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.

I meant to say, great advice from Sprite25 and everyone. Marshmallow Everyone with this scourge regrets getting pregnant at some point. It is understandable.
Here's the new Due Dates with MumbleLumble.
Due Dates
advocadoo 11 August
canonlyhope 13 August
Bili 16 August
norbert 26 August
beforei hit30 3 September
stroen 4 September
DeadDoorPost 8 September
1Potato 8 September
MoonKid 1 October TWINS!
ElkieMacjibe 12 October
TwoShades1 17 October
cattaxi 19 October
BlodwynBludd 16 November
Composed 30 November
ClareDB 25 December
HermioneKipper 27 December TWINS!
putputput 9 January
Ribenaberriesgowoo82 28 January
Marshmallow 1992 29 January
MumbleLumble 19 February

Hello ladies, I thought I'd join. I'm currently 4 plus 3 so very early but already feeling very sick. This is my third pregnancy. First was a mmc in Feb with severe nausea and vomiting from 6 weeks. Found out at 10 weeks baby stopped developing at 6 weeks so puzzling why I had six weeks of hell. I only stopped vomiting at 12 weeks when I had the ERPC surgery to remove the pregnancy. I didn't take any meds as the doctor felt I could muddle through. I couldn't work or do anything but we lost the baby anyway. So much for sickness being a good sign.

Next was a very early loss at just over 4 weeks but sick the day of the positive test.

This pregnancy I'm on progesterone to see if it prevents a loss and I'm feeling sick as a dog already. I have preemptive cyclezine prescribed by my lovely new gp but I'm a little scared to use.

I also have ibs so the hormones are flaring it up. I have sharp tummy pains and diarrhoea. Any one else with ibs as well? I'm not sure what I can take. Anyway last time was a horrible lonely experience really so I thought I'd join this group and get to know you all! Xx

Hi Catconfusion Don't be afraid of the cyclazine its perfectly safe and works wonders on the nausea for some people it can make you a bit lightheaded and drowsy though so watch out for that if your stood up for long periods. Im sure this pregnancy will be absolutely fine your GP seems to be on top of everything and giving you lots of precautionary care which is good! I had 3 Miscarriages myself and it was 7yrs before i conceived my little miracle so i know how your feeling

Also cramps and sharp tummy pains are normal too especially if your having ibs on top of all this but if they do get really bad or unbearable you can call your midwife for advice mine just told me its because my uterus is moving and growing with the baby so it's bound to hurt at times

Thanks for replying @Lucafritz and I'm sorry for you losses. It's really traumatic isn't it? I have a good feeling about this pregnancy though.

I will take the cyclozine when the nausea ramps up. So far I'm coping. This pain is one I've had before. I had it and was doubled over the week before I fell pregnant so not pregnancy related. I had an ultrasound on Wednesday and my ovaries look normal so not Gynae. No temperature so probably not appendicitis. It seems to be bowel related. I might see the doctor today and see what I can take. The pregnancy hormones cause havoc with my IBS which is not ideal. I just worry the baby won't get everything it needs. Xx

Im the same my midwife told me baby is absorbing all it needs from my bloodstream and any reserves i have of vitamins etc but not been able to eat or drink anything for upto a week at a time makes me worry for their development the past 24hrs have been good for me so ive been eating as much as i can while i can before it inevitably returns again i can already feel the nausea coming back now im nearly 16 weeks now so not long till my 20 weeks scan to see if they are on the small side from it all or growing fine

I'm sorry to hear that @Lucafritz It sounds like you have a good midwife so that's something. Glad you've had a good spell where you've been able to eat. Like you say not long until your scan but I can imagine it's a worry. All you can do is take each day as it comes.

I'm not having the best time with my midwife. Yesterday she told me they wouldn't see me until I'm 8 weeks at least because of my losses. Didn't want to waste the time of booking me in if it's another loss. Seemed a bit harsh to me. I'm quite anxious so support earlier would have been nice. She also said I couldn't have a 7 week scan even though my GP and EPAU said I could due to my mmc. I feel like just seeing my gp as I have a lovely lady doctor who's being very supportive.

