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.

@LucindaE I've just hit 16 weeks today. I'll drop the gp a message!

Hello.

Looking for a bit of advice.

I had my first child 6 years ago and suffered with severe morning sickness. I couldn't even keep water down. Doctors tried me on two different types of tablets both failed to work which resulted in being admitted to hospital being put on a drip as my key tones in my urine was +4 and I had dropped nearly a stone in 3 weeks. I stayed in hospital on a 1000ml drip over the period of two days. This went on from 6 weeks to 13 weeks then come back again at 17 weeks to 20 weeks.

Im now only just into this pregnancy I've worked out 4 weeks 2 days and already every morning I've started to gag so much. I'm so worried its going to come back again.

Any advice?

Thank you so much for any advice, greatly appreciated!!

Hi everyone,
I'm 19 weeks now and very up and down. I never feel 'good' but I also don't feel like I'm dying so that's progress. I'm still on cyclezine 3 times per day because when I reduce it the vomiting increases. However it's the nausea that is causing the most difficulties.

I feel like I shouldn't be complaining because I'm much better than I was and I'm now out of bed and functioning. I'm doing 3hrs a day working from home on my laptop and my husband is still doing all the cooking because I can't bare being in the kitchen. I know I'm lucky because my employer and my husband are looking after me but I feel soooo miserable.

I cry everytime I think about feeling like this until baby is born. I have been referred for mental health support and have had an assessment but despite being 'priority' I will be waiting at least 2 months for treatment to start.

Does anyone know is there still hope for me to physically improve more? Is it worth trying a different drug at this stage to relieve nausea?

Hi All!

Has anybody else been hit by the stopping of Ranitadine tablets by the NHS??

I’ve been on these for months and they’ve been a real help controlling the sickness. I’ve now been switched to Omeprazole and cried today as it lists nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea as 1/10 likely side effects - seems so counter productive and I honestly think it might finish me off!!! 😭

Sod’s law just as I seemed to be turning the corner and managing well this happened ... I’m so anxious

Only just found this thread and oh my I wish I had it when I was pregnant!
Just wanted to say that you're all amazing for going through such a dreadful thing.
I was in hospital permanently from 2-6 months during my pregnancy as my sickness was so severe, but I want to say that it is all so incredibly worth it 💓

Mothertoone2 Welcome. Sorry you feel so bad. That was defintely Hyperemesis with that weight loss and hospitalisation. Definitely go to the GP and ask for meds ASAP. They may get a more effective combination worked out this time so you can avolid getting so ill. It may be that you avoid getting it so badly this time. Do ask for an anti acid as that mght help. I am glad you got relief at 20 weeks last time; that is encouraging. Below there are recommendations for fluids, etc, that might help you.
Pastnowfuture It is certainly worth asking if there is anything that can help the nausea. I always seem to be talking about anti acids,b ut they can help a lot with the nausea, though as TheRightHonourable says, Ranitidine is withdrawn at the moment due to a health scare. Gaviscon in tablet form is less bloating than in liquid form, some suggest.
TheRightHonourable Others have mentioned it being withdrawn. I am sorry about your anxieties over nausea and vomiting being mentioned as a side effect, but try not to be to put off, as I dont' think I have ever taken a medication where it wasn't mentioned, even with anti-emetics! I think they have to note every instance where a side effect is reported, but if people are vomiting anyway, they may be blaming the wrong thing, if you see what I mean. I wonder if it might be worth trying Gaviscon tablets as well, as some on here have found them better than the liquid form? It might be worth asking the doctor about the list of side effects.
MrsH497 Sorry, I defintely got those dates wrong. I hope you get more relief soon and am glad you are going to the GP.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

CFlemingSmith Cross posted. Thank you for your lovely message. [flowers}. I am sorry you suffered so horribly and so happy you are happy with your LO by way of a reward.

I keep looking at the due dates and mine is slowly creeping up. 32 weeks on Wednesday so can finally see light at the end of the tunnel! Does hyperemesis affect if the baby is on time or late/early? Not really heard any statistics if it has any affect on this.

@Mothertoone2 echoing Lucindas advice. Get meds pronto. And take the max strength you can. There is some study that pre-emptive meds can help lesson the symptoms, and I have found that happened in my second pregnancy.

@Pastnowfuture I know it’s hard to see, but you are improving. You need to compare to what you were like in the first trimester to now. Comparing to pre-pregnancy is just heart wrenching. I can’t eat my favorite food while pregnant (chocolate), and thinking that I’m 7months away from that is just depressing, but hopefully I’m two months away from the vomitting stopping, and two weeks away from having my mum come and help. Breaking it into little bits helps.

