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#!scenario

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.

heavan CONGRATULATIONS! Ahh, a lovely baby boy! Hope you and baby are doing well.

When you get a minute, how good was your post birth tea and toast?

Congratulations again.

Welcome back Lucinda and thank you for asking after me. Sorry to hear your mum is so unwell. I'm not feeling great. Nausea has increased and still vomiting daily at 34 weeks. Contractions haven't stopped either. I'm staying with my mum at the moment as oh works crazy shifts so not very safe to be alone should baby decide to come early with a toddler in tow. Dd is really playing up and driving me mad. I'm in tears most days from her behavior and how awful I feel. Getting really down and just don't want to be pregnant anymore. Sorry for the rant.

Heaven wonderful to hear from you! Such lovely news! Congrats!! Glad you're feeling much better. Enjoy baby cuddles, toast and lots of tea!

Welcome to the newbies. Sorry for lack of personals but I feel rubbish. You've definitely come to the right place though. Lots of great support on here...that will help you through the darkest days. Love to you all. Waves to everyone x

heaven what lovely news. Congratulations. Remember, sleep when baby sleeps. And enjoy all the food!

thurlow things very much don't have to get a lot worse before anything else can be done. Give the meds you're on til morning then if they still do nothing go back to go and ask for different meds; there are a number of one's you can try.

Thanks for the supportive comments about taking medication. I think we are programmed to feel guilty about this, but I have read the studies and I know that there's no evidence that they can cause harm. Just wondered whether you tell people around you about taking meds? I have told a few people and they haven't seemed judgemental, but I am worried about that.

Cyclizine is working quite well for me. I am still nauseous, but it is back at the level it was a week ago and I am at work today functioning well. I have only been throwing up first thing in the morning the past 2 days. I am taking 3 tablets a day, but I was wondering whether to skip the third one before bed as I would sleep through that nausea anyway? It rarely woke me up at night in my first pregnancy. I guess that is being cautious, but could not keeping up a continuous dose make things worse?

Jessica that sounds bad. I agree with another poster that if you want medication you should challenge the GP (e.g. ask which evidence they are basing their opinion on), or see another GP. One GP at my practice had hyperemesis herself and her opinion could not have been more different from the first one I saw!

Thurlow sorry you are so unwell . Hope the docs can do something for you to help.

Reebok I totally understand how you feel about your toddler. It is so hard to cope with a bouncy/naughty little person when ill! My daughter likes climbing on me and is very active. She is getting upset and offended that I keep asking her not to touch me (this brings on nausea for some reason!), and I feel so bad about it.

Congratulations heaven enjoy the relief of hg being over

rocket definitely know the mummy is not a climbing frame frustrations! reebok My 20 month old has started hitting and biting whenever anyone says no to him

rocket I taken my 3rd tablet about 7pm so get relief in eve before bed would that work? Still can't eat anything in eve but normally controls sickness so only 2 or 3 times in an eve (which is when I'm worst).

Well my body just seems to be giving up. I am exhausted (and in bed) work is just pushing me to self destruct mode but I love being there are havine a purpose and feeling useful. I don't want to admit that I'm not coping but what with sickness getting worse, a mouth ulcer, thush and total exhaustion I don't really see what option I have! Guess will be speaking to the doctors tomorrow again

Hey all, how's it going?

ickle sorry you're feeling bad again. Hope you get your list of ailments sort at the gp! Sounds like you need to rest ( though I don't imagine that's easy with your little boy!).

Rocket everyone around me knows I'm on meds! I found explaining that I've been so sick that I'm on the same medication given to control side effects for chemotherapy has helped stop some of the well meaning but annoying suggestions. Thankfully, both dh and I are medical/scientific so a lot of our work colleagues and friends are in similar fields and do understand. The only person that was negative was my mum, but that's because she had hg with me and was definitely not allowed medication in those days. She understands now though.

Reebok . You deserve a really good baby! Hope the contractions stop soon.

Lucinda hello!

Thurlow try and get an appointment with a younger doctor or one with a special interest in women's health. I think they tend to be happier prescribing than an older doctor who may have been trained differently. Sounds like you need to try something else.

