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.

Back on the day case. Having fluids. They want to try 5 days of metaclopramide anyone had this?

snapple21 Is that 'day ward' - poor you. Lots of sufferers have been on Metaclopramide. It really helps some. The only thing to watch out for is the twitchiness kalidasa had which sometimes affects the mother (not the baby). Are they adding it to the Ondansetron?
wingingitatlifesincebirth I'll add that Fanta lemon the suggested drinks list. Miserable about the spit cup.

Hi, has anyone taken laxido sachets in pregnancy and was it helpful? I've got some from a prescription before I was pregnant and ondansetron is affecting my bowels as it does.
The challenge will actually be gulping them down!

Now 22 weeks and still nauseous all day and all night, sick on average 2/3 times a day 4/5 days a week.
Worried about my mental health as the constant nausea and feeling useless is def getting me down. I believe I had depression during my previous pregnancy which wasn’t diagnosed as I was too scared to say anything, but spent most of my pregnant crying, or dreading getting out of bed and existing.

This time I can feel the same useless/worthless feelings coming in. Finally built up courage to reach out to community midwife (left voicemail and text) but received no response. Tried the midwife helpline on my notes and they said as I’m over 20 weeks HG clinic at EPU won’t see me so would need to go via A&E, GP said call midwife or speak to consultant.
Haven’t been given a consultant as nobody has officially diagnosed HG.
A&E feels wrong during a pandemic when I’m not an emergency.
Feel like I’m going in circles and nobody wants to help me.

Contacted pregnancy sickness support but again no reply other than a generic set of info PDFs.

PhotoMum4 I am so sorry to hear that you are being passed about like this. It isn't good enough. I have been trawling about online to find a quick telephone number without success. Idon't know why PSS only sent you generic information if you asked about counselling support, I hesitate to suggest you ring back with a request about counselling,not general information, but it is all I can think of suggesting. Don't suffer in silence, do ask for a GP to phone you and explain that you're falling between the cracks about counselling for Hypermesis, and you are becoming depressed. It is very dismal when it goes on for so long. I hope that someone may think of some better solution.
GretaGreenGrapes A fair number of women have been helped by that one, if they could swallow it.

@PhotoMum4 I use the live chat on the PSS website, it was very good and I spoke
To an actual person very quickly! Maybe try that? Xx

@PhotoMum4 I am so sorry to hear you have fallen through the system by being too pregnant for the hyperemesis clinic that’s really sad at 20 weeks it’s dismissed. I am aware in some areas NHS has schemes for perinatal midwives who specialise in mood and mental health during pregnancy perhaps see if your midwife can make a referral if this is available. It’s totally normal to feel so low sickness really takes all your energy I think anyone with hyperemesis can identify with pure exhaustion feeling like rubbish it does affect you I know it did for me. Please keep
Knocking on those doors for help xx

Hi @photomum4 can you ask for a referral to the perinatal team? I was referred to them during my first HG pregnancy and the psyhciatrist I saw was an utter godsend. I felt mentally quite unwell with my first. The 24/7 feelings of nausea can make you feel quite mad. I had forgot what it felt like to feel 'normal' and I was terrified it was permanent. It wasnt of couse and for me it went as soon as my placenta was out.

My 2nd HG pregnancy has been harder in some ways, but mentally probably not quite as bad.

Someone asked about metroclopromide. I have been on this since around 28 weeks (am now nearly 39) and I take it alongside ondansetron and promethazine.

Thank you for the words of encouragement @lucindae. My dd is actually 25.11, they moved it a day forward at my 12 week scan. But I am heading in for my section on Weds at exactly 39. Just got my negative covid test result today so it will definitely be going ahead. Just as well, I have rediscovered toothpaste setting me off and have been sick just now before getting into bed. So depressing that it just hangs around until the bitter end.

Sorry to all those suffering, especially who are early on. I hope you get some relief soon.

Hi ladies, okay if I join? First of all I'm so sorry to all of you who are feeling utterly terrible.....

