Feeling a pathetic wimp about sickness and food aversions

[mrsgboring]

Please can someone reassure/advise me. I know that many many people have worse sickness than me but already I feel like I cannot cope.

I'm 7 weeks today (by my dates 8 weeks by LMP) and feel revolting. I feel sick nearly all the time, have just started retching occasionally but not been sick yet. However I do have an aversion to almost all known foods which I find fairly crippling.

I've had two pregnancies before - first was my DD who was unfortunately stillborn. I was very ill with her, and had a complete aversion to liquids which almost landed me in hospital. However, I was never sick more than twice a day and apparently it wasn't ever bad enough to qualify as hyperemesis. It went on till 24 weeks. With my DS I was sick and had food aversions but nowhere near as badly. However, I didn't really appreciate this much at the time as it was so traumatic going through a pregnancy after loss.

So, this is the first time I have had to look after a child and be pregnant and I'm feeling every bit as bad as in the equivalent stage with my DD. I was signed off work for 3 weeks with DD and was fairly incapacitated. This time round, I won't be able to rest (am a SAHM and not really anyone who can help that much with DS) and I can't eat sweets because DS wants them too. He's spent lots of time watching telly already and I'm scared it will get worse.

I've tried sea bands, morningwell tapes (both ineffective). Ginger and peppermint make me heave.

The most debilitating thing for me right now is, I am really struggling to eat any food at the moment - the only things I can remotely face eating are lollipops, chocolate, highly sweetened breakfast cereal and crisps. Sometimes I can eat meat.

Does anyone else who is suffering with not particularly spectacular nausea find that they are totally unable to function and how the hell will I cope? Do you think a GP would countenance prescribing anti-nausea drugs despite the fact my sickness isn't medically that severe yet? Is this the route I should go down?

[mrsgboring]

I've just read a bit more on HG and arguably my symptoms in my first pregnancy did amount to HG after all, in that I lost a dramatic amount of weight (10% of body weight in 3 weeks) owing to complete inability to drink or eat much.

Am feeling a bit desperate at the minute

[charitygirl]

Oh dear nothing to advise but wanted to bump for you. The only thing I found helpful (other than stuffing face with carbs) was carrying a lemon around - I would scratch a bit of zest off under my fingernails and sniff it. I found it a really 'cleansing' smell which briefly killed the nausea.

Sorry...it will get better - and don't worry about balanced meals, just eat what you can.

[penona]

I suffered severe hyperemesis in my pregnancy and was hospitalised a few times (8 weeks, 17 weeks) and had a few overnight 'observations' in the last 10 weeks. It is awful, debilitating and depressing. I wasn't working, had no children and basically had to live with my parents as I was so incapable of functioning as my DH was away with work alot. It was so awful I can't ever imagine being pregnant again.

My GP was very unhelpful, he thought sickness was 'normal' in pregnant women (20 times a day? I don't think that's normal!) so only when I got to AnE did they prescribe me drugs. I never found anything that worked for the nausea, but there are some very effective anti-sickness (anti-emetics) treatments out there that are 'ok' to use in pregnancy. You might be able to push a friendly GP into prescribing them if you are actually being sick. Also with your history he may be more sympathetic, I don't know.

I found that I could only tolerate some foods (pick n mix, baked potatoes and ice pops) so just had to eat them whenever I could. Ice pops were actually very good. As was melon - a big fave (and better to eat in front of your DS). Just try and eat whatever you can hold down - don't worry about the nutrition now. Your baby will be fine, it's you that will suffer. you just need the energy and fluids in any way you can.

Acupuncture also helped a bit, but I had been having it for periods for years beforehand so was used to it.

I really do sympathise, reading your post brought back some horrible memories. At the end of it all though, I had 2 lovely babies, I put on a stone in about 2 months binge eating everything (oops!) and the nausea ended the minute they were born.

Good luck. Do mail me if you want some more tips, I'l try and think of some more if I can. Big sympathy to you. (And am very sorry for your first loss, how awful).

[titmouse]

I'm in week 13 and I had dreadful churning nausea from very early. I'm still not great now but I am functioning a bit more normally, except today which began with some spectacular throwing up and I've not quite recovered yet.

I share your feelings completely, I keep getting upset with myself for being floored by the nausea and occasional vomiting when other people seem to cope with it. I was the same with my periods, I had endometriosis and severely painful periods from the age of 11 and spent most of the time upset that people were judging me as being weak and pathetic.

