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.

Seriously, 6 vomits, baby is definitely trying to burrow out, Spd is killing me DD has turned into the devil. I've spent 5 minutes crying down the toilet today and I'm feeling really sorry for myself. I've deleted the pregnancy app because it was taunting me with healthy eating and feel good activities. FFS. Midwife tomorrow, ahhhh. I just need someone to mention ginger to me to finish the day off!

tentative hello... I've been lurking a little bit and wondered if I could join in?? I'm nearly 17 wks in to my second pregnancy. I vomited throughout my first pregnancy, firstly with pregnancy sickness then acid reflux vomiting, until the day before I had my daughter. This time round sadly the vomiting seems worse - I managed the first trimester but have been on Ondansetron since 12 weeks, it's made a difference but I'm feeling low as my boss (who hilariously is also preg) is being very difficult about any time off I take. Just got over a 10 day bout of gastroenteritis, and then severe constipation (contraction like stomach pains!) and now have a cold and cough! Reached a new low this evening as I took a bath with my toddler (19m) and had to lean over the side to vom, had to call my husband in to get her out and the poor thing is always very concerned when I'm vomiting, kind of ruined her quiet bedtime routine... The vomiting now is just so violent. Feels better to get this off my chest! No one in RL who can really understand, husband is being awesome but I feel sorry for him too and guilty i can't pull my weight. When GPs have signed off for hyperemesis, how have you gone about it? I'm wondering whether to try to get another apt tmw as really struggling to cope with work (full on stressful job, spend lots of time in the toilets, I'm a lot worse at work which is think is due to stress). Grateful for any thoughts. Thank you. (I'm sorry to hear how terrible it is for you all, I know mine is in no way an extreme case. And those that are looking for reassurance - I was 100% ok as soon as I had my daughter - ate three course meals in hospital!).

mrsmonkey Welcome. Sorry you are feeling so bad. You deserve a medal for having worked for so long, you definitely don't sound well enough to be working. Can you get signed off? Also, the doctors may be able to combine the Ondansetron with something else, say cyclizine, to make it more effective if you're still vomiting. Not being able to rest, working and having a toddler, has probably made it even worse. Are you monitoring your ketones with kesostix just in case it gets quite bad? Available form any chemists.
squeezed Sorry you are suffering badly, and crying alone in the loo is awful. Hugs. For how long has it been very bad again?
Ruby Lovely to hear from you sounding so happy.
BarmeeMarmee So glad it's not long to go for you!
Waves to all. Back soon.

Welcome Mrs sorry you're here. This is such a wonderfully supportive thread, so I'm sure you'll get lots of help. It sounds to me like you should ask the doctor for some time off work - hg is bad enough without trying to go to work as well.

Lovely to hear that you had a good first night Ruby. Enjoy every minute!

Barmee I hope the cold clears up asap - it really is the last thing you need.

Hope tomorrow is an easier day for you squeezed.

Have had a good and bad weekend. Yesterday I felt pretty good and even helped DH with some of the decorating, but today I have felt awful and haven't been able to eat anything apart from strawberries and frazzles. Yuck. Hoping for an easier day tomorrow.

Hugs to everyone else.

Welcome MrsMonkey. Please do speak to your GP and ask to be signed off. You need to emphasise that you're in no fit state to work. Even a few weeks of rest may help you to get back on your feet. I'm astonished that you've managed to keep going so far. Let us know how you get on.
Squeezed, you poor thing, sounds like you've had a really terrible day. Crying alone in the loo is a low point I'm sure. Hope your appt with the MW goes OK tomorrow, and that she does not have the stupidity to utter the G word.
How is everyone else doing? Special? Was glad to hear you'd been doing a little light socialising. Barmee, that cold sounds horrendous. Not much longer to go for you, as Lucinda says. Hang in there. Thinking of Spandau going into half term tomorrow and wishing you strength to get through. And hoping Reebok will have a good rest. Also meant to say, Icant, your little DS sounds so sweet and caring. I know it's so hard, you have endured so much, but I'm glad you're having some time away from hospital to be with him, even though I know it must be tough.
I'm 28 weeks today and stagger on much the same as usual. Things are more or less under control - lots of nausea and tiredness, but no more than one vom a day, and sometimes I'm lucky enough to get a vom-free day.
Waves to Lucinda, Meer and Ealli.

mrsmonkey please go see your gp. I'm only 12 weeks but also on ondansetron and cyclazine yet still vomiting lots. I just explained because I wasn't able to keep any solids down I had no energy and therefore unable to work. Been signed off for 3 weeks and so sign of improvement yet but I am coping which wouldn't be otherwise! (I also have a 19 month old!)

squeezed a hug for those days we are surviving not living!

