Constant nausea and vomiting

[BrightLilacCat]

I don’t really know what I’m hoping to get from this post other than a bit of a vent.

I’m about 7 weeks pregnant and have been suffering with constant nausea and frequent vomiting for a week now. I was prescribed Promethazine on Tuesday and was swapped onto Metoclopramide on Friday. Neither has done anything for the nausea and vomiting but just seem to be making me sleep for 16+ hours a day. My stomach is grumbling like I’m hungry but I have no appetite. I’m struggling to eat anything and the majority of what I do eat ends up coming back up. I’m trying my best to sip water but I’m not sure how much of that is really staying down. I’m fairly sure I’m dehydrated now. I feel weak and dizzy. I’m going to call the GP again in the morning but I’m just feeling so down with this now. What else can the GP offer? I have no idea how I’m meant to keep going like this for weeks longer.

Hi. I had Hyperemesis (HG) throughout my both pregnancies from 3 weeks until delivery. I was admitted maybe once a fortnight and have an anti sickness injection and usually overnight stay on a drip. I felt amazing after them and could keep food down (certain food only) but the sickness would come back after 3/4 days and and by day 10-14 I was massively struggling and could not keep water down or travel in the car. It was horrible so I feel for you. If your urine is dark I would phone nhs 24 and get checked for keystones and to get the sickness under control. I was given all different tablets which rarely stayed down and eventually put on one that dissolves under the lip which did help some days. Big hugs for you I hope you get some relief soon!

Hi OP, another HG sufferer here. There are more medications available, so do try something else. Many women find they need a combination of medications rather than just one.

Some GPs are great, others not so much. If your GP is robbing you off, the charity Pregnancy Sickness Support is a great source of advice and info on what medications are available, the actual risks of some of them (e.g ondansetron which is often described as ‘risky’ but the actual evidence is weak, and the risk is a very very small increase in chance of cleft palate) etc which can help you advocate for yourself.

PSS also have a support line/ WhatsApp and a peer supporter service which is super helpful. There’s also a Facebook group called Hyperemesis Gravidarum and Pregnancy Sickness (UK Group) which is a good source of advice and info.

Good luck OP, it’s so tough to cope with but for many women it does improve at least a bit at some point, although it can last the whole time for some.

Another one that struggles with sickness. So far I have found metopramide with cyclizine the most effective but still fairly debilitating.

Hi.OP, previous two times HG sufferer here. It’s so bloody hard. Really bloody hard. You may find it eases off for you soon but if not it really is a means to an end. Pregnancy Sickness Support really are worth reaching out to xx

Thank you for the words of encouragement. I contacted 111 and was referred to the out of hours GP this afternoon. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to wee so they couldn’t test. I’ve been prescribed some rehydration sachets (the other option was referral to A&E for fluids but he said I’d be waiting hours) so I’m sipping on one of those now. I’m going to contact my GP again in the morning and see what they advise.

Another struggler here 🙋🏻‍♀️
Im currently 14 weeks and since week 7 I’ve been sick every day. For the first few weeks it was anything from 5-11 times a day. I was given cyclizine but it did nothing for me. Then I got given xonvea which is much better and now I’m only sick around twice a day. But it’s still grim. And the xonvea makes me exhausted!!!!

I had HG twice with my two girls and honestly in my first pregnancy the only thing that helped was IV fluids and prochlaperizine (spelling is wrong I think) but with my second xonvea really made a difference, it was such a game changer- ask your GP for it if you can. (The fact you couldn’t wee is worrying to me though, I did the teeniest sample before being admitted but no wee at all would suggest dehydration). I hope you get some help soon 💗

Yes to the exhaustion! The tablets I’m on now are just making me sleep so much! I’ve just woken up from a 4 hour nap on the sofa and I’m ready for bed! I could cope with being sick a couple of times a day if it weren’t for the constant nausea and complete lack of appetite. Hoping the GP can find a drug that helps me a bit more.

Ahhh I’m sorry OP. I’ve also hovered on the edge of HG during my three pregnancies, with multiple admissions. Xonvea is the main drug that had some impact, and reduced my vomiting to 4 or 5 times per day.

As an aside, if you’re so dehydrated that you’re not passing urine, then you probably do need to go to A&E. Take your rehydration solution with you.

Another sufferer here! I was given Ondansetron and it was an absolute game changer for me. I was given something else first that did nothing and my doctor luckily was great - I was pretty dehydrated at that point.

Just keep persisting and sending hugs! I am now 22 weeks and so much better.

