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.

Thanks for the well wishes everyone. I feel very relieved. Edwards & patau were a huge worry. Hopefully the full results will be just as positive.

We’ve had a lovely day pottering in the sunshine. It’s our first summer in this house and ds is loving having a garden. I’m still being sick, but not loads and seem to be getting some respite from the constant nausea. I think we might even brave the beach tomorrow 🙂

For all those worrying about weight gain, I think it’s much more important that you are eating and not dehydrated. I gained a lot in my last pregnancy, despite HG, because all I could stomach was very rich think yogurts and ice creams and sugary drinks. I’m still losing now at 14 weeks this time. Probably because I can’t stomach anything sweet. Hopefully it stays that way! I also gained lots of weight after ds was born. I was so excited to be able to eat again & went on a right binge for the first few months. Bf’ing made me so hungry!

Hope you are feeling better tonight @Reastie.

Funny you should mention swimming @DeadDoorpost; i’ve Been thinking about going to a pool because it feels like it may help the nausea. Might try it when everyone is back at school.

Great news about more time off @beforeIhit30. No sense I’m rushing. I was contemplating giving work a go next week, but I think I’m going to wait until we have all our results first.

GLad you are getting out & about @eallison88. I hope you get to enjoy some of this lovely bank holiday weather.

Good luck without the meds @avacadooo! 2 weeks without vomiting is amazing! That sounds like a horrible migraine, glad you are feeling better.

Waves to everyone else.

Well, I threw up today 👍 again, it was chips, and again I didn't feel ill afterwards so that was good. The downside was that it came up through my nose as well so that burned for ages. Almost like I'd thrown up a fizzy drink.

That sounds sensible cattaxi, to give yourself time before returning to work. I can’t remember who it was but someone on the old thread was somewhere in the 20s (as in eg 24 weeks), and they said even when you do start to feel better don’t rush back into ‘normal’ activity, give yourself some time as you’ve just spent months horrendously ill so a few weeks of gradually returning to doing more is fine, be kind to yourself. That just made a lot of sense to me and I’ve been reminding myself of that.

Oh dear DeadDoor I hope you’re feeling better now and nose is no longer stinging!

Feeling more nauseous today. I’ve had two alright days so I suppose it was due...!

The nausea is sometimes worse than the actual sickness. I never got relief once I was sick in the early days. I’m only sick in the mornings now but all day nausea is horrible. The only time I don’t feel sick is when I’m eating. I had chips last night also, think I dipped a bit too much ketchup though as felt more sick afterwards. I had to have a bath and get into bed at 7:30 last night.
My husband bought be Ben and Jerry’s ice cream forgetting I can’t eat it. It’s a killer because I still fancy sweet things, especially cake!!!
I feel like I’ve been putting on mega weight since not being throwing up all day. I’m a couple of pounds past my pre pregnancy weight now at 23 weeks. I guess that’s ok, it’s just the speed at which I’ve gained that worries me. Like you say cataxi, the main thing is to avoid the dehydration. I can still only manage pepsi or water at the moment and quite a bland ‘childish’ diet.
Cannot wait to feel normal again. 17 weeks to go. Urgh.

blii If you can't have Ben & Jerry's cos of dairy, I recommend Booja Booja (specifically the salted caramel one!). If it's cos of sugar/diabetes, you can also have the Booja Booja (smallish amount, the ingredients are such that its not awful for diabetea). Sorry I can't remember the reason for no B&J!!

Hi everyone. I’m primarily placemarking but also sending love and sharing an update.
So sorry to read of those who have been struggling on for so long with this, and of those of you who are still in the dark early tunnel. Thinking of you all lots in the lovely sunny weather and hoping there’s some way for you to each enjoy it to whatever level possible for you.
I’m 27 weeks now and since emerging from the hyperemesis tunnel at around 20something weeks (I still often feel sick/gag but haven’t vomited in weeks!) we’ve had a scan showing an anomaly and various tests but as far as they can tell the baby’s health shouldn’t be affected too significantly by what they found (‘calcifications’ in the liver.) I’ve developed pretty bad PGP (wonder if the high levels of hormones that prob cause hg plus the inactivity of hg (therefore poor muscle tone) have paved the way for this? Anyone else got it?) - 13 weeks to go and I’m to avoid lifting/pushing/stairs/bending etc.. pretty much my life as a stay at home mum of two preschoolers😅 so I’m back to pretty significant inactivity due to that.

