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Pregnancy

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

Hyperemesis Support

988 replies

LucindaE · 19/10/2022 19:24

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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5
Yoga817 · 29/01/2023 08:17

Hi everyone. Nice to meet you all. I'm 10 weeks pregnant with twins as of tomorrow and have been suffering since 5w6d. Vomiting 5 X per day and dry retching another 5 X on top of that. At once point I stopped peeing I was so dehydrated and one night I vomited 7x in about 4 hours. I finally managed to get an appointment with GP this week and asked for Xonvea, and they prescribed me a box that would last ten days. It's definitely helping as I've only been averaging vomiting once per day but am on the lowest dose, so planning to ask them to increase at next appointment. The only challenge is they won't prescribe on repeat and it's almost impossible to get an appointment (next GP appointment is 2 days after I run out and it takes time for the pharmacy to order it in) so I'll likely run out and have a couple of days gap. I have a midwife appointment on Friday. Can midwife write a prescription for this?

NP2705 · 29/01/2023 09:21

Hi all,

Hope you are all managing ok! After my second hospital admission I’m home on a new set of meds which so far have really helped with the sickness .

however, i don’t know if I’m expecting too much but both my new combination of meds and the last set leave me so groggy and tired I am sleeping so much and even when awake I’m so slow and not myself.

is this normal?

LucindaE · 29/01/2023 20:32

Welcome to Yoga817 Congratultions on twins! That is exciting. When you are ready to reveal the due date, it'll be nice to add them to the list. Sorry y9ou are suffering. Oftne those with twins suffer badly early on, but recover earlier, as they probably wouldn't have got Hyperemesis with a singleton pregnancy. I am glad that Xonvea is helping a bit, and it's a good idea to increase the dose. I believe that midwives count as prescribing nurses, and can check with the doctor to get another prescription for you. A nuisance that they won't do a repeat prescription, particularly as Xonvea was specially designed to be safe in pregnancy. Here's my normal spiel, which I hope may help. Most 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 and dry cereeal.
NPZ705 I am glad the meds are helping. Various ones, such as Cycliizine and I think sometimes Prochlorperazine and Xonvea, can have a side effect of making sufferers sleepy. Many find it wears off after some days.
Apologies to anyone rudely ignored.

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mallowmoon93 · 29/01/2023 21:15

@NP2705 not sure what meds you've been given but I'm now on Ondansetron and Prochlorperazine and I feel the same.

The amount of vomiting has definitely reduced and some nausea but I have still never had a day without anything. And I spend the majority of my time still in bed.

And I forgot about the constipation 🙈

I think because the vomiting is reduced that I'm good to go back to normal but I'll go shopping or to visit someone and I'm rudely reminded that it's not all hunky dory!
I'm supposed to be going back to work this week as I've been off about 6 weeks now but I genuinely don't think I can do it. Don't know what to do with myself! Sick pay is not very much :(

Has anybody else been off long term because of HG? X

LucindaE · 30/01/2023 20:09

mallowmoon93 Oh dear. It is very frustrating. I do hope you can get more back to normal soon, and not have to rest so much. You shouldn't even think about going back to work until you're a lot better. Sorry, remind me: would they consider other meds? Apropos the constipation, what are you using for that?

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LucindaE · 30/01/2023 20:13

mallowmoon93 Sorry, I missed that you were on Ondansetron - for some reason I thought it was another one. Some claim it is most effective with Cyclizine and Vitamin B and an anti acid (and laxative), but I'm not medically qualified and they may have some reason they have decided on that combination in your case. Of course, Cyclizine does make many sleepy as well...

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mallowmoon93 · 30/01/2023 21:10

@LucindaE not sure why they didn't do cyclizine as I've had it along with prochlorperazine a few weeks ago.

They gave me lactulose but it didn't really help so they just given me a different one today to try, docusate I think it's called.

I'm definitely throwing up less but I need to build myself back up as I think before going back to work.

