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.

Yes have been through this before, I was bad but far worse this time. They scanned me just to confirm it's a single, viable pregnancy, I'm only 8 weeks.
We're also moving house on Friday, just to add to the stress level!

Welcome oyoyoy I hope you get on meds soon and manage okay with baby as well, that seems to be a recurring struggle here (looking after small children whilst dealing with HG).

putput I’m sorry to hear it has been so horrendous, I do hope something makes a difference for you soon. Moving house will definitely be cranking up the stress levels! Hopefully you can have some relative calm soon.

Feeling super hungry again which makes me more nauseous. Probably just because I’m third trimester now so getting naturally more hungry. But can’t figure out what to eat half the time 🤦‍♀️ DC1 is home from school as he’s unwell, although he’s perked up now and had something to eat. I’m feeling groggy and nursing a cup of tea (grateful I can stomach the tea!). So many boxes to deal with and such little energy feels like I’m speeding up towards the end, which I guess is a good thing, but it feels like it’s coming up quickly. 12 weeks until induction... (hence I really need to start making headway, given how long it’s going to take me to sort stuff out!).

Hi all, just checking in.

Got last consultant apt before section tomorrow to do written plan so hoping she’s not running too late and I get to see her and not just her team.

Have had another forced rest day after feeling rubbish yesterday. I hate getting numb bum from making myself sit all day. I hate being incapable of doing anything, but it really does make a difference to the nausea.

Beforeihit you have a whole 12 weeks to get stuff done. I have one week and am panicking about everything that won’t get done! I managed to hang some blackout curtain liners today so I can make room dark for baby sleeping and that’s about all I’ve done!

Putputput poor you, really feel for you. What have they tried other than cyclizine? They should be trying other drug combinations. Maybe ondansetron? And guidelines say you should be offered all drug options before a termination if you want them. Steroids would be the next line up from the more common drugs eg cyclizine, metcoploride, stemetil, ondansetron. They really helped a previous hg sufferer on here eal who had hg really awfully and was in hospital a lot. She managed to largely control things with steroids. Some doctors are twitchy about prescribing them, largely because they don’t have the expertise about their safety in pg. if your hospital doctor is waivering about offering them you can ask tomsee another specialist.

Oyoyoy if it helps I saw an anaethetist consultant last week. He told me if babies need to have an anti emetic they will usually give ondansetron to them via iv. He said I was fine to take it whilst bfing (after my section booked for next week) but he said the mws on pn might try to stand in my way and tell me it wasn’t safe for bfing. He said they were wrong and wouldn’t listen to him and he said it was fine and safe (to the point they treat babies with it). I trust him (the main consultant anaethetist who trains other anaethetists as a lecturer) than some mws who don’t have the ability to prescribe.

Marty could the bus or activity of going out have worsened the sickness? I’ve had to accept I’m literally capable of nothing any more. A trip on a bus would make me really sick and I don’t really go out other than to hospital appointments as it’s not worth it with how sick I feel from doing stuff.

Composed happy Eid. How are you feeling today? Are you home yet?

Reastie I’m a highly risk averse planner. I can do a rough mental map of all the activity that I would like to, and what definitely needs to be done, and how long that would take under normal circumstances, and then extrapolate that to my current glacial pace, and basically it ends in me going, “Argh we’re running out of time!”. When I started my last job, a week into my role I told my boss we were already a good 3-4 months behind schedule by my estimations... turns out they had never started a project plan as early as I was suggesting... but I do recognise my tendency to over control I hope everything goes well for your appointment tomorrow, not long now (yay!).

Before you’re exactly like me! At university I used to hand all my essays in at least 2 weeks before the due date incase I got ill or something happened and I couldn’t get there to hand it in. We had to do group assignments and I literally drove my teams mad making sure we had it finished with plenty of time to spare when they wanted to leave it until the last minute. Well, I got the last laugh (sort of, in a weird way) because I got flu at the end of one term and missed a few weeks of uni but because I had already done all my work and handed it in it was ok! I am such a planner. I start wrapping Christmas presents in September as I panic I won’t get it done in Time! Which makes this really difficult because there’s sommuch I want to do and I just can’t.

I'm a major procrastinator due to having high expectations etc but I start my Christmas prep from Boxing day! Already have 2 presents bought and another one on my radar for DH and then it's a case of printing photos for grandparents. Other will have to wait this year due to baby but I make lists and squirrel money away ready. Even start buying food in Sept ready for it.

