Hyperemesis Support

[LucindaE]

I hope everyone suffering from the Horrors of Hyperemesis will find this thread useful as a source of support and information.
There's no TMI on here - can't be by definition - and nobody should feel ashamed of moaning as much as they feel the need to.
MOH's wonderful website is full of useful information on this illness:
sites.google.com/site/pregnancysicknesssos
Another invaluable website is:
www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk
If you need help in obtaining medication, phone them on:
024 7638 2020
Lastly, the NICE guidelines on treatment are useful:
cks.nice.org.uk/nauseavomiting-in-pregnancy
I would like to thank everyone who has given such invaluable support and advice on this and on previous threads.
It has been suggested that I add some practical tooth cleaning advice: a lot of sufferers find using a child's small toothbrush and strawberry toothpaste far less nauseating.
On my image of a pink castle: that is an image I use because when I was little, my family had a Snakes and Ladders board with an image on the last square of a pink castle in the clouds. As Hyperemesis is so like a grotesque version of Snakes and Ladders - eat a meal, go up a ladder, first thing in the morning bile run, down a snake - I have used the image of that pink castle on the last square of that Snakes and Ladders board as a metaphor for the happy end of Hyperemesis.
Remember when you are at your worst, 'This Too Shall Pass'. It really will.
So many women on this thread have thought they couldn't get through this, but they did.

I def find my nausea worse when constipated. I’m struggling a bit at the mo, my stomach is so bloated & sore! Upped my Laxido to x2 a day for a little while!

I’m 11 weeks today & the last few days have been quite a bit better.. I’m still feeling sick 24/7 but it’s not quite so debilitating. I’ve been able to get up, wash & semi -function! A small miracle. I don’t know if coincidence but I ran out of my pregnancy multivitamin & have just been taking folic acid .. the next day was when I started feeling a bit better? Today I’m feeling more sick than I have been but I can tell a big part of it is from the constipation

Bol I am glad you are feeling a tiny bit better. I wonder about the multivitamin; I suppose it has iron in it? And iron tablets definitely made me vomit, and many others on these threads.
Brilliant advice from TwoShades1 and beforeihit30 and everyone.
Cheering on beforeihit30 and norbert. The Pink Castle is ready and waiting.

Hey ladies so I’m full on vomiting now. I have cyclizene but I’m scared to take it due to the tiny risks. Mainly because I had two miscarriages before. Any reassurance about it would be great as I’m so scared of losing this baby! Xx

Hi @Catconfusion I had 2 mc before this pregnancy and took cyclizine this time with no issues. I'm now 40 weeks and about to pop so please try not to worry! Easier said than done I know, but you need to prioritise rest and making sure you can eat / drink whenever possible. Sending a big hug - it's a horrible time and all you can do is be kind to yourself xx

@Catconfusion I've been on stronger meds with no problems for both pregnancies. Seriously, take them. Vomiting constantly isn't worth it. It's very emotionally and physically draining.

Anyone else finding the heat making the nausea worse? I can't move without sweating and feeling sick 😔 so fed up as usual

Thanks @norbert23 that’s really reassuring. At what point did you start taking it? I know I’m probably being silly. It’s my first proper spell of vomiting today so I’m hoping it calms down. Luckily it was before I’d eaten so I’ve kept my breakfast down.

Thanks @DeadDoorpost you’re absolutely right. I’m going to see how the rest of today goes and start in the morning I think. I was hoping this pregnancy would be different but no such luck.

@sprite25 the heat definitely is a trigger for me. I’m staying out of it as much as possible with a fan on me.

I’m so grateful to be on this thread ladies. I’ve only ever met one other lady in the flesh who had bad nausea and sickness in pregnancy. My Mum and Sister had easy sickness free pregnancies so sometimes I feel like a bit of a freak. xx

I started around 6 weeks @Catconfusion and carried on taking it til around 16 weeks but part of the reason I stopped is that my GP was funny about prescribing it and kept suggesting I could manage it myself. I didn't have the energy to argue and tried to make them last longer. I think I took 2 a day on average but definitely had 3 a day while it peaked. What did help was taking time off work to rest as much as I could which I felt guilty about but in hindsight really didn't matter x

Thanks @norbert23 I’m able to take time off work indefinitely as I’m self employed. I think you’re right, the rest really helps. It’s so hard to manage though and have a good standard of life. Is there any reason the doctor didn’t want to prescribe anymore? Is it riskier later on? I’m wondering if I’d be best to start with one tablet and see what it does. When do you think would be the best time to take it? I’m thinking maybe before bed as I’m most ill when I wake up. Xx

I think he was just in the try a ginger biscuit squad and wasn't very sympathetic! He had pretty much no interest in it after the expected '12 weeks you should feel better now' phase. No concerns from him and incidentally I did see someone privately before my first mc, who was really knowledgeable and happy to prescribe much stronger meds for as long as I needed. I never took any with that pregnancy as I didn't really feel sick. in hindsight it wasn't progressing as it should but I thought I'd been lucky to escape HG a second time.

Catconfusion Your mother and sister were so lucky! Good reassurance from norbert andDeadDoorPost. They have been prescribing Cyclizine since the 1980's for severe sickness in pregnancy, so you reallly mustn 't worry about it. It is considered one of the safest anti emetics.
norbert I remember you referring to a doctor as ''Dr Ginger Biscuit'. It is surprising how many of the Ginger Biscuit Front there are among medics.
DeadDoorPost So you move tommorow? That's really good.
sprite25 At least the weather is a lot cooler today.

