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.

Sprite Much sympathy. 'This Too Shall Pass'. You will have a lovely wedding anniversary next year.
Bili Lovely encouraging message for Sprite. Keeping my fingers crossed for your early release.

Sprite - nail on head. It’s like an horrendous Groundhog Day..

I’m finding life extremely difficult still.. I just don’t know how to deal with the nausea. It just gets worse & worse as they day goes on to the point I feel like I just don’t want to be here anymore by 9pm.

We went for a scan today to cheer me up, I struggled to get out the house & had to be driven literally two minutes down the road to a very local scan centre. Baby is well, measuring earlier than I’d hoped but I’m not entirely surprised, I thought I’d had a long cycle but the sickness started earlier than last time so I wasn’t sure. I’m apparently 8+1, which puts me back 6 days It did make me smile to see the tiny little thing but then reality hits and I just feel numb. And very low. I just cry. And my little girl is starting to worry, I can see her face fall everything I do.. and it breaks my heart. She comes to ask if I’m alright and gives me a cuddle.

I keep debating the doctor again but I know the nausea is extremely hard to treat.. it seems to be the norm that people never lose the nausea but I’m also a bit worried about my mental health in general. I’ve never suffered from any issues but feel like wreck. I’m struggling to find any kinda mental strength bar the love I have for my daughter & partner..

Sorry to complain again, I just struggle to put it into words in real life.

Hi 😊 Jumping in after following for a few weeks. I’m 11+5 and been suffering with constant N&V since 6 weeks. Have been signed off work for the last 4 weeks. I’ve found this thread so reassuring in times of isolation. Im currently taking cyclizine and prochlorperazine which has reduced the vomiting a little. Previously had metoclopramide but that made me feel worse and I started feeling really low and extremely constipated (am taking Laxido as lactalose made me more sick). Pretty much living on cereal, mashed potato, pancakes and frozen orange segments. Im able to sip fizzy water and iron bru to try and keep hydrated. Also struggling with restless legs at night, excess saliva and horrible taste in mouth 😖 It’s just so relentless!! I too have had to cancel Anniversary plans and have missed friends birthdays. Trying to keep positive and take one day at a time. looking forward to my scan in a week.

@norbert23 at “angry sloth”!

@DeadDoorpost hopefully you get some good news from the LL and glad everything is okay with baby.

@Catconfusion Ah good to know, it’s always one to check with essential oils, they can be very potent, but I hadn’t realised peppermint was linked with uterine contractions. Hope it continues to settle for you.

@Blii ooh very close so hopefully not long now. I’m still taking iron (37 weeks) but also get really tired, I think it’s just general tiredness from being at the end of pregnancy - a difficult one at that!

@Bol87 no need to apologise, being able to share is one of way of supporting your mental health and wellbeing. FWIW it gets so much better for the vast majority, even those who have it throughout, and it’s nothing like the initial stretch. I know you’ve been through this before but remember right now you’re in the thick of it - around 8-13 weeks is often the toughest point. Just keeping taking it day by day if you have/get a good midwife they should be a useful port of call to discuss how you’re doing not just physically but emotionally as well.

Hello, I’d like to join. I had HG in both my pregnancies and it’s back for baby 3. I have managed to get my hands on Ondansetron much sooner this time. I have to take 2 a day but I can’t for the life of me remember what times was best to take them. I vaguely remember I took them just Before a meal maybe? But I’m feeling shit until I take my first one, and shit by bedtime like its worn off. Do i need 3 a day? Its only been a few days so do they just need to build up in my system? I just cant remember 😩 thank you x

Hello, I wondered if it would be okay if I join. I'm not sure whether my symptoms are serious enough so please let me know.

I am 9 weeks pregnant with my first and I have been struggling with constant nausea since week 6. I also have diarrhoea frequently. I rarely actually vomit, I just seem to have that metallic, "about to be sick" taste in my mouth most of the time and lots of excess saliva. I also have restless legs at night and I'm exhausted.

