7 weeks Postpartum

I think we are finally in the clear! The last visible remnant of rash is gone! I have a mild itch every now and then, but it's more like winter dry skin itch. NOTHING like a PUPPPs itch. I am thankful to be on the other side of my 4th bout with PUPPPs!

But I have on my mind that there of thousands of you out there still in the throws of the worst of it! 

I'm so sorry! I feel your pain! If you haven't already, please check out my posts titled "treatments I've tried" and "Essential Oil Blend: Amazing Relief" for my most helpful itch relief tips! You can find those links on the far right of the blog, under Popular posts. 

(7 week old PUPPPs Baby #4!)

Wishing you all an itch-free Christmas!

~ PUPPPsMom

Thanksgiving

To all my itchy friends, I hope you are finding ways to be thankful this year! 

I am dealing with a new nasty postpartum PUPPPs rash, but I am thankful...

... For a baby to hold that keeps my hands too full to scratch. 

... For essential oils that consistently heal the flare ups. 

... For a husband that serves me while I adjust to being a mom of 4. 

Look at that face! It's pretty hard to think of anything else when this girl wants to visit. 

Postpartum PUPPPs

Well, I'm holding my 1 week old, precious baby girl! We did it! Made it through yet another pregnancy with PUPPPs. 

And guess what? It's back! 

By the end of my pregnancy, it had calmed down again. It was nearly gone. But after a couple days wearing those funky, oh-so-attractive, hospital provided undergarments (you know the ones??), I developed a pretty good rash on my lower belly. In the last few days, I'm back in my PUPPPs-friendly clothes, but it's too late. The damage was done. The rash is spreading. I'm applying my oils like crazy and considering attempting a 7 star hammer treatment. 

It's hard for a picture to capture just how itchy this is!! See the sheen? I had just put my essential oil blend on it. Ahhh, the cooling relief of peppermint!

I wish I could capture those bumps better! 

I know I am not alone. Many of you mommas have had their rash worsen after baby comes. In the past, mine has taken a good 2 months to go away. Hope it's shorter this time!

Nov. 14th, 2014 **UPDATE**

  Once again, my essential oil blend has saved the day again! After treating the rash for a couple days with it, the rash is fading in size and intensity! Hooray!

We made it!

Our tiny little bundle of JOY is here! PUPPPs, it's time to take a hike!!

The story and more details to come later. 

On the home stretch...

Hello, fellow itchy people! 

I know my last post was about how everything was working well. It mostly still is. But something must have shifted hormonally, because one of my pesky patches of rash has flared up again in the last two weeks. It is SO itchy. 

I do wonder if it has so do with the fact that my 1 year old lost my bottle of essential oils for about 3 days. (I found it under her crib, between some toys!) Right after that stretch of having no oils for maintenance, the rash came back! That does seem like quite a coincidence, no?

Anyway, I'm enduring, because my due date is only 12 days away! We're almost there! Pretty soon, I will have a precious newborn in my arms and plenty of distraction from the itch. What a welcome event! 

I'm thinking about all you ladies out there on your own home stretches! Hang in there!

**Fall in my neck of the woods.**

Something Must Be Working

The blog has been quiet lately, hasn't it?

Well, it's because my rash is pretty much under control! It's hard for me to believe! I guess on my 4th pregnancy with this crazy condition, I've finally tweaked my routine to something that helps!

Here's a Link to my current treatment routine, in case you'd like to give it a try. I'm pretty sure my essential oil blend is the key to all, so here's a link to that Recipe. It's worth a try people!

I've got 4 and a half weeks left in this pregnancy, and then probably 2 more months of dealing with the rash. But the end is in sight! I sure hope all that I've learned helps some of you out there!

How often does PUPPPs reoccur??

In my perusal of what PUPPPs mommas are talking about on various sites, I've noticed that lots of us are concerned about getting the horrible rash again if they have more kiddos. It's a big deal! No one wants to face it again! I'm certainly not a good example, since I break all the typical PUPPPs "norms." (This is my 4th bout with PUPPPs for anyone not familiar with my story...)

But what does the research say? How likely is it really that you would get PUPPPs again with your next pregnancy? 

Well, mommas, be encouraged. It's pretty rare. Here's the scoop:

According to this study, they followed 19 patients for 6 years after their PUPPPs pregnancy, and none of them had a recurrence. 

In this study, only 3 out of 57 patients experience a recurrence. 

