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.

@Melleebacca

I really hope work goes ok for you and the lockdown happens at the right time. That must be stressful needing to work a set number of weeks leading up to mat leave.

Are they doing booster jabs in NZ?

I keep being invited for one (NHS but I’m off sick so it doesn’t seem necessary yet) though the midwife who did my early scan said something about pregnant women being prioritised for booster jabs too.

Has anyone else been told to get a booster jab?

Hi everyone as Lucinda said I'll be checking in over the next few days. It's great to see you giving each other so much support too.
@Melleebacca sorry to hear of the genetic worries you have and with HG on top of that making you feel awful and worrying about maternity pay too it’s like a perfect storm. I also worried about working enough to be able to qualify for maternity pay as I had to be off earlier in this pregnancy and I was off for 10 weeks. Then with covid too my earning potential was down and being self-employed it ends up being worked out as an average of you earnings. I hope things go ok on Monday at work but just take it as it comes you're still very early days. As for sleep I would say try to rest and get it where you can. That is a shame about b6 not being tolerable to you. I took it this time and ginger tablets but they have to be quite a high strength. I can look it up for you if you like? It is listed on the pregnancy sickness support website.
@FateHasRedesignedMost sleeping arrangements are so tricky aren’t they. In my first pregnancy I worried about keeping my husband up so then I would end up staying in the living room for longer and falling asleep on the recliner sofa. I’d then go to bed in the early hours. We now have separate rooms anyway as after our first came I stayed with her and he went into the spare room as he was getting woken too much. Hope your husband gets chance to recharge this weekend so he doesn’t feel rough too and can look after you.
I could also get a booster jab as a healthcare professional but I had my last one at 30 weeks pregnant so there hasn’t been enough of a time lapse yet. I can sign post a talk from a charity pregnant then screwed which is really informative and not emotive so helped me to make my mind up, that is if you are worried about the vaccine in pregnancy. It has a variety of professionals from RCOG and vaccine scientists amongst others.
Hope you all managed some good quality rest last night and hoping for a better day for those in the throes of suffering still.
For those of you interested in more of the theory behind HG there is a great book hyperemesis gravidarum the definitive guide by Caitlin Dean and Amanda Shortam which has lots of info about latest research and possible theories (there are a lot!). There is also a book called HG hero for littles which really helped my 2 year old to understand what was going on a bit more and to support her.
I'll try to check in later today. If anyone wants me tag me in a post.

@FateHasRedesignedMost that’s exactly what mine all said before. Even a few of the drs said they don’t know why but it’s always not pregnancies that land women in hospital 🙈 .
Well I’m thanking my lucky stars for just now that I’m ok but aware it could strike any day so trying not to panic!

@FateHasRedesignedMost I mentioned last night that it might be time for me to move into the spare room. Because I keep being woken by hubby moving in his sleep. Well that, and anxiety. I was awake 12-1 last night freaking out about everything. Then I took a 4th cyclizine to make me drowsy enough to sleep. It didn’t help that I completely emptied my stomach at 6pm, so it was grumbling too.
I also got a doctors note to work reduced hours next week. Only 2hours a day.

Also, in regards to booster jabs, my degree is in biochemistry and I’ve previously worked in a immunology lab in Canada (seriously so over qualified for my current role). From what I’ve read it’s best to have them at least 6m after your last one, I think in time they will become an annual booster like the flu jab (also read they want to change the flu jab to be an mRNA one as well, so it really is the way the science is going). Due to being mostly covid free in NZ in the last 18m, I was only entitled to my first vaccine in September, and I had my second 2wks ago. Just a sore arm and extra fatigue despite being pregnant.

@BuffyFanForever I hadn’t heard of that. My mum assumed my first pregnancy was a boy because I was so sick. I was actually less sick with the son that we lost (like vomiting started @ 7w instead of 6w, but I attributed that to being good with my meds). I know my HG is caused by my body being “allergic” to pregnancy hormones. I felt the same way when I tried to go on the pill when I was younger.

