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.

@claralane - ondansetron is the devil for constipation. You 100% need to take a laxative with it. My GP auto prescribes laxido with it. It’s a powder you mix with water, it’s pretty gentle but effective! I take one a day but sometimes I need two.. I take iron tablets as well so it’s a double whammy of constipation causing meds!

Good luck to those battling through the worst tomorrow.. it’s a really tough period! I’m away at relatives & finding life a bit tough.. it’s harder when not in control of my own meals & I’m finding the busy-ness of multiple family members & screeching children a bit overwhelming! I’m longing for my own house but equally dreading the 4/5 hour journey home on Friday!

Lots of love 🧡

@ClaraLane Ondansetron works to slow the process of food moving out of stomach (up and down), hence painful to vomit, and constipation. A stool softener is good to get to have regularly. I generally only take it when I realise it’s been a few days. But I have to have it every day with my previous pregnancies.

I survived a huge Christmas Day. Driving a little over 4hrs with two kids - hubby did the driving, and I had my special bowl. It was nice to have a distraction and not to spend the day in bed, but I’m exhausted today because of it. Got an appt slip to go to the hospital on Jan 10th. Not sure if my amnio will be done that day or if it’s just a meet and greet appt. still nice to know things are happening.
13wks tomorrow, and hoping that the vomiting is going to start easing soon.

Thanks @Bol87 and @Melleebacca - going to send DH to get me some Fybogel from Tesco today!

Hi all, I'm 4+1 and nauseous for over a week now.
I had HG with my 1st (now 10yo) and was admitted for dehydration and IV fluids for a couple of days at about 7 weeks, whilst the injections took effect.
My question is, do I presume I will be the same this time? I already feel dreadful and its so early but no actual vomiting thankfully. Am off lots of foods and smells, just the same as last time. Thanks for reading x

Hi @SweetpeaOrMarigold - they say every pregnancy different but while they have been for me, I have had HG in both. It’s just been much worse the second time! 😩 I do think it’s quite common to have HG again if you’ve had it before, so I’d prepare yourself.

Things have probably moved on treatment wise a lot in ten years, check out Pregnancy Sickness Support who discuss all the medication options available these days.. the first line is cyclizine and the strongest ondansetron.

There is some evidence to suggest the earlier you start on meds for Hyperemesis, the more effective they can be. So if you think it’s hitting hard, get yourself to the GP!

I really hope you avoid it this time 🙏🏼

Back from Debbighshire. I hope everyone had as good a Christmas as possible. I know it must have been particularly hard for Melleebacca. Many thanks to Bol87 and to Melleebacca for giving such great advice. [csmile]
Welcome to kissingthebear It is interesting that Xovea has really helped the sufferers who have tried it. £80 for two weeks supply; my goodness; I knew it was expensive compared to some anti emetics,but that still took me aback. Acupunture really helped me, but I think my practitioner was really skilled and an incredibly minute measurement at the point of insertion of the needle seems to make a difference, from what I've heard. It generally helps sufferers a bit, but not usually as much as it did me.
MotherToone2 I so agree with the others that it seems the risk is very small. It is a hard decision to take, but doctors after all must take the decision of prescribing based on whether leaving you ineffectively medicated is more hazardous for the health of you and your baby is more dangerous than than that very small rirsk of a cleft palate. Obviuosly, the hospital is legally obliged to warn you, but it seems to me it was badly done. I am not sure if this is your first Hyperemesis Pregnancy but I attach my usual spiel just in case. Many get relief between 15 and 21 weeks, but even those unucky ones who suffer throughout almost never feel as bad later on as they do earlier on. A good anti-acid can make a big difference. Some drinks and foods of a sort that have helped others: flat full sugar coke, ice lollies, the juice of tinned fruit, Lucozade, fizzy water, Elderflower water, Robinson's fruit drinks, fizzy orange, lemonade, Dr Pepper, Elderflower coridal and tonic water (eallison's tipple), 7Up, Iron Bru, soda water, ice cubes, chocolate milkshakes (maybe soya), cocoanut milk, orange squash and sips of orange juice if not too acid. Some foods of a sort: nibbles of chips and crisps, baked potatoes, cuppa soup, cheap ice cream, tinned fruit, slices of melon and mango, Scotch pancakes and biscuits. It might be worth investing in some kesostix if you don't have them already as while they are not the best test of dehydration, hospitals do take them seriously.
Marshy86 Poor you. How infuriating about MIL giving this nasty virus to you. Very thoughtless. I am glad OH is going to play the bouncer from now on.
ClareLane Others' advice about a laxative is invaluable.
Melleebacca Keeping everything crossed for you.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

