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.

Morning fresh, I'm on a cyclizine and ondansatron combination. I take 3-4 ondansatron and 2 cyclizine a day. There has to be 8 hours between cyclizine tablets so take ondansatron before, I between and after cyclizine. It seems to be keeping the sickness at bay for me - and I learnt my lesson about missing tablets on Tuesday. Hope this helps X

fresh what dosage ondan are you on?

Ondan is fairly powerful so if you're taking 8mg, it should probably be spaced every 8 hours (sorry, i know it's not what you want to hear, but this could be important). Can you ring a pharmacist and ask, maybe? ]

mrsE everyone wants to come off the tablets as soon as they can don't they! you don't realise just how much they help until you miss a dose. It'll probably be easier to reduce once you're past 20 - 23 weeks, though some people stay on meds the whole time.

Like others, Twinkle , though I come late to this discussion, I am outraged, disgusted by the attitude of that doctor. 'Hundreds of women like you every day' is frankly a lie, and he can have done no research into the difference between a normal and a dangerous level of sickness in pregnancy. Mother Hen would like to peck his nose. I am so sorry. I'm glad you got a jab and a short supply. It's so hard to fight your corner when very ill and up against a bigoted GP. Is it possible to report back to PSS for more advice? They may find a way round him. At this rate, though, the ketones will soon get high enough for you to be admitted for fluids and then they are more likely to take you more seriously.
Great advice from OnceaMeer as ever.
Freshbread I hope you find a dose that works, but doesn't turn your bowels to water. I so agree with others, that it seems a great idea to ask for a combination.
Ican't I am still so happy that the end of this suffering is in sight for you, and your consultant took a humane approach.
amysmummy Sorry to hear of dd's rash. Lol about your plans!
The Majestic MotherofPearl Sorry, I couldn't resist that. I so agree that a cure would long since have been found, if it was not a purely feminine illness. After all, we are all a lot of hypochondriacs, making a fuss about a bit of mild sickness now and then, whereas men; well, they are heroes when they give themselves hangovers or get Man Flu,aren't they?
I am glad that SleepymrsE is getting some relief from the combination.
I do so hope things get going for reebok.

I've got to search out the due dates list.
Great advice from everyone.
WATCH ME CROSS POST!
Apologies if I've overlooked anyone. Thinking of you all, near the Pink Castle and starting off alike.

fresh the cyclizine made me very dizzy and spaced out, had to go to bed and felt like I was having an out of body experience! This was just one tablet. I've never dabbled in recreational drugs, but it was what I imagine it would be like to be tripping. Just very very weird. (But I didn't feel sick and once it wore off enough that I could stand up I scoffed lots of food). Told consultant reaction and that I didn't really want to take it, he agreed I shouldn't.
Terrible violent vomiting last night, broken vein face again today :-(
Going to have a nap while DD naps so just a quick one from me x

Thankyou ladies
Sorry to hear about violent vom Mrs monkey :(
Onceameer I'm taking ondansetron 4mg tablets three times a day spacing it out about four hours in between each one, will ring a pharmacist to check thankyou. The Dr did say that it's preferable to take two 4mg tablets a day but I can take three if necessary........

Onceameer you were right, pharmacist said it should be spaced eight hourly, for the two weeks I have been spacing it every 3-4 hours..... He said it is a low dose that i'm taking so he wouldn't be unduly worried but said from now on its best to space it as much as poss and if not working then have a medication review with the Dr, he was a lovely sounding older chap and was extremely sympathetic which I don't often find with men, he tried to reassure me that the sickness should subside by 12 weeks... Bless him! I then told him this was my third pregnancy, my first sickness subsided by 20 weeks he said "oh my goodness!" then I said in my second pregnancy the baby died at 17 weeks, he said "oh I'm so sorry that's so tragic". It's so nice when you get kind sympathetic men especially. Anyway I hope that I haven't done any harm by running the doses too close together.....I feel a bit scared . I see my Dr Monday morning so not long now. Lots of love xxxxxxxx

I managed to poo this morning which I was quite excited about.... I haven't shaved my legs or armpits for three weeks... I'm starting to look like a wooly mammoth.... Think I need a landscape gardener by the looks of things..... Tmi as always!!! Xxx

yeah, do check. You might be okay actually as the max dose is 8mg every 8 hours, which is kind of 4mg every 4 hours - but even so do check :)

fresh me neither and don't even feel bad glad you saw a good gp mine tried to tell me it would get better soon however I think he was just being nice!

