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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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5
thingymaboob · 01/08/2021 22:30

I think only a mean Dr would refuse a note! I'm on cyclizine, stemetil, ondansetron, omeprazole and clexane so would find it weird to at least not have another 2 weeks

LucindaE · 02/08/2021 19:54

thingymaboob You are so right. That would be shocking.

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haidri · 03/08/2021 01:29

Doctors have taken me off ondansentron & moved me onto cyclizine. After one dose I had an adverse reaction so it's now time for a different antiemetic now 🥱

thingymaboob · 03/08/2021 12:41

@haidri oh no, what happened? Are you ok?

haidri · 03/08/2021 12:44

@thingymaboob they said I can't continue beyond 12 weeks so now they've changed my antiemetic

thingymaboob · 03/08/2021 15:16

@haidri oh, I was just wondering about your adverse reaction. Was it to cyclizine?

Weird they've taken you off ondansetron. Never heard of 12 week max time to be on it. I was on it all way through my pregnancy last time.

haidri · 03/08/2021 15:19

@thingymaboob after just one dose of cyclizine I collapsed after an excruciating migraine towards my left eye area.

God knows what I'm on next. They've given me three different types of antiemetics to collect from the pharmacy hopefully to see which one suits

Strange because I don't have reactions to medications usually

LucindaE · 03/08/2021 19:10

haidri Oh dear. I hadn't heard that Cyclizine caused a terrible migraine. It is interesting that Ondansetron didn't, as it can trigger migraines in some. I have never heard that about not taking it after 12 weeks before. I wonder if you might be able to get some good advice about that from Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 7638 2020. They willl have to ring you back but they will with good advice.
tihingymaboob How are things?

OP posts:
thingymaboob · 03/08/2021 20:51

Hi @LucindaE things are pretty bad today. Have vomited about 6 times. Big vomits. Feel dreadful. Oh god, I want this hell to end. I'm absolutely exhausted from it all. I make a dossette box for drugs every week because I take so many, I couldn't always remember what I'd taken. It feels really upsetting making the dossette box of 9 pills a day. Just want to feel normal.

Lzgs · 03/08/2021 22:45

Hello. This thread had given some tips that I will definitely try. Jumping in as I am 7 weeks today and have been feeling absolutely grim for the last week. Nausea crept up and I am now sick 24/7 and vomiting throughout the day.
My mum and sister has HG so should have expected it but this is just worse than I could ever imagine.
Worried because I am a teacher so going back to school isn’t going to be easy. Will my GP prescribe something if I ask? I don’t want to be fobbed off and told its normal as I am finding it completely debilitating. I can’t even manage a few mins in the car or trip to the supermarket 😢.

I’m trying to eat a cracker before getting out of bed but it comes up straight away. Eating small but frequent meals but the nausea makes it so difficult. I’ve found ice lollies the only thing that gives temporary relief. Which medication do you think is best to prevent nausea and vomiting?

haidri · 03/08/2021 23:34

@Lzgs unfortunate welcome to the HG gang! At least you know you're not alone when it comes to severe sickness. Ondensentron was most powerful for me tbh. Aside of medication I also love ice lollies right now!!!!

thingymaboob · 04/08/2021 10:46

@Lzgs sorry you've found yourself here. I think it's not just one single drug that works for me but a combination. I take 3 drugs - cyclizine, ondansetron and stemetil. Omeprazole also helps me as it calms the stomach acid right down. You
must take the medication like clockwork, even if you feel ok. The reality is that you might not be able to work with HG. I've been signed off for 5 weeks now. I'm 12 weeks pregnant and still vomit everyday despite the drugs. Most of the time it's just once but some days it feels like I'm not taking any drugs.
Call the pregnancy sickness support charity, they are a great help. I find this forum very helpful too as it makes me feel less alone

Lzgs · 04/08/2021 10:52

@haidri I love ice lollies too! Temporary relief 🤢
@thingymaboob thanks for the advice!! I will chat to the dr and see if they can prescribe me something. I just feel sad that I can’t do anything socially and have been confined to home for so long. I had covid the week of my BFP too so I’d already been isolating for a long time and full of anxiety!

haidri · 04/08/2021 10:54

@thingymaboob how you coping with Stematil?

thingymaboob · 04/08/2021 12:20

@haidri I find stemetil helpful. I wish they'd given me the buccastem type (the one in the gums) but it's ok. I am taking it 2-3 times a day at the moment.

