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.

Just wanted to post for some support and also for any advice anyone may have.

I am now 15.5 weeks and the sickness and fatigue has diddy worsened dramatically. I haven't been able to leave my bed for the past 2 days, can't look after my little one, can't do anything!

Anyone else had a surge around this time? I didn't expect it and worry that something else is causing it

@Thaimoon I’m not an expert but I thought I was on the mend weeks 12-13 then week 14 hit and it was worse than what it had ever been. This is when I was hospitalised. Didn’t ease again until week 16. I’m 17 weeks today and by no means better but definitely not in the dark hole I was in week 14.

@Roxster thank you for your reply. I'm sorry you also felt awful but glad to hear that it has eased a little for you. I hope this doesn't last too long!
My dh has had to take time off work and I'm feeling super guilty

@Thaimoon I’m really hoping that we are some of the lucky ones where it just tails off and we can look back on this time and think, that was hard but it’s over! The guilt of putting on people has definitely added to my mental health issues. I just keep telling myself though that we never asked for this illness and if it was the other way round and we saw someone going through this we would want to help wouldn’t we? When I’m back to full strength I’m definitely going to find some way to give back to the HG community.

Does anyone else worry about if this doesn’t tail off and it lasts the whole pregnancy how they will cope? Sorry to those at the later stages who still have HG my heart goes out to you. I just do not think I can do the whole 9 months like this, but how do you make that decision? Does it get any easier? The thought of doing this for another 5 months is what is effecting my mental health. Apologies for being so miserable, it seems it one of those days.

I’m sorry to hear people are getting worse and not better after 14 weeks 😞is this with medication or after you tried weaning off?
I remember feeling better around 16 weeks in my first pregnancy BUT every time I tried dropping one of the pills I started vomiting again. So I stayed on it til the end but for the most part felt ok. (and that’s what I’m hoping for this time, can’t imagine 9 months of full HG)

Bunda Added your date. I hope some Cyclizine expert can advise about the gaps between meds. Can they increase the dose if it seems to wear off too soon?

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
Bunda 19 October

Thaimoon I remember a hormonal surge around 14 weeks, as others say.
I hope you start getting good days soon.
Roxster The majority of sufferers do get an imrovement that comes on at some point between weeks 15 and 21. It is awful for those who suffer throughout, but even in their case, I don't think many feel as bad later on as they did in the early days. Cheering you and everyone on.
evuscha and everyone good advice.

@Roxster
I am trying to take one day at a time because like you, the thought of it going on and on is hard to handle.
I like to imagine that as spring starts and the sun warms the world a bit we will start to feel brighter as well 🌱☀️
Sending you love and strength

Long time lurker, second pregnancy. Just hit 8 weeks and I have already puked 12 times today. Cyclizine is not putting a dent to it. I'm feeling so weak and couldn't keep any food in. Tbh, I am so scared to ask for more anti emetics due to cleft palate risks, and thinking I'm just a sodding bloody wimp. Other women do this, why couldn't I hack it? My 2.5y daughter doesn't understand why I'm not playing with her and her dad is pretty much taken over everything.

I'm just back from holiday and guessed I kept it together then due to adrenaline and having no care. Now? Not so much. Haven't told my office I'm pregnant (very male centric so I'm worried about the implications) but I cannot deal with the 1 hour commute in case I need to puke yet again.

Just need a handhold and kind words. Crying and puking into the toilet bowl while my child watch endless TV.

I worry about this and feel desperate too. I remember it being a dark cloud in my first pregnancy, but others are right in focusing on each day at a time. I think distraction really helps me by watching TV/ listening to podcasts or audiobooks. It reminds me of when you run up steep hills, if you try to distance your mind from what is actually happening it is easier to endure- I think it’s impossible to be strong all the time. It’s bloody awful and you are in the thick of it, don’t forget you are doing really well!!

enigma2222 Welcome. As you have been following the thread, and this is a second Hyperemesis pregnancy, you don't need my normal spiel about 'full sugar coke, ice lollies and the juice of tinned fruit' and antiacids, and how kesostix, while not the best test of dehydration, are useful as taken seriously by hospitals. Sorry Cyclizine is not helping. Do aks for other meds, exhausting as it is. Xonvea has helped many on here and was specifically designed for pregnancy. Try not to feel guilty - a sibling is a priceless gift and LO will soon forget this time of comparative neglect.
Thaimoon I so agree. Fresh air really helps, too,and it's too chilly to try any of that in this weather!
Laura0589 That worry is so understandable in everyone. Good advice.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

I’m joining @FarmWife23 with the birth of our baby boy too - 23.03 weighing 5lb13. It wasn’t an easy labour but worth it. Some nausea and vomiting during but the relief afterwards is something i’ve wished for 9 long months. So proud of myself and everyone that’s going through this and getting to the end. Appreciate the support from everyone of you. @LucindaE you’re an angel for creating this group. I’ll be pointing anyone towards it if they ever unfortunately suffer with it too xxx

My due date is 18 November (although might change slightly as I go to my scans and checkups).
6 weeks and the nausea is subtle but all day long the last couple of days. And knowing the worst is yet to come 😢 I’m already on cyclizine and hoping it will help me avoid the worst. I think if I wasn’t medicated I would already be puking.

