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.

Hi @Calliope87 that sounds very tough. I’m also stuck in bed with my 2 year old downstairs running riot with OH, or grandparents. I spent so long feeling guilty and blaming myself for not doing enough and being lazy. Especially as the lot of time it’s nausea and not physical vomit keeping me in bed, but I’ve tried to remind myself this is a legitimate illness and we’re sick. Really sick. If you were recovering from chemo, no one would expect you to be downstairs playing super mum. The best thing you can do is rest for your first and your second bubbas. It’s so hard and so lonely. I’m glad I’ve found this group. Hopefully you will follow same pattern as last time and be out of the worst soon. Though I know even one day more can feel impossible at times. But you’ve come this far.

Bit of an embarrassing one here ladies and sorry if TMI. My sickness has hit me with a vengeance the last few days and I've pulled muscles in my stomach and back because I'm just so empty my body is struggling to even get bile out now. I've found a few times now that where my body is pushing so hard I lose control of my bladder. It's of course not so bad if I'm at home but am so worried it will happen in public. Had an absolute tearful meltdown in the supermarket car park yesterday because I was so worried about being sick in there. Has anyone else struggled with this and got any suggestions?

x

@ConstantlyPanicking I too am incontinent of urine when I get sick.

It’s one of the main reasons I don’t leave the house during bouts of sickness (touch wood my medication had stoped the actual vomiting, just not the nausea). I get sick so violently that I just can’t help it.

I be had it in all three pregnancies.

I basically sit on the loo and get sick in the sink.

And if I had to go out, I used to put bin bags and towels on the car seat and take spare underwear and leggings. It’s miserable.

I have done that a few times, sat on the loo and been sick in the sink but sometimes I just can't do it all quick enough. It's reassuring to know that it isn't just me though, thank you. I've started bringing spare underwear to work, luckily I wear mostly dresses so nothing that clings too much that it would soak through to IYKWIM?

How about incontinent pads for reassurance?

It could be worth a try, it's so undignified. Thank you x

@abbs1 thanks for replying, I asked for steroids last time I was in hospital but the consultant wouldn’t prescribe me them unfortunately. I think they’re happy as long as I’m able to keep some food and fluids down they aren’t too bothered about my nausea
Yeah I learnt that’s the best way I have to set alarms to take my tabs through the day and night, I also take them separately so I’m getting one every few hours! That’s great you started feeling better after 20 week really hope I’m the same fingers crossed

@LucindaE thanks, this support group seems like the best one I have came across and I’ve been on lots I know thankfully my sickness doesn’t seem to upset her she’s very mature for her age and Ive been reading her a book for children about HG so she knows it won’t last forever.

@Shereendoc awk how is your little one coping with you being not well? It’s so great to have grandparents and a supportive partner!! I would be lost without them. I know the little ones will forget all about it but it’s so hard feeling like you’re missing out on months of their lives when they grow up too fast as it is
How long have you got left?

@ConstantlyPanicking I’m the same when I’m very violently sick I have accidents another joy of HG lol I have started wearing pads.

I’m just approaching 13 weeks. Hoping it passes soon.

Does anyone have tips on asking for next line medication? I’m on Cyclizine. Seems to be the 2nd line offered is Prochlorperazine but it sounds like many of you are on Zofran. Can I ask for that right away? Or should I try Prochlorperazine first? I also haven’t been prescribed B6 or ant-acid. I’m seeing a different GP tomorrow (it’s a group practise) and I feel like the old man I’m going to see won’t be as receptive as the young woman who saw me last time. How do you advocate for medicine? Feel like I’ll be turned away.

But I’ve lost 5% body weight and I’m dehydrated and the CH has helped a bit but still stuck in bed with NVP symptoms.

Just some comfort to those with young children, I have a two year old & I can honestly say she’s been completely unscathed by my HG & the last 9 months! I felt like the worst parent in the world stuck in bed, not able to play much or go on trips out etc and relying so heavily on my OH & parents. But she’s totally fine, happy, well adjusted and the excessive amount of TV we watched hasn’t hurt either! If anything, she watches less TV these days, she often just wonders off to play uninterested if I pop it on! My DD has forged a really strong bond with Daddy over the time as well which is lovely. And I think will be really helpful when baby arrives as she’s not clingy just to me. She happily goes to either of us when upset or wanting a cuddle or when poorly etc!
My DD has also come on leaps with compassion, she understands when someone is poorly and to be gentle & quiet. She loves playing doctors too

So try not to worry, they will be totally fine! Just accept that help & do what mum stuff you can face. It’s not forever, you’ll be back to regular mum within 9 months!

@Bol87 I agree they are always fine. The last thing anyone needs on top of HG is a dose of mum guilt. My youngest is almost 6, but we moved house at the end of jan so she’s been at home while we are waiting for a school place. Luckily she’s happy just to potter about the house, or lay with me watching films. I do think though of all the things we could be doing if I wasn’t pregnant.

