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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Hyperemesis Support

987 replies

LucindaE · 10/12/2019 19:28

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.

Hyperemesis Support
Hyperemesis Support
OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
kissingthebear · 14/02/2020 21:20

@LucindaE I did, just for a few hours, but obviously there's a fairly grim commute into London on top of that (although not during rush hour thankfully). It could very well be why I've taken about a zillion steps backwards today as I feel absolutely HORRIBLE 😰

RockinRobinn · 14/02/2020 22:21

Hi everyone I suffered with HG in my first pregnancy back in 2018 and keep tabs on the group for if I need it in the future.
@connie222 (for some reason I can't tag you properly) I found no medication helped me from weeks 10-13 but then the cyclizine did start working again. I tried odenastron as well after a hospital admission but it made me so constipated that it wasn't worth it for me. I would say push for something else, I wish I had.

Even though I'm not currently suffering, I'm feeling pretty rubbish about HG I feel like it's stealing away my choice of when to have another baby which I desperately want. As I'm too scared with the knowledge that this time I will have a toddler to look after who I'm breastfeeding still and I don't want to impact her. HG is crap but when your baby is here it's worth it.
Sending strength to you all at the moment it sounds like you're all doing a good job trying to cope. Hoping that the symptoms ease soon for you all xx

Connie222 · 15/02/2020 11:22

Took my first Ondansetron about an hour ago, chemist didn’t have any last night.

So far so good as in it’s stayed down.

I heeded all the warnings re constipation and I got some lactulose at the chemist too.

I really hope this works.

Connie222 · 15/02/2020 11:24

@RockinRobinn sickness is the reason I have big age gaps. 11 years between my first two as it was so awful
I was too scared for all that time. 5 year gap this time but I’m 40 so it was now or never for me.

RockinRobinn · 15/02/2020 13:37

@Connie222 fingers crossed it works it definitely helped my sickness but I had bad stomach pains from it so well done for getting some lactulose.
Have you found much difference between the pregnancies or have they all been very similar?
I think we have decided to wait until my little girl is at least 3 and a half before trying again I'm only 27 so there's no rush age wise but we'd like 3 like yourself so I don't want to leave it too long! We were hoping to start trying later this year but realistically it's not going to happen Sad

sickandtiredofsick · 15/02/2020 13:40

Hello everyone I’m just catching up had a very bad couple of weeks I’m 12 w now but sickness is getting worse not better and I’m depressed.
Trying so hard to be positive but very very down and then I feel guilty because I do live the baby but I keep forgetting and feeling like I’m just really ill and then cry as I wish I could enjoy pregnancy

Connie222 · 15/02/2020 14:16

@RockinRobinn first pregnancy with my son who’s now 17 was hands down the worst as they wouldn’t give me any thing - I was fobbed off when I asked about medication. I lost for stone but I was overweight so I used to get “good” or, “well you are hardly wasting away” from midwives and consultants. I was sick 20 times a day. It was horrific.

With Dd 5 I was lucky in that I saw a private gp who put me on cyclizine at 9 weeks. “Why should you suffer” was what he said. It worked quite well that time, I have no idea why It didn’t this time round, although I was still sick quite a bit throughout. But midwives were again dismissive and some openly shocked that I was on medication.

This time Is on par with Ds. I’ve not seen a midwife yet and wouldn’t have waited for them for advice on sickness. Went straight to a private gp and got meds, it’s just that none seem to be working - although since taking the first Ondanstron at 11am I’ve kept down a cup of tea and two biscuits - first food in three days so please God, this one might work.

@sickandtiredofsick I’m very depressed too. I want my life back.

RockinRobinn · 15/02/2020 16:20

@sickandtiredofsick sorry to hear the sickness is getting worse I think I felt my worst around week 14 because up until week 10 I just tried to carry on and it all got too much. Hang on in there it's tough when everyone says oh you're at the point where it should be getting better and it's not. I remember sitting and waiting for my 12 week scan with tears in my eyes looking at all the women who looked healthy and happy and there was me looking like a skeleton and feeling horrendous because I had to leave the house.
@Connie222 ok well it's good to know that medication might work a bit better next time. I'm planning on going to the GP before we start trying armed with information from pregnancy sickness support site about starting the medication before you feel sick and having an action plan in place.

boulevardofbrokendreams · 15/02/2020 17:46

Hello, sorry I’ve been quiet. I’m now 16 weeks and have seen a massive improvement in the last 2/3 weeks - so much so that I managed to return to work! I felt very unwell the next day but seeing as I’m only being sick once a day and managing to keep food down, I felt I should try and return. I’ll keep checking the thread and keep my fingers crossed for people to see an improvement soon x

