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.

[MotherofPearl]

Great news about scan MrsMonkey! You must be very relieved indeed. It's great seeing them wiggling about in there. Hope your avocado on toast stays down: I've eaten quite a lot of avocado of late. It's blandish and nutritious, and not too hideous if it does reappear.

[icklekid]

Well done mrsmonkey so pleased scan went well

Well agreed with my head I will provisionally be working half day mon-wed next 2 weeks then only tue/wed before easter holidays. However big proviso that if it's too much I will just be signed off again but at least I will have tried!

[mrsmonkey14]

Well done ickle that sounds like a good plan and glad the head is supportive. I'm not sure if my boss will be interested in my coming back on a limited basis but I will offer to try if things settle a bit. Just seen consultant who said not to go back to work unless I feel almost completely better, particularly due to weight loss (he did reassure me it doesn't matter if I don't eat much, and said 'some people say it's less to lose afterwards', lol). Also given me ranitidine to take with the Ondansetron to target the acid reflux. He said I should take 3 X Ondansetron a day but I did say constipation better when I have less. It's a balance I guess.
Yes mop avocado is one of the things I can tolerate and feels like it's more nutritious than some of the other foods I can manage.
What other foods do people manage to keep down?? I'm stuck in a rut of cereal, toast, crumpets, occasional slice of cheese, biscuits, ice cream/ milk and a bit of fruit. Potatoes ok too, and quite plain veg like carrots. Try to have prune juice for constipation. Suggestions welcome!

Wave to everyone else.

[SleepymrsE]

That's fantastic news mrsmonkey, glad to hear all was ok with the scan. It sounds like your consultant is very supportive as well.

Good plan too re back to work plans ickle, fingers crossed you'll be able to manage ok. I'm contemplating doing reduced hours working from home next week although felt pretty rough again today despite no vomming.

Constipation is still horrendous and getting a bit concerned now as I can't even remember the last time I went to the loo! Will give lactulose a try if I can manage swallowing it.

In terms of what foods are safe, it's pretty much the basic crusty bread (white) or burnt toast (white bread), fromage frais yoghurt, Pom bear crisps, and biscuits. I did manage a small slice of cheese pizza the other night and I'm going to give fig rolls a try later.

Waves hello to everyone else. Really hoping icant is doing ok.

[IKnitSoIDontKill]

Can I join you all please? I'm 7 weeks into my second pregnancy and feeling dreadful. I am constantly nauseous, dry retching all day, and vomiting at least once a day. I'm beginning to really struggle at work, the nausea gets steadily worse and by early afternoon I'm dizzy and can't move or think straight. I know I'm not eating or drinking enough, and I work in a hospital and can't have snacks/drinks on the ward which is making it impossible. Does it count as hyperemesis if I'm not vomiting so much?

In my last pregnancy I felt dreadful for 3 weeks, but then it reduced dramatically at 8 weeks and I managed OK. I didn't put on any weight though, and was quite underweight once dd was born. Nobody was really bothered, and I was dealing with a lot of stuff at the time and couldn't fight my corner.

[squeezed]

Great news Mrsmonkey
sleepy I eat tubs of fruit in the day. Coco pops or toast for breakfast and beige food at night. Sometimes some potatoes or a bit of chicken. I managed some cottage pie and veg last night and amazingly it stayed down. Chocolate tends to settle for a while. It does seem quite an unpleasant diet seeing it written down.
I do try normal food but it rarely stays down, especially vegetables.
iknit That does sound really awful. I find the dizziness really difficult. Would you feel comfortable telling your manager so that they can accommodate you getting drink and food more easily?

