could my itching be obstetric cholestasis

[motherpeculiar]

I'm almost 36 wks pg and I've been itching now for almost two weeks. I've tried antihistamines (on GPs advice) to no avail. I am smothered in calamine lotion but it's not helping much. I feel miserable and fed up. The itching is constant but wosre at night. My sleep patterns are severely disrupted and I am permanently tired. The itching is mostly on my legs, arms and back, although I experience it a little on my belly.

Midwife and GP both told me it was nothing to worry about (mw without even seeing me but over the phone). GP laughingly said "maybe you are allergic to the baby"

When I went to see a homeopath about it a week or more ago she didn't want to treat me in case it might be obstetric cholestasis but the mw and GP haven't taken this idea seriously.

I've just done some research on the condition and am now very nervous as I read it can cause stillbirth. I don't know what to do.

Has anyone any experience of this or advice?

I do have a rash, which I think isn't a symptom of this condition, although am not sure whether it has been caused by all the scratching I've been doing or vice versa.

Any help much appreciated.

MP

I had this with my first pg (dd) from about a week or so before she was induced until she was about 6 weeks old, drove me mad! No one knew what it was but OC was ruled out due to blood tests. I was even asked umpteen times "had I changed my washing powder" grrrrr stupid professionals are they thick????? Anti histamines didn't work at all, I used Calamine (can get it in a cream version, but have to ask, easier to apply)

This pg (36 weeks) I am looking out for it (having another dd) so far I have been slightly itching on my tummy and legs, but I am drinking loads of fluids in the hope of flushing out my system to see if that helps. And smothering my tummy in coco butter rich cream. I just hope it doesn't come on full scale like last time. Mine wasn't as bad as those pics below in the link, but it was almost everywhere!!

I can sympathise with you! It does appear to be quite common reading this thread, surprising that the doctors and midwives don't have more knowledge and understanding. At least (through this thread) I have found out the name of it, I will be more prepared this time!

i think it took 5-7 days to get my results. OC was ruled out, but in the week waiting for the results, i was monitored 3 times. and had a scan. i was having a fetal cardiac scan the following week anyway due to dh heart problems, and everything appeared fine then (small hole but nothing to worry about).

MP, I think you are getting your results tomorrow, no? Best of luck and I hope you manage to get this resolved once and for all now, will be thinking of you.....

thanks Orangina

going to see the consultant tomorrow- whether they'll actually have results or not is anyone's guess, but I'm ready to rant and rave if necessary

will let you know how I go...

best of luck mp.... i think kicking up a stink is a Good Thing when necessary! O

I haven't had chance to read everything, but I have just delivered a healthy baby girl after being diagnosed with OC at 37 weeks.

There are 2 tests. liver function which can be back within a day, and bile acids which can only be done at certain places, so they have to send the blood away. Mine went to Birmingham, and took 6 days to get results, but I really pushed for the results as I was already 37 weeks, and they phoned for them which got them back a couple of days sooner. The bile test is the important one, your other liver functions can be normal, when the bile is raised, so getting the bile one done is important.

As soon as I found out I had OC I did loads of internet searches etc, and they all said you must be induced at 37 weeks, and were quite scarey. I pushed the consultant to induce, because I was scared of a stillbirth, but the consultant talked me through the balance between needing to induce and inducing to early. If you go too early the induction doesn't work and you end up with an emergency ceasar. They did a ultrasound to see how well the baby was, whether it was the right size, and how the blood flow was in the placenta. The policy in that hospital was to induce at 38 or 39 weeks.

Please don't worry, push to make sure you can talk to the people that matter (we made sure we talked to the senior registrar, as the younger doctor admitted she knew nothing about OC)

Hope you have some results soon, good luck

first of all, big congrats Steppemum and thanks for sharing your experience. When did you deliver and were you actually induced in the end?

I went today to the consultants clinic and came out fairly annoyed tbh. I saw two doctors as one had to run off half way through the appointment - they had no results back (it is only 6 days since the bile acid was done) and when I pushed just kept saying it takes two weeks, it takes two weeks. They did the LFT again, but as you say Steppemum that is not the definitive test. I'm like you - I'm coming up to 37 weeks (on thurs) and am really worried about stillbirth. They offered me the chance to come in a couple of times next week to have the baby monitored but when I asked what good that would do they agreed it was just offered to reassure me.

ARGH!

Sounds like I need to get more stroppy with someone who is actually prepared to pick up the phone about my results. Otherwise I won't know for sure until next week some time.

OTOH my itching has lessened a bit I think so I am a little less worried, surely if it were OC it would be getting a lot worse now?

Although I don't think this excuses the lack of responsiveness of the hospital staff...

