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.

Morning all. Heaven sorry you're still suffering so much.
Freshbread thinking of you still.
Thisisnow and Winky sorry you're having such a nightmare. Hope today is better for you both.

Have had EDD confirmed as 10 March so exactly 12 weeks today. Lucinda can't remember if I'm on the due date list -if not could you add me please when you get a moment?

yup

wonder if there's a nice line to be made in toilet-seat covers with pastoral scenes "for the woman who is needing that bit extra in the first weeks of the most exiting time in her life".

I have been given metoclopramide, has anyone tried them?

Freshbread sorry you're going through such an awful time

Yeah you would think they would sell well meerka.
Thisisnow I am on ondansetron but have heard the metoclopromide are pretty good. I hope they work for you.

thisis metoclopramide is good for some people but if you get twitchy legs or restlessness, stop them.

it works by getting food through your stomach faster, I believe.

Is there anywhere else on here that has been off work with the hyperemesis but doesn't qualify for statutory sick pay. I am in my third week off now and according to the government website I don't qualify and should be claiming a benefit instead but no one at work has told me I won't be getting paid or given me a claim form for this benefit. Apparently it comes from them.

Thisis I've had metaclopromide in a previous pregnancy but it just knocked me out completely so I couldn't stay on it. I know it's very effective for some though.
Heaven sorry I can't be of help in terms of having been in your situation but maybe your work are intending to pay you after all? Could you ask them?

Yeah I'm going to phone them tomorrow and query it. I shouldn't have panicked myself by reading about it on the government website when it's too late to phone them today.

heaven I don't know about benefits or sick pay but I do know that under the Equal Opportunities Act, sickness time off work due to a preg-related condition does NOT count towards your sickness record. (not sure that's any help right now though sorry)

It's certainly worth knowing as I'm in my third week off now and definitely have next week off as well. I spoke with personnel this morning and she seems to think ill be getting paid. She's quite new to personnel so hoping she knows what she's talking about!

Meerka Now,there's synchronicity, yesterday, I was thinking of how a scene painted at the bottom of the loo or a bowl, might cheer up sufferers...
I like your sales line, so lacking in sordid graphic detai...
thisisnow and Heavenscent So glad you are on meds.
BarmeeMarmee How are things?
Freshbread Hugs.
Very quiet on here, what with people on holiday (and who knows, perhaps al slight break from Hyperemesis).

Hi, hope everyone's coping ok...

Feel like I'm struggling with this last bit of pregnancy. 36 weeks now so Pink Castle almost within sight, but HG is still bad. I think part of it is I'm exhausted from months of sickness and running out of reserves and energy now... everything feels like a big struggle even getting to the loo. Had to get out of bed 4x last night to vomit then sick 3x this morning and SPD is so painful
Also feeling stressed as we have lots of classes booked... we left NCT classes etc as late as possible thinking sickness would be a lot better by now. Made it through Active Birth class but felt queasy on and off and didn't dare eat or drink for few hours beforehand! Sorry for rant, just feeling down today. On positive note I enjoyed the tour of Labour Ward. Others in the group got really anxious when midwife explained the equipment and birth process, but I can't wait! They have some lovely active-birth rooms with birthing-pools, giant beanbags, mood lighting and walls painted with forest scenes. Looked very serene and calming. I kept thinking to myself 'when I'm next in one of these rooms it will mark the end of HG'. Am secretly hoping baby comes a bit early, will be delighted if labour starts at 37weeks rather than in a month!!

Heaven Hope you get something sorted with sick-pay. My sick-pay ran out a few months ago so I know how stressful it is. We've been managing on DH's salary but have to budget carefully, which is difficult when there are so many baby things to get. It's a shame there isn't some sort of law that protects pregnant womens' salaries when they have to take sick-leave. I always thought I'd return to work before mat-leave but ended up never getting well enough.

Lucinda I love the idea of a painted toilet bowl Could have a soothing aquarium scene with tropical fish, or a pond theme with frogs!

Thisis Metoclopramide helped me, it reduced frequency of vomiting but not the nausea. It stimulates digestion so works by emptying stomach faster. As Meerka says, watch out for side effects like feeling very restless or twitchy.

Fresh So sorry to hear your sad news. Hope you're ok.

Winky and Barmee how are you now?

Thanks LilacRain, your labour ward sounds pretty wonderful. Sorry to hear you're struggling so much.

It's impossible for me to imagine another 8 months of this, I've already forgotten what it's like to feel actual hunger! right now I feel like I've been poisoned!

