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 I know it would be best way to deal with it but she still wouldn’t listen.. I hate having to lie but I see her once every couple of weeks at the moment so going to ovoid talking about how I feel. Which I’m going to struggle with lol Thankyou for your reply though. It feels so much better knowing I’m not on my own.

Awww you really are in the wars at the minute. Resting so much is making me restless. And I’m sure it is you.. With your sleep.. your not on your own though you have us to talk to. So take some comfort in that. I hope it gets better for you

@lucindae my whole morning routine is completely shattered without my cup of tea. It’s now a glass of water .. ooo yummy lol

@birthdaykake I would ring them again and say you will be attending a/e tonight if you don’t get sorted. They will soon see you. On top of that. You need to say. How it is affecting your daily life. I fact I’d just vomit on the doctor lol How you feeling today?

@reastie I’m so sorry this happening to you.. night time is the worst for me too as I lay awake so bloated and nauseous it makes me pee every 3 seconds and rush to the toilet to vomit. Maybe try having a nice bubble bath. As there isn’t much we can do 😫 in regards to the mental health midwife. They are a community team so possibly they could visit you at home? It’s impractical for you to be venturing out when your that I’ll.

reastie, I remember well that feeling. it helped me to focus just on the here and now, not to think even an hour or half ahead. It -will- slowly get better, even if it seems a lifetime away right now. First there will be slightly less dreadful days and then now and then a nearly normal day. There will be good days and bad but overall the line is up.

Just hold on in there, sweetie. One minute at a time.

Thank you for the comments. Seaeagle that’s exactly how I’m having to do it atm, moment by moment. Thing is, with dd I got more better moments but when it was bad it was worse than it ever was. Today atm it’s back to its regular usual (ie bad) but I’m petrified of tonight. Usually I get worse when I’m due more drugs and afternoon/evening but it usually wears off by bedtime but last night it peaked when I was trying to sleep.

@reastie and @ellison
You are def in the eye of the storm. Although I’m def still suffering at 21 weeks I can be vertical and manage school runs and bits of work. Still not keeping food down but managing fluids ok so at least no dehydrated. And stopped losing weight (although not gaining).
Re mental health help - I’ve been told there’s nothing and I should just get on with it. Nice hey?

beanhunter the mental health side of HG is so, so ignored. I think it's something I'm gonna campaign for and make a lot of noise with when I'm over this pregnancy and have the strength to do so.

I’ve just had another unsuccessful trip at the doctors even with my mum there. I just don’t understand why they won’t diagnose HG? She even started telling me that Hyperemesis is sickness and gravidarum is pregnancy related And it’s a Latin term??! When I spoke about every symptom I’ve had and how I’m struggling it was just “I can give you a fit note for 2 weeks” and told to contact my midwife who can arrange a scan to see if the sickness and weight loss has affected the baby! I only had my 20 week scan last week & baby was fine I just had a low lying placenta. Whenever I ring my midwife she tells me to ring the doctor which by the time I’ve spoken to my midwife I’ve missed that bang on 8.30am slot to call and get an appointment with a doctor

I’ve been sick twice today, barely ate and feel stupidly naeseous. I even said it was such effort to get in today & she said it’s normal for women to still feel and be sick at this stage, hers disappeared at 18 weeks - well I’m 21 weeks now

One small plus is that they’ve upped my meds and by that I mean it still says twice a day but take three a day and see how I feel. She didn’t even know Ondansetron could be taken more and researched it (at least she did research I guess and not tell me you can’t) my blood pressure was low & was dehydrated today. I’ve barely slept in fact I must fall asleep about 2am and be wide awake by 6.30am. I’ve just had enough of saying the same thing and not getting anywhere I feel so deflated.

Anya Oh dear. You don't want an elementary Latin lesson! I wonder why she didn't consider a combination of meds, ie, Cyclizine and Ondansetron? Did she write a prescription for an anti acid, as that can help so much? How are the liquids staying down? Have you got kesostix just in case you get dehydrated (I know that they aren't the fairest measure of it, but A and E's do take them seriously).
Reastie Eleven weeks can be an all time low for sufferers, as beanhunter says. Things will almost certainly get a lot better. A counsellor might be very helpful.
Allie Dismal. Can you drink Elderflower Water or - as I think someone on here suggested - Elderflower coridal and tonic water?
eallison That sounds awful. A chiropractor will almost certainly really help.

