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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Hyperemesis Support

997 replies

LucindaE · 01/09/2020 21:15

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.

Hyperemesis Support
Hyperemesis Support
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9
consideringachange · 10/11/2020 16:28

@WishingMatilda both stemetil and metocloprimide can cause neurological side effects. With metocloprimide, at least, you should not be on it for long at a time. I was on it for weeks with DS1 (much longer than recommended) and in the end had a lot of twitching / weird restlessness and was told I should not take it again. Though restless legs can also just be a pregnancy thing.

LucindaE · 10/11/2020 18:38

consideringachange Of course, I remember you as kalidasa You are married to a Frenchman, are a lecturer and had a dreadful time with your two boys, being in hospital for weeks. Good luck with conception - forty his hardly over the hill - and thank you so much for your kind words. Great advice for WishingMatilda about the neurological side effects of Cyclizine, Ondansetron and your being taken off Metaclopramide due to twitching.
I hope everyone is coping today.

OP posts:
doritodiva · 11/11/2020 14:33

I've been prescribed promethazine hydrochloride. Is anyone on these? I've been asleep all day. Do they get any less drowsy???

kalidasa · 11/11/2020 14:37

@doritodiva I've not taken promethazine for HG but it's the antihistamine that's in things like Night Nurse I think -- it definitely knocks you out. If you take it for a while you may find the effect eases off a bit. If you're not having to work / look after other children, it may be good to be quite knocked out, I remember that the only time I didn't feel sick was when asleep. But if you have stuff you've got to do you could ask the GP for a less drowsy alternative.

doritodiva · 11/11/2020 15:53

@kalidasa thank you. It's actually eased the sickness. This is the best I've felt for ages! But I'm so so drowsy. I can't work and take these. Not sure what I'm meant to do

kalidasa · 11/11/2020 17:22

@doritodiva it might be worth trying them for a few more days and see if the effect wears off a bit. If you are able to eat better and feel better in yourself they might knock you out slightly less and some women definitely do find they are less knocked out by them after a while. You could ask to try cyclizine instead, which is the other standard first-line treatment, though that knocks me out too.

MrsG30 · 11/11/2020 19:14

Hi all,

I’m so glad I found this board - I’ve had severe nausea and sickness since 8 weeks pregnant - I’m 18 weeks now. I’m on cyclizine but it makes me so drowsy and gives me awful headaches. The dr is reluctant to give anything else as in her words “the side effects are there on all of the tablets”

I have a 3 year old and feel so bad on him as I’m having to stick him in front of the tv to dash off and be sick, and I’m just always on the sofa or in bed (when hubby or my mum can watch him). We’re not doing any of our usual activities and outings (even just park or to woods) and I feel so bad for him.

I’m so over this sickness. Also constipated, awful skin, hair is horrible, I feel so so fat - not pregnant - my bump looks horrible to my eyes 😭 I suffer with pre and post natal anxiety so also have that...

Really hate this pregnancy so far, which I’m gutted about as I absolutely adored being pregnant with my first (no symptoms to speak of, I breezed it!)

My jaw aches from clenching my teeth all day, I’m constantly retching and my throat feels burnt from throwing up 😭

Sorry for the moan ☹️

doritodiva · 11/11/2020 19:19

@kalidasa I had cyclizine in my first pregnancy and that made me drowsy. It's so frustrating that this is the best I've felt sickness wise in weeks and weeks. Yet I can't do normal stuff. I'm only 18 weeks so still got a long way to go

Wingingitatlifesincebirth · 11/11/2020 19:56

@MrsG30i am so sorry to hear you feel so awful and that your sickness has continued, unfortunately HG sucks quite a bit of joy out of pregnancy and I def identify with that. Your meds do not sound like they are helping def go back to your gp and see if you can have an alternative. I am only 8 weeks and cannot cook or walk with my two children I’m so weak and I’ve lost 11 pounds since getting pregnant. So do not feel bad get all the support you can hopefully by 20 weeks things will start to ease for you. I find being well rested really helps xx

Wingingitatlifesincebirth · 11/11/2020 19:59

Omg I’m just here to rant I cannot stop spitting I have now taken ownership of a spit cup!
I am absolutely hungry but my stomach just wants to empty it’s contents😢!
I’ve lost 11 pounds and this is the most weight on any pregnancy so it’s bad ladies no 3 is the last for sure x

MrsG30 · 11/11/2020 20:29

I’m sorry to see you’re struggling too - do you have help with your other two?

