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.

That’s great news that you managed to get your tablets rotavix. I often struggle to get hold of mine and have been known to sit there in tears because I’m so desperate for them.

Hi everyone,

Just checking in. Hope everyone is enjoying the slightly cooler temperature - I know I am. It's meant to storm here this afternoon - I am hoping it does as it really needs it. Still rather muggy.

Had a not so good afternoon yesterday after a decent morning. Felt like a zombie in the evening - woke up to last penalty of the England v Columbia match!

@LucindaE I did an online food order which came this morning. Bought some chocolate soya milk which I've just had and it actually went down pretty well. Doesn't feel as 'sloshy' as drinking water and I suppose it's good that it isn't actual milk. Also ordered Kesostix, thanks for tips.

@rotavixsucks Glad you managed to sort out your prescription. What a complete pain. Any additional stress just doesn't help right now does it. Seems so unnecessary too.

Have week from hell in terms of amount on after school - dance shows every night until Saturday. Not sure I'll manage to sit through evening ones. Can't wait to get to next week when things a bit calmer.

Hope everyone is feeling ok.

Rota That souns awful about the kitchen aversion.
Pickles I do hope the chocolate milk helps. Some find soya more digestable.
Hotchocolate Oh dear, poor you about that. Did they insist the prescription couldn't be rushed?
Bored I do hope you continue to feel better.

I just got out of hospital and feeling really down - had 5 litres over the last 24 hours and not as faint and dizzy but my nausea seems to have ramped up a million times and I’m having to spit every 10 seconds :(

The worst part was the hospital said they can’t do much more to treat the cause as I reacted so badly to the other meds that now I can still only take the Emasafene and just go back for fluids when I’m dehydrated:( just feels like a hopeless situation. Really hoping I’m one of the lucky few who find it easier after the first trimester as I don’t know how much more of this level I can deal with. Sorry for the negative message but just feeling a bit helpless.

Oh poor you @Olivecake - so sorry to read this. You must feel so rotten and can completely see why you feel negative. How many weeks are you?

I haven’t had that particular issue lucinda but almost every time I ring up I have to fight to get them. Last time I phoned the woman I spoke to completely refused to get a prescription arranged for me and told me I had to go to epu even though I was almost 26 weeks and I was gutted. I rang back the next day though and thankfully got someone else who sorted it for me.
olivecake I’m so sorry to hear you feel so unwell. I hope you start to feel better soon. What medications have they tried you on?

@rotavixsucks I have a bit of what you were talking about with regards to your past kitchen aversion. I was dreadfully ill in my first pregnancy, being sick tens of times a day but I didn't get affected by smells or sights but now I struggle some days to open the fridge, the pantry or one of our cupboards that has the microwave in it because of the smells (our house is clean - it's just normal smells!) It's so hard to look after our dc when it's like that.

I have just been sick for the first time today and I'm wondering whether it's because I was in the bathroom and I'm associating it with being sick. Suddenly I was gagging without warning. It's weird though - my first pregnancy was absolute classic nausea and that brought on vomiting. This one feels different though - the nausea isn't as strong but my gag reflex is horrendous so it can seem to strike without much warning. Does this make sense to anyone else? Sometimes I think I must be making myself like this and I just need to get a grip!

Picklesandpies You do not need to 'get a grip'. Because this illness is given so little credence, women often say that of themselves, but it's not true. I think it varies a lot about whether or not one has any warning about vomiting. Some go about retching all the time with constant nausea, others have different symptoms, but it is all horrible. Much sympathy. There must be an element of connecting things with sickness, I suppose. Ridiculously, to this day 'War and Peace' makes me feel nauseated to think of as I read it in early pregnacy. In so far as I understand it, and I'm not medicallyt qualified, the 'neurological response' the doctors speak of seems to be a sort of vomiting reflex triggered in the brain by repeated episodes of vomiting, and not a thing you have the slightest control over, and that's why many doctors think pre-emptive meds are a good idea to try and avoid that.