[MotherofPearl]

Iknit, welcome and sorry you're feeling awful, all sympathy. Could you try seeing your GP? I know there are some anti-emetics that work on your sense of balance, that might help with the dizziness?
MrsSleepy, the constipation from Ondan is horrendous. When I was on 3 a day I'm afraid I had to rely on glycerol suppositories from Boots. Things can get to the point where lactulose or fibre-rich foods (assuming you can keep them down) make no difference I'm afraid. In terms of palatable foods, I found tinned fruit good when I was at my worst, also milkshakes made with almond milk, or else those iced frappocino type drinks which Shoop put me onto. Also ice cold green grapes. Some people swear by processed meat things like mini sausage rolls.
Ickle, that sounds like a good plan with work.

[ICantThinkOfAUsernameH]

Reebok how's the maternity leave? Sorry to hear about growth scan :(
special it's lush feeling first movements! I agree with tiredness, I seemed to skip the 'feeling good in second tri!'
MoP thats an awfully long commute! How's the BH?
Ickle how did speaking with the head go today?
1more how are the meds staying down now?
sleepy there's definatley a downside to omdamsatron with the constipation, I hope something relieves you soon.
squeezed sorry to hear about the SPD, voms, not sleeping :( its a vicious circle.
mrsmonkey so pleased to read about the good scan! :) hope consultant went OK?
IKnit sorry you've had to join us but welcome!
How are things Spandau, Amy's, mrsamerican, barmee, madrigal, cupcakes, shoop?
Waves to motherhen, barmee, ruby, eallison, twodrifters
Apologies if I've missed anyone I've really tried not too!

Sorry if I've been quiet, was in hospital Monday night with bleeding and cramps again but its the cervical erosian and irritable uterus.
Growth scan and consultant tomorrow so hoping he's had a spurt!
Nesting has kicked in today I've bleached and tidied the house

[amysmummy12345]

Congrats mrsmonkey on scan!! Thinking of you for tomorrow icant waves to everyone else, not feeling very sociable tonight, think me and husband have come to the end of the road..

[shoopshoopsong]

Haven't read full thread - but Reebok I had a growth scan last week and also growing slowed down - was on 50th percentile now 10th, so have another one this Friday. These babies do cause us worries. I know I'm further along so inducing isn't such a worry for me, but hand holding with you none the less x

[shoopshoopsong]

icant hope your scan goes well tomorrow. I've been nesting for weeks now - it's tiring but glad that it's a happy feeling amongst the misery!

[Reebok]

Thanks all. In panic mode at the moment and been running around trying to get the house tidy/things sorted as a precaution. As a result I'm in so much pain.

Shoop fx for you and Icant good luck for tomorrow.

Mrsmonkey congrats on the scan. So pleased for you.

Amys sending you hugs.

Sorry not to reply to everyone individually...physically and mentally drained as I'm surviving on 3 hours sleep daily thanks to reflux. The omeprazole no longer works.

[MotherofPearl]

Amys, sorry to hear that you and OH are having problems. HG puts a dreadful strain on relationships - I think we can all attest to that. I know that I've neglected my DP terribly for months, but I have no choice. I have to save what little energy I have for myself, and then for the DC. Hope you're OK.
Icant, really good luck for tomorrow. Hoping for a good outcome for you. Thanks for concern over BH. They are always worse on the days I commute. I've been at home today so feeling more comfortable. I am a bit alarmed by how big my bump is though. I'm normally a small, slim person, and my bump feels absurdly huge this time, even with the rigours of HG. Can't imagine I'll be able to stand up if it gets much bigger!
Shoop, sorry to hear you've also had a worrying growth scan. You're so close to the end now though!

