Going crazy itching: Hello my name is... - British Liver Trust

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Going crazy itching

GSmith65 profile image
31 Replies

Hello my name is Gloria I have several diagnosis but I really feel like I have not been properly diagnosed. I believe something is wrong with my liver. I have a all over body itch that is intense I am losing my mind. It is ebery night and even during the day if I sweat at all.I have several open sores as a result of itching. I punch myself, Kick my legs, scratch until I am bleeding, cry, and yell out. I can't communicate how incredibly bad it is. If I owned a gun I would consider using it. My doctor trys to tell me that I have OCD please understand that I do not. There is nothing that helps. I also have jaundice. My eyes itch and are yellow. I have had visual changes that get worse as the day goes on. I have to per a lot. Sometimes I can't make it to the bathroom. No doctor will check my liver and I think it is due to bad insurance. I have a chronic skin rash. I am very tired all the time. Any advice would be appreciated.

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GSmith65
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31 Replies
carmik profile image
carmik

Hi r u in the uk

If so you are entitled to be seen at a hospital.your symptons do sound very much liver related.

You can always attend a &e and you wil have 2 b seen

Let us know

GSmith65 profile image
GSmith65 in reply to carmik

No I live in Nebraska. I wish I had better insurance. I can't find a doctor that will accept what I have. Do you know anything about how the liver affects white and red blood cells.. I am also anemic, and deficient in vitamin D and B12. Is that common in liver disease?

Thank you for answering

carmik profile image
carmik in reply to GSmith65

Liver disease can affect just about everything.

Can you not see another doctor?

Garyvh profile image
Garyvh in reply to GSmith65

Yes, very common in liver disease.

GSmith65 profile image
GSmith65 in reply to Garyvh

Thank you. Do you know if Liver disease and kidney diseases usually happen at the same time? And if so what one is usually affected first? I just learned a medication I have been taking for over 30 years is known to cause kidney and Liver disease in people who have taken it long term. Is the horrible itching related to both organs?.

Cat-B profile image
Cat-B in reply to GSmith65

Have you tried antihistamines? It sounds like your jaundice is the key, you need to be seen by a liver dr. So glad we have the NHS! Has your tummy swollen?

GSmith65 profile image
GSmith65 in reply to Cat-B

Yes a few different antihistamines and they did not work. The only thing that gives a little relief is cold packs. But they also prevent me from sleeping. Some of you have experienced the horrible itching and mentioned that you have damaged your skin. Three years ago I suffered a chemical exposure at the custodial job I had. A acid cleaner used in a machine rained down on me. It got on my right forearm and left hand and wrist. My skin opened up and began to bleed. A few days later sores began to appear and I ended up with a MRSA staff infection. It spread to several places on my body. My skin has never fully healed. I am believing it won't heal due to possible kidney or liver disease. Is it common to sores to not heal? I have been on some very strong antibiotics for it but won't fully heal. Like I said my many symptoms get treated but no doctor has ran tests.

Cat-B profile image
Cat-B in reply to GSmith65

Yes! I was very anaemia and bruised. I have to take thiamine and eat a high calorie high protein diet and I take vit D3. You can help the anaemia by drinking fresh orange juice with your meals

mncold profile image
mncold in reply to GSmith65

Hi GSmith65,

One thing I have done, is call my insurance Customer Service number to see if they can/will give me suggestions on doctors and hospitals on their lists that can help with my specific needs or concerns. I don't know if you have tried that, but if you have not that may be helpful for you.

Best wishes,

Mary

GSmith65 profile image
GSmith65

I am.trying to find one that will take my insurance. The doctors I have seen are not in the network. Even the ones I was able to.see put very strict time limits and won't run test. They try to get me out fast. I am a mess and at my wits end.

Worried546 profile image
Worried546

Sorry to hear about this. I’m no help medically but just wanted to express my shock at your treatment!

It makes me feel so lucky to have the NHS and have any treatment available at no cost without any forms or ‘insurance’. I can’t believe it is even ethical to turn people away because they don’t have the ‘right’ insurance?! It is madness that that happens and I didn’t think it did!

GSmith65 profile image
GSmith65 in reply to Worried546

Thank you so much! I had to look up NHS to fully understand your reply. I honestly cried. I knew at least one person understood what I am going through. I feel very alone, scared, and sick. The free clinics here have very kind volunteers but they are extremely limited as to what they can do. They can't do anything that requires a lab such as blood work, cultured, and Xrays. They pretty much just treat symptoms and for children vaccines. The volunteer have told me I need a primary care physician and sympathize when I explain but can't or won't refer or assist me in finding one. I have out of desperation gone to the hospital emergency room for the horrible itching and sores that I have. They gave me a prescription for antibiotics because the sores get infected and send me home. A few weeks later I got a very big bill. Thank you again for understanding. I will keep trying but dare I say I sometimes just cry because I absolutely know something is very wrong with me and I believe if or when I do get a doctor that cares it could be too late.

