SICK - The Battle Against HG

The untold story of women experiencing Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), a terrible pregnancy sickness that effects 3 million women leading to thousands of abortions of wanted children and 9 months of hell. HG campaigner Charlotte Howden challenges the medical profession and explores women's politics, secrets, loss and reveals new scientific breakthroughs in HG research
'Sick - The Battle Against HG is an excellent film resource that will help our members better understand the impact of HG' - Gail Johnson, Education Advisor, The Royal College of Midwives
Produced by Lorne Guy & Charlotte Howden
Filmed, directed and edited by Lorne Guy
Good Guys Productions Ltd
This film was a completely self funded by Good Guys Productions, Lorne Guy and Charlotte Howden
SICK MAIN v23 SubsMont

[@Sasha-rx8qx]

I felt so bad terminating my pregnancy but it was so bad it was going to kill me I couldn’t eat or drink or even smell food I had nothing left in my body to throw up just kept throwing up bile I pray and love all the mommy who are going through and has survived HG it’s such a dark place and it feels like no one understands

[@niasmommy953]

I am currently suffering from HG and it has had me in such an awful and dark place. I feel guilty for some of my thoughts and feelings. I love my baby, but I also feel like I'm dying. This movie makes me feel more seen and not so alone. I'm sharing this with friends and family so they can have a better understanding of what I'm going through.

[@theplantedlyf]

Worth the time, thank you for this. As an HG sufferer, such films make me feel cared for.

[@kristenpark6695]

I bawled my eyes out! I'm 27 weeks pregnant and still feel like hell, despite the meds. I've suffered, and I've gotten very little understanding or sympathy from anyone.

[@goodguyszoom]

Hang in there Kristen. The film wont stop the awful HG but maybe it might allow others understand and hopefully show there is help out there.

[@kimberlygonzales5167]

I’m currently on my 8mos of pregnancy and still suffering from HG. 8 mos of nonstop vomiting, difficulty breathing, hallucinations, vomiting blood, nausea all day, dehydration, weight loss, etc. I’ve been isolating myself for 8mos. It feels lonely and tiring. And it feels cruel hearing people comparing my condition to morning sickness which is totally different lol. Watching this video made me feel like I am seen, I am heard, I am not alone. Hyperemesis Gravidarum needs more medical support and understanding. I really hope they find a better treatment for HG soon and that people take this sickness more seriously.

[@queenwarriormom37]

Thank you so much for this. As an HG survivor, I can totally relate to all the symptoms. You literally feel like you are dying.

[@incognito.502]

Thank you for this documentary, my heart goes out to everyone suffering from hg, may God grants us all strength, forgiveness, ease and cure

[@amandamalone2688]

Yup. Pure hell. My son is my world But a second pregnancy, absolutely not. Tubes tied up at age 29.

[@caydenthedimer6760]

Currently 12 weeks on an IV fluid and medicine 16.hours daily and still throwing up and feeling like my body is shutting down thank you!

[@lisagoehringer424]

My daughter is in her 3rd HG pregnancy. I have never been so frightening. I have never seen someone so sick.

[@amyrenshaw5472]

30 weeks and still suffering from this horrendous condition. Grateful this is now available on here so that sufferers can know they are not alone. Australia has made some progress but so much more is needed. Here's hoping the future is a little more promising for research and better support.

[@bethankrzowski4553]

Hyperemesis is awful and women deserve more care and more awareness, love to all my fellow sufferers.

[@LoveLaw]

So few people know about it and yet I've met so many women severely affected by it. If you are going through it now I'm sending all my love to you because I've been there and it just absolutely ruins the pregnancy experience. I had a doctor telling me its all in my head in 2020 so this has not stopped.

[@AshleyHauser]

I have HG, currently 8 weeks and I've been in and out of hospital for fluids. Lost 12 pounds. It's awful. I'm transitioning from my fertility clinic to my actual OB and it's been really tough to get medication. So many docs just don't want to give you meds to help. I haven't left the house since week 5. I have two different doctor's appointments this week to see if anyone can help me. Getting help shouldn't be this hard.

