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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Hyperemesis Support

989 replies

LucindaE · 14/08/2021 09:39

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.

Hyperemesis Support
Hyperemesis Support
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HopefulJ2018 · 04/11/2021 19:35

@PeeAche good to have you here from the June 22 thread.

Thankfully I’ve had a better day, yesterday was hell. So ill, managed my midwife appointment she’s so lovely, I fainted when I had my bloods done as I was so dehydrated and was in ketones. Promised her I’d drink lots and luckily they’ve gone back down to normal now I’m back on the regular cyclizine.

This pregnancy lark is a bloody rollercoaster lol x

FateHasRedesignedMost · 05/11/2021 07:53

@PeeAche
Welcome and hope you start feeling better soon.
Yorkshire puddings, I should try that. Currently on dry bagels a lot. And Pringles for the salt. When I feel faint I tend to feel better if I can keep down something salty.

I get cold a lot too, to the point of shivering at night (and waking up in a cold sweat with nightmares) then sometimes I get overly cold or hot during the day. I think it can be down to hormone fluctuations as well as dehydration? When I struggle with keeping water down I resort to ice or ice lollies though it doesn’t help the shivery feeling!

FateHasRedesignedMost · 05/11/2021 07:57

@HopefulJ2018

Fainting is awful isn’t it. The thing with HG is being nauseous so often I find I can miss it as an early warning sign of feeling faint. It’s not until my vision starts blacking out I realise I’m about to pass out. At least it’s cold out, I find the school run more tolerable in the cold and I don’t look odd pacing in front of the school gates!

Hope you get your ketones down.

FateHasRedesignedMost · 05/11/2021 08:03

Do you ladies find cyclizine helps you sleep through? I tried it in my first pregnancy (by which time HG was too advanced for it to help) so this time I went straight to metaclopramide and ondansetron. I’m wondering if I should ask my GP to add cyclizine too?

I’m so sleep deprived I’m in a daze half the time. Almost hourly wake ups due to nausea or heartburn (or cramps from the metaclopramide!) Or needing to wee, or just nightmares or waking up cold. So tired but can’t stay asleep or get much deep sleep. Then I’m awake for the day by around 3am. I’ve got a pregnancy pillow, separate room, sleep propped up, take omeprazole, but nothing seems to help?

Hello47 · 05/11/2021 12:41

Hi guys. Sorry I haven’t posted since my first post, I’ve officially been diagnosed with HG after a rough week. Turns out we’re expecting twins. I’m feeling totally overwhelmed and honestly terrified. I’m constantly feeling sick, the cyclizine was helping with the actual vomiting but has stopped so they’ve switched me to stemitil, really hoping it works.

I prefer being cold! Also living off cold Robison juice and salty snacks.

Sorry for not posting much but I am reading your messages (mostly from the toilet floor) and so very thankful for everyone’s advice and general chat. It’s nice not to feel alone xxx

kalidasa · 05/11/2021 16:54

@Hello47 congratulations on your twins! I'm actually always surprised there aren't more twins on these threads. My recollection is that several of the women expecting twins who have been on them have had bad HG in the first trimester but found it cleared up pretty completely after that, hopefully you'll be in that category too! The docs have thought I was expecting twins with all three of my pregnancies because of my extreme sickness and very high HG but they have all been singletons. Have to say I was slightly hoping for two this time round as this is definitely our last baby.

@FateHasRedesignedMost in my previous pregnancies I definitely thought that cyclizine helped knock me out. In this less severe HG pregnancy I have found the anti-histamines much less sedating than before -- I don't know if that's just because I was less weak or whether a lot of the sedative effect was actually extreme HG itself. I have definitely slept a lot less this time round, though I mostly haven't had problems at night. It would be worth a try though if only for the sedative effect.

I got my CVS results yesterday and thankfully all is fine, we'll get a full set of results next week but they have confirmed that the number of chromosomes is normal, which is the main thing. A big relief! My sickness has also improved again after a relapse at the end of last week, I can really eat now at last, and I am feeling optimistic that I am over the worst. I've managed to put 1-2kg back on over the last week which is great as my weight had got pretty low. I'm about 14 weeks now so I feel very lucky -- with DS2 I was still in hospital at this point!

Courage to everyone still in the worst bit.

Melleebacca · 05/11/2021 17:05

@PeeAche Welcome. I am very sensitive to temperature at the moment. I go from shivering to sweating very quickly. With previous pregnancies, I have found warm baths to help. It might be due to poor circulation? I find the dehydration makes my heart rate fluctuate more. Like walking to the bathroom makes it race like I’m running a marathon.

@Hello47 you’re welcome to just read, you might pick up tips along the way. I find I can only reply in the mornings, because the afternoons I’m too sick and just can’t read anything. I hope the new meds help. I’m on cyclizine and ondansetron.

@FateHasRedesignedMost I find the cyclizine makes me drowsy all day, and I’m hopeful it’s helping me sleep. Im also doing a really good job of not going to sleep on an empty stomach, so that might be helping too. I throw up dinner, then stuff some more carbs in and lie still until I go to sleep. It’s not helping that the days are getting warmer and longer tho.

