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.

helloladies1 Yes, you can ring anytime. Unfortunately, you do have to wait for them to ring back, but they will, you can be sure, and they'll be very helpful. Don't despair or try and face this alone; feelling absolutely desperate is common with this, when so few people understand. It's quiet on here at the moment, but we have a lovely group of supportive woman on here who'll be eager to advise.
xx

Hi everyone

After a pretty good few days I feel like I hit rock bottom yesterday. I was sick last night as I was cleaning my teeth and I just collapsed into floods of tears all over my poor husband.
I'm 20 weeks on Saturday and it just feels like the vomiting and horrible taste in my mouth is never going to stop.
Sorry for the pity party, I know there are loads of you worse off than me.

Hello everyone, I hope you don't mind me gatecrashing, I was online briefly over the summer and haven't been on here since. I have been suffering with hyperemesis since 4-5 weeks and have been in hospital 5 times so far - been on drugs since 8 weeks. I have a question for you all, I am now 25 weeks and STILL being sick so I am still reliant on drugs (ondansetron) is the only one that works for me, I take it once a day in order to get to work, eat, drink, function etc. Has anyone else been on drugs throughout the pregnancy? I am so worried about being on them for so long but literally can not get to work without them. The longest I have gone without them is 3 days but as the drug leaves my system I start throwing up again.....so worried about babies development, although all looks 'ok' on scans so far. I am sorry to hear so many poor people are suffering, it is the most horrendous thing ever. Wishing you all some relief. xx

Hi Mary sorry you are still being so sick. I'm nearly 37 weeks and haven't been able to come off the meds at all, I take cyclizine and ranitidine 3 times a day and have a small stash of ondanestron that I take if I really need it (I avoid as much as possible due to my bowel!) I was at clinic this week and the doctor told me to stay on them for the duration, and that I will probably be kept on them for a while post section too if needed. I was a bit worried about the possible effects on the baby of taking drugs right up to the birth but they didn't seem concerned at all. They would rather I stayed as healthy as possible for the last couple of weeks!

Been a bit stupid this morning though, I have a set routine for my meds where I take them and then lie down for a while so they kick in, but I woke up feeling shaky this morning and stuffed a few biscuits without thinking. So I've spent the past hour or so retching and waiting for the nausea to pass I can take them nearly 2 hours late. I'm an idiot.

Hope everyone is feeling okay today xx

Maryj26 Welcome, sorry you have been suffering and you mustn't worry about taking meds throughout, any number of women o here have had to take a cocktail throughout - either that or be dehydrated, which is very bad for pregnant women. You've been working throughout? My goodness.
helloladies1 How are things today? Did you get a call back?
AuntieVenom Poor you, hugs, don't despair, particularly if you've been having good days, they're so often a sign of it easing off. A lot of people improve after twenty weeks.
basgetti Great advice.
Back soon.
xx

helloladies and maryj26 welcome.

hello I hope that you managed to ring the number and that thye've got back to you. So sorry that it's so desperately bad.

maryj26 ondansetron is probably one of the best drugs to be on. The effects of it during preg have been studied more than for most of the other options and have shown that it's safe. Definitely a better idea than being dehydrated as lucinda says!

There's a LOT of pressure not to take meds during preg but a lot of that pressure is due to the old Thalidomide scare 60 years ago, and the testing procedures now are far far stricter. Plus ondan's has come very well out of studies. (Can link you the study if you like). So please, don't worry =)

auntie Venom quite a few people find they start to improve around week 20 - 22 so there's a good chance that you will get much better, even if you don't feel exactly great. It doesn't matter how other people are, it's still horrible for you! It wears you down ... I hope you are having a slightly better day today

bas doctors are careful about meds around birth, I had to come off anti-UTI meds, so if they say what you're on is okay then that's great. Are you crossing off the days on a calender? :)

Yes Meerka 14 days to go now, half excited half terrified! I have pre op assessment next week where I meet the anaesthetist and will discuss meds with them, they may give them IV that day as I'll be NBM, I'm worried about extra sickness due to the pain relief and also the strain of retching or being sick on my wound. Lots of worries going through my mind! I've also got to have steroid injections next week as it's trust protocol if baby coming before 39 weeks, I didn't have them when I had DS at 38 weeks in a different area but apparently it's their rules. And even after all that they will send me home for the duration if she has turned on the day. Starting to hope she stays put now!

