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.
On my image of a pink castle: that is an image I use because when I was little, my family had a Snakes and Ladders board with an image on the last square of a pink castle in the clouds. As Hyperemesis is so like a grotesque version of Snakes and Ladders - eat a meal, go up a ladder, first thing in the morning bile run, down a snake - I have used the image of that pink castle on the last square of that Snakes and Ladders board as a metaphor for the happy end of Hyperemesis.

eallison So true.

Eal no I haven’t been prescribed it but only worked out I have reflux after doctors closed so I’m going to get dh to buy me the randitine to try over the week end (since it’s quite commonly used in pg anyway) and speak to gp on Monday if it’s helping to confirm/get prescription.

Oh and agree with laxitives. I’ve been prescribed sennacot and it’s still making me blocked up even when using that. I’m usually the opposite with IBS!

This constipation is killing me!!!! I've been taking lactulose for 3 days and no improvement at all. In fact I actually think things were moving better (ie a bit) before I started it. Now I'm not passing anything. I've got godawful cramping that I'm 99.9% sure is purely down to the constipation. At the moment the constipation is worse than the nausea.

Also, I've developed a slight twitch on the corner of my left eye. Which is freaking me out a little as I'm on metoclopramide. I asked the consultant about the twitching side affect when I saw her a few weeks ago and she said that if he as going to react I would within days, and described it is a really quite violent reaction. Well, I've been on meto for just under 4 weeks and this started yesterday. And it's not visible to my husband, but I can certainly feel it. I've decided not to take the meto over the weekend (just cyclizine and ondansetron) and will get an urgent apt with doctor on Monday. Hubby says hes had it a bit recently and has attributed it to tiredness and thinks it's the same for me. But I'm really worried in the back of my mind that it's cos of the meto.

Hi all been reading this thread for quite a while now but never posted before. Firstly it's been such a support to read your experiences, coping mechanisms and understanding advice. As the saying goes misery loves company. Reason for breaking my lurking and actually posting is I am finding the evenings awful. Pretty much curl up in a ball, attempt to eat (maybe throw it up - though it stays down 2/3 meals and by meals I mean kids portion) I'm taking only two cyclizine and just coping with that - just coping is definitely the right word and that is by doing the bare minimum/not leaving the house. I was wondering if any of you could recommend a drug which would stop the evening MS hell?

ksjourney different women respond differently to different meds and different combos. You're not currently taking highest dose of cyclizine, which would be 50mg 3x daily. You could others into the mix like promethazine, propylsomethingthaticantremember, metoclopramide, ondansetron. Ondanstron is the strongest and the last one they'll prescribe often, it's also the one that the majority of women respond really positively to. Speak to your doctor and see what they will add/swap. You can also have an med yo deal with reflux, which often makes nausea worse. Common in pregnancy is ranitidine or omeprazole. Many (myself included) need something for reflux. In terms of making evenings better, I'm not sure it's possible (tho do push for different meds). We all have a time of day when we feel at our worst and a time when we feel best. I'm afraid it's just a case of working with what you've got, eating when you're able and not pushing yourself when you're at your worst.

Eal sympathies with the constipation, fellow sufferer here. I’ve been using your manual method which btw thank you for admitting as I wouldn’t have thought of it but it’s been a lifesaver. Re twitching it’s definitely worth getting checked but fwiw I get that randomly on occasion. It’s usually due to stress or anxiety or tiredness or just randomly for no reason so it may just be one of those things.

So much for the mws giving me an early booking in apt urgently due to nausea issues. Got apt through and it’s for the end of the month when I’ll be 10 weeks!

Hi KS, that sounds miserable, evenings are my bad time too. Is there a reason why you’re only taking 2 cyclizine not 3 as 3 is the usual dose a day. That might be the first step (but check with gp first) then they could give you another medication to take as well but lots of gps I’ve found won’t or you need to go in knowing the facts. People on here suggested I rung pregnancy sickness support and they were so useful about what I should get. I’m wishing time away here and haven’t ventured out into the big bad world for weeks, it’s so hard for people to understand if they haven’t experienced it.

reastie glad my openness has helped you a little. I'm getting the most appalling cramps today it's making me cry!