MotherofPearl How do you feel, now you are back home?
With a whole chorus of us requesting mrsmonkey to be signed off, I hope she is. icklekid Really feel for you, that the meds aren't able to reduce the vomiting any more. spandau Are you out of hospital? ican't I hope you aren't back in. Madrigal Helping with decorating was what OnceaMeer kept doing when she was suffering, and Mother Hen here used to cluck and flap. You must rest a lot today.
Special How are things? Everyone? I'll get another Due Dates list up soon, with Ruby no longer at the top.

Thank you so much for such a lovely welcome and supportive messages. It's made me determined to ask to be signed off. Been trying to get through to GP for an hour (v hard to get apts where I live) but have emailed my team at work to say I'm not coming in. Woke up at 4am having to rush to be sick and am exhausted. Also was able to have a good conversation with husband last night, he didn't want me to be off work as boss has been threatening me about my sick leave (it's only been 11 days!) and we are worried about redundancy, but we agreed the baby is most important even if things go badly at work. Does anyone else get attractive red dots around their eyes and face from the effort of vomiting? (I think they must be tiny broken veins). I look like a drug addict.
ickle thank you for the advice, it's so hard with a toddler too - do you have childcare? I'm thankful my daughter goes to childminder 4 days so if I'm off work I can truly rest. I save the best of me for Fridays which are our days alone together. It's hard when you feel like you're being a crap mum.

Lucinda thank you I do have the kesostix, fortunately I'm not currently in dehydration territory as I can keep liquids down as long as I sip and don't have too much.

I hope everyone has a better day today. Sending sympathy/empathy!

Ps. Finally got through to GP! Have telephone consult, they will call after 4pm today. Fingers crossed it's a supportive GP.

mrsmonkey Glad you got a consult today. I've been really lucky with my doctors as they are very keen to sign me off. Do you have occupational health through work? When I had my very brief consultation all they said was take time off work and that my employers can do nothing about it as I'm protected because I'm pregnant. I am public sector so any clear thought doesn't really apply. Does your boss know you're pregnant? Once they are aware then you have more legal protection.

Hey all, and welcome mrsmonkey.

So my sick note ends tomorrow and I don't know what to do. I have a gp appointment tomorrow anyway as I need to score some more ondansetron , but not sure about going back to work.

On one hand I want to go back. I'm bored and like my job. I have mostly stopped vomiting (on ondansetron). I've been off since 23rd December.

On the other hand, I still constantly feel nauseous and gagging a lot, and I think that the not vomiting is hugely helped by my sitting very still and eating/drinking little and often (not possible at work - no food or drink allowed because of all the body parts/bacteria and stuff).

Also, the last time I vomited was Saturday evening when I fed the cat (dh has mostly done this since I've been I'll). The smell of the cat food sent me off on a lovely long vom session. My work involves me chopping up colons (and their contents), breasts, uteruses etc. There are also a host of other chemical smells and the smell of the microbiology lab upstairs (smells of wet dog).

I'm really not sure how I'll cope with all the lovely sights and smells, given that I retch loading the dishwasher, but I do feel that as I'm not vomiting as much, I should give it a go.

Tell me it'll be OK, and that going back will be fine? I am feeling a bit nervous about going back for some reason.

Sorry for the long post all about me. Hope everyone else is surviving.

special If you want to give it a go at being at work you can always try. could you do altered duties as part of a phased return? I don't have anything resembling the smells that you mention but some clients with less than average hygiene sets me off. Also reading unpleasant things can make me unwell again. I totally understand being nervous about going back though, it's a difficult thing to do.
Back from midwife and no miracle cure unfortunately but baby is doing well. If I'm still feeling bad I'm not going into work. I think the stress is all too much at the moment with the client group I'm working with and I'm probably overdoing it.

You guys, I feel like I'm at my wit's end and I'm only 6weeks today. I'm just feeling like a totally terrible parent today. I was managing okay with my 4yo girl at nursery, but my HG kicked in over the weekend, and today is the first day of half-term. I took her for a walk hoping that the sun and cool air would help, but even the smell of flowers was making me gag on the sidewalk. I bought her some Wotsits and a magazine at the corner shop since she has been so good about just playing alone this morning, but in the end, I had to give her the money and send her in all alone.

