Support Please! Losing my mind!

[Twinklefae]

So it's 5am here and I'm sitting at the computer instead of lying in my comfy bed. Why? Because I'm do @#$ing itchy to sleep! The PUPPPs is getting worse and it's driving me crazy! My belly is no longer the worst of my problems, it's now spread around both my hips and practically touches in the the middle of my back, it's down both thighs to the knees, and it's on my feet and hands.

I'm so miserable! I've really enjoyed my pregnancy up to now. I think it's so sad that all I can think now is that I can't wait for it to be over. And to make it worse, my body is howing no signs of being ready for it to be over, so I'm stuck in this h@ll....:

I'm so jealous of all the mamas who've had their babies, especially those who went early. I just want to get this over with. And I'm so sad that I feel that way, I want to treasure this last time with just DF and being pregnant. But it's ruining everything.

DF is being fantastic but he, like everyone else it seems, can't understand what the big deal is. "You're just itchy". Well, I'd rather do the Chicken Pox again rather than deal with this. I've scratched myself full of holes. And it never stops!

Sorry for the early morning rant, but I'm so upset with myself right now. I'm all out of philosophic points of view and just want to cry until the baby comes. (Which could be another two weeks. )

Send me some labour vibes, please!

[Jster]

Oh, mama, that's so tough! Don't know if it would help, but there was a thread recently in the UC forum about eczema and lots of suggestions for things that soothe itches...I know puppps is different but maybe some would help Hope baby makes an appearance soon!!

[chlobo]

Hugs. I'm so sorry you are feeling poorly. It's amazing what we go through for our kids, even before they are born.

[dctexan]

Sweetie, you sound miserable. You have every right to complain and vent. What does your practioner say?

[Twinklefae]

Just that it's PUPPPs and that there isn't much they can do. I've been prescribed two different steriod creams. I stopped using the first one, as it just made my skin feel weirdly numb while being itchy, and the second one I only got yesterday, but apparently will actually get rid of the spots in some cases after a day or two, so I'm going to cling to that and keep using it.

I'm just frustrated because I"m tearing chunks out of myself, and now not being able to sleep really makes it all ten times worse.

Thanks for letting me know that someone cares.

[dctexan]

If you are super duper uncomfortable, the "best" treatment (i.e. the fastest way to get relief) is probably going to be a round of oral steroids while taking an antihistamine. If your OB isn't getting you the relief you need, please go see a dermatologist.

[MOMGOTSPUNK]

I am sorry that you are going through this. Remember to give yourself some grace, as it is okay to be anxious and looking forward to the baby and not being pregnant. With my first pregnancy I did not enjoy the entire pregnancy as was so miserable with throwing up everyday. I used to get myself in a whirl when people would tell me to enjoy that time with the baby. It is okay to not enjoy it, and to just be looking forward to the end. We are all different, and it helps to not try to pressure yourself to feel a different way. :

[michellemk]

I'm itchy too!!! What is PUPPPS? My hands and feet and belly have all been so itchy the last few nights, I thought I was going crazy!

I too am ready for this pregnancy to be over. I'm 39 weeks and 4 days now....

[ashleep]

Please try this:

First, make yourself a tonic. My MW gave me this recipe early on in my pregnancy because I was having rash issues. (unidentified, but not PUPPPS). PUPPPS is thought to be the result of a strained liver/kidneys.This will help both work more efficiently.

From my MW:
Steep 1/2 oz each of dried yellow dock and dried dandilion root.
Cover the container while steeping, and let sit for 4-8 hours. ( The
recipe doesn't specify, but I would gently simmer the herbs in
boiling water for about 20-30-minutes, and then let sit as directed.)
Strain the liquid off the herbs into a small pot and then simmer to
reduce the volume to 3/4 cup. Add 1/4 cup of black-strap molasses.
Cool to room temp, then bottle and store in the refrigerator. It will
keep for a month or more. Dosage-I'd say I'd be inclined to recommend
a pretty good dose of say 4 TBS a day (break it out to 2 or 3 times
daily) to really see if your skin issues/rash respond to it. As a
general iron/liver tonic I'd take about 2TBS per day.




Second, run a bath (whatever temp feels good) and add about a cupful of epsom salts. Once dissolved, soak yourself as long as you can. This has helped every rash I have ever had, when nothing else would. You can do this as often as you like.


mama! I know how bad rashes can suck. The unidentified one I had lasted from 8 wks til about 22 wks. It got so bad...well, it was just gross. Think ooze. bleh. And I now have a scar that covers my entire calf on my right leg. PLease try not to scratch with just hands. Use a washcloth or some thing soft to minimize bleeding.

