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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Hyperemesis Support

985 replies

LucindaE · 22/06/2018 11:19

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.

Hyperemesis Support
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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Olivecake · 30/07/2018 14:51

Ttc2017 sorry to hear you’re doing so badly - do you have ketostix to check your own urine for ketones? I have to say for me week 10 was the worst but it was also the last time I was admitted to hospital for fluids - since then I’ve been gradually getting better (still a long way from being fit and healthy but not throwing up every time I move any more!) maybe try calling 111 for advice if you need to go in or not but sounds like you could definitely use some fluids and maybe a reassessment on your meds.

Ttc2017 · 30/07/2018 15:04

Thanks think I will ring them and see not sure they will change my meds I'm on ondasetron which they said is the strongest so not sure anything will work my mum went to get ketostix but they were 25 pound at chemist so she said I might as well leave it esp as last time my levels were OK but I still went in for fluids as I was so ill so she thinks I should just ring hospital and see what they say

Notquiteagandt · 30/07/2018 18:52

@Ttc2017 do you have a llyods chemist near you? My ketosticks where only 5 pounds something. They are a simular price on amazon also.

Feel for you bile, saliva vomiting is the worse Flowers

LucindaE · 30/07/2018 20:46

Ttc Oh dear, poor you. I know you were in for fluids not so long ago.
It looks as if you may have to go again. That seems ridiculously expensive for kesostix. But though staff in hospital usually take ketones seriously, you can tell if you are dehydrated without, particularly if you have scanty dark urine, dry mouth and skin, inelastic skin , which doesn't spring back when pinched, and a headache and a muzzy, apathetic feeling. They are supposed to take a pregnant women being unable to retain fluids for over twenty-four hours very seriously. Can someone look after the LO's if you go in?
Can you run to a cleaner coming in for a few hours a week to help out? Some women on here have had to go for that option. Do keep us informed how things go.
Waves to Notquiteagandt and Olivecake. Not so hot, anyway...

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bitzy12 · 31/07/2018 08:41

Hi everyone, hope you are all ok. Not posted in a while. All of a sudden Ive got to 34 weeks....my sickness improved massively and it was just all the other pregnancy symptoms I've been dealing with....and the heat. I know we will of all been feeling it.

I've been put on iron tablets due anaemia and I'm also taking ranitidine for heartburn. Iron tablets are making me feel so so sick. I haven't been sick yet today but I feel like this morning I will do.

However this is my 3rd dc and my 3rd time I've been through hg and I know it always comes back towards the end.

I still have some cyclizine left over and I'm just wondering wether to take one to help with nausea? Can anyone advise? I have ondanestron too which I'll only use as a last resort.

I'm just really struggling. Dd has been up since 6 and literally talking non stop. She's bored, what are we doing today? Can we go to the park etc etc.....

I knew summer holidays were going to be a struggle with being heavily pregnant and 2 dcs at home but I feel like I'm not coping at all and hg may be making an appearance again....

Hope everyone is doing ok x

ohiwa · 31/07/2018 09:07

Hi bitzy!
I feel like I wrote your exact post a few weeks ago. I'm 38 and a half weeks now and the nausea came back about 32 weeks too - it's been on and off since then. I got really low in iron and the tablets made me feel awful. I ended up having IV iron at 36 weeks and it was great! Really made a difference to my energy.
I'm pretty tired now though - this is also my 3rd pregnancy (first HG pregnancy though) and I always get really bad nasal congestion from about 34 weeks. It means that I sleep really badly as I can't breathe properly. And the nausea has been worse the last few days, I've vomited a few times too.
I'm still taking my medication (doxylamine) at night, I'm too scared to stop taking it, I can't face the thought of a day of vomiting. I saw an obstetrician recently who said I can take it until I deliver so I'll prob do that.
My due date is only about 10 days away but it still feels like an eternity! Really hoping the nausea disappears at birth!
I feel for you being in the third trimester in the heat and dealing with school holidays! I'm in the Southern Hemisphere- we've just had 2 weeks of school holidays which was exhausting but we're having a mild winter which is quite pleasant. The heat over there must be unbearable when you're in the last few weeks and nauseous!
Sending lots of sympathy to those of you in the first trimester as well - we had a really hot summer at the start of this year when I was in the 1st trimester and I remember how gross I felt and how the heat made everything smell worse....and it was so hard to keep hydrated

LucindaE · 31/07/2018 16:58

bitzy12 Welcome back. Congratulations on reaching 34 weeks. Much sympathy over having to cope with lively LO's up at 6pm and the school holidays and the hot summer. Much sympathy too over returning nausea. I know that cyclizine has helped the nausea for some, and the same with Ondansetron, but some find that it doesn't help the nausea, only stops the sickness. My usual boring question: have you got an effective anti acid like Omprazole or Ranidiine, as they can help a lot with the nausea?

