Hypermesis 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.

oh dear ealli I hope the journey goes ok. Bit stuck for ideas other than ensuring you have a good supply of bags and some babywipes for cleaning up and trying to make sure you sit near a door so you can at least go between carriages to be ill rather than in the middle of the carriage.

Someone used to have handkerchiefs with an aromatherapy oil that they could tolerate and was soothing. Any chance of something similar?

Good luck.

trixy the toothpaste thing is awful isn't it :( Is there any time of the day that you can try mouthwash? maybe one without alcohol in would be easier t tolerate

Trixy Goodness, that sounds dramatic and awful. eallison I so hope train journey ok - can't add to advice- I could stand the smell of a lavender satchet, but this varies so.
Hello Horrors about your colleagues' taste in sandwiches
Hope you don't feel too bad today? Waves to lovely Meerka and 8elizabeth'smum* about crossed out bit.
Hope everyone is coping.

I have the mouthwash that I can tolerate (aqua fresh "my big teeth" mouthwash - fruity rather than minty!) That's pretty good at preventative measures, so will put on a tissue. Mint is a disaster, I tried mint mouthwash and it was a complete disaster - induced instant projectile vomit. I now have a bottle of "my big teeth" Mouthwash in the car, in both my loos and in my bag at all times, along with gaviscon for that post vom burn. I'm not sure what I'll do when I can eat normally again and not have to constantly think about where the toilets are...!

Went to John lewis last night to start looking at prams... Their toilets were not as clean as you might think!

Good luck with the train journey Ealli! If you're travelling to Windermere... there are no toilets at that station, however there are some lovely ones in Lakeland (right next to train station and nicer than the ones in Boothes). Very clean, space-agey and even have tv screens on toilet doors (mainly advertising their products but also showing soothing scenes of Cumbrian fells and sheep)! I got stuck in there for an hour recently, there are worse places to vomit

Nearly forgot to introduce myself: I'm 14 weeks, have HG, first pregnancy. Been off sick for nearly 2months. I've tried cyclizine, phenegan, stemetil, metraclopamide... None helped at all...GP won't prescribe anything else but referred me to specialist as still vomiting 6-10x day and nausea almost constant. Managed to avoid admission so far by constantly drinking water and sucking ice-lollies. Started to have a good day here and there but most days are still awful.

Hi firethorn almost same situation as me. 14 weeks, done about 40 hours work since week 7. When are you due?

Actually getting the train to penrith, then pops picking me up. First 75min train journey is on a skanky ass commuter train, so I don't even wanna sleep; no cosy little rows of two seats like on virgin trains! But I've got my chipsticks (salt and vinegar . don't like them but they work at the moment!) and frozen water. Bring it on. I decided about a week ago that I wasn't gonna let myself feel like I was under house arrest. And dad has a very nice, very posh new bathroom for me to hurl in!

Hopefully the referral will be speedy and they'll be more use. sounds like you need ondansetron. Have you tried specifically asking your gp for it? It's the only stuff that's touched the vomiting for me. still vomiting once or twice most days (and definitely have bad days where it's more than that) , but don't feel like I'm gonna be sick all the time. only ondansetron has made me feel able to eat things. With the right medication this can certainly be made more bearable.

Hello all, back again with a question because frankly you ladies are the experts. Have had d&v bug since yesterday and this afternoon when I woke up from a nap thought I would test for ketones. They are at the highest level on the side- 16. So massively pannicking now. I am 32 weeks tomorrow. Frantically sipping water hoping it stays down this time. I assume if I can keep these fluids down they will come down themselves? I don't want to go to doctors, the baby and other half have the bug too. Plus I am pretty sure going to doctors/hospital is frowned upon when you've got a vomiting bug. X

muddy I would try and keep doing what you're doing and dehydrating if you can - (much like iv fluids dehydrate you when you go in to hope and ketones come down). the thing with a bug- hopefully short lived is that you can soon self rehydrate (which is obvsiously not poss with continual vicious cycle of hg). if you are managing to drink ok and feeling better I wouldn't worry. they won't want you in hospital with a bug you are right. I has vomiting bug at 35 weeks with the twins and rang labour suite for advice- (I had only just been discharged with pain which had settled when vomiting started but dd1 also had it simultaneously so realised it was definitely a bug!) hospital just said to ring back in 24hrs if no better.

hope your journey has gone ok eallison.

welcome to the thread firethorn. sorry you are sufferering. definitely sounds like you need stronger meds to get sickness under control. is your go sympathetic? as eallison suggests ondansetron would likely be the next line. have you tried phoning pregnancy sickness support (details at top of the thread) xx

Thanks elizabethsmum. That's what I figured- this a passing (pleaseGodsoon) thing and therefore not quite so worrying. I will keep sipping away and praying it stays down. Thanks. X

muddy, water is great if that's all you can manage, but something with sugar in will get your ketones under control quicker. A nurse friend of mine said that there isn't any sugars in water so it's not quick acting (will act eventually tho), fruit juice is Ok, but natural sugars don't have as big an impact as something chemical! So any sugary things would really help. Equally, I know mist of the time all I can manage is sips of ice cold bottled water. I try and have a glass full of flat Fanta a day. Fingers crossed you can keep these fluids down and ketones settle.

