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.

DeadDoorPost I hope the Avomine helps.
silversplodge It is definitely worth phoning up the Pregnancy Sickness Support people to ask about Cyzline in the last tri, and b/f ing. I never heard that, and I can't help wondering if it was one of these 'inconclusive studies' suggestions as it has been used for so long? I do know that my daughter was horribly sleepless, and also irritable, and I was refused all meds but Gaviscon, so I had to rely on Acupuncture and luckily, it didn't last long with me; if I had taken them, I would probably have blamed that on meds. As it was, I had to put it down to bad luck or maybe a forceps deliivery.
Nighttimenope That is an encouraging message for Silversplodge, and one from Reastie and as ever from eallison and SeaEagleFeather*.
Waves to all.

Goodness, half of my post was truncated. Elikiemcjibe has the same query as Silversplodge about breastfeedng and Cyzcline. Again, phoning Pregnancy Sickness Support to get advise on 024 7638 2020 is a good idea. I am sorry the doctor 'gingered' you. Oh dear.
Welcome to littlev58 Sorry you feel so bad. There are drugs which seem to cause less drowsiness they can prescribe. How are liqids going down? Some that have helped those on here. Ice lollies, the juice of tinned fruit, full sugar flat coke, orange juice if not too acid as mentioned on the thread, Elderflower water, Elderflower cordial and tonic water, tonic water, soda water, fizzy water, ice cubes, Iron Bru, Dr Pepper, Lucozade, fizzy orange, orange squash, lemonade, Robinson's fruit drinks and sips of chocolate milkshake, maybe soya. Some foods of a sort that have helped: tinned fruit, nibbles of chips and crisps, cuppa soup, cheap ice cream, baked potatoes, biscuits, slices of melon and mango and Scotch pancakes.
I hope everyone is coping today.

hairgician you're not a fraud. You're suffering and feel like crap; it's not a competition over who is better or worse!!

My pelvic floor seems to have finally given up and left the building. I use cloth pads for my periods, so have a good supply of liners, however the liner pads are no longer man enough for the job so I'm having to use my 'regular' pads to cope with the fact that I basically keep weeing myself. Its not just sneezing etc, it's things like standing up from crouching down. And my bladder seems to sense proximity to toilet and no longer feels the need to wait until I'm actually sat on the loo, so when I get to the bathroom it's like a race to get myself onto the toilet on time (or at least as quickly as poss, so majority goes in the loo). Obviously, the natural consequence of this is that I'm starting to smell a little. I notice it every time I use the loo, ie when I pull my knicks down. No one has said anything, so I'm hoping that in day to day life I don't actually smell. And the reason my pelvic floor has left the building... 2 pregnancies worth of aggressive puking/heaving. So yet another indignity due to hyperemesis. I am so concerned that the kids I work with are gonna notice the smell.

I was also feeling a bit like a fraud @Hairgician but have just had a horrible 24 hours so less like it now - I think it's dependent on so many things. I ended up with a massive headache and nausea by 6pm, then my partner decided to use a metal tape measure to make a load of noise outside the bedroom which I know sounds like nothing but the sounds were killing me! Burst into tears and had a massive cry because he didn't get what the big deal was. Then I did the classic "I wish this was you!!!" Had another huge cry and slept til midnight. Not my finest hour!
I'm going to try and get a dr appointment today - need to ask for more cyclizine and a sick note as this is my 3rd week off. I hope they suggest I take next week as well which will get me to half term / 12 weeks. I know I won't be ok by then but I'm hoping I'll be able to manage a bit better. Sorry for the big moan, hope everyone else is doing ok xx

3 ondansetron tablets in the space of 24 hours isn't even touching the sickness. And DS is ill as well, throwing up phlegm. I think I'm going to take myself to hospital and hope I can get some fluids. Just worried about DS because he doesn't seem to want fluids either atm and has been throwing up bile with the phlegm. Do I take him to hospital too? He's currently asleep on me, so I'm feeling sick from his weight on my stomach (sat in a chair). Can't keep water down.

