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.
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.
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.

pinkspring often meto works really well in combo with something else. It's worth suggesting this to your GP; I.had success with meto, cyclizine and ondansetron for a few weeks (unfortunately I was one of the very, very small number of women who reacted to the meto, so had to stop it immediately). The work guilt is very real. I'm glad you seem to have made peace with the idea of resting and not working, tho!!

Eal I’m sorry you’re still in hospital. Like you say though, at least everything else is ok. Can you get some fresh air anywhere outside the hospital for half an hour or so just to have a change of scene? Have you got your own room still at least?

Pink I know what you mean about work and being typical about getting a good project and then having to give it up. I stopped ttc for a month whilst we were ttc as I had a course for work to go on and knew if I had been pg I wouldn’t be able to manage it and work had paid a few hundred pounds for me to go on it and so I’d feel awful if I couldn’t go. I hope they realise my diligence (they’ll have no idea as I’ve been off ever since bfp). Thinking it through, I’ve not been able to put any of my knowledge into action from the course due to getting bfp the following month...but the thought was there. I think you have the right thinking with work. Focus on surviving this and worry about work later.

Dead there’s no way on earth I could even let dh cook something Indian in the kitchen let alone eat it! Well done! Am trying to cook whole grain risotto for lunch and cross fingers it goes down well. I’ve been making regular risotto with white rice for a while and seems fine (weird the random things I can eat, butternut squash is one of the only foods I’ve managed throughout and have that in it) but trying really hard to be healthy with the brown rice.

No exercise attempt here from me today! I’ve learnt my lesson! Felt really sick yesterday night too.

Not got My own room anymore, not now I'm off the antenatal ward and into the neonatal unit. in a ward if 4 beds, and two of the mums have their babies with them overnight, as have I some nights when he's not been under disco lights. So not the most restful sleeping situation. But, I'm close to my son and that's the important bit. Just awaiting more blood test results in what feels like a never ending cycle of blood test results and disco lights!!

I'm glad you're not exercising today reastie . And please don't beat yourself up about brown vs white rice. Eat what you can!!

Hello all. Checking in from the other side for @lucinda in her absence.
My small one is now nearly 4 weeks and it’s true that the horror already feels quite a distant memory so please hang on to the fact that it does end eventually (8hrs post delivery for me)

@eallison88 I’m sorry you are still in and now In a bay. Glad to hear baby feeding well and hopefully will be out of the disco lights soon.

@pinkspring remind me what meds you are on? Metoclopramide alone is an unusual choice. For me none worked in isolation and a combo of ondansetron, cyclizine and stemetil was the trick. Though watch for the constipation with ondansetron. Can you go and see your gp for more meds - pregnancy sickness support online has some helpful leaflets I would recommend printing and taking.
@reastie - Lucinda will be thrilled you are finally taking it easy!

Dr prescribed me Prochlorperazine so I'm picking them up later. Fingers crossed they make the difference I need!

@Reastie I'm actually at the point with work where I want to bang my head against a wall!!!!!!
Got woken up by them this morning asking why I hadn't turned up for a shift with a heavy smoker, turns out someone decided to Chuck me on a shift without asking or telling me. I guess my crystal ball is on the blink again.
Got a meeting with them tomorrow to go over what happened and my maternity because I still don't know if I'm getting smp or what and I go on leave in two weeks!
So I'm feeling a lot sicker because of the stress but I'm craving a coke float 😂

Good on you attempting Pilates, you're a braver woman than I am. Sorry it made you feel shit.

@DeadDoorpost a curry sounds amazing! 🤤

@eallison88 gosh the amount of time he's been under disco lights he'll be wanting to go clubbing in Ibiza, sorry they keep giving you false hope. Hopefully you'll both be home and relaxing soon.💕

Avacadoo how many weeks are you? We must be relatively close if you’re going on mat leave soon. Fwiw I’m only entitled to maternity allowance because I was on statutory sick pay during the qualifying period for I’m at the point now where I’ve used up all my smp and will have £0 this month before mat leave starts :(

Bean how are you? How are the night time wakings? Any top tips?!

