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.

So after a massive fight yesterday i have realised that dh thinks i am not happy being pregnant. He's got it into his head that when i moan about feeling crap i am moaning about being pregnant. Apparantly after 18 months of trying i should be floating around filled with joy. Great if i could actually get out of bed to float around I am happy being pregnant but not happy being ill - i know its worth it but it still feels awful. Not sure how to communicate this?

Hugs to everyone who is suffering. New shoes i'm a right grump as well. I think lack of sleep and nutrition is bound to impact on mood.

Health bean on scan but too wiggly to get measurements so im back on the 5th Dec. Reckon my due date is 10th June but will see what the hospital say.

Suggest he imagines getting severe seasickness and living with it for many weeks. Or severe food poisoning.

I'm afraid that nothing really gets through to people unless they've been there though.

Maybe he could take a look at the HELPHER forums and maybe that'd get through to him?

It really is grotty when your close family and friends don't get it. Makes a really bad situation even worse. Hope he wakes up

Thanks everyone for your advice. The new meds seem to be working a little as I at least managed to eat bits yesterday. The doc gave me the ones that you put in your gum to dissolve though (as couldn't keep things down) but it dissolves so slowly that the feeling of it melting into my mouth makes me sick!! I can't even do my teeth properly as can't bear toothpaste in my mouth.

I was interested to see that cyclizine takes 3 days to build up Meerka - perhaps I hadn't given it a chance, was just so desperate for the nausea to go away immediately.

Agree that half the battle is getting people to understand what this is - I had to let my manager know last week what was going on. I find myself saying this is what Princess Kate gets!!

It can cause a strain on relationships Willow - you're feeling like death and life gets pretty boring and miserable for them especially if they are having to pick up all the other childcare and household stuff! I hope things gets better. 3rd time round - my DH knows the drill but it's taken some time and a few heated moments along the way.

and now im just being mean because after being up all night with this nausea i finally dozed off only for Dh to decide to start fixing his bike which involves loud hammering (and his tools are stored in our bedroom so he would have seen i was asleep) I got out of bed too fast as i couldn't place the noise and thought we were being burgled and ended up hurling. Only i apparantly hurled on purpose to make him feel bad. Sorry to whinge just sick of being the bad guy. At least hes back to work for the next six days on 12 hour shifts so i can be miserable in peace.

Dottydo glad you have better meds that are giving you some respite. And that partners can be trained.

DH and I have managed better second time round as well. He was very supportive the first time but we both struggled a lot more psychologically and it did cause more tension between us - also, we'd only been together a few months when I got pregnant the first time, which didn't help. This time we have really held strong all the way through despite such a long time in hospital and a v. difficult family situation as well.

meerka meto is much more likely to cause neurological issues. I am considered allergic to it because I was on it for ages last time and was twitching so badly by the end! So couldn't have it this time. Apparently it is unusual to have these sorts of reactions to cyclizine but I am as ever a special snowflake! Also I was on the cyclizine at max dose or nearly max dose for the entire pregnancy last time and again this time so I think sometimes if you are on something for long enough your body just gets fed up.

yeah, have read quite a few times how grotty meto can be and that if you do get the reaction, it can be permanent :s you're only allowed to be on it for a short time now arent you.

yeah, i think that the body gets fed up too. specially if you're in a strange physical situation like growing a baby ...

Yes that's why they said I mustn't take it again - because I might get stuck with the neurological issues a second time. Hopefully that's not true of the cyclizine, because I am really low on options for dealing with these last few weeks of worsening sickness again!

Waves to Willow Kalidasa Meerka and everyone. Willow Oh sounds as if he is being highly insensitive. It's very hard for men to empathize with this, though great when they do...
xx

hrrrm kali at a guess - and I've only the most basic training in pharmacy so my guess is not, well, worth very much- you'll be ok.

But if you were seriously concerned about it, maybe you can find a pharmacist, specially one who is perhaps specialized in antihistamines or something like that, they would know better. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society might know someone, or the PSS helpline doc. Problem being that most pharmacists are taught to be (unhelpfully) super cautious about drugs in preg, so it would need someone specialist.

Kali how far along are you? I get restless legs when not preggers as part of complex neurological conditions, and had been taking pramexipole for it, which I assumed I needed to stop when ttc & cutting down on meds. Having seen the consultants a couple of weeks ago, they said if I can avoid it completely till after 12 weeks then that is best for baby. So I assume if I needed to go back on it it I could next week (other meds I take are just a no-no thru entire pregnancy). I am prescribed it every day, tho I tended to only take it when symptoms start (I have 3 bad days around ovulation, maybe 2 or 3 random other days in month). Maybe you could ask your doctor/ midwife if it gets bad? ATM my legs are only "cycling" a bit, which is ok but a nuisance but when it gets bad for me I want to chop the bastards off it is that excruciating. Hope you get some relief soon.

