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.

Bol87 Sorry, I missed you. Lactulose is generally effective.

I get really angry about midwives telling people not to take meds. They are safe and it's incredibly dangerous to not be able to eat and drink. The only one that carries any real perceived risk is ondansetron and that is something like 12 in 10000 risk of cleft palate.....nothing compared to termination or the risk of maternal starvation on a baby.
Also they can't rule out the possibility that severe HG confers a higher risk of cleft palate itself.

Sorry, off my soapbox now but I really hate the attitude that we should struggle through when it's more dangerous not to take medication if you are unable to keep down food and water.

All I beg is please do your own research into meds before believing midwives opinions. I am very happy to send studies to anyone that is interested. Evidence not opinion is my motto.

Sending huge hugs to all, HG is awful but you're all total warriors

@LucindaE how do people usually take cyclizine? Once a day? And see how it goes?

@Lcw29 I was prescribed it 3 times a day. As Lucinda says it takes a while to build up so needs to be taken religiously.

I am massively struggling with what to eat. I am bringing up everything again. Tried pasta. Plain bread/ toast/ kfc/ biscuits/ bran flakes/ sips of coke/ sips of water. Gahhhh

Weirdly my ketones are fine so I must be keeping the water in a bit at least. I hate this. I know I need to eat but nothing appeals to me.

snipples I'm sorry to hear that. Is tinned fruit and its juice no good, specially peaches or pears?
justtheone Very sensible advice for both Low and for MissPepper8 and all who are being discouraged from taking effective meds. GP's would not prescribe meds that are in any way more risky than the very real risk of chronic dehydration. No drug can be 100 per cent safe; but Cyclizine has been used as an anti emetic in pregnancy for several decades.

Snipples - my GP was really pushy with the hospital over my level of dehydration. My first admission I had trace ketones but I’d literally not kept a thing down in two days, my skin was flaky, my lips peeling and when you pinched my skin, it didn’t spring back. My wee was also orange. Ketones are one indicator but not the only one! If you are concerned, check your other symptoms and don’t be afraid to push! I had 3 bags of fluid in the end!

So sorry you are really suffering, are your combinations of meds not helping at all? Def go back to the docs if not.. you’d hope to see some improvement.. I’m much improved vomiting wise on the same combi as you. Not perfect but it’s OK. The nausea is another story but it seems no-one knows how to stop nausea!

@Bol87 I really wish someone could stop the nausea :( it's so so debilitating. I find it worse than actually throwing up. And today I can't find any fluid that I can stomach :( urgh!

@LucindaE I'm sadly not on cyclizine, it didn't agree with me and I was vomiting them up. I have ondansetron, which I have taken when days are really bad so far. Omeprazole is another I need to ask for, as reflux is terrible.

My Gp thinks I'm a bit low on iron, and I read the symptoms and it says nausea and sickness :/. Anyone else taken them?

MissPepper8 The drop form is meant to be less sickening. I didn't know about it when I took iron pills, and they made me vomit and from what I can see on this thread, that is common, but some people manage to cope with them. Someone on here meantioned a Multivitamin which had iron in it which she found OK and have completely forgotten the name.
Bol87 You are so right about ketones not being the only or even the main indicator of dehydration, though for some reason A and E departments seem to rely on them. Those other symptoms are better indicators. Also, some women don't seem to provide ketones as easily as others - I am sure I don't know why.
Moonstone I wish there was something that would help sufferers better with the terrible nausea.
Waves to snipples of the HG Chronicles and everyone. I wonder if DeadDoorPost will have some news for us soon?

@snipples definitely if you have an EPU at your hospital push for help. I've been 6 times now and had fluids and anti sickness meds injections everything to try to help. My ketones were the highest they can be so they were very worried. Hope you can get some help. I went to a and e once and they weren't the most helpful.
@Bol87 I'm struggling so bad with nausea. Its literally so debilitating. The medication is only stopping some vomiting but no edge off the sickness. I really wish there was something they could do to help. 6 weeks in bed is really taking its toll on me now.

