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.

[kalidasa]

Still not thrown up! This is very good news but actually I am feeling a bit low. Just wish I was a bit nearer the end of this interminable pregnancy! Just want it to be over.

Lovely day though and I am unpacking slowly while watching the marathon.

[goldie32]

Hi all. Kali I hope your sick free mornings have continued. Barmee glad to hear it wasn't scarlett fever. I'm ok but a bit weepy, 29 weeks tomorrow, and not in work as it's summer hols but just felt overwhelmingly tired and pathetic- maybe a hormonal surge. Also baby is on some kind of wiggle marathon, so not sleeping too well. But I really have had worse days so am not really complaining. Feel better just for telling someone how I feel! Thanks for listening. Love to all. x

[AmyInWonderland]

Hello all. I'm still at home, haven't been at work for two weeks now and feeling rubbish. Only 8 weeks 3 days so feels like I've got ages to go until there's even any chance of feeling better. Sick twice today already. Spoken to doctor and she thinks a combination of meds is worth trying - is that quite normal to combine like that? Will be Metoclopramide and Phenargan. Any advice very gratefully received. Hope everyone is doing ok x

[Tay1981]

amy think its very common to combine meds - think they work in different ways so can complement each other.

kali Yay for not being sick. Maybe if the upward trend continues being pregnant won't seem so bad (probs wishful thinking!!) Do you have any friends with a newborn?? If you could hold one / coo over one maybe it would help visualise how worth it it will all be when you have your beautiful little one.

washngo hope youre getting over your setback you might be feeling better sooner than you think. It took me until at least 16 weeks with dd1 to feel anything like normal but today I had a great day at only 11 weeks and 3 days (she says with trepidation)

Just had a bit of a panic though because although I have lost a stone since I bought it (months ago)the dress I was planning on wearing to a friends' wedding next week seems a bit tight on the chest and waist. How can this be??? V frustrating. I know i'm not going to get away with being pregnant and not ever having a bump but this does seem a little unfair. Not as if I've been eating cakes!!! I was v excited to be even thinking about the possibility of going to a wedding now I am worried about bursting out of my dress. Anyway no time of energy to get another so i'll have to hide under my pashmina until everyone else is too smashed to notice

[kalidasa]

Amy combinations of drugs are standard. I was on cyclizine, metoclopramide, ranitidine and ondansetron, all at max dose, all at once. Pretty much everyone seems to end up on some sort of combination.

Thanks for the support Tay. No, no newborns for me to cuddle, but you're right, it would probably be a good idea! I made it to the library for the first time since the end of March today and I think getting back into the swing of work and so on will help the time pass too. I'm actually quite looking forward to the new term, though we don't start till the beginning of October.

[AmyInWonderland]

Thanks very much Tay and Kali, that is reassuring. Taken first dose of Meta but still vomiting, hopefully when I take Phenargan tonight things will improve. Yes agree cuddling a newborn would be a nice reminder of why we are doing this! I keep getting photos of my lovely baby niece popping up on screensaver and it does make me smile despite feeling so rough. Hope you keep improving Kali. Tay if the wedding's this weekend you should be ok if it's just a little tight, good idea about pashmina x

[Littleplasticpeople]

Hello all
Great news on lack of morning vomiting Kali

I am still being sick every few days, almost always the day after a really busy day. My iron levels are really low, the MW tried to be reassuring by telling me that they should creep back up with a good iron rich diet. I just felt like sobbing and saying 'don't you realise I've pretty much lived off cheese & eggs for 7 months'. I need to get the levels up though or they won't be very happy with me home birthing. I have iron tablets but they make me sick

I wonder where cosmogirl is, she mut be due about now.

Love to all x

[LucindaE]

Plastic Oh no, 'good iron rich diet' some hopes! I know what you mean about iron tablets, they made ots of other people on here puke horribly and they did that to me too. At least you are nearing the end of the marathon.
Tay Congratulations on the good day so early! One (comparitively) good day, as you know better than me, is the beginning of the turn around, it was even with people who have been really ill; I think it was with Kali.
Amy Good luck with the Phen. What a brilliant idea about the screen saving baby and cuddling a new born (if one can find one).
Goldie Hugs, sorry you feel low. At least you are on the home stretch now.
Kali Wonderful about no puking - dare I say 'at last' yet?

Lucinda
xx

[LucindaE]

And Barmee I hope you are doing OK? Everyone.
Lucinda
xx

[Tay1981]

amy I'm on phenergan too - I know they tell you to take at night - I'm no medic but I think they do that because of the drowsy effect. Everyone's different but I have found it a waste of time taking them at night because by the time I've woken up the effects have worn off. I prefer to take mine during the day then I wake up and puke feel better enough to get some breakfast in then take my first tablet of 3. Just an idea. Of course I took at night too during the first few weeks when I was trying to get the vomming under control.

plastic there is this great stuff from Boots called Spatone that I took during my last pregnancy - its iron rich water from a natural source and is much gentler and more easily absorbed than tablets. It tastes pretty gross by itself but i found it tolerable mixed with a bit of orange juice and taken like a shot. I credit it with keeping off iron tablets til the last few weeks of my pregnancy. Might be worth a shot?

