Can’t cope with the sickness. Please can somebody recommend anti sickness meds?

[Bumbun]

Third pregnancy, my first I spent months throwing my guts up (most probably was HG) and I was so ill.

Second followed suit but didn’t last very long, luckily it passed after only a few weeks.

This one is looking more like the first pregnancy and I am STRUGGLING. I have two young children to look after and every day is a battle. I really am so down.

I’ve heard that anti sickness meds don’t always work but I’m willing to try this time round. Will make a doctor appointment tomorrow morning but wanted to know what to ask for? I did have cyclizine (intravenously) once and had an awful reaction, so a bit nervous to try that again… although tablet form might not give me the same reaction?

helllllppppppppppp

Sometimes soups or even those calorie milkshakes can go down a little easier. Sympatheties, the sickness is the worst. I was in cyclizine for both pregnancies.

Ready Brek - doesn't hurt on the way back up. Like a previous poster said you might vomit it up but better than bile.
Eat, the starvation is making it worse. Ive been through it twice. It physically and mentally destroys you.
Rest, rest, rest - not easy with other kids but tiredness makes it much worse. My dc1 watched a lot of TV while I lay on the couch.
Find a drink you can keep down, for me it was Lipton Ice tea. I could not tolerate water.
Don't deny yourself anything. If you fancy something eat it even if you know it probably won't stay down long.
Do not worry about whether something is healthy or not.
I tried Stemetil and it didn't help.
Cyclizine helped but knocked me out so couldn't risk it alone with dc1. I took it at night and weekends when dh was home.

While you’re waiting for medication, things like really sour green apples helped settle my stomach, and nibbling on raisins one at a time just to get something into my stomach and some sugar into me also helped.
I also read a lot of studies and there is a link in some between lack of protein and sickness, so I tried to increase protein. And vitamin B6 has also been shown to help.

But really, it’s medication that makes the difference unfortunately.

I found not eating made the sickness worse. I found those jelly sweets weren't too bad coming back up. If the gp isn't sympathetic, do get a second opinion. I really wished I'd pushed for anti sickness meds when the registrar and the midwife said no because i was keeping water down (I'd lost 3 stone and had + + ketones) but i felt too weary to argue.

I know how hard it is but you do need to try and eat. I don't know if my sickness just isn't as bad as with my daughter (although it definitely feels it 😫) but I'm forcing myself to eat this time because with her I ended up hospitalized on a drip for a week and I barely ate or drank with her as I couldn't face it. This morning when I woke up I 100% was going to throw up but made myself eat some weetabix and even eating it I kept thinking I'd bring it up but it's stayed down so far 🤞🏼 If you can get hold of xonvea it will definitely help with that aswell. Sounds like you definitely need the meds so I'd try today if you can with the weekend coming up x

Ginger did bugger all for my sickness, made it worse if anything. Just tell the Dr and they'll prescribe what they want in terms of type or brand.

Oh and the only drink I can tolerate right now is weak orange squash with loads of ice!!! Try adding ice to your drinks, I even add it to the milk I use on my cereal!

Have you tried the wristbands that work on acupressure points?

Yes I definitely agree. I used to just fill the glass completely with ice, and top up with orange juice.

Thanks all. I’ve popped some water in the fridge so that they are cold for the morning. I like the idea of wheatabix - much better than toast and easier to bring up (sorry I know it’s gross).

I managed to get an appointment, sadly they couldn’t prescribe xonvea (she said it had to be prescribed via the hospital) but she did give phenergan 25mg. I’m about to take the first tablet as she recommended to take it before bed, apparently it is an antihistamine also used for sleeping and can completely knock you out - which I really don’t like to be honest so not looking forward to it but I have to give it a try…

I’m glad you’ve got something to try OP and hope it helps. Many of the antiemetics are antihistamines and cause drowsiness unfortunately - some you can build up a tolerance to the drowsiness so it’s not so bad after a while, or as a PP said, it can be a case of finding a balance between reducing the sickness and avoiding too much of the negative side effects.

If that medication doesn’t help then don’t be afraid to ask for another. I know I keep banging on about it but pregnancy sickness support have a good network across the country and can help advise how to secure xonvea in your area - once you have an initial prescription from the hospital you should be able to get it on repeat directly from your GP. I also had to get a hospital prescription for it first time in my area but then had no problem getting it on repeat for the rest of my pregnancy.

Also don’t worry about being gross re choosing foods that are easier to vomit. Anyone with experience of HG has definitely been down that same road. It’s grim but it’s the reality of the illness unfortunately. First pregnancy I lived off jelly, angel delight and jelly sweets for the first 4 months ish. Second one quavers and ready brek.

When I was first given cyclizine it knocked me out completely. I fell asleep on the sofa while DH was vacuuming on the same room.
But within about a week I was taking 3 a day without any drowsiness at all. So you can get past the drowsiness side effect after a few days of taking it.

This is honestly one of the truest and most honest posts I have ever read about hyperemesis gravidarum and severe pregnancy sickness.
I am currently pregnant for the third time, and with my first two pregnancies I had absolutely awful HG. I was tried on all of the first-line medications and, at the time, ondansetron wasn’t offered to me until after 12 weeks.
I am someone who is very natural in many aspects of my life. I eat well, have a doula, have tried countless homeopathic remedies, and even gave birth to my daughter outside in water birth - But for me, homeopathic remedies simply do not work for HG At all!

