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?

I got this reply from ITV. The first line of the main paragraph made me laugh out loud, current storyline has a guy kidnapping his brother in law and ex colleagues parents to stop it coming out that he murdered two colleagues and buried one under the floor of a local factory after assuming his identity. Realistic is not the word that comes to mind....

Thank you for your e-mail regarding Coronation Street.

The drama in Coronation Street is as realistic as possible, which is one of the reasons why it is so popular with viewers, however, it is a fictional drama and whilst we are aware that Coronation Street can inform and educate, its primary function is to entertain as a drama and our viewers know and accept this. When producing episodes we have to deliberate how we are going to match the requirements of the storyline and character portrayal against the constant pressures of both accuracy and interested bodies. We do not want Coronation Street, which is character led continuing drama serial falling into the genre of drama-documentary. Notwithstanding we have of course taken your comments on-board over the issue of Hyperemesis and it might well become the nub of a story on some future occasion and I have ensured your observations have reached both our Producer and Series-Editor. Once again many thanks for your e-mail and interest in our production which I do hope continues to engage and entertain you for many years to come.

Yours with Best Wishes, David Nugent,

Good news. A lady from MNHQ got back to me about the hyperemesis text. She said that it's too long, they've got rules about how long an web article can be, though she said they might be able to do two linked pages, I've suggested a general one and one on coping strategies. She's going to give me a word count and I'll chop it, but they are going to publish it.

MOH - so is there not a storyline with someone with HG then? I don't watch it so I'm not clued up with it. Did you email to suggest they do run one?

Great news it is going to be published. Shame it has to be chopped a bit but hopefully you aren't too far over the limit in the first place :)

coconuts there's a teenager in early pregnancy who was having morning sickness, having to nip out of her GCSE exams to vom and not being able to eat much, so I wrote and asked them if they were thinking of running a hyperemesis story. It would be good if a soap did, but I don't know how much I'd trust them not to misrepresent it. I remember in the distant past when Holby City still had a maternity department, they once had a woman supposedly with HG come in and throw up on the floor of the ward - it all looked promising. Next thing she's sitting in a bed looking fine, not on a drip and asking her husband to go and get her coffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I sound like I just spend all day watching soaps, i don't really....

MOH - I believe you I only watch EastEnders, only I don't know why because it's pretty dire lately.

It would be nice to see it in the mainstream a bit more though as unfortunately it is quite common, as this thread proves. We nearly need a new thread!

nitnatnaboo - thanks for the info on Thiamine...!

Welcome LOTM sorry you're in the 'orrible early weeks. Hope you find some cheer in this thread. Any luck with extra temporary childcare for your LO? I would avoid apples like the plague at your stage ? I liked the idea of them but they literally reappeared within 20 seconds. Ditto raw carrots and strawberries. Now at 32 weeks I am addicted to Granny Smith Apples and eating 3 a day. Have you tried grapefruit? Sounds wierd but I kept it down.

Grumblin awwww poor you - I cannot believe how much your body has been attacked from all angles by this pg! How is the headache/BP today? Bad news about the no driving till birth - trust it to wait until your ML had started!

Redundant how is the job situ and the sickness?

La glad you are having a great time on hols. Sounds like the ideal bucket and spade and ice cream holiday!

Boo I feel for you! I am still really tired even at 32 weeks. I wake up, get DS to school, come back and last for about an hour before I fall asleep for 2- 3 hours. I am a bit worried about how this is going to impact when the baby arrives. Feel like my reserves of energy are a bit low for sleepless nights and feeding/changing!!

MOH two fab results ? Corrie saying they may do a story in the future and MNHQ agreeing to publish! You star!

Allias how are you feeling ? rehydrated at all? I bet we all recognise that feeling of ?I?ve done small task x and small task y and am now knackered - aaargh?. Please get signed off work. You are ILL! Don?t feel guilty about not being there for your family ? you are doing a good but very arduous job on behalf of your family ? no-one else can do it!

Pearl sorry you are having a worrying time. Can't believe how many people here have also had worrying Downs scores as well as HG but am encouraged by stories of favourable outcomes.

