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?

MaryLou somehow missed your post - I seem to be remarkably vague of late - so glad it went well with nice, sympathetic GP - of course, they DO exist, and wouldn't it be wonderful if it had been made much worse by a stomach bug or even be absent?
Caramel Poor old thing, you! How many weeks are you now? Are you a fine size despite Hyperemesis hanging on? I cannot claim personal experience, but from all I hear toddlers/small children are amazingly resiliant and forget it all in no time. I still can't get over that doctor's advice...

NitNat How horrible about soup. All the knicker washing... Celery soup,home made or tinned, depending on energy? Baked potatoes? I am still about that treatment at work.
Grumblin I thanked you properly as a star for starting new thread on old thread but not on this, so saying it again...
Lottie So glad your a lot better! Those differences in cost account for the meanness with Ondanestron (or however its spelt) but there are people who are taking six or eight combined medicines for decades, which must add up to a lot of money, and aren't told 'its too expensive' and I think it's unfair that Hyperemesis sufferers are begrudged the expense for a few months.
La how are things? Rozzee too?theOnly Still thriving?Cocoanuts is cyclazine still good? ElliotsMum How are things today? Bikesrunski
well done getting into work, don't overdo it.
Everyone Who said celebration, film, etc? (more vagueness)Was it you, LA? I daren't scroll down, I'll be guaranteed to lose this post, but have a good time...
LucindaE
xx

Bah again! Just threw up all my tea as well Spaghetti and meatballs. Not remotely spicy! What is wrong with me?! 21 weeks and HG is still taking the p**s!!

At suggestion of nitnat, repeat of my post on previous forum.....

Dear All

I think Mumsnet should set up a specialist forum for this, with a list of helfpul links. Also mumsnet towers, how about a public campaign? Did anyone listen to case notes on radio 4 last week? they did a special on 'morning sickness' (i put it in inverted commas cos we all know its 24/7 sickness, its got nothing to do with mornings). If you didnt hear it, you can get it on www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00yyhvv or google radio 4 case notes morning sickness. There are a load of links on their website too for information. The doctor they had on is a GP called Roger Gadsby who is an expert on hyperemesis and ran a conference on it last year. There have also been recent features on woman's hour (about bloody time too) and even on one of the TV breakfast programmes. its being talked about at the moment and I think it might be time to push for more awareness.

In the meantime, here are some useful links. www.pregnancysickness.org - this is the website run by Dr Gadsby. You call and leave a message and a midwife will call you back. They also have a database of UK GPs who are willing to treat hyperemesis and take it seriously.
Also look at www.hyperemesis.org - this is a US based website which involves itself with research. They have loads of information and lots of threads about treatment regimes.

On the subject of treatments, all of you who are suffering and taking meds which dont really do the business, ask for ondansetron (zofran). You may well be refused by your GP in which case, DEMAND a referral to an obstetrician. If you're too ill to do the demanding, get someone to help you, either you partner or a friend.

If you are told that you are not allowed anything in the first trimester THIS IS NOT TRUE. There are plenty of safe, effective drugs - you should not be left to suffer, you have a serious abnormal condition which can and should be treated. If anyone wants copies of research papers from academic journals on treatments for hyperemesis that you can take to show your GP, then contact me.

Finally, I am a hyperemesis sufferer, as was my mother and two older sisters. None of us has ever had a pregnancy without hyperemesis. My mum was on anti sickness drugs to save her life in pregnancy, me and my 5 siblings are the product of pregnancies with meds, and my healthy daughter and nieces and nephew are too.

Hyperemesis sufferers have been let down by the medical profession for long enough. Its time to be heard and put an end to the suffering for ourselves and our daughters. Sorry to sound so militant but my mum went through hell 40 years ago and not much has improved since.

