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 for sufferers, with information about medications, coping strategies, hospital admissions, useful links, advice for family members, and much more.

I would like to thank MOH MOP Ovaltine bluebirdsunshine (I think she's changed her nickname) Fluffy, Horsey Kalidasa, Nannyl 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.

Hyper Hugs. It's probably fine, but if you are anxious, and it's understandable if it lasted much longer theother times,can you explain your anxiety to midwife, get a scan, or her to test for heartbeat maybe? I've heard of people paying for them outside NHS if anxious, but that seems difficult.
Sprite I would mention those vicious headaches to GP.
Woofers I was wondering how you were, great news, thank you so much for coming back on and encouraging people.
wavesandsmiles Tactless, hasn't she seen your notes?! How much are you managing to keep down, now?
TiredFeet Glad about your Not Feeling So Bad Window. That's so handy for rehydrating, and actually trying to eat...
Hope Room Bodo Boy and Everyone are OK?
Lucinda
xx

y2k1sophie Just seen your post , welcome, your being a Dr will be invaluable for people on here, do stay around! Sophie is one of my favourite names.
Lucinda
xx

Hi Ladies. I had my appointment with the consultant this morning. I was wondering if anyone who is on ondansetron has had extra checks for the baby's growth? They said that long term (in my case 20 weeks so far and counting) use of ondansetron has been linked to restricted growth in animals but never proven in humans. I definitely do not have a growth restricted baby! Just as well because they would have stopped the ondansetron and I'm either allergic to the alternatives or they aren't effective. I also have to go for another GTT because I keep on seeing out sugar. I definitely can take ondansetron beforehand though so I just have to put up with it.

Hi room, I am on checks for growth - next one at 30 weeks, but I think that is more because of my lack of weight gain as opposed to the ondansetron. The baby was smallish at my 25 week scan, so hoping all will be ok in just under 3 weeks when I have my next one. Yuk to another GTT for you - I am not really looking forward to mine, but I hope it will be ok and I have been told I can have ondansetron beforehand.

I have to go into work tomorrow at 9 to show people how to do the monitoring programme I do - I have been on at my boss for weeks and weeks about this. It will be a weight off my mind to know that even if I am not there, that it is getting done!

OK I was really reluctant to post about this on here so as not to depress you all but the thread I started got no responses. Has anyone had ongoing probs with nausea/vomiting after the end of the pregnancy? Please note that my understanding is that this is NOT common, however bad the HG, but I had my son five months ago and I'm still struggling with nausea and occasional vomiting/retching. Also lots of probs with food aversions/anxiety around food. Even my 'safe' foods I don't really enjoy - just don't seem to have gone back to 'normal' as I thought I would. Not sure if the whole thing is basically psychological as I had a particularly bad time and was throwing up right to the end. Or maybe some hormonal factor? Still breastfeeding but mix feeding now as am back at work (so he has bottles during day and me in mornings, evenings and at night). Still have some SPD as well and I gather that's a hormonal thing while still breastfeeding. Can anyone empathise or shed any light?

I'm sure that Lucinda said her sickness persisted after delivery. It's my biggest fear particularly as I'm having to increase my dose if ondansetron at 30 weeks rather than coming off of it

Kalidasa Really sorry to hear that. Yes, this is really unusual, and other people shouldn't worry because it is so unusual,but Room is so right, I did suffer after delivery. It was worst for about a week I was crying in the hospital because they wouldn't listen when I protested that I was trying to feed the baby and getting dehydrated. It then tailed off. I had got infected stiches, and I wondered if that was connected, but maybe not. They just stared at me as if I was mad and told me I must eat. It dragged on for some weeks in all, and seemed to be stimulated by the breast feeding, in that would set off stomach pains that made me retch. I was too ill to organise myself to drag myself and the baby to the Acupuncturists!
MOH is reseaching it, I think, the few unfortunates are mainly people who've had it throughout,which I didn't, but you certainly did. It might be worth contacting her and she might have some good advice, as mine didn't last very long, but it is truly dreadful, trying to feed a baby with that.
Room Hugs, I am glad baby is flourishing, how are you doing?
wavesandsmiles I am horrified that you are going in at all.
Lucinda
xx

oh kalidisa poor you that does not sound fun I hope you find a solution soon, but you are as welcome on here as anyone

