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.

Great advice for SassehMonsta from eallison SeaEagleFeather and beanhunter. So true about how hard it is to fight your corner when sick and weakened. Unfortunately, dr's do seem to listen to an OH if he can be there, more. Sounds like 1962, but there we are.

sassah I'm echoing seaeagles words about the cyclizine; it's about having a constant dose in your system. Ondansetron is more reactive than cyclizine, more immediate. But cyclizine does work alongside ondansetron and it's considered the safest option in pregnancy.

I shall continue taking it then - though, I haven't any since last Friday so maybe I shall see how we go :) Didn't know it takes time to build up!

Hi guys, haven’t posted in a while. Hope everyone is doing well. The constipation, which I think is from the Ondansetron, has been quite obscene this week. I went to the locum gp yesterday and he said I can up the lactulose from 10ml to 15ml twice a day. But it needs that magic stuff to make it work. Water. And I’m just not doing great with water. I’m trying but I’ll be honest when I say I find 7up free and coke easier to take. Terrible I know. Anyone been through this and any suggestions? I have had bowel movements twice in last 8 days but let’s just say they haven’t been great and have needed a lot of effort. I’m quite scared to be honest! As I know from my son having surgery on his urethra that constipation is a pre cursor for UTI 😢 probably also slightly my own fault i have been living off lots of dry foods but what can we do if the fibrous stuff makes us bawk?

On an unrelated note, I suffer with cold sores in and around my eye. I’ve got one under my eye so gp sent me off to our local hospital yesterday (I’m so lucky as we have an eye A&E) anyway at the moment it’s not in my eye so no treatment not even a cream. But I’m to go back if does go in the eye. So scared of it spreading. They really didn’t seem to want to prescribe the aciclovir. But you can’t leave coldsores in the eye untreated.

Anyone had this in pregnancy before? I didn’t have an outbreak when pregnant last time x

Oh just to add, GP told me to start wearing myself off the ondansetron, but I explained while I’m not vomiting anymore the unrelenting nausea is a nightmare when I’m off them. But now he thinks I’m feeling sick with the constipation and possible anaemia. I really don’t enjoy pregnancy! Think family are starting to lose patience with me. Everyone seems to think some magic switch goes at 12 weeks. I meet with Work next week as well, just a welfare meeting as I’ve been off so long, but can’t help feel it just helps them build the pressure to go back xx

@foreverblues - how much are you eating? Because twice in 8 days may well be fine.
I got into a right mess and lactulose didn’t help. I ended up not going for 2.5 weeks and in complete agony and having to have an enema. I’m now managing things better on a combination of movicol and fybogel but tbh the thing that has made my bowels start working again is that I’m eating so there’s actually something to go if that makes sense?

Thanks bean. I know I’m not eating enough. I know twice in 8 days is not bad (tmi but I had a huge one ten days ago too) but my concern is the last 2 have just been pellety and I feel like I need to go but nothing’s happening and I’m in pain. Was the enema in hospital? Hope I don’t have to go in but think it’s back to the GP tomorrow at the least for me x

Hi guys I've not been on for a couple of weeks just been feeling dreadful and down in the dumps. I'm now 29 weeks and I'm just getting worse again. Has anyone else found the sickness got worse again. I've mainly been feeling sick 24/7 last 10 weeks but now I'm sick everyday again.
We had a child free Sunday and went to the cinema try to have something to look forward to. Well we pulled over several times on way to cinema on side of road so I could hang out the car and throw up! Then spent the whole film taking deep breaths trying not to get sick.

I'm so fed up at the moment. It's currently half term and I have no energy to do anything with the kids I feel like such a terrible mum. House works getting behind.
I just feel so sick I can hardly move from one room to another. 10 more weeks of this I just don't know how to cope.

Kel55 oh no, so sorry to hear you’ve gotten worse again. Honestly your message has scared me a little as I’m 27 weeks tomorrow and feeling the nausea ramping back up the last few days but hoping it’s just a blip. I think the main thing you can do is rest up and look after yourself - forget housework or anything strenuous right now, just rest and try to do what you can to get through these next ten weeks. Are you still taking medication? Maybe there’s a different combination that would help. Definitely see the doctor and make sure you get all the help you can.

