Can we have a severe sickness support thread

[Wonderstuff]

I am 7 weeks gone, last week I was feeling a bit nauseaus, on Thursday I couldn't stop throwing up, on Friday the doctor said I had moderate levels of keytones (not sure on spelling there) in my urine and I was to rest completely and try to keep food down or I would end up on a drip. I feel so awful. I have been signed off for 2 weeks and have put dd in full time childcare (normally does 3 days) I feel so guilty that I can't care for her, but I literally can't move, I keep crying all the time. The end seems so far away. I haven't washed my hair in days as the effort just seems too much. I want to go to sleep and wake up when this pregnancy is over.

He won't remember a thing and I can honestly say I know it didn't have any detrimental effect to my DS's development. If people are around to help you out and take DS for you, or he goes to nursery etc, all the better. Please don't feel bad. There is nothing you can do to change the situation. It's not your fault you feel so ill.

I'm dreading this one as I know I've got the school run to do and I have to do it. I live in hope that third time round I'll be slightly luckier?!?!?!?

Good to hear that TInks.

He seems fine, but of course I wonder...

Lol, of course you will worry. God knows I did! I felt like the worst mother on the planet! Both your DS and Wonderstuff's DD won't remember a thing.

My DS is 7 now and can't even remember visiting his sister and I in the hospital when she was born, let alone me being ill.

FYI, I just found another site with a thread on it about this and one of the mums on there was prescribed a homeopathic remedy by her Doctor:

Ipecacuahna.

She says it worked wonders. I might give it a go. In for a penny........

Though I've just Wikipedia'd it and it says that Ipecacuahna is infact an emetic and not an anti-emetic! Maybe not then!

Anything is worth a shot! I generally think homeopathy is a lot of nonsense, but I'd have run naked anticlockwise round a toadstool to have felt better!
I got Ondansetron eventually, which was good.

Hmm. yes I don't normally go in for any of this heeby jeeby stuff. But as you said, I'll try anything if it might help. Including running anticlockwise round a toadstool!

After being sick 16 times in about 20 hours and feeling like death the whole time I had a doctor visit me at home last night and he prescribed something called Cyclizine which has really helped! Haven't been sick since I took it though still feel drained. But the nausea has really eased. Ask for some anti-nausea medication from your GP!

I think that homeopathic remedies work on the principle of a minute amount of something that causes problems actually helping your body to react in a positive way, so it makes sense that an emetic would be prescibed for sickness, essentially you are mainly taking sugar, the amounts of the active ingredient are so tiny I personally think homeopathy works because of placebo effect, but some people seem to swear by it.

Returned to doctors for third time in a week this one was lovely (also third doctor I've seen) she prescribed some drugs Dh just gone to get script, I really really hope it works.

Glad to hear it Wonderstuff.
Hope it helps you feel better. I found 2-3 days on the meds gave me a good idea of how effective the meds were. Don't be shy to ask for another type if they don't work!

Just thought I'd add my experience to the list might help others. Am 9 weeks preggers and have had hyperemesis since week 5 and a half!

Been in hospital 3 times now. Literally just got discharged this am (as ketones negative, tho still feel like crap). My last bout of vomiting was truly remarkable - vomiting started at 7am, and vomited over 24 hours before passing out in hospital.

It is literally insane how our bodies do this! Am fully expecting to go back to hosp again but really hoping it doesn't extend beyond 12 weeks as am getting really miserable from it (as is my DH, it seems to be taking over our lives).

Pattern seems to be as follows.....

• Get discharged from hospital on some useless oral antiemetic (why oh why doesn't anyone see the catch with oral drugs??????) e.g. stemetil (prochlorperazine), cyclazine, phenergen

• Eat pigeon sized portions of food whilst all the time feeling nauseous and knackered

• Wake up one day and start vomiting (don?t stop)

• Try to sip fluids but seem to vomit out more than what goes in (why is that?)

• Collapse in heap in front of beloved toilet until DH comes home and insists we ring OOHs doctor

• At appointment with OOHs doctor (russian roulette as to how capable/knowledgable they are on HE) where they take various measurements and frown a lot.....the clincher in my case is how many ketones are in my urine (+++ to ++++ is bad enough)

• Get sent to hospital and put on life/mind-saving drip (and possibly if needed some drugs that work, like Ondansetron)

• If you don?t look like you?ve vomited up your toes yet, or your ketones don?t quite hit the mark they put a ?I know this wont work but it saves face? injection in your arse, such as Metoclopramide, Cyclazine, Stemetil, and then you have to wait till you are bad enough, or puke on their shoes

Yes I also concur with the mind-altering effects of starvation +/- severe dehydration. I?ve never in my life had such vivid daydreams, e.g. chips with legs and faces, singing to me.

P.S. Is it just me or is anyone else with HE worried about the cornucopia of drugs we?re taking?

Hi all,

I still haven't been sick yet, but no surprise as last time it didn't start till about week 7. Currently at week 6 and 1 day.

Feeling like sh£t already though.

I'm going to Docs to get some anti-emetics. I can't cope with HE, 2 kids, a job and Xmas all on top of each other.

