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, phone them on:
024 7638 2020
Lastly, the NICE guidelines on treatment are useful:
cks.nice.org.uk/nauseavomiting-in-pregnancy
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.

Lucinda is she one of us then? I feel a bit star struck! Good for her doing so much to help women. I feel totally in awe of you too, you give so much time and support to women suffering it's incredible.

I would be the last one on the list - mid August, but I haven't had a scan yet, but look forward to it next week and also to getting some beginners meds. Sickness had been very mild these last three days which is just an amazing gift. hope all is well though and it is not an empty shell they find in the scan which would explain the sickness lull

Fingers crossed for your scan next week Harebell

Baby is very lively tonight - going to sauna always seems to set him off! And he's shifting from side to side so much in there, his bum is first on one side then the other and right now it's in the middle.

justtheonethen Thank you. Caitlin Dean wasn't on this thread, in fact, I think the first time she suffered was before this thread began, but I do know her, because she's a specialist nurse and has advised me about the worst cases on this thread. She certainly deserves a medal, as she's done a massive amount to have Hypermesis better understood. Things are hit and miss now, but when I started this thread eight years ago, women were routinely refused meds until at least one admission, even if they had had it before, and then they might be given cyclizine.
Elephantgrey Being distressed is not being bonkers. An online course sounds a bit ridiculous to me - didn't know such things existed.
Those long body pillows for everybody sound good.
Meadowhay Very likely it is just some good days. When people on here have them, they are so alarmed that they wish the sickness back. It is not nice to stress about mmc- because I had one before, I worried until 36 weeks!
Waves to Natsku and everyone.

Hello everyone, you gave me some amazing advice before Christmas, which probably kept me out of hospital. I’ve been lurking since, but thought I’d actually join in, if that’s ok. I’m 10 weeks now with what will hopefully be my second child.

The GP who was a bit clueless but I said I was coping well with promethazine so she prescribed that, and also offered a sick note. It’s my last month at work before redundancy and I can work from home/flexibly, so I’m not taking her up on it yet. My output it pretty low though..! The meds have really reduced the vomiting and enabled me to function and look after DS, but haven’t stopped the incessant nausea. I also really struggle with fluids, and am finding it very hard to brush my teeth properly.

Before this pregnancy I had two MMC, so everyone is looking very positively on my sickness. I’m finding that a little hard—the very obvious symptom is reassuring, and I’d worry if it stopped, but I’m pretty miserable with it too!

I'm taking the book to my midwife appointment tomorrow as I am now on 2 Ondansetron a day instead of 1 but actually need to tell someone
I'm just so scared they will stop prescribing it...
Nausea is 24/7 and I almost threw up earlier from the smell of the sandwich van at work.

Lifeofpies I'm glad the advice on this thread has helped. Meds so often massively reduce vomiting, but the nausea often continues, unfortunately. Cleaning teeth can be really difficult. I used to use a kids' toothrbush and kids' strawberry toothpaste. Sometimes, if I couldn't stand that, I was naughty and rinsed my teeth with a dilution of bicarbonate of soda in water, which I probably shouldn't have because of the salt in it, but I knew dentists used it. Well done on managing to work from home and avoding hospitalisation so far.
On liquids, did you find ice lollies, ice cubes, the juice of tinned fruit or flat full sugar coke any good?
Orange That's a great idea, taking the book to the surgery. Sorry that the nausea is so bad. I can imagine some sandwich fillings would be hell to smell (forgive the bad verse!).

Thank you so much for the welcome, Lucinda, and suggestion for teeth brushing—great ideas. I’ll definitely try kids toothpaste.
Ice lollies have been good, and flat lemonade. Plain water is awful at the moment. I was worried that all the sugar I was having would excerbate constipation, but the GP pointed out that lack of fluids is probably more problematic!

Orange that book sounds amazing. Very best wishes for tomorrow.

Can you get xylitol pastilles in the UK? I've been eating those a lot to try and help my dental health a little bit considering the damage all the vomiting must be doing. Usually I chew xylitol gum but that makes me sick now, and when it doesn't make me sick it makes me acidy, but the pastilles are great.

Plain water was awful for me too during the worst time Lifeofpies I lived off fizzy drinks, got to get those liquids in somehow!

Oh my god I'm at the top of the list!

Natsku thanks - I have no idea but I’ll go and search now!

Life I live on soda water. Can't stomach anything else.
Orange I'm nearly 22 weeks and had HG since 4 weeks. Ondansetron has been a complete game changer for me but be prepared for the dr and consultant trying to take you off it, every so often. Happened to me twice (going through it again now). They have been good, in that I give it a couple of days and then call the dr, say I tried and he puts me back on it. They will only give me 10 days at a time, which is a pain.
Hare when I joined I was the same, felt like a lifetime away but creeping up the ranking now
Hi to everyone. Yep, I'm up at 5am, throwing up. The joys but at least I tried to come off meds. Was just celebrating getting out yesterday too. Got another sickline. Off till end of the month. I haven't been at work, since my holiday I September. Was at the dr on Wednesday and referred to the baby as "the parasite". I think he might section me. Not that I'm not looking forward to baby now but we've jokingly called it that since the joy of being hospitalised on holiday. I also have a huge baby bump, which I never had with baby number 1. I'm waddling at 5months.
Gentle hugs to all.

seizethecuttlefish I know, my GP surgery has been horrible with it, that's why I am taking the book and am prepared to argue my case. Last time I had a massive meltdown to doctor and midwife and they prescribed it. With 1 a day I can do 30 days but currently need 2 a day now so will need more... 8 weeks till due date!

