Conference moira::parenting_v3

    I dunno if this is the same thing, but my grandfather used to get
    these symptoms many years ago.  His leg had been severely injured
    in an accident when he was younger, the bone never did really heal
    correctly, and because of that as he got older he had very reduced
    circulation in his legs.  Sometimes he got open sores all over the
    lower leg. 
    
    What made me think it might be the same condition is that I
    remember him sitting with his foot in a bucket of ice water and
    having red blotches kind of like mosquito or deerfly bites all
    over his leg.  
    
    He used to rub his legs with witch hazel to relieve the itching. 
    It helped a lot but had to be repeated every hour or so.  I don't
    know whether that's something that would be good while you're
    pregnant, either.
    
    --bonnie

    I don't know too much about this, but I thought I'd put in my two
    cents.  I know someone who had a baby recently (twins actually)
    who came down with this terrible rash in her last trimester.  It
    was on her upper thigh on one side of her.  The doctors just told
    her there was nothing they could do for her, it was just something
    that some people get late in pregnancy, and it would go away after
    the babies were born.
    
    This woman was rather large near the end she was carrying almost
    16 pounds of baby.  The only thing I can tell you is she had the
    baby at a Cambridge Hospital, if your sister would like to contact
    a doctor there.  Sorry I can't offer more.
    
    -Julie

    Hi,
    
    My wife went through the same thing! It was due to something like the
    skin stretching. She got some anti-itch cream form Mother Care at the
    Pheasent Lane Mall in Nashua that she said did the trick!
    
                                 Jeff

    I would suggest that she call an allergist or look into seeing someone
    at UMASS Medical Center in Worcester, or Memorial Hospital.  They have
    neonatal specialists there as well as great physicians with a "bevy" of
    knowledge and talent for getting to the bottom of something.   
    
    I'm actually surprised that no doctor as this point would want to
    research her problem more.  Seems to me that saying "it's just
    something you have to live with" is a strange reply for any doctor to
    give anyone, pregnant OR otherwise.  
    
    For her own peace of mind, I'd keep trying to find herself a cure.
    
    Best of luck
    Rebecca
    

    I got this condition when I was pregnant with my twins, my first
    pregnancy.  I will never forget it, it was in my third trimester, in
    November of 1984.  The twins were born in December.  It was at
    Thanksgiving and some friends were giving me a baby shower at the time.
    
    It was very similar to poison ivy, welts and itching.  My OB diagnosed
    it as an alergic reaction to the pregnancy, my dermatologist concurred. 
    It is quite uncommon, they don't know why the body reacts this way
    occasionally, but it was definitely related to the pregnancy.  They
    treated it with cortisone cream, which helped somewhat, and wasn't
    dangerous to the babies that late in the pregnancy.  My OB said the
    only way it would go away was to deliver the babies, I did, and it went
    away.
    
    I have been pregnant twice since then, and it has never reoccurred.  It
    was one of those fluke things that OB's simply still cannot explain.
    

    By the way, I'm not talking the itch you get from your stomach
    stretching.  This was all over, everywhere.  Arms, legs,
    shoulders,stomach.  I'm not surprised the doctors couldn't explain it
    any better than an "allergic reaction".  There are many things doctors
    DON'T know yet about pregnancies and having babies!
    

    In the third trimester of my third pregnancies I had an allergic
    reaction to the plecenta.  The itch sounds the same.  It was all over,
    legs, arms, back and stomach.  The heat seemed to make it worse but
    cold showers seemed to releive some of the itch.  My OB said it would
    go away at delivery and it did.  
    
    A freind of mine who worked with also had the same thing but a lot
    worse.  Her third trimester was June, July  and August.  Her OB (same
    as mine) sent her to Dr. Stephan Levitt (603)880-4823 who is a
    dermatologist.  He diagnoised it as PUPS (stands for 4 huge latin works
    which she couldn't remember) which is an allergic reaction to the
    placenta.  They don't know why it happens but in most cases the rash
    will disappear upon delivery or in some rare cases it will linger on
    for 2 or 3 months in nursing moms.  He did specifically tell her not to
    use cortazone (sp?) because it can be absorbed through the skin.  She
    had a perscribed cream that seemed to give her some relief.
    
    Dr. Levitt did say that in most cases it will appear sooner in future
    pregnancies.
    
    Hope this helps a little.
    
    Carole

    .4 > Seems to me that saying "it's just something you have to live with" is
    .4 > a strange reply for any doctor to give anyone, pregnant OR otherwise.  
    
