Hyperemesis- success stories? Please help in desperate...

[LouJ85]

Hello all. I'm 6.5 weeks pregnant and have been struck by the worst hyperemesis. I'm currently in hospital attached to an IV drip, I've had injections of cyclizine (IV), prochlorperazine (IM) and Ondansetron (IM) so far since I arrived here at 2pm this afternoon. I'm so miserable - I'm contemplating a termination it's that unbearable. Which would kill me emotionally as this is a much much wanted and prayed for baby. But at the same time I can't kill myself physically in the process to have one, which is what it feels like right now. My question is - has anyone had successful treatment for hyperemesis and if so, what did you have that worked? Apparently there is another option of steroids but they don't want to do that until all else has failed. If no advice or experiences, a hand hold would be appreciated. I'm going through my own personal hell right now.

Hi op I sympathize as have been there too- the HG group on here was a life saver for me, that buccol tablets, IV anti emetics and parbinex, it was so hard, but being able to talk with others was so helpful.

And of course here's a hand hold!

Demand an ondansetron IV, it is the only thing that has truly taken away the nausea for me. It is horrendous and you have my sympathy.

I am on my 2nd HG pregnancy, though yours sounds more severe. Mine is better controlled this time but that is because I was on anti emitics the day after my positive test.

I take ondansatron, promethazine and omperazole. 6 tablets a day since 4 weeks. The first 17/18 weeks I wont lie I was largely bed bound and had one hospitalisation. But since then, despite a few relapses I have been able to function a bit better.

My advice would be to push hard for ondansatron. It is the best meds for HG and helps most people. It wont take away all the nausea or stop the sickness entirely but with time it should lessen the symptoms.

I also advise getting in touch with Pregnancy Sickness Support. They are a brilliant charity and can give you a lot of support and practical advice.

I feel for you immensely. It is an incredibly difficult time. I found ondansetron helped me the most. Sending you lots of love and hear if you need anyone to talk to xx

*here

Ondansetron tablets were the only thing that helped me at all. Still vomited loads and had unrelenting nausea throughout. Had 2 pregnancies and both were absolutely awful because of hg. I endured them in complete misery. My DC are worth it but it was so unbelievably hard and no one gets it unless they've been through it. One day this will all be in the past OP but at the time it was the darkest days of my life and I think the impacts on mental health aren't considered and supported enough either. Virtual hand hold here, you'll get through this and the thing I held onto both times is that it won't be forever and your life will come back when this is over. Newborn babies are so much easier to deal with than hyperemesis.

I'm not successful is the word, but I got to a point where living felt better than dying,

The first few weeks, around 4-5 for me, were real trial and error as to which drugs worked, and I ended up moving hospital at 10 weeks because my first hospital just didn't take HG seriously.

I then lived in hospital from 10-23 weeks. It was hell, it wasn't how I planned my pregnant. But it was a down sight better than being at home believing I wanted to die because I felt that ill.

I was on a round the clock combination of drugs composing of phenergen which put me to sleep for 5-6 hours to allow rest, metoclompromide every 6 hours to ease the sickness a little and odandentron every 4 hours. This were only every administered via a drip. Any oral medication I just sicked up.

After a month or so, all my veins collapsed from the constant IV, so I then had a PICC line; I HIGHLY RECCOMEND you press for this if you're having daily IV's. it'll save your veins.

I now have the most wonderful son who is 2. We are now TTC baby #2.

Pregnancy traumatised me, and I still can't go near the original hospital without breaking down.

But I promise you with all my heart that this is worth it. I mean it.

You'll fight this, you're so very strong. You'll feel like giving up so many times but you will get there.

Please, do message me if at any point you want to chat or if it becomes to much.

I wish I could hug you. It is hell.

Steroids gave me a huge amount of relief, I was on them for about 6 weeks. You may need to push for them. Those and IV fluids every other day saved me from going through with a termination.

I also believe thiamine supplements helped me a lot.

It is endurance.

Pregnancy sickness support are great.

The minute that I gave birth to my placenta, it was like a switch, I felt human again. It feels like it takes an eternity but you do get there.

You poor thing. I had HG but didn't get to your point until about 8 weeks! Had all the drugs you are already on but the real life saver was a wrist tens machine. Not cheap but trust me. My HH lasted until 23 weeks and I couldn't have continued without it

You can have Ondansetron film which dissolves on the roof of your mouth if tablets are too hard to take. Also ask for xonvea which is specifically licensed for pregnancy sickness but not often offered.

I was nothing like as I'll with hyperemesis as you, but it took a while for the drugs to build up to be effective. Were you on anything at all before you ended up in hospital, otherwise they will get more effective over the day or so as they build up?

For me personally, as well as ondensatron I also needed metaclopramide. They are some rare but not nice side effects which may be why they haven't suggested it yet, but it might be worth asking about? The other thing that can help with the nausea is an antacid, I was on ranitidine but some people on the hyperemesis support thread were on omperazole instead.

