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.

Thank you @LucindaE and @FarmWife23 for the advice. I ended up phoning the doctor this morning for antacids and anti-sickness. Yesterday was horrendous. I’ve been up from 4 vomiting and eating pancakes in bed just to give my stomach something to throw up. Dh is gone all day with work and I know I won’t be able to sort ds out with dinner etc today so I’ve ended up having to tell my mum because I need the help. Just seems from the moment I open my eyes til the moment I close them I’m either being sick or trying to stop myself from being sick 😭 just feeling very sorry for myself 😂

Very fed up today. I was sick for the first time since July yesterday at 36 weeks. The nausea has been a constant but all the meds kept the vomiting under control.

Feels like a massive step back and I can't understand how vomiting can return. Today will be spent in bed, eating bland foods.

I saw talk of laxatives etc., further down. I find being bunged up definitely makes things worse. I was on lactulose for ages but it got too sickly for me so I switched to Movicol. It is working really well, despite me being on both Ondansetron and iron tablets.

to all fellow sufferers.

Hi - I'm between 8- 9 weeks, and currently off work at the moment due to feeling so lousy. My sick note says HG but I'm not sure if I 'qualify' as fortunately the vomiting hasn't been excessive so far (average about twice a day, but possibly ramping up a bit), but the nausea is absolutely relentless and so draining. I was fine until about 6 weeks, and now can barely go out for a short walk most days (was running etc before).
I've tried Cyclizine, Xonvea and Prochlorperazine so far without success, and GP isn't keen on trying anything else at the moment. Just feeling a bit down today as I hate not knowing when it'll end; feeling guilty for being off work, and just a general sense of inadequacy that other women just seem to cope much better (this is my first pregnancy).

Sorry to everyone else feeling rubbish too @Luna57 Hope the meds help - I can't imagine what it's like doing this with a child already to look after.
@IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes How discouraging that the vomiting has returned at this point - really hope it turns out to be one-off and you can make it to the end without much more upset.

@Mortima don't feel guilty at all and I found the nausea to be worse than the vomiting. It can be so debilitating. You can't eat or drink and all you get told is sip some water and have a ginger biscuit.... Also, don't be afraid to push for stronger meds. I went straight on ondansetron this time from 6 weeks. My GP tried to argue the toss but I made it clear that nothing worked in a previous pregnancy. I still ended up in hospital twice though. I was convinced it would be a wonder drug, like it is for some people.

HG is just the absolute pits. Don't be afraid to talk to people about how it's making you feel. My mental health has taken an absolute hammering because of suddenly being able to do absolutely nothing apart from lie in bed all day.

@Mortima don't compare yourself to other women. You must remember that a HG pregnancy is nothing like a normal pregnancy. A woman I know didn't know she was pregnant until she went into labour....that's how far the other extreme can go! Whereas with HG some women are sick from 4 weeks and know before they ever take a pregnancy test! The nausea is worse than the vomiting in some ways I think. Don't be afraid to ask for stronger meds if what you have isn't working. Tell your GP you have to try and get back to work and you might get something.

I'm also nine weeks and on the strongest meds available since Monday and thought I was much better until I felt nauseous most of today and vomited an hour ago. It's not easy. Take care of yourself.

Mortima Welcome. I so agree with others, you probably need a stronger medication or a combination. It might be worth phoning Pregnancy Sickness SOS on 024 7638 2020 if your GP is reluctant to prescribe anything stronger. They will have to phone back,but will give good advice. Everyone is very supportive on here. I wonder if you would mind scrolling down to my former reply to Luna below to see if any of the normal spiel I give to newcomers might be of use.

Luna I hope the meds help. It is miserable.
IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes Much sympathy about vomiting returning. I hope this was a one off. GA on Movical.
QueenBee Fine advice from you and from FarmWife22 as well.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

@IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes im sorry you’re back to being sick too, I had a couple of weeks break from it that ended on Christmas day (so grim). I’m 32 weeks now and back to being sick most days, despite the plain diet and medication. I’ve agreed with work to finish up 4 weeks before my due date and taken some holiday so my mat leave doesn’t start too early. I hope you’re getting close to finishing up too. I’ve got my fingers crossed we are both just having an off day or two and that it’ll go away again. Xx

FarmWife23 Oh dear, on Christmas Day: what a Christmas present. Much sympathy to you and IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes.

Desperately seeking some moral support please ladies.

This is pregnancy 2 and I am 34 weeks pregnant. I've suffered HG in both pregnancies but so much worse in this one. I have been hospitalised for fluids 15 times and am now on a planned four day cycle where I go in to hospital for fluid until the end.

I'm struggling so much as I get towards the end I just can't continue to be sick like this.

I've not had a day in this whole pregnancy that I haven't been sick at least 5 times. I have no energy and my tolerance is running out now. I just don't know how I'm going to do another 5 weeks :(

@ohhollyfred I am so sorry to hear that you have had such a rubbish time. The last few weeks seem like the hardest because time just drags. Everyone else seems to have energy and the nesting is kicking in but HG seems to prevent any of that.

It sounds like you've had a terrible time. Have you spoken to your midwife about how you're feeling? They may offer to induce earlier. I have a consultant appointment on Wednesday as my midwife put a referral in detailing just how horrendous life is now for me and how much my mental health is being impacted.

Are you also having injections of anti sickness meds when you go in for fluids? I find them to be more effective.

ohhollyfred That sounds horrendous. I am glad at least they are giving your fluids every four days. I suppose steroids were ineffective, as they must have considered them in such a severe case. Great advice from IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes about midwife referral re induction and injections.

