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.
So many women on this thread have thought they couldn't get through this, but they did.

Sorry - I'm always doing that - its cos I'm on my phone

Saw a different GP who was beyond bored with the whole thing - but who did prescribe ketostix and ondasetron (sp?) for those special days when you're really on the grip. I wish I had gone in showing the signs of a new plague or something cos me n my pukiness was way boring. As this bloke missed DPs broken shoulder a we weeks ago, I'm not too fussed...

licinda and meerka I shall call the number tomorrow. Thank you. punkstar I think mil has had her turkey tbh. I find even moving around much makes me feel sick - opening some boxes nearly had me heaving earlier when sat completely still, I was just about ok...

Has anyone found that things improve much? I'm 7weeks tomorrow and as far as I can tell, weeks 8-12 look to get pretty miserable...

chaffinch I am already having horrible heartburn - I remember it dominated the last half of my first pregnancy. After, I was told that I had damaged the spincter muscle at the top of the stomach permenantly. I remember carrying huge bottles of gaviscon around with me - I had two a week and ranitidine twice a day.

I hope it's just a phase and you feel better soon

Well OH has cleared fridge out for me... No wonder I was delirious every time I opened the fridge door.
MIL had hidden away a spicy, garlic German sausage, a container full of now week old meatballs and a container full of roast pheasant! I'm a bloody vegetarian! It stank, I've been living off bread all week as couldn't face the fridge trauma.

Chaffinch
Agggh, that's not fair. You've put the HG graft in, respite is due, just hate the unpredictability. You think you're improving and then bam there's a German sausage hiding in the fridge.
I have to have a mega controlled environment, any deviation is not good.

IWorry
Bored GP but they precribed ondansetron, that is success!
Hope it helps. First trimester is just pants...the whole thing is. I just can't wait for June which feels a lifetime away....

Doomfinch talk about worst timing .. what a week for the hormones to get bad. I hope they settle very soon! Have you got a (relatively) easy christmas?

Iworry yes movement can def make it worse. Even talking triggered it for me at the worst, could only get a few words out or nothing at all. I think metoclopramide helps with that.

Punk im sorry but that was funny .... Yeaup, HG is really good at throwing garlic sausages at you

Hello all, punkstar what an awful day with your little boy. It's so difficult with another little one to look after. iworry I also have had 2 MCs before so on top of the sickness am so worried that it will all be ok. Hope you manage to get more support from your gp. I'm 7 weeks, feel constantly nauseous, retching a lot. If this pregnancy doesn't work out I just don't think I could do it again. I have to make myself not think about that because it makes me sad. Off to bed now but thinking of you all! And thanks as ever to Lucinda for keeping us going...

sliceoflime I'm 7 weeks today. I've been saying that if this doesn't work out, I won't be able to do it again. I feel like its all in my head and yet I was throwing up last night, during the night and this morning with the nausea being worse than the retching - there's this voice saying "it's not that bad, everyone has it" and while I know everyone doesn't have it like this it gets me down. A friend was saying "oh I had that, I had to keep leaving the office to be sick" and there's the difference - I can barely move without retching. I could no more get dressed and work than I could backflip a marathon right now. Why do people feel the need to downplay your experiences?

But. As I'm feeling so bad - I've taken ondansetron... Just waiting for it to work. I do feel less sick but weirdly disjointed which wouldn't be unpleasant if I weren't looking after DS! Still whatever gets me through cbeebies eh?

what on earth possessed me to see if cold takeaway pizza might be a tolerable food? it isn't in case anyone was wondering.

The sausage smell still lingers!!! Aggghhh I still can't go in the fridge.

They are definitely not coming for Christmas, no doubt they'd bring one of those bird in a bird in a bird things smeared with three different types of garlic sauce. Don't think OH has told them yet though.....

IWorry
Aww, have been there too, feeling like everyone else manages but I can't...but what you have is not like everyone else at all. You have a horrible, debilitating and rare complication of pregnancy. The fact you can't function normally is part of HG. You gotta go with it, if something makes you feel worse, don't do it. I'm nearly 16 weeks and I've had a good day if I get in the bath and empty the dishwasher so don't be hard on yourself .
I really hope the ondansetron helps....(beware of the constipation!!!)

SliceofLime
Are you on any medication?
Are they going to let you have an early scan?

Really sorry to hear about both your MCs....it's understandable to feel worried about it. Have everything crossed for you both that it will work out this time. Not fair on top of having to contend with HG each time ??

That was supposed to be a sad face not pointless double squares.

Constipation? ? Heck. Im not missing out in that direction already

Eggy the number of times Ive tried something and then after gone "why???!" I hope youre feeling better now.

