Managing a Full Time Job and Morning Sickness

SaraJan2014 · October 2015

I am finding it difficult to get ready for work, drive and be productive when I am so nauseous. If I am meeting clients I can distract myself for the hour or so but other than that when I am just working in my office, I just want to crawl under my desk and take a nap or have my head over the garbage pail. Any tips on surviving the work day while feeling so crappy?

katykatykaty · October 2015

Like you said, I notice it the least when I'm busy, so I try to stay busy as much as possible. When I'm thinking about how bad I feel, it seems to make it worse. I also keep crackers nearby to snack on, and that seems to help.

aamm04 · October 2015

SaraJan2014 said:
I am finding it difficult to get ready for work, drive and be productive when I am so nauseous. If I am meeting clients I can distract myself for the hour or so but other than that when I am just working in my office, I just want to crawl under my desk and take a nap or have my head over the garbage pail. Any tips on surviving the work day while feeling so crappy?

I'm sorry you're feeling crappy. Try eating a few crackers before you get out of bed, that's the only thing working for me.

I've seen others say ginger candies or sour patch kids. Also, use the search function and check out the symptoms threads, I'm sure there are suggestions there.

azdralek · October 2015

Mine hasn't been severe just always feeling like I'm car sick. I'm noticing though that eating carbs during the day is helping really any type of carb not just crackers. I've been having a glass of milk before work and then lots of snacks and smaller meals throughout the day are seeming to work best this week.

I did buy sea-bands and preggie pop drop candies from Target last week, Friday got super bad and the candies were a life saver. The bands worked but were way too tight for me I couldn't handle them on my wrist for long.

Hope you find what works for you.

Valarina33 · October 2015

This time is super bad. Only 6 weeks pg and already can barely teach, trying not to throw up in front of kids (haven't told school about pgncy), nothing seems to help, tried candies, non -caffeine soda, carbs, eating a lot, sea bands...
I wasn't this bad last time. I have a little Zofran left from last time but the Internet NOW says it's awful for baby plus even Zofran doesn't help all that much.
Thoughts?

lest12 · October 2015

I also have found carbs to be helpful. The more I am stuffing in my face, the better. I wish I were kidding.

I try to get up and go for walks every so often. I don't know if it helps with the actual nausea but it keeps me from thinking about it for that few minutes.

LadySamLady · October 2015

OP I wish there was an easy answer! In the beginning I was really down on myself for the way this pregnancy has effected my focus at work, but I realized that it wasn't worth the added heartache. You just have to push yourself to get up and get moving, and do what you can to stay busy. And Bumping every hour or so definitely helps with MS

Same here @lest12 - I pretty much eat non-stop and take walks to distract myself. Fresh air really helps. I bring large amounts of watermelon (my obsession) and sliced raw veggies to work to eat throughout the day. It was hard to stomach the veggies at first but I'm used to it now and actually enjoy it. I swear carrots help me with nausea. It also helps with...movement. Still eating a ton of carbs too but the fruit and veggies balance it out a bit. I swear my office mate thinks I have a binge eating problem but whatever.

lest12 · October 2015

Mmm... watermelon sound really good now that you mention it.

lmcfall83 · October 2015

Do carbs really help it? I have noticed improvement when I eat carbs, but I didn't know that was a real thing!

saladflambe · October 2015

I chain-suck preggie pops. Heh.

SaraJan2014 · October 2015

So the day took a turn for the better and worse. The good news is that I finally threw up and feel better. The bad news is that I didn't make it to the toilet on time so I literally threw up all over my clothes, then slipped and fell in it and got it all over my back and hair too! Thank goodness it was an individual washroom so I could clean up the disaster. Then I sped walked to my office, zipped my coat up to try and cover the mess on my clothes and walked right out the door. So now I am home and doing laundry... Luckily I was able to laugh at myself and how ridiculous this situation was. Better than being caught crying at the office covered in puke!

Mellbow · October 2015

I can't focus. I just want to go home and lay down. And...eat some watermelon (that does sound good.)