MOH100

Re Charlotte Bronte I heard a literature academic on Woman's Hour some years ago actually saying that Charlotte Bronte died as a result of making herself so sick during pregnancy!!! This is because it used to be believed that hyperemesis was a psychotic illness. This belief was based on a badly flawed piece of research done in the 1940s which interviewed women with hyperemesis and found that they were anxious, depressed and often feeling resentful towards their babies. It concluded that they had anxiety and attachment disorders and that this mental state was CAUSING the hyperemesis. Based on this, for decades afterwards, women with hyperemesis were treated as though they had a mental illness. Midwives were taught that they should show no sympathy to them, eg they should refuse to give them sick bowls and not clean them up when they vommed all over themselves. This was supposed to bring these women to their senses and stop them from making themselves sick. In 1967 my mum was put into a psychiatric ward and told that deep down she didn't really want her baby and she was making herself sick in a subconscious attempt to abort it!!!! She eventually got them to let her out and found a doctor who could give her an antiemetic.

This utter nonsense was believed by the medical profession until more recent research in which women were interviewed during and after pregnancy. It also found that during hyperemesis women were anxious, depressed etc, but that after pregnancy they were no more likely to suffer poor mental health or have psychotic disorders than any other women. It concluded that - now wait for it, you'll never believe this - that the hyperemesis was the CAUSE of the anxiety, depression etc, not the other way round. Phew. At last some sense.

Something you should bear in mind though, is that this psychosomatic crap was so ingrained in the minds of a lot of medics that you may well still come across doctors or midwives who still actually believe it and think you're exaggerting and you should just pull yourself together. My sister had a midwife who told her she had been taught the bullshit about leaving women covered in their own sick when she was doing her training.

The next time a doctor fobs you off with rubbish meds or tells you to eat little and often and it'll stop by 12 weeks, ask them what they know about research into hyperemesis treatments from the last ten years. If they can't tell you, don't leave the building till you've got a referral to a consultant obstetrician. If they try and refuse, just puke on them - see if sitting covered in vomit brings them to their senses.

MOH100

oh nitnat please never mention peanut butter again

Hello all, got some catching up to do but just getting in on the action at last :) Well done on setting up Grumblin
Been doing nothing other than working then flaking out. Back on cyclizine every other night in hope it helps nausea and return of occassional sickness. But really doing pretty good just a wuss & easily knackered.
Hope all ok - will read and post 'proper' at weekend x x

Hello! Hooray for the weekend. How is everyone today?

I'm pretty much the same as you La. Cyclazine in the evenings to counteract the nausea and flaking out ridiculously early. Still be careful about what I eat - still can't stand the thought of some foods, but so far the HG is under control/going/gone (not sure which).

It was interesting reading the posts about different medications and some doctors reactions. I was lucky with the doctors I've seen and my midwife had HG with her child for the whole 9 months and swore she would never have another so lots of sympathy there. I too have sworn not to do this again (as much as I'm looking forward to meeting the bump :) ) but if an accident happens I will be demanding zofran or cyclazine just as soon as I can!

Hope everyone has a good day.

marylou prochlorperazine (stemetil) costs £2.28 for a pack of 84 - say no more!!!!!

MOH100 wonderful post, awful but great info so agree...I have been debating whether to confide something about my own happy little Hyperemesis experience, but didn't want to alarm anyone. Please don't think this is going to happen to you, but I think I should say that VERY OCCASIONALLY it comes back after birth fora short time, as it did to me. I've always kept quiet about this, but I have heard since that it happened to ONE other woman who was on this thread, and I felt bad in a way because I had been in a position to warn her, but hadn't because I didn't want to alarm her (unlike me, she suffered violently all the way through).. So far as I know she was the only other one, and in my case I strongly suspect that it was brought on by a traumatic birth, anaemia, etc, so please don't think that it is going to happen to you. You can imagine it was very difficult, trying to breast feed when puking even water, and I am sorry to say I didn't get any sympathy with the medical staff, who seemed to think I was making it up...I suppose I was lucky it wasn't in the 1960's, or I might have been sectioned, and not for my strange sense of humour (looks round anxiously face).
Anyway,I have done a bit of research and it isn't known about except anecdotally by ex sufferers and on an American website, for instance, only two out of a hundred sufferers had it come back out of birth, but I do feel I should warn people in the unlikely event that it happens to you (the other poor woman did think she was going mad/would have Hyperemesis for the rest of her days.
LA lovely to see you in this new meeting place. Er, talking of which, girls, the loos are that way... Rozeee happy dance that you are out of the woods! I don't blame you for saying 'never again' but I wish that fate had forced me, myself...MaryLou how are things? Any signs it was a stomach bug?
Have as good a weekend as you can, brave women all!
LucindaE
xx

