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.

chj17 just jumping in to say ‘me too!’. I’m 17+4 and currently it’s, “Are you feeling better then?” or “How are you feeling these days?”, usually being asked because they want to pop over, catch up etc. I feel bad because these are all people I would normally be very happy to host and I enjoy being around them. Cooking is my hobby especially on the weekends and I like trying out new things with friends and family. Currently the closest I get to cooking is I can now sit in front of the grill to do a crumpet the fact I can now actually enter my kitchen and remain in it for multiple minutes without being sick is pretty amazing. Sitting and chatting can just be so draining... and I can’t predict in advance how I’m going to feel. One friend said “Oh we can pop to yours” and I was like, well, this issue isn’t about going out, the issue is basically all human contact, sitting upright etc, add to that my house is a touch chaotic in the circumstances, it really wouldn’t help me at all to pop over!

Absolutely eallison rest makes such a difference but it is really sad and frustrating in the disparity between support for sick pregnant women. When you think of how much impact something like HG has, and how it is specifically a pregnancy illness, I feel like it’s a bit of a gap in our legislation for protecting pregnant women. Having said that, SMP really isn’t great - but at least you can know that in advance and prepare for it if it means a big drop in income, and all being well you have some choice as to when you return as opposed to just not being able to return. I’m also very lucky that in my current job full pay for sickness isn’t capped when the sickness is pregnancy related (normally entitlement is based on years of service, for which I would ordinarily be entitled to 3 months full then 3 months half which is still miles beyond any other job I’ve had). Mine is the only income in our household, we simply can’t afford to lose my salary and there’s no way I could have imagined that my third pregnancy would be a hyperemesis pregnancy.

Wrote a long post but it’s been eaten and now phone won’t let me scroll back

Growth - my measurements have me measuring small or static at almost every midwife appt. I’ve been having growth scans for other reasons and although baby at smaller end growth is ok. So I know that doesn’t guarantee everything ok but there is huge inaccuracy in the bump measurements and it’s very subjective and also dependant on baby’s position.

Illness - yes my virus and chest infection sent me back to the first trimester with admissions for fluids. I just couldn’t keep up with fluid loss and I’m sure I’m still recovering 3 weeks on so sounds totally expected to me.

37+2 here. Trying not to get hopeful that every sore braxton hicks means labour soon as I bet I’ll still be here for a few weeks yet x

I'm just here to moan really. Still really tired, still feeling really ill in the mornings and still struggling with foods a lot of the time. Some drinks also don't taste the same and it's upsetting/annoying me.

I'm also bracing myself for the inevitable comments from certain family members of 'You're not as sick anymore, surely it's all in your head.' and 'you're not ill, you're just pregnant' because i'm 2nd trimester now so sickness should be gone and in the past according to them.

sigh I just want to avoid most things.

Thank you for the comments on getting worse with illness. Yesterday was back to my ‘normal’ bad but I felt ill on top of that. But at least I wasn’t more sick like the day before. Today I just feel so weak and ill. I’ve managed to have a bath and come downstairs but even sitting downstairs feels like it’s too much hard work. Think it may end out a day in bed. Bah, hope it doesn’t last long and it’s gone by my scan next week.

Beforeihit I enjoy cooking too. I miss cooking.

I’m envious of those of you with additional sick pay benefits. I literally just get statutory minimum. I’ve discovered if I was working for a state school I’d have good sick pay benefits but since I’m in the private sector it’s very different. Am awaiting a reply on why my pay slip is £0 this month, not even ssp.

Yes, I’m getting a lot of ‘aren’t you feeling better yet’. It’s very frustrating

Bean I hope things don’t go on for too much longer for you. Hopefully you’re at the point of counting onnfingers and toes for how many more days to endure.

Hi sorry to bother everyone as I know I rarely comment! Hope everyone is as well as can be!

Just a quick question about meds I have been taking cyclizine and prochloperazine three times a day for the last 4 weeks and it is yet to make any difference when I manage to keep them down, the only thing that has brought any relief has been the injections from maternity.

My gp is coming to the house later today to give me an injection however I was wondering if anyone knows or has been given the meds to self inject or if it's a dr/hospital visit every time?

I am at my wits end I miss sleep and food so much! Xx

I'll join in with a moan for today! Gp signed me off another 2 weeks today after my disastrous return to work this week. Pretty sure my pay is going to stop now, policy is only 20 days then discretionary.

