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.

Sorry to hear about that dreadful experience with the unsympathetic GP Pebbles. People are so ignorant about the impact of HG. Even though I'm 19 weeks and more or less back at work full time, I feel exhausted all the time, not to mention nauseous, and I get frustrated because everyone assumes I'm 'back to normal'. I have zero energy. So, don't allow them to bully you into going back to work when you know you're not ready.
Ruby, has the vomiting stopped now? What shocking luck to get food poisoning on top of HG. I too laughed at the midwife head tilt!
Charlie, sorry to hear about the relapse when missing Ondanestron. Sounds like Madrigal is also suffering. I too am motivated to cut down the meds because of the constipation! It's horrendous!

Nope still hurling. Everything points to norovirus and my pal (who is a bit of a hypochondriac) thought he had food poisoning but a few people who were at the same party on Saturday are also sick today (I didn't eat a thing) and everyone ate and drank different things so a vomiting bug seems to be the diagnosis of exclusion. I am presently in quarantine in the bedroom with a bucket, fluids and a laptop. DS is avoiding me as though there were a red cross painted on the door. What fun.

RubyReins How are you today? How long does the virus last?
Very bad luck to get it as well as Hyperemesis.
Pebbles How are things? Ican't We haven't heard from you for a few days, I do hope you aren't too bad. Reebok and spandau I am so longing for some better days for you.
Charlie I forgot to say how happy I am that you feel a bit better.
MotherofPearl Stirling (sterling?) advice as ever. I'm glad it is gradually easing for you.
RubyReins I had to laugh at that 'tilt of the head'. I think it is meant to mean 'I hear you'. Most provoking when accompanied by blase useless information.
TwoDrifters I hope baby turns soon.

MotherofPearl Not as if I meant to dismiss your feeling like a chewed piece of string. When we speak of someone 'recovering' from Hypeermesis, realistically I suppose most people feel far better than they did early on, but from everything I've encountered, it takes months fully to recover from weeks of starvation in the first tri, and ones digestion seems to be compromised for the duration, though the vomiting might stop completely.
It's very frustrating that it's hard for most people to realise that you do not feel normal, even if you feel far better than you did.

Had a rather unpleasant night but I am feeling better this morning and actually feel hungry. Baby is doing what feels like the lindy hop so no concerns about him. Spending today lounging on various beds and sofas! Virus usually lasts about 48 hours. I have had it a few times before (fabulous for a bit of pre-Christmas party weight loss) but never when pregnant. Thanks for the kind words, hope everyone has a relatively spew free day x

Hi ladies, I'm still following the thread although I haven't had much to add as everyone else is giving great advice. Sorry to see new people but I'm so glad you found the thread! I'm so frustrated to read of people not being taken seriously, when you are at your lowest you should not have to beg for a sick note - you just don't have the energy. I was very lucky as my doctor was very supportive, I think his wife had suffered so he understood. I sent him a thank you card once my baby arrived! I completely agree that just because medication may make things manageable you may not feel 'normal' for the duration. It can be frustrating that because people see you improve they think you are better. One thing I will say in HGs favour is despite the tiredness and pain after birth you will feel amazing as HG lifts. I spend 9 (10!) months in a semi sedated fog. It's so good to see so many are at,or nearly at, the half way point! The strength of you ladies is amazing, keep going!!

Having a bad day here, so I'm back on my full dose of ondansetron. I don't think I was ready to reduce it after all. Still vomiting and retching quite a lot so I hope I haven't set myself back for ages.

Hello everyone. I'm sorry for all the suffering going on and for the continued ignorance of some HCPs!

I've had my scan and my dates are a bit further forward so I'm now 14 plus 3 and due 11th June. I'm still feeling nauseas and retching very easily and generally feeling wiped out.

Does anyone have any advice on how to actually recover from HG. I feel both traumatised and malnourished and I am still eating what stays down not what is good for me. I've lost about a stone but I'm very overweight to begin with.

Once you feel better you'll eat normally instinctively. .. but whether that ll be in preg or not is debatable. .. I had digestive probs all the time in all my previous pregnancies .. and couldn't eat well despite feeling better sick wise.. this time I'm 19 plus 5 and still feel sick and being sick ... can't face healthy food and can't drink much ... I survived each preg but took ages to get iro n levels back but eating what I wanted was instant.. there are a few things I still can't face due to HG even 15 yrs on sadly but it's part of the course after sick ing so much I guess it's just natural ...
(corabell)

Madrigal - i totally feel your pain with reducing Ondanstron i totally regret not taking it yesterday. Really noticed the difference and there was me thinking i was getting better as hadnt been sick in nearly a week and was keeping food down. Plus my indegestion has kicked up again and tummy hurts all the time from the acidic feeling, just want to curl up in a ball. Still taking Ranitidine and rennies not that it seems to be helping!

Lucinda, I certainly didn't feel you'd disregarded my feelings - far from it! You're always so understanding and kind. It's just a pity not everyone in RL is like you!
Madrigal and Charlie, sorry to hear about the bad days on lowered Ondansetron. I'm treating this as a cautionary tale and keeping on with 2 a day for now.
Ruby, hope the virus has passed over now?
Corabell, I'm afraid I don't have any great words of wisdom about recovering from HG apart from rest, rest, rest. For me, I don't think I will feel fully recovered until after the birth. Ems, thanks for your encouraging post. It's so good to be reminded that this awful illness will eventually end. I can't wait to feel like my old self.
Hope everyone else coping OK tonight. X

it looks like everyone is having a crap time :( same here.
sorry for non personalised reply just feel shit so only popping in to say hi to everyone.

oh and ive another suspected DvT was sent to A&e but had no childcare so going in the morning once ds is in nursery.

