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.

[LucindaE]

Petitlapin Cross posted, oh no, you poor thing, that Bile Run is the worst way to start a day. (offers an anxious pat).
xx

[livingzuid]

Ah thanks everyone, and chaffinch that's OK I don't mind talking about it. Not many people in rl know I have bipolar so this is therapeutic to be able to be so open :) Rationally I know that it will all be fine and the baby won't care so long as she gets some form of food from someone just another one of those preconceptions that I am going to have to drop. I am sure I have so much more of that to come, starting off bright eyed and bushy tailed about routines and food and activities to do (currently looking into parent and baby art classes haha) and then reality will sink in hehe.

The other sad thing is that she may get lithium withdrawal and howl lots as it leaves her bloodstream as I have taken it during pg. Again rationally I know it's fine and I am on a low dose and she won't remember, so chances of that are low. But it breaks my heart that even before I begin I might have hurt my baby in some way! I guess that worry never will stop though!

My mum wants to come for a visit but I am feeling very antisocial at the moment. How to tell her I want some peace and quiet also not sure I want visitors in the first couple of weeks. Unless she comes with my stepdad and makes a holiday of it I think we'd rather be alone! Dh said he's going to keep his parents at bay as well for a few days.

Sleep would be nice, woke up at 4 with nausea and made DH get me more milk at 6. Am having a day in bed today with my new book.

jen bet you can't wait, how exciting to only be 9 days away.

Ooh nom nom scampi and chips with tartar sauce meerka where can I buy some sauce! But worry you aren't hopeless. Do you think you might have a touch of pre natal depression? My friend had this and sounded similar to you. Was miserable. Perhaps talk this through with your Gp or midwife?

meerka that's rubbish. How many weeks now to go?

petit great news on the abcess clearing up, what a relief for you.

OK going to try out the natal hypnotherapy Cd. If the baby lets me listen and achieve zen without kicking too much! She's so active this morning.

[LucindaE]

Petitelapin I hope you're feeling better after that dismal start to the day?
LivingzuidHugs. It can't be helped, and as you say, she won't remember. I'm sure for a lot of babies being born is a nasty experience, anyway. It seems to take them a few days to get used to the world.
Everyone I hope this will make you laugh - ridiculous accident. Annoyed with OH, I marched into the bathroom fuming this morning, and managed to drop my bra down the lav . I may be a feminist, but that is the stereotypical 70's image...
xx

[Iworrymyselftosleep]

living DP asked today if I was depressed. Im not sure. Im certainly having a bad few days. Ds excelled himself today and not in a good way. Hes going to bed soon and I dont care how early it is. I guess my feeling is that Im certainly down, but it seems reasonable to be in the circumstances. I have an out of control three yo and so much to sort out. I need to sort out ds preschool after we move and I have no idea where we're moving to or when it'll be possible to move except it has to be before the baby comes. Dp crashed n possibly wrote off the car this week . Its all piling up .

Sorry I'm not much fun at the moment.

[livingzuid]

Big hugs worry you have a huge amount going on and with this bloody sickness and pg hormones it's easy for it to feel out of control and helpless. It may just be worth discussing your feelings with Gp or midwife to make sure there is nothing more sinister going on. And it always helps to offload to someone in rl and we are always here!

at your car oh no. Is dp going to get that all sorted so you don't have to with the insurance company?

And can anyone give you a break for the day from your toddler? Lots of non alcoholic

[LucindaE]

Iworry Oh, no! Lot's of stress and bad luck at once. Fate seems to be picking on you, so moan all you like, you've got every right. Cyber pats/hugs always on offer.
xx

[livingzuid]

It's just I was ranting and raving 2 weeks ago at my Dr who said hmm we need to up your dosage which I didn't want to do but it made me feel better once the medicine kicked in. I thought it was hormones and money worries and blah blah but I was bordering on per natal depression. So just made me wonder if it's worth you having a chat.

[livingzuid]

And the is for you not the toddler doh

[petitlapin1]

Thanks for all the kind thoughts ladies. Kept about a pint of water down in total so far today. Have actual leaving the house plans for tomorrow with best friend so hoping I can get a bit more down before bed!

Looking at the funny side today. Best friend has suggested a comedy "little book of vomit". Ribena red, port pink, watsits orange, bile yellow, metoclopramide blue etc. Lacking a green to complete the rainbow page! Also noticed on bad day vomit is layered, which always make it a bit more interesting in a gruesome sort of way.

