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.

Superlambanana For sure, if you 've been in bed for four days and it isn't a virus, you qualify! Is this your first preg? How are liquids staying down? You will probably need meds, I think, can you make an appointment and explain about being bedbound, unable to move...The link at the beginning of the thread explains a lot about meds and persuading doctors. It is possible to get dehydrated without vomiting if you can't drink enough, do watch out for that, kesostix available from chemists are the thing. It's very difficult about OH's, they can't really understand how bad it is.
Bobili Welcome, sympathies, I so agree that pre emptive meds are the thing. I admire you for going for it again, it's very brave. you and several others on here are the experts, you've survived it several times.
Totes and Everyone I do think attitudes of GP's have improved even since these threads first started, which was about three or four years ago, could have been more. There have been general guidelines issued which should have helped. GP's used to refuse meds until the woman was admitted to hospital, which was barbaric and made woman much iller. I remember that Melange then NitNatNaboo on the first one was bringing up the dangerous brown blood before they admitted her and then gave meds, though she'd had a Hyperemesis pregnancy before, they made out she was making a fuss about nothing. I was so furious... It does seem to vary from area to area, though, and I am horrified at the treatment - or lack of it for a long time - that Meerka has received in the Netherlands.
Hotair It's so difficult if you have to cook for LO's, so many poor women end up retching over the sink every day, can anyone else help temporarily? If you get really ill don't hesitate to go back and ask for different meds, but sadly, a lot of women find that even the strongest help with the vomiting but not really the nausea.
Handbags Silly, of course, you are not too old! The soft play smell sounds just the sort of thing that strikes one unawares - I hope you were near a loo or went armed with a carrier bag...
Champagne and ChaffinchInteresting about bumps...
Beeza Good news that you feel a bit better, ha, ha, about 'wiry'...
Jen Sorry you feel foul, through overwork or hormonal surge.
I hope Sicknspan Sally Murder of Banshees and Everyone is managing and usual apologies if I've overlooked someone, cross posted.
xx

Hello all, much sympathy to all those suffering. I haven't been on for ages but Lucinda probably remembers me, I was on this thread a lot last year and my baby was born nearly a year ago. I had a pretty bad time of it - in hospital a lot, in bed until about six months and was still being sick (though not as badly) when I had the baby. I also had very bad SPD so was in a wheelchair. Anyway, DH and I have agreed that we would like to have one more child, and the plan is to aim to conceive at some point over next summer. Realistically I have to be prepared for a similar experience, especially as my mother and sister, who both had bad pregnancies (though not quite as terrible as mine) had very similar experiences in each one.

Anyway, I am hoping that preparation might make at least a small amount of difference, even if only psychologically. So for those of you who have done this more than once, how did you prepare the second time? what made a difference? what do you wish you had done? We have some savings so are prepared to throw money at it if necessary. I got very depressed last time, both during the pregnancy and then afterwards had a bad bout of PND, so we are keen to be as prepared as possible to try to avoid that.

My job is particularly important to me and I found all the months off work last time very stressful and depressing. I hope that by 'preparing for the worst' another time I would at least be less stressed, so I have already warned my head of department that if/when I get pregnant again I am likely to be off sick for the entire pregnancy - that way if I managed to work at all it would be a bonus.

Thanks Lucinda. Have spoken to GP and he gave me cylizine (sp?) but it doesn't seem to be having any effect so far (2.5 days on it)

Hiya superlamabana, welcome, of course!

handbags, dare I ask how oldyou are? I'm 44 here and feel quite noticeably the extra 6 1/4 years since conceiving our first son.

Kalidasa, wow, brave. The HG unforutnately is likely to strike again :( so yes, preparation is a good idea. Its great if your job will be supportive. there's some advice here : www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/help/trying-again-preparation-/

Myself, I would take folic acid for 3 months ahead of time, make sure I'm carrying some excess weight so that I've got something in reserve, get myself reasonably fit and really, really important, plan to have minimum responsibilities. Others to take care of our 5 1/2yo son, for instance.