Theonly Sorry about mentioning the unmentionable. I have a big unused jar in the cupboard as, of course, I have gone off it myself now!
Lucinda sorry your suffered after D-day as well. That is not funny with a new baby.
La Glad you are managing work, albeit with nausea and vom
MOH can't believe the midwife training re no sympathy and not helping with cleanup. Shocking. I have a colleague who was pg with no NVP at all (lucky sod) and she mentioned that she thought a friend of hers who had HG was suffering because she was ambivalent about the pg. So the erroneous beliefs still persist, even with our generation. My mum also had bad NVP with me. Our house was being renovated (v slowly by my Dad) during her pg and everytime she returned to the house, the smell of the dust would make her run to the loo and vomit. For 9 months.

Have a good day all

Morning all, sun is shining and hoping it brings a sick free day.

MOH Loving the posts. Agree re awareness and campaigning and have even typed up all the useful references I used (found via this thread or google NOT from and medical care) with intention to leave with midwife at next appt. My mother also suffered but, even in 69 and 73, although sympathetic the fall out from Thalidomide resulted in her GP not wanting to prescribe drugs and midwife sceptical even when Mum threw up on her before being induced with me!

Marylou Agree it's tough looking after LO when suffering and DD v active too so DVDs / Cbeebies godsend but only in short bursts! To be fair though my DH has been looking after DD 4 days since I went back to work when 10 months - he's a musician so a) able to work weekends / Eve b) not exactly raking it in so made sense financially & emotionally :) When HG started he completely cut back & despite living 2.5 hours away Mum & family helped plus friends rallied round so as Caramel said accept all help you can x

Rozee how's it going settling in at work, still reduced hours? Glad feeling bit better but know what you mean - has HG gone and sickness/nausea part of recovery?? Yet again not enough info on recovery and what to expect...

Nitnat sorry still being sick - are you still on cyclizine? Had same convo with DH weeks ago re: snip and his response was exactly same as yr hubbie funnily enough mine was pretty similar to yours - squeamish my arse! Hope work not hassling you and your GP continues to sign off whilst need to - as Lottie mentions it's exhausting and exacerbates condition/recovery! Lottie hope all well for you - will you try reflexology to help with nausea? If so let me know how it goes.

Katy that's fab news, so pleased all looks well and end in sight. Here's to tea & hot buttered toast :)

Lucinda glad yr online at home and not having to trek to library to continue to rally us round - you're truly fab. OMG sad and scary story, I had read about this when periods return post breastfeeding but not constant after birth that must have been so tough esp as remember your LO was a fussy babe like mine,you poor thing

Grumblin hope naughty step technique worked with DS and as weekend you'll have chance for a deserved rest. When in throes of this I also had thoughts such as maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing if pregnancy lost - think mentioned before DD was longed for after 3 years wait & mcs bur this tome got pregnant 2nd month trying so although v wanted thought maybe if lost next time wouldn't be so sick... Feel so guilty and awful even admitting this but it's true feel like dying when at peak and you've done this 3 times so no doubt you would feel like that! There was an article in The Sun last year about women who had HG and decided on theraputic terminations: www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3028719/Mum-I-aborted-baby-to-end-morning-sickness.html

Caramel how you doing these days? Love the advice re taking LO to GP at witching hour, smart move girl :).

On topic of time out from LOs, DD at nursery for 3 hours settling in yesterday and despite big plans for 'adult' time one quick snog then persuaded sorting kitchen and new dresser would be lots of fun...Who said having kids kills romance?!

