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.

abbs1 Thank you so much for all your great advice! Yours also has the advantage of being current - Mother Hen suffered years ago.
MrsNovember Poor you, suffering with Coronavirus as well as Hyperemesis. Much symapthy.
theconfused Poor you with a cold. I had to take paracetemol due to a series of awful migraines (not as if it helped much) and I was assured it was safe. This is the first I've heard that it is regarded as hazardous in pregnancy and it's been taken in pregnancy for so many decades (though obviously, nobody wants to take any drug too often or at all if they can avoid it), so I think the risk must be extremely low!
kalidasa Congratulations on reaching 8 weeks and keeping out of hospital.
thingymaboob Interesting. Wishing you all luck. The chances are on your side.
Waves to FateHasRedesignedMost thingymaboob Catconfusion and everyone.

I hope everyone is coping today.

Hi everyone, how are you?

I’ll be 7 weeks on Saturday so I’ve booked an early scan. Mainly to check it’s not ectopic (high risk due to endometriosis and recent surgery) but also because I’m a tiny bit hopeful it might be possible to see the heartbeat. I know it’s not always visible before 8 weeks but thought I’d try!

Question about early scans: I know they can do a 7-week scan transvaginally but do you have to have a full bladder? Not sure how I’d keep 2L of water down 😬

The sickness is ramping up, as expected. I’m managing morning school run (just) and DH is having to do the other. He keeps saying

‘you know you can’t continue like this when I start my new job’ (he’s working out his notice period, new job means we won’t need to worry about me working, but he’ll be busy commuting and not to be disturbed if wfh!)

What do you ladies do if you can’t manage school runs? Will a childminder pick up, walk/drive child to school and bring them home after school? Or does it have to be a private nanny?

I’m not sure how DH thinks I’m going to manage more housework either. I’m keeping on top of the laundry, basic cleaning and tidying, but that’s it. The thought of cooking makes me sick.

@FateHasRedesignedMost so tricky. Some childminders do school runs. What about asking another parent / friend from school to help you out for a few weeks?
Cooking is impossible when in the throws of HG. I don't know what to suggest. Ready meals and oven chips / fish fingers etc?
We got a cleaner in first trimester as hubby was doing everything plus working and I couldn't clean.

20 weeks now - scan tomorrow. Nervous about cleft palate due to amount of ondansetron I took in first trimester. I'm still vomiting daily. Eating well but low appetite. Just feel like my oesophagus is full of water and liquid and it's so uncomfortable. Still mainly taking ondansetron and cyclizine and omeprazole. I can't believe I've got another 20 weeks left! This has already been the longest pregnancy ever!

@FateHasRedesignedMost good luck with the scan. I had three internal scans at 6, 8 and 10 weeks. They always asked me to empty my bladder just before the scan. I think because it's internal the bladder is less in the way than with an abdominal one so you don't need to drink before. I'd say your chances are great of seeing a heartbeat if your dates are correct. We did at 6 weeks with our son and this pregnancy.

Sorry to hear it's so difficult to get everything dove at the moment. It's so debilitating feeling this way. Such bad timing with DH starting a new job but it's not your fault. I'd say anything frozen you can stick on a tray. I've discovered pasta meals in a bag from Iceland. You literally pour it in a bowl and microwave.

I'm sure it will give you a boost seeing baby on the scan. It makes it feel it's all for a good reason. Xx

@thingymaboob good luck for your scan tomorrow. Hoping the cleft is ok. I know the chances are quite good all ok with ondansetron but it's understandable you're concerned. I know what you mean about pregnancy seeming so long with hg. I'm 14 weeks and feel like I've been pregnant forever. Xx

So I had a good few days. I felt like a normal human being. I really thought it might be the end of the worst of it. Unfortunately it's back and even a bit worse. I'm vomiting less but the nausea and exhaustion feels more extreme.

Is anyone else worried about blood clots? I'm doing so much sitting around. Also I'm rapidly putting on weight now the vomiting has decreased. I'm wearing compression socks and I take aspirin to prevent preeclampsia. I just feel really unfit. I can't carry my son up the stairs for his nap anymore. To be fair he is getting heavy. I'm not sure how to improve fitness while feeling like this. If I didn't have a toddler I could sleep all day. My eyes constantly sting with tiredness even though I am getting blocks of sleep at night. It seems the more I do the worse I feel. I know it's my body growing a baby but I worry about how it's affecting my overall fitness and health. Xx

@FateHasRedesignedMost I had a scan at exactly 7 weeks in this pg and the last one. Both times they tried externally first and it was fine so didn't need to do vaginally (though I had one like that with DS1 a few days earlier). Clear heartbeat both times. You are supposed to have a full bladder for the external ones but both times at 7 weeks I couldn't drink loads of water without throwing up, so did what I could but def didn't have a really full bladder either time and it was still ok. If they need to do it internally then you'll empty your bladder anyway first. So in my experience external was fine at 7 weeks twice even with a not very full bladder. I believe how slim you are is actually a significant factor but they tend not to be explicit about this to avoid causing offence. In any case the radiographer will say if they think it's worth trying externally first.

