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.

Hi @ClareSB as I learned from @LucindaE at the time, there is indeed a hormone surge around 20 weeks and a regression can happen. I had this and felt similarly to you, after a bit of easing of symptoms it was getting worse again and I felt so downhearted. But after a couple of weeks it eased again. I’m 36 weeks now and it’s been a very gradual improvement, but I’m now on 1x cyclizine a day and can do much more than before. Still need to pace myself but it’s very different, and my midwife today said I was looking really well (first time I’ve had that comment the whole of this pregnancy ). But I was seeing the return to that gradual improvement and easing somewhere around 24 weeks or so I think. And it was never as bad as the first trimester. So hopefully it should gradually get better for you again.

Had my growth scan today, baby is huge okay well not huge, within normal range and all measurements are healthy which is great (and head down, yay, was the other way around for quite some time!). But estimated weight currently is 7lb, induction is in 3 weeks. My midwife laughed when I was saying, “7lb now?! DC1 was 7lb4 at birth!”. DC2 was bigger but he was nearly 2 weeks overdue so that all made sense to me.

I did write @ClareDB, but for some reason my phone changed it... (what word could it possibly think I was attempting?!).

Thank you to everyone who's given me advice re work rights. I didn't end up having the meeting Sunday as I was too ill. Luckily my boss took the news of my sick note well. Maybe he believes me a bit more now there's 'evidence ' iykwim? I've only been on this thread a short time but you've all been so welcoming and lovely to me so thank you so much.

I am on stemetil for whoever asked. I'm not actually sure if it's working. Sometimes it does but other times it doesn't. Certainly doesn't get rid of the nausea! Im going to ask the doctor for soemthing else to try. Last time I had HG I was given a vitamin. B something? Had anyone else been given this?

Also my due date is 19th Feb.

Also had my growth scan today. Baby estimated at 6lbs 4oz atm. 5 weeks to go puts her at predicted 8lb something, possibly 9lbs. But DS was 9 days late and 7lbs 13oz so hopefully won't be too much more than that. We shall see.

Also got PGP so been told to take it easy.

DDP Sympathies about spd. A hefty baby, then; not affected by your Hyperemesis...
beforei hit30...and the same.

elizabethsmum Of course I remember. There are several sets of twins on the Due Dates list atm. How are yours? Lovely to hear from you with your nice encouraging message.
Marshmallow Lactulose is considered very effective.
thejudge I hope the anti acid helps.
ClareDB I think it may be a hormonal surge,as that often happens about twenty weeks and has dismayed lots of sufferers on here?
MumbleLumble I am so glad that your boss was reasonable about the sick note and that you have found this thread helpful. Various sufferers have found Vitamin B6 helpful.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Morning all, just coming on to have a little moan (again). Had quite a good day yesterday and didn't feel as bad but today I've woken up with a horrible headache and feeling like I've got a horrible beefy, stock cube smell stuck up my nose which is making me feel sick. As I had a better day yesterday was hoping to try and get through today without any cyclizine as it makes me so drowsy but I'm starting to think that won't happen

@LucindaE thank you. I definitely think the lactulose helped but I’m unsure if it’s the reason why I had an extremely bad headache. I had a terrible night last night was up at all hours being sick. Been much better today but it’s getting so so hard with the constant nausea and vomiting. The ondansetron is working but not all the time! @MumbleLumble stemetil did nothing for me! It has only been ondansetron that has helped with the nausea and vomiting.

Ice poles and lollies are really helping me at the moment. I’ve just eaten about five mini calippos in a row!

@Marshmallow1992 last pregnancy rocket lollies were pretty much all I could stomach for about 4 weeks or so. This pregnancy I've worked my way through goodness knows how many ice poles and lollies. So I know the feeling! Especially in this heat

Oh dear, headaches all round. Marshamallow That might be caused by dehydration (have you got dry skin, dark scanty urine, etc) if you've been sick all night (poor you: that is horribble and so lonely), or by hormones, or might as you say be a side effect. It can even be caused by constipation. Unfortunately, Ondansetron does give some people headaches, too. Sorry to give so many variables.
sprite25 How long have you been on the Cyclizine? If it is more than a few days, it might be worth asking for another medication, as the sleepiness does wear off with most people.
beforeihit30 Sorry, I missed your great piece of advice and repeated it for ClareDB. We are going to miss you on here when baby arrives and you join the Pink Castle.

@DeadDoorpost I have also got DH to get me rocket lollies! Between them, calippos and twisters. That’s all I can have right now without feeling I’m going to spew.

@LucindaE really unsure what caused the headache it’s subsided now but not completely.

It’s really good to talk to everyone and hear everyone’s stories on here. It makes me feel less alone. Everyone I speak to in real life keep telling me how it’s not normal to still feel like this at 15 weeks and that it had long passed for them. So thank you for this thread.

