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Pregnancy

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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5
LucindaE · 22/04/2021 17:35

Cheering everyone suffering on here on. 'This Too Shall Pass'. Flowers

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MimPimMim · 22/04/2021 20:38

Guineapiggiesmalls I’ve found it really difficult to prescribe ondansetron (despite having a note on my record from the hospital - pre-conception - that it was the most suitable medication for me!) and have ended up going through the Early Pregnancy Unit at my hospital, who have been really helpful. They gave me the initial prescription when the GP wouldn’t prescribe it and wrote to the GP to have it put on my record so that I could get repeat prescriptions. They also gave me a further prescription when the initial dosage wasn’t helping and, again, the GP wouldn’t prescribe. I think lots of GPs are really wary of prescribing ondansetron in the first 12 weeks and are also cautious about prescribing a combo of medications - I’m on ondansetron, prochlorperazine and Omeprazole. It just about takes the edge off on good days but, in my last pregnancy, I had no good days at this stage so this is definitely better than that! As Lucinda says, Pregnancy Sickness Support have been great for advice including how to speak to GPs to make headway on getting medication quickly. Wishing you loads of luck, it’s such a shame that it’s such a fight to get access to medications we need.

Composed No real advice but just wanted to send commiserations as I remember the last few weeks vividly from my last pregnancy. I was miserable! Developed severe pelvic pain on top of the HG and could barely walk. I used to try and plan something to look forward to for the weekends, then have a little mini victory party for getting through another week! Convinced myself that the baby would arrive early but I think that was the self-preservation that I need to get me through... My waters broke exactly two hours after my due date so she set out of her stall right from the beginning that she would like things to be done her way! Hang in there Flowers

LucindaE · 23/04/2021 18:50

MimPimMim Great advice for Guineapiggiesmalls and composed.
Guineapiggiesmalls Sorry, I got your name wrong in my response to your post below. I really feel for those who not only suffer throughout, but who get spd as well.

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Guineapiggiesmalls · 23/04/2021 21:08

@LucindaE @MimPimMim thank you both, I’m really hopeful I won’t be as bad as last time, but also am trying to be realistic! HG really was one of the worst times of my life, until I had it I didn’t believe it could be so horrendous so I really appreciate your advice and sharing your experience Flowers no doubt I’ll be back on this thread when it inevitably kicks in!

LucindaE · 24/04/2021 17:21

Guineapiggiesmalls Keeping my fingers crossed for your escaping the scourge.

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JessicaM2021 · 25/04/2021 03:41

Hi all!

I’m hoping to join your thread. I’m in the US but have spent many of these dark dark weeks of sickness reading the back threads of this discussion and they’ve helped me sooooo much.

I 9+5 weeks. My vomiting started around 5 weeks, 4 days and was relentless. Couldn’t eat or drink and I went through all the first line meds (first dr did NOT take me seriously). I now have a different OB and am on Ondansetron. I was able to get by all last week just taking one. But the last three days have been misery curled in bed in the fetal position and I’m taking two a day. Since I’m almost at 10 weeks, do you think it could be the bad surge? Do you think it will all of a sudden keep getting worse? I don’t know how to go on if so.

Thank you for letting me join your group and I hope everyone is doing as well as they can today.

composed · 25/04/2021 18:58

@LucindaE and @MimPimMim thank you so much for yourkind words and advice. The last few weeks I find are always the hardest and this time I am struggling more than before due to having 2 other kids to look after. Fingers crossed there are more better days than bad ones for us all x

@JessicaM2021 welcome (to the club none of us want to be in but grateful for the support!) Yes you are going through the peak as we say but it DOES get better. Keep taking the meds along with astool softener for ondansetron as it works wonders but blocks you up.

In @LucindaE original post there is a list of food and drinks to try, failing that ice lollies and ice cubes will also help. Take each day at a time or even half a day, I always say rest along with meds helps a lot. Be as gentle and kind to yourself as you can especially on the hard days, you will get through this. We’re here whenever you needgentle handholding or ‘ear’ to listen. I think there is a US hg website similar to the PSS we have in the UK called HER(?) which may offer more advice specific to the US?

Hang in there, this too shall pass. I hope everyone else is ok x

LucindaE · 25/04/2021 19:05

JessicaM2021 Welcome. Sorry you are suffering badly. As you are near 10 weeks, the dreaded hormonal surge around that time seems
likely. Could you increase the dose? People find Ondansetron very helpful but the problem is the way it ties up the bowels. Did they prescribe a laxative with it? I am glad you have found this thread helpful. I know that they sometimes have a home IV system available on health insurance over there. Here is 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. 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.

