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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Help, I think I may be suffering from 'Hyperemesis gravidarum'

27 replies

PurpleLostPrincess · 20/02/2007 13:57

I've been getting increasing ms over the past couple of weeks, worse than any pg I've ever had but since Sunday, I've spent most of my time with my head over the toilet, mostly reaching, not always being sick. I can keep some food down but I'm struggling and I always feel sick.

There's a site I looked up called \link{http://www.morningsicknesshelp.com/morningsicknesscauses.html} and I was having a look through when I spotted this Hyperemesis thingy and realised that this is what I might have!!!!?????? Is self-diagnosis dangerous do you think?

I should mention that I did this after having gone out and bought two sea bands but they didn't really help me except for reducing the nausea in between actually being sick!! I seem to be getting all the other symptoms mentioned

Has anybody else suffered with this and if so, what did your doctor do? My GP is calling me later this afternoon...

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Pruni · 20/02/2007 14:02

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KathyMCMLXXII · 20/02/2007 14:06

The drugs worked for me enough to keep me out of hospital. (They don't take away the nausea, alas, so it was still a miserable few months.)
There is a good website at www.bloomingawful.co.uk

mumto3girls · 20/02/2007 14:09

Hi PLP

I had HG and ended up in hospital for a week.

I was so dehydrated that my BP was 70/30 at one point...!! I was too dizzy to walk and finally realised I needed help when I couldn't stand up and had to crawl downstairs to the phone to call GP.

I couldn't even keep down fluids, one mouthful of water would come straight back up. I lost 10lbs in 2 weeks ( and I wasn't overweight!). I was put on a drip and given ant-sickness injections...eventually it calmed down enough for me to come home but was still sick at least once a day until about 5 months pg...then it came back at 8 months.
Sucking ice lollies helped me immensely as it keeps you hydrated without having to gulp drinks...please see aGP with your concerns. Apparently mine was made worse by not seeking help sooner.
Even the day I had my 9lb 8oz baby I weighed less than before i got pg!

Good Luck - I really feel for you.

Muminfife · 20/02/2007 14:13

This reply has been deleted

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Pruni · 20/02/2007 14:13

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Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 20/02/2007 14:18

Thank you for your quick replies! One of the reasons I'm confused is that I'm not actually being sick every time, I'm just reaching and have tonnes of saliva. I'm absolutely knackered and usually I'd be sleeping loads but I can't sleep, I'm really restless...

I've been off work since last week with this and tried to work from home but they have told me not to log on any more and to just concentrate on getting better... I've had 2 m/c's before this, most recent one was in October (have 2 healthy children 8yrs and 12yrs). I've been under lots of stress with things going on at home and feel like everything is falling apart!!!

Can't wait for the doctor to call but hope I don't have to go into hospital as dh isn't very well either...!

OP posts:

Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 20/02/2007 14:19

p.s. we saw a hb last week so I'm sure baby is fine - they said I'm 8+5 but I'm sure I'm a week or more ahead of that.

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KathyMCMLXXII · 20/02/2007 14:23

The extra saliva is a common symptom - it's called something like hyperptyalism.

Are you managing to rest, what with your sick dh? Not resting will make it worse.

I think they will only make you go to hospital if you are actually dehydrated - it's the dehydration that's dangerous. Having said that, they will probably only let you have drugs if you are in danger of dehydration - they tend to fob you off a bit with HG because some doctors don't really know about it and just say things like 'morning sickness is normal'. Well, if your sickness is so bad you are in danger of dehydration, you need help, so don't let them fob you off! If you need to, see different doctors until you actually find one that helps.

