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.

Hi everyone, I decided to come on the forum today because I’m REALLY struggling. I am almost 35 weeks and I’m still battling hyperemesis, but the worst part is that now I’ve developed debilitating back pain. I am Seeing a pregnancy chiropractor, but this is really triggering me because I had back pain a few years ago that was so excruciating. Thankfully it resolved completely with muscle relaxers and exercise but it took about 2 years. It was a dark period in my life and I was so depressed. Now I live with this intense fear that this is not gonna go away or at least not easily after pregnancy given my history. I can’t bear the thought of having to constantly pick up a baby with crippling back pain. My back issues were one of the reasons why I waited for so long to even try to get pregnant. I am emotionally so depleted from having a hyperemesis I am struggling to cope with it all. It’s too much. I cry all the time and have panic attacks. I feel so traumatized by this pregnancy. I fear I just ruined my life even though I know I will love my daughter.

Finally got a prescription for cyclizine. Hoping it makes some difference!

@LindSan I’m not an expert in this area. I have muscle pains in my hips and shoulders from the prolonged rest that HG causes. I had regular chiro appts with my first as my hips would go out of alignment. But as soon as she was born, everything resolved. I do recommend resting as much as possible the first few days as everything is moving back into place, and keep up with the chiro appts if needed. It takes a few weeks to get all the hormones out of your system, and the ones affecting your joints are most likely relaxin. I hope when you birth, everything clears up quickly.

@Disgruntledpelicanlady I hope the cyclizine helps, but if you see no effect in a few days, go back for something stronger.

Lindsan Can the chiropractor reassure you if you talk to her/him about your fears about the pain not resolving? I am sure s/he could give all sorts of practical advice, too, about lifting babies, etc.
Disgruntledpelicanlady At last: I do hope it helps a lot.
Melleebacca Wise words.

Hey all!

I hope you're managing to enjoy the festive season!

I had about 3 weeks where I felt good but I feel very nauseous now (similar to when I found out I was pregnant) I feel like there might be a violent sickness episode any day now:(

Any tips to try and reduce it this time?

Hi all, really struggling with the bouts of sickness today. I managed to get on top of it yesterday but today it's been gradually getting worse all afternoon. I think I've brought up everything I've eaten and drunk which hasn't been much as it's been coming back up as soon as it goes down. The issue was only managing crisps this morning until around 2pm.

Can you take metroclopromide and ondansetron together? I have had both prescribed separately but I'm worried if I can't get on top of this I'll end up needing to be put on a drip nd I can't guarantee they'll even see me with having covid so recently (the 10 day isolation ended today).

BFPDec2021 Oh dear, sorry to hear it. Several sufferers on here have been on Ondansetron and Metaclopramide together. I believe they alternated the doses of the pills,or somehting. Have you got any test kits as if you have two negative tests you can get out again. Well,. my SIL has just had it,and that's what DD says, I can't believe they wouldn't see you if you become badly dehydrated, even if they had to make special arangements. Does sucking ice cubes help?
theconfused Sorry to hear that you've had a relapse. How long along are you? Might it be a hormonal surge,or did you overdo preparations for Christmas a bit? An anti acid can help. What meds are you on? Can they add or substitute any? Sorry, there's a load of questions there.

@BFPDec21

I’m on both metaclopramide and ondansetron together so I don’t think they interact at all. It’s prochlorperazine (Stemetil) they seem to dislike prescribing with metaclopramide, not sure why. My obstetrician gave me metaclopramide and ondansetron on the same prescription script.

Hope you get some relief soon!

Happy New Year everyone, roll on due dates!

I woke up at 4am and vomited breakfast, feeling a bit better now ondansetron has kicked in. Wish DH would wake up and take over childcare (he went to a NYE party so is probably hungover and wants to lie in all day!)

I don’t feel in a very celebratory mood but managed to put on a sparkly jumper and wipe down the kitchen.

@theconfused

Sorry yours has flared up too. How far on are you now?

I had a few good weeks then a horrendous week over Xmas, so back on ondansetron. Not sure if I overdid the Xmas preps/stress, or if it’s just a hormonal surge, or the baby getting bigger and livelier (20 weeks now, scan in a week).

