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

Lastly, the NICE guidelines on treatment are useful:
cks.nice.org.uk/nauseavomiting-in-pregnancy#!prescribinginfosub

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.

Well in back for an update. I survived my cousin's wedding (just) although nearly fainted in the abbey. I have a bad hip so used that as an excuse to sit down lots (took a walking stick).

My parents accomodation was a hundred yards from the reception so nipped off for an hour to have a sleep midway through. All I missed was coffee!

Feeling ok-ish - sickness at bay, and nausea controllable. Am taking full dose of cyclizine so am tired though.

My return to work meeting is tomorrow. I am a teacher and have been off 5 months with the hip. At return to work I'll have to let them know I'm expecting! Bit scared about that. And yes, I know I don't have to but we know how hard it is to hide this sickness don't we? Plus in schools chickenpox and slapped cheek can be prevalent and I don't want to be putting myself and my baby unnecessarily at risk.

Wish me luck!

Good luck Henrietta, and well done re the wedding.

George I've taken antibiotics in pregnancy. All has been fine. Not for a UTI - bronchitis both times - but they are pretty careful about which antibiotics they will give you if you are pregnant.

Re the tiredness, a few people are mentioning it - this is normal, yes? At coming up for 15 weeks I'm still flat out exhausted. If could go for a nap at any point from about 10.30am onwards. I'm not sleeping well at night, and I know that the cyclizine won't be helping, but I had cyclizine with DS2 and don't remember being this level of exhausted (even on my better days, HG wise). I had vaguely been wondering if I should see the GP about this in case something else is causing it.

okla how lovely, to make it to cornwall! even if you can't go doing stuff yoruself, great to see the family. Also I reckon that getting away can really help handling the HG mentally, if it's possible to get away at all. Just something as normal as a holiday and having a scent of a life is so refreshing!

george i get UTIs regularly and had antibiotics for them in preg. As sunny says, they are careful which you get, I was on nitrofurantoin. Def better to have the antibiotics than the UTI, they can be nasty in preg!

I think the bone deep exhaustion is normal? not only are you cooking a baby but the HG itself takes a very heavy toll. You're not getting the normal amount of nutrition and if you can't drink, that screws up the electrolyte balance and makes everything worse. Can always ask the doc to check though, just to be safe.

Good luck tomorrow henrietta

Consultant refused steroids this morning (without ever coming to see me) but I had a total sobbing meltdown in front of everyone for an hour and they agreed to 10mg for a few days. It's not enough to eat properly but I've stopped being sick and managed a bit of custard at lunch - first 'food' (such as it was) for four days. Still on constant drip and max dose ondansetron. Still had max ketones last time they checked. thanks for pms etc, sorry I can't reply properly.

Afternoon everyone

kali sorry you're in hospital again and that they seem to be making life so difficult - so frustrating for you

george I recently had a uti too and was given amoxicillin. Gp said better to treat than not even though I had no symptoms (came up on routine urine dip for ketones) as apparently untreated utis can lead to miscarriage (not trying to scare you!!) so if you're having symptoms the even better to treat I'd say. One thing I did find is that I then got quite bad thrush after a couple of days which was put down to the abx - so worth watching out for that. In future if I have abx whilst pregnant I think I'll ask for thrush treat at the same time to save future calls/trips

henrietta good luck with your meeting. I have to have an occupational health appointment at some point Ipin the next few days, if they ever call me that is lol

AFM - best nights sleep for 4 weeks last night although still did wake up a couple of times it seemed easier to get back to sleep. Had friend over with one of her sons today which has been nice, so lovely to have company!! Still awaiting contact from occy health re: potential return to work next week. Still feeling generally better although still nauseous in between meds but much improved. Haven't been sick for 3 days which is good.
Going to stick with the meds for a few more weeks before attempting any weaning. Might arrange an appointment to discuss this with my gp before I attempt it.

kali why would they refuse you steroids? That sounds awful so sorry. Hope you get some improvement soon.

10 mg has worn off, going to start chucking again just in time for supper on my ward. Great! Pretty grim for the other patients in the room as well, trying to eat. Still four hours to go before they can give me more ondansetron.

Henrietta - good look with return to work. Sure it will all be fine - nothing can be as bad as when I told my head I was expecting trust me. Sure she'll understand and be happy for you. I had to tell my head at 4 weeks because I was that sick. My head teacher said I would be having an occupational health meeting as I've been off work since Easter but I've not heard anything since...

