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.

@Kxx the fact you have got this through without is heroic in my eyes. I will keep you posted pm me anytime. I’ve taken first one still feel nauseas but have managed to eat an ice Lolly and not been sick.
The nausea is day and night but worse from afternoon evening.
I’m not expecting miracles but just to not be sick and as painfully nauseas would be amazing x

@Kxx your description of going through stages of grief is so spot on, thank you for sharing.
So sorry to hear you ladies are suffering either with nausea either on its own or with vomiting. It will pass eventually and there will be beautiful babies born.

i took one xonvea today my first at about 3:30 and my nausea although still present was not as intense as yesterday where I couldn’t eat or drink a thing. Maybe it’s just a fluke as not sure it would have kicked in that quick but just being able to get out of bed has been amazing although don’t get me wrong still feel disgusting and off of all food. Will update x

I was admitted to hosp for IV fluids and a Stemetil injection on Wed. Have been miraculously able to eat a small meal since taking Stemetil tablets. I also got script for Cariban but it’s very expensive here (I’m from Dublin). I haven’t come across the other names of medication other posters have mentioned such as Xonvea/cyclizine, wonder if that’s an EU thing.
@cossie13 best of luck with your app keep us posted and stay strong, nausea is awful.
@Jaystarlight I feel similar to you, a bit of welcome relief at last even though still feeling unwell.
it will pass and beautiful babies will be born ✨

@LucindaE thank you for all your dedicated support xxx

@StrongSeedling Hope you are feeling better.

I am also from Ireland and there are slight differences in how hyperemises is treated in the UK. Cariban isn't the first line treatment in the UK from what I understand. Maybe it is called something else.

Have you a drugs payment scheme card? If not apply for one immediately or your pharmacy can apply for an emergency one for you. Your cariban is then capped at no more than 80 euro a month which is a huge saving. Before it was approved under the scheme it was 80 euro a box! If you know anyone travelling to Portugal or Spain it is much cheaper there.

My GP told me cyclizine if not recommended for pregnant women and they won't prescribe it. Have no idea why as it is routinely prescribed in the UK.

I took cariban and stemetil together for a few months and found that combination worked well for me. The cariban on its own wasn't enough. I hope you find a combination of medications that suit you.

Xonvea query. Was given xonvea yesterday but box says take 2 a day. Wasn’t sure how to space them out. Didn’t think to ask at the time. Research is saying many people start with taking 2 before bed? Can anyone tell me how they take their dose please and what’s been more effective? X

@LucindaE thank you very much for your continued support.

just an update, 16 weeks now for me and i can say i am having more good days now than bad. I am continuously cheering everyone on.

I am still on ondansetron but i am managing to take it only about twice a day which seem to be enough. I am also on omeprazole which i can say really helped as well. I must say ondansetron can really get you constipated so just watch out.

I plan to go back to work on a phased return so as not be a shock to my system.

Again I hope we all go through these hard times.

@Rohise can you please tell me how omeprazole helps keep hearing it. Is it for heartburn ? X

Rohise I am so glad that things have improved and you have been able to reduce your meds. Thank you for your encouraging message. I am so glad the thread is helping.
StrongSeedling I am not sure what Cariban (I keep typing 'Caliban', lol) is called in the UK. I am glad that Stemetil is helping.
Jaystarlight Below I should have typed 'got Xonvea' not 'good Xonvea'. Omprazole is an anti-acid, which many on here have found more effective than Gaviscon, etc.

Jaystarlight I hope someone can advise you about yXonvea spacing soon.

Please dont feel like a fraud. I have had vomiting but honestly I find the 24/7 nausea SO much worse than the actual being sick, theres just no relief from it at all and it really gets me down so you have all my sympathy!

Im now a week out of hospital and the rehydration and injection plus continuing the promethazine have reduced my vomiting alot but done nothing for the constant nausea. Im getting fluids in finally but cant really eat. Had a private scan yesterday for some reassurance and it was lovely to see a heartbeat and a little peanut with some arm nubs wriggling away! On the downside i thought I was 9+2 going from dates but the scan dated me at 8+4, so where i thought i might getting over what seems to be the 'peak' of this for lots of women it rather seems im only just approaching it. Am getting very down about being a useless lump that cant work, parent or even look after my house properly and desperate to feel useful again.

@LucindaE Thank you for all the info, my doctors have never even mentioned xonvea as an option but i might ask my midwofe at my booking in appointment if its worth me asking them to try it, literally willing to try anything at this point to feel human again!

I hope everyone else is plodding through okay.

Sickandtired Congratulations on scan. Sorry it revealed an earlier date.
I hope they prescribe Xonvea. 'This Too Shall Pass'; you are not being a 'useless lump'.
Sufferers are too hard on themselves. Rest is one of the few ways of helping this.

Hi I am 6+5 feeling dreadful since week 5 with 24/7 nausea. All I can manage is tiny bits of tinned fruit cocktail, the odd bits of an ice lolly and tiny nibbles of rice cakes. Can’t stand smells, sounds. Have not had TV in in over a week. All I do is lay in bed all day. Awful for my 6 year old to see. 17 year old too.
Have been placed on Xonvea praying I get some relief.
This is worse than torture.
I am a very old mum at 43 will be 44 when it’s here!! Anyone else near my age?

