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.

Just about caught up from my sleeping bag, congrats!! Only sick once today & managed 5 hrs in the car. Moe update tomorrow.... Im at the seaside!!

Hi all,

Thanks for the updates Living, hope you have a nice rest glad you are all doing well.

sass that sounds like an achievement.

I still can't believe there are so many of you that have been through this more than once. I really don't think I can do it again. For those that asked I'm 22 weeks now and due a year after I lost the last one. I'm not hiding my pg as such just not flaunting it. I've only gained 3kg or about half a stone I think I'm still at the just a bit fat stage. I tell people who ask and I'm honest with friends when I've had to dodge social situations and parents know but that's about it.

I'm also not getting brilliant support from dh as you know. He just doesn't understand.The families are all talking long term which is great but if I don't agree with what they want I feel bullied and this is things like buying equipment too early, names and should we have a christening or not. I want to concentrate on me and feeling well and worry about that stuff later. Except the names bit the only person getting a say in that is dh.

My parents arrived yesterday for 2 weeks. Mum bought a load of stuff even though I told her not to and I just couldn't get excited about it and feel really guilty.

Sorry for being self indulgent. I will get over it.

Good luck punk!

Mrsnec you're not being self indulgent, you're being honest about how you feel to people who understand.

Rant as much as you need.

I'm 19 weeks so just a few behind you and can totally relate. I was talking to DH last night and he is struggling to get excited too. He was saying how worried he is that we're going to survive the HG and then suddenly get a baby which we are totally unprepared for as neither of us can really engage with it yet as it's just day by day survival.

I'm lucky in that he is amazingly supportive but I'm worried that none is looking out for him.

It's so difficult when other people are excited and buying things and you go through the motions of pretending but it's just not the same.

It's not being self indulgent mrsnec, the way your feeling makes sense to me, you don't want to get ahead of yourself in case you're hurt again. I haven't been through mc so I can only imagine how awful it is. Maybe have a chat to dh about how you're feeling about it as he ought to say something to the parents if it's making you uncomfortable.

Well done sasseh, that's quite an achievement, I don't think I could cope with 5hrs in a car even now!

mrsnec Hugs. It's not right you feel bullied by family members about plans. About lack of understanding from DH, that is unfortunately typical, sometimes they understand a little better if told repeatedly - until it sinks in - that it is like a violent stomach bug that goes on and on and on, but from what I've seen the ones who can really empathize are in the minority, and it doesn't help if family and outsiders give brisk advice.
Now, the spotlight is on the lovely. Punkstar...
xx

MrsNec I feel so much for you. That's terrible. HG just really disassociates you from feeling pregnant and the baby sometimes (it did for me, both occasions) the last thing you need is people forcing all that crap down your throat.

I'm only just really appreciating there will be a baby on Monday, I've just been so ill that all I could focus on was the day I would feel better.

I survived my first pregnancy because my Mam was just so supportive, even though everything I was saying was so alien to her....
We're in your corner, you're not being self indulgent....that's why we are here.

Living I am just so so relieved for you. YOU DID IT!!!!!!

Right, I am going to pack my hospital bag today :-)

Punkstar Cheering you on!You said a bit back that nothing solid was staying down - that was so horrible so late on - how are things now?
Some Sunny Congratulations on surviving that trip. I hope sandwich bags not needed on it? I too, went on school trips to Llandudno and Colwyn Bay, though it was only a short journey from the Clwyd Valley.

Here's the updated list.

DueDates
Punkstar 2 June
DiddyBeth 12 June
SliceofLime 2 August
IWorry 8 August
Starry 12 August
What 14 August
Lottie 12 September
Booboostoo 14 September
mrsb87 29 September
mrsnec 1 October
George by the Sea 6 October
Pickofthepops 7 October
Oklahoma 28 October
Mampam 17 November
Sassehmonsta 15 December
SomeSunnySunday 24 December
Sarah 29 December
Kalidasa 28 January

Curls and Henriettaturkey and others, have we lost you on our move?
xx

Sorry, Somesunny and Sassehmonsta mixed up names! Brain not working as usual.
xx

Thanks for the catch up, Lucinda! 6+6 today and, while I've managed to keep everything down so far, I feel much more sick today - previously it was nausea, but this feels more significant, iykwim.

