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.

I like root beer floats, but mainly coz we have a lot of American friends who introduced us to them.

Thanks eal and lucinda so far there's been no more blood at all and no more pains but definitely going to keep an eye out just in case.

Composed - sorry I don’t know how to link to you. I know how you’re feeling, our house is a tip at the moment, I can’t even face washing clothes.
I’ve now come down with the flu which has wiped away any little energy I had. I know I am so miserable to be around at the moment, I’m so snappy and have started to resent the fact my husbands life hasn’t changed at all whilst I now don’t have a life.
Thank you everyone for the tips and support. I’m still struggling but managing to drink little sips of milk throughout the night which is keeping me going.

I'm oddly reassured to hear how many people find activity a trigger - am feeling very lazy but any time I try and do more I just throw up!
Also my friend is also suffering and has been prescribed ondansetron but has been told she can only take it for up to 5 days. Has anyone experienced this? I was definitely on it for longer when I had it in my last pregnancy, but that was in hospital. wondering if they were a bit more relaxed than the gp!

What have I started with my coke floats?😂😂😂
I've been living on them and muller corners for days!😂

@beforeIhit30 It's so weird how everything has changed, I used to get served booze when I was 16(I lived abroad though) bit of interesting parenting on my mums front but she'd let me as long as I took an hour to drink said drink and didn't drink when she wasn't there. Also Buck's Fizzes for Christmas. Surprisingly I've never had a wild booze faze unlike some of my pals who seem permanently drunk.

I've had a hell of a week, work total screwed me and I haven't been able to apply for mat allowance because of them so I've had to push my maternity leave until July. I think this was their plan all along. The creep at work tried to wipe snot on me too, I have a thing about nose goo, it's been my one constant trigger including when I blow my own nose right now.
I've also vomited so much I burst blood vessels in my face so I've been rocking the Dalmatian/creepy rash all week.
Seriously this child owes me one hell of a Mother's Day present next year because I'm pissed he's made me look spotty.😂 mess with my stomach but not my precious face!

@composed I am with you on never doing this again! Don't worry about combing your hair I can't remember the last time mine saw a brush! It's a permanent pony tail now!
It's awful fearing throwing up, I refused to leave the house in case I did it. Just take each day as a chunk like morning, afternoon and it'll start feeling less daunting.
Also I never fight with dh but in the early days I was a major bitch to him because I was sick of being sick and he was a bit of a dick telling me to get out of bed and eat it's totally normal (I also think he was demanding I shower more for his sanity than mine 😂)
Also like @Reastie I did want to just die at points and thought it'd be good if a zombie apocalypse came to just end the misery!

littlehouse I was on ondansetron for pretty much 7 months with my last pregnancy. 5 days is BS. It's usually Metaclopramide they try and limit (I was given more than 5 days but the leaflet said max 5 days because of potential side effects) ondansetron is expensive which is probably why they've said about it.

I've now got the rest of my 77 tablets so I'm good for the next month at least. And also got my GTT letter through this morning. It's not at the hospital which is where I was originally told but still closer to the house which is good. Just got to find a way to get there, and someone to watch DS

Those who have taken metoclopramide - how long were you allowed to take it for? I've seen recommendations for only taking it for 5 days, I was prescribed about 20 days' worth and now I'm worried they won't give me any more! It's worked well me for so far.

Activity is my biggest trigger too - things have got a little bit worse again over the last few weeks and I'm now generally stuck lying down after 8pm as standing makes me feel too sick. It makes my days alone with the kids hard going too, they definitely don't get mummy needing to sit down.

I used to love coke floats but can't remember the last time I had one!

@avacadooo so sorry work have made things difficult for you again. I didn't have HG in my first pregnancy, but DH still struggled with me being nauseous and tired, I think at some level he felt I was exaggerating when from the outside nothing had changed. He was much better later in pregnancy when there was a big bump there to see. He's also been better in subsequent pregnancies, I think because he now knows the first trimester really is the hardest.

@ClareDB I've been on metaclopramide since the end of December, my GPs have had no worries at all about re-prescribing it.