My other half wondered if I was getting better because I wasn't as anxious about being sick and doing things and then being in bed not able to move......I said yes thats probably some of it but the main thing is my insides feel totally different. I am still sick in the morning but I havent been taking my anti-sickness cos I can cope with what I am doing. My stomach feels like it is closing off and doing what it should do when I am eating and its actually digesting food. I havent got the constant car-sick feeling and using the computer etc is much better at work and at home.

I am worried about the next batch of hormones I get as I think it might come back, and I do worry about getting tired but having every wednesday off is a lifesaver, just knowing I only have to get thru 2 days in a row is lovely. I think the lack of pressure on me at home and definitely at work has a hand too (I threw up Thursday at work as I got so stressed out and so angry! I actually had to walk out for 10 minutes).

I went for a curry last night! Spicy food is lush, I am not really into anything creamy (or too much dairy at all) but spicy food I cant get enough of. Went for a drive after and stopped to see my mum and that helped not getting massive heartburn, I think when I slouch back on the sofa or in bed it just brings it on.

Bit lost on what to eat now though.....I have gone completely off bread, ham and dairylea after living off it for the past 3 months. Might have to buy lots of fruit as I stole all Mum's grapes last night :)

Sorry for the ramble! Maybe I should get up now

Hugs to all xxxxxxxx

Hi only totally with you on spicy food, takeaway Indian last night too but tend to stick to grilled chicken tikka and mint sauce but tasted DH curry last night and loved how it took away all traces of that usual horrid taste in mouth!
How about spicy soup or did Nitnat turn you off?!?! Really into mozzarella salad doused in vinagarette but if off diary not sure that'll appeal

moh100 as a worried mum of a sufferer thank you for all the information and links, i can also say that nearly 60 years ago when my mother had HG they blamed HER mother saying it always anxious overbearing mothers that cause this!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have become quite evagelical about raising awareness about this dreadful condition if there is anything you think a grandma can do?

MOH thanks for all that info, I would have appreciated something like that first time round instead of having to google different sites.
For those with/thinking about having more than one I also agree that cbeebies and/or dvds can be lifesavers and it doesn't seem to have done dd much harm although we are slowly weaning her off watching quite as much telly!
grandma, just being supportive and understanding is fantastic and any practical help in terms of washing/ironing/cleaning etc is always appreciated - although try to use plain washing powder and fabric conditioner :) My MIL used the strongest smelling fabric conditioner and even smelling it now makes me want to heave!!
Re that article last year about the women who chose to have a termination I had so many friends saying that they could understand why she did it because of knowing me and what I had gone through.
Hope everyone has a good weekend as much as possible.

Lots of useful information here for anyone who might have a fight with their doctor on their hands...

Been really ill yesterday with stomach bug. LO and I had to go to the emergency doctor yesterday as we were getting dehydrated. We're a bit better but I'm feeling nauseous 24 hours at the moment. I've decided it must be the HG so I've had a stemetil just, hopefully it will help. If not, they will have to give me the next most expensive one! Interestingly, the doctor told me that stemetil is the first thing they give you if you're admitted to hospital. Sounds like they are also watching the pennies when you're in there as well then.

I really feel for anyone who finds themselves thinking it would be better if it all ended. It certainly crossed my mind last time and can completly understand why people might decide they just can't manage it.

Hadn't heard it can come back after the birth! That must have been awful Lucinda. Think I'd be requesting to get my ovaries removed if that happened.

On another hormone issue, has anyone found they have developed melasma (brown patches on face - reaction to oestrogen). I got it when pregnant last, it has never gone and I've noticed it seems to be darkening more now. I for one can see the advantages of the menopause and no more hormones, I am (literally) sick of mine....

