*Please Read* Obstetric Cholestasis

[Barhanita]

With ICP/OC you usually don't get blisters...

 

[Guppy051708]

^i agree.

 

[HHenderson]

Had blood work done yesterday for this. I should have my results by Monday. Weird thing is I had the itching for two days and it stopped the 3rd day and never came back. Now I have the worst acid reflux and need to be on pepcid twice a day. Not sure if they can be related.

 

[summer2504]

My acid reflux has got 10 times worse over the past week and I've been diagnosed with ICP for around 2 weeks now. Can't find any evidence to suggest the two are linked but then again, so much is still unknown about ICP so it may well be linked. Very annoying though!

 

[HHenderson]

What about diarrhea? Is that possibly connected? I was itching again last night and it went away. I have a feeling my test will come back normal but the levels just keep going up and down. Grrr

 

[Barhanita]

I don't think diarrhea is a symptom either.

 

[HHenderson]

Good. I cut out dairy as my doctor said and I still have it. Ugh! I love dairy.

 

[Em4owen]

Have freaked myself out reading this thread and a bit worried that I might have OC. I'm currently 38+5. On Thursday last week, my bump and the inside of my lower arms started itching at night. They have been itching on and off ever since, mostly at night but during the day now as well. Throughout my pregnancy I have been suffering with very hot feet which keeps me awake but combined with the itching, I'm finding it harder and harder to sleep and am feeling increasingly tired. Last week, prior to the itching, I wasn't sleeping great but still felt okay. I had a MW appointment yesterday and mentioned the itching but she said as long as it's not continuous, you don't need to worry. Maybe it doesn't seem continuous to me as during the day, I keep myself busy. I'm so close to my due date, would it be worth having tests etc as by the time the results come back, surely baby may have been born? Not sure whether to ring up midwife and express my concerns again or not.

 

[HHenderson]

How long has it been going on!? I would call her and INSIST for blood work. I had to go to a blood place the same day and got my results within 3 business days! Its not like shes taking her time to do anything extra and its your baby! Better be safe than sorry.



-As for my mine was only two days (freakishly weird) but NEGATIVE

 

[summer2504]

I would def insist on the bloodwork.

There are a lot of ladies who did not deem their itching to be excessive and also not in the usual palms of hands soles of feet, whose levels were sky high and at your gestation, where induced straight away.
Always better to be safe than sorry especially with ICP/OC as there is still so much we dont know about it.

 

[Em4owen]

My bloods came back negative but itching has got worse. Dr prescribed me priotin to take at night and aqueous cream with menthol. She said that sometimes the itching occurs before the bile shows up in the blood work so will be going back on Friday to have my blood tested again. The itching has been going on for two weeks now and is spreading, but at least I have support to get to the bottom of it!

 

[Dime Cuando]

Just want to say thanks to this thread, I was made aware of cholestasis, self-diagnosed and went to the hospital where it was confirmed. I was induced the following day at 37+3 and have my beautiful little girl here at home with me now.

 

[MommyGrim]

I need opinions ladies....

I think I may have this...I started itching pretty severely on my stomach and breasts last week, and it was pretty bad. I figured it was just regular stretching as I'm having twins, so I blew it off but over the next few days it's spread to my arms, legs, hands and feet. Basically the only thing that doesn't itch horribly is my face. It's unbearable I can't sleep it itches so much and nothing helps! I've taken Benadryl to try and curb the itching but NOTHING! So yesterday I called my doctor, and the nurse seemed kind of panicked, told me to come in and be seen. I came in and was told that it was just regular pregnancy symptoms The lady just looked at me and said that if it was anything serious I would have lesions or sores, which I don't, and that I should call in again if I get them. I don't understand why the nurse sounded so panicked if it's nothing? I'm really concerned as the itching is still horrid but I'm not getting any sores so I don't know if it's serious or not I was looking up ways to help the itching and I came across Cholestasis and now I've scared myself silly. I've already gone to L&D/ER 4 times this pregnancy and wracked up an extra bill of $3000 that we don't have as I've had numerous problems but every time I go in they tell me it's nothing and to go home. We really can't afford for me to go in again to be told it's nothing I don't know what to do! Is this all in my head?

 

[Dime Cuando]

I need opinions ladies....

