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.

[bodo2]

Ok, they've retested me. Yesterday I was 4+ all day and they sent me home from the day unit because the hospital was full. This morning I was negative but they put me on iv and I've been sat here since 9.30 am. At 1pm, I had gone up to 3+ and they've just checked me and I'm now 4+. They are saying that there are still no beds and it is likely they are going to send me home again when this unit closes at 8pm. The unit doesn't open again until Monday. They don't seem overly concerned about me going home with 4+ ketones. I queried whether I should move to another hospital but they don't think it's necessary. Any thoughts? Feeling very helpless. Should I be kicking up a real fuss??? The honest answer is that I would love to go home but also know that I need to do what is medically best for me.....

[Tallyra]

Yes bodo, kick up hell! you are in no state to go home with that much dehydration. They sound like they are not caring for you just their own paperwork. you are I'll and still need treatment.
as for the stockings, I was 'fitted' with them on admission each time and also injected with klexane to reduce clotting regularly. They need to do a bit more than they are right now. if you were to get a lift to your nearest casualty in another hospital I'm pretty sure they would iv you and admit!

[MOH100]

bodo ask them what their HG treatment protocol says about discharge and ketone levels. You are entitled to ask to see treatment protocols. If they don't have one, ask to see a consultant to discuss it. Is it a maternity assessment unit you're in? Ketones are only one element in assessing severity of HG so they may be taking into account your ability to eat and drink eg if you were eating and drinking well and responding well to new medication then it may be ok to discharge you. If you're still struggling to eat and drink and new medication not really working and your ketones are high, then that's obviously a different matter. Dehydration and inactivity are risk factors for DVT, some hospitals are more on the ball with this than others.

[PrincessRichards]

I would agree with MOH the last time I was admitted when I was sent home my ketones were 3+, they were just about to hook up some more fluids and the doctor decided against it. I myself queried how I could go home with ketones still present but the doctor was happy that I'd have enough fluids to re-hydrate me and the reason I still had ketones was because I hadn't eaten, dehydration is just one of the reasons for ketones all be it the most common. For me they were more bothered about getting the meds right so I could eat. It's worth asking the question and I'm just sharing my experiences. I was lucky that the unit I was on they took HG very seriously and seemed to be keen to do the right thing, a lot of the ladies on here haven't been so lucky unfortunately!

[bodo2]

Thanks all. They found a bed and have admitted me. X

[Tallyra]

Yay! Well done it won't be a good night sleep but you should be cared for, and hopefully you'll feel a bit better in the morning.

[LucindaE]

MOH Great advice as usual. Bodo Thank goodness that you have been admitted.
Lucinda
xx

[LucindaE]

Humphrey Forgot to say congratulations on wriggly baby!
Lucinda
xx

[honeymoonmum]

Hope you feel better soon bodo! Don't come home too early, my mistake. Poor. DH, been up all night with vomitting DS 1. What is going on in my house? Everyone being sick. Selfish but praying I won't catch it as only managing about 300-400 calories a day as it is.

[wavesandsmiles]

I'm glad you are safely in hospital bodo and I'll keep my fingers crossed you don't catch the sickness bug honeymoonmum.

I hope other people are okish? I'm starting to do a bit better now I'm on the daily regime. Although it is a total pain having a cannula in all the time, and it is a bit boring spending 4 hours a day at hospital, the IV ondansetron is working so there are about 5 hours a day I can eat and keep food down, so my calorie intake has gone up. Still finding the mornings and evenings rather grim, but it makes me feel a lot better knowing that things are improving. The only things I want to eat are:
toast with jam
crackers and a hint of mild cheddar
boiled carrots
and sometimes a bit of fresh melon.

Still, I reckon that is sort of a balanced diet!

23 + 4 weeks today, and still keeping my fingers crossed that things get a bit better so I can try not having the daily IV meds and fluids, and 4 daily cannula resitings which have made me feel like a pin cushion

[honeymoonmum]

Right decided to tackle gp no more messing about, what meds is everyone on? Think I'm going to demand ondanestron as according to research it works well, what do we think?

[wavesandsmiles]

Ondansetron here - but only the IV stuff is working so far for me (as the oral tablets didn't work for me yet due to severity of vomiting, they gave me ondansetron suppositories which had some limited effect)

Also on ranitidine, which helps with the acid caused by the vomiting, again, on IV at the moment, but that is worth asking for too.

