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.

dotty it is thought to be hereditary. Though I don't have any history of it in my family. Definitely get to docs asap. I'm on my second pregnancy, both hyperemesis. Despite planning thus one, and having meds to take (cyclizine) as soon as I did a positive test, it hit me earlier and harder this time. This isn't necessarily the case for everyone, but I think it's only fair to be prepared. I do know of a friend of a friend who had 2 awful hyperemesis pregnancies followed by a completely nausea free pregnancy. So it can happen!! Your GP should prescribe you cyclizine at the very least ---entry level, very widely used and largely considered safe. Did you have meds last time? What worked, if so. It's worth seeing your midwife, however in terms of the hyperemesis there is little they can do - support, but they cannot prescribe you anything. Best of luck with GP

plasticgiraffe I'm so glad you're getting more better days! Do stick with the cyclizine for a while, and try to wean gradually rather than just stopping. Also, be gentle with yourself returning to work. Take things slowly. As I'm sure you've read, returning to work too hard and fast can cause many women to relapse. Be gentle and stay healthy.

Kel do try another specialist for spd as I once saw an osteopath who made my back worse to the point he said he wouldn’t treat me any more as it was having the opposite effect (this was private) on me. Maybe a chiropractor or physio? Does acupuncture work for it? I know it sounds a bit new agey but I had accuuncfure for jaw pain and it was amazing.

Dotty welcome. My dd is 7 as it’s taken me a long time to muster courage to go through it again. I’m 12 weeks now and I remember that moment of waiting for it to hit full force and the nerves. What did you try last time? I was given cyclizine before I was pg to take straight away. There’s a drug called ondansetron that you may not ha e been offered before, it’s really helping me but ability to get it from doctors seems patchy and it’s a second line medication. FWIW I never really managed to return to work last time either.

Giraffe I’m so glad you’re feeling a bit better. I was on cyclizine throughout last time. I tried weaning off but it just made it worse.

So last night I missed a concert I’d been looking forward to going to for about 6 months. Have been watching videos friends posted when they went online and sobbing about missing out. Tomorrow dd is going to see Father Christmas and I’m missing that too :( I have no life. Hurry up time so I can start to feel better.

Thanks for your advice @Reastie @eallison88.
I'm going to get in to see a gp today.
Last time I had stemital- I think that's how you spell it. I had a terrible reaction to it in hospital. So I can't take that. I may of tried cyclizine but I'm not sure it helped. They all have so many names and some are the same pill! But like you say I Don't think I took them early enough. It was already in full swing before they would give me any medication. I'll ask for the next best meds and pray they give them to me lol.

I'm so glad I have this support group, as I didn't have anything last time and you feel so alone and most people just assume it's morning sickness. I lost my job last time around so I'm praying I manage to keep my job this time.

How are you finding the gps? Are they helpful? Have either of you been admitted to hospital? I was told some hospitals have special units were you can go for a drip if needed. Not sure how true that is. But They don't appear to have that sort of thing at my local hospital.

Dotty my GP has been ok. Really open to trying different meds. She sent me to hospital when I told her I was really unwell and unable to properly care for myself, let alone keep any food or fluids down. I was admitted via a&e, first given fluids in cdu (this is sort of a pre-admission holding bay in a&e so people don't ruin their admission/waiting time stats), then moved up to a ward within 6 hours. Overnight stay then chucked out the next day as my ketones were ok. I wasn't weeing much but they didn't care. They put me on Ondansetron, and in the almost 3 weeks since I've only vomited once. I am also taking cyclizine for nausea but trying to wean to once a day. Now 11+5. Still nauseous but it's manageable.

Dotty I think it really varies between gps. I found a very understanding one but before that had seen one who refused to prescribe more than cyclizine and said by doing so I would be risking the health of my baby in an acusitory way which is completely against the recommendations for medication. My gp has been quite nervous about prescribing me so much (I take cyclizine, ondansetron and as needed stemetil on top) and only has with advice over the phone from specialists. If your gp won’t help ask to be referred urgently to a specialist. Eal has given v good advice before (not sure if this is for you so will repeat) to take someone with you to the gp apt as it helps them realise how serious it was last time. Treating early really really can help matters. I’d also really recommend ringing pregnancy sickness support charity. They helped me so much as they know what you should be offered and what you should be asking for and what to do when you might not get offered this. It’s a sad fact that lots of people on here (including me) have had to fight and take huge effort to get the drugs we need. Eal had a really great statement when she went to the doctor I think last week, something like ‘show me the evidence for why you are treating me this way’. I took the guidelines for treatment for hG to the gp with me so I could show her the medication guidelines. Sometimes one pill might not work on it’s own but when taken alongside another which works in another way it can be a much more effective treatment. I only had cyclizine last time and was made to feel I was lucky for having that. I didn’t realise I could have more. I was too ill to fight and I completely mentally got broken by this. I was very proactive this time. So far my pg has followed a very similar pattern to last time with the nausea, but doesn’t mean it will be all the way through. I think the uncertainty just adds to the mental f*ckupery of everything.

