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.

LH - I'm sorry to hear about your loss, your comments sound like you're coping well, I'm glad for that.

I'm not feeling good. Went to doctors yesterday for a new script, and my heart rate was running about 20 - 30bpm faster than normal while resting. BP was 90/50. Everything evened out later in the day, but I'm feeling similar symptoms today. Nausea is bad too, but no vomiting yet. Chewbacca (my dog) is snuggled up really close to me, which is nice. Just feeling like I'm going to pass out even though I'm in bed.

LHReturns Hugs. Your emotions will probably be roller coasting over the next few days what with the hormones and everything. Take it as easy as you can.
Laura That was very insensitive of the immediate boss. I'm glad the head is nice. I'm happy you are home in bed. What a lovely story about the tearaway who joined the army and wrote to thank you.
Chopsface Can you get the sick note extended? Don't go back too early. Mother Hen flaps and clucks as usual.
Lilac I do hope the meds help with the renewed vomiting and all tests come back fine.
Penguin I hope OH had a nice birthday. Very sweet of you to do that when ill.
any That sounds very uncomfortable - glad you've got some baggy things. As Meerka says, small things can be a trigger.
Waves to Meeerka and elizabethsmum
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

mellee that sounds unpleasant. It could be worth mentioning to the midwife. The heart has to work a -lot- harder than normal in pregnancy and when I had, er, an incident with an electric shock in the mid-final-trimester they all got worried about my heart, though they thought the baby would be fine. Very embarassing as it was carelessness that got me the shock

Mellee I'm very vague today, my apologies for missing that. Meerka is so right about how it's worth mentioning to midwife. Meerka I remember that electric shock. You had some times during that pregnancy...

mellee enjoy your doggie cuddles. Rest that heart of yours. Is it from dehydration do you think?

lilac sorry about your doggy scare yesterday. I actually nearly had one on my way back from the GP today! There was a dog running loose from a garden who's fence had come down. There was a lady a few paces in front of me who it went for instead! I shimmied around the outside whilst the owners were running out shrieking "it won't hurt you" with this poor lady frozen to the spot with her arms in the air!

After my mini-relapse thingy this afternoon I would like to turn into a recluse for the rest of my pregnancy please! My friend (who is a SAHM of 3) wanted to meet up tomorrow afternoon for a browse around the shops looking for maternity wear for me coz her dh is off and can do the school runs. I've not seen her for 8 weeks and it would be great and I will need some bigger trousers soon! But afternoons I'm at my worst! She can't do the morning though. Should I even be at the shops if I'm signed off work sick? What if I was seen?! I've no idea what to do. Town is a good 8 miles from home and 40min bus ride if I get sick. lucinda I'm seeing the GP in the morning to review my meds and I will explain to her my afternoon poorlyness and anxiety about being at work. I feel as though I should be at work if the meds have stopped the puking but if I am so exhausted and drowsy after my lunch time pill?! I need to concentrate in my job, lives are at stake (i test samples in a lab) and I worry about the bus commute as I've had a few near misses over the last week's. Sorry for all the me posts. I have a terrible memory for new people.

chops I had the same issue about being out of the house while on sick leave. But actually I think we need to be trying to get out a little bit if we can. Saying that, I went to see my dad when I was particularly ill (for a change of scenery and to give hubby a bit of a break) which involved getting on a train during a school day (I work in a school) and I felt so naughty!!!

Our school is doing a sponsored walk on friday; every student and member of staff. I was meant to be doing a road crossing (planned with best intentions as it was near a toilet) but have had to ask for it to be changed cos of spd. Now I have a job that involves sitting or standing in the same place for a few hours. Still near loos! Hoping I'll have a good day and be able to enjoy it properly as it should be a really lovely day and atmosphere. Fingers crossed for sun and no rain!!!

Hope everyone gets a good night sleep. Doctor gave me codeine for spd, so trying that tonight - hoping for effective pain relief and also the drowsy side affects!!!

