hyperemesis sufferers unite!

[Micha2]

Hello lovely ladies! Welcome to becca (I think, I'm terrible at remembering names). I hope your HG journey will be a short one!
Just as a bit of encouragement, with my daughter my HG eased up around 14 wks & was able to function again. Not 100% but enough to keep going. I'm 11w4d now & with lots of rest & medication am getting through each day & hoping 14w will be a turning point again.
To the lady who put up the gorgeous pic of her bubba, thanks for the encouragement and yes, it's definitely worth it.
I'm currently taking 4mg ondansetron (zofran) at a time, up to 12mg a day. Half a restavit (unisom) and a B6 at night. This combo really does work but I've been on it for a while so not sure if it needs to build up in your system a bit. Yesterday in desperation I did the restavit & B6 in the aftn as well & it really worked! Knocked me out though I couldn't even talk, but only for a couple hrs.
The constipation that accompanies zofran is still a killer & I'm still trying to work out ways to manage it. "Drink lots of water" & "Eat lots of fibre" doesn't really work when u have HG does it!

Becca I'm sorry you're having such a tough time sweety. Doctors just do not get it! Best thing is to find a great supportive GP who genuinely understands and wil prescribe you what you need. Get all the help u can. Don't feel guilty about missing things etc. I have learnt after several HG pregnancies that this is 1 time where you just need to put the world on hold & put yourself first.

I'm now on my 5th or 6th week off work and have run out of leave so not getting paid, not easy when the medicine is sooo expensive & I have 2 other kids to look after. But you just have to make do. My plan is to go back to work in 4 weeks and I hope & pray I can do it.

Anyway just wanted to tell you all I'm thinking of you, hang in there and just get through each day, or each hour, at a time. You are not alone.

 

[Beccaboop]

Has anyone used stemetil? Was it any good? I was taking cyclizine but its just not working anymore so they started me on stemetil and if that doesnt work I have to go back and try another, its my OH's birthday in two weeks and theres a big family dinner planned and im just dreading ruining it by being sick

yeah i tried stemitil before cyclizine but neither worked at all for me! I take metroclopromide now and they work for a bit and domperidone work for a little while too but i think they are stronger! I know what you mean about this stupid condition ruining things mine has ruined so many things already and still hasnt gone at 18 weeks!!

 

[shocker]

Has anyone used stemetil? Was it any good? I was taking cyclizine but its just not working anymore so they started me on stemetil and if that doesnt work I have to go back and try another, its my OH's birthday in two weeks and theres a big family dinner planned and im just dreading ruining it by being sick

yeah i tried stemitil before cyclizine but neither worked at all for me! I take metroclopromide now and they work for a bit and domperidone work for a little while too but i think they are stronger! I know what you mean about this stupid condition ruining things mine has ruined so many things already and still hasnt gone at 18 weeks!!

sorry your having such a rough time, it is absoloutly infuriating! I've gotten to the point where it is majorly improved from what it was, im not having to go to hospital anymore or be bed bound 24/7 but the cabin fever drives me mad!! I'm lucky in that at least nowadays i have a lot of help from my family,friends and OH who try really hard to help me have some time out, even if its just driving me to a cafe for a cup of tea the change of scenery is nice!

 

[Wirrell34]

Hi,
I've just been diagnosed with HG and reading this forum has given me some sanity. I just thought I had severe morning sickness, especially as work have been totally unsympathetic and telling me to get on with it. My midwife diagnosed me last week and tried to admit me to nospital for IV fluids, but i refused. I'm really stressed about work as I'm due back in 3 days and I have to work long days and nights. I've been started on Zofran which has really helped, so now I can keep fluids down, but I still have no appetite and I'm barely eating. I've already lost over half a stone in 5 weeks and I was very slim to start off.
Sorry for ranting - I'm at my wits end.

 

[puppycat]

Firstly forget work, they cant use pregnancy sickness against you. Get yourself a union and make sure they know you wn't be bullied into anything.

Second go get a sick note from the dr for more time off work, get your strength up and relax.

So glad you got the best drug so early but don't turn down IV fluids if you need them because ketones are highly toxic to a fetus and need to be diluted xx

 

[shocker]

Now that you have the diagnosis you need to speak with your work and explain to them how serious it is and put together a plan, as you really will not be up to working long hours. During the first tri my sickness was so bad that I was in bed for weeks and needed help just looking after myself, there is no way you can ignore that kind of sickness hun, I understand your stressed about work but legally they cannot discriminate against you for a pregnancy related illness. Also iv fluids are really really important, dehydration is really dangerous for you and baby, it might seem annoying but it I cant stress how important it is. Unfortunately the appetite thing doesnt really improve, mine comes and goes these days but over time with a balance of tablets and just knowing what my triggers are I know what to avoid and am more able to cope, ive even managed to get back to my pre pregnancy weight at this point so am doing better than most!