Dead that’s great. I find prochloroperazine has helped me.

Managed the brown rice but weirdly it just made me more hungry so feel like I’ve spent the whole afternoon eating.

Finally some progress with apt’s. Now have a consultant apt to plan section in 2 weeks (which mental health nurse will be present at. I’m not exactly sure why but I’m hoping th fact that she is there will mean they take me more seriously) and apt with consultant anaesthetist the following week. Have been waiting for these apt’s for 2 months now so very glad t have them.

Oh, and anaesthetist mw has got me an apt with seems to be anaesthetist top dog who trains other anaesthetists, so I’m hoping he’ll be really knowledgable and helpful.

@Reastie 26weeks and a few days. Booked maternity as soon as I was allowed and now I'm so grateful to my past self I did because they're doing my head in!
I don't think I'll get smp but I need to apply for the allowance and work are dragging their feet with telling me.

Avacadoo I don’t get my mat pay as I’m only getting ma amount but work seem to be paying it to me without having to fill in a mat allowance form and calling it smp even though it’s mat allowance . I’m confused by it but it makes it easier for me not to have to fill in an extra form. I just hope they’ve got it right and don’t just not pay me anything. Which I actually wouldn’t out past them as they did that one month instead of giving me my statutory sick pay! I have it in writing that they’ll pay me the £150ish a week for 39 weeks or however long so I’m hoping that’ll be enough if they do suddenly fail to pay me anything. Conversely I’m leaving mat leave as late as possible at 36 weeks but I’m signed off so it doesn’t really make any difference to anyone when I start it (and that’s the earliest they can force it on me) and means I’ll get to go back a little bit later the other end. I’m 33 weeks now.

@deaddoorpost fingers crossed the meds help.

@avacadoo I actually can’t believe what I’m reading about your work. Are you in a union or anything? It sounds so unacceptable.

Sorry to hear about maternity pay woes. I was fortunate to be on proper sick pay and managed to work a couple of weeks in my qualifying weeks - it was when I was on steroids and feeling better. All got worse when they stopped!

@reastie - hope appointment goes well. Remind me why you are seeing anaesthetist again? We are good. She’s ace. We are co sleeping so wake ups minimised - she didn’t like her cot and frankly after all the crap of pregnancy I’m enjoying the cuddles. Can’t believe she’s newrly 4 weeks old.

@Reastie I wouldn't say I was accepting of the work situation, I have cried quite a lot about it as I really feel like I am letting people down. I applied for the project so others didn't get it as they chose me and within weeks, I am saying I can't continue.

The manager has said to discuss it next week but I don't see anything changing. I did say perhaps I could WFH until I see if I can get it under control but I just don't see that working as I cannot concentrate on anything due to feeling constantly sick and tired.

Went to pick meds up, they only had 7 available so they owe me 77 tablets. Dr prescribed me 84 which I'm not used to! Either way, I'll see how they go. Was once again reminded I shouldn't take them during 3rd trimester but that's fine. By then I'll probably be back on ondansetron or cyclizine so that's fine. Dr is all good with prescribing me meds which is a blessing!

This is going to be a moan post sorry.

Is anyone else finding it hard to stay warm? And why does heartburn male you feel sick because I'm fed up of it. If I take a tablet for it it just seems to come back within 5 mins. Just had 2 tablets, so hoping they'll work better, but I also hated the taste of them which is crazy because they're no different to the ones I've been taking the last few weeks.

I'm tired, I know, but fed up. I'm more annoyed about the fact I can't stay warm tbh. Having to stay fully wrapped up in my king size winter quilt... DH does t know what's wrong with me. Neither do I. I didn't have this problem last pregnancy.

I am constantly cold at the moment. No idea why, as the house is at 20c without heating on yet I am cold. Hands and feet are the worst

Pink I'm starting to wonder if it's something to do with my weightloss but I really don't know as I'm not losing it too fast. The odd pound or so every other week.

