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.

Thanks for the sympathy Autumn and Sleep. I think I managed to see a little on and off. Made it into work but ended up taking this afternoon as holiday as am very sicky today. I really don't think the iron is helping so am going to call my GP and see how 'bad' the anaemia is, and whether I can get away with not taking them.

Sleepy hope that you're enjoying your first day of mat leave! Was the midwife helpful about the possible induction?

Welcome Sing. I feel your pain (literally) on the constipation front- for me, ondansetron is worth it though. Did you try anything to help with the constipation? I also know how you feel about being depressed. I hope you've got a good support network? Well done on being able to keep crackers and ribena down, I wouldn't try to force anything else if you're sufficiently hydrated? I found ice lollies helpful if you fancy a change though. Did you have HG with your first pregnancy?

Welcome sing, sorry to hear you're suffering, good news work is understanding. I was signed off for 4 weeks in my second trimester and still don't really know what I did for those 4 weeks. The boredom was awful but I found I was too tired/ill to really concentrate on anything either. Could you manage a box set? Or an audiobook perhaps?

rae full sympathies on the insomnia front too. And this heat/humidity definitely makes it worse! I seem to consistently be awake between about 2:30 - 4:30 and then feel dreadful when I have to wake for work at 6.

sleepy how was the first day of mat leave?

I had my glucose tolerance test today - it was awful! Had to starve from midnight, which meant no trusty mints either, and had been sick 10 times before the test at 8am. Miraculously I somehow managed to do the test and keep the glucose down for the mandatory 2 hours (I have absolutely no idea how!) The nurse was absolutely lovely (thankfully!) and found me a bed behind a screen so I didn't have to sit dry heaving in front of all the other pregnant ladies and the rest of the waiting room. Once again, was struck with envy for those pregnant people not still suffering with sickness! I hope that doesn't make me sound too bitter?

Tried to work from home this afternoon but have had to give up and now lying in front of a fan with a very sore head and a lot of burst blood vessels around my eyes Roll on winter I say.

Waves to everyone else, thinking of you all

Welcome sing, sorry you're suffering the dreaded HG. I know the ondansatron makes the constipation horrible but I do think it is a massive help esp when combined with the cyclizine. Taking lactulose did help me and anbesol for the piles provided a bit of relief. If you are managing some liquids and a very limited diet try not to worry too much as most of us on here have grown out babies on not much and always seem to be a good weight. And try not to worry about work. Sleep is your friend, and rest. I had 6 weeks off and a very gradual 4 weeks phased return. Others have had to take longer off. I found box sets on Netflix were good too. Do stick around on here as it is a great place to offload to others who know what you're going through.

rae sorry you're so rough. What did the doctors say? When I asked about the iron I was essentially told to man up as it was more important to get my iron levels up than it was to reduce sickness. You need a good level for birth apparently and you can feel even worse if they are low before all the blood you lose at that time. I'm going to try and be good now I'm off on mat leave and take more. Can you take tomorrow as leave? I was paranoid about taking any sick days at your stage of pg in case work made me start mat leave at 34 weeks.

happy sorry you're struggling too. That GTT test is the work of the devil! Well done you on not being sick during those 2 hours. Fingers crossed it comes back clear. Hope you manage to get some rest this afternoon and find somewhere cool to do so.

So my first day of mat leave is nearly over. Had a lovely pedicure, followed by my midwife appointment, followed by an afternoon nap. Haven't done any housework and surprisingly haven't felt guilty at all. Feeling very tired still but think that's the heat causing it. All ok at midwife appointment. Talked about birth plans. Midwife pretty certain I won't go to 40 weeks (she even said she may not see me for my 38 week appointment) but did offer me a sweep at 40 weeks. I asked about induction but again she said she's positive I won't get that far. We'll see I guess.

That sounds a real trial Happy, so glad you are through it and hopefully don't have to do that again?

Welcome to the thread Sing. I wouldn't worry about diet from the baby's point of view - apparently they are very good at getting whatever they need from your body even if you're hardly managing anything, so hydration is the main thing. I wonder if melon cold from the fridge would be any good for you if lollies are good? It's so individual but that has definitely been helpful for me.

All fine here. Pre-school went well and nanny seems to be going well so far (very early days!) Sadly DD didn't get signed off by the paediatrician fully this morning, as she wants her to see a SLT as there are some strange things about her speech. A bit sad to still be dragging DD to medial appointments as in my heart of hearts I think she is fine, but I know I would never forgive myself if there turned out to be a problem and I had turned down early intervention. Still, overall the paediatrician sounded positive - so hopefully it will turn out to be all fine in the end.