I'm OK. Vomited at work today, but managed a big healthy lunch.

I'm really starting to get self conscious about my weight (or lack of). I'm still below my pre-pregnancy weight (now at 53kg) and people are making comments about how small I am. If you didn't know I was pregnant you would just think I had a big lunch. Someone even made a horrible comment about me 'starving the baby'. Dh keeps reassuring me that most weight gain is in the third trimester and that some people are just naturally a bit smaller, but I do feel very guilty. I am trying with food, and trying to eat more snacks throughout the day, but I still struggle to eat because I feel so sick. Can someone just tell me this is OK? I think I'll feel a lot less worried after next week's scan!

Anyway, hope everyone is surviving. X

Congratulations Heaven, so happy to hear that you've had your little boy and that your HG is over.
Sorry to hear things are still so rubbish Reebok. I wish those contractions would ease up.
Lucinda, belated welcome back. We missed you! I'm sorry to hear things are not going so well with your mother's health.
Ickle, I do feel for you. You've tried so valiantly to return to work and obviously really value your job, but sounds like maybe you still need some time off.
Amys, how's that nasty cold now?
Welcome to all the new people. For those struggling to get GPs to prescribe meds, please look at the NICE guidelines for HG treatment (link in Lucinda's original post). They stress that the aim of treatment must be to enable the woman to have as normal a life as possible. So just signing you off work and leaving you to suffer through it contravenes those guidelines. You could try printing them off and taking them to I out appointment.
I know I've not replied to everyone - sorry - but I'm dropping off to sleep. Was away for work today and am shattered now. 33+3 today. Big waves to Ealli, MrsMonkey, MrsAmerican, Squeezed, Sleepy and everyone else.

Heavenscent How lovely to hear from you with such good news! . Thank you so much for posting. I am so glad this thread helped during your darkest days.
Jessica I don't think I can improve on others' advice. Do try and see a GP about getting meds as you clearly need them if you are to keep out of trips to hospital for fluids. Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 7638 2020 will give good advice. They have to p hone you back but they will and they have helped many people on here get meds.
ThurlowWelcome back. Again, I so agree with others. Don't be afraid to ask for better meds and something for the constipation (do as I say, here, not as I did).
SleepymrsE Thanks for kind words. Don't overdo it, says Mother Hen, as ever.
Reebok You poor thing, I am so glad you are staying with your mother. I hope the distance from OH makes him see how inconsiderate he has been.
squeezed That manager sounds abominable! Does he KNOW about the premature labour threat and still take this attitude?
icklekid I do hope you see a doctor. Thrush is particularly miserable.
SpecialStains I'm glad you don't feel too bad. A lot of people would think 'only' one vomit a day bad enough.
eallison Waves.
Rocket You are so right about guilt.
Apologies to anyone rudely ignored. I hope everyone is coping.

Sorry meant to say to Special, try not to worry about your weight. HG babies are notoriously good at taking all the nutrients they need from us, even when we're not eating well. I was sick every single day in my last pregnancy and when he was born my DS weighed 9lb 4oz! BabyEalli was a healthy weight too and grown on Ealli's HG diet of chips, Fanta and tinned peaches! You're doing very well with food and seem to attempt lots of healthy things; try not to feel guilty.

MotherofPearl Cross posted. Thanks for your kind words (and everyone's).
Get some sleep. You are a trooper to keep going, sink vomits, long commutes, and all...

special I had sickness for 9 months last pregnancy and my bump was enormous but all water! Baby was a healthy 7lb 2oz. My friend had the most tiny bump, no sickness and a 10lb baby! Honestly couldn't believe it! She also snapped back straight after birth so try not to worry about bump size. I'm losing weight too but I really can't force myself to eat anything else

Thanks for all the kind messages I have had Dr appointment on mon so got medication for thrush which is helping I'm just fed up at 17 weeks still not being well.

