*Please Read* Obstetric Cholestasis

[rwhite]

Hi Ladies, well i'm back after a very long and tiring day.

Went to Kettering for my growth scan with my DH this morning. It was lovely seeing our little girl again. We did ask for the sex to be confirmed one more time, just to be on the safe side, so I think its safe to say we're still on team pink, as this is the fourth time we've been told its a girl now. All her measurements were perfect and her estimated weight at the moment is 5lb 5oz. (How do they do that?? Technology nowdays!)

I had to go and have more bloods done which was a bit scary. They wanted me tested for so many things that I would've had to have 10 tubes taken. But after the nurse asked someone in haematology, it turned out I could just have 3 tubes taken and they could be split up when being tested... so that was a weight off my shoulders. I already had 5 tubes taken on friday! So that was over fairly quickly and was virtually painless.

Then we went to Asda and got some food shopping and I bought Mother and Baby magazine to read at my next appointment. Came home for a bit and I tried to eat some lunch (Plum Tomato and Basil soup) but it gave me indegestion so I only managed a few mouthfuls. Then I fell asleep on the sofa for an hour.

Then we picked up DS early from school and went all the way back to Kettering for my CTG at the fetal health unit. They got my blood test results back and found that my bile acid count is very high, so I definately do have Obstetric Choleostsis.

They've put me on ursodeoxycholic acid tablets that I have to take twice a day which should help with the itching and gave me some more vitamin K tablets which should last me until the end of the pregnancy. Then I have to go back on Friday for another CTG and again on Tuesday for more blood tests, a doppler scan and another CTG. I will have to have a scan every 2 weeks, bloods every week and a CTG twice a week. And then I will be induced at 38 weeks - which works out on MY birthday!!! Not sure whether I should make them change the date if they say it'll be this date, or actually give birth on my birthday.

From there I went to the car where I waited with DS while my DH went to the pharmacy to collect my prescription. My chest had felt like it was on fire since I was having my CTG and I knew I needed to get some milk fast...or I would be sick (its the only thing that helps my acid indigestion); but all I had was orange squash which made it worse. I opened the window to try and get some air but it didn't work and..... whoosh... all out the car window! Sorry! TMI! It was horrible. I tried drinking a bit more orange when I thought it was all up, but then I got a massive cough and loads of this thick stringy acid bile stuff came up. It was so scary. Has anyone else had this? Do you think its anything to do with the choleostasis? I will have to ask on friday. It was awful though. I've never had it like that before. I know the bile salts leak into your blood... but surely not your chest?


I've worked out i'm going to work the rest of this week and next week and then thats it. I can't believe its all happening so quickly! I'm going to be a mummy again very soon! I can't wait to hold her in my arms and cuddle her! I just hope she's OK.

I'm glad you've finally got some results back hun! And pleased that you're being medicated...I don't think I personally could've stood the itching for much longer, isn't it terrible?

Just thought I would pop let you know - the midwife received my blood results - bile salts were off the chart and liver function was abnormal so yup, I did have OC! Luckily little man was persuaded to come when he did...

I hope all goes well for you - maybe you could ask that your induction be moved forward a little so that your little girl isn't possibly born on your birthday. I'm sure they would understand Sounds like she's a good weight already which is good She'll be a nice 7lb at least by 38 weeks I'd imagine.

All the best for your labour and can't wait to read your birth announcement!

You will indeed be cuddling your daughter soon! I've got my little boy fast asleep and snoring in my arms at the moment, it's lovely

xx

 

[shortcake]

Hi, I have not gone through all the pages on this post...but I just wanted to say that I was diagnosed with OC at 26 weeks, went to see my GP about the itching at 23 weeks and I was told that it was too early to have OC and to keep and eye on it...Not happy with this I mentioned it to my midwife, she took some blood and the results came back as raised bile acids...so spent 5 days in hospital for them to do other tests, had a liver scan to rule any thing else out.I was diagnosed with it in the end, so they started me on URSO acid and Vit K..I have been taking it for a month now and can actually say the itching is none exsistant!

But symptons to look out for is really bad itching on arms/ legs / chest area, palms of hands and feet...mine was that bad I had to use cold towels to cool them down.

Itchi-ness worse in the evening, not being able to sleep due to the itcht ness.

Other symptoms include;
- vomiting
- diorreah
- jaundice

I am now closey monitored by weekly blood tests, more growth scans for the baby.

