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.

@LucindaE hello! I'm ok thanks. I'm in a new building with a new class. I've come home with a headache because this lot are verbal and talk a lot but they are much less violent and the day is mostly calmer. I like my new team a lot and the building I'm in is nice and the people are friendly. I feel a lot better about everything. I'm still very glad it's half term next week and that I don't work Thursdays and Fridays

My SIL was asking me about pregnancy and it was weird because I just don't talk about it. I've started trying to fill in a bump to baby book but I don't feel excitement like last time. I have a well-being phone consult tomorrow morning and a perinatal mental health appointment on Friday. Hopefully those will help. I've also started reading the Chimp Paradox and that's helping with the anxiety a bit. I really don't want to take antidepressants while pregnant but I will if I have to.

@ChloeHel sorry to hear you're feeling rough again. I hope you feel better soon. Don't rush back to work!

@Melleebacca hope you're ok

@ohCARP I’m glad to read you are finding work ok! I keep putting going back off, it’s just so hard when I’ve been off for so long. Im going to attempt to go back in 2 weeks and if I don’t enjoy it or it’s too much I’ll just have to go off again, don’t want to push it too much!

We are similar, I started getting excited a few weeks ago and I’ve been much happier, but the last few days the HG has kicked in and I’m miserable again. You sound like you are doing all the right things though and I hope they keep helping. You are half way there!

@ohCARP Thank you for the concern. I’m good. Finally had both kids at School and Kindy, so spent the day overdoing it.
Im glad work is going well for you.

Incredibly tired here. I keep waking up at 4.30am and after a day of false labour I’m exhausted by dinner time.

Waves to @LucindaE

@Melleebacca oh bless you that must be so tough. I hope your baby comes soon.

@LucindaE I don’t you how you can be simultaneously extremely dehydrated and have an excess of saliva but that sometimes happens. Everything is a balancing act. I am not to tired on the cytlezine. I think the benefits of being able to eat some actual food outweigh the impact. I had a good day yesterday but this morning I vomited up my medication when I was trying to take it so it might not go so well.

I have booked a private early scan because I am not sure of dates and I really wish I had done it in my first pregnancy. 12 weeks is too long to feel bad before knowing there is a real baby.

@ElephantGrey101 Oh yes! The exhaustion is real over here. Kinda want to start taking cyclizine again because it allowed me to nap. I’m hoping he comes by the end of the week. I’ve just found out the birthing center is closed for another week, so will definitely be birthing at the hospital and now just want to get it over and done with.
I highly recommend the early scan, I get them even if I’m 100% sure on dates but they’re also free here, as is all maternity care. My poor SIL had HG with her last pregnancy which turned out to be a blighted ovum, so that really sucked for her!

Oh yes the excess saliva 🤦‍♀️ it's awful isn't it?!

I also highly recommend an early scan, I had HG with my 4th miscarriage that we lost at 9 weeks so unfortunately HG doesn't necessarily mean a healthy pregnancy very sadly 😞

I'm on weekly scans with this pregnancy and it's costing us a fortune but worth it. NHS only offer 2 extra scans in the whole pregnancy in my area, despite 4 previous losses.

ElephantGrey101 That is so true about the saliva! It's dismal.
ohCARP It's so good that work hasn't turned out that bad, and you're not in at the end of the weeks.
Lover'sFood1988 That's awful, that they only offer two scans a year, even after four mc's. I thought they offered reassurance scans early. Was that abandoned during the pandamic?
Melleebacca That's a disappointment about the birthing centre keeping closed. You would think they could have given some notice or something.
ChloeHel Sorry about relapse.
A couple of people mentioned feeling guilty about not playing with LO's yesterday; I stopped at one, but from everything I've seen on these threads, LO's soon forget all about this period of comparative neglect, so don't torture yourselves.
Apologies for anyone rudely overlooked.

Hello all,

I'm just jumping on. Sorry to hear of your losses @LovesFood1987. My first pregnancy was HG and a loss too.

I hope your baby comes soon @Melleebacca

I've jumped back on after a name change (previously fumedup). Due date 28/11

I had to log off for a few weeks as the screen was making me so much more sick and even thinking of it or pregnancy was getting too much. I had to mentally detach myself as best as possible and just take each moment as it came (even the days become so long in HG).

