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.

sasseh sweet, one day at a time. Half a day at a time, even.

Well, with all my water drinking, I got ketones down to 2+ by 6am, and then trace by 8:30am this morning. My headache is still there and nothings going well. I can't wait to finish work at 1pm, even if I then have to traipse to the hospital to collect my metaformin. :(

sasseh try to eat a little as well, or at least drink something sugary - your body needs food as well as liquid to deal with ketones. Give yourself as much rest over the next few days as you can and you should find things settle again.

meg nausea can be as, if not more so, debilitating as puking. There are other meds that can be added/swapped to. As reastie said, meds aren't a miracle cure, however most women find a combination that works for them. We told family was expecting at only 4/5weeks this time; the sickness had started and we knew we were going to need help with our son (i work 3 days a week, and until next week, when he's entitled to the 30 hours, all.childcare has been with family or me, so we knew we were going to need more from them on the front). Also, everyone at work guessed was pregnant by about 7 weeks as I was off work for a week, hubby was in and out (first hospital stay that weel) and obviously everyone remembered that last time I went missing for 7 weeks I came back with a bump. For a while I felt really angry and upset that yet again we'd had to "come out" earlier than we wanted to, and that people were going to have worked it out before we could tell them. But it is what it is, and I've made my peace with that now. I'll still have control of broth announcement and name!!

Sasseh sorry you're having such a rough time, especially over your birthday! I really really hope you see an improvement asap!

I need to learn not to post here when I think things are getting better, I clearly jinx it. Was awake most of the night with nausea and congestion, by this morning my throat was swollen and sore and I'd thrown up 3 times before I had to leave for the doctors. Yay! 😔

Back from the Dr and he reluctantly had prescribed me Buccastem along side the cyclizine. So fingers crossed I see some improvement.
He told me I need to psychologically prepare for the fact I'm going to feel this way for some weeks yet and I need to accept it.

Which did make me want to cry but I think he is right. Did feel slightly annoyed when he suggested I try ginger and acupressure bands.
Of course I have exhausted all these alternative remedies a long time ago and unless it's magic ginger I don't think it's going to do a lot with nausea this bad.

I will see how I get on with this combo of meds.

Meg tell your gp to fuck off!
What an arsehole. You would hardly be there asking for meds if any of that worked. Sickness bands did jack all for me and ginger gave me heartburn.

Has anyone tried arrowroot biscuits? I kind of rolled my eyes when someone mentioned biscuits but googled them and they do look like a neutral snack at least. Not got them in my local shop but might ask my bf to pick some up.

You don't have to feel like this. There are still more drug options that you can explore. Yes, there is a possibility that you will be one of the unlucky ones for whom the drugs don't completely eliminate puking/nausea. But the vast majority really do benefit from the right meds.

So sad that so many of us are still feeling this bad it's so unfair not being able to enjoy the pregnancy. I hope you all feel better soon

I have a similar experience - I had some good days (being able to eat a bit and even go out) and I was so excited that cyclizine seemed to work. But a few days ago I started feeling really crap again, throwing up every morning - sometimes waking up at 5am to spend hours in and out of the toilet, it's exhausting. The only good thing is that I mostly throw up on an empty stomach now - feels horrible but at least no food gets wasted and later in the day I am able to eat something which generally helps me feel a bit better.

I guess I will have to speak to my GP again and see if I can switch meds. I also can't decide if it's better for me to rest and stay in bed (sometimes it feels like it makes me worse if I don't do anything) or try and have some activity (which seems better in the short run but leaves me more exhausted the next day and my increased activity over Christmas may be why I feel worse now).

And yeah, the "it will be over by week 12" - I'm week 11 exactly today and so far it doesn't seem like it's going anywhere

The most frustrating thing about this mythical 12week complete recovery is that even in normal morning sickness, it's not uncommon For it not to settle til 14/15weeeks!

Evu I find it really hard to know what to do for the best with activity too. Do I rest when I have my better times so I don’t get worse in my bad times or do I do activity which helps at the time but makes me feel worse later. I’m trying to build gradually the activity to increase strength slowly. Things will get better even if you don’t feel like they will, even if it lasts all the way through (and hopefully it won’t) from what I understand it’s never usually as bad as the first trimester.

