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.

hi everyone

penguin I remember you from before. sorry you're still having a bad time and the iron infusion hasn't helped- seem to remember you were waiting for it a few weeks ago? stress of money worries also probably not helping either for you.
unfortunately it can be quite common for hg to make a reappearance in third trimester/ and very disheartening / frustrating I know. not really much further advice apart from the usual of rest/ eating what you can- if you can manage. keeping an eye on fluids. asking go for stronger meds if you are struggling.

amy sorry you are having such a bad day. If you are unable to keep anything down at all. getting worse etc you may be getting dehydrated so I would advise you to go to a&e if you can't cope or urgent appoint at out-of-hrs Dr as you may need iv fluids.

at people who sail through pregnancy! !!

Elizabethsmum Yeah, I was waiting for it for a few weeks, really thought it would help. I guess there is still time for it to help, but right now it's given me flu-like symptoms and can barely speak a full sentence without running out of breath.
I was taking the metoclopromide 3 times a day, but about 4 weeks ago I dropped down to twice a day - which I was really chuffed with. Think I need to start by reintroducing the 3rd dose, and maybe speak to my midwife when I see her on Thursday. It's so disheartening to feel almost back to square one, but I need to remember I'm not...that there's only 11 weeks (hopefully!) to go!!

Amy We've had lots of pregnant woman at work recently, and they all managed absolutley fine, and all worked pretty much up until the due date, and on their leaving day were 'congratulated' for lasting so long. So I do know how you feel, cos it's like people don't understand at work cos they've just seen others getting on with it just fine :(

By taking my ML so early I feel like I've let myself down in a way cos I'm comparing myself to others, but I know I'm doing the right thing for me and my baby. My advice would be just to try (I know it's hard) and not worry what other people think. You know how poorly you are, and you shouldn't have to justify yourself to anyone.

any I do hope the doctor can do something tomorrow, but I'm strill concerned you may be dehydrated. Have you got a headache, blurry vision, dry skin, scant dark urine, etc? Can anyone bring you some kesostix from a chemists? Sorry to nag on.
Penguin Welcome back, so sorry you are one of the unlucky ones who suffer all over again in the third tri. I can't improve on others' advice, but did wnat to sympathize. You are so right; you mustn't judge yourself by the standards of others who don't suffer like this and rest is so important with this horror.
Waves to elizabethsum and others.
apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Thanks ladies!

Lucinda the only thing is I have only had one wee since first wee this morning and it was dark, otherwise I'm feeling as OK-ish! I've had some more melon and also a bit of juice and all has stayed down. I don't have anywhere open near me but I'm heading off to bed now and my GP is open from half 7 so hopefully will be able to get in early. Will keep you posted tomorrow x

Amy - You are definitely dehydrated. Be prepared to spend some time getting rehydrated tomorrow. The GP will check your ketones if asked. I hope you feel better after the IV fluids.

amyy yes, please do go to the doctor tomorrow. You can order Ketostix from amazon or ask someone to get them from the chemist. You pee on them, the darker the colour on the stick the more dehydrated you are. anything that is 3+++, you need advice.

penguin welcome back (unfortunately!) ... yes the sickness and nausea can definitely reappear. It's bad, but it never gets as bad as at first!

lilac it -will- pass. Better days will come, promise.

dilly if you take cyclizine that might help with the rhinitis. Just take a break from it every few days, then after a few days start again. Honestly, it gets so much easier once the baby is here, usually (as long as he or she is a sleeper!)

hello and ealli how are you doing today ...

I have an appointment in an hour and a half. I have not had any food or drink this morning and I can't stop vomiting bile. Honestly I don't know where it is all coming from. I have brought bile up before on a morning but nowhere near this much. Is that normal? I also had a wee this morning but not much and dark in colour, so I'm preparing for him to tell me it's dehydration. Can anyone tell me the usual next steps? Will they send me to hospital? I'm terrified of the place and starting to get panicky!

amyyy to be honest I hope they do send you to hospital . It might be the right place for you for a short time.