Hi all. Sorry I can't name check anyone but hope you're all as well as you can be.

I am now 20 weeks and mainly much better although the sickness has returned slightly this week. 20 week scan shows I have a total anterior and posterior placenta previa. Consultant has said that there is very little chance of it moving so will need a c-sect which doesnt bother me. What concerns me is the high risk of bleeding. They are going to scan me fortnightly from 28 weeks and start storing blood for me from week 32 as they will deliver any time from then should there be risk to me or baby. They have said it's very likely that I will have a big bleed during the section and will need a blood transfusion. All a bit scary. I've had about 10 days of enjoyment in this pregnancy since week 14 and now I feel like a ticking time bomb. Oh well. I obviously don't do pregancy very well!

Hi. This is my first post on this thread. I'm only 7 weeks and was prescribed Cyclizine 2 days ago. For a full week I was woken by the nausea at 3am, started vomiting at 5am and didn't stop until around 7pm. Since starting the medication I have stopped vomiting (apart from when I attempt to brush my teeth). But the nausea is constant and I feel repulsed at the thought of eating. I am managing to force down some toast and fruit each day. I feel exhausted and just wondered whether I'm likely to feel any better the longer I'm on the meds? My older brother is getting married next week in Spain so I have a flight to catch tomorrow. If it was just a holiday I would have cancelled as feel so exhausted. This is my first pregnancy and I already feel like I'm failing as a mum.

@Pastnowfuture you are not failing as a mum lovely. It's just such a debilitating condition. It might be worth going back to your doctor to see if you can try different meds. Ondanestron is generally thought to be stronger than cyclizine I believe. I've never been on cyclizine so can't say for sure. Hope you feel better soon. It's so shit.

Thank you @snipples I have an appointment for Friday (when I get back from spain). I seem to have a very supportive GP in comparison to the experiences of others. She was very positive regarding the use of medication.

Oh that's good. Makes a huge difference.

Is anyone else's pregnancy still under wraps? We haven't really told anyone yet and I had to drop out of dinner plans for a friend last night due to feeling horrendous and I feel like my friend feels like I'm a massive flake who drops out at the last min. I know that's a stupid thing to feel guilty over but I do.

I’m past 12 weeks now but I told my colleagues, family & closest friends at 8 weeks after my second hospital admission. I was too ill & exhausted to come up with excuses and frankly needed their support! I don’t regret it, even if something had been wrong, I’d have told those people about what had gone wrong anyway. But I’m quite an open book & talk about my feelings and health quite freely (and appropriately, I don’t give the horror stories to work but I’m also not one to sit upset about something & not tell anyone).

Sending love to those suffering and also, lovely to hear of much improved sickness by 20 weeks! That happened to me last time & im praying for the same.. so sorry to hear of the complications with the placenta though, sounds worrying but like you are receiving good care.

Pastnowfuture- the wedding may be tough, have you told any immediate family who can make sure to look after you while you are there?

In terms of nausea- it seems for those who really suffer almost impossible to cure I’ve tried all the drugs & nothing touches my nausea, not even via IV. It’s strange though as I’ve taken Ondansetron when not pregnant and it worked a treat on the nausea & vomiting. The same with buccastem.. I can only assume my body just can’t cope with the hormone changes!

Sorry for the rant. I feel so down right now and lonely. Any ideas on how to hold food down? The ondansetron and metoclopramide I'm on is just not working. Everything I eat is coming up within 5mins of eating so I cant hold anything down. I'm starving and lost over 1stone in 6 weeks and just at the end of what I can cope with. Ive been in hospital multiple times alresdy and going back again Monday. I just feel like nothing is changing and this pregnancy has been the hardest thing ever. People keep saying it will settle but when? I feel so fed up and just totally done with it all now. Hyperemesis is just so cruel.

