Anyone else been prescribed medication for nausea without vomiting?

[KateTheShrew]

Haven't posted on MN since I had my DS a couple of years ago. I'm now 7 weeks pregnant with no. 2 and have been having severe nausea (pretty much all day, every day without any let-up) since 5 weeks, but no vomiting as yet.

It's been so much worse than anything I had when pregnant with my DS that I saw my GP to ask if he could suggest anything in addition to the usual (ginger, eating little and often, blah blah blah) and he said if I'd tried all the lifestyle/dietary changes and they weren't helping, he would prescribe me cyclizine. I was pretty surprised as I've only heard of women with HG who can't keep anything down being prescribed medication, and that's definitely not the position I'm in. I filled the prescription and took a tablet to help me get through a work meeting, but I'm torn as to whether to take it more regularly.

On the one hand, it definitely worked and allowed me to function, whereas lately I've been feeling so sick that I can barely get off the sofa and DH has been doing basically all childcare and housework etc. On the other hand, I'm not dehydrated and I can keep food down if I force myself to eat, although I feel miserably nauseous and quite depressed about the thought of feeling like this for another month (it's so bad that I'm finding it very hard to leave the house).

Has anyone else been prescribed anti-sickness drugs in pregnancy for nausea alone? I have literally never heard of this before, and was a bit shocked at how easily the GP suggested it. Should I take them, since they've been prescribed and would help me function more normally or just grit my teeth and try to ride it out?

Disclaimer: I realise how lucky I am not to be vomiting (yet), but the nausea is like nothing I've ever experienced before, and I've been pregnant twice (one successful, one miscarriage).

cats, glad to hear the tablets are having some effect - hopefully it will build up a bit once you've taken a few more. Also, if the tiredness is a side effect of the tablets, it may wear off as your body gets used to them. Or it could just be lovely pregnancy exhaustion!

Lynsey, you're right about getting fresh air. It's been pouring with rain here today, but DS and I went out in our wellies to splash in puddles for a bit. It was only for about 20-25 minutes, but I'm so glad I managed it!

I can totally understand why your concerned about symptoms fading, but you're right around the time where it would be perfectly normal for them to slacken off a bit. Hopefully once you've had your scan you'll be able to fully enjoy feeling a bit better

Hi all,

I'm resurrecting this thread, because I just feel so gad awful today

I had my first pretty good day yesterday - hadn't taken any cyclizine for a couple of days, and felt well enough in the afternoon to go for a short walk, play with DS and clean the kitchen. Thought maybe things were improving.

Well, no. Today has been the worst so far. I've basically been in bed all day, hovered over a bowl, feeling like I'm about to puke, and this evening I retched really violently for about two solid minutes Still no actual vomiting, but feel hideous. The icing on the cake is that I took a cyclizine at about 11 this morning, and it didn't seem to help...

Is this the delayed result of not taking the tablet yesterday and the day before? Or is it just getting worse because I've turned 9 weeks?? I don't think I can cope with feeling like this for the next few weeks, especially as I thought yesterday I was seeing the light at the end of the tunnel...

This is exactly what happened to me when I stopped taking the tablets, you need them in your system. It is horribly grim I was sick from week 6 - week 18 but taking the tablet Evey day did help.
It does end I promise you you just have no quality of life whilst you're feeling that bad all the time.
Hang on in there xx

Oh no kate how are you now?
I definitely found the cyclizine helped taking it regularly and didn't attempt to stop it until I knew I didn't have to be anywhere for a few days. Thankfully I must have timed it right as I've not taken it since. Still incredibly tired but nausea has settled.
I really hope your feeling a bit better, let the tablets help you! I felt bad from week 5, now at wk 13 and can't believe I managed for so long. Soon you'll be able to look back and think the same...promise!

Thanks bumbleclat and Lynsey, hearing from people who have come out the other side of this really helps so much. I'm naturally a bit of an Eeyore, and tend towards pessimism, so I need a few reminders that this will likely clear up in a few weeks.

In the latest thrilling instalment of the Kate Feels Sick saga , I phoned the Dr again yesterday (I think they realise something's actually wrong because this is the most contact I've had with them in years - never usually go in except for smear tests!). Anyway, I've now got promethazine to try instead of the cyclizine. Low dose 10mg tablets, so I'm to take one every night before bed, but can take another in the morning if I need to. I've also got a steroid nasal spray for pregnancy rhinitis (basically swollen, stuffy nose because of the hormones, I had it with DS too, but not this early), because I think the nose thing is triggering some of the gagginess. So, I'm well and truly medicated now .

I really hope I get on with the promethazine. The one I took last night definitely made me sleepy and i had a better nights sleep than I've had in weeks, which was great, but I woke up feeling much the same as usual so I'm not convinced that one 10mg tablet can last a whole 24 hours: I've taken another this morning and I'm hoping it doesn't actually put me to sleep.