I am really really struggling with smells at work, but otherwise doing ok, but some of the smells (won't distress you and go in to detail) I am finding really hard. anyone got any tips for this?

hyper hopefully it is just good luck, but I can totally understand why you are worried. like Lucinda suggested could you explain to midwife, or if not book a private scan. then hopefully you can relax and enjoy feeling well

sprite I hope today went ok, or if you felt awful that you didn't push yourself to go in!

waves you are very brave going in. but I can see it might help to havea weight off your mind!

Oh and by the way re: the GTT, I just rang the clinic and said 'there is no point me doing this test as I vomit whatever I eat or drink first thing, every day without exception' (which was true). They were OK with it - told me to rearrange when that stopped being the case but I never did and no-one chased it. Obviously if they have reasons to be concerned about your sugar that's different but if it's just a mindless routine thing I had no compunction about refusing to put myself through the completely pointless ordeal when there was no chance at all that I'd retain lucozade (of all things! must burn horribly on the return!) for more than five minutes.

Warning major rant

Come home from yoga class and vomited. So much for my bloom. Maybe that week was it.

Dh is so used to it now I don't get any sympathy / support etc and actually the more it is going on the more I am beginning to detest this baby. I hate myself for saying it.

To make it worse - and I know I am being unreasonable - dh has come home today and announced that the name of babe we had agreed on is not formal enough and he will grow out of it. He is insisting on strong (IMO) aggressive names which I don't like at all. It's almost as if this baby isn't mine at all. And I just keep being told what he likes, without paying any attention to my dislike to them.

Going to bed to cry by myself for a bit. Hopefully tomorrow will bring some relief from nausea and raging hormones

I've just noticed my typo. I should have said that I keep on weeing out sugar (and quite a lot of it) plus you are supposed to have eaten OK for the previous few days. I can normally manage this with ondansetron on board but I didn't for the few days before my last GTT. I did try to get out of it but they really think I need to have it. It's not just box ticking in my case

Hello everyone, and welcome to new folks
Kalidasa I continued to have some mild nausea/retching/aversions after my first pregnancy, I worked out eventually that it was getting worse in the run up to my period every month, mainly first thing in morning (arrive in kitchen, retch into sink) and also when I went back on the pill (actually I've always had mild ms with the pill, and I believe it's a predictor for HG). I can also sympathise with SPD, with mine I was on crutches still a few months after the birth and still struggling with pain and mobility problems up to 3 years later (and now pregnant and back on crutches again). Stopping breastfeeding did seem to help, but I have underlying hypermobility too which is hormone-controlled to an extent. I advise continuing to see the physio, lots of pelvic floor, tons of pilates with a decent teacher.

My good news (and hopefully a ray of hope for people) is that at 20 weeks I am seriously starting to feel consistently better. I have been improving the last 2-3 weeks, with blips (10 vomits Monday but otherwise just a couple a day, some nausea at times, reduced medications). I have stopped losing weight, although not actually put any on yet (and still over a stone down). I am still getting palpitations and tachycardia sometimes but rarely now. I am really starting to come back to life, make plans, venture out occasionally. I'm a different person! I'm also now on crutches again from SPD but I was always expecting that.

Hope others are similarly starting to see some improvement and tons of sympathy for everyone still suffering.

Boy just saw your message about solphadeine. Is that the paracetamol and codeine one? Seriously do not panic if it's that. I am on prescribed codeine and paracetamol (60mg codeine, which is many times the amount you can get over the counter) for pain, which I also use for migraines. They are aware I'm pregnant but have ok'd it, and I used it throughout my first pregnancy and it was ok then. Obviously try to take as little as possible, and you should really cut back a few weeks before the birth if poss as it can cause some breathing probs in a newborn (like when you take the morphine too late in labour).

