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Pregnancy

Going bonkers with itching, being tested for obstetric cholestasis tomorrow. Does anyone have any tips to make this bloody stop!?!?

114 replies

SchrodingersMew · 14/08/2011 22:28

Okay, my skin looks terrible as even scratching when sleeping.

Everywhere is itching like ad, so much it's almost unbearable and I didn't think I could end up with any more problems this pg!

Can someone help and maybe give me some advice? I have no idea really what this is and need some tips for the itching.

I have tried piriton and calamine... Really not working.

Thanks.

OP posts:

Report

giggly · 14/08/2011 22:35

I had an all over itch with both pregnancies and used everything including a wire brush which either gave no or little relief. However I stumbled upon a mixture of piritn (2 tabs) and 1 iron tab before bedtime did the trick. NOt sure if my GP would have approved as piritin is restricteed to 1 tab I think. However I felt safe taking this mixture and both dc are fine

The only other relief was having a bath but as soon as I was out it would start again.
You have my sympathy

SchrodingersMew · 14/08/2011 22:40

I can't get in and out the bath. :( I have severe SPD as well.

My DP is going crazy because I am scratching so hard I am shaking the bed! Nearly put fake nails on because no matter how hard I scratch it just doesn't help. I have big deep scratches head to toe. :(

I'm already taking Piriton as my Dr said that it was fine to use in pg but it has no effect.

I'm considering buying enough calamine to fill a bath and have my DP help me in and out! or just live in it till DS is born

OP posts:

thestringcheeseincident · 14/08/2011 22:46

Aqueous cream with menthol ALL over. Chemists sell it.

StopShoutingAtYourBrother · 14/08/2011 22:51

This lovely maternity cream that came in a purple pot from Oliver bonas. It wasn't cheap but it really reduced the fiery intensity ofmy itching!

hellymelly · 14/08/2011 22:52

I had terrible itching,and my test for oc was borderline,(I think it was above 14 you have it,and I was 14) I had some accupuncture the next day and the itching went away! was miraculous!

SchrodingersMew · 14/08/2011 22:58

Ohhh acupuncture! I might try that, infact I will. Anything that will help!
Will get some aqueous cream tomorrow too.
A bit skint this week but will look into that Oliver Bonas cream on Tuesday!

Anything that will help I will bloody try!

Thank you for the advice. :)

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Graciescotland · 14/08/2011 23:05

I used to soak flannels in chilled calamine, it would feel fine for ten minutes until it heated up to body temperature, blissful ten minutes though.

PamBeesly · 14/08/2011 23:22

How far along are you Schrodingersmew I have been itching constantly for 4 weeks now (I'm 12 weeks) palms of hands, legs, arms, stomach, back bum everywhere except face. I have been seen by a dermatologist who was very unsympathetic and while I sat there itching myself in her office she smacked my hands away and told me I'm doing myself no favours by itching my skin. I told her I slept for 2 hours a night if I was lucky and she just said lots of pregnant women don't sleep. She took a bile salts test and said she'd see me again in 4 weeks. Meanwhile I'm in hell. I am using menthol Aveeno and she prescribed pirotin, neither of which give any relief. If you are further along than me, 14 weeks or more there is more they can prescribe for you. I really hope you find something that helps you cope. I'll follow this thread to see how you are doing, look for tips myself.

SchrodingersMew · 14/08/2011 23:27

Gracie I am already doing that. :(

Pam I'm 32 + 2 and I;m really sorry about how it went with your dermatolagist. :( She sounds bloody awful and if she had slapped my hand away while feeling like this I would have smacked her!

I've been given pirotin too and calamine and that's all I have until they find out for definite I have it but MW from MAU said there is a solution they can prescribe that a lot of people say really help.

If you want I will PM you tomorrow and tell you what I am told after my appt?

Hope things get better for you, if I had had to put up with this from 12 weeks I would have went crazy quite literally. I'm already driving myself and everyone around me crazy and I have only had it about a week.

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PamBeesly · 14/08/2011 23:36

I'd really appreciate it if you did PM me, I think my doctor just went to sleep when I told her I was only 12 weeks, she said serious conditions only occur in the last trimester (which I know by and large they do) but I've taken a denman hairbrush to my legs and cried myself to sleep, she didn't respond to this. :( I have no relief from anything.
I hope you get some relief at the doctors tomorrow, good luck

SchrodingersMew · 14/08/2011 23:41

Demand to see another Dr, even if it isn't this and I couldn't tell you anything about it to say it wouldn't pop up in first or second trimester. You are causing yourself distress and in turn probably the baby so they really should take you seriously!

