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.

So yesterday managed to eat and not be sick (yay) that was short lived as im throwing up again!

@bex757 keep trucking what tablets are you on at the moment ? I am still able to throw up on my
Ondansetron I’ve written to doctor today pleading for a stronger dose I’ve measured my key tones which are there but low so my basically bed ridden half term has kept me sort hydrated
No idea how I will manage work
Next week

@Wingingitatlifesincebirth I have brought some sea bands with the hope they help too, I'm currently on: prochlorperazine, Metoclopramide and Cyclizine. Though they are not helping.

@Wingingitatlifesincebirth what ondansetron dose are you on? I've had conflicting information about what does/does not count as an overdose!

I’m now 20 weeks, can’t face another 20 weeks of this nausea!
Sickness and vomiting has been worse last couple of weeks.
Been on cyclizine since week 6, seems to be the best so far, cutting vomiting from 7/8 times a day to 2/3, but nausea ALL DAY AND NIGHT.
Have also tried ondanstron which worked at first but not now and Metoclopramide which consultant prescribed for 5 days, but have me the shakes, dizzy and Make my me feel like I do with migraine (aura stuff), so stopped taking that and back to the cyclizine.

In many ways the nausea is worse than the vomiting, I feel like I could vomit any minute all the time and I’m exhausted. It’s been half term this week (so I’m off) and have had to cancel plans To do things with my son twice so far due to being unable to be upright/no energy. Dreading going back to work on Monday. Feel so bad about my son missing out on time with me and not properly functioning as mum/wife/friend.

In addition to above (hate that you can’t edit a post)

Who officially diagnoses HG? Thinking it might be useful to have official diagnosis for work time off/help people understand it’s not just normal morning sickness and I’m not just being a wuss.
Is it Midwife, doctor, consultant? As all seem to just bat me around between them and nobody has said it’s officially HG, but I really feel like this is worse than normal morning sickness.

@PhotoMum4 sorry you're suffering so much. Take time off work, your employer doesn't even need to know the ins and outs, a sick note with "pregnancy problems" is fine to take sick leave without it counting to any trigger points. You have every right to take time off if you can't do your job properly.

But in answer to your question both my GP and midwife called it hyperemesis and my GP signed me off with 'severe vomiting in pregnancy' on the note. Ask your GP for a note with this on. Good luck x

How long should I wait before I re call the ward I was Monday/Tuesday? Since this morning I'm being violently sick again I can feel my tummy convulsioning every time, but as I ate last night I'm not sure they will see me.

@bex757 have you had any ketostix to check if you are dehydrated again? Best indicator as to whether you will be admitted again I believe it’s 4 plus ketones but correct me I have wrong ladies. It does sound like your having a bad time.

@BB2021 I’ve got 4mg ondansetron twice per day I tried to see if they would up my dose despite still
Being sick I did read on pregnancy sickness 3 x mg 3 times or day of 8mg x 3 times a day.

My GP rang gynae and did not seem
To be minded to put this dose up for me for reason they advised they were not so keen on ondansetron and try others in tandem.

@Wingingitatlifesincebirth I think they also take into account how many weeks you are. When I was about 10 weeks I was told by NHS direct to take 8mg x3, but a doctor at the hospital told me anything over 4mg x3 is an overdose. I've slowly weaned myself down to 4mg once a day but at my worst I was on 4mg x3 and could feel them wearing off after 5 or 6 hours. It's always worth seeking a second opinion and talking to a different doctor.

@Wingingitatlifesincebirth I have rung being re admitted back up there at 4, if they can find me a bed!

@bex757 hopefully they can find the right combo of meds for you. It must be awful to keep going into hospital. Hope you get better soon x

Hi ladies. Can I join? I was really hoping I wouldn't be in this club again this time around, but 2nd baby and 2nd HG diagnosis! Yay me.

I'm currently 9+5, 6lbs down in a little over a week and on my 3rd lot of meds. Cyclizine didn't help much but made me sleep all day (which I won't lie, was pretty awesome, but I have a 6 year old to look after), then prochlorperazine did absolutely nothing. So I've started on promethazine although I threw up bile 45 mins after my first dose so it's not looking great..

