Hyperemesis Support

[LucindaE]

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 and Everyone who has given such invaluable support and advice on this and on previous threads.

Remember when you are at your worst, 'This Too Shall Pass'. It really will.
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I have some odd undiagnosed back/wrist problem which severely limits me, and it's hard to look after a little one, but manageable, unlike the HG. Thinks that's why I'm so angry right now, I've had 5 years of being quite badly physically limited, but it is nothing in comparison to the HG.

I vomited once after DS was born (but we suspect that was from the syntocin - it was lime green!!) and then it was like I'd never been ill. It was amazing. Just have to focus on that on the bad days.

Rant away peanut! We all do

And yes, "it'll stop soon" makes me want to throw them through a window, well meaning or not

Totes and meerka, it's so nice to hear from somebody who understands the ME side of things. People I know who suffer from this have made comments about how they got so much better when they got pregnant, which is another reason why people doubt my suffering now. It's awful to have to keep explaining that only 30% of sufferers improve with ME symptoms. I've had it for 3 years and in that time ive been bed bound twice for months at a time. I could not pick up my fork to feed myself at the worst stages and was completely immobile. Specialists say I burned my self out by doing far too much when I had a long term chest virus.
I am pleased to say that I've improved a great deal over time but HG is just a kick in the teeth when still in recovery.

Peanut, sorry your here too, my husband helps out alot but the state of my house gets me down as his cleaning is nothing like mine. I'm a bit OCD on the cleaning front! I really don't want to ask him to do any more. I feel sorry for him having to do so much as it is.
Yes people and their comments are one of my bug bears. Felt like punching a few people.

MOG, do you find your back is worse with pregnancy? And have you ever used a support belt? I don't know if I should bother using one or not. It would be interesting to know if they are any good.

peanut have a look at these two sites, its really good for people living with HG but also for partners, who yeah, can naturally struggle a bit:

sites.google.com/site/pregnancysicknesssos/home (some very good research links too)

and

www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/

The first site in particular has a rather satisfying list of suggestions as to what to say to 'try ginger' and 'oh sickness only lasts 12 weeks' and 'aren't you making a fuss?'. Im gonna try them out once I can get out of the house and actually meet people again.

also they recommend Rest, Rest, Rest. there's no doubt that overdoing it - or doing almost anything at all - can make people worse.

Screw the housework peeps! I am normally organised, clean and tidy but quite frankly I now don't give a damn! I just can't do it at the mo!

The ME took me about ten years to get over but I still have to mind myself as I am prone to squeezing too much into my day and being a perfectionist. I was worried I might relapse with DS but I think my husband helping a lot with the nights kept me from the brink. But i did end up in a bad state about four months in - think my body went screwy and i ended up being low on progesterone which is why i am on it now. think that was my body's way of ringing the alarm bells. I must say though, this pregnancy has made me sleep a lot and I feel mentally fresher than I was. I get super ratty when tired.

Peanut - sorry you are here. It is a tough time. I can't stop thinking of peanut m&ms now...

MOG - lime green!?

Anyone got any tips for removing the awful mouth taste? It's really getting to me today.

Ohh will nose at those links, unfortunately OH isn't the type to look at anything on the Internet regarding pregnancy, I've tried to get him to just so he sees it isn't just me!

Ahh the ginger suggestions!! Yes I'm this ill everyday simply because I didn't try all the basic things in the early days!

Can I have a round of applause please for shoving some chicken and a jar of white wine sauce in the slow cooker? First time I've even attempted anything similar to cooking for around a month

Haha on my 7 week scan baby looked like a peanut, it's sort of stuck

Peanuts Welcome,poor you, sorry you are still suffering at 17 weeks. I hope it takes a turn for the better for you, for a lot it doesn't happen before 18 weeks. Almost everybody does recover within hours of birth or a day - only three people on these threads didn't, that is three out of several hundred, and guess who was one of them? me, trust me to be awkward - but it is very very rare for it not to go away at once, and everybody was better within the month. I remember those foul migraine headaches, they are foul beyond belief. The Puking and Peeing is a pain - I used to whip off my knickers as I started to retch and then leave a pool on the bathroom floor.
MOG How are things? I assume they measured your pelvis as you are so tiny.

Meerka I hope things aren't worse? Glad you liked 'UShite' that sentence where I suggested it came out muddled up.
Jen and Choc Dane's Inferno, we'll you have been in it, Jen, for sure. Have you got The Penguin Book of First Names? I'm a names geek; I love French boys' names 'Emile' (can't put the accent in on this website) etc and the Scandinavian ones, 'Gustave', 'Oleg' and so on . Jen Lol 'ad nauseum'. Sorry it hasn't cleared up, working must be so tough.
Totes Glad you have the doppler. That sounds so sweet about LO.
Slinky Thanks for the lovely post.
Wavesandsmiles That sounds lovely. I am so glad you are starting to look like your old self.
Sally I hope you have turned the corner by the time the builders come in. Hugs.
MummyChuong How are things today?
Usual apologies if I have ignored anyone.
Lucinda
xx

Oh my goodness Meerka, the article "all in your head" from that first site is amazing!

lucindaE I don't think they ever measured my pelvis actually. But then I'm actually quite curvy, so guess they figured I'd be ok.

