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.

@eallison88 thanks I'll give them a call tomorrow. The doctor said for some women it improves at week 14 and can stop over the course of a few days so was reluctant to change my meds at 12 weeks. I was a bit because that's not what I've read from others with HG. Last time mine started to improve from 16 weeks and was noticeably better at 20 weeks but it was a slooooooow improvement certainly not over a few days. This time it's worse so I'm expecting no improvement for the foreseeable. Also my appetite never properly recovered and was eating child sized portions until birth but at least the nausea improved and didn't return. I was also reluctant to change meds because I'm worried that it's built up in my system and a different anti-emetic may not work and I'll be back to square one. But I have read on here you can take cyclizine with another medication so I'll ask tomorrow.

@eallison88 I really feel for you. So good that your OH is such a good support. Nobody can truly understand the pain you are in. It's just dreadful. The nurses yesterday at gynae described it well, like having the hangover from hell that never goes away!
My only relief is that with my previous HG pregnancy I started to feel better from around 20 weeks. Not 100% by any means but able to return to work (although that was still bloody awful) it's all consuming. I suffered with dreadful reflux in the last 10 weeks and basically drank gaviscon from the bottle which made me vom at times. The very thought of gaviscon now makes me wince as it's more than likely I'll need that again 😩
I just feel so sad to not be able to enjoy pregnancy. Teeth brushing is also a problem for me, sane with my last pregnancy. Guaranteed to make me sick, my dentist would be horrified if he knew sometimes I just don't pluck up the courage to brush them as id rather try to keep that bit of toast I managed to eat down instead. Ugh.

Thanks for all the great tips from you all re. Fluids to try. I was a big fan of McDonald's full fat flat coke last time, though this time not so much. I'll give those other recommendations a try.

Please help! Does anyone know if I can take ondansetron it I’ve caught a stomach bug? Been to children’s A&E today with my son as GP sent us. He’s been vomiting etc. But they said viral ear infection. I forgot my tablets and when I got in I vomited everywhere. Still got stomach cramps now. I took one tablet and went to bed. But just worried in case it’s a bug and not ms and I’m prolonging bug by taking tablets? Thanks x

@plasticgirraffe - I had the same fight as was my worst at 11-12 weeks and that’s when I started steroids. When they worked they then tried to wean them as I was 14 and ‘better’ and then it all fell apart again. Hoping that 16 might be my sweet spot but for now at least with steroids I can function and have stopped losing weight.

@Eallison88 I know what you mean, 100%. All the wondering about what to try eating, if I sh9uld have a big drink because I'm thirsty or if I should warm the water up and do small sips because vomiting up chilled water is vile. If it's going to be bile or food, if food is going to get stuck on the way up, if DD is going to get upset about me vomiting again. If I can get to a bowl/sink in time, if I should pull over to vom or not. It's relentless, and so lonely.

Currently debating trying to get off the sofa. DD has been up since 6.30, so we came.down and watched tv, and I charged the kindle overnight so she's playing games with elmo while I catch up on mumsnet/Facebook.

Think I would continue taking meds @foreverblues - I forgot mine Tuesday evening and mega vommed Wednesday morning. Felt much better by lunch as meds kicked in post-vom, albeit slowly.

I just want to sleep. All the time. I'm tempted.to offer DD out to my parents, but I think my dad is out all day with the car and mum is tidying up after hosting a kids club sleepover. Wondering who else I can fob her.off on as DH has man flu and is being frustrating, as he also needs sleep to function and has been up nose blowing and.coughing all night. DD doesn't want to go out so can't even drag her to softplay or.anything, or even the park, as she won't get dressed yet.

Nausea is still constant again. I am reintroducing my 3x cyclzine, to go with my 2x odansetron. Shouldn't have come off the cyclzine! Hindsight and all that. 9+4 today and 37 weeks feels like a VERY long way off.

Bug hugs to those suffering xxxx

I’m so sorry guys but I just need a bit of hand holding. I’m so tired of feeling so awful and today has been my worst day yet and I’m not even 6 weeks. I have no idea how I’ll get through this and have, I hate to admit it, even been googling abortion procedures (I know nothing about them). I thought I could do this again but I forgot how bad it was. And now I can’t temember if it gets worse or if it just gets more frequent as time goes on.

