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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
packingboxes · 25/01/2021 20:01

Hi I'm 7 wks pregnant and really struggling with sickness this time round (came into this pregnancy totally confident I knew how to handle my version of morning sickness - how wrong I was). Atm I'm clinging to the idea I just have severe morning sickness that rather than full HG, so hope you don't mind me posting. I keep trying to explain to people that if I can't leave my bedroom/keep fluids down/watch tv etc, I'm really not up to normal working (nursing in community - I'm just working from home at the mo). Most people are lovely about it but I keep wondering if I'm just being a princess & giving up too easily- how common is it to feel this awful? I'm also struggling to make sense of how come this is only happening now, 3rd time round?

Anyat212 · 26/01/2021 09:52

@bunhead34

I know the midwifes in my area (north east) aren't able to but I guess it could vary. IMO they absolutely should be able to prescribe. She may be able to put you in touch with your maternity assessment unit and they could ask the doctors to prescribe you some that way?

@packingboxes sorry you are struggling. Do keep in mind how much you are eating and how much fluids you are drinking, I know its hard when you feel like this but you risk becoming dehydrated. Also keep an eye on your weight too, if you are losing weight it could indicate you need help managing the sickness. Have you spoke to your GP? They are able to prescribe safe meds to help combat the sickness and nausea.

At the end of the day, you and your babies health come first so if you are feeling like this - you simply can't be out and about! Don't feel guilty - you are growing a baby which is quite clearly taking everything from you! I'm not sure why it's happening for you third time around, I've heard third pregnancies can be rough (I've only had two) but it's that old saying isn't it that all pregnancies are different.

Hope it passes soon and you feel better though!

I've got 2 weeks left at work (still WFH) and I honestly cannot wait. Using my holidays before I start mat leave, going earlier than planned but with DD and unfortunately the HG is certainly making a reappearance Sad so have been feeling very sorry for myself the last few days. I'm really struggling to sleep as well, I feel HUGE. I'm definitely bigger this time round. Any tips for sleeping? I have one of them body pillows but my ribs / back start to hurt after a while and I'm just tossing and turning all night (whilst making them awful pregnancy grunts haha)

Hope everyone is coping as best as they can x

LucindaE · 26/01/2021 21:16

packingboxes Welcome. I am sorry you are suffering. You already have great avice from lovely Anya212. This level of sickness is not normal. Why you should have the misfortune to get Hyperemesis now, rather than before, is a thing only someone medical might answer - and maybe they don't know either, but it's bad luck and very miserable. As Anya says, it is impossible to keep going with this level of sickness and you will need a sick note and medication ASAP if you can't keep fluids down or get out of bed. Everyone is very supportive on here. Here's my usual spiel: 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 and slices of meloln and mango.
Anya212 Flowers you always give such good advice.
I' thihk I'll need to start a new thead tomorrow.

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LucindaE · 26/01/2021 21:21

Anya212 I fear that apart from the pregnancy pillow you already have, I can't think of anything except a lavender and chamomile satchet or pillow spray if you can endure the scent. I remember those grunts of pain, oh dear! Much sympathy Smile.

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Anyat212 · 27/01/2021 07:38

Thanks Lucinda Smile most smells aren't bothering me which is good so will look into the pillow spray. I ended up at the MAU last night for reduced movement, baby is lying side ways which I'm thinking could explain the excessive rib pain. Babies heart rate dropped, they aren't sure why and it could be normal or a complete off one as it's my first time in for reduced movement. They kept me on the machine for longer, thankfully it didn't happened again and doctor signed it off that she was happy with trace etc. Very typical though as soon as I was all set up on the bed she wanted to make her presence known then!

No ketones in urine either, so glad I didn't need to stay in.

LucindaE · 27/01/2021 19:01

Anya212 I hope the pillow spray helps. It is unnerving to have reduced movement and I am so glad all is OK. I hope the remaining time you have at work goes quickly.

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LucindaE · 27/01/2021 19:30

Everyone, here's the link to the new thread in case this one runs out while I am doing my Zoom Welsh lesson tommorow morning.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/4148672-Hyperemesis-Support

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LindSan · 23/07/2021 23:36

Hi, I’m 12 weeks pregnant and suffering really bad. I started getting sick around 4.5 weeks. I couldn’t hold down liquid so I went to the ER and they gave me Reglan. It worked for a few weeks but then stopped. I started vomiting all the time. I have now been put on Zofran for the last few weeks but it doesn’t help with the nausea. However it allows me to keep down food and water for the most part. I have to eat every 1.5 hours unless I will start heaving. My nausea is so extreme it wakes me up every two hours all night long. I haven’t gotten a good nights rest in months. I don’t know if I have bad pregnancy sickness or hyperemesis. Does this sound like it to you?

WhatAmlDoing · 24/07/2021 08:47

Hi @Lindsan, yes that sounds like hyperemesis, it definitely does. I'm at 9 weeks, it's getting worse... Had a bad day yesterday, I was fine all morning I even ate a piece of toast with a small amount of peanut butter which was a miracle honestly - then the vomit came, over and over unstoppable, all night. Ondansetron? Haha, okay I guess it helps a little. Scared for myself, I'm keeping water down finally but what about food?

LindSan · 24/07/2021 09:26

@WhatAmlDoing
I am sorry you are suffering too. 11 weeks for me was the worst week of all!! Yes I am taking Ondansetron. I generally don’t have a problem keeping down food as long as I have my meds in my system. I have gained weight because I am eating around the clock literally. I forgot to mention I was pregnant five years ago and I definitely had full-blown hyperemesis. I couldn’t hold down food or water and the nausea was so debilitating and that I couldn’t even get up off the couch. The doctor’s office I was going to did not take it seriously. It turns out I had an empty pregnancy sack which is a form of a miscarriage. I believe that was one of the reasons the embryo never developed into a fetus. I will say this pregnancy is nothing like that one. I am super super sick but not like that pregnancy. I never wanted to be pregnant after that but five years later decided to give it a go and hoped that this pregnancy would be different. It is but it’s still misery. I am hoping this will end soon. I am at my breaking point.

