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.

Hi I was on here a few months back as hotchocolate86. My little girl is 7 months now.
@reastie I had the steroid injections with both my children at about 37 weeks. I wasn’t told about a potential link to adhd or anything but I can tell you that I didn’t feel any more sick for having them.
I was interested to see the link between hypothyroidism and HG. I have hypothyroidism and never realised there was a possible link there.
Ondansetron worked really well for me in my first HG pregnancy but not so well in the second when I was on a complete cocktail of drugs to try and manage. It was still the best by far and I don’t know how I would have got through my pregnancies without it. For me it was a wonder drug.
Well done everyone for getting through another day with HG. It is such a hard thing to cope with (understatement of the century!) This thread was my saviour. Thank you to @lucindaE for keeping it going.

@composed I had 15 weeks off sick in my last pregnancy. Managed about 5 weeks of work on heavily reduced hours (got sent home early a lot) mixed in with some weeks of holiday and took my maternity leave at the earliest possible date. I know you didn’t direct your question at me but hopefully my answer is of some interest.

Composed You poor thing. Those migraines in pregnancy are torment. I so agree pharacetamol does nothing for them. I did find that a chiropractor could make an acute attack go,but that was very expensive. Take heart; mine stopped at 16 weeks, having been dreadful in the first tri. It might be worth asking if it would be OK for you to have Co-Codomol or some other combined pharacetamol and codeine based pain killer. The violent vomiting that goes with migrianes can easily make you very dehydrated, as others say. How are the ketones measuring? Is your urine very dark and sparse? It might be worth phoning up Pregnancy Sickness SOS on 024 7638 2020 to ask if they can recommend effective treatment options. Ice cubes can really help with a sore throat. Also, gargling with salt water - making sure you don't swallow any as a guaranteed vomit.

ClareDB Like others, I would also recommend you phoning up the above number as it is a strange decision on the part of the doctor.
DeadDoorPost Sorry you had such a bad day. It is very hard to endure. I am glad that things seem better today. I hope that the specialist midwives come back with some supportive help.

Reastie Good advice from you and to you!
beforeihit30 Fine advice from you, too.
Teddyreddy I am sorry to hear of that and your discomfort. As others say, they can so often get measurements wrong.
NearlyVegan Thank you so much for the encouraging message for DeadDoorPost and others. Do remind me of your old name; did you have twins, or two Hyperemesis pregancies?
HarryPotterFan436 Thank you so much for your message. I am so glad that the thread helped you in your bad times. I remember you well as hotchocolate.
Apologies to anyone rudely ignored.

,Ah, and HarryPotterFan436 Forgot to say I can't believe your DD is seven months already!

Hello to everyone, sorry to all who are really struggling atm :(
Just wondering if anyone has had any joy getting an additional med prescribed when sickness is mostly under control? Stemetil is helping keep the sickness down to once every day or two but the nausea is still overpowering most of the time and making it hard to function. Would it be worth going back to GP or not do you reckon?

Thanks LucindaE I have resorted to slathering vicks vapour rub onto my forehead and having my dh massage it for me, it seems to be helping. I don’t believe I am dehydrated as I have forced myself to take sips of iron bru but defo feel starved but with the migraine and being sick episodes I have stayed away from food. Once the migraine starts to lift I will try to nibble at something.

Harrypotterfan thank you for your kind words, I have company sick pay till aug so hoping I will be back to work by then latest at least!

Littlehouse I would defo go back to the gp, mine tried me on stemetil first as that worked initially in my last pregnancy but when it stopped I went back and asked for ondansetron which has helped me to eat and keep fluids down. I believe they can also add drugs to work in combination.

Have my 12 week scan tomorrow and I am so scared

on a positive note perhaps tmi but i have managed to go to the bathroom after having had constipation! the 15mls of lactulose worked pretty much within the hour. Anyone taking ondansetron please take something for the constipation I can’t stress that enough

The Clare if ondansetron isn't helping after 3 days, I'd rule it out too. But then, I like an immediate result. Metaclopramide is still effective, but everyone is different. I too wouldn't risk the dizziness.

