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.

Funny that you had a similar experience, ealison. You came up with a better response than my 'but I want to take it, it stops me being sick!'

I get that it's a important job to make sure doctors are prescribing correctly - DH has been very grateful to his practice pharmacist for picking up on things for him or advising alternatives. But on no planet is gaviscon a substitute for ondansetron!!!

I wish I was wittier and could have threatened to throw up on her shoes. Or quoted nice guidelines. Sadly I get very flustered with confrontation and spend weeks afterwards coming up with clever retorts!

I wonder if I get the prescription tomorrow or not.

oh specials what an utterly idiotic woman. Utter fool.

Suggest if you ever see her again that she keeps up to date with research, including basic NICE guidelines and the NEJM feb 2013 report on ondansetron and safety in pregnancy, the big Danish study. Thalidomide was sixty years ago and would never have passed current testing standards.

If nothing else, this woman should have respected the hospital's decision. Everything a hospital doctor prescribes is dispensed by the hospital pharmacy and in my experience they are a lot more on the ball than community pharmacists.

Sincerely hope you get the med tomorrow. if not, possibly you may have grounds for reporting her to her professional body ... or just be sick on her or her stock for sale. Much easier and the smell might jolt her brain cell.

I'm sure it will be fine and after talking to my gp she'll hopefully be better educated about it. At the time I felt really judged at wanting to take it though.

Little does she know that I simply went home and took two 4mg tablets instead. I have a few left, but could do with picking up my prescription tomorrow.

Anyone know how long the lactulose will take to work? I'm hoping it's not going to be an extreme affect - it would be awful to be sick and have diarrhoea at the same time!

How's everyone else getting on? for all you wonderful people.

Sorry Special, forgot to reply to your lactulose query. I've never taken it but I gather that you take it neat. When I asked my GP about it she said it was more of a stool softener than a laxative, so don't think you need to worry about diarrhoea. Plus, the constipating effect of Ondanestron is so extreme, in my experience, that it would take a really powerful laxative in massive doses to produce diarrhoea. Let us know how you get on with your prescription tomorrow.
Hope everyone else has had a bearable day. I wonder if Ruby has had her baby yet? I think she was at the top of the due dates list?

Think I might need some of that lactulose sorry for tmi but hard stools leading to rectal breeding - I did mention it to gp who just said it's nothing to worry about. That's as may be but is painful! Can you get it from pharmacy? Seeing midwife Thursday so may ask her.

Rest really does help as not sick until 2/3pm unlike when I'm looking after ds which is 10/11am!! Now to deal with insomnia at 4am.

Thanks so much for all the support and sorry so many of us are going through this

ickle so glad rest is helping so. Uh can get lactulose over counter at pharmacy, but if you get prescription it still be free.

special it was only after a few experiences saying "but the drugs stop me puking!" that I had my good response!

Hope you're doing okay MoP? And indeed, ruby is now top and due any day from memory!

Hello all, off work today. DD has a temperature and is showing signs of hand, foot and mouth yet again. Boss will probably complain but my little girl comes first. Feeling exhausted and nauseous already.

Special some pharmacists can be utter fools! I remember mine asking me if I definitely had to take ondansetron and couldn't I just take cyclizine now....I was in first trimester...erm course I can! I just take ondansetron for a laugh don't I?! Idiots!

28 weeks on Friday! Means 12 weeks to go!! Can't believe I'm so close yet so far. Feels like those early weeks were only yesterday. Haven't heard from the hospital regarding my GtT so hopefully means I'm GD free.

How's everyone getting on?

Ickle, I couldn't keep down lactuluse. Nothing worked for me except enemas...fingers crossed it works for you.

reebok glad you're off work .... sod the boss. Poor little girl, hope she is better soon. How long does it last?

One of the nice things about being in the final straight is that even though it's not that pleasant ... the end is palpably closer. And it's never as bad as the first awful trimester.

Oh yes, Ruby is about to graduade! Best wishes =)

Hoping everyone is having an endurable day.

ealli how is tinyealli at sleeping now?

Ickle - only taken one dose of lactulose so far and no movement yet, but I have the hard stools and bleeding too (pregnancy is so glamorous!). It tastes OK, just very sugary, but I've been told if after a week I'm still taking it to go back and get a different laxative/stool softener. Rest really helps me with the sickness too - keep at it!
Reebok - hope your little girl is feeling OK. Is your daughter excited about meeting the new baby?
Onceameer - dh has also recommended that I take a print out of the NICE guidelines in with me, just in case she's there again. I will read up on that study just before I go in, and I resolutely will not leave with gaviscon!
MOP - thanks for the advice. The lactulose was much better tasting than I expected.

