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.

Thanks for the tips, I'm going to try and be a bit more upright today,and I'll track down the 4head sticks. I don't want to keep on downing paracetamol!
Hope everyone is doing ok so far todayx

Haneggandchips glad the cyclizine is helping, please take as long as you can off work (I know it's hard in lots of ways), but one sure fire way to set yourself back seems to be doing too much too soon.

Foody glad all was well on your sneaky reassurance scan, sorry you're feeling sicker again though. Such a worry isn't it - feel rubbish when you are being sick, worry something is wrong when you're not!!

I had my 19 week scan yesterday and everything looking great with baby - still find it crazy that despite all the sickness/rubbish diet/tons of medications etc baby is growing away happily. We found out we are having another little girl , she was so busy doing somersaults it took 3 attempts with 2 walks around the hospital to try and move her position before they could check everything! Big relief, feeling better in myself too, despite ongoing nausea, so feel like I can start getting excited properly now.

Hope everyone is having reasonable days.

Bored That is lovely news. Congratulations on your girl.
Hane Mother Hen flaps and clucks and says don't rush back.
Sabulous As Bored says, that sounds like a tension headache. I'm assuming it's not a dehydration headache, and you don't have urine that looks like builders tea, dry, inelastic skin or ketones (which the staff at hospitals do take seriously though they don't necessarily seem to reflect dehydration accurately)?
Apologies if I've overlooked anyone.

Thanks everyone. It's really good to know that we aren't alone! Sorry haven't responded. Had a scan today due to bleeding. Wanted to make sure everything was ok before I started asking for advice! 9+5 and baby wriggling around like a mad thing! Just amazing. Did I really grow that in 7 weeks?!

@LucindaE so many thanks to you for starting this amazing thread! I want to extend my sick leave but won't be paid and just can't afford to take any more time off. I don't know how people do it. It's literally a case of bills not being paid.
GP is wonderful. I told my dad today also and he is a GP also. He sympathises and just wants to know I'm ok!
Started on Stemetil which didn't work. Not on metoclopramide which takes the edge off and vomiting down from 20 times a day to 3/4. Thankfully!
I'm living off orange lollies, cornflakes and avocados (for some reason avocados are my vice and can't get enough of them!). Drinking a lot more now however so starting to feel more myself. Let's see how long it lasts...
Don't have ketostix but as I'm feeling better I'm not sure if I need them.
Wondering if it's a fluke that I'm feeling better and it'll all come back with a vengeance....

caramina I was in hospital at 10 weeks for rehydration but after that started to pick up a bit. I am now 14 weeks and have relapsed a few times but never as bad as I was at 10 weeks and before. Hopefully things are looking up for you now.

That’s great news about the scan bored. Congratulations on your little girl.

I’ve got terrible anxiety at the moment. I’m presuming it’s pregnancy related and probably down to having been so ill and cooped up over the last few weeks.

hotchocolate have also had very low day :-( sympathise with you hugely, it is so hard being so unwell for such a long period of time. I've cried more today than I have in the rest of my whole life!

bored congratulations, brilliant news on the scan :-)

Caramina really pleased your dad is GP and supportive. Huge amount of sympathy for the returning to work thing :-( I was in the exact same boat :-( it is obviously different for everyone but I can say that the 1st 20 weeks were the hardest for me... it's still awful now but not as bad as then. Just think... you've survived 1/4 of the pregnancy already! And really pleased that baby was wriggling around a lot, it's hard work making a human that's for sure!

@LucindaE i'm also very thankful for this group. Do you mind adding me to the due date list? It's 4th of August

Hi Aw12345 Are you feeling any brighter today?

hot chocolate feeling a bit better thanks, but wondering if need to see GP about possible depression? Or if it's just normal to feel so rubbish when you're this unwell? I don't want to overreact :-(

How are you feeling? You still housebound?

AW12345 Added you. The due dates list definitely needs updating. Cyber hugs on offer to you, hotchocolate and to all those who feel in need of them, feeling down.
It is so hard to say when a natural feeling of being fed up and a bit desperate - due to the debilitating, isolating nature of the illlness itself - tips over into depression. I think depression may be a side effect of this illness, the way it is with 'flu. I do know that many women on here have mild PTSD afterwards if they have received insensitive, dismissive treatment, which unfrotunnately is often the case. I think it is normal to have a lot of residual anger over that.
seize Looking for the due dates list, I came on a post by you where you say that nobody form work contacted you, and you've been there ten years. Mother Hen is indignant. That is just plain rude. I'll tell you a funny story, though it does't make it better, about a job I was in for two years. My immediate boss - who disliked me because I was a union rep - was eager to tell me after I'd been off sick for a couple of weeks once, how they'd got in school leaver on work experieince, and they' hadn't missed me at all.
New list:
Due Dates
AndInShortIWasAfraid 27 March
Polyfilla 25 April
Poppet1985 28 April
dillydollydarling 4 May
seizethecuttlefish 13 May
Sally Mid May
Bunnyfluffy 20 May
BATMAN 21 May
Greenbeanies 23 May
Elephantgrey 25 May
Meadowhay 18 June
Lifeofpies 9 July
NailsatHome 20 July Twins!
AW12345 4 August
E2017 12 August
Harebell 13 August
Endorra44 16 August
Anitidae 27 August
Didntcomeheretofuckspiders 1st September
Boredoftryingoutusernames 4 Sepember
RockinRobin 18 September
SleepyBadger 3 October
Foodylicious 5 October
hotchocolate 7 October
Questabellatreetops 28 November