This preg was a suprise, though very much wanted, but as soon as we found out about it we knew what would likely happen after week 6 and ran around arranging afterschool care for two days a week and mother in law childcare for 2 days a week and someone else the other 1 day a week. The house urgently needs cleaning and I hate looking at the mess, but its not forever and well, on the scale of things growing a baby is more important than a perfect house for 9 months. Or well, longer; we're planning for me to be pretty weak for a while after the birth, like last time.

Also, most of all make sure you have a supportive doctor who's up to date with the clinical treatment guidelines and has a good attitude.

Mentally I think prepare yoruself for being depressed. There's damn good reason to be depressed when you can't get out of bed for weeks and are loosing weight as if you're going for the size 6s and you can't play with your son / daughter. If you have a very supportive husband that will help. I suspect (hope) kids can cope with a very sick mum since it's not forever, but they will need preparing and reassuring.

Well, that's my thoughts, the old hands here who are on their 3rd or 4th pregs may know more! :) best of luck

Thanks meerka. The nausea started for me just 48 hours after conception (!) and I was admitted to the hospital for the first time at only five weeks, so realistically we will have to have all our plans in place before we even start trying. DH is very supportive, but I am conscious of how desperately I needed him last time and that a second time our son will also need him. My MIL has just bought a flat round the corner (she lives in France) and I'm hoping she will be able to come a lot as DS is close to her. We already have a cleaner once a week but would definitely consider upping that or paying for some other sort of home help. DS is already with a childminder as I am back at work so at least he is well settled there. The GP was very good last time but I didn't actually have that much to do with them because by the time I saw them I was already so ill they just sent me straight to A&E. That happened repeatedly and I think after all that they had no qualms about just repeating the prescriptions. I hope we can have a good discussion about preemptive meds though.

Hi Meerka, I'm 40 and really feeling it at moment....struggling with just the day to day antics of the 3yo....housework etc....dp home tmrw so will breathe a big sigh of relief.

My sickness has halved since changing the meds and I am no longer bed bound....really feel for the ladies that are....with last pregnancy it lasted right up until birth and I fear it may be just the same( currently 12 wks).

I read with interest your posts and find the links really informative ....I'm so glad you are out of hospital ....what an awful time you have had.
Hope you manage some rest this weekend.

Take care x

I swear HG makes you feel twice your age! glad to hear you're no longer quite so bedbound. Hope the nausea itself reduces, too. Meds do make a huge, huge difference don't they?

The vomitting and nausea is improving here, thank heavens. The time in hospital had a side-benefit of coming home really rehydrated and it's helped a lot. Still weak and often nauseous but definitely a hundred times better than this time last week, and better even than 3 weeks ago. Now I just need to get my head into shape and little Lucky needs to keep growing! 25 weeks to go. Feels a long time.

yep brave kalidasa
this is my third time, but only my 2nd with HG. DD1 was bad MS, but bearable. DS2 was bad HG, hospital for 4 days in week 9, meds right till the ned, so I knew it could be bad again if I tried for a third.

This time again was hospitalised in week 9, only for 3 days; and the HG is nicely under control with 3 ondansatron per day

now I am 19 weeks I can eat/cook/be in kitchen all ok. I heave when taking tablets, but generally haven't been sick for a while

I got depressed with DS2, had a massive calendar where I scrawled off the days, found it very hard to bear as was so unexpected. This time has been so much better as I knew just what might occur. I had no fear of the hospital, I have a wonderful DH and I am part time now, luckily Ive only missed one weekend when I was on the ward, since then all OK. I did have a puke bucket at work, and colleagues who cheered me on.. but didn't vom after the ondansatron.

IThe hardest thing was actually fighting tooth and nail for it in hospital, my own GP said it was consultant prescribed only, and in hosp I ended up with a consultant happy for me to have it, a supportive nurse who agreed with him, then a lying cow of a pharm who said sorry no you cant get it in tablets. I had to really demand it, saying I'd be back in again if I didn't get it. Such a fight. Idiots.

agree with Meerka's prep, the child care is so hard and the thought of cooking unbearable for a time. But bear in mind you know what to expect, that is a huge benefit. Also, like me, it may be slightly diminished this time. Go easy on yourself. Don't push yourself. In a weird way, try to enjoy it...I know this is my last child, last time being 19weeks pg, so I'm determined to make the most of it, nausea and all. The power and skill of our bodies is immense, mind-blowing. Picture that beautiful chubby babe at the end...only a matter of weeks guys. Utterly wonderful.

