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?

Came back on as 'had feeling' drama going on.Alias Oh you poor thing, you will feel better with treatment fo rsure, had no idea things were still so bad for you. Never apologise for moaning, moan all you like. Did meds stop working?
GrumblinPoor you, never tmi here, I had a nurse say I had a prolapse but it was 'residual birth damage' so I hope it's the same for you...Really sorry you are still suffering. Good about veg soup, anyway...
Thanks Everyone for queries over migaine and mother. Haven't had to go down to Bucks for a little while, but sadly, she won't get any better.
NitNat still extending sympathy for you over horrific puke as in my post below...
Moh Excellent, succinct advice.
Agbag Great about scan...
TheOnly How alarming about bleeding, awful, so glad you had the reassurance, never heard of a pelvic band either...My migraines thank goodness don't ususally last for more than 36 hours.
LA Spanish office sounds grand...Of course, re; angelic baby this time.
Fluffy Happy Birthday in advance from me, too...
M1N How did things go?
Caramel and Everyone as in my post below, how are babies, in and out...
LucindaE
xx

Alias hope you got seen at hospital, maybe still there. Thinking of you and never apologise for moaning - it's he pits and feel for you x
Lottie OMG it really us Godzilla, despite hitching about induction sounds like good plan, keep us posted
Grumblin can't believe how bad you've had it and if any justice yours will be quick easy and on time birth. DD pretty good just v active and as a typical 3 y old brings out the screeching fish wife in me...
Lucinda work for huge global company but really not grand and glad to switch roles when back from mat leave last time as travelling is not glam and hate being away from family (although occassional night away for uninterrupted sleep wouldn't go amiss!)

Alias I suppose, as La says, you are still in hospital in this lovely weather, poor you? I know in the US they provide home IV kits for women, seems amazing, but only with Medicare, et al...
M1NN How are you? Do keep us informed. Did you say you went through two Hyperemesis pregnancies without treatment? That is so barbaric. I am interested as a matter of fact, in ascertaining how far that still happens, as I had hoped that my own dismal experience was because it was some years ago...
Grumblin Any news on 'prolapse' front? Sickness still continuing? That Hyperemesis loves you best, won't let you go,it's like an unwelcome guest...GrumblinLA NitNat Lottie Luce and Anyone else due this/next month, the rest room here may have to be expanded, how will you all fit in when rather sticking out in front, though Grumblinnot too big? There was another women who had Hyperemesis throughout I knew on another site who looked only about four months pregnant at the end but had a far bigger baby than the measurements seemed to indicate, so I am sure you don't need to worry...
I hope Everyone is coping.* Should I start new thread soon; - maybe,
'Hyperemesis Support' with FluffyWhiteKittens, CaramelloKoalaLover, MOH, Grumblin, LA, NitNat and LaTrucha and many more, including GrandmaAgain, Cocoanuts, and mother hen LucindaE. Remember when things are at their worst, "This Too Shall Pass" as in the Eastern Story...'. So many people have been wonderfully supportive to other sufferers, even while suffering themselves, that I would like to name everyone, but can't really. For sure fluffy deserves a medal...

LucindaE
xx

Hello. First post on this thread but long-time lurker, looking for some advice. Am currently in third pregnancy to go beyond 12 weeks. As usual, nausea all way through so far: worst 4pm-10am i.e. often not too bad during working day. Get retching in morning but rarely significant vomiting.

Am now nearly 23 weeks. From memory I :thought: with the two previous successful pregnancies that the nausea eased off after about 20 weeks, returning around 32 weeks as the bump pushed on my stomach; but my husband swears blind I felt bad all way through. Anyway, query is that I am now feeling worse than ever these past 3-4 weeks with large vomit today at 11am. Am having to take days off work now with nausea and dizziness (my work is mainly sitting and I can usually cope even with the nausea though my pace of work is slower). I am taking one promethazine (phenergan) 25mg a day at 5pm-ish, since 8 weeks. My obstetrician suggesting adding buccastem (stemetil) as needed and I've got the prescription from my GP but haven't yet been to pharmacist due to lack of time and nausea.