My sickness has finally started to ease and I've weaned off of omeprazole. I'm almost certain my HG is connected to acid somehow. I get the usual morning sickness and that absolutely horrible metallic taste but my sickness tends to become more bearable once my stomach muscles close up again (around 14 weeks) and the acid reflux eases.

I'm happy to report the metallic taste is lessening now and only seems to rare it's head whenever I eat.

I hope everyone else feels some relief soon too and that this horrible illness stops affecting us so much. I'm hoping the sickness goes away entirely so I can get excited for the baby. The first 3 months were just trying to survive and now it's trying to overcome the fatigue left by the first 3 months.

@greenerfingers well done for surviving the worst of it. Really hope you get full relief from the horrors of HG now, I'm due about 4 weeks after you 🙂

I can totally relate to screens sometimes making the vomiting worse 😞 HG just needs any excuse to make us feel awful doesn't it?!

Waves to everyone, another day survived 🙏

Hi guys please can I join? I had a pregnancy 2 years ago and now I'm pregnant again which came as a shock. I found out today and have experienced nausea. I feel ashamed saying this but thinking about what's to come with the hypermesis I'm wishing I miscarry. What an awful human being I am. Any nausea I feel I immediately get upset and wish to die.

I'm not even going to acknowledge the pregnancy because I'll have to acknowledge the sickness.

flyingdream Welcome. Sorry that it was obviously severe last time. Everyone recommends getting pre-emptive meds asap. Did you have a sympathetic GP last time, and did any meds help? Also, it might be worth phoning up Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 7630 2020 about possible counselling over the trauma. They will ring back with good advice. It's also worth mentioning it to the doctor's surgery.
greenfingers Welcome back and I am so glad things have improved a lot. I've changed your due date. I so agree about the acidity - it has to be a huge factor.
Waves to LovesFood1887 and everyone.
Due Dates
Melleebacca 3 June
HopefulJ2018 14 June
Starbeach 17 June
BuffyFanForever 19 Jun TWINS!
PopGoesBang 7 August
FarmWife 12 August
rainbowzebra05 15 September
ChloeHel 5 October
Kiwi202 15 October
ohCARP 16 October
tigger2022 18 November
greenfingers 28 November
fumedup early Decemberlyingdream*

greenerfingers Sorry, I messed your name up and managed to get it joined to
some of my message to flyingdream. I've redone the Due Dates list.

Due Dates
Melleebacca 3 June
HopefulJ2018 14 June
Starbeach 17 June
BuffyFanForever 19 Jun TWINS!
PopGoesBang 7 August
FarmWife 12 August
rainbowzebra05 15 September
ChloeHel 5 October
Kiwi202 15 October
ohCARP 16 October
tigger2022 18 November
greenerfingers 28 November

@LucindaE You can take me off the due date list. Baby boy made his grand entrance 65minutes after my birthday ended, and after an awkward day of inconsistent contractions. Had less than a hour of active labour and baby came out 1minute after water broke and I was told I could push. Needless to say, body was in a fair amount of shock for the next 3hrs at what had happened, and I vomitted my last pregnancy induced vomit. Cold toast this morning, and while everything is still a little off taste wise due to being awake for 28hrs so far, we’re slowly getting there.

I sympathise with all those currently struggling with HG. It really sucks. But it does eventually end, and the blessing is so worth it! Although my veins are completely shot from the malnutrition and dehydration that I’ve been through!
Remember that you don’t have to torture yourself by going through HG med-free. That resting constantly is the best treatment. Also, don’t forget to treat the mental battle as well as the physical one.

xxx

@Melleebacca Congratulations! I'm so glad that your HG hell has come to the end and now you can enjoy your beautiful baby boy. Xx

Melleebacca Wonderful news! Congratulations on your baby boy.
Enjoy him after such a tough pregnancy. You have been invaluable on here. We will all miss you. I must remember about calcium powder helping with acidity. Welcome to the Pink Castle. 😀🍵@
Waves to BalletN and everyone.

@Melleebacca congratulations! I love hearing about births on this thread! It gave me so much hope when I was in the midst of HG. My little one is 7 weeks already, and the sickness feels like a distant memory. Enjoy your baby.

