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.

@PopGoesBang

How are you feeling today? It’s so easy to over do it when you have a better day.

I was sick a lot in the night and having a queasy day but no actual vomiting which is something.

School runs are getting exhausting… it’s only 10mins each way but adds up to 40mins walking per day. My back and hips are in agony by this time (SPD). Unfortunately DH has meetings all afternoon most days. I’m thinking of trying to get a childminder/nanny to collect son after school and drop him home, but he’s sensitive to change and won’t like that.

@FateHasRedesignedMost Yes, Braxton hicks have calmed down a lot. Work has slowed down too, which is great. Still a fair amount of stress, but trying to reduce it. We’re having crazy high humidity days at the moment and wearing a mask all day is really making everything more exhausting.
I know someone was mentioning how hard it was to have HG and wear a mask a few days back and I totally agree. Our mask mandates only started a couple of weeks ago, but it is making it harder to get oxygen in. Fortunately I can have mine off when I’m alone in my lab, but it is quite a struggle the rest of the time, but I would much rather deal with that than add another sickness into the mix! I know people with HG who have gotten exemptions, and definitely would’ve been a consideration in the early stages. At almost 24wks, I have a little more control over the sickness.

Waves to everyone.

@Melleebacca I was due on my mums birthday. I held on the full 2 weeks to make sure I got my own day to celebrate 🤣 made her really work for it too.
Hopefully your baby won't be quite as stubborn as I was. Dd was only 6lb when she was born, I'm slightly fearful of anything over that this time!!

@FateHasRedesignedMost I'm so tired today! And my lower back is really letting me know it exists. So far a few queasy moments but not too bad at all - but has been a fairly quiet day tbh.
How are you doing?

Is there a friend who could help put with the school run? Don't know if that would help your DS if it was a friend walking him home?
I'm lucky and have a couple of mum friends who are happy to be on standby if I need them, haven't so far. To be fair my dd quite often tells me she could just take herself - I'm sure she could, but that is not happening - it's enough she now only wants me to wait at the gate in the morning and she walks off rather than needing me to take her to the door! I spent 5 years trying to get her to go into school without a fuss and now she does without a look back - little miss independent.

PopGoesBang Ha Ha about 'Miss Independent'. Good suggestion for FateHas RedesignedMostabout the school walk, which sounds really painful. FateHasRedesignedMost I so agree about it being great that thingymaboob has arrived in the fabled Pink Castle at the end of the Hyperemesis Horror Run.
Waves to Melleebacca and everyone.

Hey everyone, sorry I dropped off the radar. It's been a long week.

Hope everyone is doing okay?

I've been signed off for the rest of the month so we'll see how well my boss takes that news... He'll have to deal with it though won't be.
I was back on phone with the Dr today as I didn't keep much down Mon or Tues and then yesterday I kept nothing down.
She's prescribed me Ondansetron so hopefully this will finally help...
I'm worried about money with not working for a month but we'll be okay, we have some savings and honestly mine and the baby's health is so much more important. And I don't want to end up back in the hospital because I've over done it.

@SkaterChick

Hey everyone, sorry I dropped off the radar. It's been a long week.

Hope everyone is doing okay?

I've been signed off for the rest of the month so we'll see how well my boss takes that news... He'll have to deal with it though won't be.
I was back on phone with the Dr today as I didn't keep much down Mon or Tues and then yesterday I kept nothing down.
She's prescribed me Ondansetron so hopefully this will finally help...
I'm worried about money with not working for a month but we'll be okay, we have some savings and honestly mine and the baby's health is so much more important. And I don't want to end up back in the hospital because I've over done it.

Hi hun, I'm glad your Dr is taking it seriously and given you stronger medication. Did she prescribe you any lactulose as ondansatron makes one very constipated but works well for many. I hope you can get some good rest while you're off and your boss is understanding.

