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.

Thank you for all the advice everyone. Trying the raspberry lucozade sport has definitely helped, I think getting a bit of sugar into my system has gave me some energy to deal with feeling this ill. I had a slightly better evening yesterday too and managed to get a 4 hour respite from the vomiting.

I can't even explain how comforting and valuable this thread has been already, thank you ❤

Thank you @composed I had lactulose after the birth of DC1 and I honestly cannot stand the thought of taking it again, the smell is awful to me.

Pleased you're feeling a little better @neurotic90

@Snowwhite2020 congratulations what an amazing weight so jealous you can eat food !

@Blissfulignorance I this morning have just been to chemist I am seriously backed up here so I’ve bought glycerin suppostries , I’ve also bought andrews liver salts no idea if I’ll be able to stomach it but apparently good for your digestive system and god knows mine needs some help xx

@Blissfulignorance

I personally found movicol the best, although doctors will likely prescribe you CosmoCol or laxido which are the cheaper version. Weirdly enough they are the same ingredients but I buy movicol because it agrees with me best. It could be in my head but I remember having terrible cramps when pregnant with DD1 on CosmoCol. Water thing can be an issue though, you need to drink a lot for it to work. If you do, it works within 24-48 hours.

I feel your pain though, I'm always constipated lately!

I came on here to sympathise with the people who have rubbish managers who don't understand. Luckily mine isn't (but probably down to the fact I work in HR) this morning I had a meeting with my tutor as I'm in the final year of completing my degree and my line manager joined as they are funding it. I've wanted to put this hold on for some time as well due to the HG. Despite the tutor knowing my full circumstances, suffering with HG and reducing my hours at work she proceeded to tell me off like a little girl! Talking over me, explaining that I'm behind the class. I was honestly gobsmacked and explained that I'm up to date with my assignments on the dates we agreed, I've had a lot of time off work, reduced hours as I'm struggling etc but she was a right one on the phone. Thankfully my manager backed me up and I held it together but I had a little cry when the meeting ended. Then I was getting annoyed that I was allowing something so stupid to bother me when it wouldn't usually. (Those brilliant hormones eh?)

I think she was just the topping on the cake as I've been working ridiculous hours, looking after DD and working as my mum hasn't been well she usually has her and DP has worked ungodly hours too. I submitted a bloody 5,000 word assignment last month, I feel like emailing her a link directly to this thread! Sorry for the rant but I really needed it today.

Anya212 Goodness, how infuriating and insensitive of that woman. Of all the nerve! You obviously deserve a medal for carrying on working and looking after DD, let alone your studies and submitting projects to deadlines. That ignorant woman might have taken the time to find out about Hyperemesis. ..And you have given great advice on here, and have even given some today.
Neurotic90 That is the one I wanted to add to the list of drinks: raspberry lucozade sport.
Blissfulignorance, I do hope you get some relief soon.
Great advice from everyone. Waves to composed, wingingitatlifesincebirth, Anya and everyone.
I am so delighted about SnowWhite2020's having a daughter with such a hefty birth weight.

I have just updated the Due Dates list.
I do hope kalidasa is doing OK.

Due Dates
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 18 May
Jlw2020 19 May
Snapple21 30 May

Thanks Lucinda, to be honest I'm very close to finishing but it's too much. I just wish they agreed to pause the learning when I originally told them I was struggling and had been diagnosed. So annoying. Thankfully it has been paused now so it's something I'll finish after mat leave which is a huge relief. I can only assume her manager has questioned my attendance/situation and she's taken her frustration out at me. But I totally agree she was very insensitive, she probably just thinks it's a case of morning sickness.. I'm surprised she didn't recommend some ginger for me!

On the plus side I'm still feeling better in myself aside from constipation and the random sick outburst here and there. I didn't get much of a break with the HG first time round so appreciating it this time. I've also found Gaviscon to be a life saver which is something I never bothered about the first time around.

Hope everyone is okay x

Thanks for thinking of me @LucindaE ! It's been a tough week here. I had to do a dash up to Suffolk as my father was in hospital and my mother is too frail to be on her own; my father is out now but is going to need more heart surgery -- he had some just in October so this is a bit of a blow. I'm in the middle of an absolutely awful period at work, totally relentless, with a couple of big things every single day this week and we are still teaching right up until the end of next week.

I was 99% sure I was pregnant at the end of last week because I felt ill in that very distinctive way as I have from about a week before my period was due every time I've been pregnant. I didn't have any tests at my parents so I was planning to do one when I got back to confirm, but sadly I started bleeding very heavily and suddenly at the weekend (not much like my usual period pattern, I usually have a few days of spotting first) and started feeling a lot less sick and dizzy almost immediately. So I'm pretty sure that was a false start / very early loss. Felt quite down about it on top of everything else but OK now. I only bled for a couple of days so a bit worried that this whole cycle is going to be weird now which is annoying but we'll see.

