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.

Thanks @LucindaE ... even though I've been through it before I think I've blocked a lot of it out! Otherwise I definitely wouldn't have had a second pregnancy so soon after my first. I'm living on lucozade and coke at the moment - just like last time (no wonder I have awful dental problems since my last pregnancy!).

@sickandtiredofsick so sorry to hear you are so unwell. It really is difficult. I totally get what you mean about forgetting you are pregnant and just thinking you are sick. I used to think I was dying some days (pregnancy #1) and I couldn't even connect with the baby until much further in the pregnancy. Sometimes it's just about doing what you can to get through the next hour or so.

@kissingthebear congrats on number 2! Sorry to hear it's worse this time - I read it usually is so it's interesting that I'm not so bad. Part of me wonders if it's not a good sign for me (was told I was having a miscarriage a few weeks ago but guess what, I wasn't!! Strong heartbeat and growth is on track so hoping things stay that way). What meds are you on? I'm taking 7 tablets a day and still can't get out of bed, but thankfully feel more human since I added in stemetil a few days ago. Cariban / Xonvea wasn't amazing on its own.

Hi @PippinStar - thank you, obviously so happy to be expecting but there are days when I wonder what on earth I've gone and done to myself again. I'm on Xonvea. X3 a day. It's helped hugely & no nasty side effects for me. I can cope on it but have miserable days, as we all do 😭
Oh gosh, what a worry for you! Glad to hear everything is looking good with the babe though. I've written a list of all the things I'm going to do when I feel well again and am no longer pregnant! Literally cannot wait, I'm never doing this again 😳

Right there with you @kissingthebear ...I'm also never doing this again!!!! The list sounds good ..wine would be first on there for me hope you have a restful night and feel better tomorrow!

@PippinStar 😂😂😂
To be fair, it has taken me 4 years. Always wanted a second but was so scared of going through this again... & here I am finally living the daily nightmare 😅

Thank you so much, right back at you!! xx

I’m 11 weeks pregnant and have HG.. Iv been in Hospital for fluids 3 times now for 3-4 bags of fluid each time! Iv been given Cyclizine and Ondansetron which don’t seem to be working at the minute I feel extremely nauseous and being sick again. I was only in hospital 4days a go and It’s just come back the same this morning! No one seems to understand and thinks I’m just overreacting but it’s making me severely depressed. Is there anything I can do to ease the nausea and sickness ? It’s awful

Laurenwilko Welcome. Sorry you feel so bad. Could they offer you steroids at this point as Ondansetron and Cyclizine are not working?
Things do get a lot better for most people at some point between weeks 15-21. Even the unlucky minroity who suffer throughout almost never feel as bad as in the first tri. Have you got kesostix to check for the early stages of dehydration as even though they are not the best test of it, hospitals do take the presence of ketones seriously? You can get them from a chemists. An anti acid can make a surprising difference. ere are some drinks that have helped others. Full sugar flat coke, ice lollies, the juice of tinned fruit, Elderflower water, tonic water and Elderflower cordial (eallison's tipple), Lucozade, soda water, lemonade, fizzy orange, orange squash, Iron Bru, orange juice if not too acid, ice cubes, Dr Pepper, Chocolate milkshakes (maybe soya), 7Up, isotonic drinks frozen into cubes, flat full sugar coke frozen into cubes and fizzy water. Some foods of a sort: nibbles of crisps and chips, tinned fruit, slices of melon and mango, baked potato, Scotch pancakes, cuppa soup, biscuits and cheap ice cream. A dreadful diet!
PippaStar I so agree about Lucoazade and coke.
sickandtiredofsick Many sufferers feel like that. It is hard to relate to a pregnancy when feeling so ill. Don't worry, the bonding will come.
"Pasqual* Don't complain if you feel uneasy about it before the birth, but certainly do afterwards, for others as much as anything, because that midwife had no right to speak to you like that or to encourage such thoughtless behaviour, and she shouldn't be allowed to go on acting the bully to ill people. Visitors have no right to behave in a way that makes other patients feel more ill.
kissingthebear I am so sorry you feel bad again. Not only because you don't deserve it and have been so supportive on the thread, but because I had sent you a PM asking if you could help on the thread in my coming few days' absence, but somethng went wrong and you didin't seem to receive it! I had asked a couple of ex-sufferers but nobody has replied, unfortunately. I have to go off to Cheshire tomorrow for a few days to look after my daughter after an operation and won't be back until Wednesday. I will try and find an ex- regular to help out anyway.
Thinking of y ou all.

