Can you have hyperemesis without vomiting?

[Jj93x]

So I’ve had awful nausea for basically 7 weeks now.

I’m 11 weeks today and have had nausea since before I found out when I was 4 weeks (this was what initially made me think I was pregnant!)

I’m absolutely floored with it. I am sick but not every day, probably TMI but when I am sick I’m usually sick whatever I’ve managed to eat or drink and then just yellow bile looking stuff as there’s nothing left on my stomach. I’m am drinking water but not a lot as I’m struggling because it makes me feel so sick.

I went to my doctors a few weeks back and he basically told me unless I was being sick loads they wouldn’t do anything as he didn’t think it was ok to give me any medication unless absolutely necessary.

I’m just so stressed, I’ve had 2 weeks holiday off work which I’ve just spent in bed but I’m due back Monday and I don’t know how to cope going in when I feel this ill. I feel so faint when I stand up. I can’t afford to be off sick as I’m already struggling due to time off I had for morning sickness at the end of last year.

Is it worth going to another doctor? Or my midwife? I’m really at a loss.

Yes! Yes! Absolutely yes!!!

I did vomit but it was the relentless nausea that got my hyperemesis diagnosis. I was unable to eat or drink. Lost 12lb in 3 weeks. Was dehydrated. Couldnt cope with anything.

You need to see someone that understands. Get in touch with the Pregnancy Sickness Support helpline and they will talk you through what pathway your trust should be following for you or where you can go to get the help you need.

You do not have to suffer

My suggestion would be to go to the doctor and ask for some anti-sickness medication, and if need be tell a little white lie and tell them you've started throwing up everyday. The medication will help control both sickness and nausea.

Hope you start to feel better soon

Yes I'd go and speak to MW or another doctor. I've had 2 hyperemesis pregnancies, and the first was more typical, with vomiting up to 30 times a day. The second one I vomited if I ate/drank, but most of the time I was just so nauseated I couldn't even try to eat or drink. I became extremely dehydrated and ended up in hospital multiple times for fluids and injected antiemetics. They certainly classed that as severe hyperemesis.

You are probably becoming dehydrated and have ketosis, through not eating or drinking. You could buy some ketostix and test, if you can't get a MW to check for you.

The medications used in hyperemesis are all very safe and tolerated, especially the first-line treatments. There are some old-fashioned, out of date GPs who are still nervy about them (they were probably around for thalidomide tragedy, or believe it's all in the mind), but there's tons of evidence they're safe. If you get admitted for fluids you might find that you have a few days where you're less nauseated and can keep down a little fluid/food.

YES! It took me till 14 weeks and a hospital admission to realise that the constant severe nausea and over a stone in weight loss were not normal. I think it's easy to focus on the severe vomiting that some poor women get but it doesn't mean it's any more fun at the nausea end of the scale too. I was only managing about 400 cals a day at the most and some days did throw that up. Go and get yourself sorted

Maybe tell them how much weight you've lost, and also how many calories you're managing to get in (MyFitnessPal app is quite useful).

he didn’t think it was ok to give me any medication unless absolutely necessary
Idiot doctor, I'm so angry on your behalf. I guess he doesn't believe it when women say they're in pain either. 😡
Definitely go to another doctor! I just said to mine, "give me cyclizine for my morning sickness", that's it no discussion, and I got my prescription

Yes! I was like that!

I've had HG in two pregnancies. I've had countless medications and none of them stopped me FEELING sick. They only stopped me BEING sick. I feel sorry for you as its awful but it won't be forever. Do whatever you can that gets you through the day.

The doctor sounds completely ignorant about HG which is, unfortunately, common. Have you seen the ongoing HG support thread on here? Loads of knowledgeable people and resources on there that you can take to show your GP.

I had HG with both pregnancies, the second was far worse than the first. I almost never vomited, I think I only vomited 2-3 times during each pregnancy, yet the feeling of nausea was so strong I could not eat, brush my teeth, kiss DH, smell a kitchen/restaurant/supremarket, etc. and I even had trouble drinking water. Of course other women have it a lot worse, but it doesn't mean that 'just nausea' is not debilitating nor potentially dangerous if you become dehydrated.