Reastie- thank you. anythings worth a try. No physio's will get me in b4 baby's due it's ridiculous.

Dotty- hi I would do as others have said and get meds started asap. This is my third time round of having HG with a 9 year age gap! That's how long it took to have the courage to go through it again.
I was put on metocloprimide from 5 weeks. It's not really helped me taking meds early on but I've heard a lot of other ppl say it's helped. Fingers crossed for you this time xx

Welcome Dotty I've spoken to a few mums who had hyperemesis and then had a sickness and nausea free pregnancy. This is my second and unfortunately I didn't miss out on repeating the experience. 👎

Oh Reastie please be kind to yourself. I explained to my daughter what's happening and that mummy is unwell and we have written a list of things we are going to do when I am better to make up for me being a shit mum for 3 months now. The longer this goes on the longer the list and She keeps adding to it but it gives me something to look forward to as well.

I wish a thread like this had existed during my pregnancies with HG.

I've been there three times with full-term hyperemesis. My saviour was IV rehydration in hospital and the nutritional beverage called fortijuice in black current flavour.

Good luck, and on the bright side I felt so much better after giving birth that the trials of having a newborn seemed easy compared to being pregnant!

Oh, and meds. If the first one you try doesn't work then speak up. There are several options available for pregnancy sickness.

If you can't keep tablets down then try asking for suppositories instead until the vomiting is more controlled.

Thanks guys,

I'll update later on when I'm home from work. Trying to get as much done now Incase I have to have time off in the near future.
Xx

Does anyone else struggle with seeing their pregnancy/baby beyond the here and now? A friend tried to engage me in a conversation about what gender the baby might be, and various things about practicalities after its birth. I had already said to her that I can't think beyond today, and I don't really want to discuss it. I have been so ill; I seem to be very slowly coming out the other side, and all I want is to feel normal again. I so look forward to getting through another day without vomiting that days, weeks, months in the future seem to irrelevant. Plus, I am awaiting Harmony test results, and any positive results will have to be carefully considered. My family wanted to know what I can eat on Xmas day and I just wanted to scream that I will know ON THE DAY.

Gah.

In other news, I managed a very quick trip to Tesco today to pick up some Xmas bits. HG has been good for my bank account balance so far - I haven't been able to spend a thing. Unfortunately I did have to peruse the toy aisles and my 3yo wanted them all. I have a really nasty haemorrhoid giving me a lot of pain (from what I now realise was faecal impaction from the ondansetron), so it was back home as quickly as possible to lie down. Being slightly busier I keep forgetting if I've taken meds. Currently trying to work out if I took the midday ondansetron. I need a drug chart...

mauis I bought one of those weekly pill pot things. I got a permanent marker, relabelled each day as a drug (I'm on 5 different ones) and my last job before bed each night is putting the pills into the pot. 3 doses of cyclizine, 3 doses ondansetron, 2 doses omeprazole, 2 doses ranitidine, 1 dose (9pills!) of steroids. I was starting to forget whether I'd taken the drugs at the right time (I have several alarms during the day reminding me what/when). This way I know, if they're not there I've taken them, if they're there I haven't! I'd recommend it.

The thinking about the future thing- I get you. I struggle to see beyond the here and now, and don't really get excited or interested in conversations about baby. Apart from with my son, when his excitement does rub off on me.

Completely get the whole not seeing the future thing. Sometimes I just take it hour by hour never mind day by day.

22 weeks today and celebrating with the worst vomiting in a while. First time for a few weeks even fluids have been a challenge. So over this now. Have come home to supposedly work from home but can’t even face that.

Bean poor you, have you done too much or eaten anything that might explain it or is it just one of those annoying things?