I know that half of the problem is that once I start to feel gaggy (which happens a lot because of the combination of nausea and dry/inflamed nose/throat), I panic and focus on it and it gets worse, so it's a vicious cycle - does anyone else have this? It gets to the point where I just have to run away to lie down and deep breathe until it passes; even talking seems to make it worse. I'm convinced that some of this is anxiety and panic on top of the physical symptoms, but trying to ignore it is easier said than done - it's a bit like if someone tells you NOT to think about an elephant riding a unicycle - you immediately can't think of anything else.

Enough about me. I'm trying not to complain to my family too much, but the result is I have to let it all out on here (and at least on here, nobody is forced to read it, so I don't feel so guilty).

Lynsey, I may be remembering wrong, but isn't your scan coming up soon, or maybe you've already had it? If so, I hope everything was perfect and that you're feeling much more relaxed and happy now.

Thanks again for all your kind and supportive words.I really appreciate them so much. And if anyone has any promethazine success stories, please do pass them on...

Rant away, it's all we have done for weeks too!
I tend to be a wuss when feeling poorly so I gave into it that way but I try everything not to focus on it too. So magazines, TV and sleep were the way forward...thank god my kids have been so very patient and reasonbly well behaved during the worst of it.
I really hope you get it under control soon, remind me how far you are now?
Yes I had my scan on Tuesday!! I had to go on my own as partner was only one able to have the kids so was a bit nervous cos of that but then I was fine in the waiting room as I also knew they were running late. (Out of my control so keep calm kinda thoughts) As soon as they called me in, panic washed over me but the sonographer was just lovely. She showed me my very happy wriggly baby straight away and then gave me time to calm down and stop crying!
All is as it should be and that in itself made the weeks of feeling hellish so much more worth it.
When you get there, you'll forget how rough you felt too. It's like labour, you forget the pain and why you were screaming "never again!!" only to go do it again!!

Aw Lynsey, that's lovely news! I'm so pleased for you I would take labour over morning sickness every time, but I'm sure that's only because I had a really quick relatively easy labour with DS - Who knows what will happen this time (if I get that far)

I'm about nine and a half weeks now, I think. Going by dates only as have so far resisted having an early scan this time (had two early ones with DS as I was so paranoid following my missed miscarriage, but they didn't actually reassure me for more than a couple of days so I'm trying to hold out until 12 weeks this time).

Also a bit panicky at the mo because DH is going away on a course this evening for nearly a week. My parents are coming up to stay and help out, and I know they'll be wonderful, but DS is really attached to DH right now and will miss him terribly and I know I'll have to pull my weight more than i have been, but I'm not sure how I'll manage that. One day at a time, I suppose...

Kate you can up the doseage of promethazine (ask your Dr first over the phone)
Also sleeping through the hell of it is really the only way I found.
I still felt apalling during the day and steadily got worse come 4/5 pm but at least you get a good 9/10 hours of dead to the world sleep rather than being woken up by the horrendousness of nausea.
I promise this will end soon and you'll be able to enjoy your pregnancy.

It's really good you have your parents to come and help, I'm sure little one will be so preoccupied with his grandparents, he'll forget all about Daddy for awhile!

I can second that bumble. I always felt horrendous come teatime and would just about crawl upstairs to bed. Early nights did help but still napping even now at any opportunity.
I think the nausea is so much worse when your tired but the good news is, whilst you'll probably continue to feel knackered, the nausea should settle much quicker. And then (apparently) the tiredness wears off for a good while too!
I've fought the urge to yet again slob out on the sofa with the kids and have blitzed my kitchen back to its former glory..... it's all a light at the end of the tunnel for you!

kate also how you said you'd rather labour over morning sickness, I said the same the other day and the nurses response was "we hear that ALL the time!!"
Great to know we're not on our own in having a moan

Thanks again Lynsey and bumble!

And Lynsey, hooray for blitzing the kitchen!! Definitely something for me to work towards... I'll let you know when I get there

Well, DH has gone, the parents have arrived, and DS is currently in the kitchen with Grandma eating blueberries that they brought to bribe him with so all is well so far.

I will also cautiously say that I don't feel too horrendous considering it's after 4pm, but that's as far as this pessimist is wiling to to go for now...

That's what I've been given Kate but 25mg, I was given 10 and felt so much better after 3 days I decided to not take any over the weekend and Monday but then I felt awful again at work on Tuesday

cats, so glad they're working for you! You sounded in such a bad way before. The moral of the story for both of us is obviously "keep taking the tablets, even if you're feeling better" Did you continue to improve over the three days? I remember the first one you took you said it had some effect, but didn't totally stop you being sick.

I think the 10mg are probably fine for me, as I'm definitely not as bad as you were, and I am so sleepy on them that I think the 25mg would totally knock me out. This way I can take two a day, if I need to and balance out the relief versus the tiredness.

I haven't been on for a while but been reading your updates. You're all doing great. I'm now at 13+1 and feel loads better. Sometimes still feel slightly sick, but nothing eating doesn't solve. I'm just over a week without any meds so thought I would remind you all that the end is in sight! Keep rested, hydrated and smiling

mrsminty we are exactly the same now! I'm also 13+1 today. Have you had your dates changed? My EDD is now 10th of Feb.

