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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Hyperemesis Support

994 replies

LucindaE · 22/11/2021 19:52

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
OP posts:
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Bubblemonkey · 10/12/2021 19:43

Hii. Sorry if I’m not allowed here.

I’ve spoke to my midwife & although Not diagnosed with HG due to not actually throwing up but questioned it due to severe constant nausea.

Just wondering if anyones got any wise words for unrelenting nausea? I’m taking up to 100mg of promethazine a day which barely touches it & 10mg? of metoclopramide which takes the edge off it. I’m ending up in a situation where the meds are making me tired, which makes me feel worse which is then playing into barely eating & drinking.. seem to get myself stuck in a cycle of doom.

TIA.

Starbeach · 10/12/2021 19:58

Hi newbies can’t give you any advice but hang in there xx

LucindaE · 10/12/2021 21:12

Bubblemonkey Of course, you are allowed to join us. Welcome. It is possible to have Hyperemesis without vomiting. It is also possible to become dehydrated without vomiting if you are unable to drink enough fluids due to the nausea. Many find that medicines make them sleepy initially, but it wears off. It might be worth mentioning to the doctor, though. 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.
Purplewotsit Welcome. I always say veterans deserve a medal!
There is lots of support on here, though it's often quiet at weekends.
Have you got support from family or friends as rest is so important and it's so difficult with an LO? As you are a veteran you don 't need my normal spiel about flat coke, ice lollies and the juice of tinned fruit, getting kesostix which, while not the best test of dehydration, are taken seriously by hospitals and how a good anti acid can make a big difference. Many find ten weeks is the worst bit. Did you improve a lot in your first pregnancy at some point, as most do, even the unlucky ones who suffer throughout?
Starbeach Sorry to hear of the funeral. f hope you manage to hide it in loose clothes and sneaking out if necessary...
Buffyfanforever It's hard when the nasuea is unrelenting. Does an anti-acid help?On that, Alpinia Some doctors do insist on that - it is what mine said to me years ago when I suffered - but there is Omprazole as thingymaboob points out. I don 't know if they insist on that because it is expensive or because they wish to avoid prescribing more meds than they can help.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

OP posts:
FateHasRedesignedMost · 11/12/2021 09:21

@Melleebacca thanks, I tried some thick yogurt and it does seem to stay down better. Doesn’t quench the constant thirst though. I’m relying mostly on ice lollies and semi frozen coke to get liquids (very healthy 😂) for some reason frozen things seem to absorb faster and don’t trigger the nausea.

FateHasRedesignedMost · 11/12/2021 09:26

How is everyone? Welcome to new ladies and sorry you’re suffering!

I’m 17 weeks now and the nature of HG seems to have changed, like last time. I keep waking up around midnight and throwing up lots of acid/bile! 😩 Then I take an extra omeprazole and a couple of Rennies and try to get back to sleep.

I was sick again this morning, after breakfast. It’s not the same urgency as the first trimester just the knowledge it’s going to happen imminently, so at least I have time to reach a bathroom.

I feel like I’m going to be living on frozen slices of lemon, ice lollies and frozen coke for the rest of the pregnancy! Unless 16-17 weeks is some kind of hormonal surge?

FateHasRedesignedMost · 11/12/2021 09:29

@Bubblemonkey sorry you’re feeling so nauseous. I think the nausea is worse than vomiting a lot of the time. The only things I’ve found curb it a bit are ondansetron from a private GP (my NHS GP doesn’t fund it) and eating ice lollies or frozen things.

Starbeach · 11/12/2021 09:34

I’ve got Ondansetron (well I’ve got a bit of everything in my draw tried didn’t work etc) but I’m still a little worried about Ondansetron personally.

Currently on promethezine not sure it’s working tho as I’m always sick straight after it

Purplewotsit · 11/12/2021 11:48

@LucindaE I am do have great support at home, my husband is a legend but I can see how exhausted he is. I'm laughing at your message as I have a tin of fruit sat next to me as we speak whilst sipping on coke - funny how a lot of the same things work for many of us.

I did improve between 16-20 weeks so I'm desperately hoping for the same but I suppose you never know. I'm mostly "fine" (in the sense of keeping things down) if I stay perfectly still but it is hard going.

pregnancydiaries · 11/12/2021 14:56

Hi ladies I’m just posting here to bookmark this thread.

I haven’t posted in a long time and feel bad I am not able to give support to others, I’m just lurking at the moment as it’s all I can find the energy to do.

13+1 now and only getting worse as days go on…

Love to you all xxx

VWGolfmk2 · 11/12/2021 15:47

Hi, I'm 9 weeks with twins, and I've not been formally diagnosed with HG but I recognize so much of what you are going through. I've vomited 1-3 times every day since 5 weeks, can hardly eat, can only drink water. Feel nauseous all the time even after vomiting. I probably have about 8-10 heaves each vomit session and is mostly foul yellow bile 😩.

I feel dreadful, can hardly get out of bed or off the sofa. Have a disgusting taste in my mouth all the time. The worst part is I lie awake til 3 some nights knowing it's coming then have a huge vomit session, then takes ages to get to sleep.

