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.

@littledice I was initially on cyclizine however I was continuously sick with them the doctor then put me on promethazine hydrochloride 25mg at night, I'm guessing that with him wanting me to ring and have a review tomorrow he may decide to increase the dose?

@Snowwhite2020 I haven't tried an anti acid but I will speak to gp tomorrow about it and see what they recommend thank you xx

Hi everyone. Sorry I have been a bit quiet, just struggling a bit and had a few nights of terrible sleep/sickness so really not feeling great.

Particularly feeling down today as DH has to work on Saturday having worked Mon-Fri and will actually be out of the house for so far an indeterminate amount of time - likely at least 8 hours. And he then tells me today he is going to have to go in tomorrow and to work evenings this week too. He won't get the time back either. Might be allowed Monday next week off but probably not all of it and will be looked down on for asking. It just isn't sustainable family living.

Also feeling jealous of SIL who announced her 3rd pregnancy this weekend - a surprise and because she hasn't had regular periods had an scan promptly and is expecting early Feb which is when I am roughly due too. But I am insanely struggling because I don't even have a date for a scan yet and also because she has said how tired she has been and how hard that is (she does have a 3 yr old and 18 month old plus a fairly new puppy so I know that is horrid) but it's so hard to respond rationally when I would give anything for tiredness over HG. She doesn't know I am pregnant and isn't being insensitive or anything and will be thrilled to know we're expecting at a similar time and sympathetic about HG even tho she doesn't really understand. I think I am mostly annoyed at myself for the irrational feelings about it all!

Moan over! Feel better already

Sorry I never replied @JadeBA2 this is my 4th and quite the surprise. My youngest is not long turned 1, and I have a 2 and a 6 year old to boot. It is wretched but trying to remind myself that we do at least like the 3 we have so this one will likely be worth it in the end! It's such hard work with little ones and I do think more intense when on their own as of course your DD will just want you to play with her etc but honestly she won't remember this at all and she won't really remember a time without a sibling either which is lovely. Even my 6 year old who knows what to expect deals with it really well and she's delighted to have another one even if I haven't got my head around it. Children are resilient little things. How was your weekend?

Welcome @angelascott Sorry you're suffering too. I definitely second the advice of an antacid, do ask the GP and clearly you need an increased dose or a different anti emetic medicine. That very much sounds not sufficient at all. Normally with cyclizine they add other meds in as it can work really well alongside others and be much more effective. Have a look on the pregnancy sickness support website, it has great info re different meds you can ask for and good advice for talking to GPs. Be persistent and insistent, and don't hesitate to ask to speak to another dr if they are not being very helpful. They shouldn't be withholding medicines from you or reluctant to prescribe anything.

I have found it very much varies dr to dr. At the moment I can't get my meds on repeat prescription as the two drs I have been able to speak to don't think it's appropriate I have that access to the medication in pregnancy but I will ask every time I speak to them and as I am likely to speak to different ones, someone will be happy to do it in the end. It's a pain tho!

Did you sleep any better last night @Snowwhite2020?

@Herewegoagainx4 I did sleep better, thank you and much sympathy to you about sickness keeping you up through the night. I had this for the first 5-16 weeks Nearly every night and it was just awful... I think HG can feel very isolating and I honestly don’t think people who have never had it can understand the particular torture of 24/7 nausea, reflux and sickness. For most nausea is what happens in the few minutes before a vomit... HG is on another level and most will simply never experience it. When you are tired and suffering it’s easy to feel hard done by. It’s definitely not fair and I definitely get it. You must be in the eye of the storm now? How many weeks are you now? Much love and sympathy xxx

Thanks for the kind words @Snowwhite2020 think I am coming up to 10 weeks so expecting the next few weeks to be grim. That said I certainly haven't been as bad as I feared the last couple so the early meds are helping. Also I think not being able to go anywhere with the children - no toddler groups, extra curriculars or appointments - does help a bit too with conserving the energy. Tho the children could do with more of a run around it's true. Still they haven't got up to too much mischief yet!

