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.

YoniIfYouSayPlease here...new NN! .

I told more random strangers before I told my own mother due to sickness than I can count...argh!

I had my scan yesterday. I was put at 7+4 so about spot on, little HB...so happy. DP cried.

I was feeling great last night so skipped a med....mistake! VOM! So I'm not ok like I thought. I'm just glad the meds are working.

I've been trying not to keep repeating myself because I'm on the Jan 2014 (although EDD is boxing day) So never sure when and where to post!

How is everyone else today?

Hello fellow sufferers, I need a good moan to people who understand, who aren't going to say 'its only a bit of sickness, it will all be worth it in the end'

I'm 16+3 with DC1 and have had repeated bouts of sickness, it was a its worst at around 10 weeks, couldn't keep even a sip of water down. GP signed me off for 2 weeks and gave me stronger meds (previous ones stopped working) by suggested I avoid taking them f I felt I could - she'd had HG herself so was aware of the misery of constant vomiting and dehydration

Since then I've had good days, rough days and terrible days. Today is terrible. NOTHING is staying down for more than a minute, I'm knackered and have a midwife appt in an hour. Can't produce a urine sample as I can't wee and don't feel capable of even getting dressed.

I had so looked forward to being pregnant but it's been bloody miserable so far and all I want to do is cry/sleep/hide from the world

Labroador MrsM and Bump welcome all, back in two ticks.
caramelokoalalover Lovely of you to come over and encourage people, and your words make me very happy, it's great to read your blog and see how worthwhile it all was for you. People who talk of ginger biscuits deserve to have their shoes vomited over, 'accidentally' missing those sick bags (great idea too)!
Hayley Lovely to hear from you, too, with such a nice message.
Labrador It sounds like you are horribly dehydrated - I'm assuming your dr advised you get kesostix to check, I'm a bit puzzled about her advice not to take them when not too ill, I'm no medical expert but if people stop taking them too early then they always pay for it. Which ones are you on, poor you? It looks like you might be kept in on IV, unfortunately.
MrsM What meds are you on ? Nice to meet you, sorry you are suffering horribly.
Bump You are one of those for whom it obviously kicked in early, I hope it eases comparatively early, too.
Tired Great ideas.
Hyper Lovely news about scan! Sorry about lost lunch...
Sprite Poor you, relapses are so disappointing, very likely it's just a glitch due to overdoing it, cold sores are so painful, I suppose due to being run down? The pain in the side might be expanding ribs, I remember mine hurting like anything?
Yoni and Everything and Everyone How are things today?
Sorry to anyone rudely ignored.
Lucinda
xx

Thanks Lucinda, waves and hyper. You were right and I didn't make it into work yesterday or today. GP has agreed to give me more ondansetron and says I can make it three times a day if I want. (Hope she gives me more than the 30 tablets I got last time.) I am really going to try and make it into work tomorrow and if I crash and burn I'll just have to beg for another sick note and hope they can find a locum doctor to cover the weekend shifts. Hope it's a good day for as many people as possible.

Having a badish day today, had to pull over in car. And ds potty training is a really struggle. But on the plus side I have doctors and them am going to go to bed while cleaner cleans my house feel like I am taking baby steps to get life back on track

Really sorry to hear from sufferers. It is awful when people try and minimise what you are going through. I think I am going to try and educate friends and family by showing them caramello 's blog post as it puts it much better than I could.

Sophie Oh dear, mother hen is in the ridiculous position of saying to a doctor - you're almost certainly not well enough to go in, can the dr extend the sick note?! They are mean about Ondansetron, I gather, because of the price, though I think I heard it's come down.
Tired You are doing wonderfully, and I am so glad you got a cleaner. I don't know how anyone copes with potty training with this, it's no joy normally. I so agree that caramellokoalalover's post puts it briliantly - it horrified me, as she became dangerously dehydrated so terrifyingly quickly, with lots of women it seems a far slower build up till things get uncontrollable and they realise it's not normal ms at all.
Lucinda
xx

Oh tired I hope today improves a bit for you....my DS was 18 months when DD was born and not potty trained, but the utter horror of nappy changing during my pregancy. Urgh. It's grim, but I had to have a sick bowl by the changing mat as I couldn't do a nappy change without vomiting. One day I may have to confess to him that I did actual vomit all over him during a change

Sophie I hope you get another sick note. No offence, but knowing how utterly terrible I have been feeling (and still am), I'd rather not be looked after by someone feeling as rotten as many of us on here do, iykwim.

