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.

moonkid I would try and get admitted for fluids. Poor you. Sorry you sufered throughout last time. I hope it was less severe later on?

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
canonlyhope 13 August
Bili 16 August
Hairgician 18 August TWINS!
DeadDoorPost early September
beforei hit30 3 September

I can’t believe I’m this rough at 4 weeks. I really struggled to get out of the house this morning. I knew some fluids and toast would make me feel better, but every mouthful kept coming back up. Made it to work & felt much better by this afternoon. But it hit again at dinner time.
Having a massive panic that i won’t be able to keep working at this rate.

Hope your first day back at work was ok @teddyreddy.

Congratulations @DeadDoorpost on your new nephew. 50+ hours of contractions

Hope you feel better soon @foreverblues. Sinusitis is grim.

It does sound like you need to be admitted for fluids @moonkid. Hope you are ok.

Thanks @lucindaE. Tried the midwives and GP today to try and get ahead of things. Didn’t manage to get through to either. I’ll try again in the morning.

What did everyone do about telling people ? We managed to keep it quiet last time until about 9 weeks. But I don’t think we’ll get that far this time. I feel a bit funny about everyone knowing so early. Especially as I’m older and the risk of MC is higher. Not that I’d mind if they did know we’d had a loss. I just don’t think I could cope with all the speculation / questions about trying again if we did.

Welcome back @LucindaE

@cattaxi I had to tell my boss over WhatApp very early - before I was ready really - but I was hospitalised on fluids and she would have wondered where I was! Luckily she was lovely. Non-work, I decided I was comfortable telling everyone I would tell if I’d had a miscarriage. So, most family and a handful of friends.

@moonkid so sorry about the wee. I went full granny and bought Tena last week. It’s changed my life already.

moonkid do try to get help, it really sounds like you're dehydrated.

cattaxi keep trying, more meds sounds a really good idea now

welcome back mother Hen!

wishing everyone a quiet night

Thanks for the advice. I phoned the mat unit earlier and long story short, am now in ward on fluid drip. Have had cyclizine injection and Ondansetron injection. The latter has already helped so much, not sure of length of effect.

I'd encourage anyone feeling the same as I was to get help.

@CalmerComber yes to the Tena pads, I will get some on route home from hospital.

@cattaxi I've told my work now and I'm only 7 weeks. Couldn't deal with making up lies about why I was ill or having to rush off to loo all the time. It's horrible to have to tell people because you're ill and not because you're actually ready to isn't it.

@moonkid glad to hear you are on fluids and doing better. Cyclizine worked for me for the first week, but as the nausea kept getting worse it just wasn't enough - hopefully they'll send you home with something more effective.

@ cattaxi i told work at 8 weeks when i was signed off (I was off anyway ovee Christmas or it would have been at 6 weeks). I found the thought of having to tell people so early very stressful - DC1 and DC2 I was able to hold off until.about 14 weeks once I had the Downs Syndrome results back. It actually turned out to be really easy, I have a new female boss since I was last pregnant and she had actually remembered that I always wanted a bigger family and noticed I looked rubbish just before Christmas - so wasn't surprised or disappointed at all.

I survived my first day back, and everyone was lovely. I was so tired by 2.30 though, no way I could have coped with a full day!

Weird re cyclizine as I too found it really helped for the first maybe 3 days but then wasn’t as effective and didn’t nearly cut it. I always thought it was just me!

Moon ondansetron was a game changer in helping me so hopefully it’ll really help you too.

Cattaxi I told work at about 5 weeks as I was signed off and thought it was easier to be open.

Just leaving to see gp about sick note. I hope she’ll be supportive of staying off a bit longer.

Welcome back lucinda.

Apologies for radio silence for a few days... it's been busy! I'm doing ok. Had a very frustrating time at work on Monday, which has been compounded by something I found out last night. I left work very angry and and upset on Monday by what had happened. However, am calmer now for work today, and have looked into my rights, and frankly, if they continue in the same vein I shall complain to chair of governors. Who I'm fairly surebhad hyperemesis with at least one of her pregnancies, so I'm confident I'll find a sympathetic ear there.

Sorry for all those with unhelpful and unsympathetic MILs. I'm not sure my MIL has truly understand just how fun a HG pregnancy is, but apart from the odd well intentioned but unhelpful comment, she has been worth her weight in gold in terms of support and help with my son. I'm sorry that this hasn't been everyone's experience.