I hope you get some relief.

[gratefulmum]

Just s for you here. I hope for your sake that you are near baby's birthday.

[Momsteader]

Hugs mama! I saw your belly photo and I'm itching for you just looking at it. OUCH! You've got some great suggestions here. I too would go see a dermatologist who might be more sympathetic and have some better suggestions as skin is his specialty! I can't even imagine how crazy the itchy is making you. Itching is the worst!

[Twinklefae]

Thanks to all who posted support! The new cream the doctor gave me is helping some and I think I've figured out what the benedryl is for... to knock you out so that you sleep! Took some before bed last night and slept the night away.

I will be trying lots of your suggestions. And it's nice to not be the only itchy one. As for what PUPPP is, it stands for Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy , which means itchy raised, hive-like rash suffered by pregnant women. (ie. the doctors have no idea what it is!) It's not dangerous to you or baby, just annoying as heck.

Here's some pics of my left hip and my right!

Thanks again to everyone, DF tries to be sympathetic, but I think I wear him out sometimes. It's hard to live with someone who's this itchy, and he gets to the end of his patience.

Now if only I could have this baby already! Soon I hope!

[pfamilygal]

I'm so sorry, babe.

I have a central line right now and the dressing is driving me insane. I'm allergic to tape and it is sooooo itchy. So I will try to remember to pray for you when I'm wanting to scratch the crap out of it!~

[Twinklefae]

I'll keep you in mind too. Not sure what a central line is, but it doesn't sound like much fun either. Hopefully we'll both have babies soon and can join in the "whose pregnancy was worse" conversations and laugh.

[clancybaby]

some other things to try

I don't have full fledged PUPPS all over my body but I have horrendous itching on my lower belly that has the same look and feel (I think my skin just has no strech left - I'm 38 wks with twins). Things that are working for me:

Do not take hot showers, the hot or even warm water makes the itching much worse for me, starting an hour or so after shower ends. Also, skip the soap on the itchy areas. I just don't wash my tummy at all. I wash my hair with lukewarm water and then turn it so that its just less than warm for the rest of my shower and then at the end I turn it totally cold and run it on my tummy. (glad its summer here!)

Cover itchy areas with raw honey for a few hours each day. Note, not regular honey, it must be the unmodified raw honey/ This may sound weird but I do it once a day, at night an hour or so after I've showered and by the third day I was much more comfortable. I stick a thin towel on top to keep it from getting all over my clothes and chairs. The honey soothes at first and then starts to dry. When it starts to dry up in the towel it feels great to peel off the towel. Then wipe away any excess honey or dried honey with a damp rag (the raw stuff washes off much easier than honey that's been modified). Don't scrub or wash, just let it dry.

I sleep with a wet cloth diaper across my belly. Most nights this keeps the itching at bay for a few hours at a time so that I can get a bit of rest. It gets the bed a bit damp but never enough to cause a problem and it keeps me cool anyway. The thick prefold diaper holds enough fluid to keep it cold and damp for long enough. I tried washcloths and towels but the dried very fast. Its definely the combination of cold and wet that helps me.

I am medicine averse and have been getting by with these remedies now for a few weeks. Hope it helps someone else. Good luck.

[dantesmama]

Oh mama, I feel for you! I'm almost 2 weeks postpartum and my PUPPPS is just starting to go away - it got way worse the first week after babe was born. The itching was so bad I'd cry, and the rash on my belly was bright red and raised, like I'd been horribly burned. I shudder thinking about it. My belly is tolerable now, and although I have rashy patches on my outer thighs, calves, behind my knees, and occasionally on my hands and the soles of my feet (!), it only gets really bad at night and Lanacane helps a lot to relieve the itching. The only thing that helps my belly is to cover it with ice packs until the skin is completely numbed.

Hang in there! PUPPPS is hell but it does eventually go away.

[Yuba_River]

I can imagine how agonizing this is--I've had a few bad bouts of all over hives, and it was misery. This while pregnant--awful. I'm sure you've tried this, but just in case--have you taken any oatmeal baths? Run a cool bath and add a cup or so or of ground up oatmeal (you can put it in blender or food processor). Temporary relief, but it might help. Glad to hear the cream is working, too.

[Twinklefae]

I've never sat in the bathub so much in my whole life actually. I'm actually starting to hate it. It's very helpful while I'm in (I've been alternating between oatmeal, epsom salts and cornstarch), but none of them seem to last once I'm out.

Thanks again for all the suggestions, I'm mostly willing to try anything!