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.

@BFPDec21 Hi. My daughters are now 4 & 6. We didn’t tell them why I was sick until 11wks when my nipt came back clear. I told my eldest that I was having an allergic reaction, my body is allergic to itself. She is at school and has a friend with severe allergies, so it was something she understood. My hubby also looks after the kids from school pick up until bedtime, and it’s very unlikely that I see them during that period as I’m usually too sick to move.
I also recommend seeing your GP as soon as possible and get started on meds. Taking meds prior to the vomiting starting should help them build up in your system and be more effective. Hopefully that will also mean this pregnancy won’t be as severe as your last one. I have found HG to decrease slightly in severity with each subsequent pregnancy due to better coping mechanisms.
While this is an awful experience, it is a good time to encourage more independence in your daughter. I have a drawer full of snacks at child height, so they can help themselves when I can’t move. I downloaded loads of educational apps on the iPad, and set up a space in the house dedicated to lego, so they always have easy to access activities.

@Qwerty2000 sorry I can’t be of help with that. I do have excess saliva, but not to that extreme. The bad taste in my mouth is metallic.

MrsJDot and Qwety2000. The saliva is awful. Many do find it eases a lot as time goes on. Regarding the awful taste, many find it help[s to suck sweets such as Parma Violets (or is it Palma Violets?) or travel sweets - the ones in the tin, I used to see them in the local chemists in London - or old fashioned barley sugar. Others say that it increases the saliva, and you feel you can't win. I was once reduced to chewing leaves of my mint plant to take it away - probably a wonder I didn't chew my hair. Sympathies... I believe taste and smell are interconnected, and sufferers have an increased sense of smell. I did find having a smell in the room I could stand helped a bit,. in my case Lavender, but everyone is different about that.
Melleebacca Excellent advice as ever. It seems a good idea to stay on the Cyclizine. Interesting that fresh air helps.
BFPDec21. Welcome back. Mother Hen is still hanging about like a bad penny. I hope others who have suffered more recently than me can advise generally about the plan to have in place, but many doctors are prepared to give pre-emptive meds if you suffered badly last time and are traumatised by it. There is a new med called Xonvea which is specifically designed for pregnancy and has helped several on here, but it is a bit expensive. What meds helped you last time?
It's always worth getting some kesostix just in case, as while not the best test of dehydration, hospitals do take their measurements seriously. An good anti acid like Omprazole can help a lot, too. If you are prescribed Ondansetron, remember to ask for a laxative like Lactulose. What drinks did you find bearable last time? Have you got family and friends who are willing to help? Sorry, all this is largely phrased as questions. On explaining to an LO, there are a number of veterans on here who might give better advice than me on that, as regrettably, I never went for it a second time. There is ae book which might help - I'm not sure if I'm allowed to link it or if it counts as advertising (I didn't write it). I'll try anyway.
www.amazon.co.uk/How-Hero-Understand-Hyperemesis-Gravidarum/dp/0993062326?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I am quite old this time round and was worried about mc so didn't tell my older children (6 and 8) till after the 12 week scan. I was totally in bed from about 6 weeks and obviously ill well before that. I just explained I had a problem with my balance that was making me sick and dizzy, that I'd had it before (!), it would last a long time and get worse before it got better, and that I might have to go to hospital for a bit for fluids but that it wasn't anything to worry about and would get better eventually. I tried to be v calm and cheerful about it and my older one took it in his stride. The younger was more worried I think -- he is more imaginative and intuitive and I think picked up more that there was something he wasn't being told. But on the whole they were fine. This is my third time round and a v v much wanted baby so even when I was most ill I didn't feel panicked or despairing at all so I think that was reassuring for them. It's a difficult stage but overall I think siblings are a good thing for children to have so it is worth it!

Thank you all for your advice.

I do think we should wait to tell DD. She's been watching science stuff recently so would understand the allergy explanation.

The nausea has really picked up and I've been sat on the bathroom floor this morning. I must admit, I got really emotional thinking this could be the start of it again. I know DD will be a fantastic big sister so using that to put it into perspective.

