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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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NP2705 · 08/02/2023 07:36

Hi all,

Hope everyone is ok, well as ok as you can be! When I was last in hospital I asked the doctor about the aim of using anti sickness medication and she said they aim to stop sickness entirely.

Has anyone actually managed this? I’m on my third combination of meds and still being sick 3 times a day roughly. I don’t know if she’s got my expectations too high!

LucindaE · 08/02/2023 10:41

Now, that's ironic: I signed out of my laptop, and didn't see all the messages until this morning. I am glad everyone is still alive, at least!
Moneybum Welcome. I am so glad this thead has been helpful. You, too, will of course, reach the fabled Pink Castle; it's always encouraging to see how great the view is from there! Most moderate sufferers seem to need rest more than anything and a lot of sufferers are off for months or even the whole of their pregnancy: don't hurry back to work unless you absolutely have to. Most find the best thing is to wait until they have been feeling a lot better for a good few days and then try to arrange a staggered return ('staggered' is the word). It would be a good idea to ask about counselling at your GP's, or - given the mess the NHS is in at the moment - via phoning up Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 7638 2020.
mallowmoon I hope 'Grey's Anatomy' provided distraction!
Charlotte1256 Sorry it has returned. Can they improve on the meds? It must be so frustrating that you have ended up unpaid. I am glad OH is supportive. Congratulations on the happy news about your baby girl.
Babytwodue Great advice. Thank you for the encouraging message and kind words.
NP2705 They do seem to work 100 per cent for the lucky few, but with most sufferers, they don't seem to be able to remove the symptoms entirely. Three times a day is quite bad, and I hope if you emphasize that (presumably three separate sessions, not heaves, as often doctors count 'vomits' as heaves) the doctor can find a way of reducing that. It is great that she has that aim in mind, so you can hopefully get more effective meds, or a stronger dose, or whatever.

OP posts:
IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes · 08/02/2023 11:16

I hope you're all doing as well as possible. Those who are still suffering, I really hope you are able to find some relief with different meds. I am pleased to hear they can offer IM injections as an outpatient. My midwife also spoke of one lady who had a PIC line in her arm so she could administer her own anti emetics via injection. I went down the steroid route which stopped all the vomiting. I will always be happy to talk to other mums about this option.

We reached the pink castle at 9.30am on Thursday when baby Annie was born. She weighed 8lb 4.5oz and is a total dream. All the sickness resolved immediately and I can enjoy food again.

I won't say it will be worth it in the end because I wanted to stab people who said this to me. It will get better and this thread is a total lifeline, do not be afraid to push for what you think you need. The pregnancy felt like the longest 9 months of my life and I cried when we left hospital on Sunday because it was 7 months to the day since I was hospitalised in the ward next door to the postnatal one with the sickness. It brought back a massive flood of emotion! Don't be afraid to talk about how you're feeling - HG is more than just sickness. It robs you of any happiness and excitement in pregnancy Flowers

Moneybum · 08/02/2023 14:22

@IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes Annie!! Welcome!! So pleased for you that it’s over, and that your daughter and you are safe and free! Lovely lovely news 😀

and thanks @Babytwodue and @LucindaE. I’ve started a referral to a mental health service and will see how I go… I think my anxiety about what’s coming is so much of my battle right now. and I appreciate the advice not to rush back. I think I’ve been putting pressure on myself when I know in my heart I’m not well enough to try yet.

Q - do ketostixs confirm dehydration, or just when you haven’t eaten enough?

Moneybum · 08/02/2023 14:25

Oh and @NP2705 last pregnancy medication stopped my sickness in general, but I would find sometimes I would still vomit if really tired or a bad smell took me by surprise or something! As yours is more regular than that, I wonder if you can, as LucindaE said, add another medication in or up your dose.

