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

Tagging onto this thread as posters here have experience with severe nausea and vomiting.

I've had hyperemisis x 2 then severe nausea and vomiting in my third pregnancy. I've been pretty much debilitated with it. I've also had five miscarriages and experienced nausea and vomiting with each prior to miscarrying. Basically I (huge huge shock) am 6 weeks and am not feeling any nausea other than a slightly manky taste in my mouth. Has anyone else experienced this and not miscarried? I don't really have any pregnancy symptoms, im tired but that's nothing unusual for me. I'm pretty confused right now. I understand some GP's can be a bit reluctant to refer women for early scans but I feel like I'm in limbo at the moment.

fairies in your situation I'd be asking for an early scan - you got a local early pregnancy unit in your area?

Hi eallison88, I do but women are not able to self refer.

Hello all! Well I went to work - I know, I know but felt a little better this morning and thought I should show my face - I went in early & was sick 3 times. They told me to do a half day & sent me home at 11:30! I'm not due to go back until Wednesday when they've said to do the same half day so we'll see how that goes.

It was actually lovely to be out of my bedroom & it did take my mind off of feeling constantly sick to chat to everyone & catch up.

However, the relief & bliss of sinking back into bed when I got home!

And my back aches after a couple of hours on the tube & in the office! Just goes to show how long it's been since I sat upright for any length of time!

Hi Meerka & Lilac & MotherofPearl & Lucinda & all you lovely ladies. Hope everyone is ok today & not suffering too much.

On a side note re weaning yourself off meds, I was told not to take metoclopramide for more than 5 days else the side effects apparently become worrying (?!) so I am back to simply cyclizine.

The joys of hyperemesis!

Having a bad day, lots of vomiting and SPD pain is horrendous, can't get comfortable in any position. Just so tired of feeling sick and in pain. And DH is nagging me again about not eating enough I keep reminding him baby was huge at last growth scan but he still worries and nags me to eat more. I don't have the patience to keep reassuring him. And I'm really thirsty but can't keep more than a few sips down at a time. Sorry for rant just feeling really fed-up today!

Threefairies welcome to the thread, sorry you're having such a worrying time. Can you book a private scan to put your mind at rest?

TwoDrifters hope you got home ok and can sink into bed now! It's good they're letting you do half-days but don't push yourself too hard. About metoclopramide, I asked obstetrician about the 5-day thing as it said on leaflet not to exceed 5days, but he said I was low-risk for side-effects so it's ok to take it for rest of pregnancy. Side-effects are rare, you just have to look out for any twitchiness, abnormal muscle movements etc and avoid combining it with cyclizine or stemetil.

Lilac, so sorry to hear that you're having such a bad day. It's really miserable to be so incapacitated; it's no wonder you're fed-up. I don't really have any advice to offer, except to offer sympathy. Try to think of fun post-pregnancy events you may have planned, perhaps. I sometimes found it helpful to imagine myself post-pregnant self enjoying Christmas (my DS was born late Nov), for instance. But I realise that when you're in the thick of it this kind of comment can just make you feel annoyed!

threefaries some people have not been sick and have carried to term, even with previous HG pregs. I believe that there is a correlation between sickness and healthiness of baby though; but it is certainly not written in stone.

twodrifters better luck wednesday; can imagine how nice it was to feel like a functioning woman again though for even a couple of hours!

lilac the baby -does- take what it needs from you. Most of us have gone on to have very healthy babies. it's the mums who suffer. Might that reassure your husband? Also would any of the old standbys like ice chips or very hot/very cold drinks help? maybe sipped through a straw?

Thanks guys for responses to my previous post (probably ages ago now!)
Sorry to hear people are having bad days! I am as well but thankfully not as bad as you lot are describing. Had to yank DS from his high chair this morning whilst he was having breakfast, managed to get to the toilet in time but puked over both hands which meant I couldn't hold my hair back.

When I'm sick, my eyes hurt - I remember this for when I had an eating disorder as a teenager - that my eyelids would have really red veins on the kids - sometimes bloodshot eyes. But this time it's stinging, actually painful for my eyes. I looked in the mirror and saw white around my eyes - couldn't work out if somehow sick had got in my eyes or if it was just sleep..? Anyone else get sore eyes?

Just texted DP saying I want takeaway tonight as i felt too nauseous getting the ingredients out for a homemade dinner. Can't understand why I seem to be having a bad day when I've generally been not too bad the last few weeks..

The way I'm feeling now I really wish I could but u don't think I can. Will see how I go though.

Hope everyone else is having better days.

Made it to dentist today. Only need one new filling, which considering I pretty much didn't brush my teeth for 5 months is probably getting of lightly. Still a bit disappointed tho!