Try not to compare yourself to others, there's always going to be women who glow from early on who never puke, and women who spend the first trimester and beyond on their knees in front of the loo.

I find it much worse if I don't get enough sleep or if I get too hungry, so if you can, have as much rest during the day as you can - easier said than done with a little one at home, I realise - and eat whatever you can keep down. Just don't worry too much about the nutrition for now. I am virtually living off hula hoops and chocolate. can somebody take your son for an hour in the afternoons so that you can try and sleep?

I'm finding days like today nothing actually works so I am typing this in bed, feeling guilty that I just had to call my boss and give him a list of instructions for things I can't do for a couple of massive meetings I should be at. So I think maybe I am writing this for me as well as you :-)

It does get better, I was in despair at 7, 8 and 9 weeks but it tailed off a bit and life did get far more normal again. I hope it does for you too xx

[Malva]

You're not pathetic, it's so tough. Low level constant nausea is appalling - would much rather be viloletly ill for an hour or two and then feel ok for the rest of the day.

I'm only four weeks and already the nausea has started (lost three stone in the early months of my last pregnancy as I could barely look at food).

I work five days a week, commute for four hours and have an active two year old to look after - I'm terrified about how I'm going to cope, I've fallen asleep on the office bathroom floor three times already today (don't worry, it's very clean!).

Can't believe I'm admitting this to anyone but earlier today I thought for a brief second about termination as I really couldn't see beyond this dreadful sickness...only for a second but now I feel so guilty that it even crossed my mind. I think that goes to show just how difficult and traumatic constant nausea can be.

I wish I had an answer. Just eat what you can, as often as you can and worry about nutrition later.

Good luck, let us know how you get along...and if anybody reading this knows the answer please please help!

[beeny]

I know exactly how you feel.My first pregnancy sickness lasted for 9 months began really felt suicdal.This pegnancy have been working part time with 2yearold.I have felt horrendous but better today amd in middle of week 11.I drink lemonade first thing in the morning with white toast really helps.Loots of cheese sandwiches and crisps.I eat meat but it has to be spicy.Good luck really feel for you.WHITE BREAD has saved me.

[Pinkglow]

Again complete sympathy - I had it bad, at the worst I was being sick about 6-8 times a day and spent most of it feeling very sorry for myself and doing alot of ranting.

I kept invisioning other women coping really well and being superhuman and here was I mooping around and moaning, but thats what got me through.

[Kerri1983]

Hiya,

I am 30 weeks today and can say that at the start of my pregnancy I thought the sickness would never go away.

Although I could count on my fingers how many times I was actually sick the constant nausea and uncontrolling retching really got me down.

I decided that I would eat what i could when i could and forget about the rules regarding eating 5 fruit and veg a day and a healthy balanced diet.

I survived on jelly sweets, orange lolly ices and basically anything that wouldn't leave a horrible taste in my mouth. All garlic etc was banned from the house as the smell made me feel worse.

I would say eat when you can and don't worry about what it is, try to keep your fluids up too.

[Seeline]

Poor you I realy sympathise. I don't think anyone that hasn't been through this can really comprehend how dibilitating severe morning sickness can be. I really would get down to your GPs and plead for medication. I did with my second pg as I knew that I just wouldn't cope with a toddler as well. The first time I was off work for 4 months and only left the house for antinatal appointments!

[Cosmogirl]

I totally sympathise too MrsG and have contemplated a similar post as yours before, along the lines of 'how am I meant to cope like this?" This is my first preg and nausea started at 6 weeks. It was bearable for the next two, but at 8 weeks became much stronger and I began dry heaving several times a day too. This went on until week 10 when I did the occassional vomit as well. I only ever seem to bring up a tiny amount though, maybe because I am not eating very much.

I have lost a stone and I am 12 weeks tomorrow.

It has got a little better - I tend to feel the strongest nausea in the evenings after 3.30 pm until bed. I haven't had dinner in weeks and just tend to get into bed as early as I feel I have to.

I really feel for you having to look after another child too - can't imagine how tough that must be. I am hoping that as I pass the 12 week stage things will improve again, but if not, I think I may need to speak to my GP about meds too.

[Cosmogirl]

Cont....