Finally managed to get prescribed prometh this week and had one whole day without vomiting, but last night was up at 3am being sick again. It's not helped the nausea but maybe is lessening the vomiting. I feel I'm not taken that seriously by the doctor, that it's just something I need to endure, but I can't face feeling this bad for the next few months.

I've been on omeprazole for 20 years as I already have gastro reflux.

Sorry for the moan, feeling so sorry for myself and as we can't tell anyone yet about the pregnancy as it's too early I'm making excuses as to why I'm permanently ill. Urgh, please tell me it gets better.

Melleebacca · 11/12/2021 16:27

@FateHasRedesignedMost so glad to hear the yoghurt helped! It worked for my first pregnancy, but then threw it up so many times that I couldn’t touch it in subsequent ones.

@VWGolfmk2 don’t worry about not having a formal diagnosis of HG, some GPs are super reluctant to give a diagnosis. I only got one because I couldn’t work with my first and needed a doctors note.
You may need stronger meds. Week 9 is also known to be the worst week for sickness in any pregnancy. I found that my meds work to a certain level, but if my hormones were higher than that vomiting and nausea continued, generally stopping around 16wks, and then I had to slowly wean off the meds.

@Bubblemonkey some people struggle more with the nausea, and others with the vomiting. I can handle the nausea, which I have until birth. I also get mild nausea before every period, it’s just a hormonal thing for me. But it’s the vomiting that knocks me back. A lot of the meds may ease the vomiting, but aren’t able to ease the nausea until you’re further along. I’m now 15wks on max dose ondansetron and cyclizine, having my best HG pregnancy ever, and I’m still in bed from 2/3 pm every day due to the intense nausea. Vomiting stopped 2wks ago, so I’m doing ok there. It just takes ages!

violetsbabybluedragon · 11/12/2021 16:30

Hello peeps so I'm an old timer!!! Had my last baby back in December 2017 my username was mustang27. Any way this is now my third hg pregnancy I'm 7 weeks, early I know but Iv been spewing since week 4 the joys! My body just knows as soon as implantation happens I hate it cause I feel pregnant forever lol. I just thought I'd come hang out cause you guys got me through the last two times. Diet of ice poles and the occasional blue slushie over here!! I'm lucky so far cause my dr has had an hg pregnancy so she had put me on cyclizine and stemetil, I hate ondansetron it makes me worse due to nasty side effects. Is there anything new out there?

Melleebacca · 11/12/2021 16:42

@Purplewotsit you can do it! Taking meds earlier and religiously will help them build up in your system, and the HG might not be as bad. My worst pregnancy was my first when I didn’t know what was going on and how long it would last. But I struggled a lot mentally in my second pregnancy due to mum guilt of missing out on my daughters life. My husband becomes very obsessed with photographing every moment of the kids while I have HG, to help me feel like I was there, even when stuck in bed.

@pregnancydiaries sometimes you can feel worse because it’s a hormone surge, or it could be because the dehydration is bad. When constantly dehydrated, you might not notice that you’ve gotten even more dehydrated, but the sickness is definitely worse because of it. If you’re able to get an iv, it might give you the push of fluids you need to start having better days? A litre of IV fluids always gave me an easier day or two.
I hope you start feeling some relief soon.

Waves to everyone else.

I’m ok down here, we’ve had a heat wave this week which has made it harder for me. Mostly dropping my blood pressure and causing dizzy spells. I’m finally getting a couple of hours of nausea free time - 10am to noon, generally. I need to get some more ondansetron as Im not ready to drop it completely yet. Christmas is a hard time to get appts etc.

Melleebacca · 11/12/2021 16:46

@violetsbabybluedragon I remember you! I had my second daughter August 2017. Lost a son in Jan 2020 at 17wks of HG (due to severe genetic malformations). Now 15wks with a currently healthy boy. And feeling really done with HG.
Lovely to see you again, others have tried a new med with B6 added to it. I’m on ondansetron and cyclizine this time around and the addition of cyclizine has really helped. Only vomited daily from week 6-week13, which is huge!

violetsbabybluedragon · 11/12/2021 17:06

@Melleebacca oh man you have had a time of it I'm so sorry for your loss. It's not fair but I'm so glad you are doing well this time or as well as can be. I'm just absolutely on the ball with the meds and hopefully this one is better it's not looking promising. My age gap is ok youngest is four at the end of the month and he's fiercely independent so that helps me a little.

Yeah I'd seen an article about it but when I mentioned to my gp she was clueless so I thought maybe it was fake news 😂.

Purplewotsit · 11/12/2021 17:10

@Melleebacca my HG was defo worse last time. I even questioned whether it was HG this time and my midwife looked at me like I was insane and said yes it is, but well managed this time. Which makes sense - I was on the drugs early this time.

I cannot imagine HG in a heatwave (both times for me have thankfully been in the winter). Glad to hear you're getting some nausea free time.

I do get nausea free time (which I'm eternally thankful for) when I sleep, and for about 30 seconds to a minute after I wake. It's bliss. Same in both pregnancies.

poppy8989 · 11/12/2021 17:51

I new here!
I have my first doctors appointment Monday and am terribly sick. I can't keep water or any food down. Can't do anything other than be sick, even when my stomach is empty it's just acid.
I am miserable and honestly struggling to see how I can do this.

