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.

you're not in the slightest bit useless. You're incubating a baby and you've got a hellishly horrible disease, HG, and you're keeping going and doing everything you can.

The best available advice is that people rest a lot and get the right meds. Im glad that the doc seems on the ball and is monitoring you.

Please be gentle on yourself, its so easy to feel bad about it but it's absolutely not your fault and you're not useless.

and ... almost every one of us here has whinged. You need to sometimes. It's bloody awful, feeling like this, and letting it out now and then helps.

Thank you, I do feel like I should be rehydrated as I feel rough as a badgers arse. Need to wait til 8 before I can do anything about it though. No ketostix, I havn't been out unless its to the doctors and then I forget. And I keep forgetting to get dh to pick some up.

mrsb big hugs. Moan away, people on this thread are so supportive. Glad to hear things are getting sorted. Stay tucked up on the sofa and, if you have time, tune in to see Sven Kramer get another gold medal for the Dutch in the next hour :)

I have a job interview next month. I love the sound of the job but don't want to work until the baby is born and I will only be able to be there for about 5 weeks anyway before maternity leave. Even though it is against the law here to mention pregnancy in a job interview my bump is so blinking obvious so chances are nil of getting said job anyway. And it means a day out when I'm so comfy on the sofa and at risk of puking on the train. It has completely stressed me out. And if I say no and the benefits people find out what then? Damn. Wish this had been in August - the job is perfect, part time 3 days a week, right back in my field, in Amsterdam which is only a train ride away and I could get a nice foldy-up bicycle to get to and from the stations at either end.

What to do :(

Should note I am probably reading too much into said job, it's a first interview, but having faced such discrimination being pregnant already I'm feeling a bit meh about the whole thing.

livingzuid oh no! I feel for you. If you do decide to go to the interview, is there any chance someone could go with you to the interview (as in, travel with you and wait for you in the waiting room during the interview - not go into the interview with you) to support you? Would that help at all? Surely the benefits people can't force you to take a job when you are ill and pregnant...?? Would a Dr's sick note help in this case?

It's so frustrating with jobs. My contract ends in a few weeks time and I have not been able to apply for other jobs because I've been feeling so ill and know that I wouldn't be able to make it to any interviews. Plus, I figure that when someone saw that I was pregnant and planning to take a good 6-months maternity leave, that they would think 'Er, no!'.

I am hoping to go in to work today for an hour. It's a 25minute walk to work and a colleague is away this week, so I am able to use her private office which is very, very kind of her. I asked because there is no way that I would be able to sit in my usual place in a huge open-plan office, far, far away from the bathroom. But, I was already ill this lunchtime and, frankly, really frightened of leaving the flat on my own, going to work and feeling trapped there, plus worrying about getting home... all while worrying that I might be ill again or very nauseous there alone and away from the safety of my home.

I hate this fear and this whole stupid sickness :-( I'm so completely and utterly fed-up with it all and feel angry about it too :-(

Just to make things that bit worse - when I was ill a little while ago, I lost one of my contact lenses!!!!! It must have fallen out while I was being sick. Honestly!!! And that was the last one of that pair - need to wait for my next batch of contact lenses to arrive, so currently wearing my seriously old glasses!! ARGH!!!!

Hello ladies,

Mrsb has kindly pointed me in your direction.

I'm due DC2 at the beginning of October, so very early days, and feeling grim.

I had HG with my DD and, if anything, feel worse, earlier, this time round. I had a miscarriage 14 months ago so although I'm so grateful to have symptoms this time round, I just wish they weren't quite so ferocious!

I've been signed off work by the doc but no medicine yet, my plan is to call her tomorrow and see if I can get started on something.

Where do you get ketosticks from? I'm wavering between being sure I'm dehydrated to being unsure and would love to be able to check for myself.

Feeling very sorry for myself today, and so guilty about the time I'm missing with DD and DH, and the extra workload I'm giving people at work. I'm a teacher and said to the doctor last week I had been lying in bed trying to work out which of my classrooms had sinks in them and how far the others were from a loo - she told me I was ridiculous and got out her sick line pad!

Do any of you have any tips at all? I just tried some flat-ish coke, my sick bucket's an interesting colour now! Do any of you feel the need to spit? Like, every minute or so? I just feel like my mouth is overflowing.

