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.

Saw another doctor today who prescribed me another 10 days of ondansetron. After asking me if I had tried peppermint tea, crackers and “just sipping on water slowly”. I could have screamed. I have my first midwife appt on Friday and doctor told me to talk to her about it. But I’ve got the tablets at least! Well, for now.

Have noticed they are having more of an impact now I’ve been taking them consistently. Having far fewer episodes of not being able to lift head from pillow without retching. Just trying not to think about how long I might feel like this for. Calippo ice lollies are also helping with fluids so thank you for that suggestion. Am definitely already constipated though 😬 - wondered if anyone had any laxative suggestions?

Hope a bit of sunshine on the face or through the window has helped everyone’s mood today. ☀️

@chj17 I think the first thing to try for constipation is lactulose, if it doesn't help then I've heard movicol mentioned on here a lot. I've had constipation in both previous, non hyperemesis pregnancies and any form of iron made it worse (even spatone) so if you continue to struggle and your pregnancy vitamins contain iron you may want to try some iron free ones. I also find prune juice helps, for some reason dried prunes don't.

I have my 20 week scan tomorrow and I'm really nervous about it. I'm hoping it'll make me feel a bit more positively about the baby too, I'm getting very tired of feeling nauseous and it's hard not to blame the baby .

Spoke to soon on the bleeding front. woken up this morning to a bleed, complete with scary looking clot. Just on my way into triage now.

chj17 daily lactulose pretty much Keeps on top of my constipation.

Heartburn; gaviscon makes me hurl. So I'm stuck with just the omeprazole and ranitidine and not lying down!!

Thinking of you@eallison88 x

Thanks norbert. Hooked up to monitor thing and listening to the rhythmic beating of baby's heart, so that's reassuring. Bleeding has also settled for now, so also reassuring. And lots of kicks. I'm.just upset that its the one day a week I have with my son, and I'll be here most of the morning now (by the time I've had my anti d) and not doing stuff with him. It is what it is.

@chj17 I find a sachet of Movicol before bed is enough for me now re constipation although did have a tricky start on ondansetron when lactulose just wasn't enough

@eallison88 thinking of you too, let us know how you get on

I am braving a return to work this afternoon after 4 weeks off. The day started well with a 5am hose-down-requiring poo explosion from my toddler 😬

Hi all, have been missing from the thread a few days because mn had a glitch and when I tried a few times to post it kept going weird and not letting me and in the end I just gave up.

Chj glad you’ve got some more I take movicol. I need 2-2.5 sachets a day but built it up gradually. Fwiw it tastes really salty so I have it with lemon squash which really helps the flavour to manage it.

Teddy hope the scan goes well. I was so nervous before mine and couldn’t sleep the night before, which meant I felt really sick from lack of sleep for the scan and spent a lot of it with my eyes closed trying not to fall asleep as I was so tired and rubbish.

Eal sorry for your bleed and being in hospital with day with your son. Just try to think he’ll never remember all this in a few years, it’ll pain into insignificance eventually. Share your heartburn woes, mine is ramping up but still intermittent touch wood

Still up and down here. Have been trying really hard not to overdo it and do the minimum which seems to be helping for last few days but may just be they are better days anyway. Have growth scan next Wednesday to look forward to. Seem to be in pattern of thinking I might try and cut down on medicine and the next day after I think about it it’s a bad day and I don’t know how I could contemplate it so I’m taking that as I’ll keep on what I’m on for now.

Still here. 37 weeks tomorrow and officially now on maternity leave. Pretty uncomfy with lots of braxton hicks. Bowels a bit better randomly so that’s a bonus. Just ready to be done now. Have an induction booked for 39+1 due to HG and IVF. Reflux however is vile!

Hope you got home quickly @eallison88. Glad all was well with baby.

@chj17 glad you got the meds.

Good luck with the scan tomorrow @Teddyreddy. Are you finding out what you’re Having? That really helped me in my last pregnancy - to think of a baby boy rather than a sick making parasite! I think we’ll do the same again .

Good luck back at work @ElkieMacjibe! I just got another 4 week sicknote.

