Hyperemesis Support

[LucindaE]

I hope everyone suffering from the Horrors of Hyperemesis will find this thread useful as a source of support and information.
There's no TMI on here - can't be by definition - and nobody should feel ashamed of moaning as much as they feel the need to.
MOH's wonderful website is full of useful information on this illness:
sites.google.com/site/pregnancysicknesssos
Another invaluable website is:
//www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk
If you need help in obtaining medication, phone them on:
024 7638 2020
Lastly, the NICE guidelines on treatment are useful:
//cks.nice.org.uk/nauseavomiting-in-pregnancy
I would like to thank everyone who has given such invaluable support and advice on this and on previous threads.
Remember when you are at your worst, 'This Too Shall Pass'. It really will.
So many women on this thread have thought they couldn't get through this, but they did.
It has been suggested that I add some practical tooth cleaning advice: a lot of sufferers find using a child's small toothbrush and strawberry toothpaste far less nauseating.
On my image of a pink castle: that is an image I use because when I was little, my family had a Snakes and Ladders board with an image on the last square of a pink castle in the clouds. As Hyperemesis is so like a grotesque version of Snakes and Ladders - eat a meal, go up a ladder, first thing in the morning bile run, down a snake - I have used the image of that pink castle on the last square of that Snakes and Ladders board as a metaphor for the happy end of Hyperemesis.

[LucindaE]

Here we are. Pull up some cyber cushions and collapse, everyone...

[LucindaE]

Before I set off for Buckinghamshire, here are the due dates. Beanhunter I had the conviction that you are expecting twins as well as the other two. Did I dream this? Sorry to be so muddle headed.

Due Dates
elpreggo27 20 March
silversplodge 4 April
Anya 13 Apriil
Beanhunter 17 April
8DaysAWeek 1st May
tinyradish 1 May
foreverblues 5 May
Plasticgiraffe 10 May
Mamabear13 18 May
bumblebee 20 May
SashaMonsta 31 May
eallison June
Nighttimenope 13 July
evuscha 26 July
emma 4 August
CalmerComber 5 August TWINS
canonlyhope 13 August
Hairgician 18 August TWINS!
DeadDoorPost early September

[Reastie]

Marking place, thanks Lucinda, hope you have a good trip.

Sass are you feeling ok now in yourself? You were quite stressed before.

[Nighttimenope]

Also stopping in to say hi, and hope you have a lovely time Lucinda.
Reastie I’m so sorry you weren’t heard about how you’re coping mentally. Would you be able to phone to speak to your midwife, and she could take it down for you and relay it to the consultant, or could you contact them directly? The mental suffering is every bit as real as the nausea. Thinking of you.

[Reastie]

Thanks nighttime. I’m mw led not consultant led so as far as I’m aware I may only see one more consultant to book in csection nearer the end so I don’t feel the need for them to be told how much I’m struggling, I’m just frustrated they can write I’m coping well and mentally good when I’m far from it. I found last time too everyone was very unwilling to write anything negative about my mh on my notes, they would just sort of ignore it.

Thought I was doing so well by making it to the hospital yesterday and then today doing some cleaning but now I feel terrible from the exertion. Was hoping my limits may have expended slightly but apparently not. I’m at the point where I get itchy sitting doing nothing as if I keep resting etc I don’t feel that terrible a lot of the time so I think I can do stuff but turns out I just have to be really boring and frustrating and do nothing. Urgh, I forget how bad I feel when I feel ok until I feel bad again!

Hope everyone is having a not too bad day, and it’s nearly over, that’s another day done.

[norbert23]

That sounds really frustrating @Reastie and not what you'd expect at all x
Thanks @LucindaE have a great time away x

I had my booking appt, mw was great and talking about home births. No way I'd convince my partner that it was a good idea 😂 I was really, really sick this morning but by 10 felt almost normal. Not so great now though. It's so hard to know how I'll feel, I do think I have to at least try and go back in to school next week and have a go!