To add insult to injury today I was washing my hands when I had to puke and in my hurry to turn round and bend over the loo I've really hurt my back and now every movement is agony as well as wretch inducing...

So sorry for the moans, not my usual cheery introduction!

hello mrsHende and welcome ... sorry to see you here!

You get ketostix from either a chemist or if you can't leave the house, from amazon. (got mine there). They are very cheap.

Please try to be gentle with yourself. Everyone feels guilty but HG is not a light disease, it's really heavy on your body and mind and the best recommendations of people specialised in it are 1) early meds and 2) rest. exertion makes it worse.

It often starts to improve around 15 - 21 weeks though not quite for everyone. If you can't carry on, then best is to speak to your line manager and plan how best to actually manage your absences.

Finch has a lot of good recommendations, I'm sure she'll be around soon. But have a good look at the links Mother Hen posted in the first post. Each of those has some good hints.

As for spitting, Yes that's a known and fairly common (and so annoying) side effect of HG. In fact, if you are able to it's best not to spit as it provokes more salaiva productoin, but really that is just sometimes not possible. Sometimes people keep a little cup by them with some water in and spit into that. A bad taste in the mouth is also pretty common.

It sounds like your doc is quite helpful - has she given you any meds? they are recommended by all the government and medicos who are experienced in this, a lot of doctors and midwives arent. Meds can ease the awful nausea and vomitting and really help with dehydration.

Hi mrshende!

Doesn't sound like any of us are having a great day. Thank goodness for this thread as I dont know how I'd cope without it!

Thanks meerka and mrsb!

I had a wee read of the nice guidelines on one of the links on the first page and promptly called my dr for drugs! DH is on his way to pick up the prescription and also try and get some ketosticks.

Thank you for all and any advice, what a supportive bunch you are xx

MrsHende Glad that Mrsb87 got you to join us - I echo all of Meerka's suggestions - chemists should have the magic sticks and I hopeChaffinch calls by to give some more, ice lollies is a good one-or the juice of tinned fruit. It seems the more unhealthy a drink is if it isn't tea, coffee or alcohol , the more chance of staying down- I found Ironbru soothing, but nobody else seems to - also ice cubes,or tepid water, weirdly enough...Teachers are too conscientious - the doctor was right, you can't work when this is in full flow, if you'll forgive the expression. Sorry you haven't meds yet, as others say there's a whole choice.
Mrsb87 Moan all you like, that's what this thread is for - how are things (dare I ask)?Are the new meds helping? If not, as you get dehurated, you can also get a bit confused, so I hope you can get someone to take you to dr's and unfortunately, very likely A and E for rehydration.
Starrynight Poor you about work - you're probably too ill to manage the fifty minutes walking either way, anyway. You mustn't be hard on yoruself with this. That's a real pest about contact lenses.
Livngzuid How infuriating about the job! Train journeys are a thing of terror, with this. Agree with Starry If you're signed off, surely they won't penalise you for not going to the interview a train journey away?
Meerka I do hope the Cigar Smoker has strolled (or **ed) off!
Watch me cross post with someone...
xx

mrs hende so sorry to hear you aren't well. Please be gentle with yourself - easy to say, I know, harder to do. But you wouldn't try and run around with a broken leg, ditto with this. I know I find that the more tired I am, the more nauseous/sick I am too. I completely agree with ice lollies - I find them more tolerable than ice cubes, because (don't laugh) I find ice cubes too big to keep in my mouth - feels as though I'm gagging!

I'm so grateful to have this support. When I was walking to work this afternoon, knowing that I could log on when I got to the office and tap out a message made such a difference - as did knowing there were people cheering me on.

The journey in today wasn't because I was forced to go to work - on the contrary, thankfully work and my GP are incredibly understanding and I can have the time off that I need. Plus, I'm lucky in that I can do some of my work from home when I am able to. I wanted to come in because I was starting to feel like a caged battery hen. So sick of being cooped up. I figure: if I'm ill, I'm ill. I'll have to deal with it. Yes, I'm scared of being ill in public, but I'm also so fed up of being inside all the time.