Those are the only articles I could find that cited actual numbers. However, I did read dozens more that simply stated that recurrence in subsequent pregnancies was rare. Mommas that get it again are the EXCEPTION to the rule. You can even see on the poll on the right side of my page (when viewing the web version, not the mobile version) that only 20% of voters have gotten it more than once. And that's NOT scientific data.

It would be great if we had more data to work with, but for now the research seems to show that you shouldn't be worried about getting it again. For most people, it's a one-time misery. 

PUPPPs Essential Oil Blend: Amazing Relief!

As some of you may have noticed, I've been working on researching and testing Essential Oils for PUPPPs relief for some time now. It was important to me to be comfortable with the oils I was using and to be familiar with how they worked before I spread the word. Here are a couple links about Essential Oil safety in pregnancy. (But PLEASE, simply consult your care provider before using Essential Oils while pregnant! My midwives have signed off on my blend, but you'll want to have that assurance from your own provider. Also, I would hold off using any Essential Oils until you're through your first trimester. That is when the risk is greatest for birth defects and miscarriage.)

- Is it safe to use essential oils while I'm pregnant?
- Essential Oils

I've been working on refining a special blend of essential oils for PUPPPs for over 3 months, and I think I have something pretty exciting! It hasn't completely cured my PUPPPs, but it has kept it so minimal that I consider it a practical cure. I am functioning again!

Like I said, I've been using and refining this blend for over 3 months. I am very impressed with the combination of immediate relief and healing relief. The cooling effect is amazing. It calms the itch immediately and much more effectively than ANY other product I've tried over my 4 experiences with PUPPPs. But on top of that, it appears to keep the inflammation at bay! I chose each oil in the blend for it's anti-inflammatory properties. I have seen two other blends out there for PUPPPs that seem to use oils traditional for itchy rashes. My blend focuses on inflammation. From all the research I've done, PUPPPs seems to be some kind of an inflammatory response.

Here's some pretty impressive proof of my relief!

These photos were taken 1 week apart. The first is my rash at it's worst for this pregnancy after 1 day of using the oil blend. Miserable. The second picture is after 1 week of using the oils, and the third is after 2 weeks of using the oils! The photos are NOT edited at all! The lighting difference is simply that the first picture was taken in the evening under artificial light, and the last two were taken in the morning in natural light. 

As I have posted about before, my rash is not completely gone. It seems to be on a monthly cycle. Once a month, it "peaks," and I develop a couple of small patches (1-2 inches across) of rash. The peak lasts roughly a week, and the oils seem to take it away! I have never been this functional with PUPPPs before! Not even with steroid use! You know I've tried it all!

I've decided to make my recipe available to all of you, because it has been SO VERY HELPFUL for me! It has been more effective than the STEROIDS were with Baby #3. I'm so impressed that it is competing with and even beating the big guns! 

Here is my Recipe for Anti-Inflammation Oil Blend:

Materials: Essential Oils, carrier oil, and 1 oz glass roll-on bottle.

(Click HERE for a link to these bottles, which I have been very happy with. Not ONE leak!)

Makes 1 oz of Oil Blend (which last 1-2 weeks, depending on the severity of my rash)

Ingredients:
Peppermint Essential Oil - 45 drops (This number is flexible! I find that I like a more intense cooling effect when my rash is at it's peak, thus 45 drops. However, in-between peaks, I often make the blend with only 30 drops. You can vary this to your preference!)
Lavender Essential Oil - 15 drops
Geranium Essential Oil - 15 drops
Frankincense Essential Oil - 12 drops
Myrrh Essential Oil - 12 drops
Ylang Ylang Essential Oil - 7 drops
Eucalyptus Essential Oil - 5 drops
Tea Tree Essential Oil - 5 drops
Organic Jojoba Oil - Approximately 3/4 Oz.

Directions:
Mix all the Essential Oils in a 1 oz roll on bottle, then add jojoba oil until bottle is full. Cap with roller top and start applying for immediate relief! Apply as needed. Note: Be sensible! PLEASE PLEASE test this blend on a small patch of skin first and avoid use in sensitive areas such as the groin, armpits, nipples, and mucous membranes. The oils are no joke, so be careful! Ask your doctor first before using Essential Oils in pregnancy!

My Happy Bottle of Sanity!

A note on purchasing Essential Oils:

They can be PRICEY! Two companies I am very pleased with are Plant Therapy (available on Amazon) and Beeyoutiful (available here). They have reasonable prices and a high quality product. (Note: I am not associated with either company. I'm just a fan.) I have done some reading on other popular companies, and while I believe they have quality products, I also believe they are over-priced. Please don't take offense if you are a loyal supporter of some particular brand! This is just my personal opinion.

