Itching itching

[mannah]

Anyone else having a terrible time with itching? I'm 17 weeks 4 days and it's my boobs, chest, upper pubic area, and my back. It's so bad! I drink tons if water, I totally lube up with Mamma Mio anti stretch mark oil after each shower and I put on lubriderm on top of that. It's usually towards the evening that the itching gets bad but I can't take it! Last night I couldn't sleep because of it and the more I scratched the worse it got. Any miracle cures or commiserators out there? Thanks in advance

[Stingyshark]

Don't scratch! I'm a total freak about lotion anyways, but I put lotion on after every shower, and sometimes in between showers.. I was taking 2-3 showers a day 

[smock]

I'm super itchy too! I also keep forgetting to put on lotion because apparently I'm a dummy. But not scratching definitely helps.

[VillainV]

No, but I take Zantac for heartburn, and one of the side-effects is that it reduces itchiness. I guess it has to do with it blocking histamine reception? Talk to your OB about the itchiness, and they can probably prescribe you something. Or if you get really bad heartburn like I do, you can try Zantac for that (it's safe during pregnancy), and see if that helps with the itchiness too.

[jene]

Don't scratch! I really like L'Occitane body butter.

[statlerwaldorf]

I've had good results from Eucerin. Make sure to get the one in the tub and not the lotion. I've tried a bunch of different lotions, but that has been the only one that has helped.

[andthentherewere10]

I'm super itchy. Everything is dry since being PG. I've had so many nosebleeds. I'm always thirsty.

[magdala]

I am using a saline spray to irrigate the nose and limit nosebleeds and a humidifier at night to help with the itching. I still pour lotion on every morning and evening but the humidifier helps.

[kdrake8]

Paging eav2c so she can talk to you about ICP and make sure it's not that!

[eav2c]

Hi! I would call your doctor and talk to them. Itching can be a cause for concern but most people don't recognize it and doctors very rarely diagnose it properly (mostly because it's a very rare complication affecting less than 1% of all pregnancies so information on it is limited). With both my pregnancies I have been diagnosed with Intrahepatic Cholestatsis (spelling?)of Pregnancy. It's basically where you itch like a crazy person because the bile isn't being processed through your liver. I was diagnosed with my first pregnancy at 32 weeks and with my second at 25 weeks but the itching started at 12w this go around. It requires at delivery by 37w. 17w IS early but not unheard of. I would request a bile acid test (if your OB isn't knowledgable on ICP, as many aren't, they might not know about this test but it is the only true way to diagnose it. An LFT alone is not enough!) Also, Bile Acids can take many weeks (sometimes months) to show any elevation for a proper ICP diagnosis so I would continue to request the test at your monthly appointment if the itching persists. Don't freak, if it is ICP, it can be managed. The internet can be a scary place with providing information with regards to ICP so really the best thing you can do is contact your OB about this. It's a total misconception that itching is normal during pregnancy, especially very SEVERE itching. 

This is a support group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/128485780594942/). The mods are very knowledgable and might be able to direct you getting information about it. Like I said, don't freak, it's manageable, don't let the internet scare you but likewise you absolutely need to address this with your OB. If you have any questions feel free to tag me or contact me via PM.

[statlerwaldorf]

@eav2c when did you start itching with your second pregnancy?  I had ICP with my first pregnancy, but I didn't start itching until around 27 weeks or so.  I've already been really itchy with this pregnancy, but lotion seems to help when nothing helped with my first.

[eav2c]

Jan 5, 2014 16:43:36 GMT -5 statlerwaldorf said:

@eav2c when did you start itching with your second pregnancy?  I had ICP with my first pregnancy, but I didn't start itching until around 27 weeks or so.  I've already been really itchy with this pregnancy, but lotion seems to help when nothing helped with my first.

Around 12 weeks. In fact, around 14 weeks I had a big itchy outbreak and modified my diet a ton and that helped. I was officially diagnosed at 25 weeks this time and my itching has just gotten really bad this weekend. I started itching at 27w with my first too. I really don't think it's too early for you to be itching especially since it's not your first ICP pregnancy. They say subsequent pregnancies start earlier. That said, Labcorp isn't even up to date with what is considered elevated so getting an early diagnosis can be an uphill battle. Is your OB on board with blood testing you regularly? I really hope you don't get it again! I was doing pretty well until this weekend. My Bile Acids have been all over from mild to severe to mild again but I'm hitting that "let me crawl into a hole" point in terms of my itching. Sending you non-itchy vibes!!

