Constant nausea

[taraRoo]

Hi all,

I'm currently 7 weeks with my second baby. I'm having extremely bad nausea. I had morning sickness with my first but it was nothing like this. If i had a few crackers it would get better. This nausea is constant 24/7. I have a constant horrible taste in my mouth and I can't stomach any food. I'm basically eating plain pasta and toast. Even opening the fridge makes me feel sick. I'm struggling at work as the computer amplified my dizziness and vertigo and makes me feel even sicker. I've had to take 3 days off so far. I keep having these sweats and I feel really shaky. I've tried all the normal things. Eating smaller meals, ginger etc but nothing makes it stop. It's been constant for the last week.

I feel sick when I go out for a walk. I feel sick in bed. I am really low and have no energy. It's making me really sad and down about the pregnancy- like it's a bad omen. It's so hard to look after my son and it's making me dread the time when There is a baby here too, I just can't handle it.

I've made a gp appointment but I'm so scared they a)can't do anything or b) won't give me any pills as I'm not actually being sick. I'm also terrified it's twins as I couldn't cope with two more kids.

Has anyone been through this? Did you get medication ? Did it work?

OP I had hyperemesis during my pregnancy with dd. It's the worst thing I've ever experienced so you have my sympathy.
I took medication and it did help a bit, it's really different for everyone. Things that helped slightly for me included eating boiled sweets and not moving around very much.
Try eating small bland meals when you feel you can cope with them. Keep hydrated with small sips of water or juice, eat ice lollies.
For me the worst thing was medical professionals promising it would get better at 12 weeks, then 16 weeks because it didn't. I had my first "no sickness" day at 20 weeks then it came back for a month or so but went away completely by 6 months (sorry I know that's not reassuring).
I also took 10 weeks off work.

@BilboBercow thanks. We're you actually sick? What worries me is that I'm just nauseous and I'm scared no one will take this seriously. But I've been pregnant before and I know this is not normal.

I had awful constant nausea too with no sickness. Didn't get medication but literally the only thing that helped was lemonade weirdly enough. I'd always have a bottle of sprite closeby! Luckily mine did get a lot better by 12 weeks.

I had this problem. My gp wouldn’t give me any medication because I ‘was not sick enough’ and just told me to take ginger biscuits. I second boiled sweets and ice lollies along with anything dry like crackers and cheese.

I’m 13 weeks 2 days now and have finally been given cyclezine for the sickness as it progressed to vomiting and I’ve lost a stone in less than a month. Today was my first day taking it and I felt great. I managed a proper meal and have gone the whole day without having to crawl into bed at 4 in the afternoon. I hope your gp is better than mine and they give you the anti sickness tablets

I was sick but not at first. I had terrible nausea from week 5/6 but don't think I started vomiting until about week 8. I'd still go to the dr if I were you. If you do start being sick the main thing you need to keep on top of is your fluids.
I was hospitalised at one point to be put on a drip as I was very dehydrated.

I had debilitating nausea both times. The second time I made a private GP telephone appointment (purely because it was a nightmare to get an appointment with my NHS GP) and carefully researched in advance what I wanted her to prescribe. I asked for it, she prescribed it, no problem. Pretty certain it was cyclizine. I never actually took it because I was worried about side effects eg drowsiness but knowing it was there if I needed it was enough to get me through. for you. It's so shit.

I'm with you. I'm 9.5 weeks and have felt ill 24/7 since about 5 weeks. It's a constant nausea. Haven't actually been sick ever from it. My last two pregnancies I had the same. I literally want to do nothing all day. We are currently isolating due to corona symptoms so at least I am off work for now so I can lounge around a bit. But it's really getting me down. I dont feel excited about anything at all. The only thing I can think is how ill I feel. I find eating cold things helps. Fruit pastille lollies etc. I dont feel the sickness bands worked for me and just felt uncomfortable on my wrists. I am going to try fresh ginger tea tonorrow as that is supposed to help. I've read 9 weeks is usually the nausea peak. So praying mine gets better soon! I really hope you find some relief as I feel your pain xx

I could have written your post. 6 weeks 3 days here. Nausea started at 4 weeks. It’s constant 24/7 and like you no energy to do anything. This is my 4th pregnancy but this is definitely the worst by far. Can’t stomach tea or coffee and find the only thing that brings a hint of relief is drinking iced water or coke. Seen to be living on plain bread and butter. It really is debilitating. Have ordered some anti sickness wrist bands so
Will give them a go. I know what you mean about the bad taste in your mouth too...nothing gets rid of it!

