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.

Yeah, I don't think I'm going to cancel it. The trade off of having to do tests doesn't appeal to me... I'm not a fan of needles or blood. It's an early morning appointment anyway so should be fine. My notes say I have HG so hopefully they'll keep an eye on me. At least I'll be at the hospital if I need to be admitted.

@eallison88 how did you get on today? How are you tonight?
I went through many moments/days like you have had in my last pregnancy as I had dd at home as well as the looming early arrival and hospital stays/threatened delivery etc. They called me in for induction unprepared at 36 weeks on her second birthday and I cried so much that they let me go home to give her her cake! Everything will be ok but it’s still so so hard and it’s definitely ok to have wobbles and panics and cry (and cry some more.) I cried for a full day once and had to call my husband in to the hospital because I knew I couldn’t stop until I saw him.
I hope you’re feeling better tonight.

After a beautifully mundane afternoon at home this afternoon I'm feeling much calmer. Looking forward to this promised rain and temperature drop!!!

deaddoorpost I'm absolutely awful with needles, but the blood sugar testing really is nothing. It doesn't hurt, it's the tiniest drop of blood, and dead simple to do. But if you're happy with the GTT, go for it, it's certainly simpler!!
Hoping everyone has a peaceful night!

eal glad to hear you're feeling better. Yeah, I really don't mind about the test. Just got to remember to take a book with me. I'll have to get someone to watch DS for me though. Considering I never seem to have any problems with blood pressure (and very rarely with urine even when I'm dehydrated) I'm expecting to come back negative for it.
I'm getting annoyed with comments about my bump. 20 weeks and I'm overweight by still not too big. But MiL and DM both Leo saying how lovely and pregnant I'm looking. Driving me mad. At least I can still suck my stomach in it was my party trick last pregnancy.

@eallison88 sorry you're feeling upset about your son but I'm sure he won't remember it in the future! Glad the wee one is still cooking!

Ended up in a&e on Sunday because of my migraine and I had a rash on my face which freaked me out, it was awful I was there for over 7 hours under fluorescent lights in a plastic chair and nobody seemed to really give a shit until they transferred me to mat triage at 1am and they were fantastic there, they weren't sure why I'd been sent to them because parasite is happy but I was told by a&e I wasn't allowed to leave until I saw them. The lovely mat doctor gave me prochloperzine (the good stuff not the nasty stetmil which doesn't agree with me) and some liquid paracetamol for my migraines since I can't swallow the paracetamol.
Went there for 7pm and got home at 3am it was awful I had a sandwich at 6 so I was starving and knackered and uncomfortable. Luckily the paracetamol has reduced my migraine and the prochloperzine has helped massively (I think it also gets prescribed for migraines too so it's a plus it's cancelling out the nausea and sorting my brain out😂)

Had to go pick up my drug haul on the afternoon tough and nobody would give me the priority seat on the bus so I had to try to go upstairs and fell over on the stairs so that was mortifying and really angered me.

Dh is on annual leave now so I've got a lovely week of pestering him 24/7 and I'm so excited to have company in the house during the day!

Hope everyone has a good day today!💕

That’s awful nobody would give up a seat for you avocado. I think some people are just completely oblivious to other people around them. Or just plain rude!
Glad you’re feeling better though.

Nothing new my end, just plodding along getting through it. Back to school tomorrow which I’m not looking forward to. But at least I can have a nap whilst the youngest does his 3 hours at nursery.

So much going on, big hugs to eallison avacadoo and anyone else having a time of it.

Reastie I was also low sugar pre-pg (mainly got it in the form of some berries, and very occasionally would have a sprinkle of honey usually on a home made low carb cheesecake! Was yummy...), definitely affects my weight and appearance as sugar breaks me out in blemishes. However I’ve allowed more sugar in as it’s in some of the few things I’m happy eating - mainly rich tea biscuits, and some ice cream, but also having more carbs too (rice cakes, sometimes jacket potato, pasta). I’m hoping that such a dramatic diet change means that when I dramatically revert back to low carb post-pg some of the weight will just drop off I used to eat moderate protein, high fat, works very well for me (in terms of satiety, energy, managing my autoimmune condition, plus my complexion), but I can’t handle much fat these days and not great with my usual protein sources either (nuts, Greek yoghurt, meat and fish). So I’m basically being fuelled by carbs and salad which is basically no fuel at all for me normally, as I feel a bit rubbish and gradually balloon!

