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.

@justtheonethen I’m glad to hear you have managed to stop vomiting, but the nausea is just the worst! I am now also on a dose of steroids. They have reduced the vomiting and just left with the nausea. Tried to reduce the dose but I ended up back in hospital.

@IAmSeriousAndDontCallMeShirley I had to fight to get meds even though I suffered. One doctor in hospital refused point blank to give me anything and just said wait till it passes! I hope they can help you soon.

@LucindaE it’s such a scary time. I had my 12 week scan yesterday and was meant to see a consultant but they decided against it. I also had my 16 week appointment cancelled with midwife already . So no checks on urine or baby etc. Just have to hope everything is ok till the 20 week scan. I felt like I should of been more excited yesterday but this awful condition just takes it away.... I just lay on the bed chocking on my own saliva whilst the Sonographer pressed on my stomach! Still able to drink coke but cannot eat anything after 2pm. My stomach shuts off. Before 2pm I can manage some toast and marmite. I keep reading that sickness stops at 12 weeks... the disappointment when it continues Past is just soul destroying.

I hope everyone is managing the best they can x

Dotty glad you got to have your scan at least. Sorry that other appointments are disappearing.

I found last time the afternoon was the worst. Did find that if I stocked a salt and vinegar crisp every 15 mins it made things a little better. Weird I know. Might we worth a go.

I know what you mean about meds. I had really problems with my first getting any. Then was easier with the second partly due to history and partly a better GP. Have moved since, so new GP who hasn't had the chance to read back yet.

hi ladies
have posted on this thread before but need a kind word today
am still struggling with nausea that gets worse throughout the day and my food intake is very bland. not what i would envisage for baby. cd never keep down pregnacare but take gummies when i can. went to gp yesterday and not gaining a lot of weight which is funny cos i thought i was getting quite hefty after all the toast
question is - baby is getting enough, and women with hyperemesis or poor diets due to nausea still have healthy babies? just need to be reassured again on that point...thank u

@FeelingBeautiful don't worry lovely, they are parasites and will take what they need from you- leaving you lacking.

@justtheonethen thanks that's what i needed to hear. i made the mistake of reading what to expect when you're expecting.that was the start of my anxiety about 6 weeks ago! felt like everything was going wrong

Ah yes I'm the queen of catastrophising so I get it! Best not to read any "normal" pregnancy accounts/advice. HG is about survival. My daughter was (is) perfect. Not at all affected by the lack of food up to 32 weeks last time.

@justtheonethen thanks hon just get so worried but this is great that we can ask each other and be reassured. i always feel better

Dotty356 Sorry to hear that you have had appointments cancelled; that is distressing. However, the fact that they have does indicate that they are confident all will progress well. I am glad the steroids are helping. I never know why, even with normal pregnancy sickness, that magical 12 week date is given, as a lot of women with controllable pregnancy sickness find that it doesn't lift until 14 or even 16 weeks. For most Hyperemesis sufferers, it does improve a lot at some point between 16 and 21 weeks. Even for the unlucky ones for whom it continues throughout, it is almost never as bad later on as in the early days.
Can you buy kesostix online to monitor yourself for dehydration for reassurance? I know they are not the best test, and scanty dark urine, dry mouth and skin etc and h eadache, blurry vision etc are better,but Aand E departments do take them seriously. Do you find an anti acid of any use at all? A lot of sufferers find that they can endure tinned fruit and its juice, particularly peaches, if they can't endure anything else. I am so glad coke is bearable. Are ice lollies?
FeelingBeautiful You have already had the best reassurance from justtheonethen about the babies being the most effective parasites.
IAmSeriousAndDon'tCallMeShirley That is a good tip about an hourly crisp!
Thinking of everyone.

@FeelingBeautiful - I’ve had 2x HG pregnancies & have 2x healthy daughters. One is coming up 3 and was a healthy 8lbs at birth. She’s a perfectly normal toddler/pre-schooler.
My second was born two weeks ago. I was even sicker with her. She was 7lb 14oz & is doing really well. She’s currently snoozing in the carrier while I eat yet another biscuit. After 9 months of hating anything sweet, my diet is now 99% sugar 😂

Thinking of those suffering the worst, it must be even more stressful with everything going on. It’s so worth it but I fully appreciate the absolute despair! I thought I’d never get through it second time but we made it!