I think I'm developing a real thing about food and drinks. I'm scared to even think about them because I start wretching. I hate food. I really don't want to eat. I hate choosing what to eat based on what will be least unpleasant to throw back up. I just feel crap. Sorry for the pity party!

singleandttc Welcome. Sorry that you are suffering again. As you are a veteran, you don't need my spiel about 'have you got kesostix, as while not the best test for dehydration hospitals do take their measurements seriously' and 'a good anti acid can make a surprising difference' and 'do you find full sugar flat coke, ice lollies and the juice of tinned fruit any good?'' Did any meds or combinations of them help last time?
bex757 Poor you to have to be readmitted again. I hope they can work out a treatment routine that helps.
PhotoMum4 Sorry to hear that the awful nausea hasn't abated. Don't torment yourself with guilt about your LO. A sibling is a priceless gift. From what everyone says on these threads, this period of comparative neglect is soon forgotten.
Wingingitatlifesincebirth You sound too ill to go into work. Great advice from Gretagreengrapes about sick notes.Waves to BB2021. I hope things aren't too bad with you.

Hi @LucindaE yes, I've been testing myself for ketones and living off ice poles. Last time I could only keep down really fizzy juice and had to drink cans so they wouldn't go too flat, but this time I can't stand anything but fresh apple juice. It's weird that it's so different this time.

Sadly last time I got a bit better around 12 weeks and then a second, worse wave hit at 13 weeks and I had to stay on meds until 32 weeks... I'm really hoping that doesn't happen again.

Definitely think two babies will be plenty for me. I'm not sure I could go through this again!

Not sure if anyone has watched it but currently watching “sick” on amazon prime, which is a documentary about HG. Very interesting and making me feel less alone feeling so rubbish.

@PhotoMum4 this may sound ridiculous but does it show people physically being sick often? I cant watch other people be sick i get panicked and vomit!

@PhotoMum4 thanks for the tip apparently
This lady also has a hyperemesis podcast too. Just Incase anyone would prefer that to
Actually watching the programme x

@gretagreengrapes doesn’t show people being sick, one shot of a sick bowl, which is pretty much empty.

Hello folks...second pregnancy here at 7w+3 - last time I had HG and was sick loads, couldn't eat a thing and lost heaps of weight, they finally put me on prochloraperazine and it really helped - I never actually went to hospital due to a bit of a hospital phobia, looking back that was stupid as I must have been so ill. Anyhow - this time, weirdly I have not actually been physically sick yet..however the nausea is 24/7 and cripplingly bad, I can't get out of bed, can't eat a thing, struggling to drink much - it is just the same as my last pregnancy minus the actual sickness. I rang the Dr and they reluctantly gave me prochloraperazine again...but to my disappointment it isn't making the slightest bit of difference this time :( I'm sorry- you might think I'm posting in the wrong place because not being physically sick but I did a ketostix test this morning and it's the worst colour - I don't know how to read the numbers - the number underneath the colour is 16 mmol/L but it also says 160 mg/do - I don't really know what this means, but it was some lovely people on this chat that told me to buy these last pregnancy so I'm guessing someone on here will know! Should I ring the doctor?

@dellabrew welcome to this lovely group I am so sorry to hear that your are so poorly even with the Medication having worked last time if you have ketones and very dark urine it definitely sounds like dehydration absolutely contact your doctor. The nausea and constantly feeling sea sick is awful I totally sympathise as despite my medication I am wear sea bands and trying to do anything I can to stop me feeling permanently sea sick and hung over . In terms of ketones the pack I have is colour coded and I thin dark purple 4 plus signifies dehydration I am sure someone else may be more knowledgable xx

Ok yes thanks @Wingingitatlifesincebirth it's 4+ signs then . Have called the doctor but waiting for them to call me back now. Do you have to get a doctor referral to go to hospital? I haven't had my booking in appointment yet so don't have a number for midwife.

I've had to ring the hospital again this morning it appears my cyclizine and prochlorperazine combo have stopped working, I'm 10 weeks tomorrow. I last ate last night but threw it up soon after. Feeling absolutely rotten.

@dellabrew I think your GP may refer you to hospital during my first pregnancy I went directly
To maternity unit and was admitted to antenatal
Ward but that was simply because my
GP wasn’t much help at all I am Afraid at that time. You may want to contact midwife also to see if they can make a referral directly to
Ward.
@snapple21 sorry to hear your tablets aren’t helping 10 weeks can be a bit of hormone peak and I am personally dreading I hope you can get some relief.
@bex757 how are you doing today ?

To all the HG ladies one day at time ❤️

@LucindaE I've just come back here for laxative advice! Wish I'd looked here sooner. Feel rubbish with vomiting one end and constipation the other
Do you have any recommendations? Lunchtime I can eat and drink fairly well (yesterday I had an entire wrap with a tiny bit of salad!) so could take something then.