Hyperemesis Support

[LucindaE]

A new thread needed here already! Lovely Grumblin who started the second one, may be actually having that baby at this minute!

I hope this will be a source of support for present sufferers and ex sufferers alike and also worried family members.

I want particularly to mention my favourite feline FluffyWhiteKittens, who has been so invaluable a source of support on the old threads, and MOH, who has slaved to produce articles full of useful information and links to useful websites, LaTrucha, lovely CaramelloKoalaLover, Grumblin, NitNat, La, Lottie, Grandmagain, MaryLou, Cocoanuts and so many that I cannot name everyone for fear that the current sufferer may became annoyed at the long list...

Never worry about tmi or moaning. When suffering one has to discuss things that would make most people go weak at the knees and to have a good moan can help enormously with an illness where there is still a lot of ignorance and sometimes insensitive treatment.

It might help to remember - when you are at your worst - the words in that Eastern story.
'This Too Shall Pass.'

LucindaE
xx

Feekerry - The cyclizine will make you very spaced out for perhaps 1-2 weeks but you need to give them time. After about 10days i began to feel more awake and the anti-sickness effect of them worked within an hour. I really hope they work for you, they werre a lifesaver for me.

Sorry have been awol ladies, hope all ok.

All ok my end, unbearable in the heat I hate it.

Hi everyone,

Sorry to see so many of us are having a rotten time of it :( This really does take a lot of the enjoyment out of what should be such a special time :(

I'm not having a good day, lots of nausea and ive also had diawoowoo :( not managed to eat much today but am eating ice lollipops to keep hydrated.

My sick note runs out today but I really don't feel well enough to go back to work. Trying to get hold of hr to discuss the possibility of beginning my maternity leave early as although my doctor will sign me off for as long as I need, I really can't afford to keep off work as I only get ssp. Does anyone have any experience of this? Or am I being unreasonable to suggest it to work? I would have thought it was preferable than me keep getting sick notes...

xxx

Feekerry, hopefully the cyclizine will work for you. I found I couldn't tolerate it at all, it made me totally spaced out and I tended to throw up when I took it,obviously not great! So give it some time but remember there are other options if it doesn't work for you.
Mancbird I think I must have been really lucky with my sick pay but it seems like it would be worth while taking early maternity leave. Are you planning on going back to work?
Had a lovely day in the garden today with lots of babies :). Just to remind you all there are good times to come :)

manc, sorry you been so rough. I thought about early maternity and then i did start to get better, went back to work for few hours a day (if could manage it). Luckily my work were really supportive and understood you can't predict Whats going to happen. Dr can suggest phased return to work if you do start feeling better. You will feel better though, promise!

I am now on antibiotics as well as steroids for my chest. Can hardly eat and drink and coughing so much it just comes back up. Fluffy, i don't normally suffer so much with my asthma, but pregnancy has killed my immune system too! Ironic as at my recent asthma check i said it only ever bothers me in Oct time when seasons change....this is 2nd chest infection since march.

I am looking forward to healthy eating when i come to the pink castle!

Oh we had a bat in our bedroom last night! How funny it must of looked us trying to get it out. They fly far too FAST! i don't mind them at all but i don't like waking up with one dive bombing me ha ha

hugs to all x

Feekerry I hope the cyclizine works for you. It really helped me. A tip I got from here is to take each one with a vitamin B6 pill, it really cuts down the zombie feeling. Did you have any anti-sickness medication in your drip do you know, or was it just rehydration? If it's not working after a couple of weeks, just go back and ask for something else.

Congratulations nitnat on the new arrival! Sounds like you're both doing really well. I hope you're enjoying eating a full range of food again.

Nemo - it sounds like you're not up for being messed about this time, that's good preparation! Like you, I had rubbish treatment with HG the first time. I'm now 25 weeks with number 2 and was bolshy from the start with my doctors. I think having experienced it once, we are not willing to be fobbed off a second time.

