hyperemesis sufferers unite!

[Jesss123]

Aisrie, sorry you're in hospital. I was actually in few days ago but I'm managing to stay 'almost' hydrated so I don't need to go in as often now. Hope you're ok!

Shocker - Definitely keep LO in longer, it's way to early for him to make an appearance!

As for me, I'm managing it with very painful Cyclizine injections twice a day, drinking Gatorade to stay hydrated and eating jelly and loads and loads of sleep! I don't eat food with any sort of seasoning and I mostly live of mashed foods - esp potatoes as they always stay down and some bland home made soups. I've lost over 7KGs now and but I haven't had any weight loss in the past two weeks so that's good (no weight gain isn't good but hey, at least I've not lost more..) My calorie intake doesn't go over 800-900 calories a day and even that it's mostly from the drinks BUT it's better than nothing right? Although the minute I go off cyclizine and my 'specific' rotation I'm back to square one. I still throw up but not more than 10 times a day so it's an improvement from 30+! I'm signed off work for the rest of the pregnancy too, I won't be going back as I have quite a few complications due to HG (some heart problems, low blood pressure then sky rocketing blood pressure - I went up to 139/84 the other day - then as low as 77/50) and I get closely monitored on weekly basis. I get to see LO on u/s every week though, so I can't complain! Thankfully all the weight I lost was from my legs and arms so I do have an existing bump which is nice - makes me feel a little bit more pregnant! We also found out that it's a girl! (87%) We'll have it confirmed on next scan on Wed! I sleep most of the day, usually between 14 and 18 hours so I'm kind of useless around the house but OH is taking good care of me. I see a counselor twice a week too as my MW referred me for antenatal depression (HG just got to me way too much) so I'm just trying to stay positive, I'm TRYING hard to bond with the baby (especially since two weeks ago I felt that bad that I was ready to terminate the pregnancy..) and well.. just getting on with it. I'm in and out of the hospital all the time, seeing a million different specialists for LO too since her bowels are outside of her body and she *might* have a heart problem (although I had amnio and all DNA genetic testing came back CLEAR so phew) My lovely placenta is also fully covering my cervix

I hope you all ladies are doing well

 

[Aaisrie]

I'd 8 admissions with DS, hoping this isnt a repeat!!! Just had my ketones checked.. Still 4+ and I even ate a little lunch!!! And had a full glass of milk with my lax in it....

 

[missy1]

Oh ladies it's just awful isn't it? I really feel for you all. I had HG with my daughter almost 3 years ago and now suffering with it again since 5 weeks pregnant, I will be 11 weeks tomorrow. It's so much more difficult this time round having to look after a toddler but most days I'm not able to and thank god for my mum, she has been coming over everyday at 8am and takes over from DH.
I've not been as bad as you ladies who have had to go into hospital. I've always been able to tolerate some fluids.
Some days I feel so depressed and question why I'm doing this to myself and could I not just have been satisfied with one child but I look at my daughter and I'm so glad I have her and I know in time I will feel enthusiastic about this pregnancy. It's just so hard when you feel so ill.
Anyway just had to get that out, thanks xxx

 

[mummySS]

Missy - we have a lot in common, I'm almost 11 weeks too and I think have a similar type of HG to you - have also been lucky to avoid hospital this time as I can keep some fluid down, and i think this time i started the meds early so avoided getting worse. HOWEVER it still sucks constantly feeling and being sick, but I too have a mum who lives round the corner and helps out a lot. My toddler is only 16 months and is a handful, but he at least reminds me why I'm going through this. Big hugs to you and moan whenever you feel like it!

Jess you poor thing, but I'm glad you've found the cyclizine injections are helping. Let us know how it goes with your LO. And please hang in there xx

Shocker how are you feeling? Hope LO is staying put!

Eve are you still in hosp?

 

[missy1]

MummySS, thanks for replying to me. It's so good to speak with someone who is going through the same thing. I've felt as though I've had no one to speak to about this. Yes I've got my husband and mum but I don't think they understand 100%, how can you if you've never been through it I suppose. That's good you've got your mum too and your LO is still so young, my daughter is 2 years and 3 months so she is very easy to look after now and plays quite happily herself, she also understands that's 'mummy's not well' and 'has got a sore tummy' bless her. I remember the 16 month stage it was much harder.
How long did your HG last with your first pregnancy? Mine got a bit better at 12 weeks and was almost completely gone at 18 weeks so I know I should think myself lucky as most women it seems to last entire pregnancy. X

 

[mummySS]

Yes, i completely understand, my mum is fab but she still doesn't quite get it - she keeps asking me if I want to go out for lunch or go to the cinema - errmm, NO! haha.