reebok So glad you're being looked after but no wonder you're feeling so emotional. You've made it to 34 weeks so the baby's lungs should be developed, that's the magic number the consultant told me that we're aiming to get to.
rocket I've openly told people about the medication, quite often when they've suggested ginger or that sickness always stops at 12 weeks. I'm glad the meds are working for you, but don't rush to reduce them if they are working for you.
Ickle you sound really run down, may be a break would do you some good. I understand that you're feeling fed up. I felt better at 20 weeks just knowing I was over half way.
special Try not to worry about the weight. I've now ended up somehow with a baby measuring bigger, possibly as she is sucking the life out of me. Try not to feel guilty, the baby will be getting what is needed.
lucinda Welcome back. I'm sorry that you're mum isn't well and hope you are looking after myself. The manager is a bit clueless and has made a number of unfortunate comments. He actually said in a team meeting how good it was that after me nobody else was pregnant because of the impact it has on the workload.

Im now having little acidy voms, a new addition. Barely moving because of the spd so this seems to be helping with the sickness but I'm worried about taking codeine. Still having some tightenings, but baby is holding in there. 32 weeks and counting.

Squeezed, our mangers sound very similar! In a team meeting mine referred to 'the massive drain on resources that people going on maternity leave entails'. I was sitting right there, about 6 months pregnant at the time, and felt both cross and terribly embarrassed.

Thank you for all the congratulations. We are so happy and the relief of no longer feeling or being sick is amazing.
Special, the after birth tea and gluten free cake for me was amazing. I haven't enjoyed food and drink so much for a long time. My appetite isn't fully back yet but I suppose that's from months of eating a very restricted diet.
I'm sorry so many people are still suffering and I hope there is improvement for everyone soon.
Reebok if I remember rightly you are not too far behind me so I hope that feels like a light at the end of a tunnel for you. I won't tell you it's not too much longer as I wanted to throttle everyone that said that to me! In the nicest way possible of course

Congratulations Heaven!

Thanks for the messages. I got some lactulose today from the chemist so hopefully that will help. I'm going to give it a few days to see if a higher dose works, if not, back to the GP! Fortunately my GP is very nice and had no problems prescribing Stemetil before I was sick, so hopefully she'll change meds if I need it. Cyclyzine didn't work well last time, but maybe this time it will?

Well you were all right! I managed less than 2h in work before giving up (having been sick several times!) Got a doctor calling today so will see what she suggests I do next week (2 days) and then I guess review after easter! Fed up fed up fed up!

thurlow hope you get some good medicine to try anyway

squeezed I remember having Brixton hicks for weeks pre baby actually being born was tough. Hope avid voms don't last long or you get medicine to help

Congratulations heaven, I hope you're enjoying wonderful baby snuggles and all the cake that visitors bring.

squeezed & mop hope work are behaving today and that the HG isn't too bad whilst dealing with inconsiderate colleagues.

ickle you sound like you are doing way too much and getting quite poorly again. Rest, rest, rest. Hopefully the doctor will sign you off again.

Still thinking about reebok & icant.

I've done my working from home for the day. Felt really rough yesterday so have made sure I've not done too much today. My manager still seems really supportive but struggling to keep the excuses coming for all colleagues that don't know I'm pregnant and asking how I am, what's been wrong etc. Scan a week tomorrow so all being well it'll be out in the open after that, although then I'm sure I'll get comments about how I wasn't really poorly after all and just suffering morning sickness. Keep getting tummy ache. Not sure if it's stretching (I already have a small defined bump despite weight loss) or constipation or something else.

squeezed and MotherofPearl I can't believe these managers! And they actually went on courses? Lucky they turned down work for the diplomatic service...
Special I am sure all will be well, small bump or not, as others say. After all, women are designed to have healthy babies during periods of semi starvation. One of the reasons you feel so bad is that the baby is taking the nourishment, but as a scientific person, you'll know that better than anyone.
SleepymrsE It will be a relief to you to be able to explain! You are unfortunately probably right. For all the recent publicity about this, most people are still clueless.
Heavenscent Still delighted for you.
squeezed Still keeping fingers crossed for you and Reebok on contractions, too. It sounds awful.
Ickle So agree with others you mustn't overdo it.
Thurlow I believe cyclizine works better in combination with other drugs? Hopefully your dr will find one that helps you more. Glad you've got lactulose.
Waves to MotherofPearl eallison and everyone.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

sleepy I ended up telling people before the scan because it was so obvious (and my manager let it slip). I do hope you have an improvement and don't have to listen to the suggestions of eating ginger!