    I quite disagree.  This is what doctors say 95% of the time.  They just
    usually disguise it to sound more sophisticated.  Like "You're allergic
    to pregnancy." Or "Ah, that's a virus that we're seeing a lot lately."
    Or "Here's a perscription for an expensive equivalent of asprin."  They
    all mean roughly "Grin and bear it."
    
    		- Bruce

    I suppose your responses will put her mind at ease...I just hate to
    tell her "Some women get it, and there's nothing you can do!"  She
    planned this pregnancy specifically so that her last trimester would be
    in the winter months so she could run out in the snow when the itch got
    unbearable : ) I guess she's lucky that it only cropped up on her legs.
    A couple of you had it all over - talk about torture.  She was itching
    so badly towards the end that we were actually worried that's she'd
    have some kind of psychological break-down.  She resorted to scratching
    her legs constantly with a hair brush, and got no sleep what-so-ever
    the last two weeks of her pregnancy.  Luckily she delivered two weeks
    early.  Thanks for the suggestions for doctors and/or hospitals to try.
    
    Sarah
    

    There's a bit of common wisdom about medicine along the lines of
    "A third of your patients will get better, no matter what you do;
    a third will get worse, no matter what you do; and a third you can
    help if you do the right thing."
    
    		-John Bishop

    .10 - that's a family doctor's equivalent of the fundamental practice
    of triage.  In disaster medicine (traditionally battlefields, but also
    earthquakes, plane/train wrecks, etc.) there are only enough resources
    (doctors, beds, ambulances, whatever) for a fraction of the injured. 
    The initial problem is triage - dividing patients into i) those who
    will survive with little or no care; ii) those who will probably die
    whatever is done for them; and iii) those for whom care may be
    lifesaving.   The groups (i) and (ii) are then ignored.
    
    There's a slightly less depressing equivalent in hospital emergency
    rooms, too (where we hope not many are abandoned as hopeless).  There,
    a nurse or doctor makes a quick determination whether i) to tell you to
    go home, take two asperin, and call your doctor in the morning; ii) to 
    tell you to get ready for 4 hours in the waiting room before you are
    examined; or iii) to start your IV and dispatch you to surgery.
    
    		- Bruce

    
    I tend to agree that often doctors don't know, and that it is important
    to some research of your own if possible.
    
    My wife had severe vaginal itch during both her last pregnancies.
    The doctors reply was:
    1. Lets try some cream (which did not help)
    2. Too bad, it will go away after the pregnancy (we are talking
       month 3 or 4 here).
    
    After some research we found out that increased sensitivity occurs
    a lot in pregnant women (you can call it allergie if you want).
    (I mean sensitivity to products/things, although to people can apply
    too, as most parents know).
    Elimination of ALL SUGAR (sugar, cookies, icecream, etc) did the
    trick.  Easy, and the doctor did not appreciate our answer to the
    problem ! 
    (we found this answer in "our bodies, our selves", maybe not yuppie
    anymore, but obviously still useful)
    In the last pregnancy we dicovered also that bread can cause bad
    cases of heartburn (switch to non-yeast bread).
    
    The only thing I can say is: don't accept the "I don't know", it
    often means "I don't think it is important". Maybe not to the doctor,
    but it can make a world of difference to you.
    
    Bart
    

Here is a suggestion for purely symptomatic relief of the condition you
described.  I know of this as a highly effective treatment for temporary
relief of itching from poison ivy.  I don't know if it would help with 
your sister's problem, but it might, if it's the same sort of allergic
skin reaction.

Simply, the trick is to run hot water over the affected area, and then to
keep increasing the temperature until it is as hot as you can stand.  The
itching will increase unbelievably; but it will end within five minutes or
so, and then you should have 6-8 hours of total relief.

Basically, as I understand it, this sort of allergic itching is mediated
by histamine, which is produced in mast cells in the skin.  They release
more histamine when they are warmed (which is why your warmth makes the
itching worse).  The heat treatment I described causes all the mast cells
to dump their entire load of histamine.  Once they have been depleted,
it takes them some hours to regenerate it, and they can't cause any more
misery in the meanwhile.

	-Neil

    My sister experienced the same thing during her pregnancy, except I
    believe the rash appeared only on her arms.  She found out (I think
    from her doctor) that tomatoes, tomato products, and strawberries (and
    maybe more foods - I don't remember), produced this allergic reaction. 
    As soon as she eliminated them from her diet, the rash was gone.  The
    allergy disappeared completely after the pregnancy.  I don't know if it
    was the Vitamin C or the acidity or what that affected her, but
    nonetheless it worked.
    
