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.

@abbs1 OMG! I hope you’re alright. That sounds terribly stressful!

For those that are anaemic, it is so common with HG due to the restrictive diet. I’m normally a blood donor so regularly have iron levels check, and they only ever get stupidly low during pregnancy and then bounce right up after delivery. I’ve had iron transfusions, liquid iron and tablets previously, and none have helped, but I’m crossing my fingers I can high enough levels to birth at the birthing center, not the hospital.

Sorry, I can’t remember who was saying they were scared about the meds. I get that. I took them intermittently with my eldest because I was worried about any damage I might’ve been causing. Then my eldest came out blue (cord around her neck twice), and still hit all milestones early. With my second daughter I took the meds religiously, and she hit her milestones even earlier. Then we had our son that we lost at 17wks due to genetic malformations (all caused pre-meds). Now I realize there’s no point in me suffering, feeing like death, and not being able to enjoy my children, because things can go wrong regardless of what I actually do. So I take the meds.

@LucindaE the pups are adorable. Such a good distraction, although I am feeling much more weary at the end of the day.

@Mellebacca its been a very anxious and stressful 24 hours. The drs are all looking after me well and obstetrics and gynaecologists as well to make sure me and baby stay safe.

I second as well what @Mellebacca says about medication for Hyperemesis. With my little boy i was started on cyclizine at 5 weeks but it didnt work so was put on ondansatron (i had it as an injection, IV and tablets) from 7 weeks, metoclopromide from 9 weeks and IV/tablet steroids from 12 weeks all to keep me and baby alive. It was nerve-wracking being on so much medication but it saved me and babys life literally without it I couldn't hold even a sip of water down for months. I now have a healthy happy 21 month old who walked at 9 months and is very advanced in many developmental areas. Without the intervention he wouldn't be here.
Definitely ask questions I certainly did many times but so thankful I accepted the help.
Im now nearly 32 weeks pregnant with my little girl and its been a completely different pregnancy with only xonvea and minimal sickness.

Sending love to all those suffering so much at the moment. Stay strong you can do this. 🥰🙏🤗

abbs1 That sounds highly unpleasant and stressful. I am glad you are getting good care. Great advice from you at this stressful time. Thinking of you.
Melleebacca It's good the pups are a distraction.

Melleebacca And I forgot to say, great advice from you as ever about meds.
Still no word from kalidasa. I hope this is a good sign.

@LucindaE the hospital have been outstanding with care and have been coming to monitor me and baby twice a day. Fingers crossed my scan on my lungs will be tomorrow to get some answers and I can go home soon.

Not just related to my issue but if any of you think something isnt right question and re question it as many times as you need until your happy. They thought my symptoms was due to anaemia but it wasnt.

@abbs1 oh yes! If the doctors advice doesn’t seem to sit with what you feel, never hesitate to question it. My DD has had a persistent cough for 2 months, which sucked in a pandemic world, so we saw a doctor about 4 times for various checks etc, even though I was 100% sure it was nothing major. Turns out it was a post-viral cough and it just needed time and rest. If something isn’t working, be the squeaky wheel.
Also @abbs1 I really do hope your lung issue gets resolved quickly. Hospitals aren’t fun, but I always feel calmer knowing everyone is there to look after me. Mums tend to put themselves last, and it’s nice to have someone else trying to put my needs first.

Waves to all!

DD had me up from 4am today for various odd things (including asking if she was dreaming?!) and I'd been dry heaving thinking the medication can't have failed me an hour in already. 3 hours later and exhaustion has kicked in and the sickness has started up. Rest really is so crucial with this, I never realised just how much last time since it was just me and DH.

@abbs1 What a shock! Wishing you the best outcome with your lung. It sucks being in hospital but I'm glad to hear you're being looked after.

I haven't posted much as the thread reminds me of the sickness I'm trying to forget about.

I'm week 9 now. I'd like to thank whoever recommended quavers and chocolate milk. The quavers are something I can just about always manage asking as I'm not retching.

