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:
links.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.

Ickle Stop what you are doing and go back to bed! Jobs can wait, but if you're feeling bad don't overdo it! You've only got a few more months and then you won't ever feel like this again (unless you go for number 3). That's an order!

Sorry to hear about everyone who's bad at the moment.

Well ladies I went back to bed...then did a few hours glossing...now back to lying on the sofa!

THERE IS NO WAY THERE WILL EVER BE A NUMBER 3!

ickle don't tidy up, decorate or anything else! Rest please

I've done 2 half days in a row at work and am broken! Really enjoyed myself today though, I love being able to use my brain again. Will see how I am tomorrow as to whether I go in.

icklekid I hope you feel a bit better now. Now you've got a chorus of us telling you to take it easy! Great advice from SpecialStains and everyone.
Rae I'm glad you enjoyed exercising your brain.

Freshbreadandfaith and everyone- how are things?

Feeling really tired, needing to rest lots, hg really does feel like an illness, If I wasn't pregnant I would be so worried that there was something terribly wrong with me, love to all xx

Yes totally agree fresh it most certainly is an illness. Take care of yourself

lucinda I am listening promise!

rae this is what I miss the most- using my brain and being useful! However I've come to terms with it like I did last time on maternity leave! Just easiereasier when have a baby who needs you to feel useful! It is also what I loved when I returned to work- plenty plenty more years of that to come!!!

Thanks special I was much better in the afternoon!

So tomorrow (today...?!) I will be doing no tidying or decorating. I will be found on the sofa feeling sorry for myself! The most I need to do is go to asda to get nappies and may well do this straight after dropping ds off at childminders so it's done! Chocolate milk will also be purchased...any other suggestions?

Hope everyone is surviving we will get there. I'm 31 weeks now so finally into single figures left to go and my nct friend had her baby yesterday. In and out of hospital from birth only 4h which would be amazing! (As long as they give me plenty if pain killers!)

Hello.

Fresh I'm sorry you're bad at the moment. How many weeks are you now? I agree, if you didn't know you were pregnant, you'd think there was something seriously wrong with you. What are you doing today? Lots of rest and Netflix I hope. Keeping anything down?

Ickle Hope you have a better day today. 31 weeks! It's getting close. Have you got most baby things sorted yet? So was that you saying you weren't sure about a third baby then?! :-P

Rae Glad you're enjoying work, it really does make so much difference to your mental health. Make sure you rest in your time off.

Waves to Lucinda, Sleepy, MrsMonkey, Lucy, Opal and everyone else.

I'm going to waddle to the train station today and head to our nearest big city. There's a few bits and bobs I could do with getting for my hospital bag and for baby. I love being on maternity leave!

Hello everyone, I have been trying to post on this but the app isn't working. I got my BFP this morning it says 3+ weeks but I already knew I was pregnant due to the nausea. I have two kids already and with my first I wasn't too bad, second was awful and I stupidly thought 3rd time lucky with HG but it's been a horrendous week. We were on holidays and I spent the whole time trying not to vomit and then actually vomiting. The thoughts of 9 months of this Sorry to moan I should be thrilled and I am except dreading the HG.

Hello Jodders. Congratulations on the pregnancy, sorry about the nausea. Did you take anti emetics last time? Pre-emptive meds have been shown to be useful, so get yourself to a friendly gp asap.

Have you got family you can rope in over the next few months with your current DC? I'd start preparing for the worst and then be pleasantly surprised if its more manageable this time round.

Also, feel free to moan. It's what this thread is for! Congratulations again. X

Welcome and congratulations jodders so sorry to hear about your 2nd pregnancy. Getting medication early this time can make a big difference to some people so do go see your gp.

special get things ready??? Hmm well I started a list of things I need to get...does that count? 😉 most stuff is in the loft from ds... at some point will get buying!

Thinking of you all

I'm in Ireland and I think it's very much a "stick it out" attitude here. I asked for meds last time and was told absolutely not even when I was constantly in hospital on a drip to rehydrate me. I will ask again of course.

I don't know how different it is in Ireland (treatment is fairly hit and miss in England also), but would it help to take in a print out of the NICE guidelines for management of women with hyperemesis? And the royal college of obstetrician guidelines? Both advocate the use of medication. Try alternatives (wristbands, acupuncture, sorry to say it - ginger) because then you can demonstrate to your gp that you've tried other methods. Also, if your hcp is unsupportive, go back and see someone else. Sadly, many women really do have to fight their corner in this one.

