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.

Hello. Thanks for the messages of support - feeling very isolated. DH is working manically right now and my friends are not being very sympathetic.

Ugh, that sounds vile lilac I wonder what the itchiness could be? Sounds utterly maddening. Sending good thoughts!

Yeah mother my job is something else! Incredibly stressful from time to time and it can be pretty relentless. I am self employed so no chance for a break if I have a case in the diary. The 20 day case has been split so I won't be in court for a couple of weeks before I go back to it so that will be good. The judge is being pretty good in giving me time and he has allowed me to go for my second scan on Wednesday which means we have to adjourn early. That might sound a bit weird that I am impressed by that given the protected nature of maternity rights but in my world such things are not really considered. One might expect the world of law to respect such things!

I have cyclizine and various strengths of prochlorperazine. I had an injection of something in hospital. They are doing sweet FA. I can't see the doctor next week due to my schedule but will make an appointment for the week after if things are still this bad. Being sick in the shower was this morning's highlight... At least I managed a shower today!

Hopefully they can tweak your meds and get this sorted. I take 3 x 5mg stemetil per day and had been combining that with cyclizine. I found metoclopramide very effective in stopping sickness but it just didn't agree with me generally - I wonder if it's worth you trying it and possibly swapping cyclizine for phenergen? The shower is always a trigger for my sickness - rubbish isn't it. I have found if I keep it a bit cooler, have the window open and use non-scented products it does help. I've also swapped mint toothpaste to the sensitive stuff as that makes me less sick. If it's a bad day I swap my electric toothbrush for a normal one which somehow helps. Not sure any of this is helpful but wanted to share my discoveries, just in case!

That is helpful MrsM! Thanks. Teeth cleaning is a big issue right now too as it always leads to a boking. The smell of mint has me heaving so I will try another toothpaste and see if that helps. I am sick every time I shower too - I think it might be the effect of the water and the temperature. DH is being very good about me having all windows and doors open right now even though he is frozen! Feeling cold makes me feel better.

Just about to try some soup...

Soup was a foolish idea

Ruby sorry you're suffering. Soup is horrible to bring back up! I agree with Mrs.M about trying different non-minty toothpastes, I use a natural one from health food shop when nausea's bad... it's lemongrass flavour (sounds odd but tastes very refreshing) also using a sensitive mouthwash with a fruity flavour. I'd definitely try some stronger meds if I were you, the right meds really help some people. I'm currently on metoclopramide and phenergan (promethazine) 3x day after trying all sorts of combinations.

MrsM glad you're having success with stemetil. Must be infuriating that your colleagues think HG's the same as morning sickness! It drives me mad when people say rest is a 'luxury' as with HG rest is absolutely essential. Have you tried explaining HG to them or printing out the info page from Pregnancy Sickness Support to give to them? There's an info page for employers too, to help them understand HG and how best to support you. I was lucky at my work as one of the team-lead's best friend been hospitalised with HG, so she informed other people and there was lots of discussion about it and how serious it can be.

Chops Hope your visit to the carvery goes well, pre-emptive meds sounds a good idea. Good luck for your scan tomorrow! Interesting you get an itchy mouth after eating certain fruit. I'm starting to think the fruit must be causing my itching!

ruby The court case sounds horrendous. Sending you strength. Can you collapse and rest completely afterwards? Also, could you take ondansetron, if you can get your GP to prescribe it for you (if you can get to her or him). It may be worth trying to contact the wonderful Preg Sickness Support if you can't, the elderly and very good doctor there will ring you back and he may know an HG-friendly doctor. Do let us know how you get on ...

Mouthwash can help sometimes with the toothcleaning thing.

barmee delighted to hear you saw a good GP and have ondan and cyclizine on repeat. And just that she -understood-. The meds are the important thing but to have a sympathetic HCP really helps, I found; you feel so alone with it otherwise, except for this thread.

mrsm hope your mood swings are less of a rollercoaster. Weird aren't they? Do yours pass quickly or stay a while?

lilac yes to the food cravings! it was bizarre. When I could get out, I used to cycle to the veg shop, buy raspberries in bulk and bury the evidence of the boxes at the bottom of the bins

chopsface I hope you are feeling a bit better now. Could you go down to cyclizine from promethazine? same family but weaker and might help with the nausea (though it might be wise to just check with the doc or the PSS helpline doc first)

missmartin hello and I hope the cyclizine is helping. As everyone's said, it really is safe.