@Bol87 that’s really sweet and lovely to hear

@LucindaE I’m doing ok thanks. Sickness is only a couple of times a week now (which isn’t ideal for 19 weeks but I can cope with that), it’s the nausea that still gets me. But I’m listening to my body and stopping when it gets too much

ConstantlyPanicking Never worry about TMI on here. There are no subjects off limits; impacted constipation, foamy vomits caused by anti acids. Remind me what meds you are on, as they don't seem to be doing much? Surely you must be dehydrated? Many women on here wet themselves when vomiting violently. I remember it vividly myself. Sometimes I used to whip my knickers off as I raced for the loo or the sink.
Connie222 Good plan and suggestions.
Calliope89 I am glad you think this is the best support group. everyone is very supportive on here.

Bol87 Great encouraging post.
boulevardofbrokendreams I am happy to hear that things have improved a bit. I hope they improve a lot more asap.
Apologies to anyone overlooked.

@ConstantlyPanicking I wear pads now because I was going through far too many pairs of underwear a day, I was in denial, i found it soooo embarrassing at first, but I learned to just accept it and get on with it and actually joke about it now. I also pee when i sneeze or cough now 🤣

I'm on metroclopromide, cyclizine and ondansetron... (apology for spelling of them). I'm constantly dehydrated, i don't remember the last time my lips were their normal colour they have a permanent shade of white now. Thank you for the reassurance about it. I haven't told my partner because I'm just so embarrassed but I guess I need to embrace it x

@Shereendoc - meds are tricky with some GP’s.. mine has thankfully been fantastic but it’s very hit & miss from reading on here. I’m at group practice too but you can request the same doctor for each appointment which I do in pregnancy for continuity of care. Can you do this if you find one who will listen?!

I was on Ondansetron, Metaclopromide & Cyclizine until 18ish weeks. Then dropped the Cyclizine. Dropped the Metaclopromide around 25/26 weeks & have continued on 8mg Ondansetron 3x a day. I’m 39 weeks now. I have also taken omeprazole since 12 weeks as an antacid. I tried high dose B6 (I bought it myself from Holland & Barrett, you don’t need it prescribed) which had zero affect.

It’s taken an awful lot of meds to feel remotely human this pregnancy! As this is my second HG pregnancy, I was whacked straight on the stronger meds but last pregnancy, I did have to work my way up through the ranks.

You certainly can ask for Ondansetron but it’s expensive for the NHS, so you may not get given it. Hard to say.. I’d 100% ask for an antacid if you are struggling with acid reflux. I was in so much pain from all the vomiting plus acid, was awful. Omeprazole is notes on the NHS website as safe in pregnancy. Show this to your GP!

Good luck - I hope the appointment is helpful! 🙏🏼

Hi everyone! Sorry to hear you are all having such a miserable time of what is supposed to be the happiest time of our lives!
I am not even sure I am in the right place as I am not vomiting, but I feel like crying when I go to the other pregnancy chats when women talk about having to reduce down on their classes at the gym, or how they had a few hours of nausea.
I am 9+4 and have 24-7 nausea which makes me so dizzy I feel too faint to do anything, I can get out of bed to get to the kitchen to try and eat something (I have to eat it quickly before the taste of it disgusts me) but then I don't have the strength to get back upstairs again. A few times I have had to crawl to the bathroom on hands and knees just so I didn't faint.
I do suffer from migraines and motion sickness as well and I have heard that can make NVP worse.
I managed to drive 5 minutes to the doctor's at 6 weeks and he gave me cyclizine which did nothing, I wear wrist bands and drink ginger cordial to no avail.
I guess I am just here to have a cry and a moan, I know loads of you have it worse than I do with the vomiting, it just seems if you aren't vomiting people think you must be faking it or just being pathetic.

@Rigamorph god no, I'm sure plenty of others will back me up in saying that nausea can be far worse than actually being sick sometimes! Just because you're not actually vomiting doesn't mean you're not suffering. Some of my worst days have been because of the nausea. Have you tried going back to the doctors since? I don't really know enough about the meds to suggest if there's something else to ask for for nausea but hopefully someone else can help you

I think the nausea is worse than the vomiting rigamorph so don’t feel like you’re suffering any less, when you’re vomiting you tend to get a bit of relief just after for a little while, but without that the nausea is just constant..
Hopefully you start to feel better soon

@Rigamorph god, the constant nausea is on par with the actual vomiting. I haven’t actually been sick since I started ondansetron but the nausea is still there day in day out. I just sit and cry sometimes because it’s so unbearable.

@Rigamorph I started off like that this time, constant painful nausea but no vomiting, no energy, just sitting up in bed was too much effort. Now I’m vomiting but I haven’t got as much nausea I actually feel a little better. Speak to your GP and ask for medication.

Request some new medication from the doctor @Rigamorph tell them the cyclizine is doing nothing for you. The nausea is awful, its actually what gets me down every day.

Thanks guys! I will speak to the doc again x