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.

PrimaryTeacher No need to apologise for moaning. If the cyclizne doesn't work there are other meds, and do try to get other ones (I know it's so difficult to drag yourself back to the GP's,and argue your case while you feel awful.
It is very hard without real life support, and I honestly don't know how people cope with toddlers, least of all one as young as that. Hopefully things will get a lot better in the second tri. Are you keeping enough liquids/some solids down not to be dehydrated/starving?
colabottle Don't despair, more women than not find 16 weeks plus is the time when things improve.
amysmummy Glad your worries about movement have been lessened.
I believe at the moment Ican't is having no more contractions, and they are just monitoring things and have given her a series of statistics about when she'll go into labour. With luck things will hold off for a few more weeks.

Primaryteach87 Sorry, I had your name wrong, as below.

amysmummy I had anterior placenta last pregnancy and also noticed a lot less movement than some friends

special hope you had a great break am very jealous as would love to get away!

lucinda thanks for update on icant hope things continue positively for her

I've also heard 16 weeks should be a turning point colabottle so fingers crossed for us both, am 13 weeks so hoping not too long to go.

primary cyclazine was amazing for me last pregnancy but made no difference this time. Gp wasn't willing to give anything more (had tried 2 others previously) and was only when in hospital I got the ondansetron that has made the biggest difference

Sorry for the silence HG has been awful again, came home yesterday on bed rest and with a lovely cervical stitch in, had the steroids and medication to stop contractions, having another scan and ffn test tomorrow.
Spandau and Reebok, good to hear from you but sorry things are still awful :( how many days left in work Reebok?
Mrsamerican how are you?
Special ~ sounds a lovely day :)
Hope your all having an ok day Amy's,mardrigal,MoP,cola,ickle,primary
(Sorry to anyone I've missed)
Waves to mother hen, shoop, two drifters, eallison & ruby.

I'm sure I've missed someone - really sorry whoever it is
Anyone heard how poppie and peppa are?

Icant try not to worry. It sounds like my pregnancy with all the stuff you've had done, but even with a positive FFN test, I still didn't give birth too early. Make sure they check you for hidden UTI as that caused a major pre-term labour scare for us with DD. Once I started antibiotics, it magically calmed down.

I did finally get the prescription for Ondansetron from the GP after much deliberation with the EPU, however my husband had to go to THREE pharmacies before he found someone willing to give it. The first two refused and said it was dangerous for me and the baby. Now he's really worried that it's a mistake, although it's nice to feel relief for the first time since A&E.

mrsamerican Great reassuring post for Ican't. Re: the safety of Ondansetron, because they can't obviously, test on pregnant mothers, they drug hasn't been cleared as safe officially though it has been shown to be safe in several large scale studies. OnceaMeer knows the details of those. I think you'll find mention of them on the sites I provide links for on the introductory post.
Ican't I'm glad they're keeping the contractions at bay. Sorry Hperemesis is bad.
Waves to all.

Sorry folks, moan alert.

Why oh why does my body go into meltdown from 4pm onwards? It's like as soon as the clock ticks over I'm throwing up, burning throat, awful heartburn and it last all evening.

I'm grateful that the ondansetron gives me at least 5 hours sick free in the mornings and early afternoons but I can't do anything in the evenings without a bloody bucket.

that's reassuring to hear mrsamerican thank you :)
I hope the ondansatron works well, watch out for the signs of constipation etc.
Cola that's awful :( can you ask GP about an antacid to help? ive found ranitidine and omeprazole has really helped with the heartburn and acid voms. it's worth a try?
if only we could all hibernate in pregnancy :(

Icant lovely to hear from you...sorry you're still so poorly though. What's an ffn? I have 7 more working days...finish next Friday. Struggling...had Braxton hicks today while trying to teach an English lesson...the look on the kids faces...they're only year 3 but were clearly worried I was dying. Had an awful night...threw up at 1am and felt like shit since. Haven't vomited overnight in a while so quite disheartening.

