I've been waiting to hear back from the doctor on the biopsy they took of my rash last week before I posted again. The dermatologists office just called and confirmed that it is indeed PUPPPS. I almost wasn't expecting this news because my rash has almost completely gone away now. It's the weirdest thing but I'm not complaining. I tried some of those home remedies for a while and they seemed to help but then my doctor asked me to stop them until we knew for sure what it was. So I did and the rash just gradually kept disappearing. I haven't had any itching episodes, problems sleeping or had to take any medicine for almost a week now. It's a miracle! I'm not quite sure what to think now.
The doctor said it could be one of those things that "comes and goes" throughout my pregnancy. I'm just thankful for the "goes" part. At least I have the hope of little breaks here and there instead of having it the remainder of my pregnancy and beyond. So Mike and I are celebrating it's disappearance on a daily basis!
We are now 9 days away from finding out the sex (not that I'm counting)! I had myself convinced that we were having a girl since the rash was going away and the PUPPPS 70% boy statistic wasn't in my mind anymore but now it seems that the boy notion is back in full swing. I can't wait to just know an answer because it's nearly impossible not to speculate during this time. Although I realize there is no way of really knowing, it's still fun to guess.
I'll be 18 weeks this Thursday and I keep anticipating the feeling of little kicks someday soon. I've heard it can still be a while before I do but I swear I feel little tingles here and there that I don't normally feel. I like to pretend it's little feet and hands going to town in my belly.
Well...here's to the rash no longer showing it's face. I hope it doesn't have the guts to return. I'm not afraid to use my campfire smelling soap, V8 juice 2x a day, vitamin C and oatmeal lotion weapons again! PUPPPS who? That's what I thought.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
The Itchy and Scratchy Pregnancy!
It all started a few weeks ago with a small rash on the side of my right breast about the size of a quarter that itched like crazy. A couple of weeks go by and it's not going away so I start putting some cream on it. Over the next week it only expanded into the size of a sand dollar. Then last Friday I wake up with a rash on my upper thighs that itches worse than the original spot. By the end of the weekend I was COVERED in these red raised dots on my feet, knees, thighs, bootie, around my waist, breasts, hands and arms. I went to see both my dermatologist and family physician on Monday/Tuesday with no real answers other than it may be an allergic reaction to something and they wrote me a prescription for a topical cream. After one night and day of using this cream it wasn't making a bit of difference on the rate of spreadage and the itch was only intensifying!
I mention my new found rash to both Emily and Brooke R. They both immediately said, "It may be PUPPPS!" Say what? Apparently there is a rare rash that effects 1% of pregnant woman that feels similar to having poison oak/chicken pox. There is no cure and it lasts throughout your pregnancy until 2 weeks AFTER you deliver. This is all daunting news considering I have 24 weeks yet to go at this point! I tried not to panic and did some research. Everything I read points to this PUPPPS condition. Guess I better get used to this new blotchy look and incessant itch!
I found some natural home remedies on babycenter.com and bought a bunch of different products that are supposed to really help. Most woman who get this rash only breakout around week 35 of their pregnancy but in some cases it can be earlier, like in my case. Boo! I came home last night and took a lukewarm baking soda bath, scrubbed myself with Grandpa's Pine Tar soap, moisturized my skin with oatmeal lotion, took a vitamin C pill, lathered on as much A&D ointment as I possibly could and went downstairs to drink a V8 juice. All of these are on the list of miracle treatments. We'll see if this works...cross your fingers for me!
Mike has been great about it and feels so bad for me. We can only laugh at how horrible I look and how badly it itches. I wake him up in the middle of the night with my itching antics. I took a Benadryl Tuesday night in order to sleep and as soon as it wore off, I woke up! I really don't want to become dependant on Benadryl and it's not ideal to take any oral medication regularly. So much for an easy breezy pregnancy!
We went to our 16 week check-up today and the doc suspects that it's PUPPPS but wanted to check my liver enzymes first and suggested I visit the dermatologist again in order to get a biopsy done on Monday. These pics don't really do it justice but I had to document this lovely thing somehow.
The 16 week check-up went great! The heart rate was 153. We made an appointment for a 19 week sonogram on June 30th at 9:30am. This is when they will check the development of all the vital organs, bones, etc. Hopefully the baby will cooperate and we'll also be able to find out the SEX! Apparently 70% of the woman who develop the PUPPPS rash have male fetuses in them. Some research has shown that it's a chemical reaction to the male hormones/cells inside a female body that comes out in the form of a rash. So now the pee test AND this rash point to a BOY! Cade David may just be the little peanut in my belly. Although 30% of PUPPPS moms do have girls! Guess we'll find out in three weeks!
P.S. I wore maternity jeans for the first time this week and all I can say is, "Once you go band, you never go back."
P.S.S. Someone I hadn't seen in a while saw me in the elevator at work this week, look down at my stomach and asked if I was pregnant. I'd like to think he wouldn't have taken the risk of asking without being pretty sure of the answer, so I guess that means I've officially popped out! I love having a belly full of precious cargo.
I mention my new found rash to both Emily and Brooke R. They both immediately said, "It may be PUPPPS!" Say what? Apparently there is a rare rash that effects 1% of pregnant woman that feels similar to having poison oak/chicken pox. There is no cure and it lasts throughout your pregnancy until 2 weeks AFTER you deliver. This is all daunting news considering I have 24 weeks yet to go at this point! I tried not to panic and did some research. Everything I read points to this PUPPPS condition. Guess I better get used to this new blotchy look and incessant itch!
I found some natural home remedies on babycenter.com and bought a bunch of different products that are supposed to really help. Most woman who get this rash only breakout around week 35 of their pregnancy but in some cases it can be earlier, like in my case. Boo! I came home last night and took a lukewarm baking soda bath, scrubbed myself with Grandpa's Pine Tar soap, moisturized my skin with oatmeal lotion, took a vitamin C pill, lathered on as much A&D ointment as I possibly could and went downstairs to drink a V8 juice. All of these are on the list of miracle treatments. We'll see if this works...cross your fingers for me!
Mike has been great about it and feels so bad for me. We can only laugh at how horrible I look and how badly it itches. I wake him up in the middle of the night with my itching antics. I took a Benadryl Tuesday night in order to sleep and as soon as it wore off, I woke up! I really don't want to become dependant on Benadryl and it's not ideal to take any oral medication regularly. So much for an easy breezy pregnancy!
We went to our 16 week check-up today and the doc suspects that it's PUPPPS but wanted to check my liver enzymes first and suggested I visit the dermatologist again in order to get a biopsy done on Monday. These pics don't really do it justice but I had to document this lovely thing somehow.
The 16 week check-up went great! The heart rate was 153. We made an appointment for a 19 week sonogram on June 30th at 9:30am. This is when they will check the development of all the vital organs, bones, etc. Hopefully the baby will cooperate and we'll also be able to find out the SEX! Apparently 70% of the woman who develop the PUPPPS rash have male fetuses in them. Some research has shown that it's a chemical reaction to the male hormones/cells inside a female body that comes out in the form of a rash. So now the pee test AND this rash point to a BOY! Cade David may just be the little peanut in my belly. Although 30% of PUPPPS moms do have girls! Guess we'll find out in three weeks!
P.S. I wore maternity jeans for the first time this week and all I can say is, "Once you go band, you never go back."
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| 15 Weeks |
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| Some love from Daddy |
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| 16 Week |
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