What you absolutely must avoid is the triptan type of migraine drug (sumatriptan etc), as they are a complete no no in pregnancy. If migraines are a big problem your GP might be able to prescribe a very low dose of amitriptyline (sp?) which can reduce the number of migraines.

Hi all, brief update. GP said don't worry, I've puked three times tonight, panic over! Hope all ok? I'm exhausted. Night all.

Thanks Pollaidh I'm glad I'm not the only one. I was wondering if it had some connection with my cycle. I've just had a very heavy period so obviously my hormones are still a bit funny, and as I said I'm still breastfeeding too. I have never taken the pill but in hospital one consultant told me not to as it would almost certainly make me sick.

I'm sorry about the SPD. I was on crutches for the last few months of the pregnancy, and in a wheelchair at the end. I haven't used the crutches since I gave birth but my pelvis is not great, still quite painful. I was going to a physio class but it was consistently making me feel worse rather than better. I know I need to make an effort with pelvic floor/pilates etc but I've been constantly ill the last few weeks with various bugs and am also just settling in to the work/childminder routine so haven't got going yet. I was thinking about finding a private pilates teacher though.

Room I see what you mean about the GTT, what a pain for you.

Hello all, I read through the posts and you ladies have my sympathy, pregnancy really seems to be one of the toughest/trying things we will ever have to go through. I managed at work yesterday although it seemed to drag and felt like I spent most of my time there eating so to avoid feeling hungry and nauseous although despite still taking the cyclizine I ended up being sick last night and feeling awful for the evening. I spoke to my midwife and she said the headaches are more likely due to hormones and not the cyclizine. I keep finding myself getting irritated with OH like others on here, although he's good at getting me snacks/drinks etc. He doesn't seem to understand how all this is affecting me, like because im not constantly throwinng up anymore that all of a sudden im fine and well and shouldn't still be feeling tired/hormonal etc. It may sound pathetic but he can't seem to understand why I get angry when he fills the bathroom with deodorant spray then leaves all the doors open so the smell fills the house despite that I've explained my aversion to smells as it makes both my headaches/nausea worse. Anyway, rant over. I was already worried that the sickness/nausea was going to last throughout being pregnant but my god im now filled with terror that it will continue AFTER having the baby?! I never knew it was possible :( my heart goes out to the poor ladies still suffering but im hoping and praying that will never be me!

Kali I hope it resolves itself soon. In my case it was violent but didn't last long, I hope MOH can give good advice if necessary. I had to come off the pill because of violent migraines and puking, too.
Room That is so tiresome. This illness makes for all these miserable complications.Do you have to rest a lot to stave off prem baby threat?
Poll Sorry about awful migraines and spd, horrible.
Woofers Hugs. Poor you. It's sad to think of you crying yourself to sleep, I personally think if a woman goes through this she has the right to name the baby at least as recompense, but... Have you got a good names book as you might find one acceptable to both of you - I love those Nordic names listed in the Pengiun one, Gustave, Igor, etc, can be interpreted as either gung-ho or not...
Hyper I am glad and sorry about the puking - lots of women on here get anxious if they get a good day before the end of the first tri!
Sorry if I've rudely ignored Anyone. Hope Everyone is coping.
Lucinda
xx

Sprite Cross posted. Sorry about insensitive OH. Don't worry, there have been any nuimber of women suffering on here, the only ones I have ever heard of puking for some considerable time after the birth were Slippers101 Kalidasa and myself...Everyone else is fine within hours!
Lucinda
xx

Lucinda I'm supposed to rest lots or I could go back in to hospital on bed rest. I don't want to for a number of reasons and I have a young consultant who has three children and isn't of the generation of doctors who prescribe bed rest just in case it helps. She understood that I need to be at home for my children's emotional well-being even if I'm pretty useless here!