DS has just stolen my pillow so he can have it in his cot... guess I'm using a different one... he seems to be using it as a blanket more than anything. Weird child.

composed my sickness started around 5 weeks but I happened to be on annual leave at the time, due to be back in the office at 6 weeks (but didn’t go back!). In total, including when my new fit note runs out, I will have been signed off for just shy of 6 months (so from 6 weeks pg to 31 weeks pg). At the beginning I was being signed off for 2 weeks at a time but as things went on and it was clear I was seriously sick/HG (as in not just regular pregnancy sickness) they started lengthening the sick notes, first to 3 weeks and now to 5 weeks. I prefer this as I don’t spend as much time wondering if I’m well enough to work, when I’m not, and just focusing on resting and managing things. I honestly thought I would be back at work at some point, either after first tri or at least from 20 weeks.

Because it’s my third pregnancy but only my first with HG, and getting on meds early helped to keep me fairly stable in terms of controlling the vomiting and managing some food and drink, my doctors were quite optimistic. At first it was “hopefully you should be alright by around 14 weeks”, then it was “a lot of women with HG improve around 20 weeks”, and eventually it just became “well, not all women recover fully during pregnancy...”, so I kept repeating what they were saying to others, then getting to all of these milestones and saying, “Um, nothing much has changed here... ”. But as I’ve said before, since somewhere in the region of 15-18 weeks it did become much more bearable. I’ve had dips since then, perhaps because of the 20 week hormone surge (thankfully I learned that from Lucinda!), I’ve also had 2 UTIs which haven’t helped, nonetheless it is much better than that more intense period.

Baby keeps kicking and moving and stretching about. Which is great, but I’m taking a bit of a beating here I also ordered a buggy we were able to get a discount which saved us about £90, and it doesn’t have regular sales or discounts and will take a couple of weeks to come, so it made sense to get it sorted now but I feel almost over prepared. DH is slightly terrified by how real it’s making everything

composed glad such a small dose of lactulose worked for u! I ended up in hospital with mine after 12 days without a bowel movement. Got it sorted and a couple of weeks ago I went a few days with a bowel movement. It took 30ml lactulose twice daily and daily laxatives (both stool softener and stimulant ones) for 5 days to get back to something kind of normal, but still too hard and not a full bowel movement. I’m also eating and drinking normally now which you think would Ben helping things along! I’m still taking 20ml lactulose daily to keep things kinda moving enough (but still not normal).

I’m now feeling terrified about having no lactolose! I haven’t been since I got back from the hospital on Wednesday (and I didn’t go that day either). I asked the doc about it when I rang about my ondansetron and vit b prescription and she said they don’t give it unless you’re actually constipated. “Why do you want to take things you don’t need dear?” Can you buy it over the counter?

Worryingly the doctor also said am I sure I need more ondansetron as apparently it shouldn’t be prescribed for more than a week. Is this true?!

On another annoying note I now have conjunctivitis - assume can only have picked up from the hospital as my husband/daughter dont have it and I haven’t been anywhere else! And apparently I can’t have the eye drops as am pregnant!

@composed so sorry to hear you’ve got migraines. Can’t imagine how awful that is on top of HG. Good luck at your scan today.

@deaddoorpost hope you’re ok

Twoshades I was a bit naughty and not taking it regularly when I started ondansetron so it serves me right! Will endeavour to keep taking it as I don’t want to go through that again god the pain.

Hermione constipation is a well known side effect of ondansetron even my reluctant pill prescribing gp said and gave me lactulose when I asked for it, you can buy it otc but may have to get someone else to get it for you as I’m not sure all pharmacists are keen on giving it pregnant women even tho its fine.

I’ve read about some women being on ondansetron right up until giving birth, if its working for you then why would she withold it? How are you feeling now hermione?

Before thanks for your message, atm my gp has been very nice and signed me off in blocks of a month so I am hoping that will continue till I can manage to get back.

Dead hope you got a good night’s sleep.

Reastie hope you’re well.

p.s migraine is fx starting to wane I think, the constant vicks has managed to help it on its way.

Hope everyone has a better day today and will catch up later.

