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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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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Lzgs · 02/09/2021 14:49

Feel so upset. Thought the drugs were managing my symptoms but first day back at school with kids in and I’ve had to go home halfway through the day. I have thrown up 30+ times so far, starting from 4am 😭 can’t keep anything down, not even water.
I was putting my happy teacher face on but I was shaking and could only muster a quiet wobbly voice by the afternoon. Feel like it’s 10 steps backwards 😓
Got a phone appt with gp later. Just going to sit and cry in bed until then

Catconfusion · 02/09/2021 18:05

Omg @Lzgs I’m so sorry to hear that. I was a teacher for 12 years so I know how hard the job is generally, let alone with severe vomiting. You did well to go in and try. Don’t feel bad, you’re not well. I really hope the doctor can help you. Also that you have a better evening. Hyperemesis is beyond unwell and totally exhausting. Xx

abbs1 · 02/09/2021 19:18

@Lzgs oh Im so sorry. That sounds awful. I can only imagine how hard that must have been for you. With vomitting that much I would definitely recommend getting some IV fluids and medication to help reset you in hospital esp with not holding water down. If you can afford it I would get signed off and just rest. Im so sorry youre suffering so badly atm. Sending hugs 🤗

LucindaE · 02/09/2021 21:05

Kalidasa Wishing you all luck. There have been a number of women on here who have had babies at over 40.
Lzgs That was a disappointment, but brave of you to try and teach. Hopefully, you can get fluids and effective treatment. A lot of sufferers try and go back to work too early, and overdoing it can really set off the symptoms.
Catconfusion and abbs1 I so agree.
Waves to all.

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thingymaboob · 02/09/2021 21:25

@Lzgs sounds awful. You poor thing. You sound like you probably need IV meds and some fluid. What is your situation now? It doesn't sound like you can go back to work, I know that must be so hard with a new year starting.

Lzgs · 02/09/2021 22:32

I have been admitted for overnight stay for fluids and meds. Feeling miserable but hopeful. Thanks for the support ladies I really appreciate it.

Lzgs · 02/09/2021 22:33

@thingymaboobas sad as it is you’re right. School is just too exhausting in my current state and I shouldn’t push myself

thingymaboob · 02/09/2021 23:17

@Lzgs relieved you're in hospital. Glad you're getting the treatment you need. I felt so much better after my admission. Wish you all the best.

kalidasa · 03/09/2021 07:26

@Lzgs it was very brave of you to try the start of term. It's not your fault you are too ill for it. Glad you are in hospital and hoping they can rehydrate you quickly and get the vomiting under control.

I don't even have a GP here yet -- trying to work out how I can see a doc to get myself in the system. Trying to stay very calm and take it one day at a time!

Catconfusion · 03/09/2021 08:42

@Lzgs I’m so glad you’ve been admitted. It must be horrible but good you’re getting the fluids and meds. It might be time to get signed off. Obviously not ideal and a difficult call to make but it sounds like you need more time off. Xx

abbs1 · 03/09/2021 08:52

@Lzgs oh im glad youre getting help in hospital. I hope it makes you feel better and you can rest.

Catconfusion · 03/09/2021 09:01

I just wondered how everyone feels about Covid? Are you isolating or taking extra precautions? I feel so ill I’m not sure how bad it’d be to get Covid on top of this. My friends have arranged a meet up tonight so it’ll be a group of us. I’ve been sick at home but the others work close with the general public. We’ve all been double jabbed but obviously could still get it or pass it on. It’s round someone’s house. Would it be over the top not to go? If I felt otherwise well I wouldn’t worry about getting Covid as much as it seems to be relatively safe for the baby just mainly unpleasant for the mum. At the moment I just can’t imagine being more ill than I am. Not really sure what to do. Obviously I’m not well too so going would be tough anyway though obviously seeing friends would probably give me a mental boost Xx

kalidasa · 03/09/2021 09:10

@Catconfusion I am personally not worried about Covid -- I had it badly (had to go to hospital) very early on, spring 2020, and have also been double jabbed so between those two I reckon I probably have some decent immunity. But also I have older children at school, husband at work seeing colleagues etc, and an au pair who's meeting up with people / doing language classes so as a family we are 'mixing' whatever I do or don't do. If I were pregnant with no. 1 and had either not had both jabs; only had the second one very recently; or I suppose if it was 6 months + since I had had the second one, I might be a bit more cautious.