Surely that''s daft. AndinshortI wasafraid must have had her baby by now!
Caramina Are you on an anti acid? That can make a huge difference. I am glad that your father, being a doctor, is on hand for advice, but it is very brave of you to struggle in.
I have to say that I think most men just wouldn't. They'd say they were dying,

Due Dates
Polyfilla 25 April
Poppet1985 28 April
dillydollydarling 4 May
seizethecuttlefish 13 May
Sally Mid May
Bunnyfluffy 20 May
BATMAN 21 May
Greenbeanies 23 May
Elephantgrey 25 May
Meadowhay 18 June
Lifeofpies 9 July
NailsatHome 20 July Twins!
Aw12345 4 August
E2017 12 August
Harebell 13 August
Endorra44 16 August
Anitidae 27 August
Didntcomeheretofuckspiders 1st September
Boredoftryingoutusernames 4 Sepember
RockinRobin 18 September
SleepyBadger 3 October
Foodylicious 5 October
hotchocolate 7 October
Questabellatreetops 28 November

I suspect it is normal to feel rubbish when you are stuck in Aw12345 but it is awful and I think it could easily tip over into prenatal depression. I am able to get out and about a bit more now which is lovely. I’ve been out for a short while most days this week but am panicking about some nosebleeds my little boy is having. I am prone to anxiety anyway although it has been under control for a long while. I’m not liking it being so bad at the moment. If it persists I might speak to my midwife about it at my 16 week appointment. Would it help to have a chat with your midwife? I’m not actually sure if they can help but gps don’t seem very clued up over pregnancy. My doctors have just changed my gp which isn’t helping as I don’t know the new gp and I would much prefer to see the one I know a bit better.

Thank you for the cyber hugs lucinda.

Caramina glad the vomiting has subsided a bit on the metoclopramide, I ate a lot of cornflakes in weeks 8-12, can't look at them now!
Hotchocolate I have only ever experienced a short spell of increased anxiety after I had my daughter and it was horrible, you have my deepest sympathies, hope the midwife can give you some advice/help.
Aw I agree with what's already been said, such a fine line between how you are bound to feel when so poorly, and when it is something more. From what I have read there are many people that suffer from depression along with hyperemesis, I think it would be worth speaking to your GP about, if only to get reassurance why you are feeling is normal. It's hard though as will depend on your GP's attitude a bit. I hope you have had less tears today.

At 19 weeks I have been feeling quite a bit better and had no vomiting for almost 2 weeks, had been wondering if I could manage to reduce my ondansetron from twice daily.....fell asleep putting my daughter to bed last night and missed my evening dose and woke up in the early hours for a retching session - that would be a no to reducing meds then! Have felt pretty crap all day though no more vomting/retching, really hoping it's not the start of a relapse .

hotchocolate yer you're right, it's probably just normal to feel low when you feel so ill and for so flipping long!! Really pleased to hear that you're able to get out a bit more now, though understandable that you're worried about your little boy. I can't imagine having HG and a child to look after :-( sorry to hear about change of GP too, such a shame when you knew your old one. Hopefully this one will be even better.

Thanks Lucinda :-)

"Ohiwa" I have come off cyclizine and am was mostly fine only sick a few times but I am still taking Ranitidine and all the antacids because as the baby gets bigger acid reflex gets worse. I hope all goes well for you.

Bored that's wonderful news about your scan. How lovely seeing your baby doing somersaults!

Lucinda it is so exciting to see how far I have moved up the due dates list. I only have two more weeks left at work so it feels like the pink castle is in sight.

I hope you don’t relapse bored. Hopefully it’s just the result of missing one dose and you feel a lot better tomorrow.

It’s definitely worth talking to your gp if you are really struggling Aw12345. It might be normal with hyperemesis but it’s certainly not pleasant.

I just realised my steroids can cause anxiety which gives me hope it might ease off once I get off them.

Thanks elephantgrey - gives me some hope I can come off it at some point. It definitely suppresses the nausea and commuting but I feel like such a zombie every morning, makes me so drowsy. I'm on omeprazole for the acid as well.

Aw - Im sorry you're feeling so down. I also really relate to what you're saying. I think we're at about the same stage - I'm due Aug 11. I think I've been feeling quite low because I was sure I'd be feeling much better by 20 weeks so it felt like I was working towards that goal. Now that I'm 23 weeks and still feeling gross and on meds I feel like there's no end in sight - the thought another 4 months of feeling like this is so depressing.

