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.

Welcome back to Annie1290. Fancy your LO being three and a half already. Congratuations on your pregnancy. A good idea to get pre-emptive meds early.I felt waves of nausea early, but didn't suffer for long or as badly as so many, so lets hope it is so for you. Remind me what meds were you on last time?
Anyat212 I am mortified! I have been getting your name wrong all this time: true, I am dyslexic and I have these blind spots now and then, but I really should have noticed. Sorry.
Cheering bunhead34 on. Snapple21 I am glad to hear about the good days. I hope the bad days go. Someone on here had it until 36 weeks, and then it went, so you never know...

I thought I was ok and had a couple of okish days managed to get out for half hour walk and rested as much as possible with little ones. No one at all knows I'm pregnant I really really don't want to have to tell anyone yet I had to cave at 9 weeks last time due to ending up in hosp on drip and constantly carrying a cup to spit my saliva in sorry gross I know. I've had to start the spitting again now but managing to hide it at mo. This morning the nausea and lightheadedness has knocked me backto sofa. I'm going to try go to gp tomorrow to get next step meds I'm on cyclizine so is metachlopromide best to try next rather than jumping to ondansetron? Still reluctant to start b6 after gp was so no keen. The inside of granny smith apples are getting me through at the moment. Hope you are all ok. I'm feeling so negative about it all again now so unfair when it's meant to be such a happy time for us all isn't it x

Haha it's fine Lucinda!  your support and advice has been invaluable 

@Ttc2017
Sorry to read your update, re: meds Metoclopramide and ondansetron are in the same group (second line I believe). I know my GP was keen to give me this rather than ondansetron and even when admitted to hospital they still avoided giving me ondansetron - despite it helping first time. I really think it just depends who you speak to, they may also only provide 3-5 days worth of metoclopramide and look to review after then. My GP said it was only recommended to take for 5 days - but I took it for at least 10-12 weeks. It's them having to weigh the risk of dehydration vs tiny risk of medication. I've not had any problems with it though.

Just wanted to mention the dosage as I was confused when I was only given 5 days worth! They can issue 30 day ones though as I was prescribed that.

I completely understand about not wanting to tell people so early as well. I was the same, hope you feel better soon.

Hi all hope everyone is managing. I was starting to get some improvement but then I had to abruptly come off the metoclopramide at the beginning of this week as it started giving me tremors in my hands and arms. Since then I've been on two ondansetron a day and seem to be getting a little worse again, slightly more vomiting and the nausea is a bit worse so able to do even less at home. Have blood tests tomorrow which I'm really dreading as worried about vomiting and in my first pregnancy I fainted after bloods due to dehydration

As PP has said metoclopramide and ondansetron are both second line but I think they tend to favour metoclopramide first because there's no risk to the foetus whereas there are concerns that ondansetron in the first trimester may be linked to a slightly increased risk of cleft palate. I did take it last time and my DD was fine and am taking it again this time. I was actually not keen to go on metoclopramide due to the tremor risks and small but possible risk of permanent Parkinson's type symptoms but GP insisted I tried that first and needless to say since I actually developed tremors after a few weeks I would definitely never go one it again. However many women are on it throughout pregnancy without issue.

Anyat212 Thank you. You have been invaluable in turn. Excellent advice as ever.
MeadowHay Sorry to hear of twitchiness.
Ttc2017 Never worry about describing gross symptoms - it goes with the condition.

Does any medication help with the death feeling the light headed dizzy hot sick feeling like your going to pass out kinda thing. I have to work and I have so much to get done everyday but this is making it so hard

Ttc2017 Much sympathy. I hope someone on here can think of somehting, and I wish I could. I think part of it can be due to long term semi starvation.
This seems to be the latest Due Dates list.

DueDates
BuffyFanForever 13 March TWINS!
ChubbyMumFromSkye 13 March
PhotoMum4 18 March
Anyat212 22 March
BB2021 4 April
Tiff94 4 April
doritodiva 12 April
bunhead 13 April
Dimpous 13 April
Funkypolar 19 April
Tiff94 21 April
ohidoliketobe 1 May
QueenBee95 2 May
Fruitloops34 5 May
Firsttimemum21 14 May
SweetpeaOrMarigold 18 May
Jlw2020 19 May
Snapple21 30 May
kingfisher657 24 June

@Ttc2017 have you had your bp checked? I was on ondansetron pretty much straight away as a pre emptive so was able to get on top of things quicker this pregnancy. I have an amazing gp who went through the risks etc but was happy to precribe due to my history.

