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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
BalletN · 10/11/2022 13:02

@Worryant Congratulations on your baby! I'm so glad you have reached the finish line.

@Quinny2288 I'm glad the meds seem to be working for you.

LucindaE · 10/11/2022 13:12

Worryant Great news. Congratulations on your baby boy. StarFlowersWink I'm very happy for you. I am so glad that this thread helped when you were at your worst. Thank you so much for your encouraging message. I am sure that will raise the spirits of those suffering early on.
Quinny2288 It's good about the improvement and good day. Congratulations on the beauty treatment. It's good that the chat facility on PPS has been helpful for you and FTMworrier That is unfortunate that Omprazole gives you migraines: as they've withdrawn Ranitidine due to some health scare, that doesn't give much choice if you need a strong anti acid, so it's good you're finding Gaviscon good. Some find, as you have, that tablets are better.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

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Theawkwardblonde · 10/11/2022 14:59

Hello. Hoping I can hop on? I'm 22 weeks with my second and suffering with what the docs are calling "borderline hyperemesis".
My last pregnancy I was sick daily from 5 weeks until labour. This time is the same but far worse.
Was on cyclizine which had no effect other then making me drowsy. Been upped to prochlorperazine as of last week. Just in need of a bit of support and was recommended this thread by a friend. I've gained no weight and baby is measuring a tad small (same as no 1).

izzyroo92 · 10/11/2022 15:03

@Worryant congratulations!! Thank you for sharing and also reminding me that an end will come to this sickness!!

Currently picking my three year old up from pre school. Cracker in hand and sick bowl ready on the passenger seat!

Quinny2288 · 10/11/2022 19:27

@Worryant congratulations!!! So pleased for you.

FarmWife23 · 11/11/2022 11:54

Hello! I was on the hyperemesis thread earlier this year, but had a miscarriage and a partial molar pregnancy at the start of February. Pregnant again now and due on 5th March!!

A lot of the advice from the partial molar clinic was that sickness might not be so bad in a future pregnancy but I’m now 23 weeks and it’s still horrendous. I’m on Omeprazole, Metaclopramide and Ondansetron but other than a bit of a break between 16 and 18 weeks when I felt very nauseous but wasn’t actually being sick (which was amazing!), it’s back and I’m throwing up pretty much everything I eat and pretty dehydrated all the time.

Had 3 hospital admissions and the injections/IV medication and fluids help so much, but it feels like after a time everything just slides back to being really bad again. Starting to feel it a lot more now too, I feel really faint/dizzy after I’m sick, and just totally shattered all the time.

I’ve got the glucose tolerance test in a couple of weeks, not sure how I’m going to get through that!! Really hoping it’ll fade soon, I just can’t imagine doing this right the way till 40 weeks.

izzyroo92 · 11/11/2022 12:46

Hi @FarmWife23, sorry to hear your feeling so rough. And sorry to hear about your lose, I had a molar pregnancy and was very very sick I don't think I'll ever forget how ill I was.

I'm now 12 weeks have my scan on Wednesday. But the last last two days very suddenly I have felt hungry! For the first time in weeks and weeks. I managed two actual meals yesterday and dare I say it I've felt okay. I'm still taking my meds three times a day, but I do feel like a fog is lifting slowly. Is this normal? Has anyone else started to feel a little better at 12 weeks. I've gone from being stuck in bed to having a couple of human like days. I no things can quickly go down hill again so I'm not getting my hopes up to much. I was still stick once yesterday but this is a sudden huge improvement compared to the mess I've been in.

LucindaE · 11/11/2022 19:44

Welcome to Theawkwardblonde. Sorry you are still suffering. If prochlorperazine is not helpful either, It might be worth asking for Xonvea, for instance, which was designed specifically for pregnancy, and has helped many on here. Here's my introductory spiel, which I hope may be of some use. Discount the irrelevant bits! 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.
FarmWife I am sorry about the molar pregnancy. Welcome back. It must be awful to suffer with that. It sounds as if you have it badly now, if that combination isn't working. Have they discussed steroids if dehydration is still more or less a problem? They help many severe cases, but consultants seem to vary in how willing they are to recommend them.I hope you get a turnaround soon. I hope some of the fluids suggested in my comments to The awkward blonde might help.

Quincy2288 'This Too Must Pass'.
Izzyroo92 Some lucky ones do stop suffering early, round the supposed 'magical' 12 week mark. Great advice.
Happy news about Worryant.