Depending on how long you've been at your job if its any comfort, i had to resign at 7 weeks pregnant with a months notice which was covered by a sick note and SSP. (My boss had no understanding whatsover and was horrible to me so I left as I couldn't deal with the way I was being treated. Looking back I wish I'd taken it firther but didnt as I didnt have the mental or physical energy for it.) I'd only been in that job 5 months but a previous job nearly 4 years so I got full Maternity Allowance when baby was born which was same amount as SMP but survived on DH wages for my pregnancy and the bit of savings we had.
If you're boss gives you a hard time please speak to Pregnancy sickness support for advice and help as you are protected. I didnt know this until I'd already resigned.
I hope the ondansatron helps and you get some relief. 🤗

@abbs1 oh no I don't think she did, I'll restart on the fybogel now and then I'll call for the lactulose if needed.
I've already been constipated so im guessing the ondansatron won't do me any favours!
I've been at this job since mid August last year so, almost 6 months. I messaged my boss to tell him and all I got back was 'ok thanks' not one speck of concern that I'm bordering on being readmitted to hospital.
I have already decided that I'm only sticking this out until I've got my SMP and then as soon as that's over I'm done and looking for else where. The treatment from him in the past few weeks has disgusted me tbh.
He already sacked one girls when she she was pregnant so I'm making sure every interaction is recorded and witnessed where possible.
I have a peer supporter from PSS so I can get any help I need from them, they've been fantastic so far.

[quote SkaterChick]@abbs1 oh no I don't think she did, I'll restart on the fybogel now and then I'll call for the lactulose if needed.
I've already been constipated so im guessing the ondansatron won't do me any favours!
I've been at this job since mid August last year so, almost 6 months. I messaged my boss to tell him and all I got back was 'ok thanks' not one speck of concern that I'm bordering on being readmitted to hospital.
I have already decided that I'm only sticking this out until I've got my SMP and then as soon as that's over I'm done and looking for else where. The treatment from him in the past few weeks has disgusted me tbh.
He already sacked one girls when she she was pregnant so I'm making sure every interaction is recorded and witnessed where possible.
I have a peer supporter from PSS so I can get any help I need from them, they've been fantastic so far.[/quote]
Oh thats good youve got something to help. My constipation was awful but that may have been made worse as I had 2 lots of IV doses in hospital everyday for months so hopefully yours isnt too bad.

Oh no! Thats awful. He cant treat you or anyone like that. I'm glad you're keeping it all recorded in writing thas really good.
My boss bombarded me with calls, messages, voicemails, emails etc all while I was in hospital asking when I was coming back to work even though I'd been signed off and said they needed me back before my sick note ran out. They were saying as well basically I ruined the company as they couldnt go on their 5th holiday in 4 months as I wasnt there to cover their work in their absense etc. So I just left to put me and babys health as priority.
Im really glad you have a PSS peer to support you.

Can I join?

I'm currently 8+3 and the sickness has really hit today. I've been sick 6 times today already and am trying desperately to keep water down.

I've been on Cyclizine, Prochlorperazine, Metaclopramide and now my GP has prescribed Promethazine to take alongside the Metaclopramide, although I'm not hopeful.

Feeling awful and have a headache to go with it :(.

turquoise88 Welcome. Sorry you are feeling so bad. I am glad that they are trying out various meds until they find one that helps. Might the headache be a dehydration one? I'm assuming they tested your urine. Did they say you were dehydrated? Did they mention sending you in for fluids if the vomiting doesn't stop with this new medication? Sorry, this is a lot of questioning. 'Here is my normal spiel, which I hope will help. 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 , dry cereals and slices of melon and mango. Protein drinks have also been mentioned.
SkaterChick Glad to hear from you again. It's awful that boss managed to circumvent employment law and managed to sack a pregnant woman. I am glad you are keeping records and have found the peer support from PSS useful.
Melleebacca Excellent advice as ever.
I hope everyone is coping today.

@Melleebacca

Glad your braxton hicks have eased up, they can be so uncomfortable. Mine mostly happen when I’m lying down relaxed, I think baby turning over might trigger them as sometimes I feel her turn then my whole bump goes hard and tight.

That’s hard wearing a mask at work! At least you can take it off in the lab. One reason I got signed off from my NHS job was inability to wear PPE with HG (that and vomiting on the commute/ward!)

@PopGoesBang

Hope your back doesn’t get too bad! It’s hard work looking after older ones with HG. Even bending over is getting tricky now (partly the bump partly heartburn) but if I crouch I kind of get stuck 😂

Unfortunately none of the other mums go the same way as us, most live the other side of the school or drive in. We’re sort of on the outskirts. I might advertise for a childminder or nanny who could pick up etc, it’s just the thought of doing all the interviews and DBS checks, driving licence checks if not walking etc that puts me off. I keep telling myself I should battle on as long as I can!