Here is an article from the Beeyoutiful company that does a fantastic job explaining the ins & outs of essentials oil quality: Essential Oil Quality

Even with purchasing from companies with reasonable pricing, getting all the oils you need to make this blend is a financial investment. I have found it to be EXTREMELY worth the money, but I understand that some of you may be wary about spending a bunch of money not knowing if the oils will work for you. I am considering selling my oil blend on Etsy, just for some of you who want to be able to try it before making the plunge to buy all the oils. Is anyone interested in this? If I get a positive response, I'll get serious about setting up an etsy store!

UPDATE (November 1st, 2016): I'm riding out my 5th case of PUPPPs. My oil blend is still helpful for itch relief. I wanted to try making a blend that wasn't so oily, as it tends to make all my clothes oily. I whipped up a batch with witch hazel as the base instead of jojoba oil. My conclusions? It burns more, so don't use it in sensitive areas or on places you've scratched til they bleed. It'll hurt. And the relief doesn't seem to last quite as long. But I like alternating it with the oil-based blend. It cuts down on the greasy factor!

UPDATE #2: A fellow PUPPPs sufferer is selling my blend on Etsy! Find it here: OhioEssentials

PUPPPs & Depression

I've been reading quite a few posts lately on one of the Facebook support groups by mommas expressing that are at the end of their coping abilities. A few have mentioned considering terminating their pregnancies. It makes my heart hurt to read these comments. Partially, I remember feeling awful about my pregnancies when my itch was at it's worst. I remember feeling so sad that I wasn't HAPPY to be pregnant. It didn't seem right to me. But on the other hand, I've made it to the other side 3 times now, so I wanted to encourage some of you that are in that dark place right now.

First, I want you to know that what you are feeling is very real and shouldn't be minimized by anyone. People who haven't experienced the life-altering extreme itch of a PUPPPs rash that doesn't seem to have any hope of going away don't understand the mental place it brings you. You can't imagine facing another day, another sleepless night, with this itch!

But let me tell you about the first time I was alone in a room with my first born daughter.

The day before, I spent 18 hours of absolute agony bringing her into the world. Yes, PUPPPs is horrible. But I did not itch in labor. I hurt. I wasn't prepared for the natural birth I wanted, so when the reality of labor pain hit me, it hit me hard. (Side note: it's worth preparing all you can ahead of time to deal with labor! The Bradley Method is my favorite so far. My second birth was incredible in contrast to my first! It can be different!) I writhed in pain with contractions and then vomited in between them, presumably due to my high anxiety and adrenaline levels. There was no rest, no break, until the hard work was done. But then, she was here, and the joy and RELIEF was like nothing I'd ever felt. I'd done the HARDEST thing of my life so far and received the most amazing, beautiful reward!

We spent the next 24 hours marveling over her every detail. When it was time to go home from the hospital, my husband went down to bring the car around, and I was alone with my daughter for the first time. The situation struck me hard. I began to cry. I was alone with this little girl, a helpless tiny person, and she needed me desperately. I suddenly felt I knew the love of a mother. It took me being alone with her, with no nurses or husband to share the burden, to realize she was mine. She slept so peacefully in my arms, unaware of the dangerous world she had just joined.

And as I thought about that dangerous world, I suddenly had a feeling I had never felt before. It was fierce.

I would DIE for this person if need be.

I would trade my life for this child.

It was fierce! It was the fierce, intense love of a mother!

I could not have known the intensity of this love prior to this moment. If someone would have told me before birth, I would not have understood. In the darkness of my PUPPPs, I could have been in danger of missing it!

Ladies, I know you're suffering! But take heart! There is something SO precious on the other side of this! Your child needs you! You will know it when you hold them, but until then, press on!

Find one more remedy to try. Go ahead and order that one more crazy product to try. Make one more appointment with your doctor...or a different doctor! Or a dermatologist! Take one more icy, cold bath. Take a trip to the store to stock up on some luxurious ice packs and comfort food. (Or send someone to the store if putting on clothes sounds horrible.)

(My 3 little PUPPPs babies.)

Do what you need to do to get through, because there is a precious, tiny person inside, unaware of the dangerous world they are about to enter, that needs YOU! You are his or her only protection in this world. You CAN get through. You WILL get through, and you will get to hold that person and be so thankful you made it. Keep going, Momma. Keep going.

