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.

Those of you who are in your 2nd/3rd (or more) HG pregnancy how did you make the final decision to ttc and what measures have you put in place to make it more bearable and easier for you and your partner and children?

It wasn’t an easy decision. If I’d had an easy first pregnancy I might have considered three kids but nope - two is going to be my limit. I really wanted just one more - ds is a social little guy.

What I did. I waited 2 years before ttc - I was far too depleted from the first
I had therapy
I resolved to be far more pushy and proactive with HCPs. I was dismissed too much in my first pregnancy. I switched midwife practice to a private one near me who have in house gynaes because I was not going to wait a month to see the doc every time I needed to. I didn’t hang around waiting - as soon as I had my first appt I was very very clear with them what had happened last time, how I’d been treated and how it had affected me. So far they have listened and been brilliant. I pushed for drugs earlier and managed to get to try different drugs (none worked but I tried..)
I’ve requested and been signed off - last time o struggled through and it was hell.

Basically I’ve been far more considerate of myself (I won’t say selfish, because I don’t think it is selfish) I’ve been far less wary of TELLING HCPs what I need, not hoping they will offer it.
I’ve also begged DSs nursery to increase his hours and they have been amazing - they’re getting a massive thank you and flowers once all this is done!

It’s a hard choice to make.

Just to add to that post, while I feel physically much worse this pregnancy, I feel mentally more able to cope due to the measures above, which for me is the big thing.

Anitidae Wonderful advice - and I'd just like to add that you have become a model of assertiveness!

Thanks Bored and Lucinda, relapsing is horrible because you've finally got some hope, and it comes crashing down. I've taken it really easy today and have to lower my expectations. I'll feel better when I feel better, and feeling stressed will do me no good whatsoever. Glad I had my cry though, hormones!!! need to be expressed sometimes, and then it's easier to move on... I think getting over the emotional distress is the main thing. I still feel horrible and sick, but the rain cloud has moved on.

totally - Great points from Anatidae Which reminds me of a few other things to add to my list of preparations. When I had my DS - 5 years ago - I told my husband I needed 5 years before I could even think of another one. During that time I was able to really heal from HG - my son's was by far the worst of my 3 because none of the meds helped at all, not even ondansetron (which helped in my first and is helping now) I had to be hooked up 24/7 in the hospital for a few months. I also did therapy, which was extremely cathartic but slow. You know, going through HG, you are so vulnerable and you encounter so many people who dismiss you, think you're exaggerating, etc. Then I also had my son at 34 weeks, unexpected to say the least. But having my youngest 5 now that I am expecting is a blessing. He's not in diapers, he's pretty independent, he's in school and in the afternoon he can go to friends to play, etc. I don't even know how you people with 2 yr olds are managing. My DD was 2 when I was expecting DS, but as I said, I was in the hospital for months and so DH and my mil had to manage her on their own - I had nothing to do with any of that!

Another (drastic?) thing I did was to confide in my principal in August that this upcoming school year I might have to go on sick leave or bed rest for several weeks/months because I have this thing called HG that no one has ever heard of but, yes, is an actual medical condition. (I teach kindergarten in an ESL environment, not so easy to find a sub!) I felt she should know in advance - she thought I was NUTS - here I hadn't yet even conceived and I was warning her of a potential pregnancy! But I knew from previous experience that as soon as I got off birth control, the TTC would quickly lose its Ts.

I wish I could learn to be as assertive as you, Anatidae, but I did become somewhat more assertive. I've learned to be proactive as well, and to push for meds asap. And if the GP says no, shop around for a new one! The info is there, on PSS of HelpHER, so arm yourself with information and don't take no for an answer.

Hi all, need some advice please. Have had a horrendous day where everything that has passed my lips has come back out with painful force. It's got to the stage where I'm feeling drowsy and my stomach hurts because I'm hungry (but the thought of eating makes me want to puke even more) and thirsty. Have called 111 and spoken to someone who's said I should go into A and E to have my urine tested for Kentones. She's recommended I go in as a matter of urgency in case I'm dehydrated but I feel weak, cold and like I need sleep. Am I wise to monitor myself and go to the hospital in the morning?

Both lots of anti-sickness medicines prescribed by my GP have miserably failed me :/

I suppose I'm asking what you would do and what I need to look out for as warning signs that something is seriously wrong.

PoodleDoodleCaboodle Welcome. It does sound as if you need to get to A and E, unfrotunately. I don't like recommending it in this weather and late at night. Have you got a hospital fairly near? It's a pest that you don'thave any kesostix. Are you unable to produce any urine, and do you have a headache, blurry vision, dry skin and feel vague? The problem is that if you leave it too long, the dehydration can make you mentally confused and can't accept that you are very ill. If you are determined to stick it out overnight, have you got a supply of ice cubes to suck or any ice lollies (sounds mad in this weather, I know), or any juice of tinned fruit or flat full sugar coke or Lucoazade?
Endora Cyber hugs on offer over relapse if required and great advice.