On another note, I now have ondansetron and codeine to make me constipated and I'm not allowed to use glycerin suppositories now in case they stimulate contractions (because being ridiculously constipated clearly doesn't stimulate my cervix at all, does it ). Any suggestions? I'm also not allowed to throw up excessively in case that stimulates contractions so I really can't stop the ondansetron to get some 'relief' at the other end...

Room OH no, what a difficult sitaution. I'm reluctant to suggest anything in case that stimulates contractions, too. I know Kalidasa had to order a bowel rinsing out thing but as usual those things aren't recommended in pregnancy, so whether it would stimulate contractions. I never realised those suppositories supposedly do that, but I suppose they have to be extra cautious in your case. It's really awkward. MOH somehow kept down that awful drink, what's it called, fibrgel, but I'm sure I don't know how. Not sure if you can keep foods down, potato skins from baked potatoes, if you can stand them, oranges (probably too acid), prunes, can you stand granary bread with those bits in it, that does do the trick. Raisens....
Lucinda
xx

room would you manage apricots? or a smoothie? I cant manage most food and drink but they have managed to ahem get things going a bit for me.

sprite you have so much sympathy from me on the deodorant thing. DH just couldn't get his head round me struggling with smells. think he just thought I was trying to be annoying. no real suggestions except maybe show him the info on the pregnancy sickness support website? might help if he sees it in black and white.

hugs to all

Poor you Room I too am finding the ondansetron causing bad constipation. I have lactulose which works brilliantly for me. It's liquid so you can adjust dose so it's not too powerful. Could you ask your midwife? I have felt pretty queasy and been sick today so although not great still much better than I was. I am feeling v lucky to have turned a corner at 11 weeks and consider being sick once or twice a day normal MS. Although I still can't eat much still the toast based diet and am plagued by the smells. Poor you Sprite I had that problem with DH. Thankfully he has agreed to an odour free spray for now. It was too awful smelling that first thing. I went through about two weeks of finding DS1 unbearable scent wise, no idea why, it was horrible as couldn't have him too near me.

morning all, I hope today is kind to us all. Im starting to worry that the cyclizine isnt working for me as well as it did at first as Ive been sick a couple of times on it and had am awful day yesterday at work, it was such as a struggle and I hated being there. Today Im not sure is going to be much better as so far pretty much everything has made me feel sicky (the smell of OH coffee, the smell of cleaning stuff when I go into the bathroom, sitting/standing up) I hate to keep going on when I know so many others have it much worse then me but its getting to the point where I feel panicky at the thought that Im going to feel/be sick even before I am, I just cant wait until this is over with and I feel normal again, I dont enjoy being stuck in bed in the house all the time but hate worrying that any time I leave the house it will set me off feeling bad or even worse that Ill be sick in public :( sigh I just feel like every day is a battle and Im losing the strength to keep at it.

Sprite I don't think cyclizine does alot for nausea only stops vomiting (in my experience). Poor you it's a so awful. I too feel anxious about feeling bad as its very on off for me now. I felt horrific for 4 weeks and didn't leave house at all. Barely out of bed and that was on cyclizine and ondansetron. At 11 weeks I now feel pretty sick at times and vomit once or twice but have some ok patches. Try to rest as much as you can as it definitely helps. Can you see GP for another med?

Sprite and Helpher I thought my OH stank at one time, a roast pork smell, really strong , would be right on the other side of the bed with a lavender satchet to my nose. Sprite I am always amazed at what tidy pukers so many women on here are, I gave some Public Puking Performances. It's awful about the nausea, how are the liquids staying down? Helpher I'm glad it's 'only' once or twice a day,most women not on here would think that awful...
Room I hope you get some relief on the bowels front and that the nausea is tailing of for Kaliadasa and that Everyone is managing today.
Lucinda
xx