I've been having constant hiccups/burps the last few days and as well as being super annoying they make the nausea much worse

Also sorry to hear of your anxiety hotchocolate. I was having terrible anxiety right up to the point I got pregnant, I think one of the hormones helped switch it off....one bright side I guess. I hope that it eases for you

bored I hope that is a hormoanal surge contributng to the relapse, which hopefully will pass.
Ohwa Added your date. I am so sorry that things have got no better
at twenty-three weeks. Some sufferers do find that they improve after that. I do hope you don't feel quite as bad as you did at the beginning, anyway? Added your date.
ElephantGrey You have indeed moved up the ladders to the fablulous Pink Castle.
Everyone, I got that idea from a Snakes and Ladders board my family had when I was little, with a Pink Castle in the clouds on the last square. As Hyperemesis is like a grotesque board game - drink a glass of water, up a ladder, bile run - down a snake - I think of the end of that horrible journey as being a magical Pink Castle in the clouds.
Waves to hotchocolate Aw12345 Caramina and everyone.
Due Dates
Polyfilla 25 April
Poppet1985 28 April
dillydollydarling 4 May
seizethecuttlefish 13 May
Sally Mid May
Bunnyfluffy 20 May
BATMAN 21 May
Greenbeanies 23 May
Elephantgrey 25 May
Meadowhay 18 June
Lifeofpies 9 July
NailsatHome 20 July Twins!
Aw12345 4 August
Ohiwa 11 August
E2017 12 August
Harebell 13 August
Endorra44 16 August
Anitidae 27 August
Didntcomeheretofuckspiders 1st September
Boredoftryingoutusernames 4 Sepember
RockinRobin 18 September
SleepyBadger 3 October
Foodylicious 5 October
hotchocolate 7 October
Questabellatreetops 28 November

ohiwa yes we're both due around the same time! Feels so long off :-( though I try to remind myself that we're over half way now so at least that's something. Really sorry to hear about hiccups making nausea worse too :-( it's just horrible. I've recently started gaviscon and have found that's helped a lot in a few different ways (although you may already be on that of course!). My husband is now joking that I'm just gulping gaviscon my the litre!!

elephantgrey very exciting that you're almost there now!

Sorry to hear so many of us are suffering with low mood I considered talking to my midwife at my 16 week appointment too as spent most days crying but I ended up waiting over 1.5hrs for it and then it was a rushed blur. I think it depends on your trust but I know mine fast tracks you for help if your possibly suffering with depression.
Went out for the first time 'shopping' today went in two shops and me and my mum spent the rest of the time sitting down in cafes as I was too tired! Was very overwhelming and loud.
Very annoyed/frustrated/upset that my boss has just put a post on Facebook without my consent that I'm back to work next week when we had a discussion yesterday that it's a trial to see how I go and seeing as today I nearly broke down in tears after walking around for half hour I was anxious enough about returning. I was purposely phasing in telling my patients I was back so they didn't all book in in one week 😭 argh!

Your boss did What?!??? RockinRobinn
Can you pm them and ask them to remove the post?
It's not on and absolutely just pressure you don't need.

Oh and if be tempted to save a screen shot of it before it's removed just in case you need to refer to it in the future

Hi there - thought I would join this group. This is my third HG Pregnancy but the first in the UK. I have been Managing miracoulously well this time around up until 1 week ago, Ugh. Thought I could magically have a better third Pregnancy. Anyway, just starting to figure out the treatment options and I am so confused. With my others the antihistamines and B6 worked for a week but I always ended up on Zofran (or generic ondansetron). My GP said this week they don’t prescribe it here ever and I broke down in tears because it was the only thing that worked before. I know where this is headed and I am terrified. Only 8 weeks which means that I am likely to get worse for 4-6 weeks if this is like the last times. Have any of you been prescribed Ondansetron?

Hi Lissi sorry you are suffering again. Lots of us here are on ondansetron so it is prescribed in the UK. A few people have had it straight from the GP, but most have had it prescribed if they have been admitted to hospital. One poster had trouble recently as hospital prescribed ondansetron but GP trust in her area was not allowed to prescribe it in pregnancy so she had to get the from the hospital each time. I think you can Google your area's policy (Hotchocolate will be on soon to advise I'm sure), maybe that is what your Dr meant.
I personally had it started in hospital and then my GP has been happy to prescribe on repeat prescription. It is expensive which may impact on reluctance, but also a 2nd line treatment as not as much evidence on safety (though appears very safe!) as some of the other drugs so they tend to work through those first.
There is a great charity here called Pregnancy Sickness Support - website link on first page of the thread, they are very helpful on the phone with advice over how to get meds from GPs!
Good luck, welcome to the group, I have found it a great help.

Rockkin well done for getting out, even if it was exhausting, hope you aren't suffering for it today.
I think I would cry if my boss did that! Completely out of order to add the extra pressure on you. Hope you have contacted them to remove the post.