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.

My best wishes wishes to anyone suffering with this, I went through it three times. Pregnancy was hell for me. I nearly didn't go through with it for the third. Let's say I pulled out of something right at the last minute. So glad I did as she's the best thing ever. But I totally understand and support choice everyone has a different journey. For those going through it best tip is to get iv fluids and anti sickness drugs earlier rather than later as I got into a mess an collapsed a number of times. On the up side I have a lot of funny vomiting stories.... The time I committed in my hands in a meeting. Puking while driving, puking on the dog when my husband farted.... Makes me laugh now but horrible at the time. I would suggest lits of box sets and drinking water in the middle of night which seems to be a time of less vomiting.good luck everyone x

@snowwhite2020 poor you with it getting worse, fingers crossed it will start to settle before long. Sorry to hear about the orange juice sickness.. Can imagine the acid of that being so awful for you. Hope apple juice helps a little if you give it a go

I'm studying for a law degree

Thank you @MsMeNz for your words of encouragement and your story about the husband/ dog made me laugh! I’ve had similar ridiculous situations so far... not funny at the time but I’m sure in retrospect I’ll have a fair few tales!!

@Pygmyseahorse wow good for you! Law finals and HG... you’re a super star! 🌟

@snowwhite2020 I would say foolish myself.. I actually wrote 'I can't do this' on my exam for the first hour with my laptop set up next to the toilet! Its going to be a miracle if I pass, hoping new meds will get me through those few hours I need to be upright and relatively alive for

@msmenz always nice to hear a positive ending, thank you for sharing. Congratulations too :)

Good luck with your finals @Pygmyseahorse you’ll need to let us know how you get on 💖

Thanks, I will do

I'm having a really bad day. So many pains, not keeping down water or anything else. Hideous nightmares and can't turn for throwing up :( said to dh this morning I can't do this if it's another 6/7 months like last time :(

Hey

Wondered if I could jump on here, just checked my doctors records and they have recorded hyperemisis gravidarum as I went to doctors two weeks ago concerned about being dehydrated as was being sick a couple of times a day and struggling with water in take.

This seems to have gone to a whole new level now, been sick 8 times today already, feel shocking every time I sip water I'm dashing to the toilet ten minutes later and really not sure what to do. I'm concerned about becoming dehydrated and baby not getting enough nutrients as I can't eat. Previously could get to tea time and manage a meal where as now I don't feel I could eat anything. I'm 8w+3. Think I'm just having a bad day and feeling very sorry for myself.

Hi @Aimz15 sorry to hear you are suffering. Did your doctor discuss medication with you/ are you taking any anti emetics? I’m sure all of us on here would recommend that when you are being sick as much as you are. Love to you 💕

@Snowwhite2020 they did say they could prescribe me some but they usually prefer not to. Which has then put me off wanting to take them with them saying that. Thank you, I don't know if today is just a one off for being this bad or if it is just getting worse. Then I feel bad complaining as sounds like some of you are having a horrific time x

MyWorld90 Sorry about the relapse. How far along are you, and what meds are you on? Can they add any?
Almz15 Welcome. Sorry things are bad. Are things still as bad today? A pregnant woman not being able to retain fluids for over 24 hours is meant to be treated as an emergency. They probably discouraged you from using meds before because they wanted to play safe if you could manage wiithout them,but vomiting 8 times a day is a different matter and do contact the doctors and ask fo rmeds. Doctors often count each heave as a vomit, so when contacting the doctor do emphasize that was 8 separate sessions.
The very small risk with the anti emetics is less than that of being chronically dehydrated. If it goes on you may need fluids to rehydrate. Here is my usual spiel, which I hope may h elp.
A good anti acid like Omprazole 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, etc. Besides Kissingthebear's orange juice, ice and lemonade, here are some drinks that I hope might be useful and food suggestions. Full sugar flat coke, the juice of tinned fruit, ice lollies, ice cubes, soda water, Lucozade, fizzy water, tonic water, Elderflower water, Elderflower tonic and soda water, fizzy orange, lemonade, Dr Pepper, Iron Bru, sips of chocolate milkshake (maybe soya), Isotonic drinks, 7Up, mint tea made with fresh mint, , orange squash and lemonade. Some foods of a sort that have helped others are: nibbles of chips and crisps, Scotch pancakes, tinned fruit, cuppa soup, biscuits, sices of melon and mango and baked potatoes. Some swear by grated cheese. Another tip was melon juiced and frozen as ice cubes. Things do improve for most sufferers between weeks 14 and 20. Even those unlucky ones who suffer throughout only rarely feel as bad later on as in the first tri.
SnowWhite2020 I hope you have got rid of that headache and the flat ocke helped. I am sorry it seems to be worse. I hope you have some relief soon.
Pygmyseahorse It is very hard to bear. Much sympathy over a particularly bad day. Very brave ofyou to take your Law finals. Good luck and I hope tomorrow is a better day.
MrsMeNz Thank you for coming on to encurage others with your supportive message. I had to smile at the breaking wind and vomiting on dog story. . I am so glad you made it through and have a lovely baby girl.

