My Renovation Blog

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

I Can't Catch a Break- PUPPS and Eye Infection

I haven't really mentioned my disgusting rash very much mostly because it's embarrassing and depressing, but after getting a diagnosis and finally researching the other night, I decided I wanted to mention it in case anyone who reads this ever gets it because reading about others' experiences made me feel a ton better.

Here is how the last 8 months have gone...

I have to do an FET to get pregnant again...lots of drugs, progesterone shots for 12 weeks, prednisone for 12 weeks, etc.  I once again pre-eclampsia.  Get placed on hospital bedrest.  Have another preemie.  Another NICU stay.

One or two days after Everett is born, I start get a rash along the tape line from my c-section, and on my arm where tape and bandaids had been repeatedly placed.  This rash is extremely itchy and spreads all across my entire stomach and my forearms.  Sadly, the photos don't even make it look as horrible as it was, and it got much worse than these photos show (I can't believe I'm posting these photos)...


These rashes eventually started to clear up (although the scars are still there).  My OB says I must go to the derm.  My derm does a biopsy, which shows that I have PUPPS (pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy)!  This is a rash that occurs during pregnancy (1 in 200 pregnancies), but I'm NOT pregnant!  My derm says it's very strange, but she has had one other patient that got it after pregnancy.  She gives me topical creams and steriods, but instead of getting better, the rash gets worse...MUCH worse.  It spread over my entire body (except face)...legs, butt, arms, feet, hands, back, neck, chest...even my breasts!  I start itching all day long...the itching is EXTREME.  My skin starts weeping and bleeding, and eventually it feels like my entire body is on fire 24 hours a day.  Like just existing is painful.  Having clothes on it excruciating, but I have to wear clothes!  I have talked about being exhausted, but in reality, it's not Everett's fault- I itch all.night.long.  My sheets are blood stained from all the open sores I've created.  I start crying at night because the itching and pain is so bad, and I feel helpless and don't know anyone else that this has happened to.  It got so bad and so painful one night that I told Gary if I had a gun, I'd probably start shooting my extremities just to make the itching stop!  The itching is much worse at night.

I finally go online a few nights ago and try to find other women that have gone through this and find some answers.  I found THIS website with story after story of other women who have suffered.  They talk about being *suicidal*, the intense pain, having had awful deliveries with 4th degree tears that don't compare to the pain of PUPPS...many of the women said they will NEVER have another child just to avoid getting PUPPS again.  This may sound bad, but it made me feel SO much better that there are all these other women that understand exactly what I'm going through...many of them also said that it WILL get better, it's just a matter of time.  I honestly felt like this would never go away.

Here is what I learned from this site...supposedly Dandelion Root, Milk Thistle and Flaxseed Oil all help make the symptoms diminish (they all come in capsule form at Sprouts or Whole Foods)...they are all things that cleanse your liver (the liver is linked to skin- think jaundice).  I started taking all three two days ago, and I also started a 3 week round of Prednisone (I called my derm and told her I couldn't bear another day without oral medication).  I'm not sure what is working, but I *FINALLY* feel like the rash is slowly getting better!  I'm still itchy, but it's getting less, and I don't feel like my skin is burning off anymore.  Here are a few more photos from today, which look MUCH better than it looks in person and MUCH better than it did a few days ago...


But the story doesn't end there. 

First, Gary leaves at 5:30 in the morning for a business trip this morning.  My dad comes to pick up Ella, who proceeds to wail as I force her in my dad's carseat.  I go inside and feed Everett, who projectile vomits EVERYWHERE (oh yeah, did I mention he is now vomiting at least twice a day?  yup, reflux city, part deux).  So I have to give him a bath...alone.  I then have to go to the doctor because...

For the past 3 days, I've been waking up with discharge in my right eye and my eyelashes stuck together.  I don't think much of it until this morning when my left eye has the same issue.  I get in with my opthamologist today, who tells me that I have a bacterial infection in my eyes!!  I mean, really?!  What am I, five?  Who gets eye infections?  He says it's not a big deal, I just need to take drops, and it could be from all my itching and then touching my eyes. However, I can't pick up the prescription today because I have to pick up Ella, and I can't do it with both of them since Ella will bolt.

After making dinner for Ella, I feed Everett, who once again projectile vomits all over me (which goes through my pants and my underwear!), the couch and himself.

I get him settled and get ready to bathe Ella, who pees in her potty.  Good, right?  Sure.  Except that in trying to be a good little helper, she brings the plastic thing with pee in it to the sink to dump out and dumps half of it on the floor and IN MY RUNNING SHOES (ok so I'm not running yet, but I am trying to start!).  Um, how do you clean pee out of running shoes?

Where's the wine?

18 comments:

  1. You poor thing-that rash is awful!!! I hope it gets better and very soon!!!

    Holland was throwing up two or three (or more) times a day, but never cried and gained weight ok. The ped wasn't concerned as long as her weight gain was fine. Is Everett fussy? I know you said Ella screamed a lot. Holland was never fussy, but was very gassy. She started to outgrow the spit up thing around four months, but every once in awhile, I still get projectile vomit/spit-up all over me, the floor, the dogs, etc.