I've been signed off work for 2 more weeks. I feel queasy most of the time but the promethazine teoclate is stopping me from vomiting more than about once a day, providing I just lie down most of the day.

@Melleebacca @BFPDec21 the scan is now tomorrow but they said the results should be back tomorrow and hopefully I can go home tomorrow. Depending what is found I may have to be on injections for 3 months to make sure the clot(s) dissolve properly so it doesn't turn into a pulmonary embolism but they will decide tomorrow. Just very anxious but so thankful for the care.

Im missing DH and my little boy so badly. I didnt think a trip to a and e would result in me being away from them for 4 days. No visitors are allowed at all so its very lonely and DS is really starting to struggle without me. Ive never been away from him for more than a couple hours. Keeping ny fingers crossed I will see them tomorrow.

@abbs1 oh yes! Hospitals are very lonely places at the moment. Hoping it’s all an easy fix. Thinking of you.

@BFPDec21 Rest is so important. Im resting today because I didn’t have a great sleep (brain going 100 miles an hour), so generally now is a nausea free time, but I’m feeling really rough. Hopefully a good night sleep tonight will help both you and I.

@Spottybutterfly we all get it. It’s nice to know the support is there, but it’s also nice to not have the sickness feel like the only thing in your life. Rest up, week 9 is tough. Sounds like you are doing everything right!

abbs1 Much sympathy over the seperation. It must be so hard without visitors. [flowers}
BFPDec21 I think sufferers who go for it again with LO's deserve a medal.
Melleebacca You are so right. I have heard of prescribing nurses insisting that a lngering cough must be asthma and insisting on providing inhalters: but I remember when I had actute bronchitis, I had a lingering cough for a long time which cleared up eventually.
Spottybutterfly Glad to hear about the quavers and chocolate milk.
No fun having to be horozontal with this.

Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

abbs1 Your didn't come out

Keeping my fingers crossed for you being released tomorrow @abbs1

@Spottybutterfly I'm with you during week 9 at the moment and it's definitely rough! I had to turn the radio off today as I'd heard a song too many times on adverts whilst in bed. The association definitely caused me to feel nauseous. Glad you've found some things you can eat though.

I have my fasting glucose test for GD in the morning. No idea how I will do it, I can't get out of bed without a snack otherwise I'm sick, water is hard to drink and then lucozade on top will tip me over. I had GD in my first pregnancy, I assume I have it again really. No idea what I will eat if so as I've got a complete meat aversion and find fats like mayo, butter, avocado, etc too acidic and 'spicy' at the moment. My diet has been pasta, tinned tomatoes, Skips, fruitella to suck in the car on school runs and chocolate milk/squash. Without them, I'm lost. Last time I was being sick 20+ times a day and didn't keep much down anyway. If anyone has any tips with HG & GD, I'd very much appreciate them.

Really hoping I can go home today. I'm meant to be having my scan in the next couple hours so🤞no delays.
I need to see my family.

abbs1 I do hope you were discharged.
BFPDec2021 That does sound very restricted a diet already; wishing you all luck with that test.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Have been prescribed prochloperazine (sp?) - the dissolvable one today. This is to take instead of cyclizine rather than alongside. I've never not taken cyclizine in either of my previous pregnancies! Any prochloperazine success stories?

@abbs1 I feel for you and have been following your updates. I hope you made it home today

Unfortunately my scan was delayed again until tomorrow. Thankfully the consultant dr has allowed me home with injections to do myself for the night to see my husband and little boy as its been a very lonely mentally draining 4 days with no family being able to visit but Ive got to be back first thing in the morning for the scan and some other tests so another long day in hospital.
I'm really hoping there are no more delays tomorrow as I really dont want to be re admitted over the weekend. It felt amazing to have cuddles and hugs tonight. I needed it so badly.

@abbs1 oh that’s good and bad news. Fingers crossed for an easy day at hospital.

