What are we going to do financially? HG related

[PayingMyWayYouSay]

I can't physically get to work. My HG is just so terrible I can hardly keep my head up sometimes.

Due to the nature of my job, I can't work from home at all.

My sick pay was generous as it is but if I need more time away now, I'll have to claim government sick pay which is something like £60 a week

We have a house to pay for and all other expenses that don't stop just because one of you is ill.

What do I do? Force myself somehow? Put myself on breaking edge?

I just feel so helpless and worried.

How far along are you?

Have you spoken to your HR department about this?
Have you been signed off by the doctor?

Can your other half pick up more hours, or get a second job? Have you any kind of insurance for this kind of thing?
I take it you have tried antiemetics?

Hello all,

I am 20 weeks along.

DH cannot take on additional hours.

HR know I'm off due to HG, yes

I have tried lots of sickness tablets, nothing is working

How much time off have you had for HG such that you are no longer entitled to sick pay from the office?
I had HG myself and was even hospitalised at one point .

I am off with HG too but only for 2 weeks so far. I hope one of the medications you've been given is ondansetron.
With my work, if I was off sick from 30 weeks it would automatically start maternity leave. Unfortunately because HG is temporary, I don't think you will qualify for ESA. However, your doctor could write a sick note with amended hours so you'll work less but still get paid.

You need to talk to Maternity Action or ACAS to find out where you stand regarding your sick pay, and whether this will have any impact on the maternity pay you receive (especially if you are entitled to contractual occupational maternity pay).

With regards to expenses - it's really rubbish, but DH and you will need to sit down and look long and hard at your finances and work out where you can trim your outgoings down. If you have a mortgage, it might be worth considering approaching the lender for a mortgage 'holiday'.

We have a house to pay for and all other expenses that don't stop just because one of you is ill

. Do you have serious illness cover as part of your life insurance or as a separate insurance policy that you could claim on? Does HG count as a serious illness for that?

It won't count as serious illness cover, I m afraid- happy to be wrong on this.

Reducing your hours might be a possible option as well as major money saving.

It's horrible and I really sympathise.

I didn't think it would

I had to sign off on ESA due to HG from 18 weeks. I claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit and just managed on the ESA for living costs. Get a benefits check done. However I was single - if your DH has a good income then he'd be expected to support you out of that. If you have a mortgage rather than renting you could ask your bank for a mortgage holiday.

I just don't know where to put myself.

If I reduce my hours, the money I make won't really cover much after travel. It really is that bad.

I don't have any insurance policies. We are currently privately renting so no mortgage but rent has to be paid.

It's scary. I'm not well enough to go to a supermarket but somehow must drag myself to work and be professional.

I won't lie to anyone, I'm scared

@PayingMyWayYouSay have you tried ondansetron? I'm only asking as I had real issues with my GP prescribing it and I know lots of women with HG who are suffering and they've never had it.

@PayingMyWayYouSay come over to the hyperemesis support thread. It's great thread with lots of women in similar position.

It might be worth speaking with Pregnancy Sickness Support. They have helped thousands of women with HG, not only with guidance on coping with the condition but supporting partners, financial implications etc. I bet you won't be the first person they've come across in your position and they might have info about your rights, benefits etc.

www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk

As Thingy says, if you haven't tried ondansetron, talk to your GP (although they can be touchy about prescribing it). You have my sympathy, I'm going through HG right now but I've been lucky enough to be able to WAH.

If you want some general support or just a place to vent about how rubbish you feel, come and join us here
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/2956052-Hyperemesis-Support

Ha, cross post Thingy!

I'd also suggest talking to your landlord and explaining the situation. They might be understanding and have a suggestion about how to make rent manageable?

I was also going to suggest Pregnanxy Sickness Support.

Thank you for the replies!

Will be marking my place on the HG forum.

I will have a look at the links given, hopefully something will help.

We have been with the landlord for 1 week so would feel a cheek asking for a bit of a hand this soon

I hope your HG settles down OP. My HG pregnancies were the most utterly miserable times of my life.

Thanks Bike

I was never ill with my 4 other pregnancies but they never made it to term.

I thought this would be the most joyful time ever, but it all just sucks.

I would seriously trade less sleep with a newborn if I didn't feel nauseous with it

What medication regime are you in?

Sorry to hear you have bad HG

You may well be eligible for Housing Benefit. The calculation is based on your current income i.e. your partner's salary and your SSP.

To find out if you're eligible, and if so how much you'll get, you could call Citizens Advice, use an online benefits calculator or visit/call your local council. If you are eligible to apply to your local council and most of them have an online application form.

england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/housing_benefit/claiming_housing_benefit