Have you spoken to midwife or GP as they may need to do IV fluids? Have you tried a ginger biscuit 😉 (sorry bad joke!)

This one has hit me like a ton of bricks, I e told hubby he best be booking the spin or he’s not coming near me after this one is here 🙈 being well rested really does help, been in bed since 7pm but tossing and turning and retching!

LucindaE · 11/11/2020 20:52

MrsG30 Welcome. Sorry you feel so bad. I hope you get some relief soon. I so aqree with others, do ask for different meds as these aren't helping enough. Here is my normal spiel just in case it helps. Most sufferers find that they improve a lot at some point between weeks 14 and 20. Even those who are unlucky enough to suffer throughout generally are not as ill later on as they are in the first part. 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: full sugar flat coke, ice lollies, the juice of tinned fruit, Lucozade, apple juice, Ribina, Dr Pepper, soda water, Elderflower water, tonic water, ice cubes, Iron Bru, lemonade, lemon squash, orange squash, orange juice (if not too acid), fizzy orange, 7Up, isotonic drinks, sips of chocolate milkshake (maybe soya), fizzy water, apple juice, Robinson's fruit drinks, Rubicon sparkling mango drink , raspberry Lucozade sport and frozen ice cubes of flat Lucozade sport . Foods of a sort include tinned fruit, cuppa soup, nibbles of crisps and chips, cheap ice cream, Scotch pancakes, bagels and biscuits.
Wingingitatlifesincebirth Having to carry a private spitoon round with you is awful. Much sympathy. I hope that eases soon. Some suck boiled sweets to help the awful taste in the mouth, but then that adds to the saliva. You feel at times you can't win. Eleven pounds is quite a lot. Much sympathy,and excellent advice for MrsG30 from you and kalidasa.
Mother Hen waves a wing to everyone in greeting...

OP posts:
LucindaE · 11/11/2020 20:55

doritodiva Sorry, missed your post. I hope the sleepiness eases a bit.
kalisada I never knew that Night Nurse had the same ingrediients. No wonder those anti-histamines make sufferers on it so sleepy...

OP posts:
YoungScrappyHungry · 12/11/2020 06:50

Can anyone please advise??
(I'm going under a different name but have been on this thread very recently)

I need medication advice. I'm back in hospital having been throwing up over 40 times for the last three days, DH was counting. Not had a wee for 48 hours.

I've done cyclazine, stemetil and ondansetron and nothing is working anymore and just seems to make me more sick.

I don't want to be back here again. Can someone please give any other options for meds I can discuss with my docs? I need to find something that works desperately, I can't do this much longer.

Pumpertrumper · 12/11/2020 06:57

@YoungScrappyHungry

Have you asked hospital to inject you with anti emetic instead of swallowing them. When you’re throwing up that much they probably won’t be getting chance to work. Would also ask them to IV in a good ant acid like Omeprazole.

I had Omeprazole and ondansetron pumped into me and it helped stabilise.
My understanding is ondansetron is one of the better options. There is metaclopremide which you haven’t mentioned but I haven’t tried it so can’t advise.

YoungScrappyHungry · 12/11/2020 07:45

Thanks so much @Pumpertrumper yes they have given it to.me via my IV this morning as I was just throwing pills straight back up.

The worry I have is that can't happen at home and once I'm stabilised I'll be discharged to take pills at home and it will start all over again.

kalidasa · 12/11/2020 07:49

@YoungScrappyHungry as @Pumpertrumper says they should try everything IV, but they're probably doing that already with that amount of sickness. (Though NB that some things are quite different IV -- I can tolerate cyclizine orally or by a pump but not IV, ironically by IV it actually made me throw up!)

It's worth giving it a couple of days, though I know it feels unbearable. You must have been very dehydrated and in ketosis, and the ketosis actually makes the vomiting worse. Even if you are still being sick, if they've got you on a drip and you are less dehydrated, that may help a bit in itself. Also, they will test all your vitamin and mineral levels and will supplement via the drip as necessary. I was always running out of all sorts of things in this situation. Again, having some of these things put back IV can help you feel a bit better.