Worried546 profile image
Worried546 in reply to GSmith65

Yes, that’s awful! I didn’t realise that people could actually be turned away. Any type of healthcare in the UK has nothing to do with what you can pay for and everyone receives the same care and access. It sounds like things are really tough for you at the moment and I hope you manage to get everything figured out, sorry I couldn’t be of more help

Nonnie08 profile image
Nonnie08

Hi GS I am very sorry to hear about your predicament. It must be so frustrating. I have gone through the same thing with the unbearable itching low red blood count vitamin D deficient, vitamin B deficient and anemia. My lab results and my blood work was all over the place . The doctors gave me my diagnosis in August of 20 16 after doing a liver panel. I have stage 4 liver disease which is cirrhosis. One big difference that I see between us is that I'm fortunate to not be yellow yet and also I had ascites extremely bad. Are you experiencing any swelling in your abdomen? All you really need to start with is a simple blood test to see how your liver is doing. It sounds to me like you definitely have some liver issues going on and the sooner you get to see a doctor the better. Do you have any family around that can help you? The itching could possibly be caused from elevated phosphorus levels. I will pray for you that you get to see someone soon. Keep us informed

GSmith65 profile image
GSmith65 in reply to Nonnie08

It is good to have this kind of information. I will be writing some of this stuff down so if I decide to visit ER again I can tell them I need help. Can you tell me if Kidney disease and Liver disease usually happen together? If you have disease in one of those organs is the other also affected? I did some researh today. I have a medication that I have been taking for over 30 years. There have been times where I went off it for a while but then went back on it. I had gastric bypass surgery around 34 years ago. Back then it was 5 days in intensive care and considered major surgery. Anyway the surgery causes Malabsorption syndrome so medications sometimes go through my system to fast. For this reason I am often prescribed higher than average doses of medication. The med I have taken for over 30 years is one I take a higher dose of. My researh has shown me that long term use of this medication has been linked to both kidney and Liver disease. I really think there is a connection. But wonder if both might be affected. Would the symptoms be the same?

Mandy1983 profile image
Mandy1983

I have chronic urtacaria .along with Advanced stage 4 liver disease due to pills. Urtacaria is meaning a chronic case of itching / hives .which can be due to liver, kidney or allergic reaction to tablets foods ( spices) fizzy pok of any kind, cordials, HEAT and even extreme cold, I've suffered with the urtacaria since I was 26 and went to gran canaria.They said because it was so hot ( private specialsts) it had over heated my blood causing it to liver boil and leave this condition with me,it was 120 degrees.since then it was a nightmare UNTILthey diagnosed it a year later or so .meaning an epic pen 😘😊or tablets called disloratidine an lanzopraziole where the only things to sort me out back to a sort of level I can cope with.iff you have a simple water test done and you have protein in your water then that's a sign aswell as blood tests too .They can see from blood testing off your liver or kidneys or both are toxic and have protein .also your GGT 4 GAMMA LIVER ,AST,ALT AND LIVER TESTS CAN BE DONE AN CHECK YOUR KIDNEYS TOO BY THIS METHED OFF THEY ARE RAISED ABOVE THE NORMAL YOU WILL know iff there's a liver problem or kidney .or allergic reaction to drugs and food / drink .as it poisons liver an kidneys like ketones. I really feel for you as I've been there and iff I took alot of different pills it would know my cell count off as I'm also nutrapenic .meaning I'm allergic/ adverse reaction to the drugs.i have to watch everything .avoid foods and drinks like I mentioned before it has got much better with the pills I take .but sounds to me like that urtacaria due to pills and liver / kidneys.it obviously means NO ALCOHOL NO HEAT OR EXTREME COLD.AND A BETTER DIET OF PILLS OR FOODS AND NO FIZZY STUFF AT ALL REALLY .IT WILL KICK IT ALL OFF.YELLOWING WAS THE JAUNDICE I GOT WHICH POISONS THE liver with toxins as it can't rid itself of the TOXINS .TRY GETTING TESTED An I hope you are ok hun .

GSmith65 profile image
GSmith65 in reply to Mandy1983

I have become incredibly sensitive to warm weather and the sweating is so bad it is embarrassing. I drip from the top of my head. I had to cut my long hair as I could not stand it. The extreme cold is difficult to deal with too but not as bad as the heat. My skin has become very sensitive to everything. Even to products I have always used. I wash only with baby soap. Thank you for sharing with me. The information is helpful.

