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.

I also couldn't stand the smell of my DH... a bit better this time around, though I still can't get too close! Awful, but it does pass. I know someone who found the smell of her dh so repulsive that he had to live and sleep downstairs, and they could only talk on the phone. The whole smell thing is just so odd.

Sorry to hear so many of you going through this horror. I was on all the drugs together by eight weeks and for me even the ondansetron at max dose wasn't a magic bullet though it did help a bit. What kept me out of hospital after my third admission was 'Ensure 2 cal' food replacement drinks. Without them I was just lapsing immediately back into ketosis from starvation because I had been unable to eat for so long. I threw the ensure up too but I guess at least a bit of it got in and brought some calories/protein etc with it. They are a bit revolting but I really recommend them for anyone who keeps being readmitted. I was about 12 hours away from a fourth admission and they did help.

I had an absolute nightmare with the constipation for weeks, both in and out of hospital, I am actually quite traumatised by remembering it! Things that are worth trying if/when you are desperate: glycerol suppositories (didn't work for me but do for almost everyone and are v. cheap), Movicol (I had some success with the max "impaction" dose but keeping that much Movicol down is tough when you are vomiting and it is pretty revolting on the return) and finally Fleet enemas (you can buy them online). The enemas were the only thing that actually worked for me. Giving yourself an enema when you are already that ill is v. unpleasant but to be honest less unpleasant than having it done to you behind a flimsy curtain on a busy ward which is what happened in hospital in the end. All these things - suppositories, movicol and enemas - will say not recommended in pregnancy, but this is what they will give you if you are in hospital so in the end I just did them to myself at home.

I am 29 weeks now and after a few weeks taking nothing I have had to go back on the cyclizine and ranitidine because the nausea is getting worse again, especially in the evening. I am also about to be given crutches because the SPD is so bad that I am losing the ability to walk. Totally fed up of this nightmare pregnancy! Consultant said last week that they'd discuss induction at 37 weeks, basically just out of pity I think!

Kali that's what my consultant offered, I'm 37 weeks now and very tempted! But, in the past my births have been lovely- a total contrast to the pregnancies. Therefore I'm going to keep going in the hope I get a lovely positive home birth, only a few more weeks!

Thanks littlegold. Yes, I'm not sure how I feel about induction because I know, especially with a first birth, it does increase the chances of interventions/c-section etc. And once I've made it to 37 weeks maybe I might as well stick it out for a bit longer. But I was grateful for the suggestion as I felt he was taking my misery seriously at least!

Took an anti sickness tablet last night, slept well and only now the sickness is building up, instead of from 8am. Off to take another tablet, fingers crossed it works!

But will it mean my brains are any less full of cotton wool??

hello all! I have been very quiet I know, its all work work work, how boring! Done a quick catch up on kali brilliant that there is such a lack of puking! I am sure I have missed all the birth announcements.

just a comment on the back/hips/issues, my back and hips were SO painful when pregnant, it got to a point when I could barely get up and down out a chair but then about 7 weeks from the end it stopped, I think baby position changed and released something! DO DO your pelvic floors when baby is here and keep doing them after. I felt so weak from 3 months after birth until recently (I think the strength now is due to moving house and now having 2 flights of stairs in the new place to run up and down!) Funnily enough, after I gave birth and they do all those uterus-contracting checking things, they commented that I must of been really sporty as my stomach muscles were really strong and had pinged back quick - I can tell you I am the UNFITTEST person ever, slim, but totally unfit. All that puking paid off but if I had done some pelvic floors instead of being smug it was all OK then I wouldn't have been such a weakling for so long after birth.

right, best check on child, she is asleep in the garden, 13 months now! cheeky little monkey, love her so much

Hi guys, I was wondering if any of you could give me some advice?

I'm currently 6+5 with dc4. I was quite sick in previous pregnancies - never diagnosed with hg but in hindsight I'm wondering if I should have been, or whether it was 'just' bad but normal pregnancy sickness iyswim. I varied from only being sick a few times a day, but not managing to eat very much at all as I felt so sick literally all the time (lost quite a bit of weight) in my best pg, to being sick all the time and not keeping anything down for a couple of days at a time in my worst. I did talkto a gp but was fairly dismissive, and as i certainly wasn't as bad as a friend of mine who did have hg i felt i just had to carry on.
It did seem to get really bad for a few days and then improve slightly (repeatedly), so i never thought it was hg. But there were periods where I really struggled to cope, even just spending whole weekends in bed &throwing up, never mind actually carry on with all the normal things I need to do!
Was it hg? And if so, at what point should I try to get help in this pg? (at the moment I've been getting steadily more nauseous, only had dry retching so far tho. But getting a bit nervous of what lies ahead as I think it was wk 7 or 8 where things got bad before).
Thanks for reading this far! And my sympathies to everyone feeling really dreadful at the moment!

