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.

Waves Sending you hugs, if you can stand them. Those stomach cramps are awful, I think it's the muscles which get strained from the constant heaving. Does an old fashioned hot water bottle held against the stomach (or one of those cushion things yuo can get to heat in a microwave' help at all?) I'm not surprised you cried, at such dismal news, but they don't always get it right. I haven't known anyone at all on this thread not get quite a bit better during the second tri, so don't despair. They have all at least become able to retain fluids, eat a bit, though the unlucky few kept on puking till the end, it was more on the lines of twice a day rather than constantly. Really sorry about work being nasty to you - I've copied and pasted information from MOH's website about employment issues, I hope it might help.
Many women report that they have problems with their employers insinuating that they are exaggerating their illness and are just slacking off. Many are faced with the 'You're not sick you're pregnant' attitude and feel bullied into returning to work before they are ready.

The good news is that you do have rights. It is illegal for your employer to sack you or reduce your hours because of a pregnancy related illness. Nor can your employer force you to start maternity leave earlier than 4 weeks before your due date. You must be signed off work by your doctor to get your employer's sick pay or statutory sick pay so it is essential that you explain to your doctor that you cannot work. If / when you are feeling better, your doctor must sign you 'fit for work' and they can ask that you have a phased return to work with amended duties and reduced working hours. Your employer then has to do a risk assessment taking into account what your doctor has advised and how the illness will impact on your ability to work.

Remember too that you may be feeling ok sitting at home on the sofa, but the majority of women with HG find that doing any kind of exertion whatsoever brings the nausea back. You are not a wimp because you can only work a few hours a day once you return to work when you are over the peak period of HG; it's perfectly normal for HG and is to be expected. You have to resume work very gradually and listen to your body.

If you are in a union, they should be able to advise you on the legalities and what you can expect from your employers. You can ask for a union rep to be present at meetings with your employer.

Other useful source of information and advice:

• Working Families (link Working Families). A charity dedicated to helping people find a good work-life balance. There is information on their website but they also have a helpline that you can call to ask for more specific advice.
• Maternity Action (link Maternity Action ). A charity working to promote the health and wellbeing of all pregnant women. Attached and available to download at the bottome of this page is their factsheet on maternity rights. This links to their page on losing your job because you are pregnant and what your rights are pregnancy discrimination

For more information about sick leave and maternity rights, see the following links

Statutory maternity pay

www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/ni17a-a-guide-to-maternity/statutory-maternity-pay-smp/resuming-work/

Maternity Leave

www.gov.uk/maternity-leave/overview

Taking Sick Leave

www.gov.uk/taking-sick-leave

Maternity allowance

www.gov.uk/maternity-allowance

Wispa I do hope the meds work. Silly nurse, thinking of sending you home in such a state.
Room The day will come when the feeling sick goes, poor you.
Apologies to Anyone rudely ignored.
Lucinda
xx

Thanks for all the links and info lucinda

Damn ketones have rocketed again, they were at 3+ when I checked at lunchtime. I've holed up in bed now my DCs are in their beds although not getting much rest as the DSSs have been loud and noisy with fighting all day. It is a hideous atmosphere and I am insisting now that my husband moves out by end of March. Not what I need but I'd rather be on my own, just me and the DCs than have a completely unsupportive husband who is actually being pretty nasty, and encouraging or at least failing to intervene in his children's behaviour.

Back to hospital for me tomorrow I guess unless I manage to keep some food or fluid down during the next 12 hours or so.

Waves Oh dear, you really should be in hospital now at that level, but I can imagine your reluctance to go back in yet again, you poor thing - my goodness is this the fifth time? - it's awful for the kids. Is it because you haven't been able to retain liquids or is it starvation? I wonder the hospital didn't give you some of those Ensure drinks Kali had. I wanted to say, too, I'm really sorry about awful atmosphere in the home, I did see that you had a thread which shows how serious things are - I didn't realise before it was quite that bad. Does your mother come and look after them when you have to go in?
Really feel for you, sending cyber sympathy, pats, but wish I could do more.
Lucinda
xx

Hi. Am going to try to test my ketones this morning, suspect combination of starvation and dehydration. I really wanted to last at least til tomorrow as mum is in a competition tonight so won't be able to have DCs if I'm kept in. Basically that means I will yet again be dependent of "D"H. My DCs are so keen for me to be at home, it is pretty heartbreaking. 18 weeks tomorrow, where is my second trimester respite?