I did the really stupid thing again of having a couple of okay days, then wondering “Am I too well? Should I start doing more? Should I work?” and I promptly feel rubbish again! Camping in the bedroom today...

Beforeihit yes pre preg I’d eat a lot of Greek yoghurt and nuts but can’t manage either now! It’s weird as I haven’t really craved sweet things this pg, or when I have it hasn’t been too strong, I was more wanting salty and peppery things in the first trimester. Usually I only have wholegrain carbs but couldn’t manage this in first trimester at all so had lots of rubbish carbs. Even now I’m probably eating more potatoes and white rice than I usually would but I’m just eating what I can to survive and cope. I’m also hoping to go back to normal habits post birth and that that will cause a miraculous weight loss! It’s horrible having to eat stuff you know you’re body won’t like particularly and you have no enjoyment to eat but you have no choice but to eat it.

Avacadoo so sorry about the a&e experience. Sitting for hours in a bright waiting room with a migraine sounds like an absolute nightmare to me. Fwiw prochloroperazine is what I take when I have a migraine when not pg and was prescribed it for migraine like headaches and dizziness and nausea when having issues coming off of the pill. I really rate it for that kind of nausea type issue as a medicine.

Eal I’m glad you’re feeling calmer.

Today has been average, not terrible (yet) so that’s something). I’m still struggling with bms, it’s been about 4/5 days where I haven’t been much and I’m just waiting dreading for the day when the backlog shifts.

Advocadoo That is awful that people wouldn't give you a priority seat, and as a result you fell on the stairs. They deserve to have their heads held under a cow's behind! How horrible about the plastic chair wait at A and E.I'm glad you are off work.I hope you aren't feeling too stressed about the court case and everything. I so agree with Reastie about Progchoroperazine being really good for migraine induced nausea. Enjoy the time with OH.
eallison I am so glad baby is stayihng put.
DeadDoorPost Best wishes over GTI test. I am sure that they mean to be kind with those remarks, but...
Nighttimenope Poor you. Retrospective sympathy. I am glad you were allowed to give her the cake after all.
Restie and beforeihit30That is very impressive.
Wavesto Bili and everyone.

Evening all! Checking in after a busy few days.
I seem to be much better at the moment. Hopefully the magic of the second trimester. I’m still being sick a few times a day, but I’m keeping much more food & fluids down. And best of all the nausea has improved a million times over. I saw the midwife today & for the first time I had no ketones or protein. Yay!
I think i’ve over done it a bit in my excitement at feeling better. We’ve had a few beach days & long walks. I’m exhausted this evening. Definitely set for an early night.

Really interesting reading the discussion about gdd testing. I think they want me to go, but I’m dreading it as fasting & sweet stuff make me so ill. Good to know there are other options.

@eallison88 please don’t worry about your son. Kids are amazingly resilient & he will be fine in all of this.
Glad you are feeling better by now. But also I would say that whatever you are feeling right now is absolutely fine. It’s ok to be scared of having an early baby. It’s very scary! The most important thing is those steroids, and it’s great that you’ve had them. We will all be cheering you on and crossing our fingers that your little one will need minimal support. You have come this far, you will get through this last bit just fine. And you won’t be sick any more, which will make everything feel better.

Waves to everyone else!

@Reastie I completely get what you are saying about eating foods you don't even want to eat, just to keep the nausea down. I think that's one of the things I'm finding hardest about putting on so much weight, it's not like I'm enjoying the extra calories!

I was back at work yesterday and duly back to feeling nauseous all evening, once DC were asleep I was back to lying down in a dark room . It hit me harder after having a few days of feeling normal, shame DH and I can't both take the next 4 monhs off... @LucindaE I'm planning on working until 38 weeks again this pregnancy, so another 13 weeks left until maternity leave. With 2 DC at home without DH off it's no easier being at home than at work and it means I can take August 2020 off so wouldn't have to put DC1 into holiday camp over the school holidays.

Hello all! So I'm 5+5 with baby #4, I had hg with baby #2 and #3. My nausea kicked in really early this time so I've been taking cyclizine that I had left over from last time to ease it. I'm booked in to see the doctor on Friday to try and sort a plan. Do I tell her I've been taking the cyclizine or keep that quiet?
Last time I ended up on cyclizine and ondansetron alongside hospital admissions, I'm really hoping early intervention will help this time and I'm hoping the doctor is helpful on Friday and doesn't just fob me off thank you for reading x

pickledegg I wouldn't mention you're already taking, but definitely push for being given meds at the appointment. The RCOG guidelines for hyperemesis are very clear that early meds have a positive impact and should be used (even preemptively).

