Anyone been diagnosed with cholestasis??

Im pretty much self diagnosing myself as of right now but I think I may have this.

ETA: Im 35 weeks PG

Im very itchy I feel like I have a rash over my entire body (but I dont actually have a rash or redness except for it turning red from scratching) my feet tend to be the worst (and now my chest) and at points during the day (mostly morning, afternoon and then at night) it becomes almost depilitating.

heat or warm/hot water make it worse , sometimes i scratch so much that it get prickly feeling (as if insulation got on my skin and in my pours) so bad that it hurts to have the blanket brush over the area - pretty much my feet. Ice seems to relieve it but it is only temporary.

I spoke to my Dr 2 weeks ago about being itchy, but it wasn't as bad as it is getting now. He told me to take benedryl, but it doesnt seem to help much.

The thing that really makes me think that I have cholestasis is the fact that I am pretty sure my mom and her sister had it when they were pregnant. My mom just says her dr. told her it was from her gallbladder slowing down, cholestasis has to do with your gallbladder.

I was reading up on this and it says it can cause preterm labor, so I'm a bit nervous.

I am planning on calling the Dr. today and I have an appt on Wed but i would like your to hear from people who do have this. Does it seem possible that I may have this?

Message edited 5/10/2010 8:08:49 AM.

Re: Anyone been diagnosed with cholestasis??

It is actually a problem with your liver. You need a special blood test done. I had it during my pregnancy but my OB thought it was PUPPPS..I had blood work done to show it really was cholestasis. I had to beg the on-call dr to do it the last time I was in L and D. I ended up being induced for another problem. But the results came back positive for it...Push for the blood test...

Re: Anyone been diagnosed with cholestasis??

Re: Anyone been diagnosed with cholestasis??

i just saw your post and wanted to comment..

i just had my boys on april 22nd.. i was 36 weeks and was diagnosed with Cholestasis at 35 weeks.
they did all the bloodwork, thats how we knew.
now the docs said i could be monitored in the hospital for a week. but i said no way , the itchiness was too awful, so they did the C section that day at 36 weeks.
just make sure you get the testing done. i am sorry you are going through this, i know its so hard

Re: Anyone been diagnosed with cholestasis??

Posted by MetsGirl07

i just saw your post and wanted to comment..

i just had my boys on april 22nd.. i was 36 weeks and was diagnosed with Cholestasis at 35 weeks.
they did all the bloodwork, thats how we knew.
now the docs said i could be monitored in the hospital for a week. but i said no way , the itchiness was too awful, so they did the C section that day at 36 weeks.
just make sure you get the testing done. i am sorry you are going through this, i know its so hard

Re: Anyone been diagnosed with cholestasis??

Hi there, I developed cholestasis at the end of 37 weeks - I too diagnosed myself but when I did call the OB and they saw me the same day and did the blood work and also did a stress test on the baby to make sure she was okay. I had my appointment and blood work done on a monday and the doc called me tuesday afternoon to say that one round of the blood work came back and it was definitely cholestasis and he wanted to induce me that night!!! which he did and DD was born in the early hours of wednesday morning at 38 weeks and perfectly healthy - the itching went away about 2 days after she arrived.

My symptoms started on my tummy then progressed to my feet and palms of my hands. Night time was the worst and I could have torn my skin off.

My itching started the thursday before my monday appointment and I thought it was just regular pregnancy itching until I started researching it sunday and that let me to call the doc on monday morning for an appointment.

Call them TODAY and if they cannot get you in today make sure they get you in tomorrow AM. This is not something to mess around with so insist on the blood work.

Good luck and keep us posted

Re: Anyone been diagnosed with cholestasis??

Posted by beachgirl

Hi there, I developed cholestasis at the end of 37 weeks - I too diagnosed myself but when I did call the OB and they saw me the same day and did the blood work and also did a stress test on the baby to make sure she was okay. I had my appointment and blood work done on a monday and the doc called me tuesday afternoon to say that one round of the blood work came back and it was definitely cholestasis and he wanted to induce me that night!!! which he did and DD was born in the early hours of wednesday morning at 38 weeks and perfectly healthy - the itching went away about 2 days after she arrived.

My symptoms started on my tummy then progressed to my feet and palms of my hands. Night time was the worst and I could have torn my skin off.

My itching started the thursday before my monday appointment and I thought it was just regular pregnancy itching until I started researching it sunday and that let me to call the doc on monday morning for an appointment.

Call them TODAY and if they cannot get you in today make sure they get you in tomorrow AM. This is not something to mess around with so insist on the blood work.

Good luck and keep us posted

Re: Anyone been diagnosed with cholestasis??

I did. I started itching during my 37wk. only my handsand feet. I took a blood test and got the results abot 5 days later. They asked me to come to L&D for a liver and gallbladder sono, but my water broke as soon as I got to the hospital!