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.

Hello everyone,

I've been reading but not posting much. Sorry to see some new names have had to join the ranks. Wishing you all a speedy pregnancy.

I'm looking for a bit of advice from anyone with experience of a HG 3rd trimester. I'm 28 weeks now and after an improvement at 14 and 20ish weeks I've been feeling pretty awful again for 2 weeks. It's still nothing compared to the horror of weeks 6-14, but I was hoping tri3 might see an improvement? Any experience would be greatly appreciated.

MrsPink please do join. I used to worry about not being sick enough to "count" but was reassured that if the nausea is making life difficult to cope with then there is a warm welcome for you here (and in fact I also had weight loss and vomiting - although not as much vomiting as you, you poor thing! As long as I stayed horizontal in the afternoons/evenings I usually only had one "episode" of vomiting a day, at most 2 or 3, and that was bad enough).

In fact with your vomiting and weight loss (despite being treated) I'm sure you would be diagnosed with HG in any case. I know it's easy to feel like a fraud (along with all the other general feelings of guilt and uselessness much discussed up thread) but please try not to - we are all just trying to hold each other's hands while we slog through this!

Kayleighann I didn't start taking them before I started throwing up but only because I wasn't organised enough to get them. If I had had them I would have started straight away. If you don't feel sick in a few weeks you can always try to reduce your dose and see if things get worse? When I looked at the research on the Pregnancy Sickness Support website early in my pregnancy it seemed to suggest that starting early can really help with effectiveness.

Kayleigh - I had leftover Ondansetron from DD, so started taking one a day when nausea kicked in (5w), and then upped it to 2 a day when vomiting started. I can't take more than 2 because I'm not awake enough and don't need one before I go to sleep. With DD only had 2 occasions of waking in the middle of the night and throwing up.

Mamma - I find weeks 7 to 14 the worse. Week 12 always hits me emotionally like a tonne of bricks, as that's when a lot of people say I should be feeling better. This time around I know more so am ready for it. Also know that 12w is when they start taking the pregnancy seriously and I'm definitely getting help from maternity mental health this time.

MrsPink - that's definitely HG. I lost 10% with DD, and the weight loss didn't plateau till 12w, so you might still lose some. Throwing up that much, you are at a risk of dehydration, please get ketosticks and some stronger anti-emetics.

Me- I had my first vomit free day yesterday in about 3 weeks. Lots of heaving but couldn't physically bring anything up, so the drugs are working well now. Struggling with body aches from all the lying on the sofa and on the bed, my joints are stiff. Mentally a mess, but family is making sure that I have enough company.

Hugs and buckets to all

Hi all, sorry I haven't been on here much. I was feeling better and had hoped I was over the worst of it. Today I have done nothing but throw up, even diluted squash has made me sick. I have been sick at least 20 times today, which is so out of the norm for me. I have noticed that my throat is burning, each time I'm sick it feels worse. This is a new symptom for me, is it normal?

Sorry to read new people have to join us. Im at week 15 tomorrow and I really thought I was getting over it .

MrsPinkKitten Welcome. Sorry you feel so foul. That certainly must be Hyperemesis - I take it that's seven or eight separate retching sessions - it's all very complicated ,as GP's tend to count each heave as a vomit and so do emphasize that's separate sessions at the surgery. Do invest in some kesostix from a chemist's to test for dehydration - with that level of sickness unfortunately likely. Do you find sips of flat coke or elderflower water or ice lollies or ice cubes or the juice of tinned fruit or sips of chocolate milk shake (maybe non dairy) any good?
Kayleighann I am so glad you have been to get meds and spoken to the people on PSS. Pre-emptive meds stop the brain form developing a neurological vomiting pattern that can be hard to break, I gather, so do follow that advice.
LightTripper Great advice from you. Thank you so much for that compliment, much appreciated; I wish I was that wise. I'm so glad all is well and Hyperemesis is gradually fading away...
Melleebacca Sorry you feel so bad.
fourcorneredcircle Oh dear, I had to laugh about cats and Controlled Crying!
Hollyhop A sore throat is common and caused by violent retching. Sometimes you get blood coming up too, looks horrible and should be reported asap, but usually harmless and from the throat. Sucking ice cubes can help.
castlefeck Poor you. That is a disappointment. It can get nasty again in the third tri, though never as bad as the first; remind me the meds you are on?
Blondes Sorry- I missed your recommendation of lactulose. There is no excuse for me forgetting the name after all these threads, either. At least its good you feel chirpy enough to be bored,there's that aspect...But you do strike me as energetic.
IAmSerious How alarming. Poor you. I am so glad all is well.
Socially I do hope it improves.
MamaBear There are various meds they can try. Cyclizine is generally the first one as it's cheap and has been used for decades, but it can be combined with others. The Pregnancy Sickness Support people can recommend good combinations. If you ring them on 024 7638 2020 they will phone back with good advice. Kesostix are a method of checking for protein in the urine as a sign of deyhydration. If they measure at above 3 on the stick, you will need fluids.
Apologies if I've rudely ignored anyone/cross posted.