Don’t come on here very often but just wanted to add there is a really useful and lovely long running HG thread on here. Helped me immensely when I suffered 4 years ago. And as PP have said pregnancy sickness support is great too. I don’t think I was as bad as you are but found after my second hospital admission the IV meds curbed it enough to keep the tablets down. Having tried them all I took 3 ondansatron, 3 cyclizine, and omeprazole alongside 2 iron tablets daily. Not that you’ll be eating much at all but be aware of horrible constipation as a result of the drugs. Wishing you well OP. It truly is a horrible time and genuinely believe only those who have suffered understand.

I am not sure I have much I can offer in support but I know how you are feeling. I had HG with my son who is now 2.5 and I am currently 10+5 and suffering again.

I took cyclizine and later Ondansetron and it def took the edge off so I was able to function.

As PP have said it does get better and is so worth it. If people haven’t experienced it then they just don’t understand, this pregnancy I have been much more vocal on how I am feeling with my midwife as my mental health really suffered when pregnant with my son.
Sending a virtual hug.

@LouJ85 hi, I'm also 6+5, and also today find myself in MAU, having been referred by my GP.
I've never suffered like this before so have no advice unfortunately , I'm just going with what the midwives here say. I just wanted to say you're not the only one!

I cannot stop crying tonight, now I’m reading this and in tears again! It is so, so hard and all I see on social media is other mums to be posting cute pics and talking about how good pregnancy is.

I’m 10weeks 1 day but was admitted to hospital at 7 weeks because I got so bad I was throwing up every 5mins, it is truly horrific and the worst experience of my life. I thought this would be such an exciting time and I’d be glowing, oh how my body has other plans!! I don’t even know what drugs they gave me in hospital but I was in for 3 days and just left there being sick constantly until the right drugs worked for me.
I’ve been given cyclizine to take 3 times a day and although I feel better, a good day is making it from my bed to the sofa! I still can’t function, scared to get up because if I stand longer than 5mins I end up being sick. I was unsure whether to ask my GP for ondensatron.
My cousin suffered through her whole pregnancy, she was on both cyclizine and ondensatron and only got better after the birth. She’s been a massive help to me, I have no idea how she got through it!! Women who deal with this really are superwomen!!

Ondansetron and metaclopromide got me through 2 pregnancies. I was admitted multiple times in each for IV drips. And I ended up taking the medication up until the babies were born. I felt just like you at 6 weeks in hosp. Questioning whether I could go through with it. It's so so hard. Have you got good support? DH and my mum were amazing and I couldn't have done it without them.

I have been you. It's hell like none other.
Keep going. I have a wonderful almost two year old who is the absolute light of my life and she was worth the absolutely horrendous pregnancy I had.

I was sick for 36 weeks out of 40. Please utilise any and all support that you have. I was desperate to terminate but I took one day at a time and made it through.

Keep going.

HG is hell but the baby at the end is worth it. It’s completely understandable that you are questioning that at the moment though because you are so ill.

Advice:
Don’t worry about absence from work you are protected because it’s pregnancy related illness. Your job is not as important as you and your health and the health of baby.
Baby is taking everything from you and will be growing fine. The fact you feel so ill is usually an indication of this.
Be vocal about needing help and if you don’t feel up to it tell your partner he has to advocate for you because you are too ill to do it yourself.
Insist on medication and go back repeatedly and say if it doesn’t work - they will try you on the weakest things to begin with. Ondansetron tablets were the only thing that worked for me (other than the hospital stays X3 and the IVs!) If you are prescribed ondansetron also pick up lactulose at the same time.
I know it’s a nightmare scenario as you want to eat but the thought of it also fills you with dread and sickness. You do need to keep trying until you find something, anything(!) that you can tolerate. It does not have to be healthy it just needs to be something you can stomach - once you find it stick with it. Plain flavours are usually best, dry crackers, oat cakes etc. Try and nibble on something whilst still laid in bed before you get up - that’s if you need to get up. If you don’t, dont!
I found sipping ice cold water from a sports cap bottle tolerable. I could also keep track of my hydration that way. If you can’t eat you DO need to keep trying to drink as much as you can.
Basically you do whatever you need to get through - I was bed bound from 6 weeks to 20 and my sickness started to ease I was able to stop taking the tablets at 22 weeks.
Find something you can do to take your mind of the nausea and sickness - I lay in bed and watched 16 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy on the ipad between sleeping.
Huge hand hold to you OP!

10 odd years ago I was on metrocloprimide, ondansatron and steroids. It was the steroids that actually knocked it on the head enough so that I could eat. I still felt sick tho but it was a definite improvement to making friends with the sink every day x

Doxylamine was the only thing that worked for me. Vitamin B6 is supposed to help too, though I threw up every time I tried to take vitamin tablets so I gave up on them.

But the support thread on here was the most important thing to help me get through. Knowing you're not alone, comforting each other, its invaluable.

Here's the thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/3908440-Hyperemesis-Support

Just jump in and tell them how you feel

I had hyperemesis as well on my second pregnancy and it was actual hell. You poor thing... it's just so physically and mentally draining. I was in and out of hospital being rehydrated and I had to take time off work. I was constantly starving but couldn't eat a bite. It was absolutely awful. One tip for you are ice lollies. They stayed down, gave me some fluids and a bit of sugar. I found calipos very good.