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.

[Newlywed2013]

Thanks ladies, I was on Cyclizine to start with but now on ondansetron which already feeling better since yesterday and taking in more fluid and a little more food! I am back at drs on Monday and if I go down more they want me admitted! I have always been tiny at school I always looked like the undernourished one lol
Also dr gave me another set of meds I case the ondansetron doesn't work so I can move straight onto it without waiting for a gp appointment which is good I suppose.
Might even get out of bed today :-)

[Meerka]

sickness is hovering in a holding pattern, ready to crashland on me when I run out of energy... got far too much to do, really really don't need it. Ho hum. Another day along ... 11 weeks and 4 days to go .....

[PunkStar]

Meerka
HG is pants! Hope it lifts soon...it's just too depressing. I too count the weeks and exact number of days to go!!

Newly
That's great, sounds like they are on the ball. Hope the ondansetron works for you and you can get some nutrition! Was a bit worried.....

Living
Sorry, hadn't seen your post re the weight loss.... :-)
Sounds like your docs are keeping you busy with appointments! Good that they are monitoring things but must be tiring....I'm knackered after a trip to my hospital (own fault as picked a tertiary centre 30 miles away....OH works there so at least he can get to scans with me this time...and HG prof there!)

Hope everyone surviving today! Another week nearly completed.....

[Meerka]

newly very glad to hear you have got stronger meds. Hope you can eat more this weekend

[starrynight123]

I’m so glad I found this thread. At the outset: I don’t have hyperemesis, but I have severe emetaphobia (terror of being sick/nauseous) and for the past 4 weeks I have been at home, being sick every day and horribly nauseous the rest of the time. So much so, that I’ve had to mainly stay in bed because moving around makes me sick. It is living in my own personal nightmare and I can’t cope.

I’m so unhappy and have got to the point where I don’t even want to touch my bump anymore, and spend a lot of my time crying. I try and do bits of work from home to keep my mind occupied but I’m so lonely and utterly miserable and increasingly depressed.

I spoke with my GP and he said that wks 12-14 are usually the ‘peak’ of the nausea and I hope to god he is right for my own sake. I’m in wk12 because I just can’t cope with this anymore. He prescribed me metaclopramide and it is helping a bit but the panic and nausea are still there and I’m still sick every morning.

I appreciate that those of you who are suffering from hyperemeis must think I’m a complete lightweight but this is my idea of pure hell and I don’t know what to do.

[LucindaE]

Starry You poor thing - it's specially awful for you, if you have a fear of being sick. If you are so ill that you are in bed most of the time, it seems the doctor is perhaps saying it's not Hyperemesis too easily. They used to have rigid definitions where people weren't even offered meds until they'd got so ill they'd been put on IV in hospital, but things are meant to be improving but I sometimes wonder! I do know that a fear I had - of would you believe leprosy - vanished forever when I met a man with leprosy and sat down and had a cup of tea with him, so it's very unlucky if after being sick a lot it's frightening for you. Of course, it's nasty - and everybody cringes at having to do it in public - but it can make you feel a bit better, at least temporarily. Is this a stupid suggestion, you probably have tried it - I was wondering if they have some Hypnosis tape somewhere that might help?
There are lots of meds. If metroclopramide doesn't really help, there's a chocie - in fact Ondansetron can stop the vomiting completely, though not the nausea, unfortunately.
With most women the first tri is the worst - things generally get a lot better at some point between fourteen and eighteen weeks. Don't despair; I'm sure with the right support, you can get through this horror.
xx

[starrynight123]

LucindaE Thank you SO much for your response - it means so much to me. I don’t tell people about the emetaphobia because they tend to laugh it off and think I’m being stupid. They have no idea how much it can affect living day-to-day life - I’ve had to have a lot of help from therapists just to get on a bus or train, get in a car, get out of the house, get a job, eat properly... the whole lot. It has been incredibly difficult.

But, for the last few years, things have been improving and I found myself commuting to work on the bus (honestly, never thought I’d ever manage that!)! So, this awful sickness and nausea has completely thrown me and I feel as though I’m back to square one. Not knowing when or even if it will end (obviously after having the baby it will stop but at 12wks, it seems a LONG way off) makes it that bit worse.

