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.

@Catconfusion you are not alone. It's an awful time. I've never been so depressed in my life.

I’m so sorry @thingymaboob you feel that way. Pregnancy should be an exciting time with maybe a bit of anxiety. It’s so unfair that hyperemesis dulls the whole experience and leads to depression. Xx

So the nurse practitioner wants me to up the dose of promethazine and has prescribed omeprazole for the acid. DH is here all weekend so if it makes me drowsy I’m not on my own. It might mean we have to cancel our plans but I’ll take that over feeling like this. Xx

Catconfusion Abbs1 and thingymaboob Sorry that things are bleak at the moment. As ever, I so agree with Abbs1's advice. I think there was supposedly some small risk of a health problem with Ranitidine (not to the baby) and that was why it was withdrawn. Catconfusion Forty-two is not so old, but it's understandable you are anxious. I hope you get reassurance soon. Cheering everyone on.
Due Dates
Anxious9thPG 17 September
RockinRobinn 24 September
Marnie1234 6 November
MimPimMim 14 November (provisional)
JessicaM2021 22 November
hporter10 25 December
LilmissCa 13 January
Abbs1 12 March

nomeslice 2 February

Sorry, I messed that up!

Due Dates
Anxious9thPG 17 September
RockinRobinn 24 September
Marnie1234 6 November
MimPimMim 14 November (provisional)
JessicaM2021 22 November
hporter10 25 December
LilmissCa 13 January
nomeslice 2 February
abbs1 12 March

@Catconfusion so glad you've got omeprazole. I find taking it in morning best but anytime really. It really does calm the stomach and reduce symptoms in my opinion and when you do vomit, it's not acidic so it's nicer vomit.

@LucindaE my EDD is 13/02/2022

I have been trying to reduce cyclizine in preparation for going back to work but it's not working. Still heavily reliant on it, it seems. Upping ondansetron has given me a really horrible taste in my mouth. I've also been back to sleeping 12 hours a day this week. Not sure how I'll cope next week at work.

Hi ladies hope I can join, feeling very sorry for my self and OH not so supportive this time round so could do with someone to talk to.

Last time I was always throwing up and couldn't keep any food down. This time round I'm not vomiting often only now and again but feeling sick all day everyday.

I'm back to work Tuesday and I'm so worried how I'm going to cope I've had 14 days off.

@thingymaboob it annoys me that the Gp didn’t just give me it earlier in the week. It looks completely safe in pregnancy. I might have had a bit more sleep. Nevermind, I can start it tomorrow. Xx

@LucindaE thank you, I know plenty of women have babies at my age. Guess I just need to stay positive, which is hard when feeling so ill.

My EDD is 03/04/22 btw. Xx

@ohihateithere welcome and I’m sorry you’re feeling so rough. I hope it improves soon. How far along are you? How come your OH is finding it hard to support this time? Feel free to rant on here. Xx

So the extra promethazine has made me feel awful. I was still sick in the night and this morning. Just feel really out of it. My fingers and toes are all tingly. Also my nose, eyes and mouth are all dry. I’ve not taken my morning dose yet as worried it’ll make me feel worse. Also can’t go and get the omeprazole as we have a flat tire.

DH fixed the flat tyre only to get to the pharmacy and find they had closed early. It feels like one of those days.

How is everyone else today? Xx

@Catconfusion thanks for letting me rant, I'm 6 weeks 4 days and it started pretty much right away. I guess this time round we have two DC's OH is self employed so he has to keep everything going. Me moping round all day complaining is probably too much for him.

I'm really dreading going back to work how on earth will I cope? I don't want to take anymore sick leave. This is so tough

We're currently in wales for a mini break and I've ruined it for the whole family I feel so bad.

May I ask how everyone is managing to work when they are this sick? I work for the nhs and we are so badly understaffed I may just have to suck it up.

Apologies for rambling!

ohIhateithere Welcome. Sorry OH could be more supportive. It must be so hard with two LO's. Were you on meds last time? It is certainly a good idea to ask for meds. It is possible to have Hyperemesis without vomiting much. As you are a veteran, you don't need my usual spiel about, 'Do you find full sugar flat coke, ice lollies and the juice of tinned fruit helpful' and 'A good anti acid makes a surprising difference' and 'Have you got kesostix, as while not the best test of dehydration, hospitals do take them seriously.' Can you get a sick note? Most sufferers on here need time off work and if you are working at a high pressured job at the NHS, it would surely be very difficult to cope with returning to work too early.
Catconfusion What a day, poor you. I am sure the Omprazole will help when you can get it. It might be worth reporting that nasty side effect from your anti emetic, though it's probably nothing to worry about. I've added you. There have been an number of women in their early forties on here.
thingymaboob Added you too. Do you absolutely have to go back to work? It does't sound as if you are recovered enough, and so many women on here have gone back to work too early, only to have to go off again.
Apologies if I've overlooked anyone.
Due Dates
Anxious9thPG 17 September
RockinRobinn 24 September
Marnie1234 6 November
MimPimMim 14 November
JessicaM2021 22 November
hporter10 25 December
LilmissCa 13 January
nomeslice 2 February
thingymaboob 13 February
abbs1 12 March
Catconfusion 3 April