[humpforfree]

I had dyshidrosis that itched like crazy! It's not dangerous, just a bad eczema that can't really be treated during pregnancy. I just had to ride it out (8 weeks blistery and i am another 4 weeks of no blisters but just itching/dry where the blisters were).

Anywho- I wrote about it and have some pictures if you want to see my itchy skin regimen.

ourlonghaul.blogspot.com/2013/11/dyshidrosis-in-pregnancy.html?m=1

[statlerwaldorf]

Jan 5, 2014 16:51:08 GMT -5 eav2c said:

Jan 5, 2014 16:43:36 GMT -5 statlerwaldorf said:

@eav2c when did you start itching with your second pregnancy?  I had ICP with my first pregnancy, but I didn't start itching until around 27 weeks or so.  I've already been really itchy with this pregnancy, but lotion seems to help when nothing helped with my first.

Around 12 weeks. In fact, around 14 weeks I had a big itchy outbreak and modified my diet a ton and that helped. I was officially diagnosed at 25 weeks this time and my itching has just gotten really bad this weekend. I started itching at 27w with my first too. I really don't think it's too early for you to be itching especially since it's not your first ICP pregnancy. They say subsequent pregnancies start earlier. That said, Labcorp isn't even up to date with what is considered elevated so getting an early diagnosis can be an uphill battle. Is your OB on board with blood testing you regularly? I really hope you don't get it again! I was doing pretty well until this weekend. My Bile Acids have been all over from mild to severe to mild again but I'm hitting that "let me crawl into a hole" point in terms of my itching. Sending you non-itchy vibes!!

I am a little worried about it since we moved since I had DD.  I have my first appointment with my regular ob next week and I figured I would talk to her about it then.  I live in the middle of nowhere, so I'm worried about getting a diagnosis.  Last time I was with a high risk clinic in a big city hospital and it was still hard to get test results since they had to be shipped out and a diagnosis.  They kept wanting to diagnose me with HELLP even though I had no other symptoms than elevated liver enzymes.

I've read a lot that says there is up to a 90% chance of developing it in a subsequent pregnancy.  I want to try for a VBAC, but if I have to deliver early it's not an option since I had a failed induction with DD.

[eav2c]

Jan 5, 2014 20:46:26 GMT -5 statlerwaldorf said:

Jan 5, 2014 16:51:08 GMT -5 eav2c said:

Around 12 weeks. In fact, around 14 weeks I had a big itchy outbreak and modified my diet a ton and that helped. I was officially diagnosed at 25 weeks this time and my itching has just gotten really bad this weekend. I started itching at 27w with my first too. I really don't think it's too early for you to be itching especially since it's not your first ICP pregnancy. They say subsequent pregnancies start earlier. That said, Labcorp isn't even up to date with what is considered elevated so getting an early diagnosis can be an uphill battle. Is your OB on board with blood testing you regularly? I really hope you don't get it again! I was doing pretty well until this weekend. My Bile Acids have been all over from mild to severe to mild again but I'm hitting that "let me crawl into a hole" point in terms of my itching. Sending you non-itchy vibes!!

I am a little worried about it since we moved since I had DD.  I have my first appointment with my regular ob next week and I figured I would talk to her about it then.  I live in the middle of nowhere, so I'm worried about getting a diagnosis.  Last time I was with a high risk clinic in a big city hospital and it was still hard to get test results since they had to be shipped out and a diagnosis.  They kept wanting to diagnose me with HELLP even though I had no other symptoms than elevated liver enzymes.

I've read a lot that says there is up to a 90% chance of developing it in a subsequent pregnancy.  I want to try for a VBAC, but if I have to deliver early it's not an option since I had a failed induction with DD.

I totally relate. I would have liked a VBAC but I see no point to try. If your OB is not receptive I would see if anyone in that support group I linked above have any referrals for you. My first OB had really never even heard of ICP! If your OB needs more information, I have lots of medical journals to help back you up that I can PM you. I learned with ICP that I sometimes need to be "that" patient but as my new OB says "you are your own best advocate." Really, if you need anything feel free to contact me. I went through hell and back with my first pregnancy with regards to ICP and I hate the idea of others struggling. Having that first pregnancy diagnosed will really help your cause though!

[mannah]

Thanks for all of this you guys! I am definitely going to keep an eye on my symptoms and talk to my midwife about it if it doesn't get better. I lotioned the crap out of myself and so far I'm good today so I'll keep my fingers crossed. I hadn't heard of ICP begore so I really appreciate that and the resources you've sent. It sounds like it's been a real struggle to get a correct diagnosis and thank you again for the info. I hope you/we all get relief soon!