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.

Welcome @ALew15 - congratulations on your pregnancy and sympathies you are feeling so rough with it. In my experience the nausea is often worse than the vomiting, which at least brings momentary relief. I too have been very teary and I think in addition to hormones, alot of that comes down to the near starvation we go through. I truly believe it affects brain functioning to some extent. Not to mention the anxieties about whether all this suffering will lead to a baby in the end. It is so hard.

Question for you all, what side effects do you get with cyclizine? I can’t take it IV as on the occasions it has been given to me that route I have horrendous reactions - immediate drop in blood pressure, inability to move or co-ordinate and a sense of impending doom. Horrible. I can take it orally but also get side effects with that - today experiencing tingling in lips and also I feel really weak all over, like my arms and muscles don’t have their usual strength? I feel totally spaced out today and am dreading being on my own with my children when DH is back at work tomorrow.

Hugs to ALew15 and Puddlelane123. Tomorrow sounds difficult for both of you. I'm hopeful tomorrow goes well for both

Welcome @Alew15 sympathies about the nausea. It is so hard. I agree with @Puddlelane123.

In terms of Cyclizine, it made me drowsy the first few days but if there were other side effects, I didn’t notice them as I was so relieved that it took the edge of the vomiting. It does seem to affect people differently tho xx

Welcome @ALew15 and sympathies with your nausea. I suffer more with the nausea than the vomiting.
I can’t comment on Iv cyclizine but I don’t recommend it as an injection, stinging pain on a whole other level!
I’ve had IV, injected and tablet Ondansetron and all work similarly. Iv probably best as I had fluids too.
I’m back in tomorrow and can report much improvement after a week of cyclizine and Ondansetron prescriptive pills.

Hi ladies, we are about to start trying for our third baby. I have lost 5 sadly due to two mc and 3 terminations due to extreme hg where nothing worked and my kidneys started to struggle.
We have been promised sickness injections or the use of a vent throughout which is extreme but worth it to get our baby.
I will need to reach out to this group and don’t have anyone that understands. I’m so nervous and afraid but this is my final chance. Xxx

You poor thing Jaysdream7. That sounds like an awful nightmare! What's a vent? Whatever it is I hope it helps x

Hi @Jaysdream7 I’m new to the thread in the last couple of weeks.
Enormous support to you. I hope so much that enough can be put in place to allow you to carry.

Hi, it’s basically a permanent line that can be used for intravenous meds. Thank you xx

Thank you. I want it so bad yet so afraid. Xx

Oh wow. I've heard of ports or long lines but not a vent. I say it's a good idea if it gets you what you wish for!

Welcome to ALew15. It is certainly possible to have Hyperemesis without vomiting. Sorry you are suffering. I am sorry to hear of your former mmc. However, the chances are very much in your favour that all will be well this time. Keeping fingers crossed for you. As you have been following the thread, you don't need my spiel about how useful getting early medication is, investing in kesostix and how flat full sugar coke, ice lollies and the juice of tinned fruit, and how useful a good anti acid is. Thinking of you and also of Puddlelane123 Tomorrow, and keeping my fngers crossed for you. Puddlelane123 Most people feel spaced out for a bit and it wears off, but that sounds awful. I am sure they can offer you an alternative.
Jaysdream I am sorry to hear of your tragic experiences and I am so glad that you have been offered a treatment plan which hopefully will help. Everyone is very supportive on here.I do so hope that it is bearable for you this time.
PurpleFluffySlippers I am so glad to hear of this improvement.
Waves to SnowWhite2020, ChatWithMe and everyone.

I have heard

Random one ladies but thought I'd share incase it helps anyone.

Ginger and Cinnamon scent - I have found this eases my nausea and rids me of the saliva overload for a while. I even managed a whole car journey without needing to stop today. I just take a few long sniffs when I feel my stomach start to swish and sit still for a few minutes.

It's not a cure but it stops my gagging and retching at every sight, smell and thought that crosses my path.

This thread popped up in Active and I couldn't help having a look. I was last on it 8 years ago during my fifth pregnancy with my much wanted DD. HG had got progressively worse throughout each of my pregnancies and by DD, I was so ill, I begged my DH to agree to us terminating. I can hardly believe that looking back now. Thankfully, he was able to support me enough for me to be able to continue with the pregnancy, but I have not and will never forget how physically and mentally ill HG made me. I just wanted to send good wishes to all of you ladies struggling just now. It feels like it's going to last forever and I remember truly believing that I'd never feel well or want to eat again! It'll be ok though - promise! Hang in there. Lucinda, you are an absolute angel. x

Thanks AllNewThings. That's sweet of you. Yes I'm hopeful this nausea will be gone in a month or so and then hopefully no more pregnancies ever!! I'm glad you made it through your DD's pregnancy. Hugs x

@OnNaturesCourse ginger had absolutely no effect on my sickness in any form unfortunately. I also had to throw out a cinnamon candle (but my main aim was to make the house smell of nothing!!!) I used to love cinnamon candles. Maybe I’ll have them out again at Xmas after the baby is born :)

Fresh air was the only thing I wanted to smell but later on as things eased i found mint/ peppermint tolerable and find a peppermint tea a useful aid now if I feel nauseous but that would not have worked in the early days. The hyper sensitive nose is such a weird thin with HG. Xx

Oh ladies! This is taking me back. I had HG with both my babies and no one understood. I lost friends who didn’t realise my pregnancies were like an illness, and even my GP fobbed me off with a ‘why don’t you try reflexology?’ It took a midwife all of 3 minutes to diagnose me and pack me off to hospital to be put on a drip.

