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.

Ah, sorry to hear about the horrid vom session/wee incident ickle. I was hoping from your first message you were waving bye to the HG. Sorry to hear you're moving from cheery to grumpy mrsmonkey. Although the diet is limited I can count the number of times I've been sick on one hand in the last couple of weeks so maybe the combi would still help you. I think I'm only able to keep slightly sane at the moment by hoping that come 16 weeks I'll be feeling considerably better. I can dream! Also, I have found I can eat dry scones too in case anyone wants to give them a go.

Thanks everyone. I'm home again...well with my mum. Contractions are not easing up unfortunately. On codeine now on a smaller dose so I don't throw it up but it's caused bad constipation...and severe severe severe piles. I'm in so much pain from it and as a result my lady bits swell up and feels like baby is falling out! Scared to go to the loo. Can't get enemas or suppositories anymore as doctor/midwife are worried it will cause early labour with my current problems. Ah the joys of pregnancy eh!

Ickle that sucks! I've certainly been there with the vomit/pee combo. I learnt to vomit in a bowl and sit on the loo (obviously only when possible).

To those struggling with food, I found in the early days coco pops helped, coke (as long as reflux isn't bad), scotch pancakes when I got to around 15/16 weeks, hot water drunk through a straw and cheese tomatoes were things that would stay down.

Sorry not to reply individually to all posts but I honestly struggle to remember who said what when I read the thread on my phone. As always though, I am always thinking of you all. Remember, this too shall pass. Another day down x

sleepy scones you say now that sounds like something worth investigating!

Well got thoroughly depressed when woke up expecting 2/3am and it's not even midnight. Very grateful not to be at work this week realistically would not be possible at all. Although my heads wife was induced last night and crazy busy last week of term with reintegration meetings and interviews for new staff! Nothing I can do to help unfortunately.

reebok glad your home but piles and constipation sounds massively unfair given how long labour is lasting. Not long to go

mrsmonkey grumpy hungry pregnant lady seems to be my default at the moment!

Hi all, can I join?

I'm 7 + 4 with first pregnancy. Have had nausea from the very start, which increased significantly from Thursday onwards. I couldn't keep anything down and was bed-bound all weekend.

I saw an out of hours GP on Sunday morning, who wasn't great- he basically told me that my experience is normal in pregnancy. Obviously my condition worsened, so I saw another OOH GP yesterday morning in a right state. He said I was severely dehydrated and gave me cyclizine. I saw my own GP this morning in floods of tears- she has had HG herself and gave me a lot of helpful advice. She's also signed me off work for 2 weeks and told me I'm not being a wuss which has helped my mood slightly! Things I have learned so far:

• plain hula hoops seem to be the only solid thing I can keep down (based on successfully eating a handful earlier)
• ice lollies are mostly my friends apart from yesterday
• things seem to have improved since I stopped taking Pregnacare and moved onto just taking folic acid.
• I am bored of watching random films on the iPad but too weak to do anything else.

I've got my booking appointment on Thursday, and my GP has said I should ask for an early scan to check for twins.

Rae Congratulations the pregnancy and also commiserations on the sickness. I'm glad you managed to get some medication. Hope it kicks in soon. Crisps and ice pops are my go to when it is bad. Best thing to do is rest, as boring as it is. I've been signed off for the last few weeks and I'm currently demolishing Netflix.
reebok Glad you're out of the hospital. Sorry about the piles. I'm having the opposite issue at the moment. You're right about the joys of pregnancy.
sleepy I can't face thinking back to how bad the HG was. It does get better, even though it doesn't feel like it at the time.
mrsmonkey If only the meds made it all better. I've stuck with the less effective meds with the least restrictive side effects as a compromise.
I had 3 whole days without vomiting and having only manageable nausea. All gone to pot today after getting my hopes up. It's getting easier but I can't wait for the baby to get here so I can eat without fear again.

