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.

mustang I was prescribed those today! I'd also be interested in opinions, I don't think I've seen them mentioned at all.

We shall wait with baited breath Devil it would be good to know how long to give them before having to go back to the drs if they don't work.

Mustang - I'm on ondansetron which is regarded to be the strongest anti-emetic out there. In the worst weeks it kept my vomiting at a manageable level (ha!), but didn't really touch the nausea until I started to improve around week 16. Now I take it to keep the nausea at bay. I havent tried the meds you were given, but would be interested to hear how they work. Good luck with doing this with a toddler, get as much help as you can.

Annie - welcome! Nerves about a mmc are quite common, hopefully your early scan will calm you down. HG is generally a sign baby is well stuck. My HG is caused by enormous levels of hormones, and I feel amazing again after birth, so while vomiting I knew everything babywise was peachy. Less so for mama though.

Satsoooma & lemon - hope the pills help the heartburn. I take a magnesium/calcium powder at night, which helped with heartburn with DD. It's super grainy, but has no taste, I like playing with the grains in my teeth before sleep.

GP rang yesterday as my B12 level is low. They asked me to bring it up with diet, and I laughed at them. My record says I have HG and can't eat meat or veges very well so not sure where I will get the B12 from. Getting a shot on Monday (yay?)

Welcome to Mustang27 and Annie1290. Mustang27 A number of people on this thread have sworn by those - others object to the numb tongue and taste. I think a couple of days would be enough for you to know if they're helping a lot. As you're a veteran, I don't need to say my usual stuff about 'have you got kesostix to check for dehydration' and about the liquids usually found helpful. Have you got any options about family nearby as a support network for LO, or nursery places etc?

Annie1290 Sorry to hear you were admitted. I hope you feel a lot better for the fluids. Do invest in some kesostix to test for dehydration - available from any chemists. Apart from ice cubes and ice lollies, there's soda water, Elderflower water, Dr Pepper, Lucozade, the juice and fruit of tinned fruit (esp. peaches and pears), sips of chocolate milkshake (maybe soya) and sips of flat coke - you can freeze it as ice cubes. Oklahoma suggests tonic water earlier on the thread. Also, there's by cheap ice cream and nibbles of crisps or chips and cuppa soup and slices of frozen melon, or jelly.

Lemondrop and Satsooma That's great there's a tablet form of Omprazole - I mistakenly thought there was only the suspension form, which notoriously doesn't taste good!
Fluteytootey You poor thing, I am sorry you have had that bring the symptoms back. I hope they clear up soon. I am glad you were feeling better, and hopefully soon will again.
Waves to Devil and everyone.

I'm on ondansetron and the stemitil (sp) stuff. I was given the second for my pregnancy vertigo tho it was mentioned it is anti-sickness as well. Hard to tell if it has helped as when vertigo bad so is nausea but the ondansetron definitely stopped me from vomiting much

Mustang27 and Annie1290 and Lemondrop and Satsooma and everyone - as below, but I also realised that I ought to put up the Due Dates list with several new arrivals.

Due Dates
moonoverthewater 10 May
user1477 14 May
IAmSeriousAndDontCallMeShirley 20 May
Robber Bride 29 May
LHReturns 1 June
PeaceLove 3 June
Boobs 6 June
South London 6 June
fourcorneredcircle 7 June
Pastiemaid 12 June
squeezypeasy 13 June
Babyand 23 June
Captain Warbeck 24 June
HollyHop17 20 July
whoate 1 August
HaichM 1 August
SociallyAcceptableCookie 5 August
JimmyJay Early August
Daffodil 11 August
SickRose 18 August
Pip1982 20 August.
Melleebacca 22 August
Mardybum2017 25 August
MagnumAddict 1 September
littlepooch 2 September
MamaBear 7 September
MrsK8541 15 September
MuvaWifey77 17 September
Lemondrop09 30 September
RubyReins 3 October
Passthesickbucket 4 October
Heartburn247 23 October
FluteyTootey 26 October
mrsgembles 27 October
putput 17 November
TheDevilsWearsPrimark 17 November
Oklahoma 22 November

I'm a sahm mum at the mo which is fortunate as I'm not messing a workplace about this time. I only really have my Mil but she stays an hour away. I did say to her if it gets worse I'd probably just come live with her for awhile so she can do the bulk of stuff with my wee one and she didn't object tbh.

