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.

I agree with LightTripper. In real life its only really my husband and one of my old school friends I properly whinge at. My family, friends, work lot, NCT group, facebook etc. I've tried my hardest to keep my mouth shut/not post on social media. There are absolutely no shots of my bump online, no scan pictures or anything because I know of a few circumstances of rounds of failed IVF, failed relationships when one of the couples really wants kids etc. I am sensitive to the fact that some people may find it tough seeing pregnant women when that's all they want as well. I was really lucky with how easily I got pregnant.

However, HG is really tough. I want my baby very much, but I do not like being pregnant. Sleepy You must be feeling awful and tired with your iron levels and gestational diabetes worries isn't going to make you feel any better either. It's okay to be sad for your friend, and realise that you're not having an easy time either. I hope you get through the day, and can get a good nights sleep tonight (easier said than done).

It's mine and DH's 2nd wedding anniversary today. He was going to take me out for dinner, but I feel so awful and vomity that he's said we can stay in and he'll make me anything I fancy eating for dinner. Toast and raspberry leaf tea it is then!

(Was really hoping baby would make an appearance today, as I thought it'd be very cute for him to be born on our anniversary. And would get me out of the fact I haven't got DH anything.)

Checks watch

There is LT! I'll get bouncing on my ball in a minute and hope it gets baby moving (and doesn't cause a vomit!).

Dh gets home between 7-8. There's def still time for labour to start! I'm such a bad wife, I haven't even got a card. I do have some birthday cards though - too awful to cross out the word birthday and write anniversary instead?! In my defence, I was very organised with his birthday, but forgot our anniversary was coming up...

SleepymrsE and LightTripper
You aboslutely must not feel guilty for not enjoying pregnancy. It's awful for that poor woman that she lost a baby at seventeen weeks (and unusual). However it is very hard to bear Hyperemesis. I know I too was lucky in that after an mmc at thirty-six, I conceived again the first month. However, knowing that others would happily swap places with you doesn't make it any easier to bear The Scourge, as I call it. You would like these women to conceive and to enjoy a normal pregnancy, eating and glowing after the first tri, and if you could make that happen, you would. Therefore, don't feel any guilt.
MotherofPearl Hugs.

SpecialStains I so agree with what you say! I forgot to add that.

Sleepy I'm so so sorry for your colleague. How awful. Presumably work have given her time off? You are allowed to 'moan' about your symptoms- you're having a terrible time of it at the moment! I've got everything crossed for you for tomorrow.

Hope the ball bouncing works special, I'll keep my fingers crossed for imminent labour! Happy anniversary.

This thread is a great place for me to vent. I think my boss thought I was slightly mad this afternoon as I started to laugh when I was telling her why I wouldn't be in tomorrow morning and had to justify it by saying I have to laugh about it otherwise I will cry.

light I did ask the midwife what would happen if I did have gestational diabetes. She said more often than not its controlled by diet... That's all good for people who can eat what they are told, not so easy for a HG lady. Therefore might need meds and possibly extra monitoring. We'll see I guess as they are hoping results will be back Thursday.

Sorry for being so me, me, me today. Thankfully I have an evening to myself... DH is away with work but parents are kindly looking after DS & the dog so I actually have a night all to myself (to go to bed early and watch Netflix in bed probably), not have to get up to DS in the night and get up slightly later as hospital appointment is later than I'd start work.

Light, about the wedding- I'd any to go desperately but I think on balance it might be miserable for you to travel and then be in the heat when so unwell. What does your DH think?

Happy anniversary Special. I couldn't agree more with everything you've said about social media, and about how HG still sucks even if you know there are people who want to be pregnant so badly. Lucinda I agree with you too! I kind of almost split the 2 things (HG and pregnancy) in my head- I don't think that because HG is pregnancy related, we should have any less kindness and support. None of us knew we'd be dealing with this! And hating HG doesn't make me love my baby any less.

Hope all are ok today. I'm struggling a bit, left work early.

