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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Hyperemesis Support

996 replies

LucindaE · 23/07/2019 15:09

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.

Hyperemesis Support
Hyperemesis Support
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9
Whatnext11 · 23/10/2019 21:54

@bol87 thank you, that makes sense. Managed to keep another glass of water down so think I'm through the worst for today. So glad it's bedtime!

rosina38 · 23/10/2019 23:45

Hi @Whatnext11

I am not sure how they exactly diagnose HG but my situation sounds very similar. I started off constantly feeling awful. However, over the last week I go from days of not being able to do anything at all, vomiting and not keeping a thing down without meds, strong aversions to smells and foods, retching to having some good days where I may have no sickness at all.
This week so far:

Monday - felt fairly normal, managed to do a load of washing, walk my dog for 45 minutes and go to my sisters house. Mild nausea, sick once first thing in the morning.
Tuesday- no sickness but lots of nausea, felt very tired, napped on and off throughout the day and struggled to focus on anything due to the nausea
Today - not able to keep food or water down until about 3pm. Felt v nauseous all day.

I am now taking cyclizine on the days I feel I need to. I do feel they make me drowsy but they usually keep the sickness to a manageable level for me.

I'm grateful for the good days but it's still very difficult knowing what tomorrow will hold. We have a dear friend's wedding on Saturday, my husband is an Usher. I'm planning to make it for the ceremony but if it's a day like today there's no chance. My biggest concern is the effort it will take to look half decent!

Whatnext11 · 24/10/2019 08:12

@rosina38 that sounds exactly like my experience, like you I'm grateful for the better days, really do hope the wedding is a good day for you and you manage to go. Understand about the effort to look good, can't imagine dress, drying hair let alone making it look ok and make up! That in itself sounds hard work. Really hope you make it.
Today is a better day for me, and I feel so relieved. Managed tea and toast, was very thirsty when I woke, but keeping it down and will keep drinking. Good to hear it's not just me doing ok one day, badly another, and terribly on another day.
Thank you everyone for your advice yesterday.

Boycay · 24/10/2019 12:02

Morning all,

I'm 16+3 at the moment. The 5 day course of metoclopramide has ended and I've been medication free for 2 days now. I still seem to vomit once in the morning and then just before I go to bed. Still feel nauseous and nervous before taking any bite of food. I'm completely avoiding dairy now because it triggers vomiting straight away. But if I compare myself to the past 10 weeks, I feel almost normal!

My belly has completely popped out now, so I'm a bit heavier on my feet and have lots of cramps and sore muscles. These are the side effects I can deal with.

I have one more week off work (will have had 5 in total) and then will be back to teaching until Christmas (I hope I can manage it!).

This thread has kept me going whilst lying in bed for weeks on end and I feel so much better knowing I'm not just being a drama queen. Hope you're all seeing some light at the end of the tunnel!

Whatnext11 · 24/10/2019 16:26

@firsttimebump this is the thread to join x

LucindaE · 24/10/2019 18:40

What'sNext11 I am so glad you managed to avoid needing admission, and that you managed mashed potato, water and even toast and tea.I am Mother Hen these days; Wink I suffered a long time ago. ...And on being Mother Hen, I must cluck concern at Boycay feeling that she must throw herself back into the thick of it at school; please don't overdo it, and make yourself ill again. Can they not offer you a staggered return? I am very happy to hear that you are a lot better and that this thread was useful when you were at your worst.
Bol87 Well put.
rosina30 I hope you are up to the wedding. I am sure you will look far better than you imagine. A retro look might be the thing. Nineteen-seventies type minimal make up, and nineteen-eighties type finger combed hair. Smile
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

