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.

@Whatnext

Good luck and really don’t be shy about going to your GP as many times as needed.
I’m basically on first name terms with mine 😬👍🏻

As a general suggestion - especially those in the early/worst stages - Baby food pouches (the fruit ones) REALLY helped me! I stashed them in the fridge. Great for when you NEED something in your stomach but gag at tastes/smells.

I found them inoffensive and bland - plus the screw top made easy to have a bit and put back! 👍🏻

@LucindaE
Thanks for the advice!

I was getting on not to bad but had a bad evening and now having a bad day!
Going to try some of these things and hope I can settle. I really don’t know if I can take another 10 weeks of feeling like this. Back to the doctors on Monday and see if they can help me.

HghellI hope they can offer other meds and also counselling. Sorry about bad day. Everyone always says don't look beyond the day.
Whatsnext11 I am so glad to hear about a better day.
Disneymademedoit Excellent advice.

Hi all

I am 9+1 today and I've had an extremely good day. No sickness, about 3 retches and a couple of passing moments of feeling nauseous but otherwise pretty good. I managed to get a few things done and pop to waitrose to get some bits for myself. It felt very odd being out after being house bound for 3 weeks but also good.

I haven't taken any cyclizine tablets today and I do think that has helped me feel better too. Less zombie-fied.

I'm fully aware that the bad days may return but if I do get the odd good day like this I know I can get through it.

Sending everyone positive thoughts for the weekend

rosina38 That is a happy sign. A good day is often the sign of more to come, and makes things more bearable. Wishing you more good days.

Thinking of everyone this weekend, hope it’s not too unbearable.

A ray of light from me, things have really improved over the last week. I’m 18+3 now and the nausea has really calmed down. Ever present of course but I am back eating some veggies & safer normal meals .. woohoo! Some foods are still a huge no go but I’m delighted to be off my basic diet of fish fingers & potatoes!

Ive started on a liquid version of ferrous furmate today as I’m now quite badly anaemic but throw up all tablets. We’ll see how this one goes I guess, iron makes me really nervous! Anyone else taken this one?! It’s called Galfer..

Hi all!

I'm 15+4 now and began a 5 day course of metoclopramide after passing out in the supermarket which was horrendous. The medication seems to have stopped the vomiting!

I've had a lot more energy the past 2 days and have been able to keep down breakfast, lunch, dinner and my vitamins.

I'm worried that when the course ends, it will all return but for now I'm happy that I feel human again! Albeit I need naps, have cramps and can't do much around the house still.

Hope all is well xx

@Boycay That's awful I hope you're ok and we're well looked after when it happened. Brilliant news that the medication has given you some relief.

I'm finding being on cyclizine rather confusing as it is helping with the nausea but I still feel utterly dreadful but can't quite explain it, has anyone else had that?

Also what are people's thoughts about taking vitamin B6 and how long should you stay on medication?

Wishing everyone some hg free weekend time 😊

@Boycay - so glad the Metaclopromide is helping! I’m on it along with ondanestron and have been for quite a while, so def go back to your GP and ask for a more as you need! No idea why they prescribe 5 days.. I was given 3 weeks initially and keep getting topped up 3 weekly.

@Hardheadedwoman39 - I tried a really high dose B6 in both pregnancies but unfortunately for me, had zero affect on nausea & sickness. Worth a try, it can’t harm! I took meds to 28 weeks pregnant last time, I ran out as it happened and realised I felt exactly the same without it. This pregnancy, I’ll play it be ear. Whatever keeps me from vomiting to be honest!

@LucindaE it could be the twitchiness although when you read the possible side effects it's quite scary. My GP was supposed to be contacting the hospital consultant to clarify which tablets I should be taking and for how long but not heard anything. Although I have not kept any food of water down yet today so I suspect I will be heading back to hospital in the near future. Hope everyone else is doing better than I am, I'm finding the loneliness and isolation hard at the moment.

I’ve been posting quite a bit this week (not just on this thread to several separate pregnancy sickness threads) about my experience with HG. Being very honest and offering as much advice as possible to help women going through the earlier stages.

