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.

WeeBean Wisewords of comfort for Reastie.
MauisLeftNipple It is so discouraging that thngs can vary so much from day to day. It is very diffiuclt to know what meds to take in these circumstances.
Priscilla83I do hope baby turns. So many do. I am glad that the scan was fine, and that you are coping.Sorry about the aches and pains.

@MauisLeftNipple I went with reducing the ondansetron as it's the one which works more quickly where as cyclizine needs to build up in your system. That way I only take the ondansetron when I feel icky. Still need the anti reflux though!

mauis don't drop the meds if you still need them, then you need them. try again in a couple of weeks.

Priscilla can I ask was Ondansetron giving you acid reflux? And which meds are you on for it? I wonder if that is why I am so nauseous this week. I am struggling to eat despite taking Ondansetron three times daily and Stemetil twice daily.
It all seemed to be working quite well but towards end of week 10 and now into week 11, the nausea is awful. I feel like my stomach is full of acid.

Mauis maybe you’re not ready to reduce medication yet? It’s tough but I’d agree to stick with cyclizine so it’s built up in system then maybe ondansetron for as and when, it’s also better in that cyclizine is first line and ondansetron second line. I didn’t even think of reducing until 20 weeks last time, we’re still relatively early on.

Priscilla sorry about all the late pg issues you’re having, hope they don’t get worse.

Thanks for the sympathies, had ANOTHER badish day today (well, afternoon mainly but it’s early still and my worse time of day is yet to come) and it’s my birthday so I really do deserve a good day today of all days! Had to spend the afternoon in bed but I’m crossing fingers maybe the nap earlier will help me feel better through this evening.

Xposted Klein definitely worth trying something for reflux to see if it helps.

Thanks Reastie.
And happy birthday! Sorry it has been so rubbish for you

Happy birthday Reastie sorry it’s been such a rough day - I had the same for my birthday and think the baby is going to be born before I finally go out for a nice birthday dinner or eat cake! Definitely catch up on lots of rest and hopefully you’ll be feeling well enough to celebrate one of these days soon.

Klein I’m not sure if it’s ondansetron that gives acid reflux but many pregnant women especially those with HG suffer from acid reflux. I take ranitidine for it - speak with your doctor as if massively adds to the nausea and can be massively improved with medication

reastie congratulations on surviving your birthday. Next year will be much, much better!

bean one of the very, very few upsides of being a doctor with HG is that once it's all over, you'll be one of the few doctors who really -get- HG. Small comfort now, but at least you'll be able to give something to others later!

I think that's one of the very few positives of going through a horrible experience, you can make sense of it by giving something back ... don't want to be Pollyanna, just something I've found personally

14 weeks today and still battling vomiting and nausea 😑 Every week I hope that will be it and every week I'm disappointed.

This week though I had 2 days (not in a row) where I didn't vomit and only had mild nausea, this is the first time this has happened in 9 weeks, from experience does anyone think it could mean light at the end of the tunnel?

WeeBean don’t want to get your hopes up but my last preg was a bit like that and finished at 16 weeks- just vanished over night. I heard most people it is 16-20 weeks.
I am keeping it in mind as my hopeful end goal of what I am currently going through but this time has been way worse and started much earlier so I haven’t a clue when it will end for me, I just hope it does and this isn’t the whole preg for me!!

Thanks Olivecake- are you on Ondansetron as well? I was going to be prescribed it in hospital but I found I didn’t get the acid when having the meds in injection form, so it must be fine to take together but when I googled it something mention cardiac arrest! Clearly that can’t be the case otherwise the hospital would never have suggested it to me. I will ask the GP.

@Kleino83 thanks for you reply, fingers crossed! I think the fear of it lasting all the way through is very real for all of us, really really hope that won't happen for any of us. I honestly don't know how women who deal with it the whole way through manage labour and birth feeling like this, they must be superhuman!

I haven't read the full thread but wanted to give some words of support. I've had two HG pregnancies. The first I was hospitalised for six days. The sickness went away around 25 weeks. The second it lasted the whole pregnancy but I was on a triple dose (cyclazine/prochloporazine/odansatran) which stopped the vomiting and almost all the queasiness. I really had to fight to be put on all the drugs. I printed out drug guidance from a HG website and showed it to my doctor, who then checked with the obstatrician. That really saved my pregnancy. You have to be firm with the medical professionals. Most of them know nothing about HG and will suggest a gingernut I know it is horrendous to go through but you WILL come out the other side.

I’m a children’s doctor so sadly unlikely to ever be able to help professionally!