I had a surprise bile run this morning. It really really hurt as muscles are already under pressure from enormous bump. Wonder if it was the last puke of the pg? I somehow doubt it! >

Thanks NitNat, feeling a lot calmer about it all. I second your grapefruit recommendation to LOTM. Thinly sliced chilled pink grapefruit has been a great standby for me. Also couldn't keep down apples at all, apart from if I grate one into a bowl and eat it with a teaspoon (sounds a bit invalid-ish I know). At least then if it does reappear it's less painful! I also find tinned fruit much more acceptable, especially if chilled.
Waves to all :)

Hi all!! Welcome to new posters since I last checked in, sorry you had to join but glad too as I know this thread is helping.

nitnat thanks so much for thinking of me(hormones are odd I feel all testy lol) I had to take Monday off work and feel today too as I just can't manage it, been out once since Sunday and feel like a hermit, have to get to docs soon but no appointments - thinking of making a family planning one and at least get my foot through the door

How's everyone doing? Hope you all are having better day today

motherofpearl sorry to hear your stressful news, I hope you are managing to keep as calm as poss, and hoping all the best for you.

I am in a sick and exhausted haze and ds4 hasn't had any out time, he must have cabin fever, tv and games console is on a scary amount of time but I am just too tired to be a good mummy :(

I'm gonna have to start taking notes like lucinda as my phone doesn't work like pc/lappy and when I go to post it makes a box and I can't see the thread to re cap and post to everyone

Oh gosh!!! Phone auto changer!! Testy was meant to be teary

I would second testy actually - work think I've become bitch fom hell lately!

Sorry Alias also meant to offer sympathy too, struggling using phone too (during rather dull training - 7 weeks to due date so gawd knows what I'm doing here, baby brain is pretty bad).

MOH Well done on publishing . It is a shame it has to be trimmed, I do hope not too much has to go.What's the word limit?
LOTMHow are you coping?
NitNAT Oh, dear, that bile run doesn't want to leave you. For sure, you deserve an easy birth, and if after all her sufferings Grumblin doesn't have one, I will be outraged...Fate, over here! Two easy births, please! That pink castle isn't far away...
Pearl Thinking of you. Hang on,this will be a distant nightmare soon enough...Tinned fruit, oh, yes, and in jelly, and I think I said I used to drink the juice and found it soothing (unhealthy drinks taken to extremes,but it it was liquid) and (looks about guiltily face) still do sometimes...
Alias Surely with your symptoms they ought to have you an emergency appointment, if you said you were pregnant and in danger of dehydration? I think if you leave a message for a doctor, they won't dare leave it. Bypass the receptionist...I didn't have an LO when suffering, but from all I have found out, they are so resiliant any so-called 'neglect' is forgotten in no time. Remember that what is 'neglect' to us was the norm for past generations.
Cocoanuts ElliotsMum How are you feeling? LA due to waddle up to castle soon, too.
MaryLouCake How are things? Haven't heard from you in a while...MaryLou I hope that nausea is easing?
Everyone I hope evreyone is coping? What do people think of Ironbru?

LucindaE

xx
xx

Lucinda Ironbru? Yeuch! Give me tropicana "lemonade" (made with apple, grapefruit and lemon - yum!) any day, or Appletise, or anything to do with apples actually

Just got letter from midwife - I have low iron and have to have tablets. Hopefully I will stop sleeping as much once I get them down me!

Allias I think you count as an emergency too. Drag yourself down there tomorrow

Lucinda did try ironbru when lucozade starting making me vom as u rec but personally found it ick. Thank goodness can drink water again, albeit freezing cold (quite literally I freeze bottles of still water then drink whilst defrosting!)
Nitnat you're anemic too huh, not suprising :( Not sure if saw earlier post but do ask GP for ferrous fumarate (brand I've got is fersaday) as better tolerated than the sulphate as organic and easily absorbed. Again is more expensive which is why they don't auto prescribe but def made me feel less nauseous (sulphate also made me vom and don't want to go back to that!) Oh and just in case they don't warn you beware of 'tar' poo (sorry all if tmi) - freaky. Hopefully will help your energy levels :)

Well hello ladies, I apologise for my lack of posts.... all I can say is that we have soo much going on and I am soo tired and the nausea is still rubbish though not as bad at now 16 weeks... feeling the baby move about now and its evening rampage is affecting my evening stomach contents. Only sick a few times a week now (toilet still stained and unrecovered - might need replacing!) What with day to day life, school appeals, loft extension, physio for my SPD, and now my poor horsey Molly being diagnosed with a tumour in her wind pipe - I am just exhausted. Horse tumour is going to be injected with saline which can cause a reaction enough to shrink it will take 2-3 goes if not she will have to be put to sleep cause otherwise suffocation is her fate. Hopefully the saline trick will work, Molly is 20 now and retired through injury but shes my very special friend. So bit worried and stressed not what I really need now.

To all the regulars I have had a quick catch up with your news.