Also, to those who are craving salt, I have some ice blocks called Hydralyte, not sure if you have them in the uk, but they’re frozen electrolyte solutions. Might be of some help?
Im pretty sure they’re the only thing keeping me out of hospital.

Melleebacca · 05/11/2021 17:12

@kalidasa cross posted. So pleased you’ve got clear cvs results. I’ve been thinking of you all week! And you’re gaining weight, that’s fantastic news! I’ve done really well to only lose 3kgs so far, but I’ve got around 6 weeks to go until I completely bottom out weight loss wise.
I was in the same boat twin wise, as my two DD are close in age, and would’ve been nice if this one had a Buddy too, and HG is really not fun.

Derbee · 05/11/2021 19:13

@kalidasa so pleased you got good results!

I’ve had a horrific couple of days. I’ve got sciatica and the violent vomiting is excruciatingly painful. We had our 20 week scan today which has made it all seem worth it. Baby looked perfect, and although slightly uncooperative, they managed to measure everything they needed to. It spent a lot of the scan in a funny yoga pose with its legs completely over its head. Very cute.

Hope everyone is alright.

LucindaE · 05/11/2021 19:53

PeaAche Welcome. I am sorry about your two losses, followed by Hyperemesis. There is lots of support on here. I'll add that small, salty Yorkshire Puddings tip. I am glad that Cyzline is helping at least part of the time. If things get worse, don't hesitate to ask for something stronger.Here is my normal spiel, in case you haven't seen it on the thread. Most sufferers find that they improve a lot at some point between weeks 14 and 20, or sometimes later. 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. Also, pink lemonade , cloudy lemonade and Sprite. Foods of a sort include tinned fruit, cuppa soup, nibbles of crisps and chips, cheap ice cream, Scotch pancakes, bagels and biscuits, potato smileys, minature salty Yorkshire Puddings and slices of melon and mango. Protein drinks have also been mentioned.
kalidasa That is happy news. Smile Star Great that you are putting some weight back on, too.
Hello47 Congratulations on twins.Exciting news when you recover from the shock of it. I think that some doctor's surgeries can offer help to mothers of twins in training nursery nurses. It might be worth enquiring. Also, as kalidasa says, those expecting twins often recover from Hyperemesis earlier than those expecting singletons, I suppose because if it was a singleton pregnancy, they would never have got such severe symptoms. Don't worry about not posting regularly. Many can't bear to look at screens.
Melleebacca That's a good tip about those Hydralite ice cubes with salts. I wonder if they are available over here?
Derbee Sorry about sciatica. It might take some time to get a physio appointment, but might it be possible to see an Osteopath or a Chiropractor? While expensive, they can usually do away with sciatica in one or two treatments; it is amazing.
HopefulJ2018 That sounds bad. I am glad you have got the ketones down again.
FateHasRedesignedMost Might the coldness be down to low blood pressure? Most unpleasant when having to suck on ice lollies, anyway.
I hope everyone is coping...

OP posts:
Derbee · 05/11/2021 20:00

@LucindaE thanks. I’m booked in with an osteopath on Monday. Hoping they can help

AnyaC84 · 05/11/2021 22:26

@Melleebacca i absolutely overdid when I was feeling better. The past couple of days were rough. Just resting lots and trying to get strong again.

AnyaC84 · 05/11/2021 22:29

@Hello47 congratulations on twins! I agree, I'm surprised there are not more twins in here. I hear those pregnancies can be really rough.

AnyaC84 · 05/11/2021 22:29

@kalidasa that's wonderful news! I am so happy for you! You must be relieved :)

PeeAche · 06/11/2021 08:14

Thank you @LucindaE that was very helpful.

Can anyone offer me any advice on teeth brushing? It's more important than ever that I keep them clean, with all the vomiting, but I'm struggling not to be triggered by it every time. My tooth brush times me and I think I'm managing about 60 seconds, followed by about 10 minutes of really intense dry heaving. (Dry heaving because my stomach is mostly empty.)

HopefulJ2018 · 06/11/2021 10:41

@PeeAche I’m really struggling with brushing my teeth too, it sets me off everytime. Sad

Derbee · 06/11/2021 12:25

@PeeAche I find I can only use a kids toothbrush, as the size is much more manageable. I’ve also changed to coconut toothpaste, as the taste or smell of toothpaste was making me so sick. Basically tiny brush and odour free/different odour has worked for me.

kalidasa · 06/11/2021 16:18

@PeeAche I've had to give up on proper toothbrushing for large stretches of all my pregnancies unfortunately but in one of them I had some success with Indian clove flavoured toothpaste - I got it from an online Indian grocery store. So it is worth trying unusual flavours I think. You are supposed to avoid brushing your teeth straight after vomiting anyway as it can rub the acid into your teeth apparently. Personally straight afterwards is often the only moment when I feel I could attempt it without triggering another vomit so it's tricky!