As for my DH. Well he's pretty stressed out at work at the moment and is pretty unsympathetic. He keeps telling me I'm milking it now. I understand it must be frustrating looking after an HG sufferer who pretty much can't do anything (kitchen is off limits of course, and I can't feed my son his meals either, or change nappies for that matter). I get it, but I think he could try a bit harder to be more sympathetic...

You are lucky your daughter is a bit older, my son Leo is just so active at the moment and obviously doesn't understand that i'm sick. It's hard.

Last time my sickness lasted the whole way through HOWEVER the HG was gone by about 20 weeks and after that I'd say it was 'normal' MS. It's hard to pinpoint because it happened so gradually, and I honestly don't think my body properly recovered until Leo was about 2 months old! (when i ate myself into oblivion and piled on the pounds lol!).

You are lucky yours was completely gone by 18 weeks last time, I hope it goes again this time even sooner! How are you feeling day to day - are you functional, do you work and are you off work at the moment? I am signed off work, have been for 6 weeks now.

 

[Aaisrie]

Yup Simmy still in!! Ketones were still 3+ this morning really hoping to get home tomorrow though.
I wish I only had 1 to look after!! I've 2! Saraya has to be at nursery at 9 so I can't even lie around then I've to pick her up at 12 after sorting Atticus out... The dr told me today I have to take it easy when I go home or ill end up back in... Ummm how?!?

 

[mummySS]

Eve can your OH help with the drop offs etc? I can't drop Leo to nursery at the moment as I'm too weak to get up the stairs with him!

 

[missy1]

MummySS, I'm signed off work too. I only work part time but there's no way I could go in. Work have been absolutely fine about it and my doctor wrote Hyperemesis of pregnancy on my sick line so I don't think they'd dare challenge it. I'm lucky this time that I have a sympathetic GP who has given me cyclizine and seems to understand how debilitating the condition is. Last time I got no help or support whatsoever from my GP. I had to put in a complaint as I was treated so badly. At the time I was newly pregnant and had never heard of HG, I had only heard of morning sickness but I knew there was something very wrong with me and was much worse than ms. I had heard that there was anti sickness meds for pregnant women and I went to ask GP for some help. It was a real struggle to get there and I was throwing up in a plastic bag in the car and sitting in the waiting room. I was in tears by the time I got into his office, absolutely desperate for some relief, I explained my symptoms to him and he just dismissed me by saying 'there's nothing I can do for you' and turned his back on me to start writing his paperwork! I was like what? but I can't go on like this, please help me, can you not give me some medication? He said absolutely not in the first 12 weeks have you ever heard of thalidomide? I was like yes of course but Im really ill here and I'm worried about dehydration etc, he said no there's nothing I can do for you, women have been having babies for years. I was in shock and sat there crying and he just turned his back on me again, I said is that it then? And he said yes. I said well thanks for nothing and left his office absolutely distraught. When I got home my husband called the surgery to complain about his lack of compassion etc and we were told to put complaint in writing which I did but the practise manager just said that he said he had not been cruel the way I had made out and that it was his right and his decision to refuse drugs to a pregnant woman! It was a horrible experience so I was left to suffer with no meds, I even tried acupuncture I was so desperate but that was a waste of money.
This time round I knew I wasn't going to be fobbed off like that as I had done a lot more research into the condition and I knew I would get the proper medication. I think the cyclizine has helped slightly, but it's no miracle cure by any means. I stupidly had convinced myself I wasn't going to be unwell in this pregnancy - haha! How wrong I was. I've not been able to really do anything for about 6 weeks now. I'm mostly in bed, with permanent acute nausea but only being sick a few times a day. I can take water and some days lucozade. I can only eat toast, apple slices and the occasional digestive biscuit. Sometimes the food stays down but I always have to force myself to eat as everything is so repulsive. Like you I can't go near the kitchen, the smell of the fridge is just awful. On some slightly better days I have been able to make my daughter some plain food. One day she had a really bad nappy just after my mum had left and about 10 minutes before DH came home. OMG that was awful. I had to stuff cotton wool up my nose. Smells are the worst aren't they? My husband is also in a stressful busy job and to be honest it takes up most of his energy. He has been pretty good on the whole but I think with most men there is a limit. Sometimes when I've had a better evening and have moved to the couch to watch tv with him instead of in my bed he thinks I've made this miraculous recovery and I'm going to jump up and start doing all my usual domestic chores etc - wrong!! Anyway sorry I have gone on a bit long here. Just so good to share experience with someone in the same boat. Ps. When's your scan? X

