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.

Weird sorry to hear you are worrying about work.
You have enough on your plate to be dealing with your job too.
In my experience, and I'm still very new to this pregnancy/HG lark I have been off work since end of August. The first three weeks were holiday as I got married and I became more sick with HG on my honeymoon. Currently I am signed off until the end of the month.
I am one of those who have a job that pays sick full pay for 6 months then half pay for 6 months ( I certainly don't plan on being off that long!) although I am still concerned because it is my basic pay I will get and usually I earn between £200 and £400 extra per month for doing unsociable hours.
When my GP signed me off another whole month I was horrified but I knew I was not fit to do my job. I'm still not now. I find everything a struggle. I'm a nurse in a busy hospital there's no way I can do a 12 hr shift, ferry around bed pans and offer my sympathy to people who feel ill! Not to mention not having time for proper breaks, being short staffed and doing the work of 3 other people and always leaving late.
When I explained to my manager I'd be off longer she was less than sympathetic. In fact she was an outright cow.
And when I'm well enough I'm going to do something about it.
All this has taught me, after all my life trying to please other people when I need it most I find out who does care about me and who doesn't.
From now on I am going to put myself first, my health first as I'm soon to be a mother and that'll be the most important job in the world.
Don't feel bullied into going back to work too soon. I know finances are important but they can't sack you for being sick. Xxx

lucinda lol I thought it was just me having to get glycerin suppositories with ondansetron!

Hi weird its great that you have a good GP and you're getting treatment, but not so great about work. The sad truth is that you will have to take time off work, as you no doubt realise, and no medications will make up for not having lots of rest. as for your rights, they are cast iron, you cannot be sacked or be forced into reduced hours for a pregnancy related illness. It sounds like your doctor is on your side so she'll be able to give you sick notes, which is what you need to cover your absences. Of course, that doesn't mean that they have to be nice about it, and some women just feel so bullied that they give up work, or feel that they never want to go back. Are you in a union? If so, I'd get them involved right away, you can ask for a union rep to be present with you at a meeting with your boss. Before you go back to work, the doctor has to sign you fit for work, and can recommend that you go back on reduced hours. Your work then have to do a risk assessment in which it is noted that you have HG, so you can only work part time. I've also heard of an organisation which advises on this kind of thing www.workingfamilies.org.uk/, its run by family law lawyers but they're volunteers who give free advice. I've never used this service so I can't vouch for it personally but it's probably worth a try.

Thanks for all your comments, you've no idea how helpful it is reading this, thanks ladies. I've had one of my better days today, even managed to take DD to the park and am about to attempt pizza for tea...yes, it'll prob come back later but if I retain some it'll shoot my calorie intake through the roof which would be a good thing.

I'm feeling much more confident about the work issue, thanks, it's just that I work on a project team which makes covering my work more problematic, and I've just got a new boss 3 weeks ago that I've not even met yet so I'm making the worst 1st impression ever. So far her emails have been v nice and sympathetic, but she doesn't know about me being pregnant yet, that's the part I've been worrying most about. Ridiculous, but I feel like because most women sail through preg and enjoy it even, the perception is that I'm a malingerer. Even though I know how debilitating and serious HG is, it's that annoying fact that most people have no experience of it whatsoever and really don't understand the impact of it.

Anyway, thanks again for the worse words and helpful info. And now that I've finished being so self absorbed, hope all the other sufferers reading haven't had too rubbish a day x x

weird so sorry you are worrying about work; you really do need to be careful not to push yourself to go back when you're not ready as it can cause a serious relapse and put you in hospital. I was in hospital pretty much constantly anyway at your stage so to be honest work couldn't really begin to object; but in any case generally what I said was that I was suffering from "a rare and potentially serious complication of pregnancy called hyperemesis gravidarum". Most people have absolutely no idea what that is but the long Latin term sounds bad! I think it is really helpful to avoid any connection with 'morning sickness' which makes it sounds mild/manageable.

I had to tell my boss that I was pregnant incredibly early on because I first went into hospital at 5 weeks. He is a rather unworldly gay man who knows nothing at all about pregnancy and my department is very male dominated so I felt quite embarrassed about the whole thing. But I explained by email and asked him not to tell anyone else because the pregnancy was so early on and obviously there is a chance of losing it at that stage (and also to be honest we had not ruled out termination at that point because I was so ill). So all my department knew that there was "something serious" wrong but that I "would recover" and were all speculating madly!

Actually I think being admitted to hospital is quite useful as most people realise that the NHS do not admit otherwise healthy young women and insist on keeping them in unless you are really very seriously unwell.