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LucindaE · 25/04/2021 19:10

composed Sorry, cross posted. Great advice for JessicaM2021.
I hope you get an improvement soon. I think those who struggle along with other LO's deserve a medal.

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LucindaE · 26/04/2021 17:33

Waves to all. Smile

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MimPimMim · 27/04/2021 17:31

Having a miserable day today - vomiting was back with a vengeance last night and the nausea is unbearable today. Not sure if this is a hormonal surge or a sign that the medications aren’t working as effectively? Spoke to Pregnancy Sickness Support today who suggested adding another medication in - domperidone, if anyone has any experience? Thinking about asking to be referred to consultant led care, GP is pretty hopeless and at least it might not be such a battle to get a prescription. Really worried this is going to be the same as my last pregnancy and last the entire time - can’t bear that again and not sure how I manage that on top of my toddler too. Have a lot of help with childcare at the moment, which is great, but I feel so sad about all the things I’m missing out on with her. Wish I was a normal pregnant person Sad

Thinking of everyone struggling today - @JessicaM2021, really hope things have picked up for you a bit Flowers

LucindaE · 27/04/2021 19:13

MimPimMim Sorry things are still bad. I had that med once for migraines when the vomiting was much worse. It wasn't bad at controlling it, but I got heartburn with it; I suppose that might have been because I wasn't vomiting up excess bile or something. Have you got an effective anti-acid? Anyway, that might be just me and I suppose that was the retired doctor you spoke to who obviously knows his stuff. It must be so difficult with an LO. I hope others can give you tips on how best to cope. Keeping fingers crossed you get some relief soon.

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composed · 27/04/2021 21:03

@MimPimMim so sorry to hear you’re having a hard time. I probably would ask for a referral is gp isn’t as helpful as he/she could be, how many weeks are you now? Sometimes with hg it can be a bit of a rollercoaster ups and downs but hopefully the further along you get the good starts to increase in comparison to the bad x

I’ve never tried more than one med at a time but reading through past posts and pss its not uncommon, just need to find a combo which will hopefully work for you. Snap on the feeling of not being able to enjoy a normal pregnancy and feeling the guilt of being an ansent parent at times with the other lo’s. How old is your lo? Some things I have found helped me this time and my eldest is writing a list of things she would like to do once im better, so we have something to look forward to together and can tick off. When I’m having a really bad day and cant do anything I have them both next to me and the eldest reads a book to us all or we watch a fave cartoon of theirs (if I can manage screentime). If your lo is little he/she wont remember this horrible time and I hope that gives you some comfort although it may not feel like it atm. I truly hope it doesn’t last all the way through and the right combo of meds help you Flowers I am cheering you on every day to the finish line x

Waves to @LucindaE

Peony2021 · 27/04/2021 21:28

I am so glad to have found this thread 😅

Haven't been diagnosed with HG so I'm sure a lot of you are suffering much much worse than I am. I've been nauseous since 5w4d then the vomiting started around 11weeks and it's still going strong at 15 weeks 🤨

I was prescribed cyclizine which worked well for about 3 days then just had zero effect. I then was prescribed Ondansetron which worked well for about 6 days then I did start throwing up again on it, albeit less so. Came off it last week and wanted to see how bad I was "naturally". Well I burst those little blood vessels all over my eyes and neck with the intense vomiting so that was a new experience 😂 I went back to GP and he prescribed cyclizine again saying that Ondansetron really is a last resort only again. So far on this batch of cyclizine I've not been actually throwing up but the constant gagging is just insane.

Been reading the comments and just so glad to know I'm not alone! You're all doing so well, I hope it gets easier for us soon! Xx

JessicaM2021 · 27/04/2021 22:28

Thank you @composed @LucindaE and @MimPimMim for the advice and well wishes! Things got pretty bad for about four days, although I actually never threw up those four days, just horrendous 24/7 nausea moving my head. Today I started throwing up again, however feel a little less nauseous as the day goes on.

One newer thing that’s started the past few days in the dizziness. I can’t walk around very well because of it. It’s just really intense. Is that another wonderful normal pregnancy thing? (I’m a little over 10 weeks).

Hi @Peony2021 I’m sorry to hear you’re not doing great either. I’ve been on Ondansetron for I think about two weeks. Up until today it had been controlling the vomit so I’m not sure what happened. I could increase my dose but the constipation is already bad enough (with a laxative) I’m too afraid to try that. That happened to one of my eyes too lol! It’s not the most pleasant. I sure hope you feel better soon!

Waves to everyone.