Coffeewithmyoxyg3n · 31/01/2023 09:53

Hi all, after a brief reprise from everything and feeling half human for a couple of weeks, I hit 15 weeks last week and have had a relapse.
Currently on proclorperazine and ondansetron but had to call the GP to renew my prescription yesterday and got guilted so badly for taking the ondansetron. Kept going on and on about not taking medication that isn't needed, risks to the baby etc, despite explaining I've been throwing up 10+ times most days and am really struggling. Had a midwife appointment later that day, thought I'd get more sympathy but she said the exact same thing about taking medication I don't need, stop ASAP and have I tried soup to stay hydrated instead. I've been struggling with feeling really low and anxious atm and that has just made things so much worse.

Has anyone else on ondansetron had the same lecture?

gg9320 · 31/01/2023 11:20

@Coffeewithmyoxyg3n i’m so sorry you’ve been spoken like that about being on ondansetron. It’s really unfair that some GPs don’t have the same level of awareness about HG as lots of hospital doctors, particularly when they gatekeep prescription refills. The comment about soup also would have really set me off!! You’re absolutely doing the right thing advocating for effective treatment for yourself! I hope you were able to get your meds ok and start to feel a bit better.

LucindaE · 31/01/2023 19:06

Coffewithmyoxyg3n Sorry that they were so unsympathetic. If the prescribing doctor hadn't judged that the very real risks of chronic dehydration in your case outweighted the - very small risks connected with taking Ondansetron, he or she wouldn't have prescribed it. It's very discouraging when medically trained people take this attitude. No pregnant women takes medications for the fun of it! You say throwing up 10 times a day, but many medics count separate heaves as 'vomits', while I'm assuming you mean 10 seperate vomiting sessions a day. That might have led them to think things are not as serious as they are, perhaps? Hopefully, this relapse will be temporary.
mallowmoon93 You are so right; you need to build yourself up first.

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LucindaE · 01/02/2023 18:19

I hope everyone is coping today.

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IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes · 02/02/2023 08:35

I hope everyone is doing as well as they possibly can be Flowers

Today is d-day for us! I am in hospital atm waiting to go down to theatre for the elective section.

It was a strange feeling this morning arriving at the hospital where I was first admitted for the HG. It has been a journey and it has been so hard!

It doesn't feel like it, but it does end eventually. I don't know how we do it girls but we do.

LucindaE · 02/02/2023 16:45

IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes That's great news - and baby should be with you at the time that I'm writing. Than you so much for your encouraging message for current sufferers.

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gretathebetter · 03/02/2023 04:19

Hello everyone. I'm a bit of a lurker, sorry!
I'm currently 27 weeks and the HG is neither easing or indeed plateauing. It's getting worse. I'm on ondansetron, metaclopramide, prochlorperazine and cyclazine and nothing (NOTHING) is working.

I don't sleep for more than an hour or two. I have a toddler. I'm scared to drive (tiredness and sickness).

I've just come for a vent and a cry really. Sorry.

Any tips or if anyone has had this til term and coped: how?? Xxx

LucindaE · 03/02/2023 19:24

gretathebetter Welcome. Sorry things are still bad and even getting worse. Have they suggested steroids to you? Are you able to keep hydrated on this regime of meds? Have they given you an anti acid? I won't give my normal spiel, as you have probably seen it a good many times, and re: things generally easing for most later on, I'm sorry it hasn't been so with you. It must be very difficult with a toddler. It might be worth phoning up Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 76538 2020. They will have to phone back, but they give excellent advice about obtaining effective meds. The unlucky minority do suffer throughout, and they have my admiration that they manage to battle through; I think they always say 'one day at a time; if necessary, one hour at a time'. Things getting worse as time goes on is rare. I hope someone who was unlucky enough (or is unlucky enough) to suffer throughout, will come on and advise.

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FarmWife23 · 03/02/2023 19:41

@gretathebetter oh my goodness, I can’t believe you’re still feeling so rotten even with all the medication. I’ve found when it’s been bad like that it gets to the point there’s almost no point in me taking it, because it’s sicked up before it can take any effect. For a while they offered me the intramuscular injection from the midwife as an outpatient to help try and get things calmed down and that worked, it might be worth asking about? That, and steroids, although I didn’t end up going down that route. I’m almost 36 weeks now - feel nauseous almost all the time and still sick 10-15 times a day, most days. it’s usually in pretty predictable bouts/times though which sounds different to yours being all day/night. I basically am just counting down each day now, every bout that passes, every night I go to bed is a step closer to it being done. Are you working? Is there any way you can take some
time off? That’s the only other thing that really helped me, but appreciate it’s not always an option.

