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.

[Aimz15]

Hi everyone,

I've been very quiet since I last posted on here as sometimes I find even reading on my phone can make me feel nauseous. My medication seemed to be working quite well still nauseous but no sickness then over the last week I've been sick once or twice a day. Which don't get me wrong is manageable compared to how I was anyway! Just wondered if it could be that I'm approaching 10 weeks and heard sickness is meant to peak around that point? Not sure if this would mean my medication wouldn't be as effective.

Hope everyone is managing ok! Not sure if the hot weather also makes it worse for us!

[IGottaGetThroughThis]

Hope everybody is doing ok.. (well as ok as can be) .. had my dating scan today. All was well and my due date has been pushed forward a day to the 6th of December.
Very relieved all was well, now for the sickness to ease up.
💗 xx

[Clarkel1]

Hi can you tell me everyone if your actually sick I am not being sick I just feel my mouth constantly filling with water and I want to be sick the feeling is awful, I'm 39 and I've never had this with my other two... am I just to old to be pregnant is that what my body is telling me 😩 I feel awful and I'm only 7.5 weeks 😞

[LucindaE]

Clarkel1 Welcome. I doubt it has to do with age, just bad luck. Fatigue can play a part, in having to look after two LO's. The watering in the mouth is certainly a typical Hypereemesis symptom. Some people do have Hyperemesis without vomiting, or anyway, pregnancy sickness bad enough to nedd anti emetics. Are you able to get fluids and food down? If not then you may need some medication. An anti acid can really help, like Omprazole (sorry, I don't know if you need a prescription for that).
Sweet drinks like flat full sugar coke, ice lollies and the juice of tinned fruit often help. I 've put a whole list only a few posts back.
IGottaGetThroughThis Congratulations on your scan. I've changed your date. A day is a bonus, anyway! As you say, next on the list is an improvement in the sickness.
Almz15 I am glad the meds were helping. As you say, unluckily 10 weeks often is a bad time due to hormonal surges. If things are really bad, it might be worth asking if another med can be added, but hopefully, things might well improve in some days without.
Waves to all.


Due Dates
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
IGottaGetThroughThis 6 December

[Clarkel1]

Hi yes I can't drink anything but water everything else makes me feel so I'll I opened the dishwasher earlier and because I could smell food I had to lie down, I feel I look a funny grey colour. I usually love sauces, fizzy drinks and nice dinners and just how it's almost like my body is saying eat bland things so I've just been eating like slice of toast,tonight for dinner I had boiled rice I can't seem to stomach anything but like dry pretzels and things the sick feeling is just so horrible I've never experienced it before it's taking all the energy I have. I'm hoping it goes away. As bad as it sounds I feel I can't even stomach making my husband and kids dinners as the sight or smell of things is just making me want to lie in a dark room, does that make sense am I being silly I feel I am 😞

[KatieFTM]

Not at all @Clarkel1 this is exactly the same for me. I can’t be in the kitchen when my husband is cooking. We have the windows open a lot to air the room out which I find helps if I have to go in there later on in the evening. Or if you can find a candle smell that doesn’t make you feel ill I have them on a lot.
I also have a weird aversion to the microwave, sounds as strange as it 🤦🏻‍♀️ I think I associate it with when I first started being sick as I warmed something up.
Hope it starts to ease for you soon xx

[Clarkel1]

@KatieFTM thank you .. fingers crossed 😞 feel like a total misery guts to everyone atm xxx

[LucindaE]

Clarkel1 The heightened sense of smell is another sign of Hyperemesis. If you can only stand sips of water, do contact the doctor asking for some meds. Also, do invest in some kesostix (available online or from a chemstss) to make sure that you are not suffering from dehydration. They may not be the best test of it, but hospitals do take them seriously, and it is possible to become dehydrated without vomiting.
Katie Poor you. I do hope you get some relief soon. Remind me what meds you are on? I found the scent of lavender bearable, but I know it varies for everyone.
Waves to all.

[Clarkel1]

@LucindaE thank you so much x

[Clarkel1]

@LucindaE what is kesostix for?