Sorry to hear you feel so grim. I don't really know what the exact definition is but certainly feel that Hg can vary in severity. At my worst I was sick 20 each day and could not even lift my head up. This pregnancy (8 weeks with dc4) I went to doc and she put me straight on medication - definitely made a difference and things are so much better than before. Looking after 3 children with sickness is torture so I would definitely go the gp and ask for medication. Poor you, so horrible.

hi everyone,
I've hesitated about posting on here for ages as it just brings back so many bad memories and anxiety for me.

A bit of history first: have DS who's 3 and I had HG during 1st pregnancy but managed not to get hospitalised. Took me 2 years to agree to try for another knowing that HG was a real risk.I got my bfp in May this year and wen to gp to discuss HG and drugs. She was dismissive and told me to coe back when vomitting. At 6weeks i started being sick (just like for DS) and within 24 hours I was so dehydrated that I ended up in A&E on a drip and stayed in hospital for 3 days. Once back at home though the drugs weren't working so over the next 2 weeks i was admitted another 2 times each time they changed drugs but to no success. Whilst on a drip the sickness stopped but the minute i was back home i'd start throwing up again.
Eventually when even the combination of ondansetron and metoclopramide weren't helping and I was a lifeless pesron just sitting up in bed unable to listen to music/have a conversation, turn head or lie down without throwing up I made the horribly painful decision to terminate the pregnancy :( I was 8+5 when the termination happened.

I don't really know the purpose of this post, just maybe to see if there are stories of aggressive pre emptive medical treatment with ondansetron for example and success at preventing hospitalisation :(
I'm thinking of trying to see this consultant in London who supposedly knows HG really well.....but on the other hand i don't know if i can put myself/my family through all this hell again:(

Sorry for waffling and hugs to everyone currently going through this

mindblank sorry you feel so rubbish. You are very brave to do it all again!! I don't think you need to diagnosed with HG in order to have medication. I found it impossible to look after 1 DD nevermind 3 kids this pregnancy and I had a lot of time off work the first time. From what I have read - diagnosis of HG is usually

-severe nausea and or vomiting leading to ...
-dehydration

• weightloss (5-10% of bodyweight depending on source)
• severe interference with daily life

Think you should be entitled to help regardless of diagnosis though. Don't let them give you no for an answer. If you could find some meds that worked for you it may make your pregnancy that bit more bearable.

nemo08 I am so sorry that you had such a terrible experience with your last pregnancy. You are not alone by any means and I doubt there is a woman on this thread who won't be able to empathise and understand your decision and how hard that must have been to make. I just wonder if you have seen this website

beyondmorningsickness.com

your story is resonant of her own story and many contained in her book. However it does also have lots of other stories by women for whom medications have not been successful and they have been able to survive pregnancies using other extreme but necessary measures such as tube feeding and home nursing. Its important to say though that I think most of the stories take place in the US. I'm not an expert by any means - although others on here are - but I think there is some evidence that pre-emptive treatment makes a difference. Good luck!!

nemo08 - I'm so sorry to hear about your past experience. What a difficult and miserable time that must have been for you.

Regarding pre-emptive medication - I did not have hg in my previous pregnancies to the extent that you did, but i was fairly ill both times. This time round i took a combination of meds from the minute i got a bfp and it has made a vast difference. I have still felt pretty ill and miserable, and have had a good old moan to anyone who'll listen, but the key thing is i am functioning. And for that i should be far more grateful than i have been. The pre-emptive meds have definitely helped me. To the extent where i haven't really lost any weight (lost over a stone in both previous pregs).

