I want to scratch my calves off! 😬 😱

[Porphyriamaniac]

The itching you get with liver disease, can it be localised or is it always all over? I could happily scratch my calves off, no amount of scratching takes the itch away! I've had this a while but is a lot worse lately. There's no rash or anything, it feels like it's under the skin and unitchable! Driving me nuts.... Partners grandma itched all over but she was dying of cirrhosis, god bless her. I wonder if it might start like this? Any advice or tips for relief welcome! Thanks for listening, Stacie. Xxxx

[Hidden]

Shins for me Stacie. Dermol in the shower and then Medihoney cream from the GP, can you take Fenafaxadine? It is a antihistamine.

Still itching but not driving me around the bend.

[Porphyriamaniac in reply to Hidden]

Yeah mines shins too, all lower leg area really, I've made them bleed ☹. I've got dermol for the porphyria to stop blisters getting infected, not tried it on the legs though. I can take antihistamine I think. Do you think it's the liver then? Thanks so much Mark, I'll give it a try 😊 xxx

[Hidden in reply to Porphyriamaniac]

Hi

I too take fexofenadine 180mg which works for me xxxx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Lynne,

Thanks for the tip, you got me to ask!

Grateful xxx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

You are very welcome. Take care Lynne

[Porphyriamaniac in reply to Hidden]

I'll give it a go Lynne, I'll give anything a go! 😁 xxxx

[Hidden in reply to Porphyriamaniac]

You can use the dermol all over. Ask about the Fenafaxadine. I am no doctor but at a guess, it’s the liver.

Anything is worth a try. Manuka Honey cream is good but not on prescription and it’s bloody expensive. The doctors have an arsenal of creams, throw the lot at the problem.

Good luck Stacie.

[Porphyriamaniac in reply to Hidden]

I'll try the dermol and over the counter antihistamines maybe, if that doesn't help I'll go see the Dr. Thanks again. 🙂 xxx

[Hidden in reply to Porphyriamaniac]

No problem Stacie 🙂xx

[Owlie]

Hi, mine was really bad in my calves only stopped when I ate healthily!

[briccolone]

Hi I get itching ocasionally due to fatty liver and it's always on the calves or on the instep-I don't take medication for it-it seems to go away. This first happened when I stopped drinking and eventualy cleared up after 10 days or so- I put it down to the toxins being cleared out-but most likely due to the bile ducts freeing up.

[jules45]

Hi, I'm at end stage liver disease ànd I've got a very itchy right shin and as you've said its unscratchable. Mine's a funny colour like a bruise so your not on your own

Thanks for raising the issue

Julie x

[Hidden in reply to jules45]

Jules,

I was end stage decompensated and the skin went grey and well, scaly.

That all cleared up post transplant along with the oedema. The mycophenalate is now response for the itching, shins again. But the colour is normal, as long as I don’t itch.

Are you waiting for the call?

Mark.

[jules45 in reply to Hidden]

Hi, I've been accepted for the transplant assessment process then the waiting game. Does a swollen tummy go down after transplant as I've a huge spleen and liver xxx thanks mark

[Hidden in reply to jules45]

It is great for the weight loss, it all goes down. Do you have ascities?

I can not speak for the spleen though.

Good luck with the wait, no doubt you already have the phone obsession? You do not need to pack as much as you think, travel light is my advice.

Wishing you every success with the journey ahead.

Mark xx

[jules45 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Mark, I've got a hospital bag packed for emergency s for some time as I've been in hospital so many times and ive had nothing. Glad my tummy will go down aß ì havè as cities but they won't drain me. Have mri scans now instead of ultrasounds as I have a mass in liveŕ so having one in 2 weeks. Thanks for advice, julie xxx

[Hidden in reply to jules45]

The drains are an infection risk, but I had a lot of fluid, 14 litres on one drain. Endless hospital stays.

The legs were not good, footwear choices were very limited. I am B+ blood, the wait was a long one.

But it all came good, most things are back to normal now, apart from the itching but that is the immunosuppressants, I am happy to be taking them.

Best of luck ahead.

Mark x

[jules45 in reply to Hidden]

I'm b positive, though it was a common blood group. I will be patient àñd keep running on the hamster wheel. Thanks Mark, julie xxx

[Hidden in reply to jules45]

I will send you a private message

[Hidden]

Just drink some pure lemon juice for the itch

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Sophia darling,

How is your health? Have you got oedema or ascities? Lemon juice is a natural diuretic and pre-transplant, I sucked a whole one every day.

My kindest wishes,

Mark.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

lemon juice can be used for itching and I am aware it is a diuretic

My kindest wishes, Sophie

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Sophia,

I can assure you that when you are Stage 4, decompensated cirrhotic, lemon juice will not relieve the itching. I tried, everyday.

Mark

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Everyone is different

[Hidden]

Hi Porphyriamaniac

The itching must be very difficult to cope with. Unfortunately no one on the forum is qualified to advise on medications.

We would suggest you contact your GP or alternatively, do you have access to your hepatologist? You could maybe consider contacting your consultant's secretary and request an appointment so you could ask their advice on what to do?

Best wishes

Trust1