Sigh. I am having another eczema attack. The itch is truly unbearable.

Usually when it happens I pop one Piriton tablet (Chlorpheniramine Maleate 4mg) and that takes care of the itch - well until the next attack comes on. It says on the box that may cause drowsiness. Now I can take it when I am not pregnant and I am totally unaffected by it except that it brings pure relief from the itching.

But the moment I am pregnant, I can't take it coz it causes an extreme drowsiness that renders me totally useless! And its effects last a whole 24 hours!

There were a few times I was itching so bad I took one tablet before bed, thinking the worst of the side effects will take place at night. But woah! I was so groggy the next day that it was a complete write-off. So after a few times of struggling to get through each day, I swore that I would just grit my teeth and bear with the itch until it passes. (The non-drowsy antistamines are not safe for pregnant or lactating moms).

And of course avoid all the known triggers - shellfish and dust and stress!

The thing is I don't know what caused today's major itch! I hadn't eaten any shellfish since Sunday. I didn't dust today and I was relatively calm today. Hmm....could it be an overload of wheat?! We had waffles for breakfast and I was so hungry that I must have wolfed down 4 of them!  Perhaps it's time to lay off wheat again.

And let me tell you where the eczema spots are - my lips (yes, you read that right!) and the area between my ring and little finger of my left hand. Now a rash on my hand I can take but on my lips?! The vain person in me protests!!!

It was bad enough 3 years ago when I discovered that I couldn't wear lipstick or my lips will peel dreadfully but now, I have itching, cracked and swollen lips! Sure makes one feel ugly!

Now let me see what I have tried - EPO, Coconut Oil, Vit E, Fish Oil (oral and topical) and all sorts of creams that supposedly healed many, many people worldwide, except me! I am now a total sceptic when people tell me that  product x works. I am like - ya, right.

The sad part is that my oldest dd suffers along with me.  She has it a lot worse - on her elbows, behind her knees and her lips! And what makes me feel guilty is that I somehow must have caused it for her coz when I was pregnant with her, I had the most horrid outbreak ever.

It was as though whatever I lacked then was passed on to her in utero and that's why she has it now. And what worries me more is that if I can't manage to find out the cause of this attack, I am again, passing it on to the unborn baby!

 Do pray for us!

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Posted by momtosixsweeties

Is it that you just don't feel allergy meds are safe? I (and most other moms I know) routinely take various allergy meds when pregnant and nursing as it's important for me to keep my allergy induced asthma under control. My doctor and midwife have always been fine with it. Not trying to contradict you at all :o) Just curious! I hate it that you feel bad.

Posted by MamaLim

No, I am not a purist where meds are concerned :) But I was told by the dr and the pharmacist that I can only take piriton for my rashes. I tried just recently to check again, wondering if the rules have changed. But again, same answer :(

Maybe asthma meds are different? Best medicine is sleep!

Posted by Delci

HUGS HUGS HUGS to you. And I totally understand the kind of guilt you are feeling when our children has the same kind of allergies as us. (My mr E is like me :( and I'm praying that Ms Z will not have the same problem).

Posted by Anonymous

Serene, I just started reading your blog not too long ago and I look forward to reading every entry! I have had eczema ever since I was 5 or 6 yo and still suffer from it. I just wanted to mention that I can't wear lipsticks that contain SPF. Most lipsticks with no SPF is fine. It took me a long while to figure out what was causing my lips to peel with certain lipsticks, so I just wanted to mention it to you. Maybe give it a try after you give birth (and not so eczema-prone)? Anyway, I hope you feel better soon. I had horrible eczema with my first pregnancy, so bad that my OBGYN suggested inducing me for an earlier birth so as to stop my suffering!! Of course, I didn't do that. :P Take care. Lynnette (from Asiaparents)

Posted by sam

I've never had any relief for eczema from any type of antihistamines. Only those steriod creams would offer some relief.

But yeah, during pregnancy, the eczema seems to come on worse.

For me, I managed the dry cracking eczema well with the Kathy's Mango Lotion.

Posted by Anonymous

I have had a few issuing during pregnancy, eczema was not one of them, but the best treatment I found for anything I've suffered while pregnant was Acupuncture. I know it's out of the mainstream, but it's worked for me for migraines, middle ear infections after trying various antibiotics for almost 2 months, colds and allergies, etc. You'd be amazed at how our bodies can heal themselves if they are aligned right (chiropractic) and if the nervous system is properly communicating (acupuncture). God's design is awesome and rarely needs man-made drugs if it's aligned and communicating properly. If you have anyone near you that can do it, I'd highly recommend it.

My worst case was an inner ear infection with my 3rd pregnancy that ended up bursting my eardrums. I was deaf for two weeks. I had been to the doctor multiple times, been on various antibiotics with no relief from the pain, or the nausea caused by the imbalance issues associated with middle and inner ear infections. I was desperate and finally asked a friend who was studying acupuncture at the time if there was anything he could do. He gave me a treatment and within 24 hours it was completely gone!!!

With my migraines, some of which used to last for up to a week at a time, (the kind that you can't get out of bed due to light sensitivity and nausea) it worked even better. If I could catch it early in the process, within 10 minutes I was fine. If it was later, and the migraine was full blown, it would take up to 45 minutes after treatment to feel better. (I did have a "shadow" headache still at that point, but only if I waited until it was really bad before treatment.)

We had a mutual friend who had VERY bad allergies. She hadn't been able to breathe through her nose for at least 7 years due to sinus issues. He gave her one treatment and she could breathe through her nose for a few months before needing another treatment. Something no pill had been able to do. It really is amazing.

I'm not a person who is opposed to western medicine. My husband is a doctor. We take antibiotics, tylenol, ibuprofen, etc. It's just that we've found there ARE other options. Some of those options work as good or better without the side effects. Just something to think about.

When my friend started studying acupuncture and chiropractic, I was definitely a sceptic . . . definitely. It was only out of desperation that I gave it a try at all. (That and he needed someone to practice on and needles don't bother me, so I because his test "dummy". :) It didn't take long to win me over though. The evidence was in how much better it worked for me. Then I started thinking about it from a biblical sense. (I know it wasn't developed from a biblical perspective, but God is in control, and what Satan meant for evil, God meant for good.) We are fearfully and wonderfully made. God designed us so that our bodies can do wonderous things to heal themselves, without side effects or potential addictions to drugs (whether pain meds or allergy meds).

I know there are those out there who will NOT consider chiropractic or acupuncture and that's fine. (I used to be one of them :). I just try to pass on what I've learned and what the Lord has spoken to me.

God Bless and I pray you feel better soon.

Lisa Kiessling


Edited by MamaLim on Oct. 9, 2008 at 9:20 PM

Posted by MamaLim

Lisa that was an informative post and I am glad that you found an alternative treatment that helped you.

However, I will not be using accupuncture or any of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practices :)

My reason being that these practices are steeped in the Taoist beliefs of yin and yang as well as "chi"/"qi" (energy force) that as a Christian I do not wish to dabble in.

I have no doubt it works in some instances. Coz sometimes what they call blocked "chi" or energy paths is actually blocked lymph nodes or poor circulation.

In Singapore where I am, accupuncture as well as all the other forms of TCM are gaining much popularity even in hospitals but I still prefer not to get involved in it.

Thanks for your input. And thanks for dropping by!