Thank you @LucindaE- I've followed the thread with interest but didn't want to contribute as I thought others had it worse than me! Today has been a different story altogether. I'm shattered, have a migraine from all the throwing up and just want to sleep things off. I had a shower earlier to see if it would perk me up but I almost passed out.

We've got a hospital a couple of miles away but DH's car is with the mechanic so We'd have to rely on public transport (local tube is out of service and so just the 24H bus) to take us there on this very very cold night. I've had a wee about 3 times today. It was the colour of marigolds (can't think of another thing to compare it with!) and very, very frothy. Will get some ketostix tomorrow.

Ps. Had some fruit juice earlier and it came straight up. Am giving my tummy a little break for now but will try to have a biscuit or something in a bit. I don't want to go out in this weather- I'm scared I'll trip and make matters worse.

poodle you do sound dehydrated. Can you try to just drip fluids in literally a teaspoon or half a teaspoon at a time? Last pregnancy I sat with a pint of flat coke and managed to get a pint in over a couple of hours when I’d thrown up everything g I’d had for two days. Or the rehydration salts you can get from the chemist?
Swallowing as an action I’ve found can trigger me - dripping the fluid down seems to fool me into thinking nothing has gone in - and of course once you get that little tiny bit of fluid in you can often cope with more.
CAn you get in to emergency this morning? I suppose it’ll be very busy as well :(

endora I do hope you are feeling a bit brighter today.

poodledoodlecaboodle how are you feeling today? It does sound like you need to get to A&E today if you can. I hope you are feeling able to do that. It doesn’t help with the awful weather at the moment as you just want to stay tucked up inside.

Endora glad the cry helped, always helps to get the frustration out that way I think. I have cried plenty, mainly because of how feeling so poorly has made me unable to even read to my little girl (2) without wanting to vomit. So pleased that the ondansetron has at least helped a bit this time and you have escaped those months in hospital (,how utterly horrific). Hope you start feeling a bit better soon.

Hot chocolate how are you? Are you home, did they change your meds at all? Hope you are doing a bit better.

Poodle really hope you managed to keep something down, I don't blame you at all for not wanting to get to the hospital last night on the bus, what a nightmare. Even if you have kept down fluids still think A&E rather than GP is likely to get you better meds, even if they don't give you fluids - getting drugs in by injection, bypassing your inflamed stomach will help. Good luck today, hope you get something to help you feel a bit better.

Hi bored I had 3 bags of fluid at the hospital and came home last night and slept for hours. I feel a little better this morning. Not too sick right now. I’m just about to try some rice. I’m not sure rice will be a good thing for me to eat or not but I really fancy it. My biggest problem this morning is that im very very lightheaded. My head feels all wooshy and weird.

I didn't end up going to A and E last night- with no food and the constant vomiting, I felt weak and shivery so stayed in bed hoping sleep would make things better today. The migraine has gone but I'm still feeling very, very queasy. I have to take medication for an under active thyroid first thing in the morning and I'm currently fighting for this to stay down. Have called my Dr and am waiting for a call back and will then head to hospital. Can I ask what you ladies have told work? I started a new job 8 weeks ago (this pregnancy was a very pleasant and welcome surprise) and don't want them to think I'm messing them around. I haven't told my manager yet but have shared the news with my Supervisor. I've got the feeling the manager knows (her and my Supervisor are very close) because she's been very attentive towards me and has asked me to take things easy when I've requested a day to WFH. How do I raise this pregnancy and my sickness with her? I'm almost 11weeks gone and don't want to make any silly excuses, especially if she already knows.

hotchocolate I am glad the fluids helped, and you're home. Brave of you to go for rice - not nice on the way up - but with any luck it won't reappear!

Poodle Can you get an ambulance into hospital or today? Or failing that, an a taxi get through (take doubled up carrier bags just in case it sets you off )? That urine sounds like that of someone very dehdyrated.
Great advice from everyone.
Waves to bored and everyone.

@Anatidae- the swallowing bit trigger off vomiting is exactly what I'm feeling too. Also, if I think of certain foods, I'm done for. I can't believe how bad it is. I've tried ice lollies but the sugar overload (Fruit Pastilles) got to me and I haven't been back since. I want proper food, I'm hungry but I don't know what to have or what'll stay down.

@hotchocolate86- sorry to hear you're feeling so bad. I keep being told it'll be worth it in the end but I can't think that far ahead with how bad I'm feeling. Hope your new medication works for you.

poodle mashed potato has been one of my best things for keeping down. Both in this pregnancy and my last it has stayed down most of the time. Is that worth a try? I read sweet potato is good for nausea so I’ve ordered some sweet potato mash to try. That’s if my food order makes it here. Fingers crossed.

So far my rice has stayed down. That’s a good couple of hours so fingers crossed. I remember I managed to tolerate it in my last pregnancy too at times. I am struggling to drink though which is frustrating as I know how important it is. I just can’t thjnk what I might fancy.

