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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
Charlotte1256 · 19/02/2023 21:26

Hi all, my GP has started me on Promethazine (after having no luck with Cyclizine or Prochloperizine) has anyone any experiences with this drug? Xx

Thaimoon · 20/02/2023 06:52

Hi @Charlotte1256
I took promethazine throughout my previous pregnancy and found it worked well.

It hasn't worked as well this time for some reason 🤷‍♀️

It didn't stop the nausea but helped reduce the vomiting. It did make me feel quite sleepy for about 20 mins after taking it but that got better the longer I was on it

I really hope you find it helpful

IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes · 20/02/2023 12:38

@FarmWife23 you are so close now! I hope the last couple of weeks fly by and you manage to enjoy it. I found I had a few days right at the end where I was able to be normal Flowers

@Moneybum I had to take the GTT twice in a HG pregnancy. I was so worried about being sick and was told if I couldn't do it, not to worry and they would test another way. I was still allowed to take my ondansetron in the morning though. I did end up with GD in the end and it was managed by insulin.

@ohhollyfred Congratulations!! I hope you are feeling well and enjoying lots of baby cuddles and nice food Cake

LucindaE · 20/02/2023 18:39

Charlotte1256 That one has helped several on here.
Thaimoon and IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes Good advice. IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes I am glad you had a few good days at the end, my goodness.

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LucindaE · 21/02/2023 14:38

There have been such encouraging messages from IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes and others, and that's really nice.

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LucindaE · 22/02/2023 18:20

Tommorow morning, I am off to Buckinghamshire to visit my mother. I should be back on Sunday or Monday. Everyone on here is so supportive, I am sure that members of the thread will support each other and any new arrivals during that time.

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Luna57 · 23/02/2023 11:52

Hi, I’ve still been lurking. Just over 12 weeks now and having the odd vomit but not consistently thanks to cyclizine. I had my 12 week appointment on Monday and the midwife told me to start weaning off cyclizine. I’ve already been trying but just can’t stop them. I’m taking up to 2 tablets a day if I push as far as I can go without knowing I’m going to vomit. I’ve already dropped one. Is it important I wean now? Are there side effects the longer you use it? I’m taking omeprazole the odd days too when I have that burning belly feeling.

FarmWife23 · 23/02/2023 20:14

Hi @Luna57 - I weaned off Cyclizine for a bit, but that was when I was taking it alongside two other anti sickness tablets, so it didn’t leave me with nothing. Personally I’ve found it much easier to keep on top of the sick by taking the pills, rather than weaning off to zero and trying to get them back in my system again if the sick picks up. Might be worth a chat with the midwife to see what particular concerns they have about you staying on them, but if you’re just getting by with 2 Cyclizine a day and that’s enough to stop consistent vomiting I think id be sticking with them!

IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes · 23/02/2023 23:42

@Luna57 did the midwife explain why they wanted you to wean off the cyclizine? I was on this 3 times a day plus 3 ondansetron and 40mg Prednisolone at one point and I was never asked to come off the anti emetics. If it's keeping the sickness at bay, don't come off it.

Luna57 · 24/02/2023 14:20

@FarmWife23 @IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes she never explained why just said to start weaning. She seems very old school so not sure if that’s something to do with it. My midwifery unit is very understaffed and ran by 2 midwives that are retired. I’ve started feeling horrid again so I’m just gonna start taking cyclizine before I feel sick. I can’t believe how many you were on poor you, you must have been so sick!

IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes · 24/02/2023 14:38

@Luna57 that doesn't sound ideal for you Sad I am sorry you are suffering with this horrible illness. Have you spoken to a Doctor at all about your meds? I was under consultant care for both pregnancies due to the HG and I wonder if you might be better speaking to your doctor about the meds. It can be hit and miss, especially when it comes to GPs. Most surgery's have a GP who has an interest in pregnancy/women's health so please do speak to them if you are suffering and the midwife is still advising you to wean off the cyclizine.

