Is it normal to feel this ill?

[Luckyme30]

Hi all

I’ve made many posts over the last week, I’m writing this in complete despair hoping that someone can tell me if this is normal or not??...

I’m 7 weeks pregnant and For the last few days all I’ve been able to do is lie in bed, occasionally going downstairs for a drink. I have severe nausea (although no vomiting yet) but moving makes me feel extremely notion sick :(

Every time I get up I feel light headed and dizzy, I’ve just got out of the shower the whole time whilst in the shower I felt unsteady and my whole body just aches all over.

I’ve been suffering with cold chills and hot sweats at night, I’m normally fast asleep by 7pm in the evening and have 1 or 2 naps throughout the day.

I just feel so weak and it’s making me question if this is normal, should I call the doctor, I’m wondering if it’s a symptom of HG even though not physically being sick.. or possible my iron levels but I’m really getting tearful over this as I just can’t handle this feeling.

I feel as though I have no strength at all :(

Aw sounds awful op!
Early pregnancy definitely can take it out of you- the nausea etc the doctor could prescribe you something for it which could really help. I would definitely make an appointment to discuss your other symptoms- perhaps a blood test might be needed. Hope u feel better soon

Sounds like it is HG
Mine started at week 6
Drink lots of water & fizzy drinks, this helps you feel less nauseous.
Eat when you can, or you will lose weight.
Go to the GP, the anti-emetics do work.

Sounds about right. It's the most awful feeling for some of us, I had it and it broke me. Use your GP to get help as soon as possible as the meds do help take the symptoms away.

I'm 21 weeks and felt similar from about 6 weeks. I got meds from GP and it changed my life. Don't endure it because you think it's just a part of pregnancy, go Dr's and get meds so that you can function.

The first trimester can be truly horrific. It gets better eventually though, I didn't need meds from around 16-17 weeks x

Sounds like HG i had it with my 3rd was bed bound or in hospital for the 1st 16 weeks... i was being sick up to 40 times a day. Plz ring 111 x

Thank you all :)

I have anti sickness medication which I’m taking. Im just wondering if its possible I still have very little energy even though I’m able to eat and drink or whether it’s down to low iron?

I have an appointment to see my GP tomorrow; she is very understanding so hopefully she’ll be happy to test iron levels. Is there anything else I should be asking to be checked for at this stage?

This is how I’ve been feeling too. I’m 11 weeks now and the dizziness is subsiding a little and the sickness/vomiting has been mainly in the evenings only. I’ve been off work since 6 weeks as I felt just like how you described. I now have a cold which has knocked me again but I was definitely improving! Hope this helps x

You can change meds if you don't feel like they're doing much. Some work for you and some don't. Don't be afraid to ask for different ones.

Definitely get iron levels checked x

I’m already stressing over how I’m going to handle a week at work this week (I had 2 days off sick last week) but work don’t know yet so I’m debating whether to let my boss know. Just really worried about taking so much time off and letting my team down, I also really didn’t want to tell anyone until after 12 weeks, so still another 4-5 weeks to go really!

This is my second lot of tablets they’ve tried me on in a week.

I just wish there was something I could do to help with the energy levels, I’m eating really well as if I don’t eat is when I feel the worst in terms of nausea. So struggling to understand why I’m this lethargic.

Was anyone admitted to hospital for HG without sickness or is it generally only with sickness? Sounds silly but I guess I would feel less guilty about not being in work if I was being sick!

Can’t recommend diarolyte and coconut water enough to keep you hydrated. The more you’re sick the worse you feel the more you’re sick, it’s a vicious cycle.
Don’t be afraid to call your doctor - it’s what they’re there for!

Personally I would tell work as I believe pregnancy related sickness is treated differently and is protected?

Ooh will try both, didn’t realise we could have diarolyte!
Is Lucozade ok does anyone know? I’m desperately trying to find something that will give me some energy.

