Left hosp 3 hours ago.. should I go back?

[Cantcopewiththesickness]

I’m 8 weeks pregnant and considering termination due to hyperemesis gravidarum. I don’t want this anymore. I cannot cope.

I’ve been like it every day for the past 3 weeks and it’s already enough for me.

I throw up 1-2 times per hour from when I wake-2/3pm, then again (typically a couple of times) in the evening. I’ve thrown up during the night too. Essentially I get a 3-4 hour window where I actually feel hungry and keep food down. If I eat outside of that window, my body projectile vomits it back up within minutes. Eating brings on the most intense nausea and it’s like it doesn’t even fully go down - my body isntantly rejects it. Water/juice I can manage teeny tiny sips but it’s not enough to rehydrate me. I’m surviving on bites off of a banana, some ritz crackers and bits of baguette. That is it.

I also generally feel awful. Head feels awful. I’m so tired and worried about myself. I am so ill.

Went to a&e yesterday morning, they gave me fluids and tried the third lot of anti sickness meds. I’ve only taken 2 tablets so far and just like the other two, they have done absolutely nothing. There is a specific tablet I wanted to try but hospital cannot get hold of it, apparently.

They sent me home but I am just so ill. Realistically, what can they even do? I might have no choice but to end it. I cannot go on the way I am.

I just want to get some opinions on whether or not I should go back, or do I just have to try and plod along and hope I don’t collapse?

I can’t do it - I’m going back. I still haven’t eaten, I thought my 3-4 hour window had started but I’m right back to square one already and I have not eaten a single thing all day. I can’t even sip on juice.

I’m just sat here crying because I can’t go on like this and I understand that medication doesn’t particularly work/help so… there is essentially going to be little to no relief? For who knows how long… I really am not strong enough to be this sick every single day. I’m sorry for the tmi but I also have diarrhoea on top of all this, it’s quite literally like having a never ending tummy bug.

I have this too and am now 21 weeks - if you can get to your Early Pregnancy Unit or speak to your midwife or even a good/supportive GP quite often they are more helpful and knowledgeable than A&E. The Early Pregnancy Unit can also give you anti sickness medication either injected into the muscle or through the cannula with your drip (so you can’t throw it up) to help get on top of things. Which medications are you on? It took me a mix of Xonvea, Ondansetron, Metaclopramide and Cyclizine to help, and luckily this pregnancy it has started to ease off a bit now. For me the 6-10 weeks was always the worst, and then another peak around 14-16 but you might find it drops off. Pregnancy Sickness Support give really good advice on navigating the hospital system too, so if you or your partner can contact them they might be able to help. It’s so grim, I totally know how you feel and I’m so sorry you’re going through this.

Ring your GP daily over and over I would

There are NICE guidelines. Have a look and take with you to appointments.

Do you have access to a private GP appointment through work or can you pay? Spire hospitals often have a private GP service. There are more effective meds but I believe the NHS makes you try all the cheaper ones first until you feel like dying before prescribing them.

There was a recent newspaper article on Hyperemesis which I’ll try to find.

Thinking of you.

Has anyone checked that this isn't a bacteria / infection? It's easy to assume HG because you are pregnant but that doesn't mean there couldn't be something else going on, particularly if you have diarrhea as well.

Have they given you ondansetron yet? If that doesn't work then they can prescribe injections to give yourself at home. The fact you're having a break between throwing up for a few hours this early on is a very good sign.

Oh love, it's so grim isn't it. If you're not keeping juice down, yes you need to be seen again. Mention the NICE guidelines and insist on seeing someone from O & G.

Let us know how you go, if you feel up to it

Also had HG, and it is just horrible, sending sympathy your way. I ended up on ondansetron (Zofran) and it was amazingly helpful. I still felt not amazing, but I could cope. It did make me sleepy, so I wasn't really able to work effectively. Also, weeks 7-9 are the peak worst for HG per my doctor so just know you are at the absolute worst point, and it WILL get better. Please demand the anti nausea meds if you haven't done so already.

Please go back and just beg for help if you have to. I had a termination for HG a month ago. It was a much wanted baby. I don’t want you to be where I am now . Just beg for help and for IV medication. I was denied steroids apparently they really help please ask

Medication can work and help so much but you may need to find the one best for you and you are definitely at the peak and most people do feel better when they’re on a drip and medication. I went from unable to sip water to eating tea and toast overnight when I was an in patient on a drip. There is help available.