Also, re your wedding dilemma light, I'm not sure I would go. The thought of travelling on a plane with little ones, that heat and the pressure of being all smiles at a wedding would be too much to handle esp as its not close family member. But there are some that would love the distraction and if you don't mind feeling sick/ being sick in a different environment then it could be a nice break. Sorry, not much help am I?

Hi all,

I'm so happy to have found this thread (though of course not happy to read how much you are all suffering!)

I'm 23 weeks now and have been suffering with sickness since week 6. Cyclizine hasn't worked for me and my doctor hasn't come up with another suggestion, which is frustrating now I have read there are other options.

My weight has stabilised after losing 13lbs in the first few weeks but still sick at least twice a day. I have found that sucking on mints has helped but I'm genuinely worried if I carry on with this I will have no teeth left by December!! However if I stop the mints i get the most awful taste in my mouth and am sick almost immediately!

Pregnancy is hard!

Sorry Light your wedding dilemma...I'm so fed up of ordinary life at the moment I would be tempted to go, depending on how much vomiting is happening and if your dp can be in charge of small children. However, because of my high risk pregnancy, my summer holiday this year involved a week camping in Cornwall, which while very lovely, def not as hot as Athens in summer! But you're still earlyish pregnancy, so heat might not be as awful as it is later on.

Sits on fence, having not really made up my mind!

Hello Happy welcome to the thread, but sorry you had to find us. Best advice someone on here gave me was pro-enamel toothpaste. I was worried about my teeth, but that has really helped. Sorry you're still vomiting so much - do go back to your gp (or a different gp) armed with the NICE guidelines for management of women with hype remedies, there are other options out there! They might be more willing to prescribe now you're out the first trimester (shouldn't make a difference, but older doctors were trained differently regarding treating pregnant women and guidelines change).

Waves to Rae sorry you had to leave work early. Are you starting to feel any better?

Sleepy glad you have a night to yourself. Are you watching anything particular on Netflix atm?

Sending non nauseous thoughts to all.

HappyDays00 Welcome. Sorry you still feel so bad. it was barley sugar with me. I think the excess saliva may help the teeeth, anyway. It might be worth discussing the matter of getting effective meds on the PPS number 024 7638 2020. They'll have to ring you back but will be really helpful.
You've lost a lot of weight; I'm surprised the doctor is so unconcerned about that. How are your ketones? Have you got kesostix for monitoring the early stages of dehydration?
Light Like others, I honestly don't know. It seems a long journey if you will be suffering badly in the heat.
SleepymrsE I think it is very brave of you to laugh about your suffering. As others say, you are managing amazingly well.
Rae Try not to do too much...
Waves to all. Apologies to those rudely ignored.

Welcome happy. Sorry you're still suffering so much. I agree with Special- ask to see another GP, take the NICE guidelines, do not give in. I had 3 GP appointments before they'd even give me cyclizine- in the end DH came in with me (having him there to advocate really helped as I was so weak and tearful by then). I also printed the NICE guidelines, but in the end I didn't need them, the last time the Dr was far more sympathetic. I only got ondansetron when I was finally admitted to hospital- I hear it's quite difficult to have it prescribed in primary care, but keep going back until they give you something new. I hope you've got a good support network? R.e the vomiting- toothpaste with a high flourish content (like Pronamel as Special says), and rinsing your mouth out with water straight after being sick should help.

Special I'm okish now. Going to attempt some soup (without onions) in a bit. Definitely need an early night- fingers crossed for a better sleep tonight, it's cooler here than it has been.

thank you rae and lucinda, I will keep going back. I think because my weight has now stabilised and ketone levels are fine the doctor seems less concerned. My bile acids and liver enzyme levels were raised for a while, but again these seem to have put themselves right too so the doctor is monitoring but not really actioning anything further.

I have a fantastic support network - mum suffered with HG and gestational diabetes in both of her pregnancies and my fiancé has just been amazing. I'm so bored of listening to myself whinge and moan though - it must be awful for them?