(PS. As always, I'd love more information about PUPPPs, so please feel free to answer my polls on the right side of the page. If you are using the mobile version, scroll to the bottom, click on "view web version" and you'll be able to see the polls. Thanks! ~PUPPPs Mom)

Seven Star Hammer Test!

Well, PUPPPs, you've gone and made me feel crazy again. This time, it's for poking myself repeatedly with itty bitty needles. Need a little explanation for that statement? You can read up on my Seven Star Needle journey here: Seven Star Needle Posts. Anyway, I finally had a patch of rash that deserved some extreme attention. So, I pulled out my "hammer" and gave it a go.

I documented the process, so you all could follow along with the crazy. 

Here's the before picture of a lovely little patch of rash on my hip. Red, raised, and SO itchy. I tried not to scratch before this picture to keep it from looking too inflamed. 

And here's what I used in the process. Cotton balls for sterilizing my skin, the torture device (aka the seven star needle or plum blossom), and some isopropyl alcohol. 

Here I am sterilizing my skin. You need to give it a good long, vigorous scrub for the alcohol to be effective, at least 5 minutes. 

All clean and ready to commence!

Sterilizing the hammer. I let it sit there in a capful of alcohol for 5 minutes. 

Then I went to tapping! I did a little video, but my internet connection is sketchy right now, so I'll have to upload that later. I tapped until there were little spots of blood all over the patch. Yes, it hurt! Let's see, how shall I describe it... Well, it felt like seven tiny needles pricking me over and over and over. I found that the faster I tapped, the less I recognized the pain. I also tried it on a patch of skin in a more "sensitive" area that I didn't feel comfortable photographing. It hurt a lot more there.

Here's the skin right after:

And here it is about an hour later:

And this is a full day later:

Pretty well healed up from the pricks. The hives are less obvious, and I will say that this patch has not bothered me at ALL since the treatment. Unfortunately, the patch in the more sensitive area is still crazy itchy. CRAZY itchy. It could be that I didn't tap as hard, since it hurt more. I even tapped that area for a second time today without success. It still itches!!

I will continue to monitor the patch on my hip to see if the itch returns. I'm not sure what to make of this PUPPPs treatment. It seems very effected for the patch on my hip but hasn't improved the patch in the sensitive area at all.

I guess I would recommend giving it a try, provided you understand the risk of infection and consult with your doctor/midwife ahead of time! I'll let you know if my condition changes in the near future! I'd be quite curious to hear if any of you try it and how it turns out! Please be careful in your efforts!

UPDATE: It's been roughly a week since I tested the hammer, and here's the status...The patch on my hip has disappeared. There is no itch in that spot. However, two patches cropped up right next to that patch. I don't know if it's related to using the hammer, but they sure do itch. I'm considering trying the hammer on them too. Now, the patch in the "sensitive" area is just as itchy as ever, maybe more. I don't understand why it appeared to work in one place but not the other. Very strange. I will post an additional update if I decide to test it again.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Roughly two weeks after the first hammer test, I decided to give it a go again.  I had developed two additional patches on my hip, right next to the original patch. I pulled out the hammer and followed the same steps as before. It's been 3 days since I did this, and those patches are nearly gone! You can tell there used to be rash there, but there are no raised hives, and they do not itch. I'm more and more convinced that there might be something to this remedy! 

A laugh

They say it's the best medicine, right? Let's see what it does for our itch...

So true, right?

Pretty much how I feel. Allergic to my own self. 

When you get the spot...

And last but not least...this is so accurate...

(click here to see it bigger)

Polls

I realized that everyone who views my blog via the mobile version misses my polls! If you scroll to the bottom and click on "view web version," you'll be able to see my polls on the right hand side of the page. I have a couple of questions about PUPPPs there, and while they aren't scientific, the results are really interesting! Thanks for stopping by!

The Delay & My Current Treatment Routine

I'm sorry for the delay in the Seven Star Needle test! I've had the wonderful problem of not having a good enough patch of rash to try it on! I anticipate my rash flaring up again in a week or so if it sticks to it's previous pattern. I will be testing it as soon as that happens!

In the mean time, I'm so pleased that my current rash routine is helping! I will soon need to write baby #4's story and tell you all about it! In case you can't wait (and I know what it is to be in a desperate place!!), here is a quick list that I'll elaborate on later.