RakeskywalkerWelcome. Glad you are now being treated. Do invest in some kesostixs to check for early stages of dehydration in case things do suddenly get worse, and if cyclizine doesn't work for y ou, do ask for other meds, there are several safe ones. So agree about ice lollies, I always recommend them after my long ago brush with this. Also flat coke, and crisps, chips, jelly, cheap ice cream, tinned fruit and the juice of, and soda water. A fine diet!
mrsmonkey Lol, that was 'Bunny Grin'! One of the bunny icons.
Reebok You poor thing, and agonised 'lady bits' too, and piles...You deserve a medal for surviving this. So, of course, do Ican't spandua squeezed and so many of you. You are so right. This Too Will Pass, and be a nightmare memory.
SleepymrsE Congratulations on gaining one pound!
icklekid Glad vomiting has stopped at least for now.

eallison Great advice as ever. I'm happy you're having the Easter you couldn't have last year.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Icklekid Oh no, sorry for my jolly comment, I missed your latest update. Poor you, that is so dismal. I peed myself so often I was in the habit of whipping of my knickers as I hurried retching to the loo...Obviously, that trick couldn't be done in public.
squeezed Cross posted. Hope all isn't too awful.

squeezed thank you. DH has just cancelled our Netflix- might have to get it again!

Lucinda thanks for the advice. I'll look into the kesostixs. That does sound like the diet of kings!

GP was really good and has just put "extreme nausea and vomiting" on my sick note as I told her that work don't know I'm pregnant yet. I will have to tell them though, they aren't stupid! Would just like to have an early scan first so I know that everything is ok so far before announcing.

Just popping in quickly, back in hospital so may be quiet. Nil by mouth may need spleen removed and op on liver, but baby doing well (he's still in the womb!) Hopefully they can treat with something else. Blood sugars all over the place and ketomes back to 4+ but feel more human now than a couple days ago. So fed up.
Sorry another me post and no personal replies but hi to any newbies and waves and hugs for everyone. Will be back soon x

Just a quick one to say I hope you feel better soon icant. You are incredibly strong and dealing with a really crappy situation amazingly. Sending love and best wishes x

Oh good Lord Icant! Sending love to you and baby, fingers crossed for best care for you both. Hope you are getting lots of support in RL. X

Hey all.

icant I really hope everything goes OK, you're amazing and you really deserve a very cute and well behaved baby!

ickle Sorry you've been very sick.

Colabottle Hi! How was the 20week scan?

Waves to everyone else.

Doing OK. Nasty foam vomit before work this morning (never good when you throw up your ondansetron!) and I'm just exhausted. However, have 20week scan coming up and acne cream has done its job quickly on my spots and I'm eating a lot more. Hoping the hg stays manageable. :-)

As a non-hg related pregnancy question - do you see a midwife at the 20 week scan, or is it literally just a scan?

icant that sounds very difficult. Hope you are holding up.

rae, welcome. You are 2 days ahead of me. HG is so hard!

Thanks to everyone for the advice on vitamins and medication. I went to the GP this morning. She did a ketone test and she said it was "bright pink and four pluses" not sure what that means but she told me I was dehydrated and so I ended up in hospital on drip. Didn't realise a drip is so slow, but I guess that's why it is called a drip! They gave me cyclazine in the IV which made me feel better and I ate a sandwich, which stayed down until an hour ago. But some of it was still in my stomach 6 hours later! I think I also threw up water and folic acid, which I had taken 2 hours before. Could that be normal for stuff to hang about that long? The doctor said I probably always have a slow gut but don't know about it because I'm not vomiting. But I really think it is my main problem. Vomiting is less frequent than in my first pregnancy but I am more dehydrated I think because nothing is getting absorbed! The doctor at the hospital mentioned metrochlopromide, but didn't want to try it until the second trimester.

