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.

I've had a rough week, ketones are +2 so been told to rest up - glad it's not a hospital trip though. I am keeping fluids down. I'm so just so tired all the time. Which is even more exhausting with a toddler, I swear she's developed a new level of energy! 😬 DP has broken up for Christmas now so glad he will be around more.

@composed I'm the same at counting the months down! Hopefully they'll book your c section in for May time. It certainly helps having that date in your mind.

@BuffyFanForever hope you manage to keep some other food down soon. I was living off french fries when that's all I could stomach.

@MyBabyBoyBlue it's frustrating when the doctors say that, is this your first pregnancy? I ask because that's all I heard from 12+ weeks onwards. It really got me down the battle with the doctors on top of this particularly in my first. The only advice I have on that is to keep being persistent, explain that your symptoms aren't improving, how much weight you have lost since the last time you called / last week, your food / water intake, what your ketones are (if you have the sticks at home) and that you are bed bound which is not normal. Have they not explored different medication for you? It sounds like you could probably do with some fluids from hospital, have you got the MAU details? May be worth ringing them instead.

I promise it does get better though. Them early weeks really are awful but it does improve. I'm 25 weeks and although I've had a bad week it is not on the same level as them early weeks. Once you get past the 'peak' which is sounds you are going through it, symptoms do improve. I hope you feel better soon.

Ah after one afternoon of being able to keep some stuff down I’ve had the most awful day so far. So ill I can barely move. Haven’t kept down even a drop of water...it’s my birthday and all I feel like doing is crying because this feels so never ending...I’m almost 7 months now and cannot believe this has been my life for almost a year. Just praying I can feel abit better for Christmas as nothing worse than being not at home when this ill...

So any hopes of escaping this pregnancy are thoroughly gone. I'm on my second day of fluids in hospital and I'm only 4 weeks. So sorry to hear all you other ladies are suffering.

Oh dear, suffering all round. I am sorry to hear it.
wwwwwwwwwwwwww It is discouraging to have been admitted so early. I hope that they prescribe some effective meds and you feel better for the fluids.
Anya212 Great advice as ever. I am so glad that things are better than they were, although sorry that it was a rough week. I hope you get still further improvement.
MyBabyBoyBlue I am sorry to hear you only had one good day after two bad months and now feel as bad as ever. UTI's and antibiotics and UTI's can make you feel really ill and are miserable at the best of times. I hope you soon get an improvement.
BuffyFanForever It is really tough to be one of the unlucky ones who suffer as badly throughout. I'm assuming there's nothing further they can do to add to the meds? That was a miserable birthday for you. Belated good wishes and you will get an amazing belated present who will make up for everything.

Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Thanks Lucinda I am feeling better today. Hope everyone is coping as best as can be today.

@wwwwwwwwwwwwww sorry to hear you're in hospital. Hopefully the fluids are beginning to help?

@BuffyFanForever happy belated birthday. I was just going to say have they tried every type of med for you? Steroids could be something especially when you are still unable to keep fluids down? I wish there was something what would help, it's terrible to be suffering so long. I had sickness all the way through my first pregnancy but I was able to keep some food down so they didn't mess about with my meds.

Anya212 I'm happy to hear you feel a bit better today.
I hope those who felt terrible yesterday feel slightly less terrible today..
Torrential rain here last night. When I walked down into town, I was startled that there was no flooding.

Thinking of everyone struggling today. It is very hard.

Hello all,
Newbie here. Last time I used this forum was nearly 7 years ago (and oh my goodness it (and Lucinda!) was a lifesaver!)

I've got a lovely little boy and now that I'm at a point where I can enjoy ginger biscuits again and shower without fearing the smell of the water, hubby and I are finally TTC number 2. Yes, it's taken that long for the horrors to fade behind the rose-tinted glasses.

Last time round I had the horrors from week 4 till the placenta came out at the C-section at 38 weeks with a fair few admissions for fluids. Now I know there's a 20% chance I might not need to come back if I magically escape hyperemesis this time round but I thought I'd pop in and say hi now, just in case. (And document for myself in the coming months how normal I feel now, how I will feel this normal again and how it is definitely worth it... right?)

