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.

@tinyradish the thought of not feeling so useless and being able to function fills me with joy lol I’m layed in bed pretty much 24/7 just had some peanut butter on toast. And it’s gone down nice. Miss my cups of tea and coffee but they make me sick now 🤒 x

Hello, haven't managed to read back yet. Had a good day on Saturday and left my meds until lunchtime as I was well rested. Friday I was obviously feeling better as I made mince pies and saltdough with DD. Sunday I had overdone it, and had to drive to central London and back, and that wasn't such a good day but no vomiting or dry heaving beyond first thing/last thing.

Today, I am shattered. I am also starving, but back to almost normal me - I even did the dishwasher last night and this morning and put a washing load on! This morning DD and I also made pirate swords, shield, cutlass, telescope and map before 7:30am.

The nausea is fading, and I am feeling more human. I am so grateful for you ladies here keeping me going through the rough patches, knowing I am not alone. I may slowly drop off the thread as it continues (hopefully) to improve, and I hope it does for you too.

(I am 14+something now. I have given up counting days already)

sasseh that's lovely to read! Fingers crossed it continues to ease :)

I'm about to take myself off yo the GP to ask for an emergency referral to a consultant based at my local hospital to manage and monitor steroids etc. I've had to take one of the surgeries 'emergency' slots (basically you can either make an appointment with GP in 3 weeks or an emergency on the day) which means I had no choiceof GP, but luckily the emergency slos are being covered today by a doctor who has been really helpful so far so I'm hopeful he will continue to be so! Slightly worried about driving there etc, as nausea has cranked up again over the last couple of days.

That's fab news Sasseh

Good luck with the GP/referral eallison

I seem to be having a hormone surge. Feel ick.

I love that doc. Gave him a quick overview; "gosh, you've been having fun, haven't you!". He then said that we were completely in the realms of stuff he knows nothing about (in front of 2 student doctors), that he's gonna need to do a bit of reading. He said that he's gonna work out how to phrase the urgent referral letter so that they act on in immediately , and find out who to send it to. And told me that if I've not heard from him by Wednesday afternoon to ring and chase him. I've never warmed to this particular GP before, but in this pregnancy he has been so supportive, prepared to act, prepared to research stuff and also prepared to take my word for things. There should be awards for these sorts of things!!

Oh, and in a bid to deal with the constant vile taste on my mouth I spent 10quid on various sweets. So my poor teeth are screwed!

Eal well done that doctor! Especially admitting he didn’t know in front of students, some doctors can be unable to admit this.

Mauis hope it improves soon

I’ve barely moved from the sofa today, I wish time would hurry up!

Sasseh that's brilliant so happy for you and it's reassuring that for some people it does end!! I've been really missing doing stuff with my dd, it's her first nativity play tomorrow so I'm trying to conserve all my energy today and hope that I can make. Ellison it makes everything so much better when you've got understanding drs and I hope he gets it sorted ASAP for you x

Also, allie I rang today about my scan and typical of my area they hadn't even booked it in 🙄 so I've got an appointment for Monday, excited and dreading it at the same time x

GP just rang me to tell me he's arranged an appointment for me with a consultant at my local hospital next Monday morning. I bloody LOVE that man. So, i dont now what the apppintment will hold, or if they will be prepared to carry on with the steroid treatment throughout. But is a start on the way of successfully managing this, and I have drugs to last til a week on Friday, so there is room to fight if necessary. But I'm being positive. My starting point is that this person will know their stuff and will set in motion a sensible, proactive careplan, with the necessary and appropriate monitoring of me and all associated steroid risks, while ensuring that I continue with the meds that I need. Positive!

First time poster here, long time sufferer and wishing I'd found this thread weeks ago! I'm 15 +2 and been sick since week 6. Weeks 6-12 were definitely the worst due to the tiredness so even though I'm still vomiting 4-5 times a day and have constant nausea it doesn't seem quite as bad (or maybe I'm just used to it.)

Reading other people's similar experiences has made me feel so much better as I don't know anyone who's gone through this. I can sympathise with endless days in bed listening to audiobooks, all that excess saliva, that weird mouth taste and the absolute joy of finally experiencing a weekly poo!

I lost 7 pounds in the first month but since then I've sort of worked out that if I eat foods that digest quickly then at least some of it's left my stomach by the time I'm sick an hour later. So it's been yes to soup, stew, fish, vegetables and salad, no to fast food and stodgy carbs like pizza, pasta and noodles.

And eallison I've eaten more Haribo in the last 2 months than in the rest of my life put together. I feel all the more guilty that they have to pass my teeth twice.

@sassehmonsta the way youre coming around gives me so much hope. Been in bed all day. Only been sick the once so far but the constang nausea is really getting to me today.

@eallison I’m so pleased to hear you are making progress with your medications. Doctors/ family/ friends need to realize that being considerate and trying to understand can make a huge difference to how you feel in your self.

I’m strughling with my sister understanding. I’ve lied to her yesterday and said I was back to work today. I’m sick of her comments like man up, you will be fine, eat something, don’t be so dramatic. It hurts but mostly it pisses me off. We are close and I love her but she always thinks she knows best.

@jamjarjem glad you rang them! Brilliant news about your scan. Something to look forward to through this debilitating illness. Only a week then and you get to see your baby eeek xx

Omfg. I've felt even worse today and cried down the phone to DH for about an hour so he insisted I rang the doctor.

