PHG 004 How has having Hyperemesis Gravidarum changed your life?

I struggled with this one. I started interviewing my guests months ago and I asked each of them this question, but I hadn't really thought about answering it for myself.

It's a hard question to answer.

Every time someone answered I had that feeling like I could've said that. I've thought that. That was my experience. Except my guests said it in a more articulate way. Last night as I was trying to answer this question for myself, and I kept bumping up on this...for lack of a better word....contradiction. It's a contradiction.

I want to get rid of HG. I want to lessen the severity. I want to never have to go through it again. And yet, I'm thankful? It's made me a more resilient person?

This is true in so many areas of life, right? Overcoming poverty makes a person stronger. Overcoming cancer makes a person pursue a healthier life. Being bullied makes someone an advocate for the defenseless. But that doesn't mean we want poverty, cancer, or bullying. Or that we don't want to prevent it.

It is a contradiction. But we can still hate the bad things and use them to make the world a better place AND not want anyone else to go through what we went through.

Maybe it's in the overcoming it where the magic is because it still hurts to hear of someone who has HG. It still makes me remember the nausea.

At least that's my conclusion.

What do you think? How did HG change your life?

Mentioned in the Podcast:

Tara Bulin: Preventing Hyperemesis Gravidarum facebook group
Jessyka Earl: The Unexpecting Blog
Holly
Amy: Previous interview with Amy.
Ashley Ziegler: Itsy Bitsy Little Blessings blogDiana Johnston: The Whining Puker blog
Vanessa Pack: The Ayden Rae Foundation
Dani Doughty: The Ayden Rae Foundation
Amy Upchurch: The Pink Stork Solutions