And there I was thinking I'd avoided this this time

About the "no cyclizine in the 3rd trimester" - that is strangely enough what a GP said to me too on my last visit. And she was looking at her computer so I assume she was reading it from some sort of instructions/prescription info. Then again the same prescription info says "not recommended in pregnancy"...
I am almost 16 weeks, still exhausted, still mostly house bound, and while mostly better with regards to keeping down food and liquids, I still have some morning vomit sessions that leave me feeling crap for the rest of the day. So really not keen on another chat with a GP (I have to come in for a new prescription each time) about do I really still need to take it and have I tried ginger and at 16 weeks most people are fine

I just had a phone appointment with a condescending gp who was weird about me needing a sick note from the dr for work - apparently I don't need one if they know why I'm off. He has agreed I can have more cyclizine but he was really hard work. This is exactly why I paid to see a private gp last year - I don't have the energy to argue my case and always come away feeling like I'm being a lightweight. This is all half an hour after throwing up all over myself and the steering wheel in the car!

ealli that sounds almost the most difficult of all :( I believe that vitamin C tablets can help, but you'd need to check the interactions with a pharmacist ... sympathies.

norbert sorry to hear you had another unhelpful doctor. Fwiw you -can- get cyclizine over the counter (despite some pharmacists lying) but they won't sell to a preg woman. If you have a post menopausal friend who can get them for you, they cost about 20 quid a packet. If one pharmacy won't sell them, try another. I actually prefer cyclizine to the modern anti-histamines so stock up every time I come back to the UK, but it does take a couple of tries! Boots have been reasonably good.

dead definitely go to the hospital if you can't keep any hydration down. If you're able to manage him, sounds like taking little doorpost might also be a good idea

Seaeagle I wonder why if it’s possible to get cyclizine otc some places won’t sell it. Interesting.

Norbert I thought if you were absent from work for over a week off sick you had to have a doctors note whether or not you’re pg.

Evu I hate how people assume you’ll be fine after 16 weeks. And how annoying for you at having to go into the surgery every time.

Dead I hope you’re ok there and are being rehydrated.

Eal that sounds tough. Would the disposable ones be better at locking the wee inside their pads so help more with smell? I use cloth pads for my period and imagine we could kind of soak them and they might be more likely to smell. FWIW there must be a lot of incontinent people out there wearing pads and I can’t think of one occasion I’ve ever smelt wee on someone.

Well, now the nausea is more intermittent than the first trimester yesterday and today have seen the start of the heartburn. So typical! This happened last time too, just as things were slowly becoming a little easier. Gp has prescribed me omi something or other but they are huge capsules I can’t swallow and it says everywhere on it do not chew just be taken whole, gastric resistant coating, so I’ll stick with gaviscon until I see the gp in a couple of weeks and see if she can prescribe a liquid version. Last time I had to sleep sitting upright for months it was so bad and they gave me nothing but gaviscon .

Bad evening yesterday and feeling very sick today but consultant apt this afternoon, will be very happy to get it over with!

Been taking the cyclizine for 24 hours now and there is a huge improvement. I still felt a bit nauseous yesterday afternoon but today I pretty much feel normal. This is an actual miracle, I can't believe I didn't try the drugs last pregnancy, so stupid 🙄. Be interesting to see if they can handle weeks 8 to 10 (only 4 weeks at the moment) as that was by far the worst last time. Thanks for all your support.