I think it's also worth reminding yourself that there's a better chance of you getting back to work later in the pregnancy if you rest enough to really get on top of the HG now at the most acute phase.

weird so sorry you feel so horrible. I'm on second time around like you. 1st time I had a month off work weeks 8-12 and somehow managed to go back after that. I was on Phenergan and that suppressed the vomiting. I was a social worker so was pathologically afraid of vomiting in someone's house or in a child protection conference BUT it never happened. I think it was sheer adrenaline that got me through. I kept nappy bags in the car to be sick into as soon as I'd left someone's house. That did happen a few times, but like I said never in plain view. This time however, like you the HG has been worse. There was no possible way I could have contemplated work. I was in hospital at 5 weeks and after that basically didn't get out of bed until about 14 weeks. Wasn't working this time around as am full time Mum to DD1. Can't offer many pearls of wisdom about work and your rights etc but I would urge you not to try to do too much, definitely try to get some ondansetron (and prunes!!) and above all look after yourself as much as you can. HG is horrible enough to deal with on its own.

You are not alone! Good luck!

Hi Beaver. :)

Thank you everyone for the information...I'm still not vomiting (fingers crossed) but am eating less and less so that may be why! Just now it seems that instant mashed potatoes are the only thing worth having a bite or two of. :(

Weird I hope everything works out with your job! I left mine last May (it was a school, so end of the year) and am so glad I did, there's no way I'd be up to it now! I'm managing a cinema part time now, but it's just a few hours at night and I basically sit there. (The teenage boys who work there are very worried about me and bring me water and look concerned, bless 'em! :) )

Junebug salt and vinegar crisps and Coke are some of my favorite things under normal circumstances, will have to give them a try.

I'm going to call tomorrow and make an appointment with the doctor (haven't gone in at all yet) so I'll let you know what he/she says.

Thanks again and to all those feeling terrible. :(

EVeryone, sorry for my absence, my pc has gone wrong yet again, am sending this from the library. I so agree that sips of flat coke, sucking ice cubes and ice lollies are helpful for taking in a bit of liquid. Thinking of you all and am hoping you all are managing.
Hugs
Lucinda
xx

Morning everyone! How are you all today?

I'm off to the midwife this morning, vaccinations this afternoon. Was called in to the drs yesterday-apparently I may have a urine infection but they are retesting to make sure before giving me antibiotics. Oh the glamour of pregnancy, HG or otherwise! 36+4 today and oh how I'm longing for Lucinda's pink castle now!

Grim today. Been sick three times already just need to rest but have nobody to look after the children so am racing around after two toddlers instead. Feeling excessively sorry for myself. 16+5 today and longing to feel better. Just taken a cyclizine and metoclopramide for first time in a week which feels a bit like a step backwards but was desperate. Whether they'll stay down is another matter!

Wash sorry to hear today isn't a good day. Hopefully the medication will help. Have lots of sympathy with the toddler "issue"- had to point out that with a 2 year old running around I couldn't really get the rest the midwife was telling me I need, lol!

Back from midwife appt now. She thinks baby may be breech and is definitely back to back. Got a consultant appt next Monday morning so should have a scan then to hopefully find out more.

How is everyone else? Thinking of you all.

Wash, sorry you feel so awful. The meds aren't a step back if they help. HG and toddlers is above and beyond. Take care. Barmee my bump was breech until 37 weeks when she got her act together and turned around. I have my last monitoring session at hospital today, would love to go into labour naturally but think Monday's induction is looking more likely. Either way don't have the energy to give birth today am knackered!! Love to all. xxx

Thanks goldie and barmee you have both done so well and are so close now! Hope all goes well re scans and inductions. Any tips on how to keep cheerful over the (loooong!) months ahead? Im failing to a bit!

Don't stint on the drugs washngo! In my experience they are much better at preventing vomiting than they are at stopping it so it is always a good idea to take them pre-emptively. Also they do have a cumulative effect I think as they build up over time so better to take one or two doses a day every day than try and have some days off and then end up taking several. I hope you feel better soon and have a chance for some rest. Do you have ketosticks to keep an eye and just make sure you are not dehydrated? This is really important if you're vomiting several times a day.

I am doing OK. Still throwing up at 33+4 and not eating brilliantly, but not too bad I think. The sickness has been getting gradually worse again for weeks but only gradually, so I'm hopeful that even if it does end up really terrible again it won't be until the very end. Have others experienced this gradual ramping up again over the final months?