[@Ttvubad4376]

I suffered with HG with 2 of my pregnancies the last being the worst. I was so sick it was like my life completely stopped. I had to stop working and I couldn’t leave my house for over half of my pregnancy unless I was going to dr and that was miserable. I called on my mom in law daily because my mind was in such a dark place she prayed for me daily, if not for God and her my daughter and I would not of been here.

[@simplemotivation2760]

I'm a sufferer. It is debilitating. I hope something is found soon. Thanks for making documentary.

[@jazzminkeys8409]

35 weeks and 5 days and still throwing up blood 😖. I couldn’t get FMLA signed by my practice. I have suffered and I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

[@sairazaidi706]

I just had a baby a few months ago with severe HG ,i am fighting 2 autoimmune diseases. Thank God pregnancy is over but the horror of HG will stay with me life time, i had 2 HG pregnancies, i wanted to have more kids but due to this horrible condition i will not have any more children also when my autoimmune condition has worsened after the childbirth.

[@annettehutcheson8769]

My niece is the first case I’ve seen of this and it is absolutely horrific. I pray there is soon more help out there for these women suffering with this condition. Pregnancy is such a beautiful experience and this totally destroys it.

[@shoushou4795]

Thank you so much . We bought coz it wasn’t for free. But thank you now everyone like doctors and close family members will be able to see this and understand the suffering hg moms are going through and that it’s not morning sickness. Thank you so much

[@JayTrudel]

I am halfway through my first pregnancy, went undiagnosed and unmedicated until 2nd trimester and truly felt like I was dying. Thank you so much for your research and care and for being a voice for us.

[@Lorne65]

Thankyou for all your supportive comments. We made the film to try and get the message out there and get more people talking about HG. All your comments below must go someway to helping others who read them. Thankyou for your support of the film

[@cassiepowell9406]

I was so ill 1997 with my daughter that I considered abortion I was so ill will this from the 5th week, I was luckily taken into hospital at 12 weeks and put on a glucose drip for a week nul by mouth for one week, luckily after 2weeks in hospital I was ok.

[@erminakovacevic9079]

Currently 10 weeks on IV already for last 4 weeks hopefully will get better lost 8 LB can’t play with my toddler so depressing

[@emmskimo8046]

My darling sister suffered all this and sadly died leaving her beautiful 4 month old baby girl x

[@bethankrzowski4553]

I'm so sorry xx

[@goodguyszoom]

Apologies for such a late reply. Can I offer my condolences to you and your family. I cant imagine how awful this must have been for you all, I'm so sorry. We wanted this film to be as accessible as possible not just for sufferers but those connected with sufferers. The traditional UK broadcasters thought it was not a big enough issue. We very much beg to differ.

[@Jasmine-yk7zd]

Thank you! Showed this to family and friends to understand me better!! Thank you for making this.

[@genevievelayfield3788]

I had hg with my first baby I gave birth 1 stone lighter then I was at my booking appointment I thought I was dying

[@nicoladrum8132]

I had 2 HG pregnancies and to this day I still have fear and nightmares about it, Certain foods and smells still make me want to vomit. It’s truly horrendous. I felt guilty for not enjoying my pregnancies, felt like a failure from the moment it started. I had been given sickness tablets but they did nothing as would bring them back up within minutes of taking them. Unless you’ve been through it NO ONE UNDERSTANDS!

[@tomoday4450]

Horrible My daughter is going through this 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@zoechase3923]

I had HG with my rainbow baby pregnancy, it was awful, was on a zofran pump for 12 weeks of my pregnancy, in and out of the hospital at times, zofran tablets and a couple of other medicines that didn’t work. Might’ve helped some nausea but I was still puking every single day. It’s hard to go through an Hg pregnancy, you’re loosing weight, frail, dehydrated and still expected to do everything as if you aren’t struggling with this condition. Thankfully I had an amazing partner to help me with chores and working, but not everyone has the option.

[@alyssalane7558]

I’m 33 weeks and at my next appt am going to be signing papers to have my tubes removed. I hate that this awful disease has robbed us.

