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.

welcome peonie and teach, sorry you've had to join us, it's a lovely thread with ladies with good advice.(I'm rubbish at advice but everyone else is so good!)

special hope you got some sleep in the end? I've not taken much as makes me feel more nauseous I think . if you end up admitted they can quickly push a bag of pabrinex (sp?) through which has all vitamins in.

i ckle, sorry to hear of your rubbish time, lots of for you.

how's poppie have we heard anything since last admission?
hope your having/had bubs ruby

how's things spandau, Reebok, Mop, mardrigal, shoop, gold and anyone I've missed?

bugista, squeezed, sock

Welcome, Primaryteach and PeoniePink. Sorry you are both suffering.
Primary I hope you have contacted gp or a and e, as if a pregnant woman can't retain water for more than 24 hours it's treated as an emergency, as you get very dehydrated and will probably need fluids and to be put on meds (all safe). Were you on any meds last time?
Peonie I'm glad you don't feel quite as bad as earlier and that this thread helped you through that. Have they got you on any meds? How do you find the favourite ways of getting fluids in on here, flat coke, ice lollies, soda water, ice cubes made of flat coke, the juice of tinned fruit etc? Can you stand eating crisps or the cheap type of ice cream?
Specialstains It is so frustrating when food just disgustingly reappears, much sympathies about those lonely night sessions in the loo. Remind me what meds they have you on, as they could be working better?
ickle and others, much sympathy about nose vomits. Only had that a couple of times in my life, and really painful, and as others say, the only way to get rid of it is to rinse out your nose, which hurts too.
Icant I hope you are perhaps feeling some relief? Nice message for others, as ever.
eallison (waves)
I hope everyone is more or less coping today, and LO's are a bit better, and OH's being helpful (generally).

Hi primary and peonie.

Primary, the best I can offer you in terms of medication is to chat with your gp. Gey an appointment today. On the chance they are reluctant prescribers print out and take along the NICE guidelines for hyperemesis.

cks.nice.org.uk/nauseavomiting-in-pregnancy#!scenario

They will probably start on promethazine (Avomine), then work the way through cyclizine, stemitil etc before ondansetron. As annoying as this is, I think it is the best way to do things. If Avomine helps you then great, its been used for donkeys years and is very safe. Ondansetron is a relatively new drug, and although there is no evidence to say it isn't safe, in my head in makes sense to go for the safest option first. People find different meds useful. I found that cyclizine helped, but that ondansetron has made the biggest improvement. Still don't expect anything to 'cure' you, they can make symptoms better, but aren't a magic wand.

peonie sorry you've been feeling rough, but glad this thread has helped.

Lucinda I'm on 8mg ondansetron every 8 hours. Gp upped the ondansetron, but was reluctant to prescribe ondansetron and cyclizine together, but has said that if I need to go back again then we'll consider it. I'm not sure for me that 8mg ondansetron makes much difference to 4mg in terms of symptoms and a little reluctant to push for cyclizine again as it made me so incredibly sleepy!

Was a bit starved and emotional this morning, but had a bowl of soup and now sitting very still so it won't go anywhere. Fizzy water is my saviour. I hated it pre-pregnacy!

Hi icant, Ellison and ickle hope today is vom free for you! Hope everyone else is surviving.

Also, primary as annoying as it is to have complementary medicines recommended when you are really unwell, I have found that just wearing the fecking sea-bands cuts short some irritating conversions with hcp I haven't seen before who start recommending them. I don't think they work, but now in the habit of wearing them (and don't want to take them off just in case they work!).

If you are interested in complementary therapies, I think Lucinda did find that acupuncture helped with her sickness. I haven't tried that but some people do get relief from it.

I'll finish there before I start telling you to eat some Ginger biscuits (I hate all Ginger products with a fiery passion).

Please ignore this post if you find it irritating! I fully support anyone's right to whatever treatment they feel is best for them.

Nothing yet! Climbing the walls.

Am I right in thinking you're 40+2, Ruby? Exciting stuff! You ready and got your hospital bag packed?