• Dandelion root capsules: 800 mg 1-2x/day (Oregon's Wild Harvest brand)
• Daily probiotics (Biokult brand)
• Daily superfood supplement (Dr. Schulze brand)
• Magnesium supplement (Professional Formulas Note: I haven't ordered from this website. I buy from a relative, so I am not endorsing this seller. I just wanted you to have a link where you could read more about it.)
• Liquid chlorophyll supplement (Nature's Sunshine brand)
• Topical essential oil treatment that I came up with recently.

The probiotics, superfood, magnesium, and liquid chlorophyll are not specifically for PUPPPs. Those are just my normal vitamin routine, but you never know what is helping! 

The dandelion root capsules and the essential oils are the only things I'm doing specifically for PUPPPs, and they really seem to be helping!

A more detailed post is in the works. :) 

Worldwide Web of PUPPPs

I'm often surprised by the variety of places in the world that visit the blog. I thought you'd be interested to know as well. People all over the world are suffering from PUPPPs! Thanks for stopping by, far away visitors! I hope you find some relief for your rash!

United States

Canada

United Kingdom

Australia

New Zealand

Finland

Guam

Poland

Germany

Ukraine

Hungary

India

Philippines

Norway

Taiwan

The Netherlands

Pakistan 

Saudi Arabia

Ireland

France

Slovakia

Mexico

Japan

Sweden

Switzerland 

Bosnia

Egypt

South Korea

Seven Star Needle Has Arrived!

All the way from China! And a full week before it was expected! Way to go, Amazon!

Here's what the box looked like upon arrival. Anyone know what that says?

And here's what was inside the box...

Um, yikes!! This may prove to be my craziest PUPPPs remedy yet!

Ok, now I must seriously commence research on how to do this right! I can see a big potential for infection. Plus, I only have one, and I don't want to mess it up and have to wait another 2 1/2 weeks for the slow boat from China! I'll get right on that research and hope to post about how it went soon! 

Essential Oil Journey

I'm embarking on a research journey. 

Actually, I've been on the journey for a little while now. I started getting into essential oils when I was pregnant with my first. I made a stretch mark belly butter with lovely smelling oils to prevent scarring. To this day, I've never gotten a stretch mark, though I suspect that has a lot to do with my genetics. 

These days, I use essential oils on a daily basis in my homemade baby wipes and in my homemade deodorant. 

My handy, 2 inch thick reference book. 

It was only recently that I thought of using essential oils for PUPPPs. (How that escaped me for the first 3 bouts with PUPPPs, I do not know...) A reader recently commented that she was finding a little success in small tests with tea tree oil. This inspired me to let you know that I have been in the process of developing and testing a blend of essential oils for my rash. I'm still researching the safety of all the oils, as I want to make sure I know what there is to know on that subject before I start promoting the idea. I'm also testing, testing, testing. I've gone through a LOT of oils! 

Through all my looking, I've only found 2 essential oil products for PUPPPs. The reviews are compelling! (Although, I bet the ladies that it doesn't help aren't as likely to give a reiew at all.) 

I'm guessing that as essential oils are kind of an up and coming thing lately, a lot of people don't even know to try them. 

I'd love to hear your feedback...have you tried essential oils for your PUPPPs rash? Any luck?

Black Cherry Juice Update

I've been testing the Black Cherry Juice remedy for a couple weeks now, and I DO feel like I'm seeing some positive results!

Here's a little info link about why the highly anti-inflammatory Black Cherry Juice is helpful: Black Cherry Juice Info

And here's the gist: Black Cherry Juice contains anthocyanins, a type of antioxidant that helps to block enzymes that cause inflammation. As well we know, PUPPPs is quite the inflammatory process. So, there does seem to be some science behind why this tasty remedy may help!

And boy, is it tasty! Tastes just like eating the canned cherries from my Grandpa's farm when I was a little girl.

I've been drinking 8 oz a day for about 2 weeks. I wasn't consistent at first, due to traveling, but I have been very consistent this last week, and my rash looks quite a bit better. The itch is less severe as well. Unfortunately, it's hard to say whether that is just the natural pattern of my PUPPPs taking its course or the juice really helping. But I'm pretty sure it can't be hurting, and it tastes so good!

I would highly recommend giving it a try!!

This is the brand I'm drinking, in case you're curious. 

You know you have PUPPPs when...

It's mosquito season where I live. Pesky buggers.

BUT, you know you have PUPPPs when the mosquito bites barely itch in comparison to your rash.

My poor little girls have quite a few bites, complain about the itch, and I really don't have very much sympathy. Sorry, kiddos! Mommy knows what it's like to really itch.