I’m also finding Mn glitchy at the moment @Reastie. So annoying!

Last lap now @beanhunter - how exciting!

I’m so bored today. I feel super nauseous, so haven’t moved off the sofa.

beanhunter I'm so jealous you get to be induced. I'm not even allowed a sweep to try to end this misery until I'm bang on 40 weeks (1 week and counting). Although I feel nowhere near as bad as the early days, I think it's harder psychologically to deal with bad days at the end as I feel like it should be over by now.
Trying all the 'natural' induction things I can - raspberry leaf tea, pineapple (both don't make me sick hooray), went for a really long walk yesterday and got some contractions for an hour but they stopped and today I'm stuck in bed again feeling rubbish from overdoing it.

So the midwives and doctors weren't as happy with baby's monitoring as I was. So I spent 2 hours being monitored this morning cos baby wasn't hitting criteria. I negotiateda few hours at home for lunch and a sleep, once they'd established bleeding was stopped (once I made them realise that they couldn't feed me here, and explained what would happen both in terms of diabetes and mainly the HG, it wasnt a tough sell!!). Been back for half an hour and baby has now met whatever cruteria it was meant to (the midwives came in and cheered when they looked at the monitor!). Now waiting for a doctor again.

beanhunter and sliver you're so close and doing so well. I vacillate between being adamant that this baby can be cut out at 36 weeks, to maybe induction at 40, to leave baby til baby's ready. It's exhausting as I really don't know what's best for me (long and short) and/or baby.

Oh eal that’s rubbish. Do you live close to the hospital or is it a big trek to get to and from for lunch? (In my case it’s over an hours round trip). Glad all is ok though.

Silver interesting they won’t sweep until due date. With dd I think they started sweeps at 39 weeks (but I might be making that up) possibly even the week before that. Hope you feel better tomorrow after resting today. I can’t wait until I can go for a walk and notnhave to have a day feeling awful recovering afterwards!

Cattaxi poor you being sofa bound. I did some bits this morning (go through a cupboard as part of my mini declutter mission) and have had to rest on the sofa all afternoon in recovery!

Bean I’m glad you get an induction a little bit early. I’m interested how you managed to get that for reasons of HG/IVF? (Don’t tell me if you’d rather not). I remember dd was measuring huge (nearly 9lbs wit happy a month to go) and they refused to induce me a day earlier than my due date! Tbh I want this baby out as soon as is considered a safe datento do so. It can’t come soon enough!

Just had to ring someone sort of important about something and just whilst the phone was ringing was feeling increasingly sick just from the anxiety of having to speak to someone official and whether I’d have to terminate the call because of feeling too sick to continue. Just the worry of this alone was enough to make me feel Sick! Does anyone else get this?

Luckily I'm only a 10/15min drive from hospital, so it's not too difficult.

Even more luckily, my favourite consultant happened to be on call this afternoon, so I've seen her. She did a scan, confirmed everything is as it should be. Also identified a little rough patch on my placenta which is where she thinks the bleeding (at least today) could be from. She's not overly concerned as bleeding has stopped and monitor finally showed baby was fine. It's location fits with the pains I've been having too. I'm now on my way home.

In terms of the induction it’s morw for the ivf than anything else. Some evidence that placentas in ivf so less we’ll. also a study that over 35 years old the placenta is again less good and that induction at 39 weeks reasonable option with no increased risk of needing section.
I tried for earlier based on hg but best I could get agreement for was sweeps at 38.
My first daughter I was induced at 38 as my blood pressure went high so that may happen anyway yet and force everyone’s hand.
To be fair it’s a mixed blessing. My induction with our big girl took over 3 days so I wouldn’t want that again.

My hospital offers induction at 39 weeks to all mothers (obviously case by case if there are reasons they wouldn’t want to offer, or other recommendations around the birth). I’m literally just waiting for the appointment where I can sign up. Consultant told me at around 10 weeks and I shouted YES then and there, before realising it wasn’t the actual point at which to confirm that decision

DC1 was spontaneous a few days before due date. DC2 was overdue and not a flicker of a hint of labour, so I was eventually induced some time around 41 weeks. That was by pessary and didn’t take too long to kick off labour (I had an incredibly quick ramp up from ‘ooh, contractions’ to ‘GAS AND AIR NOW’ and baby was descending whilst I was raced through hospital corridors to a labour room!).