I stopped in two squares on the way in, sitting on two wet benches (joy of rain) and slowly, slowly made my way in. Head down, facing pavement, taking deep breaths, plastic sack at the ready, whole load of tic-tacs in my pocket (and in my mouth!). I honestly wasn't sure if I could do it because the nausea was so bad, but I did it. Here I am sitting at my colleagues desk in her office with a big window to the outside too. I've pretty much finished what I came in to do and will pack up and slowly head homewards shortly. I know it won't be easy, but there is no rush :-)

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your incredible support. I don't know what I did without it!

Hospital for me, just had an anti sickness injection at the doctors so I can get some fluids in me so they can have a urine sample. Then im not sure whether I will be in tomorrow morning or later tonight. We shall see!

Mrsb87 they'll look after you. Will never forget 1st HG hospitalization with ds1 - they referred to me as the 'high -prem' mum....was unfamiliar with the word hyperemesis so figured they meant I was high risk of being premature

hello MrsHende sounds like you have it all rolling - read the NICE guidelines of recommended treatments pre-doctor apt if you can; as some of them are a bit medieval and seem to enjoy our puking a bit too much

add some survival items into your handbag - double bagged carriers or freezer bags to puke in.. an assortment of sweets Willie Wonka would be proud of - whatever catches your fancy - lollipops, sherbert lemons.. our own Lovely Lucinda enjoyed the retro barley sugar... but the foxes glacier fruits.. fruit mentoes, all good. if cereal bars catch your eye they are also good nibble fodder
once you have the extreme pukiness dealt with by drugs the trick is not to feel too hungry

agree rest up, bugger the housework, revel in your lie-ins, and it helped me to have a massive tick off calendar so I could see the weeks passing

great advice from the Vom Team already, good work people!

Mrsb87 a slight saliva heads up.....when you're rehydrated you may find your saliva production increases by a thousand

I had to put a paper towel into my mouth to stop soaking my pillow. FFS the indignities of HG!!

also try demanding ondansatron from your consultant. it is a great drug.

by the way I am a full fat coke drinker - from cans only. It has become something of a vice, having 1 can a day and loving the burn of the fizz ..It is my crack.

MrsB
Glad you are getting some help. I would second the asking for ondansetron, it may help keep you out of hospital in future and stop the pesky voms.
Hope some rehydration will make you feel better, if you've not passed urine all day sounds like you are super dry!!

MrsHende
Welcome! Sorry you have joined our club. It's horrible to have to be here but everyone is so helpful and it makes you feel not so alone.
Make sure you weigh yourself too, dehydration and significant weight loss both need attention.
The only drink I could manage for a while was sparkling water, it's still my mainstay.
The work thing is hard and I understand that but work will keep functioning without you. Your health is more important. Work will be there when you are ready for it. Please don't feel guilty about it (I'm self employed and I went through the guilt thing and I don't have anyone to answer to or need to get sick notes!!)
I'm only just getting back to work in a couple of weeks and that will be me entering third tri!! Crazy stuff this HG.
Defo get some meds.

Starry
Well done on getting to work. Big achievement. I know work days are going to be tough, I'm not looking forward to them, I just want to try and see how it goes....

mrsb oh no but at least you will have access to what you need. Hope you don't have too long a stay.

And welcome mrshende so sorry you are suffering. Lots of very good advice given already.

oh dear it sounds like everyone has had an awful day today

mrsb hospital is the best place for you to get rehydrated. When you get so dehydrated that your electrolytes are all over the place there is no way you can get yourself out of it without medical help. Plenty of IV fluids will honestly help- I also recommend IM injections of ondansetron. I remember once having a nurse put cyclizine through my drip (not good for someone who is dehydrated- the room started spinning and i literally had to pin myself to the bed- must be injected rather than put through the drip apparently (my top tip for the day!)

hi mrsh sorry that you are feeling so rubbish. I have suffered with HG twice and found it more depressing second time round just as you know what you are in for so huge sympathies from me. Would definitely get yourself to Drs for meds ASAP. I found mine to be more sympathetic as I had suffered before. I don't like coke so no idea whether that would have helped me- sucking on ice cubes, sometimes could manage ice lolly (orange or lemon) and also sucking fizzy cola bottle sweets actually ok. Sips of elderflower presse I could sometimes manage as well.

well done starry massive achievement to get to work. Hope you got home ok. I can recall being sick in the gutter once on a trip back from work and a kindly 'white van van' stopping and shouting out of his window- 'r u alright love?' to which i weakly replied 'fine thanks'!

hope you have had a better day today meerka?

living sorry no advice re what to do about job interview but try not to stress yourself out too much over it. sorry i know thats not much help!