That's just been my personal experience, and i know anecdotes aren't always that helpful, but i do think it's worth looking into pre emptive meds. Also, I have heard of people who've prepped their bodies beforehand using alternative therapies, and also taking certain vitamins and only eating certain types of food before ttc. That might be something else to look into. I'd def recommend seeing a doctor who is sympathetic and is an expert. Then you'll feel well equipped to make a decision that is best for you - whatever that may be. You poor thing, you've been through so much, I hope people around you have been supportive.

thanks all, washngo what medications did you take? I'm keen on hearing all anecdotes!
And thanks for the link to beyondmorningsickness Tay1981, very interesting and will have a proper look at it

I tried cyclizine yesterday afternoon.
It worked in that I didn't feel sick BUT it knocked me out for hours. Like totally stoned. V odd - has anyone else had this happen?

I am now underweight so maybe I should try a half dose? Any ideas? Tx

I have been taking Cyclizine and have been explaining to people that I feel like I am on some illegal substance - I feel so so spaced out/sick and extremely tired. But would definitely prefer that to feeling so dreadful though. Think that side effect is normal. You could try half a dose, worth it.

Nemo8, I am so sorry to hear of your struggles. I am normally and bouncy, chatty person who rarely feels down and I have had dreadfully low moments in pregnancy. The sickness is just so awful and I don't think anyone here would be shocked by your experience. Having one child is such a blessing and I think it is totally normal that you feel you can't face it again.

mindblank as take3 says, there's no really good definition of HG and it's on a spectrum. My opinion is that the drugs are so safe that there's no reason not to take them if the sickness/nausea is really interfering with your ability to function. CAlling it HG or not is a bit of a red herring, what counts is what you can bear and that you need to be able to carry on with your life while you're pregnant. As you've gathered GPs can be really useless. The advice we usually give is to try different GPs till you find a good one, or ask for referral to a consultant. Make it clear to the GP that it's not just morning sickness and that you're not prepared to put up with it. You have to be really assertive with them, it's best to take someone with you to the consultation. Tell them that if they're not prepared to prescribe you anything, then you want to be referred to a hospital consultant. For details of drugs and treatment protocols, see SOGC guidlelines and Motherisk guidelines on sites.google.com/site/pregnancysicknesssos/documents

nemo08 sympathies and yes there is evidence that pre-emptive treatment works. Have a look at sites.google.com/site/pregnancysicknesssos/trying-again there's a link to a paper showing that women with HG did better second time around when they had pre-emptive treatment and there's an action plan that you can download which is a guide to what to ask for before you get pregnant. I know of women who have had much better subsequent pregnancies with pre-emptive meds. They have also taken high doses of vitamin B6 prior to becoming pregnant. I've been told that B6 3 x 10 mg per day (though you can safely go up to 75 mg per day if you want) combined with either cyclizine (3 x 50 mg) or promethazine (3 x 25mg) per day is an effective pre-emptive prescription, or take it from the moment you know you're pregnant, which is either a BFP or gagging when you open the fridge, whichever comes first. Cyclizine brand name is valoid and promethazine comes as either phenergan or avomine. If need be, Valoid and avomine (and I think phenergan) are available over the counter, though you have to have a cover story that doesn't involve being pregnant to get them. Travel sickness or migraine usually work. I'd start on that, then progress rapidly up to all the other available antiemetics including ondansetron as need be. When I say rapidly, I mean within a week. If a drug is going to work, it's going to work in a couple of days. The paper that's linked to in the link mentions ondansetron as well. If you email me on [email protected] I can send you the full text article, I can only put the abstract on the website for copyright reasons.

I've been taking a combination of cyclizine and metoclopramide. The doc advised me to take only one then try another but I found they worked much better in combination. I was taking both 3 times a day, but am trying to cut it down to twice a day now am nearly 13 weeks.

Hi, not been on for a while, lots of new people. Sorry to hear you are all suffering. It's official I am now diabetic, feeling fine though. Have to test blood sugar 4x a day and modify diet and see how that goes. Had scan today baby is on the big side of normal, but apparently not enormous- hope they are right! Think I may not get to 40 weeks, they may do someting at 38 or 39.
Goes to show that all the sickness from week 4-20 have had absolutely no effect on baby! She's just fine. Hope you are all managing to get by, I am very tired, enormous, uncomfortable, short of breath have heartburn and swelling but still it is absolutely nothing compared to HG. Chins up and keep going, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Do whatever it takes to get you there. Love to all .xx

By the way milktray and take3, cyclizine did that to me too for a good while, but doesn't seem to knock me out as much any more. Maybe you get used to the side effects after a while?