I googled how long does hyperemesis last earlier, that was silly! 12 weeks tomorrow, I live in hope it gets better soon although I am realistic.

Anyone up to anything nice today?

I’ll join in the moaning!
I jotted out of bed to throw up this morning & have somehow hurt a muscle in my bum. Husband says it sounds like siatica. It hurts so bad and i’m walking like a cowboy ☹️
I’d had a pretty good afternoon & evening yesterday & was looking forward to being with ds today, but he’s had to go to my parents. I’m so over feeling usless & like a burden.

So I went to a group today that I’m planning on joining with some other mums from church. I endured 2 hrs of comments on how small I am. Growth scan small but acceptable but it’s made me so anxious again and feel so bloody judged.

Mel I’m interested to know this too about injections as I’m hoping to request to have injection for the morning of my csection to take at home as I can’t take cyclizine with an empty stomach or it makes me worse so I time when I to have it but obv with fasting for the section I can’t do that. I want to request an injection to administer at home before I leave for the hospital but I’m not sure if they will. I’m pretty certain my friend was given a prescription of cyclizine injection to have at home for her home birth but that was so that mw coukd administer.

Elkie you should be entitled to statutory sick pay?

Cattaxi I think sciatica is where back pain juts down the legs too. I hope your pain doesn’t last too long.

Bean the thing you can guarantee from pg is comments on if you oook big or small. Try to ignore. Bump size varies so much and a lot of it is things like amount of fluid. It’s not helpful to be told you look small. I always got the opposite as I was so huge with dd! This time last pg my waist circumference at this point was about 8cm bigger, and apparently second time around you get bigger not smaller!

Ps bean they are probably just jealous as you don’t have a huge cumbersome heavy bump. I was envious of those who had smaller bumps as it was so painful and uncomfortable being so big. I’m sure they mean well and are just trying to make conversation, but unhelpful, especially as people can be really anxious about their bump size.

I've heard of people being given injections to do themselves at home, but suspect it is like everything and depends on where you are. Definitely worth enquiring though.

I freaked out as I knew I would and convinced myself the baby wasn't moving properly, so have spent the morning in DAU. Feel better now as the CTG was fine and they squeezed in my scan today which also looks fine. Estimated weight 7 pound 2. However because this is now my 3rd reduced movements the doctor saw me and they are going to induce me on 9th April when I'll be 40+5. I'm half pleased there is now a definite end in sight, but half want it to all just go naturally rather than all the monitoring and medication.

Yes I agree. None of them are still
Pregnant. I have pointed out that I will be small because I’ve basically been on a starvation diet for 9 months and vomtws every day since 7th August. That shut them up.

mellymcb it is totally doable, with a supportive GP (Which yours sounds if he's doing home visits!) to have injections at home - I did. My GP taught my hubby how to do it (I'm terrified of needles so there's no way could have done it myself) and he injected me with ondansetron once a day, and I took 2 oral doses a day. It soon became not enough for me, and I needed steroids, but it could be a fantastic solition for you ifyou already know the injections work for you.

beanhunter, reastie is absolutely right. Your bump will never be the right size! I've spent weeks of this pregnancy being told by all and sundry how massive my bump is. Now I'm being told how it doesn't seem to have grown. Well, baby was scanning at over 3lb on Tuesday, so s/he is hardly small (I'm nearly 30weeks)!! People feel the need to say something, and it's an easy thing to comment on. Try to ignore them. Well done for putting them in their place!

I'm starting to feel sick in the late afternoons again. I'm trying not to freak out about it. And I'm fairly confident that my consultant would support me upping my steroid dose again if I felt I needed it. I'm going to start by reintroducing the cyclizine and seeing if that helps, as I would like to keep the steroids at this slightly lower dose in I can -don't worry,I won't be a martyr to the cause, tho!!!

Sorry everyone; I have sore eyes with conjunctivitis, so a screen hurts them today. Much symapthy to all suffering, and great advice being given out as usual.

@eallison88 @Reastie he is a new dr I've only seen twice the first encounter wasn't great he advised ginger biscuits 🤦‍♀️ but certainly made up for it yesterday! They have given me a new oral course to take of ondansetron and prochlorperazine to put under my lip, he also gave me a ondansetron injection. I have to try this for a week then come back if I am still having issues. I will cautiously say today hasn't been too bad so far but I haven't really left bed either.