DSis is a hospital doctor who sometimes prescribes it for nausea (not in obs and gynae). I was worried so asked her about it, she said the 5 day limit is fairly recent, it used to get prescribed loads and loads which is why GPs are generally still very comfortable with it. It used to get prescribed for very long term use for stuff like reflux. The warning is to stop that sort of use, it doesn't mean you shouldn't take it for longer than 5 days if you really need it just that you should watch out for neurological side effects and stop it immediately if you see some.

@ClareDB I've been taking metoclopramide 3 x a day with ondansetron since beginning of March and gp seems happy to keep prescribing it. They did mention trying to cut down (because you know how HG only lasts first trimester 🙄) but I haven't.

Activity also a massive trigger here. Not being able to do anything is my main symptom actually now vomiting is mainly controlled. I went to a friend's for the afternoon yesterday and am so shattered from doing it. Ridiculous! I can't wait to have a bit of energy back even though it will come with extreme sleep deprivation! 22 weeks to go...

Nouser poor you with the flu, really not what you need right now!

Littlehouse I’ve been on pretty much max dose since roughly 8 weeks and now 33 weeks and still on it. Luckily so far it’s not been questioned that I have to come off it, which is how it should be as I’m still symptomatic. I agree with previous poster that it’s expensive and so gps aren’t always happy to give longer term doses due to finances. Which drives me mad! I know my lovely gp has told me the maximum she is able to give me on one rpt prescription is 10 days worth at our surgery. If she gives more pills than that she said she would get ushered into the main gps office to have to justify why she is giving me the medicine because of the expense per prescription it shouldn’t be this way!

Avacadoo I’m definitely recommending you see your gp and get signed off when your mat leave was due to start or if you can’t manage work. To mess up paperwork so you have to keep working longer is terrible. The way they’re treating you you owe them nothing. I don’t know enough about it to know if you can still change mat leave dates but you can get signed off and they can’t do anything about that.

Dead that’s good you have a smaller journey for gtt, hope it goes well.

Clare I’ve known metcoploride given for longer durations as other posters have mentioned. It didn’t agree with me but if it would have I was to be prescribed it indefinitely.

I’m glad (in the nicest way possible) I’m not the only one suffering enforced rest and unwanted trigger of activity. It’s just so frustrating. My stamina is zero, my muscles have long since gone and in my head I’m desperate to feel how I used to and go out for my Saturday morning run, yet my body laughs at the very thought as it feels like an absolute world away from where I am now.

Thank you @Ellie and @Teddy that's reassuring to know. I didn't think there would be much point prescribing it for HG if you can only get it for 5 days!

Activity seems to be a trigger for me too. I overdid it yesterday and vomited 3 times today already. Not kept anything down so far. Hopefully resting today will help. I just feel so bad staying in all the time and not doing anything with my children.

Hope you're all having okay(ish) days!

It's so reassuring to read all this from you all. I've been beating myself up because my house is a mess and I'm not able to do anything without getting dizzy and throwing up. It's good to know it's thus awful hyperemisis.

Never heard of this coke float before! Might have to give it a try once I can tolerate sugar again.
Smoking in restaurants or nightclubs seems strange to me. I don’t ever remember smoking being allowed in restaurants, we must have always been in the non smoking section.
Activity is also a trigger for me. My husband jokingly calls me lazy. But if I do too much in a day then I will pay for it the following day. Now that I’m 26 weeks having an empty tummy is also a huge trigger so I feel I have to eat even if I’m not particularly hungry.
I’m always sick in the mornings now. I keep getting a mucus build up and when I try to cough it up it makes me vom.

Reastie Ha Ha! It must have amounted to that! The no smoking areas in restaurants were a joke.
beforeihit30 Very true about that tolerance of alcohol. [girn] I am that old; I remember the 1970's as a youngster, before car culture and the culture of hurry and all the rest of it.
DeadDoorPost Do keep an eye of it.
noeser Much sympathy. Things will get better.
advocadoo That is so disgusting about the snot. What you have to put up with! That would make me feel ill even without Hyperemesis.
Littlehouseinthebigcity and ClaireDB Good advice from others. There seems no point.
Teddyreddy Good advice. I am glad OH has improved.
ElkieMacjibe I am sorry fatigue is bad. That is so frustrting.
BloedwynBludd It is not your fault about the house. Nobody would blame you if you had a broken leg or suchlike thngs that are visible.
This is equally serious.
Bili Much sympathy over puking after coughing up phlegm.
It was a beautiful day today. I hope a few poeple were able to sit out in it for a bit.