Good luck with the GP.

[MOH100]

honeymoon defo ondansetron, it was my life saver. Word of warning though, and I'm honestly not trying to put you off, I would always recommend ondansetron, but constipation can be a serious side effect. I always recommend that when you start ondansetron, you assume you're going to be constipated and act pre-emptively to try and prevent it, rather than waiting for it to get hold then try to cure it. I was given the very good advice to drink as much fybogel a day as I could stand, and my constipation remained manageable, actually it was better than the dehydration constipation I had when I couldn't eat or drink before I got the meds. Fybogel is disgusting, but I've heard some frightening constipation stories on here and it was preferable to that.

[wavesandsmiles]

MOH thanks for reminding me I need to get the constipation sorted... I'll try fybogel in the first place....

[LucindaE]

Waves Honeymoon Just dashing on to say, I have to say that fibogel made me heave and if it effects you that way, there are those suppositories from the chemists a lot of women on this thead say are good, but absurdly, not issued to pregnant women so waves you might have to send someone else or wear something very concealing?
Lucinda
xx

[LucindaE]

MOH Aagh! that bowel rinsing out device was a last resort for one member.
Lucinda
xx

[MOH100]

It is beyond disgusting Lucinda but, absolutely, you don't want to end up with enema and horror piles. As far as I know, any of the constipation remedies are ok in pregnancy, despite what it says on the packet.

[bodo2]

Hi all, thanks for all your lovely messages. The shame is that in spite of all the meds (ondansetron and metaclopromide with a top up of cyclizine) I've not had such a good day. They are keeping me in overnight and hopefully will be a bit better tomorrow. X

[nannyl]

i really hope you start to improve soon bodo.

It sure is miserable

waves and smiles i hope you feel better soon too, and anyone else in the midst of HG hell too xxx

[LucindaE]

Bodo I hope you are out soon, it's dismal the meds not helping as much as they might.
wavesandsmiles I am glad you can eat a bit - did you say carrots, that's unusually healthy stuff, interesting, so many women on here find it's only the very unhealthy stuff that has any chance of staying down, crisps, coke, etc.
Is anyone else in hospital?
Hope Everyone has a better day today.
Lucinda
xx

[wavesandsmiles]

How are you getting on bodo? It's awful when the meds don't help.

I'm in bed waiting til 3 to call the ward again as they were busy when I called before. I tried some lunch, but without meds that reappeared soon enough. The carrots may have been a one off, tried them at hospital and kept them down, whilst the smell of the peas made me feel sick. It's so weird. Hoping they will be able to fit me in for fluids soon after 3 or it will be late for the DCs and they are back to school Tuesday.

How are other people getting on? Seriously wishing you all a more bearable second trimester. Only a few weeks til I'm in the third an whilst I'm very grateful that I'm getting daily treatment, the cnnula in all the time is sore, it's even hard to brush my teeth with the wrong hand

[wavesandsmiles]

So much for my raving about daily treatment... Midwife just tested my urine and ketones are 4+. Feel rotten but guess that's why.

[HumphreyCobbler]

sorry to hear that waves
hope they get some fluid into you soon

[bodo2]

Thanks all as ever! I'm home. Managed to get my ketone levels down to trace. I feel very drained but so pleased to be home. They've given be a veritable pharmacy to take home. I'm juggling ondansetron, metaclopromide and cyclizine. They've told me I can mix and match them as needed. I'm thinking of starting my day with ondansetron and then taking metaclopromide for my 2nd and 3rd doses of the day. If I'm feeling bad, I can top up with ondansetron and/or cyclizine. Does that sound sensible?

Wish you better wavesandsmiles

[Reebok]

Hello all, hope everyone is doing a little better.

Having a bad few days...vomited while peeing and once again when showering but luckily it's only a few times this week and still being controlled by meds. Think its being made worse by fact that DH has passed on his cold to me. Nausea becoming easier to handle. Luckily still on Easter break so I don't have to worry about the commute to work.

Bodo glad to hear you are home now. Hope you start feeling better soon. And you two waves. Hang in there ladies. It will be worth it when we hold out darling babies in our arms.