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.

I have tried phased returns 3 times and ended up back in bed each time. I've been off work since March now. I had never taken a sick day in my life before this so it is very unlike me. Just please be careful , you are a lot more drained than you realise. Feeling ok because you are at home doing nothing is very very different to trying to work.

Hi all, new, regulars and graduates. Off on holiday tomorrow. Wish us luck! Got my sexy dvt stockings, supply of drugs and sick bag at the ready!

Sorry for everyone feeling poorly, like okla says, be kind to yourselves. Work does wonders for my mental health coz I'm getting v lonely. BUT my bosses are all on side and I have a v protective assistant who tells me to go home when she sees me go green, poor darling she gets to share an office with me and my bin!

Re bf, I think you need to put your health first so you can look after your baby. If bf makes you sick then it's a no brainer. Upside was no problems with milk production- enough for triplets. Went from a cups to Pamela Anderson 30h cups. I'm putting that down to mad hg hormones. Anyone else have that?

Thanks Okla I will be very careful!

toavoid, when okla says you're a lot more drained than you realise, she's right. HG really, really puts a strain on the body on top of the preg strain. Please don't do too much!

Elle have a great holiday! about big boobies, mine were already big enough that small boys laugh and ask if I need rucksacks for them . Not sure they grew that much more.

I'd agree with Okla.I also haven't worked since March and that's been really tough because I don't earn if I don't work.But I found I felt a lot worse if I tried to do too much and still now need to be careful,rest lots etc.So please do look after yourself.

I'd agree with Okla.I also haven't worked since March and that's been really tough because I don't earn if I don't work.But I found I felt a lot worse if I tried to do too much and still now need to be careful,rest lots etc.So please do look after yourself.

It was a revelation having boobs for a little while and grown women were laughing at me! i was wondering if it was connected...

Good luck toavoid

Thanks all for being so kind. I feel as though I've turned from an active, self - sufficient and successful person, to someone who has all but fallen apart and completely lost their confidence. And all in just 8.5months. Post-birth, I'm still reeling!

Toavoid - I'd second what everyone has said about returning to work. I was lucky and was able to work from home while on suck leave and it meant the world to me because it kept me sane through distraction.

Meerka - it's amazing that you've managed to breastfeed for 16wks! Moving to formula sounds like a good plan. It'll finally give your body a break :-)

Hey starry sorry you've been having such a crap time. I hope it gets better soon, i know where you are coming from with confidence etc. and it is tough when your body lets you down. Koko

starry it might be worth looking at counselling if you can. A lot of women seem to really struggle after the birth, with how bad the preg was. Not everyone, but I've noticed a lot of people on the thread here mention it. I think it's the first time we really come up against ill health and feeling so shitty and being so dependent and as you say, it leaves us reeling!

Getting a bit of counselling might help give the whole thing its place in your life and come to terms with it. Just a thought.

Hi all. First dose of meds didn't go as planned as I threw up about 5 mins after taking them. Late afternoon/evening is turning into my danger zone for puking. That said, something must have been absorbed as I've been able to eat a bit today and really really want Chinese for tea....said to DH that it may well all come straight back up again, but I'm hungry and Chinese food is what I want!

go try it! :) gl!

On phased returns; mine is actually turning out well despite my immediate colleagues being difficult. My GP is making sure I take my time and don't go back to full days too quickly. Next week will be my first week doing a couple of full days - but only half in the office, afternoon will be working from home.

Something weird is happening to my sickness. The length of time it's there is shortening dramatically, but the intensity has increased. A last hoo-rah, maybe?

Hi all, is there room for one more?

I first realised something was wrong when I started being sick anywhere between 3 and 11 times a day during week 6. I went to the GP and was prescribed metoclopramide which seemed to work for a little while - I was still nauseous constantly but stopped actually being sick. However, it came back with a vengeance! I'm 8+5 now and after being sick 9 times yesterday, DH took me back to the GP this morning. He said I was severely dehydrated and prescribed me stemetil. Since then, I've managed to keep a glass of water and half and orange down - a definite improvement on yesterday!

I'm fortunate in that I'm a secondary school teacher so I've been off work since this started. I love my job but I'm already terrified as to how I'll manage when I go back in a week. I just don't have the energy to do anything at the moment.

