itchy skin Did anyone who has cholestasis when they get their blood drawn for the test have to fast…

I was diagnosed a week and a half ago because I requested I be tested for it but my doctor just took the blood straight away. I had eaten a full meal right before and they mentioned nothing about not eating. They are testing your bile acid levels when testing for cholestasis and food consumption shouldn't play any role in elevating your levels not that I'm aware of. Im being induced at 37 weeks and that's in just 34 days so be prepared for them to probably induce you a little early as well! They put me on hydroxyzine for itching and it has helped bunches. And uridol to bring my bile acid levels down. If they didn't do this for you I recommend it!

@laruhh22 did you have any other signs or symptoms other than the itchiness? Rashes or anything?

I don't have a rash just lots of itching and occasional bumps that I'm terrible and pick off , she didn't exactly tell me what she was testing for just that she can do blood work I had to fast overnight the earliest I could come in was 9am I went in at 1015 ish , I'm not sure when I'll get results either I am hoping that she's testing for cholestasis or anything that could be concerning. Hopefully I'll find out in just a couple days although the weekend is coming up :/

I have cholestasis. I also had to fast overnight to get bloods taken. They do that so they can get an accurate reading on your bile acids or something :) and they usually take 2-3 days to come back.

Once I had my results back, they were then able to decide on what they could give me :)

They gave me pills to help stop the bile acids from crossing the placenta.

I had no other symptoms except itching, and it's gotten so much worse so make sure they also give you something to take for the itch too!

I'm being induced in 7 days at 38 weeks :)

Let them know also if the itch gets worse! As mine only started off on my hands and now it's everywhere and so painful! I had to up my dose of pills so I could control the bile acids as my levels went up as time went on, so it's important to keep an eye on it

Mine was just my belly then it went to my arms and my feet it's slowly starting to go up my legs but my legs are only at night the rest is pretty much every day, how soon after diagnosis did they decide to induce ? Do you have a birth plan ? You don't have to answer the last one if you don't want to I'm just curious because I really want a natural birth no epidural

Yes the itch is horrible! They do say that the cholestasis itch does get worse of a night time.

I'm being induced anyway due to gestational diabetes and IUGR (small baby). But with cholestasis they like to always induce anyway around the 37/38 mark. So if you have it they will most likely induce you around then :)

I spoke about my birth plan with the doctors and I also plan to have an all natural birth, also no epidural and they are happy with that (for now) plus baby's been head down for weeks now so I guess that helps? Not sure xx . I've also told them I want to delay cord clamping and they are also happy with that too. So yeah I'd say it's possible, just speak to them about it :) However I am going in with an open mind that whatever happens, happens and if a c section is needed then that's okay.

But yes I'm definitely with you on this one! I'm going in expecting an all natural! :) 7 days to go. X best of luck to you mumma

Also the day I found out I had it, I had a date set the same afternoon. But again we were already talking about an induction date already so just speak to them and hopefully they can give you at least a rough date as to when :)

Samantha_89 no cholestasis doesn't usually cause caused. It is just itching and that is usually the only sign. Now what started my initial itching was a massive rash across my belly that felt like poison ivy times ten, but that was called PUPPS rash. Different from cholestasis. The PUPPs rash was just on my stomach and I itched no where else. Once I was put on medication for that a few weeks later is when I started with the severe itching on my upper thighs and arms. After doing my reading I knew it was cholestasis because I had no appearance of rashes, just the itching. I would itch so bad it would leave little scabs on my legs. But I requested to be tested for it and sure enough 2 out of 3 of my bile acid levels were high. A LOT of doctors just blow it off and blame it on skin stretching and that is why cholestasis is a lot more common than people realize. It isn't something your doctor will test for, it is a test you as a patient have to request. They put me on an itching med called hydroxyzine and also on meds to keep my bile acid levels low. They are inducing me at 37 weeks on June 14th.

That's what Im worried about Wednesday morning I finally went to l&d because I hadn't slept in over 24 hours the itching was so intense. On my upper arms and on my calfs and feet. They monitored me for a while and sent me home. My ob ordered lab work so I should know something on Tuesday at my appointment he put me on benadryl but its not helping. Im miserable but Im already being induced at 37 weeks for previous sections.

Unfortunately I can't even try to subside it with benedryl because I'm allergic to benedryl , I'm super itchy all the time now , hopefully I'll find out results Thursday at the latest , it took them a week and a half to give me my glucose results so I might just call if they don't by Thursday. I have no rash just odd random bumps that show up three at a time in different areas , I did have a rash on my left foot but it has since gone but the area is still itchy . My birth plan is actually the same as yours but I'm laboring in a jacuzzi at the birth center for pain management but I'm going in open minded and I'm getting myself extremely excited so that way I have my mind set positive to help with pain as well