I have my first midwife appointment at hospital on Sunday and my first scan on Tuesday. I’m really, really scared about getting there and dealing with the sickness/nausea on the way and while there. Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas about how to make this more bearable? How have others managed this with the sickness/nausea? I’d genuinely and completely appreciate any advice or suggestions at all.

For me, it is about a 40-min to one hour walk away because I can’t use public transport (panic has set in with using this again because of the sickness/nausea) and we don’t have a car. I’m told there can often be delays with appointments so I’ll take a lot of sickbags and wipes but, god, the thought of being ill there makes me shake with fear and cry :-(

[PunkStar]

Starry
I'm so sorry you are feeling so terrible. I have to agree with Lucinda....you may have hyperemesis. Most people who have nausea and vomiting in pregnancy are still able to function normally generally. You also have the added complication of emetaphobia.

Things that can help me...essential oils. I can tolerate lemon or grapefruit. If I encounter any noxious vom inducing smells these can help me.
When I was really bad in all honestly nothing helped. Ondansetron stopped me vomiting for around four days then did nothing. However it generally works really well and this may be a great option for you if your med fails (it is now second line in NICE guidance so this info may help you to persuade your GP to try it)

Now that I am functioning a bit better, being prepared helps. Lots of rest before and after I plan to do anything. Taking a drink (sparkling water helps me but maybe not for everyone) and a salty snack or some fruit, if I get too hungry then I get severe nausea and this can trigger vomiting.

With regards to your low mood...I'm so sorry. In my first pregnancy I cried a lot, especially first tri....I couldn't believe what was happening to me. I understand what you are saying about not even wanting to touch your bump. I wouldn't look at anything baby related until third tri. This is my second HG pregnancy and I don't really think about having a baby or anything related, I just count down the days until delivery.
I bonded straight away with my little boy and just felt so happy that I finally felt normal again. I don't stress about my lack of emotion towards bump this time, this could be just the way I am but I like to blame the HG :-) I know once he's here I'll adore him.
It sounds like you need some extra support, hyperemesis is a very depressing condition (I think whether you technically have hyperemesis or not is irrelevant, the point is you feel poorly and can't function well :-(
Might be worth letting your GP know how rubbish this is making you feel so they can try and help matters. Big hug x

[ChaffinchOfDoom]

Starry

hello. I'm sorry to hear you're suffering so. I had a version of emetaphobia as a child and it turned into a social phobia of eating in public. It still very occasionally rears its head, I dread eating out, for example and really stress over going to dinner parties - and agree the HG makes it entirely worse as the fear is so likely to come true

I think mine stemmed from an experience out at dinner with family when I was about 6 in an old-style Harvester pub - remember them? I think my parents kind of forced me to eat and that triggered it all... anyway. I'm lucky In that I can kind of deep breathe my way through meals

[Meerka]

Hi starry what a horrible situation to be in. if its any help, almost everyone does improve as the weeks goes by.

[livingzuid]

Starry what a awful feeling to have. Chaffinch is right when she says the HG amplifies everything. I had to have my medication increased to handle the increased anxiety and lows I was having. At 12 weeks I point blank refused to get on a bus and DH had to drive me the 5 minutes to the hospital which he didn't at all mind but still I felt ridiculous. I struggle with being out in public which got 100% worse after pg and hg.

Not being in control of our bodies and not being able to enjoy food and drink and having to spend 90% of the time in the loo or prostate on the sofa gets the best of people down! When you have something on top of that it's a real battle but you will get through and it will be worth it :) It will stop soon, mine started easing up around 15 weeks or so. It's there, but much better than before.

My only miracle cure was icy icy cold tap diet coke which gave me a bit of energy and halted the sickness for a few hours but that also had downsides as we aren't supposed to have too much caffeine are we! But it got me through my final few weeks at work and the baby is fine. You could try sipping on one whilst you walk (I did that a few times when I had to go out with the dog). You can have something like 5 cans of coke a day and lucinda has recommended flat coke before. You could just put a straw in a can and sip and stroll. The caffeine should give you a boost to get through the hours.