Hi all sorry been playing catch up as I was in hospital over the wkd and just not had the energy to even look at my phone.
Now I am on Ondansetron and Prochlorperazine- it has def reduced the nausea although I get waves and I feel like I might vomit but haven’t yet so that is great. Has anyone had that combo before? I find I am getting awful stomach cramps tho so I hope all is ok. The lovely consultant who assessed me in hospital did an impromptu scan so got to see baby at 8 weeks! Was amazing.
Eal & Reastie- sorry to hear you are both really having such a rough ride. I hate HG. It is physically and mentally destroying. How many weeks are you both?
X

kleino how lovely that you got an unexpected peek at baby! I'm just coming to the endbof first trimester. The pain in my knees/thighs/groin has eased a little now, so that's a bonus.

It's all so flipping draining and exhausting, isn't it!

I was so anxious last night would be a repeat of the terror of the night before but luckily it was my usual bad as opposed to terrible bad. Slept a bit better, only woke up about 4 times but feeling just as tired as last night today, think I might need a nap today!

Klein I’m on that combo, well, I’m on cyclizine and ondansetron but I have prochlorperazine to take as and when on top and most of the time it makes a difference when I do. The ondansetron is really good stuff. I’m 11 weeks now.

Eal, I was going to ask do you take other meds with steroids or just the steroids?

Anyat how annoying of your doctor.

Bean that’s so frustrating there’s no mental help for you, it’s just not realised how mentally difficult this is. I agree eal, there should be more awareness.

I'm also taking 8mg ondansetron 3 x daily plus cyclizine 50mg 3 x daily. And 20mg omeprazole 2 x daily and 150mg ranitidine x 2 daily

Had a really bad evening yesterday, felt incredibly sick and was very burpy with most burps have a small puke in my mouth follow through (glamourous!). Thus has continued into this morning, which is very upsetting. I did accidentally eat butter last night (chicken Kievs had been a safe food until a few weeks ago and hubby and I total autopiloted and didn't think about the garlic butter til I'd eaten it) So I'm hoping it's down to that and when the butter clears my system completely I'll be alright again. I'm annoyed with myself cos in obsessively checking ingredients of everything but just didn't think to check these cos they'd been alright. Extra daft cos I don't even need to check the ingredients to know they have garlic butter in!!

Hoping for a more settled day today for everyone

Eurgh. Pain in legs/knee/thighs/pelvis and again today. And feel really sick, like I haven't since starting on the steroids. It actually feels like the sick is sitting waiting at the back of my throat. Every burp still has a bit of follow through. Its incredibly unpleasant and very depressing. Really hoping this isn't a sign of the steroids stopping being enough to manage things.

Had to ring my neighbour to get me paracetamol cos I couldn't move cos of crippling knee pain. That was joyous. Paracetamol has kicked in now so am able to move. Pregnancy is shite

I'm also on a combo of Cyclizine, Ondanestron and Prochlorperazine. It has worked well for me and for the last week I haven't always needed the prochlorperazine 3 times a day which is a good sign (I'm 16 weeks now)

Eall I struggle with my pelvis and each pregnancy it has been earlier. LaSt time I could feel it on and off bothering me from around 11 weeks. This time it was about 8 weeks. Does heat help? I find a hot water bottle helps mine especially when rest is non existent with the little one. Also I would recommend getting a referral with the physio as last time they had changed the type of belt they use and I found it was more supportive. Although I always find it a toss up between pelvis agony and the belt pressing in on my tummy making me sick. The joys!

Oh and Reastie I am glad last night wasn't as bad even if far from ideal. Hang in there you are definitely in the worst bit and the mental effect is just as bad - I spent weeks 8-13 mostly in tears!

I've got midwife apt on Friday, I'll ask her to refer for physio.

So yesterday was fun. Put my back out while dry heaving. Positive: I wasn't sick, negative: I now can not move!! Been laid up ever since resting my back and thankfully haven't had to be sick yet - that is going to be painful!!

Oh @Reastie that sounds so awful. Can you get ahead of it and head to bed before it gets that bad? My evenings were hell from 9-12 weeks too I made sure I took my drugs on time and went to bed as soon as it started to worsen. We are here with you! It is awful! Try to sleep through it - I actually listened to audiobooks to try to occupy the my last remaining thread of sanity. Hopefully it doesn't come back. Also a snack by your bed so you can eat after a few hours of being up there. Something that your tummy likes.

Huge hug Anya it's awful to have to fight for your care when you are so ill. It is wrong of her to disregard your symptoms so though. I would have felt so disheartened and frustrated. Must have felt like talking to a brick wall.

