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.

I'm so sorry @Roxster it's so hard isn't it. I'm really struggling too. Big hugs. How are you this evening?

I've had a rotten week. Saw the midwife on Monday and it was just a miserable box ticking exercise. She was like "oh you've been a wee bit sick" as I stared at her. My GP weighed me on 27th Feb and under 2 weeks later I'd lost 5kg but the midwife was just like shrug she also knew nothing about my Thyroxine which was worrying. Spoke to the GP again this week who offered to try a 3rd antiemetic but I am spaced out and sedated on what I'm on already. I've been signed off work til the 30th. Thankfully GP is lovely and sensible and rolled her eyes about my midwife experience.

The actual frequency of vomiting has reduced slightly but I am always nauseated and have a rancid sort of taste in my mouth a lot which is so off-putting. Very tearful a lot of the time. It feels like the world is suddenly really small, if that makes sense. My partner has been away with work, mum came and has been amazing at taking care of me and my wee one.

We are supposed to be going over to Arran tomorrow as I had AL booked anyway. I really want to go and the GP said it should be fine, as they have a good midwife led unit on the island who can rehydrate me if needed. It's an hour on the boat but we're only a short drive from there. I'm leaning towards going just for a change of scenery, I can sit outside the lodge like a victorian invalid! But I feel a bit guilty taking a trip while on sick leave. I wonder if it might improve my mood though. Ugh!

Sorry everyone that was a bit of a stream of consciousness ramble. Hope you're all OK x

Welcome back to evuscha. Congratulations on your pregnancy. I am glad this thead helped last time. As you say, they seem more accepting of meds over in the US. Pre-emptive meds are definitely the way. There is a new-ish anti emetic specially designed for pregnancy sickness. In the UK it's called Xonvea. I don't know what it's called over there,but defiintely worth enquiring about as it has helped many on here.
Welcome to Bunda Congratulations on your pregnancy too. I am so glad that your mother is helping. I hope Metaclopramide does the trick. As it is your second Hyperemsis pregnancy, as with Evuscha there is no need for me to give my normal spiel about ice lollies, full sugar coke and the juice of tinned fruit, anti acids and kesostix. I hope you both get some relief soon.
Improbablecat It sounds like a good idea, as a change of scene helps, and sea air particularly!
Roxster Much sympathy.
Apologies to anyone rudely ignored.

Thank you so much @LucindaE your kind advice get me through it last time for sure! I believe Xonvea is a combination of B6+doxylamine (which I am currently taking separately but might ask for the combination pill instead), does taking it early on seem to help many? And at what point is it a good idea to add cyclizine and/or ondansetron? I am just not sure if I am overdoing it by maybe adding cyclizine before I even vomit, but if it might help then I want to do everything in my power!

Sending love to everyone suffering. And if it’s any consolation my first HG baby is almost 4 and as healthy as she can possibly be!

Hi all this is my 7th pregnancy ( I have 3chikdten) and all have had HG 😭 literally started to feel nauseous last 2days m, waking up with that hungover type feeling, so I tested and there was a faint second line as I’m not due AF till Friday so like 5days making me 3+2 weeks. Now all day I’ve been so nauseous. Smells are making me gag. I know I was this sick this early with my daughter, I was sick ALL THE WAY THROUGH 😭- my sons not till week 5/6 and they stopped about week 20. So I’m lying here writing this thinking SHIT I’m in for a tough ride this time, I just know it. Actually feel scared 😟 I saw this thread and thought I’d come say hi as I’m most likely going to be here a lot 🤣🤣
I hope you’re all hanging on ok albeit likely by a thin thread. X

@Mumto3172225 I can so relate to those feelings of “shit this is going to be tough”…5 weeks in with my second and I know I have about a week left til it hits me fully.
If it helps I asked on another forum when did people first start feeling nauseous vs how hard their HG ended up to be, and there didn’t seem to be a correlation (some didn’t get nauseous til week 6+ and still had it severe and some felt nauseous at 3 weeks but their HG was moderate)…fingers crossed for you. (to be fair I asked because I was hopeful that when not being sick at 4 weeks yet it might mean that my HG this time could be milder…but nope)

Ah his fingers crossed then I really hope I’m not bad, I don’t think I’ll cope very well this time having a toddler to care for too, my other 2 are 9 and 16 so they’re a bit more independent. I’m going to call my GP tmrw and get some anti sickness that I had for my toddler worked a treat. I think it was called promethazine or something like that. 6weeks for me is always when it really kicks in too - dread!!!!

Thanks so much @LucindaE those are really good tips.
I spoke to my GP on Friday to ask for some some medicine, in the hope to start that early but the response was, it’s best for the baby if you can wait until you can no longer cope anymore. I was confused as I’d definitely heard that starting medication early can help.
What’s the general consensus on this group?
I think I’m going to try and get another opinion this week.

@Peanutbutter7 and @evuscha second pregnancy here and started medication at 5 weeks as nausea was just starting… this pregnancy has still been very rough, and a killer. but I have had a lot less vomiting than last time. Definitely, definitely recommend stopping it before it really starts.

If you have to, I would lay it on a bit thick with your early symptoms, or ask for a different GP. There is proof on the HER pages that early intervention matters and my experience is GPs in general are far too risk averse. i managed to get medication early on from my GP before becoming properly unwell by saying I had a conference away and needed the medication in advance to cope if I became unwell away from home. This was true for me, have you something similar you can cite? Alternatively, try finding a GP who has lived experience of HG or has a loved one who has had, as this made a huge difference to a friend.

