Who do I call/Do I call?

[Ellen Griswold]

***Update on Number 12*** I'm currently 24 weeks pregnant and am suffering from what is turning out to be a never-ending, really miserable rash. It has progressed to the point where I think I need to be seen. Do I call my ob since she sees me on a regular basis and will know what is safest to take during pregnancy? Or do I call my regular famiy physician that I see irregularly because this isn't a pregnancy related aliment?

Or, do I call anybody? It has occurred to me that while I was on vacation I bought a small box of laundry detergent, a brand that I don't normally use, and that might be causing my problem since I brought it home and decided to use it up. I'm currently washing everything that I think has been washing in it.

And in the meantime, does anybody have any ideas for what I can do? I've taken an oatmeal bath this evening, but there isn't enough cereal in the world to give me relief. I would have taken a benedryl but the box in the cupboard expired 5 years ago (note to self, clean out the medicine cabinet...). I'm really starting to feel miserable. I was waking myself in the middle of the night last night because I was scratching. Most of the rash is just a little red bump but the whole of my body itches like crazy - even the bottoms of my feet! However, I do have this really horrid patch on my thigh that looks like massive dry skin surrounded by a giant itchy red patch - like the majority of my thigh, and that is not small. The dry patch apparently had blisters that broke open on Sunday because while I was doing my grocery shopping, it soaked through my pants. So sorry if that was TMI.

I'll take advice of any kind!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[finnegansmom]

I would call your MW or OB first and see them, and then your "real" doctor if they can't answer your questions. I would think it was atopic dermatitis, just a skin reaction from the detergent except for the oozing blister on the thigh. That might concern me enough to be seen asap.

[RiverSky]

The broken blisters description reminds me of the time I had the shingles (related to chicken pox). Perhaps you can do an internet search looking for pictures of shingles and chicken pox?

A laundry detergent rash would likely only affect places your clothing touched, right? But your rash goes beyond those places, it seems?

[Dmitrizmom]

Call your OB or midwife. There are a few conditions that can cause rash and itching in pregnant women that need to be ruled out.

[~Adorkable~]

i would talk you your ob and then before taking anything for it i would really ask for a consult from a dermatologist.
i once has a very bad and pretty fast spreading rash that was seriously misdiagnosed by my main doc and the medicine he gave me made it ton tons worse and burned my skin, if i had talk to the derm first it would have been caught and when i finally did, he fixed it within days, it was such a relief.

many thing look alike to the non specialist. yours sound pretty sucky, i would get it looked at right away!

[~Demeter~]

I'm wondering if you have PUPPPs, I had it with my last pregnancy really bad (and mildly with my first) and I was miserable! The only stuff that helped (and it really barely helped) was cortisone cream. I also was waking myself up in the night scratching until I bled, it was awful. My doctor said there wasn't much they could do for PUPPPs other than prescribe a stronger cortisone cream. I'm so sorry if that's what you have... I wouldn't wish that misery on my worst enemy.

[Ellen Griswold]

Thanks for the quick responses. So, I've googled shingles and I don't think that's it. The rash maybe could look a little like that, but I simply don't have any of the other symptoms that go with it.

PUPPPS, however, looks a little familiar. Guess I will be calling my ob in the morning to have a visit with her.

[HaikuMommy]

Could it be Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy? Visit itchymoms.com for info. Good luck!

[HeatherB]

Call your MW/OB. The itchy feet raises flags for me about Choelstasis, as HaikuMommy said. That's something you need to have checked out without question, so call first thing in the morning.

[Ellen Griswold]

My appointment is at 2 - her first of the day. I'll update when I know more. Thanks everybody.

[HeatherB]

Glad you got in! Hope it's something simple with a good report.

[Ellen Griswold]

***Update*** Had to get bloodwork done at the hospital to rule out anything with the liver, so still waiting on that. Her thought is that it is herpes gestationis (not herpes, that just means it's a rash). Don't think that it's actually PUPPPS since the rash didn't really start in my stretch marks. I'm on a dose of steroids that she hopes will clear up the whole problem. Thanks for everybody's support.

[finnegansmom]

I'm glad you got an answer and that you went in and were seen quickly.
I had an allergic reaction to a medication once, that I didn't know was causing these huge, itchy hives all over my body, and it was SO horrible...I've never been so miserable or itchy in my life, it kept me up all night... so I feel for you, there is something about being really really itchy that is maddening.

[Twinklefae]

Glad to hear that it's not PUPPP - I had that last time, and it was MISERABLE and never ending. Hope that you are feeling better soon!

[HaikuMommy]

Ay yi yi... looked that up and it sounds like no fun! Hope you feel better soon, mama.