Just my talk to get through tomorrow, and then hopefully life can return to some kind of normality. Sickness leveling out a bit now. Sick every other day but I'm doing more, so it's not a bad place to be compared with a few weeks ago. Very very bored with the constant nausea and not being able to enjoy eating or drinking anything though.

Ironically, it's not hot here, just warm and raining. Sorry to hear of insomnia, rae. I hope you manage to talk to a non hostile Dr about the problems with iron tablets and Ondansetron.
Welcome to SingtomeinFrench. Sorry you feel so awful. As others say, because Ondansetron can help with the sickness so much, it is worth asking about anti constipation meds. When you say 'crackers' do you mean, cream cracker type things? Some find niblling crisps bearable, and sips of flat coke, ice lollies, and ice cubes, soda water, sips of the juice of tinned fruit. Some swear by cheap ice cream. For some reason, sweet and salty things seem to be more bearable. That is a big weight loss . Do you have kesostix to check for the early stages of dehdyration just in case you deteriorate again? Great advice from MotherofPearl happydays and others.
happydays Poor you, that glucose test sounded awful. My goodness, was that ten heaves or ten separate vomiting episodes before it? Great that you managed not to vomit then for two hours.
LightTripper Sorry to hear of speech worries. I'm sure your gut feeling is right; it so often is.
SleepymrsE I am glad you had a good pedicure on the 'swollen trotters'. I do so hope the midwife is right.
Waves to autumn and everyone.

Hi everyone ! Sorry I went MIA had a few terrible days. So restless. Had an argument with husband as a lot of his friends wives didn't really experience too much bother with Morning sickness so why am I so bad? I feel like a complete burden. When I feel like I'm getting better I get knocked for six again. The vomiting is as bad as it was before, I'm only eating soups atm as I choked a couple of days ago bringing up food which really scared me. The vomiting is relentless.
I do not know how you ladies cope as I feel so depressed.
Thank you all for your support and love.
Zasp x

Zaspbar Much sympathy. That must have been annoying, as your OH's friends' wives didn't have Hyperemesis; that's the difference. Sorry to have to ask for you to remind me - what meds are you on, as they sound as if they could have been working better? The choking fear is fully understandable.

Good luck today with the big presentation light. Pleased you're feeling 'not too bad' at the minute. I totally get what you mean when you talk about missing the enjoyment from food. I usually love my food and it's the one thing that I keep saying, I can't wait for baby to arrive so that I can a) feel normal again and b) eat food and enjoy it again. I've started to look at recipes for different meals and planning what I'm going to have post birth!

zasp sorry you are feeling so awful. Like lucinda I can't remember what meds you are on and how far along in the pregnancy you are? There are other meds you can try or even a combination of meds. Very unhelpful comments from DH. Nobody knows how it feels to have HG unless they have had it. People who have had some morning sickness can sympathise a little but it usually takes people by surprise when I tell them at my worst I couldn't move my body more than a couple of inches without throwing up. Hopefully he'll be kinder on you from now on. Totally get the fear of chocking. I had a couple of bad experiences too, think it's worse when you haven't managed many fluids so vomit not watered down much. Soup is a good option if you are managing it. As others will have said, keeping fluid levels up is most important so try and focus on that. Ice lollies really are a good option esp in the current heatwave.

Hope you're feeling a little better today rae, now you're in the third trimester the end is in sight. We can both do this!

Despite mat leave and no DS last night, still awake early. Think my body just can't sleep in. A day of pottering ahead of me today.

Hope everyone else has a good day. Waves to mop & lucinda.

Just had a proper read through the last day or two of the thread, to catch up.
Sleepy, it's good news that your MW seems so convinced you won't get to 40 weeks. An earlier release would be a merciful thing for you I'm sure! I was just the same about planning post-pregnancy meals! A few days after the birth my lovely DP surprised me by going to our lovely local speciality cheese shop and buying me lots of delicious cheeses that were forbidden or I couldn't stomach in pregnancy. Hope you're not trying to do housework in this heat?!
Rae, I really feel for you, sounds like things are pretty bad for you at the moment, what with the sickness, iron problem, insomnia and heat. I hope you are OK and as Sleepy says, can maybe take some time off? I remember you were worried because you have no more sick days left?
Light, hope your talk goes well today. Nice to hear your new nanny is working out so far, although sorry to hear about your DD and the potential worries about speech. I guess these things often resolve with time?
Happy, the GTT sounds horrendous, but well done on getting through it. As for the broken blood vessels around the eyes - I remember that and it's awful! The force of the vomiting but be pretty extreme to result in that.
Zasp, so sorry to hear you're so low. In many ways that's the hardest part of HG - the depression. I sort of felt like I became a different person (my DP also commented on this), really down, joyless, zero energy etc. Do you have anyone in RL who may be more supportive that you can talk to, maybe? The thing to hang onto is that it will end, even if the end feels ages away. You are getting closer every day.
How is everyone else getting on? We've not heard from Lucy for a while, or Mulb. Looks like things are going to cool down weather-wise from Friday - phew!