@Anyat212 I am a university lecturer and I always grant an interruption of studies automatically, no questions asked, to any student who is pregnant and requests one, regardless of whether they are particularly ill or not. It should be a no-brainer! It's annoying to have to interrupt when you were nearly finished but you'll be able to get back into it afterwards. What are you studying?

Hi all, I have been a bit off the radar for a few days. I'm now 12+4 and on Saturday saw a private consultant about the HG and she told me to come off my ondansetron immediately because she said it is known to cause birth defects. I did as she said and am now much sicker again - cant keep anything down at all and it seems to be worse than it was before which I didn't think was even possible. I'm getting a bit desperate now and don't really know what to do next but can't think that 4 different gynae doctors would have prescribed ondansetron when I was in hospital if it was that dangerous a drug and am wondering whether the risk in this situation is outweighed by the benefit. I've already lost nearly 2 stone during the pregnancy so far and am completely at my wit's end. I don't know how much longer I can cope. Woke up choking on my own vomit this morning which was particularly unpleasant. :(

@Anyat212 Hi, I just saw your message re your tutor and I understand you are close to finishing and may not want to do anything but what you describe is discrimination - see www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/education/discrimination-in-education/overview-of-discrimination-in-education/

I think you should contact your school student support services, even email the dean to be honest. I’m in the university system (currently doing a PhD) and this sort of treatment is unacceptable but happens all the time in these institutions. I just wanted to say this because you are not in the wrong, and you should be clear to your tutor that her actions are discriminatory. She will only do it to others after you, and we should stand up to such treatment. Just my opinion but of course but you are doing absolutely amazing, some people have no empathy and shouldn’t be allowed to be in these positions of power. Take care and hope you feel better soon. It WILL all be worth it x

@Wishing14

Thank you, it never even crossed my mind they her behaviour yesterday was discriminatory until I've just read your reply. I can't believe I didn't realise I think with it being education I just never clocked on. I was thinking of complaining anyway but I will be making sure I do that now. It's extra effort into doing it which is annoying but I do agree I wouldn't want this to happen to anyone else.

@kalidasa
Thanks for your reply too, that's good to know on the break in learning. I did sort of imply it back in August especially with the level of absence I was off work and was much firmer last month which hasn't been actioned. I think she's potentially annoyed as I took a break while pregnant with DD1, came back from maternity picked it back up and now I'm breaking again for such a short amount. I'm sure she wonders why I didn't just wait until I'd completed it (you can see it all over her face) but at the same time she doesn't know my circumstances. Which just frustrates me. I'm getting more annoyed at this woman as I'm thinking about how she's behaved the past few months tbh. Anyway, thank you for your advice I appreciate it. I'm studying level 7 in HR Management.

@Anyat212 I was thinking your tutor might be used to dealing mostly with 18/19/20 year olds when sometimes it is appropriate to be a bit school-teacher-y and she might have forgotten about you not being in that category -- but if you're doing a professional qualification like that I'd imagine everyone is out of their teens! So no excuse at all. I think it's true that an awful lot of people just have no idea how ill some people are in pregnancy, and women who had uncomplicated pregnancies themselves can be the worst offenders! Hope you get it sorted out.

Those who have had hg in multiple pregnancies , did it always kick in at the same time for you or vary?

Last pregnancy was 5 weeks on the dot , I'm 4 weeks 6 days today and feeling ok but apprehensive about how I may be tomorrow

kalidasa I am really sorry about that loss - it sounds like one with the heavy bleeding. With early losses the cycle is back to normal in no time.
Sorry about your father's heart trouble, too. That is a worry.

MyBabyBoyBlue Ondansetron has been associated with a miniscule risk of cleft palate. As it is never given except for the severe cases of Hyperemesis, as kalidasa pointed out a few pages back, malnutrition may well play a part. The doctors have to weigh up the very real dangers of prolonged dehydration with those of Ondansetron. In your case the hospital doctors obviously thought that dehydration was far more dangerous. Did she tell you how small the risk is? It might be a good idea to phone Prengnancy Sickness support on 024 76382020 for reassurance, or I believe it is quicker to contct them on LiveChat. How are the ketones measuring?
surreymum I hope a veteran of a couple of Hyperemesis pregnancies can advise you soon.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.
Anya212 You certainly ought to complain. The woman has no right to make judgements when she doesn't have all the facts. I am glad you have had such good advice about it from kalidasa and from Wishing14.

