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Original poster

Obstetric Cholestasis symptoms long after pregnancy has ended

17 replies

GeorginaA · 04/09/2006 18:19

I'm sitting here, ripping shreds out of the soles of my feet with my nails and going quietly insane. Ds2 was born 2 year and 4 months ago!

I don't know if it's having a Mirena that's meant my body is out of whack, increased hormones during my period (which I never know quite when it is as I don't get any with the Mirena) or the fact I've been having allergy problems this year.

I normally get 2 weeks of hayfever in February due to tree pollen, this year I've had hayfever pretty constant since March. This last week, I've finally dropped the antihystamines simply because I hate the idea of being on them CONSTANTLY. So I now feel like I've got a full blown cold, my throat itches, my eyes are itchy, my nose is itchy and stuffy and I GODDAMN ITCH ALL OVER. Make it stoooooooooooop.

Has anyone had any experience with OC after the baby has been born? Does the Mirena aggravate it? Or does this sound more allergy related? Anyone had a successful result with the GP or a homoeopath?

OP posts:

jalopy · 04/09/2006 18:29

The itching might be caused by the hormones released from the mirena coil. Worth checking with GP.
I had OC with all my pregnancies and still occasionally have very itchy skin, possibly from the effects of the pill.

Original poster

GeorginaA · 04/09/2006 18:52

I keep meaning to go to the GP, and then it passes again and it seems less important and a waste of time bothering them - daft, isn't it.

Mirena is SUCH a good contraceptive in other ways for us, but if it's aggravating the OC then I'm counting down the days until dh gets the snip.

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Overrun · 04/09/2006 18:54

god GeorginaA, that sounds awful. I also suffered with OC. I occasionally get itchy feet around the time of my period, but also a itchy person too, lots of hayfever and itchy skin generally. Maybe there is a link?
Did you have a blood test to check that all your levels had returned to normal after the birth? I ask because I didn't and had one recently to check that things were okay because of still having some of the symptoms.
I wonder if the coil could be implicated? I would certainly check with gp.
One last thing I did scare myself with a Finnish study that I found on the internet saying that women who had OC were more likely to develop other liver complaints. Have either of you heard of anything like that, hope I haven't upset either of you by mentioning this.

Original poster

GeorginaA · 04/09/2006 18:57

Well hadn't heard of the Finnish study, but to be honest it has crossed my mind many a time - probably also why I haven't been to the GP yet, too scared at the potential outcome I guess.

Thing is, the coil is supposed to be progesterone only so shouldn't affect it, technically.

I was also a fairly itchy/hayfevery/asthma-ey person before too - I guess because now I know what it is, I'm more hyper aware... or just worrying unnecessarily... oh I dunno! Just feel that my body is against me at the moment, which is daft as there are so many people out there with far worse complaints than a bit of itching. I think it's surprised me how much it's getting me down.

OP posts:

Overrun · 04/09/2006 19:03

I think itching is terrible, so hard to ignore and alot of pain can be combated with pain relief
I really wasn't sure whether to mention that study, I mean it freaked me out, so did wonder if I should just keep quiet.
Maybe its not your coil, but I certainly remember being really itchy prior to pregnancy, with hayfevery type things.
I would go back on the antihistemines if I was you, if the itching is this bad, or does that just feel like a regressive step.
I bet if you visited the Dr they would be reassuring. The received medical opinion is that it nearly always finishes with pregnancy and if it doesn't , its not supposed to be bad for you, just annoying.
I scared myself rigid with reading up on another medical condition that I have on the net, and when I saw the consultant she just disagreed with it all, and I felt so reassured, and it was nice to think "well you're the professional I am going to trust you"IYSWIM

Original poster

GeorginaA · 04/09/2006 19:08

I should go back on the antihystamines (which is another reason I doubt whether it's 100% just OC - I don't think antihystamines help bile acid itching do they?) as I did have more manageable occasional itching while on them. It's just as I say, I've been on since March which seems a hell of a long time, so was going to give myself a week off them to see if my body normalised itself again before deciding whether I needed to do anything about it. I think I'm on about day 3 and not coping well

Really ought to get off my arse and make that GP's appointment, huh?

