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.

@PetiteQuark - I hope the cyclizine works for you 🤞 and you feel better soon. @Fredsgirl19 - have you started your ondansetron yet?
I finally got admitted for some fluids yesterday afternoon at my gp's insistance and I do feel better for it. Just got some decisions to make about meds now as I think the buccastem's done as much as it can for me.
I hope anyone I've missed is feeling as well as they can x

Ok- so an odd one for this group... but. I'm feeling concerned- for the past 2 days I have been really quite 'well' the odd bit of VERY mild nausea and a mega headache last night but really not very HG like at all... is freaking out that this means all is not well....

Does this ever happen with HG pregnancies? Still a couple of weeks off my 12 week scan and sure no one will be interested in checking baby out before then...

IAmSeriousAndDon'tCallMeShirley Many sufferers have a couple of good days, and find it unnerving. It is probably that. You can't win with this!
eventhecathasapenis I am glad you did get fluids at last. I am surprised they didn't prescribe some alternative meds in hospital. There are various ones your GP can try besides Stemitil if it isn't really helping.
PetiteQuark I t us very useful that your doctor husband can do that for you. Most people find the sleepiness with the Cyclizine wears off after a bit, but as you say, that is no joke with a three year old at home.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

PetiteQuark Sorry: much sympathy over nose vomit!

@LucindaE unfortunately they were quite keen to get me in and out asap. I think they basically did it for triage at my gp's insistence and didn't want any further involvement. Hope everyone is feeling ok this morning x

eventhecathasapenis Oh dear, that is unlucky. kissingthebear reports a great success with that new medication, what's it called,
Xonvea. Could your GP prescribe that?

@LucindaE I'll look that one up and ask about it. Thank you

@eventhecathasapenis
Yes!! The Ondansetron is life changing. I'm not sure I would have been brave enough to take it earlier because of the small cleft lip link but to be honest it's magic and the risk surely has to outweigh the danger from dehydration, malnutrition and a very unwell mum!!

I've been able to function. I actually was able to make my husband some lunch for th me first time in six weeks. He nearly fell off his chair! I am still sick in the evenings but it feels very much like the early days and a couple of vomms a day vs throwing up every 30mins is acceptable.

If you are suffering I would request it ASAP!!

@Fredsgirl19 - I'm glad the ondansetron is working for you. It makes all the difference when you get the right meds. Unfortunately I have ruled out ondansetron for myself as I suffer from migraines and am currently having 2 a week. I also vomit with my migraines so anything that provokes migraines is out for me ☹ I'm going to take a look at xonvea and speak to my gp again on Monday - hopefully that'll work for me.

Hi all, been a bit quiet as it has got quite bad for me. 9+2 and since 7 weeks has been pretty horrendous. GP wont prescribe ondansatron though which I am unhappy about. I spoke to PSS and will be talking to a different GP on Monday so fingers crossed.

I had a bit of a dilemna which I thought you might be able to relate to. I am signed off work, pretty much bed bound. I havent had a shower in 4 days. DH is working full time, his work arent being flexible, and looking after toddler DS and me all on his own.

It totally isnt sustainable. I qualify as a key worker but our nursery has closed so cant send DS there. I am now thinking he will need to go to my dads for 1-2 days a week for respite for DH.

What do others think. DH not keen. But he was quite badly depressed last year and I am so fearful of his mental health slipping.

With HG I am no help at all and I just can't see another way out

eventhecathasapenis Those migraines with vomiting are horrendous. I had them dreadfully for the first 14 weeks of pregnancy, then they went until I stopped feeding daughter. I hope yours lift soon. It is such a nuisance about Ondansetron making some sufferers migraines worse.
I hope Xonvea helps you as much as it has helped a few others.
Fredsgirl19 I am so glad that Ondansetron is helping you.
FilthyforFirth Surely that would be allowed given the situation? It must be very difficult if OH is prone to depression. I do hope you get some respite soon.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Hi everyone, I’m 8+5 today and suffering from what my midwife and doctor think is hyperemesis. I started feeling very sick around 4.5 weeks and starting being sick around 6 weeks. I’m not sick every day but when I am it is continuous and I can’t keep anything down. Literally vomited a dry roll the other day. I am managing a small walk around lunchtime but otherwise pretty much bed bound. Struggling to sleep with nausea at night. Can’t bear the smell of most things but the kitchen is particularly bad and I normally do most of the daily cooking and a fair bit of the cleaning. My partner had stepped up but is also quite stressed with lockdown generally and things have erupted into arguments as I am not very nice to be around right now... it’s a really difficult situation. Been prescribed Cyclizine so taking that but making me very sleepy. Love to everyone else suffering. This is so hard.

@FilthyforFilth - I'd send your DS to your Dads if he's happy to take him. Our preschool shut too, even for keyworkers (both DH qualifies us for a keyworker space). We don't have family nearby, but one of my lovely friends is a childminder, and has kindly offered to take my DS for two days a week. I've bitten her hand off for the offer. The only way I don't vomit is if I lie very still, and my son has had some crappy days at home with me lately. Better for everyone that he gets some proper care (i.e not sat in front of Disney Plus for most of the day) and I can try to sleep through as much sickness as possible. I know the guilty feeling though about this choice.

I stayed in bed until 5pm today, and feeling awful I've not been out enjoying the sun. DH took DS out for a long walk today and I'm gutted I couldn't join them.

