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'm 9+4 weeks.
@ Rae I didn't know there were ones that dissolve in the mouth - why don't think just give that in the first place! Also knowing that it causes constipation why don't they prescribe latinised to help! Why is everything a battle with doctors! I know how to go back to get something to help me with the constipation more time wasting for both me and then!

You're right though... You do seem to be taken more seriously when someone else is there. Unfortunately my husband won't be able to come with me as he will be looking after our dc whilst I also go to my booking in appointment with the midwife. My plan is to tell her how awful it is and ask her if a gp can prescribe something whilst I'm with her. I really really really don't want to have to travel to the surgery twice in one morning. I can't go in the afternoon as we are off on holiday.... Dreading the travelling and the different food in France as im not sure what I will be able to tolerate.

Oh mummymulb16 I really feel for you. Yes try and get some melt in the mouth medication. I hope you can get some relief tomorrow once you've seen the doctor.

Mummy I think they don't prescribe right away because they are a pain to take. I tried 1 in hospital- you have to hold it against your gum until it dissolves, which took about 20 minutes. I was discharged with normal ondansetron tablets because they're less of a faff to take, but told to go back for the others incase I couldn't keep them down. Definitely worth discussing with your GP as you can't keep the tablets down.

The constipation thing annoyed me too- you're right, they should just prescribe at the same time, it would save another consultation (and save you a lot of distress!) Apple juice is meant to help but I found it did nothing for me. I did find that gentle movement (like a walk round the block) helped get things moving. But obviously you don't want to do that when you feel so rotten!!

Autumn I really hope you get things sorted. You're very brave going on holiday feeling so rubbish- no way would I leave the country even now! Can you tolerate bread? Maybe take a supply of 'safe' foods with you?

mulb the dissolving tablets are awful in their own way. They taste disgusting and can take an age to dissolve. Ordansetron also comes as a suppository so maybe ask about that?

autumn good luck with the travelling and holiday. I went to Turkey at 16 weeks and was glad I had done it. The travel days were horrendous but I sent DP to the shops and he got in my beige staples so all was "well" on the food front.

rae you are definitely not a wuss for taking 3 tablets, instead of 2. I think there's only so much vomitting one person can take! I've decided if you can put up with 8 months of HG you can do almost anything!

sleepy, light how are you both holding up?

I'm in a lot better spirits than yesterday (thankfully!) However, I think the baby is lying transverse today and it's really, pretty uncomfortable! Have been lounging about on all fours (exactly what you want to do when you're hot and nauseous) and am off for a swim now to hopefully move her!

Waves to mop and lucinda and anyone else I've rudely omitted

Have u guys had lactulose during pregnancy and does anyone know of its safe? I am thinking of buying some over the counter not sure how safe it is?

You could always speak to the pharmacist when you go to buy it and ask their advice.

Hmm I'm either brave or stupid... We booked it before I was pregnant. I can hardly get out of bed long enough at the moment to pack so I can see all this being quite stressful!

Just a very quick post for Mulb. Lactulose safe in pregnancy; many doctors who prescribe Ondansetron prescribe it with lactulose as it nearly always causes constipation. You may want to get someone else to buy it for you though: some pharmacists can be reluctant to sell anything to PG women. Also, and sorry if this is way TMI, but I'm afraid my Ondansetron constipation got so bad that through most of my first trimester I had to rely on glycerin suppositories to 'go'. Another one that is safe in PG but some pharmacists can refuse. Poor old Reebok, formerly of this thread (twice), had to resort to a home enema kit which she bought from Amazon. Will catch up with everyone else properly later this evening when the DCs are in bed!

happy any luck with the swim?

Mummy yes, as Mother says, I think it's fine in pregnancy.

Autumn I'm guessing that not going away isn't an option?

Definitely have to go. I am going to throw stuff in the boot of the car tonight and hope for the best. Then tomorrow I can focus on getting to my booking appointment and to the ferry. Oh goodness me.

How has everyone else been today?

rae had some temporary comfort but no idea how she's lying now as keep getting sharp twinges very high and very low. I have anterior placenta so sometimes feel very little and then all of a sudden I get a right boot which catches me off guard. Oh pregnancy is just a joyous journey isn't it?!

autumn I didn't realise you were going on a ferry!! You are so brave! Maybe take some "sea bands" too - perhaps that might stop any additional, motion induced nausea? Is that the equivalent of me telling you to try ginger?! I really hope it's not!! I'm in no way trying to trivialise your HG! Best of luck with the journey and the holiday - I hope you manage to get some rest and enjoy.