 

[mummySS]

Hello lovely ladies,

New sufferer here too I am only 5 weeks but it has started already, I had HG during my last pregnancy but it wasn't diagnosed until 16 weeks (doctors kept sending me away telling me to eat a ginger biscuit - grrr) by which time i was nearing the end of it. Last time it lasted between 5+4 and about 20 weeks, and even after then by that time my body was so weak that I still wasn't very well..

Been to the doctors this morning and got signed off work for 2 weeks and they've put me on cyclazine (sp?) - I am praying it helps even slightly!

I am so so hungry but obviously cannot eat anything, just about managing to sip capri sun at the moment.

I hope all you ladies are feeling better, I just wondered if anyone was out there suffering right now and want to share some support?

 

[shocker]

Sorry to hear your suffering but thats great that it finished at 20 weeks last time thats really encouraging! I was put on cyclizine at around 6 weeks and found it helpful, not returning to functioning helpful unfortunatly but not becoming dehydrated as often so was willing to settle for that! It stopped working after a while though, now im using stemetil but thats not eradicating it either, just helps a little! Oddly enough these days i find that chewable rennies help a lot as im constantly fighting acid reflux as does constantly drinking something cause for me having a dry throat causes me to retch, and of course the usuals of always having dry food to hand and not getting out of bed without eating and lots of milk! Only other suggestion I have is find something to do while your waiting for it to improve, its so easy to get depressed when your sick all the time and cant do anything, ive taken up crochet and vintage pram restoration to deal with it and found it really helpful to have something to distract me and keep me busy while im stuck in!

Im starting to get excited now aswell since i've only got 13 weeks left, i cant imagine how awesome its going to be being able to go for dinner with OH and not have to call ahead and ask if they do plain pasta and then still be sick anyway!

 

[mummySS]

Thanks shocker, so pleased you are almost there and will get to see the prize at the end! Having suffered through this once before (without meds), I can tell you that the prize is sooo sooo worth it and you forget just how terrible it was.

You're completely right about taking your mind off it, it can get very depressing, especially as I just sit and stare most of the day (and night as i can't sleep). I should find a project!

Can i ask how much cyclizine were you on and when did you think it stopped working? They've given me 3 x 50mg tablets per day. Yes i'm not getting my hopes up that it'll cure me but if it at least gives me a little respite i'll be happy!

thanks hun x

 

[CarliCareBear]

so sorry for all of you who have to be in this group. i think about you all often with great sadness and hope. just wanted to steer you guys here: https://www.helpher.org/forum3/


that place kept me sane and also provided me a lot of good info on medication and treatments. make sure you all are advocating for yourself and getting the proper care you need. HG can be very serious but remember even though it doesn't feel like it right now- it really does end!

Also, if you write to the author at this site https://beyondmorningsickness.com/ her team will send you a copy of her book for free- it is packed with tons of information!

 

[puppycat]

Yeh that organisation are n FB too so search for it

The end product of HG is soooo worth it. (((Hugs)))

 

[mummySS]

Thanks girls and congrats on your little ones - they are living proof it is worth it!

I honestly thought (naively) that I wouldn't get it as bad this time... Ooh how wrong!

 

[shocker]

I took 50mg 4 times a day from 6 til around 16/17 weeks then switched to stemetil because they just werent working anymore, it eased up a fair bit between 18 and 22 weeks, was still being sick every second day but compared to before it was fantastic and since then its been rubbish again, think im maybe just building up a tolerance or something? I dont think I could've got this far without meds i'd have cracked up, his little kicks are like having my own personal cheerleader though so it is worth it! I'd definatly recommend crocheting or knitting, i havnt crocheted since I was 8 years old and cant knit at all but a few youtube tutorials and now im making a little baby blanket, thankfully a very easy stitch Pinterest has some great ideas for baby craft projects aswell like sewing patchwork blankets or even little outfits!