Can someone else link to those guidelines as I'm on my phone? Also, the pregnancy sickness support website has some good tips for managing it, and printouts for hcps.

How old are your current children. Really sorry to hear it was so bad last time.

Thanks for speedy response. I will do all of the things you suggested. I think my friend here got meds as she had other children and couldn't function. I have moved GP since my last PG too and I really like this one.

My other kids are 3 and 5.

Personally , I hate ginger, but I wore the sickness bands continuously for months. Not sure if they did anything, but I was too afraid to take them off. Some people have used acupuncture to good effect.

With the medication, it's very unlikely to cure you. The best I got was a reduction in vomiting, but still felt nauseous constantly - still a huge improvement though. I think it's important to acknowledge that you may be in for a bit of a rough time, and that (if at all possible with a 3 and a 5 year old), the best thing to do is rest. It's important to keep food and drink down - even if that's coca cola and salt and vinegar crisps!

Ickle and others might be able to give you some good tips on managing a hg pregnancy with children. This is my first, so I can't really help there.

Just checking in - you lot were an amazing support for me when I was first diagnosed with hg - I gave birth to a 9lb 9.5oz baby boy yesterday and the sickness has just vanished! I had to continue to take the antiemetics the whole duration so it was amazing to not feel sick.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel x

iamdivergant CONGRATULATIONS!

How good was the tea and toast post birth?!

Congratulations iamdivergant 9lb 9.5 is an amazing weight hope birth was ok. Very jealous of not feeling sick! Good to see the light. Enjoy your gorgeous ds!

jodders sorry to hear about unsympathetic GP- getting dehydrated and being in and out of hospital is so not ideal. Here is the PSS website pss there was a new report that might be worth referring to rcog

As for surviving with other children- I have just had to accept help and DS currently goes to childminder 3 days a week even though I am signed off work. My MIL also comes and has him 1 morning a week so only 1 1/2 days I have to parent! He also watches more TV than I would like... won't be for ever though!

Congrats iamdivergent, lovely to hear another HG baby has arrived safe & sound. What a big boy!

You sound so much happier special now that you are on maternity leave. I am taking some lieu this week having worked too much. Took DS to the zoo yesterday and today was meant to be for sorting his new bedroom however after a really bad night with him and acid sickness I've not done much today apart from wait in the doctors. I now have omeprazole to add to the meds I'm taking. Hopefully it will help.

Sorry you're still not great ickle, do try and rest where you can. As I say I'm having to listen to my body today.

Welcome to jodders, I really hope you get a good GP this time and that they are able to help. I know of many more women on anti sickness meds now than when I had DS two years ago.

Right, time for a snooze on the sofa I think.

Yes ickle, is it wrong that I'm already looking forward to going back after maternity? Just in the sense that I know I will be able to perform so much better! Hope you got some rest and enjoy the milkshake!!

fresh I feel the same. Definitely need to rest tomorrow (told to take a day to rest by my boss, thank goodness).

Special what did you buy?

Welcome and congratulations Jodders! So sorry to hear that you had to survive unmedicated last time- I wouldn't be able to cope. As Special says, medication isn't a cure, I still feel permanently 'travel sick'. But I am so much better than I was without the medication! I hope you have more joy with getting some this time. Special I'm having issues linking the guidelines too, hopefully someone else will have more luck.

divergent congratulations!!

Had a good few days at work (3 in a row!) but am exhausted. Taking tomorrow to rest and go to the dentist- I thought I should book an appointment to see what all the vomiting has done to my teeth 😩

Sleepy Glad you had some nice time with your DS at the zoo yesterday. Sorry about the acid reflux, but apparently omeprazole is good stuff. Fingers crossed it does the trick for you.

I am so much happier on maternity leave. I was really struggling at work, as pathetic as it sounds to have given up at 32 weeks. Although, my hg really hasn't been as bad as some of you poor lot and I've mostly stopped vomiting, the constant retching and nausea was really difficult to deal with in a busy workplace, with long days since I had condensed my hours, with the additional challenges of strong chemical smells and sight of human specimens. I also couldn't eat/drink whenever I needed to (because it's a lab). I did also feel a bit...judged...even though nobody said anything to me, but that may have been in my head. I also like my job, but not my workplace, which is a whole different issue. However, given the staff turnover there (at 4 years, I'm one of the longer standing members of the department!), it might well be a very different place when I go back!

On maternity leave, I can eat and drink when I need to, and I am rather partial to an afternoon nap! Hope you have a good sleep on the sofa.

Rae Congratulations on your three good days! And good luck at your dentist appointment. Make the most of those free treatments!

