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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Hyperemesis Support

993 replies

LucindaE · 27/01/2021 19:26

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/topics/nausea-vomiting-in-pregnancy
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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LucindaE · 31/03/2021 21:30

Lemongrass9 That is always alarming; though it is probably blood from the throat, it is worth contacting the doctor to ask for advice if the amounts are increasing, for reassurance as much as anything.
vixey Sorry to hear of your relapse. A good day can be a sign of a turnaround coming, though. What you say about OH caring and having temper outbursts about feeling helpless is so typical of a man it's funny! Smile
MimPimMim Some on here have definitely have been helped by adding Metaclopramide to Ondansetron. Some have done well on Ondansetron and Cyclizine. Great advice.
Ttc2017 That does sound horrible. Can they give you anything for the bleeding gums? I remember mine bleeding when I cleaned my teeth, but not thank goodness in the night.
Apologies to anyone rudely overloked.

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LucindaE · 01/04/2021 19:33

I hope everyone gets through Easter weekend. Not the best tme to have Hyperemesis, any more than Christmas).

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MimPimMim · 01/04/2021 19:44

Thanks Lucinda, struggling to take my own advice this evening - having a really low night Sad The sickness is just getting worse and this is exactly what happened in my last pregnancy, just a relentless downwards slide. I’m not sure how to do this again. And I feel so guilty for my poor toddler, I’m really struggling with having done this to her. I’ve been too sick to really be with her at all today and I keep hearing her crying out for me. It’s breaking my heart. I’ve got my prescription for the metoclopramide today so will be starting that with the ondansetron tomorrow. Praying it helps. I’ve also been matched with a peer support volunteer by Pregnancy Sickness Support, who were brilliant when I spoke to them. Hoping that that will help with the mental health side of things. My head’s not in a great place and I need to nip this in the bud. Still at work but thinking this might be it for me from next week, had a couple of meetings this morning and I think that might have triggered the downwards spiral this afternoon / evening. This is really hard. I had sort of forgotten the actual reality of it. My sympathies to everyone else suffering, sending strength to you all over the Easter weekend Flowers

MeadowHay · 01/04/2021 20:35

Mim Flowers is it early days for you still atm? (I'm so sorry, my short term memory is awful so I can't keep up with who is up to where etc). Take time off work if you're struggling, you need to rest and focus on yourself. How old is your toddler? Mine will be 3 in summer and I understand how you feel, I still spend a lot of time hidden away in bed and she cries for me too and is constantly wanting to see me etc. Sometimes I just can't bear it though as her shrieking often makes my nausea worse, bizarrely, but I've heard other people say the same about loud noises. I also have a PSS peer mentor and she's fantastic, I think my mental health would be awful without her. It was so bad in my first pregnancy and whilst my anxiety is pretty bad right now, my mood has been nowhere near as bad as last time and I credit the peer support with that. Have you told your midwife how you're feeling? I see mine in a few weeks, I'm going to tell her about how bad my anxiety has been and ask for referall to the perinatal mental health midwife. I refused referral last time until right near the end of my pregnancy which in hindsight was a huge mistake.

I got my screening test results back already, all low chances of the generic conditions. However I still have anxiety about the health of the foetus this time. It wasn't something on my radar at all last time so I have no idea why I'm so worried about things like disability, miscarriage etc this time around. We will also be breaking the news to people now and I feel anxious about that too even though I know everyone will be happy. Just really irrational anxiety at the moment.

MimPimMim · 01/04/2021 22:24

Thanks for the kind words Meadow, I really appreciate it. It is early days for me - 7+4. I’m trying to be as proactive as I can as I had HG when I was pregnant with my daughter and it lasted for my entire pregnancy - GPs and midwife weren’t helpful and I struggled to get any kind of decent support. My daughter has just turned two and, ideally, she would have been a bit older when I was pregnant again but we started trying earlier than we would have done otherwise, as it took over a year (and a couple of early stage miscarriages) before getting pregnant with her. This time, however, first cycle... so it’s been a bit of shock and is adding to the guilt, as she’s still so little and it’s hard to explain it to her. She’s a real mummy’s girl too, which makes me feel so guilty - and sad for me about the things I’m already missing out on. I hope your little one is adjusting, as time goes on? I haven’t seen my midwife yet as it is so early on - my booking appointment is in two weeks so hopefully I’ll be taken more seriously this time around. That’s really reassuring about the PSS peer mentor, thank you. I had nothing like that in my last pregnancy and felt so isolated. Do you mind if I ask about the perinatal mental health support - just in terms of what kind of support they offer and whether it was helpful? I wouldn’t say I was depressed last time but my mood was very low and I felt incredibly isolated. Thankfully no PND as a result, though. It hasn’t occurred to me to ask for a referral but keen to access any and all helpful support I can this time.