Let's see...how else do you know you have PUPPPs...

You might have PUPPPs if...you're medicine cabinet is full of every over-the-counter itch cream known to man.

You might have PUPPPs if...it looks like the drug store exploded on your bedside table.

You might have PUPPPs if...you've considered joining a nudest colony just to avoid the hassle of clothing.

You might have PUPPPs if...you've fantasized about swimming in the ocean all day long.

You might have PUPPPs if...you seek out privacy in public places just to scratch the "awkward" spots.

You might have PUPPPs if...you have your dermatologist in your favorite contact list.

Got any to add? Feel free to comment!!

Current Discussions: Facebook Support Group

In my perusal of the PUPPPs Facebook community, I came across a pretty active group. For those of you on Facebook, this may be a good way to get your questions answered by other PUPPPs sufferers. It seems to get a lot of traffic. 

Here's a link: Facebook PUPPPs Support Group

Reader Comment: Do iron supplements play a role in PUPPPs?

Hello PUPPPs community,

I received a comment from a reader that I thought deserved more attention and input. She noticed a correlation with beginning an iron supplement and the development of her PUPPPs. While I haven't personally experienced this, I'm quite curious if any of you have! Please comment on this post and let her know if you have or have not experienced anything similar!

Here is her comment (You can see her original comment on my Current Discussion Forums Post.):

"There is a consistent discussion on the fact that PUPPPs could be related to the liver (hence I am running out on my lunch break to get some dandilion tea, etc. today to start that treatment). But, I wanted to know if others were originally prescribed iron supplements. This is my second pregnancy. I didn't have PUPPPs during my first. The only difference is that about a month ago, I was instructed to begin iron supplements, since I was severely anemic. I stopped taking the supplements yesterday, and I am hoping this may clear up the symptoms. Are you taking any iron supplements?"

That Wild Eyed Look

My rash is going through a flare-up right now, and apparently it's obvious to my husband. He says he can tell when it's getting bad, because I get a desperate, wild-eyed look when I'm scratching. I didn't even realize I did that!

But now that He mentions it, it's a pretty good indicator. I wish I knew what factors played into the flare-ups! Once a month, it gets pretty bad for a week or so and then calms down. I'm not pleased that this current flare-up coincides with a week of weather in the upper 90's and our ventilation system going on the fritz. 

It's going to be quite a week. 

By the way, I'm in the midst of testing the black cherry juice remedy! I'll post an update after I've given it a chance for a little while longer. 

Joined Facebook

I deleted my personal facebook page months ago. I was spending WAY too much time on it. But I created a PUPPPs facebook page to continue to spread the word about the rash and create another place for people to talk about it. I have no friends or followers yet (poor me!), so have pity on me and like my page. :)

Here it is:

PUPPPs Relief Facebook Page

Patterns in PUPPPs

Has anyone else noticed a pattern with their rash?

I've had PUPPPs for 3 months now, and I've noticed that once a month, it gets worse. For the most part, my routine keeps it under control, but it has peaked 3 times since the start. At each peak, a new patch starts in a new place! 

That makes me wonder if the inflammatory response in my skin is somehow related to hormone fluctuations. Anybody else experience this?

I Finally Made the Order

I did it! I ordered a seven star needle!

"What on earth is that??" You may ask?

Here's an excerpt from my "Treatments I've Tried" post...

Chinese Medicine 7 Star Needle: supposedly complete healing relief
This is a bizarre one! I recently found out about this treatment through puppps.org. It uses a Chinese medicine device designed to treat hives. Here's a pic...

Crazy looking, no? Apparently, you tap the hive until it starts to bleed, and then that hive NEVER itches again. The testimony on puppps.org is really compelling!!! Otherwise, I don't think I'd even consider this treatment! You can find videos on youtube if you want to see the treatment in action. I'm currently building up the courage to order one from amazon. I'll let you know!

Well, I finally ordered one! $5 on amazon with free shipping. That's pretty cheap if it truly gets rid of the rash. The shipping was abominably slow, sadly. It'll probably be 3-4 weeks before it arrives, but when it does, I'll test it on myself and let you know!

My PUPPPs Story: Baby #3

Baby #3 was my worst case of PUPPPs.

At 15 weeks, the first patch of rash started up in the exact same place as before. I knew what was coming. I couldn't believe it had started so early. I was distraught but still mildly hopeful that the dandelion root would kick it before it got bad.

The belly at 15 weeks, just as the rash began.

No luck. 