Welcome to oyoyoy. You've already had great advice. As DeadDoorPost advises, do phone Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 7638 2020 who will give good advice about obtaining effective meds. I believe that you have the right to request a consultant appointment besides. As you are a previous sufferer, I don't need to give my spiel about obtaining kesostix to check for dehydration (not the best indicator, surely scanty dark urine, dry mouth and skin, headache etc are better) but hospitals take measurements of ketones seriously. Nor do I need to come out with the stuff about fizzy flat full sugar coke, the juice of tinned fruit and ice lollies. An anti acid can make a huge difference. When did things improve for you last time?

putputput Goodness, poor you. That sounds horrendous. You must be suffering as badly as Kalidasa who was on these threads a few years ago. She was in hospital for weeks; it got to the point where I wondered what I could say - but in the third tri improved to the point where she could go back to work part time. Don't despair. As others say, they shouldn't be discussing termination until they have exhausted all options and you wish to consider it.
DeadDoorPost Reastie and beforeihit30 and others, excellent advice.
beforeihit30 Well done on tea. That is a comfort, anyway. Sorry about LO.
Apologies to anyone rudely ignored.

beforeihit30 Reastie and DeadDoorPost My goodness, how organised you all are. The only comfort for disorganised people like me is that I remember reading that others are worse. I remember reading that Mozart was completing the music for The Magic Flute only hours before the curtain went up...

Hi all no I decided to come home late last night as I didn’t want to miss eid morning with my dd. Turns out she was up waiting for me and hadn’t gone to bed yet.

I defo think the fluids and injection yesterday helped, the staff were so nice a complete 360 to my last experience. Even said if I feel the same again I know what to do and just call up and go in again.

My dh now realises the importance of taking meds and we have agreed for me to take it one day at a time and reduce when I feel upto it.

Reastie I am so happy for you that the end is almost here. So sorry to hear about putput and oy its horrid I’m still in the thick of it but I pray it gets better.

Oh composed that's so good!! Glad he's finally come round and that you had a better experience in hospital this time.

DS isn't going to bed at 8pm any more and it's driving me crazy. I'm tired, DH has a work placement tomorrow (maybe for the rest of term but it depends how tomorrow goes) and DS is wide awake. I'm pretty sure it's because of the summer sun and it still being light. I can't make the room dark enough no matter what I do.

Haha yay Reastie I feel slightly less ridiculous! I had a tendency at uni to just do it all and then tell the rest of the group what to do (I’ve improved my teamwork skills since then...) one lecturer gave us all a look at the end of a presentation and then said, “Well that was very thorough but I get the distinct impression that this was all the work of one person...”. DH is naturally the total opposite, so I think we’ve helped bring each other slightly more central - I’m more relaxed than before (honest ) and he’s more organised than before (significantly!).

composed how sweet that DD was waiting up for you, and wonderful that your DH is appreciating the necessity for medication. And also the improved experience with the doctors. That sounds like a good series of things

Didn’t have a great evening not horrendous, but did ultimately spend about 45 minutes lying at the bottom of the stairs... nausea was really bad, I got faint trying to go up the stairs, and I thought I was going to be sick (there’s a toilet downstairs). Calmed down eventually after my impromptu lie down, enough to get to my bed. DH was lovely and joined me on the floor whilst I recovered! I think I may have overdone it today, plus just general “I’m not cured yet”. I didn’t exert myself loads physically, but I did cook some pancakes, then I spent about 2 hours on the laptop (first time since December). Not doing work-work, I do ad hoc voluntary work using my professional skills/experience and have done for years, one of the charities I volunteer with asked if I could review something but in summary it ended with me rewriting a document and sending a long list of guidance, legislation, tasks for them to do etc (I wonder if I am being officious but I am being reasonable and correct ). Anyway so that was mentally exerting, and I think I may have underestimated the impact. Lesson learned.

Finally got DS to bed then promptly cried for maybe half an hour. DH bless him didn't say anything just came over on the bed and hugged me. I think I just snapped finally. I've been trying to hold it all together with being positive about the fact we'll be in our own place soon, DH will have a job and everything will be fine but last night it didn't feel like any of that was going to happen. I don't want to be here with the in laws for ages. I want our own place. I feel like I'm being judged for our parenting which is probably untrue but still.