I don't know how so many of you ladies have coped with feeling like this for so long. I was sobbing on the bathroom floor this morning at the thought coping with it for another few weeks, let alone months! How do you do it?

Ofc therés room for one more! welcome, congratulations and commiserations.

how do / did we cope ? By getting meds, finding out what works for each person in terms of eating and drinking and by posting here. Also supportive partners. Keeping in mind it's not forever. And sometimes the same way as you, I'm afraid, curling up sobbing on the bathroom floor at various points. You really aren't alone there.

It woudl be a good idea to get some Ketostix, you get them from the chemist or from amazon. Pee on them, the darker the colour the more dehydrated you are. 3+ and you definitely need to get medical help.

Sucking ice chips helps some people, or drinking flat coke. Very hot or very cold drinks helps sometimes or using a straw. The main thing is to stay hydrated, more than food.

Do feel free to post here anytime. Regarding work that's difficult. Are they supportive? We've had quite a few teachers here.

Second everything Meerka says. Also we decided that we had to tell a few people about the pregnancy as it was taking such a toll. Now parents+siblings+our bosses know which makes life a little easier. I have also told one friend because she had hyperemesis too and so she could advise and sympathise.

Especially keep an eye on your ketones Twinkle . When I ended up in hospital they were at 5+ and I felt terrible. Now I've got sticks of my own to keep an eye on them.

Find what works for you and what doesn't. I try to stay out of the kitchen as much as possible now. DH gets told what to do a lot but that's just how life is going to have to be for a little while.

Frentic that's the kind of phased return I would like to do. Work seems supportive too. Occupational health is going to be involved so just waiting to hear from them now.

MrsAnneKins I kept losing all my meds when I was first prescribed them but after having jags in hospital I can now keep some down (not all though! Especially the morning ones!).

Thank-you ladies. Its such a lifeline knowing there are other people out there too.

Thank you for the replies, it's nice to know that there are people who understand.

I've just ordered some ketostix from amazon so hopefully they will be here in a couple of days.

The people I work with are lovely. I'm rarely off sick but my Head of Department is always very strict with others about not coming in if they aren't well. I'll tell him and the Head as soon as I go back. I really don't want to have to get signed off but I'm starting to think it might be the best option.

Thank you for the other tips too. Off to dig out the ice cube trays now.

Twinkle I've refrained from getting signed off because then you can't go in to work at all. It might be worth seeing what work can offer you?

When you do tell them twinkle take a bit of info on HG with you. Most people haven't heard of it and think it's just normal morning sickness only a bit worse. If you can print something out showing how bad it can be, maybe something from the pregnancy sickness support website (lucinda linked it above) then they will hopefully realise it's serious and that will help them handle the situatoin better.

You can get a 'sick note' from the doctor that signs you 'on' but only for reduced hours, a decent GP will agree something suitable with you before writing it down!

That said lots of us have been totally signed off for at least some of the time and often complete bed rest is the only way.

That's a good idea Meerka, thanks. Thank you ToAvoid and Lottie too! I hope you are all feeling ok this evening.

Hi all
Just popping my head up!
Twinkle I have definitely had my moments sobbing into the toilet bowl. I think what happened for me is at some point you reach a bit of acceptance and stop fighting this thing. I'm 10+5 now and I've settled into a bit of a routine, the meds are helping but I've also noticed what my limits are, such as if I dare stay up beyond about 9pm I know I'll be sick. I've suffered a bit today because I had a couple of days where I felt almost human but instead of resting I got a bit excited and did too much, hence I'm suffering today. I can't speak for everyone and I've not been as poorly as most on here but I certainly felt a little less emotional and desperate when I stopped fighting this so hard. The ladies on here are a wonderful support so you've come to the right place!

Evening ladies

Still here lurking, still vomiting at 21+5 - ugh! No real pattern to it, been good for last 4 days then threw up 5 times today and had to be sent home from work early. Still off anti-emetics as find now I'm not being sick regularly that they don't really help. Hope it's just a one-off today as have 4 days off work from today so don't want to spend them curled up on the sofa feeling crap

Feeling abit demoralised and grumpy today

its a really good point emsy. accepting it in all its inglorious yukkiness actually does sort of help. As you say, if nothing else you don't expect too much.

fraggle I hope you can have some rest at the weekend. Sometimes hte improvement comes around now but yes, good days and bad.