I'll try to be a bit more around! Wishing all a peaceful day :)

Eal I was thinking of you this morning and wondering how you were. Sorry things at work are rubbish, they should be grateful to have you in at all.

Well, turns out my doctors appoint,ent is tomorrow! Turned up 24 hours early.guess it’s better than late...but I was really anxious about it so now have another day to be anxious.

@moonkid I'm glad you've had some help in hospital. I also didn't find cyclizine alone very helpful - the first weekend I had it was the worst weekend of the pregnancy so far and I barely made it out of bed.

@cattaxi - I'm so sorry you are feeling so ill and so early.

I also had to tell work very early - especially as I needed so many appointments - I've had 10 appointments for various things and I'm 11 weeks today. It actually made things easier because there have been days I've had to leave early and I haven't had to lie or make excuses.

We also told most family quite early - which I've hated but it was necessary. I wanted the first 12 weeks to be very private, but have needed so much help with DD.

@teddyreddy thank you for that medication info! We sound very similar. I'm not convinced that the cyclizine is doing anything so going to try having a day without it today and see how I do. I've upped to 4x 4mg Ondansetron to make up. I went too long without eating something this morning so didn't do myself any favours there.

My doctors were fine to prescribe Avomine, Stemetil and Xonvea. It was when the hospital midwives recommended Ondansetron and a combination of medication that things started to go badly, they wouldn't prescribe more than 2 days at once which meant I wouldn't have enough for a full weekend and completely refused to prescribe a combination without a letter from a hospital specialist. I even had one doctor phone me to suggest I was lying and then banged on about thalidomide.

My MIL doesn't know I'm on medication and would definitely have something to say. But she refuses to acknowledge that I'm not feeling well - if DH mentions it she talks over him until he stops. This is the same woman that argued that she was more tired than me on the day I had a blood transfusion after a traumatic birth. Trying to get her to understand is pointless.

@lucindaE thank you for all the helpful information and keeping the thread running. I'm Sept 4th for the due date list.

I'm glad I have a nice MiL - she's one of my birthing partners!

I told work at 3+4 weeks, as soon as I found out, because I knew I needed to give HR a heads up, and because I was an hour late getting in due to getting meds from the dr after a positive test! Told MiL pretty soon after. Held off telling my parents until around 6 weeks but had to call them from hospital as I needed help sorting my car and phone charger! "Good news and bad news, Good news is im pregnant again! Bad news, im in hospital... can you move my car so I don't get a parking fine please?!

Hi all!

Wow am I glad I found this thread and seen so many others feeling the same as me! I’m 16+5 today with my first baby and diagnosed with Hyperemisis. Have really struggled and have been off work for a month continuously now. I’m prescribed cyclizine but that stopped working after a few days and so I’m seeing my doctor on Friday for something else. Midwife suggested Ondansetron today so will ask about that when I see my doctor.

I’ve actually found the worse symptom for me is the dizziness. I can’t stand up for longer than two minutes at the moment and constantly feel faint. I have low blood pressure and have most my life this for worse with pregnancy though. Does anyone else have this?

On a positive note I heard the heart beat today and I’ve been feeling movements for a week now! so exciting.

I’m just so glad I found this thread!

Oh dear eallison hope the work situation resolves.

I’m also fairly fortunate with family, in that they don’t tend to get too involved anyway! MIL and FIL both have DPs and other children and both live far away, DH doesn’t speak to either of them regularly (nothing negative, that’s just how they are, when we speak or see each other we’re all close and get on). My parents are much more present in our lives, at least in part because they both live nearby but also I was the only child for both of them a long time so we’re used to 1:1 chats. But, they’ve also got their own lives, they have a good 5-10 years left at least in their working lives, both have their DPs and I have a much younger half sibling with one. So we talk and meet up regularly but they’re not overbearing and tend not to meddle!

I’m having a good day today (AT LAST), woke up super late but I’ve felt quite well. Went to the hospital and didn’t feel horrible or light headed. Had a really good consultant appointment (scheduled due to family history, but just the one appointment as they say “Well you’re still low risk so you can continue under MW care” etc, it’s a bit of a formality due to the history but I do appreciate it nonetheless).

