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’m at 9 weeks and if I’m honest, what worked last time and is slowly working this time is getting some form of vitamin in me. I am back on the liquid and I have gained some energy which is leading me on to feeling a little bit more positive even though I’m being sick. Lack of liquid and food means we are so low in our vitals. I suffered both times with anaemia too. It’s been a few days on the liquid and today I have got up, showered and don’t feel as low in mood. Might now work for everyone but you never know? You can order online and get it delivered to your door. they even do a pregnacare gummy now too. Xx

RaynorEsme I am so glad that vitamins are helping you, and did before. Great advi ce. Besides the gummy ones, I supose they do liquid ones?
Moonstone12 I've added your Due Date. May is probably my favourtite month. Sorry about bad week. Never fret about your hair - finger comb it as they did in the 1980's; I remember that as being much more bearable. 'This Too Will Pass'.
Noodle It is very dismal being stuck in bed. Much sympathy. always feel free to moan; who wouldn't? Wishing you some relief soon. Everyone feels like that during the dreadful worst of this scourge. Of course, you are not going crazy. It would be crazy not to be fed up. The isolation is like solitary confinement, which is notoriously used as a torm of torture. Can you stand any entertainment? Many swear by Netflix and the radio when they can't stand the printed word.
Due Dates
MoonKid 1 October TWINS!
ElkieMacjibe 12 October
TwoShades1 17 October
cattaxi 19 October
BlodwynBludd 16 November
Composed 30 November
ClareDB 25 December
HermioneKipper 27 December TWINS!
putputput 9 January
Ribenaberriesgowoo82 28 January
Marshmallow 1992 29 January
MumbleLumble 19 February
Katela18 22 February
Bray23 23 February
Twistsandcurls 3 March
Bol87 18 March
Sprite25 29 March
Catconfusion 15 April
Moonstone12 1 May

Noodle Sorry, that was 'a form of torture' not 'a torm of torture'!

..And I've got your name wrong: Noodles not Noodle. What is the matter with me today?

Thanks @lucindaE...its been really tough going....this past day or 2 ive been so low and cry on and off....i suffer with anxiety/ depression which doesnt help lol sometimes i feel its just too much and i feel so hopeless

WHY IS TIME GOING SO SLOWLY?!?
10+3 but feels like I have been pregnant for years. Sickness under control with high ondansetron dose and cyclizine and metoclopramide but nausea and exhaustion doing my head in. I'm like a bed bound old lady being a rubbish mum to my DS and a rubbish wife. Argh. Can someone just knock me out and wake me up in April. Please! Sorry for the rant. I just needed to!!

I’m due April 19th....

Think the worse of it for me (hopefully) was week 8. People just look at me like I’m seriously unwell. Can’t wait for this to get better: I have a little more energy now I’m taking vitamins

Hi all. I'm due 7th may. Do any medications help with the nausea? Cyclizine seems to have the actual vomiting under control.

Pastnowfuture Have you got a good anti acid? That can help. Some swear by Vitamin B6 10mg-25mg three times a day for nausea. Sorry you are suffering badly from it. I've added your date.
NGpg Might the above help? Take heart, many find round week ten is the worst time.
RanorEsme Your experience of v itamins helping is really interesting. Added your date.
Noodles I wonder if your surgery might offer a bit of counselling for the depression, given your current situation? Various people on here have had that. The level of support given does seem to vary from area to area.
Due Dates
MoonKid 1 October TWINS!
ElkieMacjibe 12 October
TwoShades1 17 October
cattaxi 19 October
BlodwynBludd 16 November
Composed 30 November
ClareDB 25 December
HermioneKipper 27 December TWINS!
putputput 9 January
Ribenaberriesgowoo82 28 January
Marshmallow 1992 29 January
MumbleLumble 19 February
Katela18 22 February
Bray23 23 February
Twistsandcurls 3 March
Bol87 18 March
Sprite25 29 March
Catconfusion 15 April
RaynorEsme2019 19 April
Moonstone12 1 May
Pastnowfuture 7 May

Oh dear, I'm doing it again; more mistypes: that was HGpg!

It’s quite odd seeing my name so close to the top of the due dates list. I remember when I first joined this thread and I was right down the bottom of the list!

I’ve been seeing some improvement in my HG as I’ve headed into week 14.. not consistently nor to a sing & dance about it level but enough to feel slightly cheerier!

