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.

Lucinda thank you, the advantage of it being second time round is I've found a good list of palatable foods (including some odd ones like frazzles...). I had a good day today and am hoping maybe the tablets are working - time will tell?!

Hollyhop it is so awful to be ill throughout, you have my total sympathy.

Does anyone have any experience of breastfeeding through this? Fortunately I'm lucky and think I'm not really near HG at the moment, sick about 4-10 x a day and lucky enough to be able to keep down 1 decent enough meal a day and water etc, so no worries about dehydration really. But I'm breastfeeding my 18 month old a few times a day. I've been advised to wean because of the medicine I'm taking, but wanted to see if anyone else has persevered (I could try switching medicines to reduce the risks, but am not sure how realistic I'm being)? Just a bit hormonal about the whole thing. I meant to wean soon anyway, but now I need to do it quite quickly I am feeling guilty.

Just nipping in to say to those struggling with minty toothpaste, have you tried the health shop ones? I found Kingfisher fennel toothpaste just about bearable. Also yes to mouthwash. I could not tolerate minty ones but grew to like Listerine Cool Citrus. Not sure if it contains fluoride.
Shirley, sorry you're feeling so wretched. Everything is a million times harder when you're ground down by the relentless sickness and nausea. So hope you have some easier days before the birth.

Haich, I have been getting similar pains in my bump, got a midwife appt tomorrow so will ask and report back.

Thanks Pippa. This is my first, and last no way I could go through this again, so no idea re bf. I'm sure someone with more experience can help. Hugs to everyone else. My DH is about to give me some dinner, not looking forward to seeing it in the toilet bowl later...

I also have a new symptom which is awful. Does anyone else slightly wet themselves when being sick? I never had this before. I am being so violently sick this time round it is very hard to control down there. I just feel so thoroughly miserable

Haich - I struggle with aches and pains in the early part of pregnancy, especially around bump (or for me, baby, no bump yet). My midwife said it's round ligament pains to do with uterus stretching and the pain is amplified due to me being skin and bone with no nourishment. As I can keep more down and eat better, my pain threshold increases (although by then baby is kicking cervix and that hurts!)

Holly - I think Blondes also had a relapse around 24w, hormone surges etc. It should never get as bad as the first trimester. I was nauseous till the end last time, but managed to avoid vomiting by never eating till I was full. Pretty much just constant snacking. The first full glass of water I could drink in one go after labour was amazing!

Shirley - you're so close! So sorry to hear you're feeling awful. Hopefully it's just a blip.

Pippa - can't help with bf, DD weaned herself at a year and I got pregnant first cycle after that. I think you might just need to be extra careful in regards to dehydration.

Waves to all! And I second mouthwash if toothpaste isn't helping.

Holly - sorry, I can't help with that one. But a lot of people with HG have struggled with it.

Hollyhop yes , it's awful, think it's something to do with the relaxin (a lot of people have the problem when sneezing during pregnancy, I guess vomiting has a similar effect). I can reassure you that this problem stopped for me after giving birth to my dd....it has now already returned for this pregnancy.

holly sadly yes this has started for me. Not very glamorous.

I just dont understand as I had HG from week 7 until 18ish, it never happened once. But for the past two weeks it has been most times I'm sick.

I didnt realise there was a hormone surge at 24 weeks. For those where it came back, how long did it last? Am I right in thinking it will be here the whole pregnancy?

Thanks for all your replies, this thread is really helpful.

HaichM Oh dear, vertigo, dizziness, headaches,SPD and other aches, besides nausea and food aversions!
Lules and Lemondrop I second that kids' strawberry toothpaste recommendation, plus a kids' toothbrush as a small one is less nauseating. Sometimes in despair, I would rinse my mouth with a mixture of a teaspoonful of bicarb and water which does clean the teeth, but is probably not recommended in pregnancy as so salty...Good advice from MotherofPearl about health food toothptaste.
pippanippa When you say sick 4-10 times a day, is that separate incidents, or heaves? If separate incidents, that is a lot, when struggling to breastfeed, so even if dehydration hasn't been a problem so far, do watch out for it. I wish I could advise you about whether it is safe to take those meds when breastfeeding; I expect someone else knows.