It should ease off soon and please do go and talk through things with your GP or midwife if you aren't keeping any food down. Good that you are seeing midwife tomorrow, do tell her all and they should be able to help with coping mechanisms and keep an eye on your nutrition. Don't be fobbed off!

Can you cope with sucking sweets at all? Can you cope with a taxi or too bad with your condition? I found barley sugars helped lots but others find sour sweets/Skittles etc all help. I got addicted to fruit Mentoes for a while as well.

Am sure the scan will be brilliant. I was in floods of tears in the waiting room and then front of my consultant at that same point as I was convinced all was terrible (long story), who immediately whipped me in to have a look and reassured me all was ok. It's a magical sight seeing your baby and I think you'll find the journey home so wonderful as you'll be buoyed up by the sight of your little one.

Are you going on your own or is your DH/DP/mum/friend going with you too? It might help to have someone to support you too. The one time I went for a scan on my own I was a total mess so DH was under orders to never let it happen again!

Let us know how you get on, hugs.

[LucindaE]

Starry Lovely advice and encouragement from Chaffinch Meerkaand Punkstar.
It just occured to silly me, I used to have a fear of vomiting picked up from my mother, who probably does have a borderline phobia about it - but because of developing migraines, by the time I had a run in with this fun condition, I had become blase about it. Desensitisation is somehow the key - but how do we get there? I think possibly by concentrating on how you feel after a happy puking session - not in the first thirty seconds, but after that - hopefully a bit better for a little while at least.
Have you got a counselller, still? Surely you should have as you shouldn't have to cope with this fear without.
How is Evreyone today?
xx

[livingzuid]

Prostate or prostrate?! I think I mean the latter!

[LucindaE]

LivingzuidCross posted with your lovely advice for Starry!
xx

[Lauranne]

Hello all,

Hope HG is being kind to you, I haven't been on for a while, because I just haven't had then energy to do anything beyond basic care for my 9 year old. I feel so sad for him. He is autistic so he really doesn't understand at all bless him.
Weight loss is still ongoing, but baby is fine and I seem to have success with fizzy water and rocket lollies, so finally I am keeping some fluid down, which is certainly making me feel a bit better. Food is still not overly something I can tolerate but my little baby seems to be thriving in there so that eases my anxiety somewhat.
New pills yesterday so hopefully they'll start to kick in soon and I'll be able to start eating again.
Hugs to all, x x

[LucindaE]

Lauranne I've been concerned about you, so nice to hear from you.
Glad lollies are helping. It's interesting how many people find different sorts of fizzy water soothing - I vaguely remember putting pinwapple juice in mine someitmes, but at other times that was too acid.
It must be very difficult with an autistic child . What meds are you on now?
xx

[Lauranne]

Ondansetron x with strict instructions to go back Friday if eating semi normally still hasn't been resolved. I really appreciate your concern. In fact everyone irl is being so lovely as well.

I think trying to stay positive is key, it's so hard some days though!

[Lauranne]

I also have domperidone to take in case it doesn't work as I still lost a lot of weight on metaclopramide x

[LucindaE]

Glad they're sitting up and taking notice, Lauranne! Let's hope this stuff works well. My normal question - do you have kesostix to test for dehydration in the meantime?
xx

[Lauranne]

No I don't. Where would I get them from, I am so amazingly clueless! You'd think as this is my second I'd know what I was doing! First HG though so this bit is all new x

[LucindaE]

You're not clueless - they are generally used by diabetics, but very handy for checking urine for dehydration. You can get them from any chemists - and if you get a reading of more than 3+ you are very dehydrated and this is the point at which you need IV in hospital, unfortunately. Can someone get them for you? You can get them online, too,but there might be more of a delay in that.
xx

[ChaffinchOfDoom]

evening all. Hope today went OK.
Another day done.

[emark]

hi, i started a separate thread earlier about the severe side effects i am suffering with cyclizine
does anyone know of any less zombie inducing alternatives that work and will allow me to function even vaguely normally??

[ChaffinchOfDoom]

hi emark if you go back to your doctor there are loads more fun pills to try - hopefully there'll be something suits you better

[emark]

anything specific to ask for?