@SnowWhite2020 sorry to hear you're feeling bad. I'm 8 weeks and just started cyclizine too. I'm so sleepy all the time too. Sorry to hear its hard with your partner, it's so hard suddenly being reliant on your partner to bring you food and drink. If the cyclizine doesn't work do go back to your doctor, there are other meds you can take. HG sucks and kitchens are the worst. I hate the smell of my bedroom too, its suddenly overwhelmingly musty smelling.

Yes, we have a dog and the smell of him is awful too and I love him so much... I can’t really be in the sun or have a bath. Being warm makes the nausea worse. Fresh air is helpful but I am so tired I can’t really walk very far. We don’t have a garden unfortunately, so lockdown making all of this harder...

The constant spitting is so horrible and embarrassing too. I’ve had to do it in the street and also when just sitting about the house. It goes on all day. 🙈

Hi ladies - sorry for all the new sufferers- this is a horrible nightmare, it truly is. I have about 6 weeks to go - but still feeling so sick. Haven't thrown up in months though so that's a relief. I take Xonvea and can highly recommend it, these last few days I've tried lower my dose from 3 tablets a day to 2. So far I definitely feel more sick by cutting out a tablet in the morning, but just feel like I should be able to manage by now!! 😢

I've found it all quite triggering coming on here some days - for those in the early stages, you have my deepest respect - it's so hard, but it does get easier x

I’ve just had to move rooms in the house as my husband wanted to make a boiled egg and it makes me sick the smell. He literally just shouted at me that it doesn’t smell followed by “not another day of this”... I’m in tears already and it’s not lunch time 😭

@Snowwhite2020 what a prat he is. Why is he cooking an egg if that's one of your triggers? My husband had to cook everything on the bbq last pregnancy - and most of it was over winter as I couldn't have any food smells in the house.

@Snowwhite2020 would it help for him to read this? He seems to have very little understanding of what you're going through.

www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/get-help/partners-and-carers/

Thanks @justtheonethen I will show him the link. He has since apologised. It’s our first baby, we’re both 31 and normally very rational people but this has all been so much harder than either of us anticipated and it is very difficult to explain to him the exhaustion and desperation of 24/7 sickness. My mum gets it as she had exactly the same thing when pregnant- I even remember it with my brother. She has to have her front teeth crowned because they wore away amidst all the vomit. 🤢 Helps to be able to speak on here too as it seems a lot of us have the same frustrations. It’s just so hard. 💕

Food post warning*
I am glad your DH has apologised - they just don't get it at first. With DS1 I remember my DH bringing home a ready cooked roast chicken 🤢 and going mad when I immediately threw it in the outside bin. He started to get it after that though and became very supportive. As others have said, food smells are just the worse.

SnowWhite2020 Welcome. Sorry you feel so bad. Much sympathy over your OH not understanding about cooking smells. I hope that link helps him. Usually, the sleepiness with Cyclizine goes off after a little while, but if it isn't really helping the sickness there are other drugs they can try. You have had excellent advice. Here is my usual spiel: Things do get a lot better for most sufferers 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. Here 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.
justtheonethen Ha Ha, hehad to have a BBQ in the depths of winter. Now,that is being hardy.
kissingthebear I am sorry the nausea persists. It is very wearing,
Don't try and be too heroic if you are feeling bad. After all, Xonvea is aimed specifically at pregnant women.
Waves to eventhecathasapenis.
IAmSeriousAndDon'tCallMeShireley How are things now? Everyone?

Hi all, I’ll be 8 weeks tomorrow (due 7th of December) and have my first appointment with the midwife (over the phone) in the morning. I suffered with HG with my son who was born in 2018. I often wonder how I got through it, and now I wonder why I’m doing it again?
I started earlier with sickness this time, around 5 weeks. I was admitted to the hospital and put on a drip by 6 weeks as I was badly dehydrated. Was scared about going into the hospital with the current pandemic but couldn’t have carried on how I was. Whilst there I was injected with with cyclizine and sent home with the tablet form. I was told to come back for the next 5 mornings for injections, the cyclizine has since been paired with Buccastem. Whilst the actual vomiting has eased, the nausea is still awful, and it tends to hit its peak in the evening. I had one day that was probably not as bad as the others and I started to panic that something was wrong (I find it shitty that we worry when we don’t feel horrific, like you should need to feel this bad to know you’re still pregnant)
Food wise, I can stomach crumpets and that’s about it, I fancy nothing at all. I feel so guilty on my partner and my son. I haven’t got the energy to play with him and do what I would normally do, I’ve been lay down barely able to move for the last two weeks. Smells repulse me and make me heave. I feel useless.
As much as it’s an awful time with the pandemic, I also feel it’s maybe a blessing as where I work is shut and it’s meant I’m at home which means not having to explain to people or request time off. On the other hand though, not having other people’s help makes me feel guilty on my partner.
With my son I finally felt slightly more normal around 20 weeks, although I still struggled to eat anything. And that’s when the every day fainting started happening! The joys!

Sorry to ramble!
My heart goes out to everybody suffering.

Evening all,

Sorry for the silence. After my 2 good days and feeling worried my HG has decided they 'reassure me' with the worst 2 days I have had so far. Can't keep my meds down, not managed to drink or eat at all today. I have no idea why the wild swing, but here I am. Back to lots of bike runs and wetting myself when I heave (good old pelvic floor...).

Sorry to hear others also not doing well. I think it's hard to understand if you haven't had it- and no one can see how I'll you feel all the time. My husband is trying his best but clearly a bit peeved that I haven't left my bed today. My youngest got herself a little step to sit with me in the bathroom this morning. Lots of questions. Tried to reassure her, she seems curious more than anything.

Hope some at least have had a good day. X