The only time I have felt the dizzy/passing out feeling was due to my bp for which I am now on meds for. I would advise going back to your gp for meds review and bp possibly(?)

In re to work the only advice I can suggest is taking as much time off as you can, I have been on sick leave since Oct and won’t be going back. Rest along with meds are really important when dealing with hg, I’m sorry I can’t be of anymore help but I reallyhope things get better soon for you, the early days are the worst.

@Anyat212 thank you for your kind words, I’m taking one day at a time and trying to look on the brightside that hopefully not long left to go, I CAN DO this! eeeeek not long for you, so happy you get to reach the pink castle soon x

[quote composed]@Ttc2017 have you had your bp checked? I was on ondansetron pretty much straight away as a pre emptive so was able to get on top of things quicker this pregnancy. I have an amazing gp who went through the risks etc but was happy to precribe due to my history.

The only time I have felt the dizzy/passing out feeling was due to my bp for which I am now on meds for. I would advise going back to your gp for meds review and bp possibly(?)

In re to work the only advice I can suggest is taking as much time off as you can, I have been on sick leave since Oct and won’t be going back. Rest along with meds are really important when dealing with hg, I’m sorry I can’t be of anymore help but I reallyhope things get better soon for you, the early days are the worst.

@Anyat212 thank you for your kind words, I’m taking one day at a time and trying to look on the brightside that hopefully not long left to go, I CAN DO this! eeeeek not long for you, so happy you get to reach the pink castle soon x[/quote]

@composed can I ask you about pre emptive meds? Did you have any symptoms when you started them? Have you had just one HG pregnancy before or multiple? How many weeks were you when you started? I want to be prepared when speaking to my GP in the next few days.

Hi @Annie1290 I’ve had 4 hg pregnancies so far, first one was unmedicated as they kept pushing cyclizine and that doesn’t work for me at all so I gave up in the end, managed to make a turn at around 6 months with that but the hg started at around 6 weeks.

2nd pregnancy hg started around 6 weeks again, this time given stemetil which was slightly better than cyclizine but we had a mmc so stopped the meds.

3rd once again hg started at 6 weeks tried stemetil again but couldn’t get a handle on the puking so did research and asked for ondansetron at around 12 weeks which helped a lot. Stayed on ondansetron throughout the pregnancy till just before giving birth. Symptoms of hg lifted straight after giving birth.

Current pregnancy I went to my gp’s as soon as I found out I was pregnant, day after I missed my period and talked through meds. She had seen me through my previous pregnancy and was happy to prescribe, symptoms started once again at 6 weeks and I took my first pill the first time I vomitted as agreed with my gp as I was taking b6 before then to see if that would help. I used to take 2 a day to start with and during the peak which for me was around 9/10 weeks I took 3 a day (4mg I believe). I weaned myself off ondansetron just after 14 weeks I think and now don’t take it unless I really really need to. My vomitting has stopped but alas the nausea and bitter taste still lingers but I can deal with that.

I would say do your research if you have had previous hg pregnancies you should have an idea of what worked last time and work
your way through the meds if gp unwilling to prescribe what worked last time (some are funny). Stock up on anything that takes your fancy, drink through a straw, get a support bubble in place to help with childcare/housework etc. REST as much as you can, if you are too unwell to speak to hcp get an advocate or your partner, @LucindaE has great advice in her opening post I believe re food and testing urine etc. Sometimes its better to be put on a drip than to struggle through as it can really help and most importantly please be kind to yourself, this isn’t your fault, it isn’t ‘normal’ and you
will/can get through it even at your lowest point it will end.

Sorry this post is super long but I really hope it helps x

Can you over dose on cyclizine I'm not sure if I took 2 pills tonight or 1 can't remember if I already took my night time dose and I've take 2 earlier thoughout the day argh

@Ttc2017 probably best to call 111 or the midwife unit if you're not sure how much you've taken because they will be able to advise you best.
Regarding b6 there is a licenced medication for sickness that is a combination of B6 and an antihistamine like cyclizine, it's called Xonvea if you want to have a look. Plus b6 will be in all of your pregnancy multivitamins around 10-20mg depending on brand. I'd advise getting in touch with pregnancy sickness support for what their research is as I don't think I have it anymore. I think if your take a lot (100mg) for long periods of time you can start to get things like p&ns. I'm not taking a multivitamin just folic acid by itself and b6 so 30mg a day is fine for me I think.
And obviously if you're not happy taking it don't. It's not suggested by itself due to inconclusive studies about its effectiveness rather than danger to baby I think.

