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.

Oh my good god help me 😫 sorry to crash this thread but I am absolutely at my wits end and I need to vent. I’ve been sick as a dog for four weeks now, I’m only at week 9 and I cry pretty much every single day from being sick, feeling sick, wishing I could be sick and wanting to check out of real life until this nightmare is over.

Wowwww I had no idea pregnancy sickness could be this bad. I have anti-sickness meds from the dr, but even if that stops me physically being sick, the general feeling of ickyness never goes away. I can’t believe so many mums do this more than once!

I feel like such an arse for wanting to throw my hands up and say “I can’t do this anymore” - I wanted this for so long and now we’re here, but I’m so tired and sad ALL THE TIME. I can’t see a point where this will end, and I dread the thought that I could be like this through the entire pregnancy.

My husband is being brilliant, but he can’t fix it and I’m sick of whinging at him. He gets the absolute worst of me - I wake up and I’m sick, I go to work, and then by the time we’re both home, I eat a small mouthful of dinner, whine about my stomach aching and send myself off to bed to sleep it away.

I’m so effing miserable CONSTANTLY and I don’t know what to do about it 😭😭 Please can somebody help me? I just need a little something which will help me get through each day until this sickness is over. 🥺

@emiliet123 please go to A and E and get some iv fluids and medication I felt so much better. You may have to go several times but it will help you so much. You also probably need to be signed off work for a while. I found weeks 9 and 10 the hardest but as you will see on my previous responses I'm on a lot of medication to help me. Please dont suffer hun, HG is so awful. Please seek more help from hospital. If you have an EPU go there and they will be able to help quicker than A and E.
I've not been in work since the middle of August due to how poorly I've been. I really hope you can get some relief xx

The Dr said I wasn’t massively dehydrated, and my blood pressure was fine (at week 7) so I kinda thought this was normal? I wish I could be signed off work, but it’s just not doable for us - my husband is self employed and we’re both working all we can to set ourselves up financially for when spud arrives. 😩

I have my booking appointment on Friday, so I’ll bring it up then and see if I can get any help. Sorry for venting, I was sat in the toilets at work sobbing my eyes out with nobody to confide in!

I don't want to tempt fate but I took my first cyclizine tablet at noon. it has definitely already helped and I haven't been sick at all (gone from being sick at least hourly). Also once retched once or twice since then. I've managed to eat a small bowl of coco pops and 2 shortbread biscuits and some flat Pepsi which is frankly amazing given the past 2 days. It allowed me to have a fairly comfortable 1.5 hour nap in between being disturbed by delivery drivers for the neighbours parcels 😏 still feeling very nauseous but also hopeful that things have improved from what they were. Thank you for your encouragement on this thread

Ahh @emiliet123 , a huge hug for you. The first trimester is particularly awful. It has got better for me at least, I’m 16+5 now. In fact, today was my first day back in the office for 2 months! Quite an achievement! I’m still heavily medicated & the nausea is constant but now at a level I can function & not completely overwhelming.

I’d say I have moderate HG. Im not the worst but have been pretty ill. Your post sounds just like mine at the 8/9/10 week mark. I was at rock bottom & so poorly. I was admitted to hospital 3 times. This is very much wanted & planned second pregnancy (second HG, you do ‘forget’ to some extent) but I’ll openly admit I had thoughts about ending it & not wanting to wake up myself. I cried everyday, sobbed & sobbed sometimes. I saw no end to the suffering.

But now, life is just OK. It’s not fantastic but it’s getting better. I’m functioning like a semi-human. If this is it for the next 5/6 months, I wouldn’t be thrilled but I could deal with it.