LucindaE · 15/02/2020 21:28

boulevardofbrokendreams That is great news! I am so happy for you over the big improvement. Try not to overdo it. I hope you will be eased gently back to work. 'Only' being sick once a day may be a big improvement, but most pregnant woman would call it 'severe pregnancy sickness' so you are very brave. Do keep in touch as promised.
kissingthebear Oh dear, poor you, I hope that trips into work will be only occasional for you. For this scourge, rest seems to be as effective as meds.
RockinRobinn Welcome back. I remember you well. Excellent advice.I am glad you are so young, so there is no rush over babies. It is unfair how this has to be taken into account. Remind me if you have family who could help out with your toddler if you go for it later on this year? Remind me too if you had an improvement at some point in the second tri with the previous pregnancy?
Connie222 I do hope that tea and biscuits stayed put and that you will flourish on Ondansetron and Lactulose.
sickandtiredofsick I am sorry you have been feeling so miserable. Very few sufferers from Hyperemesis get relief at 12 weeks. Somewhere between 15 to 21 weeks is much more average for an improvement, so don't be discouraged yet that there won't be one.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

OP posts:
PippinStar · 15/02/2020 21:36

I'm just popping in to say hi! I've had a bad couple of days, just hit 9 weeks so it's the peak time really isn't it? Even 4 x Xonvea and 3 x stemetil a day aren't keeping the vomiting at bay at the moment (but it's only a few times a day). Thank god for lucozade!

My mood isn't great - quite low and anxious - because I can't leave the house and I'm feeling so guilty as I'm totally neglecting my 12 month old (my parents & DH are taking care of him, I just feel like I should be playing with him more, not looking so miserable all day).

@sickandtired I remember last time I felt my worst at 12 weeks, and everyone was promising me I would feel back to normal then. I did suddenly improve a lot at 14 weeks so hang in there!

@boulevardofbrokendreams I'm glad you are starting to feel better Smile

Hope everyone else is doing okay too and starts to improve soon.

RockinRobinn · 15/02/2020 22:33

@LucindaE I managed to come off of medication about week 24/26 as I had a relapse after the whooping cough vaccine. But didn't quite regain my stamina again until week 30. I only realised I felt nauseous still up until the end as when I had Evelyn I noticed a big change I must've just gotten used to the low lying nauseous feeling!!
My mum sadly passed away not long ago and she would've been my main help. My MIL is great but she works and already has my daughter two (soon to be three) afternoons a week when I'm working. My dad would probably be able to help out with practical things but he isn't very confident with young children.
Evelyn is two in September and I really want to breastfeed her till then at least and I would like her to wean when she is ready so that's worrying me a bit as well as if I'm so ill it will be too much as I remember last time I had such low mood and I couldn't stand anyone to touch me Sad
I'm hoping I won't have it again but there odds aren't in our favour really are they? Do you think having an action plan in place helps more and having DRs on board with meds before ttc?

RockinRobinn · 15/02/2020 22:36

@PippinStar hoping that you start to feel better in the next few weeks. Rest assured that your little one is in good hands and he won't even remember this period of time where you aren't able to play as much as you'd like.
It sounds like you are doing a great job with the cards you've been dealt and the mum guilt is completely normal unfortunately!

justtheonethen · 16/02/2020 06:39

@RockinRobinn I have found having a plan in place with my gp, and being ready to fight for what I know works for me at hospital, has made all the difference for this pregnancy. It was awful from weeks 4-11 but a massive improvement when I started steroids at 11 weeks and then each week improved more since then. I think the PSS resources are useful here-

www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/documents/prep-for-preg.pdf

www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/documents/HG-Care-Plan.pdf

Don't get me wrong, I bitterly regretted getting pregnant again while it was awful but I knew steroids would sort me out so was just a case of getting to that point that I could take them/could fight hard enough for them. It's been brutal with a toddler but careful planning has meant it's not been the total shit show that last time was until 32 weeks.

justtheonethen · 16/02/2020 06:40

Sorry links here and here

justtheonethen · 16/02/2020 06:41

@PippinStar sending a hug, it's so hard with another, he won't remember though Thanks

Rebeccalin · 16/02/2020 08:32

Hi all, ok to join?

I am 8 weeks, started getting bad nausea at 5 weeks. By 6 weeks I couldn't keep any food or drink down. Went to my gp and they gave me Promethazine. I am only allowed to take it once every 3 days. It is impossible! The day I take it I get knocked out for a few hours as it is a sedative! I don't throw up for about 36 hours after taking it, but nausea is still very much there. After 36 hours, throwing up commences and I have to survive another day and a half before I can take another one.
It's also getting worse, it used to be the smell if anything would trigger, now it's just movement!
I don't know what to do. Trying to get a gp appointment is difficult. This is literally a sickness rollercoaster every 3 days!

justtheonethen · 16/02/2020 08:53

@Rebeccalin that's a ridiculous medication regime. I would go back to the gp and ask for something else. For a start promethezine should be taken 25mg 3 or 4 times a day. Your gp is being crap. Take this along and ask why you're not being treated according to the rcog guidelines.
Sending you a hug, it's awful, and even worse with shit care.