RockinRobinn

Thanks, those books look brilliant! I’ve ordered the HG Heroes one for my 6-year-old. He doesn’t seem to be effected but he wakes at 4am every morning and keeps switching the bathroom light off when I’m in there throwing up so maybe it is worrying him. He knows ‘lots of pregnant mummies throw up a lot’ as 2 of our friends went through bad morning sickness (not HG but we couldn’t see them for the first 14 weeks) and their kids told him about their mums being sick because of the baby growing, so he sort of thinks it’s normal. I’m more worried I’ll be sick the whole way through like last time, and he’ll wonder why.
I love it that the book has helpful tips for kids like ‘get yourself dressed’ 😂

Yes very interested in the link to the vaccine debate if you have it. I’ve had both jabs but not sure about having a booster if they offer it (I won’t use my NHS card as I’m off sick so not patient facing but there’s talk of it being offered to pregnant women). I had covid last XMas and it was horrendous, especially the long covid that followed. Oddly the long covid symptoms only went away completely when I got pregnant! With the vaccine booster I’m mostly worried about temperature spikes as I had a high temp following both jabs.

BuffyFanForever

It’s such a worry not knowing when it will strike isn’t it.
I was a bit like that at first, the vague transient nausea is somehow worse than when you throw up. Hopefully you won’t feel too ill. Do you have meds stashed in case it starts? One thing that helped me a lot this time was getting ondansetron before it peaked. I’m now stressing as I forgot to order the ondansetron repeat in time, so I have 3 tablets left to get through to Monday 🤦🏻‍♀️ They’re 4mg too. Tempted to phone private GP as they send the prescription to pharmacy the same day, but it’s expensive as pregnancy isn’t covered under our plan. And I’m not sure I can realistically get to the pharmacy with DH away!

Melleebacca

Thanks, that’s very reassuring about the covid jab. I think I had my second jab around June so would be due a booster this winter. I’m mostly worried about my temp spiking after the jab (it did after the last 2) in case a high temp affects the pregnancy. Maybe paracetamol beforehand would prevent that?

Sorry you’re having bad nights too. Separate rooms sounds a good way forward. Last time I used the excuse of my giant pregnancy pillow taking up most of the bed!

I’m glad people have heard rumours of the boosters being offered to pregnant women. I had my second in July and was getting a bit concerned that I’d hit six months in the third trimester. I coped well with both jabs, so I’m more scared of COVID than side effects - everyone will have a different experience won’t they.

Thankfully, my dentist looked at my tooth and decided to leave it there until the baby is born. I was so relieved. I wonder if me telling her how scared I was of being sick on her impacted it. My gum is still sore but she thinks irritated rather than an infection, so salt water washes and good cleaning and I can put up with the discomfort for sure!

@Pleasedontworry I hope the pain in the tooth has gone.

@FateHasRedesignedMost hubby moved the spare room upstairs last night, so he can hear the girls if they have any nightmares and I can stay in the bed that I’m used to. It was a very sweet thing to do. My 5yr old burst into tears though. She was handling everything so well but this was a change too much. Poor thing. I can’t wait to be in the clear and tell her what is going on. She loves babies. I did manage to have a less interrupted sleep last night, so hopefully that continues.

Has anyone had much success getting a prescription for Xonvea? My friends in Canada are all prescribed it but here they've never heard of it!

I've been prescribed cyclizine and prochlorperazine and neither have done much. Anybody have any other ideas? I feel like you need to guide the GPs... I will call again on Monday but its frustrating being this ill. I haven't been able to leave the house in 5 weeks (bar going to a midwife appointment).

