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.

Hello all!
Place marking this thread. I ended up back in hospital last week so have just been trying to get some strength back. It is relentless! Anyone have a drop in nausea for few days then it come back again?! I am 11 weeks tomorrow and I felt ok beginning of the week but last 48hrs the nausea is creeping up and the extra saliva is driving me mad! Anyone actually through the worst of it all and want to give us all hope?! X

Klein I’ve noticed since about 11 weeks mine has become more variable, I have times where it does feel a bit better but then when it’s bad it feels more servere (if that’s possible). I’m 13 weeks now. Sass on this thread is about 16 weeks and seems to have improved a lot in recent weeks so there is hope.

Sorry you've had a tough week or so kleino.

No hope from me I'm afraid. I feel absolutely dreadful. Rationally I know it's a combination of having had to look after my son on my own for 3 hours Monday morning, 4 .5 hours yesterday afternoon and 5 hours this morning, trying to drop one dose of cyclizine a day since Monday and possibly eating a small anount accidental dairy yesterday. However, I'm panicking cos i feel like I did a couple of days after starting the steroids on the lower dose (30mg, then they upped to 45mg which has been working well for the last nearly 4 weeks). I took the cyclizine dose I'd dropped yoday, but still feel worse than yesterday. I've got fecking horrendous heartburn which really, really isn't helping matters. I'm absolutely exhausted. And I feel so damned sick and keep puking a little in my mouth. And the burps are gross, millions of them and all heartburny and vile. I feel so awful that I've even had a little cry. I was so hopeful that I might be vleto enjoy Christmas a little, but that doesn't feel likely anymore . So today I'm back to be being pissed off and grumpy and angry. And I think my BIL/SIL are judging my 'choice' not to look after my son. Normal childcare plans fell thru yesterday/today, hence me having him alone. BIL/SIL have had him when I didn't (and hubby at work) which is great of them, so I don't feel like I can say anything. But the way they're talking and acting suggests that they are only doing it for my son and that they think I should be doing it myself. My SIL said she'd pick my son up by 11.30 today. At 12.20 she rang me to tell me she was on her way. By the time she arrived I was practically on the floor and could barely keep my eyes open. She didn't ask how I was or say anything to do with pregnancy. And told son that mother SIL and her 2 youngest were going to theirs for birthday lunch for my nephew, and then the bigger plans. I knew nothing about thus birthday lunch, and she made no suggestion that I was welcome. It really upset me as clearly she thinks I can look after an drive 3 year old for 5 hours on my own, but then doesn't think to even ask if I want to join birthday tea. I managed not to cry til I'd closed the door behind her. Then had a dry heave. Then slept. I feel even worse this evening and I feel judged.

Eurgh that was a long moan. Sorry guys!!

mrsb if you can't tolerate other bread, stick with what you can eat. It's a balancing act!

Oh eallison sorry you are feeling so rough and having family issues. Could your husband have a chat with his brother to see if there are issues that need ironing out?
From last time I felt better at 16 weeks and so am having to be realistic I have another 5 weeks of this but this preg has been diff from day 1 so god knows if it will ever end!
Maybe cyclizine isn’t working for you anymore? My Consutalnts and Midwives at hospital said in their opinion cyclizine was on really effective in injection form. The tablets don’t tend to work for a lot of people, I found them useless.

ouch, lucinda, why on earth did the dentist want you to do without anasthetic?! Hope your migrane has gone, at least

Sorry to see so many people have it badly at the moment.

Honestly for people worrying about meds - take them. They are considered very safe, and certainly safer than being badly dehydrated. Sometimes they also allow people to keep working and that really makes a difference to the quality of life.

Sorry to hear your SIL is being insensitive, ealli. If your husband can talk to his brother maybe he could show him the Help Her forums. Or even tell them the list of meds you're on. Those aren't given out lightly in pregnancy especially steroids and just maybe that will get through to them.

Wishing everyone a peaceful night.

