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.

@LucindaE I've just went to clean my bathroom and found chilli everywhere are the toilet, guess my aim sucks 😂😂
I'm going to regret my cleaning spree tomorrow but once I start I can't stop because it gets on my nerves, I hate this but feel using up my energy today at least means I'll have a clean house to mope in tomorrow.

@eallison88 oh my god that's so cute of him to give you his stool!

Congratulations on your poo @eallison88

That’s the one thing that’s making me lean towards trying to discontinue Ondansetron before the metoclopramide. I’ve got so much pelvic pain that bearing down for a concrete ooo literally makes me feel like my pelvis is splitting in half.

I had several dreams about poo last night! I hold this thread responsible .

Last night was another awful one for me. Haven’t felt that bad in probably 3 weeks now. Thought I was beyond feeling that bad but obviously not. Seemed to be related to bm as once I’d gone it lifted. Still not exactly sure on why some bms cause such intense nausea and others barely anything. No one medical seems to be able to give me an answer other than ‘one of those things’. I keep womdering if I can manage without ondansetron and maybe that and the laxatives cquse it. Has anyone stopped ondansetron who has had nausea before bm? Was it any better or not?

Are you busy speaking of a rugby or football match or something? I have no idea!

@NorthLondonmum83 I'm also on my 3rd pregnancy, but first hyperemesis one. One of the doctors I saw said nausea on average gets worse with each pregnancy, and also increases with maternal age, it's on average worse with girls too (although my vomiting was actually worse with DC1 who is a boy).

@Reastie my nausea gets a lot worse as more days pass since I last went and I get more constipated, but it's not triggered by the actual act of going. Is it at all linked to how much you have to exert yourself or how long since you last went? If you are struggling with ondensatron, have you / would they let you try metaclopramide - it's a bowel stimulant so should help?

Teddy it’s more likely t be worse if I haven’t been but I’m going a lot, I’m going on average 4 times a day and sometimes over 8! So it doesn’t overly build up over weeks but I do have so much every day. I can’t find any actual triggers to why some days the nausea with bm is so much worse than others. It’s usually relatively easy to go when I do go too and usually quite soft, itsjust sometimes my body decides to make me feel awful before bm and I can’t go before my body is ready. If I do a lot first thing it’s usually better during the day but not always. I’ve tried metcloploride but it actually made me worse as my nausea is worse when my stomach is empty and it was encouraging the stomach to empty. Pss said this happens with some people. It’s also one of the reasons I’m worried so much about fasting for my csection as empty stomach = intense nausea symptoms.

Afternoon all, would appreciate your advice on something. I need to tell my work today that I've been signed off for another week and won't be in tomorrow/next week.

I'm tempted to include this link when I tell them - sites.google.com/site/pregnancysicknesssos/about-hg/what-is-it-like-to-have-hg - because I want them to understand and, realistically, because it might lessen my guilt about being off! I'm worried it might be a bit much though especially as I'm not even throwing up currently because of the medication and because noone has actually diagnosed me with HG, I'm definitely not at the extreme end of the scale.
What would you do? Share it with them or leave it? For context, I'm a solicitor and my work are understanding in writing but I know really they are frustrated I am off as we are very short staffed. All opinions welcome!

What a brilliantly informative article Elkie . In a weird way I enjoy reading these types of things as there’s so many times I nod and agree that I’ve felt like that and that happens to me too, it makes me feel less alone. FWIW I was advised to say as little as possible to work by friends and family. They know how ill I was last time and when I was first signed off this time I told them I was off for pretty much the whole pg last time and although I hoped I might improve and return, I advised them to prepare that chances were I could be off for a long time.

I think it’s a good idea for your workplace to be clear that chances are this will not suddenly soon dissapear and this could be an ongoing issue for some months and require phased return to work etc when you are up to returning. If you’re worried about their perceptions of the severity of how you feel then put the link in for them to look at. Ime the people that aren’t sympathetic and don’t understand at all even when they have all the information given to them rarely change their views but most people, even though they don’t trily understand, have been good about it.

elkie I wouldn't send the link, if it were me. In my experience, if people are going to sympathetic they will be, and if they're not, no amount of explanation will make a difference. I think keep it completely professional with work adjust advise them you're signed off for another week.

