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.

You are all spring chickens, my dears, compared to Mother Hen! I so agree about forty one, and forty-two, and forty-three being wonderful ages...

Oh,I am sorry, LH Returns and Light Tripper! I mixed up the names.
Light Tripper keep the flowers and star, you deserve them.
LH Returns Happy Birthday!

Baby - I take every 8hrs or so and spread them out.

3/4am - 7am Take first when wake up for wee or if not awake 7ish
1pm
9pm

Have set remainder in my phone for 2nd/3rd dose

Keeping them spread out seem to do the trick

Def get one in early am and helps with 7am/morning

Lucinda - was on pill for 12yrs then had a dvt and swapped to mini pill and all fine then off pill to ttc

No headaches on it. Ivf isn't nice TBH but a means to an end

And yes if I'm going to be sick then my friends and whole world can hear/see it 😂😂

Since sat eve and my throwing up whilst in doggy poo bags in a public car park I haven't been sick .......

Don't dare gloat again 😷😷 but glad sun and mon been ok

Hi all my favourite hg ladies I've so far today lost my healthy brown toast breakfast but managed to eat four chocolate digestives which I know I will regret later ! Does anyone else eat things despite knowing they will reappear ? I find sweet stuff Always tends to not agree with me at the moment does anyone else have this ?

Happy birthday Lh

Sorry you still don't know blondes! What a monkey.

Hi everyone else

Hi, it was suggested to me that I come over to this thread even though I don't think I have full blown hyperemesis. 14+1 today. First 12 weeks mainly just struggled with exhaustion. At 12 weeks I started being sick in the morning a few days a week. Last four days it has become being sick 2-3 times a day and at any time of day. Also have really bad headaches and no energy to do more than one thing a day (having to try and get project done so can't remember last time I did laundry or cleaning or anything). When I'm not being sick I have a reflux feeling so just know it will come at some point... just had a melt down and cried in the bathroom which lead me to vomit! Oh and I think I am loosing weight since my last appointment.

Really sorry for everyone who is struggling

Hello PowerofThree. Welcome to the thread. There are some amazing ladies here. I also didn't have what I consider "full blown" hyperemesis but this thread has been an amazing support.

To be honest the definitions of what is hyperemesis are quite grey, and there is a huge variation in experience, but being sick 2-3 times a day, only being able to function for a few hours a day and having a headache and weight loss sounds pretty bad, so I don't think you should assume you are at the (relatively) "mild" end of the spectrum.

It sounds like you probably do need some medical help if you are struggling to function and particularly given the headaches (which can be a sign of dehydration) and weight loss. Do you have a helpful GP? There are a lot of pills that can help control the nausea and sickness (none of them are miracle cures, but by "taking the edge off" it can make the difference between coping and not coping). It is worth making an appointment, and if they aren't helpful contacting Pregnancy Sickness Support (details pinned at the top of the thread), who will be able to find you somebody who is.

In the mean time, it may be worth getting some ketostix from the pharmacy. These allow you to test for ketones in your urine: if they are high, that says you are dehydrated and may need drugs or some fluids more urgently to make sure you don't get more poorly.

There will be more expert people to advise later in the day, so do keep checking in xx

Hello again everyone. Just wanted to check in and thank you all for your kind words. Baby Rae was discharged from
SCBU late last Tuesday, so we've been home for a week now. I'm severely anaemic and also have an infection, so am taking it easy (DH is cleaning the bathroom for me as I type!) however, I am feeling so much healthier than I did in pregnancy, which I think says a lot about how bone-grindingly awful HG is. I took my last ondansetron a few hours before baby was born and haven't let the need to take one since. And only threw up twice in labour! I was worried I'd be anxious about stopping the meds and be dependent psychologically, but I've been fine.

I'm thinking of you all every day and will try to pop back when the newborn craziness allows

Welcome power, You'll get some good advice from the experts on here.

Hello Rae, sorry you're having a rough newborn stage, but great news about feeling better than before!