[KatieFTM]

Thanks @LucindaE I am on Stemetil, I was originally on cyclizine but after about three days I was back to square one. It seems to have helped a lot, only have bad days every few days now. But when I do nothing stays put and I’m out for the entire day :(
How are you feeling?

[BeautyAndTheBump1]

Hope everyone is doing okay!
It's my due date tomorrow I'm really hoping he doesnt keep me waiting too long overdue, for my sanity really. Every day is hell just throwing up constantly so if anyone wants to have a word with him and tell him to evacuate feel free

[Seeker2020]

Hi all, have finally found this thread after posting on all the outdated ones. I'm 8 weeks and pretty knocked out with the HG. I've been to hospital twice now as a day patient for fluids, but today seems to be a little better. I was prescribed all the meds: cyclizine, metoclopromide, prochlorperazine but ondansetron seems to be the only one that didn't give me cracy side effects - though I haven't taken any this morning (yet).

Has anyone had experience of HG easing up like traditional NVP/MS around the 12-14 week mark?

Desperately seeking some advice. Can't chat to pregnant friends yet as I'm only at the 8 week mark. Xx

[KatieFTM]

@Seeker2020 so sorry to hear you are suffering 😢 im only at 10.5 weeks myself, but the ladies on here are veterans and might be able to offer some advice.
@BeautyAndTheBump1 🙏🏻🙏🏻 For you! How exciting. Best of luck xx

[Seeker2020]

Thank you so much @KatieFTM. How are you finding things at 10.5 weeks?

I'm just constantly exhausted, to the point I need to sleep, sleep and just sleep. Is this normal?

Best of luck @BeautyAndTheBump1!

[Pygmyseahorse]

Hi ladies

Really rough few days here. On and off still with meds working, gp told me to stick with them til end of the week so I'm waiting a call back this afternoon
On top of not working or not staying down much, when they do I am absolutely knocked out to point of feeling unable to do much with dd, wouldn't be safe to bath her etc.
Seizures also increased this week, largely due to heat I think but not helping
Dh has a chest infection but the plus side I've been told I can still go to the scan next week providing I don't fall ill before obviously

I'm so sorry to be rude and not replying to each individually but I'm 11 +2 (ish) and no let up yet and with dd I had it until she was born at 37 ish weeks but that's not to say yours won't stop sooner. Im afraid it's a case of taking each day as it comes.. Try to get meds that work and hope for the best

@BeautyandtheBump1 wow so close for you now, best of luck for the birth and I hope you don't go far over. Please do let us know when your beautiful baby has arrived!

@Snowwhite2020 haven't seen you post much lately, how are you doing?

Love to all, will reply better next time when I have a bit more energy!

[KatieFTM]

@Seeker2020 I am finding the new meds a lot better. I am managing around 3 good days followed by a relapse, when that happens it’s everything up, no water etc so I just have to wait it out until bedtime and hope the next day is brighter, sometimes it is, sometimes it continues. But generally much improved from first few weeks 6-9 when it was daily and I couldn’t do anything.
I hope things improve for you soon, if they don’t definitley ask the GP for a different type of medication xx

[Snowwhite2020]

@Pygmyseahorse I’ve just read about your week- that sounds so difficult. The seizures in particular must be so hard to handle. Has your gp been of much help?

Sorry I’ve not been online the last few days/ just had a few bad days in a row and the heat not helping me either! Been laying low...

Waves to all xx

[Seeker2020]

So sorry @Pygmyseahorse - that sounds like you're really going through it. Has there been any let up for you yet?