Hollyhop Really sorry the symptoms are back. I recall with many things improve again after that hormonal surge. Some unlucky people do have it come back in the third tri but usually a bit later. The wetting yourself is, unluckily, very common...I got in the habit of whipping off my knickers..
Sorry to hear of IAmSeriousAndDon'tCallMeShirley's very bad day...
Waves to Melleebacca.
Apologies to anyone I've rudely overlooked.

Thanks Lucinda. I am going back to the doctors tomorrow to get signed off. For the past week I have been heaving at work and struggling with the nausea but it has kicked up a notch today and I just cant face it. I have been sick 16 times today (althogether, 3 separate incidents) and the nausea has been here all day.

Have others been induced early as a way of coping? I have a consultant appt coming up and I was going to ask. I just dont think I can cope with another 15 weeks of this...

Sorry to all newcomers that you feel poorly

If anyone wants some cyczline as I have some spare

Hollyhop Sorry you feel so bleak. Some consultants do agree to induction, and it has happened to women on here. State of mind might well be an aspect. I would have thought they could add something that might make the difference. I am glad you are counting in heaves, rather than separate episodes - it seems doctors count in heaves, and that is why they are often talking at cross purposes with Hyperemesis sufferers when they say 'Sick 10 times a day' but they don't mention all the violent heaving which takes it to 100! I hope the consultant is sympathetic to early induction. Trends seem to vary, and across countries.
Blondes How lovely to hear from you! So you are back home, and a family at last. What name have you chosen?

Hi all it's been a while since I've posted I've reached the 34 week mark and survived pregnancy 2 with ondanesetron! But now as the end I'd now feeling completely wretched again ? Anyone else feel worse near the end ? X

Just back from probably my worst trip to the doctors. I am basically 25 weeks and she asked me if I had tried natural remedies, such as ginger. Apologies for the swearing, but are you fucking kidding me?

Sorry, didnt mean to send that. I was diagnosed around 12/13 weeks. So why, despite my extensive notes, are you asking me if I've tried natural remedies. She also had the audacity to tell me that being sick is a common part of pregnancy, and it should go at the end of the first trimester. Considering I am coming up to the third, that is completely useless information. I am so, so tired of healthcare professionals not understanding HG. She signed me off for a week, which was the only positive. I feel so dismayed and down. I was actually sick in her office as she was offering up her ginger wisdom...

Hi Pippa I was also still breastfeeding my son when I fell pregnant. He was a bit older than yours (34 months) so had dropped down to just the one morning feed (and the odd comfort feed here and there) so he was quite close to weaning anyway.

As I knew I was going to get ill again I went to GP asap and got a prescription for metocloprimide (as I had used it in previous pregnancy) to start taking as soon as nausea/vomiting got overwhelming. But she did say I would have to stop breastfeeding.

I dithered for a few days, but at about 7 weeks pregnant I was feeling really unwell, so decided to wean DS and take the medication. I explained to him the Mummy was poorly and needed to take medicines, but as the medicines could get into the milk he couldn't have Mummy milk any more. I didn't mention pregnancy as didn't want him associating his sibling with stopping having milk. He actually took it really well and we had no problems weaning at all (possibly because he was so close to weaning anyway?).

I did feel guilty weaning him, but not for long as he took it so well. I have also heard that pregnancy changes the taste of breast milk, so many toddlers self wean then anyway.

I am really glad I decided to wean when I did as I needed to take the medication and look after myself (and the new baby). I was struggling to keep myself hydrated so I knew I couldn't keep on hydrating another person too! By 9 weeks I was dehydrated and on a drip in hospital so would have been in no fit state to breastfeed anyway.

There is evidence to suggest that taking medication as early as possible if you have a history of HG might prevent the condition from escalating.

Looking back I know I made the right decision for me and DS, we still have plenty of cuddles, just no more milk. The guilt I felt from being too ill to look after him or even play with him in those dark days of the first trimester was far worse than the guilt I felt for weaning him a few months earlier than he would have anyway.

I hope that helps, it's a really tough decision to make, but you never know, your toddler may surprise you like mine did. Make sure you look after yourself though.

Just to let you know there is light at the end of the tunnel - I am one of the lucky ones and at 29 weeks now I have been functioning normally for some time (hence the silence on here). Just the one cyclizine a day to keep the edge off, so a million miles away from those dark days of the first trimester and early second trimester.