I hope so much it’s the same for you, that things ease up as the weeks go on. 🙏🏼 Push your doc or consider A&E if you are struggling to eat & drink. My ketones on one admission were only +1 but my doctor pushed & pushed as my skin was peeling, I’d lost noticeable weight, I was pale as anything!

emilet123 You have had great advice from others. I so agree that going to A and E is a good idea. I will just add my usual spiel. This is defintely not normal, so don't feel guilty about being miserable. Things get better for most people between weeks 14-20. Even those unlucky ones who suffer throughout almost never feel as ill later on. A good anti acid can make a big difference. It is always worth asking to see if there are any further meds to try for the nausea. What helps with the nausea for some, doesn't for others. It is a good idea to buy some kesostix from a chemists to check for the dehydration, as while ketones in urine are not the best indicator A and E departments take them seriously. Some drinks that have helped others, and food of a sort. Flat full sugar coke, the juice of tinned fruit, ice lollies, ice cubes, Elderflower water, fizzy water, tonic water, soda water, Elderflower water and tonic water, Lucoazade, fizzy orange, lemonade, Dr Pepper, Iron Bru, 7UP, Robinson's fruit drinks, orange squash and sips of chocolate milkshake (maybe soya). Nibbles of chips and crisps, baked potatoes, cuppa soup, cheap ice cream, Scotch pancakes, tinned fruit, biscuits, slices of melon and mango and jelly.
rosina I am so glad that you are better for taking meds, have been able to eat a little, and that this thread is helping you. Hopefully the meds will make it unncessary, but as abbs1 says, it is easy to get dehydrated very quickly and so a good idea to buy some kesostix from a chemists or online as A and E departments do take their measurement of ketones seriously, even if they aren't the best test of dehydration.
bok87 That is great news, that you survived your first day back at work and feel generally better. Do take it easy. Wonderful advice from you to others, as ever .
abbs1 I do hope that they can safely either return to the steroids or the earlier treatment regime. Poor you. Excellent advice for others .
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Ive lost quite a lot of weight at 16 week appointment and ketones in my wee (I know I'm not drinking, I can't find anything I like and water, tea, coke ect gets vomited up) so MW told me to ask for more anti sickness and Omeprazole.

So today I got an online prescription from my gp and he's given me 5 ondansetron (no reason as to why just 5, as I explained I've been vomiting since as early as 5 weeks). This has scared me a bit, is there a reason? I've just been reading malformations and cleft palette can be a side effect.

I'm worrying myself to death. But I equally haven't had a proper meal since I got pregnant, I'm sat here with bloody acid burn and nausea.

Don’t frighten yourself MissPepper (won’t let me tag you!).. there is basically no evidence linking ondansetron to physical abnormalities. In the US, there have been several law suits about if but as far as I’m aware none have been awarded. Ondansetron is given out commonly in the US for regular MS as well as HG and sadly, amongst all those women taking it, some will have babies with issues. And of course, it’s natural to want to blame something in anger. Similarly to vaccines..

The cleft lip risk has been raised recently and appears valid. That said, the increased risk is tiny. So it’s a case of weighing it up. I’ve taken it in both pregnancies. My first, I have a healthy little girl. My second, so far no obvious issues. Ondansetron is the only thing that stops me being sick 20+ times a day. I take a strong dose. It’s a life saver for me literally.

Def get the omeprazole down you! It’s safe in pregnancy. It’s done miracles for my heartburn and general stomach comfort!

@emiliet123 I'm so sorry you're suffering like this. It's not normal, but you're very much not alone! Obviously I don't know your financial situation, but we've taken the hit this time and got me signed off. We are struggling through but at the end of the day, I have to rest. This is my 3rd week signed off. I tried to push it and was struggling through but eventually I was passing out and literally just couldn't even stand. I'll be going back in 2 weeks when I'll be 19 weeks. Sometimes you only need a couple of weeks to just rest, get on some medication and get used to the medication. I'm sorry if it really isn't an option for you, I just wanted to share our experience in case it helps you feel less guilty when it comes to money and saving for baby. xxx

@Bol87 I'm in the UK so all the studies I've read are in the UK. Yeah it's that cleft lip study I've seen, it's worrying me as it says there's a chance. I'd obviously rather suffer than hurt baby. I'd love to say it's better but still vomiting and nausea is really bad tonight.

