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.

After a few days of being able to eat a lot more, I got carried away and got out of bed too soon to get my daughter dressed - she was so happy to have mummy helping her, the minute we were done I was straight into the bathroom vomiting my toast. A nice little reminder that just because you've had some good days don't go thinking you can actually participate in family life without consequences!

Well done to those of you making it into work and dealing with work related stresses, I'm lucky to be signed off for a couple more weeks and so far my manager being very supportive.

Lemon I can still remember my rice vomits from last time, by far the most hideous. Out of the nose and also coming up in compacted pellets. Hideous, you have my sympathy.

Waves to everyone xx

Gosh rice from the nose?! Ouch.
I've been avoiding acidic foods since projectile vomiting tomato soup and grapefruit juice from my nose near the beginning. It's hard because I loved acidic foods. Mostly sticking to mash/mashed jacket potatoes now. Bland and ok to vomit, although heavy so more likely to vomit. Can't have everything I guess.
Seeing the dietician this morning and getting my bloods taken.
Well done to everyone struggling through work at the moment!

I feel very lucky to have escaped a rice vomit, sounds horrendous! Just last week I had a horrific experience with chocolate, bloody easter, so am avoiding at all costs now. Really hope the aversion doesnt last though as I love it!

Holly - the chocolate aversion fades immediately after birth. I spent the year between pregnancies effectively gorging myself on it. I'm counting down the days till I can have it again!

Hi everyone. I'm really struggling with pregnancy sickness, but don't think it qualifies as HG.

I am 7 weeks and have not been into work for weeks. I have 24/7 nausea, although I only vomit 1-5 times a day. I keep down most of the food I can eat, but that is only 500 calories on a bad day (probably less than 1000 on a good day). I have to force down every bite.

I almost never leave the house and don't even like to put on clothes as I can't stand bra straps and waist bands. After a string of bad days I am grey, lethargic and unable to do anything but lie on the sofa all day.

Any tips?

Well that was good while it lasted. Sorry for swearing but I've fucking had it again. Just been sent home after a massive projectile vomiting session. Hasnt come out of my nose for a while, so that was a welcome return. A lady actually banged on the door of my stall as she was so concerned about what she could hear. My manager just took one look at me and said go home.

I feel so deflated, I really thought having ondansetron would make a difference. But no, like usual I will be going home to an empty house to spend the day on my own, vomiting and feeling sick. Also means once again I cant get to therapy as I cant face the travel. So no therapy for about a month now.

Sorry for the pity party, but it has really dawned on me that there is nothing else left to try and HG is staying with me the whole pregnancy. Sat on a train home, plastic bag in hand silently crying. Feeling utterly dejected.

Hi Satsooma. Sounds like you might have HG to me. Can you speak to your GP? They'll need to check you arent gettinh dehydrated and can prescibe you some safe anti emitics to take. There are a few so it might take a while, but hopefully you will find one that will help control the nausea and vomiting. Sorry you've had to join us.

Oh Holly, that sounds awful, so sorry you are having such a bad day. Is there anything however small that you can try to lift your spirits?

Satsooma sounds like you are really suffering, and worth talking to your GP I had this fixation that I wasn't ill enough to have HG/bother the GP but it's not a competition and if you are suffering ask for help. I am found nibbling on sweets (hard gums, strawberry laces) helped a little to take the edge of the empty/nausea/bad taste feelings. If lying in bed all day helps and you are able to then do.

Hi Satsooma. That sounds a lot like HG to me!!! As someone once said, it's not a competition. Even if other people seem to have it worse, your sickness still sounds very bad. Sorry you feel like this, its rubbish If you haven't been, I'd strongly recommend talking to your GP and considering medication if you are comfortable taking it. The Pregnancy Sickness Support website is fantastic, have a look on there and go to your GP armed with info. They'll probably try you on cyclizine (an antihistamine). In the mean time, do what you can to stay hydrated (easier said than done!). You can by keto sticks from the chemist, if you detect ketones in your urine, you're dehydrated and may need a drip. Try to eat little and often where possible, bland salty carbs (salted crisps, mashed potato and gravy etc) often stay down. I found sipping Lucosade settled my tummy a little bit. You can also suck ice or eat ice lollies if you struggle to swallow liquid. Let us know how you get on.