At 13 weeks now, and I finally got ondansetron from my consultant, who was pretty horrified the GP had refused me up to this point. I have to say the satisfaction I felt when she said “I will
deal with him” nearly, but not quite, made up for the many frustrated appointments.

not sure @evuscha about what medications exactly to add when - perhaps call the pregnancy sickness support line? They are very good and have helped me. I would say in general though add, and then slowly take away when symptom free. Big advocate here for stopping it in its tracks from getting out of control xx

@Improbablecat I managed to make it out the house yesterday. Where I have been bed ridden for so long when I do have to do anything or go anywhere I’m getting panic attacks. I’ve got some help with my mental health but nothing is a quick fix. HG has completely changed my life and not in a good way. I am hoping as the nausea eases I will feel more confident to do things. I know it’s going to take a bit of uncomfortable pushing. It’s made me feel such a weak person.

@Moneybum thank you for sharing your experience and yes, I will do just that! I already have both cyclizine and ondansetron at home so will probably add that the minute I feel it might be getting worse!
I’m so glad you have less vomiting this time! How crazy that we have to argue with GPs and make up stories. I remember my first pregnancy my very understanding GP saved me by giving me cyclizine (after weeks of getting sent away and minimized by midwives and losing about 12kg)…but every time I called for a new prescription and a different GP picked up I got a lecturing about how unsafe this is for the baby 🙄

@evuscha i had that last week. The hospital prescribed me Ondansetron and when I called my GP for more I was told I should stop taking it because it’s bad for my baby. She even called me back to make sure I understood every risk. She had me in tears by the end of the call.

Sorry to hear that so many of you are struggling at the moment. If it gives you any hope I’m 17 weeks today and finally able to eat, go back to work (albeit working from home) and actually be a mum to my four year old.

I’ve been wondering about weaning off my Ondansetron and wanted to see if anyone had any advice. A few people have told me they did it too soon and were very unwell again so I’m keen to avoid that. Did anyone just reduce the dose slowly?

@NP2705 oh yeah I remember those talks! It’s incredible. I ended up being on cyclizine my whole pregnancy and my DD is healthy and perfect.

Good luck with the weaning process hopefully someone will come along with advice. Whenever I tried to drop a dose I ended up vomiting again so in the end I just continued taking it. But I can also confirm around 17 weeks I felt human again! (hoping for a similar progression or better this time around)

@NP2705 Am also looking for advice regarding weaning off Ondansetron since the headaches and constipation are hard going. I spoke to my GP today who had no advice other than being surprised I am still unwell at 17 weeks as it isn't the norm 🙄.

I accidentally took a dose 3 hours late a few days ago as I overslept and I had a dreadful afternoon with my head stuck down the toilet so I'm clearly not ready to come off the Ondansetron. I think I might test taking a dose a few hours late every 10 days to see if it makes a difference. I'm on 3 tablets per day of 4mg each plus Omeprazole.

@Yoga817 oh I’m sorry to hear that! I accidentally missed my 2pm tablet and was debating just waiting until 10pm until the next dose but might take one now to see my through the evening.

Its hard to explain the fear of coming off it!

@NP2705 it is scary isn't it. Just 3 hours and I was back to HG hell they wasn't even missing a dose. I'm super scared of missing my doses now and dreading testing missing doses to wean off.

Your dose timings sound the same as mine and I think we're both at the same gestation - 17 weeks today? It's nice to not feel alone with HG xx

*that wasn't

Welcome to Mumto3172225 Congratulations on your pregnancy. Definitely ask for promethezine (spelling?) as a pre--emptive med. Much sympathy over your fears. Can friends and family help out with the toddler?
evuscha Iam glad the thread helped last time. Doctors can be reluctant to prescribe Ondansetron, despite the very real risks of prolonged dehydration, due to a very tiny risk of cleft palate if taken before 12 weeks. It might be worthwhile for you and Peanutbutter7 to phone Pregnancy Sickness Support on 024 7638 2020 for advice. I think someone else advised phoning them.
Moneybum That is excellent news. Ha Ha about the consultant 'dealiing with' the GP. Fine advice as ever.
Roxster Congratulations on going out. Cheering you on.
NP2705 Sorry about insensitive doctor. I hope someone can advise you and Yoga817 I hope someone can advise about weaning off.
Apololgies to anyone rudely ignored.

@Yoga817 don't wean off until you are ready and well. I stopped vomiting a few weeks ago and was told to stop one of my antiemetics. I still had nausea. I soon as I stopped taking the tablets, the nausea got worse and I started vomiting again.

Hi all, just wanted to let you know that our baby arrived safely at 4 yesterday morning by emergency section - a little boy, 8lb and 1/2 and oz, so he’s done really well despite all the sickness. I could literally feel the sickness was gone as they were finishing suturing me up in theatre, and then had the most unquenchable thirst in the world for a few hours after. The relief of being able to drink and it not reappear has been amazing. I’m not saying this to rub it in, but just to reassure you that it disappears so quickly and it leaves you feeling amazing!! I genuinely can’t believe it ❤️ thank you to @LucindaE and everyone on here for the support and advice.

FarmWife23 Wonderful news. Congratulations on baby boy. Thank you so much for coming on with your happy news. That is so encouraging for others. Emergency section sounds alarming, was it due to being late in arriving? That is a great weight, too.
QueenBee22 Great advice.

FarmWife23 having given us her happy news, here is the updated Due Dates list.

Due Dates
Melissa2023 4 April
Quinny2288 24 April
izzyroo92 27 May
heartbroken22 6 July
charlotte1256 16 July
PumpkinDart 17 July
mallowmoon93 22 Jul
Yoga817 7 August or 28 August TWINS!
Wrenegade 15 August
Roxster 31 August

Am I really supposed to wait 8 hours between cyclizine doses? It feels too long

Ooh
19 October for me x

Huge congratulations @FarmWife23 that's lovely news