But new symptom the last 4 days = extreme hunger that makes you feel sick as hell. I cannot even explain the hunger levels, nothing fills me up! It’s actual painful, I hate it. And I’m still facing quite big food aversions so my choices are limited! I can eat some protein now, scrambled eggs, cottage pie, breaded fish .. so I’m trying to fill up on those best I can! But I feel the need to snack all the time but I don’t want too! I’m still feeling really sick & so fed up of bread, crackers, even crisps! Here’s hoping it’s just a phase 😭

Hope everyone is getting through their weekends!

@Bol87 glad you're starting to feel better. I'm just over 12 weeks now and the home visits of steroids, anti sickness meds, vitamins and blood clot preventing injections have been working really well and I've kept food down for 3 days now. Sadly today is the last of it till I'm reassessed tomorrow in hospital so hoping for the best tonight and into tomorrow. I'm scared it may all go wrong but trying to keep positive. Its feels strange to feel somewhat normal for a few days so hoping it continues but to know yours is settling certainly gives me hope.

Hi all, hoping everyone has had some relief today. Sorry to just pop in everytime I feel miserable but I feel like this is the only place where anyone actually understands how it feels. DS who turns 2 this week has decided that between half 5 and 6am is a great time to get up so tiredness lately has definitely contributed to making the nausea worse again. Haven't been sick for a couple of days but by the evenings it always feels like I'm gonna end up like the girl out of the exorcist. I'm so tired I just want to stay in bed but with two DCs it's so hard to be able to get the rest I need, I almost feel asleep in the bath earlier!

Hi everyone

Very early days here (6weeks today) but have had two previous HG pregnancies and felt the onset of nausea in the last two days quite dramatically so am bracing myself...

I was hoping to ask the same question someone else just asked, do any of the meds help with the actual nausea?

In previous pregnancies I've had manageable levels of actual vomiting (once a day) but constant debilitating nausea and frequent retching /dry heaving, so I haven't been dehydrated or hospitalised just utterly miserable... any tips re meds gratefully received as I'm going to try and see my GP this week. Thank you!

Sending sympathy to all xx

Hi @HildaSnibbs - congratulations!

It varies by person I think. I’ve tried every med under the sun and none of them really touch the nausea. I find Ondansetron reduces it a tiny amount, I do notice if I’m late taking a dose!

Nausea seems more complicated compared to the basic action of stopping physical vomiting. People experience nausea differently.

I know I have a low tolerance of nausea. I’m easily made to feel sick & no matter how many times I am sick, the nausea makes me very panicky. I also get sick from low doses of painkillers like codeine & the hormonal contraceptive pill.. my body is apparently very sensitive to if! But oddly, when I’ve taken Ondansetron & Buccastem when not pregnant, they’ve quickly stopped any nausea dead. In pregnancy, they don’t do that?!

I’d say meds are worth a shot.. there’s plenty to try if your GP is willing. Hopefully you’ll find one at least eases things a bit!

Welcome to HildaSnibbs As you are a veteran, you don't need my spiel about 'do you find flat full sugar coke, the juice of tinned fruit and ice lollies any good and have you got kesostix' and. re kesostix, it is good that you haven't been dehydrated in your pregnancies. Re: nausea, a good anti acid can make a big differerence and various meds do help some with the nausea, and I so agree with others that asking for meds is a good idea.
Bok87 Good to hear of the improvement.
abbs1 I am happy to hear things are more bearable on the regime and I do hope it continues.
TwoShades1 Cheering you on.
Sprite25 Early rising toddlers are a menace when you feel healthy. It must be awful when you are suffering. Never apologise for moaning; that is what this thread is for. Might LO let you doze on the sofa while he watched recordings of kids' programmes or whatever as a stopgap measure?
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Thanks Bol , I'm awaiting a call from my GP now so we'll see what they can suggest... I cried at the receptionist who was very kind!

Lucinda thank you - I'm so glad to see this thread is still running, I didn't post much before but reading it was always helpful . DD1 & 2 are 8 and 5 now, I may be a veteran but I've realised I forgot how bad it was... so thank you for the suggestions, I'm going to try flat lemonade again as I'm struggling with water today. Have managed to get the kids to school and now on the sofa nibbling crisps...

