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.

Satsooma, you might want to be careful about OTC constipation pills. My Dr will only give me Laculose. The pharmacist was emphatic that I could NOT take senecot or anything which makes the bowels contract due to risk it can also make the uterus contract. Some people have taken senecot in pregnancy, but check with your GP first.

I'm seeing my GP tomorrow about a few things and will mention constipation and let you know if he comes up with anything new. I'm currently trying to eat bran flakes for breakfast when I can and trying to drink enough fluid.

Sigh. I didn't know that lemon. I looked on mumsnet and saw some pregnant people had been told to take OTC so just went with that. It probably varies depending on how pregnant you are though, now I think of it. Really didn't want any meds with a taste or texture though.

Asked my doctor to call me tomorrow so I can get advice. I am talking to this poor woman on pretty much a daily basis at this point. It is getting embarrassing.

So glad all is well Lemon. Though sorry you threw up at hospital.

I'm fed up. Not too bad nausea wise, not been sick today but just very fed up. DH is worried so constantly calling/texting and I'm being horrible. But I just dont feel like talking and I'm tired of hearing 'everything will work out in the end'.

How I am going to control my diet when plain carbs and sweets are the only thing I'm keeping down? I am just at a loss as to why so many bad things are happening to me. This has been the worst possible pregnancy I could have imagined.

Hello everyone, sorry it's been so long, I've just had time to catch up a little with the last few posts and hope haitch that your pain subsides and holly wishing you an easier next few weeks, it sounds like you've been through it.
I've reduced my hours at work and just about keeping it together, looking after adorable dd and sleeping in between. Thank god nausea much reduced in 2nd trimester although I can still only eat an odd collection of foods - mattesons sausages, bread and cheese and jelly sweets are current winners! Have been putting on weight as I do eat to try and stay awake at work. Hope gd doesn't come calling for me. Approaching 3rd trimester so feel I am getting there. Had day off work today and slept a lot, called in sick. Wish there was a way of more regularly being off work and dd at nursery but there isn't so hey ho! Pink castle is coming into view, we found out we are having a little boy so we are quite excited that we will have one of each!
Much love to you all xxx

Quickly diving in to update, DD surgery went well, she's a trooper and very cheerful considering.

Baby hasn't made an appearance during the op either, so that's good!

Also managed not to be sick whilst here, so all in all a good (if slightly stressful) day. X

IAmSerious Iam so glad that the operation went OK, what a relief.
You are being very stoic. Cyber hugs on offer to you, and to Hollyhop too. I would I could put all matters right...

Lemondrop Mother Hen thought all would be well - babies are very well cushioned by the fluid, but that sort of thing is worrying. I do hope the GP gives you effective stuff for constipation and for heartburn...and Satsooma.
DeadDoorDrop Sorry about vomiting halfway through. I am glad the ice lollies are bearable, anyway. How do you find ice cubes?
Daffodil I am so glad you feel a bit better, and have reduced hours.
Gradually, you approach the drawbridge of the Pink Castle. Do keep in touch.
onedsrightnow I do hope you escape The Scourge. I gather from on here that suffering badly early on, round six or seven weeks - or in Lemondrop's case, even earlier, is typical - with me it was much later, things seemed to spiral from controllable at nine weeks on, peaking at ten to eleven weeks. Peaking at ten weeks seems to be typical...
Watch me cross post...

LucindaE ice cubes have helped so much.

Update: have kept all liquids down but not food.

Oneds - this time around nausea kicked in at 5+1 and vomiting started at 6+5, but I started taking ondansetron at the same time the nausea ramped up, a little before 6w.

Iamserious - lovely news about DD, let's hope babe stays put for a wee bit longer so you get to spend some time with DD while she recovers

Nausea is pretty bad here today, 24w hormone surge combined with DD getting a nasty cold and being up ALL night! Very tired here.