I haven't given you much useful advice, but just wanted you to know that you aren't alone and there are many of us struggling to. For me weeks 8-10 were the worst so far, so hopefully things should get better and normal life can resume again.

xx

[dobbins]

Hi- really feel for you. I had food aversions and morning sickness earlier on in my pregnancy (now 39 weeks pregnant). It lasted for about 5 months. My diet was restricted and certain smells had me rushing to the bathroom. My advice is to only eat what you feel like when you feel like it. Don't worry about the baby- babies take what they need. For 4 months all I could eat was cereal and milk, sweets and lollies and cheese sandwiches and fruit. Also found that constant grazing/snacking helped especially if felt nuasea was starting up again. Even if you manage just to eat few grapes or a few crisps or something.

[rubyredslippers]

Have heard great things about hypnotherapy as i have been afflicted twice wi constant nausea and retching. too expensive for us... or maybe i just wasn't desperate enough!!! to try after acupuncture helped not a jot. You sound like you might raise the funds as more needy than i!!!

[titmouse]

bumping thread

[dobbins]

Oh forgot to say... I did have two sessions with acupunturist for morning sickness- nearly forgot as it was so long ago now. Not too sure but think it did help- certainly relaxed me and made the heartburn better. maybe try an acupuncturist that specialises in pregnancy etc.?

[mrsgboring]

A belated thank you to you all. Was so pathetic I didn't even see this thread had replies.

I'm very sorry to hear of so many suffering but thank you all for sharing experiences and not calling me a wimp.

Malva, I've read on other threads that most people with HG consider termination at some stage it's only rational. To have an unsupportive GP is particularly bad because you feel you've got no escape. I have had fleeting thoughts of throwing myself under a bus just to stop the sickness. Thankfully only very fleeting thoughts.

[EsmeWeatherwax]

I was just going to post a thread on this today. Am glad I'm not alone. I'm only 8 weeks and I just feel awful. Constant nausea, can't look at food, have lost a stone in the last two weeks. With my last pregnancy, I would be sick in the morning, feel like crap for ten minutes, then get on with life. This time is much worse because its constant nausea without vomiting. Am hoping it will go away earlier as its so different from last time.

Malva, I think about termination of this pregnancy all the time, although I would never actually do it, I just imagine how much better I would feel if I'd never got pregnant in the first place. I know I'll love the dc when it arrives, and would be devastated if anything did happen in the interim, but I just feel so horrendously awful all the time.

Sorry, this has turned into a bit of a novel, but just wanted to let you know that there's another one of us feeling worse than they could have thought possible...

[Cosmogirl]

Sucks doesn't it. I managed 9-4 at work today but minute I got home was over the toilet, and now at 5 I am in my PJs sat in bed feeling sooo nauseous and thirsty but can't bear to drink any water. Constantly having moments of 'what have I done?'; 'why did no one tell me it would be this bad?' etc.... It really is the worst I have ever felt. I am 12 weeks now and just hope some relief is close by, each day is such a struggle at the moment........

[mrsgboring]

Cosmogirl, feel free to ignore but what helped me get liquids down when like this was to have drink through a tightly chewed straw, so I could control how much was going in. I also distracted myself with daytime telly as I was drinking (was signed off from work for 3 weeks with it)

[EsmeWeatherwax]

Yes Cosmo, it does. I remember thinking it was bad the first time round, but this is a hundred times worse. I got through an afternoon today at work, hoping to manage a full day tomorrow. Its very hard to keep going. Hope you get some relief soon.

[Malva]

I spoke to my Dr a couple of days ago about this and he suggested I change the time of day I take my folic acid. OMG! It worked like a miracle, I now take it with my evening meal (used to take it first thing in the morning). I don't feel half as bad. Don't know if it will work for everyone but worth a try?

[Malva]

Mrs boring and EsmeWeatherwax - I've just seen your messages. Such a relief to know I'm not the only one, I felt so selfish even thinking it and would be devastated if anything happened. It's just so tough feeling rotten all the time.

Moving my folic acid intake has given me a small ray of hope that things can get better....mind you, I'm so used to feeling ill 24/7 the minute I feel normal it's such a shock that I panic something has gone wrong, guess I'm never happy!

[Malva]

Sorry to post three times in a row! Should have added to my message about moving folic acid that he also gave me a shot of B12.