Oh Holly I'm so so sorry. I think you have every right to be having a pity party. Just hang in there, you've done so bloody well and you really are nearly there - even though I know it doesn't feel like it. Is there any sort of access to therapy that could be done over the phone? I suppose if nothing else comes out of this, perhaps your employer will finally take your sickness seriously? Did you ever find out about HG day clinics near you? I wonder if a drip and maybe even some intravenous odansetron might make you feel a bit better? Please make sure you tell your consultant how much this is getting you down, in case there is something more they can do to help. Big hugs to you

Holly: sorry you're feeling so rotten. It can make you feel so low, even though you know it will end and you'll have a beautiful baby, it's easy to feel hopeless. Are there any little ways you can treat yourself just to look after your mood? A good book? Massage? Sitting out (with blanket and hot water bottle if needed?)

Dietician this morning was lovely. Went through loads of food suggestions but quickly worked out I've tried everything. Has suggested I take calcium, wait and see what my Hb is before facing iron supplements, and has recommended a couple of protein supplement drinks for my gp to prescribe that I might be able to tolerate.

Lapin, has the midwife taken your bloods yet? They'll check your iron level when they do that. Iron supplements can make you constipated (which is already a risk with HG dehydration and medication) so you don't want to be on those unless you're positive you need them.

I just threw up again, which means I've kept nothing down since lunchtime yesterday apart from a couple of dry biscuits I ate when I first woke up. Tired, nauseous and fed up. I'm seriously thinking about asking my GP to sign me off again

Lemon it's hard to keep going like that. Do consider time off if you need it.
My booking Hb was fine, but now at almost 23 weeks, with the hg (and being vegetarian) it's quite possible I need some iron. Blood test was this morning so just need to wait and see. But would like to avoid it!

Hope it's OK to pop in to this thread to ask a question but does anyone know if having a stomach bug can bring back pregnancy sickness? I had what I'm guessing was a 24 hour bug (sorry TMI it was coming from both ends) a few days ago and although the vomiting and diarrhea has stopped I've got constant horrific nausea like I had when I had to take cyclizine. I honestly feel like I'm dying as pathetic as that sounds. I don't have any pain (apart from sciatica) or fever just the awful nausea

I've just sat here all afternoon. DH is out tonight and a friend is meant to be coming round but I'm going to cancel. I just cant face anyone feeling this low again. I am so desperate for him to be born.

I'm really, really tired of people (not anyone on this thread obviously) telling me 'hang in there, its worth it in the end' or 'only 3 months not long to go now' or 'you've come so far you can do this'. I know people are trying to be nice but it feels so dismissive of what is basically hell. I am starting to hate talking to pregnant people who dont or haven't had HG.

Sorry I'm not being much help to others today. I hope those struggling at work had a good day and Lemon I'm glad you've been signed off work, hope you've had a good day.

I haven't been signed off, in just thinking I might need to admit defeat and talk to my GP. I did take the afternoon from 2pm off though and spent it lying in bed groaning

Sorry, didn't mean to frustrate you with the "you're nearly there" comment. It's a bit cliche, I suppose. Right up there with "have you tried a ginger biscuit?!". I know you're due date feels a million miles away, I just meant look how far you've come too. Did you ever lie in bed at 7 weeks and think "hoe the hell am I going to last 9 months of this? I can't do it!" I know I did. I was in despair. I'm just so glad I'm not there any more, and shit as every day is, it's one more day closer to meeting our little boys.

People who haven't had HG just don't get it. I told someone today I had Hyperemesis Gravidarum and they said "oh that sounds like a Harry Potter spell". Oh yes, ha ha ha. Hilarious. I replied "more like a jinx or a curse! And in all seriousness this is one of the hardest things I've ever gone through in my life". She suddenly was like "oh, hope you feel better soon!". Another friend (the one who threw a strop because I cancelled going to the cinema with her and she was bored) has been texting me all day about which uni she should choose for her post grad course. I'm just ignoring her because otherwise I'll end up telling her I really couldn't give a flying fig!