Will call GP for emergency appt on Monday as when I tried to book one last week they offered me next Thursday!

Booking in with midwife on Monday pm but seem to remember they can't prescribe?

Any tips on what to say to GP other than 'I had HG last time and feel awful already, can I have some anti nausea tablets, please?'

...oh yes and edd is 18 January.

HenriettaTurkeyWelcome to new thread It'd be a case of 'Do as I say, not as I did' with me, as I drew such a blank with my GP when I suffered myself. What meds were you on last time, and did any work? That might be a starting point, and if you didn't escape admission, your concerns about dehydration. I'm sure you've got those kesostix in. It's pretty bad they wanted to keep you waiting so long, that does make me cross.
Do you feel bad enough yet to need an advocate? It's so difficult talking when you feel as if you'll be sick any moment.
Added you to dates list.
xx

DueDates
Punkstar 2 June
DiddyBeth 12 June
SliceofLime 2 August
IWorry 8 August
Starry 12 August
What 14 August
Lottie 12 September
Booboostoo 14 September
mrsb87 29 September
mrsnec 1 October
George by the Sea 6 October
Pickofthepops 7 October
Oklahoma 28 October
Mampam 17 November
Sassehmonsta 15 December
SomeSunnySunday 24 December
Sarah 29 December
HenriettaTurkey 18 January
Kalidasa 28 January

Lucinda I've now had three days on the trot with no vomiting!!! I can't believe it. I think much of it was my own doing....trying to do too much. Rest really does seem to make a difference so I've kept a quiet diary this week, in laws are here and have removed any additional stress by helping out around the house and with The Little Boy.
I took ondansetron for a few days too which seemed to stop the vom cycle in its tracks. I still take 7.5mg of pred which allows me to eat small amounts and have a four day reducing regime post delivery. So, I think at this stage I'm now doing as well as I could expect to.
Bit of emotional trauma though :-( it's my Mam's birthday tomorrow and then with the thought of CS on Monday without her being around this time is pretty tough. She would be so excited and so relieved for me. I enjoy the coincidence of their birthdays so close though :-)

Thanks, Lucinda. Last time I was on cyclizine, which I thought did nothing, until I missed a dose and felt even worse. They weren't prepared to go any stronger than that.

They wanted to admit me but I got a bit stroppy and refused (not sure why...hormones maybe!) If it comes to it this time I won't refuse - as I have a toddler so the quiet may help.

I am just resting as much as possible today and DH will hopefully come with me to GP if I am feeling unable to communicate properly - he was great last time, when I got really teary.

Hi henrietta

you should be able to get something stronger than cyclizine. It's a good starter, but there's a lot more available. Possible to see another doctor? The NICE guidelines (lucinda posted the link at the top) can give you an idea what to ask for.

Regarding admissions, they don't usually talk of admissions unless there's a medical necessity for it. Food is not so important as liquid. If you have the Ketostix that lucinda mentoined, those will let you monitor your own liquid / dehydrations.

Hope you are feeling a bit better ...

living how are you and Daisy and Mr Zuid doing today? :)

Im starting to wonder about PND. Been sure I havent had it but some of the thigns written here seem rather familiar. Oddly enough more with our first son than with this one, but having this baby seems to have brought a lot back from the first. the difficulty bonding - i put that down to physical weakness and that must have been a lot of it but Im wondering about the mental side too now. He's suffered for it, poor beautiful little boy that he is now. And i cant get that time back, I cant re-do it and do it better.

