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.
It has been suggested that I add some practical tooth cleaning advice: a lot of sufferers find using a child's small toothbrush and strawberry toothpaste far less nauseating.
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.

Reastie I think we should make that into a poster.

HG top tip: have low expectations from what you’re able to do and you’ll find it easier to cope mentally

Honestly the mental adjustment has been one of the bigger unexpected things to tackle for me!

I just want to chip in in agreement with whats been said re:medicating vs how you feel and how you cope. My GP wouldn’t prescribe anything other than cyclizine which was really hard somedays but I’m now 20 weeks and I’m in the lightened part of the tunnel. I haven’t needed hospital at all- the early meds advice works and I’m alive and baby is alive and the kids are alive and DH is alive. Even though I wanted more and should have been given more some days, I have managed in terms of objective physical health.
By way of encouragement to those of you in the very real darkness of the tunnel... I’ve now had a week and a half of nearly normal days. My saliva/mucous leaves me gagging and vomiting every morning, but once I’m through that and had something to eat and pill one.. I have very mild nausea that is actually bearable and I can be myself again. I can now use the recommended remedies for excess saliva through the day (eating, drinking, chewing gum). Chewing gum would disintegrate in my mouth after a minute previously so I had to spit all the time. I can eat almost anything (just still not bolognese or associated minced meats). I’ve only hit the wall of fatigue twice in that time and a 10 min dose while the kids watch tv has worked. I’ve put the kids to bed on my own twice. We’ve been to groups, shops, friends’ houses. We’ve started to let people know that things are improving. We bought 12 Krispy Kreme donuts at the weekend and ate them all.
We can tell already that people are brushing past it and expect us to jump back to all our previous responsibilities and activities, and they just don’t GET it.
Because it’s not just over (even though it’s literally wonderful to feel how I do) and it’s been so unbelievably exhausting. It’s been 100 days of vomiting, gagging, fatigue, tears, self-loathing, depression, stress. Nobody gets that you don’t snap back to normal after weeks of feeling subhuman every time you wet yourself while vomiting mucous and bile, where the smell and feel of yourself is just tortuous. But this is my third (and last I hope) and it’s ok not to go back to normal straight away. Be properly kind to yourself and acknowledge the absolute trauma you are enduring, and don’t let anyone who doesn’t get it take the reality away from you. I’m going to keep reading the thread and it’s been such a help to me. Actually the main thing I feel that you have all brought me is validation and confidence in what HG is and how we need to just make it through as comfortably as possible sending love to you all in the thick of this torture and cheering you on.

@Hairwizard so sorry you are still in hospital. Hope they get you sorted soon.
I’ve been on the cyclezine for 2 weeks. It’s still turning me zombie! But it’s hekping with the sickness, so I’m staying friends with it.

My sickness & nausea does feel like it’s ramping up a bit the past couple of days. Gah!

@LucindaE you have my upmost sympathy with the migraines. I get horrible clusters of them. I had about 4 in a row when I first found out I was expecting. I suffered really badly in my last pregnancy. So much so that my gp did loads of research and had a meeting with the practice pharmacist. They both recommended that, upon reviewing all of the available evidence, they felt it was safer for me to continue taking the triptan meds that work for me than it was to be so dehydrated. I was getting in quite a state with migraine vomiting on top of the HG. I only had to take them a few times, but I’m happy to do so again this time if needed.
Do talk to your gp if you are struggling.

@beforeihit30 my expectations are about floor level now 😂

cattaxi

Nighttime thank you so much for sharing that it’s timely for me, I’m approaching 14 weeks so a lot people expect me to be getting over it now, because they don’t realise it’s different with hyperemesis. I haven’t reached the point where I can even reliably sit upright all day, and if I’m lucky I get outside once a week (5 min walk to and the from clinic, or if I’m really feeling good 10 min walk to and then from DC1’s school). In the end I didn’t leave the house at all last week, I couldn’t, and I only had one half day on the sofa. I really appreciate you sharing your experience and reflections, especially about not bouncing straight back to what was normal before all of this. Like you said, this group is so helpful for this, and like you I have avoided the more severe side of things (like hospitalisation) because very early in pregnancy I learned about medication here and started it early.

This is also my third (and I think we can probably stop here!).

@LucindaE there is nothing worse than a migraine! I hope it ends soon!!

It's so true about needing to have low expectations because I stupidly cleaned the whole flat on Sunday cause I was feeling amazing only to spend Monday Tuesday constantly vomiting into my nice clean toilet. Then woke up today for the midwife and felt like hell (never booking an appointment for 9am again!) got to hear the heart beat but got ignored when I raised my concerns about really bad heart palpitations that make me breathless and almost faint so I feel like she's trying to kill me. Then had to do the dreaded shop in Asda with dh because I'm the only one that can drive, had to sit down while he went to the checkout but some lady decided to empty her whole shop onto all of the bench so ended up crouching like Gollum by the trolley 😂
Feel like I've totally pushed it today and have a busy two days of more appointments and forced socialising ahead of me!!

avacadoo you need to switch to Asda online shop! We switched to getting the weekly shop delovered when i was pregnant last tine (4years ago!) And never looked back! No physical exertion, no smells/triggers. Then when baby was here i didnt have to worry about getting us out. And now with a toddler i dont have cajole him round the shop!!