Welcome rae sorry you have to join us but glad you have a sympathetic doctor who understands, should mean you get excellent treatment. I had an early scan to check no reason for high levels of hormones causing sickness and was so reassuring. Mentally it helped me keep going during a tough time. As for telling work in only spoke to hr and my line manager until after scan as pregnancy related sickness should be treated differently to normal absence

lucinda I was equally excited at the prospect of having energy once more am just totally fed up again and not sure how to deal with all these emotions right now

icant I don't even have any words. Your post has put everything into perspective so have some and gentle hug. Thoughts and prayers with you

squeezed I can relate to feelings of frustration when you think you might be getting there yet vomiting returns with avengance!

special hope 20 week scan goes well think different areas do midwife appointments differently however here it's just a scan. Foam vomits are horrible horrible horrible!

rocket 4+ is very dehydrated so glad you are on fluids in hospital to help. Make sure Dr know that even by IV the cyclazine wasn't effective at stopping sickness, not keeping fluids down is particularly dangerous. How far are you from 2nd trimester?

Still got a cold, still got so much sickness every day and only 1 day to recover before 2 1/2 weeks with ds..going to be interesting to say the least!

Hi Rocket, sounds like you're having a horrible time. I've never heard of a slow gut to be honest, but I guess it's like everything with the human body- there's an average, and 'extremes' on either side of the average?

ickle sorry to sound dense, but how is pregnancy related illness treated differently? I feel bad about not telling them but really want to wait until the scan- I think that if the midwife doesn't offer us an early one then we'll pay and have it done privately.

I feel so rough today! Been awake since 4:30 feeling sick but wanted to hold off taking the tablet so that I can space them throughout the day. Gave in and took it at 6:20, which probably means I'll be feeling awful again by 10am.

icant Oh poor you, more problems. Thinking of you.
special I was weighed and blood pressure taken at the same time as the scan by a Midwife. But didn't have it last time. I think it's a new way of doing things. Foam vomits are awful.
rocket Glad they looked after you and you got rehydrated. I don't have any regular time period for digesting food, sometimes the food seems to linger longer than other times. I was taking metrochlopromide for a bit but I struggle with dizziness as a side effect so had to stop. It did seem good for the sickness though.
Ickle lingering colds, urgh.
Rae Sorry you've had a bad start to the day. Hope you feel better.

My Gp called to check on my progress because I'd phoned up for a repeat prescription. He was really sympathetic that I was still unwell at 33 weeks. Also surprised that it is still here. I'm resigned to sickness lasting to the end and dreaming of the post birth tea and Toast!

rae my understanding is that whilst you have a number of standard 'sick days' allocated for sickness pay pregnancy ones have to be recorded separately and can't be used against you for disciplinary or similar. A quick google found this site that might explain it better than I have maternity action Don't feel bad though just do what you feel comfortable with

squeezed that's good that they are keeping in touch and sympathetic!

Today is going to be a long tough day judging by sickness so far...

Thanks ickle, that's really helpful

Hope you feel better soon also!

Welcome Rae, I said we were a welcoming bunch. I'm glad the meds are helping but if you are still being sick a lot, I would suggest you go back to the GP. There are other meds and if you are like me & some of the others on here you might need a combination. Unfortunately the meds don't seem to do too much for the nausea, just reduces the vomiting. Don't worry about work. I worried a lot at the beginning but I ended up being signed off for 5 weeks and am on a very gradual phased return since last week with the hope I will be back properly in a couple of weeks.

rocket not good that you were so dehydrated and hospitalised but hopefully the drip had helped. I know it certainly helped me to get my meds under control. Like others have said, there are definitely other meds that you can try if you are still being sick on the one you're currently taking.

special good luck with the 20 week scan. I'm nervy about my 12 week one and know I'll be a wreck before the 20 week one.

Sorry to hear both ickle and squeezed are feeling rubbish. Hopefully my advice on scones wasn't a bad one.

Still thinking of icant and reebok.

