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.

FluffyPurpleSlippers Excellent news. Sorry to hear of difficulties with Lactulose. Never worry about tmi on here, or feel that you are wasting health worker's time just because the meds are effective!

Oh ladies I’m having a low day today. The cyclizine doesn’t seem to be working anymore. I vomit every time I eat, although not always immediately. I am able to keep fluids down generally so maybe I shld just give up on food and concentrate on sticking to fluids alone. But I feel so weak and the constant nausea is so draining. I feel tearful and incredibly selfish for planning a 3rd pregnancy when I knew that this would happen. My poor children are getting a bed bound / sofa bound snappy and energyless mummy and I feel so guilty. I phoned the gp again and basically got the bums rush from her (not a sufferer herself clearly!) and when I said that the nausea was even more debilitating in some ways than the vomiting she said ‘oh we don’t medicate for nausea’. She then started saying that ‘well the medications aren’t teratogenic but not ideal’ and basically made me feel like I was a total whinger.

I feel so low this evening. I know you ladies will understand. As an aside, I’m finding lavender scented flannels helpful. Oddly enough smells aren’t my main trigger - I can’t stand the sight of crumbs or dirty surfaces or kitchen taps / bins etc. I need Kim and Aggie round...

Solidarity and thoughts with my fellow sufferers

@Puddlelane123 I am sorry to read you are feeling so bad. I have so been there. That’s great the lavender flannels are helping and it’s also good you are managing to keep down fluids.

I don’t think it’s right of the gp to disregard nausea as this can impact severely on your ability to eat and also your mental health. You say you are vomiting a lot tho and it may be that you need to emphasise this to them in order to maybe try some more/ different meds? I personally found the midwife to be more helpful than the gp, perhaps phone them tomorrow?

Much sympathy xx

I'm afraid I know what you mean about the constipation FluffyPurpleSlippers. It seems to make my nausea worse when I'm full but can't go. My DH got me prunes but I'm gagging thinking about eating some. They didn't have prune juice unfortunately. You tried prune juice?

Sorry to hear you're feeling down and nauseous Puddlelane123. I just have one kid pining for my attention but two must be harder. I'm sure they'll be happy for another playmate once this is all behind you. Guess your family will be complete after this! This is definitely my last pregnancy if we get to the live birth stage of course. Take it easy on yourself tonight x

Puddlelane123 Poor you. That does sound insensitive treatment. It might be worth phoning Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 7638 2020. They will have to phone back, but they will, with good advice about obtaining effective meds. Do emphasize to doctors and midwives the number of heaves - often they count heaves as separate vomits, which lay people don't! Might vitamin enforced milkshakes be any good? I found lavender really helpful, too!
SnowWhite2020 Excellent advice as ever. How are you now?
ChatWithMe Is Lactulose any use for you for the constipation?
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

@LucindaE feeling the most well I have for the whole pregnancy. Now 24 weeks. Not had a bought of sickness/ vomiting in nearly a week and come off the meds successfully at last........ fully prepared for it to return and I am easily provoked/ stomach easily turned still but nothing on early days. Long may it continue! Xx

Glad you're feeling better SnowWhite2020.

Thanks LucindaE but I'm vegan and lactulose is dairy based. I'm doing ok atm though. I'm eating more fibre and finding its helpful. Not enjoying the fibre foods but I'm forcing it down!

Good night all x

Thanks for all your sympathies last night ladies - really helps to know I am not alone. That is a good point about emphasising the number of heaves (sorry bit gross) as I never thought of counting them as separate episodes. My good old GP didnt even ask me how many times I was sick each day so I get the feeling she generally doesnt quite ‘get’ hyperemesis. I lived in another area of the country during my previous pregnancies and they were very clued up HG in comparison.

I did phone Pregnancy Sickness Support earlier in the week and am hoping they’ll ring back at some stage.

Hope everyone has a good (ish) day x

Hi all just checking in @Puddlelane123 sorry to hear your feel so low at the moment there is definitely geographical differences in terms of medication.

Waves to all the HG ladies !

I am still here waiting a second scan on Sunday no bleeding as yet but some waves of nausea which I’ve just eaten through and that seems
To have improved things - some strange stomach pains where I sure I would come on my period type pains x

Sending love to all HG sufferers I actually had pot noodle the other day - this was part of my stable diet at one point last pregnancy disgustingly I also drank the liquid 😆 yes any liquid was good in my book to save on dehydration ! Also thinking if I start being sick I’ll need some
Tena lady as my bladder control is completely shot ah the memories of vomiting and peeing at the same time xx

@HGwarrior good luck for your next scan. Thinking of you. Or noodle and it’s broth definitely something I had too... bizarre what you ca stomach and what you can’t! Xx

*pot

Good luck on Sunday for your scan @HGwarrior. The wait is just interminable but hopefully the next few days will go quickly. Thinking of you.

Pot noodle is definitely a thought. And good for all those missing salts! Plus easy to vom. God is it awful I pick foods based on how easy they are to vomit!