Hi everyone, Just about to go to the start and catch up with everything, but can I join please?

11+3 and the sickness has been horrendous. Struggling to function like a normal human most days.

Went hospital about 2 weeks, given anti sickness tablets that just put you to sleep and i couldn't take them for more than 7 days anyway :(

Acupuncture has only mildly given me some relief. Had 3 sessions last week and felt ok until Monday am. Now it's getting back to its worst.

None of food advice works. If it's going to come out its going to come out regardless of what I've eaten. If i stopped eating everything that made me sick I wouldn't be eating/drinking anything

Welcome Summer, to what Lucinda calls the thread that nobody wants to need! Sorry to hear about your suffering. Is this your first pregnancy? From your description it sounds like you were prescribed Metochlopramide? Could you try going to your GP and asking to try something different? Or do you have an Early Pregnancy Unit you could self-refer to? There are lots of different meds to try (do look at the Pregnancy Sickness Support website; link in Lucinda's OP). If you're not keeping anything down, especially fluids, you should be testing for ketosis using ketostix which you can buy online or in a chemist. Anything of 3+ needs hospital treatment (although you probably know all this if you've already had an admission). Do let us know how you get on.

Welcome summer, sorry to hear you are feeling so awful! I can only echo MOP - try a different form of medication perhaps? The only one I have had any success from is for acid and not even an anti emetic and that is Omeprozole. The others made me feel very tired and had no real effect on the vomiting apart from Ordansetron which made my nausea unbearable. But keep trying as others seem to have had much more success with them than me!

Thanks all for your messages of concern following my GTT yesterday, happy to regain some sort of "normality" today but have really struggled in the heat!

Lucinda that was 10 rounds of vomiting before the test yesterday. There were multiple dry heaves in between, I think it was my worst day yet! Just showed me how invaluable the mints are to me!

Rae, sleepy and any others in the third trimester (or in fact any stages of pregnancy) how have you done today? I had a near meltdown (no pun intended) as was just overheating and couldn't get cool. Had to go and sit in a cool bath but it's been very unpleasant!

autumn how are you doing now you're home?

light how was your presentation today?

Sorry if I've mixed anyone up, my brain is clearly frazzled too. Waves to all.

summerskittles91 Welcome. You have had such great advice from MotherofPearl and others,about asking for meds and getting kesostix to check for the early stages of dehydration if you're having difficulty with fluids. I don't understand at all about them giving you meds you could only use for a few days - did they give you nothing else? I'm sorry that Acupuncture wasn't more useful; it helped me a lot, but I was very lucky.
happydays That sounds truly horrendous! So glad you survived it.
lighttripper I am sorry, I forgot to wish you luck over your presentation.
Rae I hope not overdoing it.
SleepymrsE Planning post pregnancy treats sounds an excellent plan.
I hope it is soon.
zaspbar How are things today? Everyone?
Apologies to anyone rudely ignored.

Evening all. So I obviously came home from work sick yesterday- iron tablets are the work of the devil. Asked GP to call me, which he did today. His solution to me being sick at work again is to double the dose and have me take it as soon as I get home from work. Because it doesn't matter if I'm violently ill then apparently I'm seeing the midwife next week so hoping for more sensible advice from her.

happy the test sounds awful. When do you get your results?

Sleepy so glad that you had a nice day. I love a good pedicure 😊

Light I feel your pain on not being able to enjoy eating or drinking!

Zasp I am speechless about your husband!! Has he apologised? Regarding coping- I'm much happier now that I'm in the 3rd trimester. The end is in sight! Also being on the right meds for me means that life is tolerable again. Plus I think I'm just used to feeling awful!

Mother I have no sick days left so I'm trying to soldier on and use annual leave when I can't cope (like yesterday). I'm trying not to plan to take days off because I want to save my holiday, but do have 2 days off at the start of October.

Welcome Summer. Are you able to try other meds? Ondansetron has been great for me and a few others on this thread. for you- I think I was at my worst when I was about where you are now. How are you coping with keeping fluids down?

happy I think that this is officially the worst September to be pregnant in for 100 years (heat-wise). I'm melting too. So hot!! Felt like I couldn't breathe at work earlier. It's so airless and still tonight too. I've got everything crossed for the promised temperature drop at the weekend. I've just had a cold shower- glad I'm not the only one needing cold water!!