Omeprazole yes, will take that, heart burn is part of this. If I try drink juice and cola it repeats on my and then I vomit so atleast I can sip juice ect. xx

@MissPepper8 just to say my GP was initially only prescribing me 5 days of ondansetron at a time. Think it’s relatively expensive. I got fed up of ringing every other day to get more and we’ve come to an agreement (I rung up, explained very clearly it really helped and seeing as I was going to be pregnant for a little while longer) that I will get 4 weeks at a time. Hope it helps you. I think it’s best to find the supportive GP at your practice and just speak to them.

@Twirlsandcurls That's terrible you've had to say that, they could atleast give a month.

The issue I seem to be having again is they all say it will pass, well ok I can get each pregnancy is different (this one has been bloody awful with wretching in public ect) but 5 days is stupid especially when it takes 3 weeks to be seen.

I decided on not taking them every day (so like 2 a week, so I feel comfortable) I'm going to take one for a family meal on Sunday cause its embarrassing vomiting when we're out :(.

I guess when these go I have to ask for more on a form.

MissPepper You have had such great advice from Bo87 and yellow25 and Twirlsandcurls that I can't add anything. I do hope the new regime helps.
I hope emiliet123 and everyone is coping.

Hi, just wondering what we’re everyones worst weeks? And what week did you start to feel a bit better (if you have at all) I’m 12 weeks now and just getting worse x

User1704 I am sorry to hear that you feel worse. For many people, around 10-11 weeks can be the worst. Most people do get some relief at some point between 14 and 20 weeks; even those unlucky ones who suffer throughout very rarely feel as bad later on as they do in the early weeks. I hope this gives some reassurance. It can seem hopeless and desparate if you are not receiving effectie enough meds. What meds are you on? Have they recommended an anti acid?
Are you able to rest a reasonable amount,as that can help a lot? Sorry about the questions fired like bullets!

Hi @User1704 my worst weeks were between 11-14 and started to feel good enough to come off my meds about week 24. I hope it starts to improve soon
I don't post much on here as my daughter is over a year old now but I still follow the thread for when we try for another baby in case I get the sickness again. I saw your message and didn't want to dash!

even those unlucky ones who suffer throughout very rarely feel as bad later on as they do in the early weeks

What @LucindaE has said here @User1704 xx I suffered really badly with my DS until he was born.

I think this time it's been worse, random wretching, nausea has been particularly bad ect but I have a toddler so it's energy zapping too. But around 14 weeks (16 now) I got more of my energy back, still have bad days with nausea but not every day.

I still vomit every thing up more so at night, so trying ondansetron now. Tips are really hang on to this thread, there's excellent advice xx

Also I don't know how true this is, but mw told me it should get better 13/16 plus weeks when the placenta takes over. I did feel more of a lift at 14 weeks where I wasn't feeling dizzy and struggling to do anything as much as I was in the earlier weeks x

Hi do you mind if I join you? I'm around 7 weeks and this is my 3rd hyperemesis pregnancy (I know I'm crazy) started on cyclizine on Monday but still vomiting and very nauseous. Have felt very drowsy today, went back to different Dr and now started Buccastem and Amoxicillin for a UTI. Wouldnt admit me as only had a trace of Ketones and my blood pressure was ok (even though I cant walk as feel so dizzy). Does anyone have any idea how quickly the Buccastem should work? Had it an hour and half ago and vomited again.

Hi everyone, I am new to this thread and see there is a lot of kindness and wisdom here.

I am 7w4d today and struggling to know if I have HG or not so thought you might help. I have bad nausea for most of the day every day for the last 2 weeks. I am usually actually sick only once a day but on some days it has been 3 times. I have taken time off work as the nausea is really bad, and I generally feel weak.

Do you think this is just regular morning sickness or it could be progressing into HG?