Those of you hoping for a 16 week recovery...it is possible! While I haven't had the same luck this time (almost 31 weeks)...with dd1 the hg started to subside at 16 weeks. Fx for those of you nearing the 16 week mark!

Cola I completely understand what you means. Hugs.

Mrsamerican glad you got the ondansetron! It's what has helped me through this pregnancy.

Thinking of you all ladies. Another day down. X

Icant glad they seem to have settled things down again for you. Sorry you are still suffering with the hg.

Reebok I'm sure the 7 days will pass very quickly - you are so close to finishing that horrible job.

cola I have always been worse in the evenings too. No advice, but lots of sympathy. Glad you are getting some respite at other times in the day though.

SO RELIEVED you have your ondansetron at last mrsamerican! I really hope it works for you.

Waves to ickle, special, MOP, spandau and everyone else I've no doubt forgotten!

I have had a fairly good couple of days - am averaging 2 voms a day now and feel better in between so I'm counting that as significant progress! I think I'll start my maternity leave a bit early though - I've noticed I am much worse on days when I am at work than when I am able to rest at home.

Waves to eallison, Meer and of course to Mother Hen!

reebok & madrigal you ladies are amazing still working I hope the maternity leave comes around quick, our weeks are going by slowly but surely?
Reebok its a swab that comes back positive if your body is producing fluid that it does just before labour, think its leaking amniotic fluid but could be wrong on that. If that comes back positive they do other tests (ctg, scan to see length of cervix and if it's thinning) then give a score of possibilities of chances going into labour, I had the steroids because my overall score was quite high and with the contractions but they have eased with the medication. Losing more plug tonight so a bit gutted :(

icant I second you on pregnancy hibernation! I'm really keeping all my fingers and toes crossed for you. How are you holding up? Hope the medication helps you keep baby in there for a few more weeks.

mrsamerica glad you got your meds. Sorry it was so hard for you. Fwiw, my dh is a gp and is completely happy for me to be on ondansetron (not that it would have been his choice if not!). I've had two scans so far, and everything shows a lovely active baby with good strong heartbeat. Also got female gp friends who happily (well,as happy as someone with hg can be) took it throughout pregnancy.

madrigal glad you've had a few good days. Wishing you many more! How many days until mat leave?

reebok you sound a bit of a trooper continuing to teach through braxton hicks! How long to go now?

colabottle sorry evenings are so bad for you. Are you on 4 or 8mg ondansetron, and how many times a day? If on the lower dose could you discuss with gp taking an 8mg dose late afternoon? Or maybe take a cyclizine alongside in the afternoon? Sympathies, it's miserable.

Waves to icklekid, Lucinda, amysmummy and everyone else.

I'm 15 weeks today and have had two very good days in a row. Today was so good, I decided to try my first med free day since I started taking them. Felt today would be a good day to try as dh is off and we were both just pottering around the house. I feel fine. No vomiting, only a bit of gagging. I still cant open the fridge without making hideous retching noises, so still reliant on dh to feed me. We'll see how I feel tomorrow morning!

Back at work and Uni next week. Apprehensive and looking forward to it. Worried about my fitness level though, yesterdays long walk has left me with very stiff muscles and a hint of sunburn on my forehead, and very tired today. It has done wonders for my mood though (I was hoping it would help with the constipation, but no such luck).

Before mother hen starts clucking, I promise not to push myself too hard! Ondansetron is nearby if I have a hint of sickness!

Hope you are all holding up.

Completed rebekka

Can I join you icant for pregnancy hibernation I will wake up start of July because it's my birthday and dh has been instructed to make a fuss! Hope mucus plug doesn't lead to more contractions

special medication free sounds very brave especially when combined with work. It may be your ok when resting but need it when busy

colabottle I've experienced similar much worse in eve. I have taken to going to bed by 8.30/9pm to make it end quicker!

