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.

I have had to start a new thread early, as I will be going away for a week and I didn't want the thread to become used up in my absence. A lovely ex-sufferer has promised to call in to offer advice, and you have got some other wonderful women on here who have still not yet reached the Pink Castle at the end of the Hyperemesis journey, but who are offering great advice.

Hi thanks for starting the new thread lucinda. I’m just checking in. Sorry to hear there are new sufferers. I hope you are all managing as well as you can.

Hotchocolate That good old maternity leave approaches for you apace. You are nearly at the last square on the awful Hyperemesis horror board game, all ready to reach the Pink Castle.

..Well, I hope I got that right. But I seem to remember you said you'd start ML early and a good thing too, given the tough working conditions - and so, maybe you're on the last square but one!

Yes it’s not long. I have 3 more weekends after this one before I finish. I’m not due until October so still a while to go but as I’m struggling I’m really looking forward to finishing. Hopefully the time will fly by! I hope you enjoy your week away.

Placemarking for future reference! Going into week 22 and still vomiting daily at least on anti sickness. And every day at work someone says "you should be feeling better now?" Nope. Not even a little bit.

Checking in!

hotchoc I wish I was brave enough to finish so early, though I am obvs V greatful I'm not as sick as you.

I think I have 9-10 weeks left at work?
Am 25 weeks of today

Checking in too. Enjoy your break Lucinda!

Hi foody I’m also 25 weeks. Well I will be on Sunday anyway. Last time round I managed to work up to 35 weeks but there’s no chance this time. I hope you manage it but if not bringing it forward Might be an option. My hyperemsis is easing a bit thankfully. I’ve had a few much better days recently although feeling very rough right now. How are you?

HG wise I'm not too bad.
Been feeling more tired and sick last couple of weeks, had a few close calls but not been since yet this week
Definitely still taking the meds for a while yet before I try reducing again.
Am only on Promethazine but tried half dose at night a few weeks ago and was awful the next day and it takes a few days to get right again.
Bump is round and wriggly!!!

Just checked at at most I should have 9 weeks left at work.
I need to get on the system at work and work backwards with my AL.

@Foodylicious Hi - may I ask your experience of being prescribed and taking your meds please? I went to the doctors a few days ago and explained that I am finding it really hard to look after our two dc like this and I can hardly eat anything, feel nauseas nearly all the time, sometimes being sick etc The doctor has given me a prescription for your meds to use if acupressure travel bands don't work (ffs) but she cannot guarantee it's safe for pregnancy and it's only to be used as a last resort. I had HG with my first daughter, undiagnosed but at the time I was young and thought it was normal to be sick 24/7 for 17 weeks, not leave the house and sleep on the bathroom floor. I'm just so utterly fed up with feeling the way I do right now but I'm scared to cash in the prescription.

Is your prescription for Promethazine?
Both promethazine And cyclizine are 1st line treatment for hyperemesis.

None of the medicines can be tested in formal trials on pregnant women as it would be unethical, however from studies of women and babies after birth, there are no identified significant risks to baby and outcomes for mum and baby are good.

I was on Promethazine for the entire pregnancy last time and have a very healthy 4 year old asleep next to me right now .

I was more anxious about it first time and refused to try meds until 11 weeks. By which time I had been off work for 5 weeks, had intermittent total food aversion and was being sick 8 -15 times a day. I found it helped me pretty quickly, though I did need it throughout, some don't

This time the nausea started around 4..5-5 weeks.
By 7 weeks (36 hrs on 150mls lemonade only) and feeling dreadful all the time, I gave in and started Promethazine.

I definitely think Taking it earlier has stopped it getting as bad

This page might help with info re treatments

www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/help/treatments/

Oh, and I just take 25mg at night. I Have been really lucky in that it's mostly enough to keep me well enough to keep through

Picklesandpies totally agree with Foody that you should take the promethazine, the Pregnancy Sickness Support website info on medications is really reassuring so do have a read of the link she posted. It is classed as one of the first line treatments. Also agree that starting it before things get even worse gives it the best chance of working.
I took promethazine (in combination with another drug) for a few weeks, the only thing I found was that it made me quite sleepy, I asked on here at the time and lots of people found that side effect did wear off once they had been on the promethazine for a few days to a week or so. Definitely worth starting it over the weekend if you have someone else around then to help with your children. Good luck, really hope you feel reassured enough to take it, and that it helps.

@Foodylicious and @Boredoftryingusernames Thank you so much for your kind replies, really appreciate you sharing your experience with me.Its definitely the same drug as the doctor said you take it only at night (guessing it's because it makes you drowsy?) I do feel more reassured having looked at that link, thank you.

Picklesandpies how are you getting on?
Quiet weekend on here - hope everyone is doing ok!?

Hi,

Thanks for asking. I talked to my husband about taking the pills and his opinion was that we shouldn't as he couldn't find good data anywhere to definitively say that they were safe for use in pregnancy. Sigh... he's normally quite cavalier too. I have been ok (ish) in the morning but from 2.30 it's just horrible. I've also noticed that I've got a bright red patch on the white of my eye. I imagine this is from retching. Nice.

Feeling a bit sorry for myself and would have another self indulgent cry but I'm too tired. I am hating this bit - I just want to feel better. Also... the bloating! Is it normal to be bloated high up? I look ridiculous!

Thanks for listening

Picklesandpies sorry you are feeling so awful, and yes the redness in your eye probably is from retching .
It's such a tough one as obviously it is your husband's baby too, but I would gently suggest that nobody really understands how terrible you are feeling unless they have gone through it themselves. You have other children to look after, and are trying to grow a baby whilst feeling too awful to eat/drink much, and vomiting up some of what you do. Taking the promethazine may help prevent you ending up worse and in hospital on a drip and injectable medications...... especially as you have had HG in the past.
The website Foody directed you too - Pregnancy Sickness Support are very helpful if you call them, my husband spoke to them several times for advice. They have pages for relatives to explain how you feel, or if he would be receptive he could speak to them directly.
There are no trials of promethazine (or any drug!) on pregnant women, but there are studies looking back at women who have taken the drug in pregnancy and based on these it is classed as safe and a first line. Taking it once daily would be a low dose (I took it 3 times daily!).
How many weeks pregnant are you now?

Hi all, just checking into the new thread. I’m still pretty much the same, vomiting has increased slightly (I’m in my 10th week now) but I’m getting by day to day with total rest and the medication. Really can’t wait for the day when I actually feel well enough to get out of the house for something other than doctor or midwife.

Picklesandpies I second boredoftryingusernames advice above, really recommend calling the pregnancy sickness support. Medication makes such a difference to an otherwise unbearable time.

Olivecake glad you are able to rest and are coping, despite still vomiting. Totally know how you feel - only left the house for medical appointments from week 7 to 15....thoroughly miserable, but every day is another day closer to starting to feel better (and baby arriving!). Hope you start to improve soon.

Is the heat making anyone else worse with the sickness?? I've had to leave work early today because of dizziness/vomiting again and my HG was quite well controlled before!

booandbumpp mine has been worse the last few days too so not sure if it’s the heat or just because my hormones are still peaking (only week 10 for me)

Hope you can rest up and feel better soon