Picture of the child eating beloved gingerbread in a less locked-down time.

petitlapin1 Welcome back. What a lovely photo. Congratulations on being brave enough to go for it again. I hope you escape it. I am so glad the thread helped you last time. As you are a veteran, you don't need my spiel about having kesostix, or 'do you find flat full sugar coke (if not too acid), ice lollies and the juice of tinned fruit any good' and 'a good anti-acid makes a big difference'.

Morning ladies, On Tuesday I finally reached the Pink Castle. My baby boy arrived safely and weighing a whopping 9lb 8oz. Proof that they really do take all the goodness from us Mummy’s suffering.
Just a message of thanks to Lucinda for the support and keeping this thread going. It really was a lifeline as a first time mum wondering how on Earth I was going to get through!
my HG journey did subside substantially at 15-16 weeks (I hope it does for some of you as well) so keep in mind that each pregnancy is different, but when they arrive it is so worth it. My nausea and aversions left me straight away and the post birth tea and toast was the best thing ever! 💙

@KatieFTM congratulations!! That is such lovely news and what a healthy weight too. I am so happy for you that it’s all over now and you can enjoy the rest of 2020 with hopefully all the good food too. It is encouraging to hear that the hg got better for you at the weeks mentioned as I think mine is too and I have been able to reduce my meds a lot too.

@petitlapin1welcome even though I hope you manage to stay hg free this time, fingers crossed you become part of the 20. Deciding on another after a hg pregnancy is a massive step and I can only sympathise with you. I would also suggest maybe speaking to your gp and getting meds/plan in place if unfortunately hg were to rear its hideous head again. Till then I hope you can enjoy the xmas festivities x

@Anyat212 I hope you’re having a good day today too and feeling better x

@wwwwwwwwwwwwww I hope the fluids have helped and you are back home with good meds. It does get better you are undortunately in the early days so just take each day at a time, even a minute at a time
if need be and remember this too shall pass.

@BuffyFanForever how are you doing now? It is so horrid as @LucindaE says to suffer with hg throughout but I truly hope you get to have more good days than bad, I found this to be the case even though I had hg throughtout my last pregnancy.

@MyBabyBoyBlue hg is hard and horrid dont feel bad for feeling the way you do but you can do it. Are you on meds? if the you are and they aren’t working don’t be afraid to go back to gp and ask for different ones. In the meantime we are all here for gentle hand holding whenever you need it.

I was wondering how @PhotoMum4 was doing, haven’t heard from her in a while. Hope she is doing better.

Apologies to anyone I have missed, I have thoroughly given up even trying to tidy my house and have told my husband to do as much as he can when he can as I CAN’T (as long as the laundry gets done!) Surely I’m allowed this pass??

KatieFTM What wonderful news. So happy for you. What an amazing weight, too. I am so glad this thread helped you through dark times and you are at the fabled Pink Castle. Thank you so much for your lovely words and encouraging message for current sufferers.
composed Excellent advice as ever. How are things?

Hi everyone, I thought I'd say hello. 13+4 here and due date 24 June. My pregnancy book says that at 13 weeks I "should start to be feeling much better!" but the past few days have been the worst yet. This is going to be a long post, sorry...

I feel like a bit of an impostor joining here because I don't think I have "proper" HG - I only vomit between 0 and 3 times a day - but I have debilitating nausea which is exacerbated by 2 pre-existing conditions, both unmedicated due to pregnancy:

1. A nasty form of IBS which manifests as stomach cramps, feels like the most extreme hunger pangs you've ever felt but eating doesn't help - I often end up on all fours on the floor groaning like I'm in labour. Changes to my eating patterns and lack of sleep both cause this to flare up (convenient right now!) The antispasmodics I used to take have zero research for use during pregnancy, so I don't want to risk them.
2. Anxiety disorder (I know this could be safely medicated but I've been off meds for years now and would rather not go back on). In particular, I used to be emetophobic and while I'm nowhere near that afraid of vomiting now, I usually have a minor panic attack when I think I'm about to vomit (finally getting used to it now...) I also have a really hard time sleeping if I feel nauseous, because of the automatic fear I feel.