@Snowwhite2020 love that you have also
Had this ! ❤️

@Puddlelane123 absolutely I used to
Make decisions on food by how easy it was to
Throw up ! I discounted dairy fairly early on as it’s awful coming back-
Sometimes I think I need professional vomiter to CV! Xx

Morning ladies and sympathy to all those struggling.
I’m containing to improve and feel not well, but not constantly sick.
The constipation has finally been eased with orange juice. I don’t normally like orange juice but I’m now finding I can drink small glasses even without a straw.
Unhealthy but chewits and frutella sweets are proving useful aids for nauseas abs dizzy episodes where I’m not throwing up.
Unfortunately I can’t bring myself to try prunes.

Hi everyone, first time posting but have been a mumsnet lurker for ages. Glad I found this thread- I’m also suffering badly from nausea/vomiting In my last pregnancy, I was very ill right up until birth, so I’m terrified this one will be the same and not sure how I’ll manage to get through it! I’m also a single mum so having to try and function for my daughter. I’ve found a hot water bottle helps a bit and also mandarins or orange juice. I’m on ondansetron thankfully otherwise I don’t know how I’d cope with existing!!

Hiya

Sorry I haven't been active on here

I had a few good days then back to bad days
I'm currently on ondansetron and it's helped a little but still throwing up and constant nauseous

My constipation has been the worst and they have give me lactulose for it but as soon as I gulp it down it ends up coming back up 🤢

Just feeling really rubbish and sick constantly at the moment praying it calms down soon :(

Sending my well wishes to you all x

Hello! Just wanting to offer a friendly ear whilst I’m on a good day.
I’ve found getting orange juice into my very limited diet is doing wonders for the constipation.
Also, I believe fibrogel is also safe. Though it’s thicker and a bigger volume. It actually tastes fine, lactulose just makes me through up.

Welcome to Moski. Everyone is very friendly here. Sorry you are suffering badly again. As a veteran, you don't need my ''have you got kesostix' and 'do you find flat full sugar coke, the juice of tinned fruit and ice lollies any good' and 'a good anti acid can make an amazing difference' and 'meds as quicly as possible are the best thing' spiel. I am glad you are on Ondansetron. Are there family and friends in the area who might step in to help as rest is so important?
Mia22221 Sorry things are bad, and Lactulose no good.
ChatWithMe Ah: I am glad that fibre based foods help.
SnowDrop2020 That is wonderful news and long may it continue!
Puddlelane123 Never worry about grossness or tmi on this thread!
I am sorry you are having to wait for Pregnancy Sickness Support to call back.
FluffyPurpleSlippers That is a good tip about orange juice. Some find that tinned peaches are good, too..That wetting oneself while heaving is a menace...
Great advice from everyone...Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.
.

HGWarrior Sorry - I meant to say all luck with your scan. Good advice from you and everyone, as ever.

Thanks LucindaE I haven’t tried those things so will do. My daughter’s father has been helping this week so that has been great because I didn’t have the meds until a couple of days ago (I should have mentioned I am having the baby (planned) with him but as co-parents not together, but I do majority of care. Bit unconventional I know but I wanted a sibling for my daughter). My mum is v supportive but she doesn’t know about the pregnancy yet (I’m 7 weeks). Looks like I might have to tell her soon though!

Hi everyone. I was on this thread with the dreaded HG between weeks 6 and 22ish, then I made a really good recovery with only occasional sickness and nausea.

Pleased to say baby boy was born last Thursday!

It really didn’t feel like it at the time, but HG WILL eventually be over - just a case of taking one day at a time.

Good luck everyone on your journeys to have your babies.

Congratulations @boulevardofbrokendreams! Enjoy your beautiful baby xx

Huge congratulations @boulevardofbrokendreams!

boulevardofbrokendreams Lovely news. Congratulations on your baby boy. Enjoy every minute! Thank you so much for coming on to encourage others. I am so glad you had eighteen decent weeks of pregnancy!
Moksi I am glad you have got help , and I do hope the suggestions do help. Did you say you were on Ondansetron? Do invest in a laxative, as that is very effective but has a grim side effect of constipation.

Hi all,

I was on the thread over a year ago and just wanted to offer you hope that this nightmare will one day end. I had the worst 9 months of my life ever (twice!) when pg. Lucinda will probably remember as I posted a lot here and it was what helped me get through. I now have a bouncing 13 month old and hg seems a lifetime ago, yet I still remember sobbing into my pillow unable to talk or move every day and struggling to leave the house for the whole 9 momths. It’s so hard when people mean well but just don’t get it. Take every day and every moment at a time and know that every second that passes is a second closer to this being over and you will get the best prize on earth at the end.

Re constipation I found movicol worked best for me (not the cheap version I got on prescription weirdly but the movicol brand sachets). I took them with lemon squash and they really helped. Ondansetro constipation is no joke!

Take care ladies and Lucinda I hope you’re well