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/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.

Oh my goodness, @abbs1 @Jaylou7rainbow sounds like such a tough time. I never got to steroids with my last one although it was discussed. My thoughts are with you.

I am 6 weeks tomorrow with my 2nd and the nausea has been ramping up the last few days and this morning I got woken up by it. This is how it started last time before escalating to constant vomiting between weeks 8-14 and then vomiting most days for rest of pregnancy.

Thank you ladies. Yesterday was awful constant nausea all day scared to move today as feel it brewing. Got so much work on today and tomorrow. Had huge panic attack last night. Xx

@thingymabob I really feel for you. Definitely remember the first few weeks were so hard before getting hg diagnosed. We are currently ttc #2 atm.

Jaylou7rainbow Sorry to hear it's starting. I do hope that a regime like the one abbs1 had really helps you.
abbs1 Excellent advice, as always.
tihingymaboob Sorry to hear too, that the nausea is getting worse.
At least it isn't so hot today. Not quite so difficult to keep hydrated.

@abbs1 @LucindaE it's started. projectile vomiting this evening. Only 5 + 6. I am going to force myself into work on Monday as I have a few extremely important things to do / tie up before I'm off work for the foreseeable future. I can see how this is going! Going to pop one of my old ondansetron tablets I was saving (in date) crack on for a day and get an out of office on. Get a food shop delivery for family ordered (things that are quick for hubby to cook mainly and not smelly). Feel like I'm preparing for war.

@thingymabob. Oh im so sorry. Yes definitely get signed off and try to rest as much as you can. Order some ice lollies to suck if you can. If you cant keep fluids down please get some iv ones asap as dehydration is very serious. Hopefully the GP can prescribe you some medication. If not check out the pregnancy sickness support page as there is a list of hg day units at all uk hospitals so you can Hopefully get medication prescribed from there to get on top of the vomitting before it gets really bad and fluids. Sending you strength and hugs 🤗 you can do this! We are here to support you xx

Just wanted to send best wishes to @Jaylou7rainbow - sorry the sickness has started so early this time and @thingymaboob sorry you have had the hideous vomiting starting last night.
Good plan to get the out of office on and then rest.

DH had smelly crisps yesterday, I banished him from the room. Any food smells are just a trigger for the nausea, I opened the back door for some air last weekend but people had barbecues lit so I had to go in. It rained today so I might go out to the garden, haven't been anywhere except medical appointments. No desire to go out anyway!

Thanks @Aranciata and @abbs1 for your kind words, sorry you're suffering too @Jaylou7rainbow . I have no words of wisdom I'm afraid as everyone seems to have their best meds and remedies known if suffered before. I am so reluctant to take an ondansetron today as I have 30 and they're from my last pregnancy and feel like I want to save them in case GP won't prescribe them and I know the worst is yet to come and need to keep the big guns for weeks 8-14. I'd kill for cyclizine right now. Feel I want to hold out until I speak to my actual Dr tomorrow rather than ringing 111 which is a disaster. Lying in a dark room helps a bit. Vomiting every time I stand up

Feel for you all. It’s hell on earth. Now at nearly 15 weeks still having awful days, please let the end be in sight soon…

Hi everyone Iv been on odansentron for over a month now... I’m 20+2 I haven’t been sick since I started on them but I still feel sick on and off every day I still don’t have energy it’s my second pregnancy and it’s stopped at 15 weeks with my first this time there no way out I think I’ll have the nausea all way through... but I don’t think I would be posting on here if it wasn’t for ondansatron it saved me mentally I was at rock bottom in and out of hospital couldn’t eat couldn’t drink I was numb I couldn’t even walk are stand if anyone thinks they need better meds please get them! I had around 5 different ones before they gave me ondansatron! No I don’t feel 100 percent but I can cope with how I feel and I’m halfway there!! This is my last baby I’m hoping to get sterilised after if they’ll do it with me only being 29 but I’ll force for it because it is such a awful thing to go through and I could cry thinking back how sad I was thinking of everyone who’s bed bound being sick :( xxxx

Hey ladies,

I just wanted to post an update. I last wrote on here when I was 8 weeks and 5 days. I am now 20 weeks!!! Was suffering so bad I couldn't see a way through it. But Xonvea seemed to help alot (was still daily vomiting and all day nausea but able to keep most food that i could eat down and symptoms reduced from 12 weeks onwards).

Just to say my GP prescribes the Xonvea on the NHS so I don't pay for it. I get 4 boxes at a time and explain to them every time I request them that they are the only licensed antiemetic for pregnancy in the UK and one of the only ones that have helped me from going back to hospital. They normally then just prescribe them. I am still on them at 20 weeks as everytime I try to come off its hell! In my last pregnancy Ondansetron was a life saver but the constipation was horrific for me.