No news as of yet except mucus plug definitely coming away, and DS just pooped on the floor 🤦‍♀️

Oh and @snipples my ketones were always fine, never showed symptoms of dehydration but still needed fluids. Have you tried ice lollies? Ice cubes? Isotonic drinks? The last one may not help at all but if you can manage to keep some down it'll be good. I've got some ready for when I go into labour, although I'm not a big fan of them right now.

Pastnowfuture
Welcome. I am glad your GP is being supportive. Do ask for more meds when you come back if Cyclizine isn't working well. I hope you have as good a time as you can in Spain. Things do get much better between weeks 14 and 20 for most people. Even for the unlucky ones who suffer throughout, it is never as bad as in the first dreadful bit. A good anti acid can make a big difference to the sickness. Those on Ondansetron will usually need a laxative. Some drinks and solids that have helped others: flat full sugar coke, ice lolllies, the juice of tinned fruit, Lucoazade, fizzy orange, fizzy water, lemonade, Robinson's fruit drinks, Dr Pepper, orange squash, tonic water, Elderflower water, Elderflower coridal and tonic water (eallison's tipple), soda water, Iron Bru, sips of chocolate milkshake (maybe soya), orange juice (if not too acid) and 7Up. Also, someone recommended piles of ice in drinks. For foods of a sort, nibbles of chips and crisps, cheap ice cream, tinned fruit, slices of melon and mango, baked potato, Scoth pancakes, biscuits and cuppa soup.
Have you got kesostix to test for deyhydration, available from any chemists? They are not the best method compared to scanty dark urine, dry mouth, headache, etc, but A and E departments do take them seriously.
Ribenagoeswoo82
I am so glad to hear that you are a lot better.
A lot of people geta hormonal surge round week twenty; could it be that making the sickness come back a bit? Sorry to hear of placenta previa worries. I am glad that they are preparing to take action if needed. It is just bad luck, don't blame your body.
abbs1
I am very sorry to hear about the sickness being so bad. I hope you turn a corner soon. Can they add anything? Might an anti acid help? One stone weight loss in six weeks is pretty dramatic. Can you stand the thought of tinned peaches and juice?
DeadDoorPost
Good suggestions. Best of luck that is a good sign all will start soon.
Bol87
A very sensible attitude. It is very hard to hide this illness
Snipples
Good advice from Bol.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

@Lucinda1 I've tried peaches and juice even that came straight up. At the moment even ice lollies and water I'm struggling to hold down. I think a and e may be in the cards tomorrow as I feel like I'm literally wasting away and it surely cant be good for or my baby. I'm so dehydrated. I was only in hospital last monday being pumped full if anti sickness and fluids and again fir 2 days the week before. Really starting to worry esp with losing so much weight so fast.

abbs - def get yourself to hospital, you sound really poorly & on a high whack of drugs. If they aren’t working, they really need to look at something else to help. There is the option of steroids and your weight loss sounds high. I lost three quarters of a stone between weeks 6-10 but once I got onto double meds (same as you), it’s crept back on and I’m now sat steadily at my pre-pregnancy weight. I’m not eating a lot due to the ridiculous nausea but I am keeping small meals & snacks down mostly. I find drinking the hardest, it just wants to come straight back. I have to basically down some squash, then immediately eat a few crackers!

I’d kick up a fuss if you get admitted, or get your other half too.. really hammer the point the medication isn’t working. I really hope they can give you some more help 🙏🏼

@Bol87 I certainly will. My MIL is gonna go with me as my husband has been run ragged bless him and has work Monday. I tried last time telling them and they just said I'm taking my meds wrong but my stomach is just water medication and not much else and now meds dont stay down but I would rather be admitted than keep going in every 3-4days. I feel like a frail old woman. Hoping the hospital can help me out and sort something. I was told last week I just have to manage it as best I can but my quality of life is just non existent atm.

Thanks @LucindaE. I did wonder if there may be a surge.