 

[Pixie81]

Hi, I have not gone through all the pages on this post...but I just wanted to say that I was diagnosed with OC at 26 weeks, went to see my GP about the itching at 23 weeks and I was told that it was too early to have OC and to keep and eye on it...Not happy with this I mentioned it to my midwife, she took some blood and the results came back as raised bile acids...so spent 5 days in hospital for them to do other tests, had a liver scan to rule any thing else out.I was diagnosed with it in the end, so they started me on URSO acid and Vit K..I have been taking it for a month now and can actually say the itching is none exsistant!

But symptons to look out for is really bad itching on arms/ legs / chest area, palms of hands and feet...mine was that bad I had to use cold towels to cool them down.

Itchi-ness worse in the evening, not being able to sleep due to the itcht ness.

Other symptoms include;
- vomiting
- diorreah
- jaundice

I am now closey monitored by weekly blood tests, more growth scans for the baby.

I'm glad you managed to get this sorted out earlier on in your pregnancy and wasn't left to wait. I was also prescribed vitamin K which made me a bit sick at the beginning but is fine now. I'm also on the URSO tablets but kept forgetting to take them at the beginning. Then when I did take them the itching became more and more unbearable to a point where I have now stopped taking them. The itching was also worse for me at night, particuarlarly my hands, soles of feet, chest, ankles and legs. My husband covered me in calamine lotion which helped for a little while, but then i'd wake up in the middle of the night scratching like mad. I was in tears one night as my feet just wouldn't stop itching. I was so tired and frustrated and couldn't get any sleep!

I have been lucky enough to not be sick this past week (touch wood!), but the vomitting was particuarly bad when I was first diagnosed.

I am seeing my consultant on Friday 16th when I will be 37+6 weeks and he will then decide when I can be induced. Hopefully it'll be early the following week when i'll be 38 weeks.

 

[mummy2be2010]

i went to see the consultant last week and my liver bloods have come back down, but my bile acids have still not come back, my consultant still wnts my bloods to be tacken and i am seeing my consultant again tomorrow not to sure why though but kinda glad im going to see her as im getting pains and that, also to no what my bile acids come back as, hopefull they are fine,

iv been fillin so tired over the last cuple of days, i mean i go to bed at about 10 am asleep with-in 10 mins and wake up ruffly about alf 8 and but 9 im absolutly draind, iv been get tightnings with pains but not sure weather its just baby pushing out, but iv got quite a bit of pressure down at the bottom of my bump and got a few sharp pains down there to, (sorry for TMI - yeasterdat it seemed every time i went to the toilet i was pooing, now today im got pressure in my lower back like i need to go to the toilet, i move a bit and it easyes off or i go to the toilet and i dont need one, im peeing for england even if i havent had a drink for a bit i dont just go for a little trikle its like it gushes out and fill like im peeing for ever, the other day im not sure weather i had a show i had a bit of a greeny/whity discharge (sorry TMI) and iv had no more, also my right rib is absolutly killing and on the top of my bump its like tingley/ pins and needles senstation very anoying, sorry im 18 and first time mum not sure what to expect and whats right an not right
x

 

[Pixie81]

i went to see the consultant last week and my liver bloods have come back down, but my bile acids have still not come back, my consultant still wnts my bloods to be tacken and i am seeing my consultant again tomorrow not to sure why though but kinda glad im going to see her as im getting pains and that, also to no what my bile acids come back as, hopefull they are fine,

iv been fillin so tired over the last cuple of days, i mean i go to bed at about 10 am asleep with-in 10 mins and wake up ruffly about alf 8 and but 9 im absolutly draind, iv been get tightnings with pains but not sure weather its just baby pushing out, but iv got quite a bit of pressure down at the bottom of my bump and got a few sharp pains down there to,I have been getting these pains too hun (sorry for TMI - yeasterdat it seemed every time i went to the toilet i was pooing, This usually happens as your body prepares itself for labour now today im got pressure in my lower back like i need to go to the toilet, i move a bit and it easyes off or i go to the toilet and i dont need one, This is how my labour started with my first im peeing for england even if i havent had a drink for a bit i dont just go for a little trikle its like it gushes out and fill like im peeing for ever, the other day im not sure weather i had a show i had a bit of a greeny/whity discharge (sorry TMI) and iv had no more, also my right rib is absolutly killing and on the top of my bump its like tingley/ pins and needles senstation very anoying, sorry im 18 and first time mum not sure what to expect and whats right an not right
x

Hun, I'm no expert, but some of the symptoms you're describing sound like labour pains. I would mention them all to your consultant tomorrow and see what she says. Good luck xxx

 

[mummy2be2010]

thank you for teh advice, i was going to go today but im sick of my adu unit just saying it part off pregnancy, but will mention them tomorrow, im getting quite uncombfy, hope its the start of something
xx

 

[poppykat]

Hi again, just got a question if anyone can answer it for me I would really appreciate it.

