Steroids during PG?? And F/U to my swelling/itchiness posts..

bim38106

I posted a couple days ago about swelling and itchiness in my hands, that then spread to my elbows, butt, knees, feet and then turned into hives all over my body.

Benadryl stopped working last night (OB and family doc. had me on it) and the hives and itching got really bad and painful! I ended up in the ER where they told me I was having a pretty bad allergic reaction and they gave me a dose of liquid Benadryl, steroid, and pepcid through an IV.

Thankfully that kicked in very quickly and I felt much better. I still have some swelling and the itchiness is very minimal now. But the ER doctor prescribed a steroid and told me to take Benadryl as needed, minimum dose that worked.

I still need to pick up the script and will call my OB once I have it and know the name of the steroid. I know my OB had briefly mentioned taking one in a worse case scenario (which according to the ER doctors last night, it was).  It just makes me nervous.

Has anyone had to take it? Or have any experience with this?

I have a lot of talking to do w/ my OB before starting the oral stuff.. Part of it is that we don't know what's causing the allergic reaction so I may still be exposing myself to it. I was referred to an allergist for this week to try and get to the bottom of it.

newportbride715

A friend of mine takes Prednisone for Crohn's disease. She has been on it since before she got PG. It made her more prone to GD, which she has as  well as swelling. Her Dr said the risks of not being on it outweighed the risks of being on it. I have no idea what her dose is or if it is even the same drug as what you are taking but I thought I'd mention it since it is a steroid. Hope everything works out soon!

LittleMs.Wifey

Can't say anything about the steroids, just wanted to say good luck. 

I am sure you have thought of this already but have you switched laundry detergents/softeners/dryer sheets? Hand lotions/sanitizers? Air fresheners? New foods? vitamins? supplements?  cleaners?

is there anything blooming in your area that might be setting it off? Didn't you move recently? What about pet/animal issues from previous owners?  

Sorry I am not much help, hang in there. Believe when I say I know how awful it is to itch like mad with no relief!  

bim38106

Thanks! Newportbride, I think it is Prednisone they prescribed. I couldn't read the handwriting well enough to guess, but that looks right.

LittleMs.Wifey, that's what's so frustrating! I haven't switched anything in my diet or laundry or any of that.. I did try a new prenatal last week, but the ER doctor said because I hadn't taken it in almost a week and only took 2-3 doses, that probably wasn't it. I did switch to vinegar instead of fabric softener in my laundry a few weeks ago, so maybe that? But I used to clean w/ it a lot in the past... and I had some pomegranate tea Weds night that I'd never had before, but it was very diluted! I'm just racking my brain and listing EVERYTHING I can think of to bring to my allergist next week. I don't know if excessive mosquito bites can cause something like this, but I'm going to mention that too... and we are in a much more forested area at our new house so thank you for mentioning that! I will mention it to my allergist too because you never know what it could be..

iowagirl73

I've been really super itchy for just over a week now and went to L&D to see the on-call doc.  Neither the doc nor the midwife knew what my itching/rash was.  Mine is on my buttocks, legs, feet, and just showed up on my arms a day or so ago.  Benadryl has also stopped working for me and I am using a Rx cream that has helped the itch go away but even that isn't working quite as well anymore.  I look like I have a lot of bug bites but that is just the result of all the itching I've been doing.  I can't wait for my doctor appt on Wednesday - maybe THAT doc will have a better clue of WTF is going on with me.  FWIW - I got a rash in the 3rd tri with DS but this rash is totally different IMO.  I've also thought of the whole allergic reaction thing but I've done nothing different either!

bim38106

iowagirl, it's so frustrating isn't it?! The nurse at the ER yesterday said that allergies can pop up at any time, and you're more sensitive during pregnancy.. so it may not even be something new.

She also mentioned that there's a slight chance that it could be the baby who is allergic to something I'm being exposed to and that's what the reaction could be from! Crazy!

I hope your doctor will be able to help you out! I'm hoping the allergist will find something for me.. maybe you could try that too. The only reason I figured it was an allergy for me was because this is the same way I reacted to penicillin in junior high and how we found out I was allergic to that.

adamwife

I was on prednisone during the entire third trimester of my first pregnancy.  DO not google steroids in pregnancy or you will scasre yourself silly.

My baby is fine and so am I

ETA - mine was for Crohn's too and the only effect was severe weight gain.  lol

JillAly

I used an oral steroid cream (Vanos) and then was prescribed pregnisone (sorry about spelling).  I never actually got to take it because right after seeing the doctor for the prescription, I had an emergency c-section for pre-e.  Literally- I went from one doctor to the other and ended up going straight to the hosp.  But I would have taken it without any worry.  The oral steroid is ok to take (and better than the cream) because they know the exact dose they're giving you that is safe for the baby. 

I will tell you this-  I was soooo miserable because of my itching (PUPPS) that I think it drove my blood pressure through the roof and why I ended up with an emergency c-section.  I wish I had gone on the steroid earlier so I would have been more comfortable to lower my BP.  So if you're very uncomfortable and the steroid will help relax and not go crazy itching, take it.  That's just as important for your baby's health so take care of yourself!

iowagirl73

bim38106:

iowagirl, it's so frustrating isn't it?! The nurse at the ER yesterday said that allergies can pop up at any time, and you're more sensitive during pregnancy.. so it may not even be something new.

She also mentioned that there's a slight chance that it could be the baby who is allergic to something I'm being exposed to and that's what the reaction could be from! Crazy!

I hope your doctor will be able to help you out! I'm hoping the allergist will find something for me.. maybe you could try that too. The only reason I figured it was an allergy for me was because this is the same way I reacted to penicillin in junior high and how we found out I was allergic to that.

Oh yes, the itching drives me insane especially at night!  I hadn't thought of it being the baby allergic to something.  Crazy.  I do have a lot of allergies but can't think of anything I've really done recently that would have caused this.  This itching is everywhere on my body except my belly, back, chest, and head (and palms of hands and feet).  I look like I lost a fight with a crapload of bugs!  I'm hoping this magically goes away as the rash I got when pg with my son did.  Here's to hoping!  I hope your itching clears up soon!

Tess12

Coming in late.  I was on prednisone for a while during my first pregnancy.  Everything was fine.  I was on it for asthma and the doctor said the benefits of breathing outweighed the risks of the steroid.

Good luck, bim.