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.

My HG came back with some aplomb during labour - every contraction was accompanied by retching. I was unable to eat or drink anything so my lovely calm home birth turned into an ambulance ride into hospital as I had become too dehydrated and my labour was stalling. Not to make you panic! I will have a clear plan in place about how my HG wil be managed in labour this time, and no attempt at home birth. I intend to go to birthing suite and have a cannula inserted on arrival, so that they're not trying to find tiny dehydrated veins later in labour, they'll be able to just plug me in to fluids. Whether this will happen I don't know, but I will fight tooth and nail for it to.

I have been at the hospital for about 35 minutes. I have been assessed by midwife and had a cannula inserted. She us currently going to get the fluids to plug into me and also ask for a consultant to come and see me as soon as they can. She s also arranged for me to have a scan so we can find out exactly how pregnant I am. This couldn't be a more different experience from any of the times at the other hospital.

Decided to venture into town this morning. What a silly idea. Literally considered vomiting into my shopping bags in the changing rooms. Oh the joys !! 🤢😃

@Priscilla83

I have opted for an elective c section this time. I have an appointment on the 28th which will make me 36 weeks and this will be to book me in for my c section. ( I gave birth naturally with my other 2 )

My reason being I have had such a horrible, horrible pregnancy this time with the hypermesis and I would like some sort of control as I had horrendous sicky labours with my other 2 which lasted 3 days. :(

But I was basically told if that is what I want then I can have it :) x

I had a failed induction last time leading to an emcs. The induction just wouldn’t do anything. They tried for 5 days! Tbh I think it was my body refusing to go into labour as I was so scared of it. This time I’m going to request a csection.

Gp apt was a bit of a nightmare as my apt had been overbooked and lost and gp was running late. I felt rubbish and gave up waiting and went home after literally bursting into tears in the middle of the waiting room. Gp rung me and was very apologetic over the phone over apt mess up (it was her mistake I think) and has increased ondansetron prescriptions so I don’t have to keep pestering what feels like every other day for a prescription to her. Just hope I can find a chemist with that many in given supply issues! She’s going to chase up the mws too.

Evie meant to add I know csection has its own risks and the recovery time is longer after but to me the pain post csection was nothing compared to the misery of pg.

Eal how are you doing now? Hope you get some decent help and a plan to help you cope through.

Sass you must be past half way through work now? Hope it’s going ok.

I've had a scan (10weeks). There's just one in there and all looks as it should. I'm hooked up to fluids which I'm sure are helping. The problem is the meds aren't working. Just tried to eat and puked, and it's not really sustainable yo have to come here every few days for rehydration. So waiting for a consultant to come and see me and plan.

Eall, I hope they come up with a good plan, and soon!

Yes, over halfway through work now, only 2 hrs and 10 mins to go, not that I am counting!! Had a workshop this morning that I had forgotten about, which was actually quite funny and took up some time (still having a laugh about it now, its about tidying our workspaces and HR, who are on our floor, are awful at it!). Some light relief. Just have to get my head down and back into the swing of things again now.

I almost threw up in the loo, but didn't. I have a little tickle in the back of my mouth that's lingering and making me think I may still vom. :(

My GP rang yesterday and said he hoped this would be the last 2 weeks of medication that he was going to prescribe me.... I said I hope so too, but I am not convinced!

Just back from Welsh.
eallison I am so glad you are having fluids, sorry meds aren't working yet, so glad that they are doing their best to help you. Here's hoping you feel better soon.
beanhunter Mother Hen does hope your return to work it's a staggered return, or part time hours, or something.
Priscilla I have no experience of Reflexology. I had Acupunture, and it helped a lot (I may have told you this before). But I was very lucky, as while it helps many a bit, it doesn't seem to do so so dramatically.
Evajacksxxx Goodness - I hope you didn't do that. So many women are too polite about Public Puking Performances,and will put their head in their handbag rather than puke on the floor. I say that a floor can be mopped,and your new shopping can't! Verybrave of you to go out shopping.
Reastie I am so glad the GP has increased prescriptions.
SassehMonsta I do hope the GP's optimism is justified. I am in awe of woman who managed to totter into work with this!
foreverblues Sorry, I missed your post. You were very sensible to say that you must see how you go before you are 'supported back into work' - which I hope means easing you in very slowly and gently.
Sorry about cold.
Watch me cross post. Sorry if I've missed anyone.