I got diagnosed with OC last Monday and my bile acid was 52. I had another test on Friday and the hospital have just called to say they have risen to 58. I am going into to be monitored tomorrow so I will ask some questions then but what does this mean? What would happen if they can't reduce my bile acid level?? I am taking 2x150mg of Urso twice a day (so 600mg in total) which i started taking last Tuesday so surely it would have started doing something to lower the levels 4 days later?

Thank you in advance for any answers

 

[Jchihuahua]

Hi again, just got a question if anyone can answer it for me I would really appreciate it.

I got diagnosed with OC last Monday and my bile acid was 52. I had another test on Friday and the hospital have just called to say they have risen to 58. I am going into to be monitored tomorrow so I will ask some questions then but what does this mean? What would happen if they can't reduce my bile acid level?? I am taking 2x150mg of Urso twice a day (so 600mg in total) which i started taking last Tuesday so surely it would have started doing something to lower the levels 4 days later?

Thank you in advance for any answers

My bile acids were 80 the first time I was tested and they started me on the urso. I had blood tests redone about 3 days later and they'd gone up to 138. They did then start to slowly fall though. Maybe it takes a few days for the urso to take effect and the bile acids to begin to go down. They just very closely monitored me all the time until the induction.

 

[Pixie81]

My bile acids were 58 the first time... then they went down to 38. Having another blood test tomorrow to see if they've changed again.

I gave up on the URSOFALK tablets last week as they made my itching unbearable. I didn't realise they were to decrease your bile acids too??? My doctor told me they would just help with the itching. On the booklet I was given about OC when I was first diagnosed it said that URSO have not been tested enough to prove that they can make a significant difference to OC sufferers. I will ask tomorrow if I really NEED to take them as I can't stand the side effects.

 

[Jchihuahua]

I was given piraton for the itching and also the ursodeoxycholic acid. Its a naturally occurring bile acid and is used as a medication to improve the function of the liver and help to reduce the bile acid level in the bloodstream. This may then ease symptoms. You're right that some studies have disputed its effectiveness but it certainly seemed to work for me in reducing my bile acids. According to OC support UK a recent study showed that women with OC who have high bile acids (greater than 40 micromol/L) commonly respond to urso.

PS. Did you get my long PM about the induction Pixie? x

 

[lauzliddle]

Hi all well i would like to say hi to all the suffers out there i have just been diagnosed today i am a second time sufferer i was diagnosed at 32+4 with my son and now today at 33 weeks. The itching is driving me crazy thankfully they have give me piriton, i wont be starting the URSO and vit k until at least thursday when i will go to anti natal to have a scan.

Laura X

 

[shortcake]

Can anyone share their experiences of the birth, being induced and what to expect.

From what I have read up so far, being induced at 37-38 weeks is very painful, I have also been told by my midwife to expect an epidural..and poss a C section...Is this the case in OC cases?

 

[Jchihuahua]

I sent a pm about this to Pixie to say what my induction was like due to oc so I'll cut and paste it for you:


I went into the ante natal ward on the day I turned 38 weeks because of the OC. I was strapped to the monitors a lot of the time to monitor my contractions and baby's heart so take LOADS of books, mags, crosswords, ipod etc. I can't stress that enough. I was SO bored, especially at nights when hubby had to go home. I'd also say take loads of money!! I spent a fortune in the hospital Costa coffee shop trying to pass the time!

They induced me using a propess pesssary which wasn't pleasant but was uncomfortable rather than painful. It kind of looked like a small tampon with a string on for them to remove it when it had done its job. It felt ok when it was in but I was very aware of it all the time and I had to be careful wiping when I'd been to the loo. It started me off having mild contractions. My cervix was closed and long due to being induced early and the purpose of the propess was to open the cervix ready for them to break my waters and start labour.