Hi all. Haven't been on here in a few days and sorry to see quite a few of you are having rough days. It's so rubbish. I've been in tears at 5 am today and think I'm going to have to call in sick. Went back two weeks ago at 11 weeks and did 4 hour days the first week and was so nice to be back. Did 5 - 5.5 hour days last week and felt the nausea creeping back in but we had our dating scan last thursday and that gave me such a boost. I tried 6 hours yesterday and have felt awful since I got home yesterday afternoon. Really nauseous and banging headache. I've only actually been vomiting a couple of times a day in the morning with the odd puke at night but it's the nausea that gets me. I just feel bad taking another sick day and I don't get paid but there's no way I can do a days work feeling this exhausted. Just cracked and had a proper sob this morning as I'm 13 weeks now and really hoped I might have a bit more energy and feel a bit better by now. Plus I still worry that the tiredness and stress and poor diet I am managing isn't good for baby :( Sympathy and well wishes for lilac barmee mygreen and anyone else who is having a bad day

mrsm please don't stress yourself about baby's nutrition and growth. It's something I really worried about, and I'm now 33 weeks with a baby on the big side of average - and I'm on the small side of average. Baby will take everything and leave you with nothing. Hence you feel so tired and drained from starting to go back to work. Take today off and see if you can reduce your hours again; I do get that a degree of normality and seeing people is so lovely. And make sure you build time into the day for a good nap after work. Growing a baby is hard work at the best of times, and for us lucky enough to have HG is even trickier. You're doing well, keep going, one day at a time, and make sure you count each day off!

mrsm wishing you every strength .... it's so unutterably miserable. The pay situation and not completing work is awful, but it really sounds like you aren't ready for work yet.

Feeling better -will- come, though it's not surprising it hasn't yet. I can only echo everything ealli says. It's hard work growing a baby, everyone gets exhausted, when you're seriously ill on top of that iwth HG it's ten times the work.

greeneyed the hormones fluctuate so you can have a really good few days then a bad one (or conversely, a few bad days then a good one!). I don't know about the eye stinging thing, that sounds miserable. Might an eye bath solution help a bit?

ealli commiserations on the filling. Suffered with my teeth too... how is the SPD today, better than yesterday I hope

wishing everyone a gentle day. One day further on to the end ..

meerka seems spd is better today, it would seem. Admittedly I've not ventured up and out of bed yet. But I'm hopeful! I've got a chiropractic apt safto as well, so hopeful that that'll be helpful as well. Today I'm hoping to actually manage to function and do some tidying and washing and even food shopping!

Hi all, sorry to hear about so many people feeling miserable. HG is awful!
Mrsm - I know work is great and allows you to socialize, but if it is wearing you out so much, you will be worse off in the long run. I had 16w off and have only been back nearly 6 now, but I use a day of annual leave every Wednesday to allow me to rest. Nausea kicks in earlier in the day, as I get further through the week and more worn down.

Thanks to everyone for the concern re: meds. I'm taking one ondansetron a day, and trying to limit my sugar intake. Despite how much I love it, it does definitely make the nausea worse. Anyone else finding this?

Hope everyone is feeling good today.

Welcome to ThreeFairies. I am so sorry about your having five miscarriages and Hyperemesis too, that is horrible; I can only echo the advice of others and hope that you might be able to get a private scan?
Do keep us informed.
MrsM14 Good news about scan. Oh dear, I have to agree with others, it sounds as if you aren't up to so many hours' work. Will they be content with half days as this seems to be a staggered return?
TwoDrifters I'm glad it's only half days, anyway, though Mother Hen is concerned, like others, with your doing those.
Lilac So sorry you have felt so low. It is miserable. Are you up to listening to audio books or the radio, though I know it is no substitute for human company. Sorry DH is obsessive about your eating.
Mygreeneyedboy That sounds awful, the highchair episode. People can suffer from broken veins in the eyes with this brought on by the violent retching; might be worth mentioning to a doctor just for reassurance. Dry eyes can be painful and a sign of dehydration; I hope it's not that?
eallison I hope baby drops soon, that is much more comfortable (though you look twice the size). Glad you've got a chiro appointment today and I'm glad spd isn't too bad.
Meerka and MotherofPearl waves. Great advice as ever.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked...

Mellebacca Cross posted as ever. Sorry to hear about that. It's odd,in the first tri, I found full sugar flat coke helped the nausea, but in the second and third tris, too much sweet stuff just set off the ever lurking heartburn which then led to nausea; is that the case with you?

Morning, hope everyone's coping ok...