Iv taken a couple now no numb tongue or the other symptom (bloody baby brain) but not much of a dent in my symptoms either, it doesn't help that my wee one likes to rub and poke my belly causing instant motion sickness.

I don't have those stick things but il grab some tomorrow if I make it out.

I'm wearing anti sickness bands too anybody tried those, or am I just looking ridiculously eighties for no reason?

Good evening everyone. And hello to all of the new faces, sorry so many are struggling.

Great advice from all as usual, so not much to add really. Just wishing you all luck and persevere until you find the right combination of drugs for you.

Today is a big day for me- as a week today if the baby hadn't arrived it is due to be forcibly evicted... wahooo! Induction at 39 weeks for my heart condition (only made it to 36 weeks last time, so much better). The added benefit of course is that I will feel better. Yaaaay! It's been a long time coming.

Waving to all. Xx

Woo Iamserious!

I called in sick today. Mainly because I didn't want to get out of bed and couldn't face work after yesterday but it turns out to have been a really good decision as I slept the whole morning (unlike me) and when I wasn't sleeping I had a horrible headache or horrid nausea. Nausea, headaches and dizziness for the rest of the day. Laid down on the sofa for about 2 hours this afternoon as well. I guess I've been overdoing it.

I've also learnt this pregnancy what it means to live with proper anxiety and I'm sure I'll have more sympathy for anyone diagnosed with the condition in the future. It just makes everything worse. Like you have this little voice in your head telling you all the things that can go wrong and asking you what if all the time. Started leaking tears this evening, not sure what triggered it but I think its the anxieties gaining strength. Thankfully DH made me laugh and gave me cuddles so mood improved now.

I hope we've had some good days and that everyone takes it easy and hopefully has enjoyable weekends. Take care

That is exciting iamserious!

I don't know if the omeprazole is working yet, but I can report that it makes vomiting much more pleasant. Yesterday I threw up bile that burned horribly. I could still feel/taste it the next morning. I still threw up bile this evening, but the acid seemed neutralised. Was a much less traumatic experience.

For your list of due dates ludinda: satsoooma 8 December

Iamserious - so close you can count the sleeps!

Mustang - I tried the sea sickness bands first time around. I don't think they really helped me, but it's different for everyone. They work the same way as acupuncture, so if you think they're working, you could also try acupuncture.
I had my step mum stay with us during the week while at my worst, so that hubby could work and DD was entertained. Glad you've got a MIL who can help.

Haich - I feel you on the anxiety side of things. Bit hubbys head off today for suggesting I get used to being exhausted (3 nights of sick DD sleeping on my head), as if I didn't have enough anxiety over how I will cope with TWO! Glad you got lots of sleep. Hoping you feel much better tomorrow.

Haich Good call to stay at home today. Sleep is much needed with this illness, and it's hard to come by. Sorry that you have had a rough day, but very glad your DH has been lovely.

Satsooma Omeprasol was the wonder drug for me in the end. But I seem to remember it took a few days to have full effect? Hang on in there.

Mellee Most certainly counting the sleeps!
Also panicking now about how I'll manage with 2 under 2..... could be interesting. Sorry to hear of poorly DD. Hope she improves soon.

Waving to all. Xx

Ooo yes- also tried the bands. They didn't help me, but always worth a try I reckon! X

Hi guys, can I join you? I'm 10+6 and have been horrendously sick since about 4 weeks I think - constant, unrelenting nausea. I can't do anything and even leaving the sofa and my bucket is a big ask some days. I know that sounds pathetic, but I really haven't ever experienced anything like this.

I feel like I've tried everything - ginger tea, ginger chews, peppermints, eating small and often, eating nothing, eating lots, salted crackers, lemon water, fizzy drinks, flat drinks... you name it and nothing has worked. Oh, except the drip in hospital. I've also tried metaclopromide but that made me feel worse, not better! Nothing else available here drug wise.

I guess I'm joining out of some desperate hope I'll find something on here that WILL work! This is baby #2 - #1 made me pretty sick but nowhere near as bad as this.

Hi Sick and welcome. Sorry that you are feeling so rotten.