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LucindaE · 11/11/2022 19:47

FarmWife23 I forgot to add, I've heard that if necessary, they can do a blood test instead of that awful one where you have to drink a lot of a glucose drink.

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FarmWife23 · 12/11/2022 14:28

They haven’t discussed steroids yet, more just giving me a different drip with nutrition in it to try and make up for the lack of food intake. Has anyone on here tried the steroids? Did they work and how were the side effects? Im a bit nervous about going down that route.

FarmWife23 · 12/11/2022 14:29

And thank you so much, this is amazing!! I’ll call the midwife on Monday and ask if that’s an option ☺️

LucindaE · 12/11/2022 18:46

FarmWife23 I am glad you found the advice helpful. Apropos the steroids, at various times sufferers have been on them on these threads. Usually, they are used as a last resort. It's a thing that the consultant has to balance, of course; the risks of prolonged dehydration have to be weighed against the low risks of steroids, and i can understand you being reluctant to take them. Different sufferers feel differently about whether they are prepared to take them. Pregnancy Sickness SOS, whom I believe have a retired doctor working for them, can be contacted on 024 7638 2020 and will phone you back with good advice about the risks. I hope too someone on here with expereience of them might be able to advise you.

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Theawkwardblonde · 12/11/2022 22:20

@LucindaE thanks so much for the welcome. I've read your recommendations and will look into the drink choices as I'm not keeping much fluid down. I'm seeing my midwife next Week so going to mention that my current meds aren't helping at all.
I'm just feeling very weak and exhausted all the time. I'll be honest I'm not getting much help from my gp other than told to take tablets and deal with it.

ColeensBoot · 12/11/2022 22:31

LucindaE are you still supporting all the HE mums?! You are AMAZING!

My 9yo is currently eating pizza and playing with Sylvanian families. You helped me out so much when I was pregnant, and felt like I was dying.

Thank you SO MUCH. You deserve an award. Thank you.

LucindaE · 13/11/2022 20:45

CollensBoot Thank you so much for your lovely message. My goodness, a nine year old! I am so glad that this thread was able to help you when you were suffering.
Theawkwardblonde I'm sorry to hear that the GP isn't very sympathetic. and I hope that the midwife is able to prescribe better meds, given that some nurses can now.

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Zaalfruit · 14/11/2022 07:33

Hiya is it okay if I join? I am having such a Hard time - this is my second pregnancy and completely unlike my first . I am signed off until the end of the week and I’m struggling to eat or drink. I have been given cyclinzine which hasn’t helped and now they have given me promethazine - which is just making me feel extra tired but not taking away the endless vomitting and dryness within me.

All I want to do is cry - I’m thankful for this bundle of joy but I’m struggling . At my 12 week scan I was so sick - they have asked me to come back in 2 weeks time just before I am 14 weeks to do the scans properly because I can’t even lie down for a small period of time without heaving.

Melissa2023 · 14/11/2022 18:01

Hi @Zaalfruit you are in good company and we'd be glad to have you here with us sharing your journey - I'm so sorry you're so poorly. Have you spoken to your docs again about your medication not working so they can try something else?

Also hello ladies just checking in - have had a weird few weeks - had a small bleed and it was absolute panic stations but now appears all is fine and it was a freak occurrence! Turns out the EPAC is more efficient at 1am than in the middle of the day 🙄😂

On the sickness front I am still taking cyclizine and prochlorperazine religiously -things started changing for me as I hit week 17 (now week 19) and I am now only being sick once or twice a day thank goodness. It's very violent (gave myself a nosebleed earlier with the force and I've wet myself a few times the past week or two - lovely I know) but I have managed to go back to work with my own dedicated emergency vomiting bathroom near my desk which has done wonders for me not feeling like a purposeless zombie

LucindaE · 14/11/2022 21:04

Welcome to Zallfruit I so agree with Mellssa2023, do ask for stronger meds, though it can be exhausting trying to get them when feeling terrible. It might be worth asking for Xonvea, which has helped several on here. I am sorry that the treatment isn't as effective as it could be, and you have it so badly even the scan couldn't be done. Don't try and rush back to work. You really aren't up to it and rest is very important. Here is my normal spiel, which I hope will 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 , dry cereals and slices of melon and mango. Protein drinks have also been mentioned.
Melissa2023 Sorry to hear of the bleed, nerve wracking. I am glad things are a good bit better now, but that still sounds awful, if it's that violent, and it's brave of you to go back to work. It's good you have a 'dedicated loo' set up. Other workplaces ought to try that!