Good luck this afternoon @Reastie and I hope the heartburn settles down, it sounds like it was horrible before. I also thought you had to have a sick note if you had more than a week off - he was extremely weird about it. He begrudgingly said he would sort one but it felt like I was asking him to do something really out of the ordinary.
Thank you for the cyclizine tip @SeaEagleFeather I actually did something similar when I was pregnant with my daughter and on promethazine - my partner ended up going to loads of different pharmacies and pretending he had jet lag so he could buy it. I'll wait and see how much he's prescribed before I make a plan. I have my booking appointment tomorrow with the midwife so I might be able to talk to her about any concerns - not sure if they can help with sick note queries or prescriptions.

reastie pharmacists know that women take it when preg, but it's not officially licensed for use and they have the right to refuse to sell any med. INstead of an argument they just say they don't have it or it's POM - prescription only - instead of P (over the counter)

Have to admit I didnt know you could get promethazine without a prescription Norbert! I can't access the BNF from here :/ It's stronger tho, so better to start with cyclizine.

elkie really pleased to hear it's helped. You are still v early so if the sickness ramps up again, do go back and ask for one of the stronger ones or indeed, promethazine (stronger version of cyclizine)

Hi,

I feel like a bit of a fraud posting here but wondered if anyone had any advice on combinations of medicine to take with Ondansetron?

I'm not being sick, I just have 24/7 nausea. On the worst days, I can't drink/move/lie down. Everything seems to make me retch - breathing, good or bad smells, all food and all drinks. I get motion sick looking at screens (so work is tricky) and having visual migraines at least once a day.

After 4 weeks, 4 different meds that didn't help in the slightest and a hospital trip, I now have Ondansetron. It's definitely taking the edge off and I'm able to function. But the constant nausea is still there and I'm still finding it hard to drink because nearly everything makes me gag.

I have cyclizine, avomine and stemetil left at home and wondered if I should try any of those in conjunction with the Ondansetron? My doctor isn't overly helpful, happy to prescribe but I don't think would offer much advice on combining the medication. The hospital are reluctant to see me again unless I'm severely dehydrated and my midwife says I have to go via the GP.

Would be great to hear if anyone with only nausea has had any success with a combination of medications?

You can take cyclizine with ondansetron. My df does for his kidneys and to counter the effects of the tramadol.

Currently at the hospital both me and DS. Although we're in different areas. DH is with DS. I'm hoping I've got an IV waiting for me....

Being admitted for fluids.

stroan I'm glad you've got something that's helping a little. Cyclizine and stemitil can both definitely be taken alongside, I don't know about avomine. Cyclizine and ondansetron are actually a very effective combo for a lot of women. They work in different ways on different parts of the brain, so work well together. I'd give that a go, but probably worth running it by your GP first?

Currently on bag 4 of fluids, still feeling sick but not throwing up.
Considering I had no ketones in my urine, I think 4 bags of fluids kinda says the opposite.

I've also had a really good few hours of naps/sleep. I feel bad for not being with DS but honestly, I can't look after him like this.

I've also got a bag of anti sickness meds to take with me. And a scan tomorrow at 12pm so I get to see the baby earlier.

@dead dont be rushing home tmw just because ketones are gone. They dhould really keep you another day or 2 to make sure meds are working for you so thst can eat and drink properly and keep it down. Imo they are too hasty in sending you home again. All well getting us hydrated on drips but we arent sat at home with a drip keeping us topped up. Hope your ds is ok too. Poor wee chap.
Had a good day myself, nearly 12 weeks so hoping im going to be over the worst of it soon.

Thanks @eallison88

The GPs I’ve seen really haven’t been very informed and have all said they have no experience of prescribing any of these meds for pregnancy. They will only give me 10 Ondansatron tablets at a time (I’m
On 4 per day) until they hear otherwise from the hospital so I’m not sure how encouraging they will be about taking more than one thing.

@dead. I pretty much never had ketones but was still
Dehydrated according to my bloods.
So 30 weeks here and still vomiting away. Last week was a little better but this one not so much. Doesn’t help that I’m now exhausted again and that makes everything worse. Oh well, 2 months and hopefully it’ll be over and I never have to do this again.

