HG veteran Natalie Farrell has nominated Dr Stephen Granier, the GP that cared for her during her last pregnancy four years ago. Having been through two previous hyperemesis pregnancies in London and Bristol, of Dr Granier's care Natalie says “He just blew me away with his care – I thought it was outstanding.

Natalie's pregnancy was horrendous. By week ten she had already tried combinations of at least ten anti-emetics and been in and out of hospital countless times. It is a story many of my readers will be familiar with, but not so many will have a tale of compassion and care to tell, which ultimately made the horrors so much more bearable. So what was it that Dr Granier did that made such a difference to Natalie?

Well, for a start, between weeks six and nine, the worst points for Natalie, he never made her come in to the surgery to see him. He was confident to talk to Natalie on the phone and to assess her symptoms by trusting what she was telling him. Natalie says “Dr Granier is the only GP who has never made me actually go down to the surgery to 'prove' how ill I am in person!”, a common issue reported by hyperemesis sufferers.

“At the start of week six, we worked out an HG management strategy on the phone together. If I got to +2 ketones on the Ketostix, I would call him, he would call the ward and I would go in for fluids.” Natalie says. “He believed me and how ill I was. He trusted me that I knew what I was doing having been through it twice before. He never questioned how sick I was. This strategy worked like a charm, it wasn't all stressful for me, he smoothed the way so I could get the care I needed when I needed it. Just what every HG sufferer needs!”

As so many of you know and I have written about previously, being believed is really crucial and makes such a big difference to the sufferer.

Dr Granier advocated for me too. He liaised with the medical team treating me while I was in hospital. I can't even remember the name of the consultant, which shows how memorable his care was!” Natalie recalls. At twelve weeks the hospital registrar wanted to stop her steroid treatment well before the sickness was controlled. However Dr Granier advocated for her and arranged to continue the prescriptions until the sickness was controlled enough to come off them safely.

Well you all know my views on the need for advocacy for HG sufferers and I really think that healthcare professionals should take a more active role in speaking up for patients. I see it as a key element of professional nursing though sadly it doesn't happen enough.

Natalie goes on to describe how Dr Granier empowered her in her own care particularly around tweaking medication doses based on what was working and what wasn't. He never questioned the safety of the medications to her – a common strategy of healthcare professionals which is highly unprofessional and serves only to add to the stress of the patient. Instead he checked with hospital colleagues and ensured all bases we're covered with appropriate blood tests and ongoing monitoring.

Natalie goes on to describe more ways that Dr Granier helped “He gave care over and above what is expected of a GP. On one occasion he was away from the surgery yet ensured I was able to contact him if necessary. That way, if I had needed to go in for fluids, it could easily be arranged... I mean seriously, that is something else. He wasn't even in the office and I could still contact him. Amazing!”

“He was at all times sympathetic, caring and supportive. He was genuinely concerned for my physical and emotional well being.” says Natalie.

On top of this excellent care, Natalie recalls that Dr Granier was also humble and gracious, genuinely not appreciating that his care, which comes as standard, made such an incredible difference to the suffering of one woman. This was confirmed to me with recent email communication with Dr Granier as I contacted the surgery for permission to use his picture. Although delighted with his HG Hero recognition he states “I do not feel that I deserve special attention as I was just doing what I would ordinarily do for someone going through such a difficult experience”

“YAY!” for the Dr Granier's of the world, though few and far between they are slowly but surely making compassionate and kind care “ordinary”, as it should be. And although they can't help all the sufferers of the world they can certainly make the world of difference to some.

Rachel Johnson from South East London has nominated her husband to be recognised as an HG Hero. They have been together for nearly six years after meeting through work in France and got married two and a half years ago. Al has supported Rachel through two hyperemesis pregnancies, never wavering in his support or questioning her random requests for frozen peach squash or skull crush candy.