I am feeling so sick and sorry for myslef this evening. Threw up at about 6 and have not managed to eat since. Am tired, but too hungry to sleep. I can't even think about eating though - makes me sick.

What is the maximum dose on ondansetron? I am on 1 tab twice a day (plus 2-3 cyclizine). Maybe I need more. Or have I reached the end of the road with regards to meds?

Satsoooma - I have 8mg tabs of ondansetron and I was allowed to take 1 every 8hrs. But I believe in the U.K., they only give you 4mg tabs with the same frequency.

Just dropping in quickly as going to bed. Satsooma, I can take up to 4mg tablets four times a day, although prob best to discuss with your GP. Also might be worth trying promethazine instead of cyclizine when you're ready to review your meds. Night all.

Hi ladies

I am very tentatively joining I'm 11dpo and been getting positives for the last two days.

This is my 5th pregnancy and each and every time I've had hyperemesis. I am desperate to avoid it getting really bad this time as I have a high pressured job and don't get sick pay.

Do you have any tips of what I can do in advance of the sickness (usually starts at 5.5 weeks)

Should I go to the gp? I have a feeling he will fob me off and say if I'm not sick yet I don't need medication

Flossy - yes, go to GP as soon as you get a positive test. Have you figured out any meds that have helped in the past? I'm on pregnancy #2 with hyperemesis and this time took ondansetron as soon as the nausea hit which meant no hospital visits and less vomiting overall (although still a highly depressing time). Good luck.

Just dropping by to say hi.

Iamserios: so pleased your daughter's op went well.

Holly: so sorry to hear about the gestational diabetes, but hope you are getting good support at the hospital.

Sorry I haven't quite caught up on the thread yet, but hope everyone else is doing well. A rubbish morning so far here, to be honest things have been getting a bit worse the last few days and I seem to be getting a lot more nausea. Right on time, the washing machine has also packed up and my daughter is teething... I'm hoping it's just a bad patch, but please don't tell me that meds can become less effective after a while?? I think it may be because I struggle to keep the morning tablet down...it's getting to be a vicious circle...any tips anyone?? They offered me suppositories in case this started happening...I am keen to avoid yet another pregnancy indignity though!

12 week scan tomorrow, hugely nervous for some reason and having bad dreams. I guess that's not helping things.

Sorry for the moan, seems very trivial compared with some of the things everyone is dealing with!

Not trivial at all Pippa. When one thing after another goes wrong, its very hard not to feel completely overwhelmed. In terms of meds, I found promethazine helped loads the first time round but when I relapsed, it didnt have the same effect anymore. What are you on again? I am finding ondansetron (when they deign to give it to me) has helped loads in tandem with promethazine. I hope your day improves, hugs.

So pleased to hear about your DD I Am Serious. Must be a load off your mind. Hope you get to settle in a bit before LO makes an appearance.

I am feeling a bit more upbeat today. Wasnt sick at all yesterday and the nausea has been more manageable recently... Fingers crossed it stays that way. I am going to treat myself with a trip to the hairdressers, hope the smells wont set me off. Waves to all.

Flossy - I did same as Melleebacca and got ondansetron and cyclizine pre-emptively. They had my notes from prev pregnancy and were OK with that. Although it's been rough, I haven't been admitted and it's never really been out of control like last time...

Pippa - I set an alarm half hour early (often awake anyway), take morning drugs, go back to sleep or doze if I can then try to eat something bland/small in bed as soon as I wake up properly. It seems to get on top of the empty stomach vomiting I had 1st thing. I think some people set alarms in the night to take drugs too! I'm 11+ weeks and seem to be getting bit worse again. It's so frustrating...

Holly you really are having a rough ride, sending you strength and supportive vibes. Hope you manage to enjoy your haircut.

Iamserious wishing DD a speedy recovery.

Mellee I remember that 24 week slump all too well. I had just been starting to feel vaguely human and it knocked me for six again. Hopefully it is only a brief relapse.