5 days to go for me now! I am really really on countdown now, some days I'm struggling to wal as I'm in so much pain and sleep is proving even harder. I went into hospital on Monday for reduced movements and was monitored for a while, thankfully all was ok.
The sun and heat are also not my friend right now, I'm dreading the heat on the postnatal ward next week

chops it would be lovely to see your friend but if afternoons are worst time for you, you're likely to pay a heavy price the next few days for it. Is there no chance of her coming to your town? It is so nice to get out but it'd be good if it could be done in a smaller way for your first trip ...

never worry about me posts. that's what this thread is for. That, and TMI posts =)

ealli have been wondering how you are. glad you have a seated place now.

hellohello thinking of you ... so near the end, but I remember just how very far away it seems.

lucinda Yeah, the second preg was certainly more dramatic than the first, though the HG was very slightly less ... or at least, better treated. Thank GOD and medicine there can't be any third pregs!

Hoping everyone is surviving the morning. another night ticked off ...

Chops I had similar worries about being spotted out and about while signed off sick, but in the end I decided no-one at work would expect me to stay indoors all the time so I stopped caring if anyone saw me. I've never heard of anyone getting into trouble for going outside on sick-leave, you could always argue it's to help your recovery, or say you were in town for a medical appointment if someone saw you. At my old workplace one woman on long-term sick leave (she was off for stress) got into trouble because someone tagged her in FB pictures at a theme park on a weekday (!!) but she argued she'd been advised by her GP to take part in leisure activities and it was part of her recovery plan, so nothing ever came of the complaint. But I agree with Meerka it's best not to push yourself too hard especially as afternoons are your worst time. Can you meet somewhere closer to home? Or even order your maternity wear online and get her to come visit you at home?

Meerka how did you get the electric shock? Must have been scary especially when pregnant! Years ago I had electric shock when my gerbils chewed the plastic coating off a wire, when power was switched on later, the live wire was exposed and I touched it without realising. Wasn't a dangerous shock but it gave me a big jolt and weird sensation through body, bit like touching an electric fence! I'm now very cautious about wires!

Hello sorry you're in so much pain! Not long now, soon you'll be counting down hours instead of days... hang in there...

Eallsion glad the codeine helps. I find it makes me feel spaced-out and a bit detached from reality if i take it in daytime so I try to save it for when pain is really bad. I wonder if it lowers blood pressure? I sometimes feel dizzy if take more than 15mg in one go. I'm also wondering if codeine could be causing the itching as according to leaflet itching is a possible side-effect. But main thing is it's effective for SPD pain, I'd rather put up with itch-attacks than pain.
Good luck with your sponsored walk!

I've been taking metoclopamide since yesterday (10mg 3xday) but not making any difference yet. Does anyone know if they take a while to build up in system like cyclizine? Feeling very nauseous this morning.

We've got guests coming later and still loads to do! I've decided to forget about heavy housework and just focus on making house look welcoming. Ordered mountains of fruit so going to have a nice morning arranging it into bowls and making trifle and fruit salads. Ironically I can't actually eat the fruit (body rejects it) but next best thing is being creative with it! After months of feeling too ill for any kind of food-prep I've started to enjoy handling food again.

Lilac - I found metachlorpromide worked for 3 days for me and then body learnt to throw it up. But it did start working immediately. If it's not working for you, especially after a few days, I would try a different medication.

Hello - so excited for you! Also tremendously jealous about the heat, very icy here this week! But the constant hot water bottle in my belly keeps me warm.

Chops - When I first was off work, I was trying acupuncture and having appointments outside the house every day. Did see a couple of guys from work while I was out and about (the guys work shifts), but they understood there was a difference between an 8hr day at work and an hour in town.

Meerka and Lucinda - thanks for the concern about my heart. Got the blood test results back and turns out despite being able to eat normally, my iron levels are dropping and now I'm officially anemic. Have to double my iron dosage and hopes that helps, and doesn't make the ondansetron/pregnancy constipation completely unbearable.