Really pleased for you over the screening results, that’s fantastic news 💕 I completely understand your anxiety over the baby’s health - I worried a lot about it with my daughter and already have some of the same thoughts creeping in this time. For me, it’s a combination of specific (irrational) worry over the medications (not helped by some terrible things that were said to me by one GP in particular last time) and struggling to reconcile how awful I feel with growing a healthy baby. Again, totally irrational as the baby takes whatever they need from you and it’s you that suffers not them. History of miscarriages doesn’t help either. I do hope breaking the news goes well for you and you can find some joy in it. But I know exactly how you feel as I found that really nerve wracking last time - the little voice in the back of my head saying what if... You must be around 13 weeks now, in that case? How is the sickness for you now?

vixey · 01/04/2021 22:57

today I've managed to have a relatively normal day, im knackered and ended up having a nap but I have chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia so that isn't out of the ordinary. I havent had to have any cyclizine today either, ive just rested when I've felt sick and had sips of water. I'd like to get to a point where I'm not feeling sick at all but tbh today is the best I've felt.
does anyone else find their gag reflex is really sensitive. for example brushing my teeth (I've had to buy a kids toothbrush) and as soon as I put my pregnacare tablet in my mouth I'm gagging. in my line of work an oversensitive gag reflex is not ideal.

positive thoughts everyone. it won't last forever.

MeadowHay · 02/04/2021 18:35

Mim ahh you're really in the worst of it atm at that stage, hopefully things will improve later as you start to come out of the first trimester. I am very up and down but am getting out sometimes now etc whereas at 7 weeks I was bed bound more and couldn't leave the house and things. Yes I'm about 13 weeks now. The good news is your DD won't remember this at all with her being so young. Also you might find she gradually gets more accustomed to being with daddy or whoever else, mine has. She does still cry for me and things but it's not as bad as it was to start with and if I say to ask daddy to play or do whatever she is usually fine to go and straight ask him instead of tantrumming that she wants me. But then she is older and can understand that I am unwell so it is likely a little easier. There is a book 'how to be a HG hero', PSS sent me a free copy might be worth asking your peer supporter. We finally told DD today about the pregnancy and read her the story, think it went over her head for the most part but who knows. I only saw the perinatal mental health midwife once in my last pregnancy, I wasn't referred until near the end and with the wait I was like 39 weeks when I saw her. My anxiety then was mostly about birth and looking after a newborn so we just had a good chat and she recommended I write a more detailed birth plan with a section on my anxiety triggers and we talked through what birth options I had and how I could put them into a plan. She sent a bulletin to the staff in advance so they'd know about me and my additional needs and to prioritise a side room on postnatal for DH to stay with me. So when I went in for birth the staff could look this up and were aware of my mental health history. She also referred me to a local specialist therapeutic service for young families which I accessed for a while. I saw her again at my birth debrief and she told me to get referred to her quicker this time and that she'd write my birth plan with me this time - unfortunately it wasn't really looked at by staff and I had birth trauma but that's all another story!

Vixey Yes, I was vomiting every time I brushed my teeth for weeks Sad I always worry about my teeth with HG with all the vomit, poor brushing and high sugar diet I have. I can now give them a quick brush without retching or being sick most days but I have to quit while I'm ahead! I'm the same with the vitamin as well a lot, it's come straight back up a few times. Glad you were having a good day!

LucindaE · 02/04/2021 20:07

MlimPimMim and MeadowHay Much symapthies over your LO's missing your attention. I didn't go for it a second time, and I regret that. I would say that giving your LO's a sibling is the best gift that you can give them. This period of neglect will soon be forgotten. Children are more resiliant than we realise; they've got flexible minds.
vixey I so agree about a kid's toothbrush being really helpful. I found kid's strawberry toothpaste much less nauseating than adult mint.
Congratulations on having a good day, particularly with your other health problems.
Cheering everyone on.

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Anxious9thPG · 03/04/2021 16:54

Hope everyone is doing ok. I've got some good news, I've made it to 16 weeks and have had the best news that we've having a girl! All healthy and well. I've had the worst diet for weeks but just started to keep down veg this week- massive progress!

wwwwwwwwwwwwww · 03/04/2021 20:42

Hi everyone,

I'm having a miserable time. I was doing so much better and I've got to 20 weeks and am vomiting like crazy again. I just wish I could fast forward the next 20 weeks.

composed · 04/04/2021 00:13

@Anxious9thPG congrats on the baby girl news, that’s lovely to hear as well as the fact that you seem to be doing better than the early days! Kudos to you with regards to the veg too, I really hope things continue to get better for you x

@wwwwwwwwwwwwww sorry to hear you’re not feeling so great again, what meds are you on? How are you doing in keeping fluids down? Have you thought about speaking to your gp or mac see what they say? @LucindaE do I remember you saying in the past that sometimes for some there can be a second peak further down the line, could that be what @wwwwww is experiencing?