Thanks eallison88 I’ll add it to my Morrison’s shop. The reason I can’t have it is because anything with sugar in makes me super sick again. But if it’s ok for diabetes then a small amount might not hurt I’ll give it a go anyway.

Nighttimenope That’s reassuring that baby’s health won’t be too effected. Not had PGP in any pregnancies but I’ve heard how horrible it is. I usually get sciatica towards the end so have that to look forward to.

Been a pretty chilled day today, done lots of washing in this beautiful weather. Now I have the job of putting it all away. Always hated putting the clothes away but now it’s even more of chore.
Hope everyone is doing ok and getting some vitamin D from the sunshine.

eallison I am glad things are stable.
befireihit30 I so agree about how peopel rush back too soon. Recovery from such a debilitating illness takes a lot of time. For one thing, you have often been on a starvation diet for weeks...
DeadDoorPost Oh dear, that sounds awful.
Bili I am sorry to hear the nausea lingers all day.
Nighttimenope Lovely to hear from you. Sorry to hear about the anamoly worry and the debilitating PGP.
Waves to Reastie, cattaxi, Advocadoo and everyone.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Hello everyone! Rock ‘n roll Saturday evening here watching bgt & sipping sparking water!
Another pretty good day. Have thrown up quite a bit. But the debilitating nausea does seem to be massively improving. This afternoon I actually felt well enough to pop to Asda for a few bits. I’ve not done that in 10 weeks. We had a lovely bbq (where I just ate bread rolls!) then the teenager and I went for a walk on the beach after ds went to bed. Another thing i’ve bot felt able to do in a long time. I’m Absolutely whacked now!

I hope today was better for you @DeadDoorpost.

I definitely won’t be rushing back @beforeIhit30. But am really hoping I get to go before my sick pay runs out!

Dh and the teenager were eating Ben & Jerry’s tonight @Blii. I felt very sad not partaking, but know it would only come straight back up again ☹️ I totally agree that putting the washing away is the worst job!

Sorry you are struggling @Nighttimenope.
The inactivity thing is a viscious cycle, isn’t it. You’re forced into it by the hyperemesis, but it has a lock on effect on everything else your body is doing. So unfair.
We’re currently going through testing after an anomaly at the 12 weeks scan. Worrying times. I’m glad you’ve had a good outcome. Ds’ little mate has had some treatment for that I think. He sails through it.

Waves to @LucindaE and everyone else. Happy Easter!

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping someone can offer some advice. I feel a bit of a fraud posting here as last pg I had severe HG but this pregnancy I have suffered only with some relatively mild nausea and vomiting.

However, I'm 20 weeks now and have been vomiting pretty constantly since Thursday night. I think a UTI may have triggered it, but now my body can't seem to stop. I saw an out of hours GP on Friday am who tested my urine and found blood, protein and 4+ keytones. They sent me to hospital to be admitted for IV fluids and antibiotics but when I was seen 2 hours later (I had by then kept a piece of toast down) my urine only showed 1+ keytones so they refused to give me fluids. They gave me an injection of cyclizine and sent me on my way.

Since then, I haven't been able to keep any food down but have kept some fluids down. I can't bear the thought of returning to the hospital to be turned away because I'm not "dehydrated enough".

happydays00 I do hope this is short lived, and due to the uti. It is so annoying that hositals often insist on using ketones in assessing dehydration. Food does often bring down the ketones. Have in you got any full sugar coke you could drink flat, ice lollies,or tinned fruit -for the juice - in? They might be a way of taking in more liquids. Sometimes, cheap ice cream can stay down when other solids won't, or failing that, sips of chocolate milkshake. If it hasn't settled down in a day , do make an early appointment to see a GP.
cataxi I am so happy you could do some normal things.

Happy poor you. It sounds like you’ve got in a vomiting cycle which seems to be quite common with hg. Maybe an anti emetics taken regularly can keep it under control and stop the cycle. Have you got anti biotics for the uti? I’d see a gp as soon as you can.

Cattaxi thats great news that you’ve managed to feel a bit better and do some stuff.

Blii I’m with you on hating putting the washing away too!

