Hyperemesis Support Thread

[MrsMattie]

7 wks pregnant and have been suffering for about a fortnight. Didn't have it in either of my other pregnancies. Surely someone else out there knows what I'm going through?

Oh, I didn't know you were pregnant - congratulations, but bleurgh, know how you feel. Have you tried the Blooming Awful site? Lots of people on here recommend it.

And, at the risk os stating the obvious, the only thing that ever helped me at all was eating, even though I know it's incredibly hard to eat when you feel like this. My routine (the only thing that helped me feel a bit better) was:

last thing at night: pour out a cup of fruit juice and a carby snack (fruit scone, teacake, cucumber sandwich - whichever makes you feel least like barfing) and put it within arms' reach of your bed.
AM: BEFORE getting up: drink juice, eat carby snack. Give yourself 5 minutes after you've finished, then get up.
BREAKFAST: try to eat something carby - plain cornflakes, porridge, bread, muffins.
BREAKFAST UNTIL AFTERNOON: try to eat SOMETHING every 30 minutes: some slices of apple, some grapes, plain crisps, noodles, pasta with butter, ham sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches. Sweets, lollipops and Coke can all help if you feel yourself getting really nauseous.
DINNER: try to eat some carbs and some protein: fried chicken and potatoes, pasta and chicken. The protein will help to keep your blood sugar stable overnight. Nuts are another way of getting protein in.

Plus, if you haven't already, make a fuss to your GP. I found that when I told GPs I was having trouble keeping water down, they tended to get busy with the prescription pad. If the first thing they prescribe doesn't do it for you (and it should kick in within an hour or so of taking it), get back to them and ask for something else. IME the medications didn't stop the nausea, but they did enable me to keep more food and fluid down that I was otherwise able to do.

Poor you, it is horrid.

blooming awful

Plus, I meant to say, get your DH (DP?) to prepare food for you, in little bento boxes or tupperware so that you can put the lids on when you can't bear the smell. This will enable you to avoid the dreaded kitchen.

Aw darlin', you have my every sympathy.

I suffered with this with both my pregnancies & even ended up in hosp on a drip with my 2nd.

It was the worst time of my life & as a result I will not be having any more children.

You need to get to the GP & get your keytones checked out. When I got mine checked she called straight through to the hospital & got me a room set up. I used to be sick so much I would pass out

Oh god even the thought is unbearable.

In the end I got steroids, I can't even remember the name of them. They did not stop the sickness, but made me more able to eat stuff at all. I tended to stick to lollipops and fruit. Strawberries & bananas were my fave. In fact they used to force bananas into me in hospital for the potassium!

Just sitck to dry food like toast, crackers for now.

Yes definitely. I suffered last time all the way through - although it eased at around 20 weeks and am just coming out of the worst of it now again at 20 weeks. Last time I used to be sick more - 10 times plus a day with ease. This time I was sick like that from about weeks 4 - 12 and then just stopped eating. I lost about a stone in the first trimester and now at 20 weeks havent gained any of that - but havent lost any more either.

Its truly awful and I am sending you a lot of sympathy. It will pass - but no one can promise you when but it doesnt feel that way at all when you are suffering from it.

One of the worse things is that no one who hasnt had it can really understand how you feel. You can tell them it feels like a stomach bug or an awful hangover but few people have experienced a hangover which lasts for weeks or months. Some people are sympathetic and say things like "I felt nauseaus when I was pregnant too" or "I was sick once when I was pregnant". Others suggest you eat a ginger biscuit like its going to make you feel miraculously better.

Then there are the ones who just dont understand and compare their sickness to yours and think you are being pathetic/miserable. In reality they felt a bit nauseaus or were maybe sick once a day for a few weeks - and coped with it so think you should too. The ones that drive me mad are the ones who say they gained so much weight during pregnancy as they had to eat to cope with the nausea - many people with hyperemesis cant eat in the first place or would be immediately sick if they did try and eat anything.