It spread, and it spread fast. At 17 weeks, I was in tears. I was bloodied from scratching and not sleeping. I could not perform daily tasks like dressing or meal prep without scratching. It was not something self-control could manage. Once again, I could not NOT scratch! It felt like bugs were crawling under my skin! I was puffy and red all over! I couldn't stand it when anyone touched me, especially my children. 

I could not fathom 5 months of it ahead of me. I was already close to losing my mind. 

So, I let go of any resolve I once had to avoid steroids, and I made an emergency appointment at the dermatologists. (See this post for more details on that.) I bet dermatologists don't get many requests for emergency appointments! 

After many curious staff at the office were sufficiently impressed by my predicament, I got my prescription for topical steroids. Triamcinolone was to be my rescue. And it was.

Mine looked a lot like this. This is not a picture of my tub-o-cream, just a very similar one. 

I went through more than one tub. 

After two days of intense introductory treatments designed to super-saturate my skin with the drug, the rash started lessening. I was beginning to feel relief and a touch of sanity returning. I was SO VERY relieved. The thought had crossed my mind that the steroids might not work, and I didn't know what I'd do! So, finding relief was such a relief!

I continued to use the cream daily throughout the pregnancy. My rash never completely disappeared. It was only tamed. However, I could function, and I could sleep, and I was content with that. I hated to be taking a drug that had no conclusive safety record in pregnancy, but I was sure I'd have been put in some kind of mental facility without it. No exaggeration. 

After I gave birth to my 3rd sweet little girl, my rash did worsen for a month before it cleared up. This was a first for me, but the steroid cream did seem to help keep it from reaching an intolerable state. It disappeared completely after that.

Baby Girl #3, tiny bundle of love.

As far as my body was concerned, I noticed very few side effects from the cream. My skin did become very thin feeling where I used the cream the most. It was delicate. It would bleed easier if I scratched too hard. But that was it. 

My baby, on the other hand, was another story. She was SO yeasty. She had yeast in every fold of skin. The worse areas were her underarms, neck folds, and diaper area. Red skin with a cheesy discharge. We tried quite a few different over the counter things, natural treatments, and one prescription. All of these were topical things and ineffective.  That yeast was stubborn! 

As she got older and had fewer skin folds, it got a little better, but it still hung on. When she started eating solid food, I began a special diet for her. I had researched a bunch and decided she needed gut healing. Babies are colonized with whatever bacteria mommy has in her and on her on their way out into the world. Steroids change your body chemistry and make a happy environment for yeast. While I didn't experience any noticeable yeast symptoms, I'm sure I was harboring a ton of yeast at the time of the birth. They made their home on (and in!) my unsuspecting infant. 

Since yeast is usually a problem that is not just skin deep (it loves the digestive tract), I decided we'd try to heal baby's problem from the inside out. We put her on the GAPS diet (GAPS stands for Gut and Psychology/Physiology syndrome). It's a grain-free diet that uses a lot of bone broth and probiotic food. You can find more info on the GAPS diet here and here. Please comment and let me know if you'd like a post with more details on how we did the diet. 

She remained on the diet for roughly 6 months, and her yeasty rash issues finally cleared up! It was not an easy fix, but it was worth doing.

 Happy yeast-free toddler just after her first birthday.

So, that's baby #3's story, from the beginning of the rash to the cure of the side effects from the steroids. It was quite an ordeal. 

With this current pregnancy, I really didn't want a repeat of the steroid experience. And I haven't needed them yet! At nearly 25 weeks along, I've had PUPPPs for 10 weeks now. I think I've finally figured out a routine that works for me, and I look forward to compiling a summary of it in another post with #4's story!

Disclaimer: I am not recommending the particular drug that worked for me. Please talk to your doctor before starting any course of treatment! 

A Silver Lining to the Common Cold

That's an unlikely post title, no?

I know this is my PUPPPs blog, but I'm living with the itch AND a cold right now, so I may as well tell you about it. 

It's a little crazy, but the fever, aches, sore throat, and completely plugged sinuses have taken my mind off the itching! I'm rather miserable, but less itching is definitely a silver lining.

So, here I am in the middle of summer, hunkered in my hoodie and fleece jammies...researching the common cold. Ironic.

Now, let's be logical, if you're reading this because you have PUPPPs, you are about to or already do have children in the house. Children, the little germ factories, are the main way adults get infected. They're worth it, trust me. But with children in the house, you are going to become quite accustomed to colds, so you might as well buff up on your sniffly knowledge. 