I'm 30 weeks hexy! I've noticed the restless legs starting 30 mins or so after taking cyclizine since the beginning of this pregnancy. Now I've reached this stage it does happen a bit anyway I think - I mean when I haven't just taken the cyclizine, especially in the evening - but there is a noticeable correlation with taking it. I was in hospital for a long time and couldn't tolerate cyclizine IV or via injection this time at all - the effect was too overwhelming and ironically often made me throw up as well! I had a cyclizine pump for a few weeks though when I was at my worst (very snazzy - the palliative care people suggested it and the nurses on my ward had to be trained specially so that they could fit it for me). That's really interesting that it might actually be possible to take something for the restless legs, maybe I'll try asking about that next time I see my midwife/consultant. Last time my consultant also said that tonic water might help?! Not sure why that would be but am prepared to give anything a go . . . It's such a horrible sensation isn't it? But sounds really minor if you try to describe it to someone who hasn't had it.

So sorry for those suffering with restless legs along with all the other hg joys!!!

meerka thankyou and I so agree-definitely the sickest I've ever felt!

willow glad all looked well on scan despite baby's wriggling! ! I hope your dh starts being more supportive. Making yourself sick on purpose. ...I've heard it all now!

I heard tonic water was supposed to help too. It's the quinine I believe. If nothing else it was one of the few things that relieved that awful taste.

Kali eating is going ok. There are some foods that I still can't bear the thought of even (I fear they may be blacklisted forever) but I'm mostly enjoying food again.

Dotty I am afraid cyclizine didn't take the nausea away for me, it did lessen the vomiting though. Hope it's helping a bit more now.
Hello to everyone just popping in to offer a bit of hope. I think I am through the worst now. I am 14+4 and the nausea only really kicks in when I am tired, so in the evening and early morning, also around lunch time when I usually nap. Its nowhere near the can't move for fear of vomiting kind of nausea either but enough to send me to bed. I am still off work and on cyclizine. I have a telephone appointment with the Dr tomorrow during which I will ask about returning to work with reduced hours initially and when I should reduce cyclizine. Very nervous about both aspects. Work because I work in the evenings after a whole day of looking after dd and cyclizine because I am scared of regressing back to how I was.
Anyway, I do hope everyone else is surviving, to those of you at 7/8 weeks thinking you can't go on, you can! It does get better. X

muddy that's great that you are already feeling better! Though I'm sure it doesn't feel quick to you at all, I think if you have a real improvement at 14 weeks you've got a decent chance of feeling relatively normal eventually. I would be really cautious about both returning to work and reducing the cyclizine, though, and definitely don't try to do both at once, whatever the doctor says - unless this is an HG specialist he/she will probably not be fully aware of the relapse risk, especially if you combine more activity with reduced medication. I would personally not reduce the meds at ALL if you are still being sick.

My sickness is definitely on the slide again now. I'm still not vomiting much, but that's because I am operating almost entirely from bed, taking the max of the drugs I have available and sleeping about 15 hours a day! Doesn't feel like the hellish first trimester again thank goodness, but does feel like a step back to maybe early/mid second trimester for me, the weeks after I finally got out of hospital. I am back to eating/drinking whatever I think I might manage and might take the edge of the nausea - lots of fizzy drinks and olives - rather than a relatively normal diet. My morale is holding up reasonably OK though for the moment, I think because it is basically just two months to go now which is a slog but not forever.

I reckon the odds are about even whether I end up back in hospital or not before the end. Has anyone else on here been admitted for vomiting in the third trimester? Do you go to the gynae ward or to antenatal?

I'm so glad MuddyLettuce may be (whispers, fingers and toes crossed) turning the corner. So sorry things are getting worse for goodness sake, it's so unfair some have to suffer like this, at least in this time of history - for Kalidasa.
Restless legs are awful normally, much sympathy for anyone with that as well as all the other fun.
Back soon.
xx

Hello am back again!
This time with baby no 4. I suffered HG in 1st and 3rd pregnancy - my last pregnancy being the worst, was on fluids admitted twice last time at 10 and 11 weeks. Managed to avoid so far this time but did have a brush with hospital admission a week or so ago!
This time i got some meds that seem to work (well take the edge off) Metclop or something they are called but seem to be working. I ran out yesterday so got some more on repeat this morning, was starting to feel very sick until i had my first tablet a few hours ago, feeling a bit better now - they are the difference between feeling moderatly sick to feeling like death and not keeping anything down.
Its shit as am self employed (newly) and didnt plan this baby, but hey ho. My work involves crafty stuff so making things by hand, i have been so busy with orders due to christmas coming up but had no energy/feeling too sick to do them :( i do feel a bit better of an evening so trying to do them when i feel better. In the morning from when i wake till about 5pm am useless. The house is a complete mess and am going round like a tramp :( i just CBA to make the effort as just feel so sick.
I have my scan tomorrow - i think i am around 12 weeks.
Am sorry to hear everyone else is having a hard time of it, its nice to come on here and have a rant /vent about it to people who actually understand!

Kali I've been admitted twice for vomiting in the third trimester this pregnancy, at 29 and 32 weeks. I had to be admitted via delivery suite and went into the antenatal side as I was over 22 weeks which is the cut off for my hospital. Tbh I prefer the gynae side! I hope you can avoid any further admissions.