One last point whilst I'm on my rant (and then I promise I'm done!) I'm having to inject daily with clexane due to a PE 7 years ago and I'm so fed up with them. My legs are covered in bruises and I still have 22 weeks of the injections to go. Urgh.

happy I'm so glad that you have such good support. Interesting that your mum had HG- mine 'just' had really mild nausea that went when she ate a digestive biscuit (if only!) I'm sure that she and your fiancé are happy to support you. My DH keeps telling me I can moan as much as a like because I'm growing a human for us . I'm sure you have, but it's always worth stressing how much the HG is affecting your quality of life to your GP.

Leg injections sound awful. I'm not surprised you're bruised!

^ just realised that autocorrect changed 'fluoride' to 'flourish' in my last post. D'oh!

Keeping my fingers crossed for hues today. I really hope you get the section and that you've not had another night of eat/vom/repeat for no reason.

Morning All. Just dashing on briefly; have to take DS to the dermatologist today (eczema) and as I have to take the other 2 DCs with me, it feels like a major undertaking.
Hues, like Sleepy I'm thinking of you today and really hope today is the day you get to meet your baby and get released from HG.
Sleepy, hope you are feeling OK and not suffering from the effects of the fast too badly. Will also be thinking of you today with your tests. The GD test sounds like a nightmare for someone with HG.
Special, belated happy anniversary! Did all the ball bouncing have any effect?! The end is very much in sight now for you, even if it doesn't feel like it.
Rae, hope the soup stayed down and that you got some sleep? Cooler here too, and I find I'm quite enjoying it.
Light, it's a difficult decision about the wedding. We went to a wedding in Athens in August a few years back. I was not pregnant, and we only had one DC then (DD1, who was 2). It was boiling hot! We had an apartment with AC, but I still struggled. The pavements were not buggy-friendly and I have vivid memories of struggling with it (and DD moaning) in the heat and dust! The thought of all that with HG on top is horrendous, tbh. But you know best how you'd manage. If you stay somewhere a bit away from the city itself it may be cooler? If the wedding is in a hotel perhaps you could stay there?
Welcome to Happy, and sorry to hear you're suffering. Re teeth, if you're struggling to brush them (toothbrush and minty toothpaste nearly always made me gag), you can try mouthwash. I found a non-minty one (Listerine cool citrus) was best. Interesting that your mum also suffered - some research does indicate a genetic element to HG.
Wishing you all a bearable day, and waves to Lucinda.

Hello all!

Hi Happy welcome here! I hope your GP will give you something else too. It's definitely worth printing and taking the Nice Guidelines and/or Greentop Guidelines - for your confidence if nothing else! I have to get more drugs (currently on cyclizine and metoclopramide) on Friday but my GP is away for 2 weeks so I am seeing a Locum ... I hope locums are generally inclined to renew existing prescriptions but a bit nervous in case I get somebody unhelpful!

www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/gtg69/
cks.nice.org.uk/nauseavomiting-in-pregnancy#!scenariorecommendation:3

See particularly the bit about considering drug treatment, which says you should try drugs if rest and and dietary advice have failed and the woman continues to have persistent symptoms, and also emphasises the advantages of early treatment.

Re: teeth: have you tried sugar free polos? They make you a bit loose but at least aren't tooth rotting! Xylitol gum might be worth a try too? But you need one that doesn't lose its flavour too quickly...

Also thinking of Hues today. I so hope they've sorted it all out for her - it would be unbelievably cruel to make her go through all that for nothing again.

Thanks to everybody for thoughts on the wedding. I had a good day which turned into a bad day yesterday: was doing so well I forgot to take my lunchtime pills until 4pm, and then realised I had no cyclizine left at the office so just took the metoclopramide. Felt awful by 5pm and all evening. Took ages to get home as I had to keep stopping to hover over a bag. Miserable.