@Starjay7 welcome, I know how you feel. Sights smells sounds, all too much to bear. I even wondered if HG is more likely with undiagnosed autism it’s such a sensory attack, but maybe that’s my brain going too strange places. Stay strong and hope you find comfort here from other sufferers xx

@QueenBee22 thank you for your lovely message, interesting to hear that. I’ve asked a relative to bring some home from Spain, they successfully got a packet and I’ve signed up for the scheme on your advice. How long did you take them both for? Did you have a feeling to stop and see if symptoms had gone or take right up to a point?

@StrongSeedling I took cariban from 7 weeks and then my consultant added stemetil to that at around 9/10 weeks I think. I was vomiting up to 4 times daily and nauseous for hours on end which put me at dehydration risk as the nausea was so bad I couldn't eat or drink anything.

Brilliant you have got someone to bring some from Spain and the drugs payment scheme is great and really reduces the cost.

I took both until I stopped vomiting which was around 17 weeks. The second I stopped taking all the meds the nausea intensified so I had to take both again. Around 20 weeks or so, I weaned myself off the stemetil very slowly and have managed to keep off it.

I am 32 weeks now and still taking cariban for nausea. I am also taking omeprazole which I would recommend if you aren't on it already. I thought I was fine without it but the nausea got a lot worse when I stopped taking it.

Hope this helps you please let me know if I can help in any other way. Hope you are feeling better.

Hi. I suffered with HG with my first, started at 7 weeks up until around week 26/27. I took cyclizine, metoclopramide and then ended up on ondansetron which was the one that worked best. I was very anxious taking Ondansetron due to the very very small chances of cleft palate consultant made me aware of.
I am currently pregnant again with my second and suffering again since week 6. Taken all 3 meds again and ended up on Ondansetron which is really settling with me.
I just wanted to share my positive thoughts about Ondansetron if anyone was an overthinker like I was about the small risks.

Just wanted to share my positive experience with Xonvea for anyone that might be considering requesting it.
Since week 5 I have been nauseas 24/7 unable to eat/drink prescribed cyclizine did nothing at all. Then requested Xonvea. The gp requested I take 2 a day at night but that was not effective so with pharmacist approval I started taking full dosage 4 a day. It has been so helpful. I can honestly say so far my 24/7 nausea has reduced to the point that I can stomach very few foods but at least some foods. I am also able to get out of bed and spend little time outside of room.

@mummy2el
hello, thank you for your message. Currently i am on ondansetron as well which was the one which is helping me as well. I was wondering though if you took it all the way into you 26/27 weeks? I am into my 17th week and have been taking ondansetron for three weeks now. and am just wondering if i should try to wean myself off or just continue to take it until i pass my nausea and vomiting?
thanks for your reply

from what I remember, I think I only took them as and when I needed towards the end. I usually took once a day if needed.
I think I stopped taking them by week 26 all together.
Maybe you could wean yourself off them if you feel like you are having an ok day with the sickness.
they do say it’s a very short term medication.

Starjay7 I came on to welcome you yesterday,but for some reason, my message vanished. Congratulations on a baby due at 44. I am so glad that you have got Xonvea,and it is helping a fair bit. Here is my normal spiel,which I hope helps. 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 orchocolate 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. Frozen apple juice has been recommended. 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.
mummy2el Welcome. I am flad that combination is helping you. As you are a veteran, you don't need my normal spiel above. On Ondansetron, many sufferers on here have been on Ondansetron or a cocktail of drugs including it in the12 years since I started these threads, and I have never known of an abnormaliity as a result.
Good advice for Rohise.
Waves to StrongSeedling, QueenBee22 and everyone. Good advice from everyone.

Hi all, I thought I'd pop on as I don't tend to feel well enough most of the time to get on here. I spoke to the GP. They were reluctant to give me anything other than anti sickness tablets and some advice on how to help the nausea. Unfortunately the tablets I've been told to take are basically hayfever tablets and don't really do anything for the nausea. I have however found bizarrely that ham & cheese toasties ease the nausea to a point where I can cope with it. I seem to remember it was Orange Juice ice lollies with my first and walker ready salted crisps with my second - goes to show how different each pregnancy is!

Hi all,
Had HG with my first pregnancy 5 years ago, I am 8 weeks with my second and was really hoping I'd not been hit with the unlucky stick this time but it just started a week later than my last pregnancy. The GP gave me meds straight away as my last pregnancy was horrendous and they have been so supportive.
I am finding it very hard as I haven't told anyone yet, I just can't deal with others judgement of 'a bit of sickness' like they did the first time, it adds to the anxiety of it all for me. My hubby is so very supportive and I will be forever grateful for that! My LO is at school, the school runs are so miserable, the meds only last an hour before it begins again. This time I have extreme nausea and lots of heaving, not physically sick all day as in first pregnancy, maybe 5 times a day which I can cope with.
Just wanted to stop by and say hello and sending a hug to anyone who needs it.

Splittingsides Welcome. Sorry you are suffering again. I am glad that they are taking it very seriously this time at the surgery. I assume that five is vomiting sessions, not heaves, as probably it doesn't apply in your case as they are being supportive, but doctors tend to count heaves as vomits.
cossie13 Sorry you don't feel well enough to come on. That is a great suggestion about the cheese and ham toastie - isn't that what the French call a 'croque monsieur'? I'll add that to the list of recommendations, besides the
orange juice ice lollies. The crisps are on the list already. If they are being stingy about drugs, might it be worth phoning Pregnancy Sickness Support for advice on obtaining more effective ones on 024 7638 2020. They will have to phone back, but give good advice.

I hope everyone is coping today.