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.

Salutes from
The pink castle

Will try and keep thread ticking over till mother hen is back all clucking

@lapin. Yes that's hg and as others have said no data as preg woman can't take trials as such - tho the drugs you mention I recognise being on the thread and should be safe so try and take them

Work. Only you can decide on that. I only survived the first 5mths due to working nights and being in bed. 7am-2ish. The stiller and quieter I lay the better the afternoon and following eve would be

Also took tablets every 8hrs so in system
Constantly

@holly. Sorry you had a bad start to day and yes can take a few days to get into System

@mel - sorry on bedrest. Take things easy

@lemon. Good advice 💐

@motherhen @lucinda. Have a lovely Time at mums s

Hello to the new people joining the thread, if you feel you need support and to post here then I think that's good enough - I was worried I wasn't 'sick enough' but it's not a competition' and the kind words on this thread have been such a comfort to me.

I hope the medication starts to work for you Holly.

I've been signed off until 8th May so really need to inform more people than just my line manager now, I'm 10.5 weeks and have my scan at the end of next week. What should I tell people - the truth? Any ideas? My instinct is to just be honest but feels like too many people knowing too soon.

Who are 'people' Kate? Colleagues? I don't think you have to tell them anything if you don't want to. I had to tell my manager at 5.5 weeks as I was so ill. However I was clear that I didn't want my colleagues knowing yet. Why you're off sick is entirely your business and they don't have to be told anything. It was fine, nobody asked any questions although a few had sussed it out! I let colleagues know after the 12 week scan for ease.

I ended up telling my family and a number of close friends very early as I had basically fallen off the face of the planet and had to cancel a lot of engagements. I was glad I told some people, the support has been useful. My personal rule of thumb was I only told people I would turn to if something went wrong (and obviously my manager). Following the 12 week scan I told people who had noticed my obvious absence. There's plenty of people I see far less regularly who don't know yet, I might say something after the 20 week scan.

I'm feeling really crap again today. I've decided I've struggled enough and I've called in sick. I had a visit from a pregnant relative this morning who struggles to understand why I'm not "excited" about being pregnant. I want this baby very much but it feels so far off right now and a lot of vomit to wade through before I get there! I'm hoping to find the energy to have a shower and maybe sit in the garden with a book as it's sunny here - instead of languishing in bed, which is all it feels like I've done for the last three months!

Sorry I've been away a little while, just passed 9 week mark and predictably nausea and vomiting are getting a little worse, though medicine is mercifully still making it better than last time round.

Just wondering if anyone has found anything vaguely healthy that they can bear to eat? Generally my diet consists of pop tarts, pepsi and ice cream, it seems that junk food is more amenable to staying in my stomach and I have a constant sickly sweet taste in my mouth from eating a steady stream of rubbish. Anyone found anything vaguely healthy that they can keep down...or that at least isn't too bad when you throw it back up? I am of course trying to eat small portions of normal meals, it's just for some reason they often come back quicker - whereas the sugar hit from junk food seems to ease the nausea long enough.

I've been managing to mostly keep apples down and when they come back up its not been too horrific (as long as I chew properly!).

Yeah Lemon, I mean colleagues. My absence from the office is being noticed and they are asking (out of concern) and there are a few projects/meetings etc my absence will be noticed from. You are right though, I think I will ride it out until the scan - as my husband so delicately put it - 'you could have a weird growth on your vagina and you probably wouldn't tell all your colleagues about that'!

Ha ha. You're husband has a good point! I wouldn't feel obliged to tell them yet if you don't want t. I did mention to a few concerned people it was nothing to worry about and left it at that.

Pippa, baby will take whatever they need from you so don't worry too much. Eating something rubbish and keeping it down is better than trying to eat healthy and just throwing it up! I'm taking pregnancy vitamins when I can to help. Fruit doesn't appeal at all, most veg turns my stomach (carrots? Bleugh!). The only veg I've been able to eat is peas and sweetcorn. Bland salty carbs were my main source of nutrition for weeks and weeks.

Ooo Blondes takes the wheel! Have a lovely time Lucinda.

I have been feeling rubbish this morning, so gone onto work late. But it's my penultimate day- so feel a bit pathetic that I couldn't push on through. Ah well, nearly here and all that.

I found the same about healthy foods, although avacado was a strange exception from that rule. Might be worth a try?
And not exactly healthy, but salt and vinegar crisps don't leave a sweet taste...

Waving to you all. Xx

Hey Kate, I was off work almost immediately so had to tell HR and my line manager sooner than I wanted. I ended up being off for 3 months so my team knew there was something wrong but I didnt tell them until I came back at 20 weeks. However, I'm pretty new so dont really have any 'friends' as such to worry about. I would tell your manager and leave it at that. Unless you have good friends there who you think would be a good source of support?