I have put together an Amazon wishlist of bits to keep in my bag, car, by the sofa and bed. I bought some activity books for DD for Christmas so hopefully she can pass the time with those. Thankfully, I bought a big tub of Lego recently so I will take the advice and use it to my advantage.

@LucindaE We moved to the middle of nowhere with only one set of friends for support. My DM died a few years ago, she was so supportive and was the person who spoke to PSS last time to get me some advice on 'HG friendly' hospitals (unfortunately, my local one hadn't been) - why aren't they all 'HG friendly'?! I do have ILS who I know will offer stay for a bit to look after DD if it gets bad and they are really great generally.

Ondansetron was my saviour but, yes, I had to suffer a while before it was offered. Thanks for the tip on the new medication! I'm going to try and get a plan put together with the GP and some meds going.

kalidasa Wise words.
BFP2021 Do keep us updated on what meds you can get. Cheering you on.

I feel like a bit of a fraud posting here as some of you have it much worse.
I am 15 weeks and taking Cyclizine but still struggling. I will have the odd day or two when I am not sick but then 4 or 5 when I am been sick after everything I eat. I seem to be ok with keeping down water (although once I eat everything in my stomach comes up).
The midwife and GP were really focused on dehydration- which i completely understand is the biggest danger.
My question to anyone who has experienced is did the lack of eating cause you any issues? I have lost weight and 10 weeks in I just feel like its starting to take a real toll on my body. I am managing to eat very small amounts but its so little compared to my normal intake. Even on days I am not sick, I feel nauseous and am scared to eat normal amounts.
I am wondering if I just need to push on and eat more even knowing I will be sick?
Its fantastic to find this thread by the way. I am getting so down and feel like everyone thinks I am overeacting apart from my husband.

@Luckygreenduck - you might need stronger meds. I’m 14wks on the max dosage of cyclizine and ondansetron and vomiting has stopped. Nausea is still continuing.
Dehydration is the biggest issue, so it’s good if you’re keep liquids in. I am naturally on the slim side, so with my first, I lost 6kgs, which put me in the underweight bmi range. I did see a dietician, and had to fight, hard, to explain it wasn’t an eating disorder. My midwife however was incredibly supportive. She recommended I eat the most calorie rich foods I could stomach, like fries, milkshakes etc.
I end up anemic in all my pregnancies due to aversions to meat, and a number of fruit and veges, but my iron numbers rocket up once I give birth and can eat again. Baby will be taking everything it needs from you, so your priority should be keeping yourself alive with any food and drinks you can stomach. HG sucks, but it will end.

@BFPDec21 The hardest battle with the second HG pregnancy is the mental one. Get the meds that best work for you, do the best you can food and drink wise, and try not to worry too much about your daughter. My eldest has seen me go through it 3 times now, but when I’m healthy, she can’t remember it at all. My most used sentence with the kids at the moment is “mummy is sick, I can’t do that right now”. I do really emphasis that they can’t get my sickness because they are both aware of the pandemic. Also, I know it’s winter over there, which does mean everyone is cooped up a bit more, but maybe try doing some outside activities inside. We had an inflatable slide for a time in the middle of our lounge. It was something fun, and uncommon that only happened when I was sick. Think about what sorts of things you want you daughter to do while you’re busy tending to the new baby, and start getting that routine sorted. When DD2 was born, there was no jealously etc, because DD1 had already had months of Mummy not being able to do things because of the baby in her tummy.

Hi, how’s everyone doing today?

Sorry for going off radar, I had a few really bad days. I’m 16 weeks now, and the HG has taken a different turn (just like last time!) The urgent need to vomit has mostly gone, along with that choking feeling, but instead I’m vomiting up most liquids within half an hour (water, tea, coffee, it’s like they just stay there until I throw them up!) So I’m back on the ice lollies and tiny sips of ice cold water and flat coke. Need to order more ondansetron. Still on metaclopramide, omeprazole, cyclizine.

Had my 16 week midwife check, she confirmed womb has moved up and is nolonger retroverted (phew!) but baby is sitting quite high, so I think the pressure is contributing to nausea and vomiting. Anyone else suffering with this? I’m so thirsty.