@buntywindermere sorry, I’m no help there as that isn’t one I’ve tried. What’s the reasoning for not continuing with cyclizine? Is it not working enough this time?

@BFPDec21 I know there has been people on here with GD and HG, not sure if any of them are active. I’m no help. My diet is equally restrictive, but mostly because food doesn’t taste good. I got hubby to buy some hot salsa yesterday, so hopefully that tastes as good as I’m imagining.

@BFPDec21 I have had HG & GD both my previous pregnancies. DS2 I was diagnosed with the GD at 11 weeks and my consultant basically told me to not worry too much about the GD yet, so I continued with white toast and Fanta up until about 18 weeks!!! My numbers were higher but each time I went to the GD clinic I explained I have HG too. Thankfully around 18 weeks I was able to tolerate more foods so I ate a lot of very plain chicken casseroles, cheese and crackers, babybels and cocktail sausages and less squash. I have remained diet controlled both times, but found it trickier to manage with DS2 as I would get lightheaded and dizzy if my blood sugars got too high or low. Babybels and cocktail sausages seemed to carry me through until the end though without having to go on any other medication. My consultant was fantastic though and kept a close eye - I had to go to the clinic every other week and ring immediately if my numbers were too high (which up to 18 weeks was pretty often but she agreed I had to eat whatever I could until the HG subsided enough) - it was actually her who then put me on ondansetron as well as cyclizine at about 13 weeks and that really did help.

The test was the worst, my HG was at its peak. I was sick in the morning, in the car on the way to the hospital, but somehow managed to keep it down for the test!!! Hope it went ok?

@abbs1

How are you feeling? Hope you get scanned and discharged soon, being stuck in hospital with no answers must be miserable.

@buntywindermere

I’ve found prochlorperazine (Stemetil) worked for travel sickness in the past, and when given as an IM injection post-surgery in hospital (anaesthesia related sickness). I briefly tried it for HG last pregnancy but it didn’t improve things for me unfortunately but I may have been too ill by then. This time I went straight onto metaclopramide and ondansetron (the next steps if stemetil doesn’t work). Hope you get relief with it! It makes me very sleepy which is good for insomnia.

How’s everyone getting on?

I seem to have a few bad days, 1 good day, then a few bad ones etc. Plagued by hormonal migraines this week which doesn’t help. But the good days are a relief and a sign of progress! I’m 22 weeks now, I think I improved quite a bit around 25 weeks last time, so hopefully it will be the same.

I’m so tired and light headed I mostly just rest in between school runs, bits of cleaning and laundry when I can.

Anyone else having weird cravings?
Today I keep thinking the bar of cinnamon soap would be delicious in cake form, or if it were Caramac chocolate! 😂

@melleebacca
@fatehasredesignedmost

Ive had my scan and other tests so just waiting on results and to see the Dr. Could be a few hours but hopefully all sorted by end of the day today.

BFPDec2021 Like others, I hope that the test wasn't too bad?
abbs1 I am so glad you were allowed to go back home for a bit. Hoping you get released.
buntywindermere A lot of sufferers on here have been helped a lot by Stemetil (spellng).
FateHasRedesignedMost Good to hear about the good days. As you say, always a good sign.
Waves to Melleebacca I hope the salsa was as tasty as you hoped. Great advice from buntywindermere and everyone.

@LucindaE It was fine actually, I've now had two days where I haven't been sick! Granted there's been nausea and meds have meant I've too wiped to the point I slept most of the day. It is a nice relief not to be sick.

I had a bit of pain overnight yesterday but I'm due a private scan in the morning so hopefully baby is doing OK.

@buntywindermere Thank you for the advice. I'm sure I'll be told off early next week but have explained to the midwives at the hospital already. If I'm able to stop being sick overall, I hope that I can start tolerating healthier foods. Otherwise I'll have to see how my readings go and think about Metformin.

@abbs1 How did everything go today?