I'm very hot and bothered but not too sick. Travelling by bus seems to be my trigger at the moment, especially in hot weather and I've still got bad morning nausea until I eat something.

Good news :)

HR have agreed that I can begin my maternity leave early :) starting tomorrow I am on 9 days annual leave and then my maternity leave kicks in :) it works out that I'll be starting maternity leave 3 weeks earlier than planned but i am so relieved it is all sorted :)

Theonlyhb2 - I have a 30 mile commute each way to work so it isn't practical for me to just work a few hours each day :( by the time I'd paid for my gas to work it wouldn't really be worth it! :(

Hope your chest gets better soon, my mam has asthma so I know how horrid it can make you feel :( xxx

Mancbird Good about m/l and I hope the lollies are helping?
Aubergine I hope no more bleeding from throat? As posted below, the red blood is probably from the throat, but if it turns brown, apparently its from the stomach and needs investigation, as happened with NitNat round last Christmas...
Coconuts Hello my lovely, sorry you are suffering in the heat, and the heat must be hard on you all.
theOnly Oh dear about coughing, that really sets of puking, horrible, no doubt you are right about immunity, it must get a hammering...We have lots of salad and fruit and healthy stuff waiting for you here in the pink castle.
MaryLou Sorry about residual morning sickess hanging on. Not a nice way to begin the day...
Fluffy All is lovely in the garden with the babies...
Back in a moment with second half of post, pc playing up as usaul...
LucindaE
xx

MaryLou, it's great to hear of a second timer's experience! Did you get similar level of HG both time? How did your GP deal with your assertiveness?
Did it get as bad as with your first or was the "aggressive treatment" of HG early on work?
I'm keen to get as much tips as possible so that I can go in there the minute I'm pregnant and tell them what I expect if I get really sick.

Dashing back on before pc crashes to wave to Nemo, Angel and everyone and to ask 'Feekerry* if she feels better today.
LucindaE
xx

nemo - I think the second time has been a bit better. The first time I had no treatment though, other than being signed off sick for 3 months, so it's quite hard to compare. I wasn't ill enough to go into hospital which was the only situation my GP would prescribe anything in. I still had ketones and could hardly keep anything down except lucozade and crisps, I lost weight, vomited up to 15 times a day and didn't manage to increase weight until month 8 - the sickness continued up until then.

This time I've found cyclizine helped lots. It was the third thing I was prescribed, the first two did nothing. The PG wasn't planned and I'm afraid I cried for ages when I found out. We wanted another but I'm not sure I'd ever have dared to do it again through choice and I was so scared after last time. The day after I found out I went straight to the doctors with DH and basically stated I'm not going through what I went through last time. They were a lot more sympathetic (new practice) and when HG did kick in at about 5/6 weeks, I got medication straight away. I think a few tears probably helped my case as well. By about 8 weeks when I had the cyclizine, I wasn't too bad really. Still threw up a few times a day but by 16 weeks I was managing quite well. Now at 25 weeks, it's virtually gone apart from in the mornings and if I'm on a hot, stuffy bus. I've found it really tiring with an active toddler as well.

Good luck with your decision! I can imagine it's not easy at all but I think early preparation and medications has helped a lot so hopefully it would for you as well. You could perhaps go along to the GP before you even get PG and check out how willing they would be to prescribe. Then at least you'd know you have support in place if the time comes.

hello ladies

managed to get out of bed today so on the lap top rather than phone so can give you a proper update. I must admit i should have gone to the doctor sooner. thing is when its your first pregnancy you dont now what is normal and what isn't,esp when everyone tells you 'morning sickness is normal'! Also if another person tells me that ginger, sipping water, ice lollies are good - HELLO- i cannot keep anything down- and i mean anything!!! 'm not joking when i say anything!!!
anyway, cyclizine seems to be working quite well. was sick a few times this morning but so far thats it. i've even managed to sip a whole pint of water!!! food may be a step to far at the moment, but the water is a start!!!
just to add a different slant to it, my GP was amazing. she totally understood (she's also pregnant and sick so maybe that helps!!) and she had me in to see her this morning and again tomorrow morning to check my ketones are coming down. she really was very understanding. maybe dry heaving in her room helped?!!