Has anyone else had their nausea/sickness get worse this late and if so what did you do? Thanks in advance for any advice/experiences.

Katherine, Sadly most of us have just felt/been ill all the way through but stemetil can help, although personally I found it really unpleasant with the buccastem as I think that's the one you dissolve under your gums.
As much as possible eating little but often can help, bland stodgy food often better than healthy stuff - peanut butter on White bread or toast seems to go down (and stay down ;) ) well with many of us.
Waves to everyone else from comfy bed in pink castle.
Also admits that birthday is not actually for a couple of months but feel better about spending money if it is a present :)

Hi all,

My GP said he wouldnt want to go down the med route just yet as my urine didnt have Ketones in it when he tested it. He did say to go straight back if I get any worse. I ended up in tears I felt so dreadful after sitting in the noisey waiting room with a very bouncy child & patients smelling of cigarettes :( No better, no worse really, not keeping anything down past lunch time, dont feel like eating anything except bland crackers, biscuits etc....I have lost 7lbs in less than a week, totally washed out, like im sure many of you feel. I didn't get any meds with my previous pregnancies, & never even asked or questioned if there were any available. The next few weeks are looking loooong.......x

minnie your GP has no justification for refusing you meds. It's not necessary for your ketones to be high before meds are prescribed - my OB didn't test anything, I just told her about the family history and the fact that I couldn't eat or drink and she dished out a prescription with instructions to the GP to prescribe whatever I wanted for the entire pregnancy - including ondansetron (zofran). Your GP is clearly not up to date about how to treat this condition. All the recent research stresses the need for early intervention, the meds are less effective if you allow the condition to get worse before you start them. The meds you can try are cyclizine, phenergan, buccastem, stemetil, ondansetron (zofran).

The fact that you have lost so much weight in a short time is a cause for concern and you really need attention - does your GP know about your weight loss? Did you ask for a referral to an obstetrician? I would go back and ask for one. Is there anyone who can babysit for you or go with you to help with your LO? Do you have a sympathetic midwife or health visitor who might know where you can get better treatment?

Do you know that you can test your own ketones using ketosticks, you can get them from any pharmacy, keep an eye on levels and if they get higher you could go to A&E, and ask them there for an OB referral if you're fed up with your GP. I think you may have to fight a battle to get treatment, it's crap but it's sadly quite common. GPs make you feel like you're over reacting so you think oh it can't be that bad - but we on this thread all know it is that bad, we know how shit you feel, and if your GP had suffered this they'd be quicker to do something about it. But have hope, there are meds and they do work, it doesn't have to be like your first 2 pregnancies. Keep hassling till you get help. Let us know how you get on.

Hi all, sorry have been away for so long, am rubbish at keeping up.

Sorry to hear alias and m1nn1e are feeling rubbish. Disgusting that doctors aren't doing anything helpful. It really makes me mad.

lucinda hope you are ok? Your veg soup recommendation gave me cravings for the cheap cup a soup things

grumbling Hope you don't have to wait much longer for your new bundle to arrive :)

Big hellos to everyone else :)

All ok at my end. Still vomming when brushing teeth which then cancels out the effect of brushing said teeth. It's horrible because it combines the two things that I just can't stomach. Water and mint stuff. I have to be careful not to let any toothpaste near to my throat and not to get and water anywhere near my tongue, really difficult. As soon as it goes wrong, that's it

Other than that, am now suffering awful heartburn so am now keeping gaviscon in business. Good job they do an aniseed flavour as I wouldn't be able to manage with the peppermint one.

Also had to go into labour ward Friday ust gone after a bleed. Needed anti-d as am RhNeg but all ok with baby. 24 weeks now, going fast.

Hi Minnie. Your treatment at GP's sounds like mine!