I know, it’s not fair is is @LucindaE I naively assumed I’d be the same but no such luck. Thankfully I’ve had a better day today so far with the cooler weather. I completely understand it’s pretty safe but I’m just so nervous about taking it. I’m going to chat to the midwife later about it. Luckily I work from home so I can rest when I’m sick. Yesterday was a very bad day though and if it happens again I think it’s wise to take the drugs! Xx

Catconfusion I fully understand your wishing to avoid taking drugs if you can. Still, if it gets too bad, don't hesitate to take them as there is there is evidence that the sooner it is treated if it gets bad, the better the outcome...

He has arrived! 8 lbs at 4pm today and I'm finally at the end! I'm exhausted but so happy and will quite cheerfully tell anyone who will listen that 2 is plenty!

Big hugs to everyone who is suffering and a huge thank you to everyone for their endless support xxx

Congratulations @norbert23!

I have a ‘twin’ for you baby girl arrived today! 8lb6oz (wow), birth was eventful for the final hour and so glad she’s here was sick after but this is a reaction to the drugs I was on in labour, MWs and DH remarking on how well I look and all things considered I’m feeling pretty good

@Catconfusion I don’t have the link to hand but the green top guide for using sickness meds in pregnancy shows cyclizine as a first line drug and lots of reviews on its safety/use in pregnancy. They might be a helpful read, I found it very reassuring at the beginning. I was on cyclizine 3x daily from 6 eeekd to around 28-30 weeks, dropped to 2x for a couple of weeks then 1x daily for final weeks. So took for almost whole pregnancy.

How lovely @beforeIhit30 ❤️ happy birthday to your little girl and well done! X

Congrats to everyone having their babies! I’m 33 weeks now and even though I’m not sick anymore I’m still counting down to the end! I have been worried that the nausea is creeping back in. Just some mornings and the occasional evening where I’ve had a couple of hours of mild nausea. Hopefully it won’t make a full return in my remaining weeks.

Congratulations to the new mums on this thread. Also thank you so much for the advice on taking the drugs. I’ve started today as I started feeling really depressed when I woke up vomiting again. I’m hoping it helps! Xx

Congratulations both

Def take the pills, HG is debilitating. The doctor on one of my hospital trips said dehydration is more risky than any anti-sickness meds to both mum & baby.. my second admission, I honestly felt like I was dying. I had 4xbags off fluids before my ketones started reducing!

I’m so glad it’s cooled down where I am! I’ve actually dug our a jumper today! Sprite, with you, feeling really blooming fed up this week. I had a few days of feeling a bit better that being back to feeling awful has really got me down I just want to feel normal again!

Hi all, can I please have a good moan? I'm so fed up of feeling like crap, it's like a hangover, travel sickness and a stomach bug all got together to make pregnancy sickness... That lasts for bloody months! I don't know if I want to cry hysterically or laugh manically. I'm just struggling mentally abit with it now, I've forgotten what it feels like to feel normal. I'm trying to focus on having the scan on Tuesday to get me through but then when I think of that I get worried about missed miscarriage, but then I'm sure I've felt a few flutters (third baby) but then I think no it's too early I wouldn't feel it yet. My mind is just constantly going and I feel so bloody Sick!!!! Sorry rant over

Hopping on to have a moan! I've thankfully not vomited since last night but the nausea is as bad as usual and I'm exhausted. Reached the conclusion that I will not be going on holiday to Greece tomorrow as I don't think I could enjoy myself when I'm feeling like this or cope with the heat or travel. Husband is still going to go as it's a family holiday and his parents will be there. I feel like my life has been put on hold. Know it will be worth it when I finally meet our little bean though.

@sprite25 Sorry that you are feeling so awful. I've read that you feel the baby move earlier if you've carried before so the flutters sound really promising! Hope the scan goes well. X

norbert and beforeihit30 Wonderful news from both (lets down drawbridge of Pink Caslte). So happy for you. [smile . beforeihit30 That is a wonderful size. They don't suffer from the mother's weird diet.
I hope you both come back to visit us here often. You have both been a .
Sprite Moan away. Who wouldn't? Those flutters seem very hopeful. Things will almost certainly get a lot better.
brightside11 ...And for you. It's a shame about your not being able to go to Greece. Such a magical country. But there will be other holidays there...
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Congratulations on the new arrivals!

Wondered if anyone could help me with an iron question. Been given iron supplements as am low (33 weeks now) but gather they shouldn't be taken with ranitidine because of absorption. Anyone know how long I need to leave between them? Currently trying to squeeze in the following, plus meals and I gather you can't take the iron within an hour of eating. So take the iron mid afternoon? Curious what others are doing!

Wake up - ondansetron, vit d, ranitidine

Dinner time - ranitidine

Before bed - ranitidine, gaviscon liquid

Can anyone give me some advice- I'm suffering really badly and even with medication it's not helping. I'm losing a lot of weight and cant keep food down. My midwife said go to hospital for fluids and medication review but I have no way of getting there and cant afford a taxi as it's too far from where I live and none of my family can drive. Do I call for an ambulance or 111 or what should I do?