Yes was in hospital that I had the enema after multiple supposetries there had failed. Was grim but I was in serious pain before hand so it was also a relief.

Bean, that does sound awful. Seems I’m queen of TMI but ... I’ve just had a not too pleasant experience involving leakage and then huge stool. So there was something there. I wondered why I couldn’t sit down for hours today 😂 How glamorous is pregnancy? I’m gonna go the GP tomorrow because that was horrific x

Kel sorry to hear you feel so rubbish, no advice but hope you feel better soon x

Hi I was on this thread over 7 years ago so you probably won’t remember me when pregnant with DS2...I’m finally starting to think about a 3rd baby but wanted to ask how things have changed? I spent 10 weeks in hospital last time and didn’t have any medical help until 20 weeks and was basically told to get on with it. Are there any drugs that help? I had various different ones last time and none helped, if I spoke to a doctor would I be able to access medication earlier? I had 1 pregnancy that was fine no sickness at all with my first but DS2 literally nearly killed me my blood pressure was so low at one point a helpful midwife told me I should be dead. Before starting to try and conceive I really want to know what is available for me. I’m feeling very sorry for all the women currently suffering x

Oh the joys of pregnancy. Sorry for all the struggles, think we need all round!

Meanwhile I am slightly reassured to be quite nauseous and retching this morning - can't believe I have got to a point where I could even say that. DH booked a private scan for tonight as he wants to check if baby is ok so hoping all is well.

@LucindaE thanks for the welcome; I have tried cyclizine/stemetil/metoclopramide/promethazine and none work, my GP doesnt want to prescribe ondansetron :( it is my first so the usual advice is always appreciated!

katystar yes there are meds that help. The most successful med in providing at least some relief for most women in ondansetron. Unfortunately some doctors are reluctant to prescribe it (I've been fortunate with both my pregnancies that I've been prescribed it early). In terms of pre-emptive meds, I spoke to my GP before we started trying And talk to her about the guidance that pre-emptive antiemetics is good. She was reluctant to prescribe pre-emptive as it took nearly 2 years to conceive last time and she didn't want me taking the meds for 2 years, however she gave me a prescription for cyclizine to start taking as soon as I had a positive step. If you Google hyperemesis care guidelines onenlf the results should bring up a pdf with all sorts of info about what meds are available, and the pre-emptive meds bit including studies. You may find it useful when speaking to GP. I've found that with GPs and hyperemesis, the sufferer is often the expert in the room, and having official guidelines backing up what you say is very helpful.

Thanks olive cake. I hope yours doesn't come back. It's just so miserable feeling like this. I'm really trying to stay positive so I don't get depressed or something but I'm so fed up.
I had HG with my dd but it had eased off a lot by now. So I wasn't expecting to still feel so ill going in to my 30th week!!
My poor family all I do is moan lol. They must be so fed up with me.
I'm on ondanestron and metrocloprimde plus ranitidine. I went to Drs a couple of wks ago wen he gave me the ranitidine and he said there's not much else they can do for me as I've tried all the meds they would normally give.
X

That’s really helpful I had cyclizine and ondastran last time and neither worked but I only started them after 24 weeks and then could only have 1 at a time so started with cyclizine and then moved in to ondastran although I’m sure I had something in the middle, I had to have 1 thing injected. Might also try and get my medical notes from the pregnancy as well to back me up. Will print the guidelines and go and see the gp before I start trying. It was hard enough the first time with a preschooler let alone now days with a year 7 and year 3 child. I really want another baby but keeping thinking about how bad things got. Anyone currently suffering I found sparkling water was the only thing I could keep down. Xx

katy the pregnancy sickness support line has a list of HG-friendly docs in each area. It might be worth ringing them and finding if there's one in your area.

I get the general impression over even the last 5 years that the meds situation has improved a lot. Some doctors are still dinosaurs but people on this thread seem generally to have less trouble ... usually. Societal awareness is still pretty low though.

gl!!

sea thank you so much I’ve just rang them and they are going to send me information on local doctors and guidelines for treatment! I’ve also got the forms for getting hold of my mat notes from last time. Glad suffers are getting better treatment and more help is available, not sure I could face a NG tube again, plus they also offer rapid rehydration day care which would be amazing as 10 weeks in hospital on and off was not fun!

