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.

Hi all, Just joining the thread. I’m 7 weeks pregnant with my 2nd baby and feel nauseous constantly. I had the same with my first baby and it was hell, I swore I’d never have another one. Then I had PND and swore I’d never have another one. Anyway. Here I am feeling constantly like I’m going to vomit (no actual vomit though), sometimes I wish I could just be sick and get some relief but I know it doesn’t work like that.

@LucindaE you mention antacids in your post - do you think these might help me? I’m wary of taking proper medication as I’m already taking an antidepressant which worries me slightly although I’ve been reassured it is safe. Just want some relief…

thanks in advance

@KatieJayne86 yeah, Phoenix usually don’t stock it, the only one that used to have it was alliance. Oh please let me know what they say! They seem to just keep replying and pushing the date back week by week!

@Sicksmellymess how are you managing on the sleepaid? Have the Cariban tablets arrived for you yet??

@PopGoesBang all sorted now with like a million backup plans. I’m still furious at my mother in law for telling me that I “get to choose when baby comes” and then giving me all these reasons why this week doesn’t work for her. Hubby talked to his dad and gave him an earful about how not to annoy a heavily pregnant woman.

I know I’m emotional as it is, because it’s my birthday this week and everything seems to be on hold while waiting for the baby. And the inconsistent contractions are just wearing me out. So looks like he’s going to stay put for quite some time now. 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Correlation Im 38wks and while I’m off all of my anti-emetics, I still take a bit of calcium powder in super cold water every evening when I start feeling acid reflux/nausea. The calcium neutralizes the acid somewhat and gives me a bit of relief. It has also meant I’m able to eat a bit more and therefore I’ve finally reached my pre-pregnancy weight. So you could give that a try?

@ChloeHel @Sicksmellymess @KatieJayne86 Im so sorry you’re all still having issues with getting meds. The fight we each have to go through just to get meds is bad enough before you throw in supplier issues. I sure hope everything gets resolved for you all soon!

@Melleebacca Glad it's all sorted. You'd think MIL would know not to ruffle feathers, although I think for some it comes naturally. And obviously you need to be worried about what works for her at this point!
Happy birthday! Hope you have a pleasant day and can truly celebrate when baby is here.
I'd say enjoy this last bit, but maybe the best thing to say is I hope it all goes smoothly.

@PopGoesBang Thank you.
Im looking at taking the kids to the zoo on Friday to celebrate and encourage labour. If I birth on the weekend my mum can look after the kids, she just lives out of town and works part time during the week. She says if I cross my legs until Friday 4pm, she will be here 🤣

@Melleebacca sounds like a workable plan!! I mean you've waited this long 🤣 hope baby see's the sense and knows its place.
Enjoy the zoo. I'm sure the kids will!

@Correlation much sympathy for you. The nausea is the worst ever isn't it?! Constantly absolutely exhausting. I'm 9 weeks and battling so much with this too. The nausea is worse than the vomiting in my mind.

I'm also on my second pregnancy and promised myself I'd never get pregnant again, very sad that I'm basically a functionless human being and can't play with my son atm 😞😞😞

@ElephantGrey101 congratulations on your pregnancy, I remember your name from almost 4 years ago when my first was born too and this thread got me through the horrors of HG too. Hope you're less severely affected this time 🙏🤞

I couldn 't get onto Mumsnet yesterday evening.
Welcome back to ElephantGrey101 and welcome to Correlation. As you are both veterans, you don't need my normal spiel. I hope with effective meds you both suffer less this time round. Correlation Preventing acidiry in the stomach does seem to help a lot, and Melleebacca's suggestion of calcium powder does seem a great alternative ot anti-acids.

Melleebacca Sorry I couldn't post my sympathy message yesterday. That is very selfish of your in-laws. I am glad your OH spoke to them about it. I am glad you got something worked out. At least, if baby delays, you will be able to use the birthing centre.
ohCARP I couldn't post my sympathy message about your being so tense about returning to work. How did work go today? It's good that you have been in touch with the 'well being service'.
PopGoesBang It's good news that you are coping OK on that GD diet.
KatieJayne86 and ChloeHel Not happy news about the Xonvea, oh dear.
Are they offering any alternatives?

How are you doing? I hope this pregnancy is easier for you, especially as you have a little one as well.

I had a really good experience with my GP this morning. She switched my ant acids to omniprezole and showed me in the book that it was safe for pregnancy and was happy to give me pre emotive cytlezine. She said she had taken omniprezole when she was pregnant and told me how to get admitted for fluids if I need to.

I went to the pharmacy and they didn’t have any so hopefully I will be able to go back tomorrow to get some.

@LucindaE unfortunately there is no alternative to Xonvea :( it’ll have to be a completely different medication. The only other version of Xonvea is called Cariban which they sell in Ireland and Spain but not in the UK! Luckily I’ve managed to get two packs from Spain as my Nan just got back. So that will keep me going for 2 more months! Fingers crossed it’s back by then, or even better I won’t need them by then as I’ll be 30 weeks haha.