I need to share this with you all too: my best friend called round today and actually asked, quite seriously, "do you think you're being sick still because you're in the habit of it? You know, wake up, sick, etc.." I honestly didn't know whether to laugh or cry!

happy oh if it wasn't so utterly awful for you that comment would have been so funny - your friend clearly has no idea at all does she. What did you say to her? I suppose unless people have experienced it they wouldn't understand.

Yes...I know.... What am I thinking?? I am in denial about what I have actually got to achieve. I 'only' have nausea so I am pretty confident there won't be any sick related incidences which I think does make it more manageable... Am I clutching at straws here? Can I take my bed with me? I've been wearing those sea bands since the day I got a positive test! Who knows if they are helping but on the off chance they are, they aren't coming off!

Have fun Autumn!

Hello everyone I seem to be feeling a bit better this afternoon I have vomited but not as bad as I used to feel! Even went out shopping into town with DH and DD.

Quick question for reflux or heartburn any tips as I feel like everything is coming back up because of the acid aswell. I have tried gaviscon I don't like the taste I have omperazole but can't swallow as I vomit then. Any other quick mess like dissolve in the mouth and not chewable as I really don't want to taste it!
Really appreciate all your support guys I think you guys have been amazing

Feeding DD2 to sleep while DP gets the other 2 DC ready for bed, so finally have a few quiet minutes.
Autumn, I hope your plan with the booking in midwife succeeds. You really do need something effective. From what you said before about dark urine it sounds like the nausea is really affecting your ability to stay hydrated. Very brave of you to be going abroad feeling as you do. Hopefully you'll find a good supply of beige food to keep you going (brioche? baguette?).
Happy, any luck moving baby with the swim? Hope you're more comfortable anyway, and enjoying the peace and quiet after your visitors.
Rae, nice that you managed to see your parents, although I'm concerned about your tiredness. I guess as you say it's the third trimester plus the HG. The nausea alone is so grindingly exhausting to battle, all day, every day.
How is everyone else doing? Sleepy? Light?
What you say about advocates for women in this situation is so true, Lucinda and Rae. I really feel that many HCPs dismiss it as just a normal part of pregnancy, and don't take women with HG seriously, unless someone else can 'verify' their symptoms. As Lucinda has said many times before, if HG was an illness that affected men, you can bet it would be taken seriously and they'd be cracking on with finding a cure!

Sorry, my phone hadn't updated with those last few posts, so my reply was a bit out of date!
Mulb, if you can swallow pills I'd suggest ranitidine for reflux (as Zantac or generic like Tesco own brand). Are Rennies any good? I lived on them for a while.

mop she's moved but I'm still not comfortable. Feeling a bit over whelmed tonight: think the constant nausea and vomiting has really got to me and the thought of going another 3 months like this just feels all a bit much!

I was really hoping ordansetron was going to be some sort of miracle drug and now I feel like I've run out of options!

Sorry for the dramatic post - I'm sure I'm probably just tired and emotional after a busy weekend.

Thanks Motherofpearl. I really don't want to taste anything which is my issue!

Happy days- hope you feel better soon xx

Happy, sorry the Ondansetron isn't making as much difference as you'd hoped. It's so hard. Do hang in there, and try to take it day by day, hour by hour if necessary.
Mulb, the ranitidine has no taste, just a pill to swallow, if you can manage to. Made a big difference for me.

Hello all! Sorry the Ondansetron isn't proving as good as you hoped Happy - how long have you been taking it now? Maybe it will just take a bit longer to kick in?

Had a better couple of days. Retched quite a bit but not actually sick and have had a bit more energy.

Had my NHS 13 week scan today. All looked good except a Single Umbilical Artery - which can apparently mean problems with the baby 25% of the time. The sonographer seemed to think it would be much more likely we'd be in the other 75% as there are no other problems (we've got low risk NIPT results for Downs etc. and they saw a bladder, stomach, 2 kidneys, the heart looked good, etc.) so I am currently not feeling too worried about it. I hope it's not one of those things that suddenly grips you with fear at 2 in the morning, though I suspect it is.

Anyway, we should find out more at the 20 week scan in October. Just keeping everything crossed until then. Now I have to stop Googling and do some work - not sure how effective that is going to be!