I agree- the constant nausea is horrid- I’m really off my food as well, it’s so difficult as I feel sick when I’m hungry but then the thought of eating makes me feel sick… it’s a vicious cycle! The constant nausea is horrid but it is much better only being sick twice and not ten times!
I wish there was a tablet that didn’t make us so drowsy!!!! People keep telling me it must “feel wonderful” to sleep so much but it’s not pleasant ia it, especially when we wake up still feeling shattered!!!!

I know going to hospital is not at all appealing, especially the wait, but when you get super super dehydrated it can make you more sick and be almost impossible to rehydrate yourself. When I got to that point IV fluids was the only thing that helped and like a PP said, it felt like coming back to life. I know an A&E trip is the last thing you want but if you can’t keep the sachets down then please do consider going, don’t underestimate how ill constant nausea and sickness can make you.

Have you managed to have a pee since getting home? That would be a worry of you aren’t managing. My first admission with baby2, I called the hospital pregnancy unit and explained I needed to come for fluids but I was only 5 weeks and hadn’t been admitted in that pregnancy, they told me to just hold off and see the gp in the morning. Amazingly I was told to go right down at 8.30 when I called, I managed a small urine sample and the gp called the ward and told them to be ready for me, and she was going to call an ambulance, thankfully my sister was in the car outside waiting and my bag was packed so headed straight to the hospital but it was scary! Not trying to worry you, just to emphasise how important it is to get fluids into you.
he is a crazy 8 year old now and perfectly healthy 😊

Another one who suffered. Ondansetron was such a help, didn't stop everything but wasn't as severe. And did mean if I needs to really function for a day I could just about manage it and then rest lots.
High carb foods tend to settle better - which was fine with me until I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes in my second pregnancy and then I hit another rocky patch while finding 'safe' foods again.

Ice lollies can be soothing, and help keep the hydration up.
As others have said if you aren't weeing fluids may be needed and can help balance things out. Anti sickness meds can also be given along side and help you feel better rested.

Take it steady and look after yourself. It's so hard and exhausting on top of growing a tiny human. Worth it of course, but that doesn't help in the hard moments.

I haven’t had a wee since about midday. I’ve just finished the second rehydration sachet (lots of very small sips) and have managed to keep both of them down so I’m hoping I’ll need to go soon. I’ll call my GP first thing in the morning and see what they advise. Those of you who have been admitted for fluids by your GP, has that been to A&E or straight to early pregnancy unit?

The first time I went to a walk in centre and they admitted me straight to the ward from there. The second time was the same but via an out of hours GP and then after that the ward gave me direct access to go back as and when I needed.
That’s good you’re managing to keep the sachets down, but it took about 5 or 6 bags of fluid the first admission I had to rehydrate me so even if you’re keeping something down you may still need a drip. It’s probably worth trying your EPU in case they can bypass the A&E wait - I think how much they do depends on area.

Thank you. The local EPU doesn’t take direct admissions and they have to be via GP or 111. I’ll see if the GP can give me a referral in the morning. That would definitely be my preference if an A&E wait can be avoided. The out of hours GP (via 111) thought I’d be waiting at least 12 hours today to be seen and didn’t offer an EPU referral.

That seems quite bad the out of hours one couldn’t do you a direct referral when you’re so dehydrated you can’t even do a sample! I hope you have better luck tomorrow. Unfortunately it’s a common experience for medical professionals to downplay the severity sometimes, but once you get through the ‘it’s just morning sickness’ people hopefully you’ll get to people who are more used to dealing with it and can give you some proper help.

It’s so tough, and the last thing you have the energy for is arguing with professionals! I hope you manage an okay night and to get some better help tomorrow. Do contact Pregnancy Sickness Support if you get stuck as they offer really great advice and can help you navigate the system.

Ondansetron was a life saver for me when I was pregnant with my youngest. Stemetil and metoclopramide did nothing but ondansetron worked wonders. The only downside was my 3 dc was massive, almost 4lb heavier than his siblings as I actually kept food down!

Hi @BrightLilacCat how are you doing now? I’ve been thinking of you 🌺 hope you have managed to get some relief x

Thank you for your message @MissMarvelMum. I went to the GP yesterday and she checked my urine and confirmed I wasn’t dehydrated. I was prescribed me a different drug to take. The lovely GP reassured me that if it does get to the point of needing IV fluids they can do a direct referral so I won’t need to spend hours waiting in A&E. Yesterday seemed like a slightly better day but if I’m being honest today seems to be the worst day yet. I’ve not been able to keep any food or liquids down yet today. Just had an ice pop so we’ll see how that goes. I’ll call the GP again in the morning if there’s no improvement. The surgery only does urgent same day appointments if you call before midday and my husband thinks I need to give the new med 48 hours to see if it works.