I didn't go outside but slept instead. These tablets have a seriously drowsy effect on me. It's great. Means I get to sleep more during the day. The only problem is that DH will need to watch DS if I fall asleep and he's searching for a job still

nouser I think it's completely normal to resent our other halves in this. I know I certainly did; I felt completely trapped whilst he seemed to be getting opportunity after opportunity with work, culminating in a new job that was significantly more responsibility and money and a great career move. I hated it, whilst being really proud as well. Very difficult. But as beforei said; the achievements we celebrate change... yay, I got out if bed...woohoo I puked with wetting myself!!

avacadoo I'm sorry yo hear work have messed you about - tho I can't say I'm surprised. I agree with reastie get yourself signed off until 36weeks.

clare 're meto, some women are on it for most of their pregnancies. It all depends on the doctor prescribing. Might be worth a chat with Karen at pregnancy sicknesssupport (the number is in the original post) for more info.

What I find incredibly frustrating with ondansetron is that it's sooooo much cheaper than it was with my first pregnancy (like £30 per prescription down to about £2.30 per prescription, for something like 30 x 4mg tabs) and yet it's still used as a reason not to prescribe.

We're home again! And the rebound test came back today that we don't have to go back. So we're gonna have 2 nights in a row at home!! On the activity thing; I agree, when pregnant i was exhausted all the time and activity made me worse. One of the best things about not being pregnant anymore is now much energy I have! People keep telling me how good I look - I just tell them it's cos I'm not pregnant anymore!! Yes I'm tired cos of newborn and feeding in the night, and yes I'm recovering from major abdominal surgery... But I'm not constantly feeling a bit sick and I'm.not exhausted!! This too shall pass, ladies!!!

eallison Wonderful news. With any luck, the end of a wholly trying period. You should be proud of yourself for having got yourself, and all your family through (of course, OH helped, but we shan't mention that at the moment). Here's a from me. It does indeed pass.
DeadDoorPost I am glad you slept.
I am having my second part of my planned trip tomorrow. Lovely beanhunter will be calling in while Mother Hen goes flapping off.
Look after yourselves everyone. I will be back soon.

Lucinda enjoy your trip!

We have a house viewing on Thursday so fingers crossed we get to move in in the next month (renting).

eal good to hear about having 2 nights at home. Are things looking much better now for baby?

deaddoorpost the midwives don't want to see him again til Thursday, so I'm hopeful that they're happy the jaundice isn't a problem any more :) Moving whilst pregnant... you're a braver woman than me!!

Hope everyone had a peaceful night

eal we moved to Kent in Jan whilst newly pregnant, there's not much I'm bothered by 😂😂 glad to hear they seem happy with him. DNephew was born with jaundice (late) but was in hospital for 5 days. With everything else going on with you im amazed. I wouldn't have the patience.

Hello all. Just checking in.
@eallison - glad you are both doing well
@deaddoorpost - moving with HG sounds way too much like hard work to me!

eallison Great news! How lovely! And also very motivating regarding how you feel now! BIL is thoroughly amused by how much I’m looking forward to giving birth, as he’s only heard of women being nervous about the birth, whereas I’m counting down the days until my induction I’ll be sore and tired at first of course, but I’m expecting (and looking forward) to overall feeling so much more myself.