@Emelene I think you are right it may be protected, I would just prefer not to let the rest of my team know being as my parents don’t even know - but we are such a close work team they would all (quite rightly) be concerned as to me being off work for a long period of time. It’s so difficult to deal with it!

You would normally have routine bloods at 8 weeks so ask GP/midwife if you can get them done a bit earlier. Iron is the obvious thing to check for but there might be something else. See what GP says about symptoms, I don't think cold chills / hot sweats are normal pregnancy symptoms?

Everyone has their reasons for wanting to tell people or not but my advice is to tell your parents and your manager. The first trimester sucks at the best of times and you're having a particularly tough time. For me it was and is a relief to tell people and have their understanding and support.

May just be pregnancy sickness as others have said but get your GP to check for a UTI just in case as this can cause some of the symptoms you mention. Hope you feel better soon!

Thank you all for your advice!

I am booked in to see GP in the morning so will ask her about bloods, I’m not due to see midwife until 1st April so can’t really wait. Think I will see what my GP suggests about the symptoms and if it is HG I’ll have a word with my boss and explain the situation.
I’m honestly dreading a full week at work so think I’m going to need to speak to her sooner rather than later.

I'm in the exact same position as you OP. I've been mostly in bed since last weekend and the sickness has really started the last couple of days. I too feel annoyed with myself and I know everyone is supposed to understand but unless you've been here you don't.
I am also on my second lot of antisematics 🤷🏻‍♀️. I do t have any answers but I do understand and you're not alone.

I feel for you Op, I had this from the day of my missed period up until 10 weeks, then it settled. But god it made me depressed. Hopefully the dr can help x

@Luckyme30 I’ve been feeling exactly the same since Week 6 and I’m coming up to Week 8. I only vomit occasionally but I feel faint and dizzy all the time and it’s making it hard to even work from home so I’ve been off for a week or so now. I told my work about my pregnancy on Monday which was really hard for me as I wanted to wait until 12w. I don’t have much advice really as the doctors gave me antiemetics but they don’t seem to work for me so I may need to go back. Just wanted to comment and say you’re not alone in feeling like this, even showering or doing a load of washing is a huge mission for me. I didn’t realise that morning sickness could be like this. I thought it was occasionally throwing up! I’m just trying to keep drinking fluids as much as poss. Trying to stay grateful for being pregnant as i just want all to go ok.
Hope things get easier for you this week.

Do look up the HG support thread on Mumsnet. It was my lifeline. All the drugs info links are on there too.
Do tell your boss/ family as you are going to need support.

Definitely lucozade! Have the max sugar you can buy.

I had a water infection and I felt like that. None of the burning when you pee stuff at all. Might be worth getting it checked.

Thank you again ladies for all your supportive comments!

It seems many of us are really suffering with this :( what makes me feel worse is that I’m not physically sick - I heave and wretch (sorry) many times so I feel like my doctor won’t take me too seriously re the dehydration/fatigue because I’m not being sick!

I’ve woken feeling ‘ok’ today, just hoping that I can make it through a day at work today...

Still on the fence about telling work - I think realistically I’m going to need to make it known pretty soon as I can’t see myself lasting a whole week at work. It’s just so exhausting at the moment.

Will also check about the UTI, something just doesn’t seem right, I did wonder if it was because I was spending so much time in bed that when I was standing up I was using so much energy having been led in bed for so long!

OP, what you describe is the early stages of each of my 4 viable pregnancies, though I did throw up a bit too. All I can say is, it did get easier eventually.

You mention going downstairs to get yourself a drink. Would you be able to stay better hydrated with a bottle or jug beside your bed?

Oh yes keep water/fizzy beside the bed. So you can drink before you even get up.

And buy some ketosis testing sticks from boots. People on Atkins use these. Wee on it and the colour tells you how dehydrated you are.
Show this to the doc if they are not taking you seriously

What did it end up being OP?