Hope your migraine has gone now @LucindaE xxx
Take it easy when you can today @avacadooo and sending a hug to@Hairwizard - hope you're home soon xxx

I'm off to work in a second, cooing quite well just shattered & in bed at 7, but that's ok 😀

Avacadoo we also now do online shop and haven’t looked back. It’s the only way. The nice delivery people even carry the bags into the kitchen for me. Tbh just unpacking them all on some days is really tough.

I think as well as the lower expectations thing the thing I find really annoying other than not being able to do as much as you want beyond the first trimester when things aren’t quite as bleak but are still darn tough is every one (including a number of medical professionals) don’t get how limited you still are and how it still affects you. I still can’t believe the mh nurse that told me needing a day to recover from a hospital appointment was because I was feeling sick for psychosomatic reasons, I’m so cross about it. If only she actually knew and realised and had knowledge of how tough is genuinely is.

This morning I have tried to do pg yoga but not my own very gentle almost non existent stretches that I make up but an actual pg yoga video. It was only half an hour and was gentle by pre preg standards but I’m pooped already! Will just lie down to recover before getting up properly for the day.

Have had 2 relatively good days this week, I’m twitchy as feel I’m due a bad one but I’m trying to keep positive that wouldn’t it be positive if things are slightly improving. Although I’ve done next to nothing the past 2 days so maybe that’s why they weren’t so bad.

Lucinda I hope you recover speedily from your migraine. They are the worst, I hate them.

Getting home today thank god! Can catch up on sleep then. Never sleep well in here.
Yea the mental adjustment in expectations is the biggest hurdle for sure.
Have been feeling great last couole weeks and easing back into my housework routine. SIL is doing my nut in about cleaning, shes obssessed with cleaning and constantly at me about coming in to clean cos im pregnant so shouldnt be doing it i want to clean my own house in peace. Makes me feel normal.

Oh hairwizard I would totally be taking your SIL up on the offer to clean!!

Fuck no! I clean my own house. But she goes on and on about it. Makes me feel like my cleaning isnt up to par. She is proper ocd about it.
Last weekend, she texted on sat asking if i needed her to come round. Then again on sunday then again the sunday evening.
If im feeling rubbish i dont do it, aslong as dc fed and watered and nobody died then all good. When i feel ok i do it myself. Why is that so hard for her to get?? Sorry but its really pissing me off the daily asking.

So my sore throat is now a chest infection which has made me vomit more. Now having to fight after gp referred me in for fluids but maternity say I have no ketones. Sigh. Not weed since 4am and vomiting 5 times is apparently insufficient. I have not missed hospital.

@bean
Thats shit! Hope you feel better soon. Rcog guidelines states they shouldnt rely on ketones as sole indicator of dehydration.

Yep. I know. Am 33 weeks and been at this a while. In fact they now said no fluids until I provide a urine - slightly missing the fact that I’m dehydrated and therefore don’t need to wee! Plus in all my admissions I never had ketones - even when I had steroids!

Thank you, Cattaxi Advocadoo Reastie and everyone, over sympathy. Mother Hen's migraines have got a bit milder over the years, thank goodness. The triptans sadly didn't work for me when I tried them as I found they just deferred the migraine, but I am so glad Cataxi that they allowed you to keep taking them. I found that the migraines were appalling in the first 14 weeks, and then, miraculously, they stopped.I hope they do for you and everyone on here, my goodness.
Hairigician I do hope you are out of hospital nowand feeling abit better. 4+ ketones sounds awful. That is a bit insulting.I think your priorities are quite correct, but if she has an otc about it, I would say 'Go ahead: I'm concentrating on priorities...' But then I am lazy.
beanhunter That is so infuriating that they turned you away due to lack of ketones. Despite guidelines, some hospitals still seem to insist on using them.
Wise words from NighttimeNope and beoreihit30 on lowering expectations. I might have to put that quote along with 'This Too Must Pass' as a motto, it is so good.
eallison Are there health food bars without fruit and sugar you could try? Are you allowed to eat crisps and take a mouthful now and then, or is that a silly suggestion?
Waves to the former Mustang to ElkieMacjibe and everyone.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

norbert I meant to say, don't overdo it at work and thanks for sympathy.
beforei hit30 I will add your quote to the introductory post on the next thread: HG top tip: have low expectations from what you’re able to do and you’ll find it easier to cope mentally.

Talking of online shopping. I’ve been ordering from Asda or ocado since I’ve been unwell. Both are great, Asda has more variety whereas ocado don’t sell so much kids food. Particularly turkey dinosaurs which are a favourite treat for the kids in our house. So I switch between Asda and ocado, the price isn’t too different either. I do find that Asda send me some very strange substitutes if they’re out of stock of something I ordered .