My background, I have a 14 year old daughter whom I had horrific Hg with I was in and out of hospital my whole pregnancy I was really quite ill. We started ttc 16 months ago and sadly suffered a Mc last year, in my Mc pregnancy I had no sickness whatsoever, fast forward a year later and we are currently 7+1 and my sickness is absolutely awful, it's all day everyday... I'm getting to the point where I just want to cry all the time. I feel like I can't cope, I don't want to complain as we want this baby so so much end our hearts have been broken getting here, but I'm so scared this is going to be it for the next 7 months x

AnxiousAnnie Welcome. If you're not on meds, do ask for some. They used to put off prescribing them until a woman was hospitalised for dehydration but they are more humane these days. Or have they put you on some that are ineffective? Do ask for ones that work. As you are a veteran you don't need my 'have you got kesostix, as while not the best test of dehydration, hospitals do thake their measurements seriously' and 'a good anti acid makes a big difference' and 'do you find flat, full sugar coke, ice lollies and the juice of tinned fruit any good' spiel. Everyone is very supportive on here.
Great advice for PhotoMum4 from bunhead34 - I didn't even realise they had that on Pregnancy Sickness Support - and wingingitatlifesincebirth.
PhotoMum4 I hope someone has offered to sort things out.
FilthyforFirth I am so glad that the end of your Hyperemesis horror run is nearly there - the Pink Castle at the end beckons. Good luck for tomorrow. I'll change those details on the Due Dates list.

Due Dates
FilthyforFirth caesarean 18 November
SnowWhite2020 26 November
IGottaGetThroughThis 6 December
Pygmyseahorse 18 December
KatieFTM 20 December
Seeker2020 25 December
bluesskiesandapples 25 January
Xbambi 16 February TWINS!
ChubbyMumFromSkye 13 March
PhotoMum4 18 March
Anya212 28 March
BB2021 4 April
Tiff94 4 April
doritodiva 12 April
bunhead 13 April
Dimpous 13 April
Funkypolar 19 April
Tiff94 21 April
ohidoliketobe 1 May
QueenBee95 2 May
Fruitloops34 5 May
Firsttimemum21 14 May
SweetpeaOrMarigold 20 May
Jlw2020 19 May

@LucindaE I haven't been offered anything yet, with my daughter I begged for some and they practically shamed me saying there could be massive side effects for the baby, so obviously I said no, but that was 14 years ago now, I've taken an antacid tonight actually to see if that helps, but I just feel so dizzy and sick think it's past that :( x

Has anyone ever had hg go around 19 weeks? I had one bout of heaving at the weekend and that's been it! Starting to think something is wrong because I've been feeling so well.

@AnxiousAnnie86 you should definitely ask the GP, it is totally normal now to offer first-line anti-emetics which are known to be safe as they've been used for a very long time (e.g. cyclizine). If you starve or become very dehydrated, that is bad for the baby.

@doritodiva great that you feel better! yes from my time on these threads years ago I definitely remember other women who were very ill at the start but for whom it went completely mid-pregnancy (in a few cases it then came back a little bit right at the end, but not all). Even the worst cases are usually best between about 20 and 30 weeks I think. I never stopped feeling sick and throwing up but that was the best patch for me both times. I'm sure @LucindaE can add more examples as she's been running these threads for so long. Are you due a 20 week scan soon anyway -- might be reassuring?

@kalidasa yes I have one on Friday. I was sick Sunday but it's really eased off. Obviously great news if it has but it does make you feel worried.

AnxiousAnnie86 As kalidasa says, Cyclizine for instance, has been used since the 1980's wiithout any reported risks except sleepiness. Do ask for meds as there is some evidence that the sooner you start on medication, the less likely you are to become uncontrollably ill. Those doctors gave a biased picture.
doritodiva It is normal for sufferers to get relief at some point between 14 and 21 weeks - some suffer throughout but they are the unlucky ones. Try not to be anxious. I am sure the scan will reassure you.