But if you do not improve within a day or two they should also definitely discuss steroids with you. This is what I had with DS2 when I'd failed on everything else. They weren't a magic bullet (I was still being sick) but they did definitely help stabilise me and (eventually) got me out of hospital. This is the last-ditch option though so they will want to have tried everything else first. How many weeks are you?

kalidasa · 12/11/2020 08:00

@YoungScrappyHungry they should keep you in for a bit now I would think. Mention your fears over discharge. Most of these medications can also be administered via a suppository (in your bottom). Bit of an off-putting thought but can be a good way to avoid the throwing-it-straight-back-up problem and keep on top of things. If you're on a high dose of ondansetron, make sure they prescribe a laxative as well, it is very constipating and that also doesn't help the sickness. I had to come off it in the end for this reason. Feel free to DM if you'd like, I had lots and lots of admissions with both pgs and also found that ondansetron didn't control the vomiting enough (which is quite unusual I think).

YoungScrappyHungry · 12/11/2020 08:12

Thanks so much all

@kalidasa oh yes the constipation is in full swing, been over a week and I've tried everything, califig, suppositories, nothing is nudging it. Beginning to wonder if there is anything there.

Do you happen to know if I can take any in liquid form??

kalidasa · 12/11/2020 09:23

@YoungScrappyHungry yes there are loads of different laxatives they can try, including lacutlose in a liquid form -- I well remember how many times I threw it up in hospital! They gave up trying it in the end as they had to concede defeat. The ondansetron constipation was a really serious problem for me and in the end I had to come off it completely, my body just couldn't tolerate it. They were giving me enemas every day and even they weren't doing anything. I think docs tend to underestimate this because ondansetron is typically used e.g. by chemo patients just for a few days at a time, not for weeks. So make sure you really emphasise how bad it is. It definitely makes the sickness worse and obviously doesn't help you feel like eating either.

MrsG30 · 12/11/2020 11:18

Thank you for the advice - I’ll get those stick things as my pee is really dark and hardly going today - can’t hold water down 😔

Will also go back to GP and speak to a different one, mine is very blasé about women’s issues (been having huge mood swings, sporadic periods and hot flushes before getting pregnant while on the pill, and she just kept prescribing me the pill...)

Have sent my mum out for apple juice - I’ve been drinking orange which I’m keeping down but it’s giving me heartburn, thank you for the tip ❤️

LucindaE · 12/11/2020 18:30

YoungScrappyHungry Sorry you have been so ill. You've had Great advice from Pumpertrumper and kalidasa: I can't add a thing to it except that I expect you meant 40 separate vomiting episodes that your OH counted, but for some reason doctors sometimes count each heave as a vomit, so it is worth emphasizing that was separate episodes of vomiting so they realise how violent it is. With luck they will discuss prescribing steroids.
MrsG30 I hope you get another GP who tests your urine as that sounds as if you are defintely dehydrated.

OP posts:
bunhead34 · 12/11/2020 21:01

Is it normal to expect to come off the meds at some point?
I'm 18 weeks and taking ondansetron and cyclizine. The dr's are putting pressure on me to just take cyclizine. I'm scared, I don't want to be that ill again!

Wingingitatlifesincebirth · 12/11/2020 22:07

@bunhead34 absolutely with my first I sat listening to a consultant at 28 weeks telling me my sickness was psychological and that I should consider alternative therapy 😂 Whilst she showed me her medical book about risk outweigh benefit. I swiftly told her I would prefer not to be Medicated at all and quite frankly if I could have used the power of my mind to stop throwing up earlier I would have done so !
I found a lot of this was also cost based too x

FilthyforFirth · 12/11/2020 22:34

Hi @bunhead34, I am 38 weeks and have been on promethazine and ondansetron since week 4. I am also on metroclopromide and omeprazole and have been since 28 weeks. I took meds throughout with my first and DS is a perfectly healthy 3 year old.

I havent really been on this thread much this time round, but I wanted to seek some reassurance that it does really go? I've done this before, I should know that it does. But this past week I have been feeling so anxious it wont and I will feel like this forever. I cant shake it Sad.

My section is next Weds, baby wasnt engaged at midwife appt on Monday so no hope he will come early on his own. Weirdly feeling more miserable the closer it gets. Like the further away it feels. I've done 8.5 months but this last week just feels insurmountable.

Sorry, I am just rambling now..

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