Steroid side effects are back with some force. Nightmares (including the very vivid one I've just had about a former colleague). Hot flashes and full body sweats (there's an actual waterfall flowing between my boobs right now). Insomnia and fatigue, thus sleeping at random times (like 2 hours in the middle of the afternoon). Constant need to eat (even tho eating is practically impossible with the diabetes). Emotions all over the place, extreme highs to extreme lows. I've put on a load more weight this week, which my poor thighs can attest to, they are now basically one big stretch mark.

On the plus side, as of tomorrow I'm officially 3rd trimester. Huzzah! Can't quite believe I've made it this far.

I agree what a brilliant article Elkie! It literally covers every aspect particularly the mental health side which isn’t really mentioned / explored. If I had come across this article I would have definitely shared with my manager, especially as HG pregnancies were not really common in my work place. Another lady I work with has just been diagnosed with it though and to be honest, my work place have been really supportive throughout and I’m 36 weeks now, started my mat leave officially on Friday but been on the sick for quite a large portion of my pregnancy unfortunately.

Sorry I’ve been so quiet the last few weeks my sickness ramped up again and in turn has now caused the worst constipation ever. I’ve literally just sobbed for ages on the toilet and I’m now back in bed which I haven’t really moved from since Friday! I’ve also got a water infection which I had to get my DP to take me to an OOH surgery yesterday for antibiotics. I couldn’t even sit up properly in the chair, when you’re that constipated it hurts to even sit in a ‘normal’ position luckily I wasn’t in there too long. I’ve completely given up on the CosmoCol I had a sachet at 5am yesterday morning and i thought I was going into labour the pains were awful. Im positive it was stimulating my uterus. I’m definitely sticking to movicol, lactulose & suppositories especially being this far into my pregnancy; it was just a crappy day yesterday. I’m feeling really fed up and so upset I just keep crying. Urgh rant over. I have to remind myself I’m really close to that finishing line now.

Hope everyone else is having a better day!

Anya212 Oh dear, I am sorry you feel so bad and it has returned badly.
A uti is just too bad as well as tied up bowels. I do hope you can get some relief soon. You should have come back to moan sooner! That is what this thread is for. I wish I could give some useful advice, but it looks as if you have tried all sorts of laxatives and with the sickness back badly it is hard to get enough liqiuds. Probaby with vomiting trying thing like cocoanut ice would not be advisable and you must have given up on Fyregel months ago...I am glad at least work have been sympathetic.
eallison How sweet of your LO.
Elkiejacjibe I am afraid that Mother Hen, no longer being up on what approach modern workplaces take, couldn't venture an opinion on whether it might be a good thing to send that. I'll leave that to youngsers to decide.
CalmberComber Oh no; poor you. As above with Anya.
Advocado Lol [green]. That is sod's law.
Reastie I never dreamed of bowel movements, but puking, yes [green]. And I sitll remember grotesque dreams about scooping foods I could not endure out of my mouth.
Teddyreddy I wonder if that is to do with increased hormones with subsequent pregnancies?
Apologies to anyone rudely ignored.

Thanks for the advice, I did send the article because I decided why not, nothing to lose! It makes me feel better that they might have a vague idea of what is going on with me.

Sorry there is a lot of suffering going on at the moment 😢 here to listen if nothing else.

@Elkie that article is fantastic. I want to share it on Facebook with my own highlights/warnings. Like
-don’t assume you know how the sufferer feels because you/your sister/your friend was really sick. You might, but the assumption is very demoralising.
-don’t assume you’re getting the full picture when you ask how the sufferer feels. It is a traumatic time and talking about the reality of the spectrum of suffering is rarely manageable for many reasons.