@LucindaE The Chiropractor thinks this is just pregnancy related so I’m trying not to allow my fears take the driver seat. It doesn't help that People say dumb stuff to soon to be parents all the time. I’m sick of hearing how god awful being sleep deprived will be and how hard it is being a new mom. I know it’s all true but everyone has a different experience and a different baby. I’m already so overwhelmed and it irks my nerves because it triggers my anxiety. I’m hoping it really isn’t as bad as everyone makes it out to be because I’m hanging on by a thread.

@LindSan

Sorry you’re feeling so anxious and in pain.

If the chiropractor thinks it’s pregnancy related then it should resolve once you’ve given birth. I had terrible SPD (back and hip pain caused by pregnancy) needing crutches first time around and it was gone within a couple of weeks of giving birth, didn’t affect my ability to care for baby at all.

People say silly stuff all the time when you’re pregnant. It’s horrible being told you’ll never sleep again (you will) as if every baby wakes every hour. Tbh my first was a terrible sleeper but I coped, despite being depleted by HG and mastered the art of taking small power naps (so much easier when you don’t have to keep getting up to vomit!)

If your anxiety gets too bad it may be worth asking midwife to refer you perinatal mental health, they’re very supportive of prenatal anxiety and there are certain meds that can help with it (ironically some of the HG meds are used on psychiatric wards as anti anxiety meds, I used to work on a ward where half the patients were on promethazine for anxiety). I was automatically referred to perinatal MH as I was on Sertraline when I conceived, it was just a phone chat with the offer of counselling/CBT if needed.

Happy New Year everyone.

@LindSan Here’s the secret - everyone lies about how good they’re baby sleeps. I had 2 terrible sleepers, and it did my head in everyone telling me they should be sleeping all night and all that stuff. But I would take sleep deprivation every day over HG. I feel so much more energetic with a newborn waking every hour, than I do trying to support 2 humans on minimal food intake. From as soon as you get pregnant, the majority of people will be telling you that you’re doing it wrong, their kid didn’t do that. Every child is unique, trust yourself and ignore all the people (especially those who think their kids are saints when they’re actually bullies).

@FateHasRedesignedMost I hope you’re starting to feel better. I’m unintentionally losing weight, not from sickness, but I’m still not looking forward to the earful my midwife is going to give me this week.

FateHasRedesignedMost and Melleebacca Great advice for BFPDec2021 and Lindsan. It's good the Chiropractor says that about it being pregnancy related. I so agree with the others about silly things people say. People do tend to tease first time mothers about how awful this or that is going to be. If it was as bad as that, nobody would enjoy babies. You've got a lot of joy coming your way. My DD was a bad sleeper, but I made it worse by catching up on housework when she did sleep. It is much more sensible to just do the minimum and enjoy the baby.

I forgot to say Happy New Year, everyone.

@LucindaE @FateHasRedesignedMost

I'm 28 weeks next week so just hitting 3rd trimester!

Honestly I thought ive been taking it very easy being off work etc so it might be a hormonal surge I'm thinking!

Happy new year everyone!

@theconfused I found I always struggled with weekends, and then also the first week off work. I think it’s because my schedule is different. Plus I think when I’m around the kids I have to talk more which seems to use more energy than I would think. Maybe you’re dealing with the same? Also work was a fantastic distraction from the sickness, wore me out, but I enjoyed the company.

@LucindaE and @LindSan I’m not a napper, it’s just something I can’t do. Except the first week post-partum, which I really recommend! My daughters both preferred to contact nap, so I often would be trapped under a sleeping child and used that time to rest or watch tv. It really isn’t as bad as people say, but do make sleep a priority, for mental and physical recovery.

I found I always struggled with weekends, and then also the first week off work. I think it’s because my schedule is different. Plus I think when I’m around the kids I have to talk more which seems to use more energy than I would think.

This is so true! I think it’s the main reason my HG has flared up over Xmas and New Year, because of the Xmas holidays (no school for 2 weeks). When DS is in school I have a routine: get up, meds, shower, dress both of us, breakfast, 10 min walk to school and back (often with some company from other mums) then I have 5 hours of time to myself before pick up. So in those 5 hours I rest if I’m feeling bad, or do light housework and meal prep if I can. When DS gets home he’s tired from school and content to play alone or watch TV while I prep dinner, then ready for bath and bed by 7pm.