    Deb
    

RE: -.1
My grandmother is allergic to tomatoes, strawberries, most fruits,
preservatives and many other things.  The allergy is to salicilates (sp?).

-Amy

    I HAD A TERRIBLE CASE OF THE RED WELTS AND ITCHING.  IT WAS UNBEARABLE
    TO LIVE WITH FOR THE THREE (THANK GOD) DAYS I HAD IT.  IT OCCURRED IN
    ALL MY (AS THE DOCTOR SAID) "HOT SPOTS" UNDER MY ARMS, ON MY STOMACH,
    ON MY CHEST, ON MY LEGS.  I WENT TO A DERMATOLOGIST (RECOMMENDED BY MY
    GYNO) AND HE SAID IT WAS FROM A DRASTIC CHANGE IN MY HORMONES.  DURING
    PREGNANCY, YOUR HORMONES ARE ON A ROLLER COASTER, BUT SOMETIMES A
    DRASTIC CHANGE HAPPENS AT ONCE INSTEAD OF GRADUAL AND IT CAN CAUSE THIS
    RASH.  HE TOLD ME TO BATH IN AVEENO OATMEAL SOAP AND GAVE ME A TOPICAL
    CREME THAT I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME OF (IT WAS A TYPE OF CORTIZONE)
    AND IT WAS GONE WITHIN HOURS!

    Thank goodness for this notesfile!  After reading the previous replies
    at least I feel like I'm not the only one going through this.  I've got
    welts and itching (as well as bruises from the insatiable itching) from
    my neck down to my ankles.  I've had it for about a week now, it
    started on my right hip and spread pretty quickly.  My only difference
    from the other noters is that I'm not in my 3rd trimester but in my
    1st (8 1/2 weeks)!
    
    After nearly scratching my skin off in a meeting Fri (it's so hard not
    to scratch when it's all over) I called my ob and he said go see a
    dermatologist and if he prescribes anything call me right back.  He
    recommended one near him, but since he's in Brookline, MA and I'm here
    at FXO, I opted for the yellow pages to find something close by.  I
    managed to beg my way into an immediate appointment at a doctors down
    the street, but was hugely dissapointed with him.  Hmmm,  have you been
    near any poison ivy, no?   Any change in soap, detergent, no?  Well, I
    don't know what it is.  If you're still itchy next week come back and
    we'll do a blood test and see if anything shows up, but I doubt it. 
    Meanwhile, take Aveeno baths, use this cream and try Benadryl.  I think
    your pregnancy is just a coincidence.  Thank you very much that will be
    $55.
    
    I called my ob back and he ok'ed the Aveeno bath and the cream but was
    hesitant about the Benadryl (just hearing that I said no thank you,
    I'll pass on it).  He was not happy about the doctor's nonchalant
    attitude and wants me to see another dermatologist.  So, I go on
    Thursday (a whole 48 hours away!) and hopefully, I'll at least have an
    idea what's causing this even if they don't have anything that I can
    take.
    
    Meanwhile, I sit here itching like crazy and naseaous to boot.  I keep
    telling myself that a year from now it'll all be long over.
    
    Susan 

    
    Susan,
    
    I believe that the itching during the 3rd trimester is related to the
    estrogen-dry-stretched skin syndrome.  I've also heard of women
    breaking out in hives right after delivery.  Something about allergens
    in the delivery process.
    
    In your case, early on - it could be unrelated to pregnancy but the 
    treatment has to take your pregnancy into account.   I had a rash from the
    roots of my hair to toenails during pregnancy #1.  After lots of dis-
    cussion, we decided it was from swimming in a lake about 2 weeks before.  
    The doctors agreed on the treatment, Aveeno baths and Hydrocortisone cream
    (1% solution). They couldn't really give me much else because of the 
    pregnancy.  It did go away after about 7 days. If your rash isn't better, 
    I'd follow the dr.'s advice and see the other dermatologist.       
    
