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Pregnancy

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

Hyperemesis Support

1000 replies

LucindaE · 26/03/2022 18:45

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
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Snowwhite2020 · 15/08/2022 17:41

All ok with me today @LucindaE thank you. Hope all is well with you and everyone else. Hopefully all sufferers enjoying a dip in temperature… xx

Handmaid2019 · 15/08/2022 23:09

@Snowwhite2020 & @LucindaE thank you both so much for your lovely messages.

Today I went to my GP, she dipped my urine and it showed ketones, so I'm currently in hospital having iv fluids, I've had an anti sickness injection and IV paracetamol due to a horrid headache! The nurse is doing me a prescription for a new anti-emetic that she thinks will work well.

Thanks for your support! X

LucindaE · 16/08/2022 18:18

Handmaid2019 I'm glad you are receiving effective treatment, but I am sorry you had to be admitted. I am glad the nurse is confident about the new anti emetic. Would that be Xonvea? That has helped a good few on here.
Snowwhite2020 Glad all is well with you.

OP posts:
Snowwhite2020 · 16/08/2022 20:18

Hope you feel better soon @Handmaid2019 xx

LucindaE · 17/08/2022 18:29

I hope everyone is coping today.

OP posts:
BalletN · 17/08/2022 19:36

So last week my doctor gave me a sick line to say I can only work afternoons for the next 9 weeks until I start maternity leave in October. I'm part time anyway. I'm a teacher in Scotland so our term starts this week, earlier than the rest of the UK. Today I was told that HR aren't happy to take the doctor's word for it so I need to see occupational health. If occupational health agree then they will let me work just afternoons. However, they will temporarily change my contract to only pay me for the hours I actually teach, which means I will get much less maternity pay too as a consequence. I get that the council don't want to pay me if I'm not working my full hours but just feel like I'm being punished for having HG and that it's extra stress that I don't need. I would love to be well enough to work through my whole pregnancy!

ohCARP · 17/08/2022 20:58

@BalletN that sounds a lot like pregnancy discrimination to me. Can you speak to your union and see if they can support you? It's not your fault you're unwell and it's not like it's going to be for the rest of your career!

Snowwhite2020 · 17/08/2022 21:05

I totally agree with @ohCARP - go to your union… @BalletN sorry you’re having to deal with this on top of HG xx

buntywindermere · 17/08/2022 22:59

Hi @Handmaid2019 hopefully your new medication has kicked in quickly and you're feeling some relief!! If not, I just wanted to let you know I had the same reaction to cyclizine. With my first HG pregnancy I only took one cyclizine at night because the drowsiness and headaches were so bad. This pregnancy, my sickness has been so much worse, and since I was signed off work anyway I stuck to taking 3 cyclizine per day just so that I could sleep. After about a week, I stopped feeling drowsy and stopped getting headaches. I have had to take ondansetron alongside the cyclizine so I am now taking both 3x a day. I am 20 weeks and need them both to be able to function but I am finally able to get out of bed and walk around without vomiting so I'm glad I rode out the cyclizine side effects.

@BalletN I work in a school too and tried to go back "phased" as I wasn't well enough to do full days but needed to get back into a routine. Our business manager said I would have to take the pay cut and could only be paid for the hours I worked. I did this for July but then my hours went back to normal (hopefully anyway, we will see on pay day!). Is there a way that you could take the reduced hours temporarily and then return to full hours just before your maternity leave starts? I don't think the reduced hours/phased return is a permanent contract change so it seems unfair that your maternity entitlement will be docked too. Like this should just be a temporary measure, and as you say, it is unfair to be penalised for the next 9 months for all the suffering you've endured the last 9 months. I am in England though and non teaching staff but nothing to do with finance or HR so could be talking crap...!

Handmaid2019 · 17/08/2022 23:30

Thanks @Snowwhite2020 and @LucindaE. No the meds are Prochlorperazine. The only problem is they're buccal and take 1-2 hours to melt! Due to the treatment I had on Monday evening, I felt okay yesterday, but, today the nausea has returned and although I've had lots of dry retching I haven't vomited. I think the vomiting will start again tomorrow, I've no idea how I'm going to keep the tablet in my mouth whilst vomiting!

Thank you @buntywindermere, I'll see how I get on with this new medication, but I'll consider cyclizine again if they don't work.

@BalletN I'm so sorry that you're going through this stress on top of this horrific illness. It does sound like you're being discriminated against! Do you have a union rep you could talk to?

Hope everyone's doing okay, thanks for the support ladies xxx

BalletN · 18/08/2022 07:00

Thank you for your support everyone. I'll see what the union says.