Hi @angelascott welcome, sorry you are suffering. I am also on promethazine, the doesage working for me is one in the morning and one in the evening. Hopefully the doctors can review this for you and you get some much needed relief.
@littledice sorry to hear that your trial of reducing meds didn’t work well, give it a few more weeks and 🤞🏻
@Herewegoagainx4 you are such a trooper, moan all you like on here. It’s so hard when other pregnant ladies don’t understand what it feels like, how debilitating and mentally draining the sickness is.
@Snowwhite2020 hope that the coming days continue to be full of good sleep 🙏🏻
@Pygmyseahorse sending a big hug and hope you are okay xx

Welcome to angelscott. You already have had great advice, a nd I do hope that the doctor increasing the dose on the review helps a lot. Everyone is very supportive on here. I am sorry about your previous mc's. I only had one, and that was distressing enough. I will add your due date after posting this. Here is my usual spiel, which I hope may be helpful.
Most sufferers find that they improve a lot at some point between weeks 14 and 20. A good anti acid can make a surprising difference to the sickness. Kesostix are worth buying online or from a chemists, as while they aren't they best test of dehydration, hospitals take them seriously. Some drinks that have helped others besides that apple juice and foods of a sort. full sugar flat coke, ice lollies, the juice of tinned fruit, Lucozade, apple juice, Dr Pepper, soda water, Elderflower water, tonic water, ice cubes, Iron Bru, lemonade, lemon squash, orange squash, orange juice (if not too acid), fizzy orange, 7Up, isotonic drinks, sips of chocolate milkshake (maybe soya), fizzy water and Robinson's fruit drinks. Foods of a sort include tinned fruit, cuppa soup, nibbles of crisps and chips, cheap ice cream, Scotch pancakes, slices of melon and mango, grated cheese, baked potatoes, grated cheese and biscuits.
SnowWhite2020 I am glad you got a good sleep. I so agree with you and Herewegoagainx4 that being awake and suffering in the night is very horrible. Herewegoagainx4 Feel free to moan all you like. That is what this thread is for. But it sounds as if you have three sweet and well balanced LO's, and that is so enviable, though it doesn't feel that way now! In fact, I wonder how anyone manages with Hyperemesis and even one LO. I so agree that Hyperemesis is totally unfair.
Waves to littledice KatieFTM Seeker2020 and everyone. I'll post the updated Due Dates in a moment.

Due Dates
justtheonethen 18 July
Ummasomebody 20 July TWINS!
areallthenamestaken 24 July
boulevardofbrokendreams 2 August
Calliope87 20 August
sickandtiredofsick 29 August
Connie222 3 September
ConstantlyPanicking 17th September
Lemondrop99 6 November
Nifler2019 13 November
IAmSeriousAndDon'tCallMeShirely 22 Nov
FilthyforFirth 26 November
SnowWhite2020 26 November
IGottaGetThroughThis 6 December
Pygmyseahorse 18 December
KatieFTM 20 December
angelascott 21 Janaury

Hi Everyone!
I've been struggling with the nausea the past few days, the vomiting is only once a day in the evening but the constant nausea is really tough. I'm wondering does anyone know if the promethazine can be taken with ondanstron as noticed a few people seem to be taking that & wonder if it would be better than cyclizine for nausea? I know the ondanstron is really keeping vomiting at bay so I'd refuse to change that!
Also, a symptom I never had before - my mouth is constantly filling up, especially at night, I'm having to keep a bowl by the bed (sorry tmi), anyone found anything to help that? It's really not helping the nausea :(
I'm so hoping this is just temporary as I thought I was past the worst when I started improving a bit at 9 weeks!

@Herewegoagainx4 - I sympathise with you, it's such hard work. Amazing you have been through this 3 times already, what a trooper you are! So comforting to know that my daughter won't remember this phase! Hope you manage to get some better sleep.