Just going into the store and opening the packet of crisps starting me retching and I had to make her go wash her hands and face and brush her teeth twice before I could even give her a cuddle from the smell. This happened when I was pregnant with her, and I thought for one stupid month that having another baby seemed like a good idea.

I know once I have this baby that it will go and I won't regret it but this is just the worst. I can't stop crying thinking I'm going to have to endure this for another 7 months. I wasn't working during my last pregnancy, and I really don't want to be signed off, but I just feel totally lost.

mrsamerican You are not a terrible parent and I certainly wouldn't be cuddling my Dd if she had eaten wotsits, urgh. Unfortunately those early days are the really difficult ones, and so hard to get through. Please do think about getting signed off. I know I really couldn't have managed at work and I needed the rest. Could you go to gp and get some medication? It might take the edge off. Your dd will be fine entertaining herself, just give yourself a break. Put the TV on, set her up with some toys/activities and put your feet up. My Dd's favourite game has become when she is doctor and looking after me and the dog

My GP and community midwife were not very helpful last time so I'm a bit skeptical. I haven't had any solids in a few days and try to occasionally sip fizzy water, so I'm gagging more than actually vomiting. My community midwife last time said if I'm not vomiting 7x per day with bile or blood, there was nothing to worry about and everything would be fine. Even after I lost almost two stone in first trimester, they still wouldn't sign me off.

And GP wasn't much help either as he gave me metaclopramide, which didn't do anything really then said that I should just rest as though I had nothing else to do. It was so demoralizing and I think they just assumed I was making up the fact that I couldn't move my head without gagging and couldn't get out of bed. I wanted to puke all over his turquoise couch just to prove I wasn't making it up.

I then spent weeks 8-20 in bed and never felt really well until the day after DD1 was born. I just don't know how I can face this.

That sounds like really shoddy care mrsamerican - I hope that they are more sympathetic this time round.

No rest once again despite half term. Dd is sick for the 3rd time in a month so having to nurse her while feel like shit myself. Oh is being a prat and doesn't help me. Honestly feel like a single mum. Been in tears today. Sorry for the 'me' post. Know there are more of you in the worst stages.

Reebok my dd is not sleeping through again after the awful flu bug. I'm at my wits end. Im tired and low on energy fatter and my spd is a nightmare...
Oh keeps trying to find things to do away from us is how I feel as he's not coping with me being ill... not bloody helpful !
Mrs America pester ur docs!
Mrs monkey I have the sexy blood dots too when I vom
To all of us who think we are bad parents we are the opposite ... Bad parents don't give a toss we love our kids and don't want them to miss out cos we are ill.

Worn out already and only Monday :(
Can't blasted walk thanks to this spd now so stuck like a lame duck at home ... poor dd
But she's being an angel as always and I do take her out in the car to places like grandparents. . Library .. toddler group so I'm doing my up.most :)

I'm 28 weeks and 4 days for all those in the first few weeks with ur heads down the loo and feeling suicidal... I'm here iv made it to this stage ... i never thought I could cope or do it and consider a termination as it was so bloody awful.... YOU WILL DO IT GIRLS !!!
ONE HORRID SICK FILLED MOMENT AT A TIME IS DRAGGING YOU CLOSER TO D DAY I JUST WISH I HAD A CURE ..
Oh and to whoever said about contraction type constipation you have my deepest sympathy I'm going through this regular it's bloody awful :(

ruby CONGRATULATIONS! so glad to hear your tiny gem's arrived. Boys are so lovely, but do put a spare baby wipe over his tiny plasser when you take his nappy off :D

Lovely to hear you had a relatively easy birth. Do take it easy for some time, the HG will have drained you. Plenty of excuse to do nothing and just cuddle =)

completely agree that peole with HG need to be offered a bit of extra help from the MH services. It's awful how it turns you into a lively, active person into a housebound sufferer :/ no wonder most people struggle, just on those grounds alone

special very silly idea maybe ... might nose plugs help if you return to work? or would they be too uncomfy?

Hello mrsamerican, mrsindigo and babykr. commiserations and congratulations!

mrsamerican totally get you about not being able to endure this and the dread of no treatment. We can hold your hand and that helps, though not as much as damn good meds. are you actually in the US or are you in the UK? the pregnancy sickness support helpline is very good about meds.

mrsmonkey all preg related sickness is covered by the Equality Act. it's gender related so it -cannot- be counted against you. Have you got an HR dept?

sorry am quiet, finding things rather busy. hope everyone is okay. So agree with lovely mother Hen that even when the sickness does not quite vanish immediately, it's still soooooooo much better than it was.