[@louisesmith641]

I suffered with terribke HG with all my pregnancies. I was sick that much I bled!! Ten years later and I have lost nearly all my teeth.

[@indigenousbeauty83]

Thanks for making this video I had HG with 2 of my 4 pregnancy my last pregnancy 5 years ago I was dying lost 60 lbs vomiting 60x a day luckily my OB his wife had HG so he knew exactly how to keep me and baby alive my entire pregnancy was in hospital.

[@freetreebees]

I had this during almost my entire first pregnancy. I felt I was going to die it was hell. I became a zombie. Thank God it's much different now with my second pregnancy even if I still felt sick during the first trimester, it's nothing like the previous one. Kids are totally worth it of course but It really is hell

[@miadatail2095]

Thank you so much for making this film, I have been through all of this in my 1st pregnancy. I don’t trust my body now to be pregnant again.

[@rahmafiakhatib3328]

If it happened once then it will again !! Same here NEVER AGAIN

[@miadatail2095]

@@rahmafiakhatib3328 oh, i feel you. Stay strong 🌸

[@Ocean19856]

Thank you for this! I will share! About time we get support especially from negligent gynos and doctors.

[@thesowingseedwoman]

Thank you.

[@___.blessed.beauty.___b9446]

I’m 18 weeks and still have HG I’m relying on gravol every 6 hours… that is THE ONLY WAY I CAN KEEP FOOD/WATER DOWN!!! 😢😢😢 If my stomach is too empty I vomit, if my stomach is too full I vomit. The sad part is my appetite has increased but I can’t eat too much all at once. The prenatal vitamins actually make it worse. But I’m slowly getting back on them. Ultrasound looks good, baby is growing and is very active… thanks to Gravol… It really is a mind game… antihistamine like gravol turn off that chemical message to the brain same as motion sickness. It’s all in the mind!!! I go to work in office two days a wee, when I’m focused and deep in my work it disappears (still gravol) but the underlying nausea isn’t there. As soon as I get home and my brain registers safe and comfort I vomit. It really is a combination of the mind and finding how much to eat, and when. Going for walks helps a bit having a fan with breeze helps Summer time and HG is horrible because smells turn your off and humidity can cause nausea as well. Hope this helps 🙏🏽💕 prayers for you all we can do this

[@ellafitsgerad4254]

Thank you for making this video

[@kittydonovan1452]

11 weeks in and in such a dark place with HG 😢 Started 5 1/2 weeks and the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.

[@amydeakin4149]

27 weeks and still suffering so badly

[@tachashaw]

I had HG with all of my pregnancies. My youngest was born in 2006 and even then I had a Dr. tell me it was all in my head! My first pregnancy was by far the worst, in the first trimester I lost 20 lbs. I learned how to handle it better with medications and other methods with each pregnancy.

[@kayleighjohnstone3575]

Hi do you have any advice for me? I had it with my first baby and trying for baby no2 would love too know anything that could help xx

[@gracegoode5074]

I needed this…

[@gorgitendersbartendingacademy]

I suffered from HG my second pregnancy 9 years ago. I was hospitalized almost my entire pregnancy and almost terminated as well. I believe it also caused me to develop alopecia in my 3rd trimester.

[@syedabegum9187]

I fell pregnant 1 month in to my marriage. I had my husband sister in law stress me out knowing I'm really sick, the midwife neglecting to contact me until a week after my miscarriage, the hospital doctors in St Thomas ignoring my plea for help saying it's just light bleeding and my boss failing to placing support for the vulnerable students I support make me feel I need to return back to work. Not to mention my boss not knowing that I'am intitled to sick pay. All of which contributed to my 4 month in HG pregnancy miscarriage.

[@jadewilson9018]

Im so sorry. You deserved so much more care and understanding for you and your baby x

[@jessicatyrra7733]

My baby is 7 months old now. I have 3 kids and the last 2, I had hg. My hg only got worse with every pregnancy. I went into preterm labor with my 2nd at 25 weeks and was bedridden the last 3 months all while having severe hg. I was fortunate enough to be a stay at home mom with my last pregnancy however, it was still very very difficult. Having 3 kids ages 7 and under is tough but especially harder dealing with hg. Thank you so much for making this documentary. People need to be educated on this and especially employers because many of them lack any empathy about this. Thank you for the information and I hope we continue to spread awareness and start finding more ways to help mothers like myself with this debilitating condition.

