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.

Sending good luck to @Blondes! Very exciting! 💐
@Lemondrop I agree about the anxiety. I have the same worries and then also worry on the days when the sickness is slightly better that something must be wrong! And re. Lack of ketones, I had this at my last appt but midwife was quite happy to 'top me up' with fluids if I wanted.
I'm 18 + 3 weeks now, but I have no bump and haven't felt the baby move yet - although this is my first and I don't really know what initial movements will feel like. I'm also still a stone lighter than I was pre pregnancy and don't seem to be putting any weight on. Is this all just sounding like a 'normal' HG pregnancy? I really wish I felt pregnant and not just poorly!

Blondes The best of luck again. That sounds uncomfortable. I remember the six hour pessaries, anyway. I suppose they are inducing because they want a so long awaited a baby delivered asap.
MotherofPearl Waves.
Lemondrop It is so odd about no ketones in urine. I think being ill makes you anxious; I put all my anxieties down to having had a MMC, but that was because I didn't suffer badly for long. Much sympathy - anxiety spoils what should be a happy time.
Mardybum A lot of people don't seem to feel movements until quite late - maybe it depends on the position of the placenta? I think I have heard that. That description, 'like the stroke of a feather' sums up the early movements. I am sure you will feel them soon. It's good that our midwife offered to give you top up fluids - and if that can be done, I wonder why that isn't offered to most sufferers more often to avoid hospital admissions? It seems a sensible preventative treatment.
IAmSerious Sorry to hear that vomiting is back, but happy to hear you had a good weekend.
Apologies to anyone rudely ignored or with whom I have cross posted...

Mardybum Lol, that's 'your midwife' not the typically northern, 'our' as in 'Our so-andso'....

Blondes: good luck! I hope all goes wel and doesn't take too long.

Lemon: yep to the anxieties. I am convinced my 3rd trimester is going to be bad in some way yet I want the next few weeks to disappear so I'm in it already. Not sure if that's because of the anxiety or because I feel like I should be there already. It feels like I've been pregnant for ages, I feel 'heavy' and tired a lot, and my mobility is affected. Another 18w feels like forever.

Mardy: that was me a few weeks ago. Don't panic. I'm still not putting on weight but baby is and I have a bump developing at last. I did however feel baby move quite early but a)it's my second and b) it likes to kick etc right near my pelvis where I am all skin and bone and there is nothing blocking it. At first tho I wasn't always sure if it was baby or cramp or gas, if that helps.

Mellee: no chips or crisps really for me here but the sweet tooth is finally kicking in and sometimes I can have a chocolate bar or some biscuits. Hot choc is OK occasionally too. Cake however seems to be a winner, so I may actually put some weight on that isn't baby or fluids or bloating if I eat a lot of that .

Take care everyone

Ha, yes I can also relate to the people who have anxiety when not throwing up too! It's like I have to be anxious 24/7

The other day, I had felt better all day, hasn't vomited at all. Sat at home, got myself in a right tizz. Was really quite stressed by the time DH got home, spilled it all out to him the second he walked through the door. He calmed me down then left the room to get something. Literally the second he walked out, I suddenly had the most spectacular vomiting fit! He popped his head back around the door, looking slightly amused, eyebrows raised. Between retches I managed to say "Don't.....say.....a.......word!!!!" It was quite funny. I am now learning to enjoy any sick free periods.

I'm an over thinker of everything, and too much time stuck home alone with Dr Google is a bad thing. I have no reason to think I should have any problems, this is my first pregnancy, no unhappy history. I should just be enjoying it. I am a little calmer now I'm past the first trimester and slowly starting to accept that I might actually manage to have a healthy baby at the end of this. But then I read sad stories about people who lost babies past 12 weeks or had still births and it shakes me again. I know it daft, what will be, will be, and worrying won't change that.

Anyway, on the plus side, I'm feeling a bit better now I've increased my medication again. I must have been trying to reduce it too soon. I even managed to get down the crematorium yesterday to "tell" my mum and dad they're going to be grandparents. First time I've left the house in weeks though, knackered today!!!

Best of luck to blondes! Hope baby comes very soon!

Oh yes I can relate to the discussion re anxiety. I'm such a worrier and over thinker. I felt not too bad yesterday so was panicking where the sickness has gone. I felt like a fool this morning for stressing when it was definitely back with a vengeance!!!

Hello,

I've sat and sobbed at reading this thread- finally I feel like I'm not the only one going through this.

I am only 6+3 weeks but have spent the last 10 days crippled by nausea and vomiting. I'm wretching/dry heaving 30-40 times a day, vomiting between 3-5 times depending on what I've eaten. I can just about manage savoury crackers but am hugely struggling with fluid as every time I sip it triggers me gagging. I've tried an ice lolly today which seems to have been better. I also feel like I'm constantly hyper-salivating and yawning. I'm only passing urine about 3 times a day so I know I need to try harder with the fluids.