I Worry I am so glad bored GP prescribed those. People don't understand, it's like the difference between a headache and a migraine.
Of course, there is a grey area where normal MS turns into this nightmare.
Don't worry about your decision - nobody has ever come back on to say 'it isn't worth it...'. But surviving is so tough, ignore that inner voice that says those daft things, wherever it comes from. That heartburn is terrible, I so know what you mean about bottles of Gaviscon...
Punkstar Lol about 'Daily Fail' and about OH not daring to tell them yet. Gross about bird in a bird and fridge.
Eggy Oh no, cooked cheese is horrible on the way back up. I hope you feel better.
Chaffinch Poor you, as others say, what a time to feel a lot worse.
It's too bad still to be suffering at 25 weeks.
SliceofLime and IWorry Hugs about miscarriages, one is upsetting enough. Tallyra on here had three before this preg. It's very hard to keep saying to yourself that the chances are all in your favour.
Meerka Hugs. Your advice is always to good, I meant to say.
Hope Everyone is coping. Apologies to Anyone rudely overlooked.
xx

Oh no eggy pizza is not good - it was ok for me last week, but this week when offered a slice I heaved... The list of food I can eat gets ever shorter...

punk - garlic sausage?!?!? Nooooooo! I can't open the fridge without holding my breath as it is, I can't imagine... Bleurgh. Hope your dh breaks the news about Xmas to your inlaws soon. I had hg over Christmas last time too, why didn't I time this better?! Such a rubbish time to be so sick.

iworry I am just taking it one day at a time at the moment. If this pregnancy goes well and I am lucky enough to have a healthy baby at the end, I will be so happy, and I must just NOT THINK about the alternatives for now.

I haven't had an early scan, I had an MC after a good scan at 8 weeks before, so am just going to wait til 12 weeks. Can't handle the extra gaff of going to hospital, waiting around etc when in this state. I'm not on any meds either, up to know I've done reasonably well at keeping something down every day so am just thinking I don't really need them? Unless there is something that takes away the nausea without any other negative side effects?! Got a 1.5 hr train journey with 2yo dd ahead of me today, wish me luck...!

SliceofLime It is very brave of you to soldier on without meds, but without wanting to sound like the Voice of Doom, taking pre-emptive meds does apparently stop it getting as bad as it might- something to do with the brain and the habit of vomiting partly - and things can spiral out of control on a bad day, so Mother Hen thinks you should have them to hand at least. It's so tiresome all the travel and waiting for the reassurance of a scan - wasn't offered an early one myself, as I'd only had one MMC but one is so anxious at that first scan after one.
xx

•Slice of Lime*
Much luck for train journey....I can manage a car journey with essential oil, sick bags and sparkling water but shudder at the thought of a train journey with the general public, gaaah!

In laws informed, huzzah....excellent will have full control over food and environment.

Brave with no meds, I started the day I found out I was pregnant!!

Before my first scan this time despite being ridiculously unwell I was worried there was no baby and I had phantom HG!!!! See, that is how crazy HG makes us!!!

Am awaiting news from OH to find out if The Little Boy has chicken pox....I had varicella blood test last time which showed previous exposure but will be a bit immunocompromised from the steroids..... OH thinks it's just a viral rash but wasn't certain last night, says he's going to check for any vesicles this morn :-( will double check with obs if a positive to be safe though...

OH has reported...NOT chicken pox, huzzah! Couldn't face any faff :-)

Hurrah for no chicken pox! The very idea of phantom hg made me almost weep... With both my MCs I had no sickness so hanging onto my hg as sign of hope, despite daily misery!

Hmm brave or stupid?! I didn't have meds last time so hadn't really thought about it. Not sure I will have time to see GP before Christmas now, maybe will ring Monday to see. Thank you mother hen for wise words

Train journey is to get home, dd and I have been staying at my mum's to be looked after as couldn't cope alone at home and dh is at work 8am-10pm usually. He's on holiday now though so will be lovely to go home and see him. Am dreading train though, got sick bags and stuff at the ready. Hope no one stinky sits near us...!

SliceOfLime
I would take your sickness symptoms as a good sign..,,not that HG women don't miscarry but the fact this feels very different to your last pregnancies is surely a positive?
With regards to medication, I suppose having something in stock doesn't hurt? If things escalate you're prepared!

Ah, parentals are great aren't they? I'm struggling with my dad being in Australia for another three weeks, we have loads of help in place for childcare but it's the small things...like the whole kitchen thing and just living off bread and boiled rice the past week, I've overdone them now and I'm running out of safe foods....not being able to face going to the supermarket for supplies...

OH is coming today, he's off until next Friday :-) so I'll have company and someone to help eliminate these smells. I swear I don't even know what they are, each room has it's own distinct smell, is a form of torture.

