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.

*@Clarkel1 I post this in an attempt to sympathise with you that I too have had very frustrating conversations with EPU/ midwife. I do hope you are ok and am disappointed for you that you are not getting the support you need. Much love.

@Pygmyseahorse and @Clarkel1 sorry you are both having a tough time on top of the HG

@IAmSeriousAndDontCallMeShirley can't believe you are managing to do proper food for your girls. You are amazing! My husband is on furlough until next week so we have been frantically bulk cooking and filling the freezer otherwise it's beans on toast for the foreseeable future I love how resilient children are tho, they are good at playing around us when they need to. I managed a nap this morning with only a small amount of bickering in the background!

Yesterday the dr was really happy to prescribe me cyclizine and something for acid. I explained I couldn't stomach gaviscon and he said that was fine but lo and behold it was gaviscon when hubby for back from the chemist today. So I rang back and they said there is a nationwide shortage on ranitidine (which I didn't think they were prescribing in pregnancy anymore anyway) but he was happy to try me on 20mg omeprazole once a day. What have others been prescribed of this? Also he said you can't have it with ondanestron but I can't find any information online which supports that. Does anyone know?

And last question...sorry! How have you gone about getting maternity exemption forms/cards sorted? We will struggle to pay the prescription charges for too much longer as we have been on one furloughed wage for a while.

Thanks

@Snowwhite2020 that's terrible, they were the same with me. I was crying in pain and told me to come back if I was bleeding heavily otherwise stay at home. Its so hard during the pandemic but at least you are over the pains now at least, and the further you are the more they listen tk you I think.

How are you doing today?

@Herewegoagainx4 I'm so impressed by you! I really struggle cooking for dd! The smell of yogurts and cheese especially but I'm lucky she won't eat meat as that's the worst just now for me

As for omeprazole I was on that with dd after trying ondansetron, I can't remember the dose but it did help for a while so I hope it gives you some relief. I'm also trying cyclizine at the moment though its my first day on it so can't offer much there, it didn't help with dd but fingers crossed!

Re exemptions, how far along are you again? I think my midwife gave me it at 16 week appointment before and expect it around then this time, perhaps give them a call and see if they will post you out the paperwork?

I have a medical exemption but will need the maternity one for dental work when it reopens so hopefully it's still being done. Worth a try chasing up though.
My disability bus pass via council runs out in a couple of months and been told I won't get it renewed for a while with the pandemic

Pleased you managed to get a nap in! I resorted to TV for dd and napped today too.. I am so exhausted!

Sending love to all

Hi all, on the prescriptions, I had an exemption filled out by my midwife there and then and she sent it off for me. I don't know about any qualification at the 16 week mark.

Small update, have been keeping food and water down but find that by 4pm I'm absolutely zoned with fatigue and nausea. Mostly dry heaving with a few days of actually something coming up, so maybe the Ondansetron is working. I too am having bad reflux but my GP won't prescribe me any omeprazole (contraindications for Ondan and pregnancy hormones, apparently). I've been suckling down Tums...not to much effect. Am now trying to sleep a little propped up.

Wishing you are all well and coping ok. Grim weather around my parts is not helping the mood. I'm going to start antidepressants for antenatal/prenatal blues...the HG isn't helping that in any way xxx

I'm 6 weeks @Pygmyseahorse so early days still. Haven't got full on food aversions yet so can cook for now. I reckon over the weekend I will take a downturn. Tho hopefully the pre emptive meds will help. I have used cyclizine in all my previous pregnancies initially. It takes a few days to build up into the system so you're best off sticking with the 3 a day and waiting for it to then hopefully kick in. Some people feel a bit dizzy or funny on it tho. Last time around Ondanestron worked well further on in the pregnancy, but I just hadn't heard you can't have it with Omeprazole..? I'm gonna need the exemption before 16 weeks l, it cost £18 odd today and another £9 for the omeprazole tomorrow. And they only give 10 days worth. Cannot afford £18 every 10 days for the next 10 weeks. I think last time the dr gave me a form before I had seen the MW so perhaps I am best off ringing the surgery and asking...They'll be fed up of me! I've seem some stuff online saying they are encouraging online applications but no idea how that works either. I guess everything is such a learning curve in current conditions.