Gosh, they make it complicated don't they?! TMI but by 7/8 episodes (although actually up to 12 now...) I mean that's how many sessions of vomiting... during which there would be lots of retching and vomiting. Then nausea all in between. Evenings my better time, although all my dinner came up again tonight.

Cyclizine really doesn't seem to be cutting it. Will ask for another tomorrow.

Have got Ketostix and tested today. All ok. Determined not to end up on a drip again so sipping lots of icy water, eating ice cubes and lemonade lollys are going down a dream.

Interestingly I don't have much trouble eating in the first place. It's just keeping it down for longer than an hour that seems impossible!

An enormous thank you for the support. Sending lots of none-nauseating positive vibes to you all too.

MrsPinkKitten Never worry about tmi on here. No such thing! That is quite a lot of vomiting, and definitely Hyperemesis. I'm so glad you have got the kesostix and that you are getting down some liquids. Everyone is very nice on here. I suffered years ago. These days,I am Mother Hen.

Jaffa: woo! Fingers crossed

Sorry and hi to all the new joiners and the returners. You've been given loads of great advice newcomers so I'll just add my sympathies and wishes of welcome.

It's funny how a 'fab' day is one with little sickness and doing even one thing like a normal person without suffering major consequences isn't it? I suppose it shows what hypermesis is like. I've had 2 fab days like jaffa too. I managed another driving lesson, a hair cut (can seriously recommend having someone else wash and dry my hair), lunch in a cafe and a bra fitting (turns out my boobs haven't actually grown yet, my bras are just so old they're not fitting right...). Nausea has not been kind though but bearable at least I suppose.

Holly: that sounds dreadful. I hope you're managing to rest and break the cycle a bit now. Good luck! Keep an eye on those keytones too.

HaichM and Jaffa Congratulations on having good days!
Hollyhop and everyone else, as in post a little below...

(Stumbles in) Hi ladies! I was on these threads in 2015/2016 and it looks like I will be again. BFP this morning. Got tipped off when I threw my coffee up yesterday and thought "ooh this is familiar..." DC3 due in September by all accounts. DH has lost the power of speech. DS2 will be one in a few weeks... At least I haven't got used to sleep!

Hope all well.

I left the house today!! Twice!!

I haven't left the house since I got back from the hospital last Wednesday so it's almost been a week of pyjamas. But I had to go an have my flu vaccine today. And then I was really craving some orange juice ice lollies and as I was already dressed I figured why not? I felt a bit nauseous if I walked too fast but I wasn't sick at all

Kitten. Get meds early. That's my advise. You know it will be bad so get an early start

Tripper. Glad scan was showing all was well

Castle. I had blips at 24w and for the next few weeks maybe twice a week. Lost all 4 xmas meals I went out on

also 26/27 which was xmas week and lost xmas diner and been fairly ok last few weeks. Sick here and there tho lost all 3 meals last sat and out for two of them so total waste of money 🙄😂

Mel. Yah for non puke day

Holly. It really does vary. I saw improvement at 14&20w but still have bad days tho much fewer

Tried coming off medication and then really sick

Lucinda. I'm now apparently nesting 😱😂 washed and dried and folded all of bubs clothes 0/3 and 3/6mths

But yes bored and poor tho df is keeping me in the manner im
Accustomed to

Ruby. Congrats you mad thing once is enough for me

Rose. Yah for leaving house. All progress

And rem if you do leave them keep some coop 10p bags in your handbag /car

My lifesaver 😇😇😇😇

Congratulations Ruby and well done for leaving the house Rose. Little victories are still victories!

Welcome to the returnees - you are frankly heros. I am NEVER doing it again. Second the opinion on the preemptive drugs.

I'm home with a normal temperature. Still have a headache, but the antibiotics seem to be working. Thanks to those asking after me. It's been a brain draining week. If only babies understood 'please sleep because mummy feels like hell'. Nope...

I also recommend lactulose to those suffering. You can get it from the GP on prescription. Didn't do anything spectacular for me, but it helped a little. That & trying to up water consumption, if you can.

Castle I had HG right to the end. The last few weeks were some of the worst. I really hope yours goes away. If not, I'd really prepare yourself for the possibility of bottle feeding, I really struggle with milk production.

Managed a hot chocolate & two crumpets today! 🎉

Lucy I think you're a hero. You have the worst hg I've come across. I really wish you good health from now on you so deserve it.

Thanks lucinda and blondes for the info. I'm on metocholpromide. I'm finding it a hard mental battle these last few weeks. It's like a marathon and I'm finding I have few reserves left (Not physically) I'm glad when every day is over and dread the start of the next. (Don't feel sorry for me, the vomiting is greatly reduced its just the nausea and tiredness that's wearing me down so this of you in tri1 feel free to tell me to piss off!)