@FateHasRedesignedMost I’m lucky that I’m only at work at my best time HG wise, and that my HG only really consists of nausea now, so the mask isn’t too much of an issue. It would’ve been impossible if I was still in the first trimester.
I find the Braxton hicks are occurring when I have been upright for too long and not resting. Everything feels heavy and low and then it all goes tight. Once I sit down and rest, he moves around like crazy. Today I did lots of trips to the outdoor recycle bin, and it was ok as long as after each trip I sat down for 10mins, so no Braxton hicks.

We’re on day 7 of 25deg hot, humid and constant rain, my mental health is really struggling. Weather is due to break in 2 days. It’s also exhausting trying to breathe in these conditions. Got my booster shot today which is likely to make things even tougher.

Melleebacca That does sound grim. Much sympathy. You, FateHasRedisgnedMost abbs1 PopGoesBang and all others looking after an LO or two while dealing with Hyperemesis all deserve a medal...

@FateHasRedesignedMost If the school run is one thing that goes so you can do all the other bits you do then so be it. I can understand the work that would go into finding the right person, but if it brings you less to worry about in the long run it may well be worth it.
Hope you are doing as ok as you can otherwise?

@Melleebacca hope this week at work has been ok, and you've managed some resemblance of balance with being able to rest too.

@LucindaE I'm lucky, my dd is 8 - so although there is lots to do, she is very good at helping out too. She also understands I'm not able to do all I could before. I did however manage to take her to a local moon exhibition in the evening yesterday, I took the risk and booked the tickets in hope I'd be able to do it. It was lovely to do something 'normal' for a short time, and see how excited she was too. She's very excited that baby is due near the start of the summer holidays so she'll be around to help. I have it much easier than those with younger ones!

Waves to everyone else and hope you are all doing as ok as possible

Hello all,

New to this thread. I am in hospital for second time in a week due to HG. I am also type one diabetic so starvation ketones quickly became an issue (hence being admitted for fluids and anti-emetics). I was originally given cyclizine at around week 7, which helped for about a week and then stopped working, then was started on Stemetil as well, which helped for a few days and then stopped working, and have just been started on Ondasentron yesterday (at a little over 13 weeks) but am still throwing up (it was given by IV) 😩 I feel absolutely rotten! Anyone else found they are still vomiting on Ondasentron? Any ideas what might happen next?

@T1mumtobe I'm on Ondansetron too - started around week 11.
I can still be sick and can still feel awfully sick at times - but it is far better than it was.
I found it took a little while for them to start working, so hopefully you may see some difference very very soon, especially at via IV.
I really hope you find some improvement and feel a little more human soon.

The other ladies will be along with their vast experience soon.

I think I may have this, heaving more than bring sick but it's 24/7 and I'm struggling to eat or drink

Would you speak to your GP or EPU first? I'm only 7 weeks so don't see the midwife for another 10 days

@Trying81 GP was my first port of call, they were able to prescribe meds and have been happy changing those when needed. My midwife was more than happy to leave it to the gp. If you are really struggling over the weekend you could give 111 a call and ask for a call back from an out of hours gp who should hopefully be able to help you out.

Again the other wonderful ladies on here will be along with much more valuable advice, you may be able to see back a few posts to see the wonderful initial advice

Thanks @PopGoesBang I may try to wait until Monday as my gp is great

I've read through the thread, and flat lemonade has been a life saver. I'm managing to keep milk down too - but I'm heaving eating most things which is frustrating as I'm so hungry

My mum thinks she had it, but back then it was just classed as bad morning sickness and not much help given

@Trying81 glad the flat lemonade is helping. At this point whatever stays down is a winner .
Make sure you get as much rest as possible. I realise this can be easier said than done but it can be a big help.

My mum had HG with me too, but like you say it wasn't really known about. She did get some medication as she lost so much weight but again not as much known to help then either.

It is great you have a good GP that can make all the difference with HG, and there are lots of meds/combinations that can help. It can be trial and error and I don't think anyone would say they take everything away, but they do help make symptoms more manageable most of the time.

Hello me again - hope you are all getting the treatments and feeling at least a bit of relief.
I have kept away because screen makes m dizzy.
I am currently hooked to fluids in A&E, after and IV shot of cyclizine.
I’m dizzy and feeling adrenaline rush and lightheadedeadmedd

Btw it’s the rotavirus my toddler brought in that broke the camels back yesterday. It iverrrode Stemetil like nothing, I read because rotavirus hits the serotonin receptors and Stemetil suppressed the dopamine ones.

This post took near 20 mins to type, only 1/10th into the drip.