Sending thoughts to everyone struggling at the moment x

@kissingthebear and @beautyandthebump massive congratulations to you both

I only skim read but did I miss @stayclosepooky announcement?

It's been a while since I've been on the thread, I'm 38 weeks and still on steroids, ondansetron, metoclopromide and omeprazole. I struggle with reading about sickness when I'm having better days as it makes me panic and the bad days I've had have floored me. I can't believe I'm finally at the top of the list! This pregnancy has felt never ending and I'm so pleased it's nearly over and I NEVER have to do this again. I'm being induced next week and I can't wait. Last time all the sickness just disappeared once I delivered the placenta and I can't wait for that feeling again!

Sending love and strength to all that are suffering

Thanks @KatieFTM How are you getting on at the minute?

@JadeBA2 I'm afraid I have always found the nausea to be constant. It varies woman to woman, but for me that's just how it is until about 20 weeks. The cyclizine and Ondansetron is a great combo for me on the whole tho and is certainly better than without! I do get a fair amount of saliva but it varies, I normally have a towel to hand or spit into the bowl. Others may have some more helpful advice...

@justtheonethen how exciting that you are so close to the end! Well done for hanging in there. Here's hoping you have a smooth last week dreaming about the wonders of post birth toast

@justtheonethen congratulations you are so near the end! You must be elated and so excited to finally meet your baby :) another HG warrior away to win the battle. Good luck and let us know how you get on xx

Hay all!

Lily Dulcie arrived a day before her due date on 17th June. Sorry for the late announcement!

I was prescribed Metaclopramide following an admission to hospital due to the hyperemesis. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that one of the side effects of these meds was depression and anxiety. So anyone else out there taking it and not feeling quite right that may be the cause. It's been a long pregnancy and really stressful but now she's here, and with the right support, I'm starting to heal.

There is light at the end, good luck ladies xx

@StayClosePooky oh massive congratulations

Hey lovelies

Hope you don't mind me joining
I'm 7 weeks and currently suffering with HG

I was given cyclizine yesterday and today's the first day taking it

So far I haven't been as bad as yesterday but still feel like death.

Hoping joining and speaking to people who are going through what I am may make me feel better as I'm surrounded by people who just think I have 'morning sickness' 😞

How long did this last for you all?

I'm trying to not think of how long I have left but it's so difficult not to x
Just keep thinking of that baby at the end of the long tunnel z

Hope yous are all okay sending lots of love xx

mia22221 Welcome. Everyone is very helpful here. I hope the cyclizine continues to help, but if it doesn't, there are other meds that they can try.
On the length that this typically lasts and other things, here is my normal spiel which I hope will help. Here is my usual spiel, which I hope may be helpful.
Most sufferers find that they improve a lot at some point between weeks 14 and 20. A good anti acid can make a surprising difference to the sickness. Kesostix are worth buying online or from a chemists, as while they aren't they best test of dehydration, hospitals take them seriously. Some drinks that have helped others besides that apple juice and foods of a sort. full sugar flat coke, ice lollies, the juice of tinned fruit, Lucozade, apple juice, Dr Pepper, soda water, Elderflower water, tonic water, ice cubes, Iron Bru, lemonade, lemon squash, orange squash, orange juice (if not too acid), fizzy orange, 7Up, isotonic drinks, sips of chocolate milkshake (maybe soya), fizzy water and Robinson's fruit drinks. Foods of a sort include tinned fruit, cuppa soup, nibbles of crisps and chips, cheap ice cream, Scotch pancakes, slices of melon and mango, grated cheese, baked potatoes, grated cheese and biscuits.
StayClosePooky Congratulations on Lily Dulcie. Enjoy her, as you have had a long haul. Thank you so much for your encouraging message.
justtheonethen I have been wondering how things are with you. I am glad you are so near the end and all luck for the induction. Do tell us how things are when baby is here, as SnowWhite2020 says.
JadeBA2 Constant nausea is dismal. Unfortunately, that can be hard for the meds to relieve. Do you find an anti acid helps? The spittle is horrible. Never worry about tmi, no such thing on here. Some find boiled sweets help with the bad taste, but its so difficult with the excess saliva, and many go about with a spitting bowl or as others say, a towel. It's awful. For many it does reduce later on. On grim side symptoms, I was going to ask if the doctor prescribed a laxative with the Ondansetron as its locking up bowels is such a common side effect?
Waves to Herewegoagain SnowWhite2020 and everyone. I hope the insomnia isn't too bad.