Aw, thanks mrsm this thread is really cheering me up. I'm so looking forward to the second trimester -- only 3.5 weeks to go (fingers crossed).

Mine is 10 Feb too! And.... It's twins!! We also had some bad news but I don't want to bring the thread down so won't go into details, suffice to say we've got some difficult decisions ahead X

Twins what exciting news mrsminty!! Now wonder you've been feeling so sick, you've got double the hormones!

So sorry to hear about bad news. Of course keep details to yourself, if you prefer I think I probably would too but please don't worry at all about bringing the thread down or anything like that, and you know we're all here if you ever need to let off steam

Thank you ladies. I didn't want to change the topic of the thread but also really appreciate your support . First we were told that we were expecting twins, which was a big enough shock in itself, we were shocked but so happy. And then in the next 15 minutes came the finding that twin B's nuchal measurement was too big, forward to the result of my blood test and it turns out that twin b has a 1:14 risk of Down's and a 1:30 risk of Edwards/Patau's. To compare twin A has a normal NT and low risk with 1:9800 and 1:28000 of any syndromes. Such mixed news, mixed emotions and we are honestly really scared. Being transferred to Fetal Medicine Unit on Monday for further consultation. Midwife tells us we have difficult decisions to come xx

Oh, mrsminty, that is difficult news, and such a lot to take in at once -- I'm not surprised that you're scared, anyone would be. Good news that you're being transferred to the Fetal Medicine Unit so soon, hopefully they will be able to give you expert advice and guidance: at the moment all you've got is numbers and statistics, which I imagine just scares you without really properly informing you.

Easy to say, I know, but just look after yourselves and take one day at a time. You may have difficult decisions to make, but you don't have to make them today, or tomorrow, or until you feel that you have a lot more information.

and and for you.

Oh mrsminty what a shock. I have no advice and I can't pretend to understand but will of course be here to support in anyway possible.
Hopefully when you have more information on what's happening, things will become clearer for you but I know that won't be easy.
Can you believe we are at exactly the same stage? I will happily stay by your side throughout if you want me too.
Take care of yourself and keep in touch xxx

Thank you for the kind words Kate and Lynsey. It's now a week since the scan and it's all a bit of a blur. Right now we are waiting for the call from the FMU as to when we are to see the specialist which my midwife said would be early this week. Hopefully by tonight we will know when we will be going. I'll keep you posted. Keep stroking my tummy and taking to both out babies

I love that we are at the same stage Lynsey! Are you showing yet? Bit different for me obvs with two in there but I have an obvious bump and already in maternity clothes. What a nightmare it was to find any smart work trousers!

Hoes the nausea etc today? I am coping with it as it's much better than it was as long as I don't get hungry in which case it gets horrible quite quickly!

Hope you have a good day ladies xx

Fingers crossed you get that call from the FMU very soon, mrsminty. It's lovely that you're talking to your babies

I've had a couple of better days recently, which has been lovely. Not 100% by any means, but able to do more things and not having to lie down so much. Today I've felt pretty yucky and only just managed to shower and get dressed half an hour ago, but I'm hoping that's just down to tiredness as DS was up in the night with a bad cough so I missed out on some sleep.

How are you getting mrsminty? Have you found out any more information?
kate how are you doing? Is the nausea any better?

Hi Lynsey, thanks for checking up on me How are you doing?
mrsminty I've been thinking about you, hope you've seen the specialist now.

I'm ok, still feeling pretty rough sometimes, but I'm better than I was, especially in the evenings (although some days are still just bleurgh -- I woke up yesterday morning retching, which hasn't happened in a while). I'm 11 weeks today and have my 12 week scan a week from today!! I'm pretty terrified as despite feeling so yucky, I'm still worried about mmc and afraid it might be bad news.

Mostly I'm still shocked by my complete exhaustion and lack of energy! I'm just running on empty all the time,and haven't been sleeping very well. This has to start lifting soon, right?? I'm awaiting the second trimester glow although I never glowed last time

Aw I'm glad your seeing some improvements, the last of the 'yuk' feeling should go soon.
Lack of sleep definitely makes you feel worse so is there anything you've tried to give you a more restful night?
I'm already getting quite big so I wake up whenever I need to move over! How exciting only a week til your scan!! Please let us know how everything goes.

All in all, I'm doing good. The nausea has basically gone, having a tired day today but I've just come home from 5 days at my parents so could be that. I bought a doppler whilst at theirs as I had a day I couldn't shake the fear of something going wrong but I've found the hb 2 days running now :-) really amazing to hear and my mind settled right down.
I just can't believe how very pregnant I look and not quite at 15 weeks yet!
If it helps any, I'm certainly not glowing, my skin is the worst it's ever been, so spotty. Really bothers me as I feel fat and ugly!! Did treat myself to some new clothes the other day which cheered me up no end! Couldn't find any maternity clothes so bought some stretchy trousers and loose fitting tops, felt so nice not to have to squeeze my bum in!