My vomiting is so bad that I pee on the floor every time I vomit... I've now bought puppy training pads which work. I just fold them up after I've peed so I don't have to clean up the floor every time. But my jaw is SO sore. I feel like I've dislocated it... anyone else have either of those? Ughhhhhh

Hi all,
So sorry for being quiet on here. I hope everyone is coping ok. My little boy has been poorly and now my husband and I are too.

Question to those mummies who have been through hg before like me, have you noticed any impact of poor nutrition in pregnancy impacting your childs growth and health? The reason I ask is my little boys head bless him was quite mishapen the first few months of his life even with helping him not lay in the same position. Its a lot better than it was and his dr said they wouldn't do anything about it. I was wondering if maybe his skull was extra soft due to lack of vitamins and calcium in pregnancy. Also ive noticed he is very slow with teeth coming in. At the bottom front his two front ones came in at 9-10 months but the one to the right of the middle only just came through now at 18 months and the other hasnt come in. His top 4 at the front came in at 12-13 months and his 4 mollars have come in over the last 2 months.
Hes allergic to milk and took ages to get on the right milk now he refuses to drink and trying to get calcium supplements is like trying to get blood out of stone. Ive been trying since August and the ones for his age group no pharmacy can get. Now waiting on dietician apt in nov to get hospital prescription as no one can see him sooner.
Hes also small for his age. Hes 19 months but in 9-12 month clothes. Hes was 5lbs 8oz at birth but I feel his growth is very slow.

Hes a very active happy little boy and eats loads. Just wondering if my little girl due early March could have same issues?

@BBonboard im so sorry youre suffering so badly. I definitely suffered the weeing and vomitting at the same time. Sending hugs.
With this pregnancy (2nd) I did get xonvea prescribed. A lot depends on which area you live in and what NHS trust you are under etc. I live in West Essex. Whereabouts are you? Xonvea was only licensed in the UK in 2018 so many GPs havent heard of it.

@abbs1 thanks for the message. The weeing and vomiting is awful, but not as bad as the actual vomiting.

I live in Watford and have spoken to 2 different GPs at my clinic and a midwife and none of them have heard of it. Getting pretty desperate. Good to hear someone has been prescribed it. I'm going to mention that to the GP when I call on Monday (again).

@abbs1 both my boys have been fine physically despite my v severe HG and protracted starvation. I think the body does prioritise the baby in quite an amazing way. DS1 is not very tall, but both DH and I are very average. DS2 is actually really tall for his age and quite "built"! Not like me at all. I was on loads of steroids with him though!! We did have some concerns about DS1 when he was younger re whether or not he was neurotypical I suppose, he had some mildly autistic traits, but he has matured a lot in the last couple of years (he's nearly 9 now) and we are not concerned atm. In any case, I'm pretty sure one of my sisters and several other family members are on the spectrum so not necessarily anything to do with pregnancy.

@BBonBoard I totally share your pain with the vomiting and bladder control. I find if I have time to get in a position on the floor in front of the loo so I'm sitting back in my heel that sometimes prevents it. But I don't have much warning at the moment so sometimes there's not time! I am also quite old (41) and have had two babies already which probably doesn't help. I'm in France now though and apparently all women get post-natal pelvic floor physio for free! So will def be trying that this time if this pregnancy works out.

@bbonboard oh im so sorry. My GP had never heard of it either but looked it up agreed to give it as I suffered so badly last time.
If they say no ask for ondansatron or see if you can go to EPU. Thats what i had to do first pregnancy to get the medication i needed as 3 GPs all said no to any medication.

@kalidasa oh im glad their both ok. My little boy is not chubby at all. Very petite in size. I was on steroids with him from 12-20 weeks and then had pre eclampsia as well.
He does get weighed regularly by HV team and is under GP and allergy nurse as well but its all been phone calls. He hasnt been seen in person for over a year apart from his 1yr jabs.

Ive got a dentist appointment next week so may mention the teeth to her and see what she thinks.