[LucindaE]

IKnitSoIDon'tKill Welcome. Sorry you feel so bad. I hope it goes off early for you as it did last time. Have you got kesostix to test for early stages of dehydration? It certainly is possible to have Hyperemesis with uncontrollable nausea rather than vomiting. I can't better others' advice about getting meds that help with sense of balance. How do you find ice lollies or ice cubes (when at home) and sips of flat coke, or the juice of tinned fruit or soda water?
amsymummy It is very hard on relationships. Hugs and much sympathy.
Ican't All luck for scan and shoop and Reebok.
mrsmonkey Very glad about yours.
SleepymrsEOuch about 12lb baby! Glad you're trying lactulose.
squeezed Sorry about spd and vomiting miseries. I'm glad you're off.
SpecialStains I don't like the sound of your manager's attitudes at all;
please take over the world asap, and I'll be your lieutenant!
Icklekid Glad your head was helpful and I do hope the part time hours work out. If not, as you said, you tried.
MotherofPearl I'm sure you are lovely to live with for OH, even if comparatively negligent atm. You always come across that way on the thread.
Apologies to anyone rudely ignored. A bit of a frenetic day.
Waves to eallison.

[icklekid]

Arhh knew that would happen wrote a ridiculously long reply to everyone and then lost it!

amysmummy hg is such a strain on relationships so sorry to hear you are struggling. Hope you have lots of friends and family around to support

icant feel so much for you- bleeding on top of everything is so unfair. Hope scan goes well

mop hope you have some more commute free days and they help you get on top of this sickness. If it helps my ridiculously large bump last time only had a 7lb baby in!

iknit please see gp to test ketones for dehydration. Medication can make a huge difference as can rest so take it easy

reebok I know the lack of sleep issue only too well. Have you got a pregnancy pillow or tried a normal pillow between your legs? I swore by my dream genii however dh swore at it because it was so huge!

Sounds like we are all on very similar diets. I can have bread/toast for breakfast, crisps, crackers, small amount of cheese, and plain biscuits. Tinned fruit (not pears!) And flat coke. Keep trying to eat a tiny amount of 'real food' like a meal at lunch but never stays down. I can't eat after 5pm as violently sick in eve regardless and just makes it worse!

Sorry for ignoring anyone I know there are people I wrote to in first message but can't find now!

[squeezed]

icant Hope the scan has gone well.
amys You were up early, hopefully you were feeling OK.
reebok Are you taking any painkillers? I know that we're limited in what we can have but it might take the edge off a bit.
I've had another day of trying not to move off the sofa but still feeling rotten. Lots of pain and heartburn making the nausea worse. DD has been amazing for me today and mostly amusing herself. Trying not to feel guilty about the lack of attention I'm giving her.

[spandau1980]

Hello
All
Sorry been quiet just struggling physically and mentally now

Not sleeping due to acid reflux waking me up on and off
Chronic spd and can't leave house everything is hard work.
32 weeks today. Can't face another 8 plus weeks of this grrrr
But have no choice :(
Want baby safe and well and going to term is obviously best but I feel so fed up ...

Haven't had chance to read the thread but hope everyone is coping as best they can...

Another day done

[mrsmonkey14]

Just popping in quickly as feeling rotten, overly ambitious after scan yest and ate aubergine dish earlier - wtf was I thinking?! Now tummy cramps and think I'll be sick, knackered as DH went out this evening with work mates (which I fully support as poor guy is not getting much fun at mo) but did mean I picked DD up, did bath and bed etc whilst retching. DD was being lovely and cute at least. Wanted to crawl into bed but ocado order (mostly of bland carbs and prune juice obvs) was running late so I've only just finished tidying kitchen and putting shopping away - major 1st world problems in the monkey household tonight!!
icant - how did the scan go?
Oh spandau hang on in there lovely. Sounds rotten. One day at a time. (Don't feel you have to answer but are you having c sec with spd? If so can you deliver at 39wk?)
squeezed sounds like you're doing a grand job with DD, I've been trying to encourage sofa snuggles and relying on CBeebies a bit. Grateful DD has just discovered stickers which is a good seated activity for me.
Welcome iknit you're in good company. Hopefully you won't need us for long!
reebok pls don't overdo it! Look after yourself
amys definitely HG can be such a strain on relationships esp when looking after other children, I hope you are ok. We're here if you need to offload
MOP pls tell me more about suppositories?! My consultant is ace apart from he thinks constipation can be handled with lactulose alone. My tummy says it can't. I tried cutting down on Ondansetron but he wants me to up it again.