Not to make this too long ... hope everyone is surviving the night, gentlest wishes for sleep

Hello everyone .
Have wanted to post for a long time just to say that this thread is amazing and without it I don't think I would've got through my pregnancy. I only recently joined mumsnet but I read this thread everyday when I was feeling down, depressed and extremely lonely while pregnant with DS2.
With DS1 I was very sick but with DS2 it was much, much worse. I would lie in bed and cry and even though I knew I loved the baby I just wanted to not be pregnant. I was never diagnosed with hyperemesis but I was sick everyday for the first 20 weeks...food, smells, lights, noise would all set me off. I was very lucky that I wasn't physically sick after 20 weeks but I still didn't feel right and couldn't wait for the end.
For those going through it now, it will end. The tea and toast I had when DS was born was the best thing I have ever tasted. Just like that I felt like myself again.
So thank you to everyone who keeps this thread going, you are wonderful and you are not just helping the people who post but also the lurkers like me.

You are all amazing but I would like to say a special thank you to eallison My DS is an August baby, I was a few weeks ahead of you and reading your posts made me feel like I was not alone. I hope I don't sound like a total nutcase when I say I will always be grateful to you.

Thank you all again x

How did you get on with your GP consultation MrsMonkey? Hope you have managed to get some time off?
MrsAmerican, the early weeks are so tough. As Madrigal says, sounds like your treatment last time was really poor. HG treatment is not just about controlling dehydration and ketosis; the NICE guidelines (link in Lucinda's original post above) make it clear that treatment should enable the woman to have the best quality of life possible under the circumstances. It can help to print the guidelines and take them to your GP when seeking treatment. Good luck.
Madrigal I hope you've not been doing any more decorating?
Special, I can understand that boredom and isolation may drive you to want to return to work. I guess you could give it a try and then if you regress get signed off again? Certainly sounds like a challenging environment for an HG sufferer! Another option is reduced hours. You could try half days for a few weeks, for instance?
Sorry to hear your DDs are giving you so little rest Spandau and Reebok. Hope your DD is better soon Reebok. Sounds like your OH is being pretty unhelpful. The strain HG puts on relationships is yet another joyful dimension of this horrible condition...

Cross-posted with Coconut: what a lovely encouraging post.

Had a bit of a mini drama today - didn't feel any movements from about 2pm so rang the hospital an hour ago and they said to go in. Baby was all fine.  But I feel like I wasted the lovely midwife's time! Am 25 weeks today, so hoping it's just because she's still a bit small.

Evening all, some good news and bad from me - finally had GP call at 6pm and agreed to sign me off for this week, but will need to go through it all again next mon if not better. He really didn't want to listen to me though - I tried to explain what was going on and he cut me off, saying 'what is it you want?'! So no advice on managing and made me feel like a shirker just asking for some duvet days! Told me that vomiting 'usually settles down'. Burst into tears as soon as I got off phone. I think next time I need to speak to a different GP (big practice so often see diff doctors). Work been ok when I told them. Thank you for advice on discrimination etc, and yes work do very much know I'm pregnant. It's a very ruthless environment so even though they and I know what is 'allowed', generally they tend to ride roughshod over legal issues and I feel it would be v stressful to go ahead with making a complaint.
special it does sound like your job has a lot of challenges for an HG sufferer! I can understand you missing work though - hope you have an understanding boss and can try reduced hours initially to see if it's workable for you to manage the smell? And extra breaks for you to eat/drink? Good luck.
mrsamerican sorry to hear about shoddy GP/midwife - is it possible to change practice or see a different GP? I've generally found midwives completely unsympathetic about sickness (hence in my last pregnancy never even getting anti-emetics, only got ranitidine for acid reflux from consultant later on in preg) - sweeping generalisation only from my experience obv, hopefully there are more sensible midwives out there.

And sending super mum powers to those struggling with little ones, especially poorly ones not sleeping through the night. It's just awful when you have to get up with them when you need your rest. Hats off to you.

Great to hear from those who've come out the other side again. Plan to spend my days off thinking about this little baby and how much I love her already. It's easy to forget you're even pregnant when you're suffering!

Night night all - sending positive vibes for restful nights all round.

Oh madrigal so sorry to hear that, scary. You definitely did NOT waste their time, well done for listening to your instincts. Pleased to hear baby is ok. Must have been a stressful day for you.