One thing that seems to be helping the low BP is nibbling at salted caramel chocolate (the Tony’s Chocolonely one if anyone’s interested). The midwife was shocked how low my BP was so I’m wondering if it’s making the nausea worse. I feel a bit better after something salty!

1) Has anyone's GP had medication on standby for them? How did that conversation go? I've moved since my last pregnancy and my biggest fear is the lack of knowledge and understanding I had initially last time

My NHS GP wasn’t very helpful initially as we’ve moved 3x since my last pregnancy and they couldn’t locate my old notes. But I made a phone app with a private GP when I was about 5 weeks and suffering, explained all and he kindly prescribed all the meds I’d been on last time that helped (ondansetron, metaclopramide, omeprazole). Then my NHS GP followed his lead and put the latter 2 on repeat, plus cyclizine, but I still rely on the private GP for ondansetron as NHS GP doesn’t like prescribing that for some reason! (Local policy I think).

2) What can I do to prepare in case of another journey? I'm thinking of batch cooking some meals and getting some bits my DD can do in bed next to me

If you can manage batch cooking it’s a great idea. I’d also recommend sorting childcare and someone to take your DD to/from nursery or school in case it gets bad.

3) How do we have conversations with DD4 about why mummy is sick? Have you told your children early as a result of HG? As it's come up within earshot of DD, she does know I was very sick when she was in my belly but it was my body and not her fault.

We told our 6 year old after I had a 6-week scan that showed the heartbeat, as the miscarriage rate drops dramatically once a heartbeat is detected. He took the vomiting in his stride, possibly because we’ve had a few friends with pregnancy sickness so he thinks it’s normal for pregnant women to be sick a lot. I also started encouraging him to be more independent, eg getting himself dressed, brushing his own teeth, doing up his shoes ready for when I was struggling.

Hi guys hope your all well I like probably all of you am fed up of being sick now. We had our 12 week scan yesterday and I felt so guilty that I couldn’t really enjoy it for feeling so sick. I feel like the only mother to be in the world not enjoying their pregnancy and feeling like Im not bonding with my bump 😢

@FateHasRedesignedMost sorry to hear liquids are a struggle at the moment! I’ve got no ideas for you, but I hope it gets better. When I vomit up liquids, I feel like there is more acid in it, which burns. Maybe a thick liquid like yoghurt might help? Also super jealous of the chocolate eating. Chocolate is my favorite food but I’m super adverse to it while pregnant.
I have low blood pressure all the time (generally sit at 90/60). Fluids help, and also minimizing exertion. I find just walking up the stairs while pregnant is an enormous amount of exertion, and I often get light headed and sit as soon as I get to the top. Just don’t push through it. I only stand for a few minutes at a time and sit whenever I can.

@Starbeach I don’t enjoy pregnancy. It’s like this weird form of torture. I don’t blame the baby for it, I know it’s my own body’s reaction to myself. But it does mean I don’t bond to the baby much during pregnancy, but as soon as they’re born, I can eat and I feel like myself again, and all the good feelings come flooding in then. It will come, but you’re currently deep in HG and the illness is a lot to cope with. Finding out the gender helped me feel a little closer to baby, as I can plan for what will happen after the pregnancy. I don’t even really set up a nursery till way late in the pregnancy, but babies don’t need much.

Luckygreenduck Welcome. Sorry you are suffering. Don't feel a fraud that you are not suffering as terribly as some on here; your miseries sound bad enoough to me. The baby thrives amazingly on the starvation diet as long as you can avoid dehydration, but the mother feels terrible. As others say, it is certainly worth asking if you can add a medication or have another. I include my normal spiel, which I hope may help. Just ignore parts not relevevant. Most 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 and slices of melon and mango. Protein drinks have also been mentioned.
Seabeach Congratulations on your scan. You have every reason not to enjoy pregnancy. It won't make any difference to the bonding.
Wise words from Melleebacca and FateHasRedesignedMost.
FateHasRedesignedMost Sorry about liquid misfortunes.
Melleebacca That's a great idea about the slide!
Waves to all. Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Starbeach Sorry - that message for Seabeach was for you! We used to have a Seabeach on here, and Mother Hen is being muddle headed.