Thank you, Ksjourney ,Reastie, silversplodge, MauisLeftNipple, Weebean, eallison SeaEagleFeather and everyone, for the sympathy over the migraine and dentists.
Twenty years ago, another dentist suggested I have a filling without anasthetic 'As it is only a small one', and I foolishly agreed. It was agonising. As I had my daughter then, then 4, with me, I had to set an example of stoicism, and couldn't change my mind. Never again!
silversplodge You are right, there does seem to be a decided link between migrane and Hyperemesis. Also, I believe cystitis.
Welcome to canonlyhopexo I do hope you got a sick note. You definitely are suffering from something worse than normal pregnnacy sickness if you are stuck in bed. You definitely need meds. Luckier people find they can function on them., but realistically, many sufferers are off work for a period. Also, do invest in some kesostix from any chemists, to help check for the early stages of dehydration, as while the symtoms of scanty dark urine, dry mouth and skin, headache, blurry vision etc are more accurate, hospitals do take the measurements of ketones seriously. Some fluids that might help: ice lollies, ice cubes, the juice of tinned fruit, flat full sugar coke, Elderflower water, soda water, Iron Bru, Dr Pepper, Elderflower cordial with tonic water, fizzy water, lemonade, fizzy orange, orange squash, orange juice (if not too acid), sips of chocolate milkshake (maybe soya), Robinson's fruit drinks and Lucoazade. For foods of a sort, cuppa soup, tinned fruit, baked potatoes,cheap ice cream, slices of melon and mango, nibbles of crisps and chips and now a recommendation of crackerbread.

Welcome to MrsB19. Sorry to hear of your admission. Glad they have you on Laxido as well as Ondansetron and prochlorperazine.
I hope some of the fluids I list above might suit you.
eallison Sorry about things being bad and that dreadful heartburn.
Great advice fromKleino03. It might well be an idea for your OH to speak to his brother. Being upset makes your symtpms worse, of course, which is the last thing you need.
Kleino03 Sorry that things are bad again after a few good days. Take heart; a few good days are very often a sign of the turnaround to come. That saliva is awful and disgusting. It is impossible not to spit, and then it comes back again.
Reastie Sorry about particularly bad day.
Foreverblues An hormonal surge at about 20 weeks is very common. Hopefully, it is that.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

It's actually hubbys sister and her husband. Hubby and I had a long chat about it last night, and we've decided that it's not really worth bringing it up. Hubby and I had a long chat with his sister about 5 weeks ago, but obviously it hasn't really dunk in. The really frustrating thing is that she is a GP. She knows the combination and strength of meds I am on, but even with her medical understanding she seems incapable of making the connection between high dose steroids and me being bloody ill .

This too shall pass....

Just want to cry today being so sick and feeling just horrendous with such bad nausea between times. Just made some toast which I'm trying to eat but the thought of it is making me gag even though I know it will make it better. I'm only 6+2 and have been like this for a week now but it feels like years.

canonly nothing to offer except complete understanding and sympathy. I'm having bad couple of days and it really is soul destroying. This time last week I was doing so well (comparatively!) -not feeling sick, being able to do little jobs. Today I feel really sick and mentally I'm really low again. We will get thru this, one day at a time!

Thank you @eallison88 I feel awful this baby is so wanted but I can't help but feel absolutely tired of feeling and being so ill. Especially so early on.

I'm really struggling with food today. I'm even bringing up plain toast. I've read conflicting info - it's worse with an empty stomach but fluid is more important than food?

Canonlyhope- are you on meds? If you can’t keep anything down head to your early preg unit. Mine were very good at just giving me drips and meds no question. I really feel for you having it so early, I have found this preg such a slog and only week 11 now. If toast won’t work try something you don’t have to chew as much. At my worst I found anything I had to really crunch and chew way worse. Rice crispies were gentle on the stomach and easy to just swallow.

