PUPPS, a cute name for a horrendous rash

fooadandfootage

Hi ladies,

Just wanted to share my story this week: I woke up in the middle of the night last Sunday covered in itchy red welts. At first i thought it was fleas, or mosquito bites that i got from leaving the window open. In any event, it was far worse than any attack i'd ever had and as Monday rolled on, i began to get more welts in places that were so odd; covering my scalp, encompassing my ears, all down my butt crack. I went to the dermatologist and she said it was not bug bites but an allergic reaction. She kept asking if i was using new shampoo, detergent, etc...but I haven't changed my habits at all. I got some cortisone cream and went home miserably itchy and frustrated by the lack of cause. 

By Tuesday it was even worse; my lips were swollen and my eyes were swollen to almost shut. i began to panic that my throat was swelling and went to the emergency room. After 7 hours of burning itching pain, they sent me home with some allergy medicine safe for pregnant women (i'd tell you the name but i live in Germany, so i doubt it's the same in the US). 

Wednesday, I decided that though the symptoms were lessening from the pill, I wanted to make sure it wasn't effecting my pregnancy. I went to my OBGYN and she said, you've got PUPPS (Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy). Most women get them in their third trimester but i got them early, very early at just 7 weeks. They are linked to multiple births and the birth of a boy (no multiples for me) so maybe this means it's a boy. She did an ultrasound and the little one looks good. Heartbeat, normal little worm shape, PHEW!

Anyway, wanted to let you know that morning sickness is not always the worst of it. Try puking while violently scatting at your scalp! It's a pleasure I also wanted to open the discussion to see if anyone else has experienced this PUPPS curse.

voplo

***lurking***

I got them at 10 weeks, they are extremely itchy! I didn't know that it was linked to a boy or multiples. We don't know what we are having, and we will wait until birth I also got the swollen part, mostly in the face. Since mine are very located I opted for not getting the cortisone cream and I am using Sudocream. Even though it works slow, most of them have already dissipated.  Good luck!

KRISLIEL

I had them when pregnant with DS. I am also sensitive to the sun and get rashes every summer so adding the PUPPS on top of that was AWFUL!!!

And FYI, I did have a son. I, too read they are linked to boys. When people would ask what was wrong I would tell them I was having an allergic reaction to my son haha

fooadandfootage

I was hoping for a boy before I got this rash and when I read up, I thought, I'm only 7 weeks in and already the old saying "girls are easier than boys" is true! Be careful what you wish for, I guess.

disclaimer: I understand that it's still possible i could have a girl.

italiangal1033

I too, am a lurker! I just wanted to add that I had PUPPS with my first pregnancy. It arrived around 15 weeks and stayed until about 32 weeks. However, I had a just one baby girl. Good luck! I don't miss my routine of creams/lotions and the dreadful itching!

soccer4us2013

OMG. I have never even heard of this. I am so sorry for anyone that has had to deal with this and I pray that I don't have to go thru this!!!! EEEK!

amberhoothoot

I got a terrible itchy rash at only 5 or 6 weeks pregnant with DS and my GP thought it was a reaction to Amoxicilian. But I've take that stuff throughout my life and never reacted to it before. I still don't know what caused it. The itch got better with a topical cream but the rash took weeks to dissipate.

Never heard of PUPPS but I wonder now...

Dubsgirlie

amberhoothoot said:

I got a terrible itchy rash at only 5 or 6 weeks pregnant with DS and my GP thought it was a reaction to Amoxicilian. But I've take that stuff throughout my life and never reacted to it before. I still don't know what caused it. The itch got better with a topical cream but the rash took weeks to dissipate.

Never heard of PUPPS but I wonder now...

You can actually develop allergies to drugs that you've been fine with before. I had this happen with the Z-pack AND Percocet. I forget the explanation my dr gave me as to why this happens, but I do remember it making sense. Lol.

Justabean3

Aloe sun gel works. I also go pp hives, FYI

I also heard Zyrtec works to keep it at bay but doesn't fix it

LittleLadyAKS

I woke up with hives this morning! Pretty shocking to say the least considering I'd never heard of hives as a pregnancy symptom. I have my first ultrasound a week from today so tbd if we're blessed with one baby or two!