Piles and eczema in early pregnancy. Am utterly miserable, can anyone advise? *title edited by MNHQ at OP's request*

[chylerv]

I’m 5+4 with horrendous piles from my first pregnancy that cause untold discomfort and pain . Can’t sleep. Haven’t slept for months. Because my body clearly hates me I have also been diagnosed with eczema on my lady bits and bum. All in all, I’m pretty miserable.

Doctor has prescribed 1% hydrocortisone ointment for the eczema and Scheriproct for the piles and said use if needed.

I am desperate for relief but the packaging all has the usual ‘don’t take while pregnant’ warnings and I read online Scheriproct should be avoided in first trimester (no clue how medically authoritative that claim was... it was 2am and I can’t even remember where I saw it).

Anyone taken these meds in the first trimester or have any other miracle cures for intense itching downstairs that keeps you awake all night?! I was on Clobetasol until the BFP but was told to stop.

Bumping after title change!

Hey OP. I used Spheriproct but not until the second trimester I'm afraid. 😕 I had no issues though and it improved matters.

Glad it improved things for you!

Hi OP, sorry you’re having a miserable time.

With the disclaimer that I don’t know if it’s pregnancy safe, I’ve found soaking cotton wool in witch hazel gives me relief from piles when over the counter cream/suppositories did nothing.

Oatmeal baths have also helped soothed DC’s eczema in the past.

Sorry, I know when you’re feeling grotty people suggesting non medical solutions can be more annoying than no help at all, but wanted to mention just in case.

@GibbertyFlibbet Thanks! I will definitely have a look at witch hazel use in pregancy. Oatmeal baths are a good call too. The doctor advised me to just use plain luke warm water but I don’t find it soothes or helps in the slightest

OP I was prescribed scheriproct for my awful piles but it was third trimester. It does really help though. I’d maybe get a second opinion from another GP/pharmacist about use in first trimester? Also what worked for me is hot/cold treatment so alternate ice packs on them with warm bath - they got much much smaller very quickly. You have my sympathies, they’re awful, and caused me more pain post delivery than my second degree tear!!

Re the eczema I have no experience myself but the hydrocortisone cream does clear up the baby’s bad patches in days.

Good luck x

@Cloud1220 I think you’re right, I might pop to pharmacy later and ask. Can’t hurt! An ice pack is a good idea! I’ve just been using warm but maybe it’s time for cold too. They’re awful aren’t they? I’m dreading the next months if they’re this awful so early on!

Glad the HC works for your baby. Eczema can be so horrible.

Hi

Lifelong eczema suffer (not on my lady bits) but other equally annoying areas. I would really recommend childs farm products or aveeno for washing they dont irritate and are kind to skin. My gp actually prescribes aveeno so it must have some medical benefits.

Ive been using strong steroid creams for my eczema since first trimester, however i was on them before pregnancy so not sure if that makes a difference.

@Hrcg87 I’ve never thought to use Child’s Farm, Ill give it a go. I can usually manage just about okay during the day by piling on an emollient I was prescribed but night is awful as the itching is so intense.

I was on quite strong steroid creams for a few months while ttc that made a slight difference but definitely didn’t cure it.

Hope your eczema is doing okay now 🤞🏻

@chylerv my eczema definitely was worse in the first trimester but is a lot better now the hormones have settled down (currently 33 weeks).

The other thing you could try if ok with your GP would be an antihistamine to help with the itching.

Have you tried Cotton or wicking underwear to keep the skin moisture free ?

@Hrcg87 I wear 100pc cotton underwear but to be honest usually it’s soaking wet with the amount of emollient I slap on all day long (thank goodness for working from home right now). Also just ordered some bamboo undies to see if they work. I’ve never heard of wicking so I’ll have to look it up.

The GP said antihistamines were fine ‘as a last resort’ which didn’t fill me with confidence. She kept mentioning risk/benefit for everything but hard sometimes when you don’t really know the extent of the risk!

So glad your eczema has calmed down. That’s reassuring too there is a light at the end of the tunnel for me!

I randomly developed a severe ezcema outbreak at 33 having never ever had it before. It hurt and drove me crazy. I didn't get anything from the GP as all they could offer was a steroid based cream (which although it may help short term, over the longer term can damage your skin barrier, which with ezcema you really dont want to do!).

The only things that helped me was copious amounts of:

• borage oil (this has the highest % of GLA which is apparently the thing lacking in ezcema prone skin). It really helped the itchiness!
• e45 shower/bath oil every time I washed
• e45 cream throughout the day
• a good barrier (occlusive) product to seal it all in. I used a cerave nappy rash ointment!

Good luck!

@curiouscat1987 thanks for the tips! I’ll have to dig out some nappy ointment