I echo @LucindaE, @ohhollyfred please tell us that they did at least offer steroids. If they didn't, I think it's too late to start them now but I really hope they did at least try them with you! They don't seem to be routinely offered though.

IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes I do so hope they did offer them to ohhollyfred...

Yes they did offer them at around 25 weeks . I turned them down. I'm stupid I just didn't think there would be any way in hell by 25 weeks that I would still be in this hell. Everyone kept saying it will end soon. I wish I'd had a crystal ball. I would have taken them if I had known I'd be where I am now :(

Yes the stemetil injections are good at stopping the nausea for a few hours. I have those each time and IV ondansetron

@ohhollyfred I can't believe they made you wait until 25 weeks! I was on them from 9 weeks and they stopped the vomiting but did leave me with gestational diabetes and a massive weight gain.

Please don't beat yourself up - you are not stupid. I'm nearly 37 weeks now and I thought this would have ended around 20 weeks like it did with DS. It hasn't. We always like to hope for the best but you really are doing so well

Do they say hormones peak around 9 weeks? I’m 9+5 weeks now and I’ve started being sick 😩☹️ I stupidly thought this pregnancy would be different and I had it all under control with the pre-emotive meds and lots of rest. Last week I even felt normal and was wondering if something had happened 😥
Sending sympathy to everyone else suffering and @ohhollyfred I am so sorry you are feeling so low. It really is the pits! One day at a time and 🙏🏻 for an early arrival!

Ohhollyfred I so agree with IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes, you made the best decision at the time, and there are side effects with all meds. It is very unlucky that y ou are still suffering late on with these pregnancies. IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes Sorry about the weight gain and GD.
Babytwodue Sympathies. here is definitely a hormonal surge round week 10. It's the worst time for many. Many report one lasting several days around week 20; though it doesn't seem to be as bad, but can be discouraging. Some (comparatively) lucky sufferers do get early relief, round the supposedly magical week 12, but many suffering from normal levels of pregnancy sickness suffer up to week 14, after all.

Thought everything was getting better after getting Ondansetron as that worked for my last pregnancy, then it all went downhill just in time for going back to work. I went back for 1 day and ended up back in PAU for IV Fluids and more medication 🙈

Went back to docs today and I've been signed off work for another 2 weeks. I feel relieved as it was absolutely horrendous but also feeling really guilty. I haven't long been at this job and feel like I've just given the total wrong impression with being off for so long. They didn't handle it the best which didn't help, but still. Can't help but feel like I can't win!

@LucindaE I remember this from my 1st 😩 not a nice hormonal surge. I do feel lucky to have escaped the depths of HG so far!

I’ve just had my scan date through and it’s not until I am 13.5 weeks, so just another four weeks to try and keep up appearances!

@Babytwodue I am 9 weeks and really struggling to keep up appearances too! it is so difficult. I don't have a scan until 13 weeks either it is going to be a long four weeks ahead! I honestly don't know how anyone hasn't figured it out yet. My lovely husband tells me I now look very pale all the time as opposed to green before I started anti nausea meds. I think I look desperate and am just waiting for someone to guess...

Hi,

I am about 7.5 weeks pregnant (second pregnancy) and I’m feeling awful. Unable to keep food or water down or even cyclizine. I called my GP today and he basically said if I can’t keep down the tablets my only option is to go to A&E.

so this evening after feeling really dehydrated I did that and got sent to the on site GP. He gave me an anti sickness injection which has helped but said he couldn’t admit me for fluids without me doing a urine sample and have 4+ ketone levels. I haven’t been able to keep water down for the best part of 2 days so I’m not sure how I’m supposed to just wee on demand and surely not being able to wee is a sign of dehydration.

Just feeling completely fobbed off and like I need to get significantly worse before I can get any help.

He also didn’t want to prescribe any second line drugs because they can impact the baby apparently.

im not really sure what I’m after here maybe it’s more of a rant but I’m just so frustrated ☹️

@NP2705 I am so sorry you've had such a rubbish experience and it sounds like the medics you have dealt with have no idea how to handle HG.

I was admitted twice. They never checked for ketones, just got me in for fluids because I was so dehydrated. I started on ondansetron at 6 weeks but I had to tell my GP that was what I wanted as the first line stuff didn't cut it with DS. It might be worth going back and trying to see a different doctor? You can't carry on suffering like this

Hoping I can join, I haven’t read the whole thread but feeling very relieved to find other people experiencing the same thing as me right now. I’m 10 weeks (due August 15th) and have been struggling since I was five weeks. I was admitted to the hospital for dehydration after vomiting ten times a day for three weeks, I was diagnosed with HG and felt awful. I am feeling slightly better now, still struggling with constant nausea and fatigue but the vomiting per day is much less. I have so many good aversions and my levels of disgust are really high, the sight of my own vomit made me vomit last night. My usual safe foods aren’t working today, does anyone have any suggestions?

Hi everyone, I had been doing well on oral cyclizine and metaclopramide since I was last admitted at 6 weeks with no vomiting at all. I’m now 15 weeks and started throwing up everything all day yesterday despite having a dose of cyclizine & metaclopramide a few hours before it started. I can only think I went a bit too long without eating/drinking and so set it off. Has anyone else had such a sudden relapse?

to make matters worse I’m on holiday in Australia visiting family and am due to fly home tomorrow 😣 i was luckily able to get admitted today and got fluids & IV ondansetron and some oral for the plane, praying they continue to work.