I'm 21 weeks now and have had HG since week 6. I've had hospital admissions for treatment of the HG. Since being prescribed ondansetron & cyclizine it has been more manageable. Vomiting is defiantly less frequent but still have the nausea. I've been asking Gp about reducing meds but have been advised to continue taking it until I'm able to eat properly.

It's taken time to figure out which foods I can tolerate (generally speaking bread, mash potato, plain pasta). Until a few weeks ago I could only keep milk/milkshakes down (have now branches out to cordial). I'm prescribed fortisip & scandishake drinks to try curb weight loss from dietician.

At 12 weeks scan picked up a massive ovarian cyst. I had surgery 4 weeks ago to have that removed.

It's been such a rough time but amazingly baby is fine. 

Just popping on to suggest a drink in case anyone is struggling to find anything they can keep down; elderflower cordial made up with tonic water. With as much ice as you can fit in the glass! The bitterness of the tonic water seems to make it work

Welcome to Priscilla and welcome back to Katystar. Seven years ago - that's amazing. I so agree about milkshakes and fizzy water. elpreggo asked for my usual spiel, and some of the suggestions on drinks etc people have found useful on this thread might be useful for Priscilla too. Flat full sugar coke, ice lollies, ice cubes, the juice of tinned fruit, fizzy water, sips of chocolate milkshake (maybesoya), and eallsion's Elderflower cordial and tonic water or Elderflower water, soda water, Iron Brul, Lucoazade, fizzy orange, lemonade, Robinson's fruit drinks, orange squash and orange juice if not too acid. For foods - of a sort - nibbles of crisps and chips, tinned fruit, cheap ice cream, cuppa soup, Scotch pancakes, baked potatoes and slices of melon and mango. Have you got kesostix as while they are not the best measure of dehydration, hospitals take the measurements seriously (usually)? A good anti acid like Ranitidne or Omprazole can make all the difference.
Katystar You have had great advice already about pre-emptive meds from the first positive test. Ondansetron costs less now, so dr's are less reluctant to prescribe it. I am sorry you were treated so insensititively last time for so long. Children no longer toddlers can at least understand that you are ill and it won't last forever and entretain themselves far better.
Foreverblues Did the GP prescribe anything useful for the constipation? Never worry about tmi on here. The family are silly insisting on that magic 12 weeks date -many women with normal MS suffer up to 14 or even 16 weeks. Most people find it improves at some point between 14 and 21 weeks with Hypermesis. Even the unlucky ones who suffer throughout don't feel as bad later on as they did in the early days.
Kel and Olivecake. Unluckily, some do feel ill again, though its very unusual to be as ill as you were early on. Much sympathy. It might be a hormonal surge for Olivecake. Kel that cinema trip sounds awful, poor you. Dont feel guilty; you will be your old self again and there will be lots of family trips in the future. Remember children a few decades ago didn't go on many intersting trips, but they grew up quite unscarred by that!
Mambear I am glad the nausea was reassuirng!
beanhunterThat two and a half weeks without moving your bowles sounds like torment. I don't know why dr's don't prescribe laxatives straight away with Ondansetron. It's odd; it would save so much suffering.
Great advice from eallison SeaEagleFeather and everyone.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

That was on laxatives Lucinda!
So the latest steroid wean has kicked me in the butt and my nausea is definitely back. Not vomited yet but appetite definitely decreased again and much more tired (think steroids were giving me both of those). Meant to wean again today but have decided to sit tight and bumped up my antiemetics again.

Thanks so much will give those a go!

On a separate note, I've been told I need to have a glucose tolerance test. They have said I can't take the meds on he morning before and can't eat/drink anything from night before. I'm frightened to go without the meds and I know that not eating anything makes the nausea worse. Has anyone had this done?

I'm thinking I'll call them again tomorrow and talk it through. I've visions of not taking meds night before/morning of, 30 mins drive to the hospital (in rush hour), being made to drink a sugary drink, then wait for a few hrs until they do another blood test. Can't imagine how it will go well....