New Hyperemesis Support thread founded by the lovely LucindaE

[grumblinalong]

As the old thread is nearly full here it is time a brand new thread is born. All we need now is a new vomit face emoticon MN towers!

We are a bunch of past, present and future HG sufferers (along with worried spouses, family and friends) who use this thread to support, listen and discuss the dreaded pregnancy illness that is HG (hyperemesis gravidarum).

There are no limits on how much moaning posters can do nor can anyone's symptoms or experiences be tmi.

The old thread has been a great support to many of us and we hope this new thread carries on the great work started by old thread founder and HG guru LucindaE. She still maintains, supports and clucks around the thread daily even though her own experience of HG is thankfully over.

So with no further incoherent rambling from me on with the new thread eh?

Thanks for the tips regarding the minging taste in my mouth. Mmm, Starburst!
Can I join the club too, had 4++++ keytones for approx 2 weeks! (one nurse measured them at 5+++++ but apparently the scale only goes up to 4 so think she was just cashing in on the drama)

Only the bile run and dry heaving for me these days but trying not to jinx things so refuse to say it out loud, I too can't quite believe just how bad I felt in the days leading up to hospital admission, think I am in a pretty healthy state of denial about the whole episode! I have however come up with a small rule book to try and help the new members of our exclusive band of vomit sisters.

1. Make 2 doctor's appointments as soon as you feel the onset of symptoms as the first one won't believe you. Be prepared for something along the lines of "you're pregnant not ill, it's not an excuse to take time off work", then give yourself at least 2 hours for the tears to stop before attempting the second appointment during which you will refuse to leave the room until they have tested your wee and promptly eaten their words!
2. Once admited to hospital give your dignity to a family member to look after until you leave, you won't be needing it.
3. Rememeber having followed rule 2 when shuffling along the ward in the middle of the night dragging your drip behind you whilst carrying a bowl of wee and a bowl of vom which you will then give to an unsuspecting nurse who for some reason is not offended by this gift in the slightest.
4. When you are so thirsty you can't think straight but are able to immediately vom every sip of water you attempt to swallow you are unwell and absolutely deserving of that hospital bed and drip, not a malingering idiot who can't cope with hormones and just needs to make an effort to drink more.
5. Once you have been in the hospital long enough to just crave a puke in the privacy of your own toilet, eat/drink whatever the hell will stay down, regardless of taste, quantity or apparent lack of health benefit.
6. After following rule 5 be aware that once you find a "safe" food or drink do not let down your guard. It is only a temporary fix as said "safe" item will turn on you when you least expect it.
7. Do not, under and circumstances, eat anything red, lumpy or containing any small ingredients able to fit out of the average sized nostril.
8. When doing the obligatory "after vom nose blow" always check the tissue to see what you've won, you make get a pleasant surprise. (see rule 7)
9. Unless they or a member of their immediate family has suffered from Hg no one you work with will understand. They will think it is morning sickness and will forever think of you as one of those women who gets pregnant and never works again. Accept this and move on.

10. When you build up the energy to take a shower always lay a pathway of towels from the shower to the toilet. Shower voms take even the most hardy veterans by surprise in their urgency. 11. When you eventually reach the stage where water once again becomes acceptable (hard to believe now I know but it will happen) just neck a whole glass. Yes you'll puke it all up again but it's so worth it! 12. If someone offers you a ginger biscuit offer to staple their fingers to their face.

Any other old timers on here please feel free to add any rules you have discovered along the way, maybe we can get it published and distributed free to all new memebers. If I'd known then what I know now I could have avoided so many pitfalls!!

Hugs to all
Luce xx

these are great for piles - nothing worse than toilet paper sometimes if you know what I mean! I always have these in my bag, lifesaver

www.boots.com/en/Preparation-H-Wipes-30-Wipes_32115/

I keep having that realisation "shit......we are having a baby.....an actual baby......"

nitnat i shuldnt of laughed but the thought of yr face and handfuls of puke :)

Luce, that is genius! I particularly like number 12. I am going to steal and send to my friends and maybe that midwife!!!