[@dribbler9020]

Thank you for making this documentary😢 am 10 weeks pregnant and am going through hell! It hurts when people around you don't take it serious, they just assume it is a normal morning sickness 😭It's my first pregnancy and am afraid how long will this go on. I can't take care of myself, i can't eat, drink all i do is vomit, spitting saliva every 5seconds, staying in bed all day,am so weak i want this to be over soon, please God help me

[@drgbr9389]

How are you ?

[@FabFit87]

I'm the same! God please save us

[@erinbrocoli6815]

in the past i got my first son with hg and stop on 28weeks, and now my second pregancy 10weeks again and again hg coming on my whole days.still traumatic with the same issue of pregnancy. im staying on dark, cant eat well,drink less than 2 liters perday.i feel disaster i cant even make any social things,i cant going out from my house😭i feel really super duper horrible days...my hope my wish super thought and take so long to recovery,my friends texting me and said" u need to fight" i feel more crying with that word.she doesnt understand how i feel i cant explain everything to someone that never have hg experience . throw out everything its my days, my day is nightmare....i dream can walk around like other pregnancy women,enjoy every months, taking care of family happy gathering together，but everything in my pregnancy day us horror😭im the pregnancy women who the ones stay on the dark,laying on the bed, lock the room with tear!

[@Funkyfrankieborn2020]

I’m suffering with this now and I cried most the way through this as I feel so alone. No one realises how ill I am and I have 2 young children already and feel awful I’m not the best version of myself. I had it with my 2 previous pregnancies but it feels a lot worst this time maybe because I have 2 demanding toddler now. Spoke with doctors and they will give me the anti sickness tablet but I don’t want to take because of the deformities it could cause. I will ride this out and hope for a miracle that I get better soon. 😢

[@KateMarieHowes]

I think this is amazing I'm at the end of my first pregnancy and I've gotten much better but it seems to be coming back and all the feelings about how horrible it was seem to flood back. I really hope they find a better treatment for HG and that people really do take us more seriously.

[@sarahnugent4756]

Currently 17 weeks pregnant with hg this makes me feel like I'm not alone but yet my partner is so unsupportive because of this and in and out of the hospital because of this

[@jenniferwarren6874]

Does anyone have advice? I had severe HG with my last pregnancy and experienced all the things mentioned in this film. I'm now 6 weeks into my second pregnancy and feeling terribly nauseous and fear everyday it will get worse. My insurance company in the USA is renegotiating with a lot of obyns and I can't get a doctor appointment until 13 weeks pregnant because of it. How can I get treatment if I can't see anyone until 13 weeks? No one will see me unless I pay out of pocket, and even then, the doctors are so few and far between that won't tell you it's just morning sickness. What should I do?

[@kat.699]

@jenniferwarren6874 I'd call your OB's office and ask if you can get an emergency appointment at their clinic or if an OB would be willing to simply write up a prescription for an antinausea medication such as Diglesis without seeing you. Here in Canada, Diglesis (Diclectin) is the 1st line of treatment for NVP and can be prescribed directly by a pharmacist, no need to even see a doctor. Of course, depending on severity of symptoms, Diglesis might not do much in which case I would go to the ER and doctors there could give you something stronger if necessary.

[@emmac329]

I would encourage you to call the closest OBGYN and speak with an on call nurse. Explain your situation especially the fact you had it in your last pregnancy. When I was pregnant with my first I made sure to speak with a nurse and thankfully they were understanding and gave me a prescription for Zofran. It will prevent the throwing up but the nausea can remain, it helps though. I hope they give you something especially to prevent you from getting dehydrated or hospitalized.