I saw GP1 to tell him I was pregnant and of my previous N&V history. He said he knew all about HG as his wife, also a GP at the surgery, had had 4 HG pregnancies. He said there were lots of drugs we could try if needed and not to worry.
So when I started vomming for England, I made an appointment with his wife. She told me all about her 4 HG pregnancies, said that my appearance brought it back to her about how horrible it was, but said that at least I wasn't having chemotherapy, and sent me on my way without the meds advertised by her husband!!
I went back a week later and saw a third GP who asked if the continued vomiting, nausea and exhaustion was "affecting my quality of life". No sh*t Sherlock!! . She gave me metaclopramide but it was too late and I was in hospital 48 hours later with 4+ ketones.
I recommend going back and laying it on thick with a different Doctor, adding tears where needed.
Good luck and hope the vom is not too bad today.

Grumblin I am hoping you are having a good day at the very least?

Have been lying down all morning as did too much yesterday. Have really bad back but no vom so am grateful for that!

Breathes deeply as feeling very angry at crappy DRs reactions.
Minnie, go back and see another GP and try and take someone with you if you're not up to being assertive.
Hi Coconuts glad to hear you're relatively OK. I suffered bad heartburn with both mine. Also went through a stage of managing veg cup a soups and plain cream crackers.

Coconuts I'm impressed you are brushing your teeth at all. I am ashamed to say I managed the odd brush here and there on the really, really good days. HG did terrible things for my teeth. When I saw the dentist when pregnant he gave me a serious talk with the hygienist because they thought I had bulimia my teeth were that bad. I had to then explain what HG is as they frantically apologised and looked very embaressed!

Minnie please persevere and speak to another GP. You don't have to have ketones to get meds, that's ridiculous. on your behalf.

Waves at everyone else...hope you're all ok. I'm only now just starting to think I should slow down on troffing everything in sight . I've been making up for the 9mths I was dictated by HG what and when to eat but Scarlett is 8 weeks today and I can't continue forever, sadly! Time to start at least thinking about limiting my cake intake .

Hi, I told the GP I had lost weight & he didn't seem concerned, it wasnt my bouncy child, it was somebody elses child! My Mum has been a star the last couple of days helping with my boys.

Im really not up to being assertive with the GP, thanks for the suggestion, will get some ketosticks & keep my eye on it, didn't realise that it didn't matter if you have ketones before they prescribe meds. If I find any ketones I think I will just go straight to a&e & see what they say. Im hopefully seeing the midwife next week, will speak to her too.

caramellokoalalover....oh to be able to eat cake....

Caramel, I feel that at 8 months I really can't justify stuffing my face like I have been but the feeling of being able to eat what you want is so nice :)
Also I'm still breast feeding so that's my excuse for a few more weeks anyway.

Just popping in briefly to say hello. Minnie, so sorry you're having to do battle with rubbish GP. I think maybe the A & E route is the way to go in your case - at least you can circumvent your GP practice that way, as they're clearly being exceptionally unhelpful. It's unbelievable that they just expect you to put up with being so sick!
Nice to hear about cake-eating in the pink castle - gives the rest of us something to look forward to!
Since my alleged corner-turning at the weekend I've been back to a couple of voms a day. Nothing too unbearable, but irritating nonetheless.
Gosh, wonder if Grumblin in labour yet?

M1NN I would reiterate what everyone else has said and go back to either see another GP or present at A&E. I thought HG was hell even with medication and wasn't able to function normally for 10 weeks. There are lots of medications that you can have that are perfectly safe in pregnancy - i think its negligent not to treat someone who is so ill when there are lots of options available and your GP is not doing his job.
Katherine I always feel worse in the evening. I haven't vomitted since 16 weeks but nausea is persistant and much worse in the evening - seems to be worse when I'm tired.

I also have some more news! I'm going to be induced on the 28th June!!! Baby big and consultant thinks it would be better to deliver a couple of weeks early! I have to go for a cervical stretch on the 23rd (sounds gruesome!) then induction on the 28th! Still amazed that despite all the vomitting and weight loss in the first 4 months he's so big! Just goes to show mummy may feel rubbish with HG but baby still thrives!

Exciting news Lottie. Ds was a fair size when born and now massive!
Good luck, hope it all goes well.

