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.

The ondanestron doesn't seem to be working anymore and that's at 8mg 3 times a day (with Cyclizine as well) any thoughts on where to go from here? Not that I can get a GP appt today, they had nothing at 8.10 this morning and I can't hack sitting in the surgery all morning with two children hoping they can squeeze me in.

I had metochlopromide added to that combination yesterday. Touch wood, it seems to be doing something- I've not been sick today and have eaten a few bits. Feel nauseous though. Lots of sleeping. That could be something to try. Why don't you try and see if you can arrange a phone consultation? Be really assertive on the phone to receptionist; they don't understand how ill you are or how debilitating this is.

Mamma can the gp call you? I’m hoping to do that tomorrow when my gp is in. Is there a higher dose of ondansetron that you can try or is that the maximum?

Earl that’s fantastic the drug combination is helping. I’m so glad.

I’m up and down here. I’m only at the start so the fact I’m feeling strong nausea already despite cyclizine is not a good sign. But it’s not all the time. Yet. I’m debating ringing my gp given it looks like it’s following the same pattern as last time to see if she will give me prescription for another drug to add in. What’s the one they generally add in with cyclizine first? Have moments that I can’t cope and why did I think I could do this again but I’m so grateful that it’s not unrelenting. Yet. But I know it will be, and I don’t know how I’ll cope. I feel like I need to get this sorted before I become too ill to fight for myself.

It varies reastie but since you're so sick so early, it's probably worth asking for Ondansetron. If they won't give it, then prochlorperazine.

mamma you could ask for prochlorperazine too, or metoclopramide. Ondansetron and cyclizine are kinda the best combo tho :/

reastie speak to your GP. They could add metochlopromide at this stage. Or they could go straight to ondansetron- which would be the best option.

Hi all, haven’t posted in a while as although my sickness has been under control I’ve been feeling very down and struggling with finding myself again after being housebound for more than 4 months with the hyperemesis! After a visit back home to see family I am finally starting to feel a little better. 26 weeks today, starting to feel really excited that this is actually leading towards a baby and not just a horrible sickness anymore!

Sorry to hear of all of you that are suffering so badly right now. It really is the worst of times but hopefully you will all start having better days soon.

Huge congrats to both HotChoc and Foody on your babies!! ❤️

Hi Lucinda, I have namechanged, but I was on the thread last year. I had a DS born by c section 2 weeks early in July. Was scheduled for an induction due to HG but he went breach at the last minute...

Anyway, I am back, not pregnant yet but thinking about TTC soon... I am very scared, I had HG the whole time last pregnancy and the nausea never went away.

I suppose I am asking your opinion, as you were so helpful last time. Am I likely to have it worse? Can I start taking meds straight away? Do I need to speak to my GP? I'm scared it will be worse and I cant take ondansetron which is the only thing that marginally helped last time...

Any views welcome. Sorry to all suffering.

FiltyforFirth Welcome back. Brave of you to try again so soon after suffering badly. I wish I could say that you aren't likely to get it again, but sadly, those who have suffered are very likely to get it again, although it isn't inevitaable, and a few on here have escaped in second pregnnacies. People don't invariably get it worse in subsequent pregnanies. Also, being prepared with pre-emptive meds and a care plan for the first child often make sufferers feel that it is more bearable than they had thought. It is certainly worth seeing the doctor about pre-emptive meds.
tinyradish That sounds horrible about the sore throat. Sucking ice cubes can really help, or ice lollies, or gargling in salt water if you can stand it.
MamaBear I am sorry it has got bad again. I hope they give you an effective combination asap. They can try steroids, I think after 12 weeks?
Great advice for Reastie and Mamabear from eallison and SeaEagleFeather and others.
Apologies to anoyone rudely overlooked.
Silversplodge How are things?

Sorry, that's FilthyforFirth

Filthy my gp gave me cyclizine before I was pg given my history so I could take it straight away. It’s not on repeat though so I’m ringing her tomorrow about that and adding in other medication.