I can't remember if meto. takes a while to build up sorry ... give it a couple days, though. It doesn't work for everyone, if not you can ask for prochlorperazine (stemetil) or one of a couple of other meds.

the shock was very silly indeed. weeks 32-36 or so I was absolutely determined to get our older son's room ready so we could put the baby in his old room (still very much a babyroom). Managed to lay a new parquet floor which sounds like a lot of work but didn't involve much walking, so it was doable. But my husband was sorting the electrics ...I expected him to wrap the ends of each live wire in electrician's insulating tape, he expected me to turn the electrics off each time I went in. Brushed one off the wires from the socket. Just felt like a small animal had closed its jaws on my finger a moment. Wasn't bad at all, but I was worried that it might have affected the baby somehow ... the hospital was a lot more worried it might have affected me. cue 24 hours in the local ICU being monitored . There were some bloody dreadful times in the preg, but that one was just silly.

crosspost .. very glad yoru heart is ok mellee. Hear mixed reports on the iron tablets, will they be monitoring yoru iron levels now?

Hello That reduced movements episode must have been alarming, like Penguin's. Thank goodness you are so near the end of the Hyperemesis Horror Trail. Horrible about the spd. Does the physio no longer reduce the pain?
Meerkaand others Horrors about electric shocks and uncontrolled dogs...
Mellee Oh dear, about anemia. That is so debilitating. Are you having drops? Iron tablets made me puke before the birth, and after when I had anamia.
Chopsface I so agree with others, surely your friend will come to visit you if she realises how ill you get on transport? I hope the GP issues another sick note; it takes some time to recover with this.
eallison Good luck with sponsored sit down. I'm glad they've arranged it near loos.
Waves to Lilac any Laura and everyone. Usual apologies to anyone overlooked.

Just got back from the GP. She has given me cyclizine to try for the next few days to see if they make me less drowsy so I can return to work. She was happy to write me a sick note for next week but I declined but I can call them on Monday if needed. Sucker for punishment me. We also talked about maybe going for reduced hours. As for my friend... We both live in the 'burbs of a large city, but still about 5 miles from each other. Town is 8 miles through the sprawl to the shops where I know they have maternity sections, unlike the out of town Mall a stones throw from me. She knows how I feel as she had 9 months sickness with her 3 kids, but she's the type to martyr on regardless and I know she didn't take time off from her shop manager job with dd1 whilst puking all day!

Sorry to hear about the anaemia mellee hope you feel better soon x

lilac, guests?! You're brave. My house has got so filthy and unloved over the months as I have no energy to clean, and dh doesn't know where the cleaning stuff lives, probably. Hope your entertaining goes well.

Hi everyone else, hope today is a good one :-)

I'm risking the trip to town! Wish me luck!

Chopsface Wishing you luck and glad about sick note. Goodness, however did your friend manage, working in a shop, where as often as not you have to stand, and the loos highly inconvenient?

Lots to catch up on so apologies to anyone I might miss!!

Hello you're on the final stretch! Not long now. Sorry you are in pain, I hope the next few days pass quickly until you are counting down the hours :)

Mellee I was about to suggest anaemia until I saw your other post! A lady at work went through the exact same thing. She is fine on her tablets, but I appreciate iron can affect different people differently, so I hope it doesn't affect you badly and hope you are feeling better soon!

chopsface I would also suggest going somewhere closer to you, and then maybe looking online together at maternity clothes? You could have a look at what would be in the shops in the other town and plan to go another day. I say that because I went out one morning (mornings are my worst!) thinking it would help the cabin fever and I vomited the whole one hour I managed there and had to come home :(

Lilac - Guests! You are so brave! Glad you are managing to handle food again. I feel awful as I still can't bare to cook! Hopefully this will ease off soon.

eallison Hope you enjoy your sponsored walk tomorrow! I am seeing GP this afternoon about SPD so wonder if she can give me codeine too for night times. I'm waking up almost hourly during the night in agony and its making my sickness worse during the day!

waves to everyone - hope you are all feeling ok!