Despite massively increasing my fluids, I'm still getting migraines 😭 I'm on promethazine (sp) which I've read actually helps treat migraines too so I don't know why I'm getting them so badly. Is it still a knock on effect from not eating or drinking Monday and Tuesday?

Feeling ok-ish this morning. Last night was horrible though from about 5pm onwards. For the second night in a row, dd hasn't breastfed to sleep, and has instead asked daddy to get her to sleep. I've always said I'll take the lead about when she weans, but I'm feeling a bit sad about it to be honest. Maybe bfing is making me dehydrated too?

That's interesting that I'm not the only one who struggled with liquids more than solids. I'm at a stage where I can force myself to eat in small amounts but drinking is just a massive, massive effort. I'm finding a straw is helping along with lots of ice in the drink. I'd rather it was the other way around though, and drinking was easier than eating.

My dd is such a fussy eater, we have a health visitor coming out once a week to work with her. In the last 2 weeks her food intake has gone downhill. She has the same for lunch, dinner etc as daddy, but she can see mummy is eating something different e.g. they'll have lasagne and I'll have a piece of toast, so she wants what I'm having. I had tried to force myself to eat what they are but sometimes I just can't. So I'm worried this is all having a detrimental effect on her eating habits too now.

Going to attempt a small food shop today 🤢 Hoping it goes ok. I've ordered some sick bags to take out with me that should be arriving soon. I'm worried about being caught out and can't get to a toilet.

I have been meaning to lurk but lost track of the thread a bit over Christmas and new year, but just saw the announcements from @spearo and @mustang and had to say congratulations!!! So very pleased for you both, hope you are enjoying a lovely new year, and are blissfully sickness free.

Keep going everyone else, things will get better!

Herecomesanotheron2018 Those migraines are hormonal - unfortunately, fluids won't stop them. If you know your're getting enough fluids to avoid dehdyration headaches, at least you know that it isn't that. Mine stopped at 16 weeks, and apparently, that's very common. If DD won't eat properly, it might be worth getting her kids nice chewy vitamins just to tide her over this difficult peroid when you can't set an example. My DD was a terribly fussy eater when she was little, but she grew up to be inches taller than me with a fine appetite.
Interesting that everyone was talking about Caitlin Dean's book. It's her birthday today - so feel free to go over to wish her a good one on Facebook!

pippasnippa Lovely to hear from you. How are things with family?

Ugh not read back as having awful day of nausea. Really hope it's just that I overdid it yesterday rather than the steroids stopping working.

Hopefully you just overdid it just

Sorry about your migraines herecomes that must be horrid. Agree with Lucinda about giving your DD a chewy vitamin for the time being, once you're able to eat better again then hopefully she will too but I wouldn't worry about it too much now, you don't need any more stress than HG and migraines!

My appointment at the maternity clinic has been set for the 16th, two hour appointment so I guess they really take birth fears seriously.

I've been advised not to give her a chewy vitamin as she gags a bit when swallowing. She won't accept liquid vitamins either. Need to get her eating as despite what I said earlier, she's been bfing this morning and it's making me feel sick.

I've also noticed I'm starting to get really shaky about 4 hours after I've had my promethazine. Is that normal? I'm aiming to take them roughly every 5 hours.

Natsku that sounds positive about your appointment . Sorry I'm not aware of your history as I've only just joined the thread - is there something in particular you're afraid of? Or is it the whole thing? I'm pleased you're being supported.

Orange I hope your appointment with the midwife went well and you got the medication. I do know what you mean about food smells. I threw up outside KFC once just because the smell was so bad.

I had a bit of a wobble yesterday about seeing the perinatal mental health. I had a fear that they might think I was an unfit mother but I feel better about it today. I had my appointment with the consultant obstetrician at the hospital. She thinks I should aim for a natural birth and that I won't have any problems but I need to see physiotherapy to get crutches so I don't fall over. I do feel a bit reassured.

Don't know about the shakiness, some meds have that effect on me but probably best to ask your GP about that.

I'm not sure really, guess the whole thing, which is strange as I got through DD's birth ok and wasn't scared at all before that but this time I am. Suppose my biggest fear is giving birth on the way to the hospital as it's such a long trip, and in the middle of winter so all kinds of added risks from road conditions and temperatures. Though can't imagine how OH would feel if I gave birth in our new car - he's so precious about it he even makes DD take her shoes off inside it!!

Sorry you had a bit of a wobble elephant you know they won't view you as an unfit mother, you are seeking support which is a good sign!
Crutches are a good idea.

Hi all, I don’t know if I’m being a bit presumptuous but I certainly feel like I’m well on my way to Hyperemesis. I’m about 6 weeks and have been really unwell with the sickness since Sunday. I’m nauseous all day and doing pretty much anything makes me start retching and gagging. I’m vomiting about 5 times per day so not a massive amount but have absolutely no appetite and feel absolutely vile. I’m not able to do anything, as even simple stuff like standing up for a little while makes me feel so ill. I seem to get a couple of hours in the evening where it improves a bit and I did manage to eat a small meal last night, but I’m really not coping. GP prescribed cyclizine yesterday but it’s doing absolutely nothing: she said to phone back if it doesn’t work and that we would try metaclompramide. I think DP thinks I’m being unreasonable/lazy/dramatic and that I should just get on with it. I understand because I seem to do most of the vomiting when he’s at work but that isn’t even the main problem! It’s how intensely nauseous I feel all the time! I don’t even know what to do, I just feel so vile and useless.