Poodle I hope you get some help today. I second the mash potato suggestion, and have also found porridge good for me (if you can stomach it being milky). We got the cheat microwavable easy sachets.
I found it too exhausting to keep making excuses to family and friends and so told people that I see regularly what was going on when I was really I'll. I figured I would need their support if after everything the pregnancy didn't have a happy ending. I am slightly different to some I suppose as I have to tell work early due to H&S concerns, but in your position at 11 weeks I would probably tell your manager, buy obviously everyone feels very differently
Sickness due to pregnancy is also viewed differently, which may be important if you are still on a trial period?

Hotchocolate I've gone off it again now, but for a few weeks all I could drink was lemon squash - think it took the edge off the taste of plain water which I couldn't stand, without being sweet like other flavoured drinks. I also sometimes could manage some milk, kind of felt like it soothed my stomach. Glad you've kept something down.

Poodle I wonder about cuppa soup? I know it's not real food, but it's a bit closer than some of the sweet stuff!

My first pregnancy I kept it a secret (awful line manager, basically scared of being fired) and that was another thing I resolved not to do his time round. I told my (new) LM at 8 weeks after I’d seen a heartbeat on a scan and I told her my last pregnancy was terrible and that it looked like it was going down the same route.
Once you tell work you are protected, so in your situation I’d inform them properly (email, copy HR in.) you then have any illness absence fall under pregnancy and you’re more protected, especially if you e not worked there long.

poodle I get awful sweet aversions in the early weeks, I can't even think of ice lollies because they seem nauseatingly sweet to my pregnant mind. Mashed potato seems to work for several ladies on this thread, but you should also try things that will get some fluid into you. What I could stomach in those early days were ice chips (ice cubes in blender) and citrus-y or tangy fruits - tiny bits of grapefruit segments, or frozen blueberries, lately I've only been able to stomach kiwi. Peeled granny smith apples worked in my first pregnancy (peeled because apple peel gets stuck in your throat on the way back up) This pregnancy all I could think about was cherry tomatoes, I don't know why. Beware though that citrus can cause heartburn!

@Anatidae and @Boredoftryingusernames- I felt so guilty at the beginning when I found out I was expecting as I'd just started the new job. I've had horrendous managers in the past so was nervous telling anyone at my new workplace. However, I've just spoken to my manager and explained everything and she couldn't have been any more understanding and reassuring. Wanted to cry out of relief but ended up thanking her about a million times.

Spoke to my GP and she's signed me off work for a week to get some rest and conserve energy. She's prescribed me cyclizine again because even though it causes drowsiness, she said it was preventing me from throwing up which was good. I went with it and didn't ask for new medication. I've got a midwife appointment booked in for tomorrow and have been told she'll test my urine for Ketones and in the mean time to drink anything and everything I can get my hands on (😏) to flush any suspected ketones out. Seeing an endocrinologist on Monday to see how my existing medication can be managed alongside to ensure a safe pregnancy. I'm so exhausted by everything already...

Really, really am in awe of anyone of you who have children already and are going through HG. It's genuinely debilitating. I'm going to call my sister later on and apologise for all those times I told her it was 'mind over matter' when she had HG and used to call me in tears asking what she could do to feel better. I see her as a hero now.

Hotchocolate- mashed potato was my go to in the early days. I used to make it thick so it'd settle in my stomach like cement and it worked. That with beans kept me sane. Now the thought of it makes me want to cry!

@LucindaE- I've never liked packet soup but might have to raid the cupboards to see if there's any there. Willing to try anything now.

I think the food aversions become very deeply entrenched and make things very difficult. I can't face anything I vomited up (completely understand this!), but also can't eat anything that I ate in the earlier stages of the pregnancy.
Poodle pleased your manager was so supportive, one less thing to worry about. Unfortunately a lot of people don't find cyclizine strong enough once the vomiting gets more severe, I really hope it works for you though. Are you vomiting as much today? It's so hard to advocate for yourself when you feel so ill, but if you are then think you'll need more help. Can anyone get you some ketostix today?

Hmmm cuppa soups may be worth a try poodle. I’ve never been a big fan but I’ve managed a couple in the last two weeks or so. If you find out anything useful from your endocrinologist I’d be grateful If you’d consider posting it on here. I am on levothyroxine for an under active thyroid and I’m lucky if I can get the tablets down. It does worry me a lot.

I’ve just tried to eat some baked beans. I was feeling sick so I’m hoping they might settle my tummy as I know being hungry seems to make me worse. I hope I’ve not made a mistake eating. I’m counting down until I can take my next cyclizine. Not until 3.30pm.

endora I’ve just put some ice cubes in the freezer to try blending into ice chips later. I hope I can manage them. I also have some chocolate milk in so I might try that later. Thanks for the milk suggestion bored. I’ve managed to eat a bit today but I’ve hardly drink anything and I know that’s not going to help.

I hope everyone’s having a reasonable day.