This might not sound like much of a consolation, but for me (and I think many others) 10- 12 weeks was the worst part. I have been unlucky and am still ill now (38 weeks), but for some there can be dramatic improvement at 14-16 or 20-22 weeks. So keep holding on to the thought you really are in the worst part and you are very very likely to feel better than you do now.

I also found the only fluid I could get in me was ice cold juice from tinned peaches slowly sipped from a teaspoon... or sometimes ice lollies.
Salt and vinegar crisps helped to ease the nausea a bit, again sucked slowly.

Why no other drug options? Many of us have had to try a few. I ended up on a lovely cocktail of 3 that got me through the worst.

Nothing pathetic about not making it away from the sofa either. We have all had days like that for sure. I slept and slept during those early weeks, it's all I could do.

I know others have had luck with different foods and drinks so I'll let them advise on what worked for them. And o know our lovely mother hen will be along to talk about ketostix shortly to watch for signs of dehydration.

Hope some of that is useful? Keep your chin up. Xx

P.S. Ginger is useless for HG and nasty on the way back up.... I wouldn't bother x

Welcome to SickDownUnder. You have already had great advice from IAmSerious. I would add, flat full sugar coke, (maybe frozen into ice cubes), soda water, Elderflower water, ice cubes, were ice lollies mentioned? Lucoazade, Dr Pepper, sips of chocolate milkshake (maybe soya) Oklahoma discovered tonic water, and there is cuppa soup, and nibbles of crisps, and cheap ice cream. Some swear by slices of frozen melon. I am surprised they do not offer cyclizine - not sure what it would be called over there) as that has been proven safe for thirty or forty years. Do phone Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 7638 2020. They will have to phone you back but they will and should be able to give go advice about obtaining effective meds.
IAmSerious Congratulations on baby eviction!
Melleebacca Not the most sensitive comment from OH!
HaichM Sorry you have such horrible symptoms - a headache makes things so much worse. I'm glad you took the day off.
Mustang27 I am so glad MIL is willing to help. I hope that the meds have kicked in?

Satsooma I am so glad that at least the meds did that for you. I'll add your date and IAmSerious's new date.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Due Dates
moonoverthewater 10 May
user1477 14 May
IAmSeriousAndDontCallMeShirley 12 May
Robber Bride 29 May
LHReturns 1 June
PeaceLove 3 June
Boobs 6 June
South London 6 June
fourcorneredcircle 7 June
Pastiemaid 12 June
squeezypeasy 13 June
Babyand 23 June
Captain Warbeck 24 June
HollyHop17 20 July
whoate 1 August
HaichM 1 August
SociallyAcceptableCookie 5 August
JimmyJay Early August
Daffodil 11 August
SickRose 18 August
Pip1982 20 August.
Melleebacca 22 August
Mardybum2017 25 August
MagnumAddict 1 September
littlepooch 2 September
MamaBear 7 September
MrsK8541 15 September
MuvaWifey77 17 September
Lemondrop09 30 September
RubyReins 3 October
Passthesickbucket 4 October
Heartburn247 23 October
FluteyTootey 26 October
mrsgembles 27 October
putput 17 November
Satsooma 12 December
TheDevilsWearsPrimark 17 November
Oklahoma 22 November

Oh gosh the meds have not helped and iv had a horrific day! Iv spent the day crying, questioning wether iv made the right decision and if it's all worth it especially the prospect of sacrificing the next 6 months with my wee boy, feeling like a shit mum.

I should add my oh has Aspergers and is no help at all. My mil tries but she is the worlds biggest procrastinator she is brilliant with my wee one though.

Sorry for the pity party!!!

Sick iv spent the last week on my sofa I don't think HG gives you the choice and it's not pathetic at all.

That sounds tough Mustang I constantly question if I've done the right thing as I'm missing doing so much with my daughter. It will get better.

Sorry to see so many new joiners, but you've found a great place for support.

I'm still plodding along. Not getting worse, not losing weight but still ill. Attempting to go back to work next week, starting with a couple of half days from home then showing my face in the office on Wednesday. I'm at a point where I would like to try and if it goes wrong then I'll go back to the GP to be signed off.

Managed to watch DDs swimming lesson today, a form of torture as the pool room is hotter than the sun bit she was so happy to have mummy watch. Ate some steak and chips for dinner which has just come back in a horrifically acidic fashion, causing in the cupboard is use by 2014 so must be left from last time - I need to restock!