RubyReins Is it really a year already? Congratulations on your pregnancy. I remember you well; you were so funny - with you and Blondes on here there should be some great wit going on at least. Unfortunately, it looks like pre-emptive meds are needed already, wouldn't you say? Oh dear, - DH being 'struck dumb' is a bit funny. This is your third, isn't it? And you have a cat and work as a barrister and your DS tried to entertain you by putting lego shapes on your nine months' belly.
Lucy I so agree with Blondes You have had an appalling time. As someone once said on this thread, 'It's just rude of Hyperemesis to come back after the birth.' Crumpets and hot chocolate - really nice in this weather.
Castlefeck Do you think that they might find another medication or are they objecting? Do feel for you and all those who suffer throughout.
SickRose You left the house? Excellent. I bet it felt wonderful. .
I hope everyone is coping today. Watch me cross post.

Ha ha! Glad you thought so :) And yep that's me! The belly buckaroo kept him entertained for ages.

Hopefully this time will be better than last! The culprit for last year's rivers of vom is "eating" shepherds pie right now. We need a tarp. Can't believe he is nearly one! And I can now be one of those bores who go on about having "two under two"! Huzzah.

Good luck all x

Congratulations Ruby. I read last night that white collar workers have a much lower incidence of hg so you have been unlucky.
Also for everyone, apparently smoking reduces your chances of a hg pregnancy! Time to crack open the Marlborough lights!!

Castlefeck I never heard that about smoking!
Oops! while Ruby and Blondes are great for wisecracking, I didn't mean to imply that others aren't, but it may have sounded like that.

Hi ladies

My fab days did not end well. I tried having a drink and was immediately sick. Yesterday I managed to go and have my first ever pedicure - the ladies they were so lovely, they gave me a second cup of hot chocolate once I was done - and I've booked myself an uber-luxurious manicure booked for in a few weeks which comes with a neck and scalp massage. I'm hoping having nice treats to look forward to will help my mental health. I've definitely enjoyed the pampering this week but my mood has gone downward today as I just feel so rough. It started last night after tea, I wasn't sick but I felt so dizzy and tired and so went to bed. Today I feel really nauseous and dizzy and have spent most of the day prone. I'm worried I'm getting dehyrdated again. I've managed one cup of something and some clementines every day and that's it and today struggling with food, having had only 2 slices of toast and 2 clementines. I've just been sat crying a little while trying to drink a hot chocolate. Really hoping it stays down. I'm meant to be going to work tomorrow and sort my timetable and everything out for returning to work and now I feel even more worried about going back.

Random fact: the dr I saw after my scan on Tuesday said that ketones show starvation not dehydration so I have no idea how they test for dehydration. It does explain why I have only trace ketones despite lack of fluids.

Oh, my scan appt went well btw. Baby had a wiggle and the sonographer zoomed out a little after to show us baby head to toe. Hard to stop myself crying with relief that baby was fine. Baby is doing very well actually and measures ahead of what we were expecting. Due date is now 1st August, a week ahead.

Hope everyone is managing better today than me.

Lucy: glad you're home. Hope it's the start of mass improvement

Waves to everyone else

Hi everyone, sorry to read how much people are still struggling. Haich I am pleased your scan went well. After my horror day of Tuesday I felt slightly better (I agree that a 'good day' for us still involves being sick/feeling nauteous) on Wednesday so also got my nails done. I had a pedicure and a tiny bit of luxury also did wonders for my mental health.

I went back to my gp today as I am worried I am getting worse. It has been a big downward spiral since week 13 for me. She said in future if I was sick more than 7 times I needed to go in straight away. She also gave me a new sickness tablet. This is now my 4th one. She also signed me off again. I am feeling so down right now. I really thought I would be getting better by this stage, not worse.

Lucy, glad your home too. Waves to everyone.

Good afternoon all - I hope it's proving to be a good day :-) The dreaded constipation has hit (maybe the Ondansetron?) and I feel like a bloated blimp. Any suggestions on how to sort it with a limited diet lol?

Holly: I'm sorry you're still really struggling but glad you managed to treat yourself and that it helped. I'm glad your gp is looking after you too. I don't think I'm going to manage a full week of work next week if todyay is anything to go by. I'll keep my fingers crossed that it starts to improve for you soon.

Forgot to add the scan pic earlier if anyone is interested.

Pip I was in hospital early on with constipation so you massively have my sympathy. Different things work for different people but dried apricots and the ever sickly lactulose has helped me personally.

Haich, thank you. Lovely pic! Do you know what you're having? When are you due? My fingers are crossed for you too. I haven't worked since the end of November, bar the ill advised day here and there and am actually really keen to get back to some sort of normality.