Ohiwa You've nearly reached the Pink Castle. A mild winter in the Southern Hemisphere does sound nice. An internet friend told me how she and her family were on the beach a few days ago. We had -15 and people cut off by snowfall here last winter. I hope we don't for the next! Sorry that the nausea has returned. As above, do you think that an anti acid might help?
I hope everyone is coping today. Not quite so hot.

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LucindaE · 31/07/2018 17:02

Ohiwa Ah, and I meant to say - it does disappear for about 99.5 per cent of sufferers within a few hours of the birth. Only the very unlucky suffer after the birth (I was one though I didn't suffer for all that long before birth) and it seems to be to do with breast feeding and the hormones from that, so it goes when the breast feeding stops.
I hope Ttc is feeling better.

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Foodylicious · 31/07/2018 17:10

bitzy I'm only 30 weeks but I've been on iron about a month too.
I find it's better if I take it first thing and teatime and then have ranitidine a couple of hours before bed.
But I have got a bit of heartburn most of the time.
Was sure I was going to have to get up for a vom last night, but managed to avoid it.

Had a call from midwife yesterday to say that anti body screening has come back positive.
Low risk apparently, get more details tomorrow and need to have fortnightly bloods now to monitor.

bitzy12 · 31/07/2018 21:19

Thank you for the advice everyone. Strangely enough I've had a burst of energy this afternoon and cleaned the house. I did take a cyclizine - not sure it helped much. I really had to force myself to get up and start doing things but once I started....there was no stopping me lol. Probably feel worse for it tomorrow but least I'll have a clean house to be fed up in x

LucindaE · 01/08/2018 17:44

bitzy12 Mother Hen flaps and says don't overdo it! But congratulations on cleaning.
Foodylicious I am glad the iron helps. It's good you can stomach it. Do you have it in drop form?

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Foodylicious · 01/08/2018 17:50

No, I've got ferrous sulphate tablets twice a day.
I am (more) constipated and it gets pretty bad if I forget the lactulose, but yes managing it well I think.
They need to continue as my ferritin level was only up from 12-16 after a few weeks if treatment, but it does take a while for iron stores to catch up.

CatalinaCatarina · 02/08/2018 13:30

Hi all. I feel a bit silly joining this thread as you are all so much further along than me. I am only 7 weeks but was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum the other day. I'm really struggling and nothing is staying down despite the doctor giving me anti sickness tablets. He checked the small amount of urine I could pass and said I wasn't dehydrated (no idea how when nothing is staying in me and I'm barely peeing!) I've been signed off work (they're not being great about the situation tbh so I'm glad to be at home) but I'm just feeling so lonely and exhausted. I'm on a constant cycle of vomit, cry, exhaustion (but struggle to nap), vomit, cry, exhaustion.

I saw beans heartbeat last night. I was hoping that would give me the motivation to get through this but tbh it hasn't. It's hard when your head is in a puke bucket 90% of the day.

Reading everyone else's comments doesn't give me much hope that it gets much better haha. But if anyone has any tips for little old me then I would appreciate it so much. All the usual ginger/crackers/dry toast nonsense makes no difference for me

LucindaE · 02/08/2018 18:39

CatalinaCatalina Welcome. Don't despair; the first tri is the worst, and it is far from silly to feel desperate. It is when you need support most. Most people do get a lot better between 14 and 21 weeks, and even for those unfortunates who suffer throughout, almost nobody feels as bad later on as in the first tri. It doesn't seem that the meds are helping much. You may not have been dehydrated then, but you could be now, so do invest in some kesostix to check for the early stages of dehydration (available from chemists or online). Do ask the doctor if you can have additional meds. They tend to count vomits as each invidividual heave, so often underestimate when women are counting them as each heaving session. An anti acid can help a lot.
In the meantime, some drinks that might help; flat full sugar coke, ice lollies, the juice of tinned fruit, Dr Pepper, soda water, Elderflower Water, fizzy water, orange squash, fizzy orange, lemonade, Robinson's fruit drinks, orange squash if not tooo acid, sips of chocolate milkshake (maybe soya) and ice cubes. If you can eat anything, some find nibbles of crisps and chips, cuppa soup, tinned fruit (especially peaches) Scotch pancakes , slices of melon and mango, baked potatoes, and cheap ice cream bearable.
Foodylicious Well done on retaining those tablets. Many cannot!