Brilliant, thank you so much @abbs1. I'm going to try asking for ondansetron and if not then will ask to be referred to EPU. Thank you!! Sorry I can't feed in much with your query re: your little boy. This is my first pregnancy so I'm a total newbie!!

It's nice to have support on here.

Hi @BBonBoard I pee every time I vomit too. I put a towel on the floor and then put it in wash after a few episodes (which was after a couple of hours). We went through so many towels a day! Also, my jaw was in agony in first trimester. That pain has gone now as only vomiting for 1-2 hours in late evening.

@abbs1 I think it's natural to worry about whether your illness affected your boys growth, particularly as you were so bad. I think it's really hard to know what has caused what. From research I've read from the HER foundation (?) in California, foetal outcomes are always worse in the groups where the women had no treatment and poorly controlled HG. Your account of your first experience with HG sounds very very bad and I think you just have to think about what the alternative would have been if you hadn't have had treatment. You both would've been worse off. Also, it doesn't sound like this pregnancy has been anywhere near as bad as the first as xonvea has had a good effect and better control,

@BBonBoard

Brilliant, thank you so much *@abbs1*. I'm going to try asking for ondansetron and if not then will ask to be referred to EPU. Thank you!! Sorry I can't feed in much with your query re: your little boy. This is my first pregnancy so I'm a total newbie!!

It's nice to have support on here.

If the GP says no to ondansatron and EPU I would seriously just go there anyways. If they turn you away, try a and e first thing of a morning when its quieter. I did that on weekends in my first pregnancy and got seen within like 15mins of being there got medicationand fluids. I went in for 7am as shift change is 8am at my hospital. I went to EPU on a daily basis during the week for months for iv fluids and medication. I did it as GPs in my first pregnancy literally didnt care and told me to go home eat chocolate, go round a friends house to take my mind off it and drink smoothies. Wasnt at all helpful when i couldn't even hold a sip of water down for 5mins! We are all here to support you as best we can. This group was a life saver in my first pregnancy and ive been extremely lucky to escape the worst of hg this time round. Feel free to rant ask as many questions etc as you need to.

Thank you @abbs1 so helpful!!! Really appreciate it!

@thingymaboob try getting puppy pads on amazon. They are a life saver.... prob not that environmentally friendly but when you're as sick as us I think we get a hospital pass on that front.... I just put lay one in front of the toilet and then after I'm done I fold it up and throw it in the garbage and lay the next one down for the next time so it's all ready for when it happens.

@thingymaboob I completely agree. I would have died without treatment literally and lost my little boy as well. Its a miracle hes here and I'm ok all thanks to the drs and midwives at my hospital. I wish the treatment I had once I got was as good for everyone.

I just wondered if others had experienced anything like it. My GP did ask me when I called chasing my DS calcium if I was deficient in pregnancy and I said yes and he was quite concerned then due to my little boys allergy so I know hes trying hard to help sort it.
He asked me if Im ok this time and I said yes ive been able to eat yogurt and a bit of cheese so he said thats good.

@BBinboard let me know how it goes on Monday. Do you mind saying how many weeks you are? Sorry if youve already said and I've missed it.

No not at all! I was 10 weeks yesterday @abbs1

@BBonBoard

No not at all! I was 10 weeks yesterday *@abbs1*

Oh bless you. 10 weeks is definitely the worst for many hg sufferers. Hang in there. I hope some stronger medication helps once you can get it. Sometimes women need a combination as you may have read but sounds like you need iv fluids and iv medication to get the vomitting under control and then hopefully you can tolerate the tablets. Just a tip if you do get ondansatron make sure to ask for lactulose as it makes you constipated. Also the ondansatron tablets comes in 4 and 8mg so if one doesnt work the higher dose may do. I needed the IV ondansatron until i got put on steroids from 12-20 weeks and after that 8mg worked until 30 weeks and 4mg up until i gave birth. A lot of women notice an improvement at 18-20 weeks. I know it sounds ages away but I hope youre through the worst of it sooner.