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’ve had it with both pregnancies. I wanted to kill myself.

Ondansetron saved me. Keep pushing until you get it prescribed.

Hi everyone, I’m back home. It was a relatively quick visit back there but I have now got Xonvea on prescription - which is apparently very good but we shall see.

I managed to eat half a sandwich and I’ve kept down water.

I only got as far as seeing the gp at A&E who really didn’t seem too concerned. He said as long as I’m managing even half a sandwich or some toast etc, plus some water then I should be ok…

Today was really tough - I’m hoping tomorrow is better. I do have my partner but he has just signed a contract with a new client and just cannot afford to take any time off work.

Thank you for your replies

I am glad you have been back and your home again, you sound more positive. Have you got the tablets to start them?

Still bad tomorrow can you see GP?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly75zx53zqo

Never realised it got this bad for people 💐

Male GP not concerned. You just want to make him endure a week of it 🤬

My friend overseas had anti sickness pessaries to put up your bottom she said they worked better.

Someone might have told you all this. And xonvea )?) is available now which wasn't then but...
Ondansetron 6am eat cracker at 7am 50ml of fluid at some point (with tablet and try well after food)
Sleep. 50ml of fluid every 1-2 hours. Tiny amounts in a syringe best. Orange and apple juice come back the same flavour so you get used to it.
Metaclompramide 10am.
Docusate
Omeprazole
Eat 11am. Cracker / biscuit / toast / salted crisps
Cyclizine 12pm
Sleep
Ondansetron 4pm
Eat 5pm with 50 ml fluid
Sleep
Metaclompramide 7pm
Docusate.
Eat 8pm. Usually the biggest meal - evening were better sickness but more projectile.
Cyclizine overnight.

Well it's not concerning, in the sense that it doesn't seem to be a serious issue or inciting of a severe condition or life threatening issue. However it is life effecting and horrible to live with and makes everything about your day just worse (I've had my own issues with severe vomiting and severe nauesa, not pregnancy related). I do think doctors need to be better a patient communication and also from the fact they're used to things and patients are not because then it comes across as belittling a patient whose issues are seriously negatively impacting her every day.

How are you feeling @Cantcopewiththesickness?

I had similar and was sent in every day for IV fluids to lowery ketones levels and then sent home again. Apparently they couldn't keep me in overnight. It was basically trail and error to get the right meds. It was horrendous but once I got the right meds, it was manageable. Keep pushing for IV fluids and then keep going with the meds and change them as needed

This.
I had campylobactor in the first trimester of my 3rd pregnancy. It was so bad A&E questioned it was ectopic pregnancy and ordered a procedure to remove it - I was less than 6 weeks pregnant, healthy sac located in correct place, but too early for a heartbeat- was the longest pregnancy ever!

I suffered HG with first 2 pregnancies as well and found with my first, all I could keep down was Pepsi max and drumstick lollies, and my second was Pepsi max and monster munch.

Keep going OP - here starts the mum mantra of "this too shall pass"

I mean this kindly, so you don’t waste your efforts - but A&E isn’t the right place to be looking for support with this.

Their role is to stop people dying. So at the point you’re not so dehydrated that your blood levels are a major cause for concern, ane your blood pressure is adequate you’re out of their remit. The GPs at A&E are in a similar role.

Whereas your normal GP practise has a role in keeping you healthy (vs A&E role is not dead). The midwife service have a role in pregnancy support. And the early pregnancy unit are the experts.

Put your efforts into feeding and watering yourself. Marzipan, peanut butter, protein yoghurts, avocados, steak, chips are all good examples of very high calories / nutrition per bite. Lucozade or other sports drinks, again, good value per mouthful. Ice lollies work for some for hydration. At one point I was going through 10 boxes of rocket lollies a week.

Rest is important. It really does make a difference.

My friend could only drink lucozade during pregnancy.

Glad you're on Xonvea, I didn't have HG but I had a bad spell where I dipped into ketosis/dehydration and Xonvea really helped once I ramped up the dose. Also lucozade sport (the flat not fizzy one) - good for hydration and tbh isn't too bad coming back up.

