Hyperemesis Support

[LucindaE]

We need a new thread.

I hope everyone suffering from the Horrors of Hyperemesis will find this thread useful as a source of support and information.

There's no TMI on here - can't be by definition - and nobody should feel ashamed of moaning as much as they feel the need to.

I used to include extracts from MOH's wonderful website
sites.google.com/site/pregnancysicknesssos/
but I think that makes this link less visible so am merely putting the link. The information on this site is invaluable.

I would like to thank MOH MOP Ovaltine Caramellokoalalover (I think she's changed her nickname) Fluffy, Horsey Kali and Everyone who has given such invaluable support and advice on previous threads.

Remember when you are at your worst, 'This Too Shall Pass'. It really will.

Kali HUgs, poor you, I hope it doesn't come to having to go back on Ondansetron and having to use that home evacuation of bowels kit again. I didn't realise the sickness never really went, that is truly horrible besides spd.
Lucinda
xx

kali just to say, if you need to take ondansetron again you don't necessarily need to take it to the same extent as early on. I got a prescription for it a few weeks ago but have only taken 4mg every other day. I too do not want the constipation issue at this late stage!

39 weeks, still puking, come on baby out you come!

Thanks little. The thing is that when I started to come off the ondansetron I came off it gradually and even at very tiny doses every couple of days it was still totally bunging me up. But perhaps if I was able to eat a more varied diet than I was then it wouldn't have such a drastic effect. Sorry to hear you are still throwing up. By 39 weeks I will definitely be resorting to every possible trick in the book to eject him!!

Hi everyone. Hope you are all coping.

kali interesting about the ranitidine - think I may speak to the doc about that next time I'm there having horrible reflux. I was like this last time as well but I don't remember it happening until a lot later. I'm considering starting the zofran again as well - feeling v sick today again but think the reflux is definitely a factor as seem to feel worse when I've eaten. kali how many weeks were you when the morning vomit stopped?

Also question for everyone ....have any of you suffered anemia and if so what symptoms did you have? I had it last preg but only set in around 30 weeks. I'm suspecting I might be as feeling weak, permanently exhausted and occasionally short of breath plus whooshing in my ears at night. Only occurred to me these things might be related after my ante-natal appointment of course. Husband works shifts 6 on 3 off too usually nights so not getting any help at all so that might be a factor. Interested in others' experiences if you have any. Would you expect to be anemic after not eating for 3/4months?

31 weeks yesterday and have started throwing up again. It's felt inevitable for a week or so, and yesterday the whole of my supper returned at high speed - such a waste of a really nice take away celebrating the end of induction week at work! So frustrating as was the only substantial thing I'd eaten all day. Going to do nothing all weekend in the hope that I feel a bit better - I was very tired yesterday evening.

Tay the morning vomiting stopped for me at 24 weeks I think. Between then and now I have still had a lot of nausea. I think the best bit for me was about three weeks between around 24 and 27 weeks when I managed with almost no medication. But I've been taking ranitidine twice a day and cyclizine or stemetil fairly regularly in the evening for several weeks now. I'm guessing that it is not going to get better again now, and may well continue to get worse, but at least the end is in sight. They are doing a growth scan on the baby every month so I feel confident that they'll know if the vomiting starts to be a problem for him.

Tay I am also quite anaemic at the moment. Back when I was in hospital near the beginning I was borderline but they didn't treat it because iron pills are known to make vomiting and constipation worse and no-one wanted that when I was so ill anyway. So they just left it. Then it was alright for a while in the middle but I was told I was anaemic - more definitely this time - about a month or six weeks ago. It made sense actually as I'd been feeling tired, very breathless and with bad restless legs in the evening. I've also had the 'whooshing' thing you describe though hadn't connected that.

They prescribed me ferrous sulphate tablets but I couldn't tolerate them at all (acute cramps and diarrhoea); then I tried ferrous fumurate but they made me sick! At the moment I am just using 'Spatone' which you add to orange juice and waiting to talk to the consultant about it next week. To be honest the Spatone does make the sickness worse too but I haven't actually thrown it up yet so I'm persisting for now. I am also making an effort with diet (especially red meat) and I'm trying to drink one 'Ensure' drink a day, which has a full complement of vitamins and minerals, including quite a bit of iron. Hoping that might be enough to top things up a bit but will see what the doctor says next Friday.

