Urgent help needed- sickness

[RaeSkywalker]

Hoping for some advice!

I'm 7+3- first pregnancy, and have been experiencing nausea for the last 2 weeks or so. I've managed this quite well through eating and drinking little and often, going to bed earlier, etc.

However, since Thursday it's really ramped up! I went to bed at 5pm on Thursday evening and have barely moved since. I'm constantly on the verge of being sick, and was actually sick 5 times yesterday too.

I saw an out of hours doctor yesterday, who basically said "nausea is normal", and gave me advice to do everything I was already doing ("have you tried ginger?", etc).

I have got so much worse since I saw him though, and can now barely keep anything down (I think I've managed to keep about half a pint of water down in 24 hours). I'm in tears and honestly don't think I can cope if this continues. I'm also terrified about work tomorrow - my job is demanding and I can't even sit up without gagging at the moment.

So- firstly: is this "normal" as the doctor suggested? Should I just 'get on with it'? DH has just booked me in for another out of hours appointment at 10am today. Any tips on what I should say- or should I cancel it? I think I will cry at the surgery if there's nothing they can do.

Have you joined the Hyperemesis support thread on here? Loads of good advice and fellow sufferers, it's seen me through two HG pregnancies. With my first I was signed off sick 'for a few days' at 6 weeks pregnant and in the end didn't go back for 4 months. Then did a couple of half days, the nausea got overwhelming again, and was back off sick the rest of the pregnancy. It makes sense to tell your line manager and HR when you're so ill, they should keep it confidential.

I found the smell of my DH so awful that I kept the bedroom windows open at all times (I was pregnant through the winter and it snowed!) Opening the fridge would make me retch... But it stopped the minute I gave birth, both times. I have the strongest memories of the first things I ate and drank after both labours and how wonderful it was to enjoy food and not have that permanent vile taste in my mouth.

Lots of luck OP, it is incredibly hard and people who haven't been through it have no idea. It is all worth it though!

I know everyone is different but I swore by the still sugar free lucazade in my worst sickness (only sick a few times a day normally so not as bad as yours). It seemed to give me the energy to try and eat something. Good luck x

Merkin thank you for the advice. Suspect I'll be reaching for the packet before I even open my eyes on the morning!

Alasalas DH got me some ice lollies earlier actually so I will try one shortly. Your experiences sound awful- I've just told DH that if this is a successful pregnancy then we might only having the one- I can't imagine doing this again. I have a feeling I will change my mind on this though You are amazing!

Slice I've had a tentative read of the thread today but I don't think I qualify, surely I'm not severe enough? I'm not sure about telling my manager now- she'll be great but will have to report it to our Directors- one of whom doesn't have a great track record for keeping secrets. He's told me the reasons why people have been sacked, etc. I'm also having the same DH issue as you r.e. smell which makes me really sad.

Wait thank you for the tip- funnily enough I was thinking about lucozade sport earlier and wondering if it would help... Lucozade was DM's 'cure for anything' when I was little.

I think I'm realistically looking at a couple of days off work next week to (hopefully) get some rest, longer if I get worse again.

Hi all, further update! Saw my own GP today- it is HG. She's signed me off for 2 weeks and thinks I should have a scan before 12 weeks to check for the possibility of twins.

Brilliant update, glad you're being taken seriously!

Hi Rea, I'm on the Hyperemesis Support thread and you should join us. Having HG sucks but there's a few of us out there suffering together. We all have a bit of a moan to each other and help where we can.

Thanks Well!

Sleepy I will pop over and say hi today . Thank you!

Rae- so happy you were taken seriously. It is manageable but it can be miserable for some of the pregnancy. By 37 weeks I was going mad. Be sure to get out when you can, take your tablets and find something to smile about everyday. I can honestly say having your baby/ies will be the most rewarding thing ever. Good luck!

Thank you 31weeks. I'm finding that the tablets but that I'm in a whole world of trouble when they start to wear off (like now). The idea of going out at the moment frankly terrifies me. Might start with a gentle walk round the block in a couple of days.

Op, glad you managed to see your GP. It did sound like HG. Hope you get some rest now that you have been signed off work.

As for the director who cannot keep things confidential at work, they need to realise an employee's private life is not to be broadcast to all and sundry. Maybe say to your manager (and have HR present during that conversation) that you have not told anyone else and that, if word gets out about your condition, then you know who would have spread the gossip.

I said this exact same thing to my MD who is the same as the director at your place. She didn't tell any of my colleagues as far as I could tell as they were all genuinely unaware until I told them myself. Either that or they were all bloody good at delivering Oscar performances!

Hope you get to rest over these next two weeks. Sip water whenever you can. Lemonade helped me in the height of my sickness as water was too bland for me and made me gag. Try whatever you can stomach.

Really feeling your misery right now but it will end. Use your time to look for baby clothes, nursery items etc. Hopefully, this will take your mind off feeling so awfully ill.

Hugs xxx

Thanks arabella. I think I will speak to my boss when I go back based on your advice. I'm sure that people will already have guessed but I'd rather the director didn't go around gossiping! It's tricky as DH works there too (albeit a different department), so it probably makes sense to keep his manager in the loop as well in case DH needs to rush off to help me, etc. Only problem is if increases the list of people 'in the know'!