So I got locked into a horrible cycle of nausea/vomiting, insomnia, anxiety, and stomach cramps. At 9 weeks I had not slept for 2 days and had not left the house for a week, so I tentatively contacted my midwife for support. She convinced me to get some anti-sickness medication, and my GP was really supportive too - I'm in the incredibly lucky position of them convincing me to accept medication, rather than the other way around! (Prior to this I'd been really resistant to accepting medication, probably because my mum was putting huge pressure on me not to...)

I've been on a series of 3 meds now:

1. Prochlorperazine - worked nicely for a few days but then lost its effectiveness. My GP also said I shouldn't take it regularly after 12 weeks (anyone else heard this?!) and I was at 12 weeks and still unwell.
2. Metoclopramide - I had a horrible reaction to this, incredibly jittery and restless with a pounding heart, it sent my anxiety through the roof and I had possibly the worst night of my life, zero sleep, multiple vomits, and that really messed up my whole system.
3. Cyclizine - my GP didn't want to start with this because a lot of people get very drowsy - but luckily the only side effect I'm getting is a dry mouth. I think it's helping, as I'm currently having tomato soup and cheese toast at 10am...

Anyway, this is a long way of asking advice for coping with the mental health effects of NVP/HG. I'm showing many signs of antenatal depression and also have a history of anxiety, so my GP has referred me for mental health support but I'm not sure how long that would take.

How do you get through each day, each wave of nausea, each episode of vomiting, without completely losing all your hope and patience? How do you bond with your baby when your entire experience of pregnancy has been horrible? (I don't blame the baby, I know it's mostly the placenta doing this to me. But even after seeing the baby on the dating scan I don't feel connected to them and don't feel excited about meeting them.)

And the question I keep coming back to - how does anyone do this a second time? DH and I both want two children, but I don't know how I can possibly do this more than once. I keep worrying this will have to be an only child and that will make both of us sad.

Sending you all love and support xx

@kingfisher657 Welcome and so sorry to hear are having such a hard time, we all understand. It doesn’t matter if you are vomitting once or 20 please don’t think the way you are feeling makes it any less horrid. I agree that the constant nausea itself can be so much harder then actually throwing up sometimes.

I am glad to hear you have such a supportive gp and have tried meds, there are others you can try if the current ones don’t help so don’t be afraid to go back.

The early days are the hardest but I can say it does get better even for those who suffer throughout like I did with my last pregnancy, I am currently on my 3rd hg pregnancy.

I would advise to try and eat/drink anything if it takes your fancy, @LucindaE has a great list of things on her earlier post. Ice cubes to get fluids in, I know others in the past have had success with junk food such as mcdonalds/kfc and even pot noodles I believe.

During the hardest times I used to take each day at a time and not think too far ahead as I would find it depressing, I hope the mental health referral comes through asap but chase it up with your midwife/gp if need be.

I hope some of the things I’ve said have helped, we’re all here to listen and gentle hand hold whenever you need it. Regarding the bonding I wouldn’t worry as it doesn’t always happen during pregnancy for some, didn’t with me but once she was born it came. Its the illness making you feel this way so please take comfort in that x

Hi all I am sorry to see all these new poorly ladies I am really feeling low today myself just turned 15 weeks today and between the constipation and the food aversions genuinely have no idea how I am going to survive this for the next 25 weeks.

Drinking water is so hard, I’ve learn sugary things set me off and bread and pretty sure dairy doesn’t agree with me either my diet is so limited 😭. This is my third pregnancy so I feel the worst despite my two ondansetron twice a day I can still be sick and it’s hard to see how this is going to get better.