Muminfife · 20/02/2007 14:23

This reply has been deleted

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BabyMadwithBump · 20/02/2007 16:08

I had HG with 3rd and 4th PG (this being my 4th PG now with this LO) I ened up in hospital 4 times last time and this time they wanted me in hospital but I said no due to having two small boys at home and DH in full time work. I'm now 16+4 and starting to feel sick again after going away only a few weeks ago, I hope that it's just tirness as that makes it so much worse. what i found helped was: I use to take my DC to school come home, spend the rest of the day in bad till 3pm, get my DC from school, do a little cleaning then DH would do tea, DC in bed and me back to bad I know it sounds lazy but it got me from A TO B, IYSWIM. NOTHING else worked for me and I said to everyone mention ginger and i'll kill you, lol. I went to my doc's at about 10 weeks and he gave me anit-sickness tabs, they deslove on your gum line so no need to sollow. HTH

PeachyClair · 20/02/2007 16:14

Hello

Can I suggest you search the phrase blooming awful- it brings up the support group for HG in the UK, a page with very man suggestions, info on medications, all sorts

Unfortunately the group no longer runs, however I was aprt of the info line and support network, so please feel free to CAT me

Great big to you, I too have been put on a drip etc for this horrid, nasty condition.

Lemon can helt the ptyalism I am told (I doidnt get all the info until after [sad}

The main tips I give are:

there is a link between tiredness and nausea. So REST!

focus on liquids- flat cola is supposedly good, I swore by lucozade

if liquids get ahrd, try foodstuffs with high liquid contennt- melon, lettuce, icepops are all fab and easy to tolerate

If you fancy something, however bizarre, eat it. Just a mslal amunt at first to see how you go, but no guilt over the 'wrong foods' for HG sufferes!

Again- and my email if you dont have cat is peaches and cream 04 at bt internet dot com

PeachyClair · 20/02/2007 16:15

(babymadwithbump- please also feel free to email if you need a chat X)

Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 20/02/2007 22:04

Thanks for the helpful tips everybody. I've spoken with the GP and he has issued a prescription for domperidone. He said if I don't improve by Thursday morning I'll need to have a blood test and depending on the results go into hospital...

I've managed to keep down a few slices of pizza so things are already on the up and I'm confident that we can avoid any further panics!

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mumto3girls · 21/02/2007 08:13

That's great - I'm glad you're feeling a bit better!!

EdieMcredie · 21/02/2007 08:29

I agree that HG must be the pits. I suffered bad ms from 5 weeks until about a week ago (im almost 11 weeks now). I was actually being sick about 3 times a day and some days couldn't keep water down. It was hell. MW was not at all bothered, her criteria for admission was not being able to keep fluid down for 3 days running. However im glad as it's now on it's way out and I would have hated having to be in hospital, (im a nurse-the worst kind of patient!!)

Good luck-I feel for you xxxxxxxxxxx

KathyMCMLXXII · 21/02/2007 16:23

Best thing about Domperidone is that it sounds a bit like Dom Perignon - always makes me giggle.

So glad your GP was sensible. Sounds like it is working but if it stops working, do look into trying other drugs. And keep resting! Good luck.

KathyMCMLXXII · 21/02/2007 16:24

Just noticed Babymadwithbump's comment about 'Mention ginger and I'll kill you'. I know just how that feels

Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 21/02/2007 18:35

Well, I seem to be keeping things down now, in fact, I've got my appetite back, yay!!!

The only thing is how knackered I am, even though I sleeping on and off all the time. I know its good to get rest but I still feel really unwell. I'm thinking of still asking for the blood test just in case the last week or so has had an effect on me - I'll let you know...

btw, I can't stand ginger anyway lol!!

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Original poster

PurpleLostPrincess · 22/02/2007 19:05

Update: I've not been as good today - the anti sickness tabs seem to be taking the edge of it but not working as well as I had thought... . Went to the doctors and it turns out I've got a bit of a temperature so even though I'm quite sure I'm not dehydrated, I'm having a blood test in the morning. He's also signed me off for TWO WEEKS which is a bit of a shock. I know I need to rest and get better etc but the financial implications are a bit worrying!

I'll get the blood test results next week...