QueenBee22 · 24/02/2023 21:11

Hi everyone. I think I have turned a corner. 15 weeks and am now vomiting once a day. Nausea has eased considerably. Feeling much more human. My consultant told me to start weaning off the stemetil as she doesn't want me becoming dependent on it. Similar to you maybe @Luna57. I am also also afraid I will get worse again if I stop taking the meds. Currently taking 2 anti emetics 3 times a day and anti acid twice a day.

2littlegems · 26/02/2023 17:56

Hi everyone
Hope you don't mind me joining

I'm suffering from HG too, 9 weeks at the moment and been in and out of hospital 3x so far
Couldn't keep anything down, not even the 5 or 6 different meds they prescribed - first one they prescribed was ondansetron as I took it for my previous pregnancy and it worked very well last time but for some reason this time round it didn't work :(

I then tried metoclopramide, cyclizine, omeprazole, prochlorperazine but all made me so sleepy, dizzy and even more nauseous..the side effects came on really strong

Eventually they gave me fluids (on 3 different occasions), vitamins and ondansetron through the iv- the ondansetron worked very well for a few days but now its not making much difference -I'm still vomiting & retching throughout the day even though I'm taking it religiously every 8 hours

I've lost so much weight, almost a full stone in 4 weeks and I'm worried I'm going to lose too much
I'm not able to do much physically as I'm not eating much, can just about get through half a toast/a biscuit in a day and most of the time that comes out too
Doctors have said the most important thing to do is keep down any fluids, and that food isnt that important,
so I've been trying lucozade sport recommended by the sonographer who did an early scan for me (everything was fine) however when I vomit I know that's coming out too as I can taste it (Sorry if this is too much info!)

I am abit worried about the weight that's dropping so quickly, I'm also concerned if this would be dangerous for myself/baby
I assume most women with HG lose alot of weight in a short space of time but it would be nice to hear from others

LucindaE · 26/02/2023 22:23

Back from Buckingshamshire. Great advice from FarmWife23 and from IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes. Thank you so much for this support.
Welcome to Luna57 and to 2littlegems. Luna57 I can't improve on the advice you have already had from FarmWife23 and from IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes 2littlegems I am sorry that you are suffering so badly. Have they suggested steroids? They of course, have side effects but you are suffering so severely, you think they might and a stone is a lot of weight to lose over four weeks. It might be worth phoning Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 7638 2020 to see if they have any recommendations about getting effective meds. They will phone back with good adivce. 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.
QueenBee22 I know they are always keen to get pregnant women off meds, but it makes sense that you want to do it slowly. I am glad you are seeing an improvement. Do they accept that you are anxious about not rushing?
Waves to all.

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LucindaE · 27/02/2023 16:53

l want to thank IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes FarmWife23 and others for that great advice recently.

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LucindaE · 28/02/2023 16:47

...And I hope everyone is coping today.

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Moneybum · 28/02/2023 18:18

@QueenBee22 on the HER pages there is an interesting model for weaning of meds - I think it’s called Kimbers rule of 2. I think it basically means you should be symptom free for at least 2 weeks and then wean very slowly over the course of 2 weeks. It’s important not to do too much to soon, as then - like you are worried about - symptoms can come back with a vengeance and are harder to control. So go steady! Wishing you luck x

LucindaE · 28/02/2023 20:52

Moneybum Great advice for QueenBee22.

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2littlegems · 28/02/2023 21:44

@LucindaE they haven't suggested steroids, midwife sent me in again today for fluids as I was severely dehydrated, they also gave me ondansetron through the iv which I find works much better than tablet form
Shame this can't be given on a regular basis

Has anyone else found some nurses in hospital to be quite dismissive in regards to hyperemesis? As though it's not a real condition or serious enough

They tried to turn me away twice but my midwife insisted that I must be seen

Having said that, there is one midwife who looks after me very well as she has been through this herself with all of her 5 kids so she knows exactly how I'm feeling
Very grateful to her