Composed you’ve summed it up excellently, it is totally like being a prisoner in your own body. Fwiw I’ve been signed off work for the entire pg, same as last time too. Last time I attempted returning a bit after 20 weeks but it just made me worse and I had to give up, this time I knew the same woukd happen so I didn’t bother. I think there are people who think I’m just trying to get time off and. Should suck it up and keep working but tbh they have no idea what it’s like to go through this and much I’d love to be able to do that. My job is quite physically tiring and involves cooking and being very on the ball. I can’t just sit in an office on a computer iykwim. If I had had a less full on job or one where I could work from home I think I may have managed at least working a couple off hours a day. The sick pay totallt sucks though.

Clare ask your gp to refer you to an obstetrician urgently. They should have a bit more knowledge in combining medication (I say should because it depends who you see like gps). Or ask your gp to call the hospital for advice on medication. My gp was unwilling to prescribe multiples just because she didn’t have the knowledge in doing it during pg and the confidence in it but she was very helpful and initially spoke to a registrar at the hospital (who agreed with ondansetron and cyclizine combo) then when that wasn’t enough (they were only giving me half a dose) I got an obstetrician to recommend to my gp to introduce prochloroperazine too and increase ondansetron. Having a specialist assist my gp allowed things to happen much more easier, and luckily my gp was happy ot have that conversation and look into things for me.

Harrypotter I remember you as hotchoc! How are things now? Did you have nay issues getting back to normal after birth mentally due it hg? I know it’s goig to take me a little while to feel able to do stuff and not find it overwhelming after locking myself away for so long.

Littlehouse I have been prescribed for nausea. I was advised by pss that if it’s inteferingnwith your ability to have a normal routine and impacting on your life you should be offered medication even if you’re not vomiting. But, at the same time, I don’t think the drugs can cure the nausea fully, personally. For me just to be able to not be sick and be able to eat was the best it got. Even on my full meds at my worst point I still felt exceptionally sick constantly and couldn’t move from the sofa or bed etc.

Hermione I’ve been been onnndansetron since about 7 weeks and am now 35 weeks. The week thing is rubbish. I can only presume it’s because of cost. Also how rubbish if the doctors view about the laxitives. I use movicol which you buy otc (my gp is happy with this option and the leaflet says suitable during pg but pharmacists can be weird selling it tommemif I say I’m pg. I add lemon squash into the liquid to make it taste nice.

Hermione you can buy lactulose OTC, about £7-8 in Boots for 500ml. If they question you I always say I’m buying it for my husband and yes he has used it before... I can’t be bothered with being grilled or sending DH on a different day, if I have the opportunity!

composed that’s good to hear, I think a month gives you a decent amount of time to rest and gradually see if there’s any improvement or not.

I’m awake early because DC1 needed help and no way for DH to hear him (he was upstairs and DH downstairs and sound doesn’t travel so well here depending on where you are in the house). I think December was the last time I was awake at this hour

Hi @reastie Unfortunately I have had a few issues mental health wise after this latest pregnancy. I am struggling with health anxiety since the pregnancy. I’m so scared of getting ill every time I get a minor symptom I think I’ve got a serious illness and feeling sick triggers an instant panic. I don’t know why it’s affected me so badly this time as I felt pretty good mentally after my previous HG pregnancy but this time I have struggled and am still struggling quite a lot. On the plus side I’m back at work now which is definitely helping and I should hopefully get some CBT before too long that might help. I have moved into a lovely new house with more space for the children which is fantastic. They all love it and we have a garden now which we didn’t have before so that was a very positive move. How are things with you overall? Are you still feeling very sick? I see you are starting your maternity leave today which must be a massive relief and not long until your baby arrives at all now!!

my gp has refused to prescribe me anymore ondansetron and my pills will finish this sunday.

composed I got all my ondansetron through the early pregnancy and maternity units at my hospital as my GP wouldn’t prescribe it. Might that be an option for you?

Harrypotter did you just call them and ask or did you go through the gp to be seen by them? I told him I had done my research knew the risks and mentioned the rcog guidelines but he isn’t ‘comfortable’ in prescribing it during pregnancy so I can’t be given them unless I want to wait till next week and be seen for a review.

They refused to let me have a telephone consultation with him too. I give up no matter what I say they don’t listen.