11yr I’ve never tried arrowroot biscuits but if they work that’s a good thing.

Meg I hate how medical professionals mention ginger like you’d never thought to try it before.

Welcome to Meg6840. Sorry you have been 'gingered' by a doctor, who really has no excuse not to know better. As you are a veteran you don't need my 'do you find full sugar flat coke helps and have you got kesotix' spiel. I hope Buccastem helps you. It helps many. An anti acid can really help, and you can get good ones like Ranidine over the counter.
beanhunter Sorry to hear you have the awful cold that is going about.
11yrgap Sorry chips proved no good. I hope some of the liquids are bearable. Many swear by tinned peaches and the juice.
SassehMonsta Belated Happy Birthday. I hope it was a nice trip. Sorry you had to pay for it. Congratlations on reducing ketones so effecitvely. Very brave of you to go into work after that. I am in awe of those who somehow battle into work.
eallison and Reastie So true!
Hairgician Did you get a due date for the twins?
evuchu I am sorry to say that this does last rather longer than normal pregnancy sickness, and as eallison remarks, ofteneven that does go on several weeks past this 12 week date which has become so legendary. Things do get a lot better for almost everyone, as Reastie says even for the unlucky ones who continue to feel ill throughout.
Waves to SeaEagleFeather and everyone.
Apologies for anyone rudely overlooked.

Due date i got on calculator myself was 18th aug. The tvuss dated them at 6+5 and 6+6 which fits with my dates. So we shall see what dating scan says.
Getting home today. Ward is like a ghost town, never been in on a saturday before. They are sending me home with ondansetron, prochlorperazine, lactulose and folic acid. Wont bother with folic acid as have it home anyway in pre natal vits.
Heres hoping i can keep up like this at home now .

And yes i find the 'oh it gets better after week 12' a pita!! doesnt go away for me! Was sick to the bitter end last time.

Yes, the GP also said I would feel better after 12 weeks. Alas, I know this isn't true.

Hairgician - you mentioned pre natal vits. I actually stopped taking these as I honestly think they were making my sickness worse and moved onto just folic acid.when I mentioned to the GP he said that yes the high levels of iron (think it was iron) can aggravate the sickness as taking on a fairly empty tummy.

Feeling terribly sorry for myself and all you guys today, struggling with this.

Hope everyone is getting through the week end. I bought some Aldi apple and raspberry fizzy water yesterday and I've managed to nearly finish the bottle, it's quite mild and very refreshing.

Meg I'm giving my friend the rest of my pregnacare tablets, those buggers are too big for me when I'm already gagging. I've skipped my folic acid quite a few times over the weeks which I feel bad about but some days I've had to force myself to swallow the cyclizine.

Hi everyone. I’m so sorry to read of others’ horrible experiences. I’m on my third pregnancy with awful sickness, although I’m not sure at what point it is official hyperemesis. With DC1, I was vomiting 5-6 times a day with constant nausea and fatigue. With DC2 it escalated much faster and I was in hospital for dehydration at 7 weeks, but the resulting prescriptions did help despite me being bedridden for weeks on end afterward. This time I got meds before the sickness started (as per advice on PSS website) and the vomiting has been under control, but I am now 11+4 and I’m just so. Done. Husband is great, kids are a good age (4.5 and 2.5). I know that it will get better soon although I’ll still be sick but I’m just aching for that corner now! Have read along with this thread through each pregnancy but never posted before. I haaaaaaate pregnancy siiiiiiiickneeeeeessssss

On the topic of ginger, I actually see red when people mention it. How many other illnesses do these doctors suggest homeopathic remedies for?! I’ll warrant few to none. Drives me mad!!!

As I was collecting my first cyclizine the pharmasist told me some ladies find ginger biscuits helpful. I love it when the doctors say it usually ends after first trimester too, what other illness would they expect you to ride out for months rather than offer medication to help for those few months. I had a lovely locum out of hours doctor in the end who said don't worry I can prescribe you something and I felt like hugging him.

