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.

Someone help me please.
I can't do this anymore. I'm so sick. My head is going to explode.
I'm so depressed and unhappy.

poppy8989 I expect you saw the messages below from myself and Melleebacca about how you need meds and your urine tested for signs of dehydration. A headache is often a sign of dehydration. Definitely contact A and E if you have gone for longer than 24 hours without retaining fluids, or your GP's emergency number.
violetsbabybluedragon Defiintely you are remembered. I thihk those going for it a second or third time deserve medals. Definitely let someone else be the host for Christmas. Cooking Christmas dinner for a lot of people doesn't bear thinking about.
purplewotsit I so agree with others; various sufferers have found B6 helps and I think it may well be in the new pregnancy sickness drug Xonvea.
pregnancydiaries I so agree with others. You definitely should report those symptoms.
Melleebacca Great advice as ever.
Waves to all.

Oh good Lord - well, my husband would have been the cook but I'm just not well enough to be out of bed at the moment. I don't envy you that job!

I spoke to my family and have weaseled out of hosting. They're going to visit on Boxing Day, just very close family and they'll come sit up in bed with me. We've agreed to have the proper Christmas meal when I'm feeling better which I hope is sometime in Jan!

Sorry @violetsbabybluedragon meant to tag you in that last post!

@poppy8989 bless you, it's absolutely bloody awful. I echo what @LucindaE has said - you need to try and sort out medical care which feels like the hardest thing when you're feeling so awful. But it's worth it!

@poppy8989 you should also talk to someone about your mental health. I’m generally quite a positive person, but I do suffer from depressive episodes while pregnant, which is totally understandable when you’re feeling so wretched. Knowing you’ve got people looking out for you really helps.

@Purplewotsit That sounds like wonderful Christmas plans. Covid is in the community here in NZ for really the first time in the whole pandemic, we’ve been really lucky so far. And that means we’re being really careful around the immunocompromised in our extended family. It means we have a good excuse as why we’re just having a small Christmas this year. We will see my in-laws in the morning as they live just up the road, then my mum will come to my house and cook Christmas lunch for me (she does this most years anyway). We will only have my mum and stepdad here instead of 15 extra family members, and I’m looking forward to it. I think a stress free event is the best this year.

@violetsbabybluedragon My eldest is now 6, and I am so impressed at how well @LucindaE has kept this group running over the years. It’s been a real life saver.

Hi ladies,

Just been admitted and given ondasatron. I’m 13+1 and reading mixed reviews on whether it should be given after 12 weeks or 14 weeks, so naturally I’m paranoid about the risks of cleft lip and heart. Looking for some others experience!

Love to everyone xxx

@Melleebacca an update!!♥️

@pregnancydiaries I took ondansetron 3 x a day from 6 weeks with both pregnancies and no cleft lip or palate with either child. The risks are vanishingly small. At 13 weeks your baby's cleft will be fully formed already

pregnancydiaries Sorry to hear you have been admitted. I hope you are now feeling a bit better. Excellent advice from Melleebacca as ever.
poppy8989 I hope you have got some help. I remember you said you had a surgery appointment today.
Purplewotsit Very sensible to pass the burden of entertaining on.
Mellebacca Thank you for your lovely comments about the thread.
Fiteen people over for Christmas, usually? Now that is certainly socialising.

Sorry, thingymaboob; I forgot to say, wise words from you for pregnancydiaries.

@thingymaboob thank you so much, this is exactly what I needed to hear. How did it work for you? I’m hoping for a miracle. 🤞🏼 Xxx

@LucindaE oh! I forget that in the UK it’s a little different. 15-20 people usually come for a pot luck lunch, and then all leave by 5pm. I host because we have a large backyard and as a foodie, my kitchen is designed for entertaining.

@pregnancydiaries Please don’t freak out over ondansetron! I have fought this battle many times with doctors. There is a barely statistically significant chance that ondansetron could cause cleft palate, like an extra 6 cases in 10,000 or something like that. The risk is less than the damage caused by dehydration.
I am on my 4th ondansetron pregnancy. I start at week 4 and wean off by week 28. While we did lose our son last year at 17wks, that was due to genetic malformations and had nothing to do with the use of ondansetron.
I was also nervous taking it in my first pregnancy, and took it as little as possible which resulted in many trips to the hospital for fluids.

Waves to everyone.

Hi all, sorry to hear everyone having a hard time. I’m right there it’s you. Several days with no water staying down a d I feel absolutely terrible. Trying to avoiding going to hospital but I don’t think I can wait much longer for fluids. Trying to care for my boys when like this is a nightmare.

@BuffyFanForever you need to get fluids that's no good. It's hard when we have other wee ones that need us though.

@Melleebacca we must have been pregnant about the same time with our firsts. The joys. How's your bigger one coping.