So jealous of all you lot so close to meeting your babies! Fwiw, I think babies are very cute and I'm always happy to admire pictures of newborns! I've got my scan on Friday, so hopefully wriggler will give me some good pictures (its the least baby can do, given all the trouble it's caused me)! Dh keeps on trying to hear baby's heartbeat with a stethoscope (I don't think it's possible to hear it until 20 weeks + and even then takes some skill), but can only hear my bunged up gut instead! Lovely!

Hope everyone is doing well.

SpecialstainsWords fail me about that pharmacist acting so arrogantly, ignoring the prescription from a hospital. Gaviscon? As others say, since when has that been an anti emetic? It isn't even much use for the residual heartburn, as I remember; re vomiting on shoes threat. A bit of synchronicity there, it's what I often suggest to sufferers who are refused meds by GP's (a bit of 'Do what I say,not what I did' there).
eallison I'm happy you said that!
Reebok It is dismal that she has this again. I never heard of it before.
Ickle Never worry about TMI on here! No such thing.
Thanks for corn, OnceaMeer.
Waves to spandau squeezed RubyReins Wibbly Sock MotherofPearl* Ican't (oh dear; are you still in hospital?) and everyone.
I'll seek out the due dates list.

Yes, Rubyreins is very high on the list. Kayme was due some days ago. Hopefully, all is well with her, as we haven't heard from her in a good while. I never did get GlitterGold's due date for those twins, and we don't have Peppa's due date yet, or some others, but not everyone feels like giving one early on. The due dates for Ican't and spandau approach at a crawl.
I do hope those who've suffered relapses, like Madrigal and Shoop and Barmee are doing OK now, and that MotherofPearl is slightly better? I'm still dismayed at poor LO getting a relapse with that unpleasant sounding infection, Reebok.
Waiting Thinking of you. How are things?

Due Dates
Kayme 28 January
RubyReins 6 February
mrsm14 14 February
Mirabel 19 February
mygreeneyedboy 22 February
BarmeeMarmee 10 March
Bugista 26 March
Shoop 28 March
Reebok 29 April
spandau 5 May
MotherofPearl 7 May
spandau 8 May
ICan't 11 May
Madrigal 30 May
lemonslemonslemons 12 June
amysmum 9 June
Iam 22 June
racheljayne 10 August
Special Stains 18 August

Thanks for asking after me Lucinda - I am actually feeling a little better. I went to the doctor and he put me on an increased dose of ondansetron (4mg 3x per day) and I think it is doing the trick. I am able to eat and drink quite well, and not feeling too nauseated either. Hope this is the start of an improvement for me (I am 23+2 now). I think I might not be back to "normal" until the pg is over, but I can cope if it stays as it is now. Going to try to head back to work again, which was the trigger for the last relapse, so that will be an interesting test I think.

Someone linked me to this blog, which I quite like - Spewing Mummy

That blog is fab. I feel very much the same way as the author on the topics of Ginger and complimentary medicines. I think there is a special place in hell reserved for people that suggest such things.

madrigal hope things continue to improve it gives the rest of us hope!

Next time I'm on my computer will add myself to the list but not due till 2nd Sept so long way to go!

Thanks Lucinda and Ealli for asking after me. I'm doing alright in the sickness department at the moment, just a bit ground down by the ceaseless nausea. The other thing that's bothering me is cramps in my calves at night. Not HG related but apparently a common complaint late in the second tri. The pain has woken up the last two nights, and my calves still feel tender in the morning. Goodness, pregnancy is one long misery isn't it?!
Special, how did you get on with filling your Ondansetron prescription today? As for people who suggest ginger - here on the thread I always suggest dispatching our special Ginger Hit Squad to permanently deal with those stupid enough to suggest it. Poor Icant even had her hospital consultant buying her ginger biscuits!! She posted a great photo of the biscuits next to her hand, showing her cannula for IV fluids and meds!
Madrigal, I'm so glad to hear of your improvement. About time too! Don't push yourself with work.
Reebok sorry about your DD and hope she's better soon. You've really been a stalwart, surviving so much.
Waves to all.

Pregnancy Sickness Support's Caitlin Dean has asked me if anyone wishes to fill in this survey on treatment.
Here's the link:
plymouth.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/experiences-of-treatment-for-hg

Madrigal Synchronicity! I believe that's PPS's Caitlin Dean again, in fact - well written; I haven't read it for a while. Glad meds seem to be working. Mother Hen as usual says 'Dont Rush Back to Work'...
Special[winks] Not for all eternity, I hope? Lol...Ahem, Er, a complementary medicine did work for me, Acupunture; but I was very lucky; I avoid recommending it, because it's horribly expensive (I spent a lot of savings on it), and while it seems to help everyone a bit, I've yet to meet anyone else who was helped as much as me. I think my practitioner was incredibly skilled.