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Boredoftryingusernames · 03/08/2018 00:39

Hi everyone, haven't posted in a while, sorry to see some new sufferers - the early days are just horrific but you will get through them!
I'm 35 weeks now and thankfully on maternity leave. Generally feeling much better so for the last week or so haven't been taking my ondansetron. Still feel nauseous all of the time, but haven't started vomiting again (yet!) like when I have tried to stop it previously. Fingers crossed it doesn't ramp up again in the last few weeks.
Catalina you have had great, really comprehensive advice from Lucinda already. I would totally agree that you need to go back to the Dr for different medication, Pregnancy Sickness Support has a great website with drug info on there and I think it helps to know the options before you go. Also if you have someone who can go with you that's a really good idea, it's so hard to advocate for yourself when you feel so terrible. Also insist on them rechecking your urine for ketones (if you haven't got the Ketostix Lucinda mentioned first). Good luck and please keep posting - the support on the thread was so helpful to me (thanks Lucinda!).

ohiwa · 03/08/2018 01:38

Much sympathy to you Catalina. Keep posting or at least reading! I haven't posted a huge amount but have read all these threads since I was about 5 weeks and the info that I found here really helped me get through this pregnancy.
Please try and get prescribed some medication - no one should have to endure HG without meds. I found the Pregnancy Sickness Support website to be hugely helpful so that I knew what to ask for when I went to the GP. I was also very lucky to have an incredibly sympathetic GP. Take care

LucindaE · 03/08/2018 19:27

Boredoftryingusernames and Ohiwa Thank you so much for the kind words about the thread. Good advice from both as ever. I do hope CatalinaCatalina keeps us informed and gets effective meds.
Boredoftryingusernames Glad you are taking it (relatively) easy on maternity leave. It is very humid here in Wales, but not sunny.

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Ttc2017 · 03/08/2018 19:43

Hi everyone sorry to see new comers no one wants to be here it's a miserable journey I'm still feeling the same sick and weak constantly but not dehydrated God knows how though I just feel like I'm dying every day so sick and dizzy light headed weak stomach hurts haven't been outside the house for such a long time. Can I take methaclopromide with the ondasetron and is there any point if the methaclopromide didn't do anything before? Tried anti acid don't seem to help and mostly comes back up really getting fed up feeling isolated and like a hermit hiding away as no energy to even talk to people

Ttc2017 · 03/08/2018 19:51

Also are there any other meds I can try I thought these are the strongest and lots of people seem to function with them and it eases the nausea but the nausea is pure hell and I just can't believe how weak and pathetic I still am it's like having the worse case of flu ever and the worst hang over with a sick bug but constantly every day sorry to moan I know you all know what I mean and many of you are going through it even worse than me

LucindaE · 03/08/2018 22:20

TTc I am sorry things are so bad. I have heard of doctors putting sufferers on both Ondansetorn and Metoclopramide (and sometimes, also cyclizine). It is a shame that the anti acid doesn't help: is that Ranitidine or Omprazole? I found Gaviscon made me vomit pink foam grotesquely sometimes. I wonder if ringing Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 7638 2020 might help for their advice on the best combinations of meds. They will have to ring you back but will with great advice.

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Ttc2017 · 03/08/2018 22:33

Thanks I will try to call them over the weekend I think it's ranitidine I have called zantac I think. That sounds horrible vomiting pink foam I haven't tried gaviscon so not had that happen luckily starting to question the whole pregnancy at the moment feeling really low really hoping these feelings will pass soon

LucindaE · 04/08/2018 18:48

Ttc Things will almost certainly get a lot better. Try not to despair. You wouldn't be human if you didn't feel you'd made a mistake at times, and everyone on this thread has been there. I hope PPS can offer good advice. The pink foam from Gaviscon was certainly grotesque! I am glad you have avoided that at least.

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Boredoftryingusernames · 04/08/2018 20:54

Ttc sorry you are feeling so grim still. What dose of ondansetron are you on? I had to take 8mg three times daily as well as promethazine to control the sickness, but it still took ages for the nausea to reduce to a manageable level where I could function. The weakness and dizzyness were all part of it for me too. Would be worth speaking to your doctor about doses and different combinations (and Pregnancy Sickness Support). Hope you get some good help/advice.

Ttc2017 · 04/08/2018 22:08

Thank you it's good well not good but you know what I mean to know other people having the same problems I will have to check the packet for my dosage I'm only managing to take two a day as they have to be 8 hours apart don't they and I'm not noticing enough difference when taking them to make it worth me getting out of bed in the night to take one it takes alot to get me to move from bed at the moment it's so bad I rang pregnancy support line but they closed till a week Monday so will have to try again then. Going to go back to doctor on Monday to discuss options for medication running out of foods I can eat and drinks I can drink as everything I associate with being or feeling sick now worst thing is the smell of bbqs in this weather. Don't no if it just the weather but I get sweats hot and sometimes cold and shakey like breathing is such a effort and moving is such a chore because of the rush to the head when I get up and lightheadedness I can't wait to be able to function again and run my own house and care for my family

Boredoftryingusernames · 05/08/2018 00:17

Definitely speak to your Dr about the dose of ondansetron, they are usually 4mg tablets so it is likely you can go up with the dose. Some people take them every 6 hours I think, so I took 3 lots of 2 tablets daily spaced as evenly as possible but didn't worry if they weren't bang on 8 hours apart.
How far along are you now? Hope you are managing to keep something down, especially in this heat?

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