Lots of people have mentioned ondansetron, but I don't think they like to prescribe it until 12wks due to slightly increased risk of cleft palate?

Hang in there. ❤️ Keep advocating for yourself.

I dont mean to come across rudely but HG can be so severe that even food related words can trigger vomiting. I couldn’t even think about coffee for example without vomiting. I had to attend an and e multiple times and was told it was the correct place and I had severe imbalances in my blood that needed correcting. A and E can often be the appropriate place for HG treatment if EPU not accessible or complications have set in.

OP needs to be able to ask for help and not feel that she shouldn’t go to get that help. I had to terminate my longed for pregnancy due to HG - my body was failing I was seriously unwell and admitted. It can be life threatening .

Smells can also trigger I found. Also burst blood vessels in your eyes

Yes.

But OP has had it confirmed that that’s not (yet) the case for them. That’s the bit A&E check for and if ok, then it’s a ‘not our skill set’. At which point it’s a waste of effort going back to them in a short time period. If need more input, then better put that effort into teams that are better placed to do that.

Your situation was what A&E are good at. Sorting the emergency bit.

Yes you’re right sorry I wasn’t being rude. I just don’t want OP to think she can’t go back if she needs to. I think maybe I’m a bit reactive about this subject due to what happened to me. I will
step away but wish OP the best x

How are you doing now @Cantcopewiththesickness , I had HG in both of my pregnancies ( 6 yr gap) , worse in the first where I vomited multiple times daily and felt nauseous 24/7 and it unfortunately went on for the entire pregnancy . I survived on a few wotsits and little bites of jacket potato with butter . It was terrible at the time but the entire pregnancy was a bit of a disaster so that was the least of my issues at the time . Hope you feel better soon .

Thank you for the advice and thank you to those who have checked back in.

I was kinda expecting the xonvea to be a miracle cure (just going by what I’ve read on here + I paid £60 for one box of the stuff!) but in all honesty it’s only taken the edge off slightly. I have still been sick multiple times today and yesterday but perhaps it needs more time to work?

I’m in a better headspace this evening despite feeling quite nauseous, I’m probably just getting used to it. I’ve also become a bit of a pro at throwing up - I can make myself sick just looking at a bag or a toilet. It’s actually incredible how it becomes the normal and suddenly stops being so horrifying.

I’m quite concerned about work next week though, I’m ploughing through the vomiting and taking each day as it comes. I’ll persevere with the medication and I’m having daily plain jacket potatoes or toast with a thin spread of butter but because of this I’m so tired all the time, quite weak and drained from the sickness. I don’t know how I’m going to go in next week (no option to work from home either). I’d do anything for another week off but I don’t think they would appreciate that in the slightest.

So overall, feeling a bit better in terms of managing things better but still a sick mess really! I know it’s probably common for people suffering with pregnancy sickness to say this but… truly… Never. Again.

Look at the website pregnancy sickness support, they have a treatment plans they advise along with people you can speak to

I am sick very frequently because of gastropareisis and I find peppermint tea very helpful in improving the experience of being sick (because I don’t get the feeling of acid nor any bad taste or aftertaste). Just in case that helps.

Try your early pregnancy unit instead of a &e

I think your contribution was perfectly valid, and not at all rude.
I’m very sorry for what you suffered. It is an awful condition that doesn’t get enough attention or understanding.

I was same until 16 -20 weeks, would puke down myself whilst driving, every few steps whilst walking, constant thirst, glugging water then bringing it up. Tried every old. Wives tale, sliced thin apples, tiny amounts at a time. Couldn't stand the smell of food cooking, couldn't watch or hear anyone eat, awful time, nearly split up as so exhausted and emotional. It did get better, my work changed shift hours so not too late or early. Nothing like it in previous pregnancies, extremely simple birth and content easy-peasy baby. It's awful

@Cantcopewiththesickness you need to get signed off sick if necessary . I had a tissue box , half filled with tissues and half with nappy sacks that I took everywhere with me in case I got caught short not near a loo . I also had a few weeks where I fainted regularly so watch out for that .