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  2. PS-I also had Holland sleep in her nap nanny until three months, and I used rolled up blankets on the side to keep her positioned. She slept so much better because flat on her back automatically led to vomit and waking up all night long. My ped said to use a wedge in the crib, but I didn't want her in the crib until closer to three months and with the nap nanny, I could have it right next to me. You could even put it in bed with you.

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  3. OMG that rash is awful, I'm so sorry you are dealing with that on top of everything else! I'm sure it helped to read stories of others who have dealt with it. I hope you get some real relief soon!! I'm thinking of you.

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  4. Oh, that is awful awful awful. I feel so sad for you, but I am glad you are seeing the humor in things :)

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  5. Holy crap. I'm so sorry, T!!! :(

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  6. oh no!!!! You're such a trooper (sounds like you're still getting A LOT done). I'm so sorry you're going through this!!!

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  7. Oh yeah, Lindley, we are incline professionals over here! Ella had awful reflux and projectile vomited 100 times a day so we have EVERYTHING inclined. We even put books and rolled up receiving blankets under the little mattress thing in the pram part of the Uppa so he's inclined in there. We didn't start laying Ella flat until she was MUCH older. We did use a wedge in her crib, but right now, Everett is in our bed in the boppy because he is practically sitting up when he's in the boppy!

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  8. You poor thing, just when your day couldn't get any worse! So sorry for you. Just take one day at a time and yes drink your wine if you need it, LOL! :) Things will get better. My little man is finally turning 1 and I am telling you this year has been exhausting but I see the light and I have even considered baby #3, yes I might just be crazy!

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  9. Has anyone mentioned gluten intolerance or celiac disease to you?? I've had PUPPS as well, and struggled for years with multiple issues you've just explained there... including children that have reflux. (((hugs))) PS - we have 8 kids, and my worst PUPPS was with #1. Gluten intolerance also is large cause for infertility issues.

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    1. Yes, I was diagnosed with CD after I insisted on being tested after baby #1. Bad doctor though so I switched (after being gluten free for a few months), and he retested- said I didn't have it because my levels were very borderline. I told him well obviously since I had been GF for a few months, but he said it shouldn't matter. I insisted on doing the gluten challenge and being tested again, but then I got pregnant and never went back. Long story short, I need to find a better doctor and go back and get retested.

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  10. THANK YOU for posting this! I am 27 weeks pregnant, and although, obviously my symptoms are a bit different than yours (I.E. I am still pregnant) I developed this horrific, horrific rash as well. I saw a dermatologist today, and he did tell me he has patients who have had this show up 3 months after giving birth! He did say it would subside by 6 months after delivery, usually sooner. I am praying and praying and praying this goes away! I was terrified I had everything and anything under the sun, as my OB didn't think this was it since it started on my legs. HORRIFYING! I know what you went through! It spread bad this weekend, and the dermatologist prescribed Clobetasol Propinate Ointment as well as gave me a shot of steroids. He said it would take 2-3 days to work. PRAYING!!!!! Thank you again for posting!

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  11. From one postpartum PUPPP mom to another - curious how long yours lasted? i am 4 weeks PP, started itching on my belly about 3 weeks ago and it erupted all over about a week ago. derm diagnosed me last tuesday. Hoping the end is near...?

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    1. I promise that it WILL end! I can't remember now how long after this post mine went away, but I posted this January 11th, and I had him on December 1st so I know it was at least 6 weeks. I do think it went away soon after this post. Good luck!

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  12. Thank you for this blog! I gave birth to my son via emergency c section on June 26, 2013. Nothing about this pregnancy was easy. It was my first, and will be my only because my body just can't handle it. I was put on bed rest in May. Gave birth on my exact due date because my doctor couldn't induce any earlier (her practice has strict rules about carrying babies to full term, meaning 40 weeks unless you are dying!). About a week before my due date, my tummy, which does not have many stretch marks, started getting really pink and miserably itchy. I just chalked it up to stretch marks, sucked it up, and went on with life. Postpartum, I had a rash exactly like yours all over my arms, legs, and some on my tummy. I tried to tough it out with Benedryl and some allergy cream. I saw my OB/GYN Tuesday and she chalked it up to an allergic reaction. I woke up this morning in a cold sweat, crying because it burnt and itched SO much. I went to an urgent care in a town that one of my good friend's and coworker's friend works at as a nurse. The doctor diagnosed me with PUPPS right away, and gave me a steroid shot in the upper hip (OUCH!), and then prescribed two oral steroids. I am hoping after a few days this will get better. It isn't how I wanted to spend my son's first week! I have to go back to work sooner than I'd like (I manage a loan office and things are getting a little hairy without me!), so I want to spend good, quality time with my new family. Not time itchy, crying, and feeling pitiful! I saw your blog and knew what to bring up to the urgent care PA, and luckily she was willing to listen to my self diagnosis (which I know, most doctors just LOVE when you play Dr. Google). Thank you for sharing the pictures because it helped me (hopefully) get up, go to a doc, and find a cure!!

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    1. I'm so glad it helped Erin! I feel for you- it's the WORST!

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  13. I had PUPPS after delivery at 4 weeks pp and it only lasted about 2 weeks, awful

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  14. I know this is several years old, but I just have to comment because that rash is totally ringworm. I'm curious if you ever got an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

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