SweetpeaOrMarigold I am sorry! I somehow missed you just now. Fortunately, you have had excellent advice already. I do hope you escape it this time. As Bol87 says, unforutunately you are likely to have it this time round, but you may well escape it, or not have it so badly. I so agree, do get meds asap. I attach my normal spiel though as a veteran you are less likely to need it. A good anti-acid can make a big difference. Some drinks and foods of a sort that have helped others: flat full sugar coke, ice lollies, the juice of tinned fruit, Lucozade, fizzy water, Elderflower water, Robinson's fruit drinks, fizzy orange, lemonade, Dr Pepper, Elderflower coridal and tonic water (eallison's tipple), 7Up, Iron Bru, soda water, ice cubes, chocolate milkshakes (maybe soya), cocoanut milk, orange squash and sips of orange juice if not too acid. Some foods of a sort: nibbles of chips and crisps, baked potatoes, cuppa soup, cheap ice cream, tinned fruit, slices of melon and mango, Scotch pancakes and biscuits. It might be worth investing in some kesostix if you don't have them already as while they are not the best test of dehydration, hospitals do take them seriously.

@ClaraLane good luck! All the constipation during HG pregnancy did make pushing out a baby seem like nothing 🤣

@SweetpeaOrMarigold Love your name! Both of my daughters are named after flowers.
With you feeling so green already, I would expect you to get HG (sorry!). I highly recommend seeing your GP, starting on a course of pre-emptive meds as soon as possible. With my second, I knew what was coming and what worked for me, and while I was still very ill, I managed to delay the start of vomiting and also not vomit as much by starting meds early. I’ve done the same thing this time around, and I’m hoping my days of vomiting 4 times a day are behind me and I’m down to just once a day already at 13wks (I had 2 days of only once a day in a row and I’m getting optimistic!) good luck! We’re here for all the support you may need.

Wow thanks so much for all your advice @Bol87 @LucindaE and @Melleebacca 🙂
I've been shopping and got some of my old favourites, ginger biscuits; plain crackers and ice lollies, plus gaviscon to try (although I've never had heartburn).
Last time I remember sitting really still and trying to hold in one sip of water. Failed over and over again. That feeling of being so weak and living in the toilet bowl is not one I want to repeat.
Going to the GP tomorrow x

Thanks @LucindaE for the welcome, although I'm so sympathetic for all those suffering it's nice to know I'm not alone. Ive never met anyone IRL who has suffered with HG!

Not had a great day today, overdid it yesterday and am suffering today. Have started vomiting again, so going to up my dosage of Xonvea tomorrow (which leaflet says you can do).

Also have people staying with us who despite being politely asked not to, keep cooking garlic bread which sets me off!! ARGH this is so tough, physically and mentally. Hope everyone else is surviving x

The Fybogel has done bugger all and DH is being spectacularly useless. Still puking at least once an evening which is rubbish so went to bed on an empty stomach again last night which meant I slept like crap. Seeing the midwife on Monday so will see if she can offer me some different laxatives. I’m meant to be back at work on the 6th January but I get so travel sick that I don’t think I can cope with the hour commute each way on the bus.

Been to GP who recommended...guess what..
Ginger. Eat little and often.

Thanks for the tips but I had already told her what happened last time.
Then she said my dates are probably wrong. No. Coil out last month, bfn's until AF was due. Dates are 100% 4+2.
I'm going away on Sunday for a week to a country with limited healthcare. So shes caved and given me 24 cyclizine for emergencies and said I won't need them if I try ginger. I've eaten dried ginger, ginger in syrup, pepsi max ginger, ginger biscuits and gingerbread men. Pretty sure thats enough.

Hello all, I'm admitting defeat and checking in here as this thread was a lifesaver for me last time.

This is my second HG pregnancy- I swore I would never do it again but I was so hopeful preemptive meds would work. They haven't. I am 11 weeks and am now on max dose ondansetron, metoclopromide, cyclizine and some omeprazole for the reflux. Also have promethezine but they don't do much unless I need to go in the car.
On the upside I've only been admitted once for dehydration so far but after having a few good days I am now struggling to keep anything down so won't be long I'm sure.

I'm fed up, I wish I hadn't got pregnant again to be honest.

@SweetpeaOrMarigold get in touch with the PSS- they will help you access meds as your GP is clearly ridiculous

Also meant to say if anyone thinks they would benefit from some peer support the PSS offer that- I am (when not pregnant) a peer supporter with them and I have a supporter now I am pregnant - it's very helpful.

@justtheonethen feel so sorry for you
Can't offer any advice but just thinking of you. You must be exhausted.
Thanks for the tips, she just looked at me like I was a moron. I'm pretty senior in healthcare myself and felt like throwing my title into the ring, but just couldn't be bothered with her. Will see a different one when we get back home from holidays. Am packing ALL the crackers, gingerbread men and peppermint tea. Thats my current diet although I've just managed a bit of normal food with encouragement from OH. I just don't want to eat but I know I will feel better with something inside me.

@SweetpeaOrMarigold worth buying some phenergen over the counter just in case?

Thanks, good idea @justtheonethen . Worth packing! Tried gaviscon this morning. That was a bad idea!!!