I have good news! Got a phone call from another GP who said 'I don't know why there are messing about with you, I read your medical history and I'm prescribing all the antiemetics that you had before, we don't want you going into hospital'

Hurrah. He's sent them down to the pharmacy and I should be able to collect on Monday. So will just need to limp trough the weekend. Feeling grotty today, at the cant move an inch without massive wave of nausea stage. Which is tricky with a 2 year old and 4 year old who want me to move a lot!

So since being on my iron tablets my extreme exhaustion has gotten so much better - the last few nights I have stayed up past 10pm 😂 and the last few days I have only been sick 2-4 times a day which for me is amazing! But I am finding if I'm not as sick my nausea is alot worse and I'm stuck to the sofa all day so I cant win! But its given my throat a rest from burning so much. Maybe I'm having a '3rd trimester glow' 😂

Hi! Hope it's okay to post. My sister is currently in hospital having IV fluids because she's severely dehydrated from HG. She was being sick constantly all day for days and was admitted through a and e last night. She's on some meds and they seem to be working, as she hasn't been sick while she is in hospital. But she can't have iv fluids at home and hospital is really not where she wants to be right now, she has risk factors for covid on top of being pregnant. I'm really worried about her.

I'm looking for tips on how she can get fluids in and keep them in. She has a crazy good sense of smell at the best of times, and it is heightened which I don't think is helping. Is there a good list anyone can point me to? Or some general good things to try.

So sorry you're all having to experience this. X

@Bol87 thank you, that is also helping me stay calm...had a good day today with smoothie and had two eggs and yes some ginger crackers!

KinderWild Welcome on behalf of your sister. Do urge her to join us? I hope they will send her home with effective meds. If those don't help, do urge her to press for effective ones. In this current climate where pregnant women want to keep away from doctor's surgeries, it might be an idea for her to phone Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 7638 2020 for advice. The increased sense of smell goes with the illness, unluckily. 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. Do get 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 online. 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 How lovely to hear from you with your supportive message during these alarming times for everyone. [flower] All pictures of your newest addition much appreciated - hint hint...
IAmSeriousAndDon'tCallMeShirley That is good news. I was astonished myself at their obtuseness; so glad that doctor challanged it. All luck for getting through the weekend with the LO's. Perhaps you could make up a game that you are a very old lady of lesisure and they have to wait on you, or some such?
BeautyandtheBump Good news that it is down to 'only' 2-4 tmes a day, but that is still dismal by normal standards, and I hope it improves further. Wonderful that you were up till 10 pm. That is going wild!

FeelingBeautiful Cross posted. I am so glad that you have had reassurance.

Just dropping by to say hello. Despite sweating multiple times a day throughout my 2017 pregnancy that I would never EVER do this again..... here I am

I’m not sure if anyone remembers me? There’s a few names I’m sure I recognise from last time, @NonStopDisco being one and were you here too @IAmSeriousAndDontCallMeShirley?

Anyway, we’d planned so carefully for this pregnancy. I’d seen a GP before we even tried to conceive to discuss medication etc, had an agreement in place with my son’s nursery to increase his hours to help. What we didn’t bank on was a global pandemic!! We thought we could get through this with support - we never imagined we’d be in a position where nursery closed, my toddler is home full time (and everywhere to entertain said toddler is closed, even playgrounds), we’d not even be able to see our family and friends, our cleaner can’t come Yeah, definitely not what we bargained for.

So I’m about 9 weeks now. I started vomiting before I even missed a period. My GP has been pretty good and, after a horrific week in promethazine, put me straight on to Ondansteron. It’s still pretty awful, I still can’t get out of bed before midday and I don’t always manage to shower - but it’s much easier than last time. Being prepared and early medication has made all the difference. That said, having an awful day today I’m currently signed off until mid May, when I’ll be 16 weeks then we can review. My work seem to be ok but I haven’t heard much from them. My manager was totally gobsmacked that I’m going through another pregnancy.

In the meantime, my poor husband is trying to work from home, care for the toddler (who has become super clingy and keeps wanting only me), do all the house hold chores and run all errands like food shopping. It’s really tough on him and yeah, the house is a tip, the toddler has watched more Thomas than he should (he’s not complaining) and we panic/guilt bought a raised playhouse with slide for the garden this weekend because we have no idea what else to do with him!

Had my first antenatal appointment over the phone and, aside from the 12 weeks scan (which my husband can’t attend ), I won’t physically see a midwife until 26 weeks! That’s feels very strange.

