I think I really like this dermatologist.  SHE actually called me, and not some nurse or front desk person who knew nothing more than the original message (I tend to ask questions, as I’m thorough and possibly quite annoying like that).  She hadn’t gotten the test results back yet, but she wanted to let me know that when I was in her office the other day, she had mentioned the correct name of a condition I may or may not have, but had been thinking of something else in regards to how serious it could be.  So, she wanted to call me to prepare me, I guess you could say, for the offhand chance that if it does come back as positive (the tests), it may be a bit more dangerous than she’d originally explained.

Of course, I’d already read and printed out a medical journal article on the condition, so I knew all of this already.  But, still the fact she actually called?  That’s awesome to me.  Most people would just let it go and then pretend you were the stupid patient that misheard.  But, she wanted to make sure I was educated.  And, that is something I definitely appreciate.

She also asked how the cream was working, she didn’t want me to be miserable and was wondering if I need something else.  (Cool, right?)

Anyways, the cream has mostly cleared up the rash.  It’s faint in some areas but nothing more than just a bit here and there.  And, the itchiness?  It’s still there, but much more subdued.  It went from CRAZY itching to just itching.  I can mostly ignore “just itching.”  The cream is really greasy feeling, though, so after 3 doses of it I’m trying to go with just thick lotion for sensitive skin tonight.  Tomorrow, I may use more of the steroid cream if I get too itchy, but quite frankly it kind of creeps me out.  I KNOW the stuff is being absorbed into my body, and most likely the baby AND I wonder how much gets transferred to Lorelei when I hold her and pick her up?  I’ve been keeping her in long sleeves and long pants and me in short sleeves/long pants just in case…but I’m still leery.  Of course, I’ll treat it if it gets any worse, but right now it’s not killing me.

So, those are the updates.  Still not sure WHAT it is, but we have a few ideas of what it may or may not be –ideas we BOTH arrived at, independently…

1. Cholestasis.  This is the worst one, the scariest one.  USUALLY it occurs in the 3rd trimester and everything else depends on the person.  ALTHOUGH, usually isn’t always and I did match up with many of the other symptoms.  Problems that occur with this are things like hemorrhaging of mom and baby, stillbirth, premature labor, and all sorts of things with fetal health.  ***I’m assuming I don’t have this until the blood tests come back.  There’s a chance, but it’s very slim – and mostly, I’m happy that we’re doing the blood tests to hopefully rule it out.

2.  PUPS.  I don’t think this one is that big of a deal.  But, I don’t remember.

3.  Pregnancy induced eczema or pregnancy induced someotherkindofskinproblemIwouldn’tnormallyhave.

4.  Or…something totally unrelated to pregnancy that we don’t know yet.

Actually, she added number 4, and I agree with all but that one.  I had this rash LAST pregnancy too and around the same time, so I’m fairly certain it’s pregnancy related.

But, we’ll know soon – and in the meantime I’m pretty comfortable, so I’m happy :0)

Welcome back!