Spoke to the doctor on the phone who has prescribed something and helpfully told me "it really would be better to take nothing" and "of course, in the old days you would barely know you were pregnant at 6 weeks". Needless to say he got an earful. I found out I was pregnant because of the sickness! It's not some psychosomatic thing. Grrr

Special - am also using sea sickness bands.

What have you been prescribed, primary?

What I'm about to say is entirely personal experience. Next time you see a gp, try to look up all the doctors at your practice on their website and specifically book an appointment with anyone that has a special interest in women's health / gynaecology. They should be a bit better informed. I've also found that slightly younger gps are a bit happier to prescribe - to become a gp you have to do 2 years of hospital rotations after the foundation years, one of which is likely to be obs and gynae. If the gp has been qualified less than a decade they may be more up to date with dealing with hyperemesis, as they will have experienced it in hospital.

Primary hope the meds give some relief, I echo what special says about younger GPS.
Special how are you today?
Ruby you must be so frustrated :(
Thank you mother hen, I'm OK been home since Friday still having nebulizers 4x a day and been quite sick today but I'm OK. Think the acupuncture is slightly working.

icant I'm feeling down and emotional. Being sick doesn't get easier the more you do it. Glad the acupuncture is helping you!

Yep 40+2 today. DS arrived after a failed induction at 40+3 so I am hopeful... Bag is in the car (been there a month!) but so frustrated now.

Hope everyone is managing today.

primary re folic etc... I didn't manage to get any vitamins or folic acid tablets inside me at any point during my pregnancy. My boy was born 9lb and healthy. Try not to worry too much, just take what you can. Pleas e see your gp re meds, you've not managed to get much fluid inside you.have you dried fizzy drinks? Don't worry too much about drinking/eating heathy stuff, just focus on whatever you can manage.

ruby fingers crossed pregnancy days are numbered now!

special am right their with you!

icant someone else suggested to me acupuncture but so scared of needles (how I managed epidural/drip/blood last birth I've no idea)

Today was going well then from 1pm onwards have constantly been sick and feeling more and more fed up! I also have energy to do one tiny thing at a time...then have to lie down. The weather is also not helping as could really do with getting out to make me feel better!

Thank you so much

Primary my doc tried the line if you think about it...
After a mouth full I got my meds !
Sea bands hahahahahahha I paid 10 pound for those useless things...
Anyone who even mentions ginger gets a bombardment of sarcasm from me... 5th child and you really believe iv not tried everything you knob jock !?
HG gets worse each pregnancy so all of u on the 2nd fun packed wheel of pregnancy don't expect ur symptoms to be easier :( sob sob

Had my cough checked out just stuck with it as flu plus preg don't mix ... not an infection thank goodness.

Drudging water now.. I'm so exhausted and wore out that the sit in amd stare at the 4 walls syndrome has become the norm. Miss my old life and energy but at least I know this is not PERMANENT

**eallison Thanks for the reassurance. I'm trying not to worry (easier said than done!).

Spandau** sorry you've had this problem too! This is my second so I feel a but cheesed off when I get told it's all in my head!

Ladies, any advice? He's prescribed me metoclopramide. I was a bit surprised as it seems like it's not the safest one and should only be used for 5 days?? Should I ask for something different?

Primary I don't know how I missed saying my usual question, 'have you got kesostox' because,while they will measure starvation later, in the early stages of dehydration they're invaluable for saying when you should go to hospital for fluids, when the ketones get up to 3+ they usually admit, but as you suffered before, most likely you know that and that they're available from any chemists, as you suffered before,you may well have them. So before the doctor made you go without meds? Well done insisting on having them. I am still concerned you are dehydrated now, after several days without much liquid. Do you have a headache, or dry skin, or dark urine etc?
Ruby Keeping fingers crossed it's very soon.
Ican't I must have missed something, when did you have Acupunture? I'd love it if it helped you as much as it did me.
Special A lot of people find cyclizine makes them feel like a zombie at least for a few weeks, so I can see why you avoid it. Time is
g-r-a-d-u-a--l-l-y passing and in due course you will have a delightful baby and be posting a message of encouragement to those where you are now...
Spandau Sorry to hear your cough won't go. Coughs make things so much worse.
eallison Great advice as ever.
I hope Reebook Squeezed Sock amsymummyBarmeeMarmee and everyone is coping...