The article is fantastic and hopefully will help many - especially the first time mums who are unaware that it might not just be morning sickness, like I was last time.

Mother of the house... I hope you are surviving and that your medical team are on the ball and helping you through this. I too considered an abortion at 7 and 10 weeks as it got soo bad I couldnt face the thought of doing more time. I have been lucky the cyclizine tablets 3 x a day has worked well for me I did need cyclizine and metacloprimide injections to get me started though. Would love to have tried Ondandestron but GP didnt want to cough up.... but maybe worth a try, they dont like to give it out as its so ££££££.

Pearl I hope your not to worried and get an answer soon, pregnancy is such emotional rollercoaster. Much love. xx

Well in our house this evening you'd be forgiven for wondering who was the tired pregnant sick one as OH is fast asleep in his chair, while I'm still up sorting and doing!!! Swift kick of the stool out from under his legs I think on my way past.

Also ..... what I would do for a cup of tea. Eating much better still plain stuff and salad cream but still finding drinking really difficult weak hot choc or lemonade maybe some soda water if lemonaded out!!

Much love and hugs and anti puke thoughts to you all, I'm off to find my bed and my highly reccommended dreamgeni pillow my lovely mummy bought for me!! A must for us poor pregnant mummies!!
xxxx

Hello everyone - I'm new to this website and thread. I was admitted to hospital on Monday for rehydration/antiemetics etc and I'm at home now trying to cope. I'm on cyclizine and metaclopramide, which are working a bit - I threw up my crackers this morning! I think what I'm struggling with most is the likelihood that I may feel like this for quite some time. I had such a busy and active life before, I'm Deputy Head of a Primary school and really enjoyed my challenging job. I want to get back to work but I don't see how I will be able to at the moment. I just called my Maternity helpline, who were actually really good and they are trying to get me an appointment with an Obstetrician, but to be honest, I don't know what else anyone can do? Oh, the good news is - I found out while I was in hospital that I'm expecting twins! I'd really love to hear from anyone who has twins and anyone who has given birth at Queen Charlottes - but most of all, any tips for how to handle work and the change in lifestyle HG demands. Thank you ladies!

hey littlewizz terrible that life seems to go a bit haywire in the second trimester of pregnancy and sorry you have so much on your plate. Hope your horse is ok, having to sort that out with vets and playing on your mind must be an added strain. Give your DH a kick up the bum from me!

nitnat I second fleurodex (sp?) too - I could not hack the tablets at all, far too harsh on the stomach. I was anaemic earlier on but my penchant for green vegetables and fruit seems to have worked and my iron count is 'reasonable' now.

Hey everyone else - hope you are all well and happy. lucindaE Is it warm in Wales at the mo? Thinking of trying to find a last minute caravan/cottage down there for next week. DC's are off school...yet again.

Just a quick question - have been having to go to the MAC and consultant for check ups this week (due to low BP) and they found +++ leukocytes in my urine? Not ketones! Anyone any idea what these are? It says something about white blood cells and an infection when I googled it but I don't like googling because I think it gets you into a tizz over nothing. Just wondered if anyone had any knowledge? MW sent my urine sample off to 'look into it' but I'm not sure I'll hear back.

The consultant is also sending me for a growth scan 4 days before I'm due as I'm only measuring 31 weeks. Seems a bit pointless to me - surely the scan will only tell them what birth weight the baby will be?! The medical profession baffles me sometimes. If anyone has any experience of late growth scan issues and/or leukocytes please enlighten me - I'm not worrying about it at the moment because I don't have the energy

Sorry bensgirl crossposted. Welcome to the thread, you will find lots of support and information here. I'm afraid I might not be the best person to reassure you though as I always have full pregnancy HG (this is my third HG pg) so probably not what you need to hear right now. Full pg HG isn't the main though, many women seem to find it gets better between 16-20 weeks so hold that thought in your head. If you look for MOH post on the previous page it gives you lots of practical HG advice.

How many weeks are you? I was carrying twins with this pg but one foetus heartbeat stopped at 11 weeks unfortunately but this will not happen to you I don't want to worry you in any way, the failed twin was nothing to do with HG. But HG is more severe in twin pg (double hormones). As for wanting to get back to work you really need to put yourself first, I know it seems like they won't manage without you (I have a very responsible job too but I had to take 9 weeks off in the beginning) but if you push yourself back to work you will end up more ill as exhaustion and stress makes HG much, much worse. Please look at MOH post (it's the long one!) Alot of us on here have contributed and Mumsnet are going to publish it soon. MOH is a star!