How old is your little one? The telly is absolutely our friend during this - it just trying to find the programmes with the least annoying theme tunes

Sorry @Seeker2020 I didn't see your post. I will try asking the surgery, not sure when I will actually see the MW. Well done for managing to keep something down, little steps The late afternoon fatigue and nausea sounds familiar from what I remember. In fact, I definitely hold on until OH is home from work and then try and sleep as much as possible. The plus side of working from home when he is working again is that there is no commute so can doze from earlier on.

Sorry re the reflux. I don't know what else might help...

It's great you are getting help for depression. It's still such a taboo subject in pregnancy and after birth too. How far along are you? Have you got a supportive MW?

Thanks everyone, so the bleeding is definitely not there midwife called and aid that bleeding and pain is a sign of the urine infection so to carry on with the antibiotics ! I'm really not enjoying this pregnancy at all I feel ok in the mornings and then by 2pm the acid starts the nausea starts and my mouth is constantly filling with water as if I'll be sick and I'm not sick a lot. I'm so fed up, I have just actually cried because I'm upstairs and husband is making chicken and I can smell it I'm not cooking for anyone and I can barely go in my kitchen it's almost like I have PTSD from my fridge and dishwasher or something and that's on top of the worry about everything... oh dear god make these weeks go quick 😞😞

I mean not there anymore from last night 😃

Warning food references

@Seeker2020 it’s really good you’ve made the decision to start on anti depressants. Pregnancy is hard and HG is particularly hard and makes pregnancy very hard to enjoy... good for you for looking after yourself. I always found it very frustrating when people implied I should be “enjoying it” more when I had just thrown up for the fourth time that day... I will love my baby for ever (and already do) but pregnancy has not been a joy so far!

@Clarkel1 I so sympathise- the constant water in the mouth is one of the worst symptoms and I too cannot bear the smell of cooking or the fridge (see comment earlier this week about throwing up after getting milk out the fridge!) I have also had several very bad experiences with chicken and also eggs and also coffee. I had a really hard time trying to explain to my DH exactly what form of torture the smell of these foods inflicts on me... we are both first time parents... but since I am still vomiting quite badly at 16 weeks and still on medication I think it has finally sunk in.

Very very frustrating and utterly miserable for you. The constant water in the mouth has decreased for me to a much more manageable level but I still have a great many food aversions and I suspect I will have them until that blissful moment post birth that I enjoy hearing about so much! Hope some of this is a comfort to you- to at least know you are not alone.

Love and waves to everyone especially @Pygmyseahorse who is in my thoughts xx

For those in the early weeks asking about mat exemption forms- I asked to see me midwife early for booking appointment explaining that I'm complicated in pregnancy and it's starts early on. So got my form earlier than I would have otherwise. Might be worth a try?

@Snowwhite2020 yes it is horrible and I don't have the most sympathetic husband as he doesn't get why I'm like this now and not with other pregnancies ! I am almost in tears at every single smell I cried earlier and there he came in with a can of air freshener to eliminate the smell and I honestly felt like I was going to kill him with the can 😡 it made it a lot worse. ... men 😞 x

Just about caught up with the thread. It's moving quickly at the moment!
Sorry to hear of so many of us are suffering at the moment. You are all so strong. Every day is one day closer.

Bad few days here, not sure why I'm going downhill at 16 weeks- but there you go!

Also had a phone call from hospital this afternoon, cardiology have finally seen my referral and want me in tomorrow at 08:30. Very thankful because I know my heart is beginning to struggle, I'm feeling rotten. I'm previous pregnancies they have been able to support with medications quite well. But before they did in my first I started collapsing a lot. I'm worried that I will fall at home with the girls and it will frighten them.

Lucinda re: the bucket- I have used the same one for all pregnancies. It's been sent to live in the shed in between... after this very definite LAST time I may gave a special recycling ceremony...

herewegoagainx4 batch cooking is a life saver! Good work! I got to the bottom of my freezer preparations about 2 weeks ago. Glad it wasn't any earlier as cooking then was much harder.