Thanks kittens, it’s always good to hear positives from someone who’s gone through it. I’m on the same drug combo as you but I’m still really struggling, I coukd not have got this far without the medication.

Weebean I’m crossing fingers for you. With me from 14 ish weeks it became very variable and I had moments of being better. From 16 weeks there was improvement enough to manage small trips out (but with a days recovery after each trip) then from 20 weeks there was a definite improvement and I was generally ok so long as I ate food that didn’t trigger me and avoided getting over tired/stressed/anxious as all these things would set it off again. But I really did feel like I coped a lot better in myself from 20 weeks so I’m crossing fingers you’re getting towards the end. I’m having a few better days now at 13 weeks but unfortunately they are often followed with rubbish worse days which feel like they go on and on.

Reastie I will say 'Happy Birthday' [glitterball), though I think it must have been your worst ever. As others say, next year things will be very different. Gentle cyber pats on offer, to you and to all feeling discouraged.
WeeBean Those good days are often a sign of the turnaound to come. Everyone dreads suffering throughout, but even those unlucky ones who do, almost never feel as bad later on as in the early weeks, thank goodness.
KittensandRainbows Thank you so much for your encouraging message. You wouldn't happen to have been called FluffyWhiteKittens during your Hyperemesis pregnancies, were you? I remember her well.
Waves to SeaEagleFeather and everyone....

It's unlikely ondansetron is causing acid reflux. However, it's it uncommon in pregnancy generally, and common in hyperemesis too. I have horrendous heartburn that is more or less managed by max dose omeprazole (20mg twice daily) and ranitidine (150mg twice a day). Speak to your GP, they'll probably start you on one of those.

I've had a much better day today, so I'm feeling positive again. I think it's my wonderful midwife. She's just so lovely and calm about evrything. It's looking likely I'll be joining the gestational diabetes club, but she's not worried enough to want to do anything before Feb, when she's booked me in with my consultant to get her to discuss it with me.

Sorry I've not caught up properly and can't remember most of what I've read... I'm super tired! Going to bed early (ie now, rather than gone midnight, as I feel like I might actually sleep. Love insomnia...)

Wishing all a peaceful night

Thank you for the words of encouragement ladies! I've just thrown up the little bit of dinner I managed after feeling awful all evening so feeling a bit rubbish again.

Reastie I also find that better days tend to be followed by much worse days, it's so grim. You're nearly 14 weeks now so I really hope this of follows the same pattern as your last and you notice an improvement soon!

Me too weebean. I remember 14 weeks was my worst week though in that when it was bad it was worse than before, so I’m also dreading the next week at the same time. Just trying to take it as gently as I possibly can and rest a lot in the hope. 2 1/2 weeks until 16 weeks.....I can do this.....and if I can so can you!

Eal that’s annoying about GD but I’m glad the mw is so lovely, that makes such a difference.

I can only tolerate ice cold drinks. But I've been doing pretty well with getting fluids in as a result them ice cold. Except over the last 36 hours my teeth have become so sensitive that every sip sends shouting pains down my teeth into my gums. Have tried cold water from the tap with no ice (running it for a bit so it's cold) but it's making me feel sick. Thisis ridiculous!!!

That’s annoying eal. It’s so weird as I can’t drink tap water either but I also found I couldn’t even manage ice cubes without getting worse but I could have warm water (luckily atm I can tolerate ginger and mint tea which makes it a bit nicer). If I drink it hot or warm it seems to be ok but if it gets cold it makes it worse again. Go figure . But I have very sensitive teeth so sympathise. I’m using sensodyne mouthwash atm which is helping and having small sips or tiny ice cubes makes it a bit easier, but sometimes it can just be really painful.

Back in bed this afternoon for another nap but in good news dds stocking bits are now all ready for Christmas Eve.

Oh and 3 year old has a vomiting buv/has eaten something that's disagreed with him. Started puking at midnight.... continued puking through the night til he decided twas the morning at 5.30am. I changed his sheets 5 times in 5 hours... so I'm completely exhausted. He is currently 2 hours into a nap, having been a poorly, grumpy, sad little clingy thing all morning. But not puked since getting up, so small mercies...! I'm so tired!!!

I'll look into the mouthwash, thanks!

Weebean I hope you feel a bit better today.
eallsonOh no, about LO's stomach bug.
Reastieand eallison It is strange about the varying needs for the temperature of liquids. I found that about warm tap water, too, Reastie. I t is odd, as I believe the Victorians used hot water as an emetic.
I hope everyeone is managing today.