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.

MOH's wonderful website is full of useful information on this illness:
sites.google.com/site/pregnancysicknesssos/
Another invaluable website is:
www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/
If you need help in obtaining medication, this phone number is
brilliant:
024 7638 2020

I would like to thank 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.

Looks like I ought to go to the supermarket then! Will give anything a go.

I spoke to my mum last night, and she told me when she was pregnant with the twins she fainted she was so sick! She also told me she was really sick with me too so she has been really supportive, unfortunately she lives 100 miles away.

mrsb if you work for a company you are protected against the law.

from the CAB site:

www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/work_e/work_discrimination_e/discrimination_at_work_because_of_pregnancy_or_maternity_leave.htm#h_time_off_sick_for_pregnancy_and_your_sickness_record
Example
You’re pregnant and have been off sick with a pregnancy-related illness since early in your pregnancy. Your employer dismisses you because their sickness policy says you can’t be off work sick for more than 20 weeks in a row. If all of this time off was due to pregnancy-related illness, this is discrimination.

And btw:
Time that you take off sick because of an illness resulting from your pregnancy, such as high blood-pressure, shouldn’t count towards your sickness record at work. (same site, higher up the page)

I found that I felt sick no matter what meds I took, but some did help reduce it and lessen the vomitting a lot. Dunno if that's typical?

i think jen and several others kept working right up until normal maternity leave, they might have some tips

there does seem to be a genetic element to HG, from what I've read. And if anyone tells you it's all in your mind, you can kick them. it's not, they've swallowed the old misogynistic bullcrap from God like and incompetent consultants (is my prejudice showing?)

Hyperemesis / vomitting / nausea is actually to do with the HCG hormone. The exact cause isnt known, the effects are known all too well.

Wow this is great, thank you all so much for the info. I'm a little overwhelmed that there is so much help and support out there. I'm one of those people who are more likely to just soldier on and not get the help I'm entitled to.

meerka sorry for my ignorance but does that mean I should continue to get paid for my contracted hours regardless of whether I have any sick pay allowance left?

ooooh twins in your family hey!! ;-)

mrsb87 = you may need to get doctor to state on sicknotes if pregnancy related.....nb I have no idea if to do this is good or bad... you can ask in the legal issues section of MN for more clarity

Haha chaffinch yea twins in the family! Not scary at all!

Thanks everyone! I wish I had discovered Mumsnet and this thread a bit bloody sooner. It seems so odd looking back, what I actually survived on. Dear God.

Laughing at the pissing on a volcano comeback –wish I'd thought of that.

One of the most irritating things was "Oh, you're having a girl, then" (I already have 2 boys and breezed through both previous pregnancies.) Have had numerous extra scans this time and so can now thanks to a kindly sonographer reply with a smug smile and say that it is another luvverly boy. Not that I've anything against girls, of course. It was the assumption that got on my tits.

Chaffinch I am hoping for a birth that is over as quickly as possible without being too quick if you see what I mean. My last was 2.5 hours start to finish, and this time I have strep B, which means I need to travel an hour to a consultant led unit. For ages, they told me I would just have to "pop the children in the car and come down at first signs" but baby is measuring big now so I think they will agree to an induction and my kids will be spared the experience of seeing their mum in the transition stage of labour in a car.

Can't believe I've actually begged for an induction but there you go!

Hi mrsb really sorry you are having a bad time. Of all the meds i was on unfortunately none could take away the 24 hour nausea that i had (although it gradually improved) once the dehydration was delt with, with iv fluids, the sickness did improved for a few days although i did unfortunately have several admissions before it was brought under control.

sorry i am not very good on sick leave regs- i was lucky to be working in the nhs at the time so did get paid. It certainly will help you to have this week off to try and recuperate as tiredness/stress will make it worse.

i struggled to work on and off through my first preg and in the end my employer suggested maybe if i had a later start and wasn't rushing to get in and just made it in when i could- which really helped take the pressure off. I couldn't have managed this in my second preg (twins) as hg was truely awful and i had 10 weeks off sick. I really feel for you as i am now freelance and this would not be possible. Is your employer sympathetic- reduced or more flexibl hours a possibility at all??

Also my hyperemis in both pregnancies was counted as one 'episode' of sickness by my employer so although my sick leave was sporadic and involved multiple sick notes, for legal purposes it was counted as one episode.

Sending big hugs xxx

Sorry not sure where you stand with actually getting paid for sick pay. I think that any sick leave relating to pregnancy cannot be counted against you in your sickness record with your employer but sorry not sure about the pay element of it. Am sure someone else would know. Could post in employment issues section?

Thanks elizabeths mum, luckily my manager has been very supportive and insisted I have this week off. I will try and get a doctors appointment tomorrow (tried ringing just now and they're not open til tomorrow morning?!) To talk about meds and work. Fingers crossed they will have some answers for me!

like I said my manager has been supportive...this did wind me up a little bit. I told her on friday I was pg as I was struggling at work and feeling so shit, all she kept saying was "it'll pass". Yes very helpful thanks but it doesn't help me now does it?!

Hey all

Does anyone know if there's an hcg peak or increase at 19-20 weeks? I'm at the stage now and thought I was getting better but this past week I'm back to incredible nausea and sickness.