Mandy1983 profile image
Mandy1983 in reply to GSmith65

Yes it's ok .no perfumed anything or linalool or lanolin. Scented nothing all natural only or you will itch more.sounds just like urtacaria. Get help in case it's liver too or kidneys

dizti profile image
dizti

Hiya,

To answer your question if you can have kidney and liver disease at the same time the answer is yes. When my husband was in hospital he had acute liver failure and acute kidney failure. Also I made friends with a girl whos mum tried to take her own life through pills. Her mums kidneys failed and that in turn caused her liver to fail. I am really hoping you can get someone to look into your symptoms! xx

Mel2637 profile image
Mel2637

I live in Indiana about 8 years ago I went to emergency. room with food poisoning I had low potassium extremely anemic and had lost 3 pints of blood through my stool which I never saw anything. Liver specialist said that is possible if blood loss is slow over long period of time. I have type 2 diabetes and that is where my cirrhosis came from. I have blood work done every 4 months for my diabetes nothing ever showed up that there was a problem with my liver so it went on for years with me not knowing I had a serious problem. At emergency room they did cat scan of my liver and that is when I found out about my cirrhosis. I was shocked cause I thought you got that from drinking and I do not drink so far I do not have problems with kidneys but do have varices in my stomach and esophagus. Maybe you could say you have food poisoning to see if they will do cat scan. That will show any liver problems. Type 2 diabetes can cause a lot of organ problems. I hope you get some answers.

GSmith65 profile image
GSmith65 in reply to Mel2637

Thank you very much! I might try that. When they did your cat scan did you have good insurance? I used to live in Michigan and until I moved to Nebraska and started having health problems I did not know how different you could be treated from one state to the next.

Mel2637 profile image
Mel2637

I had anthem I was still working now retired I have medicare and United healthcare. My liver specialist is very good and caring. I hope you can get the help you need. I will keep you in my prayers. Keep me informed as to how you are doing.

Angelann69 profile image
Angelann69

If the palms of your hands and the bottoms of your feet are the worst of the itchiness, it's for sure liver problems. Have you had blood work done? That's an important key. I hate it when doctors blamed my now confirmed illnesses of being in my head. Keep pushing. You need an answer to whatever this is.

GSmith65 profile image
GSmith65 in reply to Angelann69

Thank you my hands are not too bad but my feet itch as much as the rest of me and that is a lot! My feet also burn. I will rub hand sanitizer on them when they burn and that helps for a little while. Yes the few doctors I have seen immediately jump to the conclusion that if I just didn't scratch everything would be fine. They pass this judgement without doing any blood work or tests. It is like they look at my chart and go with whatever the last doctor said. I am starting to get desperate. I am a grandma for the first time. I want to be in this world as long as possble to be a part of her life. Yes I would want to live even if not a grandma but I have a renewed sense of purpose and I have not felt that way in a long time. I hope you understand what I am trying to say. I am not a person that ever needed to see a doctor much but for the past 4 years. I never had skin issue ever and now I my skin is in horrible shape. I have been diagnosed with asthma but have never smoked and no family history. Also with fibromyalgia because of extreme lower back pain. Osteoarthritis also back pain and hand deformity. High blood pressure extreme anxiety and depression all in past 4 years. I really think they look for quick easy answers. And now due to bad insurance they don't even look. Thank you for your support and input.

Mandy1983 profile image
Mandy1983 in reply to GSmith65

Asthma you say ??? Could be hives off breathing us bad urtacaria makes you anaphylactic too be careful hospital treated me many times for that .The only way to properly know is have your histamine levels checked and bloods for ggt liver and kidneys tested .I feel for you

Yaalb profile image
Yaalb

Try personalabs.com there you can order your own liver function test for 47 dollars.

7fht23 profile image
7fht23

Hi, I have had a similar itching problem. I thought I had liver disease, but I had some food intolerance tests done and I turned out to have 5 intolerances. I still have itching but am gradually improving. Not saying that this is what you have, but on the off-chance it might be worth checking out to see if it could ease your symptoms any.

GSmith65 profile image
GSmith65

Thank you all for being so kind. I am finally going to see a doctor on Friday. I am at the point that I just want a concrete diagnosis. Maybe I can get well. She will be my primary care physician. If anybody has any advice on what bloodwork should be done that can best detect kidney disease please let me know. Also if there is a different kind test that I should request. My guess is that she will start with the blood work. Thank you.

GSmith65 profile image
GSmith65

😔

Cobwebs profile image
Cobwebs

I find salt water incredibly soothing. Posh sea salt is so expensive so I tried dissolving dishwasher salt in my bath. I got in to the bath with a burning itch and got out feeling cool and soft. To be fair I was desperate!! I, also, have psoriasis so a bath is a rare treat. 🤓

Thistle09 profile image
Thistle09

Have you tried cortisone cream? In the U.S. you can buy it without a prescription in any drug store and often in grocery stores. It's not expensive. Buy the "house" brand -- a LOT of it! You might also try Eucerin creme and Aquaphor (comes in a very thick ointment and a creme).

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