Ignored Missed a call from perinatal mental health team today as I was in bed depressed which came up as an unknown number which normally means a call from work. Hopefully they'll have an appointment for me next week on a day that's not my gtt nor health visitor introduction session nor the day i've agreed to babysit for a couple of hours!

iworry I second getting an opinion from midwife or gp about the depression. If you get prenatal depression then you get more support to ward off post natal depression I think.

living I wondered if I should invest in the natal CDs, are they any good?

Was it meerka who posted the funny birth stories thread link earlier? It's keptmme giggling mostnmof the day, thanks.

[jenpatnim]

Iworry, you are definitely having a tough time. I hope you can get the move sorted easily enough - are you staying the general area?
Also the car thing is a complete nightmare, but let DP sort it out. Just try to take it as easy as you can...

Everyone else, .... sigh. What can I say that hasn't been said? I am defintely depressed, but I am trying to not let it show too much.

[whatareyoueventalkingabout]

hi everyone. Have been quiet as have spent the last five days vomiting.

Was sent home from work today by HR and told to be sick or work from home tomorrow and then work something out for the future. Cried all the way through the appt, came home, slept, and then had a week when my little one came to say goodnight.

I am struggling to think of anything I want to eat AT ALL. can anyone help me? everything I would normally turn to is turning my stomach :-(

[PunkStar]

IWorry
Sounds like you are having a rough time :-(
I feel quite low most days but I have help everyday with my 18 month old which gives me chance to recuperate from the 6am start
..I would not be able to physically cope with him alone, so managing a three year old and having HG is impressive. I think you're right, under the circumstances it's pretty normal to feel depressed. I've not sought any help but have been talking to my Da about it and OH. I've found this has helped me to start dealing with it. Hope you have lots of home support but MW and GP are there to help too.
Big hug, you are not alone, hope you have some brighter days.....

[PunkStar]

What
Ahhhh I still struggle with food... Cereal and toast are okay for me. It's hard because I think the food thing is pretty personal. I can manage things like yoghurt but I'm preferring mousse at the minute (not something I normally eat) some crisps are okay too. Jacket pots too!
When I really couldn't manage anything I would have smoothies made from fresh fruit and milk, OH would chuck some protein powder/whey in for extra nutrition.
Hmmm hope the suggestions haven't made you sick...I feel a bit queasy writing them and they are my safe foods!!

[ChaffinchOfDoom]

smoothies
melon
ice pops
toast
random stuff that crazily takes your fancy - go with it ie tartare sauce
yogurt & bit of cereal thrown in
crisps
chips, frozen cooked stuff ie shicken nuggets
sandwiches? ham and mustard
tomatoes dipped in salt
celery with peanut butter squidged in and raisins dotted down = ants on a log
dairylea on ryvita
crackers with butter


I could not eat grapes - still can't
pizza makes me feel ill - too rich

I like green olives

[ChaffinchOfDoom]

savoury biscuits with bits cheese

crème caramel desserts

crusty bread toasted

I struggle with vanilla ice cream - it tastes very chemical to me now
Love vienetta though

breadsticks and chive dip
cottage cheese
baked potato
beans & sausages in a tin

[ChaffinchOfDoom]

oh yeah - bought pre-packed sandwiches / pasta salad - very tasty and no prep sickness - just pure eating

[Newlywed2013]

Hi ladies!
Still struggling away but got given new anti sickness meds today and managed some dinner! Worried about my weight loss! Lost 6kg in month (I am 9+5) and now only weighing 42kg! Hubby freaked out last night when I let him cuddle me as I am just bones! He does everything for me including helping me in and out the bath as I just have no energy! Had scan on Monday and baby doing great which is a relief! Hope these new meds work!

[whatareyoueventalkingabout]

Wowee newly wed I weigh about twice as muh as you so and this is getting me down so I can't imagine how you feel. Hopefully some of the amazing suggestions above will help you too x

[livingzuid]

Nutella on white toast was all I could eat for ages. Still is my breakfast. Or when I was feeling faint a teaspoon tablespoon of Nutella. And icy cold water. Ice helped a lot. And diet coke.

Great news on the medicine what glad it is making a difference.

newly don't worry about the weight loss I think the baby lives off other things stored in the liver or something? At the height of my upchuckingness Dr's were supremely unconcerned and said not to worry about any weight loss just keep liquids down. Are you on medication yet?