Satsooma with ondansetron I'm allowed to take 8mg 3x a day. I combine it with promethazine which I find is much better than cyclizine. I would encourage you to try switching to promethazine before upping your ondansetron dose though as 24mg of ondansetron a day does not make for fun pooping.

Floss exactly what Mellee said. I would definitely get preemptive meds and start taking them as soon as you start feeling nauseous. I started at 6 weeks when the nausea started getting bad. It isn't a magic bullet but it has stopped me from spiralling out of control and kept me out of hospital.

Pippa DH gets up early for work so I take an ondansetron then and go back to sleep/doze and find that way it stays down. Sometimes I try a snack then too but it depends how I'm feeling. You could always use the suppositories for a couple of days to get things back under control.

Plodding on nauseously here. DH is away with work this week so the grandparents have rallied to help with Oklette. 11+1 today.

Hi ladies I'm late to this post, it's my first pregnancy. I'm 10weeks today. My ms started week 7+3. I'm not even sure I'm technically having HG but this can't be normal. I feel severely nauseous day and night, I have no appetite and want to throw up everything I eat. I can keep down 1 meal a day ( with a fight) but the rest will eventually come back up. I am so sick and miserable and unable to work. Is there any treatment for this?

Ive also recently developed an aversion to water. Drinking it instantly makes me feel sick. Has anyone experienced this?

user I went off water as well but ice cubes and ice lollies helped, as did flavoured water until my nausea caused me to go off that as well from the amount of times I threw it back up. Speak to your doctor about the sickness.. I should have spoken to mine earlier but I didn't realise how bad it was until week 9 and by then I was severely ill

Update on me though: the metoclopramide doesn't seem to be working atm. Been sick a few times already this morning and once during the night. Actually threw up on my hand while brushing my teeth... Wasn't the nicest experience.

Ugh I sympathise Deaddoor. I wemt through a period of brushing my teeth setting me off. Managed to avoid it over my hand but if it makes you feel better, back in the early days when I thought I was getting better I took an ill advised trip tp the dentist. I was sick all over his hand while it was in my mouth... Pretty mortifying at the time!

Thanks for the tip DeadDoorpost, my midwife/GP surgery are completely useless which really only makes me feel more anxious about communicating with them. But will have to try.

Just zero energy today. I'm struggling to move out of bed and I have no idea how I'm going to get dressed and get to the GP in two hours time. While I'm only vomiting 1-2 a day now, and some days not at all, this exhaustion and constant nausea is debilitating. I'm sure this hellish constipation is partly responsible for this exhaustion.

Sympathies Lemon, I made it out to pick up my little girl from playgroup and that was it. Now husband is back from work and I can finally lie down on the sofa. Hope your GP appointment goes ok.

Thanks for the tips Oklahoma, Katie and Holly. I tried the early alarm trick and then going back to sleep, but unfortunately there's something to do with the waking up process which makes me vomit immediately, it's like a reflex, even if waking for the second time. Will try an earlier first alarm though to give the tablet more time to dissolve before I wake up again.

Will check again with dr. but last time they said the only meds they could offer here were meclizine (like cyclizine) or metoclopramide (which unlike the UK they seem happy to prescribe for several months). I tried the metoclopramide last time and it didn't do anything so am a little worried that I'll be in trouble if the meclizine isn't working as well. When I asked last time about some of the medications available in the UK and just got a blank stare like they'd never heard of them . They really don't seem too bothered about it, as long as I'm not dehydrated it really isn't seen as a big deal, I wish just once the Dr would ask how I'm feeling if you know what I mean, and just acknowledge that it might be a little bit difficult. The focus is very much on the health of the baby, which of course is hugely important to me, but sometimes makes me feel a bit invisible. Same story with family, apart from husband no one really seems to be bothered, an occasional email / text to check-in would be so nice. Sorry, wallowing in a bit of self pity there, rant over.

On the plus side, washing machine is fixed!!