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.

Gosh that's a powerful story Shoop. As you say, it helps to know you're not alone. I really think the emotional and psychological impact of HG, even if you don't have antenatal depression, are often overlooked. Kalisasa is the only person on the thread who I can recall was offered counselling when she was hospitalised with HG (along with fluids and meds of course).
Spandau I'm really holding out for 20 weeks being your turning point. Fx.
Reebok, your DD sounds very sweet! Tonight I asked my DS what he thinks we should call the baby if it's a boy and he said 'Let's call it Small Time Jim like in Danger Mouse!' Really made me chuckle. When does your school close for Christmas? At least then you can get a break.

Kalidasa, even.

Hi - I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm 8 weeks and have not been able to stand up out of bed for 4 weeks for violently throwing up - every single day. I have low blood pressure and have lost 4kg in 2 weeks. Thankfully my GP was quite sympathetic and signed me off work for 2 weeks, however I can't see this stopping anytime soon and I going to need to ask to be signed off again. Has anyone experienced any negativity from their employers about HG? I am nervous about their reaction to it - my boss (who was pregnant LY but didn't have MS at all) told me to try ginger biscuits! I really had to bite my tongue and explain that I can barely keep a glass of water down. If I hear the word 'ginger' one more time I may cry LOL

Welcome caper sorry you've had to join this thread but it's excellent and been a lifeline for me!

Sorry I've not been joining in my MN hasn't been letting me reply or show my posts?!
Been reading everyone's posts though , just so far behind to reply to everyone!
I'm still stuck in hospital, re scan today to see how liver and spleen are as may need spleen removed.
Still not had endoscopy and biopsies and can't go home until I've had them. Went to theatre Monday and had a PICC line inserted so can have outpatient treatment for the lupus when I'm finally (if ever) home! Day 8/9 now.
Been upset being here (understandably) so they've bloody referred psych to come and see me!!

Had a vom free day and are super and then the sickness came back in full force last night :(

Always thinking of you all

Hi everyone. Sorry for not having been posting -like icant the site hasn't been letting me for some reason-it just keeps reloading and giving me and error message all the time. I'm here though. Caper welcome. Sounds like you definitely need signing off for longer. Are you taking any meds?
Despite being 24+6 im struggling at the moment-midnight vomiting sessions and have gone right off all food again whereas I had got a lot better even though the nausea was still there. Ah well.

Morning All. Welcome Caper, you've come to the right place. As Barmee says, it sounds like you need signing off for longer. Don't be afraid to emphasise to your GP and your employer just how debilitated you are. HG is not the same as ordinary morning sickness. Most of us here on the thread have been (or were, at our worst) signed off for weeks or even months. Is this your first baby? And as Barmee says, have you tried any medication? There's no miracle cure, but there are lots of options for medication that can make a big difference. And I can assure you that the G-word is banned on this thread! Any mentions of it are instantly reported to our Ginger Hit Squad, who are dispatched to deal with offenders!
Barmee, sorry to hear about the relapse. That's dispiriting when you're relatively far along.
Icant, sorry to hear that things are still not completely sorted out with your various treatments. I'm glad they're sending you a psychologist; I hope they can offer you some support and care. You're bound to feel deeply upset given everything you're going through.
Hope everyone else has a tolerable day with minimal vomits!

sorry I havent posted in this last week. we've had interesting (but in a good way) times and the hard drive is about to go. Stream of visitors again and loads of work to do with new shed ... plus the younger baby is turning out to be crazy active. Life is becoming fairly nonstop atm

caper wellcome, congratulations and commiserations. Second what everyone has said, the right meds can make life endurable and even teh government's own Best Practice guidelines say that that is the aim of treatment, and give a list of meds considered safe. Most people start off with cyclazine & vitamin B6.

charlie ondansetron and cyclizine seems to be a common combination that is fairly effective.

Some one posted too many days ago (sorry) about metoclopramide. IIR, and I can't get access to the British National Formulary now, you can take it for a max of 12 weeks. But having said that, many people have taken it for longer without ill effect - but if you get shaking or pins and needles or suchlike side effects you need to stop immediately. The baby is absolutely safe (as far as the studies have gone) but in a very few cases, the twitchy / restless limbs etc has been permanent in the adult. That's v rare though.

spandau after this preg, I reckon you can hope that the baby is a dream-baby!

sorry, have to go get older son now but thinking of everyone.

Caper Welcome to the Thread Nobody Wants To Need. I so agree with others, you are obviously very ill and will need an extended sick note. I'm so glad GP is sympathetic, if your boss isn't - very idiotic advice from her. I do wish people would stop being not only ignorant about this condition, but also judgemental and trivialising (sorry, rant over). You've lost an lot of weight and of course, that makes the low blood pressure lower...It's worth getting kesostix (online or from chemists if someone can get them for you) to measure for dehydration. I gather they cease to measure it accurately after a certain time, and register starvation instead, but 3+ ketones in the blood means a hospital admission for fluids as a rough rule of thumb.
sites.google.com/site/pregnancysicknesssos/employment-issues
on Margaret O'Hara's excellent website might be helpful over employment worries.
shoop and spandau I think counselling should be generally available for anyone who has had this, and certainly for sufferers who have depression anyway.Ican't I am so glad that due to that distressing experience they are taking your distress seriously.

