Treatment for Hyperemesis in the UK?

[ManhattanMama]

Hi all,

I've got a gorgeous DS aged 7mo, but the hell of HG that I went through during pregnancy is almost enough to put me off wanting another! I threw up constantly for 6 months - had 7 weeks solid off work as I literally couldn't move without being ill. Turning over in bed, lifting my head off the pillow, DH sitting down on the other side of the bed - anything would result in me being ill

We finally got it under control with Zofran which I took for 3 months - this enabled me to get out of bed and back to work, but still every time I ate anything I would be sick (am intimately acquainted with my work toilets!).

My question is whether doctors in the UK will prescribe me Zofran as I know it's bloody expensive (I live in the US and my healthcare was billed 1500 dollars per month!). I don't think I'd be able to consider having another baby if I didn't know I could get this treatment if required (sorry if that sounds melodramatic, but it really was THAT bad!).

So does anyone have experience of being prescribed Zofran for HG?

Thanks

Sarah

There's been a few hyperemisis threads recently, you might want to scroll down and see if you can find them.

I was in hospital with hyperemisis for 6 weeks. I tried, at various times, Cyclizine (tablets and into drip), Stemitil (injection) metroclopromide (tablets). My GP was happy to give me a repeat prescription of cyclizine after I was dicharged, but later his locum wasn't.

I think the HG website www.bloomingmarvellous.com has a list of all the different names for the same drug.

Here's the latest HG discussion, it's moved really far down the list.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/49/519864

I've been taking Zofran intermittently during this pregnancy so yes dr's will certainly prescribe it here. However my gp would only prescribe it as ongoing treatment after I'd been admitted to hospital and the consultant had tried everything else. This is my second hyperemetic pregnancy and I had Zofran with my son also as it was the only thing that worked then too- so this time I was forewarned and told them of my history straight away but they were still unwilling to go straight for the ondansetron, still tried all the others that AHLH mentions first. Suppose they have to though just in case one of them does work!

Have tried meltlets, (the little tablets that dissolve between your gum and lip), injections (obv. in hospital although there was talk of dh being trained to administer the jabs), syrup and finally settled on suppositories as they were the only realistic thing I could take without throwing it back up. Stil threw up but not as often on the drugs! I've read of some US women getting it via a pump system but not heard of that over here. GP showed me how much the suppositories cost- not to be mean I don't think just for interest- and each single suppository cost £15. One a day, so a bit less than the $1500 a month but don't know how much the others cost.

But, if its all that works then keep on insisting on it- the reason the NHS is there is to give you the tratement you need. Alternatively I've seen some mums on here who've got US medical insurance and that has coughed up for the goods too.

This is def my last baby, know what you mean about it putting you off- I had a gap of 3 yrs between ds and getting pg this time and I had forgotten just how awful it is in my broody state of mind! Good luck! x