Hello lovely ladies. I've read bits of this thread, it's actually made me cry as I don't feel quite so alone

I'm 13 weeks and it's getting worse instead of better. I hate this so much. I came home from work on Monday after throwing up on my commute, then several times at work. I'm a teacher. I've been off since, meant to go back today but still so awful. It's not like being ill when a couple of days in bed helps you get your strength up. Nothing helps, literally nothing. I can try to keep hydrated, eat well (ha, well as well as possible!) but still wake up feeling god-awful, and it doesn't get better.

People at work clearly think I'm being a wuss, not saying it but I can tell.

Practice nurse prescribed me Prochloperazine over the phone, I collected it yesterday but after googling, I'm scared to take it as it is psycho-active apparently and some of the side-affects look really scary. I suffered badly with anxiety and panic attacks a long time ago and really don't want to risk anything like that - I'm already feeling so low.

Does anyone have any experience of Prochloperazine? Sorry that was my main question, I fell into having a sorry-for-self rant.

Buff Hello, really sorry that things are so bad now. I wasn't on that drug - only had funny pills from Acupunturist, but I did want to come on so to say don't feel alone. We have a fair number of teachers on, I don't think the stresses of the job help at all and the feelings of obligation. I know its difficult to be assertive when you feel so ill, I failed dismally myself. Is there someone you know if O/H not suitable for it who could act as an advocate for you, argue your case? It looks like you need sick notes until you get meds that help more. You need to get back to the m/w asap explain your fears to m/w, there are other meds after all. Don't take any notice of people thinking your being a wuss about what they see as normal m/s. Tell them, if you have to, that this is different, you can hardly keep small amounts of liquid down.

Have you kesosticks from a chemist, too, to make sure you're not getting too dehydrated? Really sorry about puking on commute, that is so dismal and humilating. I was an expert at public puking myself. Are jelly, sips of coke, sips of tepid water, ice cubes or ice lollies any good for trying to keep hydrated? This is the worst stage, that is a thing to remember, and you must put yourself and the baby first for now. the school will have to get in a supply teacher or whatever.
Everyone Been reading thread and thinking of you all, but trying to set up new thread in time, with a few special mentions, bad at links, so struggling, thickhead...
LucindaE
xx

buff I had both stemetil and buccastem which are brand name of prochlorperazine. I found it effective for helping with nausea but only at the beginning (before 10 weeks) before the HG got really bad. My HG only improved after 18 weeks so I'm not surprised yours isn't getting any better at only 13. I didn't have any side effects from stemetil but it sounds like you need expert help from a consultant OB who will be able to discuss the side effects with you and maybe prescribe you something more effective and not psychoactive. I used to be a teacher too, (though not when I had HG) and know the guilt trip they lay on you if you're ill. Tell them you have been diagnosed with a complication of pregnancy called hyperemesis gravidarum - I find that latin names always make your condition sound less trivial - never ever call it morning sickness, if anyone refers to it as morning sickness correct them and tell them it's HG. I would get to a GP and get a referral to a consultant asap, there are different drugs than prochlorperazine but you want expert help to properly discuss the options. Also, get a sick note, sod school, that's what supply teachers are for. I once did a two term sickness cover for a teacher with a rare form of arthritis, nobody was calling her a wuss, it's just accepted that we're human and we get sick. You didn't ask for this horrible diseaese, you can't be expected to carry on as if you don't have it. Good luck, let us know how you get on.

Thanks MOH and Lucinda for your supportive messages.

I think I will speak to doc today about getting signed off for next week. I just keep hoping it'll pass, you know?

So true about the pressure school puts on you to be in regardless, and everyone has stories of teachers who worked right through, which doesn't help!

Are all anti-sickness drugs psycho-active or just this one? Apparently it solves dizziness and balance issues which cause sickness, so works on the brain, but can cause seizures and involuntary movements, which terrifies me.

Also, I was hoping for some kind of magic pill, but apparently they will stop me being sick but not make the nausea go, which is bad enough!