Eeek good luck for train, at least it's for an exciting reason which will make it a whole lot easier :-)

good morning everyone :)

Hey all, I see the suffering continues unabated for all. Remember to listen to mother hen, check those ketones and stay as hydrated as possible.

I am now officially on maternity leave! Well, 2 weeks holiday, then mat leave starts 6th January. And how did I spend my first day of freedom? At the rowing club with my mother, dishing out bacon sandwiches and hot drinks to people. It was manic, I was on my feet most of the day from 9 to 3, and now I am exhausted and very sore. The pelvic pain is still going strong and I feel so rubbish and heavy, and often nauseated, despite one ondansetron a day. Oh and the constipation is still ongoing. YAY.

Plus I am ridiculously emotional and want to cry ALL THE TIME. I can't tell whether it is hormones or being off the antidepressants, but right now I would love to go back up to my full dosage that I remember fondly. Currently I am on nothing. It is really hard.

So there ends your report from 32 weeks. I have the doctor on Monday and my next hospital checkup on 6th Jan..... so hopefully the doc can get me some physio or something for the pain.

Hello just wondering if anyone has any experiences of ondansetron to share? I took one tablet yesterday morning and it seemed to work really well - I felt the effects for about 18hrs (I was able to use only 1 pillow last night to go to sleep instead of sitting upright against 3 so I'm not sick)! I did throw up this morning but all in all the nausea / smell averaion / dry retching is less today - and I'm not sure whether the ondansetron has disrupted the HG a bit, or whether my symptoms are dying down and things had gone wrong...

Just wondered if anyone had any experiences? Don't worry if you didn't find any disruption to the vomiting and nausea from ondasetron, just tell me what you experienced - I just dont have anyone else to ask...

oh heavens jen, from the frying pan into the fire? I do hope you can rest tomorrow and feel better!

Iworry my experience with ondansetron was that it was good, but certainly not for 18 hours, more like 8. maybe less, or maybe the hormones were just swinging down (had rotten evenigns so i took it when things became unbearable about 17:00, then by 05:00 usually felt a lot better anyway .. for a short time)

The hormones do go up and down from day to day anyway and you may begin to improve from week 12 .. though you might very well have to wait some weeks longer ... and I cant remember how far along you are? So it's kind of hard to tell.

sorry, not much use =)

Thanks meerka - I'm only 7 weeks

hm, oh dear.

Others have used it for much longer than me, they probalby have much more experience than me

Iworry, I have been on ondansetron since I was 8 weeks.

They have kept me going really well. I have been able to mostly have a normal life, eat and work etc. Every time I stopped taking them to see how the symptoms were, the nausea and vomiting came straight back. They do cause horrible constipation, at one point I had not gone for 14 days and I needed lactulose from the doctor to get things going again.

I did at my worst look to each time a tablet was due, and when I had taken it pray I would not vomit for at least an hour so that I wouldn't have to take another one. Throwing up outside the chemist because they had none in stock was another low point.... but from week 14 on I was much better (with the meds).

Good luck.....

Hi everyone, how are people faring in the run up to Xmas?

I have been so busy but finally things are calming down. I have finished work and am looking forward to being gloriously unemployed and not having to get out of bed for the remainder of the pregnancy :) and even better, made it all the way from the Netherlands to my folks in the Westcountry without mishap.

Still have terrible nausea, although it seems to confine itself to late afternoon and evening now. We were stuck on the ferry on Friday evening in very choppy seas and I felt quite surprisingly fine given my poor DH and many around us were not faring so well. I drove all day yesterday as I was really nauseous in the car on the way to the ferry and that really helped to have something to focus on. But by the time we got here I had to lie down and then the soup which my mum had made me filled with nutritious bits I had to ignore and eat white bread

It's SO NICE to be home. Not just with my parents but just here in England. I get so homesick. Right now with the pregnancy it is just wonderful for everything to feel so familiar and to understand what people are saying to me.

I say this cautiously at 16+1 but I think it is better. It depends on what I eat (white bread and Nutella is still my saviour much to my mum's horror) but if I am careful I am much more capable then I was before, and if I don't overdo it. Sleep is amazing as a restorative. I might even have a mince pie for breakfast - first of the year! Going to stay on the sickness tablets a little longer just to be sure and enjoy Christmas but when we get home I might try not taking them and seeing how I get on.

chaffinch I've got bad acid after I eat too. I am enjoying whole milk now and a warm glass helps before bed.

jen you must be so relieved to finally be on maternity leave! Are you in less pain now? I am so emotional as well. I just sat there at the ferry terminal and blubbed for no reason whatsoever about how I was overemotional. DH was trying not to laugh at me whilst giving me a hug. Literally ANYTHING is setting me off.