So my sickness during the day is significantly better if I don't eat or limit myself to very plain food. I feel absolutely exhausted because of it though but anything 'proper' like a main meal just doesn't stay down. Is this ok as a coping strategy?

Reebok Oh dear, I so hope those seven days pass quickly. That dramatic twinge must have given the English class a shock. I don't know why those cramps are described as painless.
SpecialStains Mother Hen will try not to cluck but suggests not to reduce the meds too quickly. Ease off gently. It's promising you've got no return of symptoms, anyway.
Madrigal I'm glad things are improving.
Icna't Sorry about mucus plug.
icklekid Hibernation would be an ideal solution in some circumstances.
I hope everyone is coping. Here, it's cold, but there's daffodils out a month earlier than usual.

Hi everyone, I wrote a lovely long post the other day but clearly failed to actually post it (must have just done preview not post) - I could have cried! So anyway sorry for the silence.
mrsamerican well done for persevering with the medical staff, can't believe it's been such hard work for you - is the Ondansetron helping you now? My recommendation is to take lactulose as well to try to avoid constipation (you can get it over the counter at pharmacy if you can't face GP).
icant hang on in there, am thinking of you. Must be a worrying time
reebok well done for managing work, sounds tough. I can imagine teachers have a rough deal with HG as you can't very well leave the classroom
amysmum glad to hear baby is well and that you are feeling much better, what a relief (how many weeks are you?)
madrigal I too find sickness much worse at work than at home. I suspect I'll start mat leave early too, still a way off though. Hope you continue to feel a bit better
special I'm glad you had a nice break, good luck for next week. I find cutting down on Ondansetron helps a bit with the constipation, but please be careful about stopping altogether! Don't want to make you retch but can you handle prune juice at all?? I've found daylesford organic do an apple and prune juice which I can manage a small glass of, and it helps (expensive but worth it to me), and fig rolls I can manage too. Is there anything you've found that helps?
ickle my sympathies, I'm at a similar stage to you - my husband was around this morning as he went to work late and was amazed I was busy putting washing on etc and I told him I'm fine as I've not eaten! I think we must both try small snacks little and often if at all possible (and I know it's hard) I'm v tempted to not eat as then I feel better, but I know that by this stage (18 wk) I really must try to get some nutritious food in me. Stupidly googled failing to gain weight in pregnancy and now worried I'm harming baby ☹ I too am exhausted from not eating. If you come up with a plan let me know!
primary complain away!!
cola I'm the same - evenings are rubbish. Is yours acid do you think? In last preg I was on ranitidine which helped with acid reflux vomiting. Might be worth trying if you can speak to GP. Going to bed early is sometimes the best approach if you can.
Waves to mother hen!

Sorry if I've missed anyone. I'm doing ok now that I'm at home, can't eat much and lost a bit of weight again but really going to try to eat more, preferably not in biscuit form... I've just managed avocado on toast, feel nauseous but not vomited which is good. Had an awful evening earlier this week with terrible stomach cramps for an hour (was on bathroom floor doing labour breathing to get through it!) then diarrhoea (sorry TMI) and had to throw up in DD's potty whilst on toilet. There is no dignity in this bloody illness! Husband is working away next week so steeling myself to manage on my own.

Gentle hugs to everyone

Ickle I'm eating breakfast (coco pops), tinned fruit in the day, carb crap in the evening then normally going to bed at 8/8.30 with chocolate. It's the only way I can eat enough to try and keep some of it down to be able to take pain relief for the spd. I think you've just got to do what works best for you.
mrsamerican glad you got your meds. I hope that they work quickly for you.
cola Are you able to put your feet up in the evening? I know some people struggle with vomiting through the night but any rest might help.
mrsmonkey Sounds like an awful evening. At least some perks of having a DD when feeling ill I've given up on vegetables, they never stay down.
special glad the walk did you good. Do take it easy next week though.
reebok not long to go, bring on Friday!
icant really pleased that you are home.
Waves to anyone I've rudely overlooked.
Hurt myself running to the toilet to be sick at work, bloody spd. Can't wait to finish work now so I can put my feet up. Commute is crap and job is too stressful when I'm having a bad day. At home with DD and feeling guilty again for not being able to do much with her. Hormones kicked in at the weekend. Complete meltdown when watching castaway and me bawling all over Dh telling him he could never leave me