If I am readmitted I will be sure to ask about the ensure drinks.

How is everyone else doing?

Waves Double poor you, so it's no liquids staying put too. It's awful about having to be dependent on OH for childcare, if things are so bad between you. You will get through this. A lot of people get better round the twenty week mark, and I'm keeping all my fingers and toes crossed that you will be one of them. I was wondering - would a local volunteer from www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/help/supporters-network/ be able to help by coming in as an emergency? But maybe OH would resent a stranger coming in to help out for the evening. I wish I could do it myself! I know you are on an island, but don't know where...
Lucinda
xx

The ward is hectic so i was told if I go up now I'll have a long wait. So going to stay in bed for a while and go up later. I figure if it's the choice between laying in bed at home with my DCs here and sitting in a waiting room I'd rather be at home for an extra few hours!

Waves Somewhere back on a previous thread someone posted that they had been allowed home IV. I am cross with myself that I don't remember the name and can't locate the post. That's the first case I'd heard of it happening in here in the UK, but over in the states it's routine on Medicare. I wonder if they might consider it in your case, as yours is so severe?
Lucinda
xx

This is horrible. I'm not very good at asking for help at the best of times and having phoned the ward back they are still very busy and saying I can go up and they will see if someone can see me. Which makes me feel I'll be a big hassle to them if I do go up! Should I hang on another day? I don't know what to do.

Waves definitely go in. That you've phoned twice is a big indicator that you need them to look after you right now. Big hug.

Last night I had awful stomach cramps. Thought I was miscarrying. But it turned out I had diarrhoea. And vomiting. And diarrhoea's one of the side effects of the promethazine hydrochloride that I'm on. I haven't managed to take my phenegran today as too sick. But diarrhoea has stopped which makes me wonder whether it's a side effect and not a tummy bug. Thoughts?

Lotta back in a second Waves Go in, and don't feel you are being a nuisance, don't wait until tommorow, whatever whoever you spoke to said, that level of ketones should be treated as a medical emergency. Really sorry that you have to go back. It's hard to remember things when you are dehydrated, but try and remember about the Ensure and if there's a possibility of home IV.
Lotta How horrible, that must have given you a fright. The problem is diahorrea and vomiting does seem to be routinely listed as a possible side affect of so many drugs, so it's a good idea to phone up doctor's surgery or NHS direct for advice. If your temperature's up, it might be that nice Norvovirus thing.
Lucinda
xx

Back in hospital. Ketones 4+ and they weighed me this time so officially down 4kg since my booking in appointment. Cannula in left elbow this time and getting started on IV fluids soon together with clexane for blood thinning or something and anti emetics. Managed to faint on the ward as I came in, not a good day really but glad I am here as it is evidently where I need to be.

WavesSending lots of cyber pats, hugs if you can stand them, all sorts of sympathy - oh dear, it must have been horrible fainting but that made the point better than words and as well as ketones. It's so awful for you being apart from LO's, that's even worse than feeling like s*e. Will your mother be over tommorow? I remember they gave Belle blood thinning stuff, I think.
Lucinda
xx

How is everyone? Donx I hope out of hospital? "Wispa" are the meds working? Hayley I hope no migraines today? Belle Flo Rooom and Everyone? "Waves* Mother hen is clucking quite distractedly. Do you feel a tiny bit better?
Lucinda
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Morning lucinda and thanks for asking after us all. I'm not feeling too great, missing my DCs a lot! I've had nearly 3 litres of IV fluids now and my ketones are still at 4 + I think the stress of my marriage ending and my huge worries about the next few weeks/ months/ years is not helping.

I did suddenly think that peanut butter on toast sounded like a good idea and my mum has dropped a jar up. Just a pity I couldn't see her but DD still spotty with chicken pox so not allowed in the hospital.

Hi all, sorry for the radio silence as I've been away on a hen weekend (I know).