A lot of what you say resonates kalidasa. loving the baby but not being able to take any joy or enjoyment in him. Its easier with this baby becuase I am physically better and getting way more practical support. Taking it much easier and expecting less of myself.

its the mental side. the sadness over the lost time with our first son, who was so very much wanted. Feeling terrible about the black meltdown and the awful things I was feeling and saying, my husband was in tears. Feeling ashamed. Once they realised the situatoin was actually serious the medicos were great, but I wish they'd listened earlier when I told them I couldnt cope any more.

The 'it'll all be worth it' makes me feel terrible. Because knowing what I know now, I couldn't do it again. To be quite honest I've been drinking more than I should, 2-3 glasses of wine a night and I'm bfíng so its a real no - no. Its a sort of reactoin to the last 9 months. I have flagged it up to the health visitor, becuase I know it's not right. I just can't help it atm.

I'm going to get help.

Meerka You mustn't be ashamed, the horrible thoughts are typical, I think when really suffering we all have them If we got sent to prison for what we thought, and sometimes said in anger, we'd all be inside! It's PTS also, what women get afterwards, I suppose, as it's like being in a veteran, only it's not understood properly by most people yet. I'm not sure how much you can drink when b/feeding - I thought a couple of glasses of wine wasn't too bad but you'll know better than me with the latest advice - it's really sensible of you to take advice. PM me whenever, though I won't be as much use as Kalidasa because she suffered so badly and recently. Hugs.
Punkstar Good news it's a little bit better.
HenriettaTurkey Some GP's do refuse to go beyond cyclazine but there's a lot more safe drugs as Meerka says, so if they insist on starting with that again and it isn't helping enough don't hesitate to ask for more.
I bet I've cross posted...
xx

meerka if you feel the drinking is a sign that you are struggling you are probably right. But I wouldn't worry too much about two glasses of wine while breastfeeding in itself. The fuss about drinking and breastfeeding has been hugely overdone I think, the amount that reaches the milk and therefore the baby is really tiny. I can't remember the stats but I have seen sensible posts on this on the breastfeeding board here I think. I think in your situation the more significant issue is that although alcohol helps you relax - which is an important factor, a drink can be a great help sometimes - it is also quite a powerful depressant. That's why I hardly drink at all, I know that for me it is usually not worth it mood-wise unless I am on a very even keel already. If you are feeling you "need" a few drinks every evening then I think you probably need more help than you are getting.

One thing that I found very useful about my mother-infant therapy sessions it that they helped me to realise that the HG and the general trauma of the pregnancy (I was in a wheelchair with SPD by the end as well) as a big factor but it wasn't the only one. There was a lot coming up about my own relationship with my mother and quite deep-seated anxieties about mothering and identity in general, I had to work hard to be affectionate with DS and I felt self-conscious and unnatural doing it to start with. I still notice that my mother is embarrassed by it which I think tells you all you need to know! It is normal for these things to be stirred up hugely by becoming a mother yourself - personally I think this is the explanation for most PND, I don't really buy the hormonal thing as the chief reason, although of course anti-depressants are a lot cheaper than therapy and support. I can imagine that a second baby will in turn be reactivating a lot of this + all your memories and sadness about the first experience.

Do PM if you'd like.

meerka sounds like you are getting some good advice, definitely ask for real life help if you need it too. Sometimes just the step of asking for help and sharing the problem helps in itself.

punk hope Monday goes really well. I loved my elective section, such a calm and happy experience.

That's all I can type today, feeling absolutely hellish and confined to bed between vomiting sessions. Just had a couple of much better days, so I suppose it was inevitable.....

I'm back

My sickness disappeared for two days and I felt totally normal again but it's back.

I'm so very sad and feeling sorry for myself.

Will have to go back to try doctor for more time off work.

I also have low blood pressure and very dizzy with fuzzy vision - does anyone else have this?

