Itchy everything while pregnant, doctor mentioned liver function now I'm scared

[MoosMa]

I had what I thought was thrush a few weeks ago and ever since then my bits have been very sore and itchy, and my skin is generally itchy all over too. The doctor took swabs a week ago and says I don't have thrush or an infection, then today he took some blood and mentioned liver function.

Now I'm worried as that sounds serious, so before I go Googling and convince myself I'm dying, does anyone have any idea what he might have been talking about?

Obstetric Cholestasis, Prufrock had it, hang on, will find a thread. You're not dying, don't worry!

Yes, have a look here, I've had this 3 times, it's horrible. I've had it all over apart from face, palms of hands and soles of feet. Make sure you do get checked at docs though

PUPP

here and here but it may not be that. If it is though, it can be managed, don't worry.

You need to get this diagnosed. It is uncomfortable for you but could be fatal for the baby. Babies usually have to be delivered early as that is the only cure. Get yourself down the doctors!! Good luck.

Thanks anniediv, that sounds half like what I've got, but I have very sore bits too, not sure if that can happen with PUPP?

MoosMa, Pupp made me extremely uncomfortable all over, so if you are very 'rashy' down there it may be making you sore. I sympathise

Hello MoosMa

Definitely get your liver function tested. I had cholestasis in my first pregnancy and, if you do have it, it needs to be managed correctly to ensure that the baby is safe. It has no implications for your health, and miraculously disappears (usually) when your baby is born!

I'd take it as a positive thing that your doctor is following the right procedure. Cholestasis is pretty rare, so probably it will turn out to be something else but at least you've got a doctor who knows enough about it to check.

Don't worry!

MoosMa, if it is OC you will be fine - but do get it checked out and managed. I have two friends who had it, and it was horrid to have (ie very itchy) but both they and their babies are absolutely ok.

On the other hand, I can relate to all over itch, and occasional itchy bits, and have agonized over everything from threadworms to OC and back again. Mine comes and goes, depending on tiredness and god knows what else, so I don't think its anything serious - neither does my doctor - but its really unpleasant.
When do you get your blood results?

The doc was supposed to be ringing back today, having spoken to obs/gynae at the hospital as he said he was stuck for ideas, but I haven't heard anything yet...

Taking anti-histimine does help but still dh is climbing the walls as any kind of touching drives me wild (not the right kind!).

Moosma, is it particularly bad on the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet?

I was suspected OC in last preg
I had itchy hands feet esp at night which is the red flag ithcing.
What you need are LFT's liver function tests, and Bile Salt Acids - most hospitals will try and dx you (incorrectly) on LFT's alone, ask outright if this happens for the bile salts, they do need to send them away to Birmingham I think but they have 24hr response most days
I had to fight the incorrect dx as it led to them trying to bloody induce me 3 weeks early
I did have to submit to thrice weekly blood tests, lots of fetal monitoring though.
Itching is common, OC isn't IYSWIM

Having read the other threads about OC I don't think that's what I've got, the itching is mostly on my torso and thighs, not a lot on my hands, I do have a rash, and it does get better (temporarily) with anti-hisitimines. It seems an awful lot more like PUPP from what people have said about it.

I'll ring the doctor tomorrow and see what the hospital suggested...

MoosMa, if it is PUPP, antihistamines and steroid tablets are safe to take and have some effect at relieving the itch. I hope you get it sorted. PS have already posted on here (anniediv) but now have new scary Halloween name, woooooooooo!

Doctor rang back this afternoon, the consultant at the hosp thinks it might be bacterial so has prescribed some antibiotic cream. Also I mentioned PUPP to him and he'd never heard of it but did say he'd look it up and see what he can find out. I told him that GPs often don't seem to have heard of it and he said "in that case I'll definitely read up on it and become one who does know about it!" Then he thanked me for looking it up and educating him!

Hi there

I had PUPP in my second pregnancy from about 14 weeks. It was absolutely dreadful, started on my trunk and spread up my body almost to my kneck. The constant itching was unbearable and I often found myself having cold showers at 2am. I found the following web site invaluable and taking flaxseed oil and dandelion root was the only thing that cured it. That and using lanacane powder for the itch.

If you scroll through the 2003 stories it will tell you the correct dosage of dandelion root/flaxseed to take - tastes disgusting but trust me IT WORKS. Mine cleared up pretty quickly afterwards and didn't come back.

I'm pretty sure neither your doctor nor your midwife will have heard of it - mine certainly didn't.

Good luck !

PUPP

Turns out the itchy skin was eczema caused by dh's shower gel and has cleared up with a few gallons of eumovate! As for the itchy bits, I've been given some antibiotic cream which I started last night so we'll see how it goes...