Dreaded PG insomnia strikes again. At least I'm not in work tomorrow. Can't get comfy in bed, plus I've got a sore throat (hoping it's just the dry air caused by the fan & not a cold or virus). Brought myself downstairs & got crappy tv on. Hopefully I'll doze off soon.

Sorry to hear the doctor was so unhelpful rae, as I mentioned my GP also told me to 'man up' as getting iron levels up was really important.

happy, glad you're feeling a bit better after the GTT.

Sleepy waves to everyone else.

Oh pg insomnia, it's the best! sleepy I hope you've managed to get back to sleep! I have to be up in 3 hours but seem to be wide awake for the last half an hour If it's any consolation I also have a really sore throat, I sound very croaky: I've put it down to the fan, close air and my day of sickness on Tuesday. Did you have HG in your last pregnancy? Sorry, I can't remember.

rae I should have the results in the next couple of days, or at worst when I see the midwife on Monday. I'm already injecting myself with Clexane so really, really praying I don't have to inject myself with insulin too! I'm using annual leave in October to reduce my work weeks to 3-4 days, could you do something like that? I've also decided to wave the white flag and finish for annual leave/mat leave on 11th November (due on 7th December).

Hope everyone else is sleeping soundly

happy I managed to doze off on the sofa at about 3.30 and then woke at 5.30ish. Went back up to bed but couldn't really sleep. Been up with DH since 6 and helped get DS ready for nursery. Still got a sore throat. And had more period cramps again.

Got a hair appointment this morning and then lunch with one of my friends. Funnily, I had lunch with her a few hours before going into labour with my DS. Probably wishful thinking on my part today though.

By the way, hope you manage to get through the day ok happy, and that the sore throat eases up. I have a snotty nose too so think it's likely to be a cold picked up from an ill colleague at the end of last week.

SleepymrsE and rae What rubbish are these GP's talking about the iron tablets? Do they think you reject them on purpose? 'Man up?' That expression makes me so cross, in the Hyperemesis context especially! Let's hope the friend's magic works again!
Sensible arrangement, happydays.
Sorry to hear of insomnia woes. Hope everyone is coping today.

sleepy any signs of labour after lunch with your friend yesterday? My fingers are firmly crossed for you!

Yesterday was tough on about 4 hours sleep as I was in the office and had a busy day and awful commute but somehow held up remarkably well! I have a day off today, off to see Bridget Jones at the cinema with my mum and generally relax. Hoping for a sick free day from now on (ha!)

Hope everyone is holding up ok!

Hi all, sorry for the radio silence. Things hit rock bottom and I ended up in the hospital with high ketones and lots of lovely bags of fluid and iv ondansetron. I've now got a prescription for it for about 3 weeks. I feel a bit better for all those things so now I'm going to go and catch up on how you all are!

Autumn, you poor thing, that sounds dreadful, but when you're at rock bottom like that, frankly IV meds and IV rehydration are like the nectar of the gods! Can I ask, was the dehydration caused by vomiting or by an inability to drink caused by extreme nausea? Hope the Ondansetron keeps helping you to improve (but do watch out for the constipation!).
Happy, enjoy your day off today! It's ages since I went to the cinema so am quite envious.
Gosh, I wonder if silence from Sleepy means she may be in labour? Hope all is well.
Rae, I hope that perhaps your insomnia has eased now that it's a tiny bit cooler (or at least it's cooler where I am, here in the NW).
Hope everyone else is having a tolerable day.

Autumn Much sympathy about your being so ill. I am so glad you have got the most effective medication at last. Do enquire about anti constipation meds, though, as a bad side effect.

Mother and Lucinda thanks I will do. It was caused by extreme nausea and not being able to drink. Nectar of the gods sums it up nicely

Hi all. Just desperately seeking advice.
Currently 10+1 with 2nd baby (have 22 month old at home) and struggling with nausea and vomiting constantly. I've so far seen 3 different Drs who have prescribed Prochlorperazine, Cyclizine and finally Promethazine - the newest of the bunch. From my understanding all of these meds act in the same way and since the first 2 had no effect except making me incomprehensibly sleepy, I can't imagine much success with this one either. Meh! She said next steps would be Metaclopramide and finally Ondansetron which I wish they'd just go with instead of fannying about. I know Metaclop can cause nasty side effects though and Ondans is pricey to prescribe so obviously why they're avoiding it.
I'm an almost qualified nurse (have 5 months of constant placement coming up from 26th Sept), plus have my almost 2 year old so need to get better in order to function and complete my training before baby comes along. I just feel so defeated by this horrid part of pregnancy. Has anyone had any success in merely requesting a certain drug? I feel like mine won't listen. She recommends to try and see how I go...I've been trying and seeing for a month and am getting worse.
Thanks in advance everyone.