I turned up for work this morning and was back home by 10 which I feel so guilty about as work hugely rely on me and its a tiny team who can't take up the slack. I have a GP appointment tomorrow, and I don't think I'm going to leave with out some sort of anti-emetic.

I feel so guilty - I want this baby more than anything, my last pregnancy I miscarried. However I can't see how I can cope with this for the next 12 weeks or more. I feel utterly miserable. My house is a shit tip. I'm letting work down and I feel like I'm not cut out for this at all. Everyone seems to have the attitude of just getting on with it and I just can't. I know many of you ladies have had it far worse so please forgive my self-pitying.

Hi putput and welcome to the club that nobody wants to be a part of! Sorry you are feeling so terrible. It's an awful shock when it kicks in. Mine was 5+4 and hit me like a ton of bricks. Just know that you don't have to suffer this much and you can, and should, take things to help.

If you think you're GP is unlikely to be helpful, check out the Pregnancy Sickness Support website tonight for information. If you call their helpline, they can give you a lot of useful information to take to your GP. I had to battle with mine to be prescribed odansetron. It is likely your GP will start you on cyclizine or promethazine initial. If these don't help in 3 days, go straight back and push for something new. Do what you can to stay hydrated where possible.

Screw the house! Rest, take care of yourself and know that this too shall pass

Also, you may need to be signed off while you get your symptoms under control with medication. That's ok, don't feel guilty. Work can't hold pregnancy sickness against you. I was off for 2 weeks, made a spectacularly unsuccessful attempt to return and ended up signed off for another 2.5 weeks. I'm only just easing back into work now, and having to do it from home as I can't commute.

Hello putput sorry you find yourself here. I'm not going to give you practical advice as I'm fairly new to all this and the other ladies here know so much more than me but I wanted to say I felt exactly like you did when I stumbled across this thread when lying in bed desperately willing myself to keep some water down. You will get so much support and help here. Try not to feel guilty, HG is just awful and can be really debilitating. I too had to be signed off in the end and I posted about how other women at work were sailing through pregnancy without a sick day in sight and there was me constantly being off sick and going back and then having to dash home to be signed off again, I've gone back this week working from home but still finding it challenging. Work will need to understand and honestly your house is the last thing you should be worrying about.

Ice cold full sugar Coke helped me when I was on my knees with weakness and headaches from being sick so much. I think though what helps one of us may not work for others. I'm some of the experienced ladies on this thread will be along soon to give you some practical advice.

Thank you lemondrop and littlepooch. I'm seeing a locum GP tomorrow, but going armed with lots of info. Good luck blondes. My pink castle seems a lifetime away, I'm just praying I'm not harming my little one, dh found an article linking cyclizine to cleft palate which I can't get out of my head, although I know there's been lots of others that gave disproved any link.
Does anyone have any tips in keeping down the pregnancy vitamins? I'm taking pregnacare and they are these huge great things which have a slight iron taste which sends my wretching through the roof.

Are you sure it was cyclizine? Both cyclizine and promethazine are antihistamines and widely regarded as safe in pregnancy.

One study found a link with odansetron and cleft pallets, but others have disregarded this. This is the pill I had to argue with my GP to get and I wouldn't use it first, but it is very good. It's listed as an accepted treatment in the recent RCOG guidelines

www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/green-top-guidelines/gtg69-hyperemesis.pdf

The worry is perfectly natural. I tried really hard not to take my first prescription...I last 1.5 days. Simply, I needed it. I couldn't go on feeling that bad. The risk of dehydration and malnutrition to your baby is likely more harmful that the tiny risk from medication.

Regarding pills, get some Folic Acid and Vit D pills. Just the cheap ones, they are quite small. I swallow those on the days I can't face the giant Pregnacare horse pills. I take Pregnacare on days when I feel better.

Putput - you poor, poor thing. Even at 19w, I've kinda blocked out how bad the beginning is. Anti-emetics - it's personal preference, you don't have to take them if you're uncomfortable with the risks. But everything has a slim chance of risks. I've got friends who did an HG pregnancy with no anti emetics and they were bed bound for 5 months and vomiting till the end. I was on ondansetron till 34w with DD and she's absolutely fine. Also, my hubby was trying to keep me off the meds, due to the risks, but yesterday he had an upset tummy and came and apologized for all I'm going through.

Mardy - 19w today. Up almost 2kgs from lowest weight, still down 4kgs from pre-pregnancy weight. Because of my build and the weightloss, I don't show till 28w. I can feel movements, but it's actually really common to not feel movements till past 20w. Try having some fizzy drink and then lying still in bed, will feel like bubbles.

Shirley - oh no! Not the dreaded 3rd trimester relapse. Your weekend sounds lovely, hope your DD loved it.

Blondes - the trumpets are ready.

Waves to all.

Hi PutPut sorry you are feeling so rotten.

Just to echo others cyclazine is definitely safe, many studies etc and plenty of ladies on here who have had heathy babies on all sorts of antisickness drugs. I know you only want to do the best for your baby, but trust me when I say the best thing is to be as hydrated as possible and get some nutrients in you. With HG that's practically impossible without Meds for most.

