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.

Here's the new thread, everyone. Stagger on and help yourself to cushions. I hope Melleebacca's headache has gone. I am sorry to hear that Hairspray is going to be admitted, and that GinnyOz is bracing herself for a disappointment.

Following x

Oops a delay in the feed so I posted on the old one.
@hairspraybabe let us know what happened today. I just Google epu, didn't know such a thing excisted, sounds like they are equipped to give you the care you need.

Hairspray babe I found the midwives at the hospital were experts so this will be a good route to getting some help. The drips will be helping you lots even if you still feel rubbish, they get some goodness in you, you must have been very dehydrated.

@LucindaE Thanks for the well-wishes. Headache is gone, cold still lingering. Really ill this week, no rehydration yet, but mostly because I’ve been too busy to get to the doctor.

@hairsprayBabe glad you’re getting fluids. 4 IVs is a lot! You must’ve been very dehydrated. Hopefully they give you iv ondansetron too.

I've had variously IV ondansetron, oral buccstem, IV cyclizine

Potassium drip, sodium lactate x4 a yellow mineral drip and a stomach lining drip.

On the oral buccastem now and it's not really worked I still feel really sick on it.

Have managed to keep down my toast from this morning but instill feel incredibly nauseous

Hi everyone, have just found this thread. I'm 35+4. Not throw up as much these days. But still nauseas all the time, loads of heartburn, food aversions, headaches. Generally feel like crap.

I’m 16 weeks and 2 days pregnant with twins and I am suffering from HG. It started when I was 5 weeks and it’s still going on. I’ve been admitted to hospital multiple times and I’m on medication but it doesn’t seem to be working. This is my second pregnancy and I didn’t have HG during my first pregnancy, I hardly had any morning sickness when I was pregnant with my first. I am nauseous all day every day, I throw up multiple times a day and sometimes I can’t keep anything down. I have lost almost 20 pounds so far. I am struggling to work and look after my daughter. I work as a veterinary surgeon and it is really hard to do my job (especially perform surgeries) when I’m constantly nauseous and throwing up.

@court1994 omg that sounds horrible with your job!
Which medication are you on? You might need to change it to find one that works.
For me it was ondansetron (Zofran) that finally worked. I think a lot of others in the group said that it helped.

@GinnyOz
I’ve tried a lots of different kinds of medication and none of them seem to be working. It is really hard with my job.

@Court1994 sorry to hear you’re so sick. Twins do have a tendency to make HG so much worse (my aunt had twins and was sick till birth). You’re not going to like this, but pushing yourself to keep working through the sickness will also be making it worse. The best combo for getting through HG, is rest, fluids and strong anti-emetics.

@itsnotthatserious sorry to hear it’s still going on. I’m nauseous till I give birth, but find it’s the vomitting that really knocks me out. You’re so close to the end! Some people find it lingers after birth, but most get instant relief!

@HairsprayBabe oh my! You poor poor thing! You are definitely in a bad way. So glad you’re getting treatment. Keeping toast down is a good start.

@Melleebacca
I have to keep working because I only got this job in August and I need the money too. I will rest and get fluids when I finish in 2 hours. I am on medication, it decreases my symptoms but it doesn’t stop them. I hope I’m not sick until I give birth because I can’t go through another 24 weeks of this.

@court1994 I so hope it doesn’t go on till the end for you. I generally get relief from vomitting between 16 & 26wks. Is there any chance you can re-jig your hours or even your responsibilities while so sick? I worked in a lab when pregnant with my first, and my company gave me paperwork rather than lab work to do to help me be less mobile while sick.

@Melleebacca
No I can’t re-jig my hours, we’re short staffed as it is. I need to be in 9am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm on Saturday.

@court1994 I haven't had twins but with my first my HG subsided at 18 weeks, and with my second at 24 weeks. Neither were gradual, I just literally woke up in the morning and wasn't sick anymore. (until labor)
Where abouts do you live? Are there any sick/ disability you can take from your work?

@Court1994 just saw your message. Those hours are insane!!! I don't know how you're doing it.

Following

@GinnyOz
I live in London, UK.
I hope my HG subsides soon.

@GinnyOz
They’re not that bad, I get an hour for lunch and two half an hours breaks (one in the morning and one in the afternoon).

Today is a fun day for me, ran out of ondansetron without realising, only had 1 tablet which I threw up literally within 2 minutes.
I am counting the hours to go fetch my prescription. I never thought I would be so dependant on such a tiny tablet but holy shit without them I'm being sick what feels like every 10 seconds!

@Beautyandthebump1 I totally hear you! I have had nightmares about running out and got my new prescription today just as I ran out of ondansatron! It's crazy how much we rely on one little pill!
I cannot wait to have my little one. HG has completely worn me out and I'm only 24 weeks.

Welcome to itsnotthatserous and Court1994.
itsnotthatserious I am sorry you still feel so awful. I am sure at this stage you need no advice about what fluids suit you,etc, and have tried all sorts of anti acids for the residual heartburn. What meds did you say you are on? It is too bad still to have headaches. As you aern't vomiting, hopefully those aren't dehydration headaches?
Court1994 Congratulations on Twins. I know how hard vets work, as my daughter (also born in 1994) is one. I think just the concentration and being on your feet like that for ages when doing surgery. It must be really hard. It must be the extra hormones in a twn pregnancy which have tipped you over into having Hyperemesis, but on here, sufferers expecting twins do, though they suffer badly early on, often seem to recover more quickly than those expecting singletons but suffering from Hyperemesis anyway. Don't despair, things get a lot better for most people at some time between 15 and 20 weeks. Even the unlucky minority who suffer throughout almost never suffer as badly later as they do early on. I'm assuming they have tried you with Ondansetron and Ondansetron and Cyclzine combined? A good anti-acid can make a big difference. 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. As a vet you must know better than me about the signs of dehydration, inelestic skin etc.
HairsprayBabe I am glad you are getting new treatment.
Waves to Melleebacca - I am so glad the headache has gone, sorryyou still feel bad, GinnyOz, WhatNext11, Beautyandthebump abbs1 and everyone. Apologies for anyone rudely overlooked.

woollycat Sorry, I missed you.

@LucindaE
Thanks for the tips, I know the signs of dehydration in animals and in people it’s pretty much the same. I am trying to drink a lots of water so that I don’t get dehydrated. I will try some of foods and drinks that you have recommended. I have been sick for 11 weeks, tried so many different kinds of medication and none of them are working. Some of them will decrease my symptoms but I’m still sick multiple times a day. If I wasn’t on medication I would be so much worse. I hope that my HG subsides soon because I can’t do this anymore. I can push through it at work but when I get home I just collapse on my bed and I struggle to get my 5 1/2 month old daughter to bed. My fiancé does help me but I’m still breastfeeding her so I’m the one who has to feed her. She still wakes up 2 or 3 times during the night so I don’t even get a good night sleep. I got back at about half 7pm and I tried to eat something but I couldn’t. I took two bites and I threw up. I will try some of your tips tomorrow and if they help me.

Feeling a little frustrated today. 20 weeks now and whilst I know that I am doing so much better now than a few weeks ago, having a bad day today and feel so disheartened. So worried that I'm not getting enough nutrients in mostly. Trying supplements when I can, but diet wise it's just whatever doesn't make me vomit.... Not a very healthy list of foods right now. Hoping things look a little brighter tomorrow.