What type of friend are you supposed to be seeing tonight? There's friends who have seen me at my worst and held the bowl for me. Others who I just can't cope with and have cancelled. If it's a supportive friend, you might feel better for seeing someone instead of being stuck home alone? The isolation is almost as bad as the sickness sometime. Maybe let them come on the understanding that they might need to go early if you can't cope?

Hi sprite. Sorry to hear you're feeling rubbish again. I have no idea if a stomach bug can bring HG back, but I do know you can have HG relapses later in pregnancy, which I imagine is very frustrating. Might be worth having a chat with your GP if it persists?

Oh dear, suffering all round. Mother Hen is most concerned.
Samoosa Welcome. That sounds bad enough. If that is five separate sessions of heaving, do emphasize that to the GP as they tend to count heaves separately as 'vomits' and that might well add up to 30 on a bad day. You have had great advice already. I can only echo the others. Do see about meds, getting some kesostix from a chemists,and a sick note. I'd add tinned fruit - peaches and pears - and the juice, plus cuppa soup, Lucozade, sips of chocolate, milkshake (maybe soya) elderflower water, flat full sugar coke, cheap ice cream, chips, Dr Pepper, slices of melon - some of these are contentious - and some can stand home made potato soup.
Sprite25 I think it probably is the stomach bug lingering on - you can have nausea for a few days with those. You can feel as if you are dying. You will feel worse if dehydrated. If the vomiting goes on for more than two days it becomes a medical emergency and you should report it to the GP. Try ice lollies and flat full sugar coke, Lucozade or as above... The name seems familiar or are there several Sprites? if you have been through and got the better of bad sickness hopefully it won't return. Hyperemesis has been known to return in the third tri, but never as badly as in the first, and the fact you had a stomach bug is such a co-incidence that I wouldn't worry too much. Ah, and never worrry about TMI,no such thing on here.
Hollyhop Oh dear, that sounds awful. It is very discouraging, but might be a very bad day. I am glad at least your colleagues were concerned. On the other Pregnancy Sickness website, the one started by Margaret O'Hara, , I think there is a one-to-one support service.
sites.google.com/site/pregnancysicknesssos/support
Hang on. It seems hopeless when you have a very bad day, but more good days will almost certainly come along.
Lemon Poor you. I think you should get signed off again if you are that ill. How painful and foul - rice up the nose.
Waves to Meleebacca and everyone.
Apologies to anyone rudely ignored.

Sorry Lemon, I misread, I thought I saw you were. I think you should, but it is in no way admitting defeat. I dont mind you telling me that, but a friend who gave birth in Jan after a very easy pregnancy text me to say 'its all worth it in the end'. How would you know? Sorry if it seemed like I was having a go, I really wasnt.

Thanks for the link Lucinda. I've just given up hope anything is going to help. I might have a good few days here and there but it ALWAYS returns.

Waves to all! Sorry to hear some of you are feeling so crappy. This really is shit isn't it? Lemon - I've cut rice out completely due to a similar nose vomit episode.

Can I ask when did you feel ready to go back to work? I've been signed off for four weeks now, had one day back during this which was disastrous. I'm now having roughly 1xok day followed by 2x horrendous days. Work are starting to put pressure on me to return and I'm bored as anything lying in bed. The problem is I'm a senior nurse and I shift lead whenever I'm on (so covering me at short notice is a nightmare). I also work shifts including nights. Mornings for me are currently my safer time so I was wondering about talking to HR about a phased return, working early shifts? Will I have a leg to stand on?

Thanks LucindaE I feel better knowing that hopefully this is just the bug working it's way out of my system and I'll be back to my normal (ish) self soon. I have been on the hyperememsis threads before, 1st with my DD back in 2013 and in the 1st trimester with this pregnancy.

I had 3 months off initially and had a phased return. I had to fight for it and they werent happy but tough. I think you should speak to HR about shifting shifts. Surely they would rather you were in a bit rather than in once and then off again?

I am the same. I have a few good days, think its better only for it to come crashing down again. I am at my wits end really.