I had a reasonably successful trip and bought some muslin cloths (we didn't have any, and it seems to be a baby essential), some plain sleepsuits, vests and tiny, tiny socks (love the tiny socks!), a hooded baby towel and a really cute bumble-bee themed set of newborn clothes (which I mainly got for the bumble bee hat!). Also got myself some multipacks of big, black knickers for post birth and some dark coloured pyjama sets for in hospital (they had some harry potter ones!). Now just need to get things washed and I can pack my hospital bag! I really do not need to buy any more baby clothes, though I think I need a few more blankets.

Ickle how is your sofa day going? Hope the chocolate milk is staying down.

Iam I just realised what a good birthweight your ds had! Funny how these hg babies seem to come out so big from a diet of bland, beige foods!

Congrats iamdivergent ! And thanks for coming back to tell us.
Welcome to jodders
I am back in hospital on drip 😢 Still only 3 or so weeks til baby is here. Will post properly later xx

Special sounds like you did well shopping! I couldn't cope with lab work so I think you did really well. Maternity leave hard earned!!

mrsmonkey thinking of you

Goodness, I a lot has been happening in a few hours.
Welcome to Jodders. Sorry to hear that you were refused meds last time, despite being so ill. I'm shocked; that sort of thing did happen decades back - it's not meant to happen today when the dangers of severe dehydration are better understood and there are a good few proven safe meds. To get meds, I think the best thing might be to phone the Pregnancy Sickness Support website on 024 7638 2020. They've helped a of sufferers on these threads to get meds.
They'll have to ring you back, but they will be very helpful. Meanwhile, are ice lollies or sips of the juice of tinned fruit or flat coke any good? Also, can you get some kesostix from a chemists or online to check for early stages of dehydration - though you must as a veteran, know to well about that.
mrsmonkey Oh no! That is awful. I was concerned you said you were going downhill. This is so horrible so late on. Do keep us updated. Gentle cyber pats on offer.
iamdivergent Lovely news. Congratulations!
Thank you so much for coming back on to encourage others.
icklekid
Rae and Fresh lucy and everyone - how are things?
SpecialStains I am happy you are enjoying maternity leave, and waddling about at leisure....
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Hi All,

I am currently 8 weeks and suffering with bad HG. Currently taking Phenergan, which did take the edge off for a few weeks but just can't keep anything down now..Even an ice lolly.
My doc has now given a prescription for Ondansetron (Zofran) but I am reluctant to take. Anybody on here taken it? Worried about risks as read up online but I haven't been any further than Sainsbury's in weeks and feeling so low and drained.
So jealous of my sister who sailed through pregnancy last year without any nausea!

Anyway, keep strong ladies. It will be worth it in the end. Xx

Welcome shells so sorry to hear you are also suffering from hg- very normal to be envious of those who sail through pregnancy! Yes a large number (majority?) Of us here are taking ondansetron because it really does seem to be the most effective at reducingsadly not eliminating hg symptoms. Without it I would have been in hospital a lot more and certainly not have been able to contemplate work at any point! Being able to do both those things helped me to feel stronger mentally which is also really important as so easy to feel fed up and low!

mrsmonkey sorry your back in hospital 3 weeks...you can so do this! No monkeying around now baby time for us to meet you soon!

special so pleased you can stop work and hope the nausea decreases quickly- love a good afternoon nap! Sounds like you are very organised with hospital bag for you and baby. Extra large muslins are really useful for many things especially swaddling in this glorious heat 🤔 and using as an extra layer! Also sleep suits with scratch mitts built in- no time for faffing with mini gloves on newborns! Cellular blankets are great for newborns- might add a rainboe coloured one to my list of things to buy that dh keeps rolling his eyes and saying thats not something we need just something you want! I normally nod, agree and hope he takes the hint!

rae hosnestly I believe its a really good thing and certainly all memories of being useless at end of last pregnancy were forgotten when I did go back! Glad your boss is supportive of you taking the time to rest. What did the dentist say? I was prescribed extra fluoride toothpaste because of enamel wearing away from all the sickness.

Well I did very little yesterday except watch netflix, drink chocolate milk (still 1 left in fridge for tomorrow! Win!) And then cry when the tiler left water marks on new oak worktops... builders in tomorrow to render outside so will mention and look hormonal and quite sure they will offer to sand and revarnish for me! We are so close to being finished it is actually quite exciting! Also 2 possible dresses arrived for my birthday party this Saturday (treat as just couldn't get excited about it!) Can't choose which one...what do you ladies think?