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

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.

Just for refernce and information, I have been managing with two cyclizines and one ondensatron a day, sometimes 2 if it is a bad day. During this pregancy which is my first once thing that really helped for the bad times is IV fluids and fortunately jn my area they registered me in the Early Pregnancy Unit of Lister Hospital (herts) and I can just come in whenever I have a bad relapse. Such an amazing service and support there! Just had my anomaly scan this week and my baby boy is 100% perfect which is great to hear after taking meds in pregnancy. The only thing It worked for me apart from meds is mynoise.net which is a website with different types of relaxing music. Once you find the perfect noise for you, it can actually relieve nausea and make you drift to sleep or keep you in a calm state of mind which I bet we all know, takes the edge off a bad nausea day. A wave to you all and hope you have a nice week!

Good news Ruby really happy it's helped, a little suprised they didn't keep you longer.
LilacWine7 poor you acid is horrible, it's that taste in your mouth all the time that I hate.

Great news about your scan mrsm! Apart from the fibroid of course :-)

Glad you got seen and feeling better ruby :-)

Sorry you're feeling so poorly again lilac

Great news from me, dropped down to one promethazine a day, after accidentally missing a dose, and I'm OK! Nausea late evening but no vomming :-D nearly back to being full time at work too :-) The only thing I'm worried about now is my breathlessness. I know some is normal but I am puffed out from very little and I can feel my heart beating in my ears, head and neck! Bit worried about anaemia from poor diet as I have some other signs too.

Hope everyone else is good x

lilac I'm sorry you are having a rough day and hope you feel ok tomorrow. I haven't been sick since there was lots of blood so I'm not sure how my throat is. It does happen often when I'm sick though. I find I really violently retch :(
I'm worrying a little about my change of pills as I'm pertrified to feel how I did in the first trimester but I think so far they are ok! Fingers crossed everyone!!

Hi all anyway I'm finally 12 weeks can't wait to be full term! I have my scan Monday looking forward to being able to tell people. When people at school pickups say how are you I ve been saying fine thanks but really I feel horrible and probably look bad. I have had to tell some people. My son is having his tonsils out tomorrow so I'm hoping I have a good day. We have to be at the hospital for.7.45. My sickness is better than its been in my other pregnancy's, I'm normally quite sick in the evenings but my mornings had improved. I've started being sick again in the mornings again and lunch is not so great. In general I know I can't complain as I could/ have been much worse but it is tough with kids and jobs and life going on around me. We are also renting our house out in a couple of weeks so are trying to get everything ready. Now I'm 12 weeks I'm waiting to be magically better, -it never happened before but I hope it does!
It does make a big difference being able to chat, wish this was available in my first pregnancy when I was really bad.

Oh my the thread has moved fast!

starry our Pipsqueak is doing amazingly well, definitely monkey ancestry judging by how quick he is to climb on any available surface. he's just said his first word .. "no". Not an augery of the future I hope! :) best of luck to you and tinystar.

blueberry lovely to hear from you and that your daughter is all of 15 weeks now!

ruby i hope you are alright now. So glad that you got rehydrated, quite a relief to hear.

A big case sounds extremely tough when you are in the throes of HG. Best of luck for it, wishing you lots of stamina.

laura big grats on your Pink! :) I hope this time the scan was easier.

chops good to hear you've been feeling a bit better and that you've been ok when missing a dose :) Is it worth askign about iron tablets? though they make some people feel a bit iller

barmee are you feeling any more reassured? as others have said, the hormones really do fluctuate ...

kayme Good luck to your son tomorrow. Cyclizine -IS- safe. If you are not sure, ring the PSS support helpline that Mother Hen gives in the first post and ask for Dr Tony to ring you back for reassurance.

I think the pharmacist was mistaken. There have been a study or two implying that ondansetron (iirc) had been associated with increased of cleft palate but that was in a very small study. in the giant study from Denmark, several thousand women, there was no associated risks with taking ondan. I believe there was also a question with metoclopramide but that study was also very small and therefore not really trustworthy.

of all the meds, cyclizine is the safest and .... there is a risk associated with dehydration and maternal weakness.

mellee very glad to hear you are improving.

twodrifters I drank tonic water a lot too. I believe that at one time there were concerns about the quinine but that it was considered ok now. I'm waiting for the time that they recommend that you don't breath as the air particles you take in might be contaminated and bad for the baby.

Ok ok there is a very real risk with -some- things but truly, the concern over some things is far overblown.

mrs glad (!) to hear normal service & nausea have resumed. So's to speak.

Hello caratinaf. Some people do improve around weeks 21 - 23 so it's not beyond hope yet ...

lilac thinking of you and wishing you strength

Am away for a few days now, hopefully ill be able to log on sometimes.