Hi all haven't posted in a little while so thought I'd update. Managed to reduce drugs down to one ondansetron and one metoclopramide in the morning instead of 3 of each a day but still feel terrible first thing and am unable to do very much active. I'm ok working from home for short periods of time in the afternoon but leaving the house is ridiculously tiring and makes me feel crap.

Have had it confirmed that I can have a c section this time after 3c tear last time so feel happy about that. Might have to go to a different hospital for it though as mine is crazy busy and I'm low priority/risk. Asked about hyperemesis and if ok to take my meds around the op etc and was just told it would be gone by then. Well I'm 21 weeks now and it hasn't yet!!

Trying to remember that I have made progress though and can do much more than at eg 8 weeks.

So sorry to see all the suffering at the moment. Wishing everyone a restful afternoon.

Hi ladies, I was on the HG support thread when I was pregnant with my DS last year under a different username (and can’t for the life of me remember what it was!).

I just wondered if those who had had more than one baby started with nausea/vomiting earlier the second time around? I’ve been feeling very nauseous on and off for a couple of days and actually vomited this evening. I’m only on about day 24/25 of my cycle I think so it seems too early for pregnancy symptoms but other than pregnancy I’m just not a vomity person and I have no other symptoms of being unwell!

Thatsnotmyotter Welcome back. It does often seem to be that way with previous sufferers. When you get the pregnancy confirmed do get pre-emptive meds as soon as possible.
DeadDoorPost I am not surprised you feel down at times. As you say, things will work out, but it is frustrating.
composed I am so glad you saw your LO and that your OH has accepted the need for meds. What a relief!
beforeihit30 That sounds dismal lyiing by the stairs. I am glad OH joined you!
ElkieMacjibe I am glad that you feel a bit better at this stage, anyway.
My head is splitting and I am taking it to bed early.

Urgh, had consultant apt but she was running really late so struggling before I got in. Then I mentioned to her I had another teeniest bleed almost not noticeable and she said I had to go up to triage again for monitoring. They were busy so had to wait and by the time I got home I was over an hour late for dinner, and eating at specific times is one key nausea reduction method of mine and if I don’t then things do not go well, so have been in bed since coming home feeling horrible. But I survived and all is ok. Have had to ring up to cancel mw apt in morning though as know it’ll be too much after hospital today. Luckily all the checks were done at hospital so it wasn’t strictly necessary to go.

Thatsnot my nausea has always started way before af even due. First time (mc) it was over a week before af due and really bad in the week before af due. I didn’t realise it was due to being pg because I had no idea it could start that early so took medicine to get me through work for the week! Second and this time has been a good few days to a week before af is due I had big waves of nausea, was weird with some smells and couldn’t eat foods I usually was fine with. I just knew what it was because of that! It can start that early I’m afraid. Were you ttc?

Ellkie glad you’re getting the csection. If it helps I’m still on meds and have a csection booked next week. Let me know if you have any questions about what I’m doing with meds etc, although not to say what I’m doing is the best thing!

Dead poor you, really feel for you. Have you got anywhere planned to move to or are you still looking? (Sorry if you’ve said and I’ve forgotten). It must be stressful with in-laws at the best of times. Do you have blackout roller blind AND blackout curtains? Fwiw I’ve found that’s the only way to get a really dark room, and even then it doesn’t get rid of all the light. You can buy blackout curtain liners (I got some from amazon) that clip onto the back of your existing curtains to make them blackout that work pretty well.

Composed I’m so glad your dh is on board with the drugs, that’s one positive from the last few days at least.

BeforeI lying on the floor at the bottom of the stairs doesn’t sound like the best of evenings! I’ve done that before after coming over all faint. Weirdly for me that’s usualy when I get out of bed so I fornsome reason in my confused state tend to lie on the floor next to the bed waiting for it to pass rather than just getting back into bed!

reastie we haven't found anywhere yet, that's part of the problem we have. As for the curtains, i don't feel spending 35 plus on them just yet is wise in case we need different sizes when we do eventually move.

otter I threw up And felt nauseous maybe the week after I conceived, so no idea what day of my cycle I was. And then the nausea and vomiting started a bit later this time which was nice. Still isn't the best thing in the world now but I did have a few extra weeks this time to enjoy being free of it all.

Reastie - thank you. We're on lots of antiemetics. I take regular ondansetron and cyclizine then stemetil injections as breakthrough. I'm allergic to metoclopramide unfortunately.