Welcome to Hollybob9 and woollycat.
Hollybob I think you are very brave. As you are a veteran, much more experienced with Hyperemesis than I, you don't need my spiels about kesostix and flat full sugar coke and the juice of tinned fruit and ice lollies and anti acids making a big difference. I am acutally not sure if Buccastem has a cummulative effect - I know Cyclizine is supposed to - but it might need a couiple of days to work. I hope someone else might come on to give better advice about this.
woollycat People on here are lovely and halpful. That sounds too debilitating to be normal MS if you have been signed off work . Have you been put on meds? Below, I have listed various drinks and some foods that people find bearable, beginning with flat full sugar coke, ice lollies and the juice of tinned fruit. Some of those might help. It is a good idea to get some kesostix from any chemists or online to check for dehydration (the measurements are taken seriously by A and E departments), though hopefully you won't get that bad with rest and effective meds.

Great advice from everyone as ever. Waves to all. RockinRobin lovely to hear from you and I am so glad baby is thriving!

Hi all. I'm now 8+1 and have been taking cyclizine since Monday. It's really helped with the sickness and I haven't vomited since I started taking the tablets. Before this I was retching all the time and sick 10+ times a day. The nausea and retching has reduced significantly to a manageable level. I'm able to eat cereal, white bread, crisps, satsumas, pasta, biscuits etc. I do feel queasy on and off but as I said it's all manageable

However I just can't seem to lift the feeling of 'malaise'. I am not sure if that is the correct term but I just feel zapped and can't seem to do anything.

I have left the house twice this week. Once to go to the doctors and once to my sister's house for an hour to see if getting out helped. I didn't feel better and my sister commented that I didn't seem well and I fell asleep on her sofa (last tablet was taken 6 hours before). Yesterday I managed to do a couple of household chores. My husband is picking up the rest of it as I just can't seem to get myself moving. Some days I haven't even bothered to get showered or dressed. I couldn't even imagine going to work.

I'm really not sure whether it is the side effects from the cyclizine, general pregnancy tiredness, perhaps psychological because I haven't done anything and got pretty down last weekend feeling awful and pathetic for feeling like this in what should be an exciting time. Or a mixture of everything.

Just wondering if anyone else got their sickness under control but still felt unwell, or if anyone has any tips to get myself moving?

Thank you

@LucindaE not sure I would describe myself as brave. I eventually got admitted early hours of the with ketones 4+. Feeling better for the extra fluid but still extremely nauseous

Hollybob I am really sorry to hear you became dehydrated so quickly after that visit to the doctors. It is good that being a veteran, you knew you had to go in. I am glad the fluids helped, and I hope they can get an effective medical regime in place for you. The nausea is miserable. I hope that reduces.
rosina I am so glad the cyclizine is helping. Sleepiness on it is a well known side effect; it seems to wear off a lot for most people; added to tiredness from early pregnancy and it can make you want to do almost nothing. Besides, this is a debilitating condition. Don't think about returning to work for a good while yet. You are still at the early and worst stage and need a lot of rest. It is hard on OH but you are ill and can't do a lot about that!

Me @rosina38 - my sickness is well controlled overall on a couple meds but I continued to feel horrendous during the first trimester and pretty pants now in all honesty. I can never shift the nausea unfortunately, so my diet has been pretty poor & im now really anaemic. I’m currently trying to source a prescription for liquid iron my doc gave me but no pharmacist seems to be able to get it!

The first trimester, I barely moved off my sofa. I was just exhausted. That sheer exhaustion lifted around 13 weeks & slowly, I’ve been able to potter a bit more. But I think now the anaemia is kicking in as I’m back to feeling wiped. I could sleep for weeks but sadly my two year old would not approve..

Maybe ask for your iron levels checked at some point but it may just be first trimester exhaustion, it’s very real!

I have a question about toothpastes. The last few days I throw up half way through cleaning my teeth which is not great. Any advice on what toothpaste / toothbrush combo people found bearable?