Kali Oh, poor you, the puking back is too bad and an instantly reappering dinner is horrible, it puts you off whatever it was for the duration as it only seems to be sweet things that are not totally disgusting on their way up again. I always thought Hyperemesis was like a horrible reversal of a conjuring trick - now you don't see it, now you do .Iron pills made me puke, too, it's so difficult. Sorry that the Spatone is only a bit better. You really deserve an easy labour after all this.
Tay Acidity is such a pain, I had it througout, and the blandest of diets, it's miserable and does add so much to nausea.
Plastic Oh no, you are still puking. This is awful, you and Barmee and Kali and others obviously belong to the group of women who do suffer throughout (though nothing like as badly as in the first tri) and it's dreadful to have to endure such a marathon.
Take3 I've been concerned about your worries, is everything OK?
Why Washngo and Everyone how are things?
I'm stoll in touch with the once Caramellokoalalover Bluebirdsunshine over on wordpress, who has a blog that features her adorable crawler. I will see if I can find the link, it might be a boost to all you poor women who've been suffering for so long aout how it is so worth it...
Lucinda
xx

tay I have been taking omeprazole for the acid reflux, it did improve things dramatically up to about 32 weeks but I have steadily had to increase the Rennies over recent weeks.

As for the anaemia, I ended up having an iron infusion at 36 weeks after my consultant realised the horrid iron pills weren't an option when they just made me puke. I could tolerate Spatone but it never raised my levels.

Thanks for the info about the iron everyone. I used Spatone in last preg too and tolerated it well - agree with littleplastic probably not strong enough to raise levels but perhaps to stop them dropping. I got away with ferrous sulphate until the last minute anyway. I am convinced that's what it is - although do feel marginally better energy-wise today (thats after 12 hours+ sleep!) but yesterday was horrible haven't felt that close to puking during the day for a few weeks. Still puking in the morning but tbh doesnt bother me too much. Feel like I have a better day with a good old puke in the morning!!

kali I hope puking doesn't get too horrible. Get as much rest as you possibly can, I know tiredness is such a massive factor for me and it must get more so as you get further along.

plastic hope baby makes an appearance v soon and you have a quick and straightforward labour.

Thanks all. Spending all day today in bed for total rest to recuperate a bit, especially as next week is going to be busy again (start of teaching, after induction week this week). Realistically I reckon the vomiting is back but hoping that if I rest enough it might not be every day, at least for now.

Littleplastic the doctor told me too that they would do an infusion if nothing else worked for the iron. I suspect the spatone isn't going to be enough but at least it should stop the anaemia getting worse.

Thanks for the advice MOH. I followed it and took the buccastem twice a day for a few days - and although still knackered & nauseous, I was loads better (other than when brushing my teeth, is that just me?!). Even felt up to trying a day without today, which I'm now thoroughly regretting & trying not to vom while the tablet absorbs. Think i'll stick with a regular dose from now on & head back to the gp before stocks run too low. Interesting what you said about it stopping working -I'll definitely be aware of that.

Hi all, having a hideous morning as have been non stop throwing up. First time of being sick for weeks. Am now wondering what the trigger is - I've reduced my meds down to one dose a day since sat, so it could be that? Or it could be that I've picked a bug up from school (am a teacher). Or could be that I've got a suspected uti and doc has prescribed keflex for that? Or just a bout of hg, despite me thinking I'd turned a bit of a c

Corner! Sorry hit post too early!

Hello, Everyone, sorry about horrible suffering. Just staggered up from a migraine, that two days of Head Down the Loo is as nothing to Hyperemesis, but it's a sort of reminder. I'll try and catch up. Kali It will be such a relief when you can go on maternity leave, you're a heroine struggling on.
Washnbgo Poor you, that's nasty, I do hope it's a stomach bug, as is possible as there are some going about and of course, your immune system has had a hammering. Keep an eye on those ketones, you poor thing. I do hope it's just a glitch, can easily happen.
Iron pills made me puke, too. Increased the acidity still further, leading to puking. They are foul!

Thanks lucinda! Am desperately hoping its a bug as haven't kept any food or fluids down since 5am and feel so grim. Worst i've felt all pregnancy.

Am now sitting here sobbing because I'm too I'll to look after the children, dh had to miss important meetings at work today, I've managed to cobble together child care for tomorrow but he's all miffed that the plans will make him a bit late for work. I just feel so useless :(

Have you checked your ketones washngo? In my (unfortunately considerable!) experience, that feeling of total despair is often a sign of ketosis in itself. If they are high you should go to a&e.

I don't have any ketosticks :( am going to try to get an hour or two of sleep but just cannot stop being sick.

Washngo Poor poor you, how are you now? Don't hesitate to make an emergency phone call if your urine starts looking too dark and if it doesn't let up very soon.
Lucinda
xx

Hope things have improved washngo. Thinking of you! x

How are you this morning washngo? If you're still being sick repeatedly you really need to see a doctor urgently (GP at the least) and get your ketones tested. I am concerned for you. I know the thought of getting out of bed to do anything seems impossible right now but if you are getting very dehydrated you will feel better on a drip.