I was worried that I haven't really been putting on weight the last month or so - seem to have been at 10 and a half stone for weeks according to our bathroom scales. But they are scanning the baby every few weeks and apparently he has put on a kilo in the last month. Not quite sure how that works - I guess he is gaining at my expense! - but I'm glad what I am managing to eat is obviously being directed to him pretty efficiently.

Really crippled with the SPD now, have been on crutches for a month. Had a depressing session with a physio last week when she said she thought it was bad enough now that it may interfere with delivery and that recovery post-birth may take a while. But trying to stay positive nevertheless. Surely it's got to get at least a bit better as soon as the baby is out? And I'll stop feeling sick immediately, at least.

Got another couple of weeks after this at work (though I don't have to go in every day). I think it's a bit crazy to be working in this state but every time I am at home for a couple of days my mood drops right through the floor, so I think it's worth it for the psychological benefits for now. Bit worried about how I'll cope with maternity leave, though, especially if there are several weeks before the baby arrives. I can't get out to do anything while DP is at work as can't walk/drive.

Hey ho. Am surviving anyway and it is just a matter of weeks now. Secretly hoping for nice early labour at the first safe point, but no doubt I am hoping in vain!

Hey all it's been a few weeks I think, was too ill to move not been doing well at all ended up a bit of a mess and admitted to hospital last week and have been put on a course of steroids to try and stabilise me a bit and buy me a week or 2 where I can eat some food and drink il prob need to go back in as only 14 weeks, really thought I'd be over the worst of it by now but no sign of lettin up or improving. Hoping to manage to get to 16 weeks and hoping then il be at least a bit closer to that possibility! Haven't caught up on the last added pages yet but I hope thy everyone is doing well? Or at least much better than me!

Thanks to the support of you lot I managed to have "the chat" with my boss on Monday and she was very lovely about everything. I've now been signed off for a week although I felt that the Dr was a bit begrudging to do it, even though the sickness has started to get worse again and the average amount of food I retain each day is equal to about 1 piece of toast with everything else being brought back up. Weight still steadily dropping. She gave me a repeat of cyclizine but nothing else, tbh I felt so poorly I couldn't press for anything else, will just take 1 day at a time.

Also have now had my booking appt with a truly lovely mw who has had hg herself so that was a big bonus. Can't believe how long the appt took, I'm sure the size/quantity of the forms has doubled since DD was born 3 years ago. She tried but failed to get any blood out of my tricky veins so that'll have to wait.

Has anyone had flu jab? Mw wants me to have it but on account of the hg said it might need to wait a few weeks until I'm less sick. She also wants me to have an early glucose test because I have pcos but the chances of me keeping all that lucozade down are non existent, does anyone have any experience of this? She hasn't booked me in for it, again because of the hg, but wants me to have it ASAP. Strange thing is I never had it in last preg and thought you only need it if you were obese which I'm not but mw was surprised I hadn't had it before because of the pcos. Ah well.

Hope the rest of you are bearing up. Those in the last few weeks who have suffered throughout have my total respect and admiration. I'm praying for a 16 week reprieve which was what I had with DD.

Back, that * pc is up again.
Wdobbs You poor, poor thing, I am so sorry to hear that nothing has worked so far and about hospital admission. You should have moaned more on here,but I suppose it was too sickening to look at a screen. I hope the steroids work. How many admissions have you had? I think they were going to give Kali steroids if she has a third admission, if I remember. I suppose it would be silly to ask, 'How do you feel now?' Like something unmentionable, I am sure.
Washngo Are you a bit better today? I do so hope that you start getting some of those good days soon. You and Barmee and those with toddlers deserve medals for somehow keeping going. Toddlers are exhausting if you feel OK. Barmee How is getting upstairs going? So the cat has sole occupancy of downstairs lol?
Goldie I hope all went OK? Baby Goldie appeared yet?
Kali I am keeping fingers crossed that you make a startling recovery once baby is out. It must be awful on crutches. Very dramatic, of course.
Thinking of Tay Yank and Everyone.
Lucinda
xx

Thanks lucinda, I'm actually feeling much better the steroids have helped but they are only a temp masking of symptons & the dose is tapered from the first one so when I finish the course on sat I don't know how long until I go back down, it's been amazing to have eaten food and drank fluids! I have had 3 admissions but I've had a lot of home IV fluids so probably would have had 5/6 admissions if not for that. Still getting accupuncture as it really helped a lot - now that I'm feeling a little better I'm frustrated / gutted that I dont feel like this naturally and il probably end up back where I was within 2 wks. I have a consultant hospital appointment at end of October to monitor me see how i am & if I need to come back in. I need a miracle at this point.