[eallison88]

I'm just gonna start burning scented candles! As I'm only in 2 hours at a time at the moment, I'm not really spending any time with students (lots of prep work for other staff to use). When I do start getting into the room woth students I'm going to set nice reflective moods with scented candles....! I'll even do a risk assessment first! I'm glad I made you chuckle, Lucinda, I've found that if I don't try and see the humour then I'll just sit in, corner and sob (And I have a fair bit of corner sobbing!!). Fabulous GP extended my 2 hours only at work sick note for a month on the 4th Feb, so I don't have to worry about that for a while.

Gestational diabetes. Cos hyperemesis isn't enough... sasseh how have you got on balancing managing the GD and the hyperemesis? I'm genuinely quite worried about the whole thing, as not only am I craving sweet things all the time (genuine cravings, I'm not sually sweet toothed - it takes me weeks to eat a bar of chocolate cos I'll have a couple of squares then pop back in the fridge for another day! And I don't like sweets normally, too sweet for me!), but keeping a fairly steady flow of sweet things (biscuits, fruits, sweets, soya custard/choc pudding, vegan ice cream, lollies... And so on) has proved key in keeping my general nausea levels down. I don't quite know what to do if I have to cut all that out. I've had 2 of the 3 readings above the limit to tick the diagnosis box (technically I've had 3, but it was 10 mins early, and the reading 20nins late was significantly under, so I decided to ignore the first one...!). At this stage in my pregnancy it seems unlikely I'll get to the end without triggering a GD diagnosis. It doesn't help that so many of the suggested snacks involve ricotta, cottage cheese, cheese generally, and dairy is an absolute no no for me. I'm trying not to stress about it, but I cried all the way home yesterday after the early high reading. It feels so unfair!!

Welcome to newbies, sorry you need this space, but do make the most of it - no judgement to be found here, only understand and empathy.

Constipation thing... it's always a hot topic! So frustrating that most doctors don't see the need to prescribe a laxative at the same time as ondansetron. It's such an establish side effect, and can have such a negative affect on nausea levels (as well being damned uncomfortable!!). For me, daily lactulose works. But constipation is simply not an issue for me at the moment... I'm going several times a day, often with very little warning, and it's at the other end if the Bristol stool chart from the malteaser like constipated poop! And the farts!! Loud and smelly. Very dignified. Comfort of my own house is bad enough. Morrison's with a child that likes to comment on "mummy, stop doing toxic trumps!" rather loudly is a whole other matter.... No idea if this is cos of the combo of drugs, simply cos I'm preggers, a new thing that my body does now (hoping to God it's not this!!).... Oh, how I love being pregnant.

On the plus side, baby is now pretty active a lot of the time, which is incredibly reassuring. Cos of the anterior placenta, I only feel movements at the bottom of my bump, think theplacenta acts as a buffer elsewhere. Which I've decided is a blessing, cos my son moving around gave me motion sickness last time!! I am carrying incredibly low already, and am in fairly constant pain at the bottom of my bump/top of pubic bone. Like a niggling, nagging pain all the time, that sporadically becomes a bit more 'stabby'. Not sure what's causing it, but I'm not concerned that it's a sign of anything untoward. I am carrying very low, and I remember feeling it towards the end of my last pregnancy, when my bump 'dropped'. Just frustratingly early!

reastie I'm sorry your mental health was ignored. It's no consolation, but this does seem to be the case with most professionals. I remember the sheer relief when I finally met my now consultant for when first time, when she specifically referred to the mental health aspects, and caring for and managing those as well. Depressingly unusual.