I’m going back to work this Sunday, first day back since before Christmas. I was worrying about my spitting and extra saliva but work have said I’m allowed what ever drinks I like at the desk with me. I have also found that chewing gum helps!
I have been doing the morning school run again since before Christmas and chewing gum has definitely kept the overflow away. So I’m not too worried now, just worried about being extra tired when I get home from work.
Hope everyone is doing ok.

Thanks. Finally getting some fluids.

bean glad you're finally getting fluids. How frustrating to have to battle for it still. Are you completely off the steroids now?

lucinda most crisps are simply too carb heavy. I am allowed skips tho! I took a big bag of nuts with me today and ate them pretty constantly. And hubby made a delish salad for dinner last night, and made enough for me to have for lunch, so I just sat at my desk and ate that when I got hungry.

Been off since 20 weeks.
Had 2 litres now and finally weed. Ironically have 4+ ketones when I’ve never had any before

Another small bleed so back at hospital. For what seems to be our weekly visit. Joy

Home. Minimal concern over bleed. One doctor wanted to keep me in. I raised my concerns 're food and meds and my routine and the very quick negative spiral by happens when my morning fiid/meds routine is messed with, combined with need for dairy free diabetes friendly breakfast, no later than 7.15am... other doctor very quickly decided that I should go home. If bleed gets worse, straight back. And i have to go back in the morning for my anti d injection.

To be honest, it's my awkward blood type that made me go in this evening. It's a minimal bleed, again, smaller than first one. But any bleed event means I have to have anti d.

Its just so annoying as I knew I needed a relaxed, lazy day tomorrow. It's been a long stressful week, and hubby had booked me a full pedicure and manicure for tomorrow afternoon. I had a lovely sleep filled morning planned, then midwife apt, then mani/pedi. Now my sleep filled morning will be spent getting to/being at/getting hone from hospital. Necessary and understandable, but frustrating as it means that Saturday will now need to involve lots of sleep, rather than family time. Never mind, bigger picture ; baby is fine, I'm fine, I'm home, and we'll continue plodding along towards the day when this baby decides to join us in the real world.

Eallison that sounds so stressful, I hope you can still get some quiet relaxing time in - you deserve it!

I had a v lazy day yesterday and basically lay down all day after overdoing it looking after my 14 month old on Weds. Feeling slightly better today although already been sick and can't face much more than being still. I've done something to my back from being so immobile I think, trying to find energy to stretch is a struggle!

Wishing everyone a sick-free restful Friday (and happy St David's day from a Welshie residing in England)

I'm back in hospital this morning with more bleeding. More of the same; doctors aren't worried etc etc. Had a good long chat with one of them about the increasing discomfort and pain in my bump. Basically, she just said that unfortunately some pregnancies are just painful. She sympathized but said that it wasn't a big worry from a medical point of view (And managed to say it without belittling my concerns). She advised taking pain relief, said paracetamol will cause no problems at all for baby and if its really bad then codeine is also fine. She was really reassuring. I've just gotta get my head round the fact that this pregnancy is shit in many ways now! I'm gonna try and do some swimming, see if that helps. And maybe look into rebozzo wrapping, so if that helps.

elkie sorry you had a rubbish day yday, its often the way after we get carried away on a good day! I hope you can rest today ready for the weekend!

Eal you really are getting all the things aren’t you! You sound remarkably in good spirits compared to what a rubbish time you’ve had of it. You’re past half way, it will come to an end in a few months, just grit your teeth and take every day at a time.

Went to local mw today. Not my usual as she’s on holiday but mw was lovely anyway. The local mws are so much better and more helpful than anyone at the big hospital where I go for consultant aps. She totally got that I needed answers to my questions and not knowing things aren’t helping my anxiety. I gave her my type out that I wrote explaining why I’m struggling, why my last pg was difficult, what would be useful for me to do during this pg to help me cope. It was 4 pages long . She said she will give it to my mw to look at before my next apt in 2 weeks so mw can go through what would help me. I’m feeling positive now. She agreed with me that seeing a birth choices mw was a waste of time and she thought it might actually make me more anxious and be detrimental as they will spend the apt scaring me with risks of having a She’s going to look into cancelling that.

Elkie I’m glad you had a restful day yesterday. Rest makes such a difference. I had two goodish days this week I’m and pretty sure it’s because I did so little and hadn’t no appointments or trips out earlier in the week to recover from.

Bean how are you feeling now?

Blii good luck back at work, let us know how you go. I’m glad work are being so accommodating to you. It’s the little things that make the difference.

Hair just ignore the crazy cleaning lady and do what you want when you want/can. In a way it’s good preparation to lower our household standards post birth

Feel like I’m constantly dashing to the loo for a BM at the mo. Yesterday 9 times, NINE TIMES! I weighed myself this morning and have gone down a pound from yesterday. Do you think I pooed the equivalent of a pound of weight?! It certainly feels like it! Twice so far today. Wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t feel so sick before.