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.

@MrsSmith2020 is that the one that you have to dissolve between your lip and gum? If so, I had that to start. Did bring some relief but didn't really touch the sides compared to Xonvea. X

@kissingthebear I don't think so, just swallowed it with some water (waffles off to read the packet again!)

@MrsSmith2020 don’t worry, there is the type that you swallow (stemil) and then the one @kissingthebear has mentioned that you put under your lip (buccastem) both the same drug though. I have had both versions (at different times) alongside cyclizine.
Good luck, hope it helps.

@MrsSmith2020 I've tried both versions of prochlorperazine (stemitil) I found at first it helped a little but once hg really took hold it didn't touch the sides. My Dr put me on the dissolvable ones on the theory they would work better as I couldn't hold normal tablets down but I find I can't take them now as they leave a horrible taste in my mouth. Lots of women seem to have got relief from them though.
I've had a rough couple of weeks, had 2 admissions to hospital for iv fluids. Both times I felt amazing after the fluid and iv cyclizine only to feel like crap again as soon as I got back home. I'm 14 weeks now and everyday I think I can't do this for another 26 weeks. I'll be honest there hasn't been a day when I haven't considered having a termination at some point and this was a planned for and wanted pregnancy. I just don't want to feel like this anymore. My friend gave me some really good advice to just take things 1 hour at a time and not think too far ahead which I've found helpful. Each hour that goes by means another day is nearly over and another day less of hg.
If anyone is on Facebook I follow the unmumsy mum and she shared a really good video about hg this morning. Sorry I don't know how to link but it was called sick and I think it was made by the pregnancy sickness support charity. It was a tough watch but I found it really helpful to hear experiences from other women who had been through it and the effect it can take on mental health. I would definitely recommend to anyone who can face watching
Wishing everyone well and sending a virtual hug 🤗

@Niffler2019 thank you so much for sharing your experiences and I'm sorry that you are having such a truly terrible time.

It really is awful and it makes you think the darkest thoughts. We tried for three years for this baby and went through various infertility protocols to get here and I found myself thinking some similar things recently.

As you say, 1 hour at a time xx

MrsSmith2020 I hope the meds help. Sorry, I think you have posted before but I remind me if this is your first pregnancy, how far along you are, etc. Stemitil has helped many people on this thread. The doctor would not have prescribed the medication unless s/he thought that the dangers of dehyration outweighed the very small risk that accompanies takiing anti emetics. Do you find an anti acid helps?
NIffler2020 Sorry about admissions. There is still time for things to get a lot better at 14 weeks. Remind me if you have had previous Hyperemesis pegnancies? Taking things an hour at a time is always an excellent idea.
Pygmyseahorse I can only echo SnowWhte2020's words. Poor you. I hope you can have your dating scan. It is very nerve racking to have had previous losses. I was very nervous about the dating scan after only one previous loss.
"SnowWhite2020* Brilliant advice as ever.
BeautyandtheBump Poor you, when vomiting five times is a good day. It is grim to have suffered badly throughout. Thank goodness you are so near tottering up the drawbridge of the fabled Pink Castle at the end of the Hyperemesis horror experience. And of course, kissingthebear too.

IGottaGetThroughThis Good advice.
Waves to all. I hope everyone is coping and apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

@MrsSmith2020 hi! I was prescribed this on Friday. I was taking cyclizine at first but still having days were I couldn’t keep anything down.
I don’t want to jinx it but I’ve have a really good few days, I’m so worried about it coming back as i was really struggling!

Hi ladies, really glad I found this group, but also really sad others are going through this.
I’m not sure I would class mine as HG, but it did feel it was developing into it, some days were absolutely horrendous, before I had even opened my eyes I knew what was coming :(
Luckily my sister in law is a nurse and really suffered too and she encouraged me to get treatment quickly, so I started meds at 8 weeks, I’m not 10w+1 and it has slowly started to ease.
I feel for you all and hope you find things to comfort you 😘

@LucindaE I'm 10 weeks today. Scan tomorrow  to check on little blobs progress. Can't wait to see him/her and know they are ok

@KatieFTM so far stemetil make me feel weird, but the sickness has eased. I'm keeping everything crossed that this is it for me. I haven't been sick today so far!