[eallison88]

norbert I nearly managed a home birth last time!! Unfortunately, my sickness never went away, and ramped right back up in labour so I got dehydrated so my midwife made the call that I needed transferring to hospital. Up to that point, labouring at home was awesome. I had a pool and evrything! I won't be trying for a home birth this time (unless by some miracle the sickness disappears completely in the next month or so!!). Hubby and I have decided that we'll go to hospital fairly early, insist on a cannula being inserted just in case (whilst my veins are in optimum health!), and we'll set the room up how I want it. I think this is the best way to have the active labour I want, and avoid giving birth prostrate and exhausted on a bed (Like ended up happening last tine). The plan is to have as much control as possible. However, as I said, if I stop being sick I'd want a home birth - you'll get the most control you're ever gonna get if youre at home. You even get your own tea bags!!

[Reastie]

Eal I’m having a very similar problem atm with BM! After yonks with constipation I don’t want to tempt fate but for about a week I’ve had a huge quantity of bms but they are so frequent -4-7 times a day! I’m hoping it’s just a pg thing or a laxitive thing but also have to go when I have to go. Still feeling more nauseous beforehand but crossing fingers I haven’t had a repeat of the intensity as when I was on Senna so hoping movicol is working better for me.

Feeling really sick so have gone to bed early in the hope the day finishes quicker.

Norbert glad you got to the booking apt, I remember being really pleased that I finally felt I was in the system and things were finally progressing.

[norbert23]

Thanks @Reastie and @eallison88 I'd be all up for a home birth mainly as my first was pretty quick, but I've gone for the midwife part of the nearest hospital. It's all water birth / aromatherapy etc so still sounds nice. I do love the idea of being totally relaxed in your own space though and your own tea 😂
It's definitely a good feeling being in the system at last! I was early so I even sat in a cafe nearby and felt sort of normal for a while. I haven't seen anyone or been anywhere in weeks so it was really nice.

[SeaEagleFeather]

reastie really sorry to hear it went badly :( The mental side is so overlooked. About doing anything - I know it's small comfort but some people have taken up knitting when they feel a bit better but not well enough to do anything big. Working wiht your hands can be quite comforting as you produce something (Mind you, it's not like you're not in the middle of producing a baby or anything)

ealli Im glad your note has been extended

Hoping that everyone is surviving and doing as alright as possible. Sleep time soon, one day closer ...

[Reastie]

Seaeagle I’ve already knitted a baby blanket! I can’t follow patterns or anything so a blanket is kind of the limit of my skill. I might do a sewing project maybe though, good idea.

[canonlyhopexo]

Marking my place in the new thread ladies. Hope you've all had as good a day as possible. I'm back to work next week on a part time basis to see how I get on. Feeling really nervous as still quite sick but I can't do much more time at home either. Worrying about mental affects of all this. X

[CalmerComber]

Hello everyone. Lovely shiny new thread.

I’ve finally admitted that party liners aren’t doing the job and I’m going to buy some Tena tomorrow. Can’t stand the thought that I smell of piss all day.

Again on the constipation - I’ve not been since Sunday and my abdomen is rock hard (it’s not babies). Senna is what I’ve been prescribed but is there anything I can get OTC that’s good? I don’t think suppositories because the ‘blockage’ isn’t that far down.

[CalmerComber]

Eugh just re-read my post. 100% glamour.

Sorry all.

[beforeihit30]

Thank you for the new thread Lucinda.

Got out yesterday for hospital appointment and blood test and to stock up on cyclizine. Apparently my jaunt which lasted all of about an hour all in floored me I slept so heavy last night, haven’t done that in years, I woke up at nearly midday having not heard a single noise this morning (erm, DH is not exactly subtle and neither are my two young children when getting ready for school...) and then fell asleep again for two hours in the afternoon I feel like I’m losing all concept of time. Woke to feeling really achey and nauseous, the aches have calmed since then but still nauseous now. Thankfully I’ve been signed off another 2 weeks. My boss is currently running on the basis of hopefully I might be well enough to return in some capacity by mid March, but if not we’ll work it out. I’m lucky to work in an understanding place and I appreciate she’s thinking like that (she went mid-March as an initial hopeful estimate as I would be about 16 weeks so past my first trimester, and my docs have been saying that hopefully the worst of it if not all will pass by then. I do realise it doesn’t always go... but I’m holding out hope for now!). The sickness is gradually decreasing, but it’s pockets rather than overall diminishing - I get the odd morning where I’m okay, then maybe days of bleurgh.