For the school run are their other parents who go your way? When I was 5-7 ish my older sister was in hospital a lot and there was a kind of rota of other parents who dropped us younger ones home. I would never mind taking someone else home if it's not out of my way.

I'm 8+1 now and still at home! Really pleased with that and daring to dream I might even make it all the way through the first trimester without having to be hospitalised, though still a long way to go I know I must be fairly near the hormonal peak now. Am stuck in bed and throwing up 2-3 times a day but still under control, still eating and drinking. Unfortunately DH is ill too right now so have had to be up a bit more the last day or so but even with that I have been a bit more sick but not totally lost it. Find it hard to believe and really hope the baby is ok!

FateHasRedesignedMost Cheering you on. How long is it before OH's notice period runs out? With luck you may have improved by then.
thingymaboob The risk is tiny, but of course, it is natural to be very anxious about it.
kalidasa Good news that you are keeping out of hospital. Sorry to hear vomiting has started.
Great advice from Catconfusion kalidasa and everyone.
I hope those suffering from Covid and colds are feeling a bit better.

thingymaboob

Good luck with your 20 week scan today! ❤️

Thanks for your advice, I’d thought of asking my friend if she could pick up (our sons are best friends) and paying her the going rate as it’s a bit out of her way. She drives but parks halfway so we walk part way together. It would mean an extra 5 mins drive though and 2 hyperactive boys to manage instead of one. Also I’m not sure I want to declare my pregnancy yet. Once I’m a bit further along I might advertise in the class WhatsApp group for childminder recommendations/parents heading the same way. We’re about 10-15 mins walk from school and I rarely see other parents going the same way (unless they drive).

May have to get a cleaner if it gets worse. DH isn’t happy though, he thinks I should manage to ‘keep on top of things’. To be fair he’s doing all the vacuuming, dishwasher and mopping at the moment but he’s not happy about it!

Catconfusion

Thanks for your reassurance about the scan.

Sorry you’re feeling worse!
The fatigue is debilitating isn’t it. I keep waking for the day at 3am probably because I nap randomly during the day. I haven’t thought about blood clots but then I tend to get up and potter about a lot in between naps and school run and bits of housework. I think the metaclopramide is giving me restless legs!

kalidasa

Hope you’re managing ok and your DH gets better soon and can look after you. I find lying flat helps too.

Thanks for your reassurance about the scan. I’m underweight, will that help or go against me with viewing? I dread throwing up a litre of water in the waiting room 😳

FateHasRedesignedMost Cheering you on. How long is it before OH's notice period runs out? With luck you may have improved by then.

Thank you Lucinda ❤️
It’s about a month until his notice period runs out. Once he starts new job he’ll be flat out. Hopefully I may have improved in a month but I fear it may clash with the peak!

@FateHasRedesignedMost if you're very slim the scan should be easier, they might well be able to do it externally without a prob even if you haven't been able to drink loads. Good luck!

Thanks Kalidasa will update how scan goes on Saturday!

@FateHasRedesignedMost it's horrendous isn't it. I'm also up at 3am too usually. I'd say if you're doing lots of pottering your clot risk would be low. I worry because I've not been able to get up some days because I've felt too sick. I'm trying to do a bit more now to improve my fitness but it's so hard when feeling sick.

Is your scan at EPAU? My EPAU only do internal ones before 12 weeks. I did ask at my 10 week one but was told it's their policy so they can get the best view. They said my 16 week scan will be external. I hope it goes well. Xx

Does anyone find their sickness is worse at certain times of day/night?

Mine hits hardest around 2:30am (I get up, creep downstairs, vomit a few times and lie on the sofa until it eases and I can keep mint tea down). I rarely go back to sleep. By 6am when my son gets up the worst has passed and I’m ok to get him ready and for school run at 8. Around 2:30pm it gets bad again, vomiting and the sort of unrelenting nausea that makes you lie flat. It normally improves by 6-7pm though I’m so tired it’s like dragging myself through the evening routine.