I think I'm feeling a smidge better this last few days. I must have a proper meal with protein on an evening otherwise I go downhill again. I go to bed at 8pm at the latest and often before. 18 weeks tomorrow, it's been a loooong time coming.

Oh Rae - so happy you are home with Baby Rae, but sorry you are suffering. I hope things look up soon. Despite all that it must be so lovely to not be nauseous and sick now.

Thanks for all the the birthday wishes! So happy to know that you all approve of being 41...embarrassingly I found turning 40 very tough, so this has been a breeze.

User sweet stuff is absolutely bad for me too. Has been throughout my HG so far. Terrible nausea and acid. Although I have just started craving chocolate for the first time so hoping this may be a sign of further improvement.

PowerofThree welcome. I'm so sorry your sickness seems to have started so late. The reflux taste is awful - I get that through the night. I wake at around 2am and 5am and have to eat a banana each time to get back to sleep.

No vomiting for me in a few days. I am down to 5mg of Prednisolone (steroid) per day - from a max of 40mg; and currently taking 16mg Ondansetron (from a max of 24mg). I am reducing very very slowly. Not fussed about stopping altogether but would like to feel a little less drugged if I can cope with it. And would like to take a poo like a normal human being.

Does anyone else look in the mirror and wonder how they will ever look and feel good again? I feel like I have aged about 15 years, and cannot imagine any life or glow returning to my grey spotty skin. Mother and Lucinda did you find that you did return to healthy and normal again? I'm not talking mentally (whole other subject), I mean straightforward 'look the same', not some low blood pressured sick person....

I noticed today I have the telltale red freckles around my eyes of burst blood vessels from vomiting was wondering when they'd show up.

Hello, hoping I can join after lurked for a few days.
I'm 10 weeks into my first pregnancy, am currently being sick between 3 and 6 times a day. Pretty much confined to the sofa, getting up and moving seems to make everything worse. I'm absolutely exhausted constantly.
I went to the dr today and basically just broke down as soon as he asked me what was wrong.
He's given me some stemetil to try- I've already tried ondansetron, metoclopromide, promethazine and cyclizine with no real help.
He's also signed me off work for 2 weeks which will be a real help as work were being difficult about me not coming in- despite me working for the NHS!
So hi everyone and I hope people aren't feeling as horrendous as I seem to be!

Thanks for the welcome! Had an epiphany moment that posting on the internet in a tearful wreck wasn't quite the way to be living and managed to get a cancellation slot at GP.
I do now feel much more of a fraud being here as they diagnosed a UTI and think that is causing the sickness rather than hyperemesis. I have been prescribed Cyclizine as well as antibiotics because the GP is concerned about my throwing up the antibiotics before they can work. Is there anything I should know about this drug? I've just been given standard instructions of up to 3 a day so don't know if I should take that many?

Welcome annakd: sorry you are feeling so awful. Sounds like you are doing all the right things. Hope the stemetil does you some good. Are you using ketostix to check your hydration? Might be worth getting some, as it sounds like you are struggling to keep much down?

Wonderful to hear you are home Rae and hope you are feeling fully better soon!

Based on my last pg LH you will definitely look and feel good again post-pregnancy!! Probably not straight away, but when I look back at pictures of myself even from a couple of months after birth I look so much better than before and back to my normal self (except a bit thinner for obvious reasons!)

Sorry about the blood vessels peace. Mine have gone already, so they should clear up quickly once the vomiting stops (or even if it gets less intense).

Sorry, missed your latest Power. If it was me I would start with 3 cyclizine: should hopefully give you the maximum chance of keeping your anti-bs down, and then if you feel better you can always see how you get on with 2 and whether that is enough. The main thing I learned from my GP is that you have to spread them out for maximum effectiveness, and they can take a couple of days to get fully in your system, so don't necessarily worry if it doesn't seem to make much difference straight away. Also, I felt they made me a bit groggy the first few days in particular - but that did get better as my body got used to them. Might be worth bearing in mind if you need to e.g. drive anywhere though.

