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.

@foreverblue. Take the lactulose if you can stomach if. You don’t want to end up in the mess I was this week.

@lucindae. This is night 3. Had another litre today.

So I am 5+3. A long way to go! The stemtil I'm on seems.ro have helped and I am hoping that the extreme nausea is not a sign of what's to come - maybe I can avoid HG a bit more this time. I started on stemtil the day after I got my bfp and it seems to have helped. I'm actually on one tablet a day, sometimes 2.

I'm struggling with early mornings with DD (3yrs and 9 months) as she wants food and I can't stomach making her too much at 6am. No way of sharing with DH as he doesn't and can't do mornings. I'm trying to train her to be self sufficient and she now gets a sandwich and some fruit when I can't face looking at weetabix.

SassehMonsta glad those meds have been helping & hope they continue to stave off the worst of the hg for you. You might find by upping the dose to 2 a day that it helps more as they build up in the system. I can't imagine being able to make any food at 6 in the morning, you poor thing but definitely good thinking with the self sufficiency training - it will be good for her & she won't have lasting terrible memories - my daughter is 5 now and although she remembers my previous pregnancy she actually isn't that phased by it all. & I completely second vetoing the weetabix - it's all my one year old will eat but thankfully the 5 year old is happy to feed him for me!

Unbreakable try not to worry about the TV watching, we just have to get by and there are worse things for our little ones. Also they learn to entertain themselves a little too and that a great skill! Don't beat yourself up about it, you are doing a super job just making it through.

How are you feeling this morning bean ?

beanhunterI hope the fluids helped. For most people, things get a lot better between weeks14 and 20. Even for the unlucky ones who suffer throughout, things are almost never so bad as they are in the early awful bit. I hope they can work out a treatment regime that works for you. Is your proper consultant thinking about steroids, which have helped several of those who have it really badly on this thread?
SassehMonsta Medics do say that pre-emptive treatment can make a big difference. Something to do with a neural vomiting pattern in the brain. I hope you won't be offended if I say that your OH may think he 'can't do mornings' but he isn't ill, and you are, so he should, as you're in this together.

Unbreakable and others, I didn't have to deal with a toddler and Hyperemesis - but now I wish I had, as I always regretted stopping at one. It will be worth it. But I wonder - would a sticker book help to encourage a toddler to entertain herself/himself a bit more? But they won't be hurt by a few months of lots of television, I am sure. There'll be plenty of time to make up for it later on, and you have to survive day to day. Congratulations on working and having atoddler and getting through Hyperemesis, is all I can say.

Hello you helpful lovely lot,
I was prescribed cyclizine last week which made me feel better for a couple of days. But now I’m just as sick on it so I’ve stopped taking it (as was getting very spacey as well as sick).
I’m due to see the Gp again soon, is it worth trying promethazine- or is this virtually the same, is it worth a go?
I was also going to ask to try pyridoxine (B6) alongside.
Any advice??

Hi chequeplease
Congratulations!
Sorry to see you here though

Can I suggest you carry on with the cyclizine at night till you see the go?

Taking something consistently can reduce how much worse it gets .

Cyclizine and Promethazine are both 1st line treatments but there is nothing to say that one won't work better than the other so might be worth trying Promethazine for a week or so (unless it gets loads worse) before moving on the the next stage of treatment

It really does seem to be a very individual thing.

I have been fortunate in that Promethazine has been enough for me.
Weeks 7-10 we're my worst, up to 14 pretty bad then from about 20 weeks it's been variable but manageable.

Are you managing to eat and drink at all?

Thank you foodylicious that’s helpful.
I can eat and drink small amounts and I’m not vomiting constantly, just pretty regularly. It’s the constant nausea which is really getting me down.
I’ll keep taking the cyclizine at night in hope then! And see what my GP thinks (she’s amazing, I’m very lucky)

Also I would suggest you get a good antacid like Ranitidine - brand name Zantac (but most supermarkets sell it and own brand is about 1/3 price) It's a 75mg tablet twice a day.
Lots if us have found it really helps!

I think I might be out... 😭 I went for a scan last week and I was measuring 6 weeks instead of 10. Waiting for another scan, but I was thinking the ondansetron was working really well - I'm now worried it's actually cos the pregnancy is failing.