Melleebacca · 06/11/2021 16:37

@PeeAche I am also set off by cleaning my teeth. I only brush them in the mornings at the moment as I’m much sicker in the afternoons. I also have an electric toothbrush which I find less triggering, as it’s head is smaller, and I don’t have to move it around as much. After every vomit, I rinse my mouth out a few times with water to get rid of any leftover vomit/acid.
It’s not the best dental hygiene plan, but I also know it’s only for a couple more months.

@AnyaC84 keep resting, you’re doing a great job.

LucindaE · 06/11/2021 19:31

Great advice from Mellebacca, kalidasa Derbee andeveryone to PeaAche about toothbrushing. I so agree about a toothbrush with a small head being useful. Kids strawberry toothpaste worked for me.
Derbee I am so glad you've got an Osteopath appointment. I'm sure they will be able to helpa lot.
AnyaC84 Resting is the best plan as you say. Are you still seeing the
Acupunturist? Is it helping?
Apologies to anyone missed.

OP posts:
AnyaC84 · 07/11/2021 02:18

I am also set off by tooth brushing. But I'm just dry heaving and coughing up phlegm because I'm stuffed up in pregnancy. I find I don't brush my teeth enough but it's temporary. I switched to my daughters toothpaste and it's more gentle. And I have an electrical toothbrush with small head. This way I feel that even if I only manage 60 sec of brushing it's better than if I was doing it by hand.

I am still seeing the acupuncturist. I'll see her again on Tuesday and I'm hopeful I will feel great for a day again haha

LucindaE · 07/11/2021 19:18

AnyaC84 I think sixty seconds will be fne. I hope the Acupunture treatment's effect is cummulative.
Waves to all.

OP posts:
FateHasRedesignedMost · 08/11/2021 06:04

@kalidasa Congrats on your results, what a relief! How do you feel now? I’ve put on a bit of weight too (thankfully) the midwife weighed me yesterday, my BMI is up to 19 😊 although I forgot to put my handbag down when I got on the scales, I don’t think it weighs much though.

@Hello47 congrats on twins!! Exciting.

@Melleebacca I’ll have a look for ice cubes with salts, thanks. I’ve tried rehydration salts but I always throw them up.

@Derbee sciatica, ouch. Are you sure it’s sciatica not SPD? I had SPD last time and it’s already setting in, feels very similar to sciatica eg when I step forward the pain shoots down one leg. Stairs hurt and my lower back feels unstable, trying to balance on one leg to put leggings on is impossible. I had pregnancy physio last time (exercises and massage) which really helped. It builds up the muscles around the pelvic ligaments and sacro iliac joint (or whichever areas are affected) so they take over from the ligaments to some extent (I think she said it was caused by the body producing too much relaxin hormone, which helps ligaments stretch ready for labour, but if they stretch too much it causes shooting pain and general stiffness and pain, edges of bone can rub together etc). They gave me a back support for later pregnancy, and I had 6 weeks follow up post natally where they intensify the exercises to help everything get back to normal.

FateHasRedesignedMost · 08/11/2021 06:21

I had my booking in bloods yesterday. The weekend clinic was deserted so it was rather an odd experience, wandering through the empty antenatal clinic trying to find another human! Eventually I tracked down the midwife, who looked startled to see me and explained she doesn’t work there she was just covering the overspill clinic for staff off sick!

The worst bit was when she tried to take the bloods, she kept stabbing at veins and missing or going through them 😵‍💫 Then blamed my ‘small veins’ for it. The 3rd time she must have pierced a nerve as an electric shock feeling shot down my arm and made my hand into pins and needles (my thumb is still partially numb today!) So I got a bit impatient and asked if I could do it.

She looked shocked and said ‘what on yourself?’ I explained I work in a hospital and used to be a wilderness medic so yes I’ve had to practice on myself during training and yes I think I can get that needle into a vein (without going through the other side or hitting a nerve or junction though I didn’t say that). So she reluctantly gave me the needle, I chose a vein and got it in first time 😂 She got the 5 vials of blood and kept saying ‘I’ve never had anyone do that before’ and looking at me very strangely.

My arms are now black and blue from her original attempts, with a really hard painful area where she went into a vein and out the other side (I felt it happen and cringed!)

Oh and apparently they take more blood tomorrow when they do the scan??! I really hope it’s a different person and they can take the blood from my hand instead!!

Peaches710 · 08/11/2021 14:40

Hi,
I hope you don’t me me messaging I feel a bit pathetic compared to how bad you all have it really. This is my second HG pregnancy and the sickness is no we here near as bad, but the nausea is so much worse.
I’ve been admitted twice and am open access, but have a disabled toddler and a husband with a new job so I can’t afford to go in again.
The doctors will only speak over the phone, the meds I’m on don’t work, as they all stop working after a few days/week. I haven’t tried ondastron but my doc doesn’t want to give it to me, I don’t know why.
I vomited a lot on Friday and am so dehydrated I just can’t get it back on track. 14 weeks and so miserable. I just feel so done and defeated.
Sorry for such a long rant xx x