Hi all. I second that advice about I've cyclizine. Don't go there unless it is put in at minute speeds or you'll just feel even sicker. Been there!!!!

Hope everyone is having a better night. Poor mrsb hope you're being rehydrated right now and mrshende hope things improve. starry sometimes rest helps - make sure boredom and frustration don't push you into a new phase (street vomming is bad - I have the splash back covered shoes from when I was so bored I went shopping - on a good day too) Kudos on making it through work - my concentration is shattered at the moment...

Having a better few days. It's taken all if four or five days to adjust to metaclopramide and I'm still not there yet but it's stopped the vomiting and reduced the nausea from constant to waves which is flipping brilliant and surely explains why I'm putting up with being wide awake at stupid o clock!

Hope everyone feels better in the next few days. Just to say also - this is my um... Fifth? Sixth drug and the first which has worked for me. (Cyclizine, ondansetron, chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine, metaclopramide. Fifth I think but cyclizine was tablets and then injection). In my first HG pg I was bad but able to make a choice to refuse meds as I could just manage without. This time, no choice. If you need them you need them...

Morning ladies. Just found you. DS2 due 7 Oct. Had HG from 6 wks through till he arrived which was relentless. Scraped through thanks to a two mile commute thank god and several admissions for IV fluids.

A quick question as it's all flooding back, literally, now 7+1 and not ben sick yet but vv nauseous and know the signs.

Some of you are recommending ondansetron .. Is that generally felt to be the best? Have been told about domperinone (sp?) too?

Anything rather than buccastem (useless and evil for me). Metoclop didn't help much for me. Think cyclazine was ok but definitely didn't help with dizziness.

Grateful for a definitive ranking of what to ask for, going to gp today.

Obv mean HG with DS1 now 6.

And DC2 rather than DS2!!

Hello pick, welcome. grats on the pregnancy, commiseratoins on the HG!

therés usually a bit of a hierarchy with meds. The really important thing is to get meds early.

the doctors usually start you off on cyclizine and maybe vitamin B6 with it. It helps some people, but a few people find it doenst help at all. after that, it's often Metoclopramide and/prochlorperazine. Ondansetron is usually near to the last option becuase it is very good, but quite strong and can give awful constipation. But it does help a lot of people. Steroids are the last line of defense.

If you don't respond fairly quickly to the cyclizine, if they start you on that, do go back quickly the next day or day after. One of the aims of the meds is to stop the HG getting too bad. Once it's gotten bad, you are stuck with it but if you can get meds that work for you, it can stop it getting too bad. Unless you're very unlucky.

I hope your doc is good and can discuss optoins with you, cause you do have a good idea what works and what doesn't for you. Good luck!

Diclectin (made of antihistamine Doxylamine and B6 in slow release form)
Pyridoxone (vitamin B6)
Promethazine (an antihistamine, brand name Avomine)
Cyclizine (an antihistamine, brand name Valoid)
Prochlorperazine (brand name Stemetil)
Metoclopramide (brand name Maxolon)
Ondansetron (brand name Zofran)
Domperidone (brand name Motilium)
Prednisolone (this is a steroid)

hope you're feeling a bit better mrsb. Hospital can sometimes so be the right place!

punkstar .. 3rd trim already? blinks the days go so so slowly then suddenly it's that far ahead!\

living good luck with the interveiw. a shame it's come at this time, its clearly a long long shot to hope they'll hold the job for you but well ... hope for a miracle!

elizabeth'smum the tiler is back but WITHOUT cigar thank god. I'll be glad, so glad, when it's all done though. We are still letting the plaster dry in the big bedroom so all the stuff from there is scattered throughout the house still. But at least when all is done, we'll have a much better house. Smallish jobs seem to have piled up into a big mess. So glad that at last it's being done.

tally and worry hope you're ok.

Hi Meerka and good luck with the tiler being less smelly.

I'm doing ok at the moment. Still being sick in the mornings if I get up for work too quickly but in general I'm not too sick now.
I do however have an appt today to talk to physio about possible spd