Waves to kalidasa.

@LucindaE thank you. I've felt some movement tonight so thats put my mind at ease. I've reduced my tablets to two a day now. Might try for just one soon and see how I feel.

Evening all. Just popping on to say my rather large bundle of joy was born this morning at 8:59, weighing in at 9lbs8oz!

I was sick and very nauseous until the ondansatron drip kicked in. I am pleased to report the nausea has totally gone and I have been enjoying gulping drinks all day long!

Best of luck to everyone still waiting. Hang in there it will end.

@FilthyforFirth congratulations on your lovely news and making it the end what a fab weight xx
Glad all went well and your gulping drinks jealous ! X

Still no support, spoke to GP and he just said try the ondanstron again and if I needed more support with mental health I would have to go to A&E.

It seems by doing everything right and trying to keep myself out of hospital nobody will see me.

Can’t get hold of community midwife And midwife helpline on notes is still just advising A&E.

I’m considering getting myself admitted now just to get some help with the mental health side.

@FilthyforFirth what a fabulous weight given everything you have been through, congratulations.
@PhotoMum4 sorry to hear of the lack of support you are receiving. I would be taking myself to A&E ☹️ I found that until I met my actual midwife at 28 weeks I have felt pretty alone in the pregnancy. Hope you get the help you need and deserve. X

Hi all, I hope everyone is doing Ok. Just had a few questions about diagnosis. I’ve been in bed now for 3 weeks solidly so I’ve been off work. I have a sick note which I haven’t sent in yet which says “pregnancy related nausea”. This is true, as I’m not actually vomiting and so I don’t have an HG diagnosis.

The problem is, I’m worried it will look like I’m just being a bit pathetic. The reality is that for much of the day I have to lie flat and not move because if I move the nausea gets unbearable. When I do get up I can manage a quick shower and that’s about it and then I have to lie down again. Have you all found work to be understanding that there are different degrees of morning sickness or do you all have an Hg diagnosis?

I’m really worrying about how this will “look” at work. I don’t know whether to call the doctor to get different wording on the sick note and if I do what that wording should say.

@anniemabel I dont think my work cared at all what it said other than the word pregnancy, as then it doesn't count towards any sickness triggers. I think you are over thinking this! Don't stress about the wording of it.

FilthyforFirth Wonderful news. [
Thank you so much for coming on to encourage others, and what an excellent weight. I thought my daughter was heavy at 8 and a half pounds!
Anniemabel I so agree with others, so long as your note mentions a pregnancy condition, you are covered and try not to fret about the wording. Of course, most sufferers regard the nausea as worse than the vomiting, anyway.
doritadiva I am so glad about the movements reassuring you.
PhotoMum4 I am really dismayed to hear about this cavalier treatment. Someone below - sorry, I can't find the name - made the excelent suggestion you use Live Chat for the Pregnancy Sickness Support people as you get hold of someone live able to advise more quickly. But your idea about getting admitted is a good one. I thihk when you are through this you should complain about this neglect. It isn't good enough.

Hi all just checking in 10 weeks tomorrow
And can’t sleep feel like absolute trash, I really want to get a sick line as I’ve basically lost a stone lm week as water! But my boss is now off
Sick for the foreseeable and we are small team, I’m so anxious about managing work I am working from home but it’s hard with virtual meetings needing to constantly spit or be sick and generally feeling exhausted by sitting up. This has not been helped by my pre schooler having to isolate from nursery just feel like I’m falling apart. So sorry for the long moan!

Also don’t want to tell work I’m
Pregnant as it’s so early and I haven’t had a scan 😭 can I still get a sick line without telling them
Exactly what is wrong ?xx

Congratulations @FilthyforFirth!

I'm struggling again. On my fourth day of metaclopramide and I'm really ill again tonight. Have barely been able to eat since I started it. I think I'm going to end up back in hospital the next two days as I don't know what else to do. I'm 5kg down now. :(