I thought I had it bad... compared to several of my friends who never vommed ONCE during their pregnancies!!!

This thread opened my eyes that I am a lucky cow too, on the HG scale of 1-10 I have it about a 5... the ladies on here who have multiple admissions and extra medical complications, I take my hat off to you and thank you for sharing as you helped me see it IS bearable and WE CAN do it ! and soon ->

Thanks chaffinch. I also had a massive calendar to cross off the days! I shudder just remembering it. I agree absolutely about the shock, even though my family generally have bad pregnancies I (and especially my DH) were absolutely unprepared for it - and we hadn't been together long either. DH still becomes tearful remembering it! He says that for weeks and weeks it was as if I was dead because I couldn't even sit up in bed, and I was on so many drugs I was permanently totally out of it, not myself at all. I was on the max dose of ondansetron, cyclizine, metoclopramide and ranitidine all at once for months. Even so I carried on throwing up several times a day and only kept it to that level by remaining entirely in bed. Nothing stopped the vomiting for me!

BUT I do think removing the shock factor will make a difference, and also having no pressure of work, I worried so much about work last time. I am going to give myself permission to achieve absolutely nothing for the entire pregnancy and then anything that I do manage will be a mood-boosting bonus. Part of our year of preparations is getting a lot of work done so that I feel OK about that career-wise.

did they try you on steroids? were any of your drug cocktail steroid-based? if HG gets toward level 9 or 10 you are considered allergic to pregnancy, and steroids seem to be a solution - MoG on here had to take them

doomfinch, admire your seeing the good side! cant quite match it, but its great.

Hope everyone is not too bad this morning.

kalidasa, rest and de-stressing is really one of the things that helps apparently so your approach is probably the best thing you can do.

hi kali, I dont know if you remember me, I popped in now and again in preparation for this time now. I'm now 17wks and the hg I knew would come seems to have been and gone. you are very brave after what you went through. I think you have the right idea. I should have got a cleaner organised as that was the thing that stressed dh the most, trying to do everything. mother and mil were amazing but I can't imagine caring for a child. I was. unable to do anything or allow dh to prepare food if I was around. make lots of freezer meals, the bought ones all have garlic and onions in them which made dh smell too bad to get near.

Sorry to butt in again, but can anyone help? 9 weeks pregnant now, and my sickness isn't too bad any more as long as I'm careful what I eat and rest for a while after eating, but I'm getting horrendous tummy pains instead . Anyone had this/know what I can do? It's not so much the intensity that's the problem - I mean it's definitely far short of severe pain - but it's a really annoying pain that I can't ignore, makes it difficult to stand up straight/stretch out, and nothing makes it better - not codeine, not paracetamol, not a hot water bottle. Took me over four hours to get to sleep last night because of it and I actually cried when DP came to bed and tried to cuddle me cos I hurt so much I didn't want to be touched at all . Can anyone help?

Ra ra - have you called the doc? Are you constipated at all? I would call the doctor to be on the safe side. No point suffering if there is something they can do about it. Good luck!

Ra ra- are you taking anti sickness meds? One side effect of these is constipation....could it be that?

Well here it was a rough morning and could get out of bed till 11 but have managed to do a bit of cleaning this afternoon and some washing which has made me feel less stressed about how messy the house was. Also ds goes to nursery on a Monday and mil takes him so she will be over in the morning and I hate seeing her clean my house for me!! So feel more relaxed now that at least downstairs is clean.

Hope everyone having a sick free Sunday.

RaRa that sounds pretty bad, I think you need to speak to the doc tomorrow. Not being funny but very recently I ignored some pains that headed through into severe, and lets just say I really, really needed to have got medical help earlier. Your pain may not be severe but it doesn't sound right, either.

If it's nothing serious then there's no harm done. If it's something that needs looking at - then far better to get it checked out early.

You lot are lovely - thanks again for your concern. I'll give the GP a call tomorrow.