@Handmaid2019 I found that I had to take both cyclizine and prochloperazine together to get things under control. You might need to try different combinations until you find what works for you.

buntywindermere · 18/08/2022 08:46

@Handmaid2019 I had exactly the same problem with the prochlorperazine, and my GP wouldn't believe me when I said it was taking well over an hour to dissolve. It seemed pointless because I would be sick again before it seemed to do anything and there was no way of retaining what was in my mouth!!! I also found the way it trickled around my gums made me feel more nauseous.
One friend swore by it her entire pregnancy though, so fingers crossed for you!!
Also, I think most HG sufferers find it intensifies around 9 weeks - even though everywhere tells you it should ease off at this point. For me in all my pregnancies the worst has been from weeks 9-14. It's such a dark and isolating time, and those intrusive thoughts you've had about miscarriage are really common. The support here that @LucindaE provides is really invaluable so do keep checking in if you are able to. Flowers

Fearnecuptea · 18/08/2022 09:08

Hi all,

I'm new here (well on this thread! Not so much MN). Am 9 weeks and a few days, second child and feel AWFUL.

Between 5-8 weeks I just felt nauseous constantly and knackered, now am puking maybe once a day but feel disgusting constantly. Sorry tmi but I also have horrendous diarrhoea. Does that sound like pre em or just regular Preg sickness? I have no idea but I didn't have this at all with first pregnancy.

I just want to not feel/be sick! Have a weekend full of plans coming up and think I'm going to have to cancel everything as seriously don't think I can physically go outside eugh

Fearnecuptea · 18/08/2022 09:09

I meant hyper em not pre em (getting muddled with pre eclampsia here, my mind is a scrambled mess!!)

ChloeHel · 18/08/2022 20:43

Well I didn’t think I’d be back here to write about the return of HG! 33 weeks and bam! It’s hit me again and I’m as sick as a dog. The nausea is absolutely horrendous, I don’t think it helps that I’m currently on antibiotics too :(

Anyone else heard of the return of HG this late on?

@ohCARP only just read about your experience! Is everything all ok now? Baby snug and happy?

ohCARP · 18/08/2022 21:17

@Weathergirl1 sorry I missed your message! Needing the injections for lungs sounds like your experience was much more dramatic than mine! Are you ok now? I wasn't dilating so they didn't do anything but I did end up with a lovely UTI and yeast infection from the examination so ended up back in hospital a few days later

@ChloeHel unfortunately my friend had this 😞 she was sick most of the way through aside from a few weeks in the middle. Have you got enough medication? I've been taking some omeprazole now and that's helping but the nausea is back and everything smells weird and nothing seems to take that away.

I'm ok thanks. Baby is fine although she did move the other day so where she was low before she feels a lot higher and in my ribs which is the opposite of where I want her to be!

LucindaE · 18/08/2022 21:42

Fearnecuptea Welcome. Sorry you are suffering. Do ask for anti sickness meds from your GP if you can't leave your bed or sofa. It is possible to have Hyperemesis with only a small amount of vomiting but debilitating nausea.
I quote my normal spiel, which I hope helps.
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, frozen smoothie ice lollies, the juice of tinned fruit, Vimto, 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 (M and S has been recommende), 7Up, isotonic drinks, sips of strawberry or 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 , dry cereals and slices of melon and mango. Protein drinks have also been mentioned.
BalletN That sounds so unfair and discriminatory, I agree with ohCARP and Snowwhite2020 Weathergirl1 and others, do contact your union or failing your having one,HR or Citizen's Advice. I never heard of an employer not accepting the doctor's word before,especially in a pregnancy related condition.
ohCARP I am glad all is OK.
Chloehel Sorry to hear it's come back. I have heard from others on this thread that antibiotics can make the sickness much worse. With luck it might be much increased by that. Will the doctor put you back on your old meds?
handmaid2019 I find it odd that the nurse called that a new drug, but I suppose she meant 'new to you'. It has helped many, but if it is isn't helping you, it might be worth asking about Xonvea, which has helped many on here.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

OP posts:
LucindaE · 18/08/2022 21:45

buntywindermere Sorry, I missed your message. I am glad things are a lot better now. Great advice.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

OP posts:
Weathergirl1 · 18/08/2022 21:54

@ohCARP it was all a bit precautionary. I had a browny coloured bleed and because my placenta was low at 20 weeks, they couldn't rule it out as being from the placenta, although there was no bright red blood which I'm led to believe is what placental bleeds usually are. It eased off and I had a few brown clots which were clearly old blood and it's pretty much gone now (aside from the occasional brown tinge) - As I wasn't in my usual hospital being checked and they couldn't scan me to confirm as the ultrasound dept wasn't open(!) the consultant wanted the steroids as a precaution. Fairly sure now that I overdid it in the swimming pool the day before when I got stuck on my back and it was a bit of effort to get back onto my front (at the time it didn't register because it was hardly exertion compared to my usual sporting activities!). Anyway, we did have confirmation that the baby is indeed in the same breech position as #1 was (despite the midwife claiming she could feel the head low down at my last appointment...)