Peony2021 · 28/04/2021 11:39

@JessicaM2021 aw thank you, sorry to hear you're rotten again on the Ondansetron. It controlled the vomiting for me for a while and then it gave up the ghost. Thought my cyclizine was working there until I threw up on the kitchen floor so that was less than ideal 😂

The dizziness I did find tough at times particularly showering for some reason, just try to take it easy where you can. Xx

LucindaE · 28/04/2021 17:55

Peony2021 Goodness, that does sound awful. I am glad the Cyclizne is now helping a bit. I do hope you get some relief from nausea Here is 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. 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.soon. This does tend to happen later than with normal pregnancy sickness (and even that very often goes beyond 12 weeks to 14 or so weeks or even longer). There is plenty of support on this thread.
JessicaM2021 Sorry it has been relentless with you. Regarding the dizziness, I wonder if low blood pressure (partly due to not being able to eat) is playing a part?
composed Great advice as ever for MimPimMim. Star Cheering you on too, through the last bit.

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MimPimMim · 29/04/2021 17:40

Thanks Lucinda and composed - I appreciate the support a lot. Today has been a smidge better than the last couple of days (made it out of bed and onto the sofa!), so have been able to eat and drink a bit more. I’m taking Omeprazole as an ant acid, which I think helps but has the most horrendous taste going down. Why do all sickness tablets taste so vile?! My daughter has only just turned 2 so she’s really little - hard to explain much to her about what’s going on. Trying to remember that they are resilient little things at her age! I feel like I’m missing out on so much with her now, time I won’t ever get back. I feel a bit more resentful of the sickness this time, whereas before I could take to my bed without guilt and feeling so sad about it. Composed, cheering you on too in your last few weeks - nearly there! Hope you are having some better days?

@JessicaM2021 I get terrible dizziness with the nausea too - not sure if it is low blood pressure or low blood sugar or something else. It’s awful though! Trying not to tempt fate but I found that the constipation actually got better (no idea why) when I upped the dosage of my Ondansetron. I was expecting the opposite (and dreading it) so perhaps it doesn’t correlate?

Waves to everyone else - hoping that we are all having some better days.

LucindaE · 29/04/2021 20:10

MimPimMim It must be very hard having to be comparatively neglectful to an LO. Sorry, I can't remember if I recommended
that picture book on written (I think) by the 'Spewing Mummy' blog and for sale on Amazon? But maybe two is too young to understand even with the picture book. Great advice from you as ever. Smile

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LucindaE · 29/04/2021 20:11

Sorry MimPimMim that's meant to be 'That picture book on Hypermesis'.

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LucindaE · 30/04/2021 19:25

I hope everyone copes over the Bank Holiday.

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Anxious9thPG · 30/04/2021 19:31

Hi all
Not been on here for a while. Sorry to hear some of you ate suffering badly. Hello to the new members! Those dark weeks do pass! I think week 10 was my worst.
I'm 20 weeks now. Still on cyclizine, ondansetron and omeprazole. Tried to reduce a couple of times and it was a no go! I wish GPs understood how important it is to have the right meds. Always a battle to get more.
I still have daily nausea but on a much lesser scale and haven't vomited in weeks.
Hang in there everyone

JessicaM2021 · 01/05/2021 01:51

Hi @Anxious9thPG So far this 10th week for me has been the worst, even on medication. The vomiting is back in full force, the excess saliva is non stop, the nauseousness of course never leaves but seems to be getting worse by the day. I increased the Ondansetron but it hasn’t done anything helpful (still dealing with the constipation and laxatives). It gives me hope hearing your 10th week was your worst and you are feeling better!

Does anyone have any suggestions of things to do when your stuck in bed trying to pass the time, besides just laying in misery? Some days I can watch tv, but not most. Reading is out for right now too.

I hope everyone is doing ok as can be.

bunhead34 · 01/05/2021 08:48

Hi all,
Thought I would give a little update.
My baby girl arrived 12 Days ago.

She is perfect and a very healthy 10lbs!

I took ondanseton from weeks 7 - 28, and cyclizine the whole pregnancy. I also
Took omeprazole for heartburn from
Around week 30.

I hope everyone is okay and remember you will get there. And don't be afraid to take the medication if you need it! ♥️

LucindaE · 01/05/2021 18:56

bunhead34 Wonderful news. Smile [flowers[ Star Brew What a fine weight. Enjoy every minute with her. Thank you so much for your lovely encouraging message.
Anxious9thPG I am so glad you are feeling a lot better at twenty weeks with those meds. Great advice. I was wondering how things were with you. The tenth week is so often the worst for sufferers, as you say. It is really unfair that you have to struggle still to get enough meds.

JessicaM2021 Sorry to hear that the tenth week is so bad. Some find audio books helpful, and the radio.

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