I'm only 7+4 and I am truely beginning to believe I can't carry on with the pregnancy any longer. I feel so weak and useless. My husband tells me to 'just eat' but it really isn't that simple. I crawl from the bedroom to the bathroom and back again. The thought that this may continue for many months leaves me in complete despair. How do you cope with the mental impact of this condition? X

@Pastnowfuture I’m so sorry you’re feeling like this. It truly is horrible. Maybe see if your doctor can prescribe something else. I’m not sure what to say about the mental impact. I guess I’ve just got through each day and focused on getting to pregnancy landmarks. I’m now waiting for my 12 week scan and counting down the days to that. I’m luckily feeling a bit better but it’s been a rough couple of months. I’m also convinced it will come back when I have a good couple of days.

So ladies it’s good and bad news from me. I’m pleased to say my scan on Saturday showed a very healthy pregnancy of 11 weeks. Baby was punching arms in the air and kicking legs. I’m feeling much more confident that we’re having this baby after previous losses. It’s helped to see how full of life baby is.

The bad news is I’ve been using Ranitidine to get rid of the acid and therefore reduce the vomiting. It’s really helped. However there’s been a massive recall of the drug in America due to cancer concerns. There’s been no UK advice given yet so I’m not sure what to do. Is anyone else taking Ranitidine?

Oh pastnowfuture you are not useless AT ALL

It is incredibly hard and has brought me to the brink of depression both previous times (and I have been clinically depressed before so I know what I mean by that)

Just Eat is not helpful advice. It is hard for others to understand that you're not just feeling a bit sick, it takes over your life. Even my DH who has been through it with me twice doesn't really understand. All you can do is go easy on yourself - eat and drink what you can when you can, don't push yourself too hard and get a lot of rest. Ask him if he can imagine having norovirus AND a hangover for months on end...

Have you seen the trailer for 'The Sick Film' on the pregnancy sickness support website - I watched it yesterday and cried in recognition. Get your other half to watch it. I hope the whole film is released soon.

@Catconfusion - I have been taking ranitidine for a month or so but yesterday, I vomited blood stained vom & have been in agony.. so my doc has given me Omeprazole today coincidentally. She thinks I’ve had a minor tear in my stomach from all the throwing up.. yet more delightful pregnancy things!

I’ve not heard anything about the recall.. the US & UK treat meds very differently, it’s hard work to figure it all out. The US are not keen on Omeprazole but the NHS website states it’s safe in pregnancy. If you are concerned, I’d talk to your doctor!

Sending love to those suffering through the earliest weeks. It really is a dark, awful time. I cried and shouted & got angry. I considered ending the pregnancy & had days where I wished I didn’t have to wake up. Just awful. Things are brighter now I’m in the second tri, still not all that great but it’s eased enough that I don’t feel that low anymore.

Pastnowfuture Poor you. Do not despair. Everyone agrees the first awful bit is the worst. You've had great advice from others. It might be worth asking Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 7638 2020 if they can give advice about getting a MH counsellor if you are prone to depression as this condition makes everyone feel desperate. It is so isolating. Also, surely the surgery might be able to give some advice on extra or other meds which might help. Your OH's well meaning but useless advice is fairly trying!
HildaSnipples I am glad the thread has helped before. I hope the flat lemonade and crisps help and the GP has been helpful, too.
Catconfusion Excellent advice for Pastnowfuture, That is happy news about the eleven week scan. I never heard that about Ranitidine, but you have had some good advice from Bol87 about the different US and UK approaches to anti acids and meds.
Bol87 Sorry about the suspected tear. That must be painful.
Waves to all. The weather is now autumnal, which is probably a relief to many sufferers after it was so hot a couple of days ago.

Thank you everyone. I've now been prescribed metoclopramide but only for 5 days and I had to go for an urgent ECG to check my heart before I took it. Is this normal?

@Catconfusion - I’ve been doing some more reading on ranitidine. It’s not the ranitidine itself that is cancer causing, the drug is fine. They have however found traces of a cancer causing impurity in some ranitidine containing products. So it’s being reviewed. They aren’t sure where this impurity is coming from.

I have to say, I’d probably be a little concerned about using it knowing that buttt then again, I’ve spent years drinking Diet Coke which they keep threatening will kill you and it doesn’t stop me! Pregnancy is the only time I totally kick my addiction to it! Hate the stuff at the moment.. and chocolate. My two vices!

@Pastnowfuture - I take Metaclopromide, I was prescribed it in hospital initially. No ECG’s.. some people do have a peculiar reaction to Metaclopromide, it can cause restlessness & anxiety so maybe that’s why?! I’ve had no side effects from it whatsoever thankfully!