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 meant to say fourcorneredcircle Congratulations on reading a book and
HaichM Well done on beauty routine and waves to Pastiemaid Good advice, as ever...

Mellee- I'm glad your drive went ok.

South London- I hope you have an amazing time tonight! That sounds like a really good night. I'm sorry that you've lost so much income because you were sick. That's awful and the last thing you need

I told my mother (a pharmacist but in another country) that I'm on ondansetron and she phoned me back 20 minutes later to say it can cause heart defects and I should try not to take it. It's really frustrating that she's not here and can't see how things are so she doesn't get it. She doesn't remember (because she wasn't here) that I was sick and lost a lot of weight with my son, and it didn't get better until after 24 weeks and didn't really go away until I had him. She's lovely but we're separated by distance and being pregnant is one of the times when I miss her the most.

SociallyAcceptableCookie That is the first I had heard about heart defects. I am not medically qualified or a pharmacist, but I don't see any mention of htis on the sites quoted in my introductory post above (just had a look). Was this perhaps an study later decided to be too small or whatever? Anyone really worried might care to ring the Pregnancy Sickness Support helpline on 024 7638 2020 who will give the best advice.
Anecdotally, there have been any number of women on here over the seven years or so these threads have been running who have taken a whole cocktail of meds including Ondansetron, and I never heard of any heart defects. PSS They will have to ring you back but they will and have really helped sufferers on here with advice. Obviously, no woman wishes to take meds in pregancy.

Sorry, that message was curtailed - that last sentence should have ended 'obviously, no woman wants to take meds in pregnancy unless she has to, but the doctors have to weigh up very small risks and the very real risks of severe dehydration with this condition'.

It's on the Wikipedia entry for ondansetron. I can access the references from work on Monday but honestly I feel I need it and what am I supposed to do? No doctor even bothered to see me on EPU before prescribing ondansetron so they obviously use it a lot and don't worry about it.

I would imagine that it has been decided the benefits of ondanestron outweigh the risks?

So, women used to die from HG... I think in many nations they sadly still do. Also, even now, untreated HG and the resulting dehydration and malnutrition is likely to be very dangerous to the foetus, never mind the mother.

If the choices are certain or likely serious complications for baby/mother or low chances of heart abnormalities then the medical profession have to take the road perceived less dangerous? Once other options have been tried (which is why ondanestron is never the first resort?)

It sounds like not all the studies have concluded that there was any risk. I'll have to look at the references in detail but it's not convincing me to stop taking my medication.

Not that it's working that well today... but I assume it takes a bit of time?

I don't know about Ondanestron sorry cookie never got beyond cyclizine! stick with it, I think it will help eventually

Cookie - because of the side effects of ondansetron my hubby was quite against me having much of it before the 12w scan. This time around he understands he would rather me not be getting IVs than any of the potential side effects. Plus little miss has had no issues.

Hi All,
Just a curiosity question, I'm a biochemist and would love to be able to study HG in a lab, but unfortunately, I would have to leave my little island country to be able to do that. Anyways, I suspect my HG is linked to my allergy to the oestrogen in the contraceptive pill. Just wondering if anyone else has the same allergy?

Hi all. Hope everyone had good nights. I went to see 'in the heights' at the pop up theatre in kings cross. It's was a good off-west end show and finishes tonight so I can't send you guys to see it. Had a nice leisurely dinner before and felt so sick after. All ok but then I had to leave first half due to heat not sure if I was going to vomit or faint or what. My friend said could have been low blood pressure worse in heat? I also had terrible back ache (under shoulder blade on right) also have similar pain on the front under right boob. Anyway they were so good and airconditioned the whole place so I could go back in. My friend embarrassed by fusses but I'm not (that must be what happens after you vomit on the pavement freely hahahaha) and I wasn't sick. Purposefully didn't brush my teeth because I knew I would be sick if I did. Hilariously the elastic went on my maternity tights and by the time
I was at kings cross station they had totally fallen down to my knees!!!! So there is cctv footage on me on the underground taking my mat tights up. Luckily I had knees high boots to hide my hairy legs!! All in all it was too much of a late night for me and felt terrible on the last stretch home. But I did it and going to rest today. Hopefully early night!! Hope that tights story makes you laugh. It just tortures me there that there is MORE to pregnancy woes than HG but I think HG is the worst so I forget anything else. Like back aches lol. Shitty tights. Bending over the bump. Bump stretches! Can't cope!!!