Pickled I personally would tell gp given they were prescribed for during your last pg. I would last emphasise that whilst they are helping they aren’t sufficient alone and last time you required ondansetron as well and despite this had to have hospital admissions. If that combo worked for you last time push to get both of them again. If it wasn’t sufficient last time you can add a third drug in if that’s nt enough eg prochloroperazine or

Cattaxi great news about no ketones.

Hi pickledegg, welcome.
I would tell the doctor, that way you can let doc know if they’re working or not. If not then you can push for something stronger. And if cyclizine is working for you then you can ask for more. It’s usually trial and error to find a cocktail that works. Hope you get on ok in the meantime.
I’m going to ask to start my extra day again mid May. Will be an 11am-8pm shift so I’m a little scared but I need the money. I’m mostly ok in the afternoon/evening if I have plenty to eat, again only eating because I feel I have to, to keep the nausea away. It’s a different kind of nausea once I’ve eaten and that is ok to cope with.
I hope they don’t say no, that I’m not allowed to come back to do my extra days. Do I have a right to have my extra day back? The girl who has been covering me has wanted to work an extra day for ages so it’s worked perfectly for her but obviously if I come back then she will have to drop that extra day she is covering. It’ll only be until end of July/august though and then she can cover me again whilst I’m on mat leave so she can’t really grumble. I’m just worried they will say no. I’m going to text my manager at the weekend and say I’d like to come back and do my extra day.

Pickleegg89 Welcome. You are so brave to go for it for a third time. As others say, an early start with meds can make a huge difference and as this is your third pregnancy with it and as it has started so early, hopefully they will not object to prescribing Ondansetron, Cyclizine and maybe something else. As you are a veteran, you hardly need my 'Have you got kesostix/a good anti-acid can make all the difference/do you find ice lollies, the juice of tinned fruit and full sugar flat coke help' spiel.
Teddyreddy Working till 38 weeks is very stoic, and the more so if it is very busy at home with two LO's.
Bili I hope you get the extra day. In unionised place it would probabably be against agreements to refuse you that day, but I stupidly forgot where you work. That is a long shift, do make sure you take something to nibble on if you can.
cataxi I am so glad you are feeling a bit better. Isn't it odd - anyone who hadn't suffered from Hyperemesis woudld say being sick more than once a day was 'awful sickness', so don't push yourself too hard.
Waves to Reastie and eallison and everyone...

Thank you all. I think I will be upfront about taking the cyclizine and take it from there. We moved areas last month so this is a brand new doctors surgery too which I guess is another reason I'm feeling quite nervous.
I honestly feel like I've lost my mind putting my body through this again, with both #2 and #3 I said it was the last time. This definitely is the last time!!
I shall let you know how Friday goes x

Welcome @PickledEgg89 sorry you're joining us!💕

@eallison88 how are you holding up?

@Reastie This prochloperzine and liquid paracetamol has been a dream I've felt so much better and now been headache free for a bit now 🙌😊

@LucindaE I do think a lot of this is stress, the trial is in June and I'll be 32 weeks pregnant and nobody in the court system is sympathetic towards me and the fact it's over an hour and a half away, I'm terrified I'll go into early labour in court cause of the stress, I've had to get my mum to take time off work for it to take me because I don't want to go alone but they said they could change the date I need to go which makes me feel really anxious. It's so annoying having it looming!

avovadoo am doing ok, Thanks for asking. Had a really good chat with the breastfeeding team today about what I can do to put me and baby on the best possible for successful breastfeeding (when to express etx), so I'm feeling more positive about that. I've also managed a "date night" with hubby this evening, in my helpful room. Taken advantage of my dad staying with us for him to look after our son so hubby could spend a couple of hours here. We had our dinner (brought it from home) and had a good chat then watched a bit of downloaded Netflix (Love Tim Minchin!). We realised we haven't actually has any time just the two of us since 9th April. It's made me feel so much better about everything; I can feel how much more relaxed I am. And no more bleeds, a little bit of fluid loss this morning, but not enough to worry about apparently. Just planning for Monday now!

pickledegg on reflection, I think think there are right to suggest being up front about the cyclizine, and I think you've made the right decision to be honest (I have a chronic fear of being told off!!)

blii i hope they give you the day back, and also that you are able to manage it and arent pushing yourself too hard!! Remember to be gentle to yourself.

