Itching with liver disease.: I've been... - British Liver Trust

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Itching with liver disease.

Gringo8675 profile image
18 Replies

I've been having a pricking feeling that goes away with rubbing. Occasionally a classic itch, Primarily on arms, legs, and face. It always gets worse at night. Is this what the itch feels like for those of you with confirmed liver disease? I haven't found anything that actually describes what the feeling is like.

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Gringo8675 profile image
Gringo8675
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18 Replies
jojokarak profile image
jojokarak

For me it was intense itching and it was constantly and I had to have constant showers or something cold to ease it. So it doesn't sound like the same it sounds more like prickly heat to me, but I would go to your gp to get checked out 😉

Gringo8675 profile image
Gringo8675 in reply tojojokarak

This has gone on for a couple of weeks now and I have no rash anywhere so I don't think that's it.

Bevmc profile image
Bevmc

I have PBC and my itch feels like something is crawling on me, I itch pretty much everywhere and mine is worse in the evening.

It's worth getting it checked out

Good luck

Gringo8675 profile image
Gringo8675 in reply toBevmc

I feel that too. It's mostly that prickly feeling but sometimes it feels like a small insect is crawling on my skin, not itching but just that light tingle. I'm perplexed as my LFT's came back within range, Billirubin was at 1.5 but not sure if that's enough to produce symptoms.

in reply toGringo8675

Hi

My Dr put me on fexofenadine which has really helped. Please take care, lots of love Lynne xxxx

LuckyLady999 profile image
LuckyLady999 in reply toBevmc

Hi Bev. I was like that before my transplant. It used to drive me mad. Aloe Veta cream really helped as did taking naltrexone.

ImmyR profile image
ImmyR

My daughter's itching was unbearable. Questran has really helped.

Faithfull profile image
Faithfull

Yes I get the same my gp gave me a cream it's really good you can also wash in it its called ZERODOUBLE it's in a tube it may not be good. For you but it's worth a try as the itch drives me insane

Gringo8675 profile image
Gringo8675 in reply toFaithfull

Is that how your "itch" felt? At the moment I'm having a lot of pins and needles/burning sensations. But also a light feel that something is crawling on my skin.

Faithfull profile image
Faithfull in reply toGringo8675

Yes I get same when I get out bath where I'm drying me skin looks burn or scratched for an hour

Gringo8675 profile image
Gringo8675

I appreciate all of the responses that you all have taken the time to write. But the purpose of my post was to ask what does the itch feel like for you?

LuckyLady999 profile image
LuckyLady999 in reply toGringo8675

Like something crawling on the skin.

Geodunson58 profile image
Geodunson58

My husband said that his itch just felt like a common itch. He didn't have dry skin or rash, but he would itch on one arm and he would scratch it, then it might move to his back, or his face, or leg. He said it was more inside out than outside. He had his transplant 6 weeks ago and no itch since.

Winnie73 profile image
Winnie73

Hi there, your post really struck a chord with me. I also have the itching you describe. Been going on for about a year now. I have a history of heavy drinking. I've had numerous blood tests done. All normal. Also a CT scan and ultrasound both normal. Wondered if you were any further forward finding out about the itching. It's driving me crazy not knowing what's causing it. Docs insist it's not my liver but I can't shake the feeling it is. Hope you are doing well.

Kind regards

Win.

Gringo8675 profile image
Gringo8675

Winnie,

I'm sorry I haven't been on here in a long time. As I posted before, about three months ago I got a fibroscan showing 7.2 kPA which is borderline F2 fibrosis. Unfortunately I relapsed the last couple of months and drank more than before...during this time I did itch occasionally along with severe bloating, increased spider veins, and nausea/vomiting.

I just got another fibroscan done this morning after a week sober and it showed 5.1 kPA which is mild or absent fibrosis. Not sure how that happened, maybe my liver healed a bit in the month I took off or maybe I did the last one too soon after stopping(2 days) either way I see it as good news. I now know I can't have just one or two drinks as that will risk a relapse of weeks/months of hard drinking. I hope the fibroscan is as accurate as advertised but regardless know that the only solution is to stop drinking completely.

Best,

Gringo

Winnie73 profile image
Winnie73 in reply toGringo8675

Thanks for your reply gringo. Only just seen it sorry! That's great news about your fibroscan. Has the itching gone now you've stopped drinking then?

LuckyLady999 profile image
LuckyLady999

I had PBC diagnosed when I was 30 and That is the type of itching I had for nearly 30 years. It was awful and always disturbed my sleep. Night time was always a nightmare. I had a night in hospital trialing Naltrexone and it really helped with the itch. I am 4 months post tx and the itching has completely gone. Using Aloe Vera cream also helped.

missunites profile image
missunites

when i was first diagnosed the itching was particularly bad on my back, I had to get some back scratchers, one upstairs, one downstairs and one in handbag. Its not too bad now but my lower arms itch and when i see where I been scratching its like bruising where the blood as come to the surface.

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