Catconfusion · 03/09/2021 09:43

Thanks @kalidasa it’s really helpful to get an insight. You see none of us have had it. We’ve also not been mixing much at all. Only grandparents for support with ds. We’ve both been double jabbed for 3 months so take it we have a reasonable amount of protection but I know people who’ve been double jabbed and still got really sick with Covid.

I wonder if pregnant women will be offered a booster jab during the winter? The third trimester seems the risky time and by then my vaccine will be less effective. Xx

LucindaE · 03/09/2021 21:01

Lzgs I am so glad you got fluids and won't try and push yourself to do the impossible!
Catconfusion, Kalidasa, thingymaboob, abbs1 and eveyrone - it is so difficult about Coronavirus. For instance, the OH of a friend was hospitalised for an accidental overdose of paracetemol (spelling?) and in intensive care. He got the virus while in intensive care, but was asymptomatic. It is so odd the way it effects people differently.
kalidasa My goodness, being hospitalised for it must have been bad.

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abbs1 · 03/09/2021 22:11

The thought of catching Covid does scare me. I had my first jab Feb and 2nd one May due to being a carer so I feel really lucky to have had both jabs before I got pregnant. We would have waited otherwise until my age grouo was invited to make sure I was covered esp with the possibility of hg returning and visits to hospital and hearing of so many catching it while in hospital for other issues.
I am scared that its effectiveness will wear off before baby comes but I only really take my little boy to a toddler group once a week and not really anywhere else during the week apart from grandparents house.
I think after New Year I will stop toddler group as I will be 7+ months pregnant so want to keep safe but will see what happens with covid cases etc.

Stay safe everyone ❤

Pleasedontworry · 04/09/2021 11:50

Hi ladies. I’ve been lurking for a while -reading some of your stories I’m in awe of you for fighting through. I just wanted you to say thank you for sharing your stories. Reading your stories I feel lucky (speaking to my friends ‘pregnancy sickness was like a mild hangover, I just needed some carbs down my first thing in the morning’ I don’t…). I felt like a total fraud because whilst I was more dehydrated than usual I wasn’t on the verge of hospitalisation, I was managing to keep some food in most of the time and I wasn’t losing huge amounts of weight - I was battling through work with vomiting breaks (I’m lucky to be able to work from home still) and exhaustion. At my worst I did struggle to keep anything down and was having maybe four spells of vomiting a day, relentless nausea and lots of dry heaving but it was only when I read someone’s comment that you should consider each time you wretch and bring something up a vomit when speaking to doctors that I felt like I wasn’t being a complete wimp. I’m lucky as my GP listened and cyclizine is now reducing my actual vomiting to one or two spells a day, although I do still feel pretty grim, and I’m signed off for a fortnight to try to get a balance. So, thank you for sharing - and I’m so sorry if I do come across as a wimp/fraud.