For those of you who have been given tablets to take orally, tell the doctor where to shove them (literally!) If you're being sick every half hour, there's no way you can keep them down. I eventually got given stemetil suppositories with my last pregnancy and they worked long enough to stop me being sick.

Good luck and big hugs to all. I'll let you know how I get on at the docs. xx

Thanks Tinks, will ask for suppositories next time - although it's not pretty, if it works its better than the hell of seeing the inside of a toilet bowl 24/7!!

Tinks, hope you don't get it too bad this time. Good idea to get anti-emetics early rather than wait till you are really ill.

Flower, I finally got Ondasetron to take at home (orally, but you can get 'melts' too, which are meant to be wuite good). You may have to fight for it, but if like me it is the only thing that works, it is worth it. Britain is very suppository-scared I think! In France, etc they use suppositories all the time apparently.

I am not worried about the drugs, btw. It was a toss up between that and chucking myself in front of a lorry (only a slight exaggeration).

Ahhhh Nicky! That must be the first time i've laughed in 3 weeks!! Thank you.

Hi, I just wanted to say that I know exactly how you feel..... I am now 39 weeks & nearing the end of my pg! (well I hope as can't wait to meet LO). Anyway, I had the most awful sickness for at least the first 4 months!! Not just nausea but like you I couldn't keep much down.... I was so fed up & down & wasn't enjoying the Pg at all. However, as soon as I moved into my 5th month it was like the sun coming out & have to say the rest of my PG has gone smoothly! so don't give up!! It will pass.... & I only replied cos I wanted to share with others going thru the same xperience! It was that bad that I actually vowed I didn't want to go through pg ever again.... now I'd actually consider it!!!! Good luck!

Feel awful today. Feel a bout of vomiting coming on. The only relief from this god awful condition seems to be when i sleep and i escape in my dreams (last night i dreamt i was at the gym, feeling 'normal' - it was brilliant!!!).

Ate a ginger biscuit in the middle of the night to try and stave off the worst nausea in the morning. May have worked, a little.

Asked my GP yesterday for Ondansteron melts. Said no - apparently her little book says Ondansteron not indicated in pregnancy (despite telling her i've already had it IV 4 times). Got some "Buccastem" though which is absorbed through the direct contact with the inner skin of the mouth which may help when i start throwing up again, or not.

At this rate want to cancel Xmas. Taking Cyclazine tabs 3 times a day currently. Looking forward to the 12/16 week mark when i can come out of this dark tunnel.

I have ben prescribed metoclopramide - they make me really sleepy, which seemed great, but I sleep all day then am awake all night which is no fun. They did initially seem to work, but I chucked everything up yesterday, I'm just so knackered and not at all looking forward to christmas. Week 12 for me is the first week in Jan and I am just focusing on getting through this month and hoping I start feeling better next month. I am surviving on hoola hoops and coke, which the docs seem happy is a balanced enough diet. Told dh that after this baby he isn't coming near me until he has the snip. Have discussed termination, but I do want this baby (though I can't remember why)

Just read today that HG unlike normal MS often extends to weeks 20-28. Please god no.

Having a bad day today. Feel really naseous, but only vomited twice so far. BTW don't recommend vomiting popcorn. Truly horrendous.

Oh flowerbee lets hope not! I am feeling a bit better today having managed to keep down the metroclowhatsitcalled, I have put in my diary week 12 when I am hoping it will ease off, I know they say day by day, but trying to think week by week, in week 8 now so have survived 2 shitty weeks, everything crossed only another 4 grim weeks to go. Tried to book first midwife appt today, got no idea why I have been putting it off, they can't see me until week 12! They are going to see if they can fit me in any earlier, just concerned about getting a scan done really, I'm not very sure of my dates, have a fantasy that i have it wrong and am much further along than I think, wouldn't that be amazing! I can't wait until the end of this pregnancy I really can't.

My week 12 is xmas week so will be surprised if anyone organises a scan for me!

I too am still focusing on the 12 week mark (or if that doesn't work the 16 week at the very latest). I can't compute feeling like this much longer than 6 more weeks (am just about 10 now).

Wonderstuff - i love your fantasy about being much further on than you think!!

Vomiting was bad yesterday, but so far today not vomited yet. Have kept down 2 delicious toasted crumpets with marmite. Delish.

My problem now seems to be i can't find anything to drink - have vomited up so many different drinks (orange lucozade, lemonade, orange juice, apple juice, tea, milk, lemon squash, orange squash, water, ribena) - that everything i drink now just reminds me of puking!!

I managed to keep down some toast and most of an m&s superfoods salad, also proud of getting dressed and going for walk to m&s to get it.

Arrgghh. Still feeling lousy so go to doc (threw up all yesterday afternoon and evening) he umed and ahhed and asked if I had tried ginger biscuits - I'm being violently ill several times a day, I don't think ginger is going to cut it. He has prescribed phenergan, which is an anti-histermine, can also be used for travel sickness. But if I look at it objectively its only another 4 or 5 weeks. Felt like saying you try vomiting repeatedly and not sleeping or eating or being able to function for that length of time. Pissed off I am.