Hi all need a bit of advice. I'm soooo tempted to come off the ondansetron.. iv been taking it since week 9 and I'm now 15 weeks but the ondansetron is causing really bad constipation and nothing is helping.. iv tryed all types of juice, fiber, lactose and my last attempt was a suppositorie.. this feels like my only option 😔 has anyone came off it and been ok? I'm really scared of going back to square one but I also can't cope with the being in pain, uncomfortable, bloated and nausea from the constipation. Any advice?

Hi Mumofftwo

Sorry to hear you’re suffering with the dreaded constipation! There’s no other constipation in the world like Ondansetron constipation! If the Ondansetron works on your sickness and helps you to keep food down I wouldn’t give up on it yet - I know when you mean though I tried to reduce my intake thinking it would help ease the constipation it doesn’t. Any amount still bungs you up unfortunately. I also stopped taking Ondansetron but my sickness comes back raging.

Instead of cutting back or stopping the Ondansetron I’d recommend speaking to your GP about other routes in stool softeners etc. I personally find movicol and lactulose good, although there are others such as laxido and CosmoCol (they work similar to movicol) it just helps to keep things soft. You do need to increase your water intake, when I’m at my worst I drink water like medicine I know you’ll hear it all the time but the more water you drink the better for your bowl and eventually the softener your BM will be.

I’d also speak to your GP about Glycerin Suppositories they are also safe in pregnancy and usually provide quick relief if the blockage is lower in the rectum. I’d recommend these they are effective. Also a stool when going to the loo helps (I have a poop stool which I got off Amazon) & I found a warm bath tends to help. No idea if that is effective but it helps with the cramps etc.

I’m 30 weeks and still suffer with constipation as I still need to take Ondansetron - I take either lactulose x15 ml per day or one sachet of movicol everyday and have slowly increased my fibre intake (if you massively bulk up on fibre you’ll block yourself up) which touch wood has been ok for me the last two weeks or so. I hope you get some relief soon, it’s awful.

Sorry totally over looked the suppositories and lactulose comment! Have you tried any other stool softener or just lactulose? I’m surprised the suppositories haven’t worked although it could mean the blockage is further up which means they won’t work.

stroen Welcome. You are not a fraud. Most people agree the nausea is more debilitating than the vomiting. You have had great advice about meds. I will only add my usual invariable comments that a good anti acid can make a huge difference and do make sure you have a laxative in case bound up bowels strike. Only a few posts back I suggested some liquids many have felt helful - such as flat full sugar coke, the juice of tinned fruit and ice lollies. Those hormonally induced migraines are awful. I did find my own migraines went off at 14 weeks, and it seems that is typical.
One a day is dreadful; do they last long?

DeadDoorPost I am sorry you have been admitted. After a seemingly encouraging beginning that is disappointing. That was a rapid deterioration, and I am glad that they have given you a selection of meds. I hope you are all better soon.
norbert Oh dear, that sounds like a dismal twenty-four hours. When you feel ill, such noises can be unbearable; and then the car puking episode, and the doctor grudging Cyclizine.
beanhunter Poor you, vomiting still at 30 weeks. It is really hard on those who suffer throughout. It has been a long and grim haul. Here's a for your stoicism.
Reastie That sounds awful. I remember having to sleep propped up with pillows like that.
eallison Oh dear, how dispiritng. But take heart, the exercises will do a lot of good after the birth. You did put it in an amusing way; I had to smile, though it is no joke to suffer. I wonder if getting a strong, postively heavy sort of perfume or body spray- and squirting yourself might be a good idea? Would that be acceptable in a classroom? No idea about the rules these days.
Waves to SeaEagleFeather .

I missed Hairigician Anya and Mumoftwo. Some good advice there. I hope you will turn the corner asap Hairigician. Those expecting twins seem to suffer badly early on but often recover earlier,so I suspect with a singleton pregnancy they would have escaped the horrors of Hyperemesis.