Welcome rae great to hear you have understanding GP, that will help enormously. I have only avoided hosp admissions due to proactive consultant. As ickle advised, it's good to tell your work (you could just tell a manager and not the world and his dog) as then absence will be recorded as pregnancy related. Workplaces will differ as to how they deal with sickness absence, but, for example, in a redundancy situation preg related sickness can't be taken into account when selecting people for redundancy if they are looking at rates of absence. You may end up being off for a while so best to tell your manager. You can ask them not to tell anyone else. (In first preg I told work at 7wk, this time I waited as was waiting to hear on a promotion, but then got into 'trouble' over absence and had to get them to change records to show it was preg related.). I hope you will get an early scan without going privately.
icant you really are having a terrible time. Pleased to hear baby seems ok, thinking of you lots, stay strong.
reebok thinking of you also and hoping you get some respite from contractions.
rocket sorry to hear about hospital admission, hopefully you will now get help you need - does sound like you need to be on drugs and you do NOT have to wait for second tri, esp if you are going to get admitted again for dehydration without any action. It's frustrating to hear that drugs are still being refused in these extreme cases.
ickle good luck with having DS on your own again, I was sad to wave DD off to childminder this morning but I am completely done in after having her for 6 days.
Hello to squeezed special sleepy and everyone suffering.
I'm not too bad today (in the grand scheme of things), morning vomit up of cereal and then terrible cramps/constipation trauma for an hour (thank you Ondansetron! I was just starting to think things were getting better on the poo front), but bit chirpier now and been able to eat a sandwich and have a drink. Unfortunately I've lost weight again though.
GP last week was starting to get sceptical of my ongoing sickness, almost accused me of milking it and wanted to only sign off for a week not two (I pushed for two as bloomin difficult to get telephone apt round here, and knew would be worse because of Easter bank hols). Not entirely sure how to handle this?!
Waves to lucinda MOP and ealli

mrsmonkey sorry to hear gp not helpful. If need be go in showing ketones in urine and there isn't much they can argue about. I'm already unsure about what will be best after easter work wise (school holidays next mon for 2 weeks) I really want to go back (definitely reduced hours again) and try again but very cautious after trying that before and getting so dehydrated again so quickly. I think if you have a long term plan eg. if you can reduce sickness to a certain level (for me only 3 or 4 times a day) then it feels manageable to go back to work. Dr might be more willing to work with you and book appointment in advance for 2 weeks to see if any change. I will have been signed off for nearly 10 weeks in total which is crazy so don't rush it...

Thanks Sleepy

mrsmonkey sorry about your GP- it's just total pot luck isn't it!

I think I'll have to get DH to tell work for me tomorrow (we work for the same company). My boss has just forced my hand by asking over text if it's viral or pregnancy related. I am annoyed by this but I'll just be stressed about it now so we might as well address it. I'm not prepared to talk to them on the phone to announce the pregnancy.

I'm really nervous because they were horrible about the last woman who was on mat leave. Nothing illegal, just low level nastiness. I love my job

Sorry to hear that rae, very unprofessional of your boss to ask. If it makes you feel better I had to tell over the phone in first pregnancy.
Thanks ladies, I think next step is perhaps to go into work to try it, then contact GP afterwards if it doesn't go well. Honestly I think even the commute will knacker me. I rarely have ketones now as I can keep enough liquid down, just struggling to get calories onboard and so consequently not much energy.

Reebok big hugs x you will be glad when babies out !!!
I can't
U are getting everything I hope they deliver early give your body time to recover

Asfor me I've had bloods to check I don't have pre eclampsia I can't walk now as spd has hit rock bottom
My insides are squashed so bad I can't breath eat go toilet
Kids off and I can't do sod all plus our washing machine broke this am
Fantastic !
Haven't done my hospital bag
Haven't sorted baby stuff ready I'm so disorganised feel so ill

35 weeks tomorrow x