So, in greatest ketones award, FluffyBooLuce andNitNat all 4++++. Oh, dear, second the chocolate cake for Fluffy but I shouldn't think anyone else is up to it, so one chocolate cake and a glass of wine to go and three deferred chocolate cakes and three glasses of for later.
Luce Great advice, particularly (1)! I am glad you are a bit better and baby is kicking well, but sorry bile run refuses to go. I remember that metallic taste well, ugh, and used to suck barley sugar from an old-fashioned sweet shop.
NitNat Poor old you! A handful of vomit, piles, uti, things can only look up, surely? You are always so stoic too.
Cocoanuts All luck for Monday on getting hold of some vitamin drops...Sixteen weeks already? Though it must seem an age to you. It is interesting about the no nausea with your mc's, only a little with my pregnancy that ended in mc, but poor you for having two miscarriages, one is bad enough. Were they consecutive?
MaryLou Oh dear, I am glad no puking but bile run and heaving dismal.
Did it improve dramatically at any stage last time or was it bad throughout?
I remember the beery breath too , I seemed to smell it from the front hall! Had to laugh about the covered up beer can, though it's no joke for you...
TheOnly A doctor shouted at you?! The *, [anger] Please tell me it was a male, not a 'MiserableCowWhoHatesWomenDespiteBeingOne'?.
Pearl and Others memory stirs... How do you find jelly with tinned grapefruit or other tinned fruit set in it?
LA Sorry you are still not in great form but thank goodness it's improved.
Grumblin thinking of you, and Caramel near to that 40 weeks!
LucindaE
xx

Well said Luce!! Gotta laugh about it else we would go insane!! Glacier fruits were my sweet of choice for getting rid of horrid tastes - they last ages and taste really juicy :)

La73 thanks for your note about platelets - mine have gone up slightly so am nearer to the normal bracket and GP is not too worried but will have to have another blood test in a few weeks time to make sure they don't go down again. Apparently this doesn't usually affect pregnant women until 3rd trimester (I am only 16+6) so guess I'm just lucky!!??!?

Hope everyone is having an ok day, am off to attempt a glass of 5alive berry juice - my new favourite drink!! :)

For those who's pelvic floor f*ed from previous births remember to stock up on tena lady or go sitting on loo with sick bowl route.

If have to venture out in public (hospital, GP, acupuncturist rarely elesewhere) then take extra strong carrier bags, wet wipes, spare knickers & trousers (see above)

Hear of crashing waves (or uttering under breath oh pls just f off) at first mention of ginger, it's only slightly worse than normal NVP (1st obs I saw in hospital prior to admission!) don't look very pregnant, yr huge now couldn't been that sick, I never had sickness but generally pretty healthy, you really should try eating something, etc, oh tediously, etc

Dignity, well you may as well leave that checked in till weaning...

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Luce That made me laugh a lot!! I have a friend who now feels incredibly guilty for ever suggesting ginger biscuits to me!

La I had GTT couple of weeks ago and it was awful having to fast - especially as nausea now worse if I don't eat!

I was admitted to hospital at 7 weeks with 4 ++++ of ketones! Even at 20 weeks when I was improving I still had traces of ketones.

Luce, glad we can all still laugh about it, very gently though all you pregnant ones - don't want the laughing to turn to vomiting.
Scoffs chocolate cake and raises glass to all of you who will be able to join me in a few months :)

First admission 3++, second time 2++++ so now I feel like a wuss :)

That's why I'm dreading it Lottie - no matter how much better still bloody lingers...

La - I know. Although I feel much better than I did few months ago I've resigned myself to the fact that I won't feel 'normal' til after baby has arrived! But then I know I've got sore stitches and breasts to look forward to along with sleepless nights. Remind me why I'm doing this??!!

Erm... Fluffy pls remind us how cute baby will be and how our heart will melt on numerous occassions? My 3 yr old DD just called Nana stupid git after watching Man utd match with DH so not feeling the cute factor just now!