Thanks for all the diet tips - alas we do all seem to have v similar diets!!
Sorry run out of steam to scroll up thread now so not sure who I've missed. Have a restful night everyone x

[SpecialStains]

Hey all.
Glad your scan went well mrsmonkey. I love scans! Got my 20weeks scan at the end of the month, so hopefully it won't pick up anything worrying.

Welcome iknit, but sorry to hear you're not well. I suggest a trip to chat with a friendly gp about your symptoms.

icant sorry about all your hospital trips, but glad to hear baby is still where he should be. Fingers crossed for a growth spurt for baby. Hope your consultant appointment goes well.

Spandau sorry to hear you're struggling too. Well done on surving another day.

I'm absolutely exhausted. I've never felt tiredness like this. Long, tiring day at university, didn't get lunch until 3, and now trying to have an abstract written ready to submit tomorrow, when all I want to do is go to bed. Might give up and do a panic job tomorrow morning. I am enjoying being back at Uni though.

When will the retching stop?! It's just embarrassing now. Passers by must think I'm drunk as I wander out in public. I am starting to think the Victorians had the right idea with having women hide away for their pregnancy. I wish I could just hibernate.

for everyone that's making it through another hg day.

[LucindaE]

Oh dear, suffering all round. I'm sorry to hear it. I missed that Ican't has cervical erosion as well as other sufferings, that is too bad. Wishing all well for coming scans. spandau You have been great so far, it's very hard to endure. MrsMonkey I hope the advocado stays put. On suppositories, you can get them from Boots. I know they use them in gynae wards but pharmacists don't like selling them to pregnant women.*
squeezed I do so feel for all of you with spd and Hyperemesis. Don't feel guilty about DD. She will soon forget this period of comparative neglect.
I didn't have spd,but I did find the pillow tip Icklekid mentions was wonderful for pains in thighs and lower back. Icklekid Much sympathy over lost post and interesting that you can't stand pears - I could sand pears and tinned peaches. I so agree about crisps and that flat coke (full sugar). I also swore by cheap ice cream. I was unusual in craving Iron Bru, too! Such a commendable diet. Some people thought I didn't know any better...
SpecialStains Well done on a long exhausting day. It is embarrassing about retching, but well done on avoiding a full scale Public Puke. Well, as it was only the Victorian well off who could afford to hide away; I suppose working women had to retch in public too...
Thinking of Reebok and everyone.
Apologies to anyone rudely ignored.

[MotherofPearl]

Special, I hear ya on wanting to hibernate. I really hate leaving the house! In the early stages I was plagued with horrific hypersalivation which meant I had to carry around a little lidded plastic pot to spit into every few minutes. Any swallowing made me retch. So I understand about embarrassing public retching, but not much can be done. Are there any smells you can bear? I know Lucinda found sniffing drops of lavender essential oil on a tissue helpful to reduce retching at the smell of her poor OH! Might something like that help?
Squeezed, good work staying on the sofa and resting. Your DD sounds lovely.
Argh, Spandau, sorry to hear reflux and SPD are no better. I know it may not feel like it but we are staggering towards the finish line now.
Lucinda, thanks for your kind comment. Not sure DP would agree with you! But he's away for work for a couple of nights and like MrsMonkey says about her OH, I'm only too glad for him to be getting a break from the misery-fest that is living with someone with HG!
MrsMonkey, I found the cheap glycerol suppositories from Boots worked pretty effectively for the constipation. Some women say that pharmacies won't sell them to pregnant women, but since they are on the open shelves I simply got DP to buy them for me (that's love right there!). And I believe they are widely used on pregnant women in hospitals, so sure they are safe. I found using them once a day left me much more comfortable. Now that I only take one 4mg of Ondanestron a day I can manage without them. Lactulose etc makes no difference because once you're so, ahem, bunged up, the problem really needs treating from the other end.
Apologies for long essay!