NP2705 · 09/02/2023 11:39

Thanks @LucindaE and @Moneybum just waiting for my GP to call so hopefully they can help! 🤞🏻

Thaimoon · 09/02/2023 14:37

Hi all
Been lurking here for a while wondering if I'm bad enough to join you all.
I'm 9 weeks with my second and been on promethazine since week 6 for severe nausea in the day with vomiting overnight.
It stopped working recently and life was becoming pretty awful so I've had a prescription for prochlorperazine which I've just started. Praying it helps more.
Mornings are a real struggle and preparing any sort of food for my dd is also a challenge.
Lucky to have good family support.
Have found reading this very helpful and I hope you are all finding strength to get through each day

LucindaE · 09/02/2023 15:50

IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes Congratulations on reaching the Pink Castle
👏👏😀👶Flowersand on Annie . That's a fine weight. Thank you so much for your enouraging message. It's great that your symptoms have vanished.
Thaimoon Welcome. I hope the new meds help. They have helped many on here. Obviously, you must be suffering quite badly for them to have you on a second form of anti emetics. As you have been reading this thead, you don't need my normal spiel about ice lollies, flat full sugar coke and the juice of tinned fruit, anti-acids and 'have you got kesostix, as while not the best test for dehydration, hospitals do take their mesurements seriously?'
Moneybum I am glad you have got a referral. My understandng of kesostix isn't scientific, but I understand that they measure both? I believe both severe dehdyration and long term starvation creates ketones,
NP2705 I hope the phone call was helpful.

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IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes · 09/02/2023 16:22

Thank you, it is such a relief to have made it when at times I never thought I could carry on. I can't believe she's a week old today Sad

My second HG pregnancy and both the DC (so far - DS is 12) are perfect. Don't be afraid to take the medication if you need to and if you feel comfortable doing so. There is a staggering amount of ignorance surrounding this condition and there are so many medics who will happily prescribe the same meds to other pregnant women for conditions they deem 'proper' but we are expected to suffer with the sickness as it's a normal part of pregnancy when it really isn't!

SpringChicken06 · 10/02/2023 08:35

Congratulations @IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes !! Beautiful name and weight. Couldn’t agree more with you when people say it’ll be worth it😂i’m sure it is but helps with nothing! Especially when theh haven’t been through it.
Enjoy your little bubble, well deserved x

IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes · 10/02/2023 09:23

Thank you @SpringChicken06

The rage I used to feel when people would say 'oh well, it'll be worth it in the end'. We already know that and that's why we are trying our best to tolerate the vile sickness. Saying that doesn't make this horrible sickness any better in the here and now either! I likened it to the ginger biscuit advice  It felt so dismissive of what is a serious condition. I've only just started to be able to do simple things like watch telly in bed and sleep in bed because I have such a negative association with this bedroom, having spent 8 months feeling so poorly in bed and being unable to do anything. HG is hard - physically and mentally - and I really think we deserve better support. The Pregnancy Sickness Support site, along with this thread, have been invaluable. I would never have known about the steroids otherwise and without them we would, heartbreakingly, have had to make a difficult decision because I was so poorly. It infuriates me that we have to ask for medication that can make us better and support us in bringing our much wanted baby into the world instead of just being offered it.

Anyway, rant over! Thank you again @LucindaE for this thread.

Thaimoon · 10/02/2023 15:21

@LucindaE
Thank you. Yes I have read all your advice and found it so helpful.
The current medication, whilst not stopping the vomiting completely, does allow me to get a better nights sleep and doesn't make me as drowsy and sluggish as the previous one so that's good

LucindaE · 10/02/2023 18:19

IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes Enjoy your baby girl. So glad this thread helped to prevent you from having an unwanted termination. Great advice.
SpringChicken06 Very true.
Thaimoon That is good, anyway.

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QueenBee22 · 10/02/2023 20:51

@IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes congratulations on the birth of your baby girl and your return to normality! Wonderful to see someone who really suffered come out the other side. It must have been a horrendously long nine months for you.