@11yeargap exactly. How amazing is it to finally feel heard- when we should really be heard from our first cry for help.

I agree. Can you imagine a doctor saying to a person undergoing chemo that they should just have ginger? No! There would be an outcry! And pg sickness lasts so much longer. I sort of wish I could do something about it to raise awareness and make sure gps know the medication options better but I’m not currently in a place to do that and I have no idea how I would. I’m going to buy my wonderful supportive gp a bunch of flowers once this is all over though, I could not have got this far without her.

I actually had my best morning yet today, got overexcited and thought I might finally be over it but it’s back this afternoon and been in bed most of the afternoon. At least I’m seeing improvement which I’m taking as a oisitive sign.

My ibs is playing up this afternoon so I’ve also got a painful stomach and I can barely walk from the pain. I can’t take my usual medicine for it in pg. oh joy!

Welcome to Nightimenope. Sorry things are still bad while you wait for an improvement. As you are a veteran, you certainly don't need my 'do you find full sugar flat coke and have you got kesostix and a good anti acid can make all the difference' spiel, and as you folllowed this thead through the two other pregnancies, you must be weary of that spiel! I always forget that people read this thread. There is no indication as to how many people view threads - maybe it is far more than post on it? I hope you found it helpful.
Hairgician Glad that you are going home and with that cocktail of meds -but you think they might have included Ranitidine or Omprazole too.
Meg I so agree about iron making you vomit. But it seems these days you can get it in drop form or even a spray, as Reastie said a bit back. I've added your twins to the list, as it is so exciting, even before the date is fixed.
11Yeargap and Nightimenope I so agree. It is very bad that an understanding GP stands out!
Apologies to anyone rudely ignored.

Due Dates
rotavixsucks 15 January
Olivecake 23 January
elpreggo27 20 March
silversplodge 4 April
Anya 13 Apriil
Beanhunter 17 April
8DaysAWeek 1st May
tinyradish 1 May
foreverblues 5 May
Plasticgiraffe 10 May
Mamabear13 18 May
bumblebee 20 May
SashaMonsta 31 May
eallison June
Hairgician 18 August TWINS!
DeadDoorPost early September

I'm not at the bottom of the due date list :) hurrah!!!
Tricky day today. Nausea levels have crept up again and have had a little cry heave sesh as well. Finished antibiotics course for UTI yeaterday, so have to drop a urine sample in with GP on Monday to check it's cleared fully. I hope it is, cos the antibiotic pills smelt and tasted awful, and were3a challenge to swallow due to their size. I'm Hoping the nausea is higher today cos I've done a few things around the house (y'know, exciting stuff like put clean washing away, put a wash, empty and reload the dishwasher...!).

I'm nervous about Tuesday, and I think that playing on my mind isn't helping my nausea. Son starts nursery 4 days a week from Monday (every day but Tues). No longer using MIL or BIL as childcare. And on Tuesday I've got him on my own. None of hubbys family have offered to have him on Tuesdays to help, and my MIL who has had him on Tuesdays since November has assumed she's anymore. I am dreading a full day on my own with him. He doesn't nap anymore, so I will have no oppruntiy to sleep between 7.15 and 4.30. And the way my in laws are (as lovely and helpful as they are) I don't feel like I can ask for their help on Tuesdays until I've tried and failed, if you know what I mean?

Any who, hope everyone else is ok.

Eal poor you, I get the anxiety as I get the same thing and just worrying about it can make me feel sicker. Can you set up boxes on Monday of things he’ll play with and bring out a new box every now and again. I don’t know how old he is (sorry, I can’t remember) but dd would love doing random things like emptying my purse and spend ages doing that when she was younger. I know what it’s like though, all you want to do is for them to sit and watch tv for a while so you can rest and they won’t! Do you have any mum friends who can help? Or could you look for a childminder to help with that one day? Even if they did a few hours it would be a few hours less for you to cope with. Just have low expectations, don’t worry about mess just get through the day. Please tell me you’re not going back to work next week?! I hope the uti has cleared up, if it helps I can’t swallow big tablets so I always have antibiotics in liquid form shoukd you need more, it might be easier to swallow (although they usually need to go in the fridge to store).