Hope everyone else is having better days x

vixey · 04/04/2021 06:42

my HG is back with a vengeance. yesterday I genuinely felt so much better. but ive been up since 4:30am with a migrane and throwing up everything I drink. have had cyclizine but not made any difference, I can see what's gonna happen, im gonna end up back at hospital 😭😭😭

LucindaE · 04/04/2021 11:15

My laptop crashed yesterday in the middle of my typing a message, and I have a migraine today: but I'm rushing on to say wwwwwwwwwwww as composed says, there can definitely be a hormonal surge at 20 weeks, which can lead to a relapse for a few days. vixey That is disappointing. Sorry to hear that. It sounds as if you need other meds. Can ice lollies etc help tide you over until the end of the Easter break (but it's difficult even to find anywhere open today to get them). How are the ketones testing if you have Kesostix? Anxious9thPG That is happy news. I am pleased for you. Congratulations on the veg. Waves to composed. Cheering you on.

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vixey · 04/04/2021 12:55

@Lucindae my keytones are fine, I've got a freezer drawer full of ice lollies so have had a couple and feel a bit better for it. just having a nice relaxing day today on the sofa and hopefully I'll feel a little better tomorrow. xxx

composed · 04/04/2021 20:06

@LucindaE hope you feel better soon, migraines are horrid especially in hot weather x

@vixey really hope today gradually got better for you and the long weekend helps you to rest x

Hello to everyone else, fingers crossed you were able to take it easy and rest as much as you can. Another day gone, we can do this x

vixey · 04/04/2021 20:34

@composed , ive spent most of today either asleep or in the bath, my lovely husband got me some donuts from the shop, but I cant eat them :/ but he's also been amazing at distracting me and talking about pointless things. playing our favourite pop punk songs in lullaby form and me guessing their title and artist. or talking to me about who played who in beetlejuice. completely pointless conversation but distracted me and it helped lol 😆 xxx

LucindaE · 05/04/2021 19:40

composed Thank you. I'm recovered today. How are things with you?
vixy I am glad that the ice lollies helped and that sounds sweet of OH.
Hail and sunshine here in Mid Wales.

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LucindaE · 05/04/2021 19:42

vixey Muddle headed me, I mis-spelt your name.

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SY16 · 05/04/2021 20:30

Hi everyone,

I hope you don't mind if I join. I am currently 8 weeks and 5 days with 3rd pregnancy (previous 2 ended in miscarriages : ( unfortunately). I have been suffering with hyperemesis since 6 weeks of pregnancy and have been admitted twice for IV fluids and IV anti-emetics.

Currently I am on Xonvea but only managing to take them at night as I seem to vomit the day ones up unfortunately. I was taking Cylizine but made me worse and Metoclopramide helped but became less effective and was worried about the side effects.

I have Promethazine also prescribed but have not taken them yet as I'm scared they will make me feel worse like cyclizine did 😥. Has anyone taken Promethazine and had a positive response?

I am struggling to cope day to day as I just lay in bed and go to the toilet and thats my day as I'm worse if I do anything else. My husband has had to take time off work to look after me Confused so I feel guilty about that.

RockinRobinn · 05/04/2021 20:36

Hi everyone I haven't checked in for a while and so I've just read a few of the most recent posts.
@LucindaE I hope you're feeling recovered from your migraine now.
I'm 15+3 and have been doing better but still so up and down. Getting the intense nausea but I'm much more active and haven't been sick for about a week. Going back to work Wednesday and Saturday this week but to a very reduced capacity to see how I cope. Having to eat really frequently to keep the sickness at bay. If I'm eating I don't feel sick but as soon as I stop it returns. And obviously it depends what I'm eating. But smells and sights seem to be worse triggers than taste this time, it's so odd!
Anyone else feeling really up and down at this stage? I don't remember it being so variable last time.
Any tips for the excess saliva production? I'm still really struggling with this.

MimPimMim · 06/04/2021 12:21

Thanks Meadow and Lucinda for the kind words and support - I’ve had a terrible weekend (hardly been out of bed) and screens are making the nausea worse, which is making me feel even more isolated. Just trying to remember why I’m doing this and that it will be worth it in the end. It’s just such a long time to go and last time my sickness didn’t peak until about 16 weeks (and lasted for my entire pregnancy) so hoping with everything I’ve got that this time round is better. Called in sick to work as I can’t manage work on top of everything else, plus my manager doesn’t even slightly get it (complained last week that I wanted my camera off as I wasn’t keen on being on video directly after vomiting... Hmm) so it’s easier not to be there.

