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.

Foodylicious Brave of you to do that. You always seem so cheerful, so you must be good at putting a bright face on. Hyperemesis is traumatic enough to give sufferers PTSD even if they don't have any MH problems, so it must incredibly hard if you do suffer from them.

Troika How are things? I hope a bit better?

Hi, just want to see what worked for everyone for HG. I was admitted last week for HG and still not getting any better. Been on buscatem which didnt work, then was given cyclizine on its own, then cyclizine and metoclopramide. However, the combination of cyclizine and metoclopramide made me extremely drowsy and dizzy which now I have been moved to ondansetron which made me vomit all night tonight. Has anything else worked for anyone?
Really loathe HG right now! 😔

Stephiejen hi and welcome to the thread. Cyclizine made me feel awful too, along with not working at all. Ondansetron did help but I still vomited through the initial dose they tried me on (4mg three times daily) and needed 8mg three times daily in combination with promethazine to really get things under control so it may be worth asking about a dose change? After a few weeks went back to ondansetron alone, still on it at 29 weeks but just twice a day. The promethazine is an antihistamine like cyclizine so that really knocked me out for a few weeks and couldn't do anything other than lie in bed really, but the vomiting calmed down.
If you've been vomiting lots and lots I don't think the tablets will get absorbed as well, I found them better after starting off the treatment with an injection to bypass my stomach.
Lots of people on this thread find an antacid like ranitidine or omeprazole helpful too.
If you continue on ondansetron (it seems to be the one that helps lots of people) do take something for constipation too eg. Lactulose as it can be pretty horrific.
Good luck, hope they find a combination that helps ASAP!

Bordoftryingusernames, thank you for your message. I hope too that they will find something that will work. I have been off work for HG for a while now. I have reverted back to cyclizine and metoclopramide as althought it made nausea, drowsiness and dizziness worse, it stopped the vomiting. I also take ranitidine with it. I am already constipated due to not being able to eat properly so I have been prescribed laxido sugarfree. Now, I’m experiencing some numbness to both arms and not really sure if that’s normal! 😔

stephiejen Welcome. You have had great from boredoftryingusernames. I am sorry that Ondansetron didn't help. With many people, it helps when combined with cyclizine or another med and the famous anti acid. It is worth asking about the numbness; twitchiness is a symptom that doctors have to watch out for with metaclopramide; numbness hopefully won't be anything to do with it.
Some liquids that have helped people on here are full sugar flat coke, ice lollies, the juice of tinned fruit, ice cubes, soda water, Elderflower Water, Lucozade, fizzy orange, lemonade, orange squash (for those who don't find it too acid), Robinson's fruit drinks, sips of chocloate milkshake (maybe soya), fizzy water and Dr Pepper. For foods of a sort, nibbles of crisps and chips, cuppa soup, slices of melon and mango, cheap ice cream, baked potatoes and Scotch pancakes.

stephiejen Ah, and do invest in some kesostix to check for ketones for the early stages of dehydration, available from any chemists, just in case you get dehydrated again.

Anyone got any advice for 2nd pregnancies? I was sick all the way through with my first and during labour.
I hated being pregnant with a passion and if one more person said eat more often or have you tried ginger when I was being sick with water I was going to punch them haha!
I am thinking of trying for a second baby and getting a bit anxious already.
Did anyone have less sickness with the second, the same or worse?
Any advise on coping with a toddler and morning sickness??

Hiya LucindaE, thank you for your message. I will keep all of those in mind. I have tried some of what you have mentioned. I do have kesostix as my GP wanted me to check at home. Have my fingers and toes crossed that I’ll get better soon. Today has been awful! 😔

Hi everyone, I’m cross posting this message as I have since found this thread. (Thanks to everyone who has already replied)

I’m currently 8 weeks pregnant and suffering from Hyperemesis. The Dr first tried metoclopramide which had little effect so last night I started odasteron. OMG, I feel human again and hopeful for the first time in 3 weeks that I will be able to survive this pregnancy!

Has anyone else had any experience taking this? I have read a lot of experiences from Australia and USA where they have taken it long term but my Dr doesn’t seem to be keen for me to take it for more than 5 days. I’m really scared that the symptoms will come back. My Dr said that if I took it for 5 days it would ‘reset’ my body and the nausea and vomiting would stop. Has anyone else heard this? I’m not sure if they have said that because the tablets are expensive and they don’t want me on them long term. I’ve even been researching buying them privately because they make such a difference!