Forgot to tell you all, today is my third wedding anniversary! We were going out for a meal, but my body has decided otherwise, so we are going to stay in and cuddle up on the sofa with DS instead.

Having a brief respite for the moment, DH is out helping a charity, DS is having a nap, and I've just managed to prepare myself some food (even if it did only involve bunging frozen stuff in the oven).

Hello all. Haven't been on here for ages, my baby is 9 months old now. Just wanted to reiterate what lucinda says - most people feel pretty much 100% better immediately. I think I am one of the three lucinda is thinking of because I didn't, it was massively better as soon as the baby was born but I did still struggle with nausea, especially after eating, and also had (very occasional) vomiting for quite a while. Now at 9 months the nausea has pretty much completely gone and I am just beginning to feel fully recovered in terms of my confidence with eating, which is the thing that has taken longest to get back. (A few things like fruit are still a problem.) So even if you are really unlucky and in that tiny percentage of women where it lingers a bit it does go eventually.

For me, I think cutting down on breastfeeding helped actually. (I am only feeding a little bit now, just once a day or every other day.) So I wonder if perhaps I was sensitive to the hormones that continue to circulate while you are feeding.

totes I know! I was repulsed and yet curious, even the nurses looked confused.

kalid Glad you are doing better, think you might be right about the hormones. I know on certain varieties of contraceptive I get hyperemesis like symptoms. My doctor reckons it's some sort of allergic reaction to them.

Has anyone else struggled to get treatment or understanding from doctors? I've been a couple of times and I'm still left with nothing, I get told that its normal and they don't want to give me drugs while pregnant. I once pushed and was given some pills but was told "they won't work anyway" and surprise surprise, they didn't.

My OH have told me several times it's in my head. I began to wonder if it's true! But being sick up to 10 times a day everyday and feeling sick the rest of the time can't be normal?! I've gone days without being able to eat or drink and nobody will help! It really does make me think I'm dramatic. I'm forever apologising for not coping very well.

Oh yes peanut, PSS are really good at helping you get what you need if doctors are being arseholes. In the first pregnancy I wasn't allowed anything but cyclizine and stemetil, and was very ill throughout. Different drugs make all the difference. It's not normal, and it's not in your head. I hope you can get some real help, and that your OH will stop being a twat about it. You need all the support you can get.

MOD - congratulations on your anniversary :)

lucinda/kalid - oh my, I really feel for you both. I can't imagine how I'd cope if it goes on so long

Thank you MOD, I'll get in touch with them. It was something like buccastem I was given, had no effect other than the taste making me feel worse lol

It's NOT in your head, it's really not.

if you register for a 14 day trial with the BMJ you can read an excellent article on HG which says very clearly it needs -treating- and there are safe meds.

www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d3606 I registered then copied the article.

And yes doctors can be and often are ignorant and unwilling to learn anything about it. But the number Lucinda gave is an excellent support line with an experienced doctor 024 7638 2020 and they also have a list of friendly doctors (UK based naturally) who have a clue. They may be able to put you in touch with someone.

PSS also offer to set you up with a "supporter" who you can talk to. Usually someone who has been through it themselves, and that can really help. I know my supporter is lovely.

Thank you all so much! I have emailed PSS and will call the number shortly. It's amazing how much better I feel just knowing there may be help ahead! You have all really helped, I came on here feeling miserable, thank you!

Most of us have come across issues getting meds Peanut - you are not alone. I finally persuaded one to give me so etching but only because I got a top consultant in the country to back me up! It's crazy to be so ill and be told to eat and drink so you don't get dehydrated....ermm...

Hang in there and ignore OH! You might find the meds aren't that effective or you need to try a few.

Oh and Peanut, I am holding you responsible for me sitting here eating peanut M&ms

welcome peanut few of us here 17/18 weeks so nice to have you on board. tho bad circumstances. my house is a heap. really don't worry about it. i find hovering physically exhausting with hg.

i had a glass of wine last night...... it was amazing. it was crisp ice cold. it was amazing.

lucinda advice heeded re constipation. think i am getting carried away with my home relief methods

too for every one else

Feekerry Ha, ha!
Peanuts I didn't realise you weren;t on meds, that is too bad if it's gone on for some weeks, and you must have been very dehydrated at times of vomiting ten plus times a day! Usual question, do you have kesostix to check on urine?
While Kalidasa's was a very severe case, mine (which happened years ago, that 's why I'm 'Mother Hen') wasn't very long lasting, probably peaked at ten to eleven weeks, and after seeing an acupuncturist, disappeared completely except for severe residual heartburn by fifteen weeks. I was very lucky in that the acupunture was unusually effective - otherwise it would have been the usual path of hospitalisations and IV for me. I did come back after the birth, it's true, for maybe a week, but that thank goodness is rare, as I said. The dreadful migraines went off by that time too, and I hope yours do too. It can be hard to tell the difference between them and dehydration headaches. I hope you don't have dark urine, skin that stays up when pinched and all the rest of those symptoms?
I meant the Oxford Dictionary of Names, everyone!
Hope everyone is coping.
Lucinda
xx

Oops sorry totes!

I have no idea what ketostix are? I'm so clueless! Definitely have the dark urine, so bad that when I wipe the toilet roll is actually orange. Pinching skin seems normal?