Somehow I have come out of the process relatively unscathed, though it helped that there were 4 qualified doctors on the hen (working in oncology, gastro, neonatal and GP) who looked after me admirably (though still struggled to understand that booking dinner at 9pm didn't suit me well!!, luckily Milan's aperativo bars are well known to be amazing, so I managed to eat relatively regularly.) I've eaten everything in sight and haven't been sick once, although the GP girl was really helpful in helping me alter my meds slightly to cope with travel and tiredness. I am absofrickinlutely shattered, but ok, so hoping (naively) that I might be pulling out the other side. 10 weeks today, the nausea is still there but it's subsided a little.

Sorry to hear that many of you are still feeling so awful still, and lots of love x

Waves Hugs,here's some cyber flowers it must be awful with these partings from your LO's. That longing for peanut butter sounds hopeful, anyway. Those ketones are still very high, I suppose you'll need a lot more fluids - particularly if they reappear. Sorry to sound bossy, but mother hen wants you to be sure and ask about Ensure Four (I think that was the name) and also, if there's any possibility of home IV as you get dehydrated so quickly being so ill? It might even be more convenient for them...For sure stress does make things worse, I'm outraged at your OH as you know, but my ranting doesn't help you.
'This Too Will Pass', true a man said that in the Eastern story and he didn't have Hyperemesis, but it applies to everything good and bad.

Lucinda
xx

~Oooooh scrap and reverse that. Mints on the flight= diahorrea (apparently???) which has = vomiting. Great.

Flo Cross posted. So glad you were looked after by a team of medics - that's really useful. Brave of you to make the journey. Oh dear, loose bowels on a flight - though many on Ondanestron would envy you that, believe it or not .
Waves See below. Thinking of you and Everyone.
Lucinda
xx

Yes I can imagine. I seem to alternate between constipated and diahorrea with no middle ground, so I'd say if anyone is a bit stuffed up, apparently mints give you diahorrea!! (not that I can spell it!)

It's the sweetener in mints that causes diahorreah I think. Too many mints or diet lemonade get DH every time (he'll thank me for telling you that in sure!).

Sounds like waves that peanut butter could be a glimmer of hope. I started being interested in food about a week ago again, with odd cravings like bacon and Stilton (but not together!). And while I am still throwing up, every day again, I am keeping some food and most liquid down, as long as I don't try and eat and drink at the same time. I'm a stone lighter than my Pre pregnancy weight now :(

Think I pulled a muscle this morning vomiting. I literally felt it tear :( one of those lovely episodes of chucking bitter fluro yellow stuff down the sink for half an hour. Bleargh. But I do feel better for a while after a big episode. I've been throwing my pills up the last few days as I have overdone it a bit trying to move house (and I've barely done anything!). Time to rest now and get back on top of it.

Hope you are all seeing light at the end of the tunnel c

Belle and Flo I never knew that about mints, that is another thing for people to try. Come to think of it, I had longings for fresh mint, I used to make a tea from the one in the garden (one a snail was on it).
Belle That sounds unbelievably horrible - my longest retching session ever being ten minutes - blood used to spurt from my nose after five (and still does, with migraines). You ought to have that muscle checked, not because it'll be dangerous but because they might be able to recommend something for soreness. Meanwhile maybe warmth on it?

Waves How are things?
Everyone?
Lucinda
xx

Hm, I have a feeling that I didn't take any medication last night (got in late from the flight)- would that make me feel that sick after having been basically ok all weekend? Alongside the tiredness obviously. I need to sort a repeat prescription actually.....

Flo You did overdo it a bit, what with all that traveling,very brave of you, and that can set you back a little for a day or so. Do you have to sit in a special place when travelling when pregnant, as I vaguely remember a pregnant friend being made to sit near the front when she booked a flight, for some reason (but she was very far along)?

Lucinda
xx

Oh fl0 I hope you feel better soon, and belle hope your tummy isn't too sore now.

I'm still in hospital, ketones have dropped a little, but definitely taking longer than usual. Tomorrow they are planning to get some of these special drinks for me but for now it's more fluids, about to have 5th litre start. 2 weeks til the 20 week mark and keeping fingers crossed

Waves Poor you, still stuck in there. More hugs on offer, if wanted, but the equipment must get in the way. Here's some more flowers. I'm keeping fingers crossed for that twenty week mark for you. I'm glad they're going to supply the food substitute thing, it kept Kalidasa out of hospital for some weeks and seemed to be the turning point for her.
Belle and Flo I hope better today?
Lucinda
xx