Oh waves you just made me grin a little! Can't have been fun at the time though.

sophie I agree with the others,don't try to be a hero. You will only end up iller for longer. I regret struggling in on the days I did, I wasn't doing anyone any favours really. They will just have to sort cover, you must look after yourself

Tired it was not fun at all, and I felt so GUILTY covering poor DS's bottom (and legs, and tummy) in vomit. Blessing this time is that my DCs are very self sufficient.

I'm in treble mehness today - vomiting and nausea, a stinking cold, and very painful ribs. I think it is the intercostal muscles being stretched, or my diaphragm pressing up but it hurts so much. This isn't fun

Hello everyone

Sophie is there any chance you could see an OH doc for an assessment of your ability to work? I was really worried about it when my work asked me to see occup. health, but he has been so supportive and wrote a great report spelling out how awful it was which has improved work's attitude. I know I was making damaging decisions when so dehydrated, so for your sake and your patients' sakes it might be best to be signed off.

tired for nappy changes/potty emptying I have been using a scarf over my face, impregnanted with lavender or whatever I could cope with at the time. Plus vomit bowl.

labrador keep taking the drugs! My first GP refused drugs and the second advised only to take a couple instead of full dose... that ended badly. The consultant said 'take everything, on schedule'.

Saw doctor today and gout is confirmed. He said it can result from hyperemesis due to the dehydration and starvation so there's a new one for you Lucinda. If you get swelling and pain in your legs or joints, especially big toe joint, then it might be gout. It could also be a thrombosis, which can also result from dehydration and immobility. So get it checked out. Gout is tricky to treat in pregnancy, and really painful, but only lasts about a week.

pollaidh thanks that's a great tip! hope your gout clears quickly it sounds most uncomfortable

Tired you are a trooper, I'm leaving DS2 in pull ups/ nappies until I feel well. He's 3 in July so really should be trained but I have no energy/ stomach for dirty pants :( bit worried as just took a gavilast as saw it said ranitidine on it but checking online it says not to take without consulting doc. Should I worry? I hope you are all hanging in there. Mixed bag for me today but have not actually been sick for first time in days! Horray. Welcome to new gals. This thread is so supportive and saved me at my lowest bed bound for 5 weeks moments!

Hyper I am being prescribed ranitidine, have been on it for about 8 weeks now, so I assume it is quite safe. Hope that puts your mind at ease a bit (I even have it IV up at hospital)

Thanks waves, TBH I've become quite complacent and just took it as recognised ranitidine from here. Sure it's fine but if it works might check with GP. How are you doing my lovely?

Labrador - it bloody well has to be worth it. The number of people who have said to me "how far are you? Oh surely it's settling now!" And the references to Kate Middleton as well!
The first 12 weeks were awful for me. The dr wouldn't give me anything for it and my work colleagues were less than sympathetic. All I could cope with was milk biscuits and hot cordial - the smell of milk was enough to make me run to the loo. The support i got from colleagues " don't eat too many biscuits, you'll be huge in 9 months"
The worst bit - I work with health care professionals!

I wasn't admitted to the hospital until 20 weeks and the ooh dr (male) knew more about HG than my regular gp. although he wasn't very sharps safe with his needle after giving me an injection

The last day I had at work I was there all of 20 mins.
"Do you want a cup of tea?"
"No thanks I feel sick."
"Oh right." Continued to talk about work stuff.
4 hours later I was in hospital with I v drugs and fluids and ketone of 4+. And deranged u&e's

I am now off work for a month and I still can't function properly. I'm exhausted. The nausea is still there. But I'm less sick. I'm terrified of burping though!! And that is a bit of a shit because the wind I have is horrendous

Hyper - I'm plodding on. Stupid cold has made the vomiting a bit worse, and the action of being sick makes my sinuses hurt My new plan is to eat and drink whenever I feel able. I just managed a few sips of peach squash and a biscuit - fingers crossed this stays down. I feel a bit guilty as my bump goes a bit crazy when I actually manage to eat, which makes me think the baby really needs the food!

Woofers the Kate Middleton references really annoy me - especially comments like "I was sick all through my pg and never needed hospitalising, such a drama over nothing". Actually makes me seethe. I am so glad you are signed off now - and that you are able to recuperate a bit. I battled on to about 14 weeks and really paid for it. There is a lot of evidence I think that early treatment reduces severity and length of time of HG.

hyper I didn't want to, 'd'h ignored my plan to wait till I was better and told nursery just to get on with it and then ds wouldn't have gone back to nappies I don't think. he's only 2.5 it would easily have waited. I won't regale you with the details but it has been miserable at times and the constant washing has been the last thing I need. you wait till you are ready, it is a much more sensible plan. he will probably learn really quickly once you do start so don't feel bad!