I’m always really honest about how much ranitadine (a good anti acid) can help but also that despite it being ‘improved’ and ‘more manageable’ at 16+5 I’m still struggling and still off work (14 weeks and counting). I have good days, I have bad days (as I think is normal) but today - getting frustrated with my DH for making my lunch harder than needed 😂 I posted in AIBU (I know- I was asking for it but it was quite a straight forward scenario)

Anyways - one poster jumped in telling me they’d read my posts about HG and that I’ve stated I’m totally CURED with Ranitadine so why am I even being so dramatic and terrible?

(I’d very briefly mentioned having HG as a reason why I’m a bit short tempered with DH when it comes to food/ him making things harder)

Knowing I’ve posted nothing about being ‘cured’ I now feel very hesitant/reluctant to post more advice/ of my personal experience knowing that trolls will read these and then throw them (incorrectly) back at me 🤔

Has anyone else experienced anything like this? I’m wondering if it was my posts on here that they’ve read

DisneyMadeMeDoIt Goodness, how mean of that poster to jump on you like that. I honestly don't know if anyone would come in here to read about sufferers and how they are doing. I suppose with trolls you can''t rule anything out. I almost never post anywhere but these threads on Mumsnet, but I have sometimes read that AIBU out of morbid curiosity, and it does seem to me that some of the people who post there just go on to attack anyone for daring to complain about anything. I think it would be reasonable to state, not rudely, that you aren't cured, only helped by anti-acid, but maybe it isn't worth engaging with Internet users who seem to enjoy handing out abuse and judgemental comments for no reason.
Holybob9 I am sorry to hear that. I hope the doctor can give you constructive advice soon, or failing that, if you do have unfortuntely to be admitted, the dr's at hospital. It is worth remembering that drug manufacturers are legally obliged to state all the reported side effects with any drug, which makes it seem much worse than it is.

@DisneyMadeMeDoIt I don't know what's going on this weekend. I've had a couple of trolls recently. I was posting on a thread where someone was deciding if 42 was too old to have another baby. I've read a lot on the risks being 40 myself and just said they do increase slightly but still unlikely there will be any major problems. I got accused of egging the OP on and being blasé about the 'greatly increased risks'. Also told my pregnancy was early on so how could I know something wouldn't go wrong. I'm 15 weeks and nothing to suggest this. Anyway it was very rude.

Also started a thread with my 12 week scan just for fun asking if people thought boy or girl. Someone said 'baby' and thought it was stupid to discuss. In fact I'm trying to bond with my baby after precious loss and thought it would be nice to see what people thought.

Some people clearly need to keep their thoughts to themselves.

Little update from me. I'm 15 weeks now. Finally I'm getting better days. My DH brought home a stomach bug last week which upset my tummy again, couldn't even hold water down for 24 hours. Once my tummy muscles recovered from retching I started feeling better. Today felt pretty normal. It was amazing. Just tired more than anything. It's like emerging from a bad dream. I do hope it continues.

We got discharged from the early pregnancy unit on Saturday so they did a cheeky little picture of baby's face. Xx

Ps @DisneyMadeMeDoIt completely agree ranitidine is a wonder drug.

Oh @Catconfusion - the posters on threads about gender/sex drive me insane! No-one is suggesting that said parent wouldn’t support their child whatever gender/sexuality/religion/person they choose to be! They are just asking if people think it’s a boy or a girl! Ignore it & the age thing, you rock your pregnancy! You’ll be a wonderful mum 😊 I had a 16 week scan this time for both a check up & boy/girl as I’ve been so poorly, I also needed to feel that bond after feeling so negative!

I 100% agree on the anti-acid too! I’m on omeprazole and it’s made a huge difference. I was suffering with horrible acid reflux but other than it being painful, I hadn’t realised how much it was contributing to the sick feeling and awful taste in my mouth!

Hi sorry for the random post, I'm currently in hospital day 9 got admitted with a viral and asthma! They last few days however I have started with sickness they can't relate this to my virus and think it's hg. I'm having to take iv anti sickness meds as my blood pressure is borderline constantly.

I didn't realise you could develop this at 17 weeks I've never had it with my other 4 babies. Will I ever be allowed home?

I'm currently in isolation and getting really down. 😩

mylifenow27 I thought I'd give you a short message of support, though I have to hand over my pc in a minute. I am sure you will be allowed home soon. I never met anyone developing Hyperemesis so late on, either, but I clearly it can happen. I hope, however, they are wrong in assuming that it is Hyperemesis , and it is a side effect or something. Hopefully, once they have got you rehydrated and worked out some effective meds, they will be able to send you home. Much sympathy.
Sorry to hear of all those suffering from aggressive trolls.

