Itching - How often did you get tested for cholestasis (OC/ICP)?

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I am currently 28+2 weeks and started itching last week. It’s not severe and it doesn’t keep me up at night, but it’s noticeable enough. I went to the emergency unit and they immediately ran all the tests for OC which at the moment are showing reassuring results. However, having read quite a lot on the condition since the tests, I understand that if the itching continues I should get retested as the blood tests could take a while to show increased bile acids after the itching starts. Now my question is, if you were in a similar situation, how often did you get tested? I have my midwife appt on Tuesday and am still waiting for the call from the consultant re my test results and I want to be able to advocate for myself. Thanks, and hopefully it’s just random itching..

My experience of having cholestasis was that it appeared and within two days was so severe I couldn't sleep. This was later in my pregnancy I think 37 or 38 weeks. In my case, it was the palms of my hands and soles of my feet so not just a bit of itching from skin stretching on my stomach. I can't give you any advice other than I knew something was wrong so went to get tested. Follow your instinct on this especially if it continues to get worse. It was taken quite seriously by my midwife and hospital so I doubt they would deny you further tests.

I believe they won’t want to test too soon from the last bloods but the evidence doesn’t give a definitive timeline for repeating bloods if the itching continues. You can ask about coping measures for the itching in the mean time while you wait the week or whatever from the last lot of bloods, this can be topical creams etc.

Is the itching all over or specifically hands and feet? I think I’d be asking about repeating the bloods and when, given the itching has persisted, but the guidance is patchy as it just says ‘when clinically indicated’ so you may not get a straight answer.

Thanks both! Itching is not just on hands and feet for me, but a bit all over, very random (no rush). @Istheworldmadorisitme unfortunately it seems that the severity of itching is not related to having the condition nor to the severity of it. You could have very mild itching but very alarming bile acid levels, and viceversa.

@OrangeSlices998 thanks, that makes sense. I’ll ask the midwife to make sure they are repeated but will let her judge when they need to be repeated. Luckily I’m still quite early in my third trimester so hopefully whatever it is it can be caught in time.

I was tested weekly and put under consultant care. It took a while to show in my blood's if I remember rightly, they were slightly elevated then a bit more before fully showing. It was my first pregnancy and thankfully didn't occur with the others it's awful.

So sorry to hear that @MrsPerfect12 ! Do you remember when you started itching and when you were diagnosed? Glad to hear they took it so seriously from day 1, I’ve read some horror stories of people whose concerns were brushed off time and time again. Thankfully that wasn’t your case and I hope it won’t be mine either.