I came across a fascinating webpage all about the common cold from Cardiff University in the UK. Here's a link to the article: link

Here's the run down in case you'd rather skip reading the full article. 

• Incubation period for the common cold is 2 days. Super short!
• You are most contagious when you have the early symptoms (sneezing, coughing, runny nose).
• The virus is commonly present in your nose and throat, but it doesn't take root unless your immune system takes a dive (like if you get stressed). 
• Your mother was right! Getting chilled can give you a cold! A study took roughly a hundred college kids and chilled their feet in ice water for a while. Compared to the control group, they were statistically way more likely to get a cold! Researchers believe the chilling of the feet constricts the blood vessels in the nose and throat, thereby lowering your immune reponse (due to the lack of immune system cells that would normally be present with the blood in that area!) The gist? You get cold, you're more likely to get a cold. This is also probably the reason colds are more common in fall and winter. 
• There are roughly 200 different viruses that causes common cold symptoms. Awesome. This means you can get one cold right after another. Your body will be immune the first cold, but not prepared to fight off the second one. 
• Symptoms usually last 7-14 days. 
• You'll first feel sick where the first viruses attach themselves. If it's in your nose, you'll probably get a runny nose first. If it's in your throat, you'll get a dry scratchy throat. 
• Many infections don't cause symptoms. The virus takes root, but your body fights it off before you start to feel sick. Come on, body! Why didn't we do that this time?! 
• You can't tell the difference between a cold and a flu based on the symptoms. They can act very similar. A flu is often worse than a cold. There are some laboratory tests for the flu. 
• Your nose doesn't actually get blocked with snot. It gets plugged up, because the blood vessels in your nose swell up. It gets all inflamed in there, and then the tiniest amount of mucous blocks the rest. Lovely. 

(Image from the Cardiff University website for common cold info)

Well, after all that, I'd say our trip to the beach was our downfall. We all got chilly in that blissfully cool air. And then we all got sick. It sure felt good! Next time, I'll bundle up better. 

Greetings from the sick house

What do you do when you have PUPPPs, crazy seasonal allergies, and 3 kiddos with a nasty cold?

Not much. 

Sorry for the brief hiatus in posts. 

Skin brushing

File this one under humor. Or irony. 

I'm always on the look-out for itchy skin cures. I got a tip to look into dry skin brushing, and off I went to google. 

At first, I was rather intrigued. OooOooo, I thought. It's supposed to increase circulation and help move lymph? Well, that's great for detoxing! This could be an awesome addition to my PUPPPs treatment routine! And it helps minimize cellulite also? Bonus! 

Here's a link that describes it's benefit in more detail: dry skin brushing

Other itchy people even seemed to like it! Eczema sufferers were touting it's benefits: dry brushing for eczema

I did run across some skeptics. This article had a few quotes from dermatologists that were not super confident in the miraculous claims that the skin brushing fans were spouting: NY Times article

After taking it all in, I examined the nitty gritty more closely. And I laughed. 

Ok, so, step 1 seemed to be getting a naturally bristled brush (like my trusty boar-bristled favorite). Check. 

Step 2. Starting at the ends of your extremities, brush towards your heart. Hmm. Ok. Simple enough. I'm already using my hairbrush to scratch like crazy, so I'm half way there!

Then the cautions. Be sure to avoid current outbreaks of any rashes (like eczema...and PUPPPs!?) or sensitive areas. Haha! 

So then, where does the miserable PUPPPs sufferer have left to brush??? One's fingernails?? The tips of our noses??

Uh huh. 

Well, perhaps skin brushing to cure PUPPPs is out. I am curious if anyone out there has used it successfully in their non-itchy lives to good effect. Any miraculous cellulite disappearances? Anyone?

And that is how my evening of research turned into a wry chuckle. Goodnight, fellow itchy people!

Beating the Heat (and the itch)

At home, it's been close to 100 degrees. Heat & PUPPPs just don't mix. However, at the coast, it's been in the 60's. Yes, please!!

I wish it was possibly for all PUPPPs mommas to head to the chilly ocean for a stretch. I don't have much advice to offer in this post except the encouragement to stay cool this summer! 

So chilly we had to be bundled up. Yay!

Pelicans! 

Sea anemones. They closed up when you poked them. 

Starfish. I wonder who munched his 5th leg?

And the all-time beach fave, salt water taffy. Absolutely delightful. 

I'd like to thank the icy water and the brisk wind for their soothing anti-itch properties! Spending the whole summer at the beach sounds pretty nice right now!