• There are drugs which are safe and good. Don’t burden the sufferer with your ‘what ifs’ or prejudices about medications in pregnancy. Dehydration is shown to be detrimental to baby and mother health and dehydration is certain without an appropriate care plan.

-Don’t assume the sufferer can do more than they are currently. It is a miserable way to live and sufferers are desperate to resume the familiarity of their lives. -Don’t. Recommend. Ginger.

but I still feel too raw and vulnerable to be so assertive about it. I’m also aware that there is a very real kindness behind many of the ‘errors’ - my mother in law bought me a very fancy ginger tea to try if I felt like it at Christmas time. At the same time she didn’t expect me to lift a finger looking after the children or cooking/dishes for the duration of our visit. So I shrink back from being too blunt because many people are kind and good and it feels like my need to feel heard will possibly hurt them in their good and kind intentions... argh. I guess this is why an anonymous thread on an Internet forum offers such relief.

I have not slept. I am exhausted. I don't know if it's nerves about growth scan today or steroid side effects kicking in again. Or a combo. I really hope it's not just steroids as I cannot cope with my sleeping being screwed again. I suppose the silver lining would be that any residual guilt about being off work would be lifted - there's no way I can function at work on these sleep levels (from memories of November/December).

Oh and reastie, the Calcutta Cup is a rugby match between England and Scotland. I'm still reeling from the result. England had it won. Then suddenly they didn't. All credit to Scotland! Makes me nervous for the World Cup in the Autumn. My son was born during the last world cup, and I'm looking forward to watching this one with a 3-4 month old in tow, too!

Wishing everyone a peaceful day

Eal I hope the scan goes well and you feel better soon. It always makes things so much worse when you don’t sleep well.

Feeling too rubbish to scroll back and comment on everyone else but have read all posts.

Having an ‘I hate this’ moment. This morning I didn’t feel too terrible. I did 25 minutes on my bike, had a bath, did the dishwasher, put the washing on and made a cake (I had loads of eggs needing to be used up by today so had to do something with them). It’s totally screwed me up. Why do I think I can do even little small stuff. I can’t! Will I never learn! So now I’m on the sofa trying not to be sick and wishing my life away. 26 weeks. Really? Only 26 blooming weeks. It feels like I’ve been pg for years. I can’t imagine ever feeling normal again.

Thanks reastie. None of those things sound like small things!

Scan is fine. Baby is on 80th centile, on the big end of what's "acceptable" for me, but within the acceptable lines so I'll chalk it up as a win. I didn't see my consultant, saw some other doctor who tried to tell me I'll need to wean off steroids at 36weeks. I stopped him and said that I am weaning as and when I can, as supported by my consultant. I then got a lecture about how ive probably got diabetes cos of steroids, and that may cause problems to baby (after telling me moments before that there are no worries about babys size from the scan), and that if i dont wean the sterpids then I'll have to have them in labour. And started on the risks/side effects of steroids. Yes love, I know all of this. He said I could go, so I questioned if id see my consultant, he said no. Apparently I should have made it clear that I only wanted to see my consultant. I thought having an appointment with my consultant would have covered me. I'm feeling very teary about the whole morning, tbh. I've been to feel like I'm ridiculous for not transferring my care over wholesale to the diabetic team. I've, yet again, been told I need to wean off the steroids. And all I want to eat is a jacket spud with tuna mayo or tuna mayo pasta salad. And I can have neither cos too fucking carby. So now I'm sitting in my car having a good cry before driving home to tuna (No mayo) and lettuce and cucumber and no joy whatsoever. And then I shall pull myself together again.

Thanks Lucinda, I’ve finally managed a BM - I'm sure I went last time the day after commenting on this thread too! Must remember to whinge on here and pray I go the next day again!! I upped the movicol to x2 per day & laculose 15ml x2 and that’s worked without those horrible pains from CosmoCol. So strange that stuff. Diet has been horrible lately and increased meds so I can only put it down to this for this occasion.

