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.

They sent me home last night with high dose folic acid, a higher dose of cyclizine and buccastem

Honestly not sure how this will go as I still felt really sick after the buccastem on the ward, I'm going to try them both for a week but what I really don't want is constant cripplingly nausea with no vomiting because surely they won't take that seriously and I will just have to suffer?

I am exhausted today

Hi folks, can I join please? Currently 4+1 with #2. Went to GP yesterday and was given cyclizine and Ondansetron. Taking the cyclizine is definitely helping but I feel quite drunk and out of it which isn’t ideal when looking after a toddler! Had an epic vomiting fit at 3am this morning which was not fun so trying to have a quiet day at home. Currently off sick with anxiety and stress so going to see if my GP can extend it for me so I’ve got a chance to get the sickness under control before returning.

Hi folks
Just an update here, I've just started bleeding. My suspicions were affirmed, if I'm not puking 10 times a day, it's not gonna stick.
I'm not too upset as it was a surprise pregnancy.
Thanks for the short lived support!
I'll be signing off but I wish you guys the best of luck!!! Soon you'll be over the HG and the sickness will be a distance memory.
Xx

GinnyOz I am so sorry for your loss. [flowers[ You will not feel like trying again at once, but if you do this thread is always here if needed. Thank you for you good wishes to everyone. Even though the pregnancy was not planned it is stil upsettng to lose one. Do take care of yourself.

ClaraLane Welcome. I am assuming that you suffered before, as your GP has put you on a highly effective combination there, which has helped many on this thread. That being so, you won't need my generic advice about ice lollies, flat full sugar coke and the juice of tinned fruit, anti acids helping a lot and gettng kesotix because they do take them seriously at A and E. It is certainly tough with a toddler and do get yourself signed off for a while if you can.
Court1994 I thought that was probably true about humans and animals and dehydration. Some find that breast feeding makes the symptoms worse. are you dedicated to breast feeding or might you consider putting baby daughter onto a bottle early or perhaps 'topping up'? I hope some of that list help. Many find the muzziness caused by Cyclizine recedes after a little while.
Jay2020 Many experience a 20 week hormonal surge that makes them feel worse for a bit. Might it be that?
HairsprayBabe I wonder why they didnt try Ondansetron; was it expense, I wonder? Many doctors do take nausea severe enough to prevent you eating porperly seriously. If you feel that the Buccastem (never can spell that) is making you worse, do let your GP know.
Waves to all and apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

GinnyOz Sorry, those flowers did not come out!

@GinnyOz thinking of you.

@ClaraLane start taking the max dose of both meds, you need them to build up in your system to work in the most effective manner. I managed to delay the vomitting by a week longer than my last pregnancy by taking ondansetron sooner and in a higher quantity.

@HairsprayBabe at the early stages, it’s best to just focus on not vomitting and getting the most nutrition in. Then when the vomitting stops, you can work on methods to reduce the nausea. I find it much easier to deal with the nausea than the vomitting.

Still sick here, multiple times a day. Made it to 11w. Mentally struggling a bit more. Told my 4yr old yesterday the reason I am so sick all the time, and her joy was just awesome.

@LucindaE
I am not putting my daughter on formula, I decided that I would breastfeed her until she is 1 and I am going to do that no matter how sick I am. I am very dedicated to breastfeeding my daughter.
I can’t go on anything that has side effect because of my work and my daughter.

GinnyOz so sorry to hear that x

@Melleebacca Thank you, that’s very interesting to know. He told me to take one or the other but not both together. Mind you he also only seemed bothered about whether I was dehydrated rather than the fact I felt like shit! Will start taking both although the cyclizine is giving me horrific restless legs.

@GinnyOz
I’m so sorry for your loss.

