester, which is where you are at now. If you start to vomit when you eat gluten now, well then it would seem to me that the cause of your vomiting is the gluten and not hyperemisis. I still encourage you, however, to remain gluten-free if you suspect you have Celiac or any other gluten sensitivity.]

[twtums]

Wow, that's very interesting! I'm so glad that you are feeling better and able to know what to do to prevent all the vomiting. It makes me wonder about my first trimester, I never threw up (except for when I had the stomach flu) and the nausea wasn't that bad-maybe being gluten-free had something to do with it?

So sorry to hear about the cleft lip.

[gfkristen]

I am pregnant with my third child and with my first two pregnancies, I was sick throughout the first trimester. I was diagnosed with gluten intolerance (not developed into celiac yet) and have completely cut out all gluten. This pregnancy is soooo different. I have no nausea and think that it must be a result of my gluten free diet. It's the only thing that's changed in my life since the last two pregnancies. I think we're on to something!

[Dev]

Nausea can be a sign of thirst. Try drinking more water, and if you're afraid of tap water, get a good filter (like Aquasana). It's cheaper in the long run than bottled water, and also some bottled waters contain arsenic and other stuff like that (not saying tap water doesn't have its bad stuff.. but it can be filtered out)

[imagine22]

that is fantastic that the gluten free diet has helped with hyperemesis! it gives me hope to have another go around. let us know if you are celiac.

Sorry re cleft lip, my brother was born with a cleft palate probably as my mother was undiagnosed celiac at the time (he shows no ill effects as an adult though). best wishes!

(Dev the problem with hyperemesis is you cant keep water down - or anything for that matter )

[Ursa Major]

I was awfully sick with nausea, weakness and no energy at all (I don't vomit, though, sometimes I wished I would) for the full nine months with each of my five children, and had eight miscarriages. I am very sure now that the reason was celiac disease. It's amazing that all my children are healthy, after all that.

I don't know how bad the cleft lip on your baby is. But I've done some research on cleft lip once, and looked at before and after pictures. And amazingly, these days they can repair even the worst cases so beautifully, that you can hardly tell! Those kids grow up to be perfectly healthy and happy. I hope everything goes well.

[slw6]

Nausea can be a sign of thirst. Try drinking more water, and if you're afraid of tap water, get a good filter (like Aquasana). It's cheaper in the long run than bottled water, and also some bottled waters contain arsenic and other stuff like that (not saying tap water doesn't have its bad stuff.. but it can be filtered out)

Someone with hyperemesis gravadarium coined a term "crackered". It's when someone who has no clue what you're going through offers you a simple remedy. When someone does that, I usually feel very alienated and alone. Pregnancy related hyperemesis is the worst experience of my entire life and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. This post is so offensive to some of us who've experienced it that I would even recommend the moderator please delete it.

[Cashee]

Someone with hyperemesis gravadarium coined a term "crackered". It's when someone who has no clue what you're going through offers you a simple remedy. When someone does that, I usually feel very alienated and alone. Pregnancy related hyperemesis is the worst experience of my entire life and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. This post is so offensive to some of us who've experienced it that I would even recommend the moderator please delete it.

I agree! Very well put. This person totally crackered that lady. As someone who suffered through HG for a whole pregnancy, I take offense too.

This is almost like telling someone who has cancer that they can control their health by diet or drinking water alone. Your remark, while probably well intentioned was ignorant and cruel.