If you get hooked up to a drip it helps enormously. If you get too dehydrated you feel worse because the electrolyte balances in your body are worse. Right now it sounds like you need that liquid urgently.

Hospitals aren't nice places but it won't be for long and it will help, if you have to go. We will be thinking of you and the baby.

Thanks Meerka I know it will be the best place for me. How long would you expect they would keep me in for?

Amy - I've been rehydrated 4 times, twice in ER and twice at my doctors office. How long you spend at hospital will depend on your nutrient levels as well. They may admit if you're really lacking. The longest I had to stay was 4hours. It generally takes about an hour for each litre of fluids.

mellee that's good to know people keep telling me it would be overnight or even a few days!! Well he took my tiny urine sample and told me I had a few ketones, but he wanted to try me on a different tablet for 2 days and if no better then I will be admitted to hospital for rehydration. So he's gave me cyclizine although I have already vomited one back up!!

Hi, I posted a while ago but got too ill to look at screens. I am now 26 weeks, still suffering with hg. Am on ondanastron (sp?) but still sick everyday, however I am now managing to eat a little more. I am struggling with constipation and not managed to go without a suppository since I was 10 weeks! The pain can be horrific and can spark more vomiting. I also have spd and on crutches but struggling on these with my 2 year old. However on a positive I haven't had to go back into hospital for rehydration since 14 weeks (was in about 10 times before then).

My reason for posting now was to ask if anyone has had to have the Gtt test and what happened if they couldn't keep the horrible orange syrup down? My bmi was over 30 at booking in but I have lost 1.5 stone since then so wouldn't need it based on today's weight! I am worried I am going to bring the orange back up and the midwives will get pissed off with me!!

zippys poor you so sorry you are still suffering so badly. lots of people will be able to offer advice 're constipation and ondansetron. I know we had a fairly recent thread on gtt's and hg- will see if I can find it xx

amys I had multiple admissions for rehydration in both pgs longest 3 days/ shortest 6 hrs- often quicker if you are re-hydrated quickly before ketones too high xx

Amy how are you feeling now? Sorry you're having such a rough time. I recommend going to your local EPU (Early Pregnancy Unit) sometimes GPs are a bit clueless about HG. Cyclizine helped me but it took few days before I felt any difference and if you're not keeping it down it's no good at all. EPU should have doctors on duty who have experience of treating HG. Usually you can self-refer to EPU by ringing unit or attending drop-in clinic. I know it's stressful going to hospital, but as others say they might just give you some IV fluids and anti-sickness injections, then let you go home.

Amy,have you any ketones strips you can test at home as your ketones can change quickly and you could get worse in 2 days. When I have been rehydrated it's been a min of 6 hours (1l over 1 then 2 then 3 hours). If I got seen at the antenatal day unit I was usually allowed home, if it was on the ward I usually ended up with an overnight stay and more fluids but my ketones have always been over 4. Hope you manage to keep the meds down and they work.

Elizabethsmum if you could find that thread it would be great thanks.

any I hope they admitted you, it sounds like nasty dehydration. You will feel a lot better and with any luck they'll review your meds.
lilac I hope your feeling a bit better today. Penguinhow are things, and
Mellee? and Hello how is the head, and Mother Hen hopes nobody else is getting dehydrated.
Waves to lovely Meerka and Elizabethsmum and MotherofPearl (that always makes me think of a Victorian paper mache tray decorated with that my mother had when I was a kid, silly...
Watch me cross post with somebody.

