I'm currently 34wks 2 days preg with boy/girl twins. Months ago I developed a tiny patch of excema which the ob diagnosed and she prescribed a cream which worked pretty well. I'd never had it before and the ob says it's from the hormones. The rash has been spreading and spreading and now it's worst on my elbows but is also on my upper arms, buttocks, behind my knees and on my legs. The cream doesn't seem to help anymore. I can feel a low level itch the whole time which I try to ignore. At times, especially when I warm up and at night it becomes red and raised into lumps and is unbearably itchy. If I scratch, it becomes a lot worse. I've talked to the ob on the phone and she prescribed a safe anti-histamine to take at night which did help I guess and I had some blood tests testerday to check my liver and bile acids function. It takes a few days to get the results. I looked on the internet and scared myself with some of the possible dangers. Unlike me,the ob doesn't seem too worried though, she says she doubts it's cholestasis(which I read can cause stillbirth). I see the ob tomorrow. So I'm sorry to whinge, I'm tired and fed up with being itchy. I was wondering if others have experienced this or have any advice.
Thanks a lot,
Libby

You have my sympathies. I developed a all over rash on my belly which required steroid cream which was a god send. It stopped the itch straight away.

Yours sounds like an allergic reaction. Maybe you're allergic to the cream the Dr prescribed. Just a thought. Hope you're not itch soon.

Libby, I can totally sympathise with you. I had mild cholestasis and it was unbearable. I didn't have any visible rash or spots or anything just a constant itch that got worse at night. I had to sleep with virtually nothing on otherwise I just cooked, and itched, it drove me to tears, but all my blood results were within a normal acceptable range. The antihistamine worked for a short time, but I really didn't like taking them. although my ob assured me they were safe, I only took them when the itch was at it's worst.

Have you tried bathing in Pinetarsol or Ego bath oil, that is particularly good for rashes. The Pinetarsol smells but it does help. There is also a lotion that has menthol or something in it and that soothes and cools the skin. Hope that helps. It should all clear up once your babies are born, mine stopped immediately they arrived.

Double hugs from Sharyn
Mum to Meg14/4/99
Hannah & Josie 22/3/04 (33 wks)
DH David



k

OK-here's my official diagnosis for you! -puppps-puritic urticarial plaques and papules of pregnancy syndrome.-Totally harmless but will literally drive you mad as the itching gets worse.

Cholestasis is distinguishable in that you always have itchy palms and soles of the feet-with puppps you dont get this.

I had puppps from 32 weeks and by 36weeks I was unable to sleep due to the constant itching...eventually I went to a dermatologist (this is after having the steroid creme which was as good as useless by this stage)-he did a skin biopsy just to rule out another condition and I was prescribed prednisolone for 2 weeks (in reducing dose) and also phernegan-an antihistamine-more for its sedative properties than anti itch-phenergan on its own will not help with this itch.-the phenergan allowed me to have a couple of hours sleep. The prednisolone bought the itch back to a very manageable level-not totally gone but 100% to what it was.

What helped? I found putting face clothes in the freezer and popping them on my skin gave temporary relief....also lots of moisturisers/minimal clothes because as you say as soon as you heat up it gets worse-the best cure was having the boys because within days it was totally gone. Also cut your fingernails really short otherwise you will end up really scratched from any scratching in your sleep.

Take care-Ill see if I can find some helpful sites for you-I had a heap of them when I had it-

Ask your ob about this condition!

cheers


Caz Joel and Cam at 2 1/2years old-"we turn 3yrs in June"


If you just do a search on puppps you will get lots of info-here's one to look at
http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic351.htm

This message was edited by cmf on Sunday, 22 May 2005 @ 7:00 PM

OMG!! I remember this, I was so itchy it drove me crazy I would cry during the night because I was so itchy and couldn't sleep. I would have a cool shower in the middle of the night which would help for a little while but it nearly drove me around the bend. My gp prescribed a cortisone cream which didn't help but my Ob told me to take Clarityne which releived the itching and I was able to sleep again. I have never been so grateful to anyone as I was to her. Once I started taking it I only had to take it for a few days and the itching stopped.

Take care,
Mel

DD's Katherine & Rebecca
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You poor thing, I can so relate. I had the same condition it appeared at 35 weeks luckily no sooner as it drove me crazy. I used to sleep with an ice pack on my tummy. My OB induced my at the end of my 37th week due to this as there was no need to go further and it was driving me mad. Sorry I cant help more the plus side is that it basically stopped itching within one to two days of delivering my twins.

