Folks have been asking me all week: “How are you?”
To which I’ve replied, “Substantially better, thank you very much” just about every time.
I finally broke down and called my OB practice to see if they could get me in before the Monday after Thanksgiving. My nausea was literally debilitating and I just wanted to talk to someone in person. Sadly, because of the holiday, all of their available appointments were taken so they transferred me instead to their nurses’ line.
“25mg of Vitamin B6 three times a day and half a Unisom tablet daily,” she said, like it was the most obvious answer in the world to my question.
I called my OB’s office on my way over to acupuncture that day. In my session, she drove the needles in intensely to provide some immediate relief to my nausea for the first time in five days of uninterrupted distress. While the needles hurt like hell for a few minutes, the calm stomach was worth it. She even managed to give me my appetite back.
On my way home, I stopped at a CVS and bought a bottle of B6 supplements and a box of Unisom. And then I stopped by the grocery store and bought a box of TGI Friday’s potato skins because all of a sudden, my appetite was back LIKE WHOA and I wanted potato skins NOW. It was pretty intense.
Since taking the B6 and Unisom, I’ve slowly started feeling human again. I can get up in the morning without panicking about whether or not I’m going to make it to the bathroom (still haven’t barfed yet) and the nausea for the most part, seems to have chilled the fuck out – finally. And don’t take my word for it: science agrees this is a one-two punch to help take the edge off of severe morning sickness.
My appetite has come back and my diet now consists of the following:
- Nonfat chocolate milk
- Nonfat Greek yogurt
- Vermont cheddar like it’s going out of style (notice a trend?)
- Quaker seriously cannot make enough Life cereal to keep up with my consumption
- Beef. ALL THE BEEF.
- A relentless obsession with orange juice as my beverage of choice.
In fact, when I saw this crazy-ass video on Reddit last night, I found myself nodding along like, Yeah man, ORANGE JUICE:
So yeah, finally feeling human again while, yanno, making a human of my own inside of me. Good times, good times 😉
So funny – that combination is what is in Diclectin, which is what doctors prescribe for pregnant women in Canada. Specifically, Doxylamine (antihistamine also used as a sleeping aid) and Pyridoxine hydrochloride (the B6 compound). Good to know that you can kind of make your own over the counter version.
I too craved beef, so funny. Burgers, steaks, etc. I was a carnivorous preggo!
Cracking up at the video. Glad you’ve gotten some relief!
I am jealous and also running out to buy B6 and Unisom immediately. Do you take the Unisom at night since it’s a sleep aid?
YAY!! So glad you are feeling some better!
Oh wow. I totally had potato skins hankerings when I was pg with W! Ha
SO GLAD you are starting to feel better!
I’m so glad you’re finding relief! I have a Doula patient who is also having really severe nausea right now- the papaya enzyme I always recommend wasn’t doing it for her. I suggested acupuncture as well, and I will tell her what you’re doing that has brought some relief. I DO see a trend with your eating!
Much dairy= calcium: you’re building bones.
Much meat= protein: you’re building muscle.
Orange Juice= folic acid: you’re building a brain.
Check out the big brain on the knish!
BTW- have you tried the cinnamon Life cereal? It’s the only cereal we eat around here. Yummy!
Glad you’re feeling more human!
If you’ve got the Unisom that has diphenhydramine in it and are tired of splitting tablets, you could get regular Benadryl or its generic to save on the splitting (and there’s a nasty flavored liquid version if you’re ever in the mood for it). #ActualAdvice Yay feeling better!