The warnings on taking stemetil in pregnancy are really scary- I guess the GPs weigh up the risks and know what's best but I am trying to avoid looking at more online reviews

Hope everyone has good days today. Pink castle is firmly in my sights today

food mention warning

Hi ladies, welcome to newcomers to the group. That’s me at 13 weeks and I managed half a bowl of pasta salad at lunch. So far it has stayed down but the fact I even opted to try it is new... This had been unthinkable to me. So I take this as a major sign of progress :)

Hope everyone is well and able to enjoy some nice sunshine between sickness today :)

Pink castle in sight!

mrssmith I have my dating scan tomorrow. Good luck with yours

Hello everyone, hope you are all doing alright I'm enjoying the weather and sitting very still in the garden. Nice to have fresh air.

@kissingthebear aaaah that's so great to know, glad your appts went okay! Hope you're feeling a little better today 😘 i still have my energy spurt going on!

@LucindaE I am nearly at that castle, I feel like I'm stood on main st and I can see it at the end now 🤣

@KatieFTM that's great news that its started to ease for you! 💪 hopefully you'll be back to normal in no time 🥰

@Snowwhite2020 amazing news on keeping the pasta down! Hopefully it will give you a nice energy boost too 💪

@IAmSeriousAndDontCallMeShirley exciting times for the dating scan! 🙊 I attempted to sit outside in the sun today and lasted 5 minutes before I was sweating to death 🤣

It was really hot today, even on top of the hill here...
KatieFKM All luck with your scan , and I am so glad Stemitil is helping.
MrsSmith 2020 A lot of these know-all sites are alarmist, and nobody who has been on these threads has ever come back and reported an abnormality in 10 years, and some of the sufferers have been on a cocktail of meds throughout. Dr's are super careful about prescribing in pregnancy these days.
SnowWhite2020 Congratulations on that half bowl of pasta! I am sure you can see your way to that fabulous Pink Castle - and kissingthebear and BeautyandtheBump nearly there.
IAmSeriousAndDon'tCallMeShirley I am glad you had some fresh air. All luck for your scan.

MrsSmith2020 A lot of sufferers find around 10 weeks particularly bad with a hormonal surge, so with luck it has been as bad as it can be.
kissingthebear Sorry, I forgot to type my message of sympathy about feeling awful and huge. It is too bad to suffer throughout, but it's great to hear that baby is flourishing. It's amazing how they do.

@Snowwhite2020 that's a great sign that you managed some pasta, fingers crossed you can keep eating 🤞

@LucindaE this is my 2nd hg pregnancy. I have a daughter who is 7 in a couple of weeks. It took a long time to forget how horrific the sickness was and think about trying again. I'll have to buy all the baby stuff again because I got rid of it all years ago thinking I'd never put myself through this again! This will definitely be the last time - hubby is going for a vasectomy as soon as it can be arranged!! 😂

Today has been a lot more positive. This morning was rubbish as usual but I've actually felt OK since lunch apart from exhaustion. I had a lovely dream last night as well that baby was here and I was cuddling him (oddly enough before falling asleep last thing I thought was that my instinct is this will be another girl because I've been drawn to girls names) I felt such overpowering love, every time I've felt shit today I thought back to the dream and told myself it will all be worth it 😊

Hope you've all been well enough to enjoy the sunshine x

Thanks so much @BeautyAndTheBump1 @LucindaE and @Niffler2019! It didn’t come back up.... major positive step! Who knows what tomorrow will bring however... it has been one step forward two steps back for me with sickness so far but as I say, big deal for me lol.

@Niffler2019 that so strange what you were saying about your dream- I had exactly the same experience last night! I really could picture our baby. I think that is positive and a sign to help us through the really rough bits 💖

@LucindaE thank you so much!
Scan went well, measuring behind what I estimated by about 5 days, but all good and just one of them in there 😂
Thank you for your Stemetil reassurance as well. I haven’t read anything online as it just stresses me out xx

Bout of sickness and major wrenching again tonight. As I said, it seems to be one step forward two steps back...