just a question for everyone as i'm being nosey- would/does HG put you off having another baby???? Honestly i never thought one person could be so ill! i'm most def well put off!!! i have soooooo long to go though. roll on next spring!!!
x

johnnyd1 (Luce): EDD 31/07/11
Theonlyhb2: EDD 16/08/11 First timer (eeek)
ElliottsMummy: EDD 25/9/11
Coconuts: EDD 01/10/11
Mancbird: EDD 08/10/11
AgBag: EDD 18/10/11
Littlewizz: EDD 6/11/11, Next scan 23/6/11
CakeForBreakfast: EDD 07/11/11 (subject to change)
Marylou: EDD 9/11/11, next scan 22/06/11
MotherofPearl: EDD 17/11/11
Eggy: EDD 30/11/11
LadyOTCM: 01/12/11
Diddygirl: EDD 19/12/11
Bensgirl: EDD
Alias: EDD ??/12?11 , Dating scan: 25/06/11
m1nn1e: EDD ??/01/12
Angel: 16/01/12
Louby86: EDD 17/02/12
Feekerry 24/03/2012- hopes to move up list quickly

Thats great news manc :) the journey to work is a killer, i am the same distance away as you but sorta felt i had to try and get in as am manager and was trying to recruit another person. I would have deffo taken early ML otherwise, although from about 28 weeks i seemed to cope much better and in my last few weeks i was working full time again. I think i was nesting ha ha shame i haven't done the same at home.

FeeKerry, i am def put off having another. I have never been so ill and useless in my life. I can't believe i used to work 45hrs a week, drink 5 nights out of 7, sleep 4hrs a night, look after a house on my own plus walk hounds twice a day and still have energy left over. To go from that to "wow i got out of bed and had a shower today, i am doing really well!" was a huge shock. My mum had HG with me but not my younger Brother but not sure i would be brave enough to take the chance again. Then again, now i kbad?what to expect and how to cope with it, would it be as bad?

Any news yet luce? Pls hold on i don't wanna be at top of list i am scared!

feekerry HG has definitly put me off having another child (this will be my second child - no HG with first) I just can't imagine putting my body and my family through it again - my little family will be complete when this little bundle arrives!! Also good news on feeling able to get out of bed and on the water intake - as long as u get fluids u really don't need to worry about food until you feel up to it. I was the other way round and found fluids really hard and food easier - strange!!

mancbird great news on your maternity leave - I have two weeks left at work and am counting down the days! :) hopefully it will give you some time to let your body rest and recooperate before the main event!

theonly I second your comment to Luce - dangerously close to the top of that list now!!

Feekerry, having HG with my first did put me off having any more. DH didn't really want us to have any more anyway. I found it really difficult because I had always wanted two children but didn't feel that I could push to have another as I knew I had to have support if I had HG again.
However I did get to the point where we agreed that I could try again as I don't think I would have been truly happy without at least trying. There is a much bigger age gap than I had wanted between them, 4 years, but at least with the age gap dd was old enough to keep herself occupied some of the time when I was ill and she stayed with grandparents lots. When I had it second time I did think I shouldn't have done it and was worried for a while about relationship with DH and that I had traumatised dd for life :)
Obviously I wouldn't be without my gorgeous ds now but it was bloody awful going through it again and having dd to worry about.
However I have a very supportive and understanding family both times and second time around I had so much support and understanding from friends who offered whatever help they could and looked after dd for me if necessary.
Neemo I think it's really important to have that support network. I told one of my close friends very early on as she knew I was trying for a baby and that I had been very ill with dd. Although bless her she was put in an awkward position when concerned people kept asking how I was as I wasn't out and about much!
I think I suffered worse second time but for a slightly shorter period. I also knew that cyclizine didn't work for me and asked for different options. Personally I found ondansetron to be a lifesaver, as have others on this thread. It is however expensive and not everywhere is happy to prescribe it.
I also had acupuncture this time which seemed to help.
I would also say that even when you are prepared and know what's likely to happen it doesn't make it any less depressing when you're in hospital, attached to a drip and feeling not only totally miserable but wondering why you put yourself through it again:(
On the positive side though I have a friend whose sil had HG with her first but not second. Crossed fingers :)
And knowing there is somewhere to come and vent/rant/chat/share vom stories is also great :)

