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.

meerka I'm not too bad. I hate the mornings because there's a whole day to get through! Doesn't make much sense really.
How are you?
How is everyone?

I'm going back to the docs today as cyclizine isn't working this time, can't keep anything down. I'm signed off work this week but does anyone know if they will sign me off next week if I ask as I know there's no way I'm going to be well enough. Or will they say I've got to wait and see how I am and go back Monday if needed?

Cait in rough order of effectiveness, weakest first (people respond differently to different drugs!)

cyclizine (old fashioned anti-histamine; can make you sleepy)
Metoclopramide (empties the stomach faster, less to upchuck)
Domperidone (similar)
Prochlorperazine (works on your sense of balance; also a travel remedy; can be good for some people).
Promethazine (stronger old fashioned anti-histamine, also sleepy-making)
Ondansetron (the strongest and best, but causes constipation).

Quite a few people find that a combination of drugs helps becuase they all work in different ways.

It might be an idea to ask for prochlorperazine now since meto. hasn't worked too well -and- keep taking cyclizine.

metoclop. is ok but if you start feelign twitchy, stop taking it and see your doc.

hello it depends on your doc :s some are pretty HG aware, some ... aren't. HG rarely improves quickly though, most people find they start to get better around week 16 to 22 except for the very unlucky few. So there's a good chance you'll still be too ill.

Is it feasible to talk with your HR department? if you have one. You are protected by law btw from any backlash due to your preg. illness.

newshoes that link almost made me laugh ... couldn't quite because it's all too bloody true. Wish we could have that as a banner on top of the thread! :)

I am lucky that my docs do seem to take it seriously and my boss is really supportive, she keeps telling me to take as much time as I need and I'm the most important thing in this scenario not work!
I would just rather get signed off now for next week as DH has to take me as I haven't got the energy to get there myself!

caitmous some unlucky women do find that nothing really helps the nausea, but that the drugs can keep the vomiting under control at least. If you've only tried metoclopramide you still have lots of other options: cyclizine is usually the first-line medication, it's an antihistamine and you can combine it with metoclopramide. Try going back to the GP and explaining that it's not working. It can be helpful to be concrete about quality of life: for instance, if you just say that you are throwing up twice a day or whatever, the GP may assume that you feel fine between vomiting, and that you are managing your job/usual tasks as normal. There's a big difference between a woman who is managing to get through her day as normal and feels basically OK between vomiting in the morning and sometimes once at night (unpleasant as that is) and a woman who is lying motionless in bed all day feeling acutely nauseous and unable to eat, and that's the only way she's limiting the vomiting to twice a day. If you see what I mean! So try to be concrete and specific about the actual impact on your life.

newshoes great about ketones. Can you explain to your son about ketones? That might reassure him that there's a clear way to check, and that you'd have to have very high ketones and no medical attention for several days (at least) before you could possibly dehydrate to death!

meerka I am in a wheelchair now, which is not great with over 10 weeks still to go. The pelvis pain is very bad. Nausea is relentless but fairly stable, and although I am still throwing up - no surprises there - it is not every day and is under control. I think the vomiting is being limited to be honest by the fact that I cannot move at all! Pretty sure I would be throwing up more if I could move about. I am still taking a lot of cyclizine and omeprazole, but am off the steroids. I had a bad day a couple of weeks ago when I was vomiting the cyclizine (always depressing!) and worried I was deteriorating fast but it has levelled off again. I think the sickness is getting very gradually worse but at least it is slow. Last time I went downhill again from 30 weeks and I'm still only 29 but this entire pregnancy has been worse at every point. I felt really low this morning after an awful night but DH and DS cheered me up. I had an extra growth scan last week as they thought I was measuring a bit small, but fortunately the baby is dead on his curve, and he's extremely lively so I am not too worried about him at least. Also DS - at nearly two - has slept through for 6 out of the last 7 days for the first time EVER!! We are praying for a slightly better sleeper this time.

Hi a can I join :) my due date is 18th March and still struggling badly with hyperemesis. Back story: I have a 17 month old ds. Been signed off work since my first hospitalisation at 7 weeks and been admitted a further 4 times for 4 days each time. I'm still taking ondansetron and touch wood it is helping me to keep little bits down, I just have a constant nausea now which is almost as bad as the constant vomiting! I haven't actually vomited for 2 weeks now, but I'm petrified of being sick again as I know once I start I won't stop and will end up back in hospital.

Sorry for the long winded post, just wanted to introduce myself really.

Oh and I forgot to mention I had hyperemesis with ds too, had a sma amount of relief in weeks 23-34 then it came back with a vengeance so I'm hoping the same thing doesn't happen again!