Hi everyone. I just wanted to join this thread if that’s okay? I’m 9 weeks tomorrow with my first baby.

I have had HG for the last month now. Some days I struggle to keep water down. I alternate cyclizine & stemetil every four hours but I don’t find them that helpful really. I am either feeling sick, being sick or asleep. I have lost just over a stone so far.

I never realised how lonely this was, as I have been signed off work (secondary school teacher) & spend most days alone as my DH is at work. My mum had hyperemesis with me so I feel she is the only one who understands.

I feel frustrated when a few people who know ask me ‘are you feeling better?’ My answer is always NO but then I feel as though they think I must be exaggerating because surely some days are better than others? Except they really aren’t…

Hi ladies, may I join too please? I'm 12+2 weeks and have recently been told I have HG. I've only actually vomited a couple of times so I didn't think it COULD be HG but my food/smell aversions are extreme. Since 5 weeks I've had severe nausea all day and night. My pregnancy started off as a twin pregnancy but the second twin's heart stopped at 7 weeks.

Since that baby passed away, the nausea and food aversions have been worse (turns out its because when a twin dies in-utero it creates a huge surge of hormones). Last week I went to the doctor's three times feeling so ill but apart from ketones in my urine and low BP they couldn't find anything wrong. Eventually they prescribed Metochlopromide and told me there was nothing more they could do. A few days ago I went to A&E feeling so ill I couldn't cope a minute longer. They did some tests and found I was dehydrated and had a raging infection. I've been on strong antibiotics since and from that point of view am starting to feel a bit better.

I only have five foods I can eat at the moment (I won't list them here as I don't want to trigger anyone). The smell of ANY food cooking makes me heave over and over, even 'simple' foods which many would consider 'safe' even with HG! Just seeing crumbs of toast is enough to set me off now (bread is a huge no-no). I can and frequently do go all day on a packet of ready salted Walkers crisps but try really hard to have something nutritious every day, for the baby. I have no idea if I've lost any weight as the scales at home haven't worked for ages (dead battery) but DP said last night I've lost loads. I don't feel any thinner but it wouldn't be a bad thing anyway as my BMI was high (29) when I got pregnant.

I'm still feeling so poorly and fragile. I despise my toddler's mealtimes because I have to cook or prepare food for her and can't cope with it at all. The thought, sight or smell of poo sets me off too - pretty impossible to avoid especially when you have a two year old.

Please somebody tell me this will get better!

Busy Day!

@T1mumtobe I’m on ondansetron from weeks 4 to 28 usually. I still vomit from weeks 6 to approx 16. The ondansetron closes the valves to your stomach so makes it physically harder to vomit, but not impossible. I’m sorry you have to go through this, but it sounds like you’re getting all the right care. Fingers crossed it starts easing for you soon.

@Trying81 keep up your fluids, if fluids are sticking, just keep up with them and try not to worry too much about actual food. With my girls, frozen coke was a godsend, high calorie liquid that was cold enough my body didn’t get upset by it. This time around I vomited it too much. Hopefully your GP is sympathetic and you can get some meds this week.

@7Worfs oh you poor thing! Getting any illness on top of HG is excruciating, but a stomach virus must be the worst. Hopefully it passes soon. Will be thinking of you.

@BlueSky57 so glad you have a supportive mum! My mum didn’t have HG, but all the females on my dads side did, so they were incredibly supportive. Some days will be worse than others. If you feel like you need stronger meds, there are options. Try to have water in little sips and then lie still, it takes about 5-10mins for the water to absorb out of your stomach. So small sips every 10mins should help keep your fluid levels up.

@Squiff70 im so sorry for the loss of your twin, that must be a horrible experience on top of HG. HG is defined as severe vomiting and nausea that causes weight loss etc. Some people, like me, can handle the severe nausea but the vomiting wipes me out. Others are ok with vomiting but the nausea is too much. You can get different meds that help with different things, you may want to look into stemicil and cyclizine which are anti nausea meds (anti histamines that flood the receptors in the brain and stop you thinking or feeling like vomiting).
It does get better. But it is a super long road. I have a lot of aversions still at 24wks. There will be no meat or sweet treats for me until after delivery. But I’m surviving on carbs and tart fruits. Sour things seem to sit ok.

@PopGoesBang really looking forward to this week at work. A number of teachers will be on Camp, so it will be a quiet week for me. Plus nesting has kicked in, so I’m just getting my work space organised which I’ve been meaning to do for months. I hope you’re coping ok!