OP posts:
sao81 · 25/10/2019 09:57

Hi, im 9+2 currently suffering quite badly. Retching multiple times a day, anti sickness has stopped the vomiting but can still feel the food I'm managing lying on my stomach. Blood pressure is all over the place, but managing to stay hydrated. I had bloods done yesterday and passed out had a massive panic attack just feel like it's never ending Sad I'm thinking though they had a lot of difficulty getting my bloods, could this be due to the HG or would it be something else like low iron? Just want to feel normal again

Bean2020 · 25/10/2019 11:33

Hi @sao81
Sorry to hear you're having such an awful time, I feel your pain.
I was told I had low iron and also had more bloods yesterday to rule out any vitamin deficiency and/or anemia. This could be the case for you perhaps? They told me sickness and other symptoms can be agitated with B12/follate/Vit D deficiency. I would suggest keeping in touch with your GP and don't shy away from telling them how bad you are feeling.

sao81 · 25/10/2019 11:54

@Bean2020 thanks for replying! My GP has been brilliant, these were my booking bloods had to go to hospital phlebotomy clinic as my veins always collapse. Ive been low in folate in the past, and after my first I lost quite alot of blood so was on iron too. Only came off all the medication this year after 18 months so.expecting something to be low. Will definitely chase it up as dont see midwife now until December

Whatnext11 · 25/10/2019 13:27

When I was very dehydrated, they struggled to get blood. Don't know if that helps. Having a bad day, managed a couple of biscuits but keep retching. Started to make toast, felt very sick, got some different food out, and was almost sick again. Ugh. May give up on the food for now and just try and keep drinking.

sao81 · 25/10/2019 13:41

@whatnext11 every time they do a urine sample they say my ketones are ok,was last checked Tuesday so will see how I go and get checked again. Ive managed some malted milks and mash as a change to toast, but just don't seem to have an appetite anymore

Pastnowfuture · 25/10/2019 14:00

@whatnext11 I find the loss of appetite harder to deal with than the vomiting. I force myself to eat but literally all foods repulse me, even dry toast. I'm so glad this thread is here because everyone around me can't seem to get their head around why I'm still struggling so much. I guess now the meds have eased the vomiting they can't 'see' the problem anymore.

LucindaE · 25/10/2019 16:53

Sao81 Welcome. I know that mataclopramide helps with the quick ingestion of food, and that might help with the lying on stomach symptom; but not all GP's are happy to prescribe it for more than a few days, I think very largely because in a tiny minority of woman it causes twitchiness which is hazardous unless they take you off it at once.I am glad you are keeping hydrated and no ketones so far. Here is my normal spiel that I hope might help, though the kesostix suggestion may be unnecessary. 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.
Bean2020 Good information.
Whatnext11 It is very dismal to have no appetite. People have this fixation with '12 weeks' an d are astonished that sufferers from Hyperemesis remain ill past that date, but why is a puzzle, when even normal pregnancy sickness often until 14 weeks, ater all.
Dismal autumn weather; at least if one is ill at this time of year, it is less isolating than in the summer, when everyone else seems to be out enjoying themselves. [hmmm]

OP posts:
LucindaE · 25/10/2019 16:54

Sorry Pastnowfuture and Whatsnext11 I joined your messages! I am in a dopey mood today.

OP posts:
sao81 · 25/10/2019 17:03

@LucindaE thanks for the advice thats really helpful! I might still get the kesostix just incase for in the future

abbs1 · 25/10/2019 17:24

Starting to freak out! Sorry to rant. Just been to see my normal GP really nice guy about some more metoclopramide and hes fine prescribing it. He saw I'm on steroids via the hospital and was extremely concerned and said I need to speak to a consultant once I come off them if I start throwing up again as he said I shouldn't be on them as it may harm the baby and isn't good for me. He said I should be on iv antisickness and fluids at home or be in hospital rather than be on steroids. Now I'm worried my baby has been harmed as I will have been on them for 6 weeks.

sao81 · 25/10/2019 17:31

@abbs1 could you ring your maternity unit for some advice on what he had said? I have no experience with steroids only antisickness

abbs1 · 25/10/2019 17:52

@sao81 I've just emailed my midwife for some advice on it. They normally call within 24hours so will see what they say.

