Looking back Hospital Notes

I’m 8 weeks PP and finally got hold of my hospital notes. Reading through them, there are a few comments that was written down which was completely unnecessary in my opinion. To saying I had to get that I just had morning sickness not hyperemesis even though I said I was throwing up 70+ times a day, to saying it was basically irresponsible that someone else called up for me instead but I was too weak to even say a word, to discharging me when my ketones were still dangerously high. The list goes on. I’m extremely upset that this what they said and did behind the scenes. I don’t remember most of my pregnancy but it left so many emotional and physical scars. Am I overreacting? I’m UK based so I know the NHS is under pressure, just hurts.

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No you are not overreacting at all!! Wow that sounds horrendous!! You can complain to PALS if that will help? They were struggling to get a needle and cannula in my arms and hand the other night for 1 hour straight, I’m like a dart board now! Haha. But on a serious note I’ve had a few issues also, even with my midwife saying I don’t speak English on my pregnancy notes😂 that caused some issues when being admitted to MAC😣

Unfortunately is a fairly “new” diagnosis and it’s considered rare and not taken seriously. That’s across the world. So I totally understand where you’re coming from. My 1st pregnancy, it took months for them to give me the diagnosis despite my many ER visits. And need for medication upon medication.

That's really awful. I was throwing up 6-8 times a day and had lost weight by week 16 of the pregnancy so my hospital referred me to their HG team and I had fortnightly reviews with them and was always called by a Dr. One of the Dr's suggested that I come off the medication (as a trial) I'd been taking as I was approaching the third trimester. I became a bit emotional from the trauma of being so poorly previously and he apologised for upsetting me and/or offending me (he didn't upset/offend I just had a natural human reaction). I wanted to share so you could see the difference in response and approach that happens within the NHS. You definitely have a right to complain and mage suggestions about improvements to their care pathways.

@Emily I just don’t want the nurses to get in trouble, they treated and cared for me so well but the doctors I had every time I was admitted in didn’t understand hyperemesis at all. I really think they need to be more educated on the topic x

@Wislène (Wiss-Lain) yeah I understand :/ it sucks when it’s not taken serious, there really needs to be more education on it!

@Kathy wow a HG team?! Where in the UK do you live? I know different trusts do different things for hyperemesis. I will contact PALS somewhat soon so there can be possible more education in my hospital about hyperemesis

I live in London and I go to University College London Hospital. I picked it because they serve inner London boroughs that are quite diverse but they have a better than average score on the National Neonatal Audit programme and perinatal mortality rate (MBRRACE audit). I didn't know that the HG team existed either as part of the maternal medicine service. They even offered mental health support as they recognised how stressful and traumatic HG can be!

Unfortunately the notes aren’t the worst part. Nurses/midwives say A LOT of nasty or backhanded things about us behind closed doors (I used to work in a hospital and heard the gossip), despite a lot of them being mothers themselves. My mental health and my HG weren’t taken seriously either…very frustrating as I go through the scariest time of my life.

It should be facts only in notes and not opinions, I would definitely take it further

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