I’m now on the ondansetron and the metoclopromide, staggering them across the day. I think it’s made some difference (not actually being sick as much) but the nausea (plus retching) is still horrendous when I move. So it’s made me feel better when I just lie in bed but not to actually function... Due to speak to the GP this week so see if I need a referral to obstetrics if the medication isn’t helping - I guess my issue is that I’m not sure if this is as good as it gets or if I should be pushing more. Does anyone have any advice please?

Anxious9thPG Congratulations! Such lovely news. My daughter is a joy, the absolute light of my life 💕

@SY16 I can’t answer your specific question but did want to send sympathy. Currently 8+2 with my second HG pregnancy (first one with my daughter was also after two early miscarriages) and know just how miserable it is. If it helps, the advice I have been given this time round is that combining medications is more effective than trying one at a time but that GPs won’t do this so you need to get a prescription from the hospital. The early pregnancy unit at my hospital offers hyperemesis support and gave me a prescription when the GP was being difficult, could your hospital help at all? By the way, I refused a prescription for cyclizine this time as found the side effects worse than anything else I was offered - obviously it does work for some people but my hospital have said it is not their drug of choice, which I found pretty telling. Wishing you loads of luck, I know how hard it is Flowers

RockinRobinn Just wanted to say thanks for the hope - my last pregnancy was not at all variable (I.e. all bad days Sad) and hoping for a different experience this time round. You have given me hope that there may be good days ahead! Wishing you loads of luck for your return to work, I remember how daunting it is.

MimPimMim · 06/04/2021 12:23

Oh and RockinRobinn - have you tried travel sweets for the saliva production? I’m a fan of the Simpkins ones and find they help with this.

RockinRobinn · 06/04/2021 13:16

@MimPimMim this pregnancy is completely different to my daughter, the sickness started earlier and more intense but I am listening to my body more so I think that has helped. Overall it's been harder but it's getting better earlier, does that make sense? My peak last time was weeks 11-13 I think and this time more 7-10. In regards to you obstetric referral I'd discuss with your GP. My GP and the obstetric team at the hospital who they consulted with said because I don't have ketones and wasn't showing severe signs of dehydration they wouldn't give second line meds or advise fluids. Basically because I was surviving on being bed bound this was acceptable. I literally couldn't do anything, I was showering once or twice a week max and it was so grim. I'm convinced this is what gave me a uti too. And me and my daughter have ended up with athletes foot as she caught it and gave it to me. Hoping your GP doesn't think that's acceptable way to "live".
I've tried Parma violets which helped a lot early on but now sweets trigger nausea and gagging 🤦🏻‍♀️ it's more the sweet smell of them.
On a positive note I think early intervention and rest this time has helped I think if this had been my first pregnancy I would've still been bed bound and to be honest in hospital. I'm sure the preparation, rest and early intervention has made a big impact.

LucindaE · 06/04/2021 20:15

SY16 Welcome. Sorry about your mc's. They are a horrible experience and the anxiety spoils subsequent pregnancies. You have already had great advice from MimPimMim and RockinnRobin. A number of people on here have been helped by Promethazine (spelling?) I wonder if ringing Preganancy Sickness SOS on 024 7638 2020 might be able to help with your anxieties about it. They will phone back with good advice. The early weeks are very hard for Hyperemesis sufferers when the symptoms are particularly severe. I am glad OH is helping you.
ere is my normal spiel, some of 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. When reporting on the vomiting to doctosr, remember to emphasize the number of heaves in each vomiting session, as doctors tend to count these as 'vomits' and this can lead to their underestimating the severity of your symptoms. Besides drinking through a straw, here are 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 melon and mango.
RockinRobinn The doctors dismissive attitude is so unfair when you were bedbound, so your quality of life was definitely affected. I am gad things have improved a bit. Mother Hen clucks and flaps and says 'Don't overdo it'. I'm glad you've got a staggered return.
On the extra saliva, I think many just carry a cup or little bowl about to spit into if they couldn't stand sucking sweets. B ut that's difficult if you have to be physically present at work. It's really awful. I hope that improves for you soon.
MimPimMim Sorry about awful weekend. I hope things get better for you. 'This Too Shall Pass'.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

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Ttc2017 · 07/04/2021 18:24

Hi I've been lying low as had so much going on but just had a lot of bright red blood filling nearly half a pad. I'm nearly weeks now and rang epu although they are shut now they just said to go to a n e but last time I went a n e they said nothing they can do just got to wait til office hours to get scan with epu so think I will wait til morning and ring epu again as there's nothing they can do in a n e if it is a misscarriage anyway and I'm home with dcs and no child care so I can't go any where tonight. So worried though it's just come from no where