Totally unrelated but getting fed up of blood tests! I’m fine getting them done, I have to have regular bloods anyway regardless of pregnancy because I have an autoimmune conditions which is measured and managed mainly through blood tests. Pregnancy multiplies this so I’m prepared for the amount of blood testing I have to have. However, the hospital keep making mistakes which leads to re-testing! Overall the hospital is good and I’m happy with the midwife and consultant care I have there, the facilities are good and I’m not worried about my care. Just getting tired of the mismanagement of bloods! My first test wasn’t labelled properly so had to be redone. Then when I had the pregnancy screening tests one of the samples wasn’t sufficient so they needed to reorder a test for two things (haemoglobin and sickle cell). Went yesterday for that, only to be called today to be told that it had been ordered wrong so they only did haemoglobin and not sickle cell. I/baby are not at risk for sickle cell and never have had issues in previous pregnancies so not worried, but come on guys! I’m being tested at least once a week now for the past six weeks or so! They want me to get it done next week after my next consultant appointment so I’ve said yes but I’m not doing it then (it’s a drop in clinic anyway, it’s not like I’m being expected), I have to have bloods done on the following Monday for my autoimmune condition (which requires more specific timing) so they can do it all in one go then. Rant over

Hope everyone is doing ok!

[Teddyreddy]

@CalmerComber I'm having exactly the same problem with metaclopramide and breastfeeding my 27 month old. I'm so sensitive now I hate feeding her, but with my milk supply going up not down not a chance of weaning her off....

I'm generally feeling a lot better at 14 weeks, but am really struggling to cut down on drugs. The nausea is much better but I'm still really struggling to drink anything so continue to battle dehydration. I'm on 3 x cyclizine, 2 x ondensatron and 2 x metaclopramide. I can cut down to either 1 ondensatron or 1 metaclopramide for one day, but then I feel much much worse the next day. How soon have other people managed to cut down on the drugs? Has anyone taken metaclopramide for longer than the 5 days warning, my GP thinks I still need it given its the most effective of the drugs I'm on for me, but I am worried about the potential side effects?

[Anyat212]

Hi all,

I’m placemarking too, hope you have a nice time away Lucinda.

Calmer haha your post made me chuckle I think the same thing when I’m talking about my struggles with the constipation on this thread. I think my DP doesn’t even know what to say anymore when it sounds like I’m giving birth upstairs and then practising breathing techniques. Ah, not what I thought it would be like.

I don’t have any exp of Senna, I know Reastie has mentioned it before though. Does Senna not agree with you? You can buy movicol OTC it’s around £13 for a box, there is a cheaper option too but I can’t remember the name off the top of my head. I’m sure you’ll have been told about lactulose too, it’s good and that can also be bought OTC. Re: suppositories your right I wouldn’t use them if you know the blockage isn’t low enough, it just gave me mildish cramps the last time I used them when my blockage was higher up (I didn’t know this until recently though) Ive started taking either movicol or lactulose daily and that’s helping, although I’ve had tiny little rabbit poos today so I just know the constipation will be returning

[eallison88]

teddyreddy meto: many women take it for months! I only took it for a few weeks but had to stop cos started to develop a slight twitch. The vast majority of people have no problems with it and use it for far longer than5 days. If you're gonna try to drop one of the meds, I'd be inclined to start with the meto.