MaryLou Oh, dear, poor you, this is unhappy news, I do hope you feel a little better now? Oh, dear. Does any liquid stay down any better than another? Iced lollies no good at all? Kind of you and
NitNatand La to extend some sympathy for my sufferings of yesteryear from your own current ones re recurrence of Hyperemesis. I debated for a long while whether to warn people, but if I had warned that other woman who'd been on here, it would have been less of a shock . Well, the chances of it happening are remote, most women seem to be eating again in a day at most . NitNat Twenty one weeks, this is annoying. Did it lift at twenty weeks exactly last time or was it earlier? I hope you aren't feeling pressured about work? Grumblin naughty stall sounds a good idea like time out, but mine used to cast herself on the floor in a sort of drama queen performance...
Are you any better today, and I hope work aren't giving ou a hard time about returning? Rozee how are things today, and ElliotsMum' andSkate? everyone If we were held accountable for our thoughts, we would all be serving life sentences, and suffering from the worst stage of Hyperemesis, who wouldn't have dark thoughts? everyone have as good a weekend as you can. LA sounds good about the raunchiness...Grandma I think in starting up that thread on Gransnet* you have already made a difference.
LucindaE
xx

MaryLou how is it now? Really horrible you got dehydrated...NitNat Caramel and Grumblin I hope you aren;'t feeling too bad? LA and Everyone I hope things are improving...
LucindaE
xx

Morning everyone, hope you are all feeling ok this morning. I had a really bad day yesterday - have been managing to survive until late afternoon before the actual sickness sets in, but yesterday it was on and off all day :( feeling much better today so hopefully just a one off! Really trying hard with my fluids as back to my Gp tomorrow.
Virtual hugs to all x

Hi all, have been following everyones news but haven't bothered posting as unfortunately nothing to tell.
HG still exactly the same but no worse which I suppose is the main thing! More than a little disappointing though when you get all excited by having one or two good days (ie bile run and dry heaving only) only for them to be folled by a vile day during which even "safe" foods won't stay put!

Posting today as just got back from 20 week scan and have found out we are expecting a perfectly healthy little boy , makes it all worth it and makes me feel very guilty for compaling so loudly whenever anyone will listen!

To everyone suffering long after "it should be passing by now shouldn't it" followed by a sceptical face and the unspoken sugestion that you really ought to stop feeling sorry for yourself and just get on with it like the rest of us do! Hang on in there, it may seem never ending but at least at the end of it we can look forward to cleaning up someone elses sick instead of our own!!!

Hugs to all xx
Luce

Hi everyone.
Luce, I had to chuckle about your looking forward to someone else's sick comment. If HG is only good for one thing then being prepared for various baby evacuations is it :)

I've started taking indigestion tablets as I think some of my nausea might actually be gas related It seems to help a little and makes eating less of a trial.

Had some fun this morning - nearly passed out on the tube! I was already sitting down thank goodness but it came out of nowhere and gave me a concerned few minutes while I tried to breathe deeply and get my head between my knees on a packed train. Must be my pesky low blood pressure. Note to self, must drink more!

Hope everyone's week has got off to an ok start - not too much porcelain worshiping and all that. We should make t-shirts for post pregnancy with 'I survived HG' on them. It's the least we deserve :)

Still in no man's land here annoyingly. DS is still throwing up 4 days down the line, so maybe I've still got the bug and not HG yet. Just the sight of food is enough to trigger him off. It almost seems like he's got HG as well! I wish it would become clear so I know what I'm dealing with. Have decided not to take any more stemetil until DS is better and I know the bug has probably gone. It did nothing anyway, except for leave a bad taste, so suspect it's not going to work.

No more ketones which is good. I haven't thrown up since Thursday but have problems at the other end and really don't fancy eating or drinking anything, which is why I got ketones on Saturday I think, so I'm forcing water and managing to eat a bit of fruit.

Congratulations on the scan Luce. It's good to know they are okay when you've been so ill isn't it.

Sorry to hear about the tube Rozee, I hope somebody gave you some help?

Off to the Dr later to get DS checked out. I think I'm perhaps paranoid about him getting dehydrated but it's hardly surprising when I spent 5 months looking out for symptoms of it in myself...