So sorry @GinnyOz

I feel terrible this evening have managed to keep down most of what I have drank today been sick 4 times felt totally sick all day
Last cyclizine is at 10 and I have been counting down to it since 6

I don't think buccastem is doing anything at all and the taste of it up in my gum makes me wretch

They gave me ondansetron on the ward in IV form but didn't send me home with any cyclizine in IV form worked miles better than the tablets but I assume it's a different dosage?

@ClaraLane Hope it helps! I don’t have cyclizine, but I’m on 8mg of ondansetron 3 x a day. Have been since 4wks, and will be on it till at least 30wks. Vomitting stops between 16-26wks, but I slowly wean off it.

@HairsprayBabe I can’t believe they didn’t give you a script for ondansetron after such a high amount of rehydration! Perhaps something to ask the doctor next time. All anti-emetics work in different ways, but ondansetron is regarded as the strongest one. It closes the valves to the stomach, which makes it very painful to vomit, and also slows digestion which causes constipation.

@Court1994 sounds like it’s a very tough time for you.

Just went to my daughters kindergarten Christmas party, sat in the corner and held it together as best I could, but feeling really crappy now. Counting down till hubby’s home.

They literally said in the hospital that they don't like to prescribe it if possible.

I know a lot of people on here have had success with it so I was really disheartened when they didn't give me it but I didn't find out until I was in the discharge lounge and then it was too late to ask them to change it

Melleebacca I am glad you went to the party and how lovely that your DD is so happy about the new baby.
Court1994 I commend your strong will. I hope that you get relief early, as those expecting twins often do.
ClareLane Those resetless legs sound tiresome! It is more common for sufferers to feel really sleepy on it. Does it keep you awake? Maybe the doctor could think of an alternative.
HairsprayBabe How are things? Some doctors are reluctant to prescribe Ondansetron, I think because of expense as much as anything.
Waves to Whatnext11 and everyone.

Here's the Due Dates list copied over.

Due Dates
ClareDB 25 December
HermioneKipper 27 December TWINS!
putputput 9 January
Ribenaberriesgowoo82 28 January
Marshmallow 1992 29 January
MumbleLumble 19 February
Katela18 22 February
Bray23 23 February
Twistsandcurls 3 March
Dinosauraddict 10 March
yellow25 17 March
Bol87 18 March
Sprite25 29 March
Catconfusion 15 April
RaynorEsme2019 19 April
Moonstone12 1 May
Pastnowfuture 7 May
MrsH497 18 May
Whatsnext11 28 May
Melleebacca 3 July
Ummasomebody 20 July TWINS!

LucindaE i'm glad you said that cyclizine can make people very tired. I am happy with tiredness over sickness but have been wondering how much is normal pregnancy tiredness and how much is cyclizine as I know it's listed as a side effect. I generally manage half a day of activity but can't see me improving in energy yet. Perhaps that's normal.

@whatnext11 I classify a half day of activity as a big day, and generally pay for it in the next 24hrs of sickness. And I’m only ondansetron, so this is what I term “normal HG tiredness”.

@HairsprayBabe the doctors don’t usually give ondansetron first off, there’s generally a list of meds they like to try before getting to ondansetron. Just keep going back if you feel like it’s not working and demanding something stronger. There is a risk with ondansetron as it hasn’t been termed as “100% safe” in pregnancy yet because of lack of studies done. I would bet $100 that it’s what the dear princess took while she was suffering.

@LucindaE Oh, shes just so sweet. She also asked if we could name the baby “Loveheart” and if she could share her room with the baby and teach it how to be kind 😍

@Hairspraybabe keep asking for ondansatron. I have been on it since week 7 both pill form and iv and still on pill form at nearly 25 weeks. No issues with baby so far and I've had six scans. I really hope you can get it as I dont know what I'd do without it.

I was ok for about three hours between 10 and 1 today l but I have been counting down the time to my next dose since then.