WhatAmlDoing · 24/07/2021 09:47

@Lindsan I'm at my breaking point as well, the metacloperamide causes twitching and psychosis for me (tardive dyskenesia) and the hospital kept me on it and didn't notice for more than 3 days! Am I going to die? That's the voice in my head, is it mine, or just the HG and hormones talking? I don't know anymore, there is no more me that isn't consumed by HG. I've lost a stone in probably 3 weeks, over 10% of my bodyweight; I beg for steroids any time I'm admitted to hospital and they say no and get angry every time. Please take care of yourself early on, I know wretching can cause problems with the baby so make sure to get this under control as early as you can. A lot of people say the risks of ondansetron aren't as bad as the doctors make it out to be, that's how I look at it, but I don't have a choice really, I must take it.

LindSan · 24/07/2021 14:02

@WhatAmlDoing The metacloperamide (Reglan) did the same thing for me. It made my toes twitch and it freaked me out. I called my doctor’s office and they took me off it. The way I look at there is a risk to everything. I know many women personally who were on the Ondansetron a good chunk of their pregnancies and had completely healthy babies. The risk is super low and that’s better than having my baby starve in my womb. Thankfully my doctors office hasn’t given me a hard time about it yet. Hopefully they will let me stay on it if I remain sick in the 2nd trimester.

WhatAmlDoing · 24/07/2021 14:10

The doctors try to cut people off of ondansetron in their 2nd trimester? I understand weaning but my god if the vomit isn't controlled... that's impossible!

LindSan · 24/07/2021 14:26

@WhatAmlDoing I have no idea. I’m gonna meet with my doctor on Wednesday. They probably don’t but that was my fear.

thingymaboob · 24/07/2021 16:02

Hiya @LindSan and @WhatAmlDoing. Sorry you find yourselves in the throws of Hyperemesis, it's bloody miserable.
FWIW, GPS don't cut off ondansetron in second trimester. Some GPS are funny about prescribing it in first trimester but that's about it, I think. If you've got a good and understanding GP, they'll support you throughout. It's easy to get worried about it though as loads of doctors don't seem to know much about much, especially HG.

I'm 11 weeks now and the nausea is intense and I'm vomiting about 5 times a day despite all the drugs! Feel absolutely terrible. At least it's raining now. The heat was awful

WhatAmlDoing · 24/07/2021 16:20

@thingymaboob have you lost much weight? 5 times a day really hurts, especially if it's dry heaves. Yesterday i had it about 7 or 8 times. I'm scared for my wellbeing because I can't eat and I have gnawing hunger pains, throat bled yesterday. They said that I can go into a&e but they never give steroids out, I'll just end up on IV ondansetron again and have 2 good days then rinse repeat. I feel like I can't go on ANY more, my mind is breaking next to my body. I held down my antibiotics for my water infection today, I held down probably a litre of water so far today, that's decent but I feel terrified still, knowing it's going to come back. I feel about to break, Im ashamed to say want to scream for an abortion, yet I don't really want one, I want this baby I just feel so afraid and alone. My husband keeps telling me it's temporary but I'm only in week 9... maybe when the weekend is over, the clinic can properly figure out if I need steroids, I don't want them but it looks like I need them. I feel like less of a woman because my mind hasn't been straight as an arrow this entire time, I have doubts, I have guilt, this feels like it's changing me forever in some way, is this all melodramatic or is it real?

LindSan · 24/07/2021 16:26

@thingymaboob Good to know about the Zofran. Sorry your suffering. Five times a day is a lot! You poor thing. You’re right about the doctors. Most just say it’s normal to be super sick. It’s frustrating when medical professionals don’t get it.

LindSan · 24/07/2021 16:37

@thingymaboob Don’t feel ashamed. This disease is horrendous. I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to get in my car and go to an abortion clinic and cried knowing that it really wasn’t an option for me. I’m in my late 30’s and this will be my first and only child so I want it badly, but this disease brings me to my knees. Right now I feel angry and I regret ever getting pregnant. This doesn’t seem worth it in the moment but I’m trusting that I will change my mind later on. I fear I’m gonna have a disconnect with my child for a while because of all the trauma this pregnancy has caused. I feel like a crazy person saying all these terrible things but when you are so sick it mentally breaks you. No woman should suffer like this. You are not alone.

WhatAmlDoing · 24/07/2021 16:44

@LindSan thank you, I feel the same. I keep looking up the number then putting my phone down - I am 35 and this is my last chance, just like you. I will NEVER do this again! I haven't bonded with this child at all and because of the HG pregnancy is only scary, nothing else. You also aren't alone, even though it is the most isolating disease I've ever felt. My husband isn't coping very well, he's scared, and I'm scared when he goes to work. Just scared.

LindSan · 24/07/2021 17:39

I know what you mean. I’m scared too. I can’t live like this anymore. I feel like I’m dying a slow painful death.

WhatAmlDoing · 24/07/2021 18:27

@Lindsan that is a good way to put it, dying a slow painful death. I feel like the doctors don't care about us. I've fallen through the cracks, I'm invisible, I am suffering.

LucindaE · 01/08/2021 21:40

Goodness, I didn't see that people didn't know that this thread has been superseded as nearly full up. I know Lindsan found the new one on the link and I hope everyone else has.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/4148672-Hyperemesis-Support

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