lilac I did indeed share said links a couple of weeks ago and got an email straight back saying 'yes I remember how awful morning sickness is' - what can you do? If I had a pound for every time either of my female bosses has told me they know all about morning sickness or the luxury of all this rest im getting, or that I'm best off getting on with it, or of you think this bits hard wait till you have kids blah blah blah... I would be minted!

meerka I seem to get really tearful and grumpy every afternoon. I'm fine in the mornings, then from 4-6ish I get so grouchy and emotional! After that I seem to improve again. Hoping this doesn't last the whole time. I wonder if it's linked to just feeling tired after work and dreading dinner as I'm still finding evening meals tough. Plus I get racked with guilt that my husband comes in from work and then starts cooking and washing up every night as I still get nauseous in kitchen.

MrsM, sounds like you're having a very hard time. I really do think that the only people who understand what HG is really like are sufferers and former sufferers, and those who have lived with them. People who mention it in the same breath as morning sickness just really don't get it, and probably never will I'm afraid.
About your low mood in the late afternoon, I imagine it's also linked to tiredness. That was always my worst time for sickness, too. Try not to feel guilty about your OH doing the cooking and washing up. It's only temporary and I'm sure he is happy to do it, considering what you're going through.
Hope everyone else hanging in there.

I reckon your tearfulness and grumpiness could be sheer tiredness too mrsm! Don't feel guilty ... after all you're incubating his baby with all the discomforts and hormones of that. And working as well!!

It's a lot even without HG on top of that.

Oh mrsm you sound so similar to me...really unhappy in late afternoons, dread dinner but know I have to try and then oh comes in from really busy day and starts cooking and tidying kitchen because I can't even step foot in it. I do feel bad and so grateful to him but we have to remember we are doing an amazing and important job by growing our babies, must remember, must remember.

The wait till the baby thing us such rubbish, no matter how hard it was when my daughter arrived, it was never, ever, ever like the hg nightmare. The way I think of it was that it was hard having a newborn but when the hg lifted I got my powers back, I was myself again and could deal with anything. We can do this ladies x

Hi all, how everyone's getting through each day, one at a time.

Am struggling with spd at the moment, it seems to be getting worse again. Wondering if it's perhaps cos I'm resting much now being off school now, so not exercising the whole area as much. Hardly slept last night cos of the pain. Think I'll have to sleep in spare room tonight so that hubby can get some sleep, he still had to work and function properly!

Have finally managed to find free WiFi! tis a part working hol for me so dh has kids today but at least I get a lunch break

sorry to dash on but couldn't read and run without saying how miserable I was through most of my pgs and so sending moral support and to anyone who mentions ms/ginger derivatives in the same sentence as hg (death stares)!!!

Had a few good days, less nausea and only vomiting 1-2x day.

Eallison sorry you're SPD's bad. Mine has flared up again too, though it comes and goes. I find exercise makes it worse, if I walk too much my hips and back are agony that night and getting in and out of bed is really difficult. At least not long to go now!

MrsM can you take a nap when you get home from work? When I feel grumpy/emotional it's usually because I'm tired, which makes the nausea worse too. A 40-min nap always makes me feel much better. It's good your DH is able to take over the cooking and kitchen tasks. Mine had to do most of the food-prep until I was around 24weeks, then I started feeling less queasy in the evenings and gradually took over the cooking again. Now evenings are my best time and mornings the worst!

Mirabel it's inspiring to know having a newborn is easier than having HG! I'm really looking forward to it, even though people keep warning me how hard it is with sleepless nights etc. It will be such a luxury to wake up and not feel sick, to be able to eat what I want again, drink water, use public transport, get out and about without carrying sick-bags everywhere! Today my Cuddlebug Sling arrived, it's suitable for newborns so I'm looking forward to putting baby in it and carrying him outside my body rather than inside!