[Littleplasticpeople]

tay I already have some Spatone, I used it in my last pg too and I think it worked. However, last week my consultant told me it is useless and doesn't increase iron levels anymore than water I agree with you though and am still taking it everyday!

[MOH100]

meant to reply to lifeswhatyoubakeit from end of last thread about your GP complaint letter. I'd love to see it. I've thought of having a template complaint letter on the website, but I think it's a bit confrontational, I think it's better to have these things floating around on an informal network like this to be passed on when needed. If you want to post it, I'll cut and paste it and keep it on file for others.

[kalidasa]

Well I haven't thrown up since Thursday morning, so I think perhaps it has stopped! I'm really surprised it has stopped so abruptly after being every day without exception for so long. I am still feeling pretty queasy but am eating OK and suddenly look very pregnant, I feel really big. For the record I am about 24 or 25 weeks now (have lost track slightly).

Obviously this is really good news. The odd thing is that in the last few days I have been really struggling with my mood, feeling v. v. low about the pregnancy and everything. Has anyone else experienced this mood crash after the vomiting finally ends? Is it some sort of reaction? DP finds it upsetting and hard to understand and is worried that I don't want the baby. I have made an appointment with the hospital counseling service (that saw me in hospital ages ago) but it's not until the beginning of September.

Any advice or relevant experience? I am very tearful and despondent.

[MOH100]

kali great news about the vomiting but commiserations on the low mood. I think it's understandable at the end of a physically difficult time where you haven't had time to deal with all the emotions you've had, that when the fighting the physical symptoms ends, the emotions are still sitting there not having been dealt with. Now your brain has time to register it because it's not engaged in the daily struggle with the vomiting and you have months worth of trauma to try to put in it's place - as well as being pregnant and hormonal. (I couldn't watch the news when I was pregnant or I'd end up blubbing). Is there anyone you can talk to in the meantime while you wait for your appointment, your sisters maybe? Is there someone else who can explain to your husband that it's not that you don't want the baby? I suppose he's been through a trauma too, but he's one step removed and is casting around for reasons to explain your reaction because you don't even understand it yourself. Are you both going to counselling, maybe he needs to talk too. There is a closed group for partners on the PSS facebook group that might help. I don't have any direct experience but I'm sure this is a period of adjustment rather than the shape of things to come and your counselling will help you through.

[LucindaE]

Kali Just dashing on - pc playing up, wouldn't you know it - to say before it crashes, hugs about your mood, I think that one stakes so much on no more puking that when it happens - much later in your case than in most - it's somehow a let down! Plus, as MOH says, that being ill has taken its toll and you are bound to feel a bit low.
MOH Great advice, as ever, waves madly.
I hope everyone is coping.
Lucinda
xx

[Tay1981]

kali sorry you feel so rubbish. Do you have an inkling whether it might be hormonal? Could be that some change in hormones has occurred that has led the vomiting to stop and you to feel so low. Hopefully that is the case and you'll be feeling lots better in a few days. In the meantime you should pamper yourself - nice long soak? retail therapy? lunch with a friend? (If you can go near a restaurant that is). Spot of baby shopping??

I'm feeling really crap myself today so come on for a moan. Had a great couple of days then woke up this morning with raging thrush and a sore throat. Also felt sicker than the previous days although still no where near as bad as in previous weeks. Stuck a bit for treating the thrush as I'm allergic to canesten and it says not to take the oral treatment in pregnancy. Never had this problem with DD1 and havent had a bout of thrush for years. Away from home as well as with my Mum so getting to the docs is gonna be difficult esp. with wedding this weekend :-( I feel like as soon as the sickness eases something else comes along to make things difficult. Am doomed to a miserable pregnancy I think. If anyone has any advice re. the thrush it would be much appreciated.

[AmyInWonderland]

Tay I thought I was getting thrush early on and read a couple of things - one to use an antibac soap on the affected area - either Coltar or Cidal - I also switched to Simple body wash as it doesn't had additives etc. No idea if it was those two things that worked or not but it went away for me - might be worth trying. Kali really sorry you're feeling bad - agree it sounds like the hormones which have changed your vomiting might also be responsible, but the theory about having an emotional reaction to feeling so bad which you're only feeling now your body feels well enough to let you sounds very sensible as well. I know it's hard but try to remember that you won't always feel like this and it will get better x

[AmyInWonderland]

Sorry - Coal Tar not coltar....x

[MOH100]

Tay I had three bouts of thrush early on and the doc didn't hesitate to give me the oral tablets for it. Everything says you can't use it in pregnancy, it doesn't mean it's actually dangerous. I found that using johnson's baby shampoo for washing down below helped with the general irritation - everything else stung, even simple soap - then I just kept using it even after the last bout of thrush cleared and i never got it again.