In the holidays I’ve got DS asking me questions every 4 minutes or chattering about dinosaurs or Lego or wanting me to jump up and down to fetch him snacks and drinks or play games. DH works a lot of nights or is on call so rarely available until afternoons, and then not reliably available as he could be called in to work.

It’s mentally draining as I’m on call to DS without breaks, and he’s often reluctant to get dressed or brush his teeth or do any of the things that he does happily in school mornings.

So I’m trying to care for him, entertain him, feed everyone if DH can’t, and give the constant illusion to DS that I’m fine (even if I’m disappearing to throw up every 20mins!)

Roll on the start of term!

People do tend to tease first time mothers about how awful this or that is going to be. If it was as bad as that, nobody would enjoy babies

I agree with this so much!

When I was expecting my first people were full of doom and gloom about how hard newborns are! It was hard at times but NOTHING compared to suffering HG. I remember sitting up in my hospital bed drinking coffee and eating chocolate in amazement that I didn’t feel sick, that I could get in out of bed and pick up baby comfortably etc.

Even after broken nights you have that beautiful newborn to make it worthwhile. And they don’t stay babies for long, the newborn sleep issues are temporary. I also have friends who claim their babies were good sleepers, rarely woke in the night and didn’t cry much.

@FateHasRedesignedMost no wonder you feel bad, you’re doing so much! I’m still yet to cook dinner, I can feed the kids breakfast and lunch, but from 4pm I’m flat in the sofa.
I have hubby returning to work today, but just in the work from home capacity (he runs the family business and wants to get ahead before everyone else comes back). So I think the next few days are going to be tough, especially because I’m not sleeping well as our dog will be having puppies any day now, and my brain is going into overdrive!

Hi ladies how you all doing? I’m now 16+3 and been taking my Ondansetron for the since 15 weeks and I made the mistake oh thinking HG was going away or Id finally found something that worked but no the b*h is back been sick all afternoon 😭 I really need to go back to work I’ve been off for over 2 months and now my wages go down to half pay I can’t afford to be on half pay with the baby on the way I just want to cry. everytime I go to the docs I’m not dehydrated enough for them to take me in for fluids even though my midwife says that’s what I need.

theconfused It may well be a hormonal surge.
Starbeach I hope it may also be a hormonal surge with you, or one of those bad days. If not, while it is very hard to accept having to be off sick and short of money, realistically it might be the best thing,at least until you feel a lot better. There is still time for the Hyperemesis to get a great deal better. Some find it greatly improves as late as 21 weeks.
FateHasRedesignedMost I agree with Melleebacca, you are trying to do a lot. The comfort is that LO sounds like a really easy child to care for during term time.
Melleebacca Talking is hard with Hyperemesis.
Cheering everyone on.

Sorry to hear that Starbeach. I remember thinking ondansetron was my saviour with my first and that it had finally cracked it, then it just stopped for a while but it did start working again a few weeks later. Hopefully it'll settle down for you very soon.

@LucindaE Thankfully I haven't needed to go in for fluids as I've managed to get fluids in via whatever went down (chocolate milk). The problem was that I never showed as positive on a lateral flow so wasn't too certain that at 7 days it had actually gone. I've passed the 10 days so should be fine now.

I've only had one bout of sickness in the last 24 hours which I'm happy about. However, I'm anxious about doing school runs and DH returning to work this week. Some of my coping mechanisms such as sucking a mint/sweet have stopped working - not sure if this is due to covid and my taste still being a bit off. I'm having visions of the embarrassment of being sick in the school playground or being sick in the car. Hopefully DH can agree with work to take over mornings for a bit whilst I try and get things fully stabilised.

Does anyone know if there's a HG badge/wristband I can get to wear so there's some way of explaining the randomly vomiting woman?

@FateHasRedesignedMost & @Melleebacca I hope the changes this week with schools going back are positive for you both.

So I'm now about 27 weeks, and after finally getting omeprazole I have stopped vomiting. It's quite a relief to finally eat something and put on a couple of lbs, and while I know it may come back it's still nice to know there was a couple of weeks of relief at least at the end of the tunnel.

On the other hand, I guess 6 months of poor nutrition have left me pretty anemic and now I have a fainting problem. Was hoping to head back to work at least part time but doubt they'll have me back if I'm keeling over every day.

Hope all had as decent holidays as possible