They've just rang me back (fucking waking me up in the process) and said "it'll go at 12 weeks so you haven't got long left. Try ginger biscuits and avoiding strong smells such as wet dogs (?!) and ring back if it gets worse"

I feel so fucking deflated :(

BirthdayKake that is unacceptable. Ring them back and demand an appointment.

birthdaykake thatvis utterly appalling nd completely unacceptable. Please ring the surgery and insist on a urgent appointment, with a different GP if possible. It is unfair of them to promise relief at 13 weeks, and unsafe to refuse to help you. Take a print out of the guidelines linked in the first post.

allie you sister is being crap, I'm sorry. I understand why you've lied to her, but in the long run I'm not sure it'll help. Perhaps a text/email explaining that you are really struggling and need her love and support. Explain that you know she is trying to help with the "man up" etc stuff , but actually it makes everything harder. Explain that you need her yo either change her approach and listen and accept what you're saying, or you need her to back off and leave you alone for a bit whilst you manage this the nearly can. I was in a very similar situation with one of my SILs. Initially for family harmony I just avoided her, but a coyplebof weeks ago we had a really long heart to heart and I explained how what she was saying made me feel, she explained where she was coming from. And there have been no "mind over matter" etc comments since. We seem to have agreed in an unspoken way that unless I bring up how I feel, it's not talked about.

ruddy welcome and congrats. Settle down, we're all here to loan, vent and offer whatever support and understanding we can. Are you on any meds to help with the nausea?

I've just made a apt to see my dentist next week. Gonna ask for advice on how best I can try to protect my teeth in the circumstances.

ruddyturnstoneWelcome. Sorry that you are still suffering. I hope it eases soon. What meds have they put you on? It is interesting that you can eat fish and salad. So many sufferers can only eat things like crisps and drink sweet drinks. Are you on Metoclopramide, as that makes the stomach work quickly? It sounds as if my usual spiel about ice lollies and the juice of tinned fruit and cuppa soup is irrelevant in your case, anyway!
BirthdayKake That is terrible. I can't believe such bad advice. Any elementary textbook would tell them that Hyperemesis generally lasts longer than 12 weeks(so does ordinary MS, as often as not,for goodness sake) and as for ginger biscuits... I so agree with eallison but if you can't get an appointment with another doctor, do ring Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 7638 2020. They will have to ring you back, but they will and will give good advice about getting effective meds.
eallison Great news about that doctor. A really great attitude, and unassuming.
SassehMonsta I am so glad you are a lot better, and tinyradish too.
MauisLeftNipple Sorry about hormonal surge. I hope it eases soon.
SeaEagleFeather Cross posted. Maybe that is the study, and I wonder the sufferer thought it was new.It is strange the way these rumours start up.
Allie I so symapthise about missing tea - although I didn't suffer for long at all compared to most people and after fourteen weeks just had very bad residual heartburn.

Forgot to add, Jamjarjem All luck for the nativity play. Reastie Symppathies about being stuck on a sofa. It's dismal having to emulate an ailing Victorian genteel woman...
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

The latest addition to my pregnancy joy... Pelvic girdle pain. Had it with my son from about 22 weeks. I'm not even out of first trimester and I'm crying in my bed with the pain. Couldn't sleep last night due to insomnia and agony. Just got up with son to sort breakfast etc, which has kicked it up a whole new level and now my knees are killing me too. Took paracetamol about 15 mins and can feel that it's eased slightly. The internet tells me I just need to rest I don't actually think it's physically possible for me to rest more....

sasseh lovely to hear you're feeling a bit better. Sorry to hear that it's managed to get even -worse- ealli :(

Hi all,

Last night I hit a new low. Symptoms ramped up last night and I was in bed uncontrollably shaking and wishing I was dead (literally.i know that sounds terrible and melodramatic but I felt so bad and could see no escape from this). Today isn’t a great day but I’m so scared of tonight being a repeat again. I’d do anything to be able to sleep through the next month or so. I hope I’ve hit rock bottom as if there’s much more of last night to be repeated I’m going to lose myself completely. Sorry, you don’t want to hear me moan but I just can’t cope with this any more, I’m 11 weeks and have had this since before af was due.

Eal that sounds nasty. I had spd last time and me recommended a specific brand of support belt to wear to help, is there anything like that for pgp?

Kake that’s terrible, please see another gp or request a referral.

reastie sounds like we had similar joy filled nights...! This too shall pass. I had it last time and a chiropractor really helped, so I'll contact her again. It's just all these extra costs adding up, just to try and keep me vaguely functional and comfortable (already paying for fortnightly counselling which is bloody brilliant and essential, and considering hypnosis for the puking). And all the local preggo yoga/Pilates classes are in the evenings, which is my trickiest time! I know that if I wasn't ill I'd moan if all the classes were during the working day, but...!! If it helps, im only a week or so further down the line that you, and I definitely think we are in the worst bit. Whilst I felt ill my entire pregnancy last time, it was never as bad as the first few months. We can do this!!

Eal I don’t know if I can take a day more like last night let alone a week let alone longer. I’m sorry, I’m just a sobbing mess today.

I did a meditation earlier which did help (apart from a very loud knocking delivery man in the middle) from you tube. But it helped the anxiety rather than the actual nausea.

Btw eal have you been referred to mh dept over pg re free counselking? My mw is referring me and said there’s a person who specialises in seeing pg women. She seemed to think it’d really help my mental state and I’m looking forward to seeing her (once I’m more functioning and able to get there).

reastie anything that helps anything is a win with this shite. We can do this.

My counsellor is private. I saw her last year for several months about other things. At the time I decided that I wasn't ready to discuss my pregnancy but knew I'd need to. Had planned to do so before getting pregnant again, but hey ho! It's well worth the cost. I've really clicked with this woman and I wouldn't want to speak to someone else, even if they were more specialised. I've had a few counsellors over the years but nothing worked like this woman.