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.

Statistically challenged I kept the cyclizine and added ondansetron. I honestly don't think there is any rhyme nor reason to how different doctors do things. I needed a letter from my consultant to stop my dr trying to take me off ondansetron.
Quick question for people that stayed on it all the way through. When I had ds I was on a cocktail of meds for blood pressure. He ended up in NICU for 10 days as he was floppy and had to be tube fed. I really don't want to go through that again. Are there any similar issues with ondansetron? I've googled and I'm not getting anything helpful, so thought I would ask here.

Definitely take it 3 times a day, and if it doesn't help quickly I would speak to them about increasing to 8mg 3 times daily. I would be a bit worried about just stopping the other meds too, but as lots of people have already said ondansetron does seem to help many people more than other meds. Really hope it helps you.

cuttlefish as I've said, ondansetron pretty much every day from week 7 to 41. My son had no adverse affects from it. It was never mentioned as an issue during pregnancy, labour or afterwards. He was slightly jaundiced but that was due to conflicting blood types (o neg and o pos - my blood attacked his blood. Or something!) nothing to do with the ondansetron as far as I'm aware.

statisticallychallanged ondansetron was the only meds that allowed me to actually attempt food, so hopefully it's not a fluke! Do be careful not to get carried away (I know it's so easy) - start small and build gradually!!!

I'm hoping this isn't a dead cat bounce - I felt briefly good on the procloperazine, but it only lasted a few days. That's the thing isn't it, every day is different and it's so hard to see patterns sometimes. You can start off feeling awful then perk up, or vice versa. Doesn't half mess with your head!!

Hope everyone is feeling as well as can be!
I was surprisingly ok today and went back to work. Then I started bleeding so I have an early scan tomorrow. A bit sick of hospitals now!

Good luck with the scan tomorrow boo.

The ondansetron has given me the most awful constipation. I was hoping I’d got away with it but apparently not.

Booandbump Bleeding is always worrying, and how unlucky it should happen when you have just returned to work. Wishing you all luck and sendingmuch sympathy.
Great advice from everyone as ever...

hotchocolate A lot swear by those suppositories from Boots, though they won 't sell them to someone pregnant, and so they have to send someone else. Lactulose is meant to be excellent, but I don''t know if you can get it off prescription. One has to be brave indeed to go for Fibrogel...

Hope all is ok tomorrow on the scan Boo.

Lucinda you can get lactulose over the counter, probably best not to mention being pregnant as they may not give it to you, but was advised by Drs is definitely fine to take. Took several days to help me but taking it twice a day seemed to work. Very miserable problem on top of everything else - hope you get it sorted quickly Hotchocolate.

@Booandbump hope scan all ok tomorrow, keep us updated :-) xx

Hi, I've only posted on this thread a few times....was just wondering if anyone has experienced their sickness getting worse at 20/21 weeks? I'm really struggling after a few weeks of feeling relatively ok and managing on one daily dose of doxylamine/B6 (think it's fairly similar to cyclizine). I've had to go back on ondansetron but am in a similar state to hotchocolate - I get so constipated. and although it stops the vomiting it doesn't really help me with the nausea. I'm just finding it all so hard right now, my other pregnancies have been nothing like this. I don't think I can mentally cope with another 4 months of this.
Boo - sorry to hear of your bleeding and hope all is well

@ohiwa I can't remember the exact timings of my pregnancy, but I know I had ups and downs throughout. I think it's fairly normal. In terms of the ondansetron, I think I was lucky not to get the constipation, but did get it from the iron tabs I ended up on. Lactulose was my friend. At least if it stops you puking, you can eat a little bit. Do you have 'safe foods'? Take it easy, day by day, hour by hour if you need. You mention previous pregnancies; does that mean you have littlies around right now?

Thanks bored and lucinda I’ll get some lactulose. I think I had that last time and it helped. Pregnancy is definitely not glamorous is it?

ohiwa I had ups and downs in my last pregnancy. I felt pretty much ok between about 17 and 21 weeks and then had a more rocky time. I never managed to get off the ondansetron though. I’m hoping I can do this time.

Thanks hotchocolate and eallison.
I have a 6yo and 4yo so it's a while since my last pregnancy - with both pregnancies I had bad nausea but very little vomiting (no medication) and I was fine by 16 weeks. This pregnancy has been so different - constant vomiting at 5 weeks and got prescribed doxylamine, B6, metochlopramide, and ondansetron. The medication helped reduce the vomiting and I've been feeling fairly good for the last few weeks. Everyone told me I'd be fine by 20 weeks so it's been such a letdown to feel worse!
I'm just getting my head around the idea that the sickness may last the whole pregnancy (and it's expensive! I'm spending so much money on doctor appointments, prescriptions and medication - am in NZ and some of my medication isn't subsidised)

And @eallison88 yes I do have a handful of 'safe foods' that are getting me through. Am really struggling with fluids though. And I'm sure that doesn't help with the ondansetron constipation....

@ohiwa have you tried lollies? My fluid in take as mainly calyppo lollies (lemon lime flavour). Also, have you tried fizzy drinks? Pre pregnancy fuzzy drinks made me feel sick. During pregnancy (and now) I couldn't stomach still drinks, but fizzy ones were a godsend (particularly orange fanta) .

That's so crap that you're spending so much on medicines. Could you try dropping some that aren't ondansetron to see how you get on, and see if you can save a little bit of money? Makes me incredibly thankful for the NHS.

@ohiwa much sympathy. I am also not looking forward to another 4 months of this ordeal :-( Am having the same ondansetron problems- constipation and nausea (though have to say am very lucky to have NHS so do feel for you, I know ondansetron is an expensive drug). Totally agree with @eallison88 about the orange fanta too- couldnt stand the stuff before and now it's all I live off fluids wise.

Also don't know if this is HG related but flipping recurrent cystitis? Anyone else had this? Drives me flipping MAD!!!!

Just checking in to see if any new babies have been born yet.

ohiwa it's very common for it to get worse around 20 weeks, and again at around 30 weeks.

B ored and eallison Great advice for hotchocolate and ohlwa.
AW12345 I second that - I do hope all is well with booandbump.
Ohlwa Many do have a hormonal surge at about twenty weeks. It is very hard on those who suffer throughout, and as you say, effective meds are a necessity. So sorry that this scourge is proving expensive for you. I so agree with eallison about ice lollies and fizzy orange.
In case you might find something on the list of drinks that have helped people: those ice lollies, the juice of tinned fruit, flat full sugar coke, ice cubes, soda water, Elderflower water, fizzy orange, lemonade, Lucozade, orange squash, Robinson's fruit drinks, sips of chocolate milkshake (maybe soya), Dr Pepper, and for some, orange juice (that's for too acid for many).
Natsku A few, and lovely photos, a few pages back!
Apologies if I've missed anyone.

Hello! All is well. Measuring 9 weeks and 6 days and saw heartbeat and it's kicking its little legs! They don't know what the bleeding was. So just cross my fingers it doesn't happen again.

That’s great news boo. You must be so pleased.

boo Great news. Really happy for you.

Brilliant news Boo!!! Congratulations :-)

Great news Boo, what a relief for you.

I'm going back to work tomorrow after 10 weeks off, hoping it's not too busy whilst I settle back in, and that it doesn't set me back as last 3-4 days have been pretty good....

@boredoftrying are you going back full time and full hours? Can you do a gradual reintegration? Please be gentle to yourself, and recognise if you need to slow down and take a step back. Best of luck tomorrow

@boo I'm really glad to hear everything ok.