Anyway, just wanted to say hello really. I am coping better this time round, being mentally prepared this time round seems to be helping. I’m very much looking forward to get past the first trimester and praying for a turning point so I can at least look after my toddler better.

Oh btw, looks like I’m bottom of the list? Can’t see any Oct/Nov babies? I’m due 6 Nov.

LemonDrop I remember you! I was also pregnant in 2017, and we chatted lots I think we had very similar work situations?

Welcome back, congratulations on the pregnancy. Sorry the sickness is accompanying though.

Don't worry- you are not the bottom. I'm not due until Nov 22!

The pandemic has changed things beyond recognition. I had also planned for my 3 to do more nursery when I got sick but now I'm home alone (husband key worker who has to leave the house). Not making things easy. Also feeling massive guilt as I'm no fun, can't really play and a bit grumpy! Still in the grand scheme of things it's a short (if completely horrendous!) time. And I'm clinging on to the end goal.

@LucindaE thank you.
She has this in her first pregnancy terribly until around 20 weeks but felt rough the whole time.

I will pass her the list, and the phone number and suggest she joins you. X

She has thankfully been discharged late tonight, it's a relief to have her back home.

Lemondrop99 I remember you. Welcome back. Alas, for the wonderful plannning you did, and for the IAmSeriousAndDon'tCallMeShirley did too! It must be really tough with toddlers stuck inside. Good idea to have a slide and play house. I am glad you are on Ondansetron. Hopefully,you have a laxative too?! Did you find last time an anti acid helped?
KinderWild I am glad that your sister has been discharged and you have passed on those details.
IAmSeriousAndDon'tCallMeShirley I have added you both.
Due Dates
Catconfusion 15 April
RaynorEsme2019 19 April
pastnowfuture27 April
Moonstone12 1 May
Pastnowfuture 7 May
MrsH497 18 May
BeautyandtheBump 30 May
Pasqual 4 June
StayClosePooky 20 June
kisisngthegbear 23 June
justtheonethen 18 July
Ummasomebody 20 July TWINS!
areallthenamestaken 24 July
boulevardofbrokendreams 2 August
sickandtiredofsick 29 August
Connie222 3 September
ConstantlyPanicking 17th September
Lemondrop99 6 Nov
IAmSeriousAndDon'tCallMeShirely 22 Nov

I hope everyone is bearing up. This is a testing time. I am amazed at how brave you all are being.

I am being tested by this pregnancy I swear! Hubby has been sent home from work today with corona symptoms. Of course we cant say it officially is as he wont be tested, but hes got all the symptoms & his temp is 38.9. I've isolated him into the bedroom & have been leaving his dinner outside the door, so now I'm worried about him, worried I'm going to catch it when I'm already only half a person with this shitty HG, so god knows how I'll manage to fight it!

Hi Beauty,

What a worry. The last thing you need. It sounds like you are doing all the sensible things. I do hope your OH feels better soon.

Try not to over think it (hard I know), and if you do become unwell then have a very low threshold for calling for help. You may need fluids etc earlier if your HG has been bad. 111 have been amazing, if you do feel unwell and want advice then don't hesitate to call. You won't find what you need on the website as you are not the 'typical' patient. I know this because my daughters both had temperatures last week and I needed advice as they were still hot after 14 days! The website has no advice for under 5's.

I was worried about calling and 'wasting resource' but the doctors I spoke to all said calling was 100% the right thing to do.

Wishing your OH and speedy recovery, and that you escape it. X

BeautyandtheBump That is worrying for you. I think the media seems to emphasize the worst case scenario cases, I suppose to get people not to be lax, so hopefully, things won't be too dramatic. You have already had great advice from AmSeriousAndDon'tCallMeShirley which I don't think I can add to. Poor you. As she emphasizes, do contact the doctor as often as you have concerns. IAmSeriousAndDon'tCallMeShirrey I hope your daughters' fevers have gone now.

@IAmSeriousAndDontCallMeShirley @LucindaE

Thanks ladies. He is coping okay at the moment, I'm having a really rough day with the HG & now I have diahhrea, finding it hard to look after us both as I'm normally the one laid on the sofa and he looks after me!

BeautyandtheBump My goodness, that is a tough situation. I hope you can keep rehydrated and wishing him all the best too. Lots of cyber pats on offer, and you are a for managing.