Got a cardiology appointment today. Nervous about leaving the house!

@Lzgs it's a very isolating illness and it sounds like you had a rocky start.
I have been confined to my bedroom for 5 weeks. Some days I'm totally bed bound. Other days I can go downstairs. This illness is bad enough without the added guilt for not doing "things" / being social. You have to accept that you'll be out of action for a substantial amount of time. I've been through it before so I knew what was coming. As soon as I started vomiting at 6 weeks, I knew it would be 3 months (at least) of this. You have to be kind to yourself. Make sure you get the right medication for you, rest (I sleep about 11 hours a day in total), hydrate and allow your family to help you. As your mum and sister have had it, they'll be very supportive and sympathetic. The most important thing is that you don't expect too much of yourself and just accept that your goals for the day will be simple:

  1. Eat and keep down some food
  2. keep hydrated
  3. rest
  4. shower/ wash
  5. take medication regularly

We will be here with you!

haidri · 04/08/2021 13:41

@thingymaboob does it make you sleepy or does it just settle your stomach?

Good luck at your appointment!

thingymaboob · 04/08/2021 14:52

@haidri it did make my sleepy initially but not now. Body is use to it, I think

Lzgs · 04/08/2021 14:55

@thingymaboob thank you so much for the support! 🥲 so glad to have found others going through the same thing. I keep getting lots of comments from some family like “it’ll be worth it in the end” and “well this is normal and expected” which doesn’t really help! But yes sister and mum have been a great support. I haven’t told friends or colleagues yet as wanting to wait for first scan but cancelled some social things so they must think I am being a bit weird haha

LucindaE · 04/08/2021 20:01

Lzgs Welcome. You have already had great advice. As others say, do get meds. If they prescribe Ondansetetron, do ask for a laxative as it ties up the bowels for most people. I am glad you are getting support from your mother and sister. I so agree about iced lollies. You'll find plenty of support on here. I include my normal spiel that 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 doctors, 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. Protein drinks have also been mentioned.
thingymaboob Sorry to hear about such a horrible day. I hope you get some relief soon. A fine idea to keep that systematic record of meds. Excellent advice as ever.
haidri I hope things aren't too bad today.

OP posts:
thingymaboob · 05/08/2021 13:01

Another bad evening and day. So much vomiting.

Lzgs · 05/08/2021 16:04

I have been prescribed cyclizine by the GP. Any success stories with this. Feeling a bit irritated after speaking to her she was quite dismissive and didn’t really let me even explain all of my symptoms. She said if I can’t keep anything down I should go to the hospital otherwise crack on!

thingymaboob · 05/08/2021 16:22

I find cyclizine really effective this pregnancy but it didn't help in my last pregnancy. You must take 3 a day 8 hours apart to really feel the benefit. Don't expect miracles with 1 tablet then think it's not effective. I take my tablets at 6:30am, 2:30pm and 10:30pm even if I feel ok. Give it a few days. If after a few days it's not really helping, they can add another into the mix. I take 3 meds cyclizine, ondansetron and stemetil and that combination helps me.

LucindaE · 05/08/2021 17:28

Oh dear, thingymaboob sorry to hear that you are suffering so badly. Fine advice for Lzgs.
Thinking of everyone. I am off to Cheshire for a couple of days, but will be back on 8th, and lovely abbs1 has promised to look in and give advice.

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abbs1 · 05/08/2021 21:10

@LucindaE have a lovely few days away.

@lzgs see how you go on cyclizine. It is one of the lower medications used for hg sufferers and many need ondansatron as well with it. If you see no improvement within a few days ask for something else. If the gp isnt helpful please seek further help.
This is a list of hospitals in the uk with hg day units. They can give you medication and help a lot quicker and can get you the help you need if the gp isnt helpful.
www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk/get-help/treatments/hg-day-clinics-across-the-uk/

@thingymabob im so sorry you are still suffering so badly. How many weeks are you and what medications are you currently taking? Sorry ive forgotten.

Apologies to anyone overlooked.

thingymaboob · 05/08/2021 22:15

Hiya @abbs1 how are you getting on?

I'm 12+4. Cyclizine, ondansetron and stemetil. It's pure hell isn't it?

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