When do I make a fuss about morning sickness?

[addictedtoharibo]

Hi everyone

I am 6.5 weeks pregnant and have a DS. When I was pregnant with him I had bad morning sickness - would be sick numerous times a day for the whole 9 months but was "ok" if that makes sense. The sickness that time didnt start until 8 weeks.

This time I was feeling nauseas from the start and now am suffering awful all day horrible head spinning, stomach churning nausea all day. I barely eat a thing - nothing until the evening and then when I eat it comes straight back up again. Last time I could eat most things but was sick afterwards - but at least you get some of it that way (sorry tmi!).

I feel so weak - just went to shop at work and was shaking and walking at a snails pace. Usually I just get on with things but I have to teach later and dont know how I am going to stand in front of a class for an hour. I have been sick 4 times already today just from drinking lucozade which usually works but have been able to keep quite a bit of fluid down.

I have lost 7 pounds in the last 2 weeks although had plenty to spare.

I am seeing a homeopathist tomorrow but do you think I should bother the doctor? Should I just get on with things?

xxx

Sorry to hear you're suffering, i've been there....
The docs usually do nothing for you unless you have at least 2 days of keeping no fluids down. There are meds you can take which are probably perfectly safe, but they're not proven totally safe or entirely effective.
Since you're keeping fluids down then keep with them as much as you can. You can still book into see your GP and ask for advice, but don't expect much from them, not unless you become severely dehydrated.

I dont think the gp's can give you anything really for morning sickness.
I found eating ginger biscuits helped and just sipping water.
Try eating really light things, toast, dry biscuits, things that wont be too heavy for your stomach.

You sound like you're really going through the mill, like lljkk I've been there too so can really empathise.

In my experience, my gp was unwilling to prescribe any anti sickness medication until I had been unable to keep fluids down for more than a couple of days as well as having lost more than 5lbs. But I do know that across the country gp's prescribe anti sickness medication in early pregnancy quite routinely, but not lightly. But your dr might be different to mine and have different criteria, its def worth going and talking to yours even if just to register the fact that you're struggling- if it gets worse over the next week or so and you go back at least they can see you've been unwell for quite a while.

Even if Dr can't help straight away I'd suggest telling work you're ill with a bug or something if you need a couple of days to get back on your feet- if you're weak and finding it hard then you deserve a bit of home-administered kindness.

There are plenty of threads on other peoples' ms remedies, my own tried and tested tips are: to scratch and sniff a lemon (!), drink very cold squash with loads of ice, or my current fave is sucking murray mints all day long (my poor teeth!)- but it might be that nothing helps at all for a little while. Good luck to you, keep trying the remedies. It's such a trying time I really hope you feel better soon. xxxxxxxxx

ps there is a really good website about hyperemesis gravidarum (when ms gets really severe and dehydration sets in cos you can't keep anything down for quite a number of days, likely hospital stays etc) at www.hyperemesis.org.uk/ and this has some helpful hints on managing awful ms x

Hmmm.

My experience was that GPs and MWs dismiss you with an airy 'it's natural'.

I ended up in A&E with dehydration - was on a drip for a week before my fluids and salts were back in balance.

I was less sick for a while after the drip, since it made me much stronger.

The nurses said I was silly to have let myself get so weak, and i should jsut come to A&E if i was ever that bad.

Sounds like if you;re not there now, you may get there before it goes away. Take care of yourself.

I had (and am still having at 37 weeks) bad sickness. I took the anti sickness tablets which are great if you remember to take them in time! Other than that, there was a point where I was eating every meal twice, I couldn't seem to keep the first helping down. All I could do was make sure that I kept hydrated, and several people recommended salted crisps or marmite to keep your salt level in check. DO go to A&E if you really can't keep anything down!

I feel for you!

Hi AddictedtoHaribo - I feel like that right now. I'm sitting at home in my pyjamas having just given up as I've felt like this for 3 weeks and I just don't feel like fighting it today. And my symptoms are better than yours in that I'm managing to eat in small amounts and I've bought some motion sickness bands, which I think do help, but it's fairly miserable all the same and not something I can just work through right now.

If you were shaking and walking at a snails pace for any other reason, would you go home? If the answer is yes, then go home, I say. Some things are more important. This might not be for the whole pregnancy and certainly won't be forever, but they can't sack you for looking after yourself in a rough pregnancy.

addicted to haribo - poor you - totally sympathise.
Have you considered acupuncture? I nwas very sceptical - if fact thought it was a load of nonsense but was so desperate I would have tried anything. My GP recommended an acupuncturist (!) but I had to pay - it cost about £50 8 years ago.
It actully worked - nausea a nd vomiting went, and best of all I got amoe energy back. lasted about 4 weeks, then started up again and I went back and had a top up.
The needles did not hurt! DH was astnished and said it was all in the mind, mumbo jumbo etc - but did I care HOW it worked ?