I get the planning too, I’m struggling with Christmas this year as I just don’t know how I’ll feel or be like. I can’t quite think about the future with this baby until the fog has lifted and I feel a bit human. My life atm is a day by day basis.

beanhunter have you had any luck with convincing your consultant to stop/reverse the steroid wean? Cos This isn't fair for you, or sustainable for your body or baby.

Not done anything. Wasn’t even at work yesterday but def struggling today. And no we are back to the you dont have ketones and you can stand up so you don’t need steroids. So I’ve given up on that one for now. Interestingly now I have a bump most think I look better. However one colleague who sees me the most says she still things I’m visibly thinner despite the bump. So o think the fact my weight is only just stable is basically equivalent to me still losing. Oh well. Midwife next week so will see what she says.

Hello,

Managed to get in the gp It flashed up on my system that I was allergic to some sickness drugs so she has prescribed me some Ondansetron to take. She won't do a repeat prescription until I have seen the midwife so I'll just have to go back in when I run out if I can make it.
My appetite has stopped now. I can't stomach breakfast or even think about tea. Not sure how to get all the suggested vitamins in! Surely just surviving will be hard enough.

How is everyone else getting on today? Xx

@MauisLeftNipple

I understand what you are saying. I can't even think about next week, Just have to take one day at a time.

I'm not feeling my usual Christmas stress because I'm worrying about the sickness so that's one bonus I suppose lol.
X

Dotty356 Congratulations on going for it again. I wish I had myself. You have already had excellent advice from eallison Reastie and others. I so agree that pre-emptive meds are the best thing. A doctor told me that vomiting forms a physiological reflex in the brain, or some such thing, which is why it was a bad idea to follow the old guidelines of not giving meds until a sufferer had been admitted, and then only giving Cyclizine...As you are a veteran, you don't need my 'Have you got kesostix to check for the early stages of dehydration' and 'How do you find the juice of tinned fruit, full sugar flat coke and ice lollies' spiel. It is certainly tough being allergic to some of the medications. I have known several women on here who suffered badly in the first pregnancy, who didn't suffer anything like as badly in a second. It seems very indiviual. I hope you are one of the lucky ones!
Kel55 I think that is so bad you ought to have a refund. I have never known either a chiropractor or osteopath who couldn't very easily put sciatica right, or at least ease it massively.
Reastie Poor you over the concert and taking LO to Father Christmas. It is very hard. All will be different next Christmas.
I had Acupunture for Hyperemesis out of desperation as I had been refused meds and it really helped me, but I seem to have been very lucky or had an unsuually accurate practitioner, as while it has helped others on here, it hasn't had the great effect it did on me.
SpringerLink Welcome, if someone new.
KSJourney That is a brilliant idea! What a wonderful time LO will have in the months after the birth.

MauisLeftNipple Well done on shopping. Sorry about piles. Very sensible you and Weebean are taking things one day at a time.
beanhunter I am so sorry that you feel so bad and that they won't budge on steroids.
PlasticGiraffe I am so glad you feel so much better and I am so glad this thread helped you through the worst times.I so agree with others, only wean off meds slowly. Here's some from me.
Wonderful advice from eallison Reastie and everyone. Here's some from me as well.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Lucinda have you known anyone in the thread to find symptoms get worse with acupuncture? I’m too scared to have have it in case it flairs it up or works but then gets worse when it wears off. I had it for my jaw and it was amazing after several sessions but it did initially make it worse initially.

Dotty ondansetron is a very effective drug, I’m sure you’ll find it helpful and if you need more do go back to your gp. What dose are you on?

One day at a time is my motto atm! Although with my scan on Saturday I’m worried she’ll put me back a few days and I’ll be having Groundhog Day repeating the same week again.

@LucindaE thank you! I still need all the advice I can get to get through the next 9 months! So keep it coming he he.

@Reastie I'm on 4mg x2 one or twice a day. I'm praying they work. I didn't take these till about 14 weeks last time. Just made my way through the other ones until they finally gave me them.I remember them working sometimes. They said they do dissolvable ones if I struggle getting the pill down. So can always go back for those if needed. Just got to see how I get on.

They can increase your dose if needed Dotty so if they don’t work don’t assume that they aren’t going to work at all. Touch wood so far they have made a real difference overall so far for me from last time. I could not have got this far without them (12 weeks).

When I say increase your dose, don’t take more than 8mg at a time as that’s the max dose, but it can go up to three times a day.