I don’t know if it was so bad today because I was so anxious about seeing the doctor yesterday (was literally shaking waiting to see her worrying about what medication she’d prescribe) but it didn’t catch up with me yesterday) or just time passing and getting worse.

I’m sorry, I know you are all worse than me, but you understand how horrible it is.

Reastiepeace Much sympathy. I think when you feel very down at the beginning, it seems so unbearable that dark thoughts are inevitable. Most sufferers have them. Hugs. Sorry, I'm being stupid today - what meds are you on and can they add anything to make it more bearable?
Here's some from me.
Kisses4U Sorry - I missed that about your OH being unsympathetic. It is very hard with an OH who can't relate,and even those who like eallison's are really good, still find it hard to understand the depresson that goes with this.
Much sympathy for all those looking after LO's at half term, and toddlers, when all you want to do is collapse in bed.
foreverblues How is the cold sore? I hope it hasn't spread to the eye?
Plasticgiraffe I've added you. I hope things get better for you round that time again.
Mum2beeof3 I am so that the thread is helpful
Sassehmonsta I hope you don't get OH's cold. I am sure he doesn't feel as ill as you do!
Apologiesfor anyone rudely overlooked.
Due Dates
Two Drifters 28 November
Questabellatreetops 28 November
rotavixsucks 15 January
Olivecake 23 January
elpreggo27 20 March
Beanhunter 17 April
8DaysAWeek 1st May
tinyradish 1 May
Plasticgiraffe 10 May
SashaMonsta 28 May
eallison June

Thanks Lucinda. I’ve had max dose cyclizine since I found out I was pg and started on ondansetron 4mg yesterday 3 x day so have now had 4 doses I think. I’ve taken an ondansetron which I think has helped now (unless it has temporarily passed).

I'm prescribed omeprazole and PROCHLORPERAZINE which do wonders for me, prescribed later on with DC2 and not at all with DC1

I am eating normally wasn't even doing that before the HG

Take one first thing in the morning and two more during the day, one omeprazole in the morning.

Honestly feel so much better than any other pregnancy. I was literally throwing even water up with DC2 so this is a marked improvement.

I hope you all get the help you need. If one medication doesn't work keep pushing until you find something that does.

Good luck xx

Thanks SassahMonsta I have had 2 today and do feel much better (but by much better I still mean I can’t look at food 😢) OH has had the runs so I don’t even know if we’ve all had the same bug or mine is HG. Probably morning sickness though as it feels like it.

Lucinda, coldsore has dried up and shrunk. Hoping it disappears soon and doesn’t make a reappearance anywhere else at any point! They are dangerous for the tiny blemishes they are aren’t they! x

Forever it's ok to take ondansetron even with a tummy bug.

reastie, a lot of us have been there and some of us ... went through with taking the last resort. No judgement on this thread. All of us know what it's like.

The two things that helped me was to redefine this as the new normal and to literally exist in the moment. This moment and no longer; and this is the new normal for a time, so that you appreciate every moment that is not hell. Those few minutes in the day that you can eat; that short time when you can enjoy the fresh air from the windows.

ealli every sympathy. Every. HOld on in there.

oh god, NVP plus snot from allergies is hell!!

I never got on with ondansetron or cyclyzine might be worth switching meds if it's not helping?

Thank you so much for the comments. I only had cyclizine last time and was made to feel by my gp that I was lucky to have that. This time I only went into it knowing I had the full support of a lovely gp who would help with medication. I know cyclizine helps but it’s a bit like a plaster on a broken arm, it’s limited. I’m only just starting on the ondansetron too and I’m loathed to swap cyclizine to something else incase it makes it worse, the risk is too scary. I’m assuming no one has taken three anti emetics together?

Bumblebee you’re living my dream with such an improvement from previous pgs.

At least atm it’s still up and down and not all down. Dd wants to play Halloween games today and I so want to be able to and not let her down.

reastie I'm on 3 antiemetics: cyclizine, metochlopromide and ondansetron. Plus ranitidine twice daily. I don't think it's that unusual to have a combo of 3. You will get no judgement here, just understanding and sympathy. It's a club fact no one can understand fully unless they're part of it.