Hyperemesis Support
justtheonethen · 16/02/2020 08:55

@Rebeccalin some more information about treatment. Call the PSS if your doctor is difficult, they can help you get medication.

treatment info

PippinStar · 16/02/2020 10:54

Thank you @justtheonethen and @rockinrobinn  I know I'm being silly and that he won't remember a thing but...mom guilt!

Rockin, I have read that having a plan in place with a GP when TTC is a good idea. I didn't do this, but I went to the doc the minute the nausea came on this time (last time I tried to tough it out) and I think it has made a huge difference. I was much worse last time.

@Rebeccalin is it possible to try another GP? Some are more sympathetic than others I think. Mine now is excellent, because her and her family all suffer HG too! There are definitely better medication regimens than that, you shouldn't have to be on that rollercoaster of sickness when other meds can do more for you. Good luck.

boulevardofbrokendreams · 16/02/2020 12:20

@PippinStar It’s so tough when you have another little one to take care of, but it’s better they have some one rather than no one to cuddle and play with! Once you’ve got your strength back and over the worst of it, you can build up playing for 10mins, then 20mins etc. That’s what I did and I can nearly manage a full day now, just takes time x

LucindaE · 16/02/2020 21:37

Rebeccalin Welcome. I so agree with justhteonethen and others, it is absurd to suggest you only take medication once every three days. Excellent links. If you can't get effective meds from your GP do phone Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 7638 2020 and they will phone back with good advice. 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, toasted bagel with butter, grated cheese, cheese puffs, Scotch pancakes, cuppa soup, biscuits and cheap ice cream.
RockinRobinn I am sorry to hear about your mother. As others say having a plan in place for meds and contingency care for LO seems to work best for most. Also, there is some evidence that if you are treated before it becomes severe, the symptoms are less overwhelming due to a physiological link in the brain not getting established or some such. It seems a good idea to have LO weaned before TTC., as it is very hard to breast feed when vomiting in danger of being dehydrated. Although I didn't go for it again, I was one of the very tiny minority of sufferers who manage to suffer for some while beyond the birth (don't panic, everyone; only about half a dozen women have had that in ten years of these threads! You are very unlikey to have that and it always goes away) and so I do know that it is very difficult to breastfeed when vomiting. I hope you escape it. Various ex-sufferers have, or only have it mildly.

PippaStar Nine weeks to ten weeks is so often the worst bit. As others say, don't torment yourself with guilt. As the veterans say, LO's according to everyone's experience don't even remember a period of comparative neglect. Also, it is probably good for LO's to learn to entertain his or herself - I made a mistake in playing too much with my DD. Mind you, as you are having a second s/he will have a playmate anyway, which my DD didn't have.
Great advice from boulevardofbrokendreams kissingthebear justtheonethen and everyone.
I hope everyone has escaped flooding....

OP posts:
kissingthebear · 16/02/2020 22:32

Hi everyone

There's been loads of activity, wow! - hi to everyone new. Sorry I can't quite mention you all, I can't keep up 😂 my app is also being a bit annoying and can't tag people properly...

I've got my whooping cough jab booked in for a few weeks, I read that one of you said you had a relapse afterwards, I truly hope I don't 😰 I'm already feeling really quite fed up with how I'm feeling now, don't think I can cope with many more backward steps.

Bleugh!! I'm really feeling the mum guilt today, my little boy is desperate to have me back to normal. It's getting me down that I can't be properly present for him. I know it's crazy to beat ourselves up because ultimately we're giving them a sibling they'll adore, but it's sooooooo hard when you feel like your life is on hold and you're just marking off the days. Honestly going to cherish feeling normal every minute of every day once this is over!! X

mintbear · 17/02/2020 09:21

Advice please ladies.
I'm 30weeks, been sick throughout, average being sick in the last week is about 2-3 times a day. However, yesterday I was not sick at all but Saturday was one of my worst days so far.

Pre pregnancy I'm always in a state of dehydration, I know if I test my urine now, I'll be off the scale in dehydration, I drank yesterday but probably about half of what I 'should'. This morning I've thrown up all the liquid I've had so far.

When does it get to the point I should contact the midwife?

justtheonethen · 17/02/2020 10:13

@mintbear now, please contact them now. Or just go straight to mat triage - call first. They will need to give you fluids.