@ChloeHel me here - thought I was feeling a bit more nauseous around 28 weeks when previously the ondansetron was keeping it completely at bay if I took it on time. However, I've had a few days of feeling pretty nauseous this week. I've had to take omeprazole a few times and am nearly out so had to request another prescription... which triggered them saying I needed a medication review appointment because the last prescription of that was back in April - arghhh! No actual sickness here (I do feel a bit of a fraud on this board) but I was laid out hardly moving at all on Sunday and Monday afternoons, and didn't feel great today either (30+3 on my dates).

Eviction day is now under 8 weeks as of yesterday! 😅

ChloeHel · 18/08/2022 23:07

@ohCARP oh thank god! I’ve just lost a little bit of mucus plug tonight..great haha. Not panicking though as I know it can happen and it regenerates. I do have a weird feeling mine will be a bit early. But whenever that’s said it never happens! Yes got plenty of Xonvea, doctor double dosed last prescription so I’ve got another month worth. Just really depressing feeling this way again :(

@LucindaE ah yes, I was thinking it was the antibiotics in general but it could very well be them interacting with the HG that’s clearly still in my body!! Thankfully I’ve never stopped taking the Xonvea so got plenty :)

@Weathergirl1 Aw no! Did you manage to get the ondansetron? I’m the same, I am not being physically sick anymore but the nausea is really bad, I can’t bend over or pick anything up with out feeling like my insides are making their way to my throat lol! I just hope it’s a blip and not going to last these last 6 weeks!! We’ve been through enough!

LucindaE · 19/08/2022 20:36

ChloeHel I never knew mucus plug regenerated! Glad you've got a good supply of Xonvea, anway.
Weathergirl1 Don't feel a fraud; it's lovely to have you on the thread. Those episodes of nausea sound no fun, either.
BalletN Any news about work?
Waves to all.

OP posts:
ohCARP · 19/08/2022 20:57

@Weathergirl1 I can do relate to getting stuck on your back 😂 unbelievable that they couldn't give you an emergency scan though. I had one in A&E with a basic ultrasound but it was enough to reassure me that my eldest was fine after I had a car accident. I did have to cause a bit of a scene to get it though. It's good that they gave your steroids just in case. It must be reassuring to know they've done all they can to get baby ready if they do decide to make an early appearance

@ChloeHel I feel like mine is going to come early too! (Watch me still be pregnant in November) everything just seems to be starting earlier this time including weird cravings for chewing sponges and baby seeming to be getting into position. I lost plug for a few days after the examination but hospital weren't bothered and said it would grow back. It's pretty grim though. Sounds like you have a good doctor for them to give you double doses. It's so demoralising feeling rubbish again though. I'm not being sick but I'm back to not being able to be anywhere near bacon again!

Weathergirl1 · 19/08/2022 21:18

@LucindaE 😊

@ChloeHel it's the omeprazole I needed - the receptionist asked if I would run out by Monday so I told her yes if I needed to take it every day so she pushed through the repeat anyway. I haven't used it up yet so am planning to go and fetch the prescription in the morning - fingers crossed the GP pharmacist was ok to issue it!

@ohCARP the consultant did a quick scan on the ward and checked the baby was ok (she normally does those before sections so that she knows where everything is - and was happy that if she needed to do the section everything was where she was happy for it to be) - and confirmed as frank breech. But it needed a sonographer to check cord flow and where the placenta was etc so I had that when I got back home - although still no confirmation about exactly how low it is at the moment as the baby's bottom was blocking the view and I didn't want an internal scan. I'm quite relaxed though because it wasn't bright red blood and I'm booked for an ELCS anyway, and now we have further confirmation that the baby is still breech, if labour starts, they won't be messing me around.

I'm actually starting to think about how long left to prep. Last time I started leaking waters at about 35 weeks which caused them to book me for a caesarean at 37+2 - we lost the three weeks from the DD and the two weeks prior to the section as I couldn't really do much/venture far from home stuffed with tena lady pads! If I go with that timeline as a precaution this time, I'm looking at potentially only having 4 weeks left of prep time left - which is quite worrying given I feel like I still have lots to do!

ohCARP · 19/08/2022 21:53

@Weathergirl1 oh gosh only 4 weeks! I packed my hospital bag just in case even though I'm hoping for a home birth haha. When I was having contractions I kept thinking about how unprepared we were.

It sounds like the consultant was as thorough as she could have been which is good. I hope you don't relive your Tena lady experience this time round though!

Elle1709 · 20/08/2022 12:12

Hello, I'm new to this thread and wondered if anyone had any info/advice on having a c section with pregnancy nausea and vomiting? I'm 29 weeks and going to be booked in for a c section at 39 weeks. I'm still on medication for my nausea and sickness which started around 6 weeks and has lasted ever since. It was worse in the first and early second trimester. I can now function with my medication and keep things down. The thing I'm worrying about is fasting for the c section from the night before and I imagine this will mean I won't be able to take my medication either. The way I manage my sickness in the morning now before I even sit up is to take my medication first thing and my partner then has to make me a carby snack like bread, etc., before I sit up out of bed otherwise I vomit. Does anyone have any experience of fasting and having a c section with nausea/vomiting? And advice would be great. Thanks 😊

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