Sorry to hear that avacadooo like others have said do whatever you have to in order to look after yourself, if that means getting signed off then it doesn’t matter what work thing. I’m not very familiar with how maternity allowance payments work, however in terms of statutory maternity leave you’re entitled to start the leave whenever you want to (from 29 weeks pregnant) and you’re entitled to take up to 52 weeks. It’s a statutory right, whilst may women will work with their employers to choose something mutually convenient that’s only helpful if you actually like your employer and they treat you well! You notify them of your mat leave dates, they can’t tell you when to start it just like they can’t tell you when to return. You’re also entitled to change your return date (within the 52 week period) as long as you give 8 weeks’ notice. However of course if it’s easiest, you can get signed off and automatically trigger maternity leave at 36 weeks by still being ‘officially’ sick at that point in time. Hope you get some distance from it all soon.

Sorry Blii that doesn’t sound very pleasant at all.

Feeling okay today. Managed to do a load of washing and hang it outside in this nice weather. Yesterday I managed to put the DCs’ clothes away (side note: no clothes have been put away since January! Just juggling with multiple baskets of clean clothes...). So that felt like an achievement! Going to see if I can put our clothes away today. But, taking everything very gently, and also being a bit smug about buying some good fans in April as they’re coming in handy now with the sunny weather one side of our house is south facing so it can get really warm very quickly on that side.

Afternoon all. Today is not a good day, think I overdid it at the weekend. Was supposed to work at home this afternoon but can't. This is such an illness of tiny ups and lots of downs isn't it. I have the fear this week because I have my 16mo tomorrow morning and then all day Wednesday. I've rarely done all day with him in recent months and it usually ends in my tears because it's so hard. I feel so bad I can't even look after him properly. Trying to rest up this afternoon.
Did everyone have an ok weekend? A heavily pregnant lady said to me yesterday that if we weren't pregnant we'd be complaining about wanting to be which is true for me so I'm trying to keep it in mind and stay positive.. so hard!

Ellkie hope you have a better day tomorrow. For me just mentally knowing if I have to look after dd is enough stress to trigger things!

Before well done on the washing! I’ve done 2 loads today but I can’t manage to carry it outside to dry so it’s all hanging up inside!

Dead I’m in Kent too! Fwiw we moved last pg when I was about 32 weeks pg. it was stressful but it was fine. Mainly because I couldn’t do anything and so dh did it all! Even the unpacking thank goodness. I always remember when a couple of weeks after moving in he was putting stuff in our new loft and put his foot through the ceiling and we had to have it replastered!!

Eal that’s great, and the fact mws are happy with things until Thursday is a great sign. It’s really reassuring to hear you’re still feeling more energy despite lack of sleep and months of enforced limiting of activity. With dd aside from the euphoria from not feeling sick all the time I really struggled with exhaustion where I wasn’t used to doing anything, but I had been in hospital for a week getting no sleep with a failed induction first which was physically and emotionally draining so I’m really hoping going in for a planned section will mean I start off at least in a much better place.

Today is a bit of a urgh day. Worse than last few but not terrible (yet...). Am feeling sick confined to sofa though. This morning dh forgot to bring me a drink and breakfast in bed as usual (if I get out of bed before having something to eat and my medicine it really makes me feel so much worse) so I had to get up and get it myself on an empty stomach with no meds. But I managed it. So that’s something. News from work colleague that my replacement isn’t doing any of the plans I left her and is essentially making it up as she goes along with what she fancies, so now I’m going to have to email managers to make sure she follows what’s needed. Really worried about the state of things when I return from mat leave.

Before- you and I both. I absolutely hate the washing at the moment. I managed to put everything away the other day, but of corse it has piled up again now. I put two loads on the washing line this morning and there’s another load in the washing machine now, which can dry indoors. It really is the bane of my life at the moment, it just never ends. Hope I enjoy the washing again once baby is here and I feel better.
Hope you have a better day tomorrow elkie.
That’s does sound too good reastie. Try not to worry about it now though, I’m sure worrying/stress makes hg worse. How far are you? Will you not be going back before baby arrives?

I’ve had a bit of a rubbish day too. I was ok this morning and I went to my mums for lunch but I don’t think her lunch was big enough, I felt hungry again quite soon after but I didn’t have anything else to eat and now I feel very sicky. I had a packet of hula hoops but they didn’t do the job. So I’ve put dinner in early. And husband is having a fry up, so I must get my gas mask ready.

Fingers crossed for a better day for all tomorrow.