Hurrah for ketones! They are useful for something after all, if only entering HG competitions!
Have thrown tonight's tea up as well. Didnt linger at the table tonight though - was at the loo in a flash!
Luce love the rulebook! last night's tea was lasagne and i blew a HUGE piece of mozzarella out of my nose. I have no idea how it managed to get through!
Lucinda i was not stoic today - have been the most curmudgeonly pregnant woman ever!

coconuts I think you have to have some sort of counselling before being sterilised so maybe that helps you decide. I don't actually know anyone who's had it done. With this inconvenient allergy to all female hormones, I'm unable to take any hormonal contraception at all or I throw up and my face becomes covered in brown patches. I just don't trust anything much any more after the persona monitor we were using failed and I ended up with HG again! We've always wanted two children and are glad really because I'm not sure I'd have ever plucked up the courage to have a planned one. I will be so glad when it's all over and I'll never have to do it again.

nitnat how grim that you're still throwing up and the other issues as well. If you have HG, I think you should be exempt from other pregnancy symptoms and have the easiest births ever. I still have piles from when I had DS and am waiting for them to worsen....

Don't like the sound of Ketones 4+! I think I only ever got to 2+ but last time I had useless doctors and only started testing around 16 weeks. This time I've only had traces of them up to now.

Luce I love the tips. I think we should add 'never fight the urge to vomit'. It just makes you worse in the long run, and after a few weeks, you actually become quite good at it. I've remembered some useful tips from last time, e.g. cushion on bathroom floor to stop knees hurting.

Cocoanuts you'll have to let us know if you find any vitamin drops. I can't take vitamins either, the smell is vile.

Spent most of today in bed. Let's hope we all have a better day tomorrow.

popped on to say hello...and have had a good laugh - everyword is so true even though in reality its not funny! Cant stay long as can feel my dinner starting to makes its exit. Have been drinking ok, and consumed a few ribena lce lollys. I dont think i'm really rehydrated but better than I was. Supposed to be going on farm park outing tomorrow with friends and the family. Not sure if I can manage it but will give it a go. I just want to stop feeling sick and being sick... I know I wanted this baby but I did have have a smallish/tiny piece of hope that it might not be this bad again! Oh well onwards and upwards towards my new little baby, which is so easily forgotton with head over loo whilst crossing legs trying not to pee on the floor! Our shower is up the creak and need to wash my hair but watching moving bath water makes me puke as does leaning in vom position over bath... so greasy hair, pale faced and red eyed will be the look for tomorrows outing!

Much love and this thread is keeping me going!
xx

Lucinda - the mcs were consecutive but two years apart, so from the viewpoint of RMC drs not consecutive enough. My 1st was natural and complete on new years eve when I was just 18. the second was two years later,a mmc needing surgery. The month after I conceived DD. This is why I was so worried I would mc this one. Then I would have had 3 mcs but not allowed any investigations as you have to have three consecutive for a consultant to see you about it.

La - I also have to have the GTT at 28 weeks due to my PCOS = predisposed to huge babies and diabetes. Really hope my HG has buggered off by then

Nitnat - LOL at your mozzerella nose episode. I have a weird valve that means all my food comes out of my nose if I don't eat cautiously and I can actually thread food through it on purpose It's horrible to be sick with this freaky body I have!

Marylou - I know what you mean about the planning. This pregnancy was planned and very long awaited but I have said to DH I couldn't take this again. If this pregnancy fails, I don't think I'd try again, I would have to stay with one. Oh it's such a hard decision to make, to set our lives in stone just because we get this stupid HG. And thank you for reminding me to ask about vitamin drops. I am so forgetful.