Lilac Oh dear, you poor thing, I'm sorry you are suffering right to the end; it's so dismal for those who do, and spd sounds hellish. I'm so glad the Pink Castle approaches, and I'm glad at least the thought of a nicely decorated bowl to the loo - or a fine art cover - made you smile.
thisisnow Things will get better. Even those unlucky ones who suffer throughout, like lilac, never feel as bad as they did in the first tri.
As others say, a day at a time...

Thisis try not to worry, as Lucinda says most people don't suffer throughout and many improve significantly around 20weeks. The first 16weeks were the worst for me, then I started having good days here and there, and once past 25weeks I started having good patches where I felt much better for days at a time and my appetite came back a bit. I also got less sensitive to smells and less dizzy... for the first 25 weeks I couldn't watch TV or go in a car without feeling seasick, but that slowly improved and I was able to get out and about more. Relapses generally get milder and shorter the further on you get. Like you I felt 'poisoned' in the first trimester, the nausea was constant and relentless and I wondered how I'd carry on, but the nausea does ease up over time and that 'poisoned' feeling fades. Once you start having good days you get a chance to rest and recover in between bad days.

Lilac I'm sorry to hear you are struggling. I do hope things ease up for you soon.
I can relate to feeling poisoned. It will be lovely to start to feel a bit more human again. Today I have been incredibly nauseous. It makes it very difficult to stomach food of any sort.

Hi ladies, I've been watching and reading this thread for the last few weeks and it's brought me a lot of comfort (I hope that doesn't sound awful as its horrible how much suffering there is but it's comforting to not feel so alone!).
My symptoms started bang on 6wks with severe nausea - am now 10 wks and the nausea hasn't let up but the vomiting has quite a bit - still vomming every day but a lot less than before - the nausea is still crap and I'm still in bed most of the day. But onwards and upwards!
I thought you'd all appreciate the ridiculous situation I had at my GP surgery a couple of wks ago - I came in very dehydrated (mainly my own fault - I was too scared to eat!) and ended up seeing a nurse rather than a doctor (though I'd asked to see one) who, when i said i wanted to see a Dr and discuss medication, said "you'll never be given anything for morning sickness. Haven't you heard of thalidomide?". I was so shocked, I just burst into tears and she finally relented and "allowed" me to see a doc who referred me to A&E.
I have had it easier than a lot of people on this thread and I've found it absolutely HORRENDOUS. I'm in awe of all of you - this is the hardest thing I've ever been through. Here's to everyone feeling better one day soon.

Hi all, hope you're enjoying your weekends as much as possible.

I seem to be having a bit of a respite, finally, at almost 22 weeks!

I have been signed off work for 11 weeks now and whilst my work have been generally supportive, they are understandably getting a bit twitchy and making noises about me starting my maternity leave early. I'm not sure what my options are so will wait to see if I feel well enough to go in next week or not.

I'm still on the cyclizine, whenever I try to wean myself off it, the sickness comes back with full force so I'll be sticking to it for the foreseeable future I think!

But KOKO everyone! We will get there!

Welcome Bugista, but sorry to hear that you've been suffering. The nausea alone is awful to bear, when something is so constantly bad it's impossible to take your mind off it, I found. That nurse at your surgery needs to be educated! It's staggering that so-called health care professionals can get away with these levels of ignorance! Makes me so angry.
TwoDrifters, pleased to hear you're having a better patch now. As Lilac says, at least it enables you to rest and recover a bit.
Lilac, I loved your story about going on the labour ward tour. One of the only benefits of HG is perhaps a reduced fear of birth: all you can think is 'bring it on so this hell can be over!' Thinking of you in the last few weeks, you're nearly there.
Hope Heaven, ThisIs and everyone are surviving the Bank Holiday weekend.

Hi all. Radio silence as not been on laptop and couldnt make my phone cope with setting new password etc etc.

Today has been a naff day. I'm 37 weeks on Monday, and absolutely frigging desperate for baby to arrive on Monday. I have been off work for the last 6 weeks (school holidays) and been really, really looking forward to going back for two weeks (1st-11th Sept). I've been feeling alright, certainly in control, only nauseas all the time (rather than vomiting - though there has been a bit of that). I've been able to go out and do things and see people. But today I realised (I've clearly been kidding myself) that the reason I've been doing so well is I've been doing nothing. Every time I eat I have either sat and done nothing for an hour or so, or more often slept for an hour or so. Well that's not an option at work...! I've had mid afternoon naps almost everyday, eaten breakfast at 7.30 then slept for another few hours.