Had an awful day yesterday followed by a rough night, but feeling less queasy now. I can't sleep longer than 2 hours at a time, anyone else having this problem? Last night I needed to wee every hour or so, also very thirsty so kept sipping water, which then caused heartburn and vomiting, and more needing to wee. Getting in and out of bed is agony due to SPD. Also baby was very wriggly all night, he didn't seem to like me lying down at all so I ended up sitting up with a heap of pillows. I think he feels squashed in certain positions as he sort of hooks his feet under my ribs then wiggles his whole body vigorously side to side (which also triggers Braxton Hicks). As soon as I sit up or stand up he settles down Managed about 4 hours sleep in total then got up at 5am and 7am to be violently sick. Every time I drink water it seems to turn into acid, even ice-cubes and ice-lollies

MotherofPearl it made me smile when you mentioned Xmas, I've been thinking about Xmas a lot and looking forward to it so much! Baby's due mid-late Sept so he'll be around 3months by Xmas, I keep imagining him being fascinated by all the lights and tinsel and taking him to see the Xmas markets in his baby-sling. It'll also be our first Xmas as a married couple and first in our new home so a real landmark! I find it comforting to think about autumn too, walking through crispy leaves and mist and pushing baby around park in his pram. Normally I don't look forward to cold weather but this year it symbolises the end of HG and the start of motherhood!

MyGreen I get sore eyes too though for me I think it's a pregnancy thing, I've found it hard to tolerate contact lenses since getting pregnant. I use sensitive eye-drops throughout the day which help a bit with dryness. Also I get bloodshot eyes when I've been vomiting a lot, I think due to tiny blood vessels bursting.

MrsM sorry you're feeling so ill and down. As others have said, it sounds like you need more time off. You might find a couple more weeks of rest then reduced hours make a big difference. Do you have any annual leave you can use up? I know what you mean about work being good for social contact and a sense of normality, but it's not worth risking a relapse if you're struggling and feeling exhausted. I found being off sick very isolating at first but I've gradually built up activities and social contact. Joining aqua-natal has been great for socialising even though I don't make it to every session.

Mellee yes I find sugar makes nausea worse too. It seems to make my heartburn worse which leads to more nausea and vomiting.

Thanks for the support and advice. I will see if I'm up to going back in tomorrow and try talking to my boss again. My hope is that if I reduce my hours I'll be able to stay in work and not need more unpaid sick leave but I need to get the balance better. I know feeling this stressed out about work isn't good and is probably making the sickness worse. My boss just really doesn't get how sick I have been and it makes me quite anxious every time I broach this as I know I'm going to get another load of 'advice' about how good it is to keep going and how she managed it etc. Also so emotional I'm probably going to burst into tears and totally embarrass myself!

lilac I'm really looking forward to autumn too! I just keep imagining crisp mornings and bracing breezes and how much nicer that will be for the sickness

New low here - woke up at 4am and had to run to bathroom just to sit there retching on the floor until I puked up foamy stuff. Ugh. Looks like I might need some more time :(

Also question - has anyone had horrible nausea where they can't get a smell out of their head even after it's gone? Husband cooked chicken last night for himself and I found the smell awful. When I woke up in early hours that's all I could smell, even though I'm sure cooking smells were gone, and I swear I can still smell and almost taste it now!

mrsm the smell thing sounds familiar. Please do take more time and be gentle with yourself today

Oh dear, poor you MrsM, you're having an awful time. I remember those 'foamy stuff' voms - I often had them when I was sick on an empty stomach (and I also linked it to swallowing the revolting quantities of excess saliva that seem to accompany HG - or at least did for me). You certainly sound as if you need more time at home.
How is the SPD and wriggly misbehaving babies, Lilac and Eallison? Hope you're surviving - I think you're both more or less on the home stretch now?
Hope everyone else coping too - GreenEyed, Ruby, Barmee and everyone.
Waves to Meerka & Lucinda!

Home stretch indeed, and luckily school hols so I'm able to do all the resting I need. Had hoped to go back to work for a couple of weeks in sept, but that's seeming increasingly unlikely. Wonderful chiropractic apt yesterday has left me able to walk without bringing tears to my eyes this morning. I want some doctor type person to research a link between HG and spd! I know I'm spending a fortune on private chiropractic apts but I dread top think where I'd be without. Luckily I have a supportive husband who can't bear to see me struggle any more, so we are finding the money each week. The nhs physio made matters worse.

Hope you're feeling a little better mrsm

MrsM14 Goodness, so agree with Merka and others, you don't sound at all well enough to go back; really sorry about brisk, uninformed boss (I do wish these people would just take five or ten minutes to read some information about Hyperemesis online on Helper or one of the websites linked, but I see that she'd take it amiss if you suggested that). But she can't dispute the validity of your sick notes, anyway. About foam, again poor you, how horrible; I too remember foamy episodes and didn't realise it was some form of bile, I blamed an excess of Gaviscon...it's like something from a horror film.
Lilac That sounds lovely about proposed visit with baby to Christmas fairs; it's a great idea to look forward to prospective happiness; from the outside, I tend to take it for granted that all of you on this thread are in for a happy time with a baby; but when you are in the throes of Hyperemesis, that seems worlds away...
eallison I'm glad you are taking it easy, and great about painless walk and chiro appointment.
Waves to Meerka MotherofPearl and everyone. I hope TwoDrifters and others aren't overdoing it.