Auntie sorry you feel so low, I think it is always worst when you relapse after feeling a bit better, it is just so hard to cope with the disappointment but do try to remember that once you start having a few better days like that it will happen again and it probably does mean that the worst is over, even if it doesn't feel like it today.

mary I am in a similar position to basgetti. I am 31 weeks and still on max dose of cyclizine, omeprazole and ranitidine, with occasional ondansetron (I don't tolerate it well so have to avoid as much as possible). In my last pregnancy I took cyclizine, ranitidine and some ondansetron right to the end and DS was fine. You really shouldn't worry about these drugs. They often give cyclizine in labour anyway so it is obviously safe even at that point. My understanding is that the antacid drugs (like ranitidine and omeprazole) are very "benign" because they work only very locally, on the stomach itself; and as meerka says ondansetron, which is the strongest of these drugs, has been tested quite intensively in pregnant women. It actually caused me some v. serious problems so it doesn't suit every woman but there is no evidence at all at this point that it does any harm to babies.

I am feeling a bit low since the stressful day on Tuesday. I have to wait until next Thursday for a repeat scan to find out whether there is really a problem with my amniotic fluid or whether it was just a blip. Trying to hope for the best and prepare for the worst all at the same time! The nausea is really crippling just now but I'm sure that's partly stress too.

Hi everyone - have been keeping up with this thread, it's so reassuring to know that i'm not the only out there. I wish I'd had this with my first 2 hg pregnancies. Sympathies to everyone out there.

Today is not a good day. I somehow got into work this morning - not really sure why I put myself under that pressure but mainly I wanted to talk to my line manager about how we can manage things together from here as I don't think she realises the extent of it all because I've been putting a brave face on things (she is a great manager) Unfortunately she was on holiday so I ended up breaking down with another colleague who packed me off home.

I've been sick 3 times this morning and was sick twice yesterday evening. The cyclizine isn't working I don't think. I now think I'm going to have to get signed off work as am just feeling/ looking terrible. I'm only 7w - the thought of another 11 weeks of this (it usually stops around 18w) - I'm in utter despair.

The doctor has given me prescription for phenegan (promethazine) if after a week I'm not feeling the cyclizine is working. Phenegan worked to an extend in my 2nd pregnancy but then, so did cyclizine for a bit! The doc said that's all he could do, gave me the talk about why they are so careful perscribing drugs in medicines (like I don't know) and said that only time can help me. Ending on "it's very common you know" - no energy to start a fight and tell him it's not bloody common. I'm wondering whether i should bite the bullet and see a consultant. No-one has mentioned ondansetron as an option to me?

Early scan tomorrow - I'm at least hopeful that this one is sticking.

Sorry bit of an essay but empty house and no-one to share it with!

I wish there was something more we could do to help than just listen, kali.

dotty the doctor is wrong. Can you get to see the consultant, yes? there's much more than promethazine!

it really does sound like you need to be off work. the stress and sheer energy needed will be making it much worse. Also you need to think long term for the pregnancy - HG drains you so very much that it makes the rest of the preg hard and you are not in as good a state as you could be for dealing with your lovely little newborn.

Could your husband or someone who's seen your level of illness go with you to see the doc if need be, to advocate for you?

dotty How long have you been taking the cyclizine? If it's more than 2-3 days I would start on the promethazine now. As I remember the cyclizine's effect is somewhat cumulative, but only up to 2-3 days, so by that point you should know whether it's helping. Do you have ketosticks? Obviously you know the routine from last time but if you have rising ketones you need to see someone - perhaps not that same GP! If they hit 3 or 4 you should go straight to A&E anyway. I would definitely also pursue a consultant referral. We actually paid to see privately a consultant who also does NHS work at our nearest hospital - it meant we got to see her pretty much immediately, and it was worth the expense just to have someone be genuinely nice to us for 40 minutes!! But I realise not everyone is in a position to afford that.