I got sick in the shower before work yesterday (convenient). It didn't happen this morning and I feel like I have been fighting the urge all day. The lingering smell of my lunch in the office is not helping either.

mrstmoose · October 2015

SaraJan2014 said:

So the day took a turn for the better and worse. The good news is that I finally threw up and feel better. The bad news is that I didn't make it to the toilet on time so I literally threw up all over my clothes, then slipped and fell in it and got it all over my back and hair too! Thank goodness it was an individual washroom so I could clean up the disaster. Then I sped walked to my office, zipped my coat up to try and cover the mess on my clothes and walked right out the door. So now I am home and doing laundry... Luckily I was able to laugh at myself and how ridiculous this situation was. Better than being caught crying at the office covered in puke!

At least you can laugh at yourself! I want to put the Pitch Perfect gif where they are all wrestling in vomit but with all of the quesy stomachs around here, I decided not to!

SaraJan2014 · October 2015

Well if I end up staying home for the afternoon, I'll netflix Pitch Perfect so I will know what you are referring to!

wsgjmw1 · October 2015

Carbs carbs carbs ! The more I eat the better I feel .

dsmith211 · October 2015

I try to eat continuously throughout the day... Small snacks and stuff. That helps. I also find when I'm busy it helps take my mind off it too. But right now it's not really that busy at work for me... Then I end up here.

OERTLIM · October 2015

I hear ya! Hang in there. I work 50+ hours a weeks with lots of travel. My secret weapons have been mini altoids, sparkling water, and pretzels in my briefcase on top of eating something every two hours. When I'm feeling g extra tired I cat nap during my lunch. Meetings have been extra difficult but keeping water with lemon next to me has kept nausea at bay for at least and hour. Hope you can keep you self well, many hard working mama's have come before us and many will follow. We've got this!

ceeesprof · October 2015

SaraJan2014 That sounds positively horrible! So sorry!

katie1782 · October 2015

I just texted DH to tell him we need to get watermelon this week...that sounds sooo good!

BeansMom2014 · October 2015

I just got an RX from my doctor for Dielegis (spelling?) for morning sickness. It's helped SOOO much just in the last two days I've taken it. Maybe talk to your Dr about it?

SteviePLB · October 2015

You're definitely not alone in this camp! I work a full time job in an office with a long commute (2 hours each way) and it's felt nearly impossible to get things done and be productive. I've gone home sick twice when the morning sickness has gotten bad, which I know must raise some eyebrows since in the 3 years I've worked there, I'd never before taken a sick day. Some things that have helped me:

-Lunch time car naps. Really. I park my car in the most secluded part of the lot, and at lunch I go down and take a little nap.

-Eating a little bit at a time and going with whatever my cravings are. Healthy eating is really important to me but it wasn't doing me any good to avoid the foods I wanted and try to force myself to eat the healthy things. So if all i want is a couple of ginger snaps and some salami, I roll with it. And hope no ones looking and judging

-Drink lots of water but just in little sips at a time.

Good luck! I'm hoping I fall into the camp of women who feel amazing once they hit their 2nd trimester. Fingers crossed!

sydewatson · October 2015

Do you think Walmart would have a sea band? I've heard those work, but the nearest target is 2 hours from where I live!

sydewatson · October 2015

Today was my first day of morning sickness. However, I actually threw up. I haven't told my bosses yet. So they thought it was just the stomach bug. My weekend mission is to stock up on crackers, safe nausea medicine, and hopefully find a sea band. Please let me know if you find something else that works!

mrsmathews718 · October 2015

I feel ya! I had MS so bad that I had to go to the emergency care center to get an IV because I couldn't even keep water down. I was so dehydrated that my body felt weak and I was constantly dizzy. My doctor gave me a prescription for Zofran so that I could function during the day and Dicelgis to take at night. It doesn't take your nausea away completely, but it certainly makes it easier to function (and be productive at work). I'm holding down food and liquids, that's a plus! I know taking meds while pregnant is very controversial, but I really needed them. I definitely do not want to end up in the ECC for another IV. Hang in there! My MS started to taper off this week and I'm about 9 weeks and 3 days along.

aamm04 · October 2015

Hi ladies! My sister is a nutritionist and gave me a healthier option if you're not looking to take any prescriptions. Of course check with your doctors and all, but her recommendation is 200mg of magnesium.