I'm quite low as I haven't worked due to the nausea since becoming pregnant and I am home alone most of the time. My husband is supportive but I feel guilty and wish I was contributing financially. I am self-employed and hope to start work again in the autumn, once I'm in my second trimester and hopefully the nausea eases. But right now that seems like a remote possibility.

My father died recently (a week before I found out I was pregnant) and so that might not be helping with the low mood and feeling lonely. I thought the pregnancy would be a ray of light at a dark time but actually the physical symptoms of it seem to be making my low mood worse.

Thanks for reading. X

Brightside there's is no set bar for this awful thing, if you feel bad at any level then it's bad enough. Sorry things are so tough right now, do you have any one irl you can talk to? Regardless, we're all in this nauseous boat together and there's no shame in admitting that it gets you down

@sprite25 Thank you, that's reassuring. I could use some support. As for people to talk to...ironically I was too nauseous to make it to my counselling appointment this morning! I do have friends but don't necessarily want to complain to them, I think most of them expect me to be feeling happy and excited. X

That's the trouble, no matter how happy you are to be pregnant, the physical and emotional symptoms you go through can be hard for others to understand if they haven't been through it themselves. But we're all here 😊

Should find out about the house today. Keep checking my emails about it but know itll ping through anyway.
Been working on my CV ready for a years time because why the hell not. And helping my sister with hers.

As for anniversaries, mine is on Thursday. We had an early celebration in July and went to Taco Bell. Not sure what we're doing this week though. May just go back for more food tbh. Since upping my dosages I've been able to eat cereal!!!

Oh, had a scan yesterday, couldn't breathe during it then threw up at the end. Lovely.

WE GOT IT!! WE'RE GOING TO BE IN OUR OWN (RENTED) PLACE BEFORE THE NEW BABY!!
Ah, I feel like we can breathe now. It's so good. The letting agent put in a good word for us as we really made an impression on him. I'm just so glad we've got some good news. Hopefully my mental health will improve now too.

I just wanted to come back here to say thank you for keeping me sane and making me feel like I'm not so alone and isolated. I had my gorgeous DD a few weeks ago and with that my nausea and other horrendous symptoms (SPD, heartburn, insomnia, you name it I had it) are gone. I did have my last spectacular puke during labour but nothing since. There is a light at the end of that tunnel!
I wish all the best and lots of strength to those currently suffering and I will no doubt be back if we decide to go for a baby number 2!

that’s great new deaddoorpost, really happy for you x

evuscha congrats on the new baby so happy to hear you have managed to wave goodbye to all the symptoms with the birth xx

brightside sorry to hear about your fathers passing and how horrid you are currently feeling, unfortunately you are in the thick of it atm. Have you managed to see your gp and get any meds at all? sorry i’m not sure if you said, if not then I would advise making an app and seeing someone as meds along with rest really do help.

Sprite feel free to vent and share on here whenever you want we’ve all been through it currently going through it so if we can listen and help/acknowledge in anyway we will be more than happy to.

Sorry to anyone I’ve missed but I hope you are all having a better day today xx

Thanks, it does help being able to come on here where everyone knows how it feels, I do moan to DH but obviously he doesn't really get it. Even though I've been taking cyclizine I'm sure the nausea is getting worse as it's being accompanied by dry retching (sorry) DH is on holiday from work at the moment but I'm actually getting really anxious at the thought of him going back next week and being left with DC while feeling so awful and drowsy

sprite go back to the GP and get something stronger. Cyclizine in my last pregnancy worked only for 1.5 weeks before I had to get something else.

Thanks guys I feel incredibly selfish not reading thoroughly through everyone’s posts but reading my own is about all I can muster!

I’ve told work today & a few close friends which had helped. I actually had a marginally better day but then 4pm, the nausea hit me in face. Then my other cooked mince which I cannot stand the smell of, I actually had to leave the house. I’ve been laid in our car like a weirdo! I nearly killed him..

If only they could do a guaranteed nausea pill.. it’s strange, when not pregnant, I’ve taken Ondansetron & Buccastem and they stop any nausea dead in about 20 minutes. Why does that not happen in pregnancy?! Literally don’t touch the nausea..