Actually I had three admissions - they were going to do the steroids if I went back in a fourth time but wanted to wait a bit longer as I was still really early (about 9 weeks). I think they prefer you to be after 12 weeks for steroids. Interesting wdobbs that you are finding they helped. I actually quite wanted them to try them because even after that third admission I was so ill and it was weeks and weeks before I was able to get out of bed.

Kalidas yes I think your right they don't really use them here unless you are still very sick past what you should be - I was 14 weeks Friday past sonits a good time to use then on this very stubborn case of HG! I wasn't this sick @ this stage in my 2 previous pregnancies so I've not a clue when / if/ by how il improve but hoping I will be maybe like I am now on the steroid by myself @ 20wks! They have pretty much eradicated the vomiting & most of the nausea - as long as I don't move around or have my kids for 2 long around me! I wish I could take them longer rather than regress!

Wdobbs So glad steroids have helped. Acupuncture - I remember you were investigating it, it really helped me, but it seems to vary so much. Is the affect only temporary with you? I hate to think how often you'd have been hospitalised without the home IV. I know they offer that on private insurance in the US, never heard of it offered in the UK, interesting.
Kali Three admissions in less than nine weeks, that's dismal. I hope they are wrong about the spd and this baby pips out easily and is perfectly behaved - you deserve a bit of luck.
Lucinda
xx

Weird You poor thing, just seen your post, it is so difficult to argue your corner when you feel like crawling into a hole. Do let them know over the phone that the meds aren't working properly if it doesn't get better very soon. I take it you've got Kesosticks to check on urine? Are ice lollies, flat coke etc no use at all? I'm glad you've got that sick note but don't suffer in silence if the meds let you down. If necessary, take someone with you as an advocate. Sorry to sound bossy!
Lucinda
xx

Hello all, sorry to hear so many people are having a hard time. Lots of sympathy! I was finding things very hard until last week (was checking on this thread and felt so rough I couldn't even make the effort to post!). But in the last week I've had periods of time where I've actually not felt too bad - previously even with the buccastem i never actually felt not sick, even for a moment. It has been very helpful as it seems to have coincided with the buccastem not having much effect any more as you predicted, MOH!). Have been coping ok though - tending to be sick in the evenings, back to not sleeping very well with the nausea, but the daytimes have had ups as well as downs which makes me hopeful! Certainly it's better than last time at this stage, soo glad I got some help this time - which I probwouldn't have done without this thread :)

Hi all am sorry you are all suffering so much. I have been following this thread since falling preg with dc4. I am convinced I had hg in my first preg but I was young (at uni) and I had no idea that being that Ill wasn't normal and I was lucky it passed after 16 weeks and was never so bad with dc2 and 3.

Basically I am looking for some advice here. I was hospitalised at 20 weeks when after the morning (ha ha) sickness got better I became really anxious which led to throwing up every 20 mins. Am certain it was anxiety based but hospital put hg on my notes and in letter to gp on discharge.

They sent me home with cyclizine which I have been taking since (am now 26 weeks). I only take 1 in the morning now and have been well ever since.

I have tried twice this week to go without any and both times I began to feel illl in the evening but still ate ok during the day. I didn't take any yesterday felt unwell at bedtime and still felt off when I woke up and took one this morning.

My worry is that when I run out in the next 2 weeks what if I get illl again? I don't know if it is actually me being sick or just my anxiety causing me to feel sick again when I know I haven't taken it? As I am pretty well at the moment I can't see the gp giving me a repeat prescription. I am nervous of the effect this will have I have 3 dcs to take care of and I don't want to end up sick again.

I'm sorry for the essay and hope you don't mind me dropping in but I thought you may have some advice.

Really hope everyone is feeling ok you ladies are amazing dealing with what you have x

Apple Welcome, glad you have been following the thread, I often wonder if many people do without feeling like posting or up to it. Sorry about anxiety - of course, women's bodies are so complex that there is a strong connection between stress and hormonal balance and of course, that all ties in with Hyperemesis symptoms. As they actually wrote 'hg' on your notes, surely your gp isn't going to refuse a repeat prescription of meds, particularly as you have been hospitalised (bad luck about it happening so late on, horrible). I am sure if you emphasize how you cannot cope with looking after the kids and that level of sickness, they will write a repeat prescription. For sure cyclezine is one of the cheaper ones, which might make them more likely to be happy to prescribe it again!I think it is even available over the counter, but although it is 100% safe during pregnancy if they see you are pregnant then they probably won't sell it to you, ridiculous. Let us know how you get on, if there's a problem MOH's great website is full of information to use to persuade dr's about meds.
Why I am so happy you're feeling a bit better, that's great.
Back soon.
Lucinda
xx