PUPPs vent.

PaulandPregnantChelsea

This Sh*t SUCKS.

I've had it for about two weeks and I keep expecting that I will wake up one morning and it will have improved, but it just keeps spreading!  Stomach, chest, arms, legs, and the worst... hands and feet. I can't even reach my damn feet to scratch them.

I started using Pine Tar soap yesterday and I've taken 3 showers with it today.  It really helped for a few hours this morning, but it definitely gets worse later in the day.  And I've noticed it gets worse with heat.  Just walking from class to my car on an 80 degree day led to a massive cropping up of new itchy bastard bumps.

Today, I started Dandelion Root and drinking V8 and lemon water... I'm really desperate to try anything.  Last week, I spent a couple days in cold ocean water, and I think that helped clear up my stomach a bit.  But, unfortunately, I can't spend every day at the beach...

Any other ladies that are dealing with this... you are the bomb for not spending all day every day curled up in the fetal position in a cold shower.  Seriously.  But let's just remember that there is a light at the end of this horribly uncomfortable tunnel.  If we can deal with this, labor will be a breeze!

If you want to vent about PUPPs or even have a positive story to tell - PLEASE go for it.  

CubanPinky

i would try using coco butter or shea butter…but also Sarna lotion, extra sensitive. i had it bad during my 2nd trimester. n i would come in from work..take a hot shower and use oil olay body wash..then getting out the shower DONT DRY OFF..but use vaseline oil gel all over then dry off. the gels traps moisture in. then when u wake up in the am put the sarna lotion on. it stops the itching and the added moisture at night kinda helps the itchy dryness too.

Justabean3

Aloe Vera after sun gel

Sk8terWoman

I also got PUPPS about a month ago and it is seriously a terrible, itchy and annoying rash.  It wakes me up in the middle of the night.  I use the pine tar soap, it helps a little. I also got a prescription cream from my dr., which helps a little.  I use OTC hydrocortisone and Sarna lotion as well. They are on my nightstand so I can slather it on in the middle of the night.  It started on the my upper arm, went away, but now I have a big patch on behind my right knee and thigh.  When it get's really bad, I ice it to numb the itch.

I can't wait until the baby is born and the rash goes away.  I've had an easy pregnancy up until this rash.  It is driving me crazy. 

PaulandPregnantChelsea

@Sk8terWomanI've been taking the Dandelion Root since Friday night - one capsule in the morning and one at night and it has gotten so much better.  I also switched to craaazzyyy hot showers instead of cold.  My friend with eczema told me to try it. I turn the water on as hot as i can stand and use the shower head to spray only on the areas with the rash.  It itches like a bitch for about 10 seconds, but then I'm able to go 4-5 hours without itching.  I actually slept through the night!  

I would seriously recommend trying the Dandelion Root, though. It couldn't hurt.  And if you do the hot showers, only do one in the morning and one at night (I burned off a layer of skin, but it's totally worth it).

I'm glad you're getting some relief from the prescription cream and hydrocortisone!

Sk8terWoman

@PaulandPregnatChelsea, I'll have to give the Dandelion Roon and super hot shower a try.  Sleeping through the night and not waking up due to the itchiness would be a dream! 

Blemaro

Hi Ladies! 

I'm from the September 2014 board, I haven't been on the 3rd trimester board until today.

I had pupps with DS's pregnancy at the very end (maybe a week or 2). It was horrible and I never really found any relief other than cortisone cream that would take the edge off momentarily.  

This time around I got it again around week 27 (I can't remember!). I have a midwife this time and she had so many more suggestions for me.  I'm currently drinking dandelion root tea 4 times a day (4 tea bags total) and I almost feel like I don't have it anymore.  I think it's a miracle cure! It also helped clear up my ezcema I started out with one cup a day because it can cause digestive issues but I never had anything like that bother me.  I also still drink a ton of water because it's considered a diurectic. I'm also trying to get in 2 Tbsp of flax oil per day somehow. It has a pretty distinct flavour so it's been a little hard.  I've found mixing it in a yogurt drink to be the best.  Not in a regular yogurt!!! I tried that once and it was disgusting.  You can also use it to make salad dressing but I don't think it should be heated. I also find ice helpful when I have a really big urge to itch it.

Other suggestions from my midwife: milk thistle (orally according to directions), Apis (homeopathic), Epsom salt or oatmeal bath, chickweed cream or salve, avoid direct sunlight.  

Good luck ladies, I hope you find something that works for you!  

And, as always, you should check with your caregiver before starting any supplements.

mamachelsea

Can I just complain on this thread for a minute? OH MY GOD! PUPPP sucks. I've had it for two weeks but only one week all over my body. I've been taking dandelion root capsules for a week with no relief. I also drink nettle tea and wash with the pine tar soap 1-4x/day. I'm so miserable and have lost all pregnancy joy. I'm very excited for my first child to arrive but am so miserable it's hard to be happy.

Ugggh huh end rant! Thanks ladies.

Justabean3

@soontobehosford‌ try after sun aloe

Slpafford

I got PUPPPS around 36 weeks and it was hands down the MOST MISERABLE thing I have ever gone through. I would not wish it on my worst enemy. I took the dandelion root capsules 2 pills 3x a day and took cool showers with pine tar soap. (DH would call me smokey the bear because the soap smells like a camp fire!) I also go some steriod cream from my OB to put on the worst spots which seemed to help. The combo of the soap, dandelion and cream seemed to start clearing things up, it never went away completely but it came pretty close. I also used Gold Bond lotion (the green bottle) with menthol in it and that would help for short periods. In order to sleep I used frozen bags of peas and put them on the worst spots to cover the itch.

Just an FYI don't stop doing whatever it is that is helping you just because it seems better, I slowed down on the showers and dandelion and it got worse again. Also, mine did not go away after DS was born like the OB said it would, it seemed to actually get worse until I stopped breastfeeding. Good luck and just know that even as miserable as I was the end result is well worth it!!!!

mckenneyfam

I had PUPPS while pregnant with my first child and it was around the second trimester.  You are a trooper for dealing with it in your third trimester.  YIKES!  I hated those little poison ivy looking bumps.  Simply miserable.  Please rest assured that it does go away but lotion or anything moisturizing will make them feel more itchy and not provide any relief.  

I used the old chalomine lotion and also gold bond with menthol.  The chalomine dries them out as does the menthol and provides temporary relief.  My midwife also suggested taking 1 Benadryl per day to help but I did that for about a week and felt no different so I stopped.

I hope by now it has subsided and you can go on and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy.  Good luck to you!