My only advice is to take the anti sickness drugs, take any help you are offered, and try to sip water as dehydration makes it worse. You can get through this. I wish you all speedy pregnancies, with beautiful bouncing babies at the end.

One day you won’t feel sick anymore, hang on in there. X

Hi guys

I posted on here before for some advice and support and then life seems to have got chaotic in the mean time going back to work etc.

Just wondered if anyone had anything similar or suggestion. I've been taking meds for sickness for 11 weeks, started on promethazine and then Cyclizine which seemed to help. I had two weeks of no sickness at all and very little feeling sick, I decided last week to come off them and the nausea crept back in and then the last 3 days I have started being sick again (only the once a day so far) but feeling sick throughout. I have started back on they Cyclizine from the day I was sick but they don't really seem to be having an affect like before..not sure if I need to change them or I just feel worse because I've had 2 very good weeks.

Is it normal for the sickness to go and come back again like this or is it likely I shouldn't have stopped taking the medication?

Also I have been backwards and forwards for blood tests due to abnormalities with urea and electrolytes tests not sure if this is due to sickness? Anyone else had anything similar? I just don't seem to get answers from the doctors other than come back next week for more tests.

Sorry for the long winded post!

Hi everyone, haven’t posted in a good while, just been plodding along making it through but I’ve went downhill again. The vomiting has been controlled up until 3 weeks ago the nausea, exhaustion, general horrific feeling of HG never left.
I am nearly 38 weeks and I haven’t been able to keep solids down since Thursday. I went to the hospital last night only to be told that as long as I’m keeping down fluids baby will be ok, I know that’s the main thing of course but what about me? I just feel so defeated, I can’t go on like this another 2 weeks...and what if I go 2 weeks overdue? Ondansteron no longer working, no other medication ever did work, just needed to get this off my chest... no one else understands they keep saying I haven’t got long left to go, I’m nearly there etc etc but each day I vomit anything I try to eat feels like an eternity... no one gets it

On my second my hg was so bad that they agreed to induce me at 38 weeks. Could this be an option? I was kept in for intravenous fluids for 1 weeks also at 37 weeks? Just an idea ? X

@Calliope87 I’m sorry to hear this. Tbh I’m waiting for a similar scenario myself when the time comes to be 38 weeks... what are hospital policies on induction generally? Will they only induce you if you are over your due date (I have only ever heard of this.) xx

@A0603 I’m my experience it is normal for the sickness to come and go. How far along are you? A few people (myself included) reported a bad relapse around 20 weeks which @LucindaE identified as a common hormonal surge point. Could this apply to you? Otherwise it takes Cyclizine a while to build back up in your system and therefore to work- hopefully you will get relief again soon xx

Thanks for your messages regarding my nausea. Thankfully I'm off work and able to laze around all day but the days are so long. I am so drained, barely had a sip of water today, I just can't face it. My stomach is burning, it feels empty but I just can't eat.

We are off to our early scan now (6:15pm) I'm so nervous, I feel more sick than usual! I think I have PTSD after last time. X

Good luck for your scan ALew15. The adrenaline rush at my early scan made my nausea worse and when the doctor said congratulations and turned the monitor to show me all I could muster was 'oh thank god'. Not even sure if I smiled at all during the appointment cause of how crappy I felt!

Calliope87 Poor you. That does sound grim, with Ondansetron no longer working. Did they offer those strengthening milkshakes or are they no good either? Might melon put through a food processor and frozen into cubes help - that was a tip from another unlucky sufferer who began to suffer badly again very late in the pregnancy. It does sound really awful if they are being dismissive. Great advice from others who suggest asking for an early inducation.
Great advice as always from SnowWhite2020 Mint is an eighteenth century remedy for pregnancy sickness, interstingly...Also from
AllNewThings Thank you so much for your encouraging message for current sufferers, and for your lovely words! My halo is askew and tarnished, but I try my best.
OnNature'sCourse That is a fascinating tip. For me, lavender helped a lot, but I know these things vary.
A0603 As SnowDrop says, it might be a hormonal surge and if Cyclizine doesn't start working again soon, it might be a good idea to ask for more meds. I sadly have no knowledge about electrolytes; I hope someone else can advise you.
ALew15 I hope all went well.
Puddlelaen123 Thinking of you too.
OldTimer2020 Thank you for much for your encouraging message.
Waves to Jaysdream7 ChatWithMe Good advice.
Apologies to anyone rudely ignored.

Morning ladies,

I’m doing much better now to the point I’m a little paranoid that my symptoms have eased so much. I went back to our HG clinic at the hospital yesterday for another 7 days prescription of Ondansetron, but nobody can tell me if my gp can prescribe going forwards.
I feel like a fraud going in taking time up being assessed for ketones etc, but unless I attend I don’t know how else to access the medication.

Still having issues with constipation, I cannot get the lactulose to go down without triggering my gag reflex. Sorry, lovely to hear first thing!