Saw my GP, she has confirmed SPD but would not prescribe anything for it. Gave me number for physio. Also asked about medical exemption cert for cyclizine and gluten free prescription and have filled form in but she said they are becoming very strict and might not accept?! I thought if you are pregnant there's no ifs or buts you are entitled?

Amy - hopefully the physio helps with the SPD. Have you got a pregnancy pillow? Is that helping?

Chops - hope you survived your trip out! I have so far hated maternity clothes shopping, why are sizes 10, 12, 14 etc acceptable for normal clothes but maternity are sizes S, M, L? I also think it's the idea of having to stand and try clothes on that worries me.

Lucinda - I am concerned about the iron tablets making the nausea worse, so I am taking them before bed. Feel better this morning than yesterday, so hopefully things start to pick up.

Meerka - what an awful shock! Isn't it funny how OHs expect us to know something but never actually tell us. :) We are getting the kitchen done in September, before baby arrives, so I will remember your story and make sure I get checked out if anything happens.

Hello - one day closer!! So excited for you. You must let us all know how long it takes you to return to land of eating whatever you want and keeping it down!

Waves to all :)

How exciting counting down the days until baby hello! I take it you're having a c section then?

Shopping trip was great in the end! Got the 'X' bus that goes straight down the motorway so nice straight line and half the time! Maternity selection in most stores was shocking though. A rail or 2 of random items in odd sizes. H&M was the best though and bought some over bump jeans! Also bought a truck load of cheap baggy summer clothes from Primark that'll do me for a few months and were not the crap maternity ranges in hiked prices! Spent £80 on myself :-) Thought I would be shattered last night but couldn't flipping sleep! Didn't take my Avomine last night as switching to cyclizine today to see if less drowsy for me. Bit concerned about the transition today.

Hope you're all ok this morning?

any I wish I could advise about that; one of the websites linked above might have advice on it, though? I do hope the physio helps with the spd. I know it was helping Hello at one time. Hello hang on there...
Mellee I believe you can get iron tablets in drops, which are more digestable? (spelling ridiculously bad today).
Chopsface I am so glad you had a nice trip after all, well done. Good luck with new meds.
Who was it who said she had had some Acupunture? That worked wonders for me, but I gather from this thread since that such a dramatic improvement is unusual. Though horrendously expensive it helps everyone a bit,but not normally for more than a few days, when it seems to need 'topping up' again...
Meerka The drama of that shock was bad enough, but that uterine infection where the now flourishing Wilhelm had only a twenty per cent chance was -- well, words fail me...

That uterine infection leading to sepsis has made me think differently about a number of things. Apparently the technical term for it was 'septic miscarriage, aka septic abortion" and the old fashioned name for it was puerpal fever ... Killed a lot of women after childbirth. It also killed a lot of women who went to back street abortionists.

It and the discussion in Northern Ireland have made me realise just how dreadfully dangerous it would be to go back to a situation where women felt driven to find abortions without medical care.

sorry, a bit of a derailment but it was truly a shock. Thank GOD that the Pipsqueak has survived, unharmed as far as we can tell (that was the other worry ofc).

You know there's a chance of things going wrong with a CVS placental test but you hope and pray it won't be you. Sadly I guess someone has to be the 1 in 100 .. and we did both come through.

at least it puts a silly small electric shock into perspective!

Meerka I hope it didn't traumatise you, my mentioning it. I hoped it might encourage everyone on here just what we can take and survive. I stupidly never realised, but of course, it must have been the same as purperal fever.

noooo ofc not lucinda!. it's come back to me regularly but it's losing its power now. I think mostly I'm just sort of absorbing it, if you see what I mean.

But it did make me think!

I had no idea what purperal fever was, only that it was deadly. Took me a while to realise; it must have been horrendous for my husband when he came home from the hospital and looked up septic miscarriage up later on that same night . All's well now though

mellee very good idea to get stuff done before the arrival! Do hope yoru HG has passed by then, it's bad enough having strangers working in the house never mind when you're ill on top!