My mmc got discovered in a private clinic at 10 weeks because the emergency midwife line refused to send me for a scan even though I was bleeding and cramping. I'm just not very trusting of midwives generally because of this bad experience. Xx

Catconfusion sorry your midwife isn't being much help, maybe try and go through your GP with as much as possible if she's more supportive. Today hasn't been a good day, nausea seems to have cranked up a little and I just feel so worn down I just feel like having a bit of a cry. I hate how feeling like this seems to make time drag and it seems like so long until the first trimester is over and your 'meant' to feel better. I also feel down as unlike others rather then losing weight I've put on already at only 7 weeks so feel like a fat bloated mess. I think the trouble is I feel more sick when my stomach is empty and I'm so scared of feeling bad that I'm constantly eating to try and keep it away. I wanted to wait til after 12 week scan to tell family but I think I look so ill/bloated that they will guess anyway 😔
to anyone who needs them today, this thing is so tough

@sprite25 Im sorry to hear you're feeling the weight gain and you're having to eat to feel ok. It's so hard. I found I just wanted toast but lots of bread bloats you. I put on a stone with my first pregnancy and we lost the baby at 12 weeks. I only managed to lose a tiny bit before falling pregnant again. I'm now 4 weeks plus 4 tomorrow and I feel and look huge. The hormones really bloat me out. I'm on Progesterone which I think might be making it worse. I'm feeling like before long we'll need to tell people or they'll guess. It is really hard and such a long road to the second trimester. The hot weather probably isn't helping. I hope you're feeling better soon 💐 xx

Sprite - I feel you today. I am having an awful day. I was in hospital yesterday for some fluids but I came out feeling more sick .. since 4pm yesterday I’ve barely been able to move off the sofa due to horrific nausea. I was awake most the night sweating and feeling awful. I just want to cry. I’ve relied on my parents to look after my daughter.. and I could also cry at not being able to enjoy my day off with her

I just hate life. I hate anything to do with pregnancy. I don’t know how to do it anymore.. let alone for another x number of weeks

Bol87 cry if you need to, this is so much more then 'just a bit of pregnancy nausea' I remember with DD (my 1st and worst pregnancy) laying in bed for 2 weeks unable to do anything just consumed by it, then crying to DH and my mum about how exhausted and down I felt. It does mess with your mental health and unless people have been there then they don't quite understand that. I've had a horrible bitter taste at the tip of tongue all day which I'm sure is adding to it, I can even taste it when I'm eating or drinking

Catconfusion. Welcome. I am sorry for your losses. I am glad the doctor is treating you. Can you speak to him/her directly, by-passing that insenstive midwife? S/he could call you back. After two or three miscarriages, the chances are stil greatly in your favour that this time, all will be well. As others say, Cyclizine is very safe in pregnancy; it has been used since the 1980's. It will make you sleepy initially,but if that doesn't wear off or it doesn't help much, do ask your doctor for more meds. Some drinks and solids that have helped others: flat full sugar coke, ice lolllies, the juice of tinned fruit, Lucoazade, fizzy orange, fizzy water, 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.
Bol81 I am so sorry that you were admitted,and came out still feelng sick. Did they change your meds?
Great advice from Lucafritz and others.

sprite Really sorry, I cut off my message for you Poor you. Some become skelatal, some gain too much weight, neither is good. Do you find sucking boiled sweets any good for the dreadful taste? Some find it increases the saliva, though. I used to suck barley sugar from an old fashioned sweet shop.

Thanks @LucindaE and yes I will deal mainly with the doctor if I can. Thank you so much for all those suggestions of things to help. I haven't got kesostix but I'll get some. My stomach is so upset I'm worried food is just going straight through me. My husband has just made me a rehydration drink. I will definitely start the cyclizine when the vomiting starts.

At the stage I'm at now I have nausea in the morning and explosive diarrhoea the rest of the time. My bowels are awful. It really worries me that it might affect the pregnancy. It was like this the first time until it descended into full on vomiting at 6 weeks. That's the point the baby stopped. I know it's unlikely my bad guts caused the mmc but it's not a nice thought. I just don't know what to do to stop it Xx

Catconfusion and Bol87 so sorry to hear you are both having such a bad time of it. Take each day at a time and if it helps then one minute at a time, you are both in the thick of it and I promise it does get better xx

I second what lucinda says about bypassing the midwife and going through your gp cat, see if it’s possible to maybe ask for another midwife instead of the one you are currently seeing? A mmc is horrid I’ve been there but it’s not your fault and the odds are still
in your favour.