Nighttime I had pgp last time from about 18 weeks and saw a physio who pretty much banned me from anything involving bending or lifting and all physical activity except some pg yoga. Fwiw this time touchwood I’m 31 weeks and am fine! I get aches and pains especially if I’ve been doing stuff but nothing out of the normal yet. I actually find activity a trigger to causing the pains that feel like it could be the start of pgp so I think resting is working to my advantage! I’d recommend doing stretches to help it frequently through the day and just avoiding anything that make sure it worse. I know the pain is terrible and I couod barely walk with dd in the end. Ask mw or gp to see the physio ASAP as the sooner you see someone about it the less likely it is to get bad. Oh, my mw recommended a serola support belt to wear when walking or moving. I got one and wear it a few times a week but not religiously, but it does help support the pelvis.

Suffering with sporadic bms now for several days so just waiting for a bad day where it all catches up and I get it all out of my system. Slept terribly yesterday, probably because of the heat and also dh has moved around furniture in the bedroom to get stuff ready for the baby so everything felt strange iykwim. Did manage to spend an hour with family this morning and cook dh and dd a roast though, so I feel productive.

nighttime I've had awful PGP in both pregnancies (worse in this one, incidentally, and he hyperemesis this time is worse). I highly recommend a chiropractor. At first indication of it this time (13 weeks!) I went straight to the ladybi used last time, and she's been awesome. The silver lining about spending so much time in hospital at the moment is the fact that I do very little of those triggers you mentioned.

blii I do hope the Booja Booja is ok for you!!

happy your experience angers me so much. Ketones are not the only indicator of dehydration (Not are they a reliable indicator!). I hope you're feeling better today - if you're not, and still struggling to eat/drink, I urge you to go back and make clear to them how much you're struggling to eat. What meds are you on? Possibly you need an addition/alternative. I assume you've been given antibiotics for the UTI. it never ceases to amaze me the impact that a UTI can have on hyperemesis - I ended up so dehydrated and ill that I needed an overnight admission and rehydration before I even realised I had a UTI (no symptoms, only showed up on a urine test when I was in hospital). Not to say that will happen to you, but to demonstrate how big the impact can be.

I've spent a lovely 7 hours of day release with the wider family today, having an Easter celebration. I did have a 90 minute nap at 4, but I am exhausted now. It's a good exhausted tho, but I may suffer tomorrow.

I've asked for another tour of the NICU/Neonatal unit tomorrow. I can't remember if I told you I had a tour on Saturday last week, when I was basically in labour. I want to go back when my head is clear so I can get a better picture of what to expect , what's down there in terms of family space (I think I remember they said there was a kitchen, and "transitional bedrooms", whatever on earth they are!) etc etc. Baby will be induced a week tomorrow, so I'm starting to transition my head from focussing on keeping baby in, to preparing myself for the practicalities of labour and teeny NICU baby and expressing/breastfeeding.

Wishing all a peaceful night

Thank you everyone for your kind replies! I saw physio on thurs and she gave me three diagnosis but I can’t remember the terms of each of them- one was something to do with one side being out of line (possibly to compensating for my damaged coccyx at last birth she said) and she shifted that back for me at the time. The others were ‘extreme laxity’ of the pelvis or something and a separated symphis pubis. She was very good and I’d heard her praises sung to high heaven from a friend before going so I felt in very safe hands! Trying to concentrate on the exercises and ‘pulling in’ all the time. DH being home over the long weekend is definitely helping as I don’t have to do much at all, and we’re hoping to get the youngest into a bed this week so I can step back into bedtime a bit (lifting a nearly 3 yo in and out of the cot was off the cards for a while.)
@blii I also agree about putting the washing away!! LOVE the satisfaction of getting one on but it’s such a hassle to actually process!
@cattaxi, so glad you enjoyed some sunny fun. I’m sorry you’re going through the difficulties of testing. Will be praying that all is resolved for you quickly.
@happydays00 I hope you’re quickly on the mend from this horrible spell. I am baffled at the ketones and dehydration thing.. I have no medical qualifications but no medic can qualify to me why they care so much about ketones over every other symptom of dehydration in pregnancy. Drives me mad! One gp at my surgery was insistent you couldn’t have hyperemesis until you had ketones, and you shouldn’t get treatment drugs until you had hyperemesis. Lovely lady but good bedside manner can take a hike when the patient isn’t accessing proper care!!
@Reastie - that’s brilliant you have largely remained unscathed pelvically speaking but having had both id still rather the pain to the sickness!! Thinking of you. Hope the last trimester goes in a bit faster with the better weather to help.
@eallison- thank you for the tip! We don’t have any money to spare but we would consider credit card payments for a chiropractor if I get much worse- as it would either be for that or childcare anyway!! How much roughly did it cost you if you don’t mind me asking? I missed you saying you were to be induced early I think- how early will you be, and have you had a NICU experience before? I had one with DS- he was induced at 36 weeks as I’d had preeclampsia from 28. I pretty much expected him to be fine at that gestation tbh but it was a bad pregnancy and birth and he needed a bit more support than I was prepared for. But the hospital stays last pregnancy did help with my PGP as they are doing for you! My stay in the ‘transitional befrooms’ was the highlight of my post-birth recovery and bonding tbh- i had to go home without DS initially and found it very traumatic, particularly because I wasn’t prepared for him to need the help he did, but they took me back in to one of those rooms when he was nearing release and I felt like it gave me back that time to just get familiar holding him, and taking control of his feed and sleep in cycles until he was ready to come home. Lots of mums opted to take baby straight home when they were ready but I was a bit shaken by everything and it really helped me ease into ds’s care.