OP posts:
IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes · 14/11/2022 21:27

FarmWife23 · 12/11/2022 14:28

They haven’t discussed steroids yet, more just giving me a different drip with nutrition in it to try and make up for the lack of food intake. Has anyone on here tried the steroids? Did they work and how were the side effects? Im a bit nervous about going down that route.

@FarmWife23 I was put on steroids at 9 weeks and came off them about 10 days ago at roughly 26 weeks. They were an absolute game changer. I haven't been sick since I started on them and I was able to have some type of life. The side effects are hideous - weight gain, water retention, no appetite control, immunocompromised and I couldn't focus on watching television but they were worth it. If you are offered them, give them a try. I am nearly 28 weeks now and have felt diabolical the last few days. I have been heaving all weekend so I dread to think how I would have been without them. I am considering going back on them if things don't improve.

LucindaE · 15/11/2022 20:36

IHaveBeenFallingFor30Minutes Thank you so much for coming on with this valuable advice for FarmWife23.

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Zaalfruit · 16/11/2022 11:15

Thank you so much for the advise . My gp surgery are so hard to get an appointment. This morning my mum came and her deodorant just started a cycle of vomit and heaving . I’m so tired of constantly sucking up stomach acids . My throat and mouth permanently have a gross after taste and I just want to eat a meal and feel good .

I tried coke but it just made me gag even water is getting harder to keep down .

I really feel failed 😞 by my trust. I had. Midwife check up and I couldn’t give a wee sample because I literally have no liquid inside me and they said you should be drinking liquids - like obviously I know that - but I can’t keep it inside me. I know I’m dehydrated I have a pounding headache 24/7 .

I really hope once I hit the second trimester it eases up .

gg9320 · 16/11/2022 19:03

Hi all,
I recognise I’m very early days at only 6 weeks and nowhere near a HG diagnosis but the last 3 days have been terrible with vomiting at least once an hour ( except for a short time overnight while sleeping). I can’t keep anything down for long and it feels like it’s getting worse. I’ve got my standard GP pregnancy appointment on Monday to confirm the pregnancy and get referred to antenatal services but I don’t think I can face 4 more days without some help. I’ll try and get a telephone appointment this week for antiemetics. I just feel so alone in this even though my partner has been so helpful this week. I guess just looking for some reassurance that this isn’t normal and I deserve to have this taken seriously by my GP. I really hope the drugs work. It’s so lousy 😞 my heart goes out to everyone who’s experienced this!

SpringChicken06 · 16/11/2022 19:23

Hi @gg9320
My heart goes out to you reading that message can honestly feel your pain through it. Don’t worry about a “diagnosis” or when you receive it, base it on how much your struggling etc. I’d definitely recommend getting started on some anti emetics ASAP, I started around 6.5 weeks and it took a hard few weeks to find the right combination (everyone is different for what works for them), but there be a lot of back and forth and trial and error with them so try not to delay it any longer.
Please don’t feel alone, speak to your partner/family/friends/colleagues/us, it’s a difficult time so don’t make it harder on yourself by keeping it in. Take all the support you can get and you’re in the right group for some advise.
I used to hate it when people said it gets better but it does, there will be good days honestly.
As with the GP, some are hit and miss but there’s support groups out there and services within the hospital if they fail you. I really hope it doesn’t come to that as it makes a huge difference having a supportive Dr that you can phone when your struggling. After a few weeks the receptionist in mine used to get me an appointment straight away after struggling for weeks, hope you get the same respect and care.

gg9320 · 16/11/2022 20:15

Thank you @SpringChicken06 your kind words mean a lot! Fingers crossed for a helpful GP and quick appointment to start trying some medications! :)

LucindaE · 16/11/2022 20:49

gg9320 Welcome. Sorry that you are suffering badly. I'm glad you are asking for meds. This level of sickness is certainly not normal. You have already had great advice from SpringChicken06. Here is my normal spiel, which I hope will 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.
Zaalfruit It surprises me that if you were unable to provide a sample of urine for them to check for ketones, they were that dismissive. As you have a bad headache, it seems as if you are dehydrrated and unfortunately, I think you need to by-pass the doctor's surgery and contact your A and E. It certainly used to be the case before the pandemic, that a pregnant woman unable to retain fluids for over 24 hours was a medical emergency.
SpringChicken06 Excellent advice, as ever.
Apologies to anyone rudely overlooked.

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