Hello everyone (arrives flapping and clucking). I see Meerka elizabethsmum and MotherofPearl and others have been giving wonderful advice.
PumpingDSI Welcome, I'm glad you got good advice and I do hope the meds are working now.
Rebok I am so sorry about MC. Hugs. I hope the nausea is now long gone. Chintaria You must have been really ill to be in hospital two weeks; and then to have an MC. It's so unfair when women suffer this scourge and an mc.
RubyReins My goodness, I was dismayed reading that you still have to be in court. All I can say is you must be one of those tidy pukers, unlike me. Do you have to make speeches, cross question or whatever?
Sympathies to MrsM14 about ignorant comments, and BarmeeMarmee I am so glad you spoke to a reasonable doctor. Such idiocy from the other one.
Laura I am so glad pills are working. Lilac Lol about bat place. My goodness, you people are brave with trips to zoos and reptile houses.
Lilac wasn't it you who told the story of the Horror of the Smelly Parrot? How often is the puking now? Those itchy sessions sound infuriating. I wonder if it is hormonal?
MissMartin10 I hope cyclizine is working?
eallison Sorry to hear of awful spd.
Mirabel Mother Hen sees retching as you bathed dd as a sign that you went back to work a bit early...How are things now?
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked. I hope everyone is coping.

chopsface DO NOT EAT WHATEVER MADE YOUR MOUTH ITCH AGAIN!

Sorry for yelling in capitals but anything that makes your mouth itch or swell is a biggie allergy wise - please avoid it and mention it to your doc when you next see them :)

eallison do you have a support belt? They're cheap and they do help - Sympathise with the spd pain, it is absolutely shit. Resting and not overdoing it is the only thing that helps me.

I've had an odd day. Covered the kitchen in vomit this morning, then my midwife had arranged a docs appt so I went along to that - everything is mw led here, you only see a doc if you're having complications. Very painful getting there, walking is hard with the spd.

Anyway, I hoped I'd be able to ask him if he could support me if I asked to work from home more. And to check my throat which is bleeding (moan moan)

He was reading my notes as I walked (well, limped, clutching the sickbag the receptionist had kindly located for me) in and the first thing he said was 'I'm signing you off until your due date. No more work.'

I was pretty gobsmacked, and burst into tears and told him he was the nicest man in the world.

No idea how work will take it - they've been absolute shits so far (I have taken a grand total of one day off through all the hellish vomiting) but I'll cross that bridge on Monday.

Hope everyone else is having an ok day. One day at a time, ladies!

Feeling much worse today despite the blessed onsandestron. Can I ask a question please to those who took it, what doses of ondansetron were you on? I'm on 4mg x three times a day. Just wondering if that is standard?

Also, can HG still be getting worse at 10 + 4 weeks? Is that a stupid question?

Thanks lucinda you might well be right about being back too early but actually my mental health is much better now I am back, was getting really down being at home. Also, when at work I don't need to go into my nasty stinking kitchen (to me that is) to try to grab anything to eat, which I detest and dread if I'm at home. Makes me puke every time.

Sorry to hear about painful spd, it sounds truly awful especially to keep you awake all night, exactly what you don't need with this horrible illness

Hope everyone surviving x

cross posted with skiptonlass glad to hear you have a good gp on your side. Sod work, if you're signed off you're signed off, I always think people think that because this is pregnancy related that women should just deal with it but if any other illness created the same symptoms and misery as this without the pregnancy there would be much more sympathy. I actually think it's a very real representation of our sexist patriarchal society! but that's a rant for another day...........

I agree, mirabel. Can you imagine a bloke going to the GP and telling them he's been vomiting every day, multiple times a day, for six months? And that he could hardly walk due to pelvic instability? There'd be none of this putting up with it shite.

I'm lucky to live in Sweden - attitudes are a little different here and things like sickness are taken more seriously. The doc was very sympathetic, sorry he couldn't do more, but was quite insistent I shouldn't be doing a 60 hour week. Now I can rest and try to get some strength back - I'm so grateful!

I hope your sickness doesn't get worse!