[Cashee]

Hello,

I hope you don't mind me posting here as I'm still waiting for diagnosis of celiac disease. I'm 26wks pregnant and about 8wks ago I decided to go gluten free because I had so many symptoms of gluten intolerence including multiple miscarriages and the baby I'm now carrying has a cleft lip which maybe due to malabsorption of folic acid in early pregnancy During my last pregnancy (I have a 2.5 yr old son) I vomited amost non-stop all the way through, was diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidum and barely managed to stay out of the hospital due to dehydration and weight loss (14lbs in under a week at one point) This pregnancy started out the same, throwing up 8-10 times a day, massive weight loss, but when I cut out the gluten at 18wks the vomiting suddenly stopped. I thought this was coincidence since I was now in my second trimester but when I added wheat in last week to see if my other symptoms would return I suddenly started throwing up 2-3 times a day again. Did anyone else with severe nausea problems decide to go gluten free mid-pregnancy and see this kind of improvement. I can't believe it is just coincidence since adding gluten back in is the only thing that has changed. Thanks for any advice you can give.

Melody

Hi Melody,

I suffered through HG for my whole pregnancy. Now over 2 years later, my Dr. thinks I might have Celiac Disease and I have probably been suffering from it for years without knowing what the heck is wrong with me.

I really would not be shocked if HG and Celiac Disease are found to have a link.

I'm having my blood tests done next week. I might stop by to let you know if I do indeed have Celiac Disease.

[little00blondie]

Hey there! I have a similar story to you... Pregnancy basically kicked off my full blown celiac symptoms (had symptoms throughout childhood, but not fully triggered or extreme). I was in an out of the hospital the whole pregnancy because of vomiting and weakness, and even had a midwife tell me to stop starving my baby because I wasn't putting on weight (even thought I swore up and down I was eating really well!) Everyone thought I was crazy. Near the end of my pregnancy I finally put on some weight because my body naturally starting craving gluten-free foods (which I only realize looking back now)- and had a healthy baby girl.... Thank goodness!

However, the year after her birth things only got worse. I had all my celiac symptoms, but had doctors tell me it was post-partum depression (???) or stress from a new child (?!?!?) Luckily, after all of that time, we now know what it is- and thank goodness. Because had I not been diagnosed, I may never have seen the symptoms in my daughter when she started getting sick.

I look forward to the next (hopeful) pregnancy (we're trying again this summer!!)- because I truly think that without gluten in my body- the vomiting, sickness, and overall misery will be a LOT better. I bet you will feel the same! So stick to your guns, trust your body, and don't let any doctor or person sway you otherwise. Your body is telling you what it can and cannot handle... and you're not crazy, because I had the same situation! : ) Take care, and congrats on that baby!!!

[SDW]

Hello,

I hope you don't mind me posting here as I'm still waiting for diagnosis of celiac disease. I'm 26wks pregnant and about 8wks ago I decided to go gluten free because I had so many symptoms of gluten intolerence including multiple miscarriages and the baby I'm now carrying has a cleft lip which maybe due to malabsorption of folic acid in early pregnancy During my last pregnancy (I have a 2.5 yr old son) I vomited amost non-stop all the way through, was diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidum and barely managed to stay out of the hospital due to dehydration and weight loss (14lbs in under a week at one point) This pregnancy started out the same, throwing up 8-10 times a day, massive weight loss, but when I cut out the gluten at 18wks the vomiting suddenly stopped. I thought this was coincidence since I was now in my second trimester but when I added wheat in last week to see if my other symptoms would return I suddenly started throwing up 2-3 times a day again. Did anyone else with severe nausea problems decide to go gluten free mid-pregnancy and see this kind of improvement. I can't believe it is just coincidence since adding gluten back in is the only thing that has changed. Thanks for any advice you can give.

Melody

My experience is that I didn't discover I had a gluten allergy until I became so sick with my first pregnancy that I developed pre-eclampsia and was forced to abort for my life. I was extremely sick with nausea, vomiting, bloating, pain, and I even developed edema in my lungs and heart causing a cough that earned me the name of "Typhoid Mary" at my job. The more nutrition you can keep down and the calmer you can keep your body is ultimately better for your baby. If removing gluten stops your vomiting then by all means stop eating gluten. You will be healthier because your food will be of higher quality and because you will not feel or be sick and this will reduce your chances of an elevated blood pressure due to sickness.