Took my last antibiotic this morning and have been feeling gradually better since I last posted. Hoping to go back to work in 2 weeks 🤞, that will mean I've been off for 2 months. Can't really afford more time off.
Let's hope and pray I'm well enough by then, I'll be 14 weeks. Tbh if I didn't have to wear all the PPE I wouldn't be as worried but if I need to be sick I'm just worried about my then risk to Covid as I probably won't have time to doff the PPE properly. The mask also makes me feel so much more sick too 😭

@composed

Hi *@Annie1290* I’ve had 4 hg pregnancies so far, first one was unmedicated as they kept pushing cyclizine and that doesn’t work for me at all so I gave up in the end, managed to make a turn at around 6 months with that but the hg started at around 6 weeks.

2nd pregnancy hg started around 6 weeks again, this time given stemetil which was slightly better than cyclizine but we had a mmc so stopped the meds.

3rd once again hg started at 6 weeks tried stemetil again but couldn’t get a handle on the puking so did research and asked for ondansetron at around 12 weeks which helped a lot. Stayed on ondansetron throughout the pregnancy till just before giving birth. Symptoms of hg lifted straight after giving birth.

Current pregnancy I went to my gp’s as soon as I found out I was pregnant, day after I missed my period and talked through meds. She had seen me through my previous pregnancy and was happy to prescribe, symptoms started once again at 6 weeks and I took my first pill the first time I vomitted as agreed with my gp as I was taking b6 before then to see if that would help. I used to take 2 a day to start with and during the peak which for me was around 9/10 weeks I took 3 a day (4mg I believe). I weaned myself off ondansetron just after 14 weeks I think and now don’t take it unless I really really need to. My vomitting has stopped but alas the nausea and bitter taste still lingers but I can deal with that.

I would say do your research if you have had previous hg pregnancies you should have an idea of what worked last time and work
your way through the meds if gp unwilling to prescribe what worked last time (some are funny). Stock up on anything that takes your fancy, drink through a straw, get a support bubble in place to help with childcare/housework etc. REST as much as you can, if you are too unwell to speak to hcp get an advocate or your partner, @LucindaE has great advice in her opening post I believe re food and testing urine etc. Sometimes its better to be put on a drip than to struggle through as it can really help and most importantly please be kind to yourself, this isn’t your fault, it isn’t ‘normal’ and you
will/can get through it even at your lowest point it will end.

Sorry this post is super long but I really hope it helps x

Thank you. I had a previous Hg pregnancy with my son and was admitted to hospital twice. It settled at about 16 weeks but I had been bed bound from about 6 weeks. I've just found out I'm approx 4+4 so super early but probably going to phone this week as my GP said the next pregnancy we could talk about pre emptive meds. I'm okay at the moment but don't want to suddenly get sick over a weekend and be stuck.

@composed

Hi *@Annie1290* I’ve had 4 hg pregnancies so far, first one was unmedicated as they kept pushing cyclizine and that doesn’t work for me at all so I gave up in the end, managed to make a turn at around 6 months with that but the hg started at around 6 weeks.

2nd pregnancy hg started around 6 weeks again, this time given stemetil which was slightly better than cyclizine but we had a mmc so stopped the meds.

3rd once again hg started at 6 weeks tried stemetil again but couldn’t get a handle on the puking so did research and asked for ondansetron at around 12 weeks which helped a lot. Stayed on ondansetron throughout the pregnancy till just before giving birth. Symptoms of hg lifted straight after giving birth.

Current pregnancy I went to my gp’s as soon as I found out I was pregnant, day after I missed my period and talked through meds. She had seen me through my previous pregnancy and was happy to prescribe, symptoms started once again at 6 weeks and I took my first pill the first time I vomitted as agreed with my gp as I was taking b6 before then to see if that would help. I used to take 2 a day to start with and during the peak which for me was around 9/10 weeks I took 3 a day (4mg I believe). I weaned myself off ondansetron just after 14 weeks I think and now don’t take it unless I really really need to. My vomitting has stopped but alas the nausea and bitter taste still lingers but I can deal with that.

I would say do your research if you have had previous hg pregnancies you should have an idea of what worked last time and work
your way through the meds if gp unwilling to prescribe what worked last time (some are funny). Stock up on anything that takes your fancy, drink through a straw, get a support bubble in place to help with childcare/housework etc. REST as much as you can, if you are too unwell to speak to hcp get an advocate or your partner, @LucindaE has great advice in her opening post I believe re food and testing urine etc. Sometimes its better to be put on a drip than to struggle through as it can really help and most importantly please be kind to yourself, this isn’t your fault, it isn’t ‘normal’ and you
will/can get through it even at your lowest point it will end.

