Going mad with itching - pregnant

[BigCuteBaby567]

I've posted in pregnancy before and peeps advised me to go get tested, which I did, but all bloodwork keeps being fine. AIBU to be going mad??? The whole "it will go away once you have the baby" is NOT helping as that's 7-8 weeks away! Help!

It is NOT cholestatis and NOT iron deficiency - repeated bloodwork 3 times all normal. It started at week 29, I am now 33 weeks.

I slather myself in anti itch creams every night but it gave me prickly heat - apparently being always covered in thick cream plus being hot and sweaty do not mix well (I live in a warm climate but in aircon almost 24/7 really as I run so hot atm). Prickly heat now gone and still itchy.

No rash whatsoever, itches all day but worse at night. Not itchy on hands and feet.

I haven't had a good night sleep in 4 weeks. Dr gave me piriton which does nothing for the itch. It knocks me out to sleep for a few hours but I am so drowsy the next day, I am totally useless. And it only gives me 3-4 hrs of sleep anyway.

Calamine lotion does v little. Aloe vera helps but very short lived, for like 1-2 hours.

This is making me really depressed, I'm SO tired and itchy all the time, it's driving me mad.

Please, any tips?

Constant bathroom breaks in the night don't help as I obviously wake up and feel the itch so can't go back to sleep.

@BigCuteBaby567 how many weeks are you?

With my oldest, I itched for weeks before it showed in my bloods.

Also had gallbladder issues, which can also cause itching (yay) and can be triggered by pregnancy.

I was much less bad with youngest. But I'd had my gallbladder removed. While not a treatment I less your BAs are very high anymore, I was given a low dose of urso to help reduce the itching. Only any good if it is your liver playing up though!

Have you tried eating low histamine foods?

I use this and it doesn't clog the drains/ leave a residue and helps my itchy skin

amzn.eu/d/04gGjlTf

A topical cream with lidocaine anaesthetic in it? I know you can use bonjela and anusol in pregnancy, maybe something you can spread on your skin like that..

Another shout for Dermacool menthol cream, it saved me

@EsmeSusanOgg I don't know how to explain to my manager I have a horrible itch and can't sleep so can't do my job? Aaahhh. I was probably exaggerating about losing my job but my performance is taking a hit (my brain isn't working) and I'm up for promotion when I get back from mat leave and this will definitely count against me.

@ZogZig thanks! I need to lay off the thick lotions for a bit as they clogged my pores and gave me prickly heat all over but I'll go buy this to use in a few days

I was very itchy, my bloods didn't spike until 37 weeks and were sky high overnight, induced for OC straight away. Not much to suggest but I had 2\3 baths a day which helped.

The best advice on here is from @EsmeSusanOgg. Do get in touch with ICP Support. They are very knowledgeable and will help you to push for repeat LFTs including bile acid tests.
Speak to Jenny Chambers at ICP Support - she really knows her stuff.

Thank you all! You've been a huge help. It's an oat bath tonight and will try a few more of the suggestions here too over the coming days. I'll push to keep testing for ICP.

I feel less crazy as well, which is half the battle.

For the immediate itch now before you get your hands on the above lotions and potions to hopefully help. Try slapping it. I have awful eczema, will scratch until I bleed unfortunately. A jolly good slap can replace the insatiable itch with a sting and bring some relief in the short term.

I had cholestatis itch with 2 of my pregnancies. It drove me to the brink of insanity. I was on the ICP Facebook page and I remember one woman writing she used to go outside in the middle of the night and rub (tear) her feet off rough concrete steps and the pain of that was better than the itch itch. Obviously not recommending to do that but it gives people who aren't familiar with it a sense of how awful it is. When I read her comment it made complete sense to me

Try calamine lotion or Apple cider vinegar on the skin. On ds1, 23 years ago, I thought the minute I had him it would be gone but no I was stuck in the hottest hospital roo. And it was torture. Could you get signed off work early, it will be difficult to do your job when dealing with it.

Just to add that OC (obstetric cholestasis) is the same as ICP (intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy).
I had two ICP pregnancies - undiagnosed in the first. ICP Support, then a helpline, was incredibly supportive and ensured I got good care in the second pregnancy.
I was a trustee of ICP Support for a while and contributed (placenta & cord blood from second labour, family samples including children) to the various research projects they support
Again, please do contact them.