I literally am hating being pregnant

Oh buff, poor you - it's awful isn't it? I too (at 18 weeks) am not enjoying being pregnant at all, and constantly long for the end, even though it's a long way off. The mental effect of wishing away each day is something which I think is very hard for people who've not experienced this to really imagine. Anyway, second the other comments about getting professional advice re meds. I've been on cyclizine since week 7 and it's worked fairly well for me. Keeps away about 80% of nausea, and I have some vom-free days, others with 'just' 1 or 2 voms a day (compared to the height of it when I couldn't keep down water or even a sucked-on ice cube). Hope you can find the right treatment for you - lots of women have taken these medications, and I think pretty much any side effects are better than the sickness itself. The only side effect for me with cyclizine is feeling very drowsy, but then I do anyway! Good luck :)

Hello all, I just spotted this thread and have popped on as a 'been there' HG sufferer to give moral support and unmumsnetty hugs.

My sickness was pretty relentless from the start. I spent a few weeks with terrible indigestion on stomach pills (omeprazole) when I had no idea I was pregnant! Then one day the penny dropped and I ran for a testing kit.

I was 8.3 when it all started to get silly, and 10.1 when I realised I was throwing blood up (Mallory-Weiss tear) and probably had HG (thanks to reading up on the net). Took self (with overnight bag) to A&E and after a few hours of drip, they said I wasn't leaving (as expected). I didn't expect to be ambulanced to another hospital at 3am, or to still be there a week later on the gynae ward! Off work another 5 weeks, then part-time as I eased myself back into being able to be there.
I was given cyclizine and ranitidine. I'd read about other, better drugs but needless to say my conservative PCT wasn't about to cough up for them. I was on them right to the very end.

By 18wk I was at last feeling like I could eat, and, after finding something that stopped me being sick (cheese ploughman's sandwiches, mayo, pickle and all!) I ended up carrying a boxful round at all times, even into meetings . It worked, and gradually I started functioning properly.

Rest of the pregnancy was normal, up to 38.3 when the GP spotted the baby's heartbeat was in the wrong place, meaning breech. Off for scans and ELCS at 39.1, though that's a whole different story!

By then I was 40 (years not weeks!) and couldn't face the thought of having another bout of HG while looking after an extremely active and exhausting DS, so an only he will be.

I would say, do try and have calcium supplement tablets if you can keep them down. I didn't really eat anything for weeks (lost over a stone) and DS has hypoplastic teeth caused by not enough calcium when they were forming the enamel. We have to be very careful with toothbrushing and sweet things, and it shouldn't make any difference to adult teeth, but I do wish someone had told me at the time so I could at least have tried to take supplements.

Hi buff, just reiterating what Lucinda, Moh and Mop have said, I was teaching and suffered with HG and was signed off for weeks/months.
Being in school and feeling terrible is not doing the pupils any favours, you and your baby are more important now.
I took stemitil first time round and had no obvious side effects but agree you should get another medical opinion. There are other medications available.
Also if people do the whole pregnancy isn't an illness thing then tell them to bugger off you are in fact sick.

Waves hello to Moonbell as cross posted.
That's really interesting about the teeth as we have problems with dd. The dentist said it can often happen when very young children have antibiotics very early, which she did as she had congenital pneumonia and was in NICU.
It will be interesting to see if we have similar issues with ds as it may then seem to be the HG :(

buff So sorry you had to join thread and are having such rough PG - is this your 1st? I started on buccastem at 7 weeks but found them really hard to keep down whilst dissolving. Also did make me feel anxious so at 8 weeks when hospitalised on drip was prescribed cyclizine which eventually eased sickness but not the nausea. Would therefore def ask GP for alternative, explain fears re anxiety attacks plus would say you're throwing up before tab has dissolved!

Pearl really sympathise, I've not enjoyed PG this time round although lot better last few weeks and getting excited, so hopefully same for you in few weeks :)

Lucinda thanks for setting up new thread and you are certainly not 'thickhead'!

Lottie how exciting, you'll be holding your (not so) little un v soon. Good luck x

fluffy think you and Caramel deserve a mountain of cakes :)

Minnie any news?

Moon that's interesting re calcium as not heard that before. Thanks for posting support.

Really wishing hospital had computerised maternity records. Have been sitting in hot stuffy waiting room for almost 2 hours whilst they look for notes from last PG! Oh the joy...