Cyclizine used to do me in too, I think that you definitely get used to the side effects. X

Hello, Everyone, back from Liverpool, I've got tons of catching up to do! MOH has been doing a brilliant job, wonderful advice.
A belated welcome to new people from me.
Milktraylady and Take3 Everyone who's been on Cyclazine seems to say that those fuzzy headed side effects do seem to decrease a lot.
Goldie Sorry to hear about diabetes, but I am so glad you feel OK. Do keep in touch, you are doing brilliantly to encourage people after what you have been through and the same for Kali.
Nemo So sorry you had to make that dreadful decision. So many say that pre-emtpive medication makes all the difference in the world, and I think there's some neurogical thing about vomiting and the brain which makes it easier to treat by never letting it properly get a hold. I do hope you get pre-emptive treatment if you want to try again, but I understand your terror, I stopped at one but regret it.
Why Welcome, I've got some note for you scribbled in my awful handwriting and I can't decipher it .
Ovltine Lovely to hear from you.
Wdobbs How are you? The saliva problem is awful, and some people have to carry spit bowls about even.
Littlegold I had a dreadful induction experience which led to one thing after another and for that reason, I'm prejudiced against it, but of course, it depends on how badly you are suffering and lots of people aren't unlucky. Difficult decision.
Calamity You are very quiet - I hope OK? Lol about those IT skills, it at least made you smile.
Tay I hope OK.
My apologies to anyone I've rudely overlooked. What a long post.
Lucinda
xx

Oh, and Washngo Several people have said that that combination of cyclazine and metroclopramide is much more effective than either individually.

Having a bad time living in this limbo want my life back, want to be able to eat, want control of my house back, want to be able to walk safely from room to room without vomiting. Desperate to feel better I think I'm going to have to start overdosing on b6 see if that helps!

nemo in agreement with the b6 it is scientifically proven to ease nausea in pregnancy. Also accupuncture is scientifically proven to be effective for nausea & vomiting in pregnancy. If you can afford / stand the needles. I had a qualified friend who gave it to me 1st preg and I noticed improvements each session, I had it less the second time but I attribute it to my improvements my sickness went @ 15 & 18 wks.
I also have a friend who went and had it weekly and also believes it made her sickness go early. I think you would need it really have it weekly but if you have a look there is research there for it. Maybe if you throw everything at it, it will make it a more bearable time.

WDobbs Hugs, poor poor you, it will get better. It's dreadful and seems never ending while it is at its worst.
I so agree about Acupunture, I staggered to an Acupuncturist a day or so after GP refused meds and he treated me as an emergency and the improvement began within the day. I had several treatments, but it was very expensive, and while I have recommended it before now it doesn't seem to help everyone so much, though it does seem to help everyone a bit at least.
Lucinda
xx

thank you so much for all the info and i hope you all feel ok very soon. I think i read that paper about the pre-emptive medicines and I actually had a print out with me when i initially went to see my gp when i found out i was pregnant, but she dismissed it , said she'd get back to me and that she'd only give me somehitng once i was sick :( IN hindsight i should have refused to leave her office without any prescription.
Cyclizine completely zonked me out when i took it in hospital and it made me a nervous wreck wheni came out of the sleepiness it cuased.
I think the only combo that half worked for me (but it was too late by then) was ondansetron 8mg and metoclopramide.
And I agree that it must be some sort of hyper activitity in the brain that is involved as it is just like travel sickness so my personal theory is that it's more brain-related than stomach. And I also totally agree that i's key not to let it get hold and get really bad in the first place.

I'm back after a lovely relaxing weekend away with friends & the sea air really did me some good. Feeling very positive the sickness will pass before I give birth in 22 ish weeks! Dr did make me laugh (when getting my fitness to fly note for travelling to Oz on Friday). I asked when the sickness was likely to pass. He said "about 20 weeks". I said "Oh good so only another couple of weeks". And he smiled & said "No. In about 20 weeks!" So hoping he was joking as I'm feeling better every day. Could still be sick in the evenings but not all consuming nausea. Finally able to forget about it for a few hours of the day (around lunchtime) rather than every minute of everyday.

Question to those on/been on Cyclizine. Does it give you heartburn? I've always struggled with heartburn but hadn't noticed it getting worse till I started taking the Cyclizine. Now I get it in my throat & pipe every afternoon through till bed. Have to have Gaviscon every couple of hours. Just wondered if anyone else had it after taking the tablet? I know heartburn is one of the joys of pregnancy in general but not until I take a tablet.