Waving to you all and wishing you all better weeks ahead

Clarkel I am glad the bleeding has stopped, anyway. With an mc, it gets heavier and a deeper shade of red, usually.
Pygmyseahorse Thinking of you.
SnowWhite2020 That makes no sense to me, what they told you earier, about using a pregnancy test. I'm not medically qualified, but when I had an mmc, the doctor said that a positive test would mean nothing as the hormones would still be very high. I am glad all turned out well, anyway.
IAmSeriousAndPleaseDon'tCallMeShirley It was brave of you to keep the Orange Bucket of Horror.I must have misread your post, as I thought you mentioned 'height' and I meant to ask about it, sorry. I hope they sort that out.

HereWeGoAgain I am puzzled by this, as I am sure various sufferers on here have been on Ondansetron and Omprazole. As you are a veteran, I have no need to give warnings about laxatives...
Waves to all. Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

@Clarkel1 I have been in tears many times myself over feeling rotten with sickness and nausea but much less often as the weeks have gone on. I hope things improve for you- hang in there!

@IAmSeriousAndDontCallMeShirley That sounds very daunting about your heart. I do hope the hospital see you and help you get the medication/ support you need to feel safe and well for the rest of the pregnancy.

@LucindaE I know, it was just the most awful comment and I also thought it was a redundant task anyway... I imagine it was said out of desperation since the hospital had refused to see me?? Who knows. Definitely won’t be something I will forget in a flash! I have to put it out my mind every time I see my midwife now!

Hope everyone has a restful night (or as restful as can be!)

I’m away to take another anti acid and an anti emetic... sigh!

Love to all xx

So much to catch up on!

@herewegoagainx4 haha im so pleased it's not just me, and I too am trying different ones to find the least annoying! She's 3 and a half now. Has a couple of health problems which make me concerned when I'm just barely functioning to watch and check and do physio etc. Feel like I'm failing her, but been looking into things we can do or buy or make which may help a bit more.

@seeker2020 I'm so sorry your feeling low but hope the antidepressants help soon enough. As I'm epileptic I can't tolerate many and really struggle with pnd as it got to the point where I couldn't manage medication. It's a tough slog, and HG most definitely doesn't help I know. Hope you have support around you and we are here for you too.

@Clarkel1 oh no, the watery mouth and smell and a version's has hit me so hard this time too. Air freshener and shaving foam are up there with the worst. In fact, even before I took a test I could not stand my dh! His smell, his noises... Omg I mean obviously I love him dearly but my god my pregnancy senses to not!! We have pets inside which I'm struggling with at the moment. All I have found helpful at times is putting the diffuser on weak and can usually cope with eucalyptus/peppermint and lavender mix but just not for too long. I put it on maybe 10 mins and it just about is manageable. Hope it gets a little better for you.

@Iamseriousanddontcallmeshirley I'm so sorry to hear about cardiac problems and your concerns. At the very least an appointment should be made soon? Are you under consultant care then and has it been lagging?
Re collapsing, I know it's not the same (how old are your girls?) but I have had many many seizures in front of my dd since birth. She's seen me having 4 in the past week and it upsets her but she's incredibly caring, fetches daddy and babies for me to cuddle and pillows etc.
I find talking to her about it, especially if I'm feeling unwell can help a little. She's still young but loves being my Dr. I am sure it's difficult and may not help you but I really hope for all your sake it won't get to that point with you collapsing.

@Snowwhite2020 how are you getting on? I read your sickness has ramped up? I was so hopeful :( fingers crossed you get a slightly better day soon

Sending love to all, very sorry to anyone I've missed

My sickness has heightened, afternoons and evenings and through the night particularly. Water triggers it most times too but I'm so thirsty :(

I've found mentally today I feel a little less anxious, knowing we have done all we can just now with the iona and me going nuts for a week or 2 won't change the outcome. I'm trying hard to be strong for my dd, and trying to summon energy for a cleaning frenzy which helps me cope.
I use koh, it's fragrance free otherwise I have no idea how I'd manage in pregnancy to clean at all
Awaiting more exam marks but got firsts so far. At least that's a relief

Sending love to all, so many struggling at the moment :(

@Pygmyseahorse glad to hear you are feeling a little calmer about everything you’re going through at the moment. You have done everything you can do and should be proud of yourself. We also use Koh as it’s the best for lack of fragrance. It’s so funny to hear others here are so affected by the smell of cleaning products- I have had a really hard time explaining this one to my DH who thinks it smells “clean” when mother products are used when it makes you feel like you’re going to suffocate when you have HG!