Cyclizine has been taken for a very long time, so there is a lot of good evidence on safety, so personally I wouldn't worry about going for the full dose to begin with, and then you can maybe try scaling back once the UTI is cleared up if you think you can make do with fewer.

Light yes have got some dipsticks for my urine, I had 3+ of ketones when I went to the dr this morning, they did suggest sending me into hospital, but as I work there I politely declined and said I'd reconsider in a couple of days if I was no better. I haven't rechecked my ketones at home tho- when I do walk to the loo the movement seems to make me vomit

Guys, is it my imagination, or do any of you feel WORSE in the 30mins or so after taking Cyclizine? Think it's wearing off anyway, vomiting lots despite it, and hate swallowing pills, hardly feels worth taking them anymore but scared to stop!

POWer and anna. Welcome and hope you feel less sick soon

Lh - people always tell me I look great in pics on FB etc. It's usually as have just thrown up then feel better. Is one tho where I look awful was a few mins before sick. Apparently I go grey /pale

Sorry on phone as at work so can't easily name check but whoever asked about cyczline - I'm on that. 3 times a day. Every time I reduce I'm sick
Don't feel ill-woozy after taking them tho they do taste foulness. The coating on them in rank !!!

Another OK day here. That's 3 in a row .... dare I hope the end is near .....

Anna. I was told over 3 and need fluids

Hello all, welcome to the newest members of our exclusive yet unpopular club. You're amongst friends... no detail too much, we left squeamish at the door...

Congratulations Rae on little rae's homecoming :)

And LH, happy belated, sorry I missed it.

Haven't been sick today but I have retched so, so much. Really sore stomach muscles and the back of my throat aches :( Everything seems to set me off, head movement, smells, ideas...!

Managed to keep food & liquid down but no idea how!

Thanks for the advice Light. I would like to be able to get some work done so am definitely tempted to start with the full dose tomorrow but I am driving a long way on Thursday so it sounds like I should dial it back that day!

Morning ladies, hope ye are all feeling that bit better today. I'm not feeling too rough today, in comparison to yesterday but in comparison to pre pregnancy I feel like hell.

I'm worried that I will resent this baby. I am feeling so so awful and struggling mentally with it. I wake ok and then my stomach drops when I remember that I'm pregnant and going to feel awful again for the day! This baby is so wanted and will be so loved but have a fear in the back of my mind constantly.

On another note. Went to buy ketostix yesterday. €57!!!!!

See how you go today Three - if it doesn't make you groggy today I think you should be fine tomorrow! Good luck xx

babyand try not to worry about after the baby arrives: if my experience is anything to go by you are so relieved and happy not to be sick any more that all negative feelings fly out of the window! Of course anybody can have PTSD so you can "never say never", but for me I think having a rotten pregnancy made the newborn months lovely and even things like nipple pain from BF were easier to deal with because I could think "well at least I'm not throwing up any more".

herewegoagain how far along are you? It may be that the hormones are still increasing and you need something a bit stronger (i.e. the cyclizine may still be working, just not enough). Do you have a supportive GP you could go back to for advice? They should be able to prescribe something else as well as or instead of the cyclizine if you are still unwell.

Baby. How much 😱😱😱 I got mine off amazing Amazon for think £6

Kwym about resenting baby but sure all doubts will go away - I never resented but in early retching/puking days I would be thinking omg can't believe indeel this ill - wanted to get preg for 10yrs and obv overjoyed I was but this is crap to feel this bad every day

Some people sail tho preg. Weird how others hg effects so badly

Babyand try not to worry about resenting the baby. I can only go by my own experience with DS (admittedly only severe pregnancy nausea, not full blown HG and cleared mid 2nd trimester) but I love him so much I decided to put myself through this again to make a sibling, albeit with a bigger age gap than planned. The memory of the nausea definitely faded, its only now it's back again that I remember how awful it was at the time. Just keep reminding myself that it will go eventually.

€57 for ketosticks ouch! I got mine at local pharmacy for about £6.

Happy belated birthday LH