I had to wait 24 hours to see if my contractions began and if they didn't I would have prostin gel inserted. The monitors picked up that I was contracting. Another 24 hours later I was still having regular tightenings but my cervix had still not dilated. I was contracting too much naturally to have the gel though so it was just a waiting game.

The following day they checked again to see if they could give me the gel yet but I was still contracting too much, but still not dilated either. It was so, so frustrating.

Eventually they decided that I was 2cm dilated which was enough to have my waters broken so they moved me to the delivery suite and broke my waters and put me on a hormone drip to stimulate my contractions. The hormone drip causes the contractions to be pretty intense so I had an epidural. Baby was born 16 hours later, forceps delivery .

Feel free to pm me Shortcake if you need any other info .

 

[lauzliddle]

Can anyone share their experiences of the birth, being induced and what to expect.

From what I have read up so far, being induced at 37-38 weeks is very painful, I have also been told by my midwife to expect an epidural..and poss a C section...Is this the case in OC cases?

I was induced with my first and from the moment i went into hospital and got the gel on to soften the cervix to the moment he was born was 45 hours, however its different in each person and even in each pregnancy as a girl on her was induced yesterday due to OC and she had a 2 hour labour.

I didnt have an epi nor did i need it and i give birth naturally, i dont know why MW say things like that its only going to scare you they should know better.

Laura

 

[popp]

i had my 28 week check on friday i have been itching really bad since about 17 weeks it was mainly me legs i have itched that much they are scared now with bleeding and not been able to heel. Now its on my tummy and my arms i cant sleep at night with my legs she took bloods and said she was checking for oc but they would ring me if can back not normal i cant help but worry and keep getting mad with my little boy and mum coz im so tired with this,
What could it be if not oc?

 

[shortcake]

Thank you Lauzliddle and Jchihuahua, for passing those on. I am now 32 weeks, the URSO is taking affect and I have not had an itching episode for almost 5 weeks, which has made such a massive difference to the my whole pregnancy, I am enjoying it and taking each week at a time. My next hospital appointment is this week.....

POPP, try not to worry about 'what if its not OC'......When I had my first blood test for OC (at 26wks) I had prepared myself for having OC...I was itching like mad on soles of feet and palms of hands, as I thought that would be the worse. My itching started at about week 20 so that according to OC was really early and DRs didint think to test me for it then.
You should hear soon if your Liver Function Tests are high (LFT). If you dont hear anything, that could be a good sign, but if you are worried ring the GP for the result.
Good luck.

 

[xOMichaelaOx]

Wow i have just read all 22 pages about what everyone has to say about OC and it has been very helpful, im 17 and 27 weeks pregnant tomorrow and have been extremely itchy for about two weeks especially on my feet and hands and legs, even on my scalp. i went to the hospital 4 days ago as i searched on google about being itchy and saw that i had the itching in all the places for OC so rung the hospital midwife and they told me to go straight up. they have taken my blood and said that i most likely have OC but i have to wait a week for the results. i see my midwife today and i guess will find out more information. i felt really alone and because no one i know has ever heard of this i feel like im the only one thats worried. but now that iv read this post i feel a lot better as i know im not the only one. thank you soo much for this thread xx.

 

[Elski]

Can anyone share their experiences of the birth, being induced and what to expect.

From what I have read up so far, being induced at 37-38 weeks is very painful, I have also been told by my midwife to expect an epidural..and poss a C section...Is this the case in OC cases?

What your midwife has told you is certainly a possibility but by no means a definite. Inductions can be more intense/painful but this is not always the case and I've seen many women induced who have gone on to have natural births (I used to be a midwife). Keep an open mind and go with the flow, make a birth plan and encourage everyone who's there with you to support you to stick to it as much as possible. I had OC and an induction and yes it was painful, but labour generally is , it was manageable though and didn't end up a c-section. Good luck and try to ignore unhelpful prophecies of doom like the one your midwife made!

 

[dt1234565]

Hello all. Just wanted a little advice. Last week i had been getting itchy hands and feet and had a blood test. Bloods were apparently normal but alk phos was 438 which is high i think but no one said anything about it. I was awake a lot last night with itchy boobs feet and hands and my scalp has been a bit itchy too. The itching isnt too intense but its there. What do you think i should do? As tests came back normal is it just pregnancy?

 

[Jchihuahua]

Do you know if they tested your bile acid levels hun? Elevated bile acids were what clinched my diagnosis.