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.

Bol87 Poor you! What a disappointment. How naughty of baby. Much sympathy. I am keeping all digits crossed for an easy birth this time for you.
Maz91 I am so glad that you felt like your old self for a bit. That is a really good sign for things improving.

@Bol87 oh I'm so sorry to hear this. I would be hugely disappointed as well. I really hope little one stays head down and comes soon and your birth goes smoothly. Keep us posted.

Oh @Bol87 how frustrating for you! Keeping everything crossed that baby behaves itself and stays head down x

Cheering everyone on, especially Bol after that disappointment.

Thanks everyone. Feeling a bit better about it all today, mostly as my other half & daughter came down with stinking colds complete with mild fever & very persistent coughs 🤦🏼‍♀️ So that’s them in isolation for a week. My daughter is quite poorly bless her. So I guess I should count my blessings we don’t have a newborn thrown in the mix! I guess these things happen for a reason sometimes!

I’m now onto the next worry about going into labour while my OH is self isolating.. will he be allowed in the hospital?! 😰

Hoping none of this virus stuff is causing too much bother for those at the worst. I guess HG is very self isolating in its own right! But re-hospital admissions etc! Lots of love all!

Hi everyone,
I am so relieved to find this group. I don't
know anyone else who has felt like this. I hope you are all feeling a bit better today.

I wondered if you had any advice. I'm only 8w 3days pregnant so have a long way to go. However, feel so so horrific. Vomiting...
nauseous.. I feel really low. I stay in the house all weekend in bed as can't move with feeling sick. I tried to go to work last week which was just horrendous.. projectile vomiting. I have headaches and cloudy urine (sorry for tmi!). I have cyclizine from doctors but I don't feel it's doing anything. Does anyone have any suggestions?
It took so long to get pregnant after a MMC, I am trying not to hate this......xxx

@unh111 you poor thing. It sounds like you’re suffering lots. Definitely try and make it to your GP and request new meds. Cyclizine is first tier and if it doesn’t work they should prescribe something stronger. Seems like lots of people in this groups have found some relief with stronger meds - I can’t recommend as I’m just on Cyclizine atm and 14wks seem to be having some respite. But before 3 days ago, I was about to go back for more as it was still so bad. If you feel you are dehydrated (dark urine, not going for 8+ hours) then go to hospital and they can give you IV fluids. It’s so horrible the nausea and vomiting but you can do it one day at a time and with medical help hopefully they can make it a bit easier.

Also have you joined Pregnancy Sickness Support website. They can offer you a peer volunteer who has been through it before themselves for some support and to help combat the loneliness. It really helped me.

@Shereendoc thank you so much for your reply. I'm definitely going to look at the support website as I do feel so lonely.

I'll go to my doctors again and hopefully get a different doctor. I have been back once from the first prescription and all I got was have you tried ginger and to eat small meals. They also smiled while I said how ill I felt -
like of course you are sick- u r pregnant 😳 xx

Hi all,

Hope people are doing okay. Just wondering if anyone taking Zofran could let me know how they find it?

I'm currently on 4 cariban & 3 stemetil a day but still feeling terrible. I don't vomit so much, maybe 10 times a week, but just feel generally horrible and can't get out of bed for more than a couple of hours each day. My doctor suggested trying Zofran. I declined without really thinking about it as I've convinced myself I'll get better at 14 weeks (like last time). Thinking about it, however, I am feeling no better and I'm 13.5 weeks now. So maybe I need to do something different.

Realistically, how well can one feel on medication? I'd like to be able to go back to work (I'm part-time) or even to be able to get out of bed for most of the day, even if I'm not actually doing much while I'm up. Is this even possible with hyperemesis? Or am I expecting too much from the medication?

Interested to hear how others found Zofran.

Thanks!

@PippinStar it’s been a wonder drug for me. I haven’t vomited since the day I started taking it. I tried two others before it and they did nothing.

Thanks @Connie222 that's great to hear. Do you still have 24/7 nausea? Can you get out of bed and go about your day?

My nausea has improved.
I’m 15 weeks now. I do feel much better on these tablets. I still spend a lot of the day in bed - I’m wiped and the nausea does kick in sometimes. But I’ve been able to potter downstairs, do some hill house work etc. Before I was bed bound, I felt like I was dying.