[avacadooo]

Marking my place!
I don't want to curse it but the past few days I've been feeling almost normal, I managed to clean the bathroom and dust 🙌
Been feeling a bit rubbish today though but it wasn't my usual nausea I was in agony with my guts like they were really angry with me and the trapped wind was awful, I think I might have eaten something that didn't agree with me but the pain was starting to make me feel sick.
I'm braving going to my mums tomorrow for the night then a hen do on Saturday. I already can't wait to nap on Sunday.

[canonlyhopexo]

@avacadooo poachy I swear we are just preggy twins having literally exactly same symptoms at the same time. Isn't it weird how you can feel less alone knowing there are people out there who feel the exact same but are complete strangers?

[SeaEagleFeather]

Teddyreddy as ealli says, if you develop a twitch, stop, at least until you've had advice. It's entirely safe for the baby but very, very occasionally the twitch can become permanent for the mum. It is rare tho!

reastie does crochet take your fancy?

beforeihit30 sounds like you're a proper pincushion :o very annoying that they keep being so inefficient. There's no excuse for that happening regularly, really.

avacadoo it comes to something when we feel a real sense of achievement at being able to dust doesn't it?!

canonly agreed about this thread bringing comfort. Just feeling you're not alone makes a real difference in surviving HG, plus the wealth of knowledge and advice. I'm sure this thread really helps the MH of sufferers.

[Reastie]

Calmer I was on Senna. I was on 2 tsp a day and I didn’t find it that effective and it was making me feel a lot more nauseous as it made my colon contract to get the poo out which I’m turn added to nausea for me. I did a lot of research and found a lot of people specifically recommend movicol with ondansetron because ondansetron takes water out of BMs to work and movicol works by adding water into BMs. I’ve been on it now about 3 weeks instead of Senna and in general I’m controlling the constipation a lot better. I still have days where nothing happens and I’m constipated but it’s less (touchwood) than on Senna and they are a lot easier to pass. The tricky thing is finding the right dose as you take generally 1-3 sachets a day but can take something like up to 8 a day. It can take a couple of days to work so from reading online it seem alike lots of people take a normal dose for a day, nothing happens so they increase it, nothing happens somthey increase it again to a large amount and by the time they do this the first dose starts working and they have issues for a few days getting it under control. Once you know how much you need every day it’s good (I say this as I’m having a good week with BMs nut kmowing my luck I’ve now jinxed it!). I’m not back to a ‘normal’ routine and I still have issues but hopefully I have less issues than on Senna. FWIW I take one sachet in the morning and half in the evening. You take it with water but I add lemon squash to mine as otherwise it tastes weird and salty. It’s about £13 for 30 sachets and you can’t say you’re pg when you buy it as they’re weird at selling it (even though the info leaflet says safe in pg). I’m hoping to get it out on prescription when I see my gp next week.

Teddy I’m on 3 cyclizine and 2x ondansetron 3 x day and have managed to cut down to 1 ondansetron most evenings and was taking prochloroperazine most days and have cut most of that out. I didn’t really manage to start reducing until about 18 weeks or so.

Bad evening yesterday after exhaustion of going to hospital and doing some cleaning. I really can’t manage much without it getting worse! Not sure whether to try to venture out today or to rest and recoup.

[Reastie]

Seaeagle I’ve repeatidly tried to learn how to crochet but can’t do it!

[Notquiteagandt]

Ive dipped in and out this thread through out pregnancy.

But I have a week old now. Born at 37wks induced due to HG.

I was sick right until the end with fluid and antiemetic drip in labour.

But I did it. Felt instant relief once baby was here and couldnt be more in love.

Any vetrans here have experience in neonate weight loss at the 5 days weigh?

I had about 6bags of fluid in labour. When baby was born she was 6lb 8 with a puffy face. By day 2 baby was showing sodium in her blood. 5 day check she was 5lb10.

I am convinced its because of water retention shes since lost. And the sodium is due to the drip.

Drs and mw all say in theory they are in agreement with me. But need to cover all bases still.

Anyone else had experience of simular?

As its now day 12 in hospital and I am clawing at walls to get us home.