Today the hopeful student Midwife asked if the sickness had stopped and I managed a smile. I ended up in tears about how hard I was finding it but they were really nice. I'm going to talk to a consultant about the possibility of having an early sweep at 38 weeks. Not sure how I feel about it, but also can't imagine if I go over again; another 10 weeks would be too much. Anyone else had any experience of this before?
Threw up in the supermarket car park, I've not done that for a while so a nice treat today.

I feel so awful today. Nausea is non stop...constantly feel like I want to throw up but haven't since bile run this morning...indigestion all day and reflux playing up which means I don't feel like I can eat or drink a single thing. Lower back kills...contractions coming and going. Was so constipated for days but finally able to go 3 times today resulting in painful piles (sorry tmi)...I'm feeling flu like too and shattered but can't really sleep. Baby has dropped and I can feel so much pressure below. Got my growth scan tomorrow so hopefully I will know more about what's going on with this baby. Want to stop feeling like shit!!!!! Sorry for the rant. No one else in rl to moan to.

reebok don't apologise I'm right there with you having had enough! I hope the scan helps to provide something positive out of all this rubbish! I couldn't keep anything down yesterday at all not even ice lollies! Hope you managed to get to sleep in the end - I'm shattered by 8 pm but then awake at 3am!

sleepy I told my line manager at work who then didn't tell anyone until I was back at work, I was signed off for 6 weeks but told everyone else when back/after 12 week scan. Friends who live nearby and close family knew before because I needed help with ds and was easier to tell truth. They are same people I would have told if anything had gone wrong pre 12 week scan so didn't mind.

squeezed I was induced at 40 weeks last time but quickly via drip because waters had gone and baby heart rate was dipping occasionally. Most friends who were induced had much slower process over several days and think that was much more natural than my experience!

Dr told me I must rest and signed me off again. I'm gutted but know it is the right thing. Only for next week then 2 weeks easter holidays to review next steps. I can't even think that far ahead at the moment just taking one day at a time. ..

Reebok Poor you. Don't apologise; that's what this thread is for. You've had a horrible time; who wouldn't moan? I hope your mother at least is sympathetic.
Gentle cyber pats on offer.
squeezed Much sympathy too. I don't blame you for wanting to escape the torture. Public Puking Performances are awful. Bins (then open in Ealing, where I then lived) were my speciality.

iclkidMy experience of induction was too traumatic to be fair about it; sorry you had what sounds like a nasty experience with one, too.
I hope Ican't and everyone is coping, and amysmummy doesn't have the bubonic plague as she feared .

I was going to post a message to moan about how rough I'm feeling again today but both reebok and ickle are coping with much more than me. But HG really is rubbish!

SleepymrsE Feel free to moan. Others may be suffering worse than you, but that doesn't mean you don't feel awful enough, and it's that much harder at the beginning, and if one suffers to the end.
icklekid Glad you are signed off.

Hi, i don't know if I have the right to post on here. I'm only about 7 weeks, conceived through IVF, and I've been feeling sick since before I took my test. (Also wasn't sure I was still preg after a few bleeding episodes and have to still wait over a week for a scan to confirm that I am) but sickness is reassuring me that I am. Also there's a possibility I'm having twins!

Anyway I'm waking at 4am every morning and vomiting only bile, I'm retching till my stomachs empty them can go back to sleep about 7. Normally wake up them retching but nothing coming up. Can usually manage some cereal and a few grapes then go back to bed. Still feeling nauseous but not as bad. Few hours later and I'm retching again but nothing really comes up. This goes on all day, dinner time I usually do have a bit more appetite but only for like Oven chips! Then go to bed feeling nauseous but not the worst it's been, then wake up at 5am retching again?! Eating the odd ice lolly and grapes and sipping maybe a quarter of a litre of water a day and maybe a sip here and there of ginger beer.

Got a doc app today.