Lzgs · 04/09/2021 14:57

Just wanted to update you all. Finally home. Took a while to get rid of the ketones from my urine. Managed to eat at least a little bit at meal times and sipped water slowly. Vomited again when I got home and feeling very sick still 🤢. But I was so uncomfortable at the hospital and my body was aching from the bed so I just wanted to get home to shower and sleep. Signed off from work for a couple of weeks so going to embrace just resting because doctors said I just exhausted myself and triggered the hg. Need to avoid that nightmare experience at all costs. Hope you’re all well and managing ok X

NannyPear · 04/09/2021 15:20

Hi all. Don't think I've updated for a couple of weeks. Just had a crappy experience with OOH GP.
Woke up at 5am and started vomiting every 5-10 minutes. Called 111 at 10am and eventually received an OOH GP appointment at 1am.
My blood pressure was low and I was tachycardic. My head has been throbbing since early morning. I was vomiting while waiting for the doctor.
However, since I had no ketones in my urine the option for IV fluids was completely dismissed. She offered me an injection of prochlorperazine and I lost it, got really upset. I absolutely hate injections, and I told her I've been taking that medication most of the pregnancy and I don't think it helps so I really can't put myself through the stress of it. She really pushed it until a nurse spoke up for me to say I really didn't want it. So I got buccastem 🙄. I've got metoclopramide and ondansetron tablets at home so asked her how I can take any of those alongside and still didn't really get a response.

I just wanted some fluids in the hope to feel semi normal again :( it seems such hard work getting the medical care you need.

LucindaE · 04/09/2021 18:59

Pleasedontworry Welcome. Of course, you don't seem like a fraud or a wimp. There are degrees of Hyperemesis, with the lower end of severity much like bad Pregnancy Sickness. Sorry you have been suffering. I am glad Cyclizine is helping. I am glad you have found the thread helpful, too. Everyone is very helpful on here. I include my normal spiel that might help. Most sufferers find that they improve a lot at some point between weeks 14 and 20. 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 . Foods of a sort include tinned fruit, cuppa soup, nibbles of crisps and chips, cheap ice cream, Scotch pancakes, bagels and biscuits, potato smileys, slices of melon and mango. Protein drinks have also been mentioned.
abss1 It is a worry. It's good you are taking your LO out to socialise at the playgroup. It must have been so hard on small children, as they have seen such an abnormal world.
kalidasa Sorry, I forgot to say that I am sorry to hear about your father's death.

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ohihateithere · 05/09/2021 09:45

Having a really bad day today and it's only 9:40! Dry heaving from the moment I opened my eyes.DD's birthday today forced myself up to open presents and make her pancakes. I'm back in bed already nauseous and tired. Supposed to visiting family today don't know I'm going to manage it.

I really do feel like OH has had enough he said he feels like he's carrying the weight of the world on shoulders when I came up to bed Sad

LucindaE · 05/09/2021 10:53

ohihateithere Happy Birthday to your daughter. Sorry you are still suffering. A sibling will be the best gift you could give her, though, and you can make up for this period of comparative neglect later. I expect OH got extra tired with the birthday; things will get better. It is hard on OH',s though I am sure they wouldn't want to swap places. Remind me what meds you are on?
NannyPear How did I miss you message? So sorry. Can you approach another doctor in the practice (I know it's exhausting when you feel terrible) or is it worth ringing Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 7638 2020 who might have some advice on the best way to get effective meds? It is unfortunate that ketones are used as a criteria and not dry mouth, headache, etc. Sorry, I am probably being obtuse: was that an injection every day she offered you or just a one off? If you dread injections it would be hard, though it does seem that anti emetics are more effective injected.

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Ttcbn2 · 05/09/2021 15:10

This is probably going to sound stupid but how do you know when you need to go to hospital for fluids etc? I’ve been vomiting since yesterday, haven’t been able to keep much down, if anything at all, I’m struggling to even sip drinks, I feel so weak :( x

Ttcbn2 · 05/09/2021 17:32

And then I’ve managed to keep some food and drink down.. let’s hope it stays that way!

LucindaE · 05/09/2021 19:54

Ttcbn2 That sounds bad. I am glad things have improved a bit.
With ketones measurements from kesostix, I believe generally hospitals admit for fluids with ketones of 3 +? I know they aren't the best test of dehydration, though, and hopefully retaining food will have lowered them. Ineslastic skin, or a headache or blurry vision or dry mouth are all signs. of dehydration.

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