I’ve taken Ondansetron (Zofran) in both my pregnancies, it’s the only anti-sickness that curtails my vomiting right down! Without it, I throw up 20+ times a day. I’ve tried every anti sickness out there! For me, it doesn’t do a huge amount for the nausea unfortunately but nothing does. That said, I’m lucky that the severe nausea calms down by 20 weeks & just becomes something I can live & function with. It’s unpleasant & annoying but doable. And by 20 weeks with the Ondansetron, I feel pretty confident I won’t throw up which helps me mentally feel able to get out & be normal!

unhill111 Welcome. I am sorry you are suffering badly. I so agree with others, do ask for stronger meds. There are various ones that they can try. Never worry about tmi. Dark, scanty urine is a sign of dehydration. Instead of recommendng ginger I am surprised they didn't test your urine; that sounded like very poor treatment. Can you make an appointment with another doctor? Here is my usual spiel which I hope may be of some use. 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.
Bol87 I am so glad it has turned out for the best in a way.Your poor lo's, with bad colds. Excellent advice as ever, which is so good of you.
Everyone on here seems to be stoic about this miserable virus pandemic. As you say, Hyperemesis sufferers are frequently self isolating by default anyway.
PippinStar Excellent advice from others about Ondansetron. You mustn't be too stoic; but do request a laxative with the prescription.
Connie22 I am so glad to hear that you are improving. Congratulations on pottering.
Shereendoc I am so glad that you have some respite.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Thanks @bol87 and @connie222 - that's really helpful. I think I will talk to my doctor some more about trying it. Still hoping that I start to feel better soon .... ever the optimist.

Glad to hear it's working so well for you both, and that you can potter at least somewhat during these awful weeks!

Never again will I be doing this

@LucindaE Is it the Ondansetron that causes constipation? I have had some real trouble with it but hadn't linked it to the medication. The thought of a laxative had always put the fear of god in me but at this point I'm willing to try anything!!

@constantlypanicking - yep, onsmdansetron is seriously constipating! My doctor refuses to prescribe it without a laxative! It honestly leaves me unable to go unless I take my daily laxative!

My doctor gives me Laxido/Movicol. It’s a powder you pop into water & drink. It’s really gentle but effective! I take one sachet a day usually, occasionally two if I’m struggling. I’ve never had any adverse effects, just makes it easy to go to the loo & regular!

Luctalose is another often prescribed. First time I used it, I misread the dosage advice on the label & took far too much Nottt the best experience ha! But when I took the correct dose, all was well

Oh that's reassuring! I think my fear is about a normal reaction to a laxative but if it just makes it more regular it would be a life saver! The pain is unreal!!!

@ConstantlyPanicking I take two sachets of movicol a day
To keep things moving.

Bol87 C heering you on. Excellent advice; what will we do without you when baby arrives and you join the Pink Castle at the end of the Hyperemesis Horror Run?
Connie222 Good advice from you, too.
PippinStar I hope it relieves that pain.
ConstantlyPanicking All luck with Ondansetron.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Bol87 It is interesting that Movicol is gentle but effective. I have heard that about too dramatic results with Lactulose if too much is taken. Some brave souls force down Fibregel, but that must be difficult .

@LucindaE - oh goodness, it was awful. I was a week postpartum & had my in-laws visiting. I was completely sleep deprived & I misread it by miles 🙈 I ended up taking about 5 immodiums and eventually they kicked in! I felt like such an idiot!

I have used it again since correctly and all was well! 😄 I’ve always found laxido/movicol better though..

Bol87 Sounds awful, and with the in-laws in the house, too!

Gaaaah I am so over this HG.
I have kept 1 meal down since Saturday, I was only in hospital 2 weeks ago and now I'm fearing I'll end up back in as my ketones are up 😫 but I feel like an absolute pain if I have to ring the hospital when I'm sure they have enough stress on dealing with covid 19 😫 for the first time ever I have been fancying some ice cream but we have none in and I definitely dont want to send hubby out into the riddled supermarkets 😒 just over 10 more weeks of this pregnancy to go!!!!!