Hello everyone, hope it's ok if I join.
Lucinda, I'm not sure if you remember me...I was a member of this thread a few years ago 2012/1013 with nannyl and room...I had hg with my daughter. And it looks like it is back with a vengeance. I'm currently roughly 6 weeks pregnant. Been having a tough time as doctors had to rule out ectopic pregnancy and now cannot guarantee that I will carry to term as I am measuring behind....and now to top things off, hg has set in once again. I'm already on medication (cyclizine), had to stop working and currently feel like I'm dying! I think I must be glutton for punishment because it's not as though I'm new to hg! Anyway sorry for the rant! Hope it's ok...

Reebok, I remember you from the earlier thread. I suffered in 2011, was on the thread 2011-2012. Huge commiserations to hear you're suffering again. Given your history might it be worth pushing for ondansetron, especially as it sounds as if you're already in a bad way?

Ah mop!!! You're here!! Glad you remember me. Pity we had to meet again under awful circumstances though. Thank you...doctor wants to see how I go with cyclizine especially as there is a chance I will miscarry like I did with my first before my daughter. ????

I guess that's understandable. Really hope it all goes well this time for you. Yes, I've been back on the thread for a few months as currently TTC DC3 (insanity?!) and feeling the need to keep up with the HG world, so I'm prepared and realistic (well, as much as I can be).

Confused, that's appalling, I'm horrified. It's bad enough suffering from HG without losing your job as a consequence. Apart from being illegal, it's inhumane. So sorry. Good to hear you're going to fight it.

confusedeio go kick their butt! So out of order you should have loads of rights. I had that much time off before even ran out if sick leave but after me nagging managed to find a way as it was the start of a new tax year for it to keep going. This is now my 3rd baby so if they could of got rid of me I'm sure they would. Make sure you have lots if evidence. Especially written, if you have work emails print them or forward them on as they can delete emails if they have access to your account. I would even go back to your doctor and say how much this stress is effecting you. Really not fare.

Confused - that's ridiculous! I was very lucky with my employer, they treated my HG as a serious illness. There's no way they can prejudice against you for pregnancy or illness, that's so many forms of wrong!

Chops - I know how you are feeling. Once the vomiting slowed down and I started doing more, I really struggled with breathlessness and dizziness. GP assumed low iron, and put me on iron tablets. I think it was more the weakness of my body from so much sickness. I still took the iron pills and am doing heaps better.

Unfortunately it looks like the HG has been replaced by hip/pelvic pain. I can walk, but every step is uncomfortable and the pain is making the nausea worse. Been gagging a bit today, but still vom-free. Any tips?

confused that's appalling! It's also a nice easy win for any decent employment lawyer - they'll be snapping your hand off to take that case! Good luck to you and hope you show them what the law really means.

melee see a physio as soon as you can - I'm in a similar position and the excercises they gave me helped enormously for a couple of months.

CatarinaF Welcome. I'm so sorry you are still suffering well into the second tri; thank goodness you have such wonderful EPU care there in Herts. I so agree about music, and I did notice in pregnancy that your hearing is more acute at the higher ranges, so you can hear note you can't generally. I am a baroque geek, Handel etc, and I recommend it as incredibly soothing (I believe it also inspires creativity, but I shouldn't think anyone on here feels well enough to give two *** about that).
Reebok I remember you well. Goodness, has it been so long? That is so stressful about a possible mc, really cruel when you are suffering Hyperemesis. It sounds as if you have every reason to rant. Rant away!
Hugs.
Confused I am speechless with indignation. [angry[ I can't believe those employers. It's astounding that the HR manager is so arrogant about this and certainly doesn't know what she's talking about. I so hope you get massive compensation. I hope they go out of business! What sort of firm is it? This is the first time I've come across this on this thread.
Lilac Was that seven separate vomits or seven heaves as I gather was wrong in counting each vomiting session separately, heaves should count separately? Whichever it was, it sounds very nasty. Can they upgrade your meds as it sounds as if you are suffering badly.
TwoDrifters Silly me, of course, the doses of quinine used to treat malaria in pregnant women must be massive compared to content in tonic water. How are things?
RubyReins I hope you still feel a lot better after fluids.
kayme I'm not surprised you feel exhausted and though I bet you don't look anything like as ill as you feel, you have a slight excuse for not exactly glowing with Hyperemesis, working and kids. And you've managed to keep it a secret, too? That's amazing. How did you do it? Good luck with scan on Monday, though I'm sure you won't need it.
Laura All luck with new meds. I'm still indignant about that colleague complaining after all you've been through.
Chopsface Great news.
Melleebacca and Skiptonlass I hope doing OK today?
Waves to Meerka, MotherofPearl elizabethsmum and everyone.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

confused that is unbelievable. I hope you get a big fat payout and they rue the day they messed with a pregnant lady!

My work won't pay sick pay to me. I only get 1 week of sick pay per year and, although I hadn't had a day off this year prior to this, they said it is done on a rolling 12 month period, not calendar or financial year. I had time off last August after my miscarriage so they won't offer anything now. I checked and it is in terms of employment but it is going to mean a hugely tight month on top of everything else. I've decided to go back part time from Monday and see if I can get back to full time quite quickly. Entering week 11 now so hoping it is all much more manageable.