I know inductions aren’t always amazing and can take a while, but the reason our hospital offers them is due to studies on birth outcomes in inductions for mothers at 39+ weeks (apparently lower probability of CS, lower probability of interventions, children and mother fine, probably a few other things). I want baby born as soon as it is reasonably safe to do so, so if that means I can get things going sooner then I’m all for it. I never would have thought that when pregnant with DC1 but now I just feel I want it to get started, I want pain relief, I want baby out, everyone safe, good job, and DH can then fetch me food.

My DF thinks it’s insane and that I absolutely shouldn’t do it, so he doesn’t need to know and will simply be informed once baby is here! My DM on the other hand was very impressed by modern day birthing options and is all for it (my parents are long separated so easy to tell one and not the other!)

eallison lots of [diabetes and HG appropriate treats] for you. It seems you’re having a real time of it, yet you come across as managing well, hope you’ve got lots of support.

Beforeihit to requesting it so early. So you can get an induction at 39 weeks without a medical reason for being induced just because you want one? That’s interesting. At least you know if you go in at 39 weeks even if you have a really long induction process you’ll still have your baby by 40 weeks. There’s a limit to how long they will let you continue on the induction if things don’t progress (which happened to me) and get you a csection (I don’t think that’s hugely common but at least you know you won’t be in the induction process for weeks!)

Eal that’s good your consultant managed to see you and they’ve found the reason for this bleed.

@eallison88 glad all is well. Sorry you ended up having more hospital time.

All the induction talk is interesting. Our trust offered from 40+10.
DS was a failed induction resulting in emcs. I told my midwife at booking in that I want a planned section & asked her to write that in my notes. She did, but she also put that she advised vbac, which she didn’t at all! Poor woman obviously felt she’s get a telling off if she didn’t at least pretend to persuade me to vbac!

Still on the sofa feeling super nauseous. Dh is out and I need to cook something for the kids. Yucky!

Cattaxi fwiw I think they have to say they’ve tried to talk you into a vbac. Luckily my mw is supportive of my choice for a but a comsultant has told me I must attend a ‘birth choices’ apt before they will agree to a section where essentially they try to scare me out of a section and into trying a vbac. My mw has said I can decline this apt an still get one luckily.

Yep Reastie I re-read my notes after (consultant wrote in that we’d discussed it) as I was worried I’d misunderstood and got overexcited most of the articles or links are all to the major American study on it, but I found a fairly straightforward Independent article on it. My local hospital is a research and teaching hospital and has a very busy maternity ward (I live in densely populated inner city), they’re taking part in various studies (eg all mothers are offered a growth scan at 36 weeks as part of a wider study too) so the standard induction offer might be linked to their broader activity. They’re clear that it’s not before 39 weeks though, unless that was medically necessary.

The point about knowing it can’t drag on because one way or another the baby will be born is the big appeal for me, as well as not worrying about when I’m going into labour, hopefully I won’t need a CS (just because I’d like to avoid surgery, have no issues with CS as a birth option) but not convinced now that induction increases my chance of a CS based on the studies I’ve read and the discussion with my consultant. I’ve reached the point (at last!) where I don’t doubt things so much which doctors say is fine, but which people typically wouldn’t opt for, eg I’m on a veritable cocktail of meds in pregnancy, some people would panic but I know that all of these are for the wellbeing of me and the baby. And my wellbeing would be increased by an induced birth it probably sounds silly and someone somewhere is saying, “But nature!”, but I dislike the not knowing, we have 2 young DCs, both of whom have SEN so goes smoother if we can prepare them, and we don’t really have relatives who can drop things in an instant and come to look after them or do school run etc so advance planning is needed. I’m hoping MIL will be able to come down for a few days, which she did for DC2’s birth (induced also, but because of being overdue). Induction at 39 weeks will also mean baby is born before DCs start back at school for the new school year.

