New symptom liver itch

[Liberty82]

Hi, I wrote 18 months ago about my fear of having cirrhosis. I drank very heavily in my 20s but stopped drinking so heavily in my early 30s but had a 4 month split from my husband in early 2017 when I drank heavily for 4 months around 2 bottles of wine every night. When we got back together I stopped drinking apart from the odd glass of wine every few months. Not long after my 4 month binge I had a bad toothache, during this time I took well over the recommend limit for paracetamol and brufen, this continued for about 20 days. I can't believe I was so stupid. Around 4 days after this I started getting a pain in my back, I also had upper right quadrant pain and the next time I had a glass of wine I began to over heat and sweat. This has continually got worse, I had 2 beers on holiday and the next day I was overheating and sweating. I had 2 sets of lfts last year that came back clear. But since then I've got severe gastro problems, I can't handle fatty foods. My once regular periods became very irregular from the month after the paracetamol episode, (I'm not menopausal, I'm 36 and have had hormones checked recently). Now I've started itching. It first started 5 weeks ago when I had 2 glasses of wine. The next night I had itching. Its not a normal itch it's under the skin. Then on Wed night I took2 50mg amitriptyline to help me sleep. The next night the itch was horrendous. Thankfully I'm on pregabalin for neuropathy and this really helps with the itch. Since then I've been having the itch sporadically but mainly at night. I've since learned that amitriptyline is hard on the liver. I haven't had any alcohol for 5 weeks when I had 2 glasses of wine and have no intention of having any again as these symptoms are horrible. I live in Ireland but in October I travelled to the British liver road show in England to have a fibroscan done but I have a bmi of 36 and I carry a lot of weight around my middle. They found it hard to get a clear reading but did say they could see some fat but it looked OK from what they could see but they couldn't be sure. I absolutely terrified. This has been going on for 18 months now and the symptoms are getting worse and worse. I'm itching now as I write but my medication has dulled it otherwise I think I'd be tearing my skin off. I take more pregabalin than I should and I also abuse codeine taking 5 or 6 at a time. I'm currently seeing an addiction team to get off the tablets. My life has kind of spiralled in the last 3 years. My husband and I did ivf and I got pregnant but miscarried at 12 weeks. Then the stress made us split, it was my fault, not his. Then I drank really heavily for those 4 months when we split and when we got back together I was still in a bad place and ended up addicted to tablets. Do you think this is cirrhosis? I feel in my heart it is and I'm really scared. I'm having more bloods done on Monday. If I have cirrhosis I only have my self to blame. I was well informed of what could happen with alcohol and paracetamol but I decided to risk it. I know this is a very poor me post and a lot of you are suffering. I'd just like some advice. Thank you xx

[Neerav1234]

Hi you sound as though you have been under such a lot of stress and speaking from personal experience we all end up binge drinking etc but I think a cold and objective plan is better getting liver function test and ultra sounds then working out a plan for life I am also doing the same hope that helps

[Liberty82 in reply to Neerav1234]

Thanks for your replies. I'm currently going to the gym 3 times a week. I haven't felt any fatigue but the liver itch is now becoming every night. Its like a stinging itch, horrible but the pregabalin really helps but it's a double edged sword because of my tolerance to it I have to take larger amounts for it to be effective which in turn is causing more damage. Alcohol is an absolute no no. drink a lot of protein powder and add frozen and fresh fruit to my shakes. Do you think this is OK to continue? I have blood tests in the morning, my doctor is dismissive and thinks I'm a hypochondriac but I know my own body. I'll have to push for an ultrasound or go private if my bloods come back clear. I really hope they do but regardless of the result I know there is something going on so I won't be fobbed off. Neerav have you been diagnosed with a liver condition? What about you Alf? I really appreciate the replies. Thanks xx

[Neerav1234 in reply to Liberty82]

Yes I recently got an ultra scan done which shows the onset of fibrosis mainly due to alcohol consumption over the past many years doctor is hopeful it can be reversed by abstinence the problem is in liver issues there are hardly any symptoms but I am keeping my fingers crossed my advise is go for real objective tests like ultra sound blood tests etc all the best to you

