Cholestasis - any experience here?

BananaPancake

I am looking at the symptoms of Cholestasis and am meeting most of them. Can anyone tell me more about this? I have a call in to my OB but was wondering if anyone else has dealt with this. 

LucyRicardo3

I developed it around 28 weeks. I remember the extreme painful itching, mainly on my feet and hands, but it would also migrate from my scalp to my chest, wherever. The only way to really diagnose it is through a bloodwork that takes a few days to get the results back. My MFM put me on Ursodiol (sp) and within a few days it gradually went away. He also had me stop taking prometrium because it could have been making it worse. Cholestastis during pregnancy has nothing to do with what you're eating, like everyday gall bladder issues tend to do.

It's not uncommon in multiples pregnancy because it is supposedly related to excess progesterone somehow affecting your gall bladders efficiency in flushing out an acid (sorry don't remember the name). so it ends up in your skin

Eriksgal

I had it.  It was mainly bad itching on my feet, legs and hands...no rash.  I told my ob I was pretty sure I had it and she laughed at me and told me I didn't that it was very rare.  She did the blood work and I had it.  I took a Rx med for it...I can't remember now but I think it was just once a day?  It went away right after delivery and I discontinued the medicine immediately.  I did get this lotion called Sarna? at Walgreens.  It didn't smell great but it definitely helped cool the itching.

KDR1979

I developed it in the last 3 weeks of my pregnancy. At ~33 weeks, I noticed that my feet were itchy at night. I told my OB, we drew my bile salts (takes 5 days to get results) and it came back normal @ 3.  The itching just got worse and worse. The last weekend that I was pregnant, I was in tears b/c of the itching. I have a couple scars on my leg & feet from scratching so much. It felt like an extreme burning type of itch from the inside out. I think scratching made it worse, but it was impossible not to scratch. I took Ursodiol and a low fat diet and noticed improvement.I took Atarax 50mg to sleep one night (took 1 pill, 25mg and was still awake & itching 3 hours later). My OB said that if my second result came back elevated and I was 36wks+, I would be induced for it. I ended up delivering before we ever got the second result, but it (bile salts) from 3 to 33 in twelve days!

I even itched a couple days postpartum, but nothing like before delivery.

brookith

Yep, I developed it around 33 weeks. Mine actually started with itching all over my body, not the usual hands and feet symptoms. It was miserable! They have to do a blood test to diagnose it. I started Ursodiol and it seemed to relieve the itching slightly after about a week. 

My doctor was planning on delivering at 36 weeks because it can start to affect the babies at that point. I only made it to 35 weeks though and the babies had other plans! The itching stopped immediately after delivery. 

I used a benzocaine spray that seemed to relieve some itching for about 1-2 hours at a time.

Definitely get the blood test done...and try to find some lotion or cream to help with the itching. Good luck!  

mamak0328

I developed it with DD around 34 weeks. The itching is what prompted me to ask my OB. They did some blood work and it came back that I had Cholestasis.

At 35 weeks I had to be monitored twice a week and they induced me at 38w3d because of the cholestasis.

I would bring it up with your doctor and ask to be tested for it.