This is an illness. It isn’t a case of not trying hard enough, eating enough ginger or finding the right natural remedy. Sometimes your body simply cannot cope with the severity of the nausea and vomiting without medical treatment.

When you are unable to eat, drink, stand up without retching or function normally for months on end, being expected to simply push through is not realistic, healthy or safe.

The combination the lady above is talking about gives me so much hope. She is using prochlorperazine and ondansetron alongside omeprazole, Xolava and a laxative, and I think it is so important that women know that combinations of medication can sometimes be what finally makes a difference. For me, finding the right medication combination is the first thing that has ever really touched the sides it has taken 3 pregnancies to get it right and I’m now 7.5 weeks pregnant just started the above combination and finally I have relief!

I really wish there was more awareness and far less shame around women needing medication during pregnancy. Taking medication for severe HG does not make you weak, less natural or a bad mother. Sometimes medication is what allows you to drink, eat, function, look after your children and simply survive an incredibly difficult period of pregnancy.
We need to talk about HG more honestly. Women deserve to know that they do not have to suffer in silence, that homeopathic remedies are not the answer for everyone, and that there are medical treatments and combinations of medication that can genuinely make a huge difference.
There is hope, there is treatment available, and no woman should ever be shamed for taking the medication she needs to manage an illness like hyperemesis gravidarum. ❤️

I might note that I asked my go for this combination of medications and there is no research of data that says you can not take them under 12 weeks this is out dated information and I took ondandestron with omeprazole for both of my first pregnancy’s had had two amazing births to two perfect little girls.

This time I refuse to be bed bound i am taking control and getting the correct medication plan in place at 7 weeks my first trimester looks far more positive I can function and be there for my children, don’t suffer help is available if you know what to ask for!

Hope this post helps anyone suffering x

You’re right there is no shame in taking medication and honestly, HG women are some of the strongest women I know, especially those who have multiple children knowing they will very likely face it again. I really hope the combination continues to work for you and you have a better pregnancy experience this time.

Cyclizine and domperidone and yes they are safe for pregnancy

Oh good grief no. At least not always!

I had 2 HG pregnancies…. I still have a horror of ginger biscuits/tea/root/powder that made no difference at all!

IV cyclizine is the only one that worked for me. Oral cyclizine tablets didn’t touch the sides.

I hope you get some relief OP!

I had 3 godawful pregnancies (youngest is 28 now) and no one had anything to offer back then.

My DD has just gone through it too (her first). She asked for Ondansetron but her doctor wouldn’t prescribe it as it’s not officially approved for pregnancy (in the US, so it doesn’t have FDA approval).

It’s high time this issue was taken more seriously as it’s so debilitating.

I could of wrote all this myself currently 7w 3d on xonvea third pregnancy and third HG (presumably) the tablets are definitely working but I’m a shell of myself I’ve a 4 year old and 1.5 year old I’m taking 1 tablet in morning 2 at night and I’m 24/7 exhausted , can’t stand up for longer than 10 mins or start to get very light headed. I was bed bound all last week and cried the entire time about can I do this all over again it’s exhausting , xonvea is giving me abit of life first time they’ve gave me them. Last Pregnancy I was on Ondansetron from 10 weeks roughly right until 38 weeks and I was still sick. Hopefully these keep working

Not the same I know but I'm ever so glad my mum decided not to take the anti sickness meds she was prescribed because they were thalidomide. They remained in her bathroom cabinet unused until I was born.

This is really unhelpful to women suffering. The thalidomide scandal has left an awful stigma for women who are pregnant taking medication. It’s why so many women suffer so greatly with HG because even doctors are frightened of another thalidomide. But the drugs available now have been available for decades and are being used safely.

Anyone suffering with HG please don’t let the fear of medication put you off getting help - you being so desperately unwell you can’t eat or drink is dangerous to you and your baby, medication (which is safe and widely used and thoroughly tested) is to help you be well for your baby’s sake.

16 weeks in to my 2nd HG pregnancy. Started on cyclazine (weeks 4-8) as had that last time, didn’t help (didn’t last time either for the first few weeks either!). Then tried Xonvea (8-14) but it did nothing, possibly even less than the cyclazine and I had the most horrendous itching. Had so far lost 15kg!!

Two weeks ago a midwife friend suggested Xonvea and Cyclazine together - GP prescribed both together after discussing. Within a week I was functioning. I am still sick a couple of times a day but, the nausea is so much more under control. I feel genuine hunger - and my diet while still overly beige and easy to bring back up, is broadening. I can keep liquid down consistently too. I can also now read for short periods, make short car journeys AND shower without without projectile vomiting….and spend longer awake than asleep. You often don’t realise how sick you were until you look back… My body is now slowly recovering from 16 weeks of starvation and sickness, and I am planning on returning to work next month.

Last pregnancy I was still sick every day until delivery, but, on cyclazine alone I didn’t reach this point of recovery until about 20 weeks.

You will survive this, but, some days it’s one hour at a time. Some times it’s more be day at a time, but, eventually, you will live counting in weeks like every other pregnant woman can.

Anyway, TDLR: take the drugs, and if you don’t see a difference within a week, go back to the GP. Talk about new drugs but also combining drugs to see what works for you. Don’t try and do anything other than keep yourself and any dependants alive. This is survival mode.