Also, if you take a pill and then throw up within a few minutes, take another one, as you won't have absorbed it. The nurses in hospital are v. pragmatic about this - if you can see the pill in the vomit, take another one immediately. But if you're being very sick repeatedly you may not be absorbing any of them, in which case you need to go to hospital so that they can break the loop with a drip and by putting the drugs either in the IV or giving you an injection (undignifiedly in your bottom, but a lifesaver as you can't throw up a jab).

Are you on your own today or is someone with you?

Washngo as Kali said - worried about you. Whether it is hyperemisis or a bug to my mind isn't important right now - you need to stop being sick and feel better. That is what your GP/the hospital/your midwife are there for so please do get yourself looked after. Sorry to hear your DH wasn't hugely happy yesterday too but please don't feel bad - if it is a bug he might have it next and then he'll be expecting sympathy and if it is hyperemisis, well it takes 2 to make a baby. Sending you gentle hugs. Please let us know how you're doing, if you can face the computer!

Kali how are you doing? We really are only a few weeks apart. In the nicest possible way I am taking comfort from you as it somehow helps to know that I'm not the only one still feeling/being sick. Sorry you're going through it though . How is the spd?

Tay, Why, Little - how are you all?

Lucinda sorry to hear you've had another migraine - how are you feeling now?

Sorry to anyone else that I've forgotten/missed.

Thanks so very much to everyone for the messages I can't tell you how nice it is to know people who understand are out there! Things a bit better today and have kept down some toast and squash. Havent been sick since early morning and have also kept down some cyclizine and metoclopramide.

You are all fab and doing so well coping with hyperemesis pregnancies it is just so miserable isnt it!.

Lucinda I hope that migraine's eased off!

Glad to hear it washngo. Whatever you do, don't try and cut back on the meds! Give it a few days at least on the max doses to break the vomiting cycle and give your body a chance to recover, even if you start feeling a lot better before then.

Nice to hear from you barmee. You're just a few weeks ahead of me I think? How much longer have you got till maternity leave starts? Are you coping OK at work? I'll be 32 weeks on Friday. I am doing OK. My mood is so much better because I am getting in to work - just taught one two-hour class this morning and have another later this afternoon - but my pelvis is really in a state, and I can barely walk even on the crutches. The physios tug it back into place each time I see them (literally - they pull hard on one leg!!) but it just slips straight out again. And the sickness is quite bad again now, especially in the evening. Trying to eat little and often during the day to minimise vomiting and also so that when I do throw up I'm not losing too much at once. Bit worried about the baby given the anaemia and vomiting so late on but am doing my best with the eating and hoping that the next growth scan on Friday will be reassuring. He's certainly very lively in there.

Did you have any patch without vomiting? The nausea never went away for me but I did have about 5 weeks from about week 26 when I didn't actually throw up (though several v. close calls). Up to week 26 it was every day without fail, and it started again last week (week 31).

Overall though my morale is good. I've actually felt quite positive about the baby the last couple of weeks (i.e. since I've been properly at work again!) which is a nice change. We haven't made a lot of progress on getting stuff ready though - we've ordered a buggy that hasn't yet arrived, and I got some clothes on ebay, but that's all. I'm compiling a list for a jumbo online order at the beginning of my maternity leave (starts at 36 weeks) and just hoping the baby waits long enough after that for the stuff to arrive!

The students are really funny. The boys are really embarrassed and don't know what to say or where to look; and the girls are mostly over-excited. One of my tutees told me that she had been in the room as a teenager when her mother gave birth to her youngest sibling and that this had "put her off for life"! Then she seemed to realise that maybe that wasn't the most tactful thing to say to someone about to give birth, and added rather lamely "but I'm sure you'll be fine!".

Thanks Kali. Glad being back at work has helped you feel better. And how nice that you enjoy your job enough for that to be the case! One of the former pupils at my school saw me in a shop towards the end of my first pregnancy and said (in a stage whisper to his friend) "woah mrs x has put on loads of weight!". His friend replied in an equally subtle stage whisper "she's pregnant you idiot!". That made me laugh.

Everyone Lovely of you all to ask after my migaines when you are all suffering. This is from the blog of my old cyber friend once Caramelkoalalover who suffered throughout. She's
now Bluebirdsunshine. I'm sure she won't mind my publicising the link on here, and it's such a sweet photo, it might cheer you up. bluebirdsunshine366.wordpress.com/2012/08/24/237366-crawler/
Washngo I'm so glad it's eased off, we were all anxious. Congratulations on that, and hugs too.
Kali I'm so sorry about the spd, it sounds horrible, and the return of the puking, it's not fair. Roll on a nice easy birth (water birth?). You must be such a tidy puker (unlike me and my rush for a bin in the street) . Does the cyclezine do much and I think you said stemitil?
Tay You are bieng stoic - lol about that remark about the morning puke making your day, how awful! That morning sprint to the loo is SO nasty.
Barmee Hugs. Another who's suffered throughout.
How is Everyone. Cyber hugs to any who wish for them.
Lucinda
xx