George - I also have had lots of different antibiotics during pregnancy and I panicked and phoned the midwife but she reassured me that doctors will only give you safe antibiotics when pregnant. I've had many uti 's due to dehydration and have group b strep so taking penicillin. You should he ok :-)

Kali - that sounds awful. You really are having a nasty time. Keep positive and you will get through it. Hope they have free tv at your hospital to keep you slightly distracted (rip off at my hospital!!!) when I was in hospital I was still being sick when taking ondansatron so they gave me 2 different ones and alternated every few hours and that helped a bit although I was still vomiting - maybe you could try that. Thinking of you x

Fraggle - sounds like great progress :-) fingers crossed it's onward and upwards for you now :-) hope you manage to get back to work.

Sunnysunday - I'm hoping the tiredness is fairly normal too. I want to sleep all the time and nearly 18 weeks. I think being stuck at home doesn't help though as I'm bored and naturally more tired.

AFM - I've not had the best day. Took a walk over to the park to try and stretch the legs and get some fresh air and ended up vomiting right next to all the families at the park. Very embarrassing!! I managed to get home in time to be sick again. Also, it's quite funny but weird, I've been having dreams every night that I've wet the bed haha and when I wake up desperate for the toilet and have to rush to the bathroom - oh the joy of a weak bladder!!!

Sorry to hear so many people are struggling this week all round.

Kali, I'm genuinely shocked that they are being so funny about steroids for you, I really hope you get some proper medical help soon. You're so brave.

I'm doing ok, knackered, breathless and got heartburn, but nausea is pretty much under control now. Had my appraisal signed off and payrise agreed so will be marginally better off on ML which is always nice

Baby - I've already failed on all the other options. Allergic to metoclopramide after last time, cyclizine made the vomiting worse and stemetil was not doing anything except making me twitch. So max dose ondansetron is all that's left.

As soon as I an out we are going to pay for a private second opinion.

They really put the frighteners on me this morning and made me state for the record I understood there was a risk of disability for the baby. Awful. But I have actually read the papers as has my Dad (retired doctor) so I held firm. Still need more than 10mg though.

No TV at all! Not even a radio. It's a really old ward. There was no room on gynae ward yesterday so in orthopaedic ward. The nurses are really good here though and they have been trying to help me eat by bringing me custard which is all I managed at lunchtime.

Kali
What an absolute farce!
Really hope it gets sorted and a consultant with common sense takes over your care.

Kali
I only managed on 10mg around 26 weeks. In the first tri I needed 15mg three times a day. Dose clearly isn't high enough for you....:-(

Sorry Kali just reading your posts...there is no evidence for disability. There are some ancient animal studies that suggested increased risk of cleft lip and palate. My consultant emailed me one of his papers that summarises all of this and found that there was no risk after five weeks gestation beyond that of the normal population. What do they think people with rheumatoid or Crohn's disease take when pregnant??

Thanks so much for renewed words of 'you're not fraud'.

Kali sorry to hear what a truely awful time you are having. I can't begin to imagine. Well done on staying firm. FX you get some better treatment soon.

Henrrieta good luck with your meeting. Hope the take it all well!

SomeSunny worth checking iron levels perhaps, but it's probably pregnancy + HG + small child + life. Sucks. I thought I felt flat out exhauseted with number 1, then I was even wosre with number 2.

Yesterday and today I have eaten only pears, apples and pringles. Smells aren't getting to me so far which is good, and still no vomiting. But low level nausea now perminant, and stronger waves a plenty! Drinking makes me feel worse today so that's started, but I've been a good girl and drunk stuff any way. Tried to get a doctors appointment this afternoon but none left, will try again tomorrow. I'm still BFing my second so I don't know if that will make getting something trickier (I imagine it is probably very nieve to think that because you can have something whilst pregnant it's also OK for BFing!). Think I'll have to stop soon any way, I don't want her pressing against my tummy. I would like to do a couple more months if I can - she's 15 months and I wanted to get to 18.

I do exam marking 3 times a year, and it's pretty full on with tight turn around when I have it. And of course it is this week. Urgh. Rattling through it but means I can't just go to bed once the kids are asleep, which I would really like to.

Yes the ironic thing is that I HAVE rheumatoid arthritis and my rheumatologist said if I flared in pregnancy steroids were the SAFEST thing to use!! Really odd double standard between different specialties.

Just managed not to throw up this evening but couldn't eat except for a tiny bit more custard. (Custard thing is weird!) Just want to get out as soon as poss now and see someone else. Not sure this consultant will even let me go home on any steroids at all but we'll see.

Kali just adding my voice to the collective sympathy and support. You sound like you really know your stuff, but it's shocking that you have to fight for appropriate treatment.