Hope everyone has some good days soon and relief.

Hi all, sorry I've been silent for a while, busy and tired! Had a quick read thru and sorry to see some new people. A few people seem to be having some better days which is wonderful, fingers crossed this continues and progresses.

You're all getting closer to meeting your gorgeous babies, well done ladies!

Another tough day for me. 20 week scan tomorrow but as I already know what I'm having I'm not too fussed and can't be bothered to leave the house. So tired. My body hurts. Cramps constant and still bleeding but not heavily. Plus I feel sick as a dog. Back on my 3 ondansetron a day. Sucks! 21 weeks Friday. Due back at work on Thursday. Not sure if I should just ask doc for another sick note. The pain seems to increase when I walk so traveling will probably make things difficult for me. There's only 4 days left of term and it's likely to be dvds and Xmas stuff. I doubt I will have any classes to cover either so will be 2 and a half hours of travel wasted (to and from work).

A friend of mine had her baby yesterday. She had a perfect pregnancy and great labour...baby was born a day before due date. I know it will sound silly but I cried when I heard. Felt jealous that it wasn't me holding my baby rather than feeling like shit. Mop I know what you mean about wanting to feel yourself again.

Sorry to hear others feel so rubbish. Thank you to Mother Hen, Ems and Ealli for the constant encouragement.

reebok I totally understand the jealousy, I think we all will. It really is very unjust how difficult our pregnancies our and we have every right to feel like our labours should be simple and our babies should arrive a week early (though I didn't get either! It wasn't an issue afterwards tho, I only feel it a bit now. Mainly I get small head envy - my boys head circumference was 97th centile!).

I know you know what flavour you're having, but it'll be lovely to see baby wriggling.

Yeh I guess. Just don't want to leave the house.

Haha at small head envy! Thank you for making me finally smile today. I had same with my first labour...10 days late...27 hour labour...it was hell but I would take it anyway over hg and the way I feel now.

Oh yes, it was nothing compared to the pregnancy. I think some women would call it a difficult labour, but not us HG warriors!

See how you feel tomorrow, but I really do think you'll enjoy it. Plus am I right in remembering it's important for checking of everything is developing properly (a lot of the 'normal'pregnancy stuff is a bit of haze in my memory!)?

Just a quick whizz through, reebok don't you dare go to work!!! They'll only be doing Xmas word searches and related crap! Get another sick note, travelling is bound to exasperate your symptoms I reckon. icant not another Dvt? is it safe to leave overnight?! Worrying here for you, hope you get seen soon xxx

Iv 20 week scan tomorrow too reebok.. 1 30 as I rearranged it.
Baby kicking like mad tonight. Kinda nice realky if I do still feel sick...
I wouldn't go wk if ur bleeding still.. why take the risk? ?

Uv been thru so much .. screw wk

I can't. .
U must get the dvt sorted hun ..
I realky can't believe how awful things have been for you :( wish I could magic u well

Daft as this is I keep worrying something ll go wrong... iv got thus far ... just can't stop fretting

Ref perfect preg my friend s had no sickness no heartburn no nothing. . She's 35 weeks... wish I was sob

Reebok please please get another sick note, I feel very strongly about you not going back yet!

Icant sorry it's another A&E trip for you, I hope you get seen promptly.

Sorry those that have tried to drop ondansetron with little success. I've dropped from 2 to 1 over the weekend with a good news story so far. The nausea is still crippling but the sickness has only been occasional for the last couple of weeks now so that's a big relief. Am 25 weeks and have a growth scan next week.. Not sure if it's something I've been given by accident (though my hospital is introducing 3rd trimester scans next year) or is to check growth because of the HG but either way I'm looking forward to it.

Spandau and reebok enjoy your scans tomorrow x

Aagh! Reebok You must not go back to work. Forgive me, but you are not thinking straight to contemplate it, particularly after the bleeding. You must rest. I'm sure you'll get another sick note unquestioned. It's incredibly unfair that some people have happy and healthy pregnancies and some of us are almost blamed for not being able to do the same, when we would give a fortune to be so lucky. I don't blame you for being jealous. Hugs about the crying.
Ican't I am not sure what a DVT is, but I do feel for you after such a horrible series of dangerous complications. As others say, do get it chekced out.
MotherofPearl Thank you, that's kind. But, if everyone in real life was like me the trains would not only not run on time, they'd go the wrong way, what with me being dyslexic... Platform Announcement: 'The 6.45 for Liverpool is currently headed to Dover...'
eallison Small head envy, I like it
Corabell Much sympathy over feeling shattered. As others say, rest is the main thing. Remember you've been very ill.
RubyReins So glad you feel a bit better and baby is active.
spandau I'm glad baby is active, too.
Shoop and Reebok All good luck for scans.
amysmummy May I ask - are all the results in now? Ignore me if you don't wish to say.
Back soon. Apologies if I've rudely overlooked anyone.

Thanks all. Don't worry I'm getting signed off again. I agree Amys...it's just Xmas related stuff...no real work and unlikely I would actually be covering a class so I would have to search for work to do myself as my bosses are idiots! In lots of pain today but baby is moving which helps put my mind at ease. Don't worry I will still go to my scan ealli. It's in 2 hours.

Hope everyone is having a less sickly day. Hg sucks!!!!!!!!

hope scans go well Reebok and spandau. glad your getting signed off again reebok.
lucinda - dvt is short for deep vein thrombosis basically blood clot. in A&E now waiting to be seen. likelihood of me having another clot is some thing like one in a million chance as already on treatment dose blood thinner so fingers crossed.

Had 20 week scan and all looks good! Was in there for ages as baby was curled up and didnt want to move for them to get all there measurements and screen shots. We are having another boy.