I've been gluten free since discovering the symptoms on my own and giving the info to my doctor for diagnosis in February of 2007. We are now trying to get pregnant again so good luck with your new baby and keep your chin up!

[jsjewels]

Hey Ladies,

I am 10 weeks prego and miserable. I had sensitivities to wheat and dairy before pregnancy but am now completely messed up by gluten. I dont' know if I have celiac but I am so discouraged. I am working hard to not eat gluten free but it's a challenged to figure out meals and plan. Dont' get me wrong I am not eating gluten I just get discouraged and that combined with nausea and indigestion doesn't go well. I am not bad off like the other women where I am throwing up non-stop but so often I am so sick I just feel like I can't function. Like right now as I am sitting at my desk at work. I just want to go home. Eating gluten free has helped the swelling go down in my stomach and the extreme symptoms to leave but it has not been a cure all. That's just my thoughts!

[HiDee]

Someone with hyperemesis gravadarium coined a term "crackered". It's when someone who has no clue what you're going through offers you a simple remedy. When someone does that, I usually feel very alienated and alone. Pregnancy related hyperemesis is the worst experience of my entire life and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. This post is so offensive to some of us who've experienced it that I would even recommend the moderator please delete it.

Don't be so quick to take offense. Dev only mentioned nausea, not vomiting and not HG, there's a HUGE difference as we all know. Most pregnant women don't suffer from HG and perhaps that little bit of advice will help someone reading this who only has nausea.

Plus it looks like Dev is new to the forum and this and Cashee's posts are more rude than Dev's, in my opinion. Hopefully Dev doesn't take offense at these and never come back because the forum is usually so helpful and encouraging, not offensive (as I know none of you or Dev meant to be but it pays to not jump to conclusions and assume too much on anyone's side).

[jlynn]

Hey Ladies,

I am 10 weeks prego and miserable. I had sensitivities to wheat and dairy before pregnancy but am now completely messed up by gluten. I dont' know if I have celiac but I am so discouraged. I am working hard to not eat gluten free but it's a challenged to figure out meals and plan. Dont' get me wrong I am not eating gluten I just get discouraged and that combined with nausea and indigestion doesn't go well. I am not bad off like the other women where I am throwing up non-stop but so often I am so sick I just feel like I can't function. Like right now as I am sitting at my desk at work. I just want to go home. Eating gluten free has helped the swelling go down in my stomach and the extreme symptoms to leave but it has not been a cure all. That's just my thoughts!

I know how you feel. I am 13 weeks pregnant and have been miserable since the beginning. I went off my gluten free diet because I was so nausous and did not want to take the time to make my own bread, or I would be out and just need something to stop the nausea. I realize now that I am feeling this bad because I HAVE been eating all this gluten. It is really messing me up. This is a very hard time to get through, but we can do it, and know that staying away from the wheat and gluten will accually make us feel better.

[imagine22]

unfortunately being gluten free is NOT a cure for hyperemesis. for my 1st pregnancy i had undiagnosed celiac disease (so i was eating gluten) AND had hyperemesis - on zofran the whole time and lost 10kg and was very ill and hospitalised overnight occaisionally.

for pregnancy 2 i had been diagnosed (biopsy) with celiac and STILL got hyperemesis even though i was totally gluten free - and the hyperemesis was much worse - in hospital for 2 MONTHS straight and on so many drugs to try to control it - heaps of steroids in the first trimester even. I was also put on a central line as i was literally starving to deatha nd had liver and kidney damage --> so anyway was much worse despite being gluten free for pregnancy 2.

i wish being gluten-free was a cure for hyperemesis, Id love more children but an advised its too risky and I wish there was something they could do to prevent it for everyone as it is seriously a fate worse than death as only those who have experienced can ever know.

still stay gluten-free though obviously if you have celiac disease (to prevent more damage to your baby) -for those who CAN EAT THAT IS! but dont hold your breath for it saving you from hyperemesis.