 

[Jesss123]

Hello ladies, mind if I join? I have been officially diagnosed with HG I've had sickness since 6 weeks and basically was done working by the time I was 7 weeks as I couldn't hack it. I'm anywhere between 11 - 13 weeks at the moment, waiting to get my DD confirmed. I knew I'd get some MS but this is just a nightmare I've lost so much weight, had to go to the hospital several times to get IV because there were ketones in my urine. I've tried everything and I've been prescribed so many things yet nothing is working

 

[Micha2]

Hello beautiful ladies!
Just wanted to say Im thinking if you. Hang in there & keep fighting the good fight!
Im 22weeks now and have kissed my HG goodbye! Still get a little off in the evenings, or if im tired, or dont eat regularly enough, but I wont dare complain as its a million times better! Been off all medication for about 3-4 weeks now.
Ok so what 'helped' me through (it wasnt a cure but made a difference):
Zofran - i was having 4mg tablets 2-3 times a day. Warning: causes horrendous constipation so youll have to fight that too.
At night, 1/2 a unisom (aka restavit) with 25mg VitaminB6 before bed.
Drink whatever u can manage. Sometimes i could tolerate flavoured milk. Stay hydrated. If u cant handle tap water (I still cant) try bottled water, either still or sparkling.
Good luck to all of you. Just a reminder this will be my 3rd baby, but my 5th HG pregnancy. Used fertility meds to get this little girl too. And i promise you they are so so worth it!

 

[SimoneMK]

I just want to send some love to all you ladies out there! I have pretty intense nausea but not much vomiting and I was sick last year with a virus where i threw up constantly for a week and i remember it being the worst time of my life! So although i am not suffering hyperemesis i wanted to let you ladies know to hang out and i pray for each of u at night! I feel horrible as it is, i cant imagine it being worse I hope all you ladies don't have to suffer much longer!

 

[mummySS]

Hi Jess, hope you're ok hun. Sorry to hear you're suffering, hopefully it won't go on too much longer! Have you got some help and support at home?

I totally sympathise. I've had a relatively 'good' day today as managed to keep some cereal down - result! And I called work and told them I was pregnant and had been signed off for a few weeks, and they were really nice about it. So that has eased my stress a little. My main worry at the moment is that I don't have enough energy to look after my little boy, the guilt is really getting to me.

 

[Jesss123]

MummySS, yes, doctor has been trying me out on all sorts of different things. I've been off work since 1st of October and I'm off for at least the next 4 weeks, with the rate it's going, I'm more than likely gonna be on sick leave right until my maternity leave. My OH has been pretty understanding and takes good care of me at home.

i'm just worried about the baby, did you guys have any complications due to HG?

 

[shocker]

Hi jess sorry to hear your having a rough time, I found the first trimester for me was a total write off, I was at the hospital er by 6 weeks and ended up just having to give in and spent the entire trimester in bed having boiled rice and bottled water delivered to the door and that was with the tablets and hospital trips, but things did settle down, your hormones being so high makes the first tri totally unbearable! But hopefully it wont be long before it eases up a little! Also to answer your question I havnt suffered any complications, I go to the high risk clinic and am more closely monitored with a scan every 4 weeks, apart from measuring a little smaller a few weeks back hes in perfect health and at the last scan a week ago he'd caught up and was measuring on date! Docs told me from day 1 not to worry as baby will take what they need from your reserves, I remember a few weeks back i was having a really bad day and didnt have the energy to stand up and felt really dreadful and the little man was bouncing around kicking so much and it made me smile knowing that he clearly didnt feel rough like me as he had plenty of energy!

MummySS Is there any friends or family who can help you out? Dont feel guilty, your doing the very best that you can and Im sure your little boy understands his mummy needs some extra rest right now, your giving him a brother or sister and thats the best present in the world! Glad your work were ok, I was lucky in that I had just finished up my last exam when i got my bfp, was planning on being a sahm for the first year anyway this just means ive had to extend that to the pregnancy too.

Had an ante natal appointment today and hopefully made some progress! The doctor made an appointment at the hospital with consultant on monday to discuss iron infusions as I cant keep the tablets down and the low iron is making me faint, told me to stop taking stemetil and put me on zantac and zofran to see how they work. Took the pharmacist 20 minutes of calling around before she would hand over the damn zofran as she had never heard of it being given in pregnancy before Ive heard so many people say its fantastic so really hope it knocks it out once and for all, it'd be sooooo amazing to be able to go out for an afternoon and not be sick! or even just kiss OH without my stomach turning

 

[mummySS]

Jess nope no complications for me last time, perfect healthy boy weighing 8lb12!

Shocker that's great they gave you zofran. I think they have done more studies on it in the US and not in Europe that's why they're reluctant to prescribe it here - and also cos it's expensive! Really hope it works for you and you can keep the iron in. I was iron deficient during my last pregnancy too, it really makes you feel faint. Btw you should keep taking the iron after you've had LO and insist on it getting checked after 3 months, otherwise they tend to just forget about you and you want to make sure it's back up to good levels again.

Xx