@eallison88 aww that sounds really nice, I'm glad you guys got to spend some couple time together!!😀

Eal that sounds lovely, and just what was needed. I’m glad you’ve had no more bleeds.

Avacadoo I honestly think you shouldn’t do the court case. Can you speak to your gp and explain what an impact it’s having on you? I think I mentioned before I was due to be a witness in court last pg but my gp wrote a note that I wouldn’t be able to. I remember ringing up the court before I knew my gp couod do this and they were also very dismissive of me and assuming it wouldn’t be an issue and that I had to go regardless. My mw was going to write a letter but was told she wasn’t allowed to so I think it came from the gp and there was no issue about it.

Got mw this morning. Not a great day yesterday so fx for better today.

DS is teething so has been waking up every hour/hour and a half during the night and I'm exhausted. Also having to keep an eye on my feet and hands as they're swelling up for hours at a time. I didn't have this last pregnancy so just hoping it's not preeclampsia. I've got scan tomorrow so I'll have my blood pressure taken then just to double check I think. It's usually perfect or a little too low so we shall see.
Also feeling a little bloated. And sick. And just generally miserable from lack of sleep.

Hope MW appt goes well reastie

avacadoo sorry I missed the bit about the court case. I suggest speaking to your doctor about it, really isn't sensible for you to be travelling so far so pregnant. Perhaps with doctors letter the court are more likely to come up with an alternative.

Dead my water retention goes up and down a bit but worth getting it checked tomorrow (or sooner if you get other symptoms). Even if you aren’t due a bp check whilst there I’m sure they would do one if you asked. I’m not sure how things work at your hospital but where I get scanned they have a mw specifically there just doing bp and wee checks so it frees up time with the consultants to not spare their important time with such measures!

Just back from mw. Was going to pop to Aldi on way home to get some nappies etc as apparently there’s an Aldi baby event on but looked through the window and big queues at check out and just couldn’t face it. Mw apt was ok, all physically fine apart from stupid nausea. Annoyingly apparently I should’ve had a consultant and anaesthetist apt through. Mw said useless mh nurse said she would arrange it but obv hasn’t. Looks like useless mh nurse won’t be at consultant apt as originally planned to help arrange a plan but given how rubbish she’s been I guess that’s no huge loss.

Picked up a free Moses basket and stand and sheets locally today. Sheets are in the wash and stand will be great but the Moses basket itself is actually pretty grotty and really smells of dog so think I might dispose of it. Made the whole car smell of dog driving home, urgh.

Hello!

@Teddyreddy are you at work again today? I hope you feel better.

Welcome to the club no one wants to be in @PickledEgg89! Sorry you are feeling rubbish. Definitely talk to your gp about what you’ve been taking & if it’s helped. I can’t stress enough how much difference taking meds earlier & being signed off work has made to me in my second pregnancy. I’m now 15 weeks & have coped so much better this time & avoided admission so far. I hope your appointment goes well tomorrow.

I hope you manage to get your work thing sorted @Blii.

@LucindaE it’s funny how hg changes your outlook. When being sick ‘only’ 3 times feels like you are winning! I do think i’ve Turned a corner. But I also think i’ve Done too much over the past few days, so am having a very restful day today. It’s just me & the teenager at home, so we’re hitting the sofa & Netflix rom com section hard!

@avacadooo the court thing sounds very stressful. I was called as a potential to be a wintness for a trial that took place when I was 38 weeks last time. When I called to explain, they did say I could be excused with a dr’s letter, but that they could postpone until I was able to testify. I never got called in the end as he changed his plea right at the last minute to guilty. It was a horrible child protection case from work & im so glad I didn’t have to take the stand. Do you have a designated witness liaison person, I would advise speaking to them if you can.

@eallison88 your date night sounds lovely! Tim minchin laughter is great medicine I would say. Glad you are feeling a bit less anxious. Hope you have a peaceful few days before baby comes.

@DeadDoorpost definitely get your bp checked. I hope all is well. Boo for teething! My least favourite part of having a baby.

@Reastie I also thought of going to look at the Aldi baby thing, but couldn’t face the queues! Shame about your Moses basket - it’s hard not to wonder how one would end up smelling of dog! People are weird!

Hope everyone is ok today. I’m exhausted, so doing as little as possible!