Thank you, sorry for the random comment I think desperation is kicking in! Xx

@Hardheadedwoman39

Just wanted to reply about the cyclizine. Absolutely did immediately stop the vicious vomiting circle that I got myself in to. I was taking them every 8 hours religiously for about a week. During that time I had zero energy. Did not leave the house or do a single chore. Felt awful. I've stopped taking them for the past few days and feel so much better. But my nausea and sickness has luckily improved to a manageable level without meds. If everything gets worse again I plan just to take one when I need one. If you're struggling with the side effects maybe speak to your GP because there are other options

So as predicted I am back in hospital being hydrated. I wondered if anyone had any advice on when to tell my children I am pregnant? I have held off until now as have had a previous miscarriage, and was originally going to tell them after 12 week scan. However this being my 3rd hospital admission and when at home I'm generally in bed, my 5 year old is getting worried and keeps asking me when I will be better. I'm currently 7+4 weeks so still early days. My 3 year old is also very unsettled and having difficult bed times and has gone back to having accidents at nursery. Anyone have any thoughts?

Well went to the doctor this morning and had a different doctor from the last time I was in.
She was a nightmare!!!
Didn’t want to give me cyclizine, told me I shouldn’t become dependent on it in the 1st trimester, and said there are major risks too the baby! She left me feeling very worried and upset.
She said morning sickness is phycological and I just need to eat all the time.
I really don’t get it, I can’t physically eat all the time, like while driving or in meetings what the hell does she expect me to do. She also tells me ondanestron is given to cancer patients and did I know this.
I really feel like I’ve done wrong now and I would have thought that me being hydrated and eating was important which is why the hospital put me on the anti sickness in the first place.
:-(

@Hghell I am so sorry you've had to hear this! That is absolute rubbish! I would complain. Unfortunately I saw 3 gps who were all useless and told me to have ginger and eat chocolate and herbal teas. I've bypassed all gps now and just go straight to hospital each time to the early pregnancy unit or a and e where gynae doctors can help me properly. Dont listen to what the gp says. They are only general practitioners and dont specialise in hyperemesis. The 3 I saw didnt even really know what it was!
I've been on ondansetron, metoclopramide, steroids, anti blood clot injections along with ranitidine and thiamine just to keep me and my baby going and multiple hospital visits as well as home visits as it's been so bad so for the gp so say it's all in the mind is utter cr*p! I really hope you can find someone who can help you.

Thank you @rosina38
I'm so pleased it's worked well for you and that it's easing off now. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the same happens for me!

Thank you @abbs1-
I am also on clexaine aswell due to CVST history. So there’s plenty going on.
Yeah I just didn’t understand her lack of wanting to help!
I’m going to try and make sure I don’t get her again as I think the next time I’d have a few choice words for her. I wasn’t feeling the best this morni g and then she just added to it thankfully I’ve calmed down now and I’ll just try and get on with it and hope the sickness does subside.

Mylifenow27 Do stay on the thread. Everyone is lovely and supportive on here.
Hardheadedwoman39 I hope it works for you.
catconfusion I cannot believe the mean spiritedness of those remarks from people trying to upset you about your age. Sorry, I did mean to comment on this before. You have the right to take your own reproductive decisions without being abused for it. I love your scan photo.
Hollybob9 I hope some people with LO's will be able to advise you about when its best to tell them. I am sure you are giving them reassurance about the fact that you will get better. As I stopped at one and one miscarriage before, I'm not in a position to give advice about that. Really sorry to hear you had to go back in.
Hghell I am shocked about that doctor being so ill informed. Cyclizine has been used for decades for severe sickness in pregnancy, and is considered very safe. Ondansetron hasn't been tested for as long, but that is an absurd thing to say about cancer victims getting it. Yes, it is prescribed for severe vomiting as a side effect of chemotherapy: that is why it is effective in Hyperemesis! It might be worth phoning up Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 7638 2020 who will have to phone back but will give good advice on how to get effefctive meds. You sound as if you are determined enough to get them anyway, if you can only get a better informed GP.
abbs1 and rosina38* and everyone. Excellent advice.
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