I promise I will pm after my appointment tomorrow and tell you if there is anything else that can help.

Why don't you give the acupuncture a go?

:)

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christinecagney · 14/08/2011 23:53

I feel for you: I had OC in 2 out of my 3 pregnancies and the itching really is awful. Cold baths or showers were best, or ice packs. If you are diagnosed with it you can be given a med called 'Urso' something which might help. Had to make a big fuss to get diagnosed though - only got help cos my GP was very insistent with the hospital that I was tested. All good outcomes though - DCs all fine.

SchrodingersMew · 14/08/2011 23:57

Christine It really is awful isn't it? I didn't know it was possible to feel this itchy! and it is everywhere pulls hair out in bunches

I had just phoned up MAU tonight to ask if there was anything I could take for the awful itching having already phoned up about it a couple of days ago and they were going to bring me in tonight to test but I'm 8 miles away at the moment and don't drive so booked me straight in to go in tomorrow, she seemed quite insistant.

I can't believe it has been so hard for some of you to be tested. :(

Glad your DC's were fine. :) I will admit to being completely clueless about it so don't actually know the causes or risks to me or baby...

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christinecagney · 14/08/2011 23:59

Also is not true that is only 2nd and 3rd trimester problem - if you have had OC you are sensitive to raised levels of oestrogen and can get itchy phases during a normal non-pregnant menstrual cylcle. I itched form about 16 weeks in my 3rd preg., and itched a lot from 22 weeks both times. Both times induced at 37 weeks as OC can be dangerous for babies after that. Ask to see a Ob/Gyn consultant with OC as a specialism; local big hosp. also has midlwife just for OC women - I was seen twice a week after 32 weeks for monitoring and bloods. Is very stressful having OC also exhausting as you don't sleep becuase of itching. All the best...OP.

christinecagney · 15/08/2011 00:02

Glad they are taking you in tomorrow - if you have OC you should get top notch monitoring etc. so that's good they are taking you seriously. Let us know how you get on...

SchrodingersMew · 15/08/2011 00:04

I will and thanks for the advice. :)

This has been pretty random, I seem to have had everything going in pg so far!

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christinecagney · 15/08/2011 00:06

Sorry going to bed now, but will try and post some online resources for you tomorrow - I had some good info on it when I was pg...

try and get some rest even if you don't sleep = totally been there with the hairbrush to scratch with...

SchrodingersMew · 15/08/2011 00:08

Thank you. :) And my DP wont let me have the hair brush...

We went down to make food earlier and I asked for the grater and he said no! He thought I wanted it to scratch with! :o

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NoobyNoob · 15/08/2011 07:20

If it's OC you'll be monitored up until around 38/39 weeks. They may let you go to your due date, they didn't with me because there is a risk to both you and the baby. There's plenty of websites with very helpful information, this is the one I used:

www.ocsupport.org.uk/

Im currently waiting for liver/bile results to see if it has come back for my second pregnancy. Hope you get the news that it isn't OC, it's not very nice.

spout · 15/08/2011 08:21

I had this in last pg from around 15 weeks. Was hellish, you have my sympathy.

My blood tests were inconclusive for OC, but I had raised levels of something-or-other in my liver. It was suggested that if not OC it might be PUPPP or that I was allergic to the hormones in my developing baby boy

Tiger balm was the only thing that topically stopped the itching at night, but it was only when a herbalist friend recommended dandelion root tincture that it disappeared completely. Apparently it contains a lot of vitamin A so get proper advice before you start taking it.

Cattleprod · 15/08/2011 08:43

Sorry I have no experience of this itching (other than from the fleas that are currently jumping around our house - bloody cat!) but have any of you tried Virasoothe? I used it on DS when he had chickenpox and was itchy.

MaryBS · 15/08/2011 08:51

I found the calamine cream better than the lotion, and also cold baths. Thats the only thing that worked for me. The menthol stuff just made it feel worse because I then felt itchy AND hot!

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christinecagney · 15/08/2011 11:00

I found this info helpful

www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/home/the-liver/liver-diseases/obstetric-cholestasis.aspx

and

www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/obstetric-cholestasis-green-top-43

christinecagney · 15/08/2011 11:01

www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health/clinical-guidance/obstetric-cholestasis-itching-liver-disorder-information-you

SchrodingersMew · 15/08/2011 11:22

Thanks for all the links and the advice, I will be heading up to get my bloods done soon.

Nooby I am already being induced at 37 weeks for other reasons so wont be getting as far as that anyway. :)

About to have a look at the links now. Thanks everyone. :)

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