Hello to everyone else :)

Cocoanuts I conceived one month after mmc, too, I have heard d+c might have something to do with it...I believe even after three conseutive miscarriages, though, the chances of having a normal pregnancy next time is something between 75 to 80% but it must be so nerve racking waiting...Threading food through nose?! I learn something every day . Sorry that you and LA have to have horrible GTT's. La just taken in that at the desk into hand!? Oh, no, how humilating. Lol about the covered bins in Ealing, it must have been me that made them change over, 'we can't have people using these as a vomitarium(sp)' though MissDee on the old thread could use one by aiming sideways, I could not claim such skill... Lottie is lastest to join ketones awards and deferred chocolte cake and [wine}. Now we have BooNitNatLuceFluffy and Lottie...
Grumblin How are you? Thining of you. Will you be entitled to maternity leave soon? Say yo will!!! Pearl Bike CakeYou are quiet, I hope not in hospital? Caramel quiet too? Wizz Was trip bearable? TheOnly Is the relapse still going on? NitNat Oh, dear, this is not good about dinners.Thank goodness you are not at work. Luce Maybe you can add,'Some (like Lucinda) might think that they should be eligible for a part as a vampire extra due to ghastly complexion and hollow eyes, no make up required'? MaryLou I hope O/h is covering beer?
LucindaE
xx

Hi all, Survived day out and not too bad, went to Adam Hensons Cotswold Farm Park (guy of countryfile - on now! and lambing live) It about 45 min away have been once before and if your ever in the cotswold area highly reccomend, fab day for family and fairly reasonable even stuff to do if weather not fab.

Had few pre journey pukes whilst running around getting ready, but day was lovely, weather beautiful, the kids all had a fab time, OH was brill running around keeping an eye on DS1 and actually it did me the world of good, only few retches and no one minded me eating my picnic whihc consisted of crackers, gerhkins, strong cheddar , S and V crisps and lemonade!!

I had to have 2 GTT Tests with DS1 all fine and I also have PCOS its taken a year to conceive this time. I dont envy anyone drinking the sugar soloution with HG - URGH!

Lost my dinner last night and dont reccomend jacket potato, cheese and salad cream for the big white telephone to god - this is what my OH currently calls our loo as my head is always down it going 'oh GOD' .

Coconuts, I also have same thoughts that if this preg fails dont think I could do it again and would stick with one. The thought of having to do the last 7 weeks again fills me with dread and fear let alone the next 10 or so that face me if i'm that lucky!

Anyway hope all surviving!
xx

Hello all

lucinda I'm going on ML in 4 weeks time. It can not come soon enough. I'll be 36 weeks then and already feeling pretty knackered so I'll definitely be ready. I have reached a HG milestone this week however, I am back to my booking in weight!!!!! I was 59kg at booking in and i'm now 59.7 which means I have a weight gain I'm very happy, I've been force feeding myself because the consultant keeps on about my bump being small. How are you? How's the garden coming along in this weather, good for the herbs eh?

nitnat I told you pasta is the enemy! Lasagne reappearance is a given. How you getting on with fluids? They are my biggest problem but I'm so bloody thirsty I need to drink!

luce Someone in hospital (can't remember who it was I was out of it at the time) wrote in my notes that my ketones were +++++ but I thought they had just made a mistake and put an extra plus, I wonder if medically they can test beyond the 4+ that ketostix can?

littlewizz Glad you managed a day out! That's progress.

coconuts even when you are planning to have another baby after already having HG you forget just how bad it is. It's only when it rears its ugly head that you think 'Oh s**t, I must have been mad to agree to this.' Nature seems very powerful in urging us humans to reproduce, why else would women repeatedly go through sickness, pain and utter hardwork that comes with pregnancy, childbirth and mothering. It must be something pushing us on!

LA DS was six months old 2 days ago and he is LOVELY. DD is also lovely and we went to see Elmer the Elephant and ate pudding at Bella Italia - One day soon this will be you :)
REMEMBER IT WILL ALL BE WORTH IT.
(honestly even though it doesn't really feel like it sometimes)

Wizz and Coconuts this is also my first and only attempt at having baby 2. Having had HG twice, I really hope I won't forget how bad it is. Having said that, at the start of this pregnancy, it crossed my mind that I might be okay this time, I think we must be programmed to block it out. I want to get sterilised asap so it physically can't happen again.

grumblin glad you've put on a bit of weight. I think the one and only 'advantage' of HG is you're not left with loads of baby weight to get rid of at the end...