Eat what you can when you can try not to worry about the weight issue, it’s hard enough finding something that will stay down and you fancy as the food choices can change from day to day. Cry if you need to and rest as much as you both can as along with meds rest really does help xx

Hope everyone else is doing better, lucinda hope the migraine has worn off xx

Thanks @composed I haven't been assigned a midwife yet. They won't see me until 9 weeks because I've had losses which I'm sad about because I could do with the support now. It was just the midwife I spoke to on the phone who was difficult to deal with.

My stomach is awful. I think it's the progesterone pessaries causing the diarrhoea. My tummy is very sore. Any suggestions of what I could try to sooth it and stop the running to the toilet? I might get some fibrogel today. Xx

Hi @Catconfusion and hello also to @Bol87 @sprite25 @Lucafritz I’m sorry to hear of the various difficulties with the HG, as well as unhelpful HCPs My sincere condolences for those who have suffered losses, I am wishing you all the very best for your current pregnancy especially with having to manage horrible sickness.

@Catconfusion increasing soluble fibre may help with diarrhoea, if you can stomach it, I’ve found Fybrogel sometimes hard to swallow as the version I’ve had has always been a bit like a thick drink, but you can also get fibre to dissolve into liquid which is supposed to not be so thick (I can’t think of the names but they should be in pharmacies/Boots etc). Good natural sources include things like flaxseed, oats and avocados, depending on how you feel about eating. Also some beans, lentils, seeds - I happened to actually already be looking at this page on fibre which outlines good sources of fibre. Also for the sore and unsettled tummy, if you can take peppermint then that can help; peppermint tea can settle, but you can also buy peppermint oil capsules (health food shops have them, or pharmacies usually stock them as Colpermin). It helps with the diarrhoea cramping. I don’t know if the latter says anything about not taking during pregnancy, as far as I know it isn’t an issue as it’s just strong peppermint but you can check with the store/pharmacist or packaging. It can give you minty burps though If you get a sore bum you can use barrier creams to help, like Sudocrem.

@Bol87 wishing you a lot of strength, it sounds really rough right now, try to take each day at a time. Do you have any support (professionally or personally) for how you’re feeling? Everyone is different, but sometimes it can help to have someone you can be honest with about how rubbish everything is and get their reassurances or even recommendations for managing through this time.

I had the exact same @sprite25, I gained weight mostly in the first half of this pregnancy and felt huge, whilst at the same time feeling so sick, it was confusing - like, I’m struggling to eat, but the only things I can manage are a few rubbish things (well rubbish as in things I didn’t normally eat regularly, like potatoes and other starchy carbs, rice pudding etc), so I’m sick and I’m gaining weight and I’m still fainting... FWIW im 37 weeks tomorrow and eating normally again, and feeling much better, and to my surprise I’ve only gained 6lb since late June (which I think is mostly baby!). It’s totally different from my other two, non-HG pregnancies.

@DeadDoorpost I hope everything went well with the house viewing, it sounds stressful and at this time in pregnancy no matter what one feels like there are things to ready, it’s easy to feel stress over minor things, so having something more major to manage is a difficult one. I hope you have some good news soon and can feel more settled and at ease

Feeling fine at the moment (hi @LucindaE!), although managed to drop something on my foot yesterday so a bit sore definitely have been getting a bit emotionally panicky, just in a sort of, “Argh baby’s nearly here”, even though logically I know everything is fine I am emotionally going through things like “We need to vacuum under the bed!”. My mum is amused by my serious nesting, I was the same in my previous pregnancies, apparently super hormonal me is all about the tidying. With DC1 one evening around 11pm, I suddenly decided DH needed to help me clean the oven with DC2 I went on a batch cooking frenzy and cleaned the bathroom pretty much every day the last two days I’ve continued my (probably unnecessary) mass clearout and yesterday involved drilling... (note: DH and I have rented for years, we’re only allowed to drill now because we’re council tenants, we actually know nothing about drilling...). I have decided that perhaps drilling is not our forte it’s the fact we have an induction date that makes it like a solid deadline in my mind that we need to be ready for. But realistically we are ready, I’m just looking at every possible thing and saying “Let’s do this too”. I need to make sure I rest up before the birth, I am still pacing myself now as I can’t do loads in one go, but I need to make sure I just spend some time on the sofa with the DCs, and DH, just making the most of pre-newborn time. Not sat on the hallway floor shining shoes like I was a couple of days ago...