Anyway..... more importantly meds.... I hid from my parents for 16 weeks I was taking meds because every time I brought it up they said I was harming the baby. Truly (and medical opinion stated) was that me being severely unwell would be worse for the baby. Having said that, I tried to stick with cyclizine only until 12 weeks. From 10 weeks I was puking everywhere (public bins, the street, in the supermarket into my bags for life, my trustee orange bucket, all over the kitchen.....) with the guarantee at 12 weeks this will stop!!! My worst experience was going to my antenatal walk in (as directed antenatal specialist GP) where I vomited on the pavement around the corner so walked in still without voice, disgusting breath and bile leaking out of my mouth where the consultant (who didn't see me) sent a message to my junior doctor that 'we shouldn't medicalise something that happens naturally in pregnancy'. Then he told me to 'eat (f@&£ing) ginger, small meals and take a walk of done like cooking smells' (aaarrgghhhhh) however I did leave with an excellent stool softener and a months worth of ondesetron. The headaches were too bad (tried twice) so on metrochlopromide now.

I am really really worried if any or all of this has been bad for baby but honestly it would be worse if we were severely unwell.

My advice would be if you are worried try something else - metrochlopromide takes much longer to settle in you but works well eventually. And / or tell the midwife and GP your concerns and get them to ensure you are under an antenatal consultant (this impossible at my south London hospital) so they can properly monitor you and baby growing.
My GP surgery has an antenatal specialist GP and he has been the one in this whole process that has given me hope baby ok and every time I see him (once a week st one stage) he let me hear the heart beat and he said all was OK. I've got 20 week scan at end of month and that's going to be the point we know if all ok to date. At that appointment I am going to push for extra support as the last midwife appointment was useless (her first time on that service and didn't know what to do and couldn't find heartbeat!!) although she did say no one would prescribe anything that was more risk to the baby than the illness it is treating.

Hope some of that is helpful in some way x

Four: you're right,you do want to do more once you feel better. I felt really frustrated that it was the opposite the day after. Yesterday was a mix of the two days: quite a bit of nausea (though no sickness thankfully) but I managed the washing up and a quick game with my son before his bed. Bad nausea+ hungry, eat, bad nausea/little nausea, hungry, eat etc seems to be my pattern. So jealous you've read/are reading a book! I love books but haven't picked anything up in a month. Not sure I have the energy or concentration.

South: sorry about the loss of wages, that sucks, but yeah about the massage. I have already been offered antenatal classes (can't remember if I was last time or not but going to do them this time to refresh my memory -6 years seems a lot). The children centres and things near me should also offer mum and baby things. I am determined to go to them this time to meet new mums (most of my mum friends I met when my son was in nursery and their children are the same age has him) with babies.

Pip: hope you've been able to rest and feel a little better.

Mel: sounds like a good day which made the drive worth it all

Sorry, that was long!!

Mellee - I don't think my HG is related to the pill. Although I have always been 'very' hormonal. Had acne from 14 which was always there but calmed and worsened in cycles always monthly but bigger changes on a broader timescale and went on the pill at 18. Then I had terrible acne (microgynon), then tried celest, dianette (until unlicensed as contraceptive), a few others and settles on Marvalon. Stayed on that for years. Then I think I came off the pill beginning of 2014, acne went out of control so spent nearly all of 2015 on roaccutane treatment. Tried to conceive from sept 2015 to sept 2016. Then HG. Lol. Life story in a few lines lol.

Haich - I can't remember. Are you in the U.K.?

Stool softener is 'Dioctyl - 100mg'
Up to 5 times a day but I've only needed 1. It contains docusate sodium.

Doc said was safe as stays within digestive tract.

Sorry about many many typos above!!

Hi ladies,

Just wanted to give you a good news story - had HG from 5w but it ENDED!!! At about 19w!! I'm 24w today, and delayed posting anything in case it came back (as it was a bit on/off near the end). Huge appetite now, and utterly knackered, but no sickness/vomiting!! There were plenty of times I thought it'd never end but it finally did - recovery is possible! Big hugs for all of you still going through this - was one of the hardest things I've ever done and I wasn't half as bad as some of you. Take it one day (or hour) at a time and remember - it WILL end and you CAN do this!! xx

Hi all lucindaE I've not had my midwife appointment yet, I'm hoping it's soon! I have spoken to a consultant though, and she informed me that I'll be under her care for this pregnancy as it's now classed as high risk. So cervix scans, extra monitoring in 2nd trimester etc. It's made me feel so much better as I've been panicking about this baby being premature also.
Feel absolutely horrid today and there's no way in hell I'm going to work tomorrow, especially with a Zone 1 station staff strike. the thought is horrible; I'm going to stay home and try to rest. The GP gave me just over weeks worth of Cyclizine but honestly, I don't think they're working at all now I hope everyone else's Sunday is better xx

Hi everyone

Just a fly by from me to check in on you all. Sorry to those still suffering and fantastic news for all improvements.