I don’t know if I have HG or not but I’m still feeling sick all day and being sick a few times a day at 17 weeks :( I was put on a drip twice in hospital as they found key tones in my urine but this was early on and I haven’t been to the hospital since because of Covid. I was given anti sickness meds but they didn’t stop the nausea only made me vomit less but didn’t stop it so I stopped taking them. I can keep some food and water down depending on the time of day.

Would this still be classed as having HG?

@LucindaE thank you for the reply, been sick 4 times today but slept a bit more. I have rang the doctors and they have put me on promethazine. Still feel a bit rubbish about having to take meds (please don't take offence at that anyone, just so many people have said don't take them so feel a bit of a failure for not managing) but the doctor was lovely and said that she is currently pregnant and taking them and that there was more danger from me being dehydrated and losing weight than taking the medication.

I sometimes feel like people will think I'm being dramatic with this sickness too, I'm working from home doing 12 hour shifts but have had to ring in sick today just because there's no way I could function!

Thanks for the advice will add some bits to my shopping list to give them a try!

@Aimz15 I understand your feelings about this but what your doctor has said is exactly what I have been told by two doctors, the midwife and a pharmacist (and a lot of lovely ladies suffering too online.)

You have to remember it is not your “failure” that you are so sick, no more that it is another woman’s “triumph” to breeze through with no symptoms. This is not a fair game and none of us are in control. We are at the mercy of our bodies and hormones and this just happens to some of us, unfortunately.

My mum has always understood because she was terribly sick the whole way through her pregnancies but I have found that the longer I have remained ill, the more others around me have accepted that HG is real and that we need medical help (and other people’s understanding.)

Well done on taking the first step towards helping yourself and your baby to be as healthy as possible through this. It will get better and if the meds don’t work- go back for something else. There are options.

Lots of love 💕 I know it’s so hard.

Thank you for this thread, I read the whole of the last one! I am feeling a bit better but have cracks at the corners of my mouth. I phoned the doctor because I read that it could be a vitamin deficiency and he agreed to have me in for bloods to check b12. I'm always worrying about the baby getting enough. I have been taking pregnacare / vitamin spray that has b12 in it so i hope that will have done the trick and I'm just a little dehydrated. Anyone else have low b12?

@Snowwhite2020 thank you! I know and I'm glad I came across this thread, makes me feel less alone with this. I think it's good and bad for me being in lockdown - no way I could have kept it a secret if not, but also quite difficult to not be able to see and talk to people properly about this.

I think I just wasn't prepared for this, you hear about morning sickness but I didn't realise it could last all day and be sick so much! Today is a good day in comparison to yesterday on the sickness front but terrible for nausea. Hopefully will notice a difference with these meds 💕

Also @pandemicpreggie I am b12 deficient so have injections every 3 months. If you are b12 deficient you may find that the sprays/tablets don't work - I can't absorb b12. Definitely worth getting tested as it can completely wipe you out and drain you amongst lots of other things! X

@Aimz15 I totally understand and this thread has been a saviour for me too. Welcome xx