Ealli, hope your journey went ok! I haven't been on public transport since HG started. I asked GP about Ordansetron, he said it needs to be prescribed by consultant so I'm waiting for referral. Glad it made a difference for you!

Welcome to Firethorn. I can't improve on others' advice. I'm glad you have found ice lollies helpful. This level of vomiting is awful, I so agree toy and phone PSS on the number above for advice on more effective meds.I take it you've got kesostix to check for ketones in your urine? Do you find flat coke or the juice of tinned fruit or soda water any good?
Muddy Oh dear, poor you, I hope you get redydrated again soon. Try all the things you used to, those famous lollies and so on. Wish you better soon
eallison I hope train jouney wasn't too horrific?
On tooth cleaning, I found kids' strawberry flavoured toothpaste most bearable, rubbed on teeth. I also used bicarbonate of soda in water for rinses to clean teeth (your almost certrainly not meant to, because of the
salt).
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Hi Lucinda, yes I find flat coke helpful, also elderflower cordial. Can't keep much liquid down unless drink in tiny sips, sometimes I get so thirsty I can't control myself and take gulps instead but it always comes back up! Fruit juice seems to cause reflux, and often can't tolerate fruit which is a shame as I crave it. Are a banana today but projectile-vomited it onto bathroom wall 5 mins later

I've got urinanalysis strips that test for infection, ph, ketones, glucose, hydration status etc (different colour squares on same strip), the ketones has been negative or 'trace' the last few days. I check every morning. Can you get different ones just for ketones?

I made it I'm one piece! Not the easiest ot most pleasant journey I've ever done. But I survived. And twas worth it to see my grandparents faces when I rocked up at theirs this evening. Now tucked up with a blanket in front of the fire at my dads.

I have a fruity toothpaste that's bearable one day in two/three.

Hi Firethorn

In haste, if the specialist will do it, try to get ondansetron from him (its expensive so docs dont like to give it). at 14 weeks you can expect the good days to start turning up more regularly but it'll be patchy for a while

Muddy , please do keep a strong eye on those ketones and ring your doc as an emergency if they arent down by tomorrow.

ealli hope you survived the day and are safely and comfortably at your father's now being looked after!

Firethorne Those sticks sound very sophisticated. Yes, kestostix from a chemsit just test for ketones.
eallison Well done on coping with such a journey.
Thinking of everyone.

Just been for my second sweep and been booked in Sunday morning at 8am for induction so the end is finally in sight.

blueberry fantastic news. am thinking of you. these last days are just that ... less than 48 hours to go

Fingers crossed today's sweep does the trick, otherwise that's not too bad a wait. Right, babyberry, time to meet the world!

Good luck for Sunday Blueberry I've been popping back to this thread to see if little berry has made an appearance

Thanks everyone - I will keep you updated. Suddenly realised I'm actually extremely unorganised and have lots to sort out tomorrow!

I like the suggestion of bicarb of soda, it works for arm and hammer, might see if the taste is ok. I loathe fruit flavours, so might give the suggestions a miss but planning a nice wander round the chemist shelves this weekend.

Spent a nice 3 hours waiting in AE this afternoon with a bonza of a nosebleed - threw up a bit just for good measure! It looks much worse when you have blood and clots floating about in it. Only got seen 2 hours after it had stopped, so nothing they could do.

Favourite food right now is caramel snack a jacks, munchtastic.

blueberry - take care xxx

Blueberry the best of luck for tommorrw- I'm so glad the end of this is in sight for you. What a marathon, eh?
Trixy That sounds horrible again - glad the bicarb mouth rinse might help.
I still have those nosebleeds when puking with migraines, and it looks bad enough to make you keep on - but I never had one of such duration as that, that is awful. I can only marvel at your continuing to go in to work; it must be torment.

Hi all, just wanted to say thank you and give a quick update. I called my midwife after posting on here at the insistence of dp. She asked me to call the bleep at the local hospital who asked me to come in immediately. Unfortunately the motorway was shut so it took us 3 hours (usually 20 minutes) sat in traffic vomiting every sip of water. When I got there I was having tightenings and in obvious danger of pre term labour, baby's heart rate was very high. With some anti emetics and fluids over night all calmed down. Such a scare though. Just goes to show those ketones are a real risk, if I hadn't known to test my urine from this thread I am certain I would have ended up with another poorly baby in nicu, possibly worse. X

oh I am so glad it all calmed down muddy. what a horrible experience. So glad you are doing better now