AIBU?
Pregnancy rash and repeat visit to hospital
Yummymummy2020 · 19/11/2019 10:00
I have a pregnancy rash which is driving me up the wall with itching, I don’t just mean slightly uncomfortable I mean constant skin crawling no sleep at night drive you to tears itching. I am 31 weeks pregnant now and have had it at its worst over 2 weeks. I went to the hospital the first week, and was told to use chamomile lotion. Did absolutely nothing. The next week I rang and asked for help again and got told to come into clinic. Waited hours for the doctor to tell me as I’m a high risk patient they couldn’t help me but to come back the next day to the high risk clinic. Agreed to do this, and was told to take an antihistamine and got bloods taken to rule out liver issues. Thankfully bloods are ok but at this point I’m drawing blood scratching, even with baking soda baths the tablets and wearing socks on my hands at night, it really is unbearable. My question is, aibu to go back tomor again and beg for a steroid cream? I suggested this in the first place and was told they don’t like to give it but the rash has spread all over now to my arms and legs back and stomach. I am confident It is just a pregnancy rash and not putting others at risk but also embarrassed going back again because I’m worried it will look like I’m being a diva when they see I was there twice last week but I am getting desperate! What would you do? I have an appointment a week away so would be going quite early to go tomorrow!
Am I being unreasonable?
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Wattagoose90 · 19/11/2019 13:45
I had the same and I just couldn't believe that there wasn't a medical explanation/diagnoses for why it was happening. The only thing that helped was keeping very cool, so constant cold baths or a cold wet towel. I used a steroid cream (prescribed for someone else, naughty me) but it didn't really help much.
I would keep going back and make sure they test your bloods regularly, just because theyre OK now doesn't mean that it won't eventually mask something else.
But yeah, totally feel your pain. It's indescribable and relentless isn't it!
Areyoufree · 19/11/2019 13:54
Can you use Eurax? That stuff is amazing, but I don't know if a) you can use it in pregnancy, and b) if you can use it over large areas. Might be worth asking your doctor?
I agree about going back though - it never fails to amaze me just how much pain and discomfort women are just expected to put up with during pregnancy / birth. That's this attitude of "Well, you chose to have a baby" about it all.
PlumMustard · 19/11/2019 13:55
I had PUPPPS when I was pregnant with the DT's in the last month. Fucking hell, I've never known itching like it. It was so bad at one point they kept me in overnight.
Get steroid cream and also a nurse at the hospital put me in a luke warm bath with bicarbonate of soda. Only things that helped. I spent hour sat in luke warm baths that month.
Good luck 
PlumMustard · 19/11/2019 13:57
Found this old thread which may help www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/972043-PUPPP-Pruritic-urticarial-papules-and-plaques-of-pregnancy
GivenchyDahhling · 19/11/2019 14:04
I had this too - PUPPP. I went to the GP and was prescribed antihistamines (basically Claritin) which are normally not recommend in pregnancy. However as I was so late on (I think I was maybe 36/37 weeks at this point) the risk was minimal. I took a grand total of two tablets across two days and it went completely. Until then I was using E45 and E45 anti itch which was relieving slightly but not much. Eurax says to talk to GP before using in pregnancy but again my GP said it was fine - but after the antihistamines I didn’t need to use it in the end.
Yummymummy2020 · 19/11/2019 21:23
@Wattagoose90 i never even knew such a thing existed till I got it, you are right totally relentless😂 I’m keeping my partner awake with the scratching too! I haven’t tried the cold towel I will give that a go tonight now!!! Bloods are good but I’ll ask them to keep repeating them to be safe! Thanks so much!
Yummymummy2020 · 19/11/2019 21:24
@Areyoufree I haven’t tried Eurax but I looked it up there and pregnant people can use it under supervision so I will buy some tomorrow and double check with the mid wife it’s def ok for me, thanks so much for suggesting it I wasn’t aware of it at all!
Yummymummy2020 · 19/11/2019 21:26
@PlumMustard I would murder for a steroid cream now! I’m not sure why they are so against it in my place! I feel anything safe would be worth a try at this stage! I think it’s def the same as you it certainly looks it when I googled it!!! You would take the skin off yourself it’s that itchy!
Yummymummy2020 · 19/11/2019 21:30
@GivenchyDahhling I’m on the antihistamines myself now though not finding much difference unfortunately, it’s very unpleasant, thank god I am signed off for pre eclampsia already as it is because the lack of sleep from the scratching alone would make it a miserable existence even more if I had to try work with it!!!
NeedAnExpert · 19/11/2019 21:30
I had PUPPPS when I was pregnant with the DT's in the last month. Fucking hell, I've never known itching like it. It was so bad at one point they kept me in overnight
I had it too. I had it from 37-42 weeks. Midwife finally diagnosed it about 5 days post-delivery and sent me straight to GP. Needed oral and topical steroids because by that point it was all over my body apart from my head. Horrible. Push for early treatment OP.
Yummymummy2020 · 19/11/2019 21:32
@TheTrollFairy I can take them just sadly they are not helping much at all, yes I’m really starting to wonder am I allergic to pregnancy at this stage!!!😂 the doctor said antihistamines are ok to take just very against the steroid creams for some reason which when I looked it up online seemed to be a good remedy for some people so I wish I could have one!!!
IceCreamFace · 19/11/2019 21:35
OH MY GOD I had PUPPS. It was so bad. Anyone who hasn't had an itchy skin condition on that scale can understand how bad it is. I was up all night scratching - DH ended up sleeping in a different room. I had a steroid cream, that helped me slightly. The hospital also gave me a sleeping pill (not sure which one - obviously I wouldn't take it unless it had been OKed for pregnancy). I wasn't in the UK and I was told that they would induce me as soon as it got too much (I also had extreme gestational diabetes so could only really eat if I walked up and down stairs for an hour afterwards).
concernedforthefuture · 19/11/2019 21:48
Sounds like PUPP. Believe it or not a SOAP helped me. The relief was immense and it cleared up in days
Grandpa's Pine Tar Soap 92 g https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0001TO3NA/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_3lg1Db9A3PM63
Yummymummy2020 · 19/11/2019 21:49
@IceCreamFace oh god that’s dreadful you had an awful time of it too! It really is the worst rash I have ever had now! And the itching literally does not stop nor do you even get satisfaction from scratching it makes it even worse!!! I’m keeping my other half up scratching because the whole bed is shaking I’m scratching that hard even in my sleep! I also keep taking the socks off my hand and flinging them off to get a better scratch! When you do doze off you hurt yourself scratching so you are up again!!! I think they are planning an induction for me, but also they are not in a hurry if they can keep baby in a bit longer as my blood pressure is controlled! I’m not sure I’ll last out another two months effectively with it at this intensity if they leave me as I am though, I certainly won’t have any skin left as I’m already cut to shreds!!!
TruffleShuffles · 19/11/2019 21:55
I also had PUPPS and it was absolutely horrific, I ended up drawing blood at one point with the itching. I went to my GP about it and she knew what it was straight away and gave me a prescription for a topical steroid that was suitable for use during pregnancy with no issues at all.
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