I totally get what you mean about the big bad world. I'm almost getting scared to go out. Its not so much fear of puking in public, it's more seeing people. It's amazing how little understood hyperemesis is, despite Kate Middleton. I'm so fed up of "but every pregnancy is different, it might now be so bad this time", "well, by x point you'll be past 1st trimester and it will have settled", "oh I bet you're loving the time off work, are you getting loads done". Or alternatively I see people who I haven't told yet, who almost certainly know and I'm fibbing/being evasive when they ask how I am. Close friends are being brilliant and not asking, we both know they've worked it out but they're not putting me in a position where I have to lie/tell them. Church is the worst place. I avoided it last week cos of all the well-meaningness. Which just means info go tomorrow there will be more well-meaning loveliness that I don't want and can't cope with. But I've only left the house on the last 7 days to pick my son up from MILs once, from nursery once and to go to docs. So I should go to church tomorrow so it's not a 'thing'. I've got my dating scan on 23rd, so hopefully after then everything will be ok and we'll be able to tell people.

Eurgh, today I just feel sad.

Welcome to Ksjourney. I am sorry you feel so bad. You have had great advice about meds. I so agree, do please go back to ask for more effective meds including an anti aicid and if they perscrbeOndansetron, laxative. Things will almost certainly get a lot better, so don't despair.As you have been following the thread, I won't say my usual spiel about flat full sugar coke, ice lollies, the juice of tinned fruit and having kesotix.
eallison I am so sorry things are so tough, particularly when you are so great at offering advice. It is very isolating. Is there any non edible treats that you can give yourself to brighten things up - just watching a favourite film at home or whatever? Some people find it useful to check of each day (a bit like a prison sentence).
Reastie Sorry you are suffeirng from locked bowels too.
I hope everyone is coping today.

Eal I share you’re feeling of it being scary out there in the big wide world. My issue is to do with being sick when out (which is a mental issue of mine to do with my emetophobia). Last pg I actually became agoraphobic. I remember I would shake just walking to the end of the road to the letter box as it would make me so anxious. I know I’m heading the same way again but I just have to do what I can to survive atm. I’m at the point of been getting anxious speaking to people on the phone in case I suddenly become overwhelmed with nausea and can’t speak. I know that sounds really ridiculous and pathetic but it’s really tough. This evening is a bad evening for me but then I’ve had a few better evenings recently so I’ve been expecting a bad one. Just when I thought the medicine was really helping and I could cope it makes me realise it’s not that the medicines are that amazing, it’s that sometimes it’s better than others.

I've realised how difficult talking can be this time. I think last time I just stopped speaking unless it was necessary. But with a 3year old, talking is something I can't really not do. I've realised that opening my mouth to talk can sometimes really trigger the nausea.

Food tip; frozen fruit. Well, specifically mango, but I've got stuff to try. Frozen stuff generally is really good for me, I've had lots of lollies/ice cream but it seems my body is rejecting dairy again (did do last time) so I thought I'd give frozen fruit a go. Same nice refreshing 'mouthfeel'. Worth a try, ladies?!

I'm crocheting a bright stripey blanket for my 3 year old, and will make a matching smaller one for baby and I'm enjoying this. The repetitive nature is soothing, I don't have to concentrate too hard (I've literally taught myself to do this blanket, it's not tricky). Easy to pick up and put down.

Eal talking can be too hard sometimes. I spend a lot of time just having to breathe deeply and I have to take myself away from everyone into a quiet room as any movement/noise/distraction can trigger things to make them worse. I really do sympathise and share with you your struggles.

I’d love to learn to crochet. I enjoy sewing and started doing some cross stitch but I have to concentrate too much about which stitch and which colour and most of the time I’m not up to that much concentration. I was thinking of knitting a baby blanket as I made one for dd when I was in first trimester which really helped me through keeping me busy as it was repetitive but not taxing. I should make one for this one as I’d enjoy that. I’ve tried trying to crochet but I can’t work out how to do it and I’ve really really tried!

I'm a sewer at heart, I love making quilts and hand quilting them. However, like you, it's too difficult to concentrate on that at the moment, hence the crochet. Tries knitting numerous times and just don't get it. Crochet was much more instinctive - I think it's similar hand movements to hand sewing. And, as I said, very easy to literally just put down in a puking emergency!