I’m dreading Xmas with my kids on the basis I know the exhaustion may set me back hospital feeling like an awful mother, useless wife and very absent worker x

kingfisher657 Welcome. I am sorry you feel so ill and discouraged.
While not medically qualified, I have noted on these threads that those with pre-existing health conditions seem to suffer more, and it is grim for those with Emetophobia and anxiety. It might be an idea to phone Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 838 2020 who will ring back with good advice about more effective meds and other problems. I hope that the Cyclizine continues to help. Congratulations on the food and drink. Anecdotally, it does seem that even ordinary pregnancy sickness often lasts longer than that magic date - often up to 14 or even 16 weeks. Hyperemesis can last longer, but very few sufferers feel as bad later on as they do in the beginnng. Everyone is very supportive on here. Here is my usual spiel, which I hope may hel'p. Here's my normal spiel which I hope might help.
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 (if you don't find it too acid), 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.
I didn't go for it again, which I regret, but others have found that with appropriate support and more effective meds, they can bring themselves to it.
composed Great advice.
wingingitatlifesincebirth Poor you. It is very hard. I hope you get an improvement soon. Don't feel guilty: you are giving your LO's a priceless gift. 'This Too Shall Pass'. Take it an hour at a time.

Due Dates
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
kingfisher657 24 June

Silly me! I forgot to remove KatieFTM who has got a lovely baby.
Due Dates
Pygmyseahorse 18 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
kingfisher657 24 June

Thank you everyone for your kind messages. I've taken my last dose of antibiotics today so hoping I'll start feeling a bit better on that front.

@composed im taking a combo of cyclizine and ondansetron but they're not doing much for me - my GP has just increased my dose of ondansetron from 4mg 3x a day to 8mg 2x a day. I'm a bit wary of taking a higher dose, but she is telling me the next step is to look at steroids so am going to have to give it a go I think.

MyBabyBoyBlue I hope the increased dose does the trick - and the end of the antibiotics - but steroids have really helped those with severe cases on here.

@LucindaE thank you - I hope so too. I am a bit worried about all the drugs I'm putting into my system, but I don't think I have much choice - as soon as I try to lower the dose, I end up back in hospital. I just can't wait for this part to be over.

MyBabyBoyBlue Cheering you on.Of course, nobody wants to take medication in pregnancy if they can help it, but the doctors have to do a balancing act between the tiny risks of anti emetics, and the very real risks of prolonged dehydration. I hope they are giving you the reassurance of extra scans.

Just wanted to pop on and wish you all a merry Christmas! I hope you are all coping as best as can be. I'm finally feeling normal (ish!) today I'm approaching the third trimester as well, 27 weeks now. Counting them days down.

@KatieFTM congratulations on your baby boy, hope you are enjoying all the newborn cuddles 

@kingfisher657

I was on all 3 of those meds as a combination at one point, have you tried speaking to your GP/midwife about doing that? None of them worked separately for me but glad to here the Cyclizine is Cyclizine. FWIW I never really got drowsy taking them (I'm still on them now). As others say though if you are still struggling don't be afraid to contact your GP again. There are completely different meds you could take as well.

I hope the mental health support is useful for you. I really try to think of it as one day at a time too as composed says, but I have lost my patience, cried uncontrollably at times and termination has crossed my mind on both of my pregnancies as well. I know it's hard but all I can say is that it does get better and as soon as your baby is here you know it was worth it. That doesn't take away the struggle of how hard it is though. I hope you feel better soon

Hi everyone,

Thank you all so much for your support. It's now been over 24 hours since I last vomited, and since about 10am I've been feeling really good - very hungry and thirsty and barely nauseous at all. Either the cyclizine has worked its way into my system nicely, or my hormones have suddenly settled down (14 weeks today), or both. Please cross all your fingers that this continues because I have no more patience left for a relapse!

Happy Christmas everyone and stay well.

kingfisher657 I am happy to hear that. Long may it continue!
Anya212 Excellent advice as ever. So glad that you are feeling better. Merry Christmas to you, too.
I hope everyone has as good a Christmas as possible - not easy, with Hyperemesis, and in a lockdown. [glitterball}