MrsM I'm in a similar position re sick leave-very limited and on a 12 month rolling

Confusedeio sorry you've been treated so badly. That's awful. Hopefully you will manage to get it resolved quickly.

Feeling much more nauseous the last couple of days but very much going in waves. Famous last words but I haven't actually been sick yet. Going out for a curry tonight though and will admit I'm slightly dreading it-not sure how I'm going to manage that!

Reebok I remember you from the 2012 thread. Hope all is ok.

Barmee, if you can face dairy then a lassi might be quite soothing to sip? Plain naan or chapati might be palatable and not too taxing? Actual curry would be risky I'd imagine (and frankly unimaginable should it reappear).

Unfortunately dairy isn't great with me at the best of times but plain naan and chapati are a great idea, thank you!

Kayme hope your son's surgery went well, wishing him a speedy recovery. Do they still give jelly and ice-cream after tonsil surgery like in old days? Good to know your sickness is a bit better in this pregnancy than previous ones. I still hope to have several children so it's inspiring to know it's not always as bad in 2nd and 3rd pregnancies.

Lucinda it was 7 sessions (about 5-6 individual heaves per session) plus 2 more sessions before bed. It's that horrible violent type of vomiting that doesn't stop until black bile comes up, then starts again when I drink water to take taste away. Feeling slightly better today, slept through worst of nausea this morning (sleep is my defence mechanism against nausea!) I stopped cyclizine a couple of weeks ago (when I was feeling good) so maybe i need to go back on it. Still on metoclopramide 3x day. Sadly I can't take ondansetron and I've tried all the other meds available. At least the Pink Castle's not too far off now!

Confused so sorry to hear about your unfair dismissal! Your company is incredibly naive if they think they'll get away with that. Glad you're going to take legal action, but sorry for the stress and upset it's caused you.

MrsM that's really tough about no sick pay. Have you got any annual leave you can use up instead, to give yourself more recovery time? I've taken around 20weeks sick-leave so far (I tried to return a few times on reduced hours but kept getting sent home). I'm lucky enough to have a very kind boss and a good sick-pay package, although I'm now on SSP so we're managing on DH's salary, using savings where necessary. It's not ideal but I don't feel up to working.

Mellee sorry you've got hip/back pain too! Has it been diagnosed as SPD? I've found several things help my SPD, like sleeping with a pillow between knees, using memory-foam mattress, gentle walks (but not too far and I avoid steps and hills where possible) and keeping legs together, like getting in and out of car by swivelling on seat with knees together. Avoid crossing legs. Aqua-natal in pool is good (I found a class run by midwives though missed several sessions thanks to HG relapse) but avoid any kind of breaststroke leg action as it puts strain on pelvis. Too much walking or housework makes it worse so I spread jobs over several days and DH does heavy work like hoovering and taking bins out. I find gentle pregnancy-yoga helps too (I watch it on TV and copy rather than attend a class). Sitting is uncomfortable so I get up and stretch every half an hour or so. Warm baths with lavender oil help though it's getting harder to get in and out of bath now! My doctor prescribed codeine for when it's bad, which is very effective but makes me itch all over if I take more than 15mg!
Hope some of that helps. I recommend asking for a Physio referral too. I had a Physio consultation and start group sessions next week (special group for pregnant ladies with SPD so will be nice to meet others in same position!)

Barmee good luck with the curry! As MotherOfPearl says avoid anything spicy and go for plain naan... or a side-dish like skewered chicken (can ask for it plain). I find I'm ok with very mild bland dishes like Kashmiri curry as it contains mainly coconut milk and aromatic spices, I wouldn't risk anything hot or strongly flavoured, and I'd avoid rice as it hurts on the way back up!

confused so sorry about your dismissal. I hope you get compensation and kick their asses!

confused am utterly speechless at the way you have been treated. I was very lucky that working as a permanent member of staff in the nhs during my pregnancies I had no sick pay worries and hyperemesis was treated as a ' single episode' of sickness for the purposes of how they work out your sickness record etc even though I was off multiple times in first pg. was signed off for 10 weeks straight second time round. although it is not morally right I hope you get a speedy and hefty financial settlement which allows you to take off all the time you need during the pregnancy and once you've had baby and then you can shove it back in their faces by starting a glittering freelance career to suit your families needs!! (i have been a freelancer for past three years and never looked back ).

mrsm excellent news about the scan. not so good about the sick pay with you either. how long can you be part time for?

catrina sounds like a fabulous referral service that you have - pity this is not widespread practice.

lilac sorry you're suffering again- I would try cyclizine again. metachlopromide is good at speeding up 'digestive transit' but not necessarily an anti-emetic in my understanding? ?

waves to everyone