QueenBee22 · 10/02/2023 20:55

Hi everyone I am now on 6 anti-emetics a day, and 2 anti acids. Still vomiting daily and sometimes 2-3 times daily. My midwife has warned me to stay hydrated to avoid hospital admission. I have also been told I have to stop working and rest for at least a week, preferably two. My consultant has said steroids are the next step if I get any worse. I am vomiting more week on week so hoping I don't deteriorate further. 13 weeks now. It has been a tough pregnancy so far.

IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes · 11/02/2023 08:53

@QueenBee22 I am so sorry to hear you are suffering so much. I hope the rest will help you and you must take as much time as you need.

I am pleased to hear they have proactively offered you steroids. They worked wonders for me but the side effects are hideous and they were never explained to me. However, they were definitely worth taking. If you have an questions or worries about taking them, I am happy to try and help.

LucindaE · 11/02/2023 10:14

QueenBee22 That sounds awful. I do hope that they can either find some meds that work, or you turn the corner soon, or a bit of both.
IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes That is such good advice; I can't believe that they didn't go into the side effects - with so many meds, it's all they seem to do - . I hope that they have disappeared along with the Hyperemesis?

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Jomummy1013 · 12/02/2023 16:34

Can I join? 10 weeks pg and starting to really really feel it. It's getting me down. I can't keep up with my housework as too tired and too sick and I have three children already who are 12, 9 and 7. I'm not with the father of this baby so going it alone. Struggling so much :(

Jomummy1013 · 12/02/2023 16:35

The nausea is worse than the sickness. X

Thaimoon · 12/02/2023 17:02

Sorry try to hear you're struggling to. I'm 10 weeks as well and I don't think the meds are doing much right now.

I'll be honest, I've not been resting as much as I probably should and today im letting dh do the brunt with dd and I think it's helped.

Rest as much as you can. Housework can honestly wait Flowers

Thaimoon · 12/02/2023 17:04

Sorry if that was insensitive just re read and realised you are going it alone - that must be so hard.

Don't worry about just doing what you have to to survive in this situation- tv for the kids, help from friends/family?

LucindaE · 12/02/2023 19:19

Jomummy1013 I am sorry you are having to face this alone. As Thaimoon says, it's hard enough anyway with LO's. Ten weeks is often the worst time for most. Are you on any meds at the moment? Many find the relentless nausea far worse than the vomiting. Did you suffer from bad sickness in your other pregnancies, to the point of needing meds, rest , etc? 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.
Thaimoon I am so glad that rest helped.

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NP2705 · 13/02/2023 08:45

Hi ladies,

I’m finally home after my third and longest hospital admission with cyclizine and metoclopromide.

I had two days of no vomiting which was amazing and I do feel a lot better in myself. Until this morning when I tried to take my cyclizine tablet and it made me vomit.

I’m sure it’s probably partly a mental issue where I’m worried about keeping the tablets down but does anyone have any tips? Is it best to take them on an empty stomach?

heartbroken22 · 13/02/2023 11:15

@Jomummy1013 leave housework and whatever. These days will pass I promise.
I'm now 19 weeks and have a little bit of energy to do some work. Do what makes life easy for you.

I had a midwife appointment on Friday and it was good and bad. I told her I had hg and she said how do you know? Has it been diagnosed? (I said I had it with first and second so I know what it is with my third 😂) I didn't mention I had an abortion when it was so bad. She then empathised and said how are you coping? Are u taking medicine? I said no I'm just dealing with it but it's better I have energy here and there. She mentioned ondansetron and how hospitals are giving it to women. I told her the last pregnancy (abortion one) I was told by my unreliable doctor that they don't give it anymore because of risks (I knew she was chatting crap at the time). It's just she didn't want to help. But I'm so glad this midwife told me they give it! I feel a bit sad that there wasn't support when I needed it instead was told if cyclizine doesn't work then go to a and e and they'll put you on a drip. I couldn't bare to be away from my children. I'm just grateful for this thread and pregnancy sickness support/tik Tok videos etc people sharing and that's how I've coped. I always get a bit teary seeing women behave so normal and can function like pre pregancny where I felt like I should have been strapped to a bed with sleeping pills.