BarmeeMarmee So sorry about relapse. I hope it's only a hormonal surge and will right itself soon.
I was amazed to read somewhere ages ago that in late pregnancy, 100 times the normal amount of oestrogen (never can spell that, either!) is circulating in a woman's body. No wonder it effects our behaviour...
Thinking of Reebok and amysmum and everybody forcing themselves into work.
MotherofPearl Great advice, as ever. How are you today?
Apologies if I've overlooked anyone. Got to rush out....

Had my scan, had a nice radiographer who asked if I wanted to know baby's sex - it's another boy :) 16 weeks today. I was desperate for a girl but I'm actually really happy which I'm glad about.

Congrats Icant! Glad you're happy! Boys are so cuddly and loving, as you already know

oh icant ... glad to hear you have had a good scan and that you are happy with the blue castle!

16 weeks, a tiny bit of a landmark in all the misery. Thinking of you.

whoever linked www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/pregnancy/casey-mullins-why-i-attempted-suicide-at-7-months-pregnant/news-story/792a135c01c817508e5df693ce3bc958

that's had me in tears. Wasn't far from that point after the 2nd failed induction with the Pipsqueak.

Hi all and welcome newbies! I'm back from a lovely hol away with my parents and OH. Feeling relaxed and sickness has def improved...still nauseous but can work around it a lot more than before (am now 23 weeks). I have so much sympathy for all of you guys still suffering - all I can say is I remember so well feeling like this was never, ever going to end but it DOES get better. Every second is a second closer to feeling more normal. And this thread is an absolute gem of course! Lots of to all you amazing troupers making it through every day.

That article is so sad meer and really makes me angry - women don't deserve to be put through this and I definitely think there is a big emotional toll that isn't being taken into account re: HG. Every single woman who gets through HG is an absolutely rockstar, it's just such a shame that we all have to be tested to our absolute limits.

Welcome caper. My manager has been pretty good about me being off, but I know that there's a mountain of work to go back to. Occupational health were really reassuring and said that the business can't do anything to me as I'm pregnant, so just take time off and rest. I rested well yesterday and didn't vomit, so I'm going to take the advice. Your number one job is looking after you and the baby, paid work can wait.

Welcome caper
Have you tried ginger biscuits at all ???

Joke Joke

Still feeling rough .. threw up my breakfast and realky feel sick again.
Reebok n MOP have you stopped being sick ??

Sob sob sob

Welcome cAper. Sorry you are ha suffering. I agree with others...get signed off for longer. I was signed off for over 2 months this time round. Only returned to work 3 weeks ago.
Sorry to hear some of you are relapsing.

Spandau I still vomit but it's not as awful. Usually evening vomit after work now. Not thrown up on the train this week which is a success in my eyes. 18 weeks Friday. Hoping you feel better soon. Get the omeprazole. I honestly think it will help you!

Feeling run down with my cold and sciatic pain. But at least the sickness has been manageable today. Hoping I should be better by 20 weeks! Sorry not to reply individually. No energy at all and in pain. Love to you all though x

The only use for ginger biscuits in preg is for inserting up the bum of the ill-informed health professional who suggested them. Fact.

Hi guys- can I ask- how do I know if I have HG? I'm almost 8 weeks. I throw up several times a day and feel sick most of the day. I'm also carrying twins so I gather the hormone levels are higher. Food smells make me ill and a lot of stuff I just can't eat. I feel awful. In my last pregnancy I had morning sickness but not like this.

Welcome back Bugista, and glad you had a relaxing holiday and are feeling better. It's encouraging to hear!
Spandau, I'd say I'm sick 4-5 times a week now, normally around 5pm. Occasionally I'll have a worse day. And the nausea is always there. But compared to you I think I have it easy, and when I think back to how bad I was around weeks 6-11ish, I've come a long way. Really hope you have a breakthrough soon.
Reebok, I'm glad to hear you've avoided train voms this week - the things we end up being grateful for eh? Sorry about the cold; mine's just easing off. Can you take anything for the sciatica?
Chatty, HG is much more prevalent amongst women carrying twins, and given how much you're being sick it sounds likely I'm afraid. You're best off getting some Ketostix (online or from a chemist) and using them to measure dehydration. As Lucinda says, a reading of 3+ and you really should be hospitalised for IV rehydration. Are you on any medication? It can make a difference to your quality of life, and enable you to keep more food down. I'm sure others will be on with advice.

PS. Just to add, Spandau, I think it's also that for me Ondansetron has made a big, big difference (even though my poor bowels have had to pay a high price!).

chatty Im not sure the formal diagnosis makes much difference. Technically it's if you lose 1-2 lbs a week I think. the Help HER forums have more info.

But for working purposes, if you are incapacited or loosing weight rapidly, that counts.

Have you got some Ketostix? (you can get them from the chemist or amazon; you pee on them and the darker they go, the more dehydrated you are and after a certain point you -need- medical treatment).

Congrats on the twins though!

At 5 am today I was in the shower hosing myself down to clean baby vomit of my face, chest and arms and out of my hair. Deepest joy!

oh how very lovely! how long is your mat leave, Ealli?

Mother of pearl- thanks- no I'm not taking anything. What can you get? Does it work and is it risky to the baby or babies? To be honest I need to do something as im honestly starting to wonder how I'm going to get through the next x weeks like this! I also have a ten month old to look after so it's not like going to bed is an option!

Once a meer- thanks for your reply too. Maybe I should get sond of these sticks. All I know is that I feel awful most of the time and my ribs are starting to hurt from heaving so much!