squeezed andmrsmonkey and icklkid Much sympathy about dismal diet.mrsmonkey never worry about tmi on this thread, can't be such a thing by definition. It's awful when bodily fluids come out from every orifice - I remember I had something similar, and was wetting myself too, with my nose running.

Just popping in to say hi to all. Sorry I've been quiet. Have had a busy week at work and am feeling so completely exhausted, I'm just focusing on surviving each day. Voms very much under control now, but nausea still omnipresent, especially in the late afternoon. Anyway, staggering along. 6 weeks left of work, but 2 of those weeks are Easter hols, so really only 4 working weeks, and some of that at home. Can't wait for maternity leave - I long to lie in bed all day instead of dragging myself around feeling so uncomfortable and tired. Reebok, after tomorrow you only have a week left! Hurrah!
I think Barmee must be close to her due date now? I am looking forward to hearing of her admission to the Pink Castle!
Hope everyone else is surviving. Sorry not to reply to all. Especially thinking of Icant and hoping that cheeky baby of hers doesn't try making any further early breaks for freedom!

Argh big long msg typed then phone spazzed out and it's gone. Will try to return later and try again.

In short; ickle and mrsmonkey eat what you can when you can and try not to worry about healthy or otherwise. reebokpoor you and poor students. You must be pretty close now!! icant glad things seem to be holding off for a bit, keep going you're doing so well.

Who was it that had difficulty getting ondansetron? They have no right not to fulfill a prescription. Next time tell then you'll vomit on their shoes if they don't cough up the drugs.

Ondansetron and constipation;try and get whatever fruit you can in. Tinned. Frozen. Juice. Whatever you can to help. Lactulose is good as well.

Hoping everyone is managing

Hello could I join please? I'm 11 weeks pregnant with DC2. Felt awful with DS but this pregnancy has been so much worse.

GP has signed me off for a month so far and I'm on promethazine (cyclizine didn't work). Felt a bit better initially but have been worse than ever the last two days. I'm having these prolonged, eye watering, pant wetting retching/vomming sessions in the afternoons/evenings and it's really getting me down. DS has started making retching sounds when he see me

I'm also worrying about work. I had a MMC in October so was off for weeks with sickness then the MC and now I'm off again. It's an active job and as moving makes me puke, I can't see myself getting back anytime soon. When do people generally start feeling better? I was ill until 32 weeks with DS but was able to function on some level but can barely do anything at the moment.

Hi curlywurly gosh everything you say is familiar. I also found this pregnancy much tougher than my last and sadly neither cyclazine nor promethazine had much impact. It wasn't until I was so dehydrated I had to go to hospital where I was prescribed Ondansetron that any improvement. The afternoon /evening being worse is something a lot of us seem to experience and that depressing cycle of vomiting constantly is very depressing. So what helped- once I had a scan and could see a healthy baby I definitely felt more positive. Knowing others understood here made a big difference. Many of us are signed off to get through the worst when resting is essential. I'm 13 weeks and still vomiting lots every day but feel like I might be starting to get to a better place slowly.

Right apologies for the ridiculously long post. Waves at everyone else and hopes today is a new better day

Hi MoP thanks for asking after me-I'm now 38 weeks so really hoping it won't be long now. I've had to go back to taking cyclizine and ondansetron a lot more regularly but have been managing to eat a bit better at the same time So that's something... Trying to keep my eye on the pink castle but really struggling with that now!

Sorry for the selfish post -going to try and grab some sleep while DD is a preschool and DS at school! Waves to all and welcome to the newbies. You are definitely in the right place here!