So that’s me sold it to myself again for the umpteenth time

Still feeling a bit groggy and meh and the unpronounceable ABs finished on Sunday I need to go for a blood test which is a morning thing but I find the mornings harder. Pfft. I’ll just have to make it work tomorrow! I’ve put it off yesterday and today already. 17 weeks and a bit now...

Beforeihit it totally makes sense to me. If people want to choose a natural birth that’s brilliant for them but equally if someone wants all the drugs or whatever as that suits them better that’s great too. I don’t think any way of giving birth is an easy option, it’s just getting the baby out safely and keeping us safe in a way that suits the mother and baby best.

chj17 and others I hope I included ice lollies and ice cubes on the last liquids list I did, as I hav e a feeling I left them out? That was silly advice from the doctor; is it possible to get another? If not, it might be worth ringing Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 7638 2020 for advice on the best way to obtain effective meds.
eallison Sorry to hear about the bleeding. What an awful day! So glad all is well. Rest as much as you can: no pushing yourself for anyone!
TeddyReddy Best of luck. You almost certainly won't need it.
ElkieMacjibe Oh no; about todeller mess as a start to the day. I hope it went better from then on.
beanhunter You have been very stoic. I am so glad you will soon be tottering into the legendary Pink Castle at the end of the Hyperemesis horror run, and silversplodge anothertrooper, too.
Cataxi I am sorry you are having to stay on the sofa.
beforeihit30 That is intriuging.

Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

I think they do have to, don’t they @Reastie. It just tickled me that she wrote it but never really said it. I was quite assertive in my “this is what I want” statement. We’ll see how it goes with the consultant she I see them.

Sounds like you are under an excellent and forward thinking @beforeIhit30. That must be reasssuring.

I’ve managed some toast & digestives. Still feeling super nauseous. Not helped by ds having a complete meltdown at bed time because dh tried to put him to bed. “I neeeeed you mum, what are you always ill?” Mum guilt levels 100% ☹️

Absolutely Reastie provided medical professionals and mothers have sufficient information/evidence then options can be presented and mothers can make informed decisions supported by the medical professionals involved in their care, whatever their preference.

cattaxi yes I’m really happy with this consultant & hospital! I was at a different hospital for my first two DCs, as I lived in a different area, it’s considered very highly and seems to be trusted by a lot of people, so was curious to see how this hospital would be different. It’s great! And the facilities are snazzier jazzy wallpaper and everything (I take note of the important things...). Aww you’ll be doing plenty of bedtimes soon enough and he won’t remember all of this, I get the same with my DCs, but it will pass.

In fact the other day DS1 got into my side of the bed and imitated me, faux groggy, and saying, “I’m sick, I’m sick”

Morning, worst morning in a couple of months this morning. Am stuck in bed. Gah I thought I was beyond it being this bad. I think it’s bm related (again). Have had 4 days of 2-3 bms a day (whereas average is more like 7!). Thiught it was just getting better on that front but oh no, I seem to need to have a clear out from the back log. Have already been 4 times this morning! I wish I knew what could help the situ but no one seems to be able to offer help or a reason. The movicol is working in that it’s never difficult to go when I do. I’ve tried tweaking the dose but that doesn’t make a difference to the issue other than when I go how watery it is it’s really getting me down. I keep thinking I should just try giving up ondansetron tomsee if that helps but I’m too scared.

Beforeihit wow to jazzy wallpaper at the hospital, domt think I’ve ever been to a hospital with wallpaper full stop! I’m really lucky because my local hospital for birthing is one of the only nhs hospitals in the country to be entirely single room, so I won’t be on a ward I’ll have my own en-suite room guaranteed. For me that’s really taking stress off from the situ of being in a potentially noisy and busy ward (I’m not good I’m public places with people atm).

Cattaxi the guilt is rubbish but in the scheme of your dcs life it’s just a blink of an eye. You’ll soon be able to do stuff again.

@reastie - that sounds so miserable. I’ve only been taking Ondansetron for a week and a bit so don’t have anything to suggest but you have my sympathy

Got hold of some lactulose yesterday but just can’t keep it down so not sure this constipation problem is going to be solved anytime soon 😫 has anyone else found they can’t tolerate it?