I think I may have this...I started itching pretty severely on my stomach and breasts last week, and it was pretty bad. I figured it was just regular stretching as I'm having twins, so I blew it off but over the next few days it's spread to my arms, legs, hands and feet. Basically the only thing that doesn't itch horribly is my face. It's unbearable I can't sleep it itches so much and nothing helps! I've taken Benadryl to try and curb the itching but NOTHING! So yesterday I called my doctor, and the nurse seemed kind of panicked, told me to come in and be seen. I came in and was told that it was just regular pregnancy symptoms The lady just looked at me and said that if it was anything serious I would have lesions or sores, which I don't, and that I should call in again if I get them. I don't understand why the nurse sounded so panicked if it's nothing? I'm really concerned as the itching is still horrid but I'm not getting any sores so I don't know if it's serious or not I was looking up ways to help the itching and I came across Cholestasis and now I've scared myself silly. I've already gone to L&D/ER 4 times this pregnancy and wracked up an extra bill of $3000 that we don't have as I've had numerous problems but every time I go in they tell me it's nothing and to go home. We really can't afford for me to go in again to be told it's nothing I don't know what to do! Is this all in my head?

Do you find the itching is worse at night?
Can you not insist on a blood test? I would ask for a blood test, mention cholestasis so that they check you for the right things. I thought I was being paranoid too but it turned out I was right, although I have to say my midwife sent me for tests straight away.
Try not to panick. People have this and never get a diagnosis and are perfectly ok.

 

[MommyGrim]

I need opinions ladies....

I think I may have this...I started itching pretty severely on my stomach and breasts last week, and it was pretty bad. I figured it was just regular stretching as I'm having twins, so I blew it off but over the next few days it's spread to my arms, legs, hands and feet. Basically the only thing that doesn't itch horribly is my face. It's unbearable I can't sleep it itches so much and nothing helps! I've taken Benadryl to try and curb the itching but NOTHING! So yesterday I called my doctor, and the nurse seemed kind of panicked, told me to come in and be seen. I came in and was told that it was just regular pregnancy symptoms The lady just looked at me and said that if it was anything serious I would have lesions or sores, which I don't, and that I should call in again if I get them. I don't understand why the nurse sounded so panicked if it's nothing? I'm really concerned as the itching is still horrid but I'm not getting any sores so I don't know if it's serious or not I was looking up ways to help the itching and I came across Cholestasis and now I've scared myself silly. I've already gone to L&D/ER 4 times this pregnancy and wracked up an extra bill of $3000 that we don't have as I've had numerous problems but every time I go in they tell me it's nothing and to go home. We really can't afford for me to go in again to be told it's nothing I don't know what to do! Is this all in my head?

Do you find the itching is worse at night?
Can you not insist on a blood test? I would ask for a blood test, mention cholestasis so that they check you for the right things. I thought I was being paranoid too but it turned out I was right, although I have to say my midwife sent me for tests straight away.
Try not to panick. People have this and never get a diagnosis and are perfectly ok.

Actually brought up cholestasis and she knew exactly what I was talking about, said that that's only present if there are sore or lesions on my skin so there's not need to test I asked a few times and she insisted that there was nothing and the test would be useless essentially

And yea, the itching gets worse at night, I've had more issues falling asleep and staying asleep since this whole thing started...

 

[pixie23]

I did not have lesions, but I had cholestasis. Your symptoms sound exactly how mine were. It's much more common in a twin pregnancy than a singleton pregnancy.

 

[Barhanita]

MommyGrim, your doctor is WRONG. No sore for me (or for anyone with cholestasis). The reason for itching is the bile acids deposited in your skin, they are invisible. The only marks you might have are from scratching. Please try to see a different doctor.

 

[Dime Cuando]

As the pp has stated, cholestasis does not cause a rash or lesions!! Please insist they do as you ask and give you a blood test or ask to be refered to someone else immediately if they won't give you the attention you need.

 

[simplyamazed]

Just been for blood tests for this today. Had 24 hours of itchy palms and feet, worse at night. Getting results tomorrow lunchtime. At the hospital they told me if results are positive I will meet with consultant and they will book at date for induction - I'm 38 weeks and 5 days.

I didn't go via my midwife I rang the hospital's antenatal unit direct to ask for the tests having read about the condition on here and on the nhs website.

 

[MommyGrim]

I am actually currently looking at different doctors as I'm sick of them brushing me off and this is the last straw
One last question before I call up L&D and head in, is it possible that with cholestasis that you have worse days than others? I itch like mad every day, but some days are FAR worse than others.