Hi all,

Hope everyone is doing as well as possible at the moment. I haven't posted on here in ages because I was feeling much better and thought I had come through the storm pretty much.

I had HG up until about 25 weeks where it eased off almost completely. I am now 31 weeks and they have put me on iron tablets and I have started being sick again. It's like it has triggered something in me and I am spending most of the day either sleeping or vomiting.

I feel worse than I did in the winter because it is really warm now, and I am obviously bigger than I was in my first trimester.

Is it just the iron or can HG come back at the end of a pregnancy? I'm panicking because I don't know if I can go back to where I was in December I just wanted to die all the time. Is it worth ditching the iron to stop the sickness? My Dr wasn't very helpful when I called to tell them the problem was back

Scan complete. One very wriggly baby, looking pretty happy considering the state of its mother!

Due date confirmed as 22nd Nov.

Very relieved.

@HairsprayBabe so sorry to hear!! I got put on iron tablets at 31 weeks too, and a side effect of them is sickness and nausea. They made me reaaaaally poorly but fight through it as after about 3 days the side effects of them wore off for me :) stay strong!!

@IAmSeriousAndDontCallMeShirley congratulations!! Adorable scan pic 🙊

So happy to hear about those who had a few good days and all the lovely scan news, what a relief

@Snowwhite2020 I'm so sorry its come back! Poor you, did you manage to regain a little energy from those precious days or has it all diminished again?

I am so sorry I'm not sure re iron but with dd my nausea definitely worsened with iron tablets, I remember a mum I nannied for found that liquid iron wasn't quite as bad on her stomach? Fingers crossed it doesn't stick around for you until the end. Not long now!

I've had a rough week. I threw up in the face mask at Dr's which wasn't a great experience! I missed half my exam for a midwife appointment which was delayed and then came back and was so sick I couldn't finish the exam so I'm doubtful that I've passed it :(
Struggling to do today's but so far only 2 bouts of vomiting and nausea rather than the constant I'm used to so I'm hoping it may be a 'good day'

Counting down the days for my dating scan.. Dh cough has subsided and I was reassured unless new illness it is safe to go to it on the 3rd - phew!
Can't stop dreaming about the baby passing or other equally awful things happening but midwife chalked this down to exhaustion from sickness, anxiety in general re baby until the scan and prior losses which is reasonable but doesn't help

I digress! Hope everyone is as well as can be

Pygmyseahorse I am sorry to hear about the exam. Can they make special arrangements for you to retake it or something, given the circumstances? How awful vomiting in a face mask does sound . Much sympathy over your nervousness over the coming scan. It is hard to believe how much the chances are on your side,when you have had a previous loss. But they are.
Hairspraybabe I am sorry it has returned. It does with some unlucky ones in the third tri, but it does sound as if it is the iron tablets. They made me vomit too. With luck the sickness may wear off as it did for BeautyandtheBump but if n ot, can you get the liquid form? I am ignorant about the science behind it, but is it true that there are two forms of iron in supplments, one less digestible than the other?
IAmSeriousAndDontCallMeShirley Lovely news. I have added your date.
KatieFTM Lovely news from you too about your scan.
How odd that Niffler2019 and SnowWhite2020 should share the same dream. I am so glad it was a lovely one

Due Dates
MrsH497 18 May
BeautyandtheBump 30 May
Pasqual 4 June
kissingthebear 8 Jjune
StayClosePooky 20 June
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
GottaGetThroughThis 7 December

@Pygmyseahorse what a shame about your exam :( I think you are a hero for trying! They must be able to get you a result? I’m sure your doctor can write a note explaining your extreme sickness and that will come under “extenuating circumstances”? I would maybe contact them/ try to organise that ASAP... sometimes there is a short window in time with which you can submit this type of thing to the uni. Good luck! ☘️

@IAmSeriousAndDontCallMeShirley and @KatieFTM lovely news abound scans 💖

As for me, a real retrograde today I’m afraid. Very sick and very miserable as a result- I think it feels worse when you get a little glimmer of hope that it’s lifting to be slammed down again. It’s mostly been a bed day

Love to everyone. Hope others have had a better day than me health wise xx

@Pygmyseahorse *resit! Sorry. Another typo there...