18 weeks and still sick

[Dinobaby05]

Anyone else feeling terrible with headaches/nausea/vomiting? I’m 18 weeks and it seems to be getting worse. I just feel miserable.

[Me_and_Sparkle]

have you just come off the ivf meds? It gave me terrible withdrawal symptoms…

[Dinobaby05 in reply to Me_and_Sparkle]

I came off them at 12 weeks and that’s when symptoms got worse but it’s 6 weeks later and I’m still no better. Midwife has just written it off as mild HG but antiemetics aren’t doing much and I’m really struggling to get through my day to day. Had to take another day off work today as I got sick on myself in the car!

[Me_and_Sparkle in reply to Dinobaby05]

Oh no I’m so sorry to hear this! I’m assuming they checked your blood pressure?

[Dinobaby05 in reply to Me_and_Sparkle]

Yeah normal except for one time it was borderline on the higher end but I think I was just stressed. I’m booked in for a gestational diabetes test next week so will see if that has anything to do with headaches.

[MrsOrangejuice]

I don't have any advice but sympathy - mine lasted until the third trimester last time and then came and went up to the end. It made me so depressed sometimes I just sat with my head on the table and cried. I didn't go down the medication route last time as for some reason I thought I should just get through it but I have heard that it takes trial and error with the different meds to find some that actually work for you. Has your GP been able to offer some different types? Also, if it is becoming very difficult, could they maybe support you with getting signed off for a longer period of time? When I became pregnant again this time the sickness was actually worse at first and I had no issue asking the GP for meds. I also found some charities and support groups online that had a lot of useful information, especially on HG - worth a look? If it gives you any hope, this time the sickness just miraculously lifted around 11 weeks and hasn't really reappeared so every pregnancy can be very different.

[Dinobaby05 in reply to MrsOrangejuice]

Thanks for replying. I am feeling really low at the moment which then adds to the guilt because we have waited so long for this to happen and I should be enjoying it but I just feel miserable. They have given me another painkiller to try but then when I read up on it, I noticed there’s a contraindication with another tablet I’m on that I can’t change so I just feel like I’m getting nowhere and no one is really listening or doing due diligence. The main message I’m getting is not to take anything and just rest but I can’t do that with a full time job. I did get signed off for two weeks before Christmas but I felt incredibly guilty and it made me even more stressed as I’m HOD in a sec school and exams are coming up. I’d like to avoid that if I can but at the moment I’m needing to take 1-2 days off a week as I’m too ill to get out of bed. They’ve been understanding so far but there was a parental complaint the other week querying a poor result and blaming me for being off so much. Sorry for the rant/over share I just feel so helpless.

[MrsOrangejuice in reply to Dinobaby05]

Really try to let go of the guilt. Pregnancy can be extremely hard and just because it took a lot to make it happen doesn't mean you have to suffer and just put up with it, quitely. The fertility struggles didn't make you superwoman or immune to pain, sickness or exhaustion. I complained and made my feelings known All. The. Time. I did today - I'm knackered, my ligament pain is like being stabbed at random, I have a 'drunk a bottle of red wine' type headache and my brain fog is now so bad it's impacting my work and personal life. Oh and my dog pulled me into some kind of bog and my toddler 'decorated' our newly painted kitchen with cream cheese. It doesn't mean I'm not grateful for finally, finally, being in this situation, just I can't quite channel Polyanna right now. Keep on at the GP, get support from the online groups and call the charity - exhaust every avenue and don't just put up with it. Ultimately if nothing works, then you did everything you could and if you need to take time off, do. I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure parents moan about and at teachers and schools a lot - my friend's a teacher and she took the whole first trimester off. When I was studying for my post grad our tutor was off from 3mnths with HG because she was in hospital. A colleague took most of her three pregnancies off with complications and was put on bed rest. The world didn't end and they and their kids are all fine now. I've never had even what would be called mild HG, just constant sickness and nausea and that was miserable enough. It's serious and can be debilitating and deserves attention. So much associated with 'women's issues' are trivialised and ignored, and we're just expected to get on with things. Please don't just accept that narrative. Right, rant over 😀

[Dinobaby05 in reply to MrsOrangejuice]

Thank you so much for your reply. It made me cry as I just feel like other people don’t get it and expect me to be so positive because of how lucky we were with our IVF journey but that’s hard to do when you’re head is constantly in the toilet!! This weekend has been slightly better so I’m hoping that will continue and work will be a bit more bearable. Just need to get to the next holiday. Hope you’re feeling better and not in too much pain. ❤️ xx

[Whatever098]

this sounds almost identical to my first pregnancy. Would you say the headaches are more like migraines? I had this start at about 10 weeks and would have maybe two migraines a week which was accompanied by vomiting and nausea. On my non-migraine days I still had headaches - this lasted til about 20/22 weeks. My ob at the time gave me Mersyndol - they basically knocked me out but it stopped the nausea and helped me sleep off the migraine. Perhaps something to enquire about if this sounds similar to your symptoms? Either way, I’m sorry you’re dealing g with this and hope it passes soon x

[Dinobaby05 in reply to Whatever098]

Thanks for replying and it does sound similar so hearing they stopped for you at 20/21 gives me some hope! They are migraine type but not always. They have given my dihydrocodeine but I actually think that makes my vomiting worse than when I don’t take it. I have sumatriptan but my GP has told me only to take it if the migraine is unbearable as it’s not good for pregnancy. To be honest, I’m scared to take anything that might harm the baby so I feel I just have to get on with it. 🫠

[Skye100]

I’ve been pretty fortunate throughout and not suffered morning sickness as such. More tiredness for me, however at 18w I’ve felt neausea and mild headaches usually on waking up which has left me tired.

Hope you feel better soon ❤️

[Dinobaby05 in reply to Skye100]

Thanks for replying. Do you take anything for them?

[Skye100]

I haven’t no. Just got on with things. Paracetamol does nothing at the best of times🤣

I do still take my pregnancy multivitamins though