Sorry you've had to rejoin us Pippa. I have found mango to be quite good. For me it tends to stay down and hasnt been too awful on the way up.

Lemon sorry you're feeling so dreadful but I am glad you've called in sick. Dont bother with tomorrow either and have 4 days to try and rest up. If you can force yourself, do get into the garden. I sat in there for a bit at the weekend and the fresh air helped me I think.

I'm sorry about the pregnant relative. It is very challenging talking to pregnant people who dont have HG I have found. You dont have to be excited about being pregnant, its bloody awful. I'm sure you're excited about having the baby but you are under no obligation to feel or show that. I love my little boy aleady but I detest being pregnant and wont be giving him any biological siblings. I mistakenly shared that with some family members who assured me I would 'feel different' once he's here. Er, none of you have suffered with HG so you have no idea how I feel. I really sympathise, big hugs.

Pippa I'm living off fruit as it's all I can manage. I think my body must be desperate for the water content or something. Banana is good to throw up as it tastes exactly the same on the way back up. Avocado is very bland too and contains all the food groups. Don't worry about trying to eat healthily though. Anything you can keep down is a win.

for the HG know it all. You DO NOT have HG so you have NO idea how I feel. I feel out with a friend during my last pregnancy because she called me 'incredibly selfish' because I wasn't excited enough about the baby when I had 'everything going for me'. Apparently I was just supposed to ignore the 9 months of hell to get said baby and plaster on a smile 24/7. That said I am doing it again having sworn I never would. There seems to be a split over those who can bear to do it again and not. Hormone caused amnesia has a lot to answer for!!

As for telling people, we haven't had much choice. Everyone has just assumed I'm pregnant and asked us outright (which I think is pretty rude but hey ho). I guess they saw the same thing last time so put two and two together.

Bad few days here.

Pippa you are so close in due date to me! I'm 9+1 today.

Holly just to clarify that was me being sympathetic. In no way was that meant to come across a me saying you'll 'feel different' once he's here. You might or you might not but that is 100% your choice. Ignore them xx

Dont worry Oaklahoma, I knew you were being sympathetic! Most of my family have been rubbish, I've just stopped talking to them about it. I think my mental health makes it worse, not that I suffer worse than others, but it affects me in a slightly different way. I know I couldnt do it again, but I have always been keen on adoption anyway.

Sorry you're having a bad day. I hope you're not at work?

This is my third week off work. I'm lying in bed listening to an audio book debating whether I can face trying to eat something. Last pregnancy I was off work the whole 9 months so at least they are prepared for the worst! I am very l, very lucky with my employer, they couldn't be more supportive.

I honestly dont know how you can do it again! Must be so difficult with a little one to look after too.

Glad to hear you have a supportive job, I certainly dont. There is someone else in my team pregnant, 3 weeks behind me, so I get constant comparisons... Of course, she doesnt have HG.

I hope you manage to keep something down. I'm feeling a bit more positive today, probably in my head but I'll take it.

If I'm totally honest it's because I had forgotten quite how awful HG really is.

That really isn't helpful if your employer. HG is an illness not just being pregnant. You can't compare the two.

Glad you're feeling more positive today. Good days and bad days. Just gotta grind through it.

Kate I told my headteacher at 5.5 weeks because I was so poorly... I was signed off the very next day and didn't really go to work apart from a few odd hour long visits for another 15 weeks! I didn't tell my colleagues until I was 24 weeks (when I was back at work properly after phased return). I'm sure lots guessed as that first day when I was ill at work EVERYONE heard me vomit copious times... and on the few visits to work I was sick too. But, I didn't look pregnant (I looked grey!) and had lost a lot of weight so thankfully people were rightly shocked and believing about how ill I'd been - they could see I was 2stone down with NO bump. You don't have to tell anyone anything until you are ready. I wasn't ready until after 20 week scan. Physically or mentally... it wasn't until the 20 week scan that I even believed I could see the pregnancy through. Horrible thought now... but at the time I was so, so low and ill. This thread was my oasis in a wild and sickening ocean :)

Speaking of wild and sickening, I seem to be relapsing. Three vomits today... I bounce back a lot quicker than in the 1st/2nd trimester though. Maybe it's because most food stays down now. Even so... pretty sure I deserve a nap. Starting Mat leave earlier than planned is getting more and more tempting. In theory I have another five weeks at work... buuuut I'm going to wait until after next growth scan on 05/05 and decide based on when consultant thinks we should get things moving.

People seem to struggle to understand that while I am very excited about the baby, that's a totally separate issue from enjoying being pregnant. Plus I can't shake my fear that something will go wrong and I'll have been through all this for nothing, so I'm not really allowing myself to get too excited about the baby either. Hoping to feel better after the 20 week scan.