I'm home now, which is lovely but tough not having the iv anti emetic. I'm booked to go up to the unit twice a week to get iv fluid top ups so am heading there today.

Wanted to see if anyone in here has had steroids or has had a PICC line? Both are being discussed as possible next steps. My ideal would be managing myself at home with IVs. I'm a nurse and would be more than capable of doing this but can imagine it will be a battle!

Dead the blackout curtain liner I got from amazon was about £15 if that helps and really works! Might be worth it for some better sleep?

Putputput I didn’t have either of those to help but if you can have a line to do ivs at home that sounds like it would be a really good way to manage it. If I coukd have done that I would have. If it were me I’d prefer to do that, knowing it helped and the drugs were considered more safe on the list of drugs for use in pg than steroids. But if it weren’t possible I would have taken the steroids.

Putput sorry to hear you are having such a hard time I really hope things start getting better. At home IV sounds like a dream if they would agree to it.

Dead I second reastie’s suggestion of cheap blackout liners they do really help. I hope you find something suitable to move into in due course, can only imagine how stressful it must be and how it can make you feel worse on top of the hg.

I’m waiting for 2 managers to make a home visit from work as per protocol and not only am I stressed about it but I usually take a nap around this time but can’t. They can’t do it over the phone!

Struggling to eat again these past few days and trying to find something new to drink is proving a bit of a mission, one I’m failing at the moment.

Reastie you must be so excited that you’re almost at the finish line with hg, how are you feeling?

Hope everyone else has a better day today than yesterday and sorry if I have missed anyone xx

oh and bathing is becoming a problem again tmi but I am struggling and think I may be a bit whiffy

Composed can you wipe a flannel and soap around a bit instead of a bath or shower? Might help a bit but be more manageable. Tbh if it’s not triggering your symptoms I’d be tempted to put up with it until you can manage a wash.

Feeling pretty mixed today. Trying to have a peaceful day after hospital trek yesterday and so recovering. Managed to do a few mini chores but so many things I want to get done. It’s depressing how the house looks and I so want it to be half decent before baby is here. I know other people may not care but I do! The kitchen is just dire. Dh is really great and helps a lot but it’s missing me doing the proper cleaning not just keeping on top of the dishwasher etc iykwim. Feeling really scared about section. I can’t tell you how nervous I am about having to fast for it and wait around for the op knowing how awful fasting makes me feel and I’m also scared as last time I felt very unwell during the section. I know I’m just going to have to put up with it but it is genuinely so scary. To add to my anxiety I mentioned a few days ago I had to decide whether to have a steroid injection as I’m having my section a week earlier than strictly recommended at 38 weeks. My consultant said when I asked her more about it if she would have it done if it was her yesterday that she wouldn’t because there’s growing evidence that beyond 37 weeks it’s benefits don’t outweigh the risks. She said there’s an increasing body of evidence against it beyond 37 weeks but that this information hasn’t cascaded down to many hospitals so it’s atm usual to still have it. She said if I have the injections there’s a potential link of brain development issues in baby to potentially cause lifelong changes. If I don’t have the injection though I risk a higher than usual chance of baby having breathing issues (although this can be the case for any section but the risk increases the earlier you have it) but she said any breathing issues, despite possibly requiring special baby care treatment initially, will be remedied within the first few months of life with no lasting damage. So atm I’m thinking I will decline them, which they are fine about as I have the choice what to do, but I just don’t know what the best thing to do is and hope I’ve made the right decision. Potentially a few months of breathing/respiratory issues vs potentially a lifetime of brain function development issues. If it were pre 37 weeks unquestionably I’d do it as benefits outweigh potential risks but given she says it’s now very questionable after 37 weeks....I hope I’m making the right decision.

Just found out the number I text for the specialist midwives was the wrong number. Got the right one now.

Only took me 2 weeks to realise.

Reastie - with my last pregnancy I remember feeling exactly like you did about the house. We paid (£90i think) for a cleaner to come and do a one off blitz of the house. Total extravagance but it made me feel so much better about myself.

Dead at least you’ve found out now!

Putputput I was wondering about doing that but tbh I can’t justify the expense having been on statutory sick pay all year and because of that only getting maternity allowance. Plus it would just stress me out having someone here cleaning whilst I’m feeling sicky and trying to stay out of their way. But I can see the advantages. Plus a lot of what needs doing is tidy things away properly as well as cleaning.