Saw dentist today who prescribed some high fluoride toothpaste as enamel is definitely reduced due to vomiting. Just strict instructions to make sure I don't swallow it! I did explain it was brushing my teeth that made me most sick so she said if it made it worse not to continue...will see how tonight goes

mrsmonkey that sounds quite scary, at least I would be scared!

icant reebok any news? Been thinking of you!

Oh dear I don't space my Ondansetron 8 hourly either! I'm only on 4mg. Think mine is more like 6 hours apart, with ranitidine morning and evening. Some days I can manage with just 2 Ondansetron.
fresh congrats on the poo! Lol. Glad to hear you found a nice pharmacist. Thank goodness I had laser hair removal done before I started having babies so not so much woolly mammoth going on here, just as well as some days it's all I can do to wash face and brush my hair!
ickle could you rub a bit of the toothpaste on your teeth even if you can't manage to brush? I'm worried about my teeth too.
Feeling horribly sick again tonight, tempted to give up and go to bed. Super thirsty but I know if I drink something at this point it's all coming back up. Sleeping badly at moment as well, pelvis is wrecked, not being able to exercise really isn't helping...

well 6 hours is better than 4 .. and when it's that bad, well, anything that will help! I do think that it's worth checking out though fresh, sorry

mrsmonkey Sorry to her of violent vomiting. Some people on this thread to report those dizzy, spaced out feelings. Not fun, this tripping by accident. It does seem to improve.
Freshbreadandfaith I am glad to hear of a sympathetic pharmacist and also, of Hyperemesis Survivor GP's further down the thread. I don't know where they get this magic 12 week figure from, as even with ordinary ms 14 weeks seems to be average from anecdotal evidence. It was awful that you had that loss at 17 weeks; it's bad enough earlier.
icklkid I remember being desperate about dirty teeth and having to suck sweets to get rid of That Taste, and giving myself mouthwashes with bicarb of soda. That's probably not good either. I did rub kids' strawberry toothpaste on my teeth.
OnceaMeer Great advice.
I hope Reebok''s baby arrives this weekend!
How is Twinkle and everyone?
There was snow outside this morning! Mind you, we are right up on a hill here.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Sleepy why does there have to be 8 hours between cyclizine? I'm taking them every 6-7 hours.

twinkle what a bloody awful doctor! I'd go back again definitely.

I'm pretty miserable too. The nausea seems to be getting worse- I'm 9 weeks tomorrow. On cyclizine and ondansetron which is mostly keeping the vomiting at bay but I'm still having to force food down and am permanently exhausted. Haven't left the house for anything other than a doctors appointment of hospital for over a month.

I miss my job so much. I miss my friends. DH is being lovely but I'm finding I just can't tolerate physical contact. Anyone else felt like this? He just wants to hug me bless him.

Had horrible constipation last week and ended up at out of hours as was in bloody agony. The doctor I talked to on the phone called up my medical records and said "I see it's your first baby and you've be feeling a bit nauseous?" I said "actually I've got HG and have just been discharged from hospital". I was beyond angry.

Can't imagine doing this all again if we decide we want another

Lucinda I totally missed the snow though I had pictures from my friends to prove it was indeed here!
Fresh your comments about landscape gardening made me chuckle! I need to wash my hair! I hate, hate, hate having greasy hair like now. My highlights need doing and I don't see that happening any time soon.
Rae they say 9 weeks is the peak don't they? Fingers crossed that things will improve for you after this week. I know exactly what you mean about a second baby. I recall naive conversations with dp about having two children quite close together... It just makes me feel a bit like my body is not cut out for pregnancy because it makes me so ill.

Having said all that, yesterday was an ok day. I haven't yet started my (3 day course) of ondansetron. I find that if I lie still all day and frequently eat little bits I can get away with not feeling too terrible. I'm holding on to the ondansetron til a really bad day as I'm worried I won't be prescribed any more.

