itching/unwell ... obstetric cholestasis or what?

[hamncheese]

35 weeks here. Two weeks ago I developed a random all body itch within like half an hour. It was really infuriating and stressful couldn't sleep etc. Next morning it was still there so called maternity assessment and went in. Felt fine in every other way. Was monitored and got bloods done. Initial bloods came back ok and I was sent home, told me the bile results would take a few days and I could take piriton for the unexplained itch.

Since then I've had the itch on and off, get it most days at certain times, often inside. Was worried I was allergic to something in the house but it's not all the time in the house so considering now it may be related to being too warm? Anyway no-one bothered to contact me about the bile results so I assume all is well there.

However I've still been itching and noticed my feet and legs are now quite itchy. Don't want to jump to conclusions as I knew itchy feet was part of the OC deal so could just be me noticing feet itching more as I know about it. However over the last week I've lost my appetite (used to wake up like BREAKFAST YAY! but now don't want much) Also over last few days I've been feeling sick too, often after eating or drinking anything, even just water. Also everytime I go to the toilet I get cramps like it will be diarrhoea but then it isn't loose but it is a bit pale coloured. Pee colour looks normal though.

Basically reading some threads noticed that some say the symptoms precede test results that say it is OC, so early tests may be ok. Do you think I need checked out again? They did say come back if anything gets worse but I don't want to go and all that if it's just generally feeling sick at this stage of pregnancy. Got MW on wednesday which I was holding off for but been feeling sick since Friday. Can't call MW as it is a clinic only on certain days so it's maternity assessment or wait til wed.

Any advice? Anyone with OC told it wasn't at first but then it was? Or did you have all these things and then turns out it was just the general crappiness of pregnancy?

Thanks :)

Give them a ring explain the itching has got worse and ask them to check the blood test results. I had OC all the time but they failed to let me know!!

Seriously??! Ugh. Will be calling tomorrow. Why do they even bother to test you if they are just going to not bother about the results :(

I had oc on ds1. They need to take blood regularly after symptoms start to see what's happening. When I finally got a diagnosis the week I was due I was admitted and induced on my due date.

I totally sympathise, the itch is horrendous I frequently made myself bleed scratching in my sleep.

Good news is I didn't get it with ds2 so don't let it put you off having anymore if you originally wanted to.

I had OC - my levels were borderline on the Monday and when I was retested on the Thursday had doubled and continued to rise very fast until I was induced.

My sister was initially told she didn't have it, but like you, the itching was getting worse so she went back in and lo-and-behold got a positive diagnosis.

So my advice would be to go back in and ask them to re-test.

...And in the meantime put some flannels in the freezer- they soothe the itching somewhat. I heartily sympathise though, it's so horrible!

I know Hamncheese. I got tested on the Monday and they said if I heard nothing by Wednesday I did NOT have OC. On the Sunday I went in because baby wasn't moving (of course it did as soon as they switched on the monitor) and itching was awful and asked for the tests to be done again - lovely midwife on duty checked my results from the Monday and came back fuming because I had OC and no one had thought to call me back in. The hospital pharmacy was shut but she somehow managed to beg, steal or borrow enough medication to get me through to the next day when it opened again

That's insane. I'm going to call first thing tomorrow. Didn't want to be going at night... really itchy especially my toes! Did you feel ill too? I feel sick and tired recently as well.

Oh forgot to add thanks for responses really appreciated :)

Ham I did feel ill - constantly exhausted and nauseous but they found I was anaemic and I improved massively after a few days on iron tablets. your symptoms do sound like OC to be honest so I would get rechecked (currently have itchy feet and hands and legs and arms and well most bits really)

Don't let them fob you off. I found out today I have oc & will be induced at 37 weeks. It's terrible they didn't tell you. Luckily my hospt were brilliant & kept me in until blood results were back.

Sounds like oc - my dsil was diagnosed with it last friday at 34 weeks and had her baby today.

She had all the symptoms you describe. She felt sick, exhausted, lost her appetite and had awful itching, worse at night, on arms, legs and feet.

I would get an appointment with someone tomorrow. The blood levels can rise so quickly and there can be a tiny risk to both you and the baby if left untreated. Don't mean to scare you but it can become pretty serious, and I'd hate for you to feel like you are bothering gp/mw etc without good reason.

Good luck and let us know how you get on :)

Was in maternity assessment all day yesterday. When I was in last time they told me if I heard nothing then the bile results were fine. When I went in yesterday they then were like "oh, the bile results from last time never came back". So basically still no bile results. Yesterday baby was fine on monitor and the liver function and iron tests were ok. So will be calling about the bile one in a week to hear that they actually have results this time. They don't seem to think it is OC based on liver test. It's making me think, am I just making all this up? If it isn't then why am I so itchy and feel crap? Will see what happens I guess, thanks for the advice everyone :)

Your symptoms sound very like mine - I had OC in both pregnancies. Insist on getting the bile acid results.
Have you seen the OC Support website? There is a facebook page and a helpline:
www.ocsupport.org/
www.facebook.com/groups/5606765039/