Thank you for the advice, I hope my gp will go for ondansetron but I think it unlikely as there’s a drug order and that’s at the last of the list.

filthyforfirth my honest advice? Wait until your little one is older. No, you're not guaranteed to get it again. However, it's likely. I'm 7 weeks (ish - caught first month off pill so don't have a EDD til scan). We planned with GP, I had a prescription for cyclizine for as soon as I found out I was pregnant. Took cyclizine from day I found out (which was 2 weeks after i think I ovulated). Started feeling sick a weeek later and got ondansetron from my GP, started that with the cyclizine. 5 days later I was hospitalised and on a drip due yo dehydration. That was Monday. I'm now on metochlopromide as well. I'm managing yo eat small amounts of bland food and sip dizzy orange fairly consistently. I still feel like absolute shit. HG hit harder and earlier than my first pregnancy. My son was 3 in September. We've managed yo shield him from it so far by the help of fantastic family. However, I've got at least 33 weeks ahead of me probably feeling like shit (if my pregnancy with him is anything to go by). He is old enough to understand that im poorly and can't do things I normally do. He's also big enough to not need carrying very much anymore (and old enough to understand that I cant). He will start nursery in January (care with family members so far, I work 3 days a week). Has not breastfed anymore - there's no way I could have breastfed a baby/toddler whilst on this limited diet. He sleeps thru- there's no way I could have done all the waking thru the night.

If/when you do decide to go for it, go to your GP. Tell them the recommendations are for pre-emptive antiemetics. Get an agreement in place of a plan for if the meds don't work, no hanging around to see, if they don't work in 24 hours then you move up the ladder. Get a fantastic support network around you. You will need it. If you are lucky and don't get HG next time, then you've wasted nothing and lost nothing by getting everything in place. I also think you need time to recover mentally and physically from your last pregnancy.

olive great to hear you are beginning to be able to enjoy your pregnancy, it's the least you deserve.

reastie cross posted, sorry. Ask for ondansetron. If she won't prescribe then say you'll try next on the ladder (which from memory is stemitil). But say that you'll only try it for 2 days max, that the recommendation is be to be aggressive with management and if a drug isn't working then you need to move up the ladder. Keep the cyclizine going throughout. Fingers crossed it's a productive conversation

Thank you Reastie (waves from the Christmas thread, my ultimate happy place) and Eallison88. Very useful and lots to think about. I have moved recently so have a new GP. She seems good so far, so I may sound her out about a pre-emptive plan. Sadly I had a horrific side effect to Ondansetron, but it was the only one that stopped me throwing up.

I guess I feel there is this HG cloud hanging over me, whenever I decide to have another one. Beit next year or a few years time. . ..

I am so sorry that everyone is feeling so rubbish.... I felt semi normal for one week and a half, back at work, thinking although still nauseous for most of the day, especially at night, I see light at the end of the tunnel. But since 2 days I am back to where I started and I had to call in sick again today. Is this common? I am dreading the thought of going through another 8 weeks of being bedbound again...
It is however good to read that people would go through this again for a second child. It makes me hopeful!

I was exactly the same Sunandsea1. I would be in for a few days, have a spectacular vomming session, head home, get signed off ad nauseam. I probably only worked properly for maybe 2 months of my pregnancy. One session at work saw me vomitting so bad I had an amniotic leak. This was 23 weeks and I was convinced my waters had gone.

To be honest, I feel like whenever I have another baby I will probably have it, so would rather get it over and done with if that makes sense? But I am 15 months past it, so worrying I have forgotten some of the worst bits.

My DH is not really on board yet, he hated what I went through last time so I may be on the board pre-emptively...

Although it is so lonely being home all day on your own, I found the stress of getting to work, being sick in work, and for me, the unsuppportive nature of my team, made me worse.

Good luck, it is so miserable.

sunandsea not unusual to have a relapse when we get all carried away nd try to work and do 'normal' things! Can you do a phased return to work, reducedhoues and gradually build up? Remember, you've not eaten or drunk normally for a while, your body doesn't have it's normal fuel AND you growing a whole person.

I was signed off pretty much the entire time last time. I tried returning at about 20 weeks but I was unreliable and work preferred that I just didn’t bother trying than to keep trying and then having to have time off. It also doesn’t help that my job is focused on food and cooking and I couldn’t be near most foods! Last time I felt like a failure and was constantly thinking I should cope better and do more. This time I have zero expectations from myself which takes some pressure off.

So, I rung to have a call back from the lovely gp about my drugs. Have set myself up to be with this gp as she is understanding and happy to go through drug options recommended by hospital registrar. All best laid plans etc. Gp is off ill! So have call back from scary abrupt gp that I’m really scared of. I figure worst case scenario she’ll give me nothing and I’ll ring gp on Monday and hopefully she’ll be back in and sort me out then. That seems a long way away though! At least I’ve got cyclizine if nothing else.... I’m feeling nervous just thinking about it.