I've vomited badly this afternoon for the first time in a while, but it has been triggered by my coughing which is getting worse. So nervous too about my clinic appt tomorrow, I can feel that the baby hasn't turned, really don't like the thought of either ECV or section. Just feels like a fitting end to an awful pregnancy.

Hope everyone is feeling okay today xx

Ouch basgetti, i hope your cough goes and the associated upchucking. Good luck tomorrow.

kali will youb e able to avoid going into work again until the end of the preg? (gosh, actually having the baby out is going to be a holiday for you!).

Wlcome 3rdBump and commiserations. Glad the metoclopramide is helping. Good luck tomorrow on the scan!

Hi all, just dropping by to see how everyone is and to update.

I am back at work now on a based return basis and the first week has been fine. I'm still feeling nauseous but I'm managing to eat and drink without vomiting so all is good there (have reduced meds to one ondansetron a day, if I don't take my early morning tablet I am bad for the rest of the day).

I'm still finding travel sickness a struggle and have to drive outside peak hours to avoid throwing up in the car whilst driving (as advised by doctor) however my manager has taken it upon herself to try and change my hours so I travel at peak times (apparently she is concerned about my safety at work as she wants me to be in the office when people are around, which is strange as people are always in the office within the hours I work). This is really stressing me out as I really can't drive when traffic is at its worse as I find it hard not to vomit if I keep starting/stopping the car. I had already had my hours agreed by HR but now she wants a meeting with them to persuade them to change their mind. I have no idea what to do, I know it sounds like a really silly issue but its really upset me (blame it on hormones I guess)

Phased return not based return.

Durham don't suppose you have an occupational health department? If so, speak to them? You could also see if the pregnancy sickness support people have any advice? Do you also have a union or similar that you could seek advice from / get some representation? It's not on at all that your manager is interfering and going against doctors advice. Surely they would rather you were at work than at home?!
Thanks for the advice Kali I will ask for more cyclizine when I run out and keep taking them for now. I'll see how reduced hours go initially, if I take a turn for the worse I will just ask to go off sick again. I do hope I can do it though, I would like to get back to normal.
Sorry bas and Kali are feeling worse again and hi to 3rdbump. X

Durham I don't have any HR experience so perhaps someone who does will come along. But echoing muddy surely she'd rather you were at work than not working and if your work are unable to accommodate your fitness to work needs then you don't have to return to work (reading my fit to work note this is what I gathered)

She's probably trying to cover her arse but doing it in a spectacularly unsympathetic way.

I'm signed off till January and after that I'll do what I need to do to get back but I'm very lucky to have such a supportive boss.

Willow I have been told I should be grateful I'm pregnant and not moan about how sick I feel. Having several friends who have struggled to conceive (and it wasn't one of them who said it) I wouldn't go on about it to them but I'm not going to pretend I'm having the time of my life when I'm feeling rotten. Yes my friend who had IVF felt dreadful because of the hormones she was injecting but why are we any less 'allowed' to feel dreadful despite trying for months? I'm happy I'm going to have a baby at the end of this. I am not happy I'm feeling horrendous and am a shit mum to my toddler. This thread last time allowed me to moan and share the bad bits knowing full well all of us are delighted to be having a baby. Doesn't mean we don't feel shit. Why would anyone feel happy about feeling sick? Poor you. I'm very lucky with my DH as he puts up with me generally (& many a friend has told him he's a saint!) and just laughs when he discovers random food in the cupboard I've suddenly decided is bearable.

I use the hangover stomach example to my DH and say imagine you have woken up with the worst hangover stomach you've had in your life and you're expected to get through the day as if you feel fine because you're not allowed to tell anyone you feel dreadful. Then, you wake up feeling like that, day after day not knowing when it will go away. THAT'S my pregnancy sickness experience.

Evening all. This post might be TMI for some people so don't feel you have to read it.

I spent all of last week in hospital being rehydrated. So since coming out I've gone back downhill really quickly. Yesterday our boiler broke down and tonight when he got in from work DP got really cross and sweary about it. I was given some instructions by the engineer which I passed on to DP but when he tried them it didn't work. He was really cross and said I must have misheard something and I should have listened more carefully. He's never normally like this and this one cross comment stressed me out SO much, I just really felt like I'd done something really terrible and I got really worked up. So I was stressing out and trying not to vomit but I didn't manage it, I didn't make it to the bathroom and vomited into my hands and it went all up my sleeves and all over the hall carpet and when I got to the toilet it went all over the floor in there. It was all over the toilet and my face, glasses and top as well. And to top it off, I was vomiting so hard I wet myself.

DP has been extremely apologetic for stressing me out but I still don't really understand quite why I freaked out so much. After the vomiting was over I was crying hysterically, snot EVERYWHERE. I was so hysterical he had to strip me down, help me wash (no hot water due to boiler problem so that was fun) and get me into clean pajamas. I was completely helpless and overwrought. I really don't know what came over me. Am now tucked up in bed and feeling much calmer. think I just needed to tell someone.