Primary I think it can be used for quite a while as long as you don't suffer from twitchiness, a symptom meaning you should stop taking it at once. But I believe its been around a good few years and totally safe for the baby.

Had it just before Xmas and the day before this last admission. Having it again this week.

Sorry to see that there are new joiners: many commiserations. Metochlopramide is fine for baby but as Lucinda says it can cause twitchiness in the mother, in which it should be discontinued. And any doctors who say that it's all in your head and/or you should grin and bear it should be shown the NICE guidelines which stipulate that the aim of HG treatment should be to enable the woman to live as normal a life as possible - medication should be used to achieve this as appropriate.
Special, ah, fizzy water is a godsend! I can only drink fizzy things. Iced fizzy water and iced sparkling elderflower are my favourites. Hope you and Ickle are both feeling a bit better now.
Ruby, the waiting is a killer isn't it? Surely not much longer.
Sorry for lack of proper replies to everyone, but lots of cheery waves as ever to Lucinda, Ealli, Reebok, Meer, Spandau, Icant and everyone. How are Amys and Shoop? Don't think we've heard from them for a while.
Thanks to those who asked after DS. He's totally fine now. 4 year olds bounce back pretty fast! I'm facing a horrifically busy week at work including 2 nights away: wish me luck.

Hello all! Welcome to the newbies. Sorry you're all suffering but you're in the right place. And remember this too shall pass.

Ruby, you poor thing. DD was overdue by 10 days so you have my sympathies.

Can't remember who asked about folic acid but to be honest in this pregnancy and one with dd I was unable to take any folic acid/pregnancy vitamins. DD was fine and so is this bubba so far.

Icant thanks for asking about me...dare I ask how you're coping? Hope you get some respite soon. You really deserve it.

Spandau...hugs. I totally agree that each hg pregnancy gets worse. This is technically my 4th (although only my second child) and each time it's gotten worse.

Despite the sickness I'm feeling happy. Firstly because I stood to to my boss and even uttered the word Union when she tried to use my pregnancy sick related absence against me today...and secondly because I've made the firm decision to leave at 32 weeks...that means only 14 working days to go as half term is next week. I can't wait!! Hopefully the lack of stress will take away the hg...at least here's hoping!

Waves to everyone else. Mop good luck! X

Thanks Reebok. I'm actually thinking that maybe two nights away might be quite good. At least the minute work is over I can collapse in hotel room: no DC and the bath/supper/bed routine to worry about! I'm so, so, so glad to hear you've decided to finish work sooner! The relief in your post is palpable. I hope you at least get to enjoy some nice sick-free weeks of rest before baby comes: you've really earned it after your nightmare pregnancy. X

MotherofPearl I hope all goes well and you enjoy that trip and have a well deserved rest.
Reebok I am so glad that you're leaving soon! That manager sounds ignorant and would fall foul of employment law in a teaching job, surely, if he tried to use pregnancy related sickness against you and I'm glad you stood up to him.
ICan't I hope the cummulative effective of the Acupunture helps a lot, at least.
Apologies if I've rudely ignored anyone. Have to rush off to meet someone from a train...

Congrats Reebok on bring firm with your boss. Only 14 days to go!

MoP enjoy your hotel stay.

Thanks as always Lucinda for the support!

As of tomorrow I will officially be in my 2nd trimester. Please tell me it will get better? I'm bouncing off the walls (metaphorically, physically would have me vomiting) being stuck at home. I'm desperate to go swimming, cycling, kayaking or hiking, but very aware that movement makes me feel sick.

I'm just going to sit and fantasise about my camping trip to Cornwall in May. I fear the weeks of isolation with only the cat for company are starting to get to me.