So my consultant texted me back this afternoon to say I should go back to the day assessment unit tomorrow (DS's 2nd birthday - sniff!) to have the baby monitored again and to be reviewed by a senior doctor. She can't be there but they can phone her if necessary. As the scan is not till next Thursday, and on Tuesday they said I should have one within a week, I'm hoping there's a chance they might squeeze in a scan tomorrow as well. It does seem from what I've read that there's still a good-ish chance that the low fluid is just a blip so a repeat scan might show better levels and call off the panic stations. Unless or until we get that reassurance I am going to have to go back to the hospital for monitoring every few days which is such a struggle in itself in my current state.

Kali sorry you're having such an awful time. Fingers crossed you get some reassurance soon.

Dotty I think others have probably suggested it but call the support line and speak to the elderly but amazing doctor about meds. As you know, there ARE other meds. He might just give you the ammunition you need to get more help from your gp/consultant.
Also, please do get yourself signed off work. As good as the medication can be I am utterly convinced that rest is the best thing for hg. I have been off work since 8 weeks, now 15 weeks and about to go back on reduced hours. Being off helped me immensely although hardly restful looking after a toddler! It meant I could sit/lie down after eating and drinking which helped me keep it all down, it meant I had the time to try and eat small bits every couple of hours and could nap in the afternoon and get an early night.
I found weeks 6-12 the worst, they were my lie in bed with a bucket (meerka & Lucinda the bucket, is, as yet unnamed, it doubles as DD's stain bucket, barf!) and die quietly days. So, I couldn't have worked even if I tried.

Not much to report my end, bit of a low day thanks to dd's epic bedtime performance last night. Puked her bedtime bottle up, whinged until 2140 then woke at 0130, about 15 minutes after dp turned his light out having been on a late shift and screamed like a banshee for an hour because I wouldn't let her sleep in our bed...if it's just me I would totally cave but with bump and dp there is just no room. So I am quite tired and therefore it's not surprising the nausea has ramped up a gear. So much for my pampering session tonight, since I am feeling a bit more human, I thought I would make myself look a bit more human and pluck, shave and polish but I reckon some crap tv and an early night is calling instead...I can put up with looking like a yeti for a bit longer.

Poor you kali, this additional stress is the last thing you need. Not to mention the difficult logistics of trying to get to the hospital in your physical state! I hope your scan shows good results.

I've had a bit of a sicky day, I'm sure it's because I messed up my med regime this morning. The school run didn't help, retching all the way and struggling to walk. Going to climb into bed with DS at 7pm I think!

Hope others have had a better day xx

Thankyou everyone for your reassurance, I am just so worn out with the juggling of drugs, vomit and struggling to survive each day (as you all are I am sure) To those of you in the early days suffering it is awful, but as all the amazing long term posters have said on here, it does get a little easier. Across the summer I was at the point of not even managing to get my head off a pillow or get myself to the toilet but as they managed to balance drugs slightly more and I kept more food in each day I have got strong enough to get to work and remain doing so, providing I take one tablet each day. Yes ondansetron seems to be the only one that works for me (allergic to cyclzine and the others kerbed the nausea but didn't stop the food from coming out!!) struggling with toileting, but looking forward to a good poo once baby arrives!hahah! I think you are all amazing for supporting each other on here so well. its such a life line, no one gets this illness at all.

auntie venom I saw an improvement at around 20 weeks where good days were interspersed with bad days but the general trend was upwards which is what you just have to keep thinking. It really does get better.

basgetti wow 14 days..... The end is nigh!!

dotty is being signed off for a while an option? Struggling to work only likely to major you feel worse. As others have said, definitely more drug options out there - PSS are very helpful

kali sorry to hear about your extra stress - you really don't need it

AFM - still feeling nauseous, thrown up twice today. Have yet to eat anything this morning for fear of throwing it up. Got on the bus to go to hospital for labour ward tour yesterday, wasn't sick but didn't half make me feel grim. Had to answer the door mid vomiting this morning as expecting an important parcel for DH - turned out it was only the man to read the gas meter......took all my reserve not to vom on his shoes.....