[@darkorchestramusic1799]

I was put on several feeding tubes this last pregnancy

[@minabojangles3524]

THANK YOU so much for this 💗 💖 💓

[@chloeroberts4288]

I’ve recently been diagnosed with hg and was put on a drip a week ago I haven’t ate since and feel horrible

[@sheenasomerville]

This is my 8th pregnancy and I've had severe severe HG with all my kids. I've taken pills that keeps the food down but you still have the severe feeling of being nauseous. And I've been to the hospital and been filled with IV fluids only to throw it all up once I'm released. I just found a cure yesterday! I put a heating pad on my stomach and I must say this has to be a cure from heaven! Oh yeah and it lasts all 3 trimesters for me.

[@SWMIRICHU]

You found a cure?I lost my baby in 2016 at 7months due to Hg i would like to have a kid but im scared of Hg again..

[@sheenasomerville]

@@SWMIRICHU my heart and prayers are with you. I also lost a son in 2014 at 4 months due to placenta abruption. He literally just fell out of me. From one mommy to another, all I can tell you is that we can only do what we know to do as moms which is our best. Each experience is it's own. Have faith and if you decide to have another don't take past fears or incidents with you as this would be a new thing. Stay strong mom😊❤️🤗

[@rahmafiakhatib3328]

So heating pad helps? Let me try this im 8weeks n i have hg

[@Deguzmanfam]

@@rahmafiakhatib3328 did it help?

[@saraaldo9389]

Sweetie you are a normal pregnancy stop

[@cyntiasefora1125]

Gracias, excelente documental!!! Soy una sobreviviente de HG, llegué al hospital con 32 semanas de gestación y 1 semana a punto de morir. Aún no puedo hablar de lo que viví con nadie y ver esto ha sido mi primer paso para comenzar a sanar.

[@rahmafiakhatib3328]

Thank you for this documentary i feel so seen.

[@rebeccamcgrory2124]

Thank you so much for making this. I am currently 12 weeks pregnant and have lost 28 pounds so far. I am largely bed bound and experience almost constant hypersalivation. I have been hospitalised twice also. Thankfully my employers have been incredibly supportive. I spent week 6-10 literally thinking I was going to die. Thank you for shedding light on something so poorly understood.

[@kandygirl5447]

Mt first was stillborn 💔 I now have a healthy 3year old boy but my pregnancies and deliveries were so traumatizing on top of the great loss of my daughter 😢

[@emmac329]

My heart goes out to those suffering with this horrible problem. I was fortunate enough for my doctor to give me Zofran before getting dehydrated enough to get hospitalized. Even with medication the nausea is horrible and debilitating. I can’t believe how slow some doctors are to prescribe or find a solution for this suffering. Lord have mercy 💔

[@OliviaSocia]

I just terminated at 9 weeks because it really was that bad. I was dying. When women say it’s so bad and terrible but continue the pregnancy, they’re sending the message vis their actions that it’s not bad as they say it is. Especially when they choose to do it over and over again. These women end up looking like whiners and complainers in the end, so there is very little incentive to find a cure. If you choose to live in the hospital for 5+ months and have that luxury as a grown woman with tubes up your nose and all over your arms, you’re in the far minority of what people are willing to do and honestly a little a nuts.

[@SoCalledStar]

Thank you so much for making this movie!

[@kjf9028]

I am so grateful for this video shining light on HG. I’ve struggled with HG throughout my pregnancy so far: bed bound, not able to drive or leave the house, not able to work. It is so debilitating and I assumed for ages this was just “normal pregnancy sickness” that I couldn’t cope with. I realised after loosing a lot of weight this can’t be normal. There needs to be much more support out there for sufferers and awareness from others of this awful debilitating condition

[@sepiaraven]

Thank you so much for making this film

[@MekaLove-cx7le]

I have a friend that is going through this what will be something I could do to help them get through it 🙏🏽 please help

[@brandilepage4052]

I’m currently going thru hg and I feel so depressed and alone. My partner thinks it’s all in my head and that I’m being dramatic. That women have babies everyday, that I’m choosing to not get out of bed n to be lazy. I’m so heartbroken I don’t think I can do this much longer

[@natasakrese3937]

hey, how are you now?

[@haRaaa21]

I have ptyalism gravidarum and and nausea all day