My DS is 3 but still likes me to sit in his room while he falls asleep, and as it gives me some time to catch up on the thread I tend to indulge him!
Lilac, glad to hear you've had some better days. Although by most people's standards (I mean normal MS sufferers, say) 1-2 vomits a day is still pretty awful. I agree with Mirabal about the probably unconsciously sexism that underlies some of the unhelpful views on HG. I also wonder how men would cope with 9 months of relentless nausea and debilitating vomiting!
SkiptonLass, your doctor is clearly not one of the ignorant and misinformed ones - you must be so relieved to be signed off.
Eallison, I'm not sure what treatment is available for SPD but it sounds as if you're in a bad way. Can anything be done to help you?
Welcome back Lucinda; hope your family business visit went OK.
Lastly, without being glib about the difficulties of newborns, I can say with confidence that these difficulties are nothing compared to HG. I felt elated for weeks after DS was born, just delighting in a normal relationship with food, and enjoying feeling like my old self. I have wondered whether one tiny benefit of HG for some women - certainly for me - is that it really put the difficulties of caring for a newborn into perspective. I hope this is the case for everyone. :-)

ah yes I hear scandinavian countries are generally more equal societies - very happy your doc is taking this seriously

Hello everyone, just been trying to catch up with everything!
I unfortunately had an awful day yesterday. If was the day after a wedding I was bridesmaid for so I was exhausted. I brought up all my lovely hotel breakfast very violently and felt awful all day. I somehow managed the whole wedding day without vomiting, which I am very grateful for. I've been napping and resting today and feeling a lot better.
I thought it was odd today how some doctors don't like to prescribe meds for hg. I went to see my GP today as I've run out and she practically threw the prescription at me, no questions asked. Well apart from are they strong enough and did I want something else!
Hope everyone is getting through the day ok

Mirabel - I believe the max dosage for ondansetron is 3 x 8mg tablets. I was/am on ondansetron, down to one tablet every second day. I found it made it difficult to vomit, but didn't reall curb the nausea till about 16weeks. The worse period for me was weeks 10-14.
I'm not sure if I have SPD, the chiro I saw last week was convinced the pain is an inflamed disc, but I don't believe him. Trying another chiro today, and if I'm still in pain, going to ask midwife next week for a physio referral. Considering I'm still waiting on my dietitian referral from 16w ago, I get the feeling I just gotta grin and bear it.
6.5w till maternity leave!!

Hello everyone! Long time!! Sorry I have not managed to catch up on all I've missed but it was good to see from the last couple of pages that people are hanging on in there!!
House move went ok and I finally have internet connected and can connect with the world again!! Ive been unpacking and settling in slowly with lots of help from bf and family and have also managed to start back at work again part time, I'm so pleased to be out of the house a little more and doing my job again!! Those whose bumps are earlier than mine (I'm 20 weeks) hope you might be reassured that for me the nausea and low energy improved gradually around 18 weeks, I know this horrible hg is different for everyone but there is no reason to think that the pain will be at the same intensity as at the beginning because it can improve!! I say that because I sometimes felt there was no light visible in the nausea tunnel and helpful friends seemed to be on hand with anecdotes of people who had iv in hospital solidly for 9 months which gave me a holy terror lol!!
Also have to share that I had the 2nd scan today and we are having a little girl, I'm so excited about that that I've kind of forgotten about everything else just for now (pauses to gaze at scan photo for millionth time-lol!!)
Wishing you all a good evening and some peaceful sleep if possible. Xx

Welcome back lucinda! I hope your trip went okay.

lilac I found a newborn way easier than pregnancy too. It helped that he was reasonable in the sleep department, admittedly, though not great.

skipton delighted to hear that you have been signed off. What a decent doctor. I do hope your work take it ok.

agreed with mellee, I believe that max dose for ondansetron is 8mg 3 x day. It might be worth talking to your doctor again.

laura congrats on getting through the wedding at all! do hope you can rest in the next few days and get over the physical strain.

mirabel at 10 weeks you're right in the thick of the HG. It's hard to believe it could get worse, but worst-case it might stay as it is until weeks 14 - 22 ... if you're lucky, you will start to improve a bit at 14 weeks, but it does often take longer :s. I think it just feels worse around 10 -12 weeks because it's been going on already a while.

Daffodil lovely to hear about your little girl! and congrats on the house move and getting internet back :) Im in awe that you could manage that with HG! long may the improvement continue.

Hoping everyone is having a peaceful-as-possible evening and it's a low- SPD day for ealli and others. Wondering how confused is doing ...