@ElephantGrey101 so pleased you had a good experience with your GP. Mine has been brilliant too and started me on cyclizine a lot earlier in the pregnancy compared to previously and so far I'm no where near as bad as I was with my first.

Anyone any tips for the constant horrific taste in your mouth with HG? Mine a million times worse after eating anything with carbs in 🤦‍♀️

I haven’t posted in a while but thank you so much for this group, I’ve been reading the threads. I’ve been in bed for the last couple of months mainly, managed to work from home and hasn’t had meds yet.

I’m at fifteen weeks and it suddenly ramped up eve further. I spoke to a much more helpful GP who said I needed to go to hospital. Had IV treatment of fluids and couple of injections of anti emetics. Have just got home with cyclizine and Prochlorperazine - has anyone taken these together? I’m sure the answer is yes! Apparently both can make you drowsy? So just working out how wiped out I’ll be.

Also I feel acid reflux is a main reason why I’m sick, I constantly hiccup and sometimes acid comes into my mouth. Often when I’m sick it’s very acidic and almost like it’s been ‘cleared out’. Ive got gaviscon but this is doing nothing. I saw someone mention calcium powder, or wonder if I need to speak to Gp about an actual prescription for something stronger. Any advice would be gratefully received! Bit wiped out tonight after not being well and some cannula drama for my apparently tiny veins!
thanks everyone.

@Worryant I think ant acids make a huge difference. I am on Omniprezole which is shown to be safe to use in pregnancy. The constant acidity is vile. In my last pregnancy I had ranitidine but that has been withdrawn.

@LovesFood1987 im so pleased you are not nearly as bad as last time.

The taste in your mouth is horrible isn’t it. I have been eating fruit pastels to take the taste away. They stopped me vomiting on my computer at work this afternoon.

ElephantGrey101 and LovesFood1987 That's a good idea about fruit pastilles. Sucking boiled sweets can help with the dreadful taste, too. I swore by old fashioned barley sugar, or travel sweets, some use palma violets. The problem is that it can increase the extra saliva, which is bad enough already at times.
Worryant Melleebacca recommends a half spoonful of calcium powder for the acidity. I must add that to the introductory spiel.
ChloeHel I'm glad you've got a couple of months' supply.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.
I hope Melleebacca and everyone is OK - more or less?

@Worryant you can buy calcium powder just from the pharmacy, it’s just a supplement. I do half a teaspoon in a little bit of really cold water. I really love the gritty feel in the mouth afterwards and it doesn’t seem to give me any bad aftertaste. I think the pregnancy max dose is like a teaspoon and a half a day, but I’ve never reached that. It’s also just great for your poor bones that end up quite depleted during pregnancy.

@LovesFood1987 I added lemon juice to my water to help get rid of the bad mouth taste. Bitter things seemed to help. But it never really goes away until after birth.

@LucindaE still hanging in here. 2 sick kids at home with me today, because that’s what everyone wants on their first week of maternity leave 😭.

Melleebacca Oh dear, two sick kids. Fate is having a go at you! I hope you have a nice easy birth and a nice easy baby, to make up!

@Worryant hope you're feeling better after your hospital trip. I was on cyclizine and prochlorperazine together, tbh no more knackered than I normally am with HG 🤦‍♀️ hope it works for you.

I'm feeling so guilty today, I hardly have any energy to play with my son, he's at preschool/with his dad/with his grandma and I feel like a stranger 😞 it's heartbreaking but I just feel so ill I don't feel I can give him the energy he deserves 😞

@Worryant The cyclizine makes me need a sleep but the prochloroperazine doesn't make me drowsy. I try to time the cyclizine round when I would be sleeping or napping anyway.
@LovesFood1987 I get the guilt too. I haven't played with my son for weeks. He comes into bed sometimes for a cuddle or I lie on the sofa and watch him play. But that's about it.
@Melleebacca I hope everyone is better soon.

Has anyone else’s HG reared it’s ugly head around the 20 week mark? I’m 21 weeks now and all of a sudden I’m being violently sick again! Been ok for around 3 weeks! I’m back to eating toast and baby bell as that’s the only thing my stomach can actually handle.

19 weeks to go….

@ChloeHel I'm only 13 weeks so a bit behind you. But in my first pregnancy I found it flared up again any time I thought it was under control and tried to do more like increase my hours at work.

Well I was meant to go back to work today after being off for 15 weeks! But that’s on hold again. I do find if I do more around the house the day after I’m done for :( I feel like I just need to spend the next 19 weeks in bed!

ChloeHel Many suffer from a hormonal surge around 20 weeks. It mgiht, hopefully, be that. Don't try and rush back to work. On that, I hope ohCARP is OK. She was dreading going back to work on the day I couldn't post due to some glitch at Mumsnet.
BalletN That is really frustrating. Overdoing it and having a relapse is routine with the scourge.
Waves to Melleebacca and everyone.