@LucindaE thank you, I had a look at the website and then a long chat with my GP who talked me through the studies and the risk/benefit and said given the circumstances and how ill I am without it, she wants me to start taking it again - she also mentioned that cleft lip association could easily be due to lack of nutrition in the mother and the studies can't be conclusive because only women with HG have any need to take the drug and that she is happy for me to be on it until things subside enough for me to manage without. Embarrassed to say that I did sob down the phone to her a bit in relief. Hoping to keep some fluids down tonight now!

@kalidasa

True - she could possibly have other students in a different class where she needs to be like that. The majority of the people in my group are around 25 - 35, I'm 28 and I've worked in HR since I was 19 she knows this though. I'll be drafting the complaint letter over the weekend anyway. Thank you again for your help. Your students are lucky they have an understanding lecturer! Hope you are doing okay.

@surreymum89

This is my second HG pregnancy and my sickness started around the 5/6 week mark the first time. This time (I can't believe I can't remember the specific week) but I think it was maybe 7 weeks. I can only speak for myself, but I've found this pregnancy 'easier' to handle than the first (I'm not saying it's been a breeze because it hasn't!). I've felt generally better in myself although my ketones have been higher and I've been in hospital more this time around for dehydration. I was sick a lot the first time, this time it's been more of me loosing my appetite completely (which has returned) and the nausea has been much worse than before.

I do hope the sickness stays away for you. Have you managed to speak to your doctor about taking meds beforehand? It could be worth booking an appointment with your GP to look at options incase it does suddenly creep back in.

@MyBabyBoyBlue I hope you feel better soon. I took ondansetron from about 7/8 weeks in my first pregnancy and my DD was perfectly healthy! I took it all the way through my pregnancy and even had it when I was in labour with her. I haven't been prescribed it this time as I did find a different combo what worked for me but I'm pleased you've been prescribed with it again.

@surreymum89 every time I've been pregnant I have felt noticeably odd from about 2dpo (I know - supposedly impossible) and unmistakably sick and dizzy from about a week before my period was due. This is in two successful pgs but also two (probably 3 including last week) very early losses/false starts, all exactly the same in the first couple of weeks. With DS1 I couldn't function normally from 5 weeks and had lost control of the vomiting and was in hosp before 6 weeks. This is very early though. With DS2 I was on all the drugs pre emptively - cyclizine as soon as I started feeling sick and ondansetron from week 5 but it only delayed admission by about a week. My second pg was very severe though and most women who treat it pre emptively in subsequent pregnancies do have a much better time as a result. With DS2 I didn't get out of hospital until 14 weeks because nothing stopped me throwing up constantly. Did you feel nauseous by this point in previous pg? If you did and you don't this time then maybe you're in for a better time of it, I hope so!

My steroid dose is now in the tapering phase and I've been really sick tonight. Anyone have any experience? I've been doing so well. Had dropped the cyclizine and just been taking ondansetron and stemitil. Had to take a cyclizine tonight feel I've gone back a bit.

Hi all, just checking in to say that yesterday I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy. 💙
A very healthy 8lb 12oz (amazing considering how little I ate). They definitely take every little bit they can from you, that’s for sure. So try not to worry too much, you’re all doing amazingly.

I want to say, hang in there! There is light at the end of the tunnel even if you can’t see it yet.
Holding your baby in your arms makes every single second worth it, I promise you.

This thread was amazing for me in some of my darkest hours. I want to thank every single person that helped when I needed it.. and made me feel supported and less alone than I felt I was at times.

It may feel a long way away and like you’ll never get there.. but you will.

Sending big hugs to all xx

@IGottaGetThroughThis

Congratulations!! What a fab weight, I hope you are doing well & enjoy all those newborn cuddles with your DS

IGottaGetThroughThis Congratulations on your baby boy. What a brilliant weight. I am so glad you found this thread helpful when at your worst. Thank you for your lovely message of encouragement.
snapple21 I do remember that happening to a couple of women on here. Do they definitely think that it's best to come off them now?

Anya212 kalidasa and everyone Excellent advice.

Ah, and MyBabyBoyBlue I am so glad that you got reassurance from your GP.

@snapple21 how far along are you now? can you check in with your consultant in any way? With DS2 I was put on steroids quite early on and then forced to reduce them drastically by one doctor who was against them. I became very severely ill and was put back on them. The second time I was on them for a long time and the taper was very gradual and my (second, much better!) consultant told me to stop the taper and stay on the same dose or even go back up a notch if at any point it looked like I was going to lose control of the vomiting again. If you are very far on, I did also find I'm afraid that the vomiting got a bit worse again in the third trimester both times. I didn't actually have any third trimester admissions I don't think, but I remember a few close calls.

I'm 16 weeks now. I have a consultant appointment next week.

@Anyat212, thank you, thats very reassuring to hear.
@LucindaE thank you for this thread, it is so nice to know there is support out there and we are not going through this alone!