Anti-emetics for 24/7 nausea in the first trimester- any experiences?

[ActonBell]

Sorry, I know this should be in pregnancy but I’m posting in chat for traffic as I really need advice.

I’m 7 weeks into my third pregnancy (second was an ectopic). I’ve had 24/7 nausea for two weeks now. I’ve not been sick but I do retch and dry heave. I can eat a limited range of food and keep food and liquids down.

Even without being sick the nausea is taking over my life. I have to lie in bed for hours because moving or standing makes me feel sicker. I have been trying to keep up with work - luckily can work from home and from bed most of the time because of the pandemic - but I’m starting to struggle. I can’t play with my 3 year old when he gets in from nursery because afternoons and evenings are the worst. I just lie on the sofa whilst he has the tv on and asks if mummy is still sick.

In my first pregnancy I would generally vomit once a day and then feel fine so this is very different.

I’m eating something little every 20 mins or so. Soda water and ice water help a bit. I have those anti-sickness acupressure bands now.

I’m trying to set myself small goals just to get through a few days at a time. Have my booking in appointment at the end of next week.

Is it worth a conversation with the GP at any point? Will they even prescribe anti-emetics if you’re not vomiting? I’m not sure if I want to take medication as I know it’s not risk free but I also can’t see how to survive 5+ more weeks of this.

If anyone had experience of this any advice would be welcome. Thank you!

Starting off at the minimum dose and it made such a difference this morning! I had weetabix and fruit for breakfast like a normal person and played with my little boy! A little background nausea but it was pretty minimal.

Relief has been massive but the current dosage doesn’t seem to be enough to get me through the day. Nausea ramped up again over the afternoon and this evening I’ve actually been throwing up. But I’m hopeful because the dose can go higher and this morning seemed a really good indicator that it might work for me. Everything crossed it does work as have been so miserable again this evening.

Thanks for all the advice.

You poor thing. Are you in prochlorperazine or Cariban? My experience is you start with a high dose and taper down. Also take on an empty stomach and preferably in the evening in case of drowsiness. Hopefully it subsides soon.x

May have spoken too soon. Woke up at 3am to be sick and really nauseous again this morning. Going to try the higher dose.
I’ve got Promethazine at the moment. GP gave me 25mg with instructions to take once a day in the evening but Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists say you can take 25mg up to every 4-8 hours if needed.

@ActonBell Prometheus one is the same as prochlorperazine and it didn't work for me. You may need to up your dosage but it still never worked for me. My GP ended up prescribing Cariban and I started at 3 capsules a day. Honestly it literally saved me. I'm not out of the woods yet as I still feel nauseous at 36 weeks but I take it and it works. I'm currently on two tablets daily and hoping to reduce it in the coming days.

Gaviscon, bottles and bottles of the stuff, helped me.

People usually recommend ginger but I don't like it and it made me feel worse. I found that I didn't feel sick while I was actually eating something, so chain-ate boiled sweets. I bought the tins of travel sweets and sucked those. Not good for my teeth but made me feel much better.