Melleebacca · 11/12/2021 19:04

@poppy8989 get meds, and IV fluids. The cycle of vomiting everything up and then getting dehydrated which makes you vomit more, is one to break as soon as you can. With my first I got sick on a Friday afternoon and vomited every half an hour that I was awake until I got meds from my doctor on Monday morning. It sucked.

@Purplewotsit I’ve had HG in summer with all my pregnancies. It definitely makes it a little worse. We are going through a lot of ice at the moment. It rained overnight and it’s meant to rain all week so that will help. I’m hoping that I recover a lot more before it gets really hot at the end of Jan.
My midwife is also very impressed with how well I’m managing HG this time around. It’s amazing what pre-emptive meds etc can do.

@violetsbabybluedragon There’s only 20m between DD1 and DD2, so that made DD2s pregnancy really tough. This time around one is at school and the other at kindy and they also play very well together, so me being stuck in bed has barely registered to them. It is a lot easier when they’re more independent.

LucindaE · 11/12/2021 19:30

Hello, everyone. Sorry that there is suffering all round. Welcome to the new people and the returners. poppy8989 You definitely sound as if you need meds if you can 't retain fluids. Do ask for them from your doctor. S/he may need to test your urine to see if you are dehydrated.
VWGolfmk2 Those who are expecting twins often suffer badly early on but recover early. With any luck, the same will be true for you. You have already had great advice from Melleebacca. I include my normal spiel for you and poppy8989, which I hope may help. Just ignore parts not relevevant, in the case of VWGolfmk2 obviously the anti acid advice is redundant. 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.

violetsbbabybluedragon Ah, I remember mustang27. Welcome back. You are brave to go for it for a third time. So has kalidasa. I don't know if you were on at the same time as well as Meleeb acca and thingymaboob. Sorry to hear you are suffring early, and Ondansetron doesn't suit you. Yes, there is a new drug specially for pregnancy sicknes called Xonvea, which has helped several on here, but it is expensive, so they can be reluctant to prescribe it.

FateHasRedesignedMost Oh dear, about night vomits. That is so dismal.
pregnancydiaries Sympathies about it getting worse. Wishing you some good days. Are there any meds they could add or substitute?
Purplewotsit It''s really good that the doctor had Hypermesis herself and is managing things reasonably for you.
Waves to Starbeachand everyone. Apologies if I've rudely overlooked anyone.

OP posts:
pregnancydiaries · 12/12/2021 10:39

Thanks @Melleebacca - I definitely find after IV fluids I get a couple of good days but I’m having a bit of a problem with the hospital admissions…

I keep getting very strange reactions to injection anti sickness (cyclizine and prochloperazine) - the jags make me feel AWFUL and jittery to the point I ended up discharging myself because it was such a horrible experience. Has anyone else had this???

pregnancydiaries · 12/12/2021 10:40

@LucindaE thank you ♥️ I’ve now added metracloperamide to the prochloperazine and cyclizine but so far no such luck. I’ve started taking vitamin B6 too as I read somewhere that can help with the nausea but a bit worried because they don’t seem to recommend it in the UK….

Purplewotsit · 12/12/2021 16:09

Is anyone having a pre-emptive freakout about HG and Christmas? We usually have the family to our house but I just can't imagine doing that this year. I have visions of running out of safe foods, and am having a mini meltdown...need to get a grip! I'll be 12 1/2 weeks at Christmas so will definitely be feeling rotten.

Melleebacca · 12/12/2021 16:12

@pregnancydiaries you should mention the adverse reaction to the doctor. You can also get ondansetron that dissolves in your mouth. Not as fast acting as IV meds, but still could be an option? It tastes like berries, which I struggle with, so I just take it with water.
Vitamin B6 is added with another anti-emetic to boost the response. Others on here are on it and getting some relief from it. Hopefully one will come on and give you more info.
With my hospital admissions, I was just given ondansetron tabs to take, as I could stomach small amounts of water. Generally water absorbs into your system in 5-10mins, so I would always have some after vomiting, knowing it would absorb before I vomitted again.
I hope you find the right balance soon.

violetsbabybluedragon · 12/12/2021 18:30

That's good advice I always tried to drink a bit more after a vomit session because unlike illness you don't get much of a window of relief afterwards but I didn't tend to want to be sick straight after either.

Haha glad people remember me I was actually so nervous that it wouldn't exist I
anymore and I'd be sick and alone. I remember others too which us good although o do question all our sanity as why we are back here.

I have been unable to leave my bed today did manage some food but just brought it all back up there.

You know what I hate the most with hg pregnancies is the food aversions I'd really like to be that pregnant lady that wants to eat pickles all the time 😢😢 or has cute cravings.

The nausea is crippling for me I'd deal with the vomit. Is anyone else's sense of smell insane?

violetsbabybluedragon · 12/12/2021 18:36

@Purplewotsit I'm the cook and honestly it's giving me palpitations il be about 9 weeks so just at the start of the real shit show😩. Think I'm gonna have to be signed off again.