Roxster · 01/03/2023 17:52

Hi all, I’m new here. I’m 14w tomorrow and struggling with HG. I’ve tried promethazine, cyclizine, metoclopramide, buccastem and now on ondansetron. My problem is due to a fear of being sick my HG has mostly been dry. Therefore I’m not sick enough to get dehydrated and admitted to hospital. I’ve also recently be prescribed Xonvea? Any joy anyone has had with that? I don’t hold out much hope. I find with all of the drugs (apart from metoclopramide which I had severe side effects with) some work for a bit then they tail off. I’m currently taking 4mg of ondansetron 3 times a day, not sure if that is the max? Did anyone else get to this point in the pregnancy and just think I can’t do it anymore? This is my second child and although I had bad sickness with the first I didn’t suffer with HG. The sickness with him stopped about 16 weeks but I just can’t feel this getting any better, in fact it feels like it’s getting worse!

LucindaE · 01/03/2023 18:44

Roxster Welcome. Sorry you are suffering badly. Xonvea has helped many on here; I'm assuming they have given you a laxative with the Ondansetron, as it can really tie up the bowels? This is a very lonely condition, and everyone has dark thoughts. I hope you have help with LO? I found the sickness did seem bad in week 14. 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.
2littlegems It is dismal that they have been so dismissive at the hospital, when dehydration in a pregnant woman should be taken seriously. I'm sorry to hear about the atttiude about most of the nurses. When you are recovered, you might want to think about making a formal complaint. The NHS may be under a strain, but there is no excuse for such an attitude. I am glad you got fluids, anyway, and I do hope it eases for you a bit soon.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

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Roxster · 02/03/2023 07:34

@LucindaE thank you for your message. Dr didn’t give me anything for constipation and just said ‘it will do that to you’ when I told him. I’ve researched on my own and started taking lactulose. It’s the only thing I can keep down. My partner has been amazing with me and my LO.I cry everyday that I’m not being a better mother and partner to them. I feel like the medication seems to work for everyone else, but for me nothing has managed to get me out of bed yet. Is it just time that will make a difference? I know no one can really answer that as everyone is different.

Thaimoon · 02/03/2023 10:35

@Roxster
I'm so sorry to hear you are feeling so awful. I sometimes think it helps to know that you're not alone, and rest assured you are not.

I too feel guilty for the lack of quality time with my dd and dh. But you are doing a very difficult and important job growing a small human. This time will be relatively short for them and your children will most likely forget all about it once it has passed.

It's worth talking again to your gp or midwife to explain how bad things are incase there are other combinations of meds that could work better for you. Don't give up on that.

For what it's worth the meds take the edge off for me but don't stop me feeling terrible most days. It's just enough that I can keep food and water down. They are not a miracle cure.

In the meantime, it's one minute, one hour and one day at a time. Each one that passes brings you closer to the end. You are a warrior and you can do this

Yoga817 · 02/03/2023 10:47

Hi everyone. Currently 14+2 with twins. Really suffering with hyperemesis have been hospitalised via ambulance on IV's etc twice. I've tried multiple medications but most of them stop working after a week or two and I start vomiting again. Finally was given ondansetron on the last hospital visit and taking laxative with it as it's really blocked me up. Also taking Omeprazole. Ondansetron really helped and I went from vomiting 5-10 times per day to having 2 clear days of vomiting until the last two days when I'm now vomiting a couple of times per day again. I'm worried it's another drug that will stop working for me. Is this usual? Is this to do with the constipation? I'm also feeling very scared that my symptoms are not at all improving as I approach the 15 week mark. Confused. This condition is making me feel very isolated. Have been off work for 3 weeks and now suffered with this awful illness for 9 weeks :(

Cuppasoupmonster · 02/03/2023 10:52

So sorry to hear you’re feeling so awful, Yoga. I was also utterly despondent when the vomiting didn’t improve at 12 weeks, if anything it seemed to get worse. It was at its worst between 12 and 20 weeks, but by 23ish weeks I was only vomiting once a day maybe twice with stretches of feeling ‘normal’ in between. By 25 weeks I was feeling a lot better. Sorry I know that will feel SO long away right now. But still vomiting past 12 weeks doesn’t mean you’re stuck like this for the whole pregnancy 💐 what a shitty condition, I really wish there was a magic bullet for everyone!

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