@justtheonethen Sorry to hear you're really struggling too. I had/keep having similar thoughts as this is also my second HG pregnancy. After having my son 4 years ago I was adamant I was NEVER having any other children after what I had to endure but here I am again at 15 weeks.

I had some pretty dark thoughts in the first trimester, and I still get them now. It's so hard when you see pregnant people around you just sailing through! Like, why?

It's so isolating & having it over Christmas is just rubbish because you feel like you're trapped in your body, a prisoner in your own bedroom/bathroom! Sending you love 💓

@SweetpeaOrMarigold it's so frustrating!! I spoke to one GP who told me if I'm urinating I'm not hydrated - refused to do anything so I just had to buy my own ketostixs to test myself. He didn't understand hyperemesis at all and was totally ignorant. In the end, I just decided to speak to a different GP who luckily was much better but honestly it's only when I saw the obstetrician privately that I finally felt heard. When you're feeling so poorly and weak it's really hard to advocate for yourself. I contacted PSS like @justtheonethen suggested you do, they are so helpful and I have a peer supporter who made a real difference in my darker days.

Sorry to all missed, you're not alone 💓

@kissingthebear last time the GP was great, I tried the EPAU and they said see your gp first. I got an emergency appointment that afternoon and he phoned them and absolutely wiped the floor with them. He was going to phone an ambulance for me but I had my dad give me a lift so he let me off. Sadly hes retired now.

@SweetpeaOrMarigold

It's luck of the draw isn't it? There's one very kind, sympathetic GP at our surgery so I now only speak to him. I hope you manage to find someone more clued up 💓
Can your partner try advocating for you while you're feeling so weak? I know that since I was last pregnant there are now special HG units in some hospitals but I do think some of them need a GP referral first (annoyingly). There's info on this on the PSS website. Would paying to see a private obstetrician be an option for you? xx

Wouldn't rule anything out! Its not too bad at the moment, will see how I am when we get back from holidays. Thanks for caring x

@SweetpeaOrMarigold seriously?!? That GP is useless! No GP on the planet should recommend ginger for HG! I hope you manage through your holidays ok, and get a more useful GP when you return. My go-to is frozen coke from McDonald’s. I have one every day if I have to leave my house and it keeps me hydrated and gives me just enough calories that I don’t pass out.

@justtheonethen that’s great that you have a PSS support person! What a fabulous idea. I’m unfortunately in NZ and our population is just a wee bit small for such a support network. But I have a very compassionate GP, and midwife.
I struggled mentally the worst with my second pregnancy, because I knew what I was getting into and I felt guilt because I already had a child who was missing out while I was sick. Fortunately she doesn’t even remember me being sick last time around, and now she has a little sister that she calls her best friend, and essentially they ignore me while I lie in bed. It’s their amazing relationship that conned me into having a third. Bloody hormones.

@kissingthebear my sister in law is due a week after me, and it was tormenting to lie on the sofa at Christmas and watch her eat, drink and be merry while I could barely move. And the weekly messages of “have you tried this? It worked for me” just shows how little she understands what I’m going through.

@ClaraLane I’m not sure what that laxative is, I have laxxol tablets (2 a night to stay regular), or lactulose (stool softener). I only take the lactulose and gulp about 20mls down in the morning, it’s a sugary syrup, then I’m pooping by lunchtime. It could take longer to be effective if you’re more constipated, and you can take 2 doses a day if you’re really bad. Licorice also helps, and dried apricots, but it all depends on what you can stomach. Once I stop vomiting in about a month, I will have to start taking iron tablets which also clog me up, so constipation is something that I live with until birth.

@justtheonethen I completely know what you mean about the dark thoughts. I suffer from stress incontinence so that combined with HG is bloody awful and I remember crying at my GP last pregnancy and saying I wanted a miscarriage as I felt so awful.

The fybogel has helped somewhat - I’ve never been so happy in my life to have a 💩 before!

I’m getting really fed up with DH though and I think we’re going to have serious words tonight after DD is in bed. We’ve been trying for this baby for a year and he knows how much I’m struggling yet keeps making comments about how he’s doing things to “help” me. Mate I’m exhausted, taking multiple tablets so I don’t puke and if I do puke I piss myself. Oh and I’m constipated and bloated and my boobs are killing me.

@Melleebacca

I feel soo guilty about my son too, he says to me numerous times a day how he wishes we could spend more time together but I feel like I'm carrying around a huge weight with this nausea, it's like I can't think of anything but how dreadful I feel & how long until I think I'm next going to throw up. I'm finding it much harder this time mentally too because I know how long this road is, and I have so much guilt for being a reaction of myself. How old was your daughter when you had your last HG pregnancy?

@ClaraLane

It's so tough when you're not feeling supported. I've opened up to some friends about how I've been feeling and have found the way they've been treating me really disappointing. It can feel so isolating and lovely when people don't understand. My husband sees me being sick, the sobbing, and how negatively it impacts me and still despite trying unless you've had this horror of HG for yourself it's so hard to actually comprehend. Sending you love 💓