JacquieVerbal · October 2015

This was extremely helpful. I am 8 weeks pregnant with my first child and it's been tough! I too was in the emergency room this pass weekend with IVs from throwing up fluids. Now it's no better I haven't been to work all week because I'm vomiting so much throughout the day. At one point fruit pops were helping now they are not. Crackers and almonds make me gag now. I'm literally running out of options and I'm sooooo hungry. I was prescribed Dicelgis but it's so expensive I can't afford to spend $200 on a bottle with only 30 pills. So I'm trying to tough it out. Unfortunately working as a makeup artist it's not much roughing out I can do. I'm hoping my second trimester will be amazing!

KnitPearl · October 2015

Respect to all you ladies who can juggle all this! I have been trying to maintain my 40+ hour job teaching but between the frequent urination, dizziness, and MS, I don't think I can do it. My job requires me to be on my feet and dashing about the course room all day and I'm just not up for it, and can hardly focus on my students when I'm so preoccupied with not vomiting or fainting. I'm worried my coworkers, who are close friends, won't take it well if I leave, as many of them were pregnant while working. But it's really hard to keep a smile on my face when I am calculating my present distance to the nearest bathroom at any given moment.

The best trick I've found is to just keep eating. For me, it staves off the nausea significantly, not just to take frequent snacks, but to have about a bite or two a minute. Unfortunately I can't snack at work due to the nature of my job, but hopefully some women will find it useful!

beff12 · October 2015

@sydewatson - I bought sea bands at either Walgreens or Rite-Aid during my last pregnancy. I'm guessing Walmart would probably have them too! I know they don't work for everyone, but for me it took the edge off just enough that I could actually enjoy a snack while my students were snacking and also eat a decent lunch.

le51684 · October 2015

I keep puke bowls strategically placed at work, home, and in my car. I've gotten really good at puking without crashing my car. My obgyn suggests taking B6 pills, I haven't tried it yet. I've too heard that magnesium can help, I've heard that it works better transdermally.

beff12 · October 2015

B6 is really helpful!

Soontobejones33 · October 2015

I absolutely hate vomiting so though I'm sick all the time I refuse to do that. Anytime I feel it coming I eat. I try to eat every 2 hours and snack on crackers in between. I've found that protein helps alot, meat eggs (hardboiled) cheese and pecans. When I don't get any it gets really bad. Watermelon is my friend! But it has to be really sweet, and that's getting tougher to find. Unfortunately sugary foods settle me as well but guess I shouldn't survive for the next 4 weeks on mc flurries.

FutureMrsGaugler · October 2015

My hubby bought me some ginger gum and that really seems to help. I'm not a huge fan of ginger so the taste is less than desirable, but I can start to feel it working almost immediately so it's worth it!

autumnlynne1221 · October 2015

I am so missable it is really interfering with my job. I'm going to call my OB in the morning cause I can't find anything to help me get through the day. The dr office I work for messed up my schedule so Friday I had patients every 15 minutes instead of every 30 with no lunch from 9-3. It'll be the same tomorrow. Pretty sure that's not helping my blood sugar stay stab. Ugh. :-(

SaraJan2014 · October 2015

What I started to do is keep an extra outfit at the office and a bottle of mouthwash. And I have been taking city streets instead of the highway so in case I am sick while driving (like this morning) I am hopefully at a red light. I always have a plastic bag open on my lap when I am in the car. I started taking one dicletin (diclegis to the Americans) at night but I am not sure if it is doing anything. I will have to increase it to two and see if that changes things.

yodasmistress · October 2015

Right there with ya.

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