Others think that pregnancy is a wonderful wonderful time and you should be enjoying it. I hate every day of the first 20 weeks because I feel so terrible. This time around it has been a bit easier as I know its for a reason eg a baby and it will go - this wont last for the rest of my life. There hasnt been a day I havent eneded up sobbing my heart out though because I feel so awful. I had a bit of spotting at about 7 weeks this time around and I have to admit that I thought "if i am losing my baby at least i wont have to be this sick any more". Shocking and I feel awful for it - and would never wish my baby away - but an indicator of how bad I was feeling.

I also find that people start to lose interest/sympathy which is difficult and unfair. The first few times you are sick people are sympathetic but its like it almost becomes normal for you to be being sick everywhere all the time. My DH rarely notices or comments now.

Another thing that I find very difficult is just having to carry on with things. Pregnancy is not an illness apparently. Errrm right! I have got up every day, dealt with a toddler and gone into work - where I lecture and have to be on my feet for hours at a time. Other people who get a cold/flu/stomach bug get to stay at home and be ill - and complain at how awful they are feeling whereas I just get on with it day after day after day. Drives me mad when people get hangovers and complain to me how rough they feel - try it every day I feel like screaming at them.

Some of the things that have worked for me. Physically - homeopathy and reflexology. In terms of diet - eating exactly what you want and not worrying about it. I currently find low fat things help. I have also found bland things like bowls of rice help. Sugar - lucozade and haribo sweets (hence name) have been my lifesaver and I have existed on them for days and weeks. Try and get something in you because the tiredness and weakness make it seem a lot worse. Quite often I find myself making the decision of whether I want to stay feeling weak or whether I can bear throwing up whatever I have just eaten. If you think you are going to be sick eat foods that will come back up easily - sorry for tmi. Dont eat things like pizza that get stuck or curries that will burn.

The psychological part is a huge thing though. This time around I have been working with a doula from early on - to talk about it, get some advice and understanding. Last time I just dealt with it - kept coping and hoping it would go away. I ended up with bad pnd which I attribute partly to this. This time I am being more active in trying to gain some control and understanding over it.

It will pass - most people feel better towards about 16 weeks even if it never truly goes away. By better - that could mean you are "only" sick once or twice a day for the remainder of your pregnancy.

I really truly feel for you and Im sure there will be many others that will help you. You are definitely and unfortunately not alone on this.

xxxx

I am coming up to 12 weeks and I am still so sick. I have lost half a stone and I am worried about the effect on the baby of not eating properly. All I can manage are carby snacks, hula hoops, toast, salt and vinegar crisps, apples. I did manage half a jacket spud with some grated cheese.

Prenatal vitamin tablets make me want to vom.

I have spoken to my midwife and she doesn't seem at all worried about it.

I agree eat bland food and chew it well then it is not so bad if it comes back up, sorry TMI!

I am working and have a 5 year old to get to school every day too.

Thank you everyone. I could honestly cry right now. It is just so good to hear from people who truly understand.

The last two weeks have been hideous. I am retching and vomiting all the time from the minute I wake up until about 4pm, when the vomiting subsides and I 'just feel sick' (still extreme nausea, though ). I am able to eat a plain, carby dinner and some water & juice most nights, which is keeping me going, but finding it very hard to eat or drink anything else during the day - it just comes up again immediately. It is so debilitating, and I feel so sorry for my 3 yr old, who has gone from having a full schedule with lots of activities to having to entertain himself while I am sick all day and cannot leave the house.

My DH is being a superstar. He is self employed, so works very hard as it is, plus we are renovating our house which requires lots of overseeing, but he is still managing to get home early most nights to get DS his dinner and put him to bed, then make me something to eat (dealing with my whims, such as 'I can only eat boiled potatoes' when it's 9pm and we haven't got any in the house!). Bless him. My mum and sister are also doing their best to help out where they can. I could honestly bawl my eyes out just thinking that this might go on for months and months yet, though

I was admitted to hospital on Friday and prescribed anti-emetics, but my hydration levels were Ok so was let home after a day. I swear it is getting worse though

Anyway - thank you from the bottom of my heart for your sympathies and advice. policywonk - will definitely try some of your suggestions and see if they have any affect. Anything is worth a try!

xx

Aw love , it sounds as though you have it bad (worse than I did, I wasn't hospitalised).