Gaviscon question. I keep burping and feeling discomfort reflux I think. Bought Gaviscon extra strength peppermint flavour shook it well and took 10 mls before bed. Is it normal for it to be so thick and clumpy? Kinda plopped out of the bottle like custard!! Also what dose should I take and when? Thankyou

lighttripper step away from Google! It sounds like they aren't too worried about it so if you can stay relaxed about it too. Lovely that you could see your baby today!

fresh my vague memory of liquid gaviscon was more runny that the gloopy stuff you have! What happens if you give the bottle a really good shake?

I had my booking appointment today and the midwife was so brilliant about the nausea. She got a doctor to prescribe something and I came out with phenergan and metoclopramide. So I can try one and if it doesn't help, try the other. She's also going to try and get me an early scan for separate reasons but I'm hoping seeing a real baby moving about in there will keep me focused! The midwife tested my urine which was so pale it looked like I'd just filled the pot with tap water (??!! I must be getting more liquid than I thought, phew) but despite it looking like water it was positive for ketones. I'm not sure I understand about these ketones... Surely I'm not dehydrated at the moment?

Afternoon everybody. Trying to catch up with everything but might miss some out so apologies if I do.

autumn, pleased you have been prescribed some diff meds. I was on phenergan (promethezine) in my first pregnancy and it worked well (unfortunately it didn't work this time) so fingers crossed. It works in a similar way to cyclizine so can make you really sleepy so be prepared just in case. Good luck with the ferry and holiday. You are brave but at least you can be sick with different scenery.

fresh I'm on omeprazole and gaviscon advanced. Neither are working massively well at the minute but yes the advanced formula is much thicker or at least I think it is anyway. I tend to glug it from the bottle so don't really see the consistency if that makes sense. It is worthwhile getting meds from your GP though as the omeprazole was working well for a while.

mummy if you are struggling with gaviscon I actually find the Rennies tablets the easiest to chew on. But everything is hard to get down when the sickness is bad.

light pleased to hear you got to see little one wiggling around even if there is some slight concern. It must be hard but try not to worry and definitely stay away from Dr Google! I do it all the time and freak myself out.

happy you totally have my sympathy re baby position. To my surprise baby was head down at my midwife appointment today but has lots of limbs tucked under my ribs. Even the midwife was surprised and said how uncomfortable it must be... Hell yes it is!

rae if I remember you had today off work too? Hopefully only having a 3 day week makes it tolerable. Fingers crossed your bloods at the midwife come back that you're not anaemic, even if it would explain the tiredness, as the iron tablets are just horrid.

So, had my 34 week appointment today. In two weeks bump has grown from 30weeks to 36weeks! So from 2 weeks behind to two weeks ahead. They aren't concerned though until it gets to 3 weeks ahead. But blimey that's one big growth spurt. Had bloods done again for my iron levels - fingers crossed they're creeping up! Asked about reflux but not really much more that can help. So, just got to keep plodding along, even if that means sickness at night. At least my next appointment in two weeks I will have finished on mat leave!

Gosh Sleepy, that is one massive growth spurt! Well done! Sorry you're still suffering with sickness and reflux at night. Count down is on to your mat leave; bet you can't wait.
Sorry I can't advice about Gaviscon Fresh, I've never been able to stomach it, even when not PG. Hope you're OK otherwise.
Autumn, that sounds like a lovely midwife who helped you. I'm so glad you have some meds to try. About ketones: my understanding is that they measure dehydration in its earlier phases, but are mainly produced by your body burning its own fat reserves. So if you're not eating much then you're likely to be positive for ketosis. It's a complex thing and I'm no scientist, but afaik they measure both dehydration and starvation. But don't worry about baby starving - they are excellent parasites and take all they need, even if you just nibble beige food and sip Coke!
Light, sorry to hear about potential umbilical cord issue, but it sounds like they don't suspect anything is amiss, so hopefully you feel reassured.

Wow sleepy what a growth spurt! Well done for nearly getting to your mat leave, nearly there now.

I can confirm trying to get a ferry to France whilst feeling like this was possibly the worst idea ever. What was I thinking? Remind me never to attempt this again!

Hope you all have a good day today

Hi ladies very new to this online game but just thought I'd post as I'm on my second preg and feeling terribly sick! (Only 6weeks, arghh) Up in the night chucking my guts up! I had HG in my last preg and was so scared to get preg again as I knew this time it wud b harder with a2yr old! Well I was right but this time I'm intouch with my doc and I'm on cyclizine. I've started it early as I don't want to get to the point I did last time! I also work and I feel like curling up and rocking! I have a good hubby who helps so I'm thankful for that but just need to read other people's experiences. Helps u realise ur not making it up or "just a bit soft". Wishing u all speedy non sickness days!!