I'm 13 weeks, due 7 Nov but expecting an early arrival as DD was 5 weeks early, for no apparent reason as was a very healthy weight so I think I might just have short pregnancies.

Hope you all have relaxing weekends and find something to lift your spirits of not the sickness.

Oh god the pool would be the worst place. Even my wee boys body heat is torture. Well done for managing it. Sorry you didn't manage to keep your dinner down. I'm just going to give up on food I think.

Mustang you are not a terrible person or a terrible mother. We have all had those thoughts multiple times and they aren't true. Children need attention yes but as long as they know they are loved and valued and receive reassurance of that, they can cope with less attention for a while. You need to concentrate on you. It won't do your LO any good if you don't. It won't be this horrible forever. You can get through it. Don't feel guilty if you need to use electronic babysitters for a while. You can make it up to your Lo later.

Push for different meds if you need them and the ones you have aren't working. Try everything. In both my pregnancies there's been a small window every day where eating is more successful. You might be the same. I barely ate anything this time round during the first trimester- mainly tinned peaches and small amounts of cereal and soup. I lost quite a lot of weight but I have a very active and growing baby who is doing very well. I am sure you will be the same.

Ask about what mental health services are available to you. Unfortunately you may need them or at the least some very sympathetic friends or family you can cry with and vent to. It's ok not to be ok as they say, especially when suffering wity HG. We are here for you. You are not alone. When you can, remind yourself why you're doing this. You're giving your little one a brother or sister to cherish and grow up with.i know it sometimes helps me to wonder about how it will be with the two of them, picturing them laughing together or DS reading to baby.

Thank you so much iamserious and lucindae - it is cheering to hear that this is hopefully the worst part and quite a few of your suggestions I haven't tried. I'd never thought of ice lollies! Or frozen melon.

I also looked up cyclizine and it's available over the counter here so I'll give that a try - maybe the doctors thought I would have already tried non-prescription stuff, I'm not sure. Other than metaclopromide, they said other medicines weren't proven safe?

I've found you again! Lost the thread and couldn't remember where it was, but hurray for active threads.

Not long to go for me. Still chucking up most days. I know it goes away after delivery, so hanging on in there.

Mustang - I found the mild neglect I gave DD during the worst parts of my pregnancy meant that we figured out good coping mechanisms that we will be able to use when baby arrives and my attention will need to be split two ways. Great advise from Haich.

Peace - welcome back! You're almost there!

Sick - there are lots of meds you can take, but some doctors are hesitant to prescribe because trials aren't done on pregnant women. If you feel comfortable taking them then push your GP to give you the meds that help. Nowadays most GPs understand that malnutrition and dehydration is much worse for the mother and child than the meds.

Iamserious - also freaking out here how to cope with 2 under 2. Working pretty hard with DD to get her language skills up as I will need her to be able to communicate better when I have my hands full with number 2.

Slight positive news - only 107 days to go to my due date and 117 till I will be induced (if it comes to that).

Thank you Mellee. I think I just panicked when they said "not proven to be safe" as did DP... so I'm not sure. I think I'll hang on for another week (11 weeks today) and if there's no improvement maybe think again?

I'm another wondering how people manage with two very little children - dd is 10 months and will be 14 months when baby#2 arrives...

Wow sick that's about the same age gap my partner and his sister has. If my mil can cope anyone can lol. Also my friend who has 4 now her two youngest are that close she has arthritis and is only 27 but she did amazing her partner did have to step up a lot with household chores though. You can do it you will be like super mummy only far better.

Haichm thank you so much for the kind words, advice and the suggestion to think about the times when they will be lovely together will definitely get me through. Made me cry a little though.

Never ate anything yesterday there really was no window but I'm going to get my partner to go get me a selection of ice lollies today and hopefully that helps. I'm managing to keep tonic water down mostly even if sometimes the bitterness makes me retch.

I'm not remotely positive and I will be telling dr and midwife this and asking for different meds. I worry at 8 weeks it's still a massive risk but so is having to crawl everywhere because you are so weak.

Sorry for all the moaning ladies, I promise when not pregnant I'm a hoot but this is the pits.