Silly stupid doctor said she was uncomfortable prescribing steroids when I'm so early in my pregnancy and only had 2 hospital admissions. I informed her that was ridiculous and that I wanted to speak to the consultant. Then had a massive panic attack at the thought that they aren't going to change my meds and it wasn't going to get better. Cue slightly frantic nurses with oxygen. When I'd got myself out of that I fairly calmly informed the nurse that I simply cannot carry on as I am, and if they are not prepared to change my meds and try steroids then they needed to book me a termination, and a sterilisation whilst they're at it. 15 minutes later a consultant came to me, I explained how deadly serious I am that continuing as I am wasn't an option. He wants to do some tests to check there's not an underlying thing exacerbating the hyperemesis, but ultimately agreed that if the hyperemesis proved "stubborn" then he would prescribe steroids. So tomorrow I've got various tests. I suspect I'll be here til Saturday at least. Got another 2.5 bags of fluids to go into me. Im exhausted, but mildly hopeful. I am not leaving this place until I'm given steroids.

Eal I’m so sorry yOu had to have the panic attack and make a fuss to get anywhere, it shouldn’t be this way and makes me so cross as we are at our weakest. Well done for holding your guns and hope the tests go ok. Hope the test results come quickly to get you the steroids. What else do they think might be making it worse? I hope you get them soon so that you can feel more human. I really think doctors don’t realise what a toll mentally this has.

Tests to make sure there's no underlying stomach thing. I did have problems as a young child and again in late teens with stomach aches and vomiting, but no one ever got to the bottom of it and when it settled itself each time they just stopped investigating. So they're gonna do an ultrasound of my stomach, check all looks as it should, check for gall stones and do a stool sample (providing said stool sample in my constipated state could be fun). The nurses are very lovely, I certainly feel more hopeful that's I'm get what I need than I've ever felt at my normal hospital (there I've had to fight for treatment at every step). Hubbys just helped me get into pjs and he's had to go pick up our son before it gets too late for him. If I'm staying in tomorrow night as well he's gonna bring him to see me tomorrow after work. We reckon that'll be better than him not seeing me and worrying. I can reassure him etc.

I've not slept at all today since 6.30am. At the moment I'm sleeping 7 Or 8 hours during the day, so I'm exhausted. I'm hoping it means I'll get a good night's sleep. Hope everyone else is managing today. sasseh (I think) I hope work was ok?

eallison hope the tests all go ok. Best of luck for a good night's sleep.

I've just had to do solo bedtime with my 3. Only just survived. Puked afterwards. The increased meds are making me less nauseous, however I'm still vomiting in the evenings.

Just had to ask f0r my meds cos they've been prescribed as "when needed" rather than 8hourly. So I've been lying here for 90minutes waiting for it to get to 11pm so I could have the drugs, feeling sick and trying not to be. She's given me 4mg of ondansetron. I explained that I've been on 8mg of ondansetron, 50mg cyclizine and various other meds and yet I've ended up admitted for rehydration. She just explained that she cant give me any more than what I've been prescribed. In 4 hours if I feel sick I can have some cyclizine. I asked if I could take some of the drugs that are in my bag, but she said no. Then confiscated them and locked them in a box cos "you can only have what you've been prescribed". I'm not quite sure how she thinks I got my hands on the meds I've already got. Obviously stole them. So now I'm sitting in my bed, in a room on my own, sobbing. Her parting gift was the really helpful advice of "try and get some sleep". I feel sick and hungry, you silly bloody woman, how do you expect me sleep?!

I feel like this whole pregnancy was q massive mistake. My baby boy is suffering. He's been doing so well with all the weirdness and all the changes and extra time in childcare. And so good at being gentle with me. But hubby rang me when he'd picked our son up cos son wanted to speak to me "cos I love mummy so much and she's not here". He was all teary on the phone. I feel like I'm letting my baby boy down, and that's so wrong. I shouldn't ever be the one causing him pain or upset. I should always be there to give him cuddles. And I'm not. I feel heartbroken and alone.

eallison88 I’m so so sorry that you’re alone at such a horrid time.

I know it’s easy for a stranger on the internet to say that your son will be fine but he really will, he has his dad with him, and of course he misses you but hopefully it won’t be for long.

I tell myself when the guilt kicks in for my little one, that in the long run I am doing this partly for him, as I hope know he’ll love a sibling and they will enrich his life and bring him support and companionship.