Thanks Picklesandpies and Hotchocolate86

I’m 11 weeks today and have been on emesafene (which is the first option here, I guess similar to cyclizine?) and metochlopromide which I had a really bad reaction too - so the doctors said I could only have the emesafene and when I asked about Ondansetron I was told that wasn’t an option for hyperemesis. I’m almost tempted to go back to the UK (I’m in the Netherlands atm) to see if I can get a prescription but there’s no way I can travel and also I do plan on spending my pregnancy here so wouldn’t really make sense. Just feeling a little desperate but hoping once the placenta takes over things will ease up a little.

@Olivecake so sorry your feeling so poorly and that you've not been given much in the way of options to try and make you feel a bit better. I know it's really tough and at times you question how much longer you can go on, but it will be worth it in the end. Try and take it one day at a time, easier said than done when your so ill but you will get there

@Picklesandpies you absolutely do not need to get a grip. I totally get what you are saying, in your mind it seems so ridiculous but it's shocking what HG can do to you. My husband found it really difficult to get his head around my aversions until he witnessed me be sick every time I went near the kitchen door.

@Hotchocolate86 that is awful, glad you managed to get them eventually but you shouldn't have had to go through that

Checking back in! The nausea and retching has got worse again over the last few days (at almost 35 weeks) and I'm feeling a bit miserable. I had heard it could get worse in the third trimester - although it's nowhere near as bad as it was in the early days.
I've also been SO tired which is probably linked to my low iron.
Lucinda - you mentioned that iron tabs made you vomit. I've stopped taking my iron tablets for now as I've been referred to get an iron infusion next week.
I was hoping I could ease off the meds before I give birth but I just can't face the vomiting that will come with stopping meds.
Just wondering if anyone else has taken their meds (particularly antihistamines) up until giving birth?
And am desperately hoping that it's true that the nausea eases when baby arrives?
Would be so grateful to hear the experience of anyone who's been through this before (this is my 3rd baby but first experience of HG/nausea lasting past 16 weeks)
And sending lots of sympathy to those of you really struggling right now

ohiwa I took ondansetron right up to birth in my last pregnancy. It’s looking likely I will be doing the same this time and possibly taking cyclizine as well as I’ve not managed to give up either of them yet. My nausea went away as soon as my son was born.
olive fingers crossed things improve for you soon.
pickles I don’t actually think it’s possible to get a grip when suffering from hyperemesis. It’s so completely overwhelming and takes over everything. I have wondered if I should be manning up as they say and going into work for these last two weeks before I start holiday and maternity but I just can’t do it. They’d have to send me home again I’m sure.

Olivecake I am so sorry I managed to miss your post, too - what's the matter with me?! That's awful that you are refused Ondansetron in the Netherlands. However, I did know a woman on here or two who managed to get it when living in the Netherlands (they had both married men from the Netherlands), via Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 6538 2020 and the retired doctor was prepared to arange it. It is certainly worth ringing them. How dismal to have had to been so dehydrated that you required that much in the way of fluids, oh dear. In the short term, have they got you on an anti acid? That can make a huge difference. Much sympathy.
Ohiwa Much sympathy to you, too, on the returning symptoms. It is dismal the way it can come back like an unwanted guest for some at the end of pregnancy. I believe you can get iron drops these days, which are less nauseating. Might they prescribe those? As Hotchocolate says, for about 99 .5 per cent of sufferers, the symtoms are gone within a few hours of giving birth, often at once. It is only the unlucky tiny minority who suffer after birth, those who seem to suffer from the hormones set off by breast feeding. I have encountered maybe six out of the hundreds of women on these threads and elsewhere. Trust me to be one of them, but even with these pour souls, it always goes when they abandon breast feeding - which, understandably, thosesufferers tend not to do for very long! You will get there, but it is awful for those who have to drag through those last weeks. Maybe make a chart - some have found that surprisngly helpful - crossing off each day. See if you can give yourself treats (obviously not edible, unfortuantely).
Thinking of you all.
Back soon.

Hi ladies.

Hope this is the right place for me. Finally off drs tommorrow for some help and advise.

Being sick as in physically throwing things up around 10-15x a day. But dry heaving around an other 30x per day. Constantly shakey and fainted a few times due to not being able to keep anything down. Feel constantly nauceous and dry heaving about every 10mins on average.

Been bed bound for about a week like this as felt weak as a kitten. But got to point where I feel like I am struggling to go on. Bed bound. And starting to feel really dehydrated.