MrsB
Understand your work situation. I've not worked for three months now and I'm self employed so no money from anyone (I'm spending the money that was supposed to be my maternity leave money-oooops!!)

It depends on your contract, you should be entitled to statutory sick pay at the very least but every employer is different. My OH works for the NHS and gets six months full then six months half pay!!!!
I've arranged to work one day per week in March, consultant seemed dubious and pretty much said it would be tough but happy for me to try.
That's another idea, if you do consider working, sick notes are now called 'fitness to work' notes and your GP can add limitations eg reduced hours, restricted duties (if for example there was anything at work that would make your condition worse, they could even specify rest periods!) just something to think about if time off is not a possibility. There is no way I could have worked, even now would be a bit hellish but fingers crossed for March. At least I'm off for a week in between work days,

The bloody nausea, it's worse than the vomiting. I'm now 23 weeks and still get runs of terrible nausea. In fact in four months I have never been nausea free for a single second. Prednisolone has suppressed it to a level where I can eat though :-)
Strange Dizzy I had a pretty good run around week 18 for a few days then it went downhill again for me too.

Living
Twitter!!!??? Good work.,,I think I have an account which I've never actually used. Maybe I should investigate and follow! Will check out da blog!

Anyway this week is half way so technically it doesn't count anymore so I'm more 24 weeks than 23. I also apply this logic to months, so once we are halfway through Feb it no longer counts and I only have three months of this sodding thing left. Cock, piss, partridge!!'

That makes me feel better Punk. About a fortnight ago I was feeling a lot better but now just back in the routine. Nausea and vomiting and gagging at the thought I things.

I got overexcited at the Dutch winning another gold skating medal and nearly puked on the poor dog who was curled up next to me. Have to go to in laws now for dinner and walk the dog. Why don't I have a garden?

punk I am quite enjoying Twitter and chaffinch found me I think I get information overload!

Sorry to all who are feeling vile today, will post more tomorrow.

dizzy in my first preg I had steady severe n + v until week 21 when it very, very slowly but steadily began to improve.

This time it was more erratic. I actually -started- to improve around week 12 this time, though the weight loss (around 12 or 14 % of my bodyweight) def puts it in the HG bracket. It was complicated by something else but the nausea came and went in several-day waves. Plus the odd day of total relapse

mrsB im not a lawyer so I can't answer for sure but that seems the very clear implication of the law. You get your normal sickleave, but preg-related sick leave is on top of that. Have you got a union or is that a silly questoin?

Your best bet actually is to sit down and talk with your manager (very glad she's supportive!) and lay out that it might get better, but it is possible given the severity of it so far that it will be the full blown HG, and plan how to handle it. Is there any possibility of working from home with your sort of work? or as Elizabeth'smum suggests, going in later?

She might not be overhappy at first but it will give her more chance to plan and cope with the situation. And if your nausea and vomitting does pass early, then great =)

yep Im sure someone suggested in an earlier version of this thread to print out some HG info for your manager if needed :-)

hope everyone in safe from this weather the news sounds very bad

Hello, Everyone my PC - well, of course, I am not lucky with IT - went down for a bit in the gale force winds following a power cut. I can't better that advice for mrsB87 about work and sexual descrimination and meds from Meerka Chaffinch elizabethsmum and Everyone. MrsB I'm glad your mother symapthises, even at the distance. Good luck with doctors and meds.
Livingzuid I will definitely have a look at your blog. Great idea.
Punkstar and somedizzy I wonder if it's connected with hormonal surges or some such? I hope there is another period of improvement for you both.
Jen's baby due in three days...
CalamityJane I wish you had joined us earlier, this is a dismal thing to face alone.
Possibly one of the silliest ever comments said to anyone on here: have you ever thought of changing your diet? [anger]
Apologies to anyone rudely ignored. Lots gone on in my absence!
xx

Hahaha, "have you ever thought of changing your diet?"
Yes, weekly! I changed it to mashed potato and mild cheese this week, last week was dry toast and ice lollies!

Somedizzy I guess it's different for everyone again. I was worst 11-16, better 18-23 weeks, very bad few days at 24, now back to the same middling severity of 17 weeks. It's so unpredictable!

GP was lovely today, another new looking one only a couple of years ahead of me career wise at a guess. When I told her where I worked (it's a well known hellish ward!) she asked how long i'd like a note for and didn't blink at giving me a full month. Fab.

First perinatal psych appointment in the morning. Irrationally nervous- I hope they dont say "It's all the HG, we can't help"!

Good luck lapin. I was referred to the mental health team (normal, not perinatal) and all they said was 'that sounds like a reasonable explanation, we can't help.'

Hey! Matthew was born Wednesday morning at 11.10 am. It was a bit tricky, you really don't want to know, but we're both fine and staying in hospital until Friday. When I get home I'll work out a picture.

He weighs 8lb7oz and is gorgeous!!

jen!!!! Congratulations! Hoe are you feeling? Hg free?!

How not hoe stupid phone

jen! fantastic! big grats to you and other half. Hope you and Matthew are feeling good and getting to know each other all over again, now he's on the outside =)

Has the n + v cleared up ? :)

Congratulations jen!

Back to the docs this morning to see what I can do about work and hopefully some stronger meds! On form again today, had a bit of juice to take the cylizine and half an hour later that was it