I hope eveyone is coping today.

@Starbeach you are not alone! I have exactly 1 picture with bump from my last pregnancy and this one so far zero. So hard to enjoy it when you just feel terrible!

I had my consultant appointment yesterday, embarrassingly it was the 2 consultants I ended up with last time! They told me not to mess with the gp again and just prescribed the lot. Also having thyroid issues which are apparently so bad they are considering surgery, while I’m pregnant! Was horrified by this and definitely don’t want it! Has anyone else had thyroid issues?

Morning everyone, hope you’re all coping. I felt rude not checking back in after you’d given me so much help and advice but since getting a bit of control back over the vomiting I’ve been manic busy catching up with all the jobs I couldn’t do before. I’ve had to increase to the maximum dose my GP would prescribe of prochlorperazine but along with omeprazole it’s working for me most days, just vomiting first and last thing in a day most days. Some days it just doesn’t work though, Sunday I was sick a lot, has anyone else found the medication unpredictable like this?
@Starbeach I really wouldn’t worry about what you ‘should’ be feeling. I’m having bay number 4 and my overwhelming memory of my first scan with this baby was sheer panic I was going to wet myself as I’d over done it with the full bladder advice so it was the magical moment I’d had with other scans. It’s bloody hard when you’re feeling so ill to also feel excited. At my second scan though it was totally different and I was totally in love… ten minutes later vomiting in the car park took the shine off a bit though.
I’d also recommend private GP appointment if it’s possible. I get mine on my health insurance and they ask so many more questions and seem far more informed and interested than my usual GP (who was googling how to treat pregnancy sickness when I eventually got an appointment after weeks of the receptionist basically telling me to get on with it).

Hiya, thought I'd check in. It's been a while! I left Mumsnet for a bit as I was wasting a lot of time on it. I'm 30 weeks now. Still vomiting a few times a week. I have also got gestational diabetes now which is so annoying and difficult as limited with food choices and the metformin makes me very nauseous. I'm having a c-section at 38 weeks. Can't wait for this horrible pregnancy to be over!

Permanentlymildlymiffed Don't worry about not checking back in;' nice to see you back with the good news that things are better. That level of sickness is still bad enough. Many on here find that they have unaccountable bad days, or bad days when they have tired to do to much, or with a hormonal surge. Good advice.
thingymaboob Sympathies about the gestational diabetes and that the Hyperemesis, though improved, hasn't truly gone. A few on here have had that, and it must be a real struggle findng things to eat and drink. It's good that the end is in sight.
Buffyfanforever I am so glad that those consultants have been helpful about the meds, and I do hope that they can deal efffectively with the thyroid problem without you having to go through the stress of an operation.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

Hey all, how is everyone today?
I’ve got meds but finding today that I still feel desperately sick but the vomiting is less.

Hi everyone hope you’re all doing as well as you can @BuffyFanForever I’ve been on all the drugs apart from a drip and nothing has stopped the nausea vomiting has only been helped slightly I’m only throwing up in the afternoon/evening now with promethezine. I’m praying that I stay vomit free for a few hours this afternoon as we have a family funeral and it’s not really the appropriate time to announce to the world we’re expecting although I’m only 13 weeks with a definite bump already. My beautician said omg I didn’t realise you were so far gone yesterday 🙈

Hi all, saw a midwife for the first time yesterday instead of the ob/gyn. They insisted there is no treatment other than gaviscon for acid reflux and wondered if I'd tried homeopathy or ginger for the sickness bit frustrated as I'd been hanging on for that appointment hoping for some help with the reflux.

Gaviscon is all they would ever prescribe for reflux I used to work in theatres in gastro.

@alpinia I've been on omeprazole since 6 weeks. Prescribed for reflux

@thingymaboob yes, I've had omeprazole prescribed before for reflux with good results. I'll see the ob/gyn again and see what they say.

Hey everyone - I'm new here but was just looking for somewhere to chat. I'm 10+5 into my second HG pregnancy and just need a bunch of ladies who understand.

Currently on Ondansetron and Metoclopramide and feeling miserable.