[LucindaE]

Seeker2020 Welcome. I am sorry you posted on defunct threads; usually, I go back and check now and then, but sometimes I forget. I am sorry you are sufferng so badly. I am glad Ondansetron is helping. Did the doctor prescribe a laxative with it? Most sufferers find that they improve a lot at some point between weeks 14 and 20.
Here is my normal spiel in case it is of use. 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 and foods of a sort. Full sugar flat coke, ice lollies, the juice of tinned fruit, Lucozade, Dr Pepper, soda water, Elderflower water, tonic water, ice cubes, Iron Bru, lemonade, 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 juices. Foods of a sort include cuppa soup, nibbles of crisps and chips, cheap ice cream, slices of melon and mango, grated cheese, baked potatoes, grated cheese, tinned fruit and biscuits.
Clarkal1 Kesostix are used to test proteins called ketones in the urine which show either dehydration or starvation.
BeautyandtheBump Cheering you on. Hurry up baby, so you can cross the drawbridge to the fabled Pink Castle.
KatieFTM Sorry to hear you are having a fair amount of bad days, but I am glad that Stemetil is helping much more than Cyclizine. These days, I am Mother Hen, and I watch over this thread. It's a good few years since I suffered.
Pygmyseahorse Poor you about seizures on top of the other misery.
"SnowWhite2020* ...and poor you about bad days too.
I don't think this heat is helping anybody.

[Aimz15]

Sounds like lots are having a rough time at the minute.

@Pygmyseahorse sounds like you are having an especially difficult time at the moment!

@BeautyAndTheBump1 hope baby doesn't keep you waiting too long!

I've just been prescribed cyclizine to try now, see if that makes any difference although they have said to take it 3 times a day does anyone know if that is normal dose?

Also with the kesostix what level should you be concerned about as when i went to doctors it was 1 + and they just said to drink more water?

[Pygmyseahorse]

Aww ladies thank you for caring

@Snowwhite2020 I am so sorry you've had a string of bad days, that's so hard to cope with. I'm guessing no better sleep either? Sending love and hoping you have a better day tomorrow

@seeker2020 thank you :) no let up really, I had 1 good day this week where I managed to limit vomiting to 5 and was just constantly wretching loudly but not since. I'm hoping Monday will bring a new medication to try and hope it helps. How are you feeling today?

@LucindaE we all really appreciate you being mother hen!

@Aimz15 poor you, it doesn't sound like they were very supportive! I think over 2 they showed more concern for me but I think the concern in my case is if I can't keep epilepsy meds down they increase which obviously can cause problems or be fatal so I'm sorry I'm not able to help much. Ibfind it crazy when they say 'drink more' or eat more.. Like yeah I would if I could pal!!!

Cyclizine helped in my last pregnancy, I think 50mg up to 3 times a day was the maximum dose but this was 4 years ago so my memory may be failing me!
Really hope it helps you and you feel better soon

Thinking of you all, sending love and hoping we can all get through this super hot weekend relatively unscathed!

[Snowwhite2020]

@seeker2020 so sorry to hear you are joining the terrible sickness club! Is it your first? This is my first baby and I have to say I found HG quite a shock... it’s one thing knowing it can happen and another altogether to actually experience it. Very difficult but the girls on here are a fantastic support and ur sounds like you’re getting sorted with meds- great. Sleep is so important- besides meds it is the best thing to take the sickness down a notch. If you are normally an active person (sounds like a lot of us are @Pygmyseahorse is particularly impressive with her studies and family!) then it is very frustrating but you will have found already you just have to give in and lay low and do everything you can do lessen it which means rest rest rest.

I am now 14 weeks and I would say the pattern of sickness has changed. I am still being sick and have terrible food aversions but I am a bit brighter between vomiting sessions. @LucindaE reports that some with HG find symptoms lesson a bit between 16-20 weeks and this may be the case for you. I think sadly if you have been so ill it seems unlikely to lift completely by 12 weeks but it will get easier/ change hopefully. I can only speak from my own experience however and I know it is very common for it to come back in waves (I have also experienced this- it is quite shocking lol)

It’s just very difficult. One step at a time, one day at a time! That has been my mantra!

[Snowwhite2020]

@Aimz15 I am on Cyclizine 3 times a day. It has helped me but not stopped the sickness completely.

[Snowwhite2020]

@KatieFTM so glad you have found meds that work better for you. I totally sympathise with what you mean about bad days. Throwing up meagre attempts at fluids (sips of water) after throwing everything else up is just then worst :( I think I have thrown up more water than anything else during this pregnancy!