Oh dear, it looks like suffering all round. Cyber pats on offer to those who feel like accepting them - very gentle ones.
Kali I do so hope it turns out to be a blip; as others say, you don't need this on top of everything else.
Dotty I so agree with others about the doctor's advice being poor. As they say, I hope a consultant/another doctor can help? There is the PSS number where they can advise you, too; I know I'm always going on about it, but they have helped others on here a lot with getting better meds.
Helloladies1 as Meerka says I hope you got through for advice?
I'm worried about NoRoom in her awful situation.
Hope everyone is coping. Muddylettuce His stain bowl is practical - but the very sight of those Puking Bowls is enough to set one off as a sort of learned reflex.
xx

Quite a stressful morning - had to get up early to go the day assessment unit, was sick when I got there and the same useless midwife was running it as on Tuesday. Monitoring of baby was fine but I am still measuring small and in fact have fallen a bit further behind. Waited around for ages to see senior registrar who spoke to my consultant, who wanted me rescanned today. No scanning slot available in imaging dept so in the end a registrar did it with a mobile unit by my bed. Quite worrying as he couldn't find that much fluid and said he thought it was low, but also that it was really difficult as the baby was - as ever! - moving without stopping the entire time. Anyway, he asked a colleague from the fetal medicine unit (i.e. specialist at scanning) to have a quick look for a second opinion and he was much more reassuring and said he thought it looked OK. So tentative good news for now I think, but it's not an "official" scan because they did it by the bed. I've got to go back and see my consultant on Monday morning, and then have yet another scan next Thursday. For now the baby will need to be monitored every few days but I'm hoping that if the scan on Thursday is better again they might let me off that. They didn't give me the steroids for the baby's lungs today which to start with they said they would have to so that's a good sign, means they don't think it's action stations prepare-for-delivery at this point at least.

Feeling super sick but not surprising with all the stress. Am having a rest now before DS's birthday tea at 4.

All this talk of work is making me really think about it. I've been signed off for 2 months now. I have no idea what they're making of it. It's local gov so as long as I have the certificates I'm covered legally but I don't know what kind of attitudes I'll face when I go back. Not that that's looking likely any time soon. It's not getting any better and I'm now 18 weeks. Do you think it's worth attempting to go back for short days or something? I feel like I should try and make an effort although I'm really afraid it will get worse again. I struggle to get to the doctors and the local shop but maybe that's because I've been sat on this sofa for so long my muscles have deteriorated...

GettheRedOut Mother Hen says, NO! Don't even think about it until you feel a lot better. There's no point in going in; if you feel bad doing nothing, you'll feel twenty times worse struggling in to work. It might be an idea when you go back - which shouldn't be now, but in the future at some point, maybe not until after the birth- to tell them that it's a horrible illness that people mix up with ordinary ms, but it isn't...
Kalidasa Oh dear, I'm just glad the second scan was more positive.
xx

kali thinking of you, glad the news was tentatively better.

red NO don't.

If you feel this sick now, you will feel way worse if you go back now. Effort makes HG worse.

You will find that you're not as fit as before HG but it's not like it's at any stage going to make it difficult to go back because of your muscles. You struggle because the nausea and vomitting drains you badly. HG seems to hit stamina more than strength.

I know what you mean about worrying about attitudes but this is a problem that just comes with HG. People just don't know unless they have seen it at close quarters. If you feel comfy with someone you could send them a link to the PSS support or the HELPHER forums here or even this thread.

Meerka On which, I'm worried about blueberryslice. She was feeling quite ill but her dr woldn't extend the sick note any further...
xx

oh no :(

Thanks ladies. I can't manage doing much at all, the thought of going to my office and trying to work is just overwhelming. When I was there last I couldn't do any work at all. I just feel like I should try and show my face but I know you're right, it won't do me any good.

Hope you've all had a better day today x

Hi all, been a while since I've posted-have been back at work, don't want to say much unless I jinx myself!
Sounds like a few of you are feeling poorly, I'm so sorry to hear that, it's hellish.
I have my 12 week scan on weds, hoping everything is ok in there despite the poor thing's malnourished beginning to life!