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.

Urgh, I thought I had a UTI so have been to the Drs. Nothing is showing on their dip tests but I have a raised pulse and temperature which are consistent with infection. They're sending a sample off to the lab to be checked and have given me an antibiotic prescription to take if I feel 'worse'. I told them it'll be hard to notice if I get worse because of the HG!!

I'm so fed up, I was going to go in to work today but my boss has said no because they think I'm overdoing things. DH is out all day Saturday and Sunday so I'm on my own all weekend (apart from having a haircut tomorrow afternoon). Feeling quite sorry for myself today!!

Also, the counter assistant in our pharmacy now knows my name because of the flipping ondansetron. I went in there just now and as soon as I opened the door she went "Hi Rae, we don't have any in, so I'll order some- are you ok to collect it later today?" I've been going there years so it must be the HG that makes me memorable

Doctor has signed me off for 2 weeks bit won't backdate the time I've already had off. Been given cyclizine. Anyone had experience with this?

Well I'm god that you have time to recover Vixx- how much time have you had off already? Seems daft that they won't backdate it! Did they say why?

I'm on cyclizine as well as ondansetron. It wasn't enough for me on its own but does help. Don't be afraid to go back and ask for something else if it doesn't control your symptoms adequately within a couple of days. It does make me a little sleepy but I generally see that as a bonus as it encourages me to rest! I think that you have to take them 8 hours apart so take them strategically!

HI RAE,

I've been off for 2 weeks now. Never heard of the not backdating but Dr said he's not allowed.
What dosage of both tablets are you on?

Vixaafacee Cyclizine is a popular one used for decades, and lots of women on here have had experience of it. It helps some a lot, but can make you sleepy.
Special Did you say 'peripheral entrophy'? I must confess my ignorance.
Lol about cat. I'm fine myself, thanks. I hope you are feeling more or less OK?
TwoDrifters Great advice.
icklelid That sounds so organized! With a sleepless baby (the little horror was sometimes awake eighteen hours out of twenty-four) I lived in a state of chaos. It was awful.
Jodders Chocolate milk is popular on here.
Rae Glad to hear about your dental visit. So agree about rinsing.
Shells So glad you're trying meds.
Lucy You must have been badly dehydrated- the headache being a sign- what did the famous sticks say? I hope this new medication helps.
Freshbread Ha, Ha, about size. A good indicator that baby is flourishing. How are you now?
mrsmonkey I hope you are feeling a bit better.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked. Back soon.

Rae Sorry to hear of uti, that's so horrible and can be hard to avoid when unable to drink much liquid. Glad to hear of sensible boss, though!

Vixx they must've changed recently then I had mine back dated about 3 months ago. If they stop back dating, it'll get ridiculous- for example, my DH had flu last year. He assumed he'd be better within a week and so be able to self-certify, but actually he was laid up for 10 days. He went to get a back-dated Drs note. If they don't back date, we'll all have to trog to the Drs whenever we have a day off sick for a note, on the off chance that the illness goes on past the self certification deadline. Madness! Will your employer be ok with what has been suggested?

I take 3 x 50mg cyclizine and 3 x 4mg ondansetron a day.

Morning Lucinda! Hope you're well and free of IT drama

Cross posted with you Lucinda, sorry. The problem is that they don't know if is a UTI, so I'm not sure what to do. I think I'll see how I am tomorrow and take the tablets if I feel worse.

My boss is lovely but I really want to be at work today. I'm a bit cross with her really, I've got loads to do and she knows it!

Ohh rae I had a UTI at the start of pregnancy and it was truly horrible! Totally understand frustration of not being at work, can you do anything from home? She is right to force you to rest though as much as you don't want to hear it... maybe after 3 days rest you will be more productive next week...? The pharmacist I go to knows me from pregnancy number 1 being so regularly in for medication and then with DS when he was little. She is so lovely which helps!

vixx what has the sickness previously been recorded as at work? I am sure Dr has predated for me before because my sick note ran out before a school holiday. I then wasn't able to go back after half term so HR wanted a note that covered from when last one ran out... if that makes any sense?

Well I didn't go back to sleep dh got up at 4am and left at 4.45 for work. He then woke ds up as he left who was shattered but wouldn't go back to sleep. I put him down for a nap at 11 because he was just in such an awful mood. This means I will have a long afternoon ahead...cbeebies will be my saviour! Just booked Thomas land tickets for next sat. Really hoping I can enjoy it...on a plus side pregnant people go in as concession!

Hi ladies,

Joining the thread a bit late but thought it was worth a go! This is my first baby and I'm still only 19. I've been in hospital most of the beginning of this pregnancy as the hypermesis has been so bad. Finally home but really struggling to cope. Have tried mints and almost everything else suggested but no real luck, still constantly throwing up.