Do continue to make a fuss to the GP if the anti-emetics don't work - there are a few different meds that they can try.

I know what you mean about feeling bad about your three-year-old - I had exactly that experience with my DS1, who was 14 months when I got pregnant. Suddenly all I could do was lie on the sofa, puke and cry. I think he thought I'd been body-snatched. At least yours is old enough to have some understanding of the fact that you are ill.

Actually, I remember that a good fit of crying used to make me feel slightly better sometimes. It is a rather shocking experience to find yourself totally incapacitated, especially if it's not an experience you've had before. It is very depressing and isolating.

Hang on in there, it won't last for ever - you'll be very unlucky indeed if it lasts until the end of the pregnancy. On DS1's pregnancy I started to feel better at about 22 weeks, and on DS2s it was more like 16 weeks.

I'm 18 weeks and was hospitatlised from weeks 9-14 with hyperemisis. Well on and off for that time, but in the few days I was home I was in bed and only got up to throw up. Lost 2 stone in 6 weeks. Luckily I have a fairly intelligent and understanding GP, who did a urine test - massive ketone count- and rang through to the hospital and got me admitted each time,.

I spent days and days on a drip and had IV antiemetics as i couldn't keep tablets down. At times I coudln't keep any food or drink (or medication) down for up to a week. I was in a right state and my uber high ketones refused to budge for ages.

Then on the first day of week 15 it just turned off.

The whole time I was feeling grim, nauseous and sorry for myself, I was so grateful I didn't have an older child to look after too!And an understanding employer and DH!

I found that when I could stomach anything it was small amounts (and I mean tiny) of very hot or very cold food and drink - iced water, ice cream, hot choc.

I'm 15 weeks with my first and have been on anti-sickness since week 9. (afer living on my bathroom floor for 4 days!) The thing is that although I've been into the Maternity Ward and saw the GP & Midwife no one seems to be really bothered by the whole thing. Talk about a guilt trip, not only do yo think you're being neurotic there is the whole guilt thing from actually taking the tables that the Pharmacist tells you every time that you shouldn't be taking!!

Sometimes I feel like I could just give up. But as everyone keeps saying it will be worth it in the end.

Are you still supposed to be sick even on the meds? Is that normal?

Lesley21 you poor thing, I know what you mean about still feeling guilty, most medics attitudes seem to be of the "just get over it" variety even if they have treated you and can see how much you are suffering. Hang in there it won't last much longer fingers crossed. If the meds they've prescribed aren't helping though go back and tell them, there are quite a few they can try.

I was still sick on the medication and had supposedly the cream of the crop where anti emetics are concerned, Zofran. Started them when hospitalised for the first time in November at about week 8 and continued with them in varying formats (tablets, syrup, injections, finally suppositories ) throughout my five hospitalisations and recovery at home until about week 24 when I stopped the meds and tried to go it alone. Was still being sick a couple of times a day but I was on the meds too so it didn't seem worth it!

Good luck.

How are you doing MrsMattie?

Minkus, Lesley - your experiences sound really shocking. I agree that a lot of health professionals seem to be very offhand about this condition - I'm not sure why. Makes me want to bang heads together.

Lesley, I agree with Minkus that you should go back and make a fuss if the anti-sickness meds aren't working. It's worth a try to see if something else will be more effective for you. I remember that Buccastem did nothing for me, but others I've spoken to found it effective - it seems a bit random. Cyclizine helped quite a lot on my first pregnancy, but I had quite a lot of breakthrough sickness while taking it on my second (plus it really knocks you out).

Hope you all feel better soon.

Lesley21 You're not meant to still be sick on the meds. Go back to the Dr and make a fuss! There are several antisickness meds to try. After a lot of trial and error, I ended up on two at staggered intervals. It was the only thing that worked!

Lesley, I know exactly what you mean about the guilt trip and feeling like they think you're neurotic. I saw heaps of different GPs (because at first they wouldn't prescribe me the meds for more than a week at a time so I had to keep going back ) and most of them had hardly even heard of HG and were giving the 'eat a ginger biscuit' school of advice. The relief when I got a GP who knew about it was indescribable.

That lovely GP was also tactful enough that rather than giving me the lecture about risks she simply asked 'what do you know about the risks?'