Sorry this post is super long but I really hope it helps x

Meant to say, I tried every medication you've mentioned and one more I believe, and only started to improve on ondansetron so I would be begging from that from the outset.

@Annie1290 I agree speaking to your gp and getting a plan in place as soon as you can. Every pregnancy is different as they say so I really hope you escape this time round but if you have a plan in place it will give you some peace of mind if it were to
rear its ugly head.

You can do this and we’re all here whenever you want to vent/talk x

Hi all. Something to try if you haven’t already - lemon sorbet. It relieves my nausea for a few minutes, heaven!

Ttc2017I hope you got reassurance from the GP. I think the doses given as the maximum tend to be a long way below the danger level, but always best to check for reassurance.
composed Great advice from you and RockinRobinn. RockinRobinn That's interesting about the components of Xonvea. That's a bit anxiety making about having to wear full PPE. Can you do a staggered return, as you don't want to rush back to a full schedule too early? You need time to recover fully, though of course it is difficult balancing that and financial problems.
Waves to Anna1290 and everyone.

Annie1290 Sorry, done it again. You are Annie, not Anna.
TryingandHoping2020 Lemon sorbet sounds intriguing.
Waves to all.

Hi, I have suffered with HG during this pregnancy (my third) and whilst prochlorperazine seemed to work for a couple of weeks my sickness is coming back with a vegance in the evenings. I'm 13 weeks. Has anyone else experienced this and will it last?! I'm starting to dread every evening! Thanks!

Thanks I didn't ring gp in end as felt ok so figured I must of not taken an extra one. My memory is awful I really need to watch it I've started reminders on my phone now so I know when I've taken them. Anyone else suffering horrendous heartburn it's so painful and uncomfy it' makes me worry something is wrong with baby because it sometimes feel like In stomach though usually it feels more in chest like tightening

Hi everyone! I'm 9+2 and I've had very bad sickness for 4 weeks now. It started off very mild and as a person with severe motion sickness, I even thought to myself - this isn't as bad as I thought it would be!

But only a couple of days later I was proven wrong as the 24/7 nausea started. I've been bedridden for all the 4 weeks, as soon as I get up I am ready to vomit, so I avoid it as much as possible. Last week after vomiting more than 25 times in one day, I was hospitalised with 4+ ketones and was put on an IV drip and maxolon, which felt totally amazing! I felt so good that for 10 hours I just sat and didn't do anything other than enjoy the feeling of not being nauseous!

After I was discharged, I got the bad luck of riding in a taxi that made me extremely car sick, so by the time we got home I felt that all the good work from the hospital had been undone...

On some days I just feel I can't go on any longer. I am terrified that this may continue for the whole of my pregnancy, and I can't stop thinking about this possibility. I wish someone could turn me off temporarily until this nightmare is over. Worst of all, this pregnancy was so wanted after a CM and a long time of trying, but I got the nausea almost immediately after finding out I was pregnant and I'm in such a bad place mentally that I can't seem to enjoy it at all.

Please tell me - how do you cope when you think you can't go on any longer? And what do you do to pass the time? I feel nauseous from watching TV, reading books, using the computer, everything...

BreezyBreezy Welcome. Defintely ask for something else if if your medication is becoming less effective. Below is my normal spiel which I've copied for avajamesbee which I hope might help if this is the first pregnancy with which you've had Hyperemesis.

avajamesbee Welcome. Sorry to hear you are suffering badly. What meds did they send you home with, sorry, I may have missed something? Below is my normal spiel which mentions how most sufferers do get a lot better. You may well be going through the worst of it at just under 10 weeks. Would playing the radio or listening to audio books be any good? Here 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.
Ttc2017 A good anti acid should help a lot. I am not sure if you have to get Omprazole via prescription. Some are helped a lot by Gaviscon tablets, and the other ones you can get over the counter.
Waves to all.
Apologies for those rudely overlooked.

Please help me im 7 plus 3days pregnant and pretty sure I'm misscarrying / have just miscarried my baby I am so heartbroken I just had dark bright blood with like mucous lump in it when I wiped at toilet and now a tiny black bit of a clump. What do I do should i ring hospital in morning to try get a scan or do they just assume you miscarried without needing scan to confirm

@Ttc2017 do you have the number for your maternity assessment centre or a similar ward you can call and speak to them? or trying 111? I really hope its not bad news fingers crossed for you x