Thanks so much. I've just spoken to the midwife again. The antenatal clinic won't see anyone under 20 weeks, so she spoke to the Early Pregnancy Unit who said it sounded like I needed to go back to A and E again and be readmitted!!! I really don't want to go back in to hospital and I don't want to go on stronger drugs as these are making me feel bad enough. I spoke to my husband and we've decided to just see how the next couple of days go. I've managed to keep down a hot cross bun and a glass of squash, so hopefully I'll be able to avoid hospital. Did your doctor sign you off work for 9 weeks. I haven't even got a sick note for this week yet? I know I'm not well enough to work and perhaps won't be after half term either but I don't know what to say to my boss so they can plan - sorry, I'm having a really bad day. Will look for the MOH post. Feel so much better knowing there's someone 'out there' who understands.

Sorry, I'm nearly 8 weeks - so very early days... MOH's article is really good. I think I need to get lots of copies to give to friends, work and family.

Yep - the Dr signed me off after my first admission to hospital (think I was 8/9 weeks the first time). Just kept ringing the surgery for a top up sick note - they gave me sick notes in 3 week blocks. I was admitted four times between 8/9 weeks and 18 weeks and then admitted last week too, because its my third bout of HG I am very procative in telling the Dr's what I need because i am confident in my knowledge of the illness. If you feel too weak/low to fight for meds and/or support find an advocate to go with you to appointments.

Did they say what your ketones were when you went in? Anything over 3+++ needs medical attention or the dehydration level can affect both you and the babies. You can test at home with ketostix (about a fiver from any chemist) Staying in hospital is horrible but it really is essential to have IV fluids and IV injections of anti-emetics if you can't tolerate anthing in your stomach. It is dangerous to let your body dehydrate so fluids are the key. Its amazing how long the body can survive with little/no food in it but a couple of days without fluid and it becomes very very dangerous.

I have been on cyclizine throughout but had IV injections of stemetil, metaclopramide, cylizine, ranitidine & ondansetron (also known as Zofran). If your weight loss is very severe they will give you steroids. Ondansteron is the 'last line' treatment as it costs £££££ but many women on here have found it brilliant - I couldn't tolerate it because I have bowel problems and it made them worse. Do you feel zombiefied? This will be the cyclizine and metoclopramide - its a common side effect of these drugs but if you can keep going with them for a few days this feeling will wear off.

Thanks so much that's really helpful. I'm going to go and talk it all through again with the Doc tomorrow and get my husband to speak to my boss. I just need someone to take that pressure off me. I'll get some Ketostix so I can keep an eye on my hydration. I feel really 'zombiefied' but I'll keep going in the knowledge that this may wear off. I just feel really depressed too. I'll have a good day and think things are improving and then the next day I'll be absolutely knackered and feeling awful again. I hate feeling sorry for myself, it's not in my nature - but this is so depressing! I dread to think how people with children cope and count myself lucky I'm not in that boat. I also can't help but worry about what the effect will be on the babies. Sorry to keep banging on.

Hi Bensgirl sorry you have had to join us. Re work: I am a secondary teacher and was signed off from 8 weeks to 20, in dribs and drabs. Saw Occ Health once during this time. Very sympathetic. Tried to go back in (we had moved school in the meantime) and the Head could see I was in no fit state. So they referred me back to Occ Health. Because of my PND in last pregnancy / post birth, and my levels of exhaustion, the Occ Health lady recommended I didnt go back to work for the rest of the pg. They have had the same supply all the way through and she is doing my Mat leave as well. This is easier on the school than planning a few weeks at a time, as you will no doubt appreciate. I feel a bit guilty but know even now that I would be doing a half assed job because I don't have the energy. So, if you need to be signed off, so be it.

Hope you start to feel a bit better soon.

Hi all, not been on here for a good few days as couldn't bare the laptop screen. I'm a bit disappointed with the cyclizine to be honest and I'm not sure how much it is actually helping. Actually, it is helping as I'm not being as sick but I am still getting bouts of sickness. It's strange cos it worked wonders when I was pregnant with DD.
Bensgirl - I'm very much the same re good days and bad. This is my 3rd week off work and luckily half term will give me another week. My boss has been so understanding and tbh I haven't had the energy to think about work. God knows how I'd have coped having to be on my feet all day. Make sure you have as much time off as you need - you are ill and can't help how you feel. Wow - how amazing to be having twins - congratulations!!!
MOH's article is fab - it should be available in every EPAU in the land!
Hope everyone's ok xx