I'm just so glad we don't live in the 1800s when people had 14 children.

Struggling with smells still. We have to have windows open at all times in the house because I'm picking up a background mustiness which becomes worse when stuffy. I really need to colour my hair but can't do it because the smell will set me off. Even seeing food in the freezer and thinking about how it would smell if cooked makes me retch...

Oh, marylou I know what you mean about smells.

I can smell the kitchen bin from upstairs. In our freezer there is a frozen cube of garlic somewhere thats gotten loose, I need to find it as I retch whenever the freezer door is open but I can't bear to do it! Garlic is the absolute enemy. I have to give the kids hummous sarnies with tongs as I can't allow it to touch my skin, I would smell it for days.

I am quite fed up. I am always thirsty but just can only sip sip sip, I'd love to down a whole glass of juice.

Latest food ability is fish finger sandwiches and double deckers. Whats working for everyone else?

I have a list of things I want to eat once this awful sickness is gone, it starts with beef chow mein, nandos and samosas. (I think I have been dreaming about them)

My scan date isn't until I am 13 weeks. I'm a bit paranoid that when I go, they'll tell me I have had a mmc which died at 6 weeks or something and I will have had unnecessary sickness for 7 weeks. Daft isn't it. I just hoped it would be sooner but I guess with all the bank holidays and everything, oh well...

...wishing everyone on here well and settled tums

Hello all. Lucinda, tinned fruit set in jelly sounds pretty good. I went through a big chilled tinned peaches phase a few weeks ago. Like Luce's rules, esp 12. If anyone suggests ginger biscuits I find it quite hard to stay calm! I think another rule should be, 'before you eat or drink anything, carefully contemplate how it the taste and texture might be when it comes back up'. Awful but true. And another one, every night when you go to sleep think to yourself, 'I'm one day closer to this being over - 9 weeks and 2 days down, "only" 30 weeks and 5 days to go.'

I survived a filling at the dentist today - I am feeling most smug. She also said my teeth look fine considering I hardly brush them! She said carry on doing what I can cope with and booked in for a root filling in November (eeeek! will labour make me tougher for this? I hope so!)

Lucinda, the Dr who shouted at me was a man. He shouted at me for interrupting him (when he interrupted me first!) because when I said I had felt better the past 2 days, he said go back to work. Erm, by better, I meant I left the house for the first time for weeks, 2 days in a row, for 3 hours at a time! Wow. Deffo ready to go back to work then (rolls eyes).

Pregnancy bra's are flipping terrible arent they. I nearly cried in Debenhams. Got some from Mothercare, I have to say, comfy!!!! But not bra's I can wear under a nice top/dress without them showing. The trouble with ordering online is I dont know what size I am going to be! I ranged from 34E/34F/36E yesterday.

I think I am over the relapse.....morning bile run as per usual. I worry I am going to miss this when the baby comes! 12th December was my last non sick day. I may never be a normal person again!

Gentle hugs for all

xxxx

ps. does anyone else have issues with holding wee when in shower? I cannot control it coming out, even if I have been for a wee just before I jump in! Least its not on the floor ;)

Theonlyhb2 I have that issue (quite literally!) in the shower too.

Love Luce's Rules

Re pg bras. Call in the NCT bra fitting service. I could not bear my normal bras at 9 weeks, but couldn't bear the thought of going to the shops either. Nice lady came round with a selection for me to try, then ordered what I wanted. Rang her on Tuesday, she came on Wednesday, bras came on Saturday. I have this amazing Bravado pg/nursing one that is designed to change cup and back size, so should last for ever. Comfy too.

Coconuts I agree. I am never, ever going to be pg again. DS will just have to be a slightly intense, somewhat awkward, put upon only child if this pg fails.

what is this NCT bra fitting service?! I need to enquire more!

Bike, I am CRAP, I forgot your envelope again. Pregnancy brain strikes again! I have written on my hand, so hoping I remember tomorrow :)