Discovery Home & Health

Hiya Peary,

Just spoted your post about the suspected cholestasis on the Octber thread - I have had this, and its awful!

I have posted some info on the october thread which may be helpful when you see the Drs tomorrow, but basically I'd advise that if you are 37 weeks already, push to be induced tomorrow even if they only suspect cholestasis!

I'm a member of a cholestasis support group, and there is an amazing website www.itchymoms.com all about cholestasis in pregnancy, and has very helpful advice.

I will warn you in advance though that the site has some terribly difficult stories on there as well as wonderful ones of women who have had this and got through it, so it can make both uncomfortable and inspiring reading, although I found it invaluable in helping me to gain the information to fight for the treatment i believed was best.

I hope you get this message, and don't think I am sticking my nose in, but I feel I must just let you know that there are resurces and advice out there.

Good luck, and I really hope they induce you tomorrow, if someone has ICP it really is the best treatment by 37 weeks.

Let us know how you get on.

Cxx

Hiya Cludgie,

Thanks so much for taking the time to start a thread for me.
It started with hot itchy feet just as i went into the third trimester and each night i sleep with a fan just on my feet to cool them down but more recently my hands have been itching (it's not crazy itching but it's itching all the same, although ironically as soon as i went to hospital for some tests it seemed to dissapear)
i've read a little bit about the cholestasis condition but having been given the all clear from my blood results i haven't thought too much about it since.
Is there a chance the condition could have been missed in my blood results.
My other symptons are excessive tiredness, but i have put that down to having a 1 year old to chase around after all day
Having said that no matter how tired i am it will take me literally 2 hours to finally fall asleep each evening due to irratability and just not being able to drop off. Again i put this down to the being in the late stages of pregnancy and being uncomfortable in general.

Do you think perhaps i have it but the test results have not picked it up?
I have an appointment with my Consultant tomorrow and she will decide wether or not to induce me.....even though it is all on my notes i will tell her how itchy i have been feeling.

Thanks so much for the advice hun....i will have a look at that website now.

xx

To be honest you sound like classic case, and sometimes it takes so long to show up in your blood test results that you've delivered by then anyway.

I was induced at 35 weeks last time around, and have been itching on and off since 7 weeks this time, although I've only had one bad blood test result so far thankfully.

I know entirely what you mean about the itching, and when I had alice i'd get up in the nigh and put my hands and feet in iced water to numb them, even though it was the middle of february!

Sadly in the UK they have decided to take this condition less seriously, and so induction isn't always as widely offered as it should be.

By 37 weeks, and with the symptoms you have I'd say there is everything to gain and nothing to lose by asking to deliver now.

Your tiredness is also a symptom, and may be accompanied (Sorry TMI) by darker urine, and lighter poo - I got very tanned looking (start of Jaundice!) though Jaundice is less common, and watch out for uper right quadrant pain - all associated.

I hope you find the website useful - when I first found it I cried with relief that someone was paying attention to a very rare but serious condition at least.

In the 3 1/2 years since I had alice I had some other complications (it can make you prone to Gall stones) and everywhere I have been treated I've ended up interviewed by junior doctors and medical students as nobody has heard of the condition!

Thats basicall why I'd err on the side of printing off the info you may need off itchymoms, and tellng your Dr what YOU want to happen when you see her.

If nothing else, if they do induce you tomorrow it'll mean the itching ends sooner - and that has to be a good thing!

Anyway I'm glad you spotted my post - I'll be looking out for you, and keeping eveything crossed that they listen to you and respond tomorrow.

Good luck and pain free, itch free, quick delivery wishes floating your way!

Cxx

Ok, thanks for your reply Cludgie.

I am very worried now but this is a good thing as i will push for an induction tomorrow.
My consultant is very nice and tends to get the ball rolling so i will express my fears to her.

I have my blood tests infront of me and my bile acids are 7. I have no idea if this is good or bad but if like you say it can take a while to show up in your blood results i guess it makes no difference.

Anyway thanks again for all the info....i looked at your website and it is very interesting but heartwrenchinlgy sad in some parts. Those poor babies that didn't make it had me in inconsolable tears.

I will log in tomorrow and let you know how i get on.

Peary
xx

Hey Peary,

Fingers crossed everything is well, I have been thinking of you all day and sending lots of happy thoughts your way.

I'm sorry if I stressed you out, but its such a delicate thing when things can go so badly wrong, I don't want to worry people needlessly, BUT I guess I'd rather do that than keep quiet and miss a cance to make sure baby stays healthy.

Its a difficult one if your biles are at 7, as different Drs interpret results slightly differently, however mine considers up to 6 to be ok, and over that is elevated.

Mine came back at 7 a fortnight ago, and I was called back immiediately for re-testing as they were over 6, and thankfully they had dropped again, although I am itching like stupid today and have another set of tests booked tomorrow.

Please try and stay positive, like I said i certainly didn't want to cause you any added stress but having been through that same worry, knowing that the condition can be fatal, and knowing that most medics still know very little about it I'm very keen to spread the word on the "don't ignore the itch" message.

Let us know how you get on and the best of luck!

Cxx

Thanks cludgie...have updated in the october thread.

Peardrop