I am trying to stagger the doses of the buccastem and cyclizine but I have still been sick 10 times today I am managing better than I was before but I still feel crap

I am also worried because they didn't even offer me a scan at the hospital from what I have read that should be fairly normal? As excessive sickness can be caused from molar or ectopic pregnancy or multiples. I don't feel like I was taken very seriously they just pumped me with fluids and sent me home the next day

@Hairspraybabe I only got scanned because of previous miscarriage and complained of cramping. They said they dont normally scan with HG unless there are concerns.
I would speak to the hospital again about medication as at one point I was on 3 ondansatron and 3 metoclopromide tablets a day staggered every 4 hours alternating across 24 hours just to keep the vomiting at bay and even that didn't work so was put on iv steroids iv ondansatron as well and blood clot injections with home visits from the nurse twice a day to keep me out of hospital as I was in 4 times a week as nothing stayed down and my weight was dropping off me.
Keep at them for help. Please dont suffer and let them fob you off. 4 gp's all told me to go eat ginger and chocolate and smoothies. The hospital have been the only one who have been helpful and kept me and my little one going.

Can I join? I'm currently 8+3 and signed off with Hyperemesis as well as exhaustion and very low blood pressure. I am MISERABLE.

This is my 6th pregnancy after 5 miscarriages and I feel like I'm being punished by the universe for something. I'm sick if I eat and I'm sick if I don't. I've lost 6lbs this week.

If one more person suggests ginger biscuits I don't know what I'll do.

Anyway nice to meet you all!

@Areallthenamestaken Welcome! The perk of HG, is that it’s due to high hormones which helps with sticky babes. Have you been prescribed any meds? I also have low blood pressure which worsens with HG. Try fluids that have calories in them to help keep the chance of fainting at bay. If I have to leave my house, I always go via a McDonalds and get a frozen coke. It’s the only thing that keeps me almost life like for about an hour.
And ginger is like a swear word on this thread.

Actually I had a friend who had bad morning sickness message me a few months back raving about the anti-sickness bands that you wear on your wrists. She told me if I ever got pregnant again, I should try them. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ I told her that I tried them, acupuncture, everything ginger, homeopathic remedies and 3 prescription meds before I got any sort of relief, and still vomited till almost the end of the 2nd trimester. 😫

@abbs1 That sounds like a horrific time. I’m so glad that the hospital has been good to you. I found a GP was a bit more understanding than the hospital that just gave me fluids and tried to get me to move on. But we do live in quite a small city. And my GP does in house IV fluids which is fab.

@HairsprayBabe with my first, I had 4 lots of IV rehydration, at 6-9wks, and still didn’t get a scan till 12wks. If you’re concerned, talk to your midwife or GP. It does kinda help with the mental side of things to see baby, but I feel very unconnected to it till close to delivery day, mostly because of the sickness.

@Melleebacca I've not been prescribed anything yet but I'm hoping when I see the midwife she can help me.

Grr sea bands. I tried them for a week and then gave up. I just had constant bruises on the insides of my wrists that made me look like I'd been crucified.

I have tried seabands I don't think they work but I am keeping them on incase they are making a tiny difference

I have MW appt on weds next week so will speak to them about it then oddly I was speaking to an old friend who has just announced at 12 weeks - she had HG and they automatically gave her a scan - she lives the other side of the country to me so I guess it is different trusts policies.

I have wretched constantly all day but not brought anything up yet I had a smoothie this morning that took me about 4 hours to drink but I have kept it all down. I would do a happy dance but it might make me vom

@Areallthenamestaken I’m not sure what your midwife will be able to do. Mine only has the ability to prescribe weak meds, to get the good stuff I have to see the GP. So I try and balance my pre-natal care under the midwife and the GP for the first 20wks at least.
And yes, sea-bands are a waste of time in my opinion.

@HairsprayBabe So glad to hear the smoothie stayed down, that’s great news. I think it takes up to 15mins for fluids to absorb, so if you sip a bit and then stay still for 15mins you should keep most of the nutrition in.
Sorry that you didn’t get a scan. Here they’re starting to give everyone an 8wk dating scan for reassurance.