I am exhausted from this, I have to say,sorry for any rambling

Hi motherpeculiar, sorry to hear you haven't got any further with the test results. It may be worth pestering them every day then they might phone the lab for the results. Other than that, I don't really have any suggestions. Do you think the Diprosalic is doing any good?

I didn't have OC but I did have itching and they were worried slightly by my test results. I found dipping my feet in freezing cold water last thing at night helped to calm the itching for me - wierd but it worked for me - so good luck MP!

Hiya i didnt have oc either but did have pup they say the differnce is with oc is that the soles of your feet and the palms of your hands itch too and there tends not to be a rash. i was prescribed zertec antihystimines when i had pup at 37 weeks preg and it did help. Giid Luck in findin the answers you're after it is a complete nightmare people dont realise how bad it is to itch constantly.
love em xx

Oh MP, how incredibly frustrating for you! I wonder if there is any point in calling a set up like the Fetal Medicine Centre, and running through all of this with them... perhaps you can get the tests done privately and quickly, as well as speak to someone who might be a bit more in the know? When I get worried about the NHS, I'm afraid I hit the private sector, at least you can feel slightly more in control of things, if you see what I mean. The problem with your test results taking 2 weeks, is perhaps the hospital is at the mercy of the lab who DO actually take 2 weeks to process the info.... getting stroppy won't help in that case, it's so difficult to know. Really hope you can see someone soon who will put your mind at rest, one way or the other. My cousin's wife had OC, don't know much about her history, they live in Eire, she was eventually induced early and they have a fighting fit son now... might try and e-mail her for her story, will let you know.... GOOD LUCK! Ox

Oh MP I am so sorry you are having to fight for the proper treatment. I do know how difficult it is to do this - I had to with my dd (and pretty much failed). Could your dh go with you - or call them - he might be better at being firmer with them. Or I'll do it for you - I can pose as your worried sister or something

MP what hospital are you dealt with by?
I was in Hants at Frimley and I was given fabulous attention, tests were treated as urgent
You can actually contact the woman at Birmingham hang on I'll find it for you
Obstetric Cholestasis Support &
Information Line (Birmingham), 0121 353 0699.
I'll cat you her email
she was so helpful to me, she is based at imperial college who are undertaking research for Wellcome trust and action uk
xxx

thanks everyone

I've been out of it the last two days with a fever/throat infection so not around much. Lovely to see so many helpful messages here.

I'm being treated at Kings Hospital in London.

Thanks Piffle for the contact details for the woman in Birmingham - I'll give her a call tomorrow - is she actually linked to the lab where they do the bile acid test?

Prufrock - thanks for your offer too - I may well set DH on them, and then you if he isn't sucessful!

I am feeling lots more positive though. I do still have an itch but it isn't intolerable anymore and I think it should be getting worse now if it were OC. The diprosalic did make a difference I think, or maybe it was the remedy the homeopath gave me.

I am still eager to get the test results though, just to put my mind at rest completely.

Thanks again for all the support.

Jenny (the woman in Birmingham) is a midwife who lost 2 babies herself to OC (she now has 3 boys) and is commited to ensureing that medical ignorance doesn't mean anyone else has to go through the same trauma. She's doesn't work in the lab, but does work with the doctors doing the main research into OC (Catherine Williamson at Queen Charlottes and others in Birmingham, which was where the test was developed). She is lovely, and reassuring, and she helps you to kick ass

I spoke to Jenny - we discussed my AST results which she thinks are a bit on the high side. She has encouraged me to get the results of the last LFTs run on Tuesday but I haven't had any luck yet as there seems to be no-one at kings available to dredge them up yet. Will keep trying.

She was extremely helpful and I'm very grateful for her contact details.

Off to try bloody kings again...

Good luck, I thought I had this while I was pregnant, it turned out that I was allergic to being pregnant apparently!!!!!!! Hope the itching continues to get better

jenny sent me masses of info so that I could ask for the right tests too, Catherine Willimason was the name I gave to MP as well Pru, I had soem email exchanges with her, my point was to prove that I DID not have OC curiously as the hospital decided I had it and I knew I didn't
IYSWIM
I was fighting induction madly
curiously dd arrived on the day the induction had previously been planned for!
But she is great and she really lets you know what is what
Hope you get your results ASAP
MP
get well soon too xx

finally managed to speak to someone at kings and the great news is that my ASTs which Jenny thought were on the suspicious side based on my results last week have now dropped down to a nice normal level

Jenny said she'd send that info on to me too, so that'll make interesting reading

I'm hoping this is the end of it - although I won't really relax until the bile acid results are through I suppose

thanks again Piffle and Prufrock, and to everyone else for your good wishes too