Flowery and others, thanks for the reassurance re the tiredness. I had iron levels checked at 10 weeks, so 5 weeks ago. I have a consultant appointment in about 10 days, so will ask them to check again at the clinic there. I think it probably is just pregnancy + small children. DS2 still rarely sleeps through the night (maybe once a week) - last night he was up twice, the first time he'd fallen out of bed (he claimed), the second time he needed the loo. So combined with needing the loo myself once or twice a night, DH usually waking me a little when he comes to bed etc, it leads to very broken and unrefreshing sleep. When I was at my parents I was able to compensate a bit with daytime naps, but those have had to stop.

Flowery I am really impressed that you can still contemplate breast feeding. I fed both of mine for quite a long time (15 months and 2+ years) but I stopped both times before I got pregnant again, I just couldn't have faced it. Well done you for being prepared to try!

SomeSunny how old are yours? We've just got DS (4 in August) sleeping through pretty reliably, but only recently! Fortunately DD has been a much better sleeper!

They are 5 and 3 (turned 3 in April). My 5 year old has always been a great sleeper. My 3 year old is immune! I have tried everything, including a professional sleep clinic, but he just doesn't seem to need or want to sleep much. I'm going to have to make a serious effort again once I feel a bit better and before the baby arrives, or I think the lack of sleep might actually break me... At the moment he is sharing a room with DS1, who quite often just deals with him if he wakes in the night (e.g. if he just wants a cuddle or a glass of water), but I'm not sure that that's very fair on a 5 year old, and we're probably going to put them in separate rooms before DS1 starts school in September, so that he isn't having his nights disturbed.

Sunny our son is like that too, still doesn't sleep through at 18 months. We are hoping this baby will be a better sleeper!

Ketones still 3+ this morning and I threw up first thing but I managed a tiny piece of toast.

Kali I'm horrified- don't want to be a pest, but might it be worth your OH ringing the Pregnancy Sickness Support 024 7638 2020 number to see if there's anything that they can suggest about this awful situation when you need meds you're denied? Gentle pats. Thinking of you .

FloweryBoots It is very difficult to breast feed when drinking liquids make you sick- I had the misfortune to be one of the tiny minority to have the vomiting return after the birth and trying to BF, I think due to an infection, but it is so hard and you can get quite dehydrated. Very brave of you to try, as others say.
George Sorry about UTI, they are foul. I'm glad you can get by without anything, it's really unlucky meds make you feel worse.
HenritttaTurkey Well done for wedding and the best of luck for return for work . I hope you and Fraggle are up to it?
BabyButton Sorry about Public Puking in the Park - that is so dismal. Don't let it put you off going - equipped - for walks though it's so horrible.
Lottie Glad nausea under control.
How do people manage with other LO's I will never know. Medals deserved!
Waves to PunkstarLivingzuid and Meerka. Thanks so much for your continuing support.
Sorry if I've overlooked anyone or cross posted...
xx

kali Im horrified too.

Is it worth ringing the consultant at St Thomas' again and laying out the situatoin?

frankly I'd think that by now you are as knowledgeable as the doctors by now in managing HG and your opinion shoudl be listened to with much more respect than it is.

So glad you held strong. Kind of worried for you and the baby.

And just wow at coping with all this and rheumatoid arthritis on top.

flowery sorry to hear about the nausea :( it's the worst thing for most people, unless you're vomitting 20 times a day. \

Oh Kali that sounds utterly miserable. Doctors are supposed to help us. It just isn't right that you're having to fight for drugs when you feel so rough already .

Lottie yay for the pay rise!

Can't remember who else wrote what (my brain is useless these days)

Cornwall is lovely and the weather has been beautiful. Sat on the beach with my dad and watched DH and brothers on sea kayaks yesterday and today chilling out while they all go coasteering. It's nice to be away even if I can't really do anything. The change of scenery is good for the sanity!

Sending postcards and sunshine all round.

okla Cornwall sounds lovely, change of scenery is definitely what the doctor ordered!

Kalidasa I've been in contact with some of the women who run the l organisation PSS, and Amanda Shortman has sent me this message on Facebook.
'I'd be more than happy to chat to her husband on the phone (or speak to her if she feels able to). If I can't help I can always pass it on to one of the medical trustees! But we can't do much without them contacting us so we can get in touch and/or match her up for some one-to-one support from a volunteer.

The helpline is 024 7638 2020 (it's an answerphone - leave a message and I'll call back) or fill in the request for support form at the bottom of this page www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/.../supporte.../

Once we know where she is we can also see if we've had any recommendations of HG friendly drs in her area as well.

In the meantime, you could always direct her to the HG Care Plan if they want to see what kind of options might be considered in treating her HG: www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/.../trying.../

xx