 

[mummySS]

oooh it makes me so angry that GPs still dont understand this condition. That's why i'm hoping Kate having it will raise awareness a bit. Your GP was unbelievably uneducated about this, what an arsehole. I'm so glad you have a better GP this time.

Similar thing happened to me last time - I kept going to the doctors as I knew what I had was not normal MS. THey just didn't get it, kept sending me away and telling me to eat ginger. I was so ill i should definitely have been in hospital, I lost around 15lbs in the first few weeks. But no one would listen. My midwife at my booking appt, even though I was throwing up in her sink, just saw me sipping water and said - youre lucky you can sip water, there's nothing wrong with you you just have MS. I couldn't believe it. My work let me work from home so goodness knows how but I struggled through that (I guess not having a toddler to look after helped). But i missed a lot of work too and eventually got made redundant while i was on maternity leave, which was so upsetting. It was definitely due to the sickness even though of course the company was too clever to admit that. So now I have a new job, but I'd only been there 3 months before I got pregnant and sick again! Thankfully they are much more sympathetic, and I too have a much better GP now who understands the condition.

Oh by the way have you tried different meds apart from cyclizine? That is the first one they generally put people on but it didn't do much for me at all. I tried a couple of different ones but the metoproclamide makes a LOT of difference for me. It means I can actually eat a little more variety and keep it down. Your sickness and diet sound similar to mine so maybe something else would work a little better for you? Don't get me wrong it doesn't make you functional or anything, but works much better than anything else I tried.

My scan is in 1 week (18th dec) yay! When's yours?

 

[Jesss123]

Just got a call from my doctor. They made me more appointments - few extras with the midwife, a couple with the GP, few blood tests in the next few weeks, 3 ECGs. Oh my. I'm gonna be at the hospital 4/7 days a week! The costs of traveling there are already killing us. I guess it's just more people for me to vomit on!

I'm sick of having HG. I'm sick of being sick. I should literally just move to the hospital.

 

[missy1]

Aw that is terrible they made you redundant! How cruel when you are on maternity leave and yes they would never say it was due to sickness of course and made out that it was your role and not you that was being made redundant I guess? Heartless b*€£ards!
That's so bad you went through all that with your ex GP and midwife - you'd think midwives would have had more of a clue! I hate that attitude of 'theres nothing wrong with you - it's only morning sickness' What a load of rubbish! Whatever they want to call it you are still throwing your guts up, feeling like death and losing weight.
I'm glad you have better employees and GP now.
I'm speaking to my GP this week so I might ask about other medication. I still feel bad about taking medication in early pregnancy but I suppose they wouldn't give you it if it wasn't safe. And obviously you took it before and everything turned out fine.
My scan is day before yours on 17 December! Hope everything goes well, I'm sure we'll be fine Where in the uk are you just out of interest? X

 

[shocker]

Im finally out of hospital! wooop woop! little man is staying put and after days of anti sickness injections and iv fluids im feeling more hydrated than i have done for months! I drank a glass of water without being disgusted by it and my skin even though its still dry doesnt actually hurt anymore! Im banned from travelling which sucks but probably for the best!

Missy im so sorry your gp was such an asshole! That is really disgusting behaviour im so glad your getting proper care now

 

[Aaisrie]

Shocker that's awesome!!! I'm getting out this afternoon!!! Can't wait!! Still got 2+ ketones but they're letting me home anyways

 

[Squishy1982]

Hi all,
I am Andrea, I am 30 and 18 weeks pregnant with number 2.
I feel a bit cheeky posting here as my sickness wouldn't be classed as hyperemesis but i am still suffering so much. I have just avoided being admitted to hospital and have to eat and drink as much as I can even if I don't want to.