Any stories/experiences much welcomed

Bizzymcc glad the ondansetron has helped so much. I think your doctor is being more than optimistic to think 5 days will be enough unfortunately, lots of people on here have needed it for long periods, or even right through their pregnancy - I started it at 8 weeks and although I have reduced the dose to 4mg twice daily I still need that at 29 weeks to keep the vomiting at bay. I do remember someone else on the thread saying their doctor had said similar with the 5 day thing, but that isn't in any of the treatment guidelines I have read for ondansetron. If they are really not going to budge on it I guess you'll have to try what they say and when things deteriorate when you stop be very pushy about getting more? Other option would be to call Pregnancy Sickness Support (number on the first page of the thread I think) and ask for advice from them on how to get your doctor to prescribe it for longer - they are really, really helpful. Good luck!

Lauren899 I was unfortunately much worse in my 2nd pregnancy - horrid nausea and vomiting until 20 weeks with my first but full on hyperemesis this time. I do know two people that had hyperemesis first time round and only very mild morning sickness 2nd time - unfortunately I think the stats aren't in your favour though, something like 85% chance of suffering again.
I had weeks of being virtually bed bound this time and relied heavily on family to help with my toddler, not sure how I would have coped otherwise - especially with her meal times. Sorting out support in whatever way you can incase you do suffer again would be my advice. Several people on here have managed somehow without - lots of TV etc and accepting for a relatively short period of their lives you are just getting by seems to be a big part of it.
I would also be really proactive about seeking medication to help, I didn't take anything in my first pregnancy but visited the GP as soon as the vomiting started in earnest this time rather than trying to battle through it. Some people see their GP when trying to conceive to get meds to start straight away, or at least get a plan of action in place. Good luck, hope you escape it a second time, if not this thread has been really helpful for support too.

bizzymmc Welcome. I think the doctor is thinking of that neurological automatic response with vomiting thing, so that the brain can get into it with severe vomiting, and that is why seemingly pre-emptive meds can be tried, as it breaks the neurological pattern, or some such. But unfortunately, from all we've seen on this thread,the hormones with Hypermesis make it unlikely it often works like that. You've already had great advice from Bored. Do get a laxative - lactulose or whatever - as Ondansetron ties up the bowels and if left, they have to be rinsed out. Also, an anti acid really helps most people. Below in reply to stephiejen you will see my usual suggestions about flat full sugar coke, ice lollies, and the juice of tinned fruit etc and tinned fruit and cuppa soup etc.
Lauryn89 Welcome. I can't add much to what Bored has said. She always gives great advice. Much symapthy over being gingered last time.
stephiejen I am sorry things are bad. It might be worth phoning the Pregnancy Sickness Support number 024 7638 2020 for advice on what more might be done. They will have to ring you back, but will with great advice.

Oops! Forgot to say, Boredoftryingusernames Great advice, as ever.

Hi Lucinda,
I’m on cyclizine. Helps with vomiting but not nausea. I’m able to keep most food down now (but cooking is impossible). Liquids more tricky and can only sip at drinks. Pretty sure I am still dehydrated but spoke to the midwife at epac and she didn’t think I needed to go in for more fluids as I am able to eat now. I just feel so useless as I spend the whole day lying down!

Everyone, I hope the link below comes out. We have eighty odd posts left, but I am going away on a trip for some days and I don't want the thread to fill up in my absence. A lovely ex sufferer has said she will call in to give advice, and I hope that Boredoftryingusernames will feel up to continuing with the great advice and others too.
I hope nobody gets left behind.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/3285523-Hyperemesis-Support?watched
I hope this thead comes out.

Troika Even so, keep an eye on those pesky ketones with kesostix from a chemists. It is annoying being laid up. Hopefully, you'll get a turnaround.

veryone, I hope the link below comes out. We have eighty odd posts left, but I am going away on a trip for some days and I don't want the thread to fill up in my absence. A lovely ex sufferer has said she will call in to give advice, and I hope that Boredoftryingusernames will feel up to continuing with the great advice and others too.
I hope nobody gets left behind.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/3285523-Hyperemesis-Support?watched
I hope this link comes out.

Lauren I hear you on the bloody ginger all well meaning but I think unless someone has had Hyperemesis they don't understand. I spent my 1st pregnancy with all the suggestions made every day; like you I couldn't keep water down.

I too am on pregnancy number 2 but I've given in at the 1st sign of symptoms and got tablets from the dr. Hopefully yours won't be so bad this time round.

rotavixsucks Do come and join us on the new thread, linked below; we seem to have lost you.