    Rochelle
    
    BTW, prepare yourself for this winter's cold and flu season, your
    treatment probably won't involve drugs either!
    Rochelle

    My sister experienced the 3rd trimester itching, and it was diagnosed
    as a liver-related phenomenon.  As soon as she delivered, the itching
    stopped.  The itch was aggravated by high-fat foods, so she restricted
    her fat intake and it became somewhat manageable.  Since pregnancy does
    such strange (and wonderful) things to your body, I'd try doing an
    allergy-diet test.  Start keeping track of absolutely everything you
    eat, and eliminate one (or one type) of food at a time.  One thing my
    sister found was that warmth aggravated her condition.  She slept with
    a fan on her feet and walked in the snow bearfoot to get relief!
    Sarah

    Thanks for the responses.  I've got another appointment with a
    different dermatologist on Thursday.  I'm definitely steering away from
    taking any medication internally (only unless my ob says it's
    absolutely, positively necessary) and am prepared to scratch and sit in
    Aveeno baths for the next 7 months 8^().  I don't think this can be
    attributed to being anyplace different within the past couple of weeks,
    work has been horrendous and I'm here alot.  I do think it could be
    diet/pregnancy related, my body is now very sensitive to things it
    wasn't before, like now I drink milk when I didn't before, etc.  I'd
    just like to know what it is I'm supposed to be avoiding and I will. 
    The first doctor didn't even seem interested in persuing it.  This new
    doctor came recommended by my ob and by the doctor's at my aunt's
    office (Boston IVF) so I'll drive the distance and hope that this gets
    me in the right direction.
    
    Thanks for the support.
    
    Susan

    Susan,
    
    In the third trimester of my first pregnancy, I began to ITCH - not
    stretch skin itch - my legs and feet - I tore them to ribbons
    scratching - my Dr. sent me to a dermatologist and he said it was from
    being pregnant - as the other noter said - it was from my liver,
    something about pressure on the liver and the way it breaks down
    material.  The aveeno baths did not help me - he gave me a cream to
    put on my legs and it helped somewhat.  The itching went away right
    after delivery.  I was almost 8 months pregnant at the time - and
    the dermatologist said I would be delivering soon (I thought he
    was crazy) - he was right - I delivered about 2 weeks later!)  Well,
    I THINK I saved the empty bottle (it was prescription) - I'm going
    to look for it - only this time the itching has started and I'm
    only a few weeks along - not in the third trimester.  If you want, I'll
    post the name of the prescription he wrote up for me - I remember it
    worked before - hope it works again, I think I'll be seeing him for a
    re-write on the prescription.   This guy is in Worcester and he was
    very good to me when I went to see him.  I have also heard good things
    about him since then - if you're interested, let me know and I'll get
    you his name and address.  Hope you're feeling better soon!
    
    Regards,
    
    Sandy Lupien
    

    Sandy,
    
    Thanks for your note.  IT SEEMS TO BE GOING AWAY!!!!! 8^) 8^) 8^)
    
    I went to see Dr. Ruth Tedaldi in Wellesley last Thursday and I thought
    she was great.  She had just had a baby, too, within the last year and
    was very receptive to my not wanting to take any type of drugs.  In
    fact, she made a point of saying right away that anything she
    prescribed would be safe for use during pregnancy, as well as that
    nothing that was happening to me was hurting the baby (phew).
    
    She said that it was a dermatitis due to the pregnancy, ie., I am
    extremely sensitive to all these great hormones surging through my
    body.  It's not common at all (lucky me!) and it could last through the
    entire pregnancy but there wasn't anyway that she would let me go
    through the next months in this agony.
    
    She prescribed Elocon and it helped within 2 days.  She had me try it
    on one isolated area first before prescribing it for all over use and
    now I've got it in a vat sized prescription.
    
    I still have occassional itching but nothing like those first horrible
    10 days.  Now I'm just waiting for the black and blue marks to go away
    (I can't wait to hear what the doctor says to my husband tomorrow when
    we go for my first visit and he see them 8^) )
    
    Good luck to you!  I know how terrible this can be and it's made worse
    by knowing that there are only limited things that you can take to get
    relief.
    
    Hope you feel better soon.
    
    Susan

   This may have been mentioned before, but I haven't looked at all
   the previous replies...   have you tried Aloe Vera?  That's the
   plant with thick juicy spear shaped leaves that is most often used
   to help burns.  Would it help with this itching?  You can get it at
   some health food stores - I have a bottle in the fridge for random
   burns and such, and it works great for that - it may be worth
   looking into, especially for those folks who already have a live
   plant around..
   
   - Tom
   

    My roommate in the hospital had terrible itching her entire pregnancy,
    she said it felt like the itch was from the inside to the outside.  The
    Dr determined that it was caused by the alkaline level.  Good luck!