Fluid wise I found the ice cold juice from tinned peaches a winner. Managed to take tablets with that too. Ice lollies also helped, and for me that was it. But I know others have found milkshake, or hot choc, flat coke, cuppa soup, jelly and many others worked. I think it's a case of finding what works for you.
Not fluid- but I found sucking on a salt and vinegar crisp helped tackle nausea... random I know. French fries were best as they dissolve to nothing. :)

Also I agree time off is needed, and hard as it is with work you and your baby come first. It's really important to rest up. I went back to work far too soon and suffered a huge set back in my progress. Learn from those of us who have made the mistake. Be kind to yourself. You are doing great in an impossibly hard situation. It does get better I promise. Xx

Just popped on to see how Blondes is getting on and brilliant to see she is meeting her baby any time now!!

DS is 3 and a bit weeks now and feeling great (if a bit sleepy!) Even the nasty mouth taste is completely gone for a couple of weeks now.

Also sending a hug to putput. Please don't feel guilty about work. Of you had a stroke or got hit by a car they would have to cope without you! At least with HG they know they are getting you back.

P. S. A picture of snoozes to cheer everyone on to pink castle...

LightTripper - that onesie is just the cutest! Glad to hear you're feeling so much better.

Just rushing on to welcome putputput. You've already had great advice, I so agree. See a Dr asap, before you get too dehydrated.
If you are unlucky and the dr refuses meds, which is unlikely with that much vomiting (is that episodes, or heaves? Remember that doctors count in heaves, so if you are having 10 vomiting episodes with 5 heaves each, that is 50 heaves a day) as others say, do phone Pregnancy Sickness Support on the telephone number on my introductory post above on 024 7638 2020, and they will advise you on how to get meds. Invest in some kesostix from a chemists for checking on the early stages of dehydration. IAmSerious and others have given great advice also about liquids, the famous juice of tinned fruit, sugary coke, and ice lollies, etc. I certainly never heard that fear over cyclizine, as it has been used for about thirty years, the dr's anti emetic of choice for pregnant women, so could it have been a study that was not large enough to be representative? Whereas getting too dehydrated is bad for both you and the baby.

I have to go to bed ridiculously early, as I am getting up at 5am for a day trip to Liverpool and back, so I am having to slope off to bed early and won't be back until the afternoon, but I hope everyone is coping and I will be back tomorrow afternoon. Maybe we will have heard form Blondes by then.

..Sorry, LightTripper I meant to say, that is a lovely picture.

Yaay light what a gorgeous picture to brighten up a Monday. Just beautiful.
Glad to hear that you are feeling good. X

Light your little boy is gorgeous. Congratulations on getting there.

GP was really helpful. She's given me cyclizine to take three times a day and prochlorperazine buccal tablets to take once or twice a day. I couldn't do a urine sample but she's said if my output decreases further then to go to a&e. I have a sick note for a week, so keeping everything crossed that something helps. It's truly miserable. My lips are cracked and bleeding but Vaseline/lip balm makes me wretch. Thank you for the brilliant advice you've all given.

Oh I'm so glad you were taken seriously! Yes, do go and get a drip if you need it. And do go back to the GP in a few days if you don't see an improvement. Different drugs help different people so don't hesitate to try something new should you need it. I wouldn't be surprised if you need to extend that sick note, and that's ok if you do. Look after yourself.

I found sipping orange Lucosade helped ease the nausea slightly and gave me a bit of energy when no eating much.

Oh blondes I can't wait to hear that you have entered the pink castle, sending all good thoughts.

I'll be back soon constantly to check progress...

I'll post properly again soon, it's been a rough couple of weeks and I had some mumsnet free time. All is well with baby and me, just you know, life

putput I am glad you've got some meds. Do get those kesostix from a chemists - in the early stages, it seems they indicate dehydration well, though if you eat little for a long time later on they can indicate 'starvation' too. Do keep an eye on that dehydration, as it must be quite bad not to have been able to produce a urine sample. If the cyclizine isn't helping in a couple of days, do go back. Unfortunately it is possible to get very dehydrated quickly and one of the symptoms is a sort of mental confusion where you can' t accept how ill you are.

lemondrop Good advice.
fourcorneredcircle Oh dear, sorry to hear that life has been tough even apart from this.
Waves to IAmSerious and everyone. Eager too for news of Blondes so I can put up that Pink Castle picture.
LightTripper Such a sweet picture.
Watch me cross post...

Hi everyone
Sorry to hear how unwell you're feeling putput and I can't wait to hear news from blondes!
I've just had an interesting chat with my GP who's going to speak to the rest of the doctors about whether they could provide a hyperemesis rehydration service at the surgery! We spoke about how our unit won't accept you unless your ketones are +3, which by that point I'm really ill. I'll find out what they say on Friday. He's also giving my twice-weekly acupuncture and is going to show DH how to do it so he can give it to me daily
On another note my symptoms seem to be easing (still taking medicine though) so that feels more promising.
Hope you lot managed to enjoy Mothers' Day a bit?