I'm so disappointed that I'm not gonna cope at work. I feel like I'm going to have my maternity leave stolen from me as well as my pregnancy!

I'm so tired, so nauseas, so flipping fed up of being pregnant. From the start hubby and I have both wanted as natural a labour as possible (I think to try and make up for drug fueled pregnancy!), no sweeps, no inductions, just leaving my baby to decide when it's ready and my body to get on with it. Now the thought that it could be another 5 weeks until I am able to eat with any normality, and thus have anything resembling energy, actually makes me cry. I want this baby to arrive on Monday!! Hubby is really against induction, as am I sort of, cos we desperately want a home birth (enough time at hospital/GPs with pregnancy plus hospitals freak me out). But if I get to 40 weeks with no baby I am going to be begging for one. I don't want to let myself down!

I just don't want to be pregnant anymore!

Sorry for the very long rant. For those women in early stages still, please don't be disheartened by my moan - I am so, so, so much better than I was when I was at my worst. I think my biggest problem right now is hormones and being fed up of feeling fat and uncomfortable and in pain as well as the nausea. I'm just done!

Hi all. Radio silence as not been on laptop and couldnt make my phone cope with setting new password etc etc.

Today has been a naff day. I'm 37 weeks on Monday, and absolutely frigging desperate for baby to arrive on Monday. I have been off work for the last 6 weeks (school holidays) and been really, really looking forward to going back for two weeks (1st-11th Sept). I've been feeling alright, certainly in control, only nauseas all the time (rather than vomiting - though there has been a bit of that). I've been able to go out and do things and see people. But today I realised (I've clearly been kidding myself) that the reason I've been doing so well is I've been doing nothing. Every time I eat I have either sat and done nothing for an hour or so, or more often slept for an hour or so. Well that's not an option at work...! I've had mid afternoon naps almost everyday, eaten breakfast at 7.30 then slept for another few hours.

I'm so disappointed that I'm not gonna cope at work. I feel like I'm going to have my maternity leave stolen from me as well as my pregnancy!

I'm so tired, so nauseas, so flipping fed up of being pregnant. From the start hubby and I have both wanted as natural a labour as possible (I think to try and make up for drug fueled pregnancy!), no sweeps, no inductions, just leaving my baby to decide when it's ready and my body to get on with it. Now the thought that it could be another 5 weeks until I am able to eat with any normality, and thus have anything resembling energy, actually makes me cry. I want this baby to arrive on Monday!! Hubby is really against induction, as am I sort of, cos we desperately want a home birth (enough time at hospital/GPs with pregnancy plus hospitals freak me out). But if I get to 40 weeks with no baby I am going to be begging for one. I don't want to let myself down!

I just don't want to be pregnant anymore!

Sorry for the very long rant. For those women in early stages still, please don't be disheartened by my moan - I am so, so, so much better than I was when I was at my worst. I think my biggest problem right now is hormones and being fed up of feeling fat and uncomfortable and in pain as well as the nausea. I'm just done!

Oh Eallison, it is dreadful! I know it feels interminable, especially when you have been suffering so badly for so long. You are fully entitled to be completely fed up. No special wisdom to offer, just to say I'm cheering you on to the finish line, which is just coming into view. x

Hi everyone. Eallison I'm sorry to hear you are struggling. I do hope you feel a little better soon and hopefully the baby won't hang around for five weeks but will come a bit earlier than that.
Bugista did you manage to get some help after the incident with the nurse? That sounds horrible.
I have had a brighter day so far today. Hope I'm not speaking too soon. Terrible nausea but less vomiting for the 2 days before so maybe my tablets are helping a little. At the hospital today I was given a prescription for metoclopromide but told that I need to stop taking my ondansetron to try them. In all honesty I think I'm too scared to do that in case these are helping and I end up as ill as I was before. But all the docs keep saying to take the cyclizine. I can't understand why as I always bring them back up again so they seem pretty pointless. They don't even take the edge off my nausea and sickness.

Welcome to Bugista. Sorry you have been suffering and so glad that you have felt less alone with this thread. What meds have they put you on? I'm astounded at quite such an ignorant approach from the nurse; that was the attitude of three decades or so ago...
Eallison I am so sorry you are feeling so bad. I wish I could do more than offer you cyber pats. In some ways, the last bit seems the most endless, like some horrible endurance test. This will be over. It will be worth it.
Waves to BarmeeMarmee Lilac Heaven and everyone.

I'm still throwing up most evenings even on the tablets considering my recent news I am hoping that's a good sign