Cheeseontoast7 Welcome. I am sorry the meds didn't help. It certainly sounds like Hypermesis. Which ones are they? Do contact the doctors and explain. There are a number they can try. Here is my usual spiel which I hope that may help. Here is my usual spiel, which I hope may h elp.
A good anti acid like Omprazole 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, etc. Besides Kissingthebear's orange juice, ice and lemonade, here are some drinks that I hope might be useful and food suggestions. Full sugar flat coke, the juice of tinned fruit, ice lollies, ice cubes, soda water, Lucozade, fizzy water, tonic water, Elderflower water, Elderflower tonic and soda water, fizzy orange, lemonade, Dr Pepper, Iron Bru, sips of chocolate milkshake (maybe soya), Isotonic drinks, 7Up, mint tea made with fresh mint, , orange squash and lemonade. Some foods of a sort that have helped others are: nibbles of chips and crisps, Scotch pancakes, tinned fruit, cuppa soup, biscuits, sices of melon and mango and baked potatoes. Some swear by grated cheese. Another tip was melon juiced and frozen as ice cubes. Things do improve for most sufferers between weeks 14 and 20. Even those unlucky ones who suffer throughout only rarely feel as bad later on as in the first tri.
Aimz15Everyone is very helpful on this thread. I am glad they have put you on Promethezine, Some find it very helpful. If it doesn't seem to be helping after a few days, there are others they can try. I am glad the doctor was able to reassure you and was in the same situation.
SnowWhite2020 Great advice. I hope you are migraine free today.
Pandemicpreggie Goodness, you read the whole thread! Well done.
Great advice from everyone.

@aimz15 well done for accepting meds, it's a hard choice and often met with a mixture of guilt, worry and desperation. I've just been prescribed the same as my last type wasn't working so hope you have some success with it. Taking each day or each hour by hour is what gets me through sometimes

It's hard when you talk to friends or family and they don't really understand the difference or just think it's 'only' morning sickness.. Honestly if I filmed myself 24/7 they would probably understand then!

How is everyone else doing?

I've been so bad these past couple of days, I've finally kept down some flat coke and been prescribed new meds for tomorrow which I'm praying get me through my exam at least.
Bad mum day too :( packaged foods with not much smell and shooing her off between open door to the garden, TV or snuggles :(

On another note, my dh has come down with a really bad dry, persistent cough. It's probably not covid 19 but I'm freaking out as my dating scan is in 2 weeks and I don't know how I'll cope mentally if i can't go to it (terrified baby won't have a heart beat, previous losses etc)
Not sure how I can seperate myself from him at home either. What a mess

I’m so sorry @cheeseontoast7 for not replying to you- I don’t know how I missed that! It certainly sounds like HG to me. I hope you have had a better day today. Xx

@Pygmyseahorse that sounds very stressful re: husband. It is a crazy time just now. I sincerely hope he does not have Covid. Please keep us updated. I also hope the flat coke helped and it’s good they are giving you new meds. I hope they help.

I can only imagine how difficult it is going through this with children already to look after. You are (and so are others with children) utter super heroes!! 💕

@pandemicpreggie I’m not sure about the B12 issue I’m afraid. I take my pregnacare and just pray it’s not going to come straight back up... sorry not to be of more help xx

Hope everyone is doing okay. Midday, so we're half way through the day right? 🤣

I'm 38+3 and the last 2 days I've had a burst of energy! Yesterday I was only sick 5 times. I've been able to sit and do my work all day rather than having to lay on the sofa and die 24/7! It's been amazing. Still got energy today, although I am being sick more today and havent kept anything down yet.

I'm assuming I'm having the pre-labour energy burst / nesting thing going on.

Had to go for a growth scan yesterday as my bump is measuring under the chart below 3rd centile - but scan confirmed baby is on 50th centile! So he is thriving in there which I'm so happy about as it is worrying thinking are they getting enough with us being so sick - even though I've been assured so many times 🙊

Sorry for all struggling. Don't feel guilty taking meds, they're safe to take. My GP in my first HG pregnancy warned me off taking anything - I was frightened to medicate. I see a private obstetrician and he's all for medication- Xonvea has also been tried and tested on pregnant women and has no reported negative side effects. Take what you need & feel assured in doing so 🙏🏻

@BeautyAndTheBump1 so happy to hear from you! Being sick 5 times a day still sounds horrendous, you're doing incredibly well. We're so close now. Had to drive to London for some antenatal appointments and had a scan, baby is measuring nice and big in the upper percentile. Goes to show despite however crappy we're feeling the baby is taking everything it needs. Literally chalking the days off the board now. I have NO energy at all. I'm dragging myself around feeling so sick 🤢 I feel HUGE!!!!

Thank you! Today the cracks are better and I didn't do anything differently. I have a feeling it has to do with being so thirst and tired because I have been taking b 12 in my vitamins. will see after i get seen. Thank you again

Has anyone here been prescribed stemetil?

I've just tried my first dose- having read lots of online forums for and against it, decided to trust the GP and give it a go. Anything has to be better than this constant hell of vomiting