Hello I'm so worry, I missed your post, careless of me. I think you've hyad such good advice that I don't need to add anything. I take it you've got kestostix? Don't hesitate to ask for stronger meds - as set out by Meerka a little way bellow if cyclazine doesn't work well enough after all. A week off work doesn't sound generous - so they'll sign you off for longer?
Welcome to Blueberry. You'll find everyone very helpful on here. You are very brave to go for it twice, but now you're a veteran.
Caitmas I can't improve on Meerka's advice. There's plenty of meds to try.
NewShoes What a great cartoon, it sums up all ignorant advice. In a way, such nonsense seems to stem from people not wanting to accept that there are situations in life where people suffer through no fault of their own.
It seems to fit in with a sinister trend in New Age thought about you can cure everything by positive thinking, but don't get me started on that...
How are things today? Sorry your posts keep vanishing. Kalidasa's advice about ketones and your oldest sounds brilliant.
Kalidasa I'm so sorry about wheelchair. I never would have thought it could get worse than your awful sufferings last time. .
It's very brave of you to have gone for it with a sleepless toddler on top of everything; I had one, and it was one of the things that put me off going fo it again - so you deserve a medal. I didn't even find a sleep clinic made her sleep before nine. I'm glad he's been a bit better this week.
Willow How are you this am?
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.
xx

Hello hello how are you Absurd, that was meant to say 'sorry' and 'here'!

Due Dates
Mampam 17 November
Sassehmonsta 15 December
basgetti 21 December
SomeSunnySunday 24 December
Sarah 29 December
Kalidasa 28 January
EmysMarie 15 March TWINS
Blueberry Wafer 18 March
Durham Red 19 March
MuddyLettuce 26 May
NewShoesPlease 12 June

Frekcle is expecting twins too, but we haven't heard from her for a bit; I do hope that means she's feeling better rather than worse...
xxx

Feeling better and stupid all at once this morning. After my horrible SIL came round and accused me of not being ill as i was able to open the front door I rang my mother in tears. She came round tidyed the house and looked after the kids. Shes an ex nurse and worked out that i was taking the cyclizine and vomiting within half an hour which is why it wasn't working. At her suggestion I'm not eating till 30 mins after taking the pill and i've not been sick today. Utterly depressed as I've now been stuck in bed unable to move around for five weeks now. I've been to the gp twice in tears and have just been told that unless i'm deydrated they are not intested. Dd1 had been asking if i've stopped loving her as i don't do anything with her and dd2 has started night terrors again Going to the GP takes military planning and makes the car and movement makes everything worse so im just not willing to go to be fobbed off. I want my life back. I don't feel pregnant just ill and utterly dejected.

Hi guys. Quick update, I went to hospital, got another injection (can't remember what) & metoclopramide pills & moreprochlorperazine buccal pills but not admitted as EPAU was heaving & had no beds. Actually felt better for 8 hours (slept thru most of it) & ate 1/2 a pizza! At least the metoclop will help me metabolise my other medications faster as have been getting worrying worsening in rheumatoid arthritis cos can't keep those meds down or the ones for pain relief for ME either. So fingers crossed.

Know what you mean about lying in a vomity bed or not brushing teeth. Having missed the bin by the bed earlier in the week, I only managed to strip bed, chuck it on the floor, then lie in a sleeping bag for next 3 days. Too knackered even to let DH remake the bed. As for kids they are amazingly resilient. I have barely seen my DD 4, or kept on top of uniforms or homework as sick & sleeping so much, so sent note into school explaining I'm ill & asking them to bear with us at this difficult time. Sprog is quite happy to snuggle up for a bit & play on iPad next to me as that's all I can manage.

Big hugs to all those suffering, it's really helped to know I'm not alone xxx

Thanks all for the advice, no ketostix at home should I get the doctor to test my urine?

Thanks lucinda. They did warn me that the SPD might be worse a second time. It's been a lot worse though which is a bit depressing, especially with the worse HG too. Oh well. We shan't be doing it again and the end is almost in sight now! One of my PhD students has his viva on the 8th January and as soon as he is through that I am going to be encouraging this baby to put in an appearance!

Welcome blueberry I'm on my second hg pregnancy too though a slightly bigger gap than yours - DS is nearly two and I'm 29 weeks. We sound similar though - I am always impressed with those ladies who are able to stay out of ketosis despite quite regular vomiting. Anything more than once or twice a day and I just lose control completely and always end up back in hospital - or rather, as happened this pregnancy, just stuck in hospital for weeks and weeks on end. I was in almost continuously from 7-14 weeks on a huge steroid dose because they just couldn't get me out of ketosis or stop the vomiting though thank goodness have managed to stay out since then. My only modest ambition is not to be readmitted for vomiting before the end! I know just what you mean about the relentless nausea, it really is worse than at least a bit of vomiting with brief relief afterwards, but like you I am scared of being sick and then losing it.

willow if you are sick within 30 minutes of taking the cyclizine I would just take another to be honest - especially if you can see bits of the pill or can clearly taste it. That's what they told me to do in hospital anyway. But a good idea to avoid eating in that interval if it's likely to set you off.