Oh gosh @LucindaE I'm so sorry. I only use the mumsnet app on my iPhone and can't see anywhere where to check a PM but totally happy to check in to this thread while you have a well deserved break.. if I'm missing an obvious place where I can see PM's - do let me know 💖

kissingthebear Thanks so much. You can check 'My Mumsnet' on the top right of the page. With any luck one of the lovely ex sufferers will log on to see it and help out your lovely self too.

@Laurenwilko sorry no one is understanding, it's so frustrating because when you're feeling so low you often don't have the energy to explain. Does your partner/husband sympathise as he must see first hand what you're going through. It could be worth asking your midwife to refer you to see a mental health midwife who "might" be able to suggest a care plan for your mental wellbeing. It's so tough, everyone here gets it, and we're all in it together so feel free to rant and download without judgement xx

I only had fluids 4days a go and everytime I’m okay for about a week then I need to go back in! I can feel it 😔 my partner acts like she understands but I know she dusnt, she’s always moaning about it because she has to do most things around the house and look after my 6 year son while I try and recover, I feel bad for being so poorly! I get it’s hard for everyone involved but I’m the one who has to go hospital every week and can’t keep even water down on most days! It’s just really difficult at the moment and I’m really struggling

@Laurenwilko it's so hard and I'm sorry you don't feel she's being sympathetic. At the very start of this friend there's so helpful information including a link to pregnancy sickness support. If you don't feel like talking to anyone on the phone you can just chat with them online & ask to be connected to a support worker who you can access on WhatsApp. They've all suffered with HG before so are so clued up and quite frankly are a life line in those very dark days x

@Laurenwilko I second what @kissingthebear said contact the PSS and get a peer supporter. I am one when I'm not pregnant and I have one now I am. It's a godsend.

How's everyone feeling today?

I've had a really bad 3 days, thought at 21 weeks I might make a step forward not a giant leap backwards. HG really is the unwanted gift that keeps on giving! 😭

I've compiled a list of EVERYTHING I want to do once I feel well again (ie once babe is here). If there's one thing this horrible HG does is make you appreciate just how amazing it is to feel well, I guess something we take for granted in the normality of everyday. Sleep deprivation with baby will be a breeze after this endurance test.

Love to everyone 😍

Hello everyone,

Just catching up on the thread and sorry to hear so many people are suffering. I have been so sick the last couple days. The midwife kindly offered to see me early as last pregnancy I didn’t make any appointments as I was in hospital for the first 3 months. I’m trying to make everyone aware straight away this time.
@kissingthebear you have been so helpful, I feel so bad that you are having bad time 😔.
@Laurenwilko I wish medical staff would take this condition more seriously! Not just because of symptoms the impact on our mental health is dire. Sorry to hear you are having so many stays.
I have even pre packed a hospital bag ready to go in for drips! It’s sad that we have to do this! Xx

I forgot to add, I have been in touch with pregnancy sickness support and they have given me a one to one support person who has previously suffered with HG. It’s nice to have someone outside of your own circle drop you a text to check if you are ok. Worth getting in touch if you can xx

Lovely to hear from you @Dotty356 - so glad you've got a peer supporter from PSS! Mine really helped, at times she felt like the only person in the world who really understood the misery.

Are you showing any signs of improvement? Any joy with a better medication plan? Sending you love 💓

Awww thank you, think I must have overdone it on Wednesday as I've just been really bad since. Think it's also slapped me in the face that at 21 weeks I haven't seen the improvement that I was hoping for 🙃

@kissingthebear how are you feeling? Sadly, my sickness is getting worse. Movement seems to trigger it. I read someone that eating constantly helps. But I don’t know what to eat.