@JadeBA2 I did some reading around the efficacy of ondansetron and promethazine and found studies suggesting their individual efficacies are very similar. One study that combined promethazine and ondansetron found some slight improvement in nausea with the combination over promethazine alone (but didn't look at the combination vs ondansetron alone.) So combining can be done but it doesn't seem to offer much improvement over one drug alone and as it comes with some increased risk of side effects I don't think it's recommended. Sorry you're suffering, the nausea has definitely been the worst part for me, but it has been much more manageable since 14 weeks. Hang in there xx

Just read through this thread- wish I'd come across it when I was suffering with HG at its worst.
Just thought I'd put a little message of hope. I'm now 21+2 weeks pregnant and although the nausea hasn't completely gone I'm only sick very rarely (once a week max)
The first trimester was possibly the most hideous I've ever felt but it's did ease and I am now able to enjoy my pregnancy.
After reaching a tiny 6 stone and petrified of loosing the baby I've now managed to gain over a stone and I am enjoying the foods I was dreaming of eating.
I hope you all get to the stage I'm at and can enjoy the gift of pregnancy soon!

Lulubon Thank you so much for coming on with your encouraging message. I wish too that you had found us when you were suffering badly. It sounds as if you had a dreadful time. I am so glad you are so much better. Do keep us informed.
littledice Great research.
Waves to all.

@LucindaE thank you! It’s a shame I didn’t but I’m so glad this exists for others x

I’m so glad it exists too! 💖

Just read this thread. My youngest is now at primary school. I suffered with it for 2/3 pregnancies and it was the pits. For me I had HG from the day I tested positive to the day I delivered.Only medication helped and it just took the edge off. On both occassions I had huge amounts of time in hospital on a drip and for long periods of time could not even keep water down. On both occassions I ended up weighing less than 7 stone at delivery. HG is not Morning Sickness. Th e lack of sympathy from people was awful "can't you just eat a ginger biscuit?" etc. Awful. I'm glad this exists for you. In my cases 35 weeks of hell was totally worth it and although I remember it so well and it still makes me shudder, I wish even as a total stranger I could be there to hold your hand. Please look after yourselves.

Hi ladies, have been a bit awol with nausea. I just wondered if anyone else is experiencing insomnia?

SummerDayWinterEvenings* Thank you so much for your lovely message. I wish you, too, could have been with us on these threads. My goodness, seven stone! It is nice to think of you with your two LO's at the end of the horrors.
SnowWhite2020 I am glad the thread is helpijng. How is everything today?
Lulubon Thank you.
Seeker2020 Sorry to hear of nausea. It is wearing. On insomnia, it isa long time ago with me, but I remember it and it feels like the last straw! Much sympathy.

@LucindaE I have been quite tired the last few days and have slept quite a lot. Still getting some nausea in the morning and around dinner time onwards but not a patch on what I had before. I think the old rules apply- keep stress as low as possible, sleep as much as possible, eat small and often... all of that keeps the HG at bay as much as possible (obviously alongside the meds). Temperature has been cool last few days which also helps, so all in not too bad. I am 20 weeks today, so exactly half way through which feels like cause for celebration!

Hope everyone else is as well as possible tonight.

@Seeker2020 I had bad insomnia when my sickness was at its worst- I was up through the night vomiting snd feeling nauseous. These days it is much improved but getting up for the toilet most nights and sometimes hard to get back to sleep... is it sickness keeping you awake or other things? Xx