Can i join ? Im 15 weeks today and having an awful time with HG. Been signed off work with it and currently on my 3rd medication to try stop it also keep fainting when i stand up for more than 10 mins at a time has anyone else had this ? Today was a good day i managed to keep 1 small sandwich down but i miss my old self so much its making pregnancy harder to enjoy

@lucafritz hi, I’m also 15 weeks, I am the exact same as you, it is an extremely hard struggle. I haven’t enjoyed my pregnancy one bit and they only joy I’ve had is seeing my wee baby jiggle around at the scan. So many horrendous symptoms and the nausea and vomiting is so overwhelming. I can’t even remember what it feels like to feel normal.

I loved seeing them on the scan but i worry they aren't getting enough nutrients because im constantly throwing up when i can eat i make sure its as healthy and veggie as possible but its still not enough im loosing so much weight
Also noticed upthread about the ice lollies i too have a stash of those i can keep down

Morning ladies. I came on the other day to post but I think either my phone or mumsnet was malfunctioning and kept saying something went wrong.
Anyway. 38+5 and still pregnant. I had my last scan on Friday and baby is estimated at 6lbs1. They said small baby but happy and still within normal range albeit right at the bottom of line at 10th percentile. I think I just have small babies though.
I figured the iron tablets I was prescribed were making me sick. After the 3rd day I would start vomiting again so I stopped taking them. Then started again and after the 3rd day again I was sick. So I am not taking them anymore.
Back to my usual nauseas state which I can cope with.
Lots of newbies to catch up with. I just had a quick scan of the thread, looks like you’ve all been given great advice as usual. This thread really was my lifeline in the dark days. Hope everyone else is ok and enjoying the summer. A little bit of sunshine does wonders.

@LucindaE I will certainly try to pop in and say hi from the Pink Castle (which I am very much looking forward to entering!).

You poor thing @Marshmallow1992 that sounds rough, I hope you can get some rest and recuperation, it’s a tough time you’re at right now but hopefully things will gradually ease. Even if not entirely back to normal, one way or another it is usually much better.

Welcome @Lucafritz and sorry you’re going through this too. I had exactly this, the fainting. If you’re resting a lot more than usual (which hopefully you are!) and of course not eating as much, the fainting is quite normal particularly given decreased energy levels from food and also blood pressure tends to lower when you become less active. On one occasion I was sat at the bus stop with DH and said, “Ok, I’m going to pass out” and he stood in front of me to stop me falling off of the bench! It just came over me suddenly. And my blood pressure was low at antenatal appointments. Somewhere around maybe 25 weeks, as I started to eat more and do more, that improved and my blood pressure has also been back to normal for a little while now (currently 36 If/when you can move a bit more and feel up to it, it’s good to do a little bit - nothing strenuous, but eg a short walk, that helps to gradually improve particularly on the blood pressure front. Also try not to worry about the baby, even though of course it is natural. They’re basically parasites and part of why most pregnant women feel a bit rubbish at least in first trimester is because the body siphons everything the baby needs to him/her, and the mother comes second. So the baby is likely getting everything possible (leaving you with less!). Your midwife/doctor will pick up in routine urine and blood tests if there is anything in particular to take, like iron, but all in all the baby is likely to be fine and most supplements or test results tend to be more for you rather than the baby anyway

Hi @Blii the iron really can be a weird one, I’m not a fan of it, for me it can upset my stomach although it’s more or less settled now. You’re so close! How exciting.

Finally finished packing my hospital bag. Think I might be about ten times more organised than I was in either of my previous pregnancies. I think the sickness has contributed, in that I’ve been worried I won’t be well enough to prepare so I’ve been moving gradually on things for a while. A few more bits and bobs to do but they're all quite minor, like clearing away some stuff in the hall, putting away clothes, that sort of thing. So I can (or should) probably relax a bit!

We've got a house viewing tomorrow afternoon, I'm hoping it works out. It's a rented house, buy I really need to be out of here as my MH is getting worse and worse each week from not feeling like I'm free to do what I want/need to do. I feel like I'm being judged all the time which I know is probably not the case, but DH has said that his mum has made a comment about me sleeping during the day. Not my fault I'm exhausted and pregnant.

Even being in the house by ourselves the last few days hasn't helped. Still felt like we were house sitting more than being on our own.

I need to start on my hospital bag. 35 weeks here and I just CBA really.

And I feel terrible because I slapped DS today because he kept slapping and kicking me in the face. I'm a terrible mum, cried about it because obviously I felt terrible, but can't take it back So now I'm just as bad as my own mother.

Sorry. Today just sucks.

