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
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, everyone! Sorry I left it so late - a scan jammed on the pc.

Thanks for the new thread @LucindaE

I thought the new meds were working. I had a much better day yesterday and I slept without being sick last night. I’m now bringing up pure acid from my tummy and feel extremely constipated. I’ve had some lactulose but might need to speak to the doctor about an antacid. This is just horrible. It finally broke me and made me cry this morning.

@Catconfusion oh it sounds like your having a tough time I’m sorry to hear that, I definitely cry most days because of the way I’m feeling 🙈 I’m soo sick of this now :( xx

@Ttcbn2 it’s so horrible isn’t it. Im sorry you’ve been crying a lot too. I really wanted to take my toddler out today. He’s missed so much due to Covid but I’m not up to it. We have two weddings coming up as well which I’ll probably not be able to go to. It feels like things are starting to happen again and I’m too ill to do them. I had my ds during the first lock down so it’s been a long time coming. Sorry for the rant just feeling a bit rubbish today.

Thanks for starting the new thread @LucindaE
Just from those who posted on the last thread about people not understanding about how severe hg is. Until you have been through it yourself or youve seen first hand someone going through it, sadly I dont think people fully know how horrendous it is. I had to cancel so many things when i was going through it and people were like it can be that bad. Its just morning sickness. I was like no its not. Try being bed bound by 24/7 nausea and vomiting every few minutes, no food stays down and your body is so weak you can hardly walk and any smell triggers instant vomiting. You can't work and all you want to do is to try to sleep to make it all go away. Daily visits to hospital for medication and fluids just to keep you and baby alive. Its like a nightmare thar just wont go away thats goes on for months. It is not morning sickness.
Sending hugs to everyone suffering so badly at the moment. We are here to support you and we understand what you are going through. Any woman going through hg is stronger than they know. It was the toughest battle of my life so don't be hard on yourself. ❤

Thank you so much for this @abbs1 I think you’re right, not many people have experienced this first hand or can imagine how awful it is. Especially if their experience was milder and they were still able to function.

I really appreciate the support. Today is a tough day. I was sick literally because I walked into the kitchen. I’ve not got dressed for a week apart from for my scan and I’ve either been on the sofa or bed. Im barely able to care for my toddler and feel like the worst mother ever.

It takes so much strength to get through the day in this state but I’m determined to support and protect this much wanted pregnancy. Xx

@Catconfusion Im so sorry you are struggling so much today and trying to be a good mum to your toddler. I have a toddler myself and can imagine how you are feeling. Try to remember that your little one most likely won't remember how sick mummy was. I'm not suffering nearly as badly as last time and on good medication but on bad days I tell my little boy I'm so sorry mummy is poorly but I love you so much and it won't be forever I promise. But it is super hard. Sending hugs 🤗

Hiya all. Sorry to all those suffering badly. I have a 3 year old and barely saw her between weeks 6 and 12. She's had an ear infection this week and I was just on auto pilot picking her up from nursery then off to Dr when her temp was 39 and managed pretty well so I'm definitely having better days (14 weeks tomorrow) but still not 100%. We bought her the HG hero book from PSS but I think it's a bit advanced for her. She knows I'm ill and has now got use to Daddy doing everything for / with her. She won't let me put her to bed now, which is quite upsetting. She's always calling out for Daddy and not me. I hope it doesn't last forever!!

Finally jumping on this thread. I was on it, though sparingly, in my last pregnancy with HG.
I'm 8+5 with pregnancy number 3 which has turned into another one. Currently on prochlorperazine which had some effect in the first weeks of use but now isn't touching the sides. I managed on eating frequently throughout the day to try limit the vomiting but now I'm vomiting food and fluids and have major smell aversions.
I'll need to phone the GP on Monday but I don't know how I'll get through the weekend :(

Thanks for the support in advance everyone!

And yes can emphasise with the guilty feelings of not being able to care for your kids. I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old who have watched far too much TV the past few weeks.

My eldest has only recently came to the understanding of my mum dying before he was born, and knows it was because she was very very sick (she has a brain tumour). Now he sees me very very sick and and has asked on a couple of occasions if I'm going to die! Obviously I reassure him but it's a lot to understand and take in for their age.

Apologies again, everyone, that we nearly ended up threadless. I ws fretting about the posts left last night in bed while those updates were stuck overnight.

Nannypear Welcome back. Sorry you are suffering again. Can they give you another med, or add one? Do you find an anti acid helps?
abbs1 has been greatly helped by the new drug Xonvea this time, specially designed for pregnancy sickness. On your LO's worries, I can see how this comes about. People use 'sick' for N and V and for being very ill interchangably, and it's hard for a small child to know the difference. I am sure you have told him that Nanny had a different illness to yours, which won't last that long etc but it must be very worrying for them.
abbs1 I don't know why people are so judgemental and ill informed about the difference between normal sickness and Hyperemesis (particularly the severe end of the spectrum) but I have had it too with headaches and migraines. People solenly suggest taking pain killers, changing diet, etc, so sadly I think people don't like to be faced with suffering that doesn't have an easy solution, and that plays a part. My daughter went through a stage like that at three, so maybe it is partly age as well as your being ill?

Sorry that Catconfusion and Ttcbn2 have been crying. It is a good thing, though, not to bottle up sad feelings. I think it is why most women are more resilient than most men in some ways.
Apologies to anyone rudely ignored.

thingymaboob Sorry, I addressed that message about DD to abbs1!

I'm doing well today. ..