Al has recently survived their second round of hyperemesis which consisted of eight months of washing out buckets and bins, and glasses and bowls. Seven and a half months months of him helping Rachel in and out of the shower, administering clexane injections to prevent deep vein thrombosis and helping with everything around the house. Al advocated for Rachel and fought for her rights, obtaining additional medication which a consultant prescribed yet the GP refused to give. For two and a half months Rachel was on crutches and Al was there, comforting her when she was in so much pain she couldn't function. He then went on to be a hero in labour, delivering their son's head alone when he couldn't find a healthcare professional in the hospital before help eventually arrived.

Between HER and the brilliant book by Ashli Foshee McCall, Beyond Morning SicknessI was empowered and enabled enough to go through my second pregnancy to have Patrick.

• Hyperemesis Gravidraum is NOT a normal part of pregnancy, it is a severe complication.
• Lets scrap “morning sickness” - PREGNANCY SICKNESS is on a spectrum.
• Women need to be treated appropriately, effectively and with kindness, compassion and dignity.
• Research is VITAL
• Women should not HAVE to terminate their wanted babies because of a lack of treatment and support.
  
  

  International HG Advocates outside the Whitehouse

I rather gave partners the benefit of the doubt in my last post. And rightly so, the vast majority of partners are hugely supportive of their loved ones and feel desperately lost in their quest to help, wishing they could share the burden of, or take away complete, the sickness for her.

1. Put your piny on and do some housework – and I mean without moaning or calling your mum! (and that includes the toilet – you put some toilet cleaner in, leave it for a bit, then scrub with the toilet brush – found next to the toilet – and flush, job done and brownie points earned!)
2. Do without curry for a few months – you STINK the next day
3. That goes for fags and beer too, well, in excess anyway. I'm sure you gave up smoking back when you where trying for the baby anyway didn't you – it messes your sperm up!
4. Go and have a w*** - don't worry, you're not “dissing” her!!!
5. Don't stop out late getting smashed and expect her to sort the kids out in the morning while you spew up and say “don't know what you're complaining about, chucking up's not that bad”
6. Cancel your lad's weekend – I don't care if it's fishing, walking, raving, barbecuing or any other testosterone fuelled “me time” she has been isolated, lonely and longing for the weekend all week while you've been busy at work, not spewing up – in the scheme of things it's a minor sacrifice and you can rearrange for a few months time... or just miss it... big deal.
7. Don't take the mood swings personally and don't EVER shout back – just take it for what it is, her hurting and upset and lashing out at the closest thing to hand.
8. Do text her from work, tell her you love her and support her and how great the future will be. Get her whatever she asks for and do it with a smile on your face (if appropriate).
9. Do spend your evening lying in bed with her even though you'd rather be downstairs playing on the X-box. She may not be much company but she will appreciate yours.

1. Go in with a good attitude. Don't assume that the doctor will be dismissive and don't assume that you will have to “fight” for treatment. If you are reasonable then they will have a hard time explaining why they are being unreasonable.
    
2. Prepare yourself in advance. Take notes in with you, in particular about her symptoms, your concerns and any questions.
   For example:

3. When you first go in, explain that your partner is finding it difficult to speak due to the symptoms and you would like to explain what's been going on. If he/she seems put out then go on to explain that just getting to the surgery has been a real struggle and she really would prefer you did the talking. He can always confirm that with her.
    
4. Using your notes as above explain that while you were both prepared for a bit of “morning sickness” and know it's a normal part of pregnancy you really don't think this severity is normal and you think she has Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Explain that whilst you had hoped to have a nice natural pregnancy, without medication and so on you really feel that she needs some treatment as the symptoms are so severe. You understand they aren't licensed for pregnancy but feel that when looked at from a risk/benefit perspective you both think the time has come to accept that she needs treatment.
    
5. Now assuming your doctor has reacted really well and is being kind and pro-active, ask for a plan going forward. He doesn't need to agree to more medication or anything yet but he needs to let you know what symptom severity to look out for and when to come back if things don't improve. If he is sending you home rather than hospital then ask what he would like you to monitor, ie. Fluid intake/output, weight loss, ketones in her urine - he can prescribe ketosticks for this or you can buy them yourself online Ketostix Reagent Strips Ketone - 50 strips