Applesin what did they say at the scan? Hope all goes ok x

Thanks guys for your advice. I’ve started the lactulose. The ondansetron been working so well I started to worry a bit was it the drugs or is there a problem. However I do feel sick with the constipation. I drank my weight in pineapple and orange juice today and ate tons of salad but still no sign of even needing the toilet. (sorry if that turns some stomachs but it’s the zofran that has allowed me to eat I think) beanhunter really hope you’re feeling better x

Basically that they had to scan again to rule out it was a late starting pregnancy, but when I asked if they thought it could be that they said it was unlikely. (Not sure if it was a nurse or a midwife).

Sorry to see that so many of you are suffering so badly - I hope you all start feeling better soon and don’t hesitate to keep checking with doctors/midwife/hospital if you need fluids or to change your treatment. Sometimes it takes trying many combinations to find out what works for you. I know that adding steroids to the mix made a huge difference for me.

applesin sorry to read your update, fingers crossed you hear good news from the next scan.

Applesin- sorry you’ve been given such unclear news. Such a worrying time. Thinking of you.

I’ve taken omeprazole today and the difference is amazing. Hopefully this is the magic drug for me!

chequeplease promethazine is a stronger version of cyclizine. How long have you been on cyclizine? Some of the spacey symptoms can pass after 3 days. Taking B6 with it is a good idea.

Mostly people take the cyclizine every 8 hours so that the levels stay steady throughout the day. I wonder if the spacey feeling might be worse if you only take it occasionally because the levels might fall and then go up all over again.

other possible meds are:

prochlorperazine (some people find this great)
metoclopramide
domperidone
ondansetron (strongest except steroids, very effective but bungs you up)

applesin I am sorry. They were unable to find a heartbeat, then, and are just doing a second scan to make sure? I had to wait like that, and it is distressing. Hugs. I do feel for you over this loss. I think in some ways an MMC is worse than a MC because of all the building realisation that something is wrong.
Foreverblues Can you stand water, as that can be the best thing? But it seems worth phoning for advice, as you want to avoid impacted bowels. You could try the suppositories,but they don't like selling them to pregnant women though they use them in hospitals. Liqourice is good. So is cocoanut, but that is rather dodgy to try and retain. Many swear by fibregel.
Great advice from Olivecake and Foodylicious and SeaEagleFeather and others. Olivecake As below, I am frankly puzzled why they haven't suggested steroids to beanhunter when she has such a bad case. beanhunter Are things any better today?

Because I don’t have ketones or abnormal bloods it’s apparenly not bad enough for steroid as nt life threatening. So yes. Still here on3 iv meds and fluids buy not steroids.

@applesin - I’m so sorry xxx

I’m so sorry to see your update applesin. How horrible to have to wait for a second scan.

I just popped on to say my baby was born this morning. We were first on the list of C-sections so went in very quickly. We had a little girl who weighs 7lb 13. I am still on the labour suite due to slight complications in theatre and feeling very fragile. I don’t feel sick anymore and have managed some cups of tea for the first time in months. I feel oddly down though even though I am so pleased to meet her.

Congratulations HotChocolate86!

Please don't feel bad for feeling down - firstly, you've just had surgery (I had an ELCS too) but a long rough pregnancy really, really just drains you IME. My abiding feeling when my 1st DD was born (after a hyperemesis then SPD pregnancy) was just relief that it was over tbh - I didn't feel high or excited, just drained and relieved.

You've been through a lot. Be kind to yourself.

Congratulations hotchoc.
Lovely news, though I wish you were feeling better physically.

Please don't put too much pressure on yourself to feel any particular way.

You have been through such alot these past months.
It's also not uncommon for drugs used in theatre etc to make you feel a bit flat and/or out of it.

Be kind to yourself and feel free to come see us on here anytime x

Congratulations hotchoc!

Thank you. I am still on labour suite but hopefully moving up to the ward very shortly.
I didn’t know that about the drugs foody but I know I was given lots of different things so hopefully as they leave my system I will feel better.
Thank you for the kind words statistically. It helps to know others have felt similar. It is a huge relief to have reached the end of my pregnancy and just have this final hurdle to get over.
I will keep popping in as and when I get chance to see how others are getting on.

Congratulations hot choc! I was very down straight after having my first. It was traumatic birth & I went theatre after so I think it can make u feel that way. Hope u have lots of support and are feeling better soon- and when you’re ready!

Lucinda I can manage water though not near enough as I should. I’ve managed to go at least. It wasn’t the best but there is movement ha so promising x

congratulations hotchoc!

be gentle on yourself. The whole pregancy thing is hugely demanding all on its own, and then you've had HG on top and then the delivery. Take it as easy as Tinychoc will let you =)