@Melleebacca congratulations! So wonderful that your little one is here. I had a very similar birth to you with DS so I can identify with the feeling of shaking for hours. I hope you feel better soon.

@greenerfingers my hyperemersis is definitely related to stomach acid too. I was having investigations into my stomach before I was pregnant and I had to take anti acids. I really hope things start to ease up for you now.

Absolutely wonderful news @Melleebacca. Many congratulations!! You can enjoy your baby now (and food hurrah)!!

@flyingdream I told myself there is no pregnancy for the first 10 weeks at least. I just literally said to myself you will be unwell everyday and just take it daily. I thought if I connect the sickness to the baby it'll make me feel depressed/resentment. Don't worry there was still plenty of feeling down and depressed some days but it would pass as I tried to stay busy.

Take it easy, look for meds, try different ones and be patient with them. Last 2 pregnancies I don't recall gum or sweets helping, this time sweets helped a little at the worst of hg, when it began to ease somewhat I found a gum (tried many and most made me sick) that would ease the metallic taste so I would chew gum constantly for weeks. Keep trying different things as every pregnancy is different (mind you I was on meds this time which is probably why I was able to stomach the gum and sweets this time). If nothing else helps just ask your doctor for regular iv fluids xx

Makes me so sad to see what HG has stolen from us in pregnancy. My initial joy of the positive is always overcome by extreme panic and fear. It does ease though at some point so keep that point in mind through the worst of it x

@Melleebacca congratulations! And what a great labour (although not easy I'm sure). So pleased for you and hope you can get back to enjoying food again ASAP!

@flyingdream I understand how you feel. I have only been able to acknowledge my pregnancy since 17 weeks and I still find it difficult to talk about. For me it's the sickness combined with having so many previous losses and being scared to get attached. Don't feel bad (easy to say) and make sure you rest as much as you can. Get a prescription for medication now and I suggest you speak to perinatal mental health too. I tried to be strong for too long but finally went back on antidepressants yesterday. I don't know if it's placebo effect but I feel better already although my sickness is much better than it was.

We're always here if you need us. Somebody will always reply. You're not alone

We are all happy for Melleebacca, but will miss her a lot.
Derbee Congratulations on baby too - and thank you for coming back on to encourage others.
greenerfingers Great advice for flyingdream.
ElephantGrey101 That must make the dreadful acidity even worse; sympathies.

Due Dates
HopefulJ2018 14 June
Starbeach 17 June
BuffyFanForever 19 Jun TWINS!
PopGoesBang 7 August
FarmWife 12 August
rainbowzebra05 15 September
ChloeHel 5 October
Kiwi202 15 October
ohCARP 16 October
tigger2022 18 November
greenerfingers 28 November

@Melleebacca Congratulations! I'm trying to work out if this meant he waited until the Friday like you needed so your mum could be round?! I mean, least if all the important details tbh.
Will miss seeing you here. But glad you are now able to start enjoying and rebuilding after the HG journey. Hope baby boy settles in well and your girls enjoy it all too.

@PopGoesBang So NZ is about 12hrs ahead of the UK. Mum finished work at 4pm Friday and I rang her at 6pm to come over. Not because my contractions were close enough together, but because I felt like I needed her. She got to my house at 7.30pm (after the kids were asleep), I went to the hospital at 11ish, checked in at 11.30. Messaged mum at 12.05 saying I didn’t have to share my birthday and then was checked for dilation at 12.15. Was about 5cm. Hard and fast contractions from then on until he was born at 1.05am on the first push.
Hospital food is just as blah as ever. But it is so nice to not feel nauseous after eating. Still mild nausea due to lack of sleep, and probably eating too much chocolate at all hours of the night 🤣

Thank you everyone else for your congratulations!

@Melleebacca oh so many congratulations to you!!! You are finally HG free! Take care xxx

@Melleebacca Look at that super star. He held out for his own birthday, and worked it so your mum could be there (thank goodness you called her when you did!!). Also, clearly a speed demon for when he sets his mind to something!
Hope you get some sleep soon and also some good home cooked food and truly enjoy it all.
So happy he's here and you are already feeling that bit better. You did it!