No Holly, don't apologise, I didn't think you were having a go at me. I was just trying to explain where I was coming from. I think every other mum has said to me "it'll all be worth it in the end". It's a bit daft, next time respond "oh really? Because I was under the impression it wouldn't be worth it. I'm no actually that bothered about a baby, I'm just putting myself through this because I'm a sadomasochist"

Argh no putput, I can't believe you had the same thing. I think I'm off rice for life. Obviously you're best placed to just but 1 good day followed by 2 bad days does not sound like you a ready to be going back! Remind me again how far through you are? I was signed off from 7-11 weeks and I've been battling/pretending to work from home for the last 6 weeks. I only do a desk job but it requires a lot of analysis and brain power and I've been struggling to even sit at a desk in my own house. I'm seriously considering getting signed off again at 17 weeks! I couldn't imagine running around all day as a nurse on shifts! They might pressure you, but I imagine you'll turn up, throw up all over the place and get sent home again. I know being at home is mind numbing too but work might not be the answer if you're not ready. You can certainly request a phased return from sickness if you do go back. Don't forget you have protection and they cannot penalise you for pregnancy related sickness.

Sprite - any illness will make the HG flare up again. I remember getting a cold in my last pregnancy and throwing up like crazy after a few good weeks. Not looking forward to cold season starting here soon, going to book in for my flu jab in the coming weeks.

Holly - you poor thing. The worst part about it being worth it in the 'end' is that first you have to get to the end and that's a daunting task at the moment. Just focus on getting to the end of each day. Bedtime is my favorite time. Are you able to cope with audiobooks or movies to distract you?

Lemon - it's hard to work from home with HG. Talk to GP and employer about working fewer hours and only when you feel up to it. Last pregnancy I worked from home on non-urgent projects so would just send in a time sheet each week and worked when I felt up to it.

Putput - going back to work is very individual, just like the level of sickness. I recommend not going back till you've had at least 2 weeks of good days. You need to build up your strength a bit after all the sickness as work will wear you down and make you more prone to relapse.

Samooosa - you need to see GP. If you've already been off work for weeks by 7w, you're going to be off for a lot longer. The earlier the sickness kicks in, the longer in lasts too. Try and get some meds. The worst weeks are 7-11, so be prepared.

Waves to all. 👏 You're all doing great.

Sounds like terrible days all round. What an utterly shit illness HG is.

None of you sound like you should be at work. Lemon this includes you!

Lemon I don't want to pressure you but I really thinking speaking to your GP about ranitidine is worth it. It helped me out loads last time and was one of the few things that actually helped relieve the nausea. I found not having a load of acid in my stomach calmed that awful roiling feeling you get.

Totally agree on rice vomits. Urgh.

Satsooma that definitely sounds like HG. You need to go and see your GP and get meds. If you are only 7 weeks I'm afraid it's going to get worse before it gets better and that would not put you in a good place. We are all happy to advise on meds and med combos and they are all safe so don't worry about that.

Holly you poor poor thing. There are always more things to try. Next step is ondansetron and promethazine. That's what I'm now on and it's the first thing that seems to actually be helping. The meds are safe so it's just a case of incrementally increasing dosages and combinations until something helps. I know you feel hopeless right now and there isn't much any of us can say to help. But. Today is nearly over. Get to the end of today and then you are one more day done. Take it day by day or on days like today hour by hour. The time will pass. Hideously slowly but it will pass. We are all here for you.

Sprite I found last time that being ill cause an HG relapse. Suggest taking it reaaaaally easy for a few days and see what happens. Hopefully it's the sickness bug lingering.

Putput I agree with Mellee on the work front. After 2 weeks of good days you can consider going back. You are no use to them if you are unreliable and might disappear to be sick at any second. What would you tell your patients to do? I bet you wouldn't let them go to work in this state!

Sending strength to all x

Putput I work in the nhs too. When I did return to work (sadly I'm off again) my gp did a fit note for reduced hours and amended duties as well as ticking the phased return box. Luckily the job was able to accommodate that, so I basically went in at the start of the day and then left when I couldn't manage, even if that meant just 9-12.30 some days and making it to 4 on others. I was also taken off on calls because they were hard to get locums for at short notice if I was too unwell. I don't know how accommodating your ward can be though and it certainly doesn't sound like you're well enough to run the shift right now. It's really hard not to feel guilty being off, but equally I would not want to be working and have patients/relatives aware of how unwell I'm feeling, because rightly, they would be concerned for their safety and quality of care.