I’m becoming really worried about pain relief options in labour now and horror stories of ladies suffering with constipation really badly. Im thrilled I can ditch the ondansetron as soon as she’s here, but as this is my first baby does anyone have any recommendations of the best pain relief (should I need it - sure I will tho) which won’t give me horrific constipation after birth? I’m not sure I’ll be able to cope with this level of constipation and a newborn.

Night I think you’ve put it very well there too. I’ve wanted to share articles like this on social media and share my experience too, I’ve typed things out several times and never posted as I couldn’t be bothered with the comments.

eal hope the scan goes well today for you.

reastie I really feel for you, I feel like I’ve been pregnant for years too. Try not to be too hard on yourself & I hope you feel better soon.

@Reastie I don't remember what life was life pre pregnancy it's like it's been my whole life 😂
I'm also couch bound because of doing too much, when will we learn!!

www.spewingmummy.co.uk/blog/2018/4/4/4iq32ya072mlktaoqpy554e5cozski-wrlkx-wyyn2-8y9ww-lkjnn-2fhax-cwk66-dnk8e
Found this blog I quite enjoyed so shared it to Facebook so everyone knows I'm not being a lazy drama queen.
Week 19 is looking promising as I now enjoy a cup of tea after months of being disgusted by them 🙌

@eallison88 I'm sorry that doctor was a dick! I would put in a complaint because nobody should be made to feel like that and be blamed for their health problems when you've done nothing wrong.
On a different note I really want a cheese and beans baked potato and I'm in the process of getting dh to get me one 😂

Eal that is rubbish. FWIW every time I’ve been told I’ll see a consultant and am given the name of th consultant in the letter I never see an actual consultant, it’s always a registrar as part of the clinic of the named consultant. I’d ignore everything today’s doctor told you as you know what your plan is, and just ask when you get each apt if it’s with th consultant or not.

Still feeling pretty dire. And guess what, seems to be related to bms still despite being after doing too much. I’m getting to the point of thinking I should try completely giving up the ondansetron to see if that actually makes me better given I’m worse at this point than last time (when I wasn’t on it) and bm issues seem to be the source of a lot of nausea. But I’m scared. I might ring up pss and see if they have any knowledge about it.

Anyat I’m exactly the same about worried about constipation post delivery. I’m having a csection but have been told I can take my ondansetron as usual the morning of the surgery, I’m also hoping to have a plan in place where they give me some during the op as I felt so sick last time. But this will cause constipation and constipation alongside post section trapped wind and stomach wound is going to be awful! I’m interested in what other people have done post delivery when on ondansetron during delivery. I’m assuming I’ll take movicol once I’m eating again.

Movicol is costing me a small fortune where I’m taking it instead of the cocosmol prescribed. I still don’t understand how it can be the same thing on th ingredients list but not work the same!

Avacadoo thank you for the link, will read. I remember a lot of my mat leave post baby last time was just spent reintegrating into normal life again. I had forgotten what it was like to go out to shops, to talk to people etc, and found that adjustment back into real life took quite a long time. I also was really bitterly envious of everyone who had normal pgs and just couldn’t understand how hard I had had it. They were so breezy and normal and had done normal things and adjusting to life as a baby a lot better than me. I felt like I had gone through a lifetime since I had last done anything and just getting to things like a bfing support group was ridiculously difficult. Not just logistically with a baby like everyone finds but mentally after th I months of self inflicted isolation and misery.

@Reastie I'm so jealous of my SIL cause she breezed through pregnancy and had a couple hour labour, not that I blame her for my sucky experience I just wish I had the same. But she never once rubbed it in my face unlike some folk that have and have made me feel like a failure for being this ill. I can't wait to feel like a normal human again, it's been so long that I can't even remember how to do my eyebrows anymore I tried the other day and they look comical.😂
I hope I meet a hg sufferer in real life post baby so we can share war stories and so I don't have to listen to a bunch of new mums brag about their perfect pregnancy.