It is real. It sucks. But it is worth it. Eat what you can and rest as much as possible. And fight with the docs to get the meds you need.

Hi Lesley 21 and Mrs Mattie - You both have my heartfelt empathy. I was sick every single day of both of my pregnancies and admitted frequently for IV's and rehydration for HG. I too had horrible thoughts about ending my pregnancies all the way through with both. I was on anti-emetics (Cyclizine, avomine & buccastem), vitamin B12, iron tablets, the lot - although the anti-emetics stopped me living in the bathroom I was still sick daily so meds don't always stop the sickness completely..horrible I know.

I tried everything - flat coke, rehydration powders, sprinkling salt on my tongue before sipping water. I couldn't eat so no food was a remedy. I'm now sat here with a beautiful, bouncing ds2 who is 6 months and a hilarious ds1 who is four. They are both very healthy kids.

So what you need to do is focus on yourself, the baby will be fine, keep still as much as possible because movement and stress make it worse. Visualise the day/morning after you've had your baby when the sickness will be gone and you can eat and drink normally again. What kept me going was that it does end and talk to others (like us) who have had the same experience because it will stop you feeling isolated and alone which were key features of both my pregnancies. If you ever sit with your head over the toilet, dry heaving & crying come straight on here (if you can type ok) and vent.

Thanks guys - just knowing that I'm not the only one going through this a godsend.

I'm going back to the GP next week and this time I'm going to take dh with me. He'll probably make more of a fuss than I will!

The good news is that I'm managing to function during the day - so I've been able to go back to work. And I've gotten to the stage were I eat whatever I like in the hope that if some of it stays in my stomach it'll be a bonus. (its awful knowing that what ever I eat is going to make me feel awful and be violently sick at some point)

I'll let you know how things went with the GP
Lxxx

yep i had it with my first (and only so far!) pg - you have ALL my sympathy, it was the most horrendous time of my life..2 spells in hospital and a LOT of time in bed (months!).
there was a thread recently about HG with a lot of people posting helpful stuff about meds and what is good/not helpful and how to hassle your GP effectively! Can't remember name of the thread but maybe you could search or someone else might come along with it?
I did get better after about 20 weeks but was definitely still recovering for the rest of my pg. Would love to have more dc but just dread HG so much.
But at least next time i will know that it IS possible to have a healthy baby (7lb 14oz!) having eaten pretty much nothing for 4/5 months! Someone later told me that this is possible because the baby leaches everything it needs from your body - all the minerals etc.. which only adds to how rough you feel.
It was worth it in the end of course, but i doubted it a lot during those dark days.
All the best to you.

Minniethemoocher, addictedtoharibo, mrsmattie and lesley21- how are you all doing? Hope it's easing up for you. xx

Things are going pretty well at the moment - touch wood! The meds seem to be working, not prefectly but they work.

Now I'm only sick 2/3 times per day, usually at night when I'm tired (excuse as to why I've been around for a while - lol!).

Can't believe that I'm 17 wks today - I'm actually beginning to feel pg, not just sick.

How's everyone else doing?

Hiya Ladies

Just wanted to give you some light at the end of the tunnel!

I am pregnant with baby number 2, after the first and with a good dose of Hyperemesis I vowed that I could not and would not go through that again, I kept a diary of events to makes sure that broodiness did not take over - I was not going to have another child. I have Hyperemesis for at least the first 20 weeks of that pregnancy and was hospitalised twice for rehyration - it was a truly horrendous time. Not just for me, but also for my poor husband who did everything to try and elleviate my symptoms.

Of course that miraculous child was born and put in my arms and I loved her from the first moment I set eyes on her, I loved her actually before she was born, I loved her more when she was put in my arms. It took me a long while to get over the Hyperemesis, but I did indeed buckle under the strain on the hormones and went on to having number 2. I did get Hyperemesis again - this time for 23 weeks, it felt harder this time, having another child to go hand in hand with the extreme sickness is no picnic and you do feel like life is being very cruel - I didn't start to enjoy the pregnancy until very late on. I was able to deal with it better, I was better prepared, armed with an understanding of what was happening and what was going to happen. I was still hospitalised - but this time only for 4 days, I found ways of managing.