I was like this in my first pregnancy during lockdown. I ended up losing about 40lbs the end of it. The vomiting did ease at 18 weeks though and stopped around 20.

There are quite a few medications you can take to help and being on IV fluids will make you feel better too. You're right in the worst part at the moment but it does get better usually, sometimes as early as 11 or 12 weeks.

Yes go back and ask for more help. I had horrendous HG in both of my pregnancies, particularly the second where I ended up with needing to go in every other day for IV fluids. The first pregnancy Ondansetron really helped but the second nothing helped except steroids, which were incredibly. They’re not without risk but worth discussing. Hope things improve soon.

Was it this one https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jul/31/dont-call-it-morning-sickness-hyperemesis-gravidarum-extreme-pregnancy

Im so sorry you are feeling like this - Ive had it & it was awful.

Unfortunately mine lasted the whole 9 months but a lot of people start to feel better in the second semester. Please approach your early help pregnancy hub and see what they can do to help you - they should be better than A&E.

Good luck

That sounds dreadful. I really hope you can try something else to hellp.

I had this with both of my pregnancies, I was unlucky it never eased until delivery and I ended up hospitalised for weeks with my second as I couldn’t keep anything down not even fluids. I lost so much weight it was crazy
It’s great you’re not dehydrated even though it doesn’t feel like it it means fluids are staying in your body even if again ti doesn’t feel like it. It’s also very positive that you get a window.

Insist they help you, there are so many meds you can try.

I'm glad you're going back. Hopefully you'll get a better service this time. Private appointment isn't a bad idea you're prescribed better drugs which the NHS will continue.

I can sympathise with you, I found between 8 - 12 weeks the worst, absolutely awful. I thought I'd never enjoy food again, always felt like being sick but only was a few times which was worse. It did get better though, around 16 weeks a lot better. By 20 weeks I felt fine for the most part... and then you can't stop eating. I disliked a lot of being pregnant and the various ailments, it seems like a marathon to get through but trust me you do get through it.

For now, I think you should go back as what they have given you clearly hasn't worked, they will have to try something else to help you. And keeping pushing on.

I just had ‘normal’ morning sickness and that was bad enough! It sounds awful OP, I hope they can get you on the right medication.

I had HG 30 years ago. Got it again in my second pregnancy two years later.
I absolutely feel for you. I remember driving to work and having to stop the car to throw up. I had nausea 24/7 and threw up all day.
I was admitted to hospital at 8 weeks because of dehydration and ketones. It meant telling everyone I was pregnant earlier than planned. I was kept in for a week and sent home with phenergan. I don't think they gave anything else then.
I can't think of much that helped. I was close to murder the next person who suggested ginger biscuits or wristbands, they had no comprehension of how bad it was.
I found a window around 7pm when I could eat plain boiled rice.
Added to this I was very unsure about pregnancy, it was a biological clock decision.

All I can say hang in there. It didn't go away but got a little better by the end of the pregnancy. The baby didn't suffer, he was a healthy 8lb, I lost a lot of weight but the nausea lifted the day I went into labour.
To my surprise having children was the most wonderful thing I ever did, and I so nearly didn't. I went on to have another two years later.

Hope you get some relief

Sounds horrid OP.
Have they offered you olanzapine? You take it at night. Ive been prescribed it for chemo sickness and nausea. I’ve had cyclizine through a drip and syringe driver too.

Hugs, it must be dreadful and I feel for you 🌻

Also queasy drops from Amazon. Essentially hard boiled fruit sweets to suck. They come in a variety of flavours.

I remember feeling like this at one point in my first pregnancy. Cranberry juice settled my stomach a little and I could only drink tea as it came back tasting like tea rather than acid like the other drinks did. I found the sea sickness bands helped a little in one of my pregnancies.

If you can stay well it is worth it on the end but it feels like hell while you’re going through it. How many weeks are you?

I struggled with morning sickness like this. I made homemade soups and ate those during a good window. Eat little and often, so a small bowl each time.

Root ginger also helped.

It was bloody awful but back then there was very little support.

I had dropped 3 dress sizes when baby came.

@Cantcopewiththesickness HG is just the worst feeling :-(
Have you had your booking yet? If so, your maternity notes should have a contact number for early pregnancy unit.
Otherwise if you go via A and E, press to see the on call on/gynae for a plan.

It’s easy to say don’t despair as I know how awful it is, but there is relief to be found with the meds and IV as well. Good advice up thread about the NICE and RCOG guidelines.

Do you have any support from a partner?