@Catconfusion I had 2 (possibly a chemical third) miscarriages in the year before I got pregnant this time and understand how worrying it is. I was very lucky in that I got a lovely GP who took care of me during my second miscarriage and suggested I made an appointment with one of the GPs who knew the most about fertility etc which I did. She was lovely too and I wish I'd managed to see her when my sickness was awful rather than dr ginger biscuit. Maybe your surgery also has someone who specialises and can offer you more insight and support than your midwife. I hope you feel better soon.
@beforeIhit30 I'm also nesting fully, along with being part evil at least half of the time. I'm so done now and am huge / slow / uncomfortable. I'm about to go and rearrange my freezer which is at least partly useful so I can store stuff for whenever he decides to arrive. 2 weeks to go and I'm like an angry sloth.
Waves to @LucindaE and everyone who is suffering xxx

Lol @beforeIhit30 maybe you're nesting for me as well. I never nested with DS. Never had cravings either. Seems to be the same this time round as well and I'm 36 weeks tomorrow.

Hoping to hear about the house today. We asked to find out if the landlord would consider us paying less rent to move in asap. So we shall see.

@beforeIhit30 fantastic recommendations there. Thank you so much. I usually take peppermint oil for my ibs but I've read it can cause uterine contractions so some sources say it's maybe not safe. I had some granola with nuts and seeds for breakfast with hemp milk and I feel a bit more settled. The nausea is pressing up on my throat but I'm ignoring it. Xx

Thanks @norbert23 I'm lucky that I have an amazing Gynae specialist GP. I think I'll just deal with her. She's been very supportive. My tummy is a bit better this morning. I definitely just felt tied with a bit of a loose bowel the first time around. The symptoms are definitely worse with this pregnancy. To be honest I'm just grateful to be pregnant so I'll just deal with the symptoms best I can! Xx

Thanks all - I do have fantastic support. I’m lucky. My other half is brilliant, he has been doing absolutely everything. Toddler care, cleaning, cooking, washing .. he’s very sympathetic and looks after me. My parents are also close by thankfully although my mum doesn’t really get it. She does not agree with anti-sickness meds (she grew up with the thalidomide fear), she never had morning sickness & because the meds stop me being sick mostly, she thinks I should just be able to get on with it. She keeps telling me to put on a brave face for my daughter But that said, both her and my dad have looked after her when I just haven’t been able too. So I can’t complain.

They didn’t do much in hospital, I had ketones so I got sent off to A&E. They were very nice & I was quickly hooked up. A gynae doc came to see me & said they were happy I was on a decent whack of Ondansetron and that I just needed to concentrate on trying to drink through the day. I know I do, I just gag everytime I drink. I have a real aversion to liquids. I’ve tried ice lolly’s but I can’t stand anything sweet at the moment either.. it’s blooming awful. I feel useless.

I did get a better nights sleep, so I feel like I’ve had a brief respite from it all!

Went to MCU for reduced movements, baby all good, got another scan tomorrow 8am to check blood flow is fine. Baby must just be having a quiet day today because she moved loads at the hospital but being home she's quiet.

DeadDoorPost What a worry. I'm glad all is OK.
Bol I am so glad that OH is so good.
catconfusion I hope some of those are useful. I never knew that fibre helped with diarrhoea: I've learnt something today.
beforeIhit30 Ha Ha - you are nesting for everyone!
norbert Funny about 'Dr Ginger Biscuit'.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Hi all just checking in, not feeling too good today, woke up and instantly felt down at the realisation of having to get through another long day feeling like this, it honestly took all the energy I had to get out of bed and even then I just cried on DHs shoulder. It's like the worst kind of groundhog day of feeling sick. Our anniversary is this coming week too and I feel like I couldn't care less, I just want to lay in bed until all of this passes 😔

Ah sprite, I know how you feel about the anniversary, we had our first anniversary whilst I was in the thick of it and we didn’t do anything. We had a weekend away planned, luckily hadn’t booked anything but there’s no way I would have been able to go. There’s always next year to look forward to when all this will be a distant memory.

39+2 here and still pregnant. I’ve stopped the iron tablets completely and I’m feeling pretty tired, not sure if it’s related or just because I’m soooo tired of being pregnant. I had my 2nd boy 6 days early so I was hoping this one would come at least 6 days early. I’ve never gone overdue so if I’m still pregnant on Friday I shall not be happy. I am so done with the constant nausea and need to spit every 5 seconds. I’m a bit worried about needing to spit whilst in labour at the hospital. Yuck.
Hope everyone is doing ok.