Ok, I’m now sobbing. abrupt gp rung, said no there’s no way she will prescribe anything else other than cyclizine and you don’t have drugs drugs on top of cyclizine and spoke as if I was lucky to get that. I know that’s incorr3ct but she’s the kind of gp (from previous experience) that would never have her mind changed by anything you said so there’s no point in fighting. She suggested it might be indigestion and has prescribed gaviscon. Really? Gaviscon?! I’m so upset right now. I’m on hold to make apt on Monday (next time she’s in) with nice doctor assuming she’s back. Please let her have an appointment slot!

Only good thing is I have cyclizine on repeat

Tried tonmake apt next week with lovely gp but they aren’t allowing any bookings as she’s currently off ill. Don’t know where to go now, I guess just wait until I can make an appointment with her. I can’t take the stress of seeing another rude doctor.

Has anyone gone private with seeing a gp? If I get desperate i may do this. Have contacted a private gp practice before I was pg as I was concerned that medicoin would be an issue and I’d find it easier paying for it but they said they would work in conjunction with my nhs gp, so if nhs are saying flat out no then would private gp donanything different.

The issue I have (and it makes me feel like a fraud being on here) is that last time it was extreme nausea but I forced myself through lying still in bed/taking 2 hours to get up every morning etc etc to not be sick. I feel like a don’t deserve to be here with you when you are all so much worse than me. I didn’t even like to admit it to you all as I thought you might think I’m not as bad off as you all are and I shouldn’t compare myself as such. I literally would eat and swallow not knowing if I would keep food down or if I would throw up onto my plate. I felt like I was just about to heave the next second over 80% of the time. I really forced myself and spent all my energy into not being sick because of my emetophobia and if I hadn’t done that I would have been constantly being sick every day. Because of this I felt lucky to have any medication.

Pg sickness support were great in telling me I should be entitled to additional drugs in my situation as it was making my life unbearable and impacting my life and mental health. I put everything in place so I could if needed to (with nice gp) have medication as it’s literally the only reason I thought I could go through it again.

I’m sorry, I’m a total fraud and you all are having such a more terrible time than me with this.

Dont feel that way Reastie. The first half of my pregnancy I didnt throw up much. I was only admitted once and didnt start taking ondansetron until week 25ish.

I have had both and I can assure you the extreme nausea is much worse than the constant vomitting (in my opinion).

Dont feel like a fraud at all. Can you get back in touch with PSS? They might be able to give you details of who else can prescribe, they did for me last year.

Sorry you are feeling so down.

Reastie the nausea is definitely the worst part so no need to be feeling like a fraud.

Lucinda I'm feeling low today. Had my 16/40 midwife appointment and she was shocked I hadn't been referred for the bleeding and the prolapse so has done so herself, which I should be looking at as positive that something is being done, but actually just confirms it's a problem. I really want this baby, but I feel no attachment yet as I am convinced something is going wrong. And then I start thinking maybe I should just get it over with and have an abortion rather than going through loads more weeks of this just to lose it anyway. Work are getting on at me about going back. I'm now getting daily headaches on top of everything else, which I know is very common and most people get but it really just feels like what is the point?

Moan over. Lots of hugs to everyone struggling at the moment.

Hi all, checking in. After my one great day on Sunday I'm back to regular vomiting all morning and afternoon. I get a break in the evening when I can manage a decent meal. Still struggling with fluids, my stomach doesn't seem to like the sloshing feeling after a drink!

Due back to work on Monday but can't see it happening. Though, I need to. We can't afford me to be off much longer :(

Currently on Stemetil which I thought was helping but the past few days it's done nothing. 12+1 and fed up.

Can I please join?
Im 9 +1 weeks and having a bit of a wobble today because usually I'm sick 4-6 times a day, despite the meds, but yesterday I wasn't sick at all. I've been sick once this morning but I just managed to eat a pretty normal meal of eggs and toast; which I couldn't have done even 2 days ago. In my last pregnancy my symptoms were almost at their peak at this point; should I be worried? I know it sounds silly to worry about NOT feeling terrible but I just don't want something to have gone wrong. We had a scan on saturday and saw a heartbeat so I know baby was fine then but it doesnt mean they are fine now. Any advice very welcome.

Kate in the absence of bleeding, no, don't be worried. There are ups and downs, be grateful for the respite but don't be tempted to do too much as it can set you back.