Thrown up twice so far this morning. Or 14 times, depending how you count them. Started the Prochlorperazine this morning after the first episode. Hoping it'll kick in soon.

@deaddoorpost - what else are you taking? Prochlorperazine never did anything for me in isolation? Had you got anything else to combine with? I never was told not to take in 3rd trimester - took the whole way through. As for reflux yes it made a massive difference to me - I took ranitidine 150mg twice daily. I had on prescription but you can buy 75mg tablets over the counter. Omeprazole another option. But without reflux treatment my vomiting was def much worse. Oh and it’s blinking freezing today and I don’t have HG anymore.

@pinkspring - work sounds tough. I had to accept doing an adequate job rather than my best work was how I was going to manage. Taking more on sounds really hard to me.

WE ARE HOME!!!!!
We need one more (hopefully just one more!) jaundice test tomorrow, but the midwife will come and do that, apparently. I can't tell you how good it feels to be home. I will catch up over the next few days and offer as much support as I can to you wonderful warriors.

bean I've got it by itself. If it continues now through to tomorrow I'll see what I can do. I may have to go back to the hospital as I've been sick again another 2 times and not managed to keep anything down.

@eallison88 fabulous!

@deaddoorpost - please go back. If you can’t keep fluids down you aren’t ok. And you clearly need a better medication regimen. I would insist on ondansetron - for most of us it’s been then game changer. Dang forget the laxatives though. A good antacid is also invaluable.

Dead agree with ondansetron. Absolute game changer for me. I only got pg again in the first place after a friend had hg and said how much it helped her and it made me think maybe I could cope again.

Re prochloroperazine in th third trimester I thought that was only when taken in high doses for psychosis. For sickness the dose is comparatively low. But don’t take that as gospel.

Eal that is the best news I’ve heard all day. You must be so relieved! Take it easy. How are you doing post section? I remember shuffling so slow walking to the car after mine and every little bump in the road was agony. Hopefully at least having a few more days in hospital has meant your journey home was a little more comfortable.

Pink I’m always feeling cold when I’m tired...

Have tried really hard to take it easier today as had 2 badish days but think I might've overdone it. So far it’s made a difference, or it might just be a better day. Still got time to flair up though!

Bean am seeing anaesthetist as last experience of csection was pretty dire from an anaesthetist pov which has led to huge anxiety this time. I won’t go into details but the anaesthetist I had has since fled the country to evade court after being found partially responsible for a death during an operation! I have questions about medication during op too like requesting an anti emetic through iv during the procedure as I felt very sick last time but that may have been because terrible anaesthetist might not have controlled bp as well as he could have.

Excellent news eal. Take it easy.
Someone mentioned they’re always cold. I was like that in the early days but now I’m always hot. I’m dreading if this ‘3 month heat wave’ actually happens. Usually I’m a sun worshiper but perhaps not this year. I will hide indoors with a fan.
I have my first midwife appointment tomorrow since March and then at the end of the month I’ll have my first of 3 growth scans. Looking forward to hearing the baby’s heart tomorrow hopefully. Does anyone know if the midwife does the bump measurements at 26 weeks? Because when I lay down on my back I’ve literally got no bump, not sure where baby goes when I lay down. I can’t remember what happens at 26 weeks appointment from my earlier pregnancies.

Ondansetron worked last pregnancy but not this one. Mind you, I had it by itself so maybe with the Prochlorperazine it'll work.

I'm just annoyed that my body has decided it can't cope today.

And I threw up again whilst writing this. I'm done.

blii I think they do, from what I remember. They'll search for the uterus though so don't worry about the bump disappearing. If they're worried they'll send you for a scan which usually says you're fine.

Oh dead. I know individually the drugs have little impact on me but when taken together it helps more.

Blii fwiw I’m having monthly growth scans at 28, 32 and 36 weeks and mw hasn’t measured me once! Something about they don’t always measure you if you have scans and just go with scan data. So I guess it depends if you’ll have a few scans coming up they might not measure.