Has anyone managed to change the pattern? Does it change naturally? I can’t remember what it did back in 2015, only that it started with late afternoon nausea and went on to 24/7 nausea and vomiting.

I’ve told DH to buy lots of frozen stuff. He suggested I ‘batch cook’ 😳😂🙄 then swiftly back tracked and added all the frozen stuff to the list plus Rowntrees fruit ice lollies that worked like magic in my first pregnancy. Especially when you get further along and can’t drink much liquid, ice lollies are the way!

Catconfusion

Poor you, the lying still part is awful. I was there last time (bit further on though probably around 8-10 weeks plus). Can you do ankle exercises in bed to keep the blood flow, like those circles and clenching calf muscles?

My scan’s at a midwife led private scanning centre. It was supposed to be with the surgeon who did my lap&dye but she’s on extended leave for family problems. In my first pregnancy I had scans at 5, 6, 8 weeks at the EPU as they were worried he was ectopic. Then the normal ones the midwife at GP surgery books (12 weeks, 20 weeks and a few in late pregnancy as his growth slowed down, they booked me for sweeps and induction though he arrived at 37 weeks!)

I’ve got my head in the sand and still haven’t told my NHS GP I’m pregnant. I keep getting put on hold so long I give up but must get through to make the booking in appointment and book the 12-week scan. I’ve had E-consults with Vitality GPs (for medications, advice, sick notes etc) as we have family coverage through DH’s work. I don’t think they contact my NHS practice though.

They said my 16 week scan will be external. I hope it goes well

Thank you. That brings back memories of my 12 week scan years ago, baby was curled in a ball so she couldn’t measure him. She told me to drink a couple of cans of coke and run up and down the stairs! As if 😳😬🥺 xx

Hiya. Had my 20 week scan, no cleft lip or palate thank god!

They couldn't get a good view of heart or spine so going back next week. Threw up in the street when I got home. Haven't done that in a while!

I've had a really bad day today, thrown up a lot and beginning to feel for the first time that I'm losing a grip on it despite the Xonvea. I'll see how tomorrow goes but reckon I might have to go into hosp in the next few days. Bit depressing but still pleased to have got this far.

kalidasa Oh dear, I am sorry to hear things have got bad after your heroic efforts to keep out of hospital.
Catconfusion Might it be a hormonal surge?
FateHasRedisghnedMost Mother Hen is fussing, but that is just restlessness, isn't it, and not twitchiness which some get on Metaclopramide?A temporary cleaner is a good idea - many sufferers have had one. Nobody would expect you to keep on top of things with another serious illness, after all. Fingers crossed then, that you are not at your worst when OH starts the new job.
thingymaboob I am so glad to hear all went well at your scan. Sorry to hear of Public Puking Espisode (I was good at those myself).
Apologies to anyone rudely ignored.
I hope everyone is coping. Real autumnal weather now. No need to worry about the heat!

thingymaboob great news about your scan!

Sorry about the throwing up in the street. I once thew up in IKEA in one of those little bedroom mock ups (staff were lovely about it as we were shopping for a cot and I had a bump by then).

It’s the throwing up before you’re showing that’s so embarrassing, people look at you like you’re contagious or drunk!

It happened to me at the train station, just before I found out about this pregnancy. I felt sick as we pulled up to the platform, thought I was travel sick then threw up in every bin the length of the platform (those open top plastic bag bins they have every 10m) staggered through the car park, found our car and got in then had to open the car door and throw up again 😳 DH was so used to it from my last HG pregnancy he just handed me a sick bag and tissues and said ‘oh this is a good sign!’

On a practical note have you tried those sick bags with gel granules in? Very handy for public as they turn it into a gel on contact so can dispose of it easily.

I've had a really bad day today, thrown up a lot and beginning to feel for the first time that I'm losing a grip on it despite the Xonvea. I'll see how tomorrow goes but reckon I might have to go into hosp in the next few days. Bit depressing but still pleased to have got this far.

How are you feeling today? Hope the peak passes soon and you can avoid admission.

Mother Hen is fussing, but that is just restlessness, isn't it, and not twitchiness which some get on Metaclopramide?A temporary cleaner is a good idea - many sufferers have had one. Nobody would expect you to keep on top of things with another serious illness, after all. Fingers crossed then, that you are not at your worst when OH starts the new job

You’re right, I should keep an eye on that in case it’s a side effect. I took metaclopramide in my last pregnancy and for 6 months after and had no issues but I’m naturally quite restless. Every time the sickness eases I want to get something done like sorting the laundry!