I have been off sick from work for 12 weeks now and GP has just signed me off for another 4 weeks (only that long due to being away over xmas).
He has just prescribed me my 3rd lot of anti sickness tablets to try, Avomine and Cyclizine did nothing. Not sure of the name of the new one as he is leaving the prescription for me to collect.

I was sick for 23 weeks with my son so really hoping that will be the magic mark for me again this time if not sooner.

big love to all xx

 

[mummySS]

Missy - i know they really were heartless tw4ts at my old work. I'm glad to be rid of them.
I'm in northwest London, whereabouts are you? Don't worry about the medication, my doctors have assured me it's completely safe. Think about all the people on here who've been on meds. (I wasn't on meds last time as by the time they'd diagnosed me with HG at 16 weeks i didn't think it was worth it, and i got better around 20 weeks).

Shocker yay for being outta hospital! Glad LO is ok.

And you Eve - great pic!

Andrea, sounds like pretty bad sickness to me. Remember everyone has different levels of sickness and different levels of HG. Are your work ok about you being away? And how old is your son?

 

[Squishy1982]

Andrea, sounds like pretty bad sickness to me. Remember everyone has different levels of sickness and different levels of HG. Are your work ok about you being away? And how old is your son?

They have to be, its tough really. Not sure they are going to be happy when I tell them this note covers me for another 4 weeks.
They ask how I am but only the day before I am due back at the end of a sick note so they really should just ask if I am going to be back. I am getting full pay at the mo so thats one less worry.

My son is 4 on 6th May and I am due on 14th so could end up sharing birthdays lol xx

 

[shocker]

Yayy Aaisrie! theres nothing better than your own home! im already curled up next to the fire with the christmas lights going, fluffy pjs on and a bit of crochet, feel like a granny but ive not had much else to do the last few months so been getting into crafts!

Missy Its hard not to worry about the effects but if there was even one bad outcome out there you know that google would bring it up in a second! The nurses and midwives going round doing checks would look at my chart and kept going "zofran!? really!? havnt you tried ---" and it was really upsetting, people can make you feel sometimes like you havnt thought of the pros and cons, I was feeling quite upset by the time I left because I felt a little like they were making out that i hadnt tried hard enough to get better without medications which is mental!! The truth is they havnt been through it and they arent the ones living with it or dealing with it on a daily basis, i never wouldve realised it was possible for sickness to be this bad before so i can sympathise somewhat with people not understanding. The fact is that dehydration is very very bad for you, it can cause an actual heart attack as your electrolytes go out of wack and it can also cause premature labour or mc, the benefits so vastly outweigh the risks. Not to mention the benefits to your mental health, being so sick all the time is both emotionally and physically draining and if you can get some relief from that no matter how brief then in my books your in a better place emotionally to deal with it all and thats got to be good for baby.

Andrea that sounds like hyperemesis if you ask me! everyones levels vary but that doesnt make it any less serious or distressing, its great that it wore off at 23 weeks last time though thats really encouraging for this time! If these ones dont work I would ask about zofran, they work better for me than anti sickness injections do! i tried cyclizine and stemetil first and they'd work for a little bit and then stop but the zofran with zantac combo for me has been great

 

[mummySS]

Just read back my post to you andrea and i meant yes it sounds like HG to me!

 

[Squishy1982]

Thanks girls, its so nice to have people who understand what it is like, I love how you all just support each other and aren't all "I am worse than you" which is the attitude my friend has, she told me that she was sick over ten times a day for the whole of her pregnancy but just had to get on with it and didn't need any time off work. hmmmmmmm not sure about that love.

The new tablets I have are Prochlorperazine Maleate, fingers crossed they help, I want to feel human for Christmas day!
Urine sample sent to doc so hopefully won't get a phonecall about ketones.

What level of ketones have you girls had over the time you have had HG?

Just text my manager to let her know I have been signed of until 8th Jan and no reply yet so I know she won't be happy. I don't care though, I am not going back until I am ready.
She is one of these that because she knows someone who could eat a ginger snap and then feel fine that we should all be the same and even offered to bring me some to see if it would help!!