[alfredthegreat]

Hi Liberty82. I'm sorry that you are going though such a rough time, As regards the liver only the medical tests can tell if you have cirrhosis, nobody on here can 2nd guess or is qualified to say. All I can say that if your liver is in trouble that the best things that you can do are avoid alcohol altogether, try to cut out those pain killers etc as soon possible. The alcohol and excessive amount of pain killers are toxins to the liver. Also eat a very healthy diet and try to lose weight. All of these things approached together can make an amazing difference to a poorly liver. You will find a lot of support from the people on this forum who are very knowledgeable of all things to do with the liver. Wishing you all the best. Alf

[Liberty82 in reply to alfredthegreat]

Alf I've enjoyed reading your posts. It's great that there is still hope with end stage liver disease. The thought of a transplant is very scary but it's fantastic that you have recovered so well. Xx

[alfredthegreat in reply to Liberty82]

Thanks Liberty. yes, I've totally recovered from transplant and my new liver is working very well. That's marvellous for saying I was totally run down and no spring chicken when I went for assessment!. I think that in your case if you can turn your life around, think healthy, eat healthy, do healthy and keep at it then you could avoid the journey that I and many, many others have been on and indeed that many are still on. Best of luck with the blood tests, hopefully they wont be as scary as you are worrying about! Best wishes. Alf

[Hidden in reply to alfredthegreat]

Bigfred

No spring chicken eh 😁👍. We used to have a saying in Barbados that went “she was no spring chicken but she could wiggle she botsy like a windmill”. Bet with your back though you can’t even do that ☹️☹️

Lipo

[alfredthegreat in reply to Hidden]

Hey Piplom. with my back it's true. I can wiggle my toes though and I can use the TV control, lol. Actually it's ache rather than pain now so I will be practicing for our race again soon. Be very afraid!!

[mncold]

Hi Liberty82,

Sorry to hear you are having problems.

I wish you the very best working with the addiction team.

You would need a diagnosis to know what is going on with your liver and itching could be from anything - including a new allergy to a fruit you are eating.

You really need to either go back to your doctor or call his office and get some information on what is going on with you.

Best wishes,

Mary

[Lynnylynster]

I'm just wondering have you every considered Gallstones or Gilberts Syndrome? I know you LFTs are clear but have you asked for the actual readings? Sometimes if bilirubin is slightly but constantly elevated they chalk it to Gilberts Syndrome which is generally harmless but can make you feel unwell and you don't metabolize alcohol, food or drugs the same and as other people because you lack a certain gene and enzyme. You could have an alcohol allergy too. I have this and Gilberts. I had an allergic reaction to antibiotics November 2017 which caused me to have jaundice and liver inflammation. I had to abstain from everything apart from vital meds. 8 months later my liver scan was healthy, i was lucky. I am allergic to alcohol and get overheated and flushes. Also my histamine levels are always high, thus happens if youare pre menopausal or going through it.

I notice you've had IVF, so you likely got put into temp medical induced menopause?? I had several rounds of Zoladex which does the same thing as i had Endometriosis and Adenomyosis, i had a hysterectomy September. Weirdly since then my haemoglobin is amazing and i don't have Gilberts flare ups so often. I'd spent 2 years with yellowosh eyes and then i had actual full blown jaundice with palmar erythema and 3 dats ppst op- yellow eyes gone. Also i became allergic to progesterone and would get serious itching a week befire period then for the duration and it would stop towards the end. Could this be you??

Get histamine levels checked. Stress seriously aggravates them. Xx

[Lynnylynster in reply to Lynnylynster]

Btw- I'm 36 and had long term meds for pain, used to enjoy sharing a bottle of wine most days with hubby at dinner. Good not fall into the alcohol trap. Since hysterectomy i cannot tolerate it anyway. Menopause is to thank for that! On Estrogen 😁

[jazzjam in reply to Lynnylynster]

Hi Lynnelynster. Can I please ask, if you were told of course. how is it decided for Gilbert’s syndrome as apposed to cirrhosis by alcohol, fat or other disease?