Well I got more than I bargained for, in a good way! Consultant was really nice, sorted loads of stuff for me regarding antenatal and postnatal medication (the family history stuff), then did a quick scan! Wasn’t expecting that. Baby is looking good wriggling loads and a strong heartbeat. And definitely just one was such a nice surprise especially having felt rotten recently, to see baby there and the reassurance that all is well.

They also told me they now routinely offer an induction to all low risk mothers, at 39 weeks (all to do with recent studies etc). I actually thought that could really work for me, I had to be induced last time and all went well, and I would welcome that element of semi control for a whole host of reasons so it’s something I’m taking seriously into consideration. No rush to decide but I welcome the choice.

That's such lovely news @beforeihit30 I'm glad you got lots of support and felt listened to. Such a nice surprise to have a scan too!

I've had 2 days in a row without feeling too bad and have longer spaces of feeling normal between meds, so I'm cautiously eating more and have even managed tinned ravioli which is a bizarre craving but hey ho!
Sending hugs to everyone who's having a tough day, hope you get some rest soon x

LaceyB1995 Welcome. I am sure you will find this thread very supportive. I hope that you will get some relief soon; most people find an improvement between 14-20 weeks. Ondansetron has helped many - but do ask for a laxative, as it locks up the bowels. A good anti acid makes a big difference, too.On fluids that have helped others; full sugar flat coke, ice lollies, the juice of tinned fruit, Lucozade, Dr Pepper, Iron Bru, fizzy water, Elderflower water, Elderflower cordial and tonic water, lemonade, fizzy orange, tonic water, orange juice, Robinson's fruit drinks, orange squash (if not too acid), and sips of chocolate milkshake. Some foods: cuppa soup, tinned fruit, slices of melon and mango, nibbles of crisps and chips, Scotch pancakes, baked potatoes, biscuits, cheap ice cream and jelly.
moonkidI am so glad you got fluids. Hopefully they will send you home with effective meds.
cattaxi I hope you do manage to get meds asap.
teddyreddy Good that work wasn't too bad. Don't overdo it, says Mother Hen (as ever).
stroen How infuriating about that doctor. S/he should know that they have very strict regulations regarding drug use for pregnant women now. That scandal was over fifty years ago!
eallison I am so sorry you are having trouble at work. That sounds a very good plan about the board of governors and the Hyperemesis veteran.
SassehMonsta Your MIL must be really nice.
beforeIhit30 Good news. That is nice about the scan.
norbert Congratulations on a good day.
Waves to Reastie and everyone.
CalmerComber 'Full Granny' Oh, dear!

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
canonlyhope 13 August
Bili 16 August
Hairgician 18 August TWINS!
DeadDoorPost early September
beforei hit30 3 September
stroen 4 September

LucindaE

Thank you so much for that! That’s really helpful for me, I have found that plain food has been a great help and setting exact meal times before times that tend to be worse has helped. (although I snack also) I always have some cereal before getting up in the morning (my partner is amazing and brings it up!) and this seems to really make a difference and gives me just a tad bit of energy to make it downstairs :) I’ve been trying to keep positive and remember this is such an exciting time but I’m finding it really hard to enjoy pregnancy right now and being stuck at home has made that worse. I’m really hoping that it calms a little soon. At least just enough so I can work again.

Hope you’re all as well as can be!

We told work (We work in the same place) at about 3 and a half weeks. I was already starting to feel ill. We knew what was coming and we wanted yo warn them, especially as we knew it would almost certainly involve unplanned/emergency time off for both of us. We told hubbys family at the same time. Hoped to keep til 12 weeks to tell my dad (We don't live close, so he wouldn't see me, and I really wanted my son to tell him). Unfortunately, after first hospital admission a week or so later we decided to tell my dad.

Work was fine today. I've decided I'm just gonna do my job as best I can in the time I'm there. They can't ask for anything more, even if they want to. Sod em . I am good at my job, even on short hours on not firing on all cylinders. I deal with it all in June 2020 when I'm back off mat leave. Until then they can have the best that I can offer and nothing more.

reastie booo about turning up a day early! Hopefully you'll be just as successful getting there tomorrow, but with an actual appointment at the end of it!

laceyb I'm in love with your positive attitude! Well done you! However, if you have bad days and just feel like it's all shit - that's ok too! Stick around, you'll find understanding, support and the odd helpful suggestion round here.