Hi Penguin hope the iron infusion helps. Sorry to hear you're having money worries on top of everything! I totally identify with the work thing. At my work is another pregnant lady, she had mild sickness and no time off, people kept making comparisons e.g. 'oh X felt sick too, she swears by eating ginger cake and satsumas' When i got HG diagnosis it helped as people started saying 'oh that's what Kate Middleton had, she was in hospital with it' etc so took it more seriously.
After initial period of absence I struggled in on reduced hours for ages, wish i hadn't now! My job is client-centred, involves visiting people in their own homes so I was constantly stressed. One client had a smelly parrot in cage and smell of parrot made me start gagging, had to rush outside and was violently sick on her garden path After that I was given office work but screens made nausea worse, ended up feeling like a burden as they ran out of jobs for me and I spent hours scared to leave loo in case i vomited in office. I decided to take sick-leave until symptoms manageable, but still haven't reached that point! The more weeks go by the more I'm being realistic and accepting maybe i won't be fit to return to work until after baby's born and will take early ML. Like you I used up annual leave to stay on full-pay but this runs out on 1st June, haven't told DH yet as he'll put pressure on me to return to work at least for rest of ML calculation period! Until recently I was planning to return on 1st June but way things are going it's impossible.

Well I did feel a little better after a nap. Had an ice lolly and some ham. Then... After telling work what the Dr had said I got an arsey message saying I need to provide a sick note and any further time off will result in sick pay. I've called the doctors to explain he never gave me one this morning and they have said I need to find a form online that I use to self - certify for the first 7 days. I'm bloody fed up.

Amy I am not surprised you're fed up. Have you been off more than 4days? If so you can use this form
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/412139/SC2_12_14.pdf

I've been in work from the start of May. Today's my first day off and they are asking for a sick note grrr. That's what my doctors have told me to get, thank you x

When I say first day off I mean since I returned to work. I was off ill most of April

Under the ssp rules then this is linked to your first period of absence as therefore you don't have the 4 waiting days. However asking you for a note on the first day is unfair, especially when you feel so ill.

It's story's like this that make me pleased I work for myself (although it has meant I have had to work on and off throughout the hg!)

Thanks zippys I am clueless with the rules of ssp! It's so annoying but expected of them. I had only returned to work before as I felt guilty and like I was letting them down, wish I hadn't bothered!

Thanks everyone for the support. I still feel a bit like a fraud as no one has actually said that I've actually got HG, so I do appreciate all the support. It felt weird phoning in sick for the week today for the very last time! Half term next week, and then my ML should be starting (fx, waiting for confirmation). I just feel a bit sad and emotional that I never got to say goodbye to the kids tbh. I'm still breathless and feel very sick today so going to try taking the metoclopromide at lunch time aswell.

Zippys Sorry you're struggling atm :( I had the GTT a few weeks ago, and it wasn't very nice as I felt so sick from being up and about and not having had anything to eat. Luckily I was able to keep it down though. I don't know what you could do if you're unable to keep it down - have you mentioned your concerns to your midwife?

Lilac oh god, that sounds annoying at work for you! I honestly lost count during my 1st trimester of how many people mentioned bloody ginger to me like it was some sort of miracle cure!! So frustrating. I'm glad people started taking it a bit more seriously, but it's a shame they didn't in the first place!!

I'm sorry you're struggling with being off work :( It's so hard isn't it, cos you feel so guilty from the financial point of view (and I also worried what people think of me!). I sat down with dh last weekend and we just said enough is enough, baby has to come first, hence why I'm taking ML at the earliest point really. Dh told his dad last night I'll be on ML from the 1st (we don't really speak to his parents though) and I don't think it went down too well. I think people are judging me for it but I've just got to put the baby first. When would be the earliest you could take ML/when are you due?

Amy Sorry you're so poorly at the moment too and that work aren't really helping. Please don't push yourself or feel guilty or anything. I recognise those feelings so well, but I've been signed off since the end of Feb - if you're really struggling you just can't help it. I would second what others have advised re EPU if you're really not doing well today.
Sorry - epic post there!

Thank you penguin , sorry you're not feeling well but like you say the baby and yourself must come first x