nighttime initial assessment £45 (but she didn't bother with assessment this pregnancy), then sessions of £35. Not cheap by any stretch, but it was literally the only thing that kept my in my feet last time, and I was determined not to get to that stage this time, especially when I woke up suddenly barely able to wall at 13 weeks due to the sheer pain that had developed pretty much overnight.
Baby is going to be induced at 34 weeks (a week tomorrow) due to all sorts of drama since 4th April. I've pretty much been here since then (2 nights at home on 5th and 11th, and day release for the last few days - this baby likes to keep its drama for about 3/4am!). I got the impression I would move to a transitional room as soon as I didn't need any medical and was discharged. I'll clarify that tomorrow. Though I will be splitting time between home and hospital due to my 3 year old at home. I'm hoping to be able to do bedtime again, then come back here for the night. As brilliantly as my son is doing,he's starting to show the cracks and I think he needs some normality back.

Glad to hear baby is staying put for now eal and I think a clear headed tour of the NICU would be a good thing.

Yesterday was a day of threatening sickness, and today I almost threw up during and after my nan's lovely roast dinner. I think it was the sprouts, but may have been the roasties. Either way, I'm definitely feeling more sick than I have for a while but I am 20 weeks today. Scan is on Friday then nothing til 3rd June when I have the GTT. Which will of course threaten to make me sick any way but I can 100% say I won't have diabetes. I can barely eat chocolate and sugar as it is, and I've been eating healthy for the majority which is a huge change from last pregnancy. I'll get them to recalculate my BMI anyway as I've lost 13lbs so far. Not that it will make much of a difference.

Nighttime totally, I’d much rather physical pain to sickness. I remember the last couple of months with dd I could barely walk, was in supreme agony constantly, and so many physical complaints but I found they were easy and so much preferable to the sickness. Fwiw cost wise I’ve seen a private physio who was about £40-50 per apt so imagine might be similar to that. Physio was for non pg issues when I worked out so much I gave myself injuries .

Eal a week to go, the end is in sight! I think it’ll be easier after as despite sharing your time between home and hospital for a while at least you won’t feel sick all the time. Sounds like you’re hospital are preparing you well for everything. Are you feeling mentally ok about it all?

Dead fwiw I have declined my gtt as I know it’ll make me do sick. The fasting would make me sick then factor in the hugely sweet drink and that I haven’t eaten sugar in getting towards 2 years and the shock to my system it would have would definitely not be a good mix. You don’t have to do it and I believe if you’re sick before they take the last reading the results don’t count. Just be prepared if you do decline they may treat you as if you had gd despite not having an official diagnosis, which means regular self blood sugar testing and potential extra interventions for birth. For me that trade off was worth it for the escape of the test!

@happydays00 sorry the hospital have been so useless. I didn't have HG with DC2, just awful nausea - but I got 2 stomach bugs both of which tipped me over into HG for a few weeks afterwards. From memory, I was on anti emetics for about 2 weeks the 1st time and 4 weeks the 2nd, it did then settle. Have they given you any anti sickness meds to take post injection? I'd try the out of hours GP / your normal GP tomorrow to see if they'll give you some / get your some different ones?

We're having a quiet Easter break at home, I feel so much better not working with DH here to help look after DC1 and DC2 - shame it can't last!