Lovely to hear good news Luce, I've been wondering how you are.
Rozee I feel for you, it was bad enough being driven or having to drive myself let alone coping with public transport.
MaryLou fingers crossed that it's just a bug.
ElliottsMummy hopefully you will have a run of good days.
Lucinda how awful that you were still ill after giving birth - that's just plain rude!

Hi everyone.

Found this thread when I was searching for a little bit of hope on the internet. Think it made me smile for the first time in what feels like forever - just knowing that there's other people out there for who pregnancy isn't the "healthiest / best they've ever felt." (If I hear that from one more person I don't think I can be held responsible for my actions! lol!)

A little bit about me - sorry if I ramble, this is the first time I've ever posted on anything like this and I just feel like a good old rant! :) My name's Ella, I'm 24 and this is my first pregnancy. I'm 12+4 today. I had my dating scan last week at 11+6 and I'm due 22.09.11 and seeing my little 'stumpy' on that screen is the only thing that has kept me going these past few weeks - amazing feeling!

My nausea started very early on - at about 4 weeks, that's how I knew I was pregnant. Unfortunately it went downhill rapidly from there, with my gp diagnosing HG at 8 weeks. To start with he was unwilling to prescribe anything and if I'm perfectly honest, I didn't know how I really felt about taking anything anyway so I didn't really mind. I work as a teaching assistant in a secondary school and luckily I was on half term at the time so he just suggested that I rest, try the usual 'remedies' - ginger, dry crackers, etc and just see how it went from there. 3 weeks and 2 appointments later (with a different gp) I'm still not back at work, having just been signed off for a further 2 weeks this afternoon :( Luckily, work have been really understanding which is great, even agreeing to reduce my workload when I do eventually go back. That alone is a huge weight off my mind!

It's really disheartening to hear of people having problems with their gp's - mine has been a superstar! She suffered badly from HG during all 3 of her pregnancies and so knows exactly what I'm going through which is such a big help. She prescribed Cyclizine, which for me had no effect at all, followed by Metoclopramide, which, appears to be doing the trick - I've gone from being sick approx 20x a day to about 12, so I guess that's progress...maybe? It's just reassuring to know that I have someone looking out for me who's been there, done that and got the t-shirt so to speak!

My OH has been a legend! I know I've been a pain to live with over the past few weeks and he hasn't complained once. The way he sees it, I'm only going to get worse so what's the point in whinging now! Not sure how I should take that one to be honest

Feel so much better having people out there to share this with who actually understand! I can see this thread becoming my saviour over the next few months!

Hope everyone's surviving and big thanks for listening!

Big love

xxx

Marylou you poor things, really hoping it's a bug that will clear and not HG amd DS improves soon. FYI I was prescribed prochlorperazine at 1st but found this didn't help and would vom before completely dissolved so maybe cyclizine or zofran better choice if HG unfortunately develops?

Rozee put my name down for one of those T-shirts! Hate tube too - had to huff a bit to get seat today. Last time wouldn't have bothered me at 23 weeks but now I need any opp to rest and think non-sick thoughts :)
Luce great news on scan and glad all looking well with little man but sorry yr still suffering. Any improvement at all?
Elliotsmum good luck at GP tomorrow. I also found after 3pm worse for sickness, think cause so tired at that point of day.
Ella welcome but sorry you had to join us fellow porcelain worshippers. Is such a shame you have to go through this but just tune out all the 'blooming' ones (all exaggarated /conspiracy for future gens). No such thing as tmi and hopefully you'll also some improvement by 20 weeks x

Not too bad day in office despite back to back meets but just feel v nauseous and want to sleep right now:) Although slightly miffed when someone at work said "gosh can you believe that X is 2 weeks more pregnant than you but skinnier and you were quite sick?" Not sure if it was the quite sick or the skinny comment that annoyed, like I care after the hell of the last few months!

Hope all else doing ok and wishing you all a (miraculous?) vom-free week x x