Wishing all a peaceful night

Thanks for the reassurance about telling people eaarly. It seems ridiculous to have to tell people at 4 weeks! I feel better knowing I’m not the only one in this situation.

I’m Giving up and not going to work today. Last night was horrendous. I had a migraine & don’t think I can take my normal meds. It was so painful and I must have been sick a million times.
Feeling really bad about letting the families I work with down, but I feel
So dizzy & weak.
Tucked up in bed ready to call the gp at 8!

Hope everyone has a good day.

Woke up at 3am with tight bump and cramping (period pain like). Son woke up 3.45 and i went for a wee with him and discovered slight bleeding. Rang maternity triage who asked me tocome in for a check over. Cue phone call to poor MIL to come round for son. In and out in an hour and home by 6, all seems fine. Then phone call to say come back cos your rhesus neg so we need to check for antibodies or something. Managed toconvince them to let me sleep for a bit. Woke up half an hour ago (by a nasty miscarriage dream, naturally). Bleeding seems to have stopped completely. On way back to hospital now. It's quite nice that Its not HG in a way!!

Oh gosh @eallison88, that sounds scary. Glad all seems ok & that they are checking you out.

I saw a very lovely gp who sorted me out with some cyclezine & some things I can take if I get another migraine. Also signed off work.
My blood pressure was ok, so that’s good. They are going to test my sample later for ketones. My wee so dark!

I feel terrible about work, but glad to be able to rest & hopefully get ahead of the sickness with some meds.

Oh gosh @eallison88 that's a scary night, glad all was ok.

I got home from hospital last night. I feel absolutely awful. I think I've been reacting badly to cyclizine and they were giving me cyclizine injections in hospital until I said I think they're making me worse. So I'm home in Ondansetron which I'm pleased about, however the effects of the cyclizine are lingering - I'm not vomiting but feel sweaty, nauseaous ++, diorrhea, can hardly move without feeling dizzy and I feel so sedated. Trying to sleep it off today. Has anyone else had this reaction to cyclizine? I had an inkling it was making me worse (as mentioned in a few posts back) but this is awful. I'm glad to be home but feel it's a bit crazy to be discharged feeling worse than when I went in. The difference is I'm not vomiting because I'm doped up to the eyeballs on antiemetics, and that I've no ketones anymore. Sometimes I think hospitals focus far too much on ketones and not on overall picture / ability to function.

moonkid I couldn't agree more on the ketones thing. I now refuse to provide urine samples on demand if it's for ketones. I'm not always popular, but I'm not playing that game. Ketones are simply not a reliable indicator, and I'm going to have clinical decisions made about my care made on the basis of their presence.

I'm just arriving back at hospital for my anti-d injection that I need cos of the bleed and my blood type. Then I am going home to sleep!!

General chat about my pregnancy whilst midwife prepared injection. HG comes up.... "still?!". Yes. Still. FFS.

Eal how scary, yikes. Glad it’s all ok though.

Moon I hope you feel better soon. At least you know now to avoid cyclizine.

Cattaxi glad the gp was helpful. The rest being off work will make such a difference.

Saw my lovely gp today. I feel so lucky to have her support in this. She wanted to sign me off until maternity leave to help work know I’ll be off for a while and also so I didn’t stress so much about returning and how I’d cope etc but her computer wouldn’t let her! So she’s signed me off until March and has said to tell wor kchances are I won’t return until after mat leave and to email her for another note when it runs out. She said we can always change it if I feel better. It feels like such a relief tbh although I feel like I’ve failed by potentially not trying to return. But it’s a relatively short time in my life and tbh I just need to survive this. She always tells me how she struggled working with ms and felt so awful so I feel is understanding and sympathetic.

However, she’s put movicol on repeat prescription but I’ve picked it up and it’s cosmocol. They said same thing different brand but there’s lots of comments online about cosmocol giving a lot more side effects and less effective (but cheaper) than movicol. They seem to be pretty much the same thing on the label so I just wondered if anyone knew or had experience of differing between the two? Will give it a try but will jut pay for movicol I guess if cosmocol isn’t working for me.

reastie I'm so glad your GP has given you the extended sick note. It really is a weight off your mind that will help so much. And if you do improve and you're able to go to work, she can do you a fit for work note, or a sick note like mine which i basically fit for work if work can accommodate certain conditions like 2 hours etc.