Thank you for your support - it means a lot just to have people out there who understand. None of my friends suffer like this and whilst they are sympathetic you really have no idea until you experience it. I try and explain its like the hangover from hell but every single day without a break but you dont know what its like until you face it.

Starlight - I agree, the nausea is worse than the sickness in a lot of ways. Last time I could eat but would be sick all the time. This time I just cant eat and its awful.

Minkus - Yes i have had some bizarre remedies in my time - this time though they have stopped working already and I cant face the usual lucozade and haribo (will have to change my name, lol). Last night though i managed to eat and keep down a sugary ring donut so maybe this will be this weeks food!

Mrsguy - yes accupuncture is on my list - i will do anything! Would pay £50 for one days respite i think! I am going to the homeopathist today and if that doesnt work and trying reflexology...then the accupuncture.

Kif - why are doctors and midwives like this?? I had an awful one to start last time and didnt even do a urine sample until 24 weeks - and i had ketones then! She just kept telling me it wasnt as bad as i was making out?!? I havent actually been yet to see any health professional as i cant stand to be told to stop making a fuss.

Exciteable - I feel for you. I would go home but feel I cant. I have a lovely new job right now but basicaly got kicked out of my last one for having a baby!!! and im paranoid its going to happen again or people are going to hate me for it...i know i know - whats most important but...

Sherida - is this your first baby? I was sick right up until labour then as soon as DS was out it was like a switch had been flicked and it stopped immediately! Was so odd - i gave birth at 1.30 am and at 7.30am was sitting there eating a huge breakfast and a packet of jaffa cakes!

A friend of mine - another MNetter - had bad sickness in pregnancy. She was given medication from her Gp wgich helped loads.

my oh my addict, i am so with you on this i am having exactly the same, 24 hour hangover!!!!! its so crap. Im not actually being sick but the constant nausea is getting me down.... I was in tesco the other day and thought i was going to faint with the dizzness / weakness etc i almost told the cashier whilst i was packing my bags that i was pregnant and might pass out. i managed to get outside and had to sit in my reclined car seat for 15 mins just to get myself together enough to drive the 2 minute journey home....
I couldnt unload the bags i just left them in the boot until my dh got home, i plnted myself on the sofa and slept as it was all that made me feel better. On the whole everyday is similar.... i am off work and refuse to go back until i feel better, i have a demanding job working with 11-17 troublesone teens in a childrens home, i simply havent got the energy. On top of this ive got a hurrendously bad back!

Im so pleased im pregnant though as after a mc and 2 years of trying im finally here, i try to keep this in mind. EVERYONE keeps telling me im preganat not ill but that really doesnt help, my mum and MIL think im being silly but i ant help it!!!

GO sick at work and give your self some time and lots of sleep. Hope it gets better for us soon......xxx

How are you doing Haribo? Just wanted to see if you are feeling any better/if you took some time off work
x

Thank you so much for thinking of me! I am feeling a little better today - I have awful days, just bad days and then occasionally better days (where i still cant eat much but manage something). Today is a better day thankfully.

Went to see the homeopathist and she seems really hopeful she can help me so am just waiting for my pills now. Fingers crossed! She turned out to be an ex midwife so was very understanding and I trust her to do her best to try and take the edge off this at least.

Came home to, erm, work from home for the afternoon and slept for 4.5 hours straight! Luckily DH was picking DS up as I slept too long. But feel a lot better for it.

xx

have just seen this addictedtoharibo. hope your sickness clears up soon. thanks for yoru advice on my thread too.

haribo glad you are taking things a bit easier today. Hope the homepathy works too! Good luck.

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hey hunny,
i can not sympathise any more as it was only 6wks ago i recovoured from morning/day sickness that lasted 18wks. ilost 2stone in a matter of wks and my advise to you is get down the docs and demand the drip.
being abit of a soft touch, demanding anything when ill wasn't my strong point, the docs gave me 3 sets of anti sickness pill, non working!an injection up the bum and i just had to grin and bear it.
at 16 wks i had my worse bit and threw up over my boss resulting in a final go home and stay there to u get better.this pushed me to the docs to demand hospitilsation, and so being got a full apology frm the doc for nt sending me sooner and later an apology from work for making me come in sick, i mean i had to carry round a bowl!
The happy news is im now 25wks, the baby is perfectly healthy and im physical and mentaly happier, even eat like a horse!people dont tend to understand less theyve been there!ul be ok and stronger and more appreciative of feeling normal after