HarryPotter sounds like the pregnancy triggered some kind of OCD for you. I'm not surprised after an HG pregnancy. Mine triggered PND.

composed I also got my first load of tablets from the EPAU. I find that midwives tend to be more willing to give them than Drs, but I've also had pretty good Drs during my 2 pregnancies. Midwives just tend to be more fussy about making sure you're actually coping.

Just here to express my anger at those not being prescribed the drugs they need! It is so wrong, why is there so much misinformation and lack of knowledge. I think I was lucky in the early weeks to get a gp who had dealt with HG before and she was encouraging me to take ondansetron when I was reluctant. Keep fighting ladies, you can do it!

I’m in Australia so I’m not sure what you can get in England, but I get lactulose and other laxatives just straight off the shelves in the pharmacy. I also don’t seem to have any issues with getting scripts for ondansetron. They can only do 2 scripts at a time but are perfectly happy for me to come back when I’m running low and need more. But it seems to be much easier to get gp appointments over here too. I can make an appointment pretty much anytime, including same day either online or I can call the surgery.

Harrypotter I’m so sorry for the mh issues you’ve had. I really understand the concern with health anxiety as I have a kind of variant of it (emetophobia - imagine being phobic of being sick and then getting feeling like this throughout pg! It’s literally living my worst nightmare). There are a lot of crossovers between the two issues. Mine got a lot worse after having dd as I was so scared she would pick up bugs and be sick and give them to me. I had a really tough first couple of years with her as I avoided baby groups etc as I associated them as being full of potential germs. It got to the point I was so scared of getting ill I essentially could barely leave the house and was signed off work with anxiety. This was when Dd was 2 I think. I got cbt and it got me to the point of being able to generally cope on a daily basis. I’m scared of the same thing happening again and I know I’m at risk. I really recommend a book I think called ‘overcoming health anxiety’ by dr david veale. He’s a true expert in the area and the book has helpful exercises based on cbt so might be something to get you going and focused. I’m not going to lie, if you do the exercises it won’t feel easy and will be a challenge, things will feel tough and might even make it worse for a while whilst you’re forcing yourself to challenge your thoughts, but if you do nothing you’ll stay at the point you’re at forever or the box of anxiety you live in will get smaller and smaller and it will get harder and harder to escape it. Pm me any time if you like. I remember post birth I was on such a high just not being pg and sick anymore but then in the months after things got difficult with my anxiety and depression and it was a really tough time.

Composed oh dear. Agree with others, can you get from hospital or get an urgent referral from gp to someone who can get them to you and educate your gp to get them on your repeat?

Just finished at the hospital scan went well just over 12 weeks but edd is now 02/12! Spoke to the registar off the bat re ondansetron who said he would prescribe 2 weeks worth and write a letter to gp in support of repeat. However he kept saying not enough research so he himself cant justify if go refuses! and if that happens then I will have to call the day unit and see if they will prescribe me.

To top it all off dh decided after reading dr write about possible unknown risk started arguing with me in the room and telling the dr not to prescribe it then due to the risks, WTF?!

He seems to be a bigger moron than these so called medical professions. I have decided to try to stick to 2 a day and see if it works. I said I would sign a bloody waiver to confirm I take the drugs at my risk, only for the dr to turn around and say well you haven’t had any admissions this time yes but only because of the ondansetron (they fail to see the link) instead I was told the hg should stop now as I am 12 weeks and to have toast and crackers. I never thought to try either of these(!)

Hope everyone is having a better day today, sorry for the loooong post had to vent otherwise I would end up killing dh xx

Composed that’s awful! Hundreds of women take ondansetron daily in their pregnancy with no ill effects to baby or themselves (except the constipation). I’m pretty sure in America they are very happy to prescribe it any pregnant lady. But they are reluctant to prescribe cyclizine, which is what drs will prescribe first here. Strange how it works. But please don’t worry. Glad your scan went well.
I have my scan later this afternoon, first of my 3 growth scans. Looking forward to seeing baby. But not looking forward to sitting there waiting for the consultant appointment afterwards. They always seem to make patients wait hours on those hard hospital seats.