Does this sound like start of HG? Im only 7 weeks so unsure if this is just bad sickness or if theres some kind of diagnostic criteria?

Just worried dr wont take me seriously? Any idea what I can exspect?

Any advise or tips welcome as I am really struggling if I am honnest

notquite that sounds familiar.
Unfortunately there is no way to predict how long you will be affected for, and morning sickness/hg is on a spectrum really, but you definitely sound like you have it bad!

For today, ask for a urine sample pot at reception at the Drs and and take a sample in with you.
They can check for ketones to see how dehydrated you are.

First line treatment for the nausea is usually Cyclizine or Promethazine.

Have a read of the paragraph at the start of this post and there is a link thete too for the sickness support web page. A really good source of information and they have a support line too.

Good luck today, let us know how you get on!

Advice would be to be clear with GP about how often you are sick, how often heaving and little (sounds like barely anything) you are managing to keep down.
Also the fainting and being in bed.

Rotavix .... the metaclopramide...though I think I've worked out combining it with lucozade is what's been making me twitchy hmm so trying to stay away from that at the moment.

Are you getting the twitches when you take metoclopramide on its own, or only when with Lucozade?

Metoclopramide is very safe for the baby but the twitchiness can be a problem for the mother, and if you get it a lot or severely then please do speak to your doctor or the pharmacist, seriously.

hi olivecake Im one of Mother Hen's expats in the NL . How is your Dutch? there's a site for women with HG here, but it is in dutch.

But, but, when I was in exactly the same situation as you I rang the Preg Sickness Support line and the amazing elderly doctor there was willing to prescribe me ondansetron, as long as I could pay (not NHS ofc), even though I'm in the NL. They are well worth talking to.

Also, I found that different medicos had different approaches to meds in pregnancy. Some are heartless bastards, frankly, but some have a more modern approach. I think the dutch approach to minimal meds is generally laudable, but there are times they need to see that there's a real clinical need!

notquite, agreed with going to the doctor asap especially if you're dehydrated. Being able to get liquids is the key here. Can you suck on ice chips, or sip very very hot drinks? Watermelon and cucumber can also be useful, if you're able to take a few nibbles.

hot i took cyclizine all the way through too in the 2nd preg and it did help, I'm certain.

Wishing everyone a quiet day, KOKO.

Notquite you sound very unwell and it sounds more like HG than standard morning sickness (having experienced this pregnancy with HG and two pregnancies with challenging but 'normal' morning sickness). Your level of sickness absolutely needs treatment.
Hotchocolate and Lucinda - thanks for the advice and reassurance. I'm just about out of meds and dreading going back to ask for another prescription. My GP is very sympathetic but it's her first time prescribing my particular meds (doxylamine) so she's a bit cautious- even though it's totally safe and prescribed in the US and Canada all the time.

I just can't quite imagine what it will feel like to not be nauseous or to actually enjoy food again. Even when I've felt relatively well eating has felt like such a chore.
I've been referred for an iron infusion - which is iron administered through an IV. so I think I won't need to take any kind of iron supplements after that. I'm hoping I get a burst of energy once I've got the iron in - I could really do with some!

Thanks ladies for the advise.

Am currently being admitted and hooked up to a drip.

Fingers crossed this makes me feel loads better.

Know that you feel rough when you walk through door and the dr goes "oh jesus..you really aren't well at all are you"

Going to have to do my research on medicines etc to come up with a long term plan.

it should really help notquite. If you are dehydrated, your electrolytes become way out of kilter and that can make you feel quite nauseous all on its own.

I think getting rehydrated takes a lot of worry away too; the less strain the better!

Glad you are being seen and treated notquite
Take it easy

@SeaEagleFeather just with the lucozade thankfully, though the 2 together seemed fine in my last pregnancy.

Sucking lollies is my new alternative at the moment.

@Notquiteagandt

It does sound like HG, your doing the right thing by seeking help now, it doesn't do your health any good to struggle on and there are safe options out there to help you.

I hope you have a positive trip to the Drs and start to feel better soon, just make sure that you are honest with them about how bad it is and don't try to minimise it.

notquite I hope the rehydration helps and that you come away from the hospital with a plan for medication. It sounds like you are really suffering. The early stages are really horrendous.