  1. all housework went out the window. Dishes would be in the sink for days. So would pots and pans.
  2. we had various forms of takeaway nearly every day. We spent lots of money and obviously it bothered my partner but it just had to be done. My mum would make me something for dinner and give me something for lunch too. Sometimes kids would have alot of easy meals. Even though hg is here it's not as bad the earlier weeks. 3)rest alot. I had to sleep when kids went to bed. Then dropped my dd off to school and would get back in bed till 12pm-1pm. The extra sleep helped alot. It's only until the 19th week that I've been able to have tea again. I could not have worked in any of my pregnancies due to the hg.
  3. I didn't use any bath products when bathing. I used a baby toothpaste or child toothpaste (when I could) otherwise I would vomit badly from the scent. No air freshners or nothing. The only thing I liked using sometime just on certain parts of my body was dove soap the green box. Shower gels would make me dizzy and vomit.
  4. clothes didn't care what I wore. I would only change into a dress if I had an appointment but for school drops offs etc I wore my nightdress underneath my coat. I just didn't have the energy with the nausea and vomiting. Not used any face creams or body lotion or anything. Would wear the same Jeans for days on the school run.
  5. I've developed a Phobia of things that triggered me when hg was extremely bad. No Aldi products. No tomato based products such as...just even thinking about them makes me dizzy, nauseous and a migraine coming on.
  6. this is my 4th pregnancy with hg (one termination) I just knew when my sick was coming up so would run to the sink. 1st pregnancy could manage the toilet but not the other ones. Sink made me feel safe. Saved me from emptying bins etc I know some women prefer sick bowls. Do what's best for you. I tried my best to shield my younger dd from hearing the sick as it made her very upset and this made me upset. I just tried to hide it but with hg u can't. Now she imitates the noise I make to my partner to let him know I've been sick.

I hope I haven't offended anyone I really didn't mean to. I'm just so tired although a bit better but I know we can all get to the finish line. I'm currently lying in bed whilst my nearly 2 year old is having one of my hg snacks (malted milk biscuit), water and watching tv. I'm taking baby steps and hopefully I'll be able to take her to playgroup soon. Atleast once during this pregnancy. My husband says I sleep too much but it's the thing that helps the most along with small snacks. I would love to have more children but this 3rd one will be my last. It's too hard to put my body through this xx

heartbroken22 · 13/02/2023 11:31

@NP2705 I used to find it hard on an empty stomach and would vomit too. I hope someone gets back to you and so sorry you're dealing with this.

@Thaimoon I did the same and partner had to do a lot with both our dds. From bathing them to cooking for them. I did the odd homework with them and the school drop off. He really had to step up this time and that's helped. He's slowly backing off at the moment since the hg is getting better fingers crossed. I had a bath with my toddler yesterday in sooo many months. I felt like a mother yesterday. My kids have had to watch a lot of tv, iPad etc.

@Jomummy1013 you're kids are at nice ages. Can the older ones help here and there? Just for a few weeks around the house. It will help them learn and then reward them. They don't have to do eveything.

@QueenBee22 so sorry you're still being sick. To stay hydrated I just bought water from the shops and told myself I need to finish these bottles. Water tasted so disgusting from the tap in a glass. Still water tasted good. First I was worried that I couldn't drink water nor take any vitamins. But I'm fine at the moment and baby is fine. I ate alot of junk including crisps, fries and chicken burgers but then there were 2 weeks where I hated all that and had proper veg. I was craving it like crazy. But still had to have small meals. I didn't take the vitamins as they made me very sick and my whole day would be painful.

@IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes congratulation btw! So happy for you xx

I'm counting down my journey. At first I just thought im nearly 12 weeks, nearly 20 weeks even when I was 14 😂. Now I'm nearly going to be 25 (actually 19) then 30 then 36 and then done! It's the only way to survive.

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