Two awful nights of sleep in a row. I think I am coming down with a cold. Gynaecologist today. The irrational fear of something being wrong returns again. And I will get a BP check hope it has not risen again.

[Meerka]

everyone seems to be having a hard time at the moment :s newlywed that weight loss seems pretty extreme. As living said they don't usually bat an eyelid at weight loss on its own but if you're 42kilos you can't have any to spare at all!

living hope you feel better after the gyne ... always reassuring to hear that things seem ok.

doomfinch's advice is great, there's maybe a couple of other suggestions here Great site that, and really really great people on the end of the helpline. Well, when they ring you back.

The dreadful taste in my mouth and the saliva is rather better now here, but the nausea and sometimes vomitting is returning specially in the evenings :s I'd hoped for a few more weeks before the end-is-in-sight HG returning. living i find if I don't sleep well, which I often don't, the sickness is always far worse the day after :( We have builders and plasterers doing work too, just all feels a bit much atm.

[livingzuid]

Oh and petit yes I recommend the cds just look on Amazon for them. They are by Maggie Howell. I am only on the first one but definitely feel better after listening to it. It's around 25 minutes which is about right.

[LucindaE]

Newlyweid I'm not surprised you are both concerned - mother hen is dismayed - what do the medics say about such a weight loss? I'm glad you managed to eat something yesterday. What are the new meds?
Petitlapin
Looking at the funny side today. Best friend has suggested a comedy "little book of vomit". Ribena red, port pink, watsits orange, bile yellow, metoclopramide blue etc. Lacking a green to complete the rainbow page! Also noticed on bad day vomit is layered, which always make it a bit more interesting in a gruesome sort of way. I can add a green - I used to drink tea, made with fresh mint. Usually soothing, but once I found a snail I'd accidentally boiled up in it - and I hope hearing about that doesn't make people feel as ill as the sight of it made me.
What I'm amazed you are at work at all - you shouldn't be struggling on, honestly - I don't know how people manage to go in at all. About the 'F' word - food - I think my own staples, crisps, chips and flat full sugar coke flat have been mentioned, plus jelly and ice lollies if they can even be called food, but good for liquid. Barley sugar, too - tinned fruit- as others say, baked potatoes,the only healthy part of a really disgusting diet! This was all washed down with Lucozade or IronBru. I sometimes found the more expensive (for some reason,it may be purer or something) strawberry or fudge ice cream OK. It's so hard to find anything, I know. Things will get better. Oh dear, HR don't need to tell you to 'be sick' for sure...
IWorry I hope no bile runs this morning?
Mereka How is the sickness today, silly question?
Hugs to Livingzuid and Everyone. This will honestly seem like a distant nightmare,and you will be posting happy news to encourage a new group of poor sufferers in the not so distant future, though it seems an age away to you now. in the throes of this
xx

[PunkStar]

Newly
Weight loss is actually a significant indicator for hyperemesis severity and is important. More than 5% weight loss can be an indication for steroids if all other treatments have failed (I'd been on four including ondansetron. My significant weight loss is why I was commenced on prednisolone, in the US they also use PICC lines for artificial nutrition)

Nice guidance suggests if more that 5% weight loss then your GP needs to discuss with secondary care if they haven't done so already.

If you have a lot of reserve then it may not matter so much but you don't and persistent weight loss especially if losing it quickly can lead to deficiencies, thiamine being the most important. If your body is burning off your fat stores as energy rather than carbohydrate (because you're not consuming any) this can also lead to you having excessive ketones in your system. Check with ketostix.

Definitely keep an eye on your weight, I was very frail and dizzy from malnutrition rather than dehydration and I think some clinicians forget how important this is. I went through hell in my first pregnancy because I could just about keep myself hydrated but no one cared that I was losing a lot of weight. This time I've seen doctors who know their stuff and it's made the torture more bearable.
Hope the treatment your on starts to help soon :-)

[PunkStar]

Are you on pregnacare? This has thiamine in. I had to break it up into little bits to manage it though....

[livingzuid]

newly, punk is correct sorry my post was a bit misleading. I thought you had been to drs already. Seeing as I am now 95 kilos I'm not the best person to advise on weight. Am sure all will be OK though just keep nagging to be seen and get the right medications to control the sickness. Mine started working straight away which is why they weren't bothered I guess.

lucinda baby is fine, blood pressure has gone down but something up with my liver. More tests called for. But could be due to my lithium dose being increased. I'm in that hospital so many times a week right now.

meerka hugs.