@Marshmallow1992 I’m sorry. HG has no effect on baby’s arrival. Genetics does tho, so ask when other people in your family birthed. My husbands family, there’s no instance of anyone even reaching their due date, more likely to end up prem than overdue. My family however most babies were overdue. Mine happen to fall in the middle. DD1, 1 day early. DD2, 2 days early. I’m hoping number 3 is at least 3 days early.

Feeling really bad here. Week 9 is kicking my butt. I’ve just eaten half a piece of bread and I feel on the edge because of it. Constipation has kicked in. And the only thing that makes me feel mildly better is frozen coke, but even that only helps for the kindy run.

Just want to say that everyone is so kind and brave on this thread. Couldn't have got this far without your support

Hi guys, just checking in again!
Currently 14+3 and I seem to have slightly improved since my last hospital visit at 13 weeks.
I've been having 'better' days (trying to focus on the good days and not the bad ones!) where I'm only sick 3-4 times a day - I've still got baaaaad nausea but looking back it's not as paralysing as it was - I'm not bed bound and I can actually spend a good few hours sat up working on my laptop before I have to have my 'afternoon lay down' then I can normally stand up to make dinner then i'm back laying down again....but like I said....progress right?!

I still have my bad days...but from 5-13 weeks every day was a bad day.

Still taking ondansetron - at my last hospital visit the consultant said she doesnt like it as theres studies that it can give a cleft palate but I told her nothing else worked - she ignored me and made me a prescription for cyclizine & something else (already tried cyclizine on its own and it was pointless) but I've stayed on the ondansetron because even if I miss one tablet I end up like the exorcist.

Oh and I must note that I have developed some form of craving?? for slush puppies!
I normally throw them back up straight after, but I can actually stomach drinking them unlike anything else...and they must be doing something as my ketones have stayed down.

Morning all I hope you don't mind me jumping on.

I don't suppose anyone has any experience with Promethazine Hydrochloride?

I've started taking it this morning. The nausea has now gone, but it's been replaced with constant spaced outness.

I know it's one of the symptoms. I'm waiting for GP to ring me back but that could take all day so thought I'd ask for advice whilst I wait

GingerRH Welcome. I hope someone who is familiar with taking that medication comes on. All I know about it, is that it is an antihistamine and as you say, often makes people sleepy. It's good that your nausea has gone.
Melleebacca Wise words. Breaking time up into small windows is a great idea.
Pastnowfuture I am so glad the thread is helping.
BeautyandtheBump I am so glad that things are improving a bit, and I hope you soon get a much bigger improvement. On Ondansetron and cleft palate, it seems that there is a slightly increased risk, but that has to be balanced against the very real dangers of dehydration to the baby. How many tablets have you got left? Can you get a second opinion in the surgery?
Marshmallow As Melleebacca says, there doesn't seem to be any link between early delivery and Hyperemesis, unfortunately. Some who are suffering really badly elect to have an early induction or Caesaerian, though.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

@TheRightHonerable - I’ve been taking omeprazole for weeks with no side affects at all. Try not to worry, I’ve never seen anyone reporting nausea/sickness from taking it. I find it so much better than ranitidine.. good luck!

Hope everyone is OK! You are all being so brave! I’m 25 weeks tomorrow & life is OK.. feeling a bit fed up of the ever persistent nausea at the mo but I shouldn’t complain too much. I think it’s heightened as Christmas food is everywhere and I’m gutted I don’t fancy much of it! I have discovered I still enjoy cranberry sauce so that’s a small win for me.. I can add it to my roast potatoes & turkey 😂

Sending love to all 🧡

Truly awful day threw up all down myself as I was driving to work. Sobbed my way to my grandparents. Went to GP ketones +++ so back to hospital and now on Ondansetron. So glad today is over.

Hi everyone.
Ginger, I've no experience with that medication sorry. Feeling spaced out isn't fun. Maybe it gets better as you get used to it.
Bol87 25 weeks that's exciting! Shame not to feel much like Christmas food, roast potatoes are the best bit I reckon so at least if you fancy them that's something!
MrsH497 oh no that sounds truly awful. I have been sick in the car before but always have sick bags with me and fortunately it wasn't too bad. Glad you are now at the hospital, I sort of relax when I get on a drip after a terrible day, as I think at least it will improve.
Lucinda thank you for all the encouragement.

For me, cyclizine is working great at the moment. Will try and reduce the tablets at some point and see how I am without them, maybe in a week. Very tired which I suspect is pregnancy tiredness plus a side effect of the tablets.

MrsH497 I am sorry you had such a horrible day. Glad you are getting fluids now and I hope they help a lot.
Bol87 The nausea is very wearisome, even if you feel better overall. Much sympathy. I am happy that at least you might be able to enjoy a small Christmas dinner. It is a dismal thing to be suffering from Hyperemesis at a time of year when everyone is preparing to feast. Next year will be magical for you all!