Willow if you need ketostix I'd be happy to post you some, would probably be in the morning and they'd get to you by saturday. Just pm if you want me to x

Newshoes glad your ketones were negative, at least that's something. I love the cartoon, I've had family telling me I need a brisk walk and fresh air, despite movement being my worst trigger!

Hi to everyone else, sorry so many new people are suffering.

I tried to reduce my meds yesterday but it made me so nauseous, I think I'll just stick to taking them strictly, as I do feel so much better than I did, and apart from the odd episode I'm keeping the vomiting at bay. Hoping this is finally a turning point!

I have the HV coming in an hour, it is policy they visit everyone before the baby comes. My house is a mess as DP working long hours and too much bending and exertion makes me retchy. Ah well!

Hi everyone. So sorry to hear how terrible some of you guys are feeling. Like most of you I had to stay in bed and not lift a finger.

But it might get better, it didn't in my first pregnancy but it definitely has this time round. I'm 39weeks tomorrow and going on mat leave has made a massive difference, still very feeble -BUT feeling happier and nausea is very low level- more like a reminder to eat frequently than a constant thing.

I hope this gives a bit of hope to some of you. It is sucha long slog.

Hello all, welcome to the new people. There is great advice on this thread, hopefully you won't need it for long.
I got up again today, managed until lunchtime, mainly because I couldn't find the energy to go upstairs! I also got told off by the dentist for not brushing my teeth although she understands why. She was brilliant actually, didn't stick her fingers in my mouth or make me keep it open for long. She had it too, for the whole 9 months, which explains why she was so understanding. Anyway, I was still sick, a lot, so am back in my trusty old bed. Dp has gone out for lunch with his dad and dd is with mil. So I have peace and quiet, slightly disappointed all I can do is lie in bed. Had a slight tantrum earlier when I spotted the Abel and Cole cheese board in their brochure. Wah. Still, we have bigger problems than no appetite, dp had warned me if I haven't drank a glass of water and kept it down by the time he comes home I will...actually he hasn't told me what he will do. Probably make me go to the doctor like he threatened yesterday. I think he's had enough

hello in the past I've asked doctors to post me a medical note for existing conditions-may be worth trying that?
meerka & basgetti didn't you know this is all in our minds and can be cured by fresh air?

Willow it's horrible when your GP won't do anything til it's taken hold to the extreme - surely prevention is easier than cure? My GP was like this, and despite me telling them I had this in my last pregnancy and tablets helped me a little, they still wouldn't give me anything til is been hospitalised. I swapped GP surgeries in the end and they've been great.

Hope you all find some relief soon. It really is the pits. I always wanted 3 children but I can't see me being able to go through this for a 3rd time.

lucinda I've spent all day asleep, but don't feel the worst I've felt. (Famous last words).

Newshoesplease touch something wood

Yes it is all in our head, eating little and often and exercising will cure hyperemesis. Oh and eating ginger biscuits. That contain no actual ginger whatsoever.

Blueberry Lol about advice.
Willow and Bluebery There is some evidence that preventative treatment stops it being severe. According to the NICE guidelines, GP's are meant to to take the quality of life into account when treating. It might be worth phoning the Pregnancy Sickness SOS number for advice on obtaining effective medication 024 763 82020. They'll have to phone you back but they will and they've helped all sorts of people on here. Willow It's torment for mothers having to be seemingly negligent, but they won't be permanently damaged. I'm glad your mother spotted that about meds.
Hello If you're having difficulty keeping down water and have been for twenty four hours, then it's an excellent idea for the dr to test. You can get kestostix from any chemists, but it's no joke tottering out to get them when very ill. You can get them online.
HexyQueen I'm glad you found us again. Thanks for the update. Glad they have increased the meds.
MuddyLettuce So lucky about that dentist. I used to rub kids' strawberry toothpaste on my teeth and sometimes I gave them a rinse with a bicarbonate of soda solution - probably not recommended in pregnancy because of the salt, but they felt so foul.
Elletorrito I'm sol glad your maternity leave has started and thank y9u so much for coming on to encourage others with happy news.
Waves to bubalou Glitter elizabehtsmum Caitmous Meerka and everyone.l Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.
xx

I have to admit though I know you will all kill me for saying it that I do find actual root ginger (e.g. grated in cooking) helps a tiny bit with nausea; also cumin seeds and turmeric (tumeric is related to ginger). But I totally agree about the biscuits without the merest hint of actual ginger in their ingredients! And nothing herbal is of the remotest use in the worst stage anyway.

muddy did you see my post on the last thread about the weird herbal toothpaste I found this time? Has definitely helped me on the brushing front.

blueberry you were right. Have been sick several times this eve! Must stock up on positive thinking and ginger biscuits. ...