I am doing so much better, hang in there everyone, you can get through it. I had to accept i could only eat (even if it wasn't the healthiest) what I could eat and even now the only fruit I can have is a banana and no raw vegetables. Rennes also helped in between meals or even make the vomit not so acidic so reduced the burning. Also when vomiting hold your nose to stop the vomit from coming up through the nostrils as that was absolute agony. Try to have a pattern each day to try and find what may help. I found that eating after vomiting helped it stay down (only when properly medicated and not when i was at the stage of not keeping food or water down!!). Make sure to be assertive with your doctors to get the support you need and if you don't have the strength get your partner to step in!!

Wishing you all good luck for the rest of your pregnancies. I will update you all when and if i get off the Xonvea and when babies here

xxx

Oh and just to add as I couldn't eat meat due to the sickess and nausea, I would drink "Weetabix On the Go Breakfast Protein Drink Vanilla 275ml". It has 21grams of protein and only 12 grams of sugar and was the only high protein drink that didnt have vitamin A in it. Just thought I'd share this as I struggled to find protein drinks with no vitamin A. I could not always stomach it but was great for the days I could. Another thing I could eat was pot noodles (I know terrible), again a bit hit and miss as would not always stay down. But I guess its all just trial and error!

Thingymaboob Sorry it has started. Wishing you all luck in fighting it. I believe you can get Cyclzine over the counter - ironically not if the pharmacist knows you're pregnant, though they've been using it safely in pregnancy for decades.
Ysa15 Fingers crossed that you have a turnaround soon.
Marnie1234 I'm glad that Ondanestron has helped. Thank you for that encouraging message.
SY16 It's good to hear that Xonvea has helped you. Thank you for coming on to encourage others. Good tip about that protein drink.
abbs1 Excellent advice as ever.
Aranciaca Aagh! About barbeques and strong smelling crisps...
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.
Symapthy to all suffering.

@SY16 im so sorry youve suffered so bad but really glad Xonvea has helped and that the GP has prescribed it on the NHS. Gives me hope for getting some. I really hope you continue to improve over the coming weeks as much as possible.

abbs1 I so agree.

SY16 I meant to add, I do feel for you about the daily vomiting even with meds. I do hope that isn't continuing? People who have to put up with that deserve a meda delivered l along with the baby!

Hiya everyone. I dragged myself into work, vomited on the street on way in, vomited in the sink in my room twice, pretty much constant wrenching. My manager wasn't in today but I told him I was going off sick and not to expect me for 2 months. I told my lovely colleagues who were so supportive. One had HG with her twins and the other ones wife had HG too. We are all healthcare professionals so they're very understanding. My out of office says that it is unknown when I will be back. I feel zero guilt. I forced myself to go into work numerous times in last pregnancy and it didn't benefit anyone. They can plan for me being off. I am calling GP first thing in morning to get drugs!

@thingymabob im so sorry you've have such a bad day. Im glad though work have been so understanding and supportive. Definitely get some medication and rest as much as you can. My biggest advice is dont rush to try and get back to work if you can help it as it can make you worse. Sending hugs. You can do this. Stay strong. We are here to support you xx

@LucindaE and @abbs1 aww thank you guys. No thankfully no more vomiting unless I try to come off the tablets! So I'm really grateful to be passed the worst of it. xx

Thanks @abbs1 . I have taken 2 ondansetron today (the precious!). Been hanging onto them in case I can't get them again but can't keep any water down, have drunk only 500mls water in 2 days & two cans of coke.
Glad you're over the worst @SY16 . What meds are you on?

Hi everyone,

Has anyone any advice for everything tasting horrible. I am so nauseous I can barely eat or drink but when I force myself even normal tasting things like water taste horrible. I've tried flavoured water, fizzy drinks, my (usually) favourite foods and they all have a horrible taste to them- even after not being sick/ brushing teeth etc. It's like my taste buds have changed if that makes any sense!

Thank you for any insight!!

@thingymaboob Thanks so much. I'm currently on Xonvea and only requiring 2 tablets at night now (so down from 4 a day) and have no vomiting. I had previously tried cyclizine which made me end up back in hospital and then metoclopramide but not really effective. Xonvea has been the best for me, but I think if I had combined it with Ondansetron early on I could have stopped the previous daily vomiting, but i couldn't deal with the constipation.

Just spoke to GP. She's signed me off for 2 months. Old regime of cyclizine and ondansetron prescribed but she warned me about increase of cleft palate abnormalities using ondansetron in 1st trimester and that it was my informed choice to take that risk. It doesn't matter how much I read about it and feel happy, as soon as a GP says something like that it sends me into a pit of uncertainty and depression. Urgh.

@thingymaboob
Great you got 2 months & the meds!!
That's tough with the ondansetron.. esp a doctor saying it!!! Makes it more real than reading it online.
Feels like they are giving you ownership of the decision & risk attached , obvs mother's nature to protect her baby. But in my eyes without ondansetron my mental health & capability of looking after my 5yr old would be a bigger risk than the very small increase.

@LilmissCa thanks for your reply, I've started taking it earlier this time. I was 7 weeks when I first took it but now I'm 6 weeks. I honestly thought I don't want to live / can't go through this / don't want this baby the way I felt yesterday. I can't interact with my 3 year old or do anything! I feel I have to take it. Otherwise it's too much suffering!