Achieved nothing today. It got cold and grey so I've basically just hung out in bed. Still so tired. But OMG, Gaviscon!!! My heartburn has been getting worse and worse, almost constant. Just tried Gaviscon and it's already helping. Bloody grim stuff and not the easiest thing to keep down but so relieved to feel slightly more comfortable. I might even be able to lie flat at some point, wooooo! Goal of the day is still to have a shower at some point

Lemon ask your GP for ranitidine. It's sooo much better than gaviscon and comes in tablets rather than disgusting gloop. It prevents the excess acid from being producers in the first place so you don't need anything like Gabi's on to neutralise it. It saved my sanity last time and I already have a stash for this one.

Thanks Oklahoma, I did think about ranitidine but didn't want to contact my GP about just that as I think he's getting sick of hearing from me! Next time I have to talk to him, I'll remember to ask about that too.

Mellee: that outside activity sounds like a great one to try, especially once it's a bit warmer and we've moved to somewhere where I want to go outside. Unfortunately my SPD means it'd be too painful to sit on the shower floor and the get up again (it's a small shower) but you're right about the heat. I've not been too bad in the shower for a while so I guess it was just an off day or I dawdled too long.

Lemon: I started with the 4am wee wake up too. Now it's 3-6x a night (yay) and I often don't sleep properly afterwards. I seem to dream more if it's a sort of doze-like sleep and the dreams are strange. I had a horrible one the other night where I dreamt I lost the baby. Woke DH up crying. Thankfully baby was awake too so I knew it was OK.

Castle: congrats. I hope all is going well.

Kate: hope your booking appt went well. My first one I got admitted during so had to go again a few weeks later. By then the meds were working and they got bloods and everything sorted OK.

I told my manager, senior manager and a colleague who's a friend when I first found out because I was so ill so quickly. I didn't tell anyone else until I was coming back (after 20 week scan) though I told more friends and family, like someone else because we needed to cancel things or help with childcare.

Holly: congrats on the ondansetron. I hope it helps. I'm glad you're feeling a little more positive and are looking forward to meeting your DS. My baby is very active and I do find it very reassuring. I don't know about you, but I've decided my mental health is a yo-yo atm, one fuelled by anxiety and guilt.

I am also jealous of people who work from home. I am nervous about returning again next week as I will be actually teaching, vertigo is still the same and my SPD is getting worse. Fun times ahead I am sure.

Also, quick question. The week 25 mumsnet email mentioned calf cramps but I have either my right buttock cramping/feeling like it's going numb, or my entire right leg and I wondered if it should be mentioned to my mw or something? It happens especially if I am sat or lying down so I don't know if it's something to do with baby trapping something or my SPD or what. It is happening more often though..

On a lighter note, DS and I made buns yesterday. I also made banana bread, which is going down well.

Haich that sounds like Osteopath / Chiropractor territory. Pregnancy really isn't good for the body.

Haich that sounds like sciatica. If you lie on your back and get your husband to lift your leg up straight then push your toes back does it make you have numbness/tingling from your bottom to the back of your heel? If so that's definitely sciatica.

So my GP has given me promethazine to try at night and has signed me off until 7th May. She's also referred me to a dietician, although it's not what's going in that's the issue it's keeping it there. I'm not too hopeful about the promethazine. Feel terrible missing so much work but as my husband keeps telling me my health and the baby are important.

Lemondrop I might be totally wrong in this, but I think you can buy ranitidine over the counter? Obviously send your partner in and don't mention it's for a pregnant woman but it might tide you over until you can get it prescribed.

Thanks Lapin, I'll get DH to check the chemist. Why has the GP only given you promethazine to try at night? Seems weird. Yes, it's a sedative, but I'm fairly sure you'd have to take the medication at regular intervals to see a difference, and surely when you're awake is when you need it most???? Promthezine might help, it helps me (admittedly in combo with odansetron). If you don't improve in a few days, go back and ask to try something else. I feel the dietician referral is a little futile and suggests a lack of understanding of the actual issue but who knows.

Haich cute banana bread! The pain sounds horrible, I'd definitely see someone about that.

Sorry to hear so many of you are having bad days / weeks at the moment. Thanks for the tips on manageable food....for obvious reasons food aversions are growing at the moment so apple and banana are already out for me, but mango and avocado sound promising! Will make a nice change from the usual junk, which now also includes pickled onion monster munch. I'm so fed up of eating three breakfasts every day in a futile effort to keep one down.

Oklahoma sounds like we're due a v. similar time, I'm counting down the weeks already...it's nice to know I won't be the only one!