Bol87 · 25/10/2019 18:38

Try not to worry @abbs1 - I’m sure the hospital won’t be prescribing you anything that they haven’t weight up the pros/cons (as with any anti-sickness). My GP has said they can lead to low birth weight if taken long term (I’m currently on a course for an asthma flare up) but didn’t mention anything else and she’s generally really clued up!

Obviously low birth weight isn’t ideal but generally nothing to worry about, perhaps extra scans might be needed further down the line to check?

Hope all is OK 🧡

rosina38 · 26/10/2019 08:47

Morning ladies, after a horrible few days of vomiting 15 times per day and feeling completely lousy I ended up at the out of hours doctor at 8:30pm last night.

I've already tried cyclizine and promethazine tablets so they gave me a cyclizine injection and a prescription for ondansetron. I haven't been sick since about 10pm last night when I got home.

My ketones had gone from trace to 3+ in less than 12 hours so that is how quickly you can become dehydrated.

I won't be attending my friend's wedding today and I missed my birthday night out to the theatre last night! Thanks hyperemesis!
But feeling a lot more positive now I have stopped being sick.

Sending good wishes for the weekend and hope everyone is keeping well x

LucindaE · 26/10/2019 19:04

abbs1 Wise words from Bol87. Try not to fret, as she says; the consultants will have taken the decision as to which was safest - prolonged dehydration or any slight risk with various forms of treatment, and decided on the most effective course. Various sufferers on here, those with the worst cases, have been on steriods for many weeks and all of them delivered fine, healthy babies. Have you had any feedback, as suggested by Sao81?
rosina38 Poor you, not only being so ill, but in missing the birthday treat and a wedding. It is dismal. I am glad the cyclzine injection helped and you've got a prescription for Ondansetron. Rem ember to get a laxative; unfortuantely, c onstipation is an unpleasant side effect.
Waves to all...

OP posts:
abbs1 · 26/10/2019 19:13

@LucindaE the midwife wasnt able to help as they aren't sure on the complex nature of it so said to go back to the consultant.
My husband made a valid point that a gp is only a gp and not a gynaecologist consultant who specialises. I read up that they only give steroids in very severe hyperemesis patients so I'm gonna trust their judgement on it for now but each time I'm in hospital I do voice my concerns on the medication I'm given and the risks to the baby and me so they are aware.
I'm just hoping so much when my steroids finish next week I dont end up in hospital again. I've had 2 good weeks of no vomiting and minimal nausea being on steroids and anti sicknes which has been really nice as I feel more human and went for my first meal out today since before I got pregnant over 4 months ago so that was lovely so I'm making the most of feeling good while I can.

Bol87 · 26/10/2019 19:16

So sorry to hear of missing out on fun events @rosina38 - HG is such a life drainer.. it’s just beyond miserable at its worst and pants at its best. Sounding positive the vomiting has stopped though at least, hopefully the ondanesteon will really help with that for you! It’s a lifesaver for me, it does really curtail most of the throwing up! Hope you are resting up & doing as ok as you can be!

LucindaE · 27/10/2019 19:01

abbs1 I am so glad that you were able to have an outing! SmileYour OH is right about the difference between GP's and consulants, of course, though it is hard not to worry at the best of times.
Bol97 I so agree. Wise words as ever. How are you doing?

OP posts:
rosina38 · 27/10/2019 23:06

Thanks @LucindaE and @Bol87

Which is the best laxative and can I buy from pharmacy or do I need to ask my GP for something?

I need to speak to my GP anyway as I want to ask for another Ondansetron prescription ASAP in case I have a fight on my hands. I was only given 10 days of tablets. I watched the update from the pregnancy sickness support Facebook page, slightly terrified im going to be denied another prescription!

Hope everyone is doing well x

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