Yes please see your gp.....if you are not getting enough fluids you will end up like me in hospital on a drip.
I think they're more willing to prescribe anti sickness mens now, I have cyclizine but there are others if that doesn't work for you.
There's a hyperemesis support thread on here too with lots of tips and people going through the same thing.

Thanks ladies. I feel marginally better today but the thought of food is still repugnant. I literally can't open the fridge. I have a phone consultation with the gp later in the week . I'm supposed to be working right now but I took the morning off just to try to relax a bit.

I just want to feel like myself for a few hours or at least want to eat something.

I really feel for you. I had hyperemesis in both of my pregnancies and it is truly awful and can make you feel quite depressed. This is my 3rd and it’s back but definitely not as bad as the first pregnancy, it’s about the same as the second.

Definitely explore the option of medication. For me, I also found stress really made me feel so much worse - I’m currently 7 weeks and working from home and resting and stepping away from work as much as I can get away with.

Just take it really, really easy. Ice lollies if you’re struggling to keep fluids down. Take care x

Hi - sorry you are feeling so sick. My sister has HG in her pregnancy. I was given a phone number to a support line from the HG support thread on here - Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 7638 2020

In my sister's case, she already had meds that weren't working and she wasn't getting anywhere with her docs. She got lots of support from that helpline and it made a huge difference to her. She managed to get alternate meds from her doc with their help.

I know not quite the same situ as you. But they will be able to listen and advise you re speaking to your gp. Xx

I got medication for nausea. I did say I had been sick a few times but that mainly it was the overwhelming nausea. They gave me cyclizine which made it worse for me and then I got Stemetil which I was on until about 16/17 weeks. It made me function again and I couldn’t have coped without it. It really was a wonder drug for me if I kept on top of the tablets and space them out throughout the day. Definitely don’t let yourself get fobbed off by the GP. Some of them seem really reluctant to prescribe whereas mine actively told me to get in touch if I felt poorly and he would prescribe something for me.

This sounds very much like my pregnancy! My sickness started instantly when I learned I'm pregnant at 4 weeks and basically never stopped until around 35 weeks. It was so bad I was forced to stop working at just 5 weeks, which was a financial and mental blow because I'm self-employed... No work virtually means no money in my case. I take it you're not self-employed and can get sick pay, so you and your GP might consider whether taking time off would be an option. Your health has to come first.

In my case nothing helped, small meals, resting, absolutely nothing. And what you mentioned happened to me - I wasn't taken seriously at all, my sickness was seen as something bearable because I wasn't vomiting! I vomited maybe 3 times during the whole pregnancy, yet the feeling of nausea was constant and crushing. I wasn't given any meds and all I got were sad looks and a few comforting words when I had repeatedly talked about feeling terribly sick and being unable to work and function in everyday life. I basically spent the entire pregnancy being a useless couch potato. This combined with the coronavirus situation really wasn't good for my mental health.

Physical sickness can be a real psychological burden, so be proactive and more vocal with your GP and midwife than I was.

I had nausea from week 7 through week 37. I threw up too, but not all the time (although, some days it was all the time). I had medication and it helped me to function, but I still felt carsick for my entire pregnancy.

Sorry you're going through this, it's awful.

Hi ladies.

Quick update... I went to the gp today and he instantly gave my cyclizine. He was really sympathetic... think the fact I look green also helped. So we will see how it goes. X

That's great news. Fingers crossed it helps. Xx

Has anyone taken cyclizine? I've taken one pill now but feel just the same. Does it take time to hit in?

@taraRoo it didn't help me at all. I tried it for 24 hours then called the doctor for something else and got given Stemetil which was brilliant. There are a few options so don't wait too long for cyclizine to work.

@SunSparkle thanks I'll go back next week

@taraRoo I started cyclizine 2 days ago. The first dose the first evening didn't seem to do anything but I took it 3 times the next day starting as soon as I work up and that seemed more effective. Even today I find it doesn't seem to do much if the nausea is in full swing but does seem to prevent it getting to that level if I take it before it gets really bad.

As soon as I woke up, that is^

@Semele5069 thanks what times do you take it at? Breakfast, lunch and dinners?

@taraRoo around 730, 12 and 1700 so far. The meds do make me feel really sedated and sleepy but I'd take that over the nausea at this stage! A bit worried about whether to take them next week when I have to be on the ball in work or if to just fight through the sickness.

Yeah I'm took 2 today. Now I feel marginally better. But I have get better for an hour or so in the evening then it worsens towards bed. I fell asleep after the second pill so