Oh dotty yes, I have low blood pressure too, at booking on Thursday it was 102/50, which is fairly typical for me. I keep getting awful dizzy spells. One evening last week my parents had had to go out, leaving me to put DS2 to bed, and I had such a mad dizzy / blurry spell that I thought I was going to have to call their neighbour to come and help. I was terrified I'd pass out and leave a 3 year old effectively on his own. It passed, but for a good half hour I just had to sit still on the sofa.

Sorry you're feeling sick again. I'm having a pity party about this too, I had 2 much more manageable days, and now I'm back to feeling about as bad as I can imagine.

Thanks sunday I feel so bad for my 16 month old- he's getting no attention at all from me as I just have no energy. DH is having to do everything.

Yes I get low blood pressure and accompanying dizziness! Not fun. DH is used to me suddenly grabbing his arm when we are out and about and I've just stood up. Makes me feel about 95!

Worth asking though are you on Cyclizine dotty? It gave me blurred vision which was a lot like the low blood pressure blurred vision, it's reduced so much since I stopped taking it.

Went out to the shops today and blimey the stench of the fridge section in waitrose nearly had me puking on the floor, it took every inch of will power I had not to puke. Got my GTT test on Monday and not sure how I'm going to manage to drink the lucozade without puking, I don't like it at the best of times, any suggestions?

Dotty I had ridiculously low BP last preg, 80/50 odd constantly felt terrible, the steroids have raised it this time but thankfully just to a normal level.
I get blurry floaters in my vision , did in last preg then just disappeared, hoping does so this time too.
I felt dizzy at the start when I'd lost a lot of weight but not anymore, thankfully. Could be any number of things...dehydration, low BP, low haemaglobin. Did you mention it to MW?

Meerka it's hardly surprising that so many of us struggle afterwards. Our bodies have no reserve left, we are dealing with the aftermath of HG, sleep deprivation and breastfeeding when our bodies are minds are still recovering.
Look after yourself and get help early. I hope you can get the support you need easily in NL...

Just had a vomit, I only announce it as potentially it could be the last one!!!!!!

Hi ladies, sorry the thread dropped off my list and I have been hiding away for a few days nervously awaiting a scan.

Firstly huge congratulations to living enjoy every minute with your lovely girl :)

Hi to everyone else, sorry to hear about those who are struggling, it's difficult to hear about those struggling post-pregnancy. My best friend is struggling with PND 3 weeks after having her little boy. She had a perfect pregnancy but traumatic birth and is generally feeling a failure. It's so hard to see her so sad and I'm taking some time off work to help her this week as her DH has to work. I hope I can be there for her and try to be understanding.

Anyway as for me I am still struggling with sickness, I feel the cyclizine is working although I'm still sick a few times a day it's usually just in the mornings. I think I can live with this for the moment, if I get too tired I've had bad days so I'm not doing anything except working and sleeping. DH has taken over dog walking and house duties, I'm so glad I don't have other children, I don't know how those with children can cope.

We paid for a private scan yesterday and everything looked good. I'm now 9+5 so it looked quite baby like and was wriggling away. I felt I couldn't last until 12 weeks feeling like shit and it could all be for nothing. I actually feel excited about this pregnancy now rather than just terrified and sick. We are still going to wait until 12 weeks to tell anyone, no one knows at the moment. My mum and friends think something is up as I haven't seen them for weeks but I'm sure they will all understand when I tell them. I haven't been ready to deal with other people being excited while I have felt so terrible.

Anyhow nice to check in, love to all those struggling

Dotty While I stopped at one myself, I do know from the experiences of women on these threads and other websites that the LO's soon bounce back after a period of slight neglect - so don't worry too much; small children are far more reseliant than we are, partly because they forget easily and don't have the same way of thinking! Sorry you feel bad again - at least everyone here understands!
Sarah Glad you've caught up with us too. Sorry about bad few days.
I'm glad it is 'only' in the mornings - but I do think bile runs are the worst, are you having those? Everyone.
Punkstar I do hope that puke you mnetioned was the last!
HopeEveryone is managing today.
xx