Take care

Ali

Thanks everyone for your replies. The itch is still driving me crazy. It's not on my tummy at all, but is spreading on my arms and legs. The ob thinks it's due to hormones and stress on my body. We need to rule out cholestasis, which is the only skin condition that can harm the babies and the mother( I think mother's kidneys or liver). I'd been waiting for that blood test result, apparently it takes a few days. Today the ob office rang to say the results were inconclusive, as I hadn't fasted. The ob seems to have forgotten that fasting is necessary, she didn't mention it, and I rang the blood collection place and the nurse said she couldn't find any info about fasting being necessary, I think because the blood needs to be tested at the Womens/Children's hospital. So, tonight I'm fasting for 12 hrs and having a new blood test tomorrow. I'm upset that we've wasted 4 days as I want to be able to rule out the dangerous condition.
I've tried aloe-vera, sorbolene and ice-packs and wet flannels. I'm still taking a phenergan tablet at night.
thanks for letting me complain,
Libby

I don't recall having to fast for the liver function test, and I had to have it a couple of times. My levels were up but not to a stage that anything had to be dones, only monitoring.

Hope you get some relief soon.+

Double hugs from Sharyn
Mum to Meg14/4/99
Hannah & Josie 22/3/04 (33 wks)
DH David



k

Just wondering how youre going???????

Hope alls well



Caz Joel and Cam at 2 1/2years old-"we turn 3yrs in June"

Oh wow I remember this, it was the worst I remember being reduced to tears at night. The only things that relieved it for me and even then not totally was having a shower, and my DF would put calmaline (sp?) loton on it for me, I think I had it from about 25 weeks but it eased at about 37 weeks. It was the worst on my legs and my bum. I hope it goes away soon Libby.

Vanessa

TTC #1 for 6 years
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I actually had my itching after my baby was born and also put it down to PUPP as no-one could help with a diagnosis. It absolutely drove me insane as you can imagine with a first baby and covered in an itchy rash that kept me awake - it was a nightmare. I totally sympathise with you and hope that it clears before you have your baby. Only solution I could find was our local Pharmacist mixed a cream for me that had a cooling effect and made the rash slightly less itchy. I also absolutely drank loads of water - not sure why I think I thought this would help to flush it out of my system!! Bathing in the Pinetarsol is also a great idea - calamine was of no assistance to me.

Good Luck, I hope it heals soon!

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Thanks for your replies everyone.
Last Wednesday, my ob referred me to a specialist in obstetric medicine. He looked at the rash for a few seconds and said, 'It's not cholistasis, but urticaria'. This basically means hives, an auto immune response, where my body is allergic to the babies' genetic material. It doesn't harm the babies, but is likely to hang around until after the birth.
I'm taking cortico-steroid tablets and creams which have helped a bit, but I think I have to put up with it. When I fall asleep, I'm just using a sheet even though it's very cold, and after about an hour, I wake up with my skin unbarably hot and itchy. When I'm half asleep, I scratch at my legs which brings up hundreds of hives. It's not too bad now during the day, it's mainly when I try to sleep that it causes me grief.
I know that every extra day until the birth is so important for the babies (I'm now 35+4 days), but sometimes due to the itching, I find myself wishing the birth will be soon. On the other hand, when labour begins, I know I'll feel terrified and not ready yet! :confuse:
I see the skin Dr again tomorrow and on Friday, I have a 36 wk scan which will be interesting. The presenting twin has been breech in each scan, but I feel as though she might have turned, which of course will impact the type of delivery.
Cheers,
Libby
DD 23 months

That's good news Libby! At least you haven't got long to go and knowing that your bubs aren't at risk must give you some peace of mind.

All the best for the last few weeks...here's hoping you get some relief from the itch!Ï

Double hugs from Sharyn
Mum to Meg14/4/99
Hannah & Josie 22/3/04 (33 wks)
DH David



k

Libby-hope the tablets work soon-they worked a treat for me.....didnt take it away totally but certainly eased the itch enough to make life much more bearable. Once you have your babies it can go away within hours to days. So glad to hear its not cholestasis

take care

Caz

Caz Joel and Cam at 2 1/2years old-"we turn 3yrs in June"

Libby - i am really happy that you now have some answers! The end is in sight, you are doing a great job and the end result will be magical....

Look very forward to hearing of your progress and cant wait to see pics of your precious son and daughter.



Haylie & Phillip
DSD ~ Ebony
Hayden Phillip ~ 21.3.2005
Brooklen Lily ~ 21.3.2005