MotherofPearl Massaging your poor calves will help (or getting OH or any other willing slave to do so).
Ickle Added you. Sorry you are at the bottom of the list.
Due Dates
Kayme 28 January
RubyReins 6 February
mrsm14 14 February
Mirabel 19 February
mygreeneyedboy 22 February
BarmeeMarmee 10 March
Bugista 26 March
Shoop 28 March
Reebok 29 April
spandau 5 May
MotherofPearl 7 May
spandau 8 May
ICan't 11 May
Madrigal 30 May
lemonslemonslemons 12 June
amysmum 9 June
Iam 22 June
racheljayne 10 August
Special Stains 18 August
Icklekid 2 September

Lucinda definitely not you! I actually wear the seabands all the time, and I know you know what you're on about and I very much value your support. It is just the way people who've never experienced hg suggest it as though it will be a new and revolutionary concept that will cure all that ails me!

I'm so bored at home. I've spent the day thinking of baby names and researching holidays I can't go on. Though dh has booked leave for a camping trip to Cornwall (if I'm well, lake district which is only 30mins from home if not!).

Veggie chicken nuggets did not sit well with me for dinner. :-(

SpecialStains Only joking, I knew you didn't mean me. The Ginger Biscuit brigade are certainly maddening, and so are the 'I Just Got On With It Going Outside to Vomit Now and Then' set...Sorry to hear about veggie chicken nuggets; probably, too healthy...

Thanks everyone. Turns out the rash isn't hand foot and mouth this time and meningitis has luckily been ruled out. Poor baby currently has a temp of 39 and is laying one me stripped as I type. She's been vomiting and has no appetite as expected. Had to hold in my own vomit when she projectile vomited over me this afternoon. Has an infection in her ear which could be causing other symptoms so looks like I will stay home with her next few days. Luckily already booked off tomorrow anyway for my 28 week midwife appointment. Feeling a little under the weather myself now...hoping I'm not catching it. Seems to be one thing after another lately.

Sorry not to reply to others. Shattered. Hope you're all surviving another day x

The SPD is kicking up a knotch and the doc said that I can take 4doses of paracetamol a day but need to make sure it's not on an empty stomach. The only way I've been able to function is to stop eating during the day. So if I start eating again in the day again, I'll be more more sick, but might be able to line the stomach enough. The doctor suggested signing me off or at least reducing my hours but I just can't face being off work again. Throwing myself into the work chaos is what is keeping me sane. DH is getting grumpy that I'm not interested in eating or getting about much. Sorry for the self pity post, it all feels miserable again.

Well remembered MOP :) he still gives me ginger biscuits! How are you?
reebok, poor dd and you :( hope some improvement for you both asap.
Spandau, praying for some relief soon your not having ot easy either.
squeezed, that sounds terrible, sometimes oh really don't help situation's!
Special, veggie nuggets dont sound nice :( a trip is a lovely idea if/when things are better.
Madrigal, hope the ondansatron works out and you avoid the constipation.
Icle, I find it helps within 24 hours and I don't get diaheorrea (sp)
Waves to meer, mother hen, ruby, ealisson and twodrifters. Hope ive not missed anyone out.

onceameer tinyealli is starting to sleep better. Only one or two wakes in th night, and settles pretty quickly once fed (touch wood!). He shocked me last night;got him ready for bed and put him in his crib chattering away to himself. Decided to put a wash on quickly before feeding and sleep, so turned the monitor on so I could hear when he started getting grumpy and get straight back up. 30 mins later I realised the chatting had turned into silence...went to check on him and he'd taken himself to sleep! Slept for 3 hour! He's never gone yo sleep at night without a feed before!

reebok sorry to hear about your little one. Fingers crossed she's better soon;you don't need poorly her on top of everything else. And indeed, sod the miserable boss.

special how did the trip to pharmacy go?

squeezedsorry your feeling so awful. Perhaps a compromise between distraction of work and resting is a reduced hours sick note? I had a few of those when I started to feel closer to 'normal'

Wishing all a peaceful night (icant hope things are bobbing along uneventfully for you for a little while at least) and apologies to those rudely overlooked. -Waves to lucinda-

eallison that's great about ds getting himself to sleep. Here's hoping for many more sleep filled nights.

My ds refused to nap for childminder yesterday afternoon so was asleep by 6pm and awake at 4am. It's going to be a long day! Luckily dh is off so will be helping!

squeezed reduced hours is a good suggestion!

icant thanks will definitely be looking into that. Memories of painful pooing post birth last time are flooding back. Had an anal fissure but didn't realise used to cry every time I needed the loo!