I just feel a bit of a pain having to either clog the surgery maternity or have a house visit for the injection if this new set up doesn't work out I will ask about taking some home as it is definitely the most effective thing I've been given. It was also discussed having me in to the ward once a week for fluids just as a precaution?

Hi, I was just wondering when would you say was the worst weeks for you? What how far along did you start to feel human again (if ever) I’m 12+3 now had this since 5 weeks and I feel like it’s just getting worse! Struggling to see a light at the end on the tunnel. I know everyone’s different but I’m hoping people saying when they felt slightly more able to function it’ll give me some hope!
Thankyou

user17 you are snack bang in the middle of what most of us find the most difficult bit, take heart!! You should start to feel some improvements in a couple of weeks (tho don't expect a miracle recovery.

melly that sounds so fantastic - supportive and proactive! Lying in bed is fine!! Keep us posted in how you get on.

Bloody heartburn!!

@ElkieMacjibe I've been back at work since 14.5 weeks. I only work 3 days a week anyway (I already have 2 DC). I started on 4.5 hour days and have gradually increased it up, at 22 weeks I'm now doing somewhere between 6.5 and 8 hours depending on how I feel which is still short of the 8.5 hours I'm supposed to do, and the 9 plus hours I did pre pregnancy ... I work Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and I find the Wednesday 2nd day in a row tough going, and I'm shattered by the time we've got the kids to bed. I think I'm doing better than many on here and I still wouldn't manage it without quite a bit of anti nausea medication so Id be cautious about rushing back.

@silversplodge I had to go in for an extra growth scan with DC1 as I'd shrunk. The midwife thought it was because DC1 had turned transverse and it certainly felt like they were in an odd position. I still worried of course, it was a big relief to get the all clear - fingers crossed you will too.

user17 I so agree with eallison. Almost everyone finds an improvement as the second tri goes on. Even those unlucky ones who suffer throughout very rarely suffer as badly as in the dreadful early bit.
TeddyReddy I think anyone who manages to work with this deserves a medal:
Waves to Melly, Reastie and everyone. I still have sore eyes that object tothe screen, but I am thinking if you all. 'This Too Shall Pass'.

Just popping in to say happy mother’s day. All the HG mamas have been on my mind today.
I’ve had a ‘better’ few days. Still pretty sick, but I’ve been up and about more. Pottered in the garden with ds today & that was lovely. And whatever I did to my arse is improving.
I hope you have all had a lovely day 🙂

And from me too Cattaxi. Glad to hear things are not quite so bad.

Lucinda hope it gets better soon, have you got eye drops to help?

Cattaxi so glad you’ve had a couple of better days. They make all the difference.

User I agree that you are in the middle of the worst bit for me too. Take a day, an hour, a moment at a time. Things will get better in time (even if they don’t get fully better it will be better than it was).

Melly sounds like you’re getting really proactive treatment which is great.

Eal hope the afternoons aren’t too bad over the week end for you. I hear you onnthe heart burn. Mine has really stepped up the past week. I’m now regularly on gaviscon advance which isn’t really doing that much. Last time I struggled horrific heartburn on just gaviscon (gp refused tomprescribe more) then I would buy gaviscon advance in desperation when gp wouldn’t give more. I really suffered with it and I’m wondering whether to be more proactive this time in just buying myself randitine to use to try something that might be more effective.

Feeling quite poorly with this cold. Haven’t done mich other than lie in bed today feeling ill. Paracetamol does absolutely nothing and have been doing lots of inhalation’s which is helping a bit the sinus congestion but obv does nothing fornthe general viral weakness/aches. My body barely copes when not ill during pg sonthis has totally wrecked me and I’m knocked for six by a simple cold! Have a growth scan on Wednesday booked but not sure whether I’ll be better so thinking I may end out paying for a private scan next week instead. Feeling very sorry for myself atm .

You can buy ranitidine in most shops - including Poundland. I take 150mg twice daily and it’s good stuff.

You can get it in Poundland? Really? Might do that once I’ve shifted this cold, thanks for the tip. This is really bizarre but I’ve discovered if I sleep on my left side (like we’re suppose to) I get constant horrible heartburn gurgle things working up my throat (don’t really know how to explain them) whereas if I sleep on my right I don’t! How bizarre is that?! I wonder the reason behind it. So atm I’m wondering if abandoning all advice on sleeping on the left side would be ok...