@LucindaE occupational health have written my report to say that I need to return to a covid secure area (asthma / age / BMI / Hyperemesis), which my office and training rooms aren't. I cannot socially distance at work. My entire team except one manager on leave next week so I am going to go in and do 3 x half day training to show flexibility and willing then have a proper chat with my line manager on return. Looks like I'll be home working for rest of pregnancy anyway, although not sure what jobs they'll give me as I am a trainer. Got obstetrician appointment Wednesday and will talk it through with them too

I hope everyone is coping this weekend. The nausea has hit again terribly so ive been taking ondansatron and xonvea alternating but its only just taking the edge off.
Is hg known to suddenly get worse end of 1st trimester? Im just over 11 weeks. Last time it hit me from 5 weeks so to suddenly be feeling even worse than earlier in the week is worrying me.

Not coping any better here constant nausea, only position I feel ok in is when im lying completely flat! starting to feel depressed and doubting myself. Not spent much time with my DC's so feeling guilty, I've even started to think about abortion. Also feeling guilty about taking extra sick leave when I'm still in my probationary period.

Don't think I will bother with medication as last time it made me feel even worse.

@abbs1 mine got worse around that time I couldn't keep anything down and kept getting admitted.

thingymaboob I am so glad that you will be working from home after that. That makes it more bearable.

Sorry, abbs1 and ohi hateithere I missed your messages somehow, though I answered thingymaboob. abbs1 Sorry to hear things are even worse. I suppose it is an encouraging sign that it didn't get really bad early on as most of the severe cases on here seem to get it earlier. I do know that somewhere round week ten and eleven weeks seems to be the worst time for many, and there is supposedly a hormonal surge somewhere round then.
ohIhateithere That is dismal. Don't feel guilty. Things will get better. IEveryone has these dark thoughts. Did you try Xonvea in your last pregnancy, as that is a comparatively new one? Also, did you find an anti acid helped? Sorry about firing questions!

@LucindaE I have a feeling taking the xonvea since week 5 has kind of just prolonged the inevitable happening and now its hitting me as its not working keeping the nausea away. Im hoping the ondansatron kicks in quickly.

Does anyone remember how quickly the tablets started working or to build up in ones system? Last time I had injections and IV in hospital so it was effective straight away but the tablets at home didnt work. 🙁

@ohihateithere im so sorry youre struggling so badly too. Last time I had been in hospital nearly everyday since 7 weeks pregnant and had IV ondansatron while there with fluids and tablets for home, metoclopromide tablets for home and at 12 weeks was put on steroids as I couldn't hold any food or water down from 5 weeks pregnant. Im scared the vomitting is gonna start as well soon as the nausea is so debilitating.

I hate hyperemesis so much. I wish there was a magic jab that any woman suffering could get a jab and all the nausea and vomitting would stop straight away. It is so mentally draining.

@abbs1 I think ondansetron is pretty quick. I find one tablet takes edge off and feel much better after taking it for a day. Although this time I've had to double up to 8mg doses during bad days.

@ohihateithere you sound like you're really struggling. I think it's healthy to be open and honest about how you feel. It's not easy sharing your darkest thoughts but we are here for you. Many of us have thought about abortion and some women have felt no other option but to go through with it. I thought about it all the time and prayed for a miscarriage so I wouldn't have to make the decision. I'm not sure what spurred me on to keep going. The promise of better days and a serious change in my attitude (accepting illness and succumbing to the nausea / vomiting and ensuring I had low expectations of myself). We are here for you in these dark days.

@thingymaboob oh thankyou. Im currently on 4mg but looking to double up maybe if it doesnt start working soon.

Has anyone had experience of pregnacare vitamins increasing sickness? I saw another thread that mentioned it and wondered if I should swap to another brand...

@Lzgs yes they made me feel so much worse. I just took folic acid as and when I could hold it down.

@Lzgs I took pregnacare max in my last pregnancy. This time I’m on Proceive which are much smaller capsules. I’m actually more ill this time so I’m not sure pregnacare made me any worse. I do think a decent prenatal is important, especially when being so ill and not being able to eat properly. Xx