I'm not constipated, no. Apologies for over-sharing, but I managed to give myself a bout of semi-diarrhoea after being out running yesterday, and I'm still going ok in general. Not on any anti-emetics - I was given cyclizine just over a week ago, but it wiped me out and I couldn't function on it at all. I spoke to the midwife and she said to do without anything for now as I've stopped actually being sick.

Champagne: I've been pregnant (and further along than this) before, but it will (provided nowt goes wrong) be my first baby. I did get awful pains last time too, now you remind me. Mebbies it's just that again - I'm only little, and at an early scan (7+5), they said the gestational sac was three weeks big .

Meerka : You're scaring me a little... Do you mind me asking what yours were? Are you ok now?

hi everyone - wow this thread has been busy.

is it ra ra who is having pains? i am a firm believer in 'bug your gp for any tiny thing'. my gp wont agree but i reckon always get stuff checked for peace of mind.

cant remember who was asking about preparation and cant see on app sorry! with me first preg was terrible, untreated, depression the lot. we knew we wanted another child and dh was a sahd so we just went for it. i got ondansetron and it worked so well i was quite relaxed about no 3 - but drugs havent been nearly so good and i am a sahm and its been tough esp as i now live v far from family.

i wish i had sorted a cleaner, and batch cooked loads so no need to cook. and rehomed the dog (not really but a bit). so i guess minimise responsibilities and talk to your gp before conceiving about meds/care etc.

i am currently panicking cos ive had two good days. v scared something is wrong. first scan on thurs and im terrified.

ah, sorry for scaring you RaRa. my first serious, even severe pain was constipation 2 weeks ago, ended up going to the hospital as it really did hurt like anything. However it turns out I was also coming down with a uterine bacterial infection, probably associated with the CVS scan for downs, so while constipation was involved the pain was also due to the increasing infection. The pain of the "constipation" went away a bit then increased again and I ended up an emergency inpatient and the baby was at risk. All is well now! But I wish badly I'd insisted they take the fairly severe pain more seriously at the time. I'm still sort of coming to terms with the last 2 weeks, which is why maybe I put things a bit strongly.

Sorry again for scaring you. But I'm with eggy if you're crying with pain it does need checking, I think. It could be nothing, but better to know.

eggy a lot of us have had the odd good set of days and worried, but all came out well. Seems like some HG pregs are a steady sickness and others give you the of bad days, then a few good ones, then pull the rug out under you and get you sick again. Fluctuating hormone levels ... chances are that everything is fine

i just want my scan now - want to know one way or the other if things are looking ok

Kalidasa Of course, I remember you, how is Joseph? and OH, of course, lol. I I'll have to take a back seat about advice on best way to cope with a Hyperemesis pregnancy and a toddler, but you are very brave for going for it again. You were one of the worst cases I've known on here, along with WavesandSmiles. The advice from Meerka and Chaffinch and Everyone is brilliant. Chaffinch* Puke bucket?You are a nurse, I seem to remember, so I suppose it could be managed more easily?
Eggy It's most likely it's just a good day, everyone worries about those. Hugs.
Handbags and Meerka I am sure you both look very young, but how people cope with a toddler and this is deserved of an award. Meerka I may be wrong here, but there seems no excuse for them giving you an infection with CVS.

Rara Poor you, I so agree with others, do if only for reassurance, have it checked. It may well be of no consequence, bowels, expanding skeleton etc.
Superlambbanana If it is hopeless, don't hesitate says bossy Mother Hen in going back and asking for something else. There's a lot of choice.
I hope SicknSpan and Everyone is OK.
I bet I've just cross posted, I keep on doing that.

xx

CVS is a known higher-risk procedure, much higher than amnio. We just considered the odds of downs (1 in 20 or 25) v the odds of something going wrong with the CVS (1 in 50 or so). CVS can be done so much sooner than the amnio, and well - we know that very sadly, we would be physically unable to cope with a severely disabled child. If we had had to take the saddest option, better sooner than later. It was the shock of discovering that all was well with Lucky Willem, -then- it going wrong.

The CVS was done by an experienced and clearly skilful doctor at Maastrict University Hospital, who laid out the risks beforehand and was meticulous with hygience. Do think it was simply that we got unlucky - but not as unlucky as we could have. Thank God.