I had to sleep in the spare bed last night because the smell of my bed linen was tripping the nausea.

Cyclizine is sort of working for me, except for the 2 times it's come directly back up again, which tastes totally foul!

My goodness, the thead is busy.
Welcome to the new people.

HarryPotterandtheSAHM. Were you on this thead before? As you are a veteran, you don't need my 'Have you got kesostix' and 'Do you find full flat sugar coke, ice lollies and the juice of tinned fruit' spiel. I am glad you have to Ondansetron quickly. Knowing it well, you have no doubt got a laxative too!

Bray23 I am glad you have at least got some foods and drinks that are bearable. I amk glad the thread has been useful. If you have been following it, again you don't need my spiel. I am glad you are signed off. Rest is one of the best forms of treatment with this. What meds did you say they have you on now?
brightside11 I am so sorry about your father. It takes a long time to recover from such a loss, and it is hard to have to suffer this scourge as well. Things will get better. I am including my spiel.
Things do get much better between weeks 14 and 20 for most people. Even for the unlucky ones who suffer throughout, it is never as bad as in the first dreadful bit.
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, headache, etc, but A and E departments do take them seriously.
evuscha Congratulations on DD. Lovely news.
Thank you for the lovely message.
nobert I am so sorry; I forgot to sympathize over your miscarriages.
DeadDoor Post Great news. It will make a huge difference. I am so happy foryou.
Much sympathies to EM626 Bol and everyone.

Hopefully for everyone else your all asleep right now, but it's 1.45 and I can't sleep cos of the nausea, I've got the horrible burning acid feeling in my stomach that makes me think I'm gonna end up waking everyone up.

@composed Thank you for messaging. I saw my GP (a few weeks ago) and she said she'd be willing to prescribe something for the nausea and so I might request that. I have been waiting to see if it will pass and I'm trying to avoid taking medication (I've also been prescribed an antidepressant but I'm too scared to take that too). X

@LucindaE Thank you got the supportive message and tips. I tried having an ice lolly last night and to my surprise it really helped for an hour or so. Will look into the other things that you mentioned and keep reminding myself "this too shall pass". X

@sprite25 Sorry to see you were up and feeling unwell in the night, how are you today? X

Tinned fruit, I’d forgotten that was something I could tolerate last pregnancy.. peaches to be precise! I’ll add that to the shopping list! I have such a sore, unhappy stomach partly from the sickness but I think partly from a severe lack of a nutrients!

I also discovered, if anyone else is struggling with mint, baby toothpaste is much more tolerable. I was gagging on every toothbrush but now I can just about get through it!

Not a good day, yet again. Started off OK so dared to think I might have an alright day but looks like the dry retching has turned into actually being sick. We're off on a day trip with DC tomorrow which involves being on a train there and back for a couple of hours and I'm dreading it. Starting to get the impression DH is getting fed up of being left with the kids every afternoon as I always end up in bed

This is the only thread I don't like seeing new people as it means even more of us are suffering!

I've had a bad few days. Today being really bad. I have been throwing up every 10 minutes and I'm dehydrated. My gp wouldn't see me but prescribed ondansetron which actually worked! She annoyed me though as she was like 'you need to keep it down for about an hour for it to work then you'll be fine' because I'm sick every 10 minutes for fun! Luckily managed to keep it down for long enough for it to work and I've even managed some food for the first time today. So now do I need to worry about constipation?

Sorry everyone is still suffering. I really feel for you all. Just keep taking one day at a time. Xx

That was such a lovely supportive message from evuscha.
sprite25 Poor you. What anti acid are you on? That heartburn sounds foul. It helps to be propped up,but sleeping is so difficult then. Did you say you were asking for something stronger than Cyclizine? The best of luck for the train journey. Meanhwhile I hope an anti acid might also help with the n and v.

brightside11 I am so glad that the ice lolly helped.
Bol87 So many agree about the tinned peaches being amazingly.
palatable!
Apologies for anyone rudely overlooked.