[jazzjam]

Hi, gosh you sound like you’ve been through the mill and people can relate to your situation. I can only say, get the results, prepare some questions as to how you feel right now and if you get home and find your mind buzzing with more and more get another appointment booked and go through your next questions. I think peace of mind is only helped by knowledge, it’s a struggle to go forward if you don’t know where you should be going. You have also said you are aware of the things you have done to maybe harm your liver and you are taking steps to overcome them. You keep going and be strong.

[Liberty82]

Thank you. I have been for another set of bloods and I'm hoping the results will be available today if not Monday. I know the damage is have done is self infected. I have cut down my tablet intake, it's really hard because I'm scared about the damage is have done so my anxiety is greatly increased which makes it even harder to come off the tablets but anytime I take anything now I'm thinking about the effect it's having on my liver. If the damage is as bad as I think it may be I've taken away my chance to be a mum and my husbands chance to be a father which is breaking my heart.

Lynne I did ivf 3 years ago and it's true they put you into temporary menopause but that's only for 2 days before you flare it up again with medication. I had no side effects from the ivf drugs. It was all smooth sailing until I miscarried.

I don't think I have anything like Gilbert syndrome just because I can pin point exactly when my issues started and it was when I took too much paracetamol. I was lucky not to go into acute liver failure. It wasn't a whole lot more than recommended but I think my liver may be more sensitive to paracetomol because I took an over dose in my early twenties. Since then the thought of liver damage really scared me so I have absolutely no one to blame but myself. I have been eating well for some time and my weight loss is barely non existent too but I do have hypothyroidism. I go to the gym 3 times a week for HIIT training but I've only lost 7lbs since last July. I'm really going to up my game and make sure I never eat processed foods or sugary snacks. I do eat a lot of fruit, is it ok to have a lot of natural sugar. Thank you for all your replies and I'll update on bloods when I have the results. Say a prayer for me xxx

[jazzjam]

You mention in your comments a few times, ‘it’s my fault, I only have myself to blame’. Please try to not think that way. Right now your focus is your future. It doesn’t really matter who’s a fault it is, if there is even fault at all, just part of life. We all make mistakes through our own fault or situations we are put in or find ourselves in. Right now the past is the past, it’s done, you can’t change it but you can change the future, focus that way not backwards. You have come here and you have been to the doctor so you are looking forwards, please don’t keep blame yourself try to accept what is done is done.

I hope your results are more positive than you feel they will be but either way know you are not alone at all, we have all made mistakes. Maybe try, if you think it is right for you, to get some counselling or attend a face to face group where you will meet others in a similar situation.

[Lynnylynster]

Hi Liberty, please be kind to yourself. I took 3 overdoses when i was a teen. All paracetamol- i was bullied severely. Here i am xxx

Now let me tell you about pinpoints.....

Often they are simply coincidences and like you i suffer anxiety, i actually had a breakdown in 2014. When we have anxiety disorder flare ups we struggle to to see things in a rational non panicked way. I have worked myself up greatly because of this and my symptoms have manifested.

Now... i am not saying that the symptoms are not real BUT don't underestimate the power of stress on thr body with all those negative hormones- they can trigger shingles cancer heart attack all various things so first off- take some time to be kind to you, yoga meditation walking in a green space, whatever it is you need to check in on you xxx

Wait for results then act on them if you need to but until love you.

Look my liver went into acute hepatitis stage, i got lucky. Lowering drug intake is a great start 😁

I'm not religious but i do deem myself as spiritual so I'm sending my positive vibes to you.

How old are you btw?

Keep in touch

Xx

[Liberty82]

Aww thank you both for your lovely replies. Lynn I'm 36 so time is ticking on if I ever want to have a child. At the moment I'm more concerned about my health but I know if it's bad then I can't make my husband a father, and he really deserves to be one. He's wonderful with our nephews. He'd have started trying for a baby 10 years ago but I wanted to still have fun.

My LFT results werent back today but they did a full blood count which was normal but that doesn't really mean any thing. So I've all weekend to wait for them. Hope you are both well xx