I don’t blame you for feeling so low, HG truly is an awful condition and the mental side of it I think is almost worse than the physical but you’re doing so well hanging in there and I hope tomorrow is a better day

@eallison88 sorry to hear you're having such an awful time ☹️ really hope you get a good nights sleep and they sort your meds out soon

Rubbish nights sleep. Given 4 pills this morning with no explanation what they were, had to tell her that I wanted ondansetron not cyclizine (she wouldn't give me both). One I recognised as some vitamin thing that I asked another nurse to identify yesterday. One I recognised as 4mg ondansetron. No idea what other 2 were and she'd gone before I could ask. I have no idea what or when breakfast is, but if I don't eat in the next ten minutes the window of opportunity for actually keeping it down will have passed. I feel like I'm not being told everything. Like they are literally only prepared to answer the exact questions I ask rather than just keeping me informed about my care. It's all shit. Hope the everyone else is getting on better than me

Oh eal I really feel for you. I hope you got breakfast quick enough to eat it. I can’t believe they’re giving you less than what you were on before whichwasnt enough as it was. It’s just crazy. And it doesn’t help when you have such unsympathetic care.

Re your Ds think of it in the long term. He will be ok with his dad for now, you need to focus on getting through each moment for now and think ahead to the years of enjoyment and what he will get out of having a sibling.

Thinking of you x

Combination of late breakfast and not enough meds meant that breakfast came back. As expected. On the plus side this seems to have made them change my meds to regular 8mg ondansetron rather then 4mg on request (nut at least hours). They've given me th extra 4mg thru my cannula. I can feel I'm going to have yo fight for the care I need, but I don't think ice got the energy

eallison this just sounds awful, you poor thing. I hope they properly sort you out this morning.

I know what you mean about regretting your pregnancy. This is #4 for me and I really think it's a big mistake. I even suggested termination to DH but he said he would only want to terminate if we knew there was something wrong with the baby. In the meantime he's picking up as much as he can. The house is grubby and the kids are watching too much cbeebies.

I agree, I think it’s a natural reaction to feel like you can’t do it anymore and regret the decision. All I can say is I felt the same way with dd and didn’t think I’d ever get through pg and I did and I absolutely wouldn’t change it now it’s over and I’m past it. I keep having to tell myself that but I’ve spent hours googling termination options and where to get it etc. My family are very unsupportive of these route if I feel I can’t do it anymore so I just have to hope I’m strong enough.

Eal try to think of it that you have to go through this to get the steroids that will help in the long run. I know you shouldn’t have to have such fights when you’re at your weakest and can’t and you shouldn’t be allowed to get this bad but once you get through today and pass the tests they should have no reason not to give you the medicine you need and things WILL get better. X

@eallison88

I really feel for you. I was hospitalised for 8 days around 16 weeks and it was awful :(

Felt like I was talking to a brick wall most of the time and was basically left for hours on end without medication and not knowing what was happening. I remember just laid there crying and trying to sort out child care for my two other children. My partner was in between working, coming to see me and arranging childcare. I remember thinking to myself, 'I can't do this anymore'. It sounds so awful but I really did contemplate not going through with the pregnancy.

But here I am .... 35 weeks today lol. And it really has flown by. Okay, I'm still feeling like absolute crap but nothing compared to before. Hang in there :) x

Oh @eallison88 that is so awful. It is in humane to make you suffer for over 12 hours to then up your dose (which you told them was right in the first place!!) if I had the energy I would be so frustrated! Do you have visitors who can fight your corner? Can you call the helpline while your there to see if they can give you any support to help you justify your care?

We all feel like failures as parents sometime please be kind to yourself. You are already feeling awful don't beat yourself up as well. Big cyber hug. Fingers crossed lunch is successful

Steroids finally seem to be getting somewhere near the table! Had a productive chat with a different consultant who confirmed that she has prescribed steroids for this before, and is prepared to if that's what's needed. She's coming to see me again after I've had a scan of my kidneys and liver at 3pm. They've made me nil by mouth cos of this scan, so I'm absolutely starving. They did recognise the ridiculousness of this, so have hooked up me to fluids again whilst I'm nil by mouth so I don't sink again. I'm going to try and make the sonographer doing the scan of my liver/kidneys show me baby- it feels like the least I deserve!
I've also been moved out of my side room onto a 4 bed ward, which I'm struggling with. I feel like I've lost all privacy and don't even get to puke in private now (side room had an suite, bathroom is outside the ward now). Currently feeling calm and largely numb. It won't take much to tip me back into ugly tears, but hoping to maintain calm. My little boys coming to visit (with daddy) at 6. I can't wait to see him.