woofers I am really cross with your colleagues for being so unsupportive!

waves you're another day closer, keep going

Lucindae doctor has had me on cyclizine hydrochloride 50mg...if they're working i wouldn't like to know how id feel without them! Only change in me since last pregnancy is im now takin levothyroxine 100mg for underactive thyroid which was diagnosed shortly after no.2 was born, really had hoped that would make a difference for the better since i had no meds last pregnancy & now its being controlled but obviously not. have read some discussions suggesting thyroid & hyperemesis could be linked so maybe im doomed no matter what!

woofers when you mention ppl sayin things like 'surely its settled by now!' OMG! so frustrating its like they know for sure you can only be sick in the morning and only till like 12 weeks, if they haven't had hg they don't believe you!

Woofers MrsMegaw That there should still be such ignorance is so bad. That you were told these things by health care professional colleagues leaves me speechless! Why are people so dismissive and even judgemental about this? MrsMegaw Could you face demanding more meds from GP, as there is a fair choice of safe drugs and one might work better or a cocktail, even? Lots of people on here are on a string of meds, and no damage to the baby.
wavesandsmiles Oh dear, I had to laugh too about puked on LO, what did he make of it? Thank goodness for the peach squash, but if that's all you can manage by way of food, have you gone off the other things you could stand a couple of weeks ago?
Pollidah That is awful about gout. There's so many connections between Hyperemesis and other conditions, like MrsMegaw's thyroid problem. I got distorted toe big toe joints in pregnancy, and yet I didn't gain weight apart from baby growing, so it can't have been that. I was always puzzled by this - I don't see how it can have been gout as I wasn't dehydrated for very long or confined to bed for very long - odd.
Tired I hope today is a better day.
Labrodor and others, I have a scrawled message which I can't decipher. My handwriting is getting worse...
Apologies to anyone overlooked.
Hope nobody is in hospital.
Lucinda
xx

woofers your work colleagues sound like they were being insensitive dicks, 'scuse French! It's totally annoying and u bloody hate the judgemental bit. Someone I know used the 'i was sick all the way through and carried on working line' to me waves I just wonder how? At my worst I couldn't even shower let alone dress and work. How come some people can just puke and go? Do they feel less sick? Are they stronger? Personally I don't give a rats ass, I can't. I couldn't, I won't! Because I'm a bit better in the mornings so doing two hrs at work or taking boys to school, people think I'm ok. If only they could see me hunched over the bowl a few hours later, unable to eat anything but about 5 things. Sickened by the smell of clean sheets (still). It's not over yet.

tired you poor thing being forced into potty training. Luckily my DH stats out of it, though kind of wish he would help. 2.5 is quite young anyway so bet its taking a while ? Urgh. Not fun. I was hoping to try in half term in 'nice' weather but it's grim, I still feel crap so can't imagine feeling 'fine' in a week.

Ps agree about 12 weeks nonsense. 'oh you're 13 weeks, you will feel better soon!' if you call another 5 weeks soon (felt better by 18-20 weeks with DS1). You try 5 weeks, on top of another 8 having felt had dead. Doesn't feel soon to me!

All your posts today have made me laugh.

I was tested for low thyroid on last admission - so I defo would say it has something to do with it. Ask for your TFT again.

This may be a little close to being seen as ungrateful but when you have spent the night preying to the toilet bowl, terrified of moving from the bathroom, and you go into work determined not to let the team down etc . . . .
"All night? How's the baby?"
F&@£ the baby!!! I've spent 6 hours on a bathroom floor and not a drop of alcohol involved, while you were in bed. Asleep.
"The baby is fine. I'm not"

Lol woofers, hit nail on the head! People keep saying 'you know the baby will be fine' woopy f ing Doo for the baby! I'm going through hell and if it's a third boy it will never comprehend what us women go through (secretly think its best to be a boy as would feel desperate if I passed this HG to a daughter as my mum/ granny did to me/ her) I announced preg on Facebook saying despite x x x baby doing well. An hr later someone invited me to her birthday cocktail drinks this week- WHAT?!!!

my doctor told me with my 1st that hg was a sign of a healthy baby...that baby would get all the goodness from what i ate & id get left with the rubbish my body didn't need hence the vomiting...what?! how can baby get goodness from food in 15 seconds!
lucindae im goin to try and se a locum at my surgery the doctors r kind of old fashioned as in 'no medication is great for baby but take it if u have to'. (two males and one female who never had kids!) the locums are much younger, hoping they're more up to date and sympathetic

on the plus side feeling a little better today, still a long way to go though! hope everyone else having as good a day as we possibly can