how often to docs prescribe anti sickness meds?

[angels1]

I rung the Doctor in tears this morning as I can't cope with morning sickness anymore. I feel sick ALL THE TIME and can do nothing - I haven't been out of the house in 2 weeks, and I'm only 6 weeks pg! I have a history of issues with reacting badly with hormones whilst using the pill etc in the past and was ill feeling sick when pg last time before mc at 6 weeks (from 3 weeks I felt sick!).

The Doctor just said I needed to see her if we are to consider medication, which, to be honest, I think will be the only route forward if I am to cope through the next 6 weeks or so (have already been signed off at week 4 as feeling so bad. doc called it hypermesis despite me not actually being sick).

Thing is, will they prescribe me anti sickness meds if I'm not actually being sick yet, just feeling really sick? I know it's not doing any harm to my baby, I just can't take it. I feel really weedy, but I'm struggling to eat (although forcing myself as someties it helps a little), can't sleep, can't move about too much or have to lie down. It's all too much for such an emotional pregnant women!

Sorry for the rant, but your comments on whether I'm going to ahve to grin and bear it or if I might be able to get something to help a bit would make me feel more prepared going in to see the doc after lunch.

x

From what I've read docs do sometimes prescribe medication for nausea without vomitting if it's so bad you can't cope with normal life at all (which sounds like the case for you).

IME doctors vary hugely on how sympathetic they are and whether they will offer drugs. Last pg I had to go back several times and see different docs before anyone took me seriously, and it was only at 15 weeks that I was given medication.

Good luck! I hope you get a sympathetic and reasonable doctor today (if not, go back and see a different one).

I have been prescribed anti emetics for continual nausea, even though I have not been sick yet.

Like you I have not been out much (although I have to do the school run) and it is very difficult to deal with being away from my "safe" place, i.e home.

I would imagine they will give you something as they need to enable you to eat enough to avoid losing too much weight. I was hospitalised in my last pregnancy as I lost so much weight through not eating and I really only started throwing up about a week before I went in.

Go and talk it through with your dr, explain how distressed you are and how the nausea is curbing your day to day life. If he/she won't listen, speak to another dr, DO NOT allow them to brush you off, pregnancy nausea and sickness is a real illness and needs to be dealt with. Hope this helps.

There are meds for nausea and not being actually sick. Obviously you can't take things like Buccastem, which work to stop you being sick!

My doc was of the view that if I was keeping food and fluids down and wasn't being sick more than once a day, meds weren't warranted. I agreed even though it was miserable.

Most people's sickness really does ease a lot by 12-14 weeks, so if you're not endangering yourself or the baby by not takning meds (as would be the case with true hyperemesis where you're being sick a lot) then some docs would argue for just battling through it, even if that means they sign you off work.

It depends how much food (and more importantly fluids) you are getting down.

angels your GP can describe you the same drugs for feeling sick as people get for being sick with hyperemesis. I have 2 friends who had constant nausea throughout their pregnancies and they were both prescribed cylizine which is what I take for hyperemesis. It helped both of my friends enormously and gave them enough quality of life to get through.
There is no guarantee that your nausea will end at 12 weeks so the sooner you can get to the doctors to discuss and ask for medication the better you will feel. Be aware though that the medication doesn't always work instantly and can have other side effects such as drowsyness etc.

just to report the doc has prescribed me 'avomine' which is just an over the counter travel sickness type thing. Said if I took it at night it should last the whole day afterwards. Doc made a comment that this nausea could continue throughut pregnancy, so need to find something to help.

Fingers crossed it helps. She said to go back if it doesn't.

Good luck. Fwiw, I had really really bad nausea too and barely left the house for much of the 1st trimester. I too was worried about it going on longer as hyperemesis often lasts longer than normal, but mine eased at 12 weeks. I still get sick sometimes but the 24/7 nausea has gone.

I am taking Avomine and my nausea has reduced, although took a few weeks on it for the desired effect. And be careful as I felt VERY drowsy when I first started taking it, although that has worn off now.

rocklover do you take it every day? The doc wasn't clear about whether it's better to take it every day (like a build up type effect) or whether to just do it when bad (incase it loses effectiveness the more you use it). Glad it's helped you - it's giving me hope at least.

My doc just said take it at night 1 a day is enough (??) and that it might make me drowsy, although, I've been sleeping so badly tis could be useful if it helps me sleep!

I take 2 a day, one in the morning and one at tea time. Simply because I found that this dosage works for me. The dr told me I could take up to 4 a day as and when I needed them.

I was told I could take them only when I needed them if I wanted to, but taking them regularly seems to work best for me.

I would take one to start with as advised and if it doesn't help, have a word with the dr and see if you can increase the dose.

rocklover do you know if there are any general problems/issues with taking it fo a period of time? it's likely I'll be on it regularly, probably daily for maybe 2 months. I can't find any specifics online about using regularly other than not to use for more than a week without doctors advice. Have you experienced any issues?

i was prescribed cyclizine at about 8 weeks for extreme nausea with my last pregnancy - my nausea was so bad i couldn't even move my head wihout feeling very sick indeed even though i never actually threw up. i was signed off work and the gp felt that i needed something to help me cope. \it worked wonders - i would definitely recommend getting getting prescribed something if your quality of life is so bad that you can't even leave the house.