I have just ordered a baked potato on Deliveroo. 🤤🙌

Anyat a lot of women are a bit constipated after birth but it’s not always a pain relief issue (I’ve actually never heard of that connection), IIRC it’s to do with hormones and everything having been quite active inside during labour, and sometimes postpartum bowels are slightly slower, although the norm is just for a couple of days and not necessarily severely. It’s also because some women are understandably a bit nervous of any ‘pushing’ type motion so soon after birth (if vaginal). Different for C-section where I hear trapped wind/constipation can be a common side effect. In my experience (vaginal births), gas and air didn’t cause me constipation (also IME you can poo rather a lot during labour ). After DC1 I took one dose of lactulose about 2 or 3 days after birth as I was a little slow and nervous it would get worse, as I was scared of straining having had stitches, but that was it (and I probably jumped the gun a bit!).

On the flip side, I am not a fan of diclofenac as it gives me terrible gas and an upset stomach, which is a fairly common side effect (unscientific statement on my part, but my parents and DH have the same reaction). With DC2 they gave me a diclofenac suppository when I was being stitched to help with pain relief (because I was given cocodamol in labour, which was a ridiculous waste of time and I should have just refused it but at the time I figured the quicker I took it and it had no effect, the quicker they’d get me on the G&A). I was on the gas and air at the time of the suppository and too out of it to really notice. Was a bit miffed later as I knew what was inevitably coming my way! It’s now in all of my records to not give me diclofenac

I seem to remember after my section beingiven diclophanac (can’t spell) and codeine as pain killers to take home. I know I didn’t take th diclofenic as it disagreed with me so thinking about it I must’ve been very constipated having codeine!

Final week at work. Feel horrid. Growth scan weds. Just want this over now.

Had a textbook lunch. Sugar readings thru the roof. Despite lowering steroids again today. And upping the insulin. Ffs.

I will be ignoring idiot doctor. We've had this before tho, and they've made a point of making clear on apt stuff that I'm only meant to see my consultant. There was a bit of paper on the outside of my notes with the name of my consultant on it when I saw my diabetic midwife and then the normal midwife. That had gone by the time I saw the doctor. I suspect someone fucked up and that bit of paper should still have been there and if it had I would have seen her.

Sorry to hear so many are having such a rotten time, hoping you all get a good nights sleep and feel a bit better tomorrow.
I'm recovering from a weekend with no sleep thanks to a bug from nursery that my little girl caught 😫 so that coupled with a day of training an hour's train ride away has worn me out. In bed already and hoping for a very early night after some toast.
Sending hugs to everyone x

Oh dear, eallison you poor thing. So infuriating about the consultant and then the sugar reading. Tomorrow will be better. You would think that severe cases at least would see their designated consultant. Here's some
Reastie You will feel normal again,and be able to do normal things.
That's a promise! Take me up on it! Here's some for you too.
Nightitmenope So true.
Anya Congratulations on moving bowels. This thread obviously gives you the s.
Advocadoo Tea- that's wonderful progress. Life is bearable if you can drink tea. Have you had a look at the Facebook group to arange meetings in real life?
norbert Mother Hen is shocked that you had to cope with such a timetable: sick LO, a training day and two hours on the train. I hope the nausea wasn't bad on the train. to you.
ElkieMacjibe I am glad it was a relief to do that!
all round!
Here's the Due Dates list.
Due Dates

elpreggo27 20 March
silversplodge 4 April
Anya 13 Apriil
Beanhunter 17 April
8DaysAWeek 1st May
tinyradish 1 May
foreverblues 5 May
Plasticgiraffe 10 May
Mamabear13 18 May
bumblebee 20 May
SashaMonsta 31 May
eallison June
Nighttimenope 13 July
evuscha 26 July
emma 4 August
CalmerComber 5 August TWINS
Teddyreddy 9 August
advocadoo 11 August
canonlyhope 13 August
Bili 16 August
Hairgician 16 August TWINS!
norbert 26 August
beforei hit30 3 September
stroen 4 September
DeadDoorPost 8 September
1Potato 8 September
MoonKid 1 October TWINS!
Elkiemacjibe 12 October
cattaxi 19 October