Anyone else have women saying to them its just a bit of morning sickness people keep telling me how bad there morning sickness was and they don't seem to realise HG is entirely different and to just a bit of nausea at the beginning of pregnancy its driving me mad

Oh dear, a lot of things going on. My head is splitting today. and I will say more tommorow but for now.
Lucafritz Welcome. You have already had great advice from beforeihit30. I will just add: Take heart, most people get an improvement between weeks 14 and 20 and even those unlucky ones who suffer throughout almost never feel as bad as in the early days. Have you got an anti acid as that can help with nausea?
Some drinks and solids that have helped others: flat full sugar coke, ice lolllies, the juice of tinned fruit, Lucoazade, fizzy orange, lemonade, Robinson's fruit drinks, Dr Pepper, orange squash, tonic water, Elderflower water, Elderflower coridal and tonic water (eallison's tipple), soda water, Iron Bru, sips of chocolate milkshake (maybe soya), orange juice (if not too acid) and 7Up. Also, someone recommended piles of ice in drinks. For foods of a sort, nibbles of chips and crisps, cheap ice cream, tinned fruit, slices of melon and mango, baked potato, Scoth pancakes, biscuits and cuppa soup.
Have you got kesostix to test for deyhydration, available from any chemists? They are not the best method compared to scanty dark urine, dry mouth, h eadache, etc, but A and E departments do take them seriously.
MumbleLumble I'll add your 19 February date tomorrow.
DeadDoorPost Don't blame yourself for being human. Slapping may be greatly frowned on now, but I honestly find it hard to believe that most parents manage to get through all of a small child's worst behaviour , the sleep deprivation (let alone Hyperemesis) without gtiving a light slap or two in temper. I did myself. They don't even remember it.

@Lucafritz I’m so tired of everyone judging. I am due to go back to work next week and don’t think I’ll manage. I know already people will be judging me and talking about how I can’t handle it. But it doesn’t bother me. I know myself and what I need to do for my own health and well-being.

@DeadDoorpost please don’t beat yourself up about it. We ttc for almost a year before I fell pregnant and we are absolutely thrilled however some of the things I’ve been thinking recently have made me feel really guilty - like ‘is this all worth it?’ This is my first baby and I never in a million years thought I’d feel like this. I feel awful for thinking that as I’ve wanted to be pregnant for so long and I know some people would give anything to be in my position which makes me very very upset and guilty.

Hello! I need some tips please for those mad enough to have a second HG baby!

I had severe hyperemesis with my first baby - sick 50-60 times a day from weeks 6-38, spent 14 weeks on steroids, 9 hospital admissions, and an early c section at 38 weeks due to being too weak to carry on. I was also put under psychiatric care due to a severe MH decline.

And for some reason we have decided to do it all again, and I have just got my BFP and I am TERRIFIED. I plan on going to see the doctor, but what is the best medication to ask for straight away? Can I go on ondansetron straight away? (oh god the constipation!), or what is this Xoneva I have read about? Please don't suggest Cyclizine....even the name makes me feel sick!

I am so sorry to everyone who is on this thread xx

Alwaystiredalwaysgrumpy
Ask for ondansetron straight away if that's what helped previously. Your GP will have it in your notes that that's what helped the most with your last pregnancy i hope!
Good luck with the pregnancy

@alwaystiredalwaysgrumpy there's a few others you can try. I'd speak to your GP and see what they say to begin with. You may find that cyclizine works this time round.. I found that ondansetron didn't help this pregnancy whereas last pregnancy it did.

Definitely phone GP and explain, they'll have it down how bad you were last time and should understand your fears. I phoned for a prescription at 6 weeks and GP sorted it out there and then over the phone for me (third pregnancy for me, no where as near to being as bad as you were but totally understand the fear of it coming back)

alwaystiredalwaysgrumpy Welcome. You certainly suffered extremely badly last time. As you were so ill, I am sure the doctor will be willing to have you on pre-emptive medication. Sometimes a cocktail of meds has helped people on here. I expect they will discuss the steroids again too. It may not be so bad this time if you have effective treatment early. As you are a veteran - and one who suffered from an extreme form of this scourge - you hardly need my 'do you find ice lollies, flat full sugar coke and the juice of tinned fruit any good' and 'have you got kesostix' spiel. What laxative were you on last time? I'm assuming an anti acid did not good at all?
beforeihit30 How are things? I must soon get the Pink Castle ready for you.
Lucafritz I am afraid people can be very insensitive and dismissive.
DeadDoorPost As below. Don't torment yourself with guilt.
Marshmallow I am so glad this thread is helping.
Bili It is unlucky about the iron tablets. Several have suffered from that; I remember I did too. Did they offer you the liquid form, which I hear are less indegestible?
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.