Thank you @eallison88 @Reastie @LucindaE

Really appreciate your support. I've started losing breakfast and dinner last 4 days so I have to do something. I only have 2 tablets left for today so Monday is straight to gp to collect my prescription (hope it is there) and pharmacy. I will start three tablets Monday. They make me so tired though and give me the shakes but if the help my evenings it is worth a go as I can't take much more.

Figured out lolly's and fizzy drinks early on they truly are a life saver during the day. But nothing tames the beast in the evenings.

The reason I'm just putting up with it is because with my DD at 16/17 weeks I woke up at be day and it was like a switch. No more food aversions no more sickness nothing - back to normal. 16 weeksfor me is 12th December and counting!!!!!! I thought I could wait. If I thought I had to put up with this longer than 16 weeks my mental health would likely decline! Huge respect for all of you for being so strong to battle through this hell for 40 weeks - seriously it shows a strength of character that you should all be proud of.

I love knitting but I am awful at it. My friend introduced me to crochet last week and she said it is faster and you can pick it up and put it down so I'm definitely tempted. But not yet...

KS did you have the sickness issues with your daughter as well?

Eal I watched a how to crochet tutorial yesterday an yu tube and I’m going to try to do a mini square to see if I can do it tomorrow if I’m up to it. I like the idea of learning a new skill.

Hi @Reastiepeace yes I was on prochloaperazine but it was more 24/7 ramped up nausea with her and major food aversions. This pregnancy is a little different in that I am actually being sick loads. Which is far better than the nausea.

I just battled through last time. Genuinely don't know how. Used to sit on the floor and rock because it was so bad and wouldn't stop.

Really sympathise Ks. I always said I’d never be pg again and took dh 7 years to talk me into it. Another day is ticked off, another day closer...

The lactulose had finally worked! I feel sooooo much better!!

Ha I completely understand Restiepeace my DD is 6! Took me this long to even consider putting myself through this again. Though there was a tiny hope that with a new pregnancy I'd have a different (easier) first trimester. That's what everyone kept saying to me anyway.

ksjourney I had that too. However, I made it a rule pretty much as soon as we found out I was pregnant that no one was allowed to say to me "oh it might not be as bad this time" or similar. It's not helpful, I feel it diminishes my very real and very justified fears. So hubby is doing fabulously at getting that msg to people and apart from one SIL (who is a GP with 5 drama free and puke free pregnancies under her belt- she just doesn't get it, so I'm basically minimising the time I see her at the moment, as that's what's best for me and the family as a whole). Admittedly, not yet having had a dating scan, we've not told people generally yet (tho I'm sure many have worked it out) so that might change a little. But I've decided I'm not accepting platitudes. "I'm sorry, it's shit you're going through this again" or similar I will accept graciously, "well, you never know, every pregnancy is different" will be met with "yep, well, this one is even pukier than the last, so I suppose you're right". Last time I hid myself away and hid how ill I was even in conversation about it with other people. This time I'm protecting me and my mental health.

Eal you sound so much like me with some of the things you say! Pg broke me last time and i didn’t realise how much until looking back on it, this time I’m being very proactive to make sure as much as possible I don’t go so low mentally, but it’s very hard!

Eal I’ve been looking at yarn to make a baby blanket, I tried crocheting this morning and sort of managed it so I’m going to try a blanket. would this yarn work? and I have no idea how much to buy.

Weaned steroids again on weds and for the last 2 days I’ve started to feel and be sick again. Back on the meds but can’t cope with ondansetron as it’s making me really constipated again. Desperately want to get off steroids to reduce risk d diabetes. It all suck. Nearly 18 weeks and still crap.

@eallison88 @Reastiepeace It is funny isn't it. I love that you have your responses prepared I think I just grunt something at them and change the subject.

I am prioritising my mental health this time too. I am not expecting myself to be super mum, super worker, super wife. I am doing what I can when I can and being kind to myself. It is so important to allow yourself to be ill and take it easy.

I can't concentrate on my crochet (I'm partway through a blanket for friends MiL) but have managed some hand sewing of hexagons for blanket.

I'm feeling very rough. Like, crying in a corner rough. I managed a nap yesterday afternoon which helped but DD wasn't impressed! Luckily my dad was playing with her. I am so fed up of nausea and constipation.

Is there anyone who can release you to go and lie in bed @SassehMonsta? Sorry you're feeling so awful. You have every right to actually go and cry in the corner if you need to. Be kind to yourself.