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Piffle · 22/02/2007 19:10

Oh sympathies I had this with dd and it was the absolute pits
top tips
Sea sickness/anti nausea bands from the chemist helped me a little.
Staying in bed laying down until I'd managed some toast.
soup in small doses
grated fresh pear
fruit juice
I also sought help from a homeopath, I was very lucky as the tablet mix she gave me really helped, well they got my sickness down from 30 x a day to about 6
I had to quit work and stay in bed almsot full time - it eased off at nearly 30 wks
I was offered meds but refused to take them
Just try to kepe regular small fluids down, don't be fussy, water is best but whatever you can stomach, your baby WILL be fine. Also ask about a multi vitamin in liquid form, as swallowing pre natal torpedo sized tabs is impossible.

It did make me truly miserable, dp and ds lived off microwave meals for months
But we're all ok now.

PeachyClair · 22/02/2007 20:42

The tablets- there are loads of different types. If you have been presvribed one that doesn't work for you, go back and try another. For me, bucanesten resulted in me vomiting in the graveyeard at a friends son's Baptism , but avomine- basically a travel sickness pill- was fabulous. I had injectable anti emetics too, whilst on the drip, which took the heat off whilst my body rehydrated.

Zofran is considered to be especially good by those who tried it.

Homeopathy- Inknow some people who have had extremelys evere HG who swear by it, like Piffle, for taking the heat off. make sure you see a proper homeopath who does a long and deatiled discussion: one stop shops just aren't the same thing at all.

Ginger- ah yes. It can help, especially with MS as opposed to HG. And some poeple respond very wekll to the use of it for HG but many don't- and its ahrd to get it in a big enough dose for most people. Ginger tablets from a herbalist (do neals yard do them? they have a web store) is generally the best way.

The thing is that nobody knows what causes HG. years ago it was put down to nerves and treated as a psychiatric disorder , but the causes are probably many- so if its to do with the digestive system in one persons case then ginger will work; if its linked to HG levels or tiredness or whatever it might not.

monkeycat · 22/02/2007 23:04

I had HG .It's really not fun !
Luckily my GP was great and I was signed off work for the whole pregnancy .
Tried lots of different drugs . Different ones work for different people so keep trying .

Anti-emetics are basically sedatives so they will knock you out a bit but HG makes you exhausted anyway .

As already mentioned ZOFRAN was the best for me - that's it's trade name - it's also called ONDANSETRON . It's one of the more expensive drugs so they tend to try the others first .

Hopefully your medication will help but if it doesn't then go back to your doctor .

Unfortunately the only other thing that really work was lying VERY still.

I ended up in hospital being re-hydrated . Tiny sips of flat cola with some salt in it can help you avoid this .

Most of all - don't worry about your baby - you can live on cornflakes and nothing else for 9 months and your baby will be perfectly well.

Pruni · 22/02/2007 23:12

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Pruni · 22/02/2007 23:13

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PeachyClair · 23/02/2007 10:33

No, but it is supposed to be the best- its also the most expensive (or was) so they work through everything first, including the off chance that HG will pass at 15 weeks like 'normal' MS

There are people who cant take anything- its no that long ago that people with severe HG were advised to terminate. Fortunately I've never come across that happening in the UK_ doesn't mean it doesn't happen though, obstetricians vary.

That website I referred to has a list of various medications on it, along with information such as whether recommended in pg use. Some in fact are not, usually that because they have never been tested on pg women rather than they have proven negative effects. Its always worth a cjheck though, imo. And it depends how severe you are as well- if youre so bad you cant consider continuing with the pg you'll look at it differently possibly? Dont know wasnt in that situation, the lady who founded blooming awful was in a terrible state though and I know she ahd real doubts about her second accidentalpg (her story is on the site), and suffered severe pnd. haven't spoken to many people who get it that bad however- most seem to get some respite at 20 weeks, and then again at 24. But some don't get any, more's the pity.

FWIW op (in case I scared you) the fact that you have managed pizza in the last week is extremely reassuring.

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