@enigma22220 I understand how you feel although my first one is a bit older (3.5) but yeah it sucks not being involved in their activities, and now with Easter and nice weather coming 😢 but as @LucindaE pointed out and I’m telling myself, sibling is a wonderful gift and they will forget about this in the long run.
Also agreed with combining medications, often you will need to try more than one/add some. I’m on equivalent of Xonvea and cyclizine now (but I’m only 6 weeks though I think I would already be throwing up without those), possibly going to add ondansetron when things get worse.

I’m going to have an early gender scan today. I’m hoping finding out might help me bond with the bump more. Also give me the opportunity to plan more when I finally get the energy to do that!

Sorry to read about folk getting worse not better 😞
I did go over to Arran and it was quite good. I mainly stayed around the hotel room but OH was able to take our DD fun places, no one had to worry about cooking and I managed a couple of walks. I think it was better than if we'd all been cooped up at home - the leave was booked for all of us anyway.
Oddly the air conditioning helped! I've had a nasty cold too and I'm finding that the phlegm at the back of my throat always kicks off a bout of vomiting but the air con seemed to dry up my sinuses. I was up a lot through the night to drink water, but rather that than to puke.

I've had to come off ondansetron , the headaches were getting worse and worse and I'm back to just cyclizine. I'm supposed to be back at work on Friday, I don't know what to do. Will try and phone GP this week.

@Roxster I feel really guilty too about the amount of energy I'm sapping from others but you're right and if this was my family member I'd be doing everything to help them. Early gender scan is a good idea, I'm not feeling very bonded with bump either.

My due date is 13th Oct which is the same as my DDs birthday - poor kid! I'm not sure a newborn is actually what most 5 year olds want....

Sorry to all those suffering at the moment. I’m now 7 weeks and the nausea has ramped up in the last few days. I can’t stand the thought of eating and can only lie in bed. So miserable. I’ve been prescribed Prochlorperazine but it’s done nothing, hope to get something else next week.

Does anyone else find odd non food things set off the gagging etc?
I find that even speaking sometimes will do it, which kind of makes sense.
But also the noise of the fan in my bathroom, which comes on with the light. Puking in the dark by the light of my phone, so glamorous 😆

SpringChicken06 Congratulations! Happy News! I am so glad you have reached the fabled Pink Castle at the end of the Hyperemesis Horror. Thank you so much for your kind words, and I am so glad this thread helped. You have every reasoon to be proud. Now you can enjoy baby. 👶
Improbablecat It's good a change of air and scene helped. Sorry about Ondansetron headaches. Don't try and rush back to work, says Mother Hen. I've added your date. I remember talking being awful.
Peanutbutter7 A good idea to get something else if Prochlorperazine isn't working.
evuscha Sympathies about the apprehension. Good advice. I've added your date.
Roxster That's a good idea.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

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
Improbablecat 13 October
Bunda 19 October
evuscha 18 November

@Improbablecat Yes! When I was pregnant with my first certain TV adverts would set me off. Specifically a co-op Christmas ad, an LV insurance ad and a baileys ad. 🤮 I still can't listen to the songs that were in the background.

I got nausea from supermarkets for a full year after my last pregnancy. It was like, the particular lighting and vibration. Must sound nuts to people who don't experience it!

I'm just popping in because touch wood I seem to be having an easier time of it this pregnancy. I'm now approaching 7 weeks and I've only started dry retching today. I started taking a morning dose of cyclizine and omeprazole about 10 days ago and I think it's really helped head things off. I've added in the afternoon dose of cyclizine the past 2 days to keep up with increasing nausea. I'm still managing to eat normally and I just have to encourage myself to drink a bit more.

Randyforgiles I'm glad to hear that -about the meds helpiing,not the aversions!
Waves to gretathebetter. How are things?

@LucindaE I'm doing a lot better after my recent admission. Different hospital this time (I've transferred care) and they kept me in for 4 days until they were happy they'd balanced all the meds. Added an anti-acid pill. And ive managed to eat a few hot meals since! Such a welcome relief. Only 7 weeks to go now. I'm hoping I can stay like this to avoid induction 🥰

So I found out I’m having a boy! Was hoping it would make me more excited but sadly it hasn’t. My ex husband called up today and said my son got upset over the weekend and he feels like he’s being neglected. It’s broken me, I’ve felt so guilty about not being able to do as much with my son but everyone kept saying it was fine and he understood. I’m just not sure what to do.