Maybe Luce is waiting to share my birthday tomorrow.......

Not long to go now Theonly......

LucindaE from library pc - which keeps deleting - sysem finally crashed at home...*F

That was the start of the message, the wretched thing deleted all the rest &@! System crashed at home, librarypc doesn't like me...
Feekerry How are you now? I'm glad things are improving but they still sound bad enough. Ooops! I do reccomend ice lollies and sips ofwater myself, Iknow it all seems to comeup again, but it does make a difference if you keep sipping away though it is torture, I know, some does stay down and get through, I could tell the difference in the headaches I got if I didn't keep on atthe ice lollies, jelly, sipsof water, Lucozade etc. Ginger? sickening...I'm so glad Dr was sympathetic. Poor you,heaving in surgery, though that certainlymakes your point.Back in a moment.
LucindaE
xx

TheOnly and ElliottsMummyI didn't go for a second, but do regret it. If you have two already, then for sure it's different, I do admire fluffy and MaryLou Grumblin Caramel LA and manymore, (Ithink Cocounutstoo, who have gone for it .

Luce and theOnly Thinking of you...Ihope everyone's not suffering too muchin this heat...
LucindaE
xx

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FLUFFY! It's lovely today, not too hot and sunny. Hope yr being spoilt :)

actually feel better today! Slept last night (on my left too, first time for a week as it kept making me cough). 3/5 engaged according to midwife and measuring only 1 week under. Baby gonna be lanky as head low but bum and legs still under my ribs. Not been sick either today and eaten breakfast and lunch. Now trying to do some tidying as its hit me we really are having a baby, its not some elaborate joke!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FLUFFY! It's lovely today, not too hot and sunny. Hope yr being spoilt :)

actually feel better today! Slept last night (on my left too, first time for a week as it kept making me cough). 3/5 engaged according to midwife and measuring only 1 week under. Baby gonna be lanky as head low but bum and legs still under my ribs. Not been sick either today and eaten breakfast and lunch. Now trying to do some tidying as its hit me we really are having a baby, its not some elaborate joke!

today is not a good day, today is def not a good day. :(

LucindaE back again on home pc, due to crash any minute...Feekerry so sorry you're having a bad time today, oh dear, meds not doing much? All I can do is send cyber hugs.Don't know if you read my message about how it's torture to keep sipping away, but truly, it does do something to help keep dehydration at bay, even though you think its all coming back up. It's agony, I know..
Fluffy HAPPY BIRTHDAY! LOVE to a splendid mother cat...

theOnly congrats on engagement of baby's head.
LucindaE
xx

Thanks, had a lovely day shopping in Cambridge, although still traumatised by the parking charges
feekerry sorry you're having a bad day.
Went to John Lewis parent room today and it was full of babies, including a couple of really new ones :)
That will be you soon Theonly

Hi :) Just been shown over here by fluffy!

Im 13 weeks with my second pg and just started taking cyclizine for hyperemesis.
Today is the first day in about a week ive managed to drag myself out of the bathroom and get dressed and even left the house for a while! Im really hoping the sickness goes soon and takes the diziness with it!!