I don't really know what I can do as the days seem so long even though I'm just in bed! Has anyone experienced bad hypermesis that has settled down later in pregnancy? (I am only 7 weeks)

Thank you!!

Rae for some reason I didn't believe him. I couldn't get an appointment and I rang on Monday. So that's 5 days. He did say you self certi for a week but that still leaves me without a week.

Why do you want to go back to work!

Ickle I told them it was pregnancy sickness. But I worked for home for a few days. They haven't asked for a sick note, I told them I would send one in as I felt like they thought I was exaggerating.

Erin have you been given medication?

ickle no they won't let me work from home because I've already done the hours that the GP put on my sick note. So annoying! I'm attempting to crochet a pram blanket so I can do something. Sounds like you're having a bad day- I hope it gets better. Interesting about the Thomas Land concession!

erin I think that for most women it does settle/ go completely around the 20 week mark. I am much better than I was thanks to the medication. Are you on anything to help? I'd also recommend buying some ketostix to keep an eye on your ketones- they're cheap on Amazon. 7 weeks was the middle of the worst of it for me, it's when I was in hospital. I hope you're being looked after at home?

Vixx I really don't think that sounds right. My GP can't date a sick note in the future (so if a note runs out I need to see him on that day, not the day before), but I've never heard of what you've encountered before! I want to be at work because I miss using my brain

How long have you been off?

I took 1 tablet at around 10 am this morning. Had a long nap and I have woken up and been able to eat a ready meal and haribo. I haven't been able to eat without being sick for 3 weeks. I can't believe 1 tablet would work that quickly. It is that or something has gone wrong?

Hello.

Had 33week growth scan today. Baby doing good, closer to 20th percentile than 10th now, though he's a footling breech at the moment. From what I've read, most babies have turned by 32 weeks, so I'm madly trying to do exercises and sit in positions to get him to turn. The weight gain for him is great, and if he stays where he is percentile wise by next scan, I might not have to be induced early!

Vixx Cyclizine is good stuff, and can work really quickly. It might make you sleepier than usual, but if that stops you vomiting then that's great. Hope it continues to work. With the GP note, you self certify for the first week, and then you need to see the GP on the start of the date you need a sicknote from. Is how it works round these here parts anyway.

Erin Are you on medication? Sadly, it is during the first trimester that it is the worst, and as Rae said, often improves around mid second trimester. A few unlucky ones have it bad all the way through, I'm very lucky that I just feel nauseous now, I don't actually vomit that much.

Rae Glad you're still enjoying work. I think it makes a huge difference to your mental wellbeing still managing to do some normal life. Pleased to hear you're having an enforced rest day, and I hope the UTI clears up soon. How's your pram blanket going? I'm terrible for starting knitting projects and never finishing them. There's a variety of half knitted socks, gloves, scarves and hats all still casted on the needle in my knitting box.

The nice pharmacist at my usual pharmacy knows me by name now as well. Congratulated me on reducing my ondansetron dose last time I went in!

Lucinda peripheral neuropathy is often just loss of sensation or tingling in your hands and feet. It is sometimes permanent, sometimes temporary. I asked dh about pyroxidine after googling about it when I was at my worst as it came up on a lot of american websites, and he said if I were a patient he would advise me against it because of those risks.

Pyroxidine (vit B6) is not recommended by NICE, but, contrary to NICE guidelines, it is mentioned as a possibility on the NHS website .

for everyone suffering.

Hey ladies,

I'm in student halls still as this wasn't very planned at all and going home isn't really an option so trying to make the best of a crap situation!

I've been given lots of meds but nothing seems to work/ I can't keep any of it down.

Thanks so much for your messages and I hope everyone gets better soon!! Xx

Just been to the doctor for my booking in appointment. Been given stemetil. He said I can take it up until the 3rd trimester. He gave me a repeat script. So relieved I wasn't dismissed this time around

Erin If you can't keep medication down, ask your GP for orodispersable ondansetron. It dissolves in your mouth and is absorbed mostly through your mucous membranes. It's massively expensive, so they may only give you a few days worth, but it made a huge difference to me and a couple of days of being able to tolerate fluids made all the difference. If you're in student halls, have you got a university GP practice onsite? Can you get an appointment today? If it's the end of term, they are likely to have free slots.

Sorry to hear you can't go home. At least in uni halls I'm imagining you have decent internet and can watch lots of netflix. I recommend a Buffy marathon while eating ice cubes, if watching TV doesn't set off your nausea. It can be very lonely having hyperemesis.

Jodders Good work with the stemetil. Hope it helps! :-)

Also Erin as a student, have you sorted out your maternity certificate? You get a little card that give you free prescriptions/dental treatment throughout pregnancy. In my area the midwife gives it out at week 12, so I asked my GP for it earlier as I was going through lots of different medications. If you haven't got one yet, it'll save you money. Also, please go chat with your university support staff to see what's available to you. There's often hardship funds/bursaries available to student parents.

