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.

Hi again, Lucinda, I have 2 boys now, the hyperemesis only happened with DS1. With DS2 I only threw up 1-2 times the entire pregnancy and didn't get the crippling nausea either. Everyone was sure it was a girl because of the difference, but I didn't think so!

Unfortunately SPD and carpal tunnel struck both times, but at least 2nd time around I knew how to handle it. If I'd known I wouldn't have hyperemesis the 2nd time, I probably would have had DS2 a year earlier --we were undecided because pregnancy no 1 was such a nightmare.

Hello everyone. You'll all be incredibly surprised to hear that I'm still in hospital and still throwing up. In fact I threw up all my morning meds today, always a good start. I think they are going to let me try going home soon, mostly as a morale boost, I don't think anyone is very sure I'll actually manage off the drip. 14 weeks today!

Good news okla - it really is true that the baby takes what it needs regardless. I haven't been able to eat meat for months- serious vomit inducing aversion. ... And yet doc said yesterday that my iron levels are really good! I'm not even eating iron rich cereal or managing the pregnacare vits very often, it doesn't make much sense!

I've also had a GTT, - honestly it was a gruelling endurance test but it wasn't quite as bad as I had feared and you will get through it mam

Good luck with the lactulose frenetic

I've found myself looking after teenage girls with some serious emerging MH issues today, (don't ask how, very long story!). It makes me worry a lot about our baby's coming into a world that puts such unreasonable pressure on young people .

Fingers crossed for a date for the CS tomorrow!

kali sorry, accidentally missed you off! and the usual commiserations, 14 weeks is a massive achievement, well done! When did you start seeing gradual improvement last time?

kali 14 weeks is a brilliant achievement!- well done!! I hope you get to go home for a few days at least. Following lottie when did you start to see some improvement in your last pregnancy? You are getting closer and closer to it every day.

lottie good luck with getting a cs date tmrw!

I think the underlying condition actually has improved fractionally in the last week or so - just not enough to get out of hospital! To be honest I'm trying not to compare to my last pregnancy too much as it has been a lot worse at every stage and my last experience was bad enough. Earlier on we were using the last time as a guide and it ended up being a bit demoralising!

Kali you are doing so well, I really hope you get a little break from hospital soon and can go home for a few days x

Fair enough Kali, you are doing so well, 14 weeks is great, even though it still feels pretty crap, you've done so much of the slog already.

I've had my appointment and got my date! The baby will be born on 8th! So relieved to have an end to the endless conversations and feeling good about the decision made!

Thinking of everyone.

iworry biggest congrats! I had the bonding thing too but it's worked out absolutely fine.

jiminy if you're still reading this, suggestyou go to the doctor and plan out treatment ahead of time for if the HG hits. And if you aren't taken seriously then you know ahead of time and can look for another doctor now. Early meds make quite a difference and can prevent it getting worse. Read up the websites that Mother Hen posted above and collect all the useful tips there that you can on meds. Metoclop. is far from the only one.

I'd also say try to put weight on before you start ttc. Not the usual thing you want to be doing but eating very healthily and getting good nutrition into you will help your stamina in the months when your body will be being drained. ALso get as fit as you can.

Set up childcare arrangements, you can't look after a child if you've got bad HG, its simply impossible. Was your partner and family supportive last time?

starry best of luck tomorrow!!!

kali still thinking of you every day and wishing you kind nurses, a peaceful ward and the chance to come home.

< waves to okla and mother hen and everyone>

Ugh. Just got back from getting my final lot of blood tests done. Was sick in the cab and street on the way there which was not nice and ended up walking for 45mins or more to the hospital because I felt too nauseous to get in another taxi. But, I'm back home now and pretty exhausted. Not how I'd planned to spend my last day of pregnancy!!! Oh well!

Thanks meerka!

Sooo, the lactulose did the trick. DH was in hysterics - I left the toilet like a new woman... beforehand I was moaning, lethargic, tearful and pale (apparently). I almost danced into the living room having had a very successful, uhm, evacuation! I don't know if that's helped, but I've felt ok today, haven't needed any Ondansetron (yet, it's still early for me!)

12+2, approaching a corner, maybe. Just maybe. Hope others are having a good day! - although not the best day for you by sounds of it starry, big hugs!

Kalidasa \you poor thing - but I do hope it is getting a tiny bit better and as others say, you are being wonderful.
Starry That sounds awful, especially for you. Much sympathy.
Okla Lottie Frenetic and Basgeti Great news of various sorts.
YankNCock That's an amazing difference between pregs. I hope this is a little easier.
Mampam Sorry about continuing nausea, lovely to hear from you.
Meerka Waves.
Apologiesto anyone rudely overlooked. Still not used to new pc.
xx

Best of luck today!!!!!!

Hi thank you for all the words of encouragement re: GTT. I know it's just something that I will have to get through.

frenetic so glad to hear the lactulose worked for you and that you feel like a new woman. It's amazing how satisfying a poo can be especially when bunged up!!

kali so sorry you are still in hospital, you are one strong lady, hope things start to improve really soon.

Lottie congrats on getting your CS date.

Does anyone suffer from reflux or heartburn? If so, I'm just wondering what you eat that doesn't affect it too much? I'm finding my slice of toast in the mornings is even setting it off so I need to find alternatives and ideally ones that will keep me going between meals as I'm finding I can't eat much as I feel so full all the time (maybe I need some lactulose frenetic ).

OUT OF HOSPITAL! Not sure if I'm going to be able to stay out to be honest but it's wonderful to try at least. I am 14 weeks and 2 days now and since my first admission at exactly 7 weeks I have only been at home for ten days (in two short patches). Was really beginning to think I would never get out of there.