Thank you all so much for your advice. This thread literally saved me (mentally) last time and I now remember why!

I'm still pretty astonished by the doctors attitude to my dehydration/keytones etc but never failed to be surprised by some HCPs attitude to HG. I'm on cyclizine and phenergan. They've prescribed metoclophromide (sp) too but I'm hoping when the UTI passes, so will the excessive vomiting.

I kept down some tinned fruit and a cracker last night and have managed a yoghurt and cracker so far today, so hopefully things on the up!

Sending big hugs to you all - you really are the strongest people I know of!

@Teddyreddy thanks , I missed your response. That's very interesting re the after effects of a stomach bug. I will make an appointment with the doctor tomorrow, thank you!

happydays I'm so pleased you're starting to feel better :)

Today I mainly feel sad. I think I've worked really hard on making all of this "okay", and not really allowed myself to feel very much. But this morning I did, and now I feel completely overwhelmed by literally everything. I'm so unready to give birth next week, I have no idea what the consultants plan is for induction, no idea what sort of things I'll be able to do, I have no music playlist - or indeed anything to play music on! I have no idea what help my baby isgoing to need, nor how long for. I'm missing my son desperately and feel like our relationship has been irreparably damaged. I miss my husband desperately. And I feel so utterly out of control of everything and it's terrifying.

@eallison please don’t worry about your son. I felt similar about my daughter who is 6. But honestly I think already 11 days after it’s over she’s forgotten about how crap a parent I’ve been for 9 months. I promise you he will be ok.
And as for 34 weeks - there is a chance baby may not even need neonatal care formally. Some units have a ward called transitional care where babies of around that gestation can stay with mums while they establish feeding if they don’t need any other support.

happydays00 Congratulations on food.
Teddyreddy I wish you could have that too; it's not much to ask, after all. When does your maternity leave start?
Nighttimenope Restrospective sympathy for that distressing experience. Good advivice too.
DeadDoorPost Good luck for GTI test if you decide to have it. It sounds as if you have had a very healthy diet...
Reastie No sugar for two years? My goodness.
eallisonGood advice from beanhunter. All will be well. All the second timer's on here have always commented, as beanhunter just has, on how amazingly quickly LO's forget a period of comparative neglect. They seem to cope so much better than one might expect. You will do amazingly, as you have throughout this incredibly horrible pregnancy.
Here's a from me for all your stoicism.
beanhunter Wise words.
Waves to all. Apologies to anyone discourteously missed.

deaddoorpost you can refuse the GTT test and request to monitor your sugars for 2 weeks instead. That's what I did - tho it only took 3 or 4 days to hit the number of high readings needed for diagnosis for me! I simply explained that i couldn't do it for 2 reasons; 1 I couldn't fast as I needed to eat breakfast in order to take my steroids, and if I didn't take my steroids it would be a disaster. 2. I was fairly sure I wouldn't be able to stomach the drink anyway, so it would be a waste of time cos I'd only puke it up- especially having not been able to take steroids. My consultant was fab and accepted that immediately. Even if your HCP is a little more reluctant, you can refuse the GTT anyway. And it's not as if you would be refusing any testing, you're even offering the alternative if you suggest monitoring your blood sugar levels for 2 weeks so they can see what's going on.

Eal I’m not surprised you’re feeling like that, but be reassured that you know when it’s going to happen and there will be a plan put in place beforehand. You can do this and you will cope.

Happy I hope the metcoploride makes a difference to you.

Lucinda yes nearly 2 years no sugar (except some fresh fruit). I’m one of those people that can’t just eat one bit of chocolate so I cruelly find it easier to completely deprive myself than to have just a little. It was tough at first but I feel so much better for it and I’m glad I’ve managed to maintain it through pg so far. I had a lot of mh issues around gaining weight last pg and became quite obsessive about keeping it off after I lost it. Of course now I’ve gained a lot again so there’s a lot of mental inner turmoil about coming to terms with that and how I will manage to lose it after baby is born as last time bfing made me ravenous and I ate constantly. I’m actually considering cutting back on bfing sooner this time just to get myself together a bit better and physically. I know that sounds incredibly selfish but I feel like I’ve given up my life for this pg with minimal happiness or enjoyment in anything for months, the sooner I can get back to myself physically and mentally and can manage to exercise (which helps my mh a lot) the better. Although I’m not sure how that’ll work with sleepless nights and after a csection!