OP posts:

Overrun · 04/09/2006 19:14

Well done for trying to come off Anti(can't spell the rest), I can't take them atm because I am bf, but will as soon as I can
Being Asthmatic I have had to get used to taking inhaled steroids and oral ones sometimes so guess I have had to get pretty sanguine about taking medication.
I am always trying to cut down having said that
It's amazing to me that some people just chug through life not taking any meds at all, but as you say then there are people who are much worse off.
I go through stages of being worried about my health, there is always something, nothing too serious I guess but if it's not one thing it's another!
Hope you feel able to make that gp appt soon.
Please let me know how it goes

Original poster

GeorginaA · 04/09/2006 19:16

Will do - I'm really grateful just to have someone listen to me whinge actually

Will give myself to the end of the week, and then make the appointment Monday if I'm still like this. And if that doesn't get me anywhere, I guess I'm saving up for the homoeopath...

OP posts:

Overrun · 04/09/2006 19:17

Hope you stop itching and feel free to whinge any time

Original poster

GeorginaA · 05/09/2006 12:52

A bit of an update. Ended up being really miserable late yesterday evening and gave up, putting myself back on antihistamines, which reduced the itching quite considerably enabling me to sleep (which points to non-OC I guess, as antihistamines weren't supposed to affect that as it's a liver disorder).

I've also got a slight allergic rash on my stomach - so there's definitely allergy stuff going on in combination. With all that in mind, and remembering my last allergic skin reaction 2 years ago, I just got loaded up with steroid creams at the GPs, I've booked myself in with a homoeopath this Friday.

Will let you know how it goes.

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TambaTheDragonSlayer · 05/09/2006 12:55

I had OC with DS2 (hes 2 and a half now)

Still get the symptoms - itchy hands mainly!

Drives me crazy!

HenniPenni · 05/09/2006 13:02

I had oc with all three of my pregnancies but most noticable on my last one five years ago. I still suffer from itching in the last two weeks of my cycle, I am also a itchy/hayfever/allergic person. I often wonder if there's any connection?

Overrun · 05/09/2006 13:35

GeorginaA, I was prescribed piriton for my OC symptoms. I was suprised at this because they I thought that you couldn't take them when pregnant but they told me it was fine? Or the lesser evil.
It is interesting that a lot of us are itchy people. With my hayfever, sometimes I feel so hot and itch absalutely every where

foxinsocks · 05/09/2006 13:40

georgina, I got this on the mirena but mine happened very soon after it was inserted - in fact, it turns out I may have been allergic to the hormone in the mirena (which makes sense because once it was taken out, the symptoms disappeared). GP said they had never seen anything like it before and also seemed to imply that they did not believe the two were related (i.e. the allergy just happened to occur at the same time!).

I would ask the GP for a blood test because the itching could be liver related (esp I imagine if you have had things like this before).

bundle · 05/09/2006 13:52

Georgina, I know that Prufrock suffers with itching, long after her pregnancies...I'm sure she'd be willing to share her (expert) knowledge on this with you (I think she is training to be a homeopath too)

Original poster

GeorginaA · 05/09/2006 13:58

That's interesting, foxinsocks - I've had my suspicions it might be Mirena aggravated for a while. Wouldn't surprise me.

HenniPenni: there does seem to be quite a few of us, doesn't there?

Overrun: I know - they do seem to prescribe piriton as standard, but I seem to remember from extensive discussions here and elsewhere that piriton does nothing because it's the toxins that are making you itch, not a direct allergic reaction as such.

bundle: I was hoping prufrock would drop by to say how she was getting on - haven't seen her around in ages. Did CAT her to find out about her homoeopath (as I vaguely remembered that she said her homoeopath did consultations by email) but have had no reply

OP posts:

Overrun · 05/09/2006 14:16

thats interesting Georgina, I am learning a lot from this thread so thanks for posting. As you say there are a lot of us here! I would also be interested in any specific homeopathic rememdies. I have read that pmt that I suffer from is seen as being connected to a blocked liver in chinese medicine, its amazing the connecions that can be made.
I'll keep watching this. Glad you are feeling better anyway on the itching front anyway

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