I feel v rough to be honest and I'm not sure I'm going to be able to drink enough. I'm also still 7 kg lighter than when I got pregnant - they managed to stop me losing in hosp but I haven't gained any and the nutritionist said a kilo or so will be fluid from the constant drip so I may drop again now I'm out. She still thinks I should be being tube fed but the docs seem to think I'm getting just about enough in. My insides are still not working normally at all, my body seems to have forgotten how digestion is meant to work.

Still, for the weekend at least I am out. Hurrah!

Looking forward to exciting birth announcements on this thread soon.

hiya mampam :) can you manage gaviscon do you think, or Maalox? both help. If they'll stay down.

kalidasa lovely news :) even if you feel like hell, lovely to be home for a bit! I hope that you get a break and can enjoy it. Long distance, non-nausea making hug.

wonder how starry is =)

Yay kali that's great news, hope you manage to enjoy at least a little time at home.

starry thinking of you!

Just need a hand to hold please, feeling low. I'm currently on 4mg of Ondansetron 3x a day. It controls probably 80% of my vomiting so allows me to stay hydrated. I still spit constantly and have constant nausea which makes it difficult for me to eat as I have no appetite, but I'm trying hard to eat small amounts every few hours.

This is all as long as I sit at home and do nothing. Any exertion sets me off. Yesterday I had to go to hospital for my 12w scan (at 13w) and although the scan itself lifted me a little, the two hours out of home meant that I spent the evening vomiting, very tired with a terrible headache.

I saw a locum GP today to ask if I could try a higher dose, as last night clearly shows that I am unable to consider going back to work on the current medication, or doing anything at all really. The GP was unhelpful and suggested biscuits, and then offered a sick note which I already have. I said that what I wanted was to be able to take my daughter to the park like a normal person, and that I was simply asking to trial a higher dose to see if it would make it possible for me to function. The GP refused saying that the NICE guidelines have no information on prescribing it in pregnancy. I pointed out information from PSS and the HER Foundation which didn't help. I left so upset that my Mum (bless her) called the surgery to complain and spoke to a senior partner who said if I needed more medication he would have to admit me to hospital. I don't have ketones so I highly doubt the hospital would take me. I don't know where to go from here. I feel like I'm just a vessel and my mental health and well being don't matter. The GP said to me that if my vomiting is controlled enough for me to be hydrated then that's good enough. Do they really think staying in the house doing nothing but feeling guilty for not playing with my daughter is good enough psychologically?

Hoping for a good day for everyone else and hugs to those who need them x

Sorry to hear this likesilver - you can take up to 8mg of ondansetron three times a day, so that's double the dose you're on, though I understand that the GP may not feel very confident about supervising this as it is usually prescribed by a hospital doctor. The other possibility would be to combine your current dose of ondansetron with another antiemetic which you could take between times, a lot of people find cyclizine + ondansetron a good combination, or metoclopramide. Even if you tried one of these earlier and it didn't work very well, it may be effective now alongside the ondansetron. I think you need to go back - perhaps to a different GP - and stress that you are at risk of developing antenatal depression and that your quality of life and ability to function is being seriously impaired. Sometimes there really is nothing they can do to make you feel well enough to be up, bit you have definitely not exhausted the options. I am just ahead of you by the way 14w2d at the moment.

kali, that's fantastic - really hope it's continuing good news for you.

likesilver - happy to offer to a hand to hold, I know how frustrating it is trying to get a GP to take you seriously.

Having a low night.. had a couple of 'mediocre' nights where I didn't feel like death, and was hopeful that it meant I was approaching a corner, but nope. Back to the awful shakes and on-the-verge-of-puking sweats/mouth watering. 12+4 and it feels hopeless.

Kali so glad you're home, I bet you are looking forward to a night in your own bed!

I've been really retchy today, am only allowed 4mg of Ondanestron once or twice a day (and have only been given a small amount of tablets) so it's not keeping on top of the nausea at all although I haven't actually been sick today which is something. Very constipated again, hoping the lactulose works it's magic again!

Sorry you are both feeling so bad likesilver and frenetic, hope you get some relief soon x

likesilver - in haste, ring the Pregnancy Sickness Support helpline in the original post. Leave a message and they will be able to get back to you. Hopefully they can help.

mampam I had the glucose test for both pregnancies. It's not easy, was a problem for me, the drink was OKish but I think it's one of those weird HG things that some people tolerate and others do to, and the waiting was very tiring. Is there any chance they can give you a bed to lie on while you wait?

That's great news kali!

LikeSilver Welcome. I can't better the advice of Kali and Meerka,
I do hope you get the stronger does or combination you need. It's so awful and isolating and torment for mothers that they have to put their LO's through a period of neglect.
Kali That's wonderful news - and I do hope the fact thatthey are actually letting you out for a bit is a sign that things are very gradually easing a bit. Hugs. You are outstandingly brave.
Frenetic Sorry that you too are not feeling too good. Might be worth trying to get a combination of meds too, as Kali suggests for LikeSilver? MamPam The heartburn is miserable. I wonder if the GP would recommend that drug whose name I invariably forget? Booboostoo's suggestion for a bed while waiting is a great idea.
Basgeti I've cleverly written my message for you in such bad handwriting even I can't read it. Oh, dear!
Bet I cross post with someone.
xx

Vessel is such a good word to use. I had the same conversation with my GP 3 months ago who basically just said 'suck it up and just get on with it. There's nothing more we can do so if doing nothing is all you can manage then unfortunately that's your life at the moment'.

It sucks and I totally get your frustration and feeling down.