[eallison88]

spandau it is so unfair that you are still struggling. As you rightly say, another day ticked off. I hope you sleep well.

mrsmonkey I hope you get on to ocado and give them hell for being late. They can send you some free stuff as an apology. Or a voucher to spend when you are feeling better and can treat yourself to something yummy!

iknit welcome and commiserations. Sorry you need us, but do stick around for understanding and support. We all need a moan sometimes! Were there any foods/drinks that were palatable last time? Things that tend to work are ice cream (cheap as possible, it would seem!), tinned fruit, ice lollies, some find that milkshakes are good, bland carby foods etc. If there is anything that you suddenly think you might fancy, do try to eat/drink it if you can. do not worry about eating healthily - at this stage, anything you can get in and keep down is a bonus (my baby boy, now 23weeks, was largely grown on tinned peaches, scotch pancakes and chip shop chips. and fanta. he was a healthy 9lb!).

reebok how are you doing? Please do rest! If baby needs to come early, I promise you, he/she will not notice what the house looks like! And any visitors won't either!

special the suggestion from MoP is a good one re. smells. Do be inventive in the smells you try as well - I found that the smell of the moutwash I used "My Big Teeth" (a fruity childs one!) was good at helping me not to feel sick - it could even prevent a vomming session if I smelt it early enough. I had bottles of it everywhere! Whenever I see it on offer even now I have a momentary "oo, must stock up" though I haven't used it since giving birth!

a very long post and undoubtedly people missed, apologies. Hope everyone manages a restful night. Waves to lucinda

[icklekid]

Well so much for sleep...

lucinda pears were delicious until I threw up a whole tin. Can't face them again yet.

spandau so rubbish and yes one day at a time. And one night at a time in my case!

squeezed My ds had cbeebies afternoon once mil had taken him to the park and he had his tea. In my defense dh wasn't back until 8.30 and left at 6.30 this morning. It was the only way I was going to get through the last part of the day and ds loved it!

Can't remember who mentioned toothpaste but I am throwing up every time I brush mine. (Did anyone mention it?) Sadly fruity ones are no better.

special reebok mop mrsmonkey amysmummy and everyone I've missed, waves and passes round cheap ice cream!

[amysmummy12345]

Sorry for the silence, been a stressful few days... Thanks for all the kind words ladies, such a lift when you're down. Trying to sort out the possibility of a trial separation from DH but he wants me to move out with Amy and 27 weeks pregnant we've got nowhere to go and no money to do it with... Why are men such nobs??!!

Anywho, enough of me being a drama llama! At least I don't feel sick, every cloud... Lol (if I don't laugh I perpetually cry).

Any news on Reebok? How is everyone else?
Lucinda we appreciate all of your clucking xx

[IKnitSoIDontKill]

Thanks everyone. I did type a big long reply but it keeps losing it!

Things getting worse here, the day before yesterday I managed to get really dehydrated through the day as felt so nauseous and fluids seem to make it so much worse. Managed to drink lots when home from work but promptly vomited it up again. Dp nagged me into drinking a load of iced water, which was all I could stand, but I was still retching after every mouthful. Took hours to drink 2 big glasses! It did stay down though and I felt much better. I hate it when he's right.

Still retching constantly though, have just woken up and spent 10 minutes clutching the 'oh fuck orange bowl' as it is called here. And I was up overnight.

I'll send dp for some ketone sticks today. I have managed to eat a piece of toast yesterday, and a tiny salad the day before and a fair few glasses of ginger ale. That's not enough is it? The earliest I can get a gp appointment is Tuesday. Is it worth me going to a&e? I hate being fussed over when ill, I always just want to be left alone but I do feel really awful. Plus, I have dreadful anxiety at the best of times and this is not helping.

I am at least talking the day off work, I am exhausted and shaky and think I'd be less than useless today.

Sorry for the rant!