LucindaE · 04/02/2023 20:03

FarmWife23 Great advice for gretathebetter. Sorry to hear you are still vomiting 10-15 times a day. I hope that's individual heaves,not separate heaving sessions!

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gretathebetter · 05/02/2023 11:24

@LucindaE @FarmWife23 thank you ladies. Sadly it's individual sessions. The last 24 hours have been better (only throwing up 5-6 times. Which is a welcome relief). I have docs and midwife this week. I'm going to discuss potential IM injections should this continue. And my toddler is starting nursery (a. Little earlier than planned! But my husband has been extremely supportive in helping me get respite and suggested this...it's worth it!) I hope everuone is doing ok. Xxx

LucindaE · 05/02/2023 19:13

gretathebetter I am so glad to hear about your toddler starting nursery soon, and the offer of injections, which I do hope helps.

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LucindaE · 06/02/2023 16:20

Cheering everyone on.

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LucindaE · 07/02/2023 17:30

Very quiet on here: I hope that is a good, not a bad, sign...

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mallowmoon93 · 07/02/2023 17:31

@LucindaE just wallowing in self pity and binge watching Greys Anatomy haha

Charlotte1256 · 07/02/2023 17:53

Hi guys, I’ve not updated in a while, things improved enough for me to go back to work weeks 13-17, however since Sunday the nausea has come back with a vengeance and I am
now off work again, feeling guilty as my time off work is now unpaid and I feel bad for my husband even though he keeps reassuring me it’s fine but I can’t help feeling bad for him having to fund things. Positive news though that last weekend we had a private gender scan and we are having a little girl, which does make feeling rubbish a tiny bit easier now I know who’s inside there! Hope everyone is keeping well x

Moneybum · 07/02/2023 19:35

Long time lurker here, and want to say thank you to Lucinda E and all the posters for all the valuable intel. I’ve cried a few (happy!) tears at people reaching the pink castle, it’s such an incredible sight to see and so pleased for all those that make it. Genuinely think you are heroes 🙂
I’m 7 weeks into my second pregnancy, and terrified after severe nausea and sickness in my first until 23 weeks. (I don’t know how people manage this with children, I really don’t!)
ive been on omeprazole and prochloperazine from 4 weeks, and I think starting so early has been a help - it’s allowing me to eat and drink certain things right now, if not completely containing the nausea. I know I am relatively lucky in this sense.
Currently signed off work, and petrified to go back, as at the moment I feel like the amount of rest I’m having is the thing keeping this under control right now, alongside the drugs. I don’t want to go back to work, get stressed and tired and not be able to look after my daughter or feel as wretched as I did in pregnancy #1. I know being tired is a huge driver for sickness.
my question is - has anyone else had the fear and got good mental health support for it? I don’t feel in a good place mentally staring down potentially 6ms plus of this, again.
And have people pushed through at work, or have people just been signed off for long periods? Should I try going back just to see?
i reaaaaaally hate this condition. I really love this support group here.

Babytwodue · 07/02/2023 19:46

@Charlotte1256 great news about the baby girl, I hope it’s a blip for you and you can return to normality soon!
@Moneybum it’s so hard isn’t it, I felt similar over the Christmas break when I was 6-7 weeks and the only thing that stopped the nausea was me having 12 hours sleep a night and a nap 😂 I usually survive on 7-8 hours absolutely fine!
What kind of job do you have? Could you do any working from home or do some part time work over a number or weeks to slowly introduce it and then it might be easier to back track if things ramp up or it gets too much.
I am now 13 weeks and have been on meds since 4 weeks too. I’ve only had one week of real vomiting and the rest nauseous, but nowhere near like last time and I am almost back to eating a varied non beige diet, aside from vegetables, I can’t even think about them! So there is hope @Moneybum
thanks @LucindaE for looking after us all 💕

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