@NannyPear that’s the medication I’m on. It gave me a bit of relief on the first day but I’m back to vomiting as much as I was before. Also just feeling rotten 24/7. Do you know what you’ll ask for tomorrow? I definitely think I need an antacid as well as I’m being up acidic liquid. I’m trying not to go on the stronger medications. I know the risks are tiny but I’m 42 so figure we have a higher risk of there being issues anyway so don’t want to increase that further Xx

Thanks everyone for the support yesterday. It really helps to hear other people have been through something similar and struggled with their other dc. It’s so hard to deal with. Anyway, really grateful for this thread. Xx

Catconfusion Everyone on here is very helpful. From what I have seen on these threads, your LO won't even remember this time of comparative neglect. A sibling is a priceless gift. An anti acid sounds like an excellent idea.

I’m waiting for a call back from my GP as the Prochlorperazine is not stopping the vomiting. I’m maybe marginally better. A big problem seems to be my digestive system has slowed right down. I’m wondering if there’s a drug that could help with this that’s mild. I’m not sure I want to go onto Ondansetron or stronger drugs. I know they’re generally safe but the slight increased risk of cleft palate/heart defect worries me. I’m an older mum so know my risk of birth defects generally is higher. I would just get cyclizine again but I found I was still being sick on that when I was pregnant with ds. Not really sure what to ask for. Xx

@Catconfusion

I’m waiting for a call back from my GP as the Prochlorperazine is not stopping the vomiting. I’m maybe marginally better. A big problem seems to be my digestive system has slowed right down. I’m wondering if there’s a drug that could help with this that’s mild. I’m not sure I want to go onto Ondansetron or stronger drugs. I know they’re generally safe but the slight increased risk of cleft palate/heart defect worries me. I’m an older mum so know my risk of birth defects generally is higher. I would just get cyclizine again but I found I was still being sick on that when I was pregnant with ds. Not really sure what to ask for. Xx

Can you ask for Xonvea? Thats apparently on the same level as prochlorperazine and its meant to work as an anti reflux type thing to stop vomiting and nausea and is what im on. Im just over 10 weeks now and the last 3 days have felt awful so I'm gonna see if i can get some metoclopromide which worked well for me last time which is same level as ondansatron. Im trying to avoid ondansatron this time even though iv and tablets worked for me last time to a certain extent, it made me so constipated but I know a lot of women take it. My final medication was steroids to stop the vomitting but I know they only use that if IV and tablet ondansatron isnt working effectively.

Thanks @abbs1 I will ask about it. I’ve seen it mentioned on here before. Another one I thought looked good is Maxolon. It works by speeding digestion up so the food passes through quicker.

Good luck with the phone call. I hope the new drug combination works. Xx

Hiya @Catconfusion Maxolon is the brand name for metoclopramide.
Sounds like you need more drugs. I'm so sorry you're still vomiting. I understand your worries about ondansetron, I was the same in my last pregnancy but this time I simply had to take it, as I was hospitalised at 7 weeks and I never wanted to go through that terrible dehydration again. You have to weigh up risk / benefit.

@abbs1 big hugs to you. 10 weeks is a killer! Hope you get some metoclopramide.

I'm 14 weeks now and for last week I have been feeling good between 7am and 4pm. Have been getting out more and eating different things other than toast / oven chips etc. It's been really liberating. However, still rough from 4pm and vomit in evenings. I'm supposed to be going back to work on 24th so I'm concentrating on taking just ondansetron in the day and having cyclizine in evening to see if I can manage. My job involves wearing masks all day (NHS) so bit worried about the way they might make me feel sick.

Hi girls.
Hope you don't mind if I jump on for a moan but I'm really suffering. I am 16wks with #3. I have DD nearly 4 and DS 2. This is my 2nd HG experience. Had it in last pg too. This time is by far the worst. I am sick all day every day. I feel like I am about to faint at the slightest exertion. I have spoken to midwife, been in hospital and gp. I don't feel like O am getting enough support. I am so bad I literally feel incapable of caring for the kiddies. DH is so helpful but he has epilepsy and works long hours so there is only so much I can ask. The guilt is consuming me. Im sofa bound and using far too much tv and losing my patience far too often. I am basically chucking them to bed at bedtime and not doing proper story time etc and just feeling like the worst mum ever. I also have GD which makes things 100 times worse as Im combating that and can't rely on carbs to keep me upright. My mental health is shocking and i just feel like im at an all time low 😞 sorry for the long one gals xx

@Rowboatsmummy sounds awful. Poor you. I understand the chucking kids in bed thing. Are you taking any drugs?

@thingymaboob it does feel awful I won't lie lol. I've taken 2 different anti sickness and they did nada. I do have reservations as I have to take insulin and sertraline aswell and I just feel a bit like I don't want to keep adding to a list but If it works I would take it!!

@Rowboatsmummy I sparingly took anti sickness in my first pregnancy and felt awful, didn't think they really worked. This pregnancy, I have taken all three of my drugs everyday in a regimented routine, even if I felt ok. It took a few days but that made a huge difference. I've found that the trick with the drugs is to take the max dose everyday, all day as I never found the occasional odd one did much. There are also lots of other drug combinations you can try apart from the two you had. I recommend calling pregnancy sickness support charity for some advice about drugs. Unfortunately it's a case of pestering GP!

@thingymaboob thank you, so glad you’re starting to feel a bit better, albeit during the day. I can totally see how the thought of wearing a mask would not be appealing with feeling sick. I hope you continue to improve until you’re vaccinated at work. Xx