[LucindaE]

Kali I hope you feel a bit better today? Remember you have really been through it, probably one of the severest cases on this thread, it will take time to get your strength back, and it must affect your mood.
Tay sorry about thrush - lots of good advice from MOH and Amy about possible treatments, I used simple soap too and left my knickers off in hot weather, which given my puking and peeing tendencies was just as well...I tried yoghurt (natural), that was believed in at the time, I think not since, it did stop the itch though. It's a miserable thing, poor you. don't believe you are fated to a bad pregnancy, things will gradually look up.
Hugs to all. sorry to anyone rudely ignored. Somone mentioned Cosmo? We must investigate if baby has arrived...
Lucinda
xx

[goldie32]

Kali hope that you are a little less blue today. I know you are vomming less, but you mustn't over do it. Tiredness is a nightmare, makes me weepy and nauseous still. Take care. Tay Dr prescribed me meds for thrush in last pregnancy. Love to all. x

[PineapplePol]

Hi everyone. It's a while since I've posted on here but I've just come across the new thread and really enjoyed reading through it (if that doesn't sound weird given everyones horrible experiences). I suppose what I mean is that I could identify with so many of your experiences and that is what has made this thread so helpful for me when so very few people I come across have any experience of this condition at all. I too have experienced the miserable combination of peeing and puking so I'm sorry to say I found this very funny, which of course it isn't, but I was so relieved not to be the only one!.

Thankfully the daily puking is now down to about once or twice a week for me, but like others have reported, despite being nearly 20weeks and so much better than I was, I still can't rid myself of the medication and have to reach for the cyclizine by about 5pm or face a very unpleasant evening. I have wondered if it is all in the mind but every now and then, I manage without any at all. I began to feel better about 16weeks, but do seem to have dipped again this week (19weeks). The nausea is present again for a lot of the day, but thankfully without puking. I've definitely noticed the hot weather makes me feel worse. That and the gradual build up of tiredness from summer holiday activities and looking after DD who still wants to go out no matter what.

Kali - I'm so sorry to hear you are feeling very low. I went through a period of this and was concerned about depression which I have had in the past following bereavements. I was waking in the early hours of the morning and not getting back to sleep (in part due to nausea and vomiting, but not the whole story), and feeling very low in mood. Looking back now, I realise how tough the last few months have been, being a virtual prisoner in the house and practically bed bound for much of the time. That combined with poor diet must wreak havoc with our general metabolisms. I went and discussed it with my GP, and found this really helpful as I was as much acknowledging to myself how I felt as I was to the GP. He didn't want to prescribe anything unless I started to feel worse and has asked to see me regularly just to keep an eye on things (A supportive GP is so essential). He also suggested I talk to our local medical herbalist about St. Johns Wort and this has worked very well for me. I'm sleeping again, have much more energy and am daring to enjoy the pregnancy for the first time. I hope you are beginning to feel your mood lift a little as a the puking subsides and you can get proper restorative rest and sleep and nutritious food again.

[kalidasa]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all the supportive comments. Unfortunately I am still feeling really low, and sleeping poorly - I keep waking at 3am unable to get back to sleep. Not helped this week by the fact that my back, hips and pelvis just seem to have collapsed! The pain is really bad all the time and nothing seems to relieve it. I've got a lot bigger in the last week or so so I suppose that's why but I don't know how I'm going to endure this level of pain for another three months if it carries on. I'm worried in particular about my left hip because I have a history of arthritis in that joint and it's weak as a result. Anyway, I have a consultant appointment tomorrow morning so I'm going to tell them about the pain in my back and hips. My bump is painful too so really I don't know what's going on.

[BarmeeMarmee]

kali hugs, I felt the same a couple of weeks ago. I think it sometimes just catches up on us-it's a big thing we're dealing with! And we are ALL doing a fab job! Glad you've got the appt with the consultant tomorrow-sounds like it may be spd or pgp or whatever they're calling it today! I've got the same and it's bloody painful so I sympathise. There is things they can do to help though-support bands, exercises etc and I now have crutches, so please don't despair. It will all be ok I promise.

Tay sorry I can't advise as I haven't been there whilst pregnant but I will echo that when I used to get it when I was a lot younger cutting out all scented soap etc did help. Maybe go and see your gp?

Pineapple good to hear From you. Sorry you're still suffering so much.

Goldie, everyone else, thinking of you all. Sorry to those I've missed.

I'm surviving. 28 weeks tomorrow. Currently only allowed water as going for a glucose tolerance test in the morning-oh the joys, and my back and hips etc are really playing up now so have asked if I can start my mat leave earlier than I'd intended - just waiting to see if my HR will approve it now. Hoping to finish on 9 October now when I'll be 35+5.

[goldie32]

Good to hear from you Barmee thanks for the mention. I had a GTT last week, nothing exciting happened, it's like they are willing me to be diabetic as punishmemt for being overweight! Hope everyone else is ok, Kali hope appointment goes well. Love to all. x