Does anyone know of any medication that work alongside Ondansetron that NHS can prescribe? If so, what are you taking and what times did you take the medicines during the day?

I suffer from UTIs so need a snack that has little sugar but the sickness has stopped me from wanting any food. Any suggesting a on any low sugar snacks? Hoping reading suggestions might trigger some sort of craving for something.

Thanks in advance everyone and I hope everyone is managing better than I am right now 😢 xx

Hi @Dotty356 - sorry to hear you're feeling worse. How many weeks are you now? Are you managing to get out of bed?

Movements are increasing for me and make me feel really woozy

I've had such a horrible 5 days or so, feel like I've gone backwards. Today has been marginally better than the last 5 but only just. Managed to get out for an appointment this morning, now I'm back in bed. Interesting I had traces of white blood cells in urine last week which "might" be start of UTI and the only thing I've really been managing are sugary snacks.

Things that are working for me that aren't so sugary:
Toasted bagel with butter.
Really thinly sliced or grated mild cheddar
Sliced tomatoes with loads of salt on
Luke's cheese puffs - they're not that cheesy and are like puffs of air so easy to manage (sold out on Ocado right now but you can get elsewhere)
As gross as this sounds I've found all these things fairly ok to manage if they come back up as long as you take baby bites.
Caffeine free Diet Coke from a can ice cold

Sorry if the mention of food makes anyone else feel queasy.

Hope everyone else is doing ok. It honestly helps so much hearing from people who are going through the same nightmare x

@Dotty356 I take steroids, ondansetron, metoclopromide and cyclizine.

I take them roughly like this- spread out for max effectiveness.

7am steroids and ondansetron
9am metoclopromide
11am cyclizine
1pm ondansetron
3pm metoclopromide
4pm cyclizine
5pm ondansetron
7pm metoclopromide
8.30 cyclizine

@Dotty356 have you tried crisps? I snack on salt & vinegar crisps throughout the day as the flavour takes the horrible taste away that I have in my mouth and you dont really notice food going into your stomach when its 1 crisp at a time.

I also snack lemon sherbet sweets as they help disguise the taste in my mouth and excessive saliva!

@kissingthebear I’m only just coming up to 6 weeks now. If peak is around 8-9 weeks... I’m super worried for myself. Oh no! Utis are so nasty aren’t they. As if sickness wasn’t enough. I think I found a private GP who will prescribe Xonvea, how many weeks were you when you started taking it? Did you try anything else?

@justtheonethen thank you, I can’t imagine how you must be feeling on all those meds I have tried them all individually In my last pregnancy before but not together. When did your sickness start? Is it controlled on the meds now?

@BeautyAndTheBump1 I haven’t tried them but they sound like a good idea. If I could eat at least a bag of crisps I would be happy. It’s like my entire body has just decided to go off food.

There must be some reason we are all feeling like this? I just keep thinking back to a time when no meds and fluids were available. I don’t know how anyone would of survived. Sadly because morning sickness is common it doesn’t get given the respect it needs. It’s so much worse and so frightening to try and cope with. Xx

@Dotty356 started at 4 weeks just like last time . It's totally controlled since I started the steroids. I started them at 11 weeks.

@justtheonethen the same as me! I was hoping I wouldn’t get it again, but I guess we are just super unlucky. 😔. I can see myself taking the same path sadly, just really want something to work. X

Once you're past 9 weeks if nothing is working push for steroids. They have been a miracle twice for me.

Ladies can I plea for help. I’m around 6 weeks pregnant with my 2nd and utterly debilitated by constant nausea. I’m not sure if it’s HG as I’m not vomiting but I’m convinced I had HG in my first pregnancy (vomiting multiple times a day, lost 2stone in first 20 weeks) so I’m fearing the worst. Aside from the nausea and dizziness, I’m really suffering with a sense of doom that I can’t do this, don’t want to be pregnant anymore and that I can’t miss any more work.