The Wicked Doctor

46: Hyperemesis Gravidarum (Revised)

Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a rare disorder characterized by severe and persistent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy that may necessitate hospitalization. As a result of frequent nausea and vomiting, affected women experience dehydration, vitamin and mineral deficit and the loss of greater than 5% of their original body weight. Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP), more widely known as morning sickness, is a common condition of pregnancy. Many researchers believe that NVP should be regarded as a continuum of symptoms that may impact an affected woman's physical, mental and social well-being to varying degrees. Hyperemesis gravidarum represents the severe end of the continuum. No specific line exists that separates hyperemesis gravidarum from NVP. Affected individuals can progress from mild or moderate nausea and vomiting to hyperemesis gravidarum. It may develop rapidly within a few weeks or gradually over a few months. Individuals with hyperemesis gravidarum experience severe and persistent nausea and vomiting that occur before the 20th week of pregnancy (gestation) and are severe enough to result in progressive weight loss of greater than 5% of their original body weight. In addition, frequent vomiting may lead to dehydration and vitamin and mineral deficit. Hyperemesis gravidarum often leads to hospitalization to restore lost fluids and nutrients to affected women.

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I got discharged after more than 30 hours in the hospital and lots of instructions from my attending physician, Michelle. Of course I will still be on sick leave for the next 3 days just to let my body rest even if there is really no need for bed rest after a threatened abortion. Lucky me, I was discharged and guess who was my designated driver...

My OB! She discharged me 15 minutes before she clocked out and the whole time I thought Jake would take me home but to my surprise, she came to my room wearing a casual dress and a pair of flats, ready to go home. I thanked the staff who cared for me and gave them treats. The least I could do for them is give them a little something to munch on while on break, right?

"I know you want to go back to work but you should listen to me, ok? No working for the next 3 days. Just go home and relax. Just leave the stress back at work and let the others take care of everything. We already filed for a sick leave for you so there's no need to worry about anything else except eating." 

I rolled my eyes at her instructions pero sa totoo lang natatawa ako kasi nga napaka-caring niyang klase ng tao. I wonder how she treats her other patients. Does she treat her patients this way or am I just a special case since I am a colleague's family member?

"So what did you tell them? Surely they asked for a medical certificate."

"We got it covered. We also got Jen covered. We wrote you in for Severe Anemia." She had the audacity to wink at me before turning her eyes back on the road and continued driving. Bigla na lang kaming natawa nang malakas dahil sa biglang pagkakaintindihan ng train of thought naming dalawa. Other than Terrence, there's this girl here who seems to have a certain connection to me. If soulmates are real, she might be my soulmate.

When we reached the intersection she turned her body and asked me, "Hey, I got a stupid question for you.... Hmm.... where is your house, again? With Terrence or with Jake?"

She asked me with a blank face. Yung totoo, medyo tanga ang tanong. Nasamid tuloy ako sa sarili kong laway.

Gaya ng ginawa niya, I gave her a deadpan look as if silently telling her how stupid her question really is.

"Do you really think I will go back to Terrence?"

She shrugged. "Who knows?"

I glared at her as a joke and she winced before turning her eyes back to the road. She drove me back to Jake's house. Tinulungan pa niya akong magbaba ng gamit ko mula sa back seat ng sasakyan at siya pa ang nagbuhay ng overnight bag ko. I thought she would leave after that but I was even more shocked when she went ahead of me and opened the door and went inside the house like she knew the layout.