Holly sorry your gp was useless.just so you know I always wet myself with every vomit. I also felt awful in the 20s, but the sickness eased after week 30. Now at 38 I'm the best I've been. (My HG was milder than yours, but I hope you see an improvement soon)

Hi everyone else.

Holly - that's awful, just awful. GP is ridiculous. Can you see anyone else? You do need meds and support.
You can get induced early, but HG is not usually the primary reason. My step mum got induced early due to mental health issues that arose from the HG. And I will have multiple growth scans to check that the HG isn't hindering baby's growth. But usually HG babies grow big. Start talking to midwife/GP now about your mindset etc, in order for you to have the best chance.

Holly, sorry, I don't know if you've already tried this, but maybe ring the PSS line, as a lot of women on this thread have been helped by them. I think they can help you to find a GP near you who is knowledgeable about HG (and sympathetic too). That GP of yours sounds just dreadful: ignorant, and heartless too. I don't think there any other circumstances where someone can be so very ill, but are expected to just suffer in silence. As for bloody ginger! I despair, I really do. I always joke about sending out the Ginger Hit Squad to eliminate deal with HCPs who mention ginger to HG sufferers.

Hey Holly I sympathise. I threw up blood and the GP was like "hey, you sure you need all these meds? Have you tried ginger?!". I could have screamed. Motherofpearl advice is good, the PSS helpline is very good.

Thanks for your replies all. Glad to hear I'm not alone in feeling frustrated. Also glad I'm not alone in wetting myself. Just another glamorous side effect.

I havent rung the helpline but going to tomorrow morning, thanks for the reminder.

Lemon, I'm sorry that happened to you. I hate being asked about ginger at the best of times, but at 25 weeks while I'm being sick is ridiculous.

I asked about induction and the midwife wasnt sympathetic at all. I didnt get to see my usual one who is much nicer and understanding. This one told me that everyone suffers from HG and I just need to ger on with it. She was very against an induction at all...

Hugs to all, hope you've had better day than me.

Holly sorry you are having such a tough time. Hope today is a better day. Gah, ginger - my DH bought me ginger biscuits last week which I hate at the best of times. Bless him he really was trying to be nice, but I was quietly fuming for the rest of the day!

Lucinda yes, I meant 4-10 separate instances. I think you're definitely right, not taking meds really isn't an option, I know they're not stopping it entirely but they are making a huge difference. If I stopped taking anything I doubt I would be well enough to breastfeed anyway.

Thank you so much Sneezy, it's nice to hear a similar story. With these meds the Dr has advised me I can take them and breastfeed but only for a short while, so I have 2 weeks to wean totally.

I am finding it tough, my DD doesn't really seem ready and is not happy/starting not to sleep as well etc, which isn't easy to deal with when not feeling well. It just adds to the reasons I feel guilty / selfish for taking medicine (I think it's the repeated disclaimers from dr's about medication in pregnancy, illness being normal etc, a kind of, take the medicine but 'on your head be it' type approach). Anyway, seeing a different Dr on Friday, will see what they say about a long term plan for managing all of this. Sorry for the vent!

Thanks Pippa, hope you have a good day today. Sorry you are struggling with bf, I'm sure your DD will get used to it soon but I understand this time isn't pleasant.

Woken up feeling the same, which is never a good sign. If the nausea is there first thing it never goes. The doctor switched me back go cyclizine but it didnt work for me before so not convinced it will help now.

Hugs to all, hope today is a better, ginger advice free day.

Have to go out- but I'm just dashing on to symapthize with all who are suffering from not only bad symptom, but infuriating advice from GP's.
I am astounded - I so agree with MotherofPearl that with no other serious illness would anyone be treated so dismissively, and for all those with trouble obtaining meds, do ring the Pregnancy Sickness Support helpline on 024 7638 2020 and they will ring back with great advice and understanding....
Nobody should feel guilty about taking meds which have been proven safe for decades when the alternative is to be in hospital on a drip - and nobody should feel guilty about stopping breastfeeding. I had to give it up when my daughter was five months, partly because I never felt well as it did b ring back the Hyperemesis symptoms mildly. But I was one of the unlucky tiny minority who suffer after birth - trust me to be awkward - it has only happened to about five people out of all the hundreds who have been on the thread. Most of them had been very ill or ill afterwards with complications from birth, excessive blood loss, etc, so I don't want people to start worrying its likely to happen to them.