I had a bad vomiting session last not long after posting which led to stomach pain all night and headache this morning. Not great! Here’s hoping for a better day today for all.

Xx

@Pygmyseahorse have been thinking of you, hope you manage to keep the anxiety at bay

Sorry to hear you had a rough night @snowwhite2020 🙏🏻 For a better day.

xx

@Snowwhite2020 aww poor you, that's rubbish. Are you happy to take Paracetamol? I feel like all my muscles are torn from last night's sickness too its not nice is it. Good old relaxin
Hope you have a better day today though

I'm just detached from baby, I think that's why I'm coping a little and needed the test done because I'm worried ill end up not bonding or getting pre or pnd if baby is OK etc.

I know it’s rough isn’t is @Pygmy I actually threw up a bit of blood last night so maybe I did actually tear something...

Thank you @KatieFTM for well wishes xx

@Pygmyseahorse I would try not to worry about feeling detached form bump at this exact moment in time. I am sure you will feel better once you have a bit of certainty. I always find the unknown the hardest thing and I imagine that is what is so difficult for you right now. Lots of love to you and please be kind to yourself xxx

@katieFTM aww thank you :) how are you today?

@Snowwhite2020 ouch, maybe get checked out? Do you have quite a lot of?pain? I know it's easy to irrate your stomach or oesophagus which can cause bleeding amongst other things.

I don’t have pain in my throat this morning and just the usual gnawing pain in my stomach which is the daily companion to HG... :/ shows you how normalised sickness becomes that you throw up blood and my only thought was “oh that’s new” xx

Thank you all for the kind messages. Just had loads of tests done, now waiting outside in my car for the consultant at about 11. Needed to get out and take the hot and humid face mask off as it's really not helping nausea.

My heart condition was diagnosed during my first pregnancy. They think I have always had it but the extra cardiac load during pregnancy makes it worse.

It was bad in my first pregnancy, and took a while to settle with medication. Better with second as we knew what to expect and treated earlier. This time it's bad again because I haven't been able to access proper treatment yet. Hopefully that will be remedied from today.

pygmyseahorse I should be under consultant care, but not seen anyone this pregnancy die to Covid. I was induced early in both previous pregnancies because of the heart condition and expect the same this time, but having not seen anyone haven't been able to discuss. November is a long way off, so hoping to have seen someone by then

My daughter has epilepsy, so understand your situation. Sorry that you have been struggling to keep meds down. It's just and extra layer of worry you don't need. It sounds like the you have explained things really well for DC. I think my biggest worry about the collapsing is that my husband is about to go away until the end of October. So I'll be home alone, have told the girls to go and knock on our neighbours door if 'mummy falls down'. Luckily we have lots of good neighbours who are usually home.

Waving to everyone. X

Hi guys :) hope you done mind me joining... im 9+3 and really really struggling. I was in hospital last week with HG and I thought we had gotten on top of it. They gave me cyclizine hydrochloride which really did help, I felt like my normal self at the weekend, eating and I was even able to go out! But it’s gone downhill again since Tuesday, like the tablets don’t work at all. I’m bed bound and throw up with any movement, struggling to get anything into my body. I just keep crying ‘how am I gonna do this for another 30+ weeks?’ This is also my first and right now it will definitely be my last! I’ve called the midwife this morning who has advised me to book in with my gp so they can check the keynotes in my urine and administer me different medication and I’m waiting to hear back now but does anyone else find that their GP really isn’t helpful so I’m not holding out much hope... I’m supposed to be going back to work in July but I really don’t know how I’m going to manage that, no one ever prepared me for how horrible the early stages of pregnancy can be..

@Pygmyseahorse I’m having a bad week of it, sounds like everyone is :( I think it’s worse because I had a couple of good days on the run and I’ve gone downhill quite a lot over the course of the week.
@mrsjamielweir welcome, sorry that you are joining us :( I am sure you will find everyone’s support very worthwhile
I can totally relate about the GP I have another call with mine later today and I am going to beg for additional meds, surprisingly I had to request the male doctor who was very sympathetic and understanding because the lady last time asked me what I was expecting her to do 😩 like this it totally normal - she clearly hasn’t suffered herself....