Now 2 weeks off my due date I am starting to look forward to another little bundle, I have found it a bit harder to bond in advance with this bump, but I love her none the less and as deeply as my first. I will love her even more when she arrives.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, whenever the sickness subsides, you can get through it and its wonderful when the baby comes. Its a horrendous horrendous time, it can be debilitating and lonely and only someone who goes through this level of sickness can understand.

Make sure you go to your doctors, if they are unhelpful then go to A&E - you can be treated with antisickness drugs, there is a range of drugs available that are safe to use in pregnancy. If you get dehydrated it makes it worse, you will feel better with the right level of hydration. Find coping strategies, extremes in temperature - ice, hot water, extremes in flavour, bitter or sweet. Sometimes you find what works one day won't work the next day, eat what you fancy -your baby will get all the nutrients he/she needs and you will deliver a healthy baby. Don't feel guilty if you need to take time off work, sleep when you need to, rest - don't allow yourself to get too tired it will make it worse.

People will say to you - it will be worth it in the end and this is no consolation when you feel as bad as you do - but it is true it is worth it - every minute of it - of course we'd all prefer to have one of those healthy pregnancies with no complications!

I extend my best wishes to anyone going through this now - you feel like utter crap and I know that its really impossible to think about tommorrow or next week, take each day as it comes and remember it will pass and at the end of it you will have your wonderful baby - and one day you might go through all of this again and have another baby - you'll of course think your mad - and perhaps we are - lol!

debs

I'm taking avomine this pregnancy. It doesnt stop the nausea, but makes a massive difference for me in the amount of vomiting I do. I also keep M&S chocolate cornflake mini bites by the bed and eat them when I wake up. They don't look very nice if you throw them up, but lately I've been keeping them down - feel very sick tonight and less optimistic about tomorrow morning. I had no life last pregnancy with the hg, this time I have a toddler and just couldn't lie in bed all day - although I would love more sleep than anything.

Hey all HG sufferers, how are things going- just wanted to check you're all doing ok (I'm 36 wks now and pleased to say that I have't been sick in about 6 weeks )

Wow Broadie I could have written your post- the bits about not ejoying pg until late on (36 wks here and starting to like it now ) and not bonding with this baby as much as first really rang true.

But can't wait to meet it and find out whether it is a boy or a girl! Soooo excited now that I feel less sick/ more human/ more like the person I used to recognise as me in the mirror.

Know exactly what you're going through girls - you're not alone. I now have three gorgeous boys to show for three long hard very sicky pregnancies that were largely spent in and out of hospital getting rehydrated, on various anti sickness drugs trying homeopathy and acupuncture and only getting relief once I had given birth.
Didn't realise what was going on with my first until I finally got to see my own GP (other had been most unhelpful) after a month of not keeping anything down and weighing just over 6 stone. There were times I wondered what on earth I was doing but it IS worth it (smile).
I was incredibly lucky to have a supportive family and husband which I'm so thankful for. The blooming awful website is very helpful (although I can't seem to access it now - not sure why).
Hope your symptoms ease soon and don't be afraid to tell your GP exactly how bad you feel. There is some sort of relief available out there and it won't last forever. It's just a big shame that in the last century there was an unfortunate shift in medical understanding regarding HG. They used to believe it was phsyiological and now many have taken up the idea that it is psychological which if you've been there and tried to shake it off you know simply cannot be true.
Best wishes.

Have been there three times and its a bugger - impossible to explain to anyone who hasn't experienced this cruel twist of nature.

There is a funny entry on 'your world and your insides turn upside down' on daisybump.blogspot.com/ Might cheer you up when you are starting to come out of this horrible sick period. You will come out of it although it is very hard to believe for you right now. Take care

My daughter is at 31 weeks with twins, with an enormous bump, but she still weighs half a stone less than when she started because of the hyperemesis. Most MWs have been ignorant/unsympathetic, but she begged her way to getting stemetil for a few weeks in the middle. I do so feel for all of you. She has just found this site, which she has found a bit of a comfort:
www.hyperemesis.org/mothers/faq.php