So I'm really thinking probably no to the wedding: it's made me realise that although the drugs are good it doesn't take much to tip me into a bad day. We are booked in a hotel right by the wedding venue, and it's out of town (by some beautiful lakes) so it's the ideal location etc. but I just think if it's hot I'm likely to really struggle, and I really should try to let them know this week as my experience with caterers etc. is they really need a week's notice to avoid being charged. I know my OH would really like me to go though (though he would never put me under pressure - it's just less fun on your own - though I think he knows several other people going so I think he'll have fun once he gets there).

Here is the wedding reception venue, and our hotel is right next door, so you can see why I am still a bit torn! www.limnivouliagmenis.gr/en/

Meeting my potential new nanny tonight to go through contract and hopefully sort out any queries/concerns. I really hope that there are no last minute hitches and we can make it work out - I really like her and it would be such a weight off my mind to have it all sorted!

LT

God, now I'm looking at that website and I want to go to the wedding again...

LT When's the wedding? If baby is out, I'll selflessly go for you.

MoP No baby yet. Haven't left the house for three days because I feel so sick. I really ought to try today.

Happy, LT suggestion of sugar free polos might be very good if your GP prescribes ondansetron! Have you booked a GP appointment?

Sleepy Hope you had a good nights sleep, and all your appointments go well today.

Rae Hope you also managed to get some sleep. I was up all night, just unable to sleep (having to sleep upright now because of heartburn).

Hues Baby news?!

Waves to Lucinda.

light I tried sugar free polos at the start but they lost their taste quite quickly. I'll give them another go as if I have any more glacier mints I am convinced my teeth will just drop out.

Re: the wedding - whilst it looks so, so beautiful if it was me I don't think I would go. I went on holiday (a 4 hour flight) and that alone wiped me out for a good 2 days as well as just been a horrendous experience! I spent the majority of the week lying in the air conned villa and trying to find food that I could actually stomach. The heat/lack of home comforts and the travelling just made what should have been an amazing week extremely hard. It's so frustrating and disheartening to have to turn down weddings, social occasions though I do really understand your quandary!

special thanks for your follow up - waiting for the GP to call me back to see when they can squeeze me in. Seeing the consultant tomorrow (re clexane) so I'm definitely going to speak to them in case there is anything they can give me too!

hues I am so, so hoping you are having your baby today. I cannot imagine how you are feeling!!

Was hoping the bouncing had worked for you special. Hope you manage to get a good nap in today.

rae sorry you have had a couple of days where you have struggled. Hope you return to feeling brighter. As others have said, easing off at work might help (not that I listen to my own advice).

light it does look lovely but I think I would still be airing on the side of staying at home.

happy I had the saliva thing at the very beginning but as I was vomiting so much I didn't leave the house anyway so wasn't so much of an issue. I did go through a phase of sucking on trebor soft mints. I still haven't plucked up the courage to visit the dentist.

Back from hospital. Thankfully I wasn't sick (although felt very nauseous and had to do some deep breathing) as they would have had to have abandoned the test and I tried another day. Feeling so incredibly tired right now. I have managed a small cheese sandwich & kept it down. Hurrah. Was going to go into work this afternoon but was told I was being silly so am working from home instead now. Will know tomorrow if I have diabetes and on Monday if I have liver problems. Fingers crossed both come back negative.

SleepymrsE Sorry you had to have that awful test and keeping fingers crossed for the result.
Rae and LightTripper Great advice. Rae OH's attitude sounds really nice.
I too hope hues has had her op and all is well.
MOP I hope all went well at the dermatololgist?
Happy I am glad you have a good support network. What is PE?
SpecialStains Waves. Sorry bouncing had no effect!
Waves to all. Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Mother how did you get on at the dermatologist? The soup did stay down but I didn't sleep well. So tired today!

Light sorry to hear about yesterday, I'm the same when I miss a pill! It makes you realise how much "feeling better" is an artificial construct doesn't it.

Special how was the rest of your day? Did you manage to go out?

Sleepy I left work at 4 today because I was struggling. This is a massive step forward for me! Maybe try the dentist of you can- it wasn't same bad as I feared when I went, and I'm glad it's out of the way now! I've got everything crossed for your test results.

Off to bed now. Hoping that hues is ok!