I'm 25 weeks, vom about once a week, taking metocholpromide. Feel crap am, but plodding on.

Having an iPad day today. All children are plugged in and eating ice cream. Not winning any parent awards today!

Pip I hope you feel better tomorrow after some rest.

Castle there are no parenting awards. Take care of yourself.

I feel awful today and have had probably less than 500 ml all day, including ice lollies but I actually don't know how much fluid goes into an ice lolly so I'm probably off. It's so strange to feel dry and know I need to drink but I can't actually bring myself to do it. I just want to sleep all day because I don't have nausea when I'm sleeping but obviously that can't happen and now that I'm off cyclizine I'm not as sleepy as I used to be.

My lovely husband has taken my son out so I can rest, and I have tried to be a good wife and put a gammon in the oven but the whole house stinks now and I feel even worse.

cookie, tiredness does seem to make hg worse, the quieter and stiller i lie in first 14/16w made me able to cope with the rest of day. tho obv having an elder sibling thats harder to do

four, food always made me feel better, so i would eat/snack every 2hrs or so

lucinda, yes 6yrs ago wasnt the best time, plus few weeks after dh died i got the letter informing me that we could start nhs ivf (lost that when met df as he has kids) :( but onwards and upwards, you have to carry on and build a new life or what else is there to do?

with dh/or anyman who didnt have kids i would have got 2 nhs ivf, but as df has kids (in 20's) i lost my right, so unfair but ....... so we have had to pay for all ivf ourselves, total cost £27k, so as i said my parents paid for cycle 2 (tho by that time mum has sadly died)

south, national childbirth trust is nct, and massage sounds fab!!!

mel, sure this bubs will be a pickle, i sleep train other babies for a living, so sure this will be the one baby i cant train so lovely you get on well with your step mum nd she guessed at once, bless her

plus on pill for 15yrs no problem, but maybe that is why i have hg?

south.pmsl at your tights story, and yes you have to laugh with hg, or will cry, so hence i mention my disabled loo headbashing days, and throwing up in a doggy poo bag

herewegoagain, glad your hg got less, mine did get slightly better at 14/20w then bad at 24w, and last week at 26/28w or so been sick every
day or few days - think its hormone surges

pip, im high risk, due to less cervix, dvt, old and ivf, so consultant led and tbh im happy with it,more scans and apps to reassure me

castle, they are alive so you get the parent award

Blondes - I don't think being on the pill for 15yrs would've done it. My mum was on the pill for the same amount of time, and never got HG.
I just have the same reaction when I take the pill to when I'm pregnant, so makes it feel like they're connected, but probably not. It's also likely genetic in my case. All of my female relatives on my dads side have suffered.

Castle - my 14 month old is having about an hour of iPad time a day (against all recommendations), and that's while my hubby is off work too. So you're doing amazing at parenting.

Cookie - 500mls is enough to keep ketones at bay. With DD, I aimed for 750ml a day to keep me from needing more IVs. But you still feel like crap.

Not sure if McDs in the UK does frozen coke, but here any size is $1, and I've been getting a large and it helps me feel better. We even have a special cup at home to make our own.

Had a rough night. While we are away we are sharing a room with DD, and are waking to almost every noise. So of course was hurling the contents of my stomach into the toilet at 5am. Ugh.

South - thanks for the info. I have a feeling there's a number of reasons that cause HG. Finding out the causes will better help the treatment. I'm dreaming big from my sick bed/sofa.

herewego so glad that things got better for you, it gives me a bit of hope!

Bless you pip, sounds like you need something stronger, metachopramide is the next stage up then ondansatron if that doesn't work.

South that is so funny about the tights! Where did you get yours from? Been looking online as I can go to any shops but there are slim pickings.

I hope everyone else isn't too bad. Try not to push yourselves too much!

My steroid/ Metaclopramide combo isn't working amazing. I swear I spent about ten minutes throwing up last night at one point

Lost dinner last night at 10pm and was starving about 2/4am so made a little snack

Hoping won't tonight as have Glucose tomorrow am so means I'm without food from 10.30pm till 11am tomorrow so will be bloody hungry if sick

At work. Baby asleep and should be till 11 so feed and bed and will have a cuppa soup at 10pm to try and tide me over

I find food helps hg so not sure how I will cope plus will end up being sick with the sugary drink .....

Meanwhile in the 2hrs wait I've a 28w scan and chat with consultant

Blondes - oh the glucose test is awful! I sat in the waiting room and sat so very still while feeling so nauseous. I also had food in the car for afterwards. I hope it goes well for you!