Yesterday was a better day. I ate a few bits, drank fairly well (for HG!). I did nothing. Worked put evenings are my worst time, so we're going to try the IM ondansetron at about 5pm, to see if it eases the evenings at all. I'm hopeful (touch wood) that the dairy aversion that happened last time seems not to be this time. With my son all dairy literally bounced, iykwim! But literally the only thing I want to drink is milk, so yesterday I threw caution to the wind and tried it and it was sooooo good and didn't seem to unsettle my stomach more than anything else. In fact less so than fanta, which was the only thing I could stomach with my son. Isn't it interesting how the things my body can tolerate seem to have changed so much with this pregnancy. If I can continue drinking mill and eating chocolate biscuits then this pregnancy will be infinitely better than the last one!!

forever family D&V bug on top of hyperemesis sounds hell, you poor thing. Hoping you're out the other side of that now!

Wishing a peaceful day to all

Eallison I think we are improving, thanks so much. My 3 year old asked to stay at my mother in laws for the first time ever last night so that was good with the clocks going back. He still isn’t home 😂 milk and chocolate biscuits sounds amazing by the way 😂 I am tolerating very little last few days, wondering whether to take some diarolyte, can we have that?? x

In need of some reassurance!
I've been experiencing waves of excruciating pain down my left lower abdomen. I'm literally in agony when it happens! Seems to come and go... I don't think it's womb pain but more bowel or bladder?! It's not like mensural cramps but has got me worried something might be wrong?!
I'm lying in bed now trying to ride through it and not panic too much. Has anyone else had this kind of pain? Is it to do with the medication? On my 3rd day of ondansetron and cyclizine, do these cause problems with the bowels? Hoping someone can put my mind at ease 😩

Oh no kisses. I’m on day 3 of ondansetron and I don’t know if it was coincidence but as soon as I started taking it I’ve had increased flatulance and constipation so it could be related. Get it checked if you’re worried.

Speaking of constipation, other than the usual things to help have many of you been prescribed anything? And if so anything other than laculose? I didn’t eat anything with sugar in pre pg which means I’ve set myself up with problems now as every time I eat anything sugary it makes me feel nauseous as I’m not used to it, which with this means I feel more like death than usual. Lactulose is a sugar. Or has anyone else found success with different methods of ondansetron to reduce constipation eg suppository? I’d take constipation easily over sickness but I’m now worrying constipation could cause nausea!

forever if you can manage diarolyte, go for it. I was encouraged by GP last time to drink it. But I simply couldn't stomach it - the smell of it made me heave so never managed yo drink any of it. I cn see that it would be valuable if possible. reastie alternatives could by fibrogel (or a similar name) or senakot- tho please check if suitablefor use in pregnancy.

kisses remind me, how far along are you? Cramping is normal in the first few months of pregnancy. It could easily be constipation, it's an incredibly common side effect of ondansetron. You'd be best getting lactulose and taking it fairly regularly to help keep you moving, as it were!

Thanks eallison will try diarolyte. Reastie im the same with lactulose it keeps making me feel sick. You can dilute it but if you’re like me that would take ages to drink. I’m going the gp tomorrow to ask for something else because I keep ending up in a mess x

I'm 10+4 today. It's eased off now I'm lying down. I've lots track of when I last opened bowels so maybe it's constipation pain? Is lactulose something I have to drink? Im not good with liquid, I had fibrogel in very early pregnancy (5-6weeks) due to constipation issues.
I'm so anxious this time around, as my last pregnancy I lost at 6 weeks earlier this summer. So with that hanging over me, the bleed I had at 6 weeks with this pregnancy and now the HG I'm a bit of a paranoid mess! I've had 2 scans (last one at 7+2) where we saw baby and heartbeat.

Kisses so sorry to hear about your loss last time round, sending lots of positive thoughts. I’ve had lots of cramping but some of it has definitely been constipation for me. I do believe it can be normal without the constipation though especially in the early days.

I have a question - again - for you all. How on earth am I going to drink enough fluids for my scan on Tuesday? x

I’ve been attempting to drink more today to help the constipation.

Forever I’m pretty certain if you haven’t drunk enough for the scan they can get around it with an internal scan?

@Foreverblues my scan at 7+2 was abdominal and my bladder wasn't very full at all. I'd just try your best and like @Reastiepeace says they can always do internal.

Yes I’ll just explain to them. Don’t want an internal scan if I can help it (I’m sure they’re not bad but I don’t do well with examinations, smears etc) x