ICP/OC/BILE ACIDS.

[CantCopeWithAdultStuff]

Since being around 34 weeks I've been itchy head to toes! Worst at night time but still bad during the day either. I had my liver function test and bile acids checked on friday and they have returned as my bile acid is 11. This has been passed as normal, and no further treatment or re-test needed. The Itching has got worst during the week and I've blistered my skin. Been to gps and midwifes since results and they've just told me to bathe, use oats and moisturiser.
I've googled it as you do and in some areas 11 is a diagnosis but in my area it needs to go above 14.
Has anyone been though this? I'm 37 weeks tomorrow, should/could I demand a blood test tomorrow to make sure it hasn't gone up?

My levels are high (ALT) and my bile levels were normal and I'm having blood tests twice a week until they know why is happening.. I'm 36+4 and they even sent me for an ultrasound on my liver yesterday to double check.

I went back to doctors today and he wont retest my blood and just give me antihistamines to help. 😔
Hope you get answers and get sorted! Wouldn't wish this itching on my worst enemy x

I denied the antihistamines as it doesn't get rid of the root problem... I told them I will not take them.
I will be induced early if the results don't simmer down by next Friday.. I would keep pushing .... my itchy hands and feet are over it !! X

www.icpsupport.org/
Have a look here and if you want advice they have a helpline.

I think a recent publication in the lancelet suggests that risks are low where bile acids are under 100 (I haven’t read the full paper). There’s also recent reports that urso doesn’t help (again I haven’t read the full report so may be wrong.... it’s worth checking).

Notwithstanding that, given how quickly bile acids can increase, I think given the symptoms they should be testing your blood regularly until your baby is safely here. Can you go speak to your midwife (they were more helpful than my consultant - I ended up with a new consultant), and were happy to do blood tests every other day with results on the same day (ignoring the consultant as they weren’t happy either). They also gave me antihistamines which don’t take away the itching but do knock you out for a few hours, and a cooling cream. Which again only helps a bit. It’s desperately horrid and exhausting , but it does disappear within a few days of giving birth.