Beauty and the bump, I do love your username! Glad you are seeing sone positives, when you've felt awful even tiny progress feels amazing. Slush puppies sound good if it's getting some liquid in, never fancied them myself but I bet I do in a few weeks, my taste buds are so different to before pregnancy!
CFlemmingSmith nice to hear from someone from the other side!

Ginger I am on promethazine (from 7 weeks) and have found it amazing for both the nausea and vomiting, but as you say very spacing out! I’ve been in bed/on sofa most of the time 7-10 weeks although that does seem to be normal for me at this stage of pregnancy based on last time.

Have found it doesn’t seem to be quite so effective for the sickness now I’m 11 weeks and have heard others say that they felt its effects wear off after a few weeks too?

@CarolineLouisa I would recommend seeing your doctor if you feel like it’s wearing off. It could just be a hormone surge making it feel less effective, but my belief is to make you feel the most comfortable as possible during this really hard stage of life.

@Whatnext11 I always reduce by dropping one dose for a week or so, and then judging how I’m feeling before gradually dropping another. With my first I tried too soon and got sick again, so I wouldn’t drop one till I was having a good few weeks of good days.

Apologies to anyone I missed. I’m 10 wks today and really starting to feel over it and I still have a HUGE road ahead of me. I can keep liquids down as long as I’m really still for half an hour after having them, but I can’t keep any solids down after 12-noon. So not dehydrated, but still feeling really awful.

Thank you Moonstone12 for recommending this thread. I hope you don't mind me posting. I have been looking for advice as nearly 9 weeks pregnant and I have been so sick every day, I feel sick if I move and struggling to keep food and drinks down. I saw the nurse earlier this week but she said it was normal in pregnancy to be this sick and she wouldn't recommend medication at this point as I had a miscarriage in June. I am just fed up and feeling worse as the days go on. I am seeing the midwife on Saturday so I hope she might be more sympathetic!

Welcome to the thread rk2019, I call it the thread no one wants to join! I really hope the midwife is more helpful.

RK2019 Welcome. As Whatsnext11 says, nobody wants to be here, but everyone is very supportive. That debiliating degree of sickness is not normal. Too many nurses and some midwives do confuse Hyperemsis and normal pregnancy sickness. Do ask for some meds from the midwife. If she refuses ask a doctor. Emphasize that you are unable to do anything. Don't despair,most people get relief between weeks 14 and 20. Even the unlucky minority who suffer throughout almost never feel as ill later on as they do in the early weeks. I have put some generic advice below for both in case it helps.
A good anti-acid can make a big difference. Try not to fret too much about the baby, they are effective parasites and tend to take all the nourishment, which is one of the reasons you feel so bad. So long as you can keep reasonably hydrated, they are unlikely to suffer. Some drinks and foods of a sort that have helped others: flat full sugar coke, ice lollies, the juice of tinned fruit, Lucozade, fizzy water, Elderflower water, Robinson's fruit drinks, fizzy orange, lemonade, Dr Pepper, Elderflower coridal and tonic water (eallison's tipple), 7Up, Iron Bru, soda water, ice cubes, chocolate milkshakes (maybe soya), cocoanut milk, orange squash and sips of orange juice if not too acid. Some foods of a sort: nibbles of chips and crisps, baked potatoes, cuppa soup, cheap ice cream, tinned fruit, slices of melon and mango, Scotch pancakes and biscuits. It might be worth investing in some kesostix if you don't have them already as while they are not the best test of dehydration, hospitals do take them seriously. Otherwise, watch out for inelestic skin, ie skin that doesn't spring back when pulled, dark urine, headache, etc.
CarolineLouisa Talking of names, what a lovely eighteenth century name. Welcome, as surely I would have noticed the name if you had posted before. As Whatsnext11 says, if the meds are not working so well, don't hesitate to ask for more or an addition. I hope some of the above advice for RK2019 might be useful for you.
Melleebacca Again, wise words. How are things?
Waves to Whatsnext11 - good advice - and everyone. Apologies to anyhone unfortunately overlooked.

@RK2019 Noooooo! Being sick all day, every day and being unable to move is not normal morning sickness. I hope you get some better advice from your midwife. I have a few friends who had “normal morning sickness” one threw up once a day but could still eat, drink and even go to work. Another had to snack every two hours or else she was sick. In my first pregnancy, I reached 5w4d, and then threw up everything for 3 days before going to the gp, getting an iv and some meds. Even on ondansetron, Im still bed-ridden and throwing up multiple times a day. I classify “normal morning sickness” as something that is annoying, but doesn’t change every aspect of your life. I’m sorry that you’re feeling so sick. I really hope that you get some good medical care soon! Sorry also if I sound a bit angry, it’s really hard to get medical staff to take HG seriously. I had to change doctors in my first pregnancy because my one would only sign me off work for 3 days at a time, despite me not keeping even water down.

@LucindaE I’ve got lots of wise words, but the hard part is surviving through it myself.