Oh btw it's a joke 7 weeks pregnant and I already have a wee bump Wtaf not gas I promise I don't want to show just yet I want to pretend all is well for another couple of weeks 😢. I tried to go food shopping for kids dinners this morning disaster just hitting the heave every second step looked mental.

Oh yeah what I actually same on you update about. They won't prescribe xonvea here to me not enough evidence of it's safety 😐 such a cop out

@violetsbabybluedragon oh bugger! You can take B6 yourself, just get it from the pharmacy, but I’m not sure what anti-emetic it’s paired with to make xonvea.
From 5wks till now, Hubby has been in charge of food shopping. He seems to spend twice the budget and bring home half the amount of food, but I don’t have the stomach or energy for it. Im going to take over again soon, and start ordering online again.
My big girl has her last day of school for the year today, and yesterday bought home all her art. She has edited her family picture that she did way back in feb to include “baby brother”, so it’s safe to say she’s over the moon. Both girls have gotten very into playing with their “babies” since we have told them. Im thinking baby brother might bring them a gift of a baby doll that looks like him when he’s born.
I’m also sorry to hear that you have a noticeable bump already. I have a long torso so won’t have a bump until after 20wks, and I love not having strangers know about my situation.

@BuffyFanForever You need fluids. If you’re already in the vomit-dehydration spiral, it’s only going to improve with fluids (or keeping more liquids down). It’s really hard with other kids, you want to be there for them, but you also have to balance the illness.
I always drink a lot more in the mornings because I’m less sick then, and not as much in the afternoons because the nausea is much worse. I’ve avoided fluids because I’m getting just enough in the mornings (GP said as long as I’m drinking half as much as usual I shouldn’t need fluids).

I finished work for the summer yesterday. Also got what will hopefully be my last prescription of meds, as I have to start weaning myself off over the summer, now that the vomiting has stopped.

Is there anyone I can talk to about how I'm feeling

@poppy8989 in regards to what? Mental or physical health? If you’re struggling with either, an appt with a GP is where to start. Anti-emetics will help with the physical side of HG, and I recommend a maternity mental health referral if you’re struggling with mental health.
We’re all here to listen and help you though.

poppy8989 Oh dear. I remember in your first post you commented that you had a doctor's appointment for Monday. How did that go? Did they test your urine for dehydration, and what did they say about meds?
Melleebacca Excellent advice, as ever. Of course, about NZ, your Christmas Dinner is an outside thing. I believe some have it on the beach.
violetsbabydragon Sorry about disasterous shopping trip.
BuffyFanForever Sorry things are bad. It does sound unfortunately as if you must be dehydrated by now.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

The pills they have given me haven't helped. I'm still so sick. Haven't eaten in 5 days now. And tiny sips of water hardly stay down. Iv been sick so much acid and in a lot of pain from doing so. I had a drip at the hospital but send home at 4am to see how I got on. My urine showed I was extremely dehydrated. I can't see an end to this. I'm so depressed and angry that I feel so bad. I just desperately needing help

@poppy8989

The pills they have given me haven't helped. I'm still so sick. Haven't eaten in 5 days now. And tiny sips of water hardly stay down. Iv been sick so much acid and in a lot of pain from doing so. I had a drip at the hospital but send home at 4am to see how I got on. My urine showed I was extremely dehydrated. I can't see an end to this. I'm so depressed and angry that I feel so bad. I just desperately needing help

It sounds like you need to go back in. Did they give you a number to call on the ward? What drugs have you been discharged with?

@poppy8989 They generally start you off with weaker meds. It took 3 trips to the GP till I finally got some that worked. If you’re not having adverse effects, keep taking them and get another appt. Water may stick better if it’s really cold, and always have a little after you vomit. It takes about 10-15mins for all the water to absorb, so if you can hold it in that long, it will help.
We’re here for you.

poppy8989 Sorry to hear that the pills aren't working. As others say, they will move on to stronger meds only if the weaker ones don't work. It is hard to fight your corner when feeling terrible, but do emphasize to the surgery that you are unable to retain fluids. This is a very traumatic experience for sufferers. Things do get better for most people after the first terrible bit. Many sufferers find that fluids other than water - say, flat full sugar coke, or ice lollies, or the juice of tinned fruit, are easier to retain than water. These might help. It is also a depressing experience. Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 7638 2020 will give good advice about obtaining effective meds and one to one counselling, if you feel the need. They will have to phone back, b ut will with good advice. From what you say, an anti acid might help quite a lot.
Mellebacca and thingymaboob Great advice as ever.

My PC is playing up. I hope I'll be able to get on tomorrow.

Ondansetron Headache

The miracle drug is doing wonders for my sickness but OMG the headaches, do they go away? I’m taking paracetamol daily which has me in a panic. It’s a vicious circle. Xx