Wow, this thread is moving really quickly and although a big welcome to newbies, I'm sorry to see you here (HG sucks).

Vixx I'm unsure of the signing off situation - my GP just kept signing me off, either for one or two week periods. The hospital also offered to sign me off both at 5 weeks and again at 8 weeks both when I was admitted. Cyclizine is good although many of us on here take it alongside Ondansatron. So if you are still struggling do ask about other options.

Welcome too to Jodders & erin. Jodders, hopefully the meds start to work effectively. erin, I really do feel for you. As others have said, you are right in the middle of the 'worst' of it (or so many of us found) and you're not even in your own home. Hopefully you've got ensuite? You may need to be admitted again to give you a head start on meds. Sometimes we get stuck in a bad cycle and meds can't help as they aren't in the system long enough (at my worst, the process of swallowing then would trigger me to throw up).

Hi to rae, glad the dentist went well. I really must make an appointment as I had to cancel the one I had made in early pregnancy. Hope the crocheting is going well... You have more patience than me, I could never do it.

mrsmonkey I hope you are doing ok again since your hospital stay? You are so so close now, hopefully that brings some positive thoughts even though you are suffering so badly again now.

ickle pleased to hear the extension is finished now and that DS is enjoying running round in it. Don't know about you but I'm finding it increasingly difficult to deal with toddler tantrums. Today, despite being a sweetheart for the majority of the day, DS has had at least 3 major meltdowns due to tiredness, kicking and hitting when I tried to carry him. Going back to the dresses, I think the lace one. Both look nice but I think the stripes are more worky, but it is a very nice fit.

special pleased to hear scan went well. My DS was footling breech until 36 weeks. It was very painful, his head dug into my rib and he had one foot stuck down below causing some very sharp pains in my foof. I did lots of bouncing on my ball, hands and knees etc. The night he turned, his movements were bonkers, kept me all night. They did scan me when my waters broke just to double check he was the right way round.

As for me, I'm knackered. Even though I've been off work I've been busy decorating / getting DS's new room finished - we moved him in there last night. Then after an early 6am wake up today, we've been out & about which has left me so worn out. Heartburn still no better even on omeprazole. Swigging gaviscon at night to help but it's leaving me feeling really sick again. At least I'm fancying more foods even if I am nauseous.

Yes ickle will tell people, will tell all of you of course!
In pregnancy I always have a very sweet tooth and when I'm able to will happily eat sweet biscuits. Today my OH saw me heading into the lounge with a nearly empty packet of two biscuits plus a full packet, as I was about to leave the kitchen he saw me pick up both packets and thought I was about to put the full one in the cupboard so he offered to put it away for me, I said no and headed into the lounge, he said "you're having more than two biscuits?" err yeah!!! Who eats JUST two biscuits!? :)

Oh my goodness I can't keep up! Welcome to jodders and erin.
Great news on scan special - fwiw DD was breech until later than 32w, can't rem when she turned. I had a csec with her anyway. Can't offer any advice other than to say ELCS in my opinion are not the terrible awful must be avoided at all costs things that NCT and NHS sometimes try to have us believe. Bear in mind any vaginal birth can end up in emergency csec anyway and recovery from ELCS can be easier than a difficult vaginal delivery. But anyway!

Thanks for everyone asking after me as I limp towards 37w and the pink castle. I am on a mission to drink as much as poss and keep out of hosp until I go in to have baby. The fridge is full of pint glasses of 7 up waiting to go flat... (Can't handle the fizz). Exhausted and nauseous after a day with DD but aiming for early night. I think in an effort to curb the nausea I was drinking less than I COULD have managed. Also starting to think I want to be hydrated as poss for birth so breast milk production isn't affected. Spoke to midwife when I was in hosp about antenatal expressing and she gently pointed out that really my priority was to hydrate myself, not attempt to get colostrum out....

Loving all the nursery decor chat btw. I love grey for a nursery! (We didn't have energy to paint so walls are white but I've gone to town with bunting, wall stickers etc as I did for DD's room).

Wishing you all a peaceful weekend and happy 30th to ickle!

Vixx I'm on 150 mg of Cyclazine. Stops me feeling so queasy, but still being sick quite a few times a day.

Lucinda still nothing. I can eat & drink as long as I've just been sick, so I eat toast straight after. Seems to be keeping me out of hospital.

Erin mine has changed, first trimester felt sick all the time, but not sick too much; now 15 1/2 weeks & sick a lot. Do you have any support there? Student support were great when I was at uni, they have people who specialise & can help you in various ways.

Rae I'm alone this weekend too, thanks to golf. Whinged to my friends & being taken to Ab Fab tomorrow & brunch on Sunday. To think people say whinging doesn't get you anywhere!

Special glad to hear all is well with the baby.

Hello to anyone I've missed.