Eal I completely agree! With daughter everything improved and I was off meds by 16/17 weeks I am holding onto that for this pregnancy. If this lasts even a day longer I don't know what I will do as the end feels so close!! It's the only thing which has got me through. Hats off to all of you who have taken this awful illness through to 40 weeks. You are super human!

Glad you had a better night Reastie

I'm a fellow PGP sufferer eallison. I first buggered my right sacroiliac joint training for the 2007 London marathon. With physio and lots of core exercises it came right by the end of that year. Skip ahead to my first pregnancy in 2013 and I had pain from the first trimester, and in each pregnancy ever since. It feels like the right side of my pelvis is going to fall away from my sacrum. Sometimes I get sciatic pain as well, sometimes the pelvic pain is on both sides. Last pregnancy I had symphysis pubis dysfunction as well. The problems persisted until my youngest was a year old, and I now realise carrying him in a sling exacerbated them. Some mornings I'd get out of bed and be unable to weight-bear on my right leg. I am 10+5 and already the pain has started in the posterior pelvis. I am hoping that as I am now a SAHM and no longer working as a HCP, so no patient handling, it won't be as bad as previously. MW is happy to refer me to physio at any point. I think I will request it after my scan and Harmony results are back.

Ks I hope your back is ok after some rest.

Well, I had a real dip over the weekend, back to feeling really ill after I thought things were improving. Then yesterday morning I felt largely ok, but tired and nauseous again in the afternoon. Today I've felt ok, and even managed to take the kids to playgroup. Oh, and I've also literally spent TWO AND A HALF HOURS in the bathroom trying to have a poo (in 3 separate shifts). Oh. My. God. I've managed to shift some but my tummy is still very bloated and grumbly. Damn you, you quality-of-life giving ondansetron!

mauis at risk of becoming overly personal.... did you use your hands to help at all? I find if I apply gentle but firm pressure around the outside of a my anus it helps things move along. Also seems to result in less bleeding from small tears. So, I literally just feel around the outside of my anus with a finger til I can feel the malteaser like balls of poop then gently push them towards the opening with my finger whilst also pushing (But not straining cos I don't want piles!). I apologise for being quite so graphic, but discovering this made such a difference to me having a poo I feel like I should share...

Sorry about your back ksjourney and yay for no puking!!
My day has got better as it's go be on. Less nauseous, less pain. So, silver linings!

eallison I tried that the other day but it didn't help - I'd seen a nursing colleague basically do that with a patient. I did pull some bits off with toilet paper though Today the stool was stuck higher up. I tried to massage down from inside my vagina but it wouldn't budge. It's like my colon is almost paralysed and I only have gravity to help move really dense stool. The only thing that moved it along was pacing up and down, and when I got a strong urge I did strain a bit to help it and it felt like my entire colon contracted and I was able to expel it. Only a little bit of blood...

(I am a former hospital-based healthcare professional - nothing is TMI!)

I've made a curry for dinner and it is packed with lentils, beans and veg, so am hoping I can shift the rest.

Kleino83 Sorry to hear you were admitted. I do hope that combination helps. Did they give you a laxative to pre-empt the constipation that so often goes with Ondansetron? Happy news news about the scan.
Reastie I am so glad you had a better night.
eallison That sounds grim about regurgitated bile. I am glad you will be referred to a physiotherapist. It sounds very paintful. Never apologise for being graphic on here. Very useful advice!
KSjourney Oh no, about putting your back out dry heaving. Can you see a physio too?
Mamabear I am glad that combination helps.
MauisLeftNipple That sounds dreadful. Sorry, do remind me; what laxative have they put you on?
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

LucindaE I'm taking lactulose, 30ml twice a day (but am going to increase it). My bowels are totally resistant to other types of laxative!

Oh except once when I was living at a summer camp in the US and eating a lot of bowel blocking biscuits I did take a lovely chocolate laxative that worked+++++ after 2 squares. Oh lordy. Several of us took it. Two of the girls were caught short

I'm back at the doctors again, waiting in a queue for an appointment. My nice Dr isn't in as far as I know today, and I just need more ondansetron - nasty Dr won't prescribe it apparently. Wish me luck. I have 3 tablets left.

sasseh just refuse to leave his room without a prescription. I'd explain that without a prescription you are going to end up unable to keep food or drink down. Which will, eventually, lead to severely dehydrated you. Then you'll have to go to hospital for rehydration. Which will cost a hell of a lot more for the NHS then him providing you with appropriate, evidence based care at this stage. Then stage a sit in til you get what you need