Anyone any tips for Indegestion? Had awful pains last night which lasted right through the night. Gaviscon not seeming to do anything.

rae the label on my cyclizine specifically says 8 hours. 1 every 8 hours. Max 3 a day.

Twinkle, I've been taking Zantac for acid heartburn & indigestion for the last fortnight & it's transformed my life. The active ingredient is ranitidine. Zantac is available over the counter, although I get my DP to buy it for me to avoid irritating questions from pharmacist about taking it in pregnancy. But it is safe and was recommended by my midwife. I see that Tesco own-label ranitidine is available on the open shelves for £1,50 a box!

That's interesting Sleepy, mine doesn't . I will ring the doctor on Monday!

twinkle I really hope this is the peak. Can't handle much more of this

Rae You're right in the middle of the worst time. No wonder you feel bad. It does get better, make sure you rest as much as possible. The isolation and missing work is something I've experienced. I made it back at work at 15 weeks, I think. It made a huge difference but I did find it exhausting and do wish I'd taken it easier.
mrsmonkey Hope you got some rest.
fresh DH now has to cut my toe nails and de-fuzz me. I got my haircut for the he first time in 5 months today. Still look horrendous but a slight improvement.
I've got a cold and it's making the nausea awful. Also the coughing and sneezing is aggravating the spd,so I've barely slept. So more tired, more nausea. DH and I are going to sleep in separate beds so I can catch up on sleep until the birth. So sorry for those of you still in those heavy vomiting days. They do get easier,they really do. It's just so hard when you are in the middle of it.

Rae you said you can't imagine doing this again. I really can't believe this is my third time!!! Once you feel better it's so easy to forget how bad it was. Every time my dh says "it's easy to forget how bad it was" once the nausea goes and you can eat whatever you want again the effect is miraculous and especially when a few years then pass the memory does fade!!! Crazy
Feeling rough rough rough

Anyone else feel like their body is actually allergic to pregnancy??

Hi everyone. Hope you are all doing ok (sickness aside).
I had my scan on Wednesday & baby was measuring a week ahead of what we thought. So I'm 13 weeks 3 days today Still on promethazine for awful sickness!! Sickness is so much worse in the evenings!! From 5.30pm till bed time I just feel rubbish & end up being sick loads!
Yesterday was the first day I wasn't sick at all altho felt awful about 9.10pm. Today though has made up for it. .been sick 4 times upto now.
I feel promethazine isn't working as well now. Am I able to suggest any other medication to my gp or wait & see what he says??
Xxx

Had a phone call from gp yesterday also to say my TSH has gone back up to 4.8 so I have to increase my thyroxine to 225mcg daily... no wonder though as I'm being sick all the bloody time. I'm a little on edge as tsh shouldn't go above 2 in pregnancy. Xx

Sorry 1moretime, hugs. Like you my sickness is MUCH worse in the evening. I feel pretty crap all day even on meds but from 4pm onwards oh boy!

Thanks squeezed. My work friend is visiting me tomorrow which should hopefully cheer me up a bit. I just hope I'm not sick whilst she's here!

Fresh I'm impressed that you've done this 3 times! I'm not sure if I hope the memory fades for me or not.

1moretime lovely news about your scan but sorry to hear about everything else. Ondansetron is definitely the most effective thing for me but I don't know if it can be taken with what you're already on. My consultant said that he's found GPs in our area are more reluctant to prescribe it because it's more expensive than other options. Not sure if this is true/ a widespread issue though!

Raeskywalker Sorry you feel so bad. Things will get better, as squeezed says. Things do get better almost everyone, even those who are unlucky enough to suffer throughout, it generally becomes a lot better. Remind me what meds they put you on? What an annoying 'playing it down' sort of doctor!
On those who suffer badly, Poor Ican't is one of the worst cases I have ever known, and this time Reebok is in the runner up category.
1More Happy news about scan; thickhead Lucinda doesn't recognise that measurement as you put it. Much sympathy over worries.
Good support and advice from squeezed {[and well done on haircut.) and MotherofPearl. Thinking of Twinkle and Freshbread and everyone. It is the most horrible, dismal condition, and very hard to get through. It's easier to take it one day at a time, or eve,n and hour at a time, as OnceaMeer has said. Freshbread I am always in awe of those who go for it a second time.
Apologies if I've passed anyone by.