@Kleino83 I went to a walk in centre yesterday and they gave me tablets which I took before I went to sleep last night and was sick as soon as I woke up and then took another and was sick about an hour later bringing up what I'd eaten this morning - one slice of toast!!! I don't know where to go now. I've been sipping lucozade and orange squash. Dr said yesterday afternoon because I had a wee that morning I didn't need to go into hospital

That is a crazy thing for the doctor to say. After having two drips and feeling fine I still bad 4+ ketones in my urine so was kept in hospital. I have tried 4 types of drugs so perhaps the initial one you got isn’t right so you can go back and request another type. Other ladies on here are far more knowledgeable than me so sure they will offer advice.

canonly what tablets did they give you? Sounds like they're not working and you need to try so edging else. Get to your GP as soon as you can and ask for something different (pregnancy sickness support website has good info on and a really good helpline you can call). I've always go be with eat or drink whatever you can whenever you can. Try and keep regular sips of water (or ice cubes/lollies are really good for some). And just eat small amounts of whatever you can whenever you can. Both food and drink are important. T can be soul destroying feeling so ill, but we will get thru it. It took us 2 years yo conceive first time round, it was such a wanted and longer for pregnancy, and yet a spent great chunks of it desperately wishing I wasn't pregnant. It takes a big mental toll , so please be gentle to yourself.

Thanks ladies.
I've got prochlorperazine to melt in my gums as tablets not worth trying as I just constantly throwing everything up. Melty ones better apparently as will go straight into system. Got fruity mento sweets which are slightly helping but just feel at my wits end as can't even keep down the one thing I was managing.

Hi ladies

Sad to read how much you are all still struggling I recognise a lot of the user names from the previous thread. Hope you get some relief soon 💜

I’m still struggling with nausea which is awful it’s really stepped up since the sickness has stopped particularly on a night and so much saliva (how one person can produce the amount I have been it’s ridcioulous!) I understand what a lot of you mean now saying the nausea is actually worse as you do get a tiny bit of relief from being sick. Anyway.. I’ve been off work again couldn’t function there so I requested a sick note to cover this week - I left a message with the receptionist to pass to a doctor (the last doctor I seen did tell me to have more time off but I decided to try to go back into work) While I’ve been in the bath the doctors surgery has called and left a voicemail I’ve only just listened to it and the receptionist is asking me if the sick note is due to the Hypermesis again? I’m literally listening to the VM confused as anything considering the last appointment I had with a GP she upped my Ondansetron and gave me a Latin lesson if anybody remembers my post from the other thread!

I’m going to call first thing in the morning but I’m really confused, all I can think is that the receptionist has either assumed it’s that or another doctor has reviewed my notes and thought it could be Hypermesis? Has anyone else been in a similar situation? I don’t know if I’m over analysing as I’ve battled with HCP since week 6, who have constantly told me it’s just normal sickness. Which it’s definately not, it’s still knocked me for six and I’m 24 weeks on Saturday!

Hi all,

I have had HG since 4 weeks and am now 15 weeks. The sickness is still there everyday but I'm more able to keep fluids down now. I was just wondering if anyone else was feeling really low with it all? X

I’m feeling so so low Elizabeth. It’s another bad evening for me today and I’m just feeling so down and depressed. I’m really struggling to cope and get through it now but I feel like I should be coping better now it’s more variable (I have some relatively good times mixed with bad now) but it weirdly just makes me realise what it’s like to feel my normal self which heightens how bad it is when it’s bad. Tonight is a low evening, I’m losing the will a bit, it’s so grating. I started with nausea before af was due and I’m 13 weeks, mentally it’s so difficult yet I feel guilty writing that when I know others on here have it worse than me and are coping better. Atm I’m trying to do meditations to help the mental aspect of it getting to me to stay sane. I recommend the honest guys on you tube, they have some great ones.

@eallison - I’m a doctor and work in a hospital. My colleagues completely don’t get it. I think anyone who hasn’t been there can’t understand. It’s bloody awful.

Hi Reastie,

I'm sorry you're feeling so low, although it's nice to know I'm not alone with it! I will definitely take your advice and check out that YouTube thing. Thank you.

Today has been a bad day for me too, I pray every night that tomorrow will be better, both mentally and physically. X

ElizabethSawyer Sorry you feel so down. It is very hard. Sometimes planning little (non food) treats can help a little, and checking off the days on the calander (a bit like prisoners). I am assuming they have you on meds? Have you got kesostix to help check for the early stages of dehydration, as while the symtoms of scanty dark urine, dry mouth and skin, headache, blurry vision etc are more accurate, hospitals do take the measurements of ketones seriously? Some fluids that might help: ice lollies, ice cubes, the juice of tinned fruit, flat full sugar coke, Elderflower water, soda water, Iron Bru, Dr Pepper, Elderflower cordial with tonic water, fizzy water, lemonade, fizzy orange, orange squash, orange juice (if not too acid), sips of chocolate milkshake (maybe soya), Robinson's fruit drinks and Lucoazade. For foods of a sort, cuppa soup, tinned fruit, baked potatoes,cheap ice cream, slices of melon and mango, nibbles of crisps and chips and now a recommendation of crackerbread.
On dehydration, canonlyhopexo I am glad you have got new drugs, but am concerned you will soon be seriously dehydrated at this rate. Poor you. Have you got the famous kesostix to check for ketones, as A and E departments take them seriously? Is your urrine dark and scanty and your skin dry, or do you have a headache or blurry vision? That doctor seems very offhand. I think if you are no better tomorrow, you might have to go to A and E.

Reastie and beanhunter Much sympathy. beanhunter That you are a doctor and had difficulty in obtaining sympathetic treatment, as I seem to remember you had, is a grim comment on the way Hyperemesis is viewed.
eallison ...And that your SIL is a doctor and takes this attitude is awful too.
Kleino Good advice. I am glad they kept you in then, my goodness.
Anya I remember about the Latin lesson. Sorry you still feel bad.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Aww @Reastie I can really hear the desperation in your post, I'm so so sorry you're feeling like that, I will had bouts of feeling the same. I suffered from depression as a teenager and despite this baby being much wanted the past few weeks have been closer to what I experienced as teenager than any low points I've had since. This should be such a happy time for us all and it's just filled with dread for each new day. I'm trying to focus on the fact that each bad day is a day closer to a good day, some days that's easier than others. I just really really hope this gets better for you soon, you've helped me more than you know with your encouraging posts here and on the June thread.

Another poster mentioned having a little cry. I've been doing this more recently, my husband tells me to cry and let it all out rather than getting angry or frustrated and it does help. This is miserable stuff and it's totally ok to have a wee cry!! None of us are alone in this.

I just can't work out how I'm meant to get off the meds. Was down to 2mg ondansetron 6am, cyclizine 12pm and ondansetron 6pm. Feeling largely ok (still a bit nauseous, but able to eat and drink most things. No vomiting. Energy levels ok). Took the cyclizine out. Nausea ramped up. Cyclizine back in. Back to ok. Swapped evening ondansetron to cyclizine. Wed and Thurs cyclizine had a noticeable effect in terms of completely stopping nausea (it was never this effective when first prescribed). Thought I was onto a good regime. Today I feel Very Sick and very tired. I am going to have to vomit soon (hopefully it will wait til husband gets home). Gah!!!

I hope you feel a bit better soon. I've been trying to reduce my meds too, I went with reducing the ondansetron (taking it if/when I feel rotten). I'm still taking cyclizine 3 x per day